Papillon (2017)

This is a remake of a 1973 movie starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, but based on a biographical novel which was published in 1969.  Papillon (played by Charlie Hunnam) is a nickname for a flamboyant Paris thief, who spends a lot of time in Moulin Rouge sorts of places with women of ill repute.  He is arrested for a murder which he definitely did not commit and sentenced to hard labor in a penal colony in French Guyana, never to return to France.  The time in roughly between WWI and WWII.  In retrospect, France should have hung on to some of these scrappy men for what was to come.  Once on the transport boat, he meets Dega (played by the now well known Rami Malek), a counterfeiter who is wealthy, weak, and convinced that his wife will be handling his appeal and that he will soon be released.  Suffice it to say that doewn't happen, the two men get into a fair amount of trouble along the way, the conditions are brutal, but in the worst of all possible places, Papillon does finally escape, and much later, he writes a book detailing the inhuman conditions of their treatment and the cruelty of their captors.

Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

I read this for my parent's book group, and while I had never heard of the author, nor had I read the book that precedes it, I enjoyed it.
Ruth is born of mixed Hawaiian and Japanese parents to a mother who had leprosy.  She was raised in an orphanage full of children like her, and many of them were doomed to live their lives there, never adopted due to the stigma of their origins.  Not so Ruth.  She is adopted by a Japanese family who have a bit of a secret around why they wanted her, but they are wither ignorant of her social standing or don't care, and love her dearly.
She lives through racial profiling in California's Central Valley, her family loses all their assets when they are deported to a relocation camp, and upon their release they find that feelings run high and returning to farming is not an option.  She is lucky that most of her family made it through the war, and she is in a good relationship.
The final chapter is a return of her birth mother into her life, and a fuller understanding of what happened to her.  It is rich in feeling and culture, and well worth reading.

La Vecina, Coralville, IA

 A new restaurant has come to town and it offers something a little bit different from what we had before it's arrival.  It is a wood fired oven Mexican cuisine, and while the guacamole and the tacos are good (especially the avocado tacos), branch out and try other things.  The food is sharable and I would highly recommend that.  We went with eight people and six to eight would be ideal.  The whole chicken is out of this world.  As are the hand made corn tortillas.

The thing that I liked the best was the grilled corn (elotes) with cheese and chili.  Everyone should get a piece!  The Guava Camaron was my favorite appetizer, although the octopus and the shrimp ceviche are also very good.
We all had a really nice time as well, which is an added plus that does not always come true.  Highly recommended.

Nobody's Fool (2019)

I watched this at the tail end of a transpacific flight.  On the upside, I had already closed my eyes for eight hours, so was not really rough around the edges.  On the other, it is one terribly long day (we left Melbourne in the morning and arrived in Los Angeles, also in the morning), so there is that to add to the mix.
This is a romantic comedy with a terrible role for Whoopi Goldberg, but otherwise pretty unobjectionable content.  Successful sister is risk avoidant when it comes to relationships, but when her wilder sister is released from jail and comes to live with her, she is shown a whole other way to look at eligible bachelors and how to be wooed by them.  She also takes a long look in the mirror at how she has been approaching the rest of her life and finds that to be lacking as well.  There is some drug talk and profanity that would make this unacceptable for the young, but is a reasonable choice for other occasions.

Aquaman (2018)

This is an acceptable entry into the DC world, but it is no Wonder Woman.  Additionally, I watched this on a transpacific flight, so my level of critique may be impaired. 
Aquaman, or Arthur as he is called, is a half human, half Lost City of Atlantian, the product of a love affair between his rebellious queenly mother and his lighthouse keeper father. After his birth, she was stolen away, went home, married the king she was betrothed to and had another son.  So the battle between the legitimate versus the illegitimate is set up. 
Arthur has long hair and tattoos, a knack for wisecracks and a fondness for beer, and just wants to be left alone. He rejects allegiance to land or sea, but eventually succumbs to prodding by the idealistic Atlantean Princess Mera and becomes a force for good at a time when radical forces, led by Arthur’s treacherous half-brother Orm, want to destroy the land-dwellers as revenge for polluting and militarizing the ocean.  We get where Orm is coming from, though.  High in my Facebook feed this morning was a beached dead whale with a mountain of plastic spilling out of it's mouth.

Splash Seafood Restaurant, Cairns, Australia

Let me start off by saying that the coastal cities in Australia are blessed with an abundance of really delicious seafood, in all sorts of permutations.  I love crustaceans and there are quite a few of them that never make it to the United States, and they are right to keep them from us because they are just absolutely delicious you cannot imagine sharing them with others.
Our first stop on this trip to Australia was to Cairns, which is one of the entryways to the Great Barrier Reef (one of the largest living things on earth).  We had traveled across the US, had a seven hour layover in Los Angeles, completed the 15 hour flight to Melbourne and then flown an additional four plus hours up the coast.  So our only goal that first day was to figure out where our boat was leaving from the next day and to have a good meal, hoping to stay up until nightfall.  Mission accomplished--this meal was better than the fancy place we ate the next night.  We should have gone back and had this exact same thing again.

No Reservation for Anthony Bourdain

I am amongst the last handful of people who had not seen an Anthony Bourdain episode before he died, who also believes themselves to be both a foodie and a traveler.  Bad on me.  I know people who have chosen vacation destinations based on a show that he did, so it is not like I had no exposure.  It wasn't until he took his own life that I decided it was time to see what he had on offer.
I watched two episodes of No Reservations and was not impressed.  The cinematography was terrible, and his sense of humor was off putting for me.  Then at the end of the episode in Sweden, he mock hung himself.  Not funny at the time, and certainly not in hindsight.  The episode that covered the US-Mexico border was strangely prescient of a future where the situation would devolve.  But not good enough to want me to watch more.
I then watched an episode of Parts Unknown, which was better produced, and smart mouthed.  He had a global sense that he wanted to impart was laudable.

Stan and Ollie (2018)

This movie is based on the end of Laurel and Hardy's career together, after their period of separation and now they are on the ebbing end of their time together. Stan is played by Steve Coogan and Ollie by John C. Reilly.  I think it is truly a shame that this film did not get nominated in the Best Make Up category because it was astounding.
The era of vaudeville is coming to an end.  Their popularity is waning and so is Ollie, physically.  There is at the center of their tension with each other the fact that Ollie betrayed Stan by doing their act with someone else for a time.  Ollie had a lot of financial obligations from a number of failed marriages, while Stan was better with his money and less of a disaster at marriage, and that plus the tension between their wives is pretty much the only plot line besides what is happening to them professionally.
Some have commented that it is too bad that they didn't go earlier, when they were at their peak, but I disagree. Their talent is still on display, but all good things come to an end, and in a lot of ways that is the more interesting story.  Well worth watching.

Snap Pea and Cabbage Salad

I love cookbooks and am inspired by them as a cook.  But I do lover the internet for when I have a lot of two things in my fridge and I am looking for something to tie them together and viola, it is found.
That is what happened with this dish.

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 small cabbage, thinly sliced
• 8 ounces sugar snap peas, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint or basil
  Make the dressing (the first four ingredients), prep the vegetables and the herbs, and then when you are getting ready to serve, toss them all together to taste.

Searching (2018)

This is an interesting way to tell a story, one that is highly linked with the ways and means we communicate in the 21st century.  The back story is told in a series of emails, video files, and instant messaging.  So within about ten minutes you know that a family of three has becomes a family of two because the mom has had a blood cancer, was treated, did well,  then relapsed, didn't do well, and died.  David Kim and his daughter Margo are left alone with each other.  This is beautifully done, in my opinion, and I was sucked into the story in a good way.
The bulk of the story is about Margo disappearing at the end of her junior year of high school and the subsequent search for her.  The search rolls out in the same way that the story started, just with more details, and the occasional live action face to face sequence.  David, not surprisingly, discovers a lot of things about his daughter that he did not know.  He comes to term with the fact that he was affected by his wife's death to the extent that he was less effective as a parent, and he also comes to face the issue of his daughter's ongoing grief.  The rest of the movie is the hunt for what happened. 

A Dog's Way Home (2019)

I am a complete sucker for these stories about lost animals who find their way home over hundreds of miles against all odds.  There is almost nothing new in this version of beloved dog lost.  My spouse had to turn it off about 30 minutes in because it just didn't hold his interest, even on a transpacific flight (in other words almost anything would have done but not this--just so you know opinions may vary).
Bella is a stray puppy found under the foundation of an abandoned building by Lucas, who is an animal protector.  He and his veteran mother adopt the dog, despite the fact that their lease does not allow for pets.  When Lucas is at work, mom takes Bella to her PTSD therapy groups, and much as you would expect, Bella is able to reach traumatized veterans in a way that their therapist and fellow veterans cannot.  So while she is totally forbidden in the building literally everyone looks the other way.
The turning point comes when the landlord is about to evict the trio, and Bella gets temporarily moved to a friend's place out of state, Bella doesn't understand this, takes off, and the rest of the story is how she makes her way back to the family that loves her.

The Crimes of Gindelwald (2018)

I know that this wasn't particularly famous with the Harry Potter universe fan base, but I enjoyed it.   
The basic story here, which is admittedly grim, is that a powerful wizard is planning a rebellion in which they will take over the non-wizarding world.  We muggles would be at risk, and our hero Dumbledore is staying out of it, at least for now.
There are some heavy hitting actors on board, with Johnny Depp playing the bad guy with ease.  He actually sounds a lot like our current leader, whereby the concerns sound kind of reasonable on the surface but scratch just a little and you see the fascism, the lack of empathy, and the megalomania.  Dumbledore is Judd Law, played with an appropriate balance of humor and gravitas.  Eddy Redmayne is back as the slightly twitchy but lovable Newt Salander, master of magical beasts, and the man who is the key to the solution in the end.
One of the gripes is that there is just too much information crammed into one film--well, that is JK Rowling all over.  Since the fourth Harry Potter book, it has been clear that editors fear cutting her work, and so we are left with these large rambling works.  Such is this. I myself enjoy that over done story line.

Hanging Monastery of Mount Heng, Datong, China

 

Hengshan, or Mount Heng, which is located in Shanxi province, is one of China’s Five Great Mountains. Pinned to the side of its cliff face is the Xuan Kong Si, also known as the Hanging Monastery.  Despite its precarious position, the monastery has been ‘hanging’ in its original position for more than 1,500 years, a testament to the ingenuity of its builders.  It is a least an engineering marvel, even if you are not much for this architectural style (I love it myself).

The Hanging Monastery is said to have been built in 491 AD, during the late Northern Wei Dynasty. It is commonly believed that the building of the monastery was initiated by a single individual, a monk by the name of Liao Ran. In time, however, Liao Ran received help from Taoist builders, who were drawn to the site due to its peaceful and serene atmosphere. The site was perfect for those engaged in meditation, as noises from the ground did not reach such lofty heights. In addition, its height ensured that the monastery was safe from floods. The Hanging Monastery is also protected from rain, snow and sun as it is sheltered by the mountain’s peak. This is one of the reasons for the monastery’s continual existence over the centuries.

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The Island of Hungry Ghosts (2019)

This is a documentary about what has been called Australia’s Guantánamo, which is Christmas Island (a cruel name as it turns out, an island near Java.  The comparison is not quite correct, in that the people housed on Christmas Island are asylum seekers rather than undesirables, but the inclination to keep them off the mainland is parallel.  The film follows a trauma therapist who works with the detainees until a point where she cannot bear it any longer.  The people held there have no time line and increasingly, have little hope of being granted asylum.  Australia, also influenced by hard line politicians and Rupert Murdoch's media presence, have made for some very immigration avoidant policies, having learned nothing from the debacle in the US.  So it is miserable.
The irony that is juxtaposed here is that there is an annual migration of red crab across the island.  There is a whole posse of people who make that possible, but blocking off roads to traffic until the crabs have passed.  The crabs are treated more humanely than the people. Oh dear.

Rusciano's, North Liberty, Iowa

I have eaten in this North Liberty Napoleon Italian eatery on more than one occasion and it has been consistently good.  The chef is from Naples and has been upgrading the menu beyond the pizza and pasta offerings (which are the main reason for coming).  The pizzas take about 90 seconds to cook, so you do not have to make a final decision on what you want to eat, or how much.  I recommend going with a group and sharing.  The street food options are good, and sharable as well.  We have someone in our family who does not enjoy the thin crust wood fired oven pizza, and the homemade pasta is also delicious, so everyone can go away happy.  They have a reasonably priced wine list and excellent Midwestern beer options as well.
This is about a half hour drive from our house, which means that we drive by quite a few other eateries in order to get there, but it is well worth the drive.

The Drum Tower of Datong, China

Datong 's Drum Tower dates from the Ming Dynasty, with many later repairs and restorations.  Due to its proximity to the "barbarian" frontier, it served variously as the Northern Wei capital from 439-535, a secondary capital under the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234), and a military headquarters during the Ming Dynasty.   I was surprised to learn that it was also a clock, or at least a timekeeper. Drummers would make noise at various times of day, and the whole village could hear them. 

The mechanical clock is an invention we all use today. According to historical research, the world's first clock was invented by Yi Xing, a Buddhist monk and mathematician of the Tang Dynasty (618－907). Yi's clock operated with water steadily dripping on a wheel that made a full revolution every 24 hours. It permitted the exact determinations of the time of dawn and dusk, full and new moons, tarrying and hurrying. Moreover, there were two wooden jacks standing on the horizon surface, having one a bell and the other a drum in front of it, the bell being struck automatically to indicate the hours, and the drum being beaten automatically to indicate the quarters.  So pay no attention to those who say the mechanical clock is a European invention.  It was first made in China.

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Holmes and Watson (2019)

I had just seen John C. Reilly in Stan and Ollie and thought he was really terrific, but this movie is so puerile it was hard to finish, and while I did, I started to fast forward through the juvenile sexual innuendoes and potty humor, it was just cringe worthy.  If this sounds appealing, then by all means, you should see this movie.  If you are inordinately attracted to all things Sherlock Holmes (and I myself may very well fall into this category--it is really the only thing I can think of as to why I actually finished the movie, that and that I am almost incapable of not finishing something that I start, be it a book or a movie).
Here is the thing.  The movie takes every possible opportunity to either make dumb references, make a sexual innuendo or employ potty humor.  The fact that the actors are in their fifties somehow makes it worse.  They are no longer kids who can pull this off successfully.  Worse yet, they have done really good work in other films, why sully the name of Holmes and Watson with this?  I cannot answer that.

Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China

 

I took an Asian Art History class with my youngest son, and we studied these grottoes as a part of the segment on China and I immediately wanted to go.  They are even more impressive in person, and could be part of a trek from Beijing to Xian to see the terracotta warriors.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, so if you are trying to tick those off your travel to do list, that is another draw.

Buddhism came to China along the Silk Road from India in the early 400s. In the Shanxi region of central China, the monk Tan Yao and other Buddhists began carving sculpture-filled caves around the capital city of Pingcheng (now Datong). Between 465 AD and 525, 45 caves, 252 shrines, and 51,000 sculptures were built. The carvings span over one km along the side of the mountain.

The walls of the caves are lined with sculptures of Buddha in different positions, though most feature the Sakyamuni, a young Buddha, in a seated position. The sculptures range in size from barely two centimeters to over 17 meters high.

Though the carvings are exposed to the elements, they have been preserved by many efforts. The Liao Dynasty from 1049-1060 attempted to correct some erosion. Additionally, after a fire 1621, the Qing Dynasty rebuilt extensive parts of the sculptures. Lastly, the People’s Republic of China list the grottoes as a key cultural site to be protected by the government. They have stopped illegal construction around the caves and saved many grottoes near collapse.

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Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, Datong, China

 

We visited this the same day we did the Hanging Temple.  This pagoda was built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty (916–1125) and is not too far from Datong. It is the oldest all-wood pagoda in China, as well as the only Buddhist temple that was totally built with wood.It is also called Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple.  Clocking in at 220 Feet, it is the tallest all wood pagoda in the world.

As a masterpiece of Chinese timber construction, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is octagonal in shape, and was built without the help of a single nail, screw, or bolt. Its unique construction employs fifty-four different kinds of bracket arms.  It is one of the most complex examples of roof construction in China, and, indeed, in the world. Certainly, it is the most complex example of roof construction of any building constructed during the Liao Dynasty.  This pagoda appears to have five floors from the outside. But actually it is nine-story. There is a hidden floor every two floors.  Each floor is adorned with a plump and amiable statue of Buddha. The four-faceted Buddha symbolizes the infinite knowledge and wisdom of Buddha. It is said that his gaze can pierce any object, or "see through" appearances to the core, as it were.

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The Mule (2018)

About a month ago I had a protracted travel day and watched this on a plane en route from Chicago to Los Angeles, which somehow seemed the perfect venue in which to watch Clint Eastwood's latest movie.  Much like Robert Redford's last effort, is based on the incredible true story of an octogenarian.  This is one who became an unlikely drug mule, transporting staggering amounts of cocaine for a major Mexican drug cartel.  He is a cranky old man, not much liked by his family because it seems to be true that he in fact prioritized flowers over family, and cash strapped.  He meets his new employer at a BBQ for the wedding party of his daughter's upcoming nuptials.  One of the bridesmaid's dates recruits him based on his unobtrusive truck and his spotless driving record to be their latest transportation method.  Trying to stop him is the ATF, with solid performances from both Laurence Fishburn and Bradley Cooper, but he is hard to catch because he is so unpredictable.  The first drug lord understands that this is his super power and lets him be, but when the new drug lord in town threatens and intimidates him, things start to spiral downward.  It is a good story, with lots of good driving turns, and grappling with things Eastwood is known for, namely regret, forgiveness, and the inescapable reality of mortality.

Weijin Tomb, Jiayuguan, China

 

These tombs are located on the endless expanse of the desert, 20 km away from the northeast of Jiayuguan and while only one is open to the public for exploration, there are 1400 brick tombs of Jin and Wei Dynasties scattered here. They are the famous JinWei Tombs, and they were reputed as world’s largest underground art gallery.

Jiayuguan Pass, constructed in 1372, is the western starting point of Ming Great Wall. Under the administration of Suzhou Garrison, it is also one of the nine important frontier towns in China in ancient times. In late Han Dynasty, there was called Yushizhang, while during the Five Dynasties, it was called Tianmen Pass. Jiayuguan was a place of strategic importance in every dynasty in ancient China. Until Wei and Jin Dynasties, there were lots of wars, especially in 310, the forth year of Jin Huai Emperor. Locust disaster, pestilence and wars all happened in this year. People were starving and ate grass, leaves and even furs of cattle. Many people died of starving. And the tombs in Jiayuguan were just built during this hard period (220-589).

The tomb itself, which is about 10 meters underground, consists of an entry, where the tile murals depict the work and everyday life of the tomb owner, then a kitchen area which shows food preparation on the tiles, and finally a bedroom, where the couple are buried.  The man is buried after death, but his chosen wife is murdered in order to join him in the afterlife.  Perhaps a reason not to be the absolutely favorite wife. 

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The Bactrian Camel

While in Dunhuang, on the edge of the Gobi desert, we not only rode one of these camels, we

-->saw them running wild, or at least completely on their own, unfenced and unmonitored.  The only truly wild camels that still exist are Bactrian camels. These herds survive in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China. 

Bactrian camels have two humps rather than the single hump of their Arabian relatives. The humps function to store fat which can be converted to water and energy when sustenance is not available. These humps give camels their legendary ability to endure long periods of travel without water, even in harsh desert conditions. As their fat is depleted, the humps become floppy and flabby.  They could go 40 days without water over the Gobi desert, making them a popular pack animal during the hey day of the Silk Road.

Bactrian camels live in Central and East Asia's rocky deserts. Temperatures in these locales are hot—over 100°F-- in summer. Yet they can also drop to –20°F in winter. They have developed special adaptations to allow them to survive in such a brutal environment. One is a thick, shaggy coat that protects them in winter and falls away as seasons change and temperatures rise.  They rarely sweat, helping them conserve fluids for long periods of time. In winter, plants may yield enough moisture to sustain a camel without water for several weeks.  Like Arabian camels, Bactrians' nostrils close to keep sand at bay, and their bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes. Big, flat footpads help them navigate the rough rocky terrain and shifting desert sands without sinking under their own massive bulk or the weight of heavy packs.

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Capernaum (2018)

This is not for the feint of heart.  It is blisteringly clear on just how undervalued children are in many a society.  It is miserableness personified.  The movie is set in Lebanon, where the heartache of the underprivileged is on such interminable display that you feel the physical hurt.  Life holds no promise, no ability to escape one's cast, which the parents tell their volume of children on a daily level.  This is the best you can hope for they say cruelly and often, expecting the children to support them rather than vis-versa.
Zain, an undocumented 12 year old, is at the center of the film.   He is both a competent problem-solver and a perceptive observer.  Early in the film his eldest sister gets her period.  She doesn't understand it at all, but he sees that once she crosses over from child to woman that she will be sold.  He tries to hide it, he tries to stop it, and when he can't he runs away.  But it is out of the frying pan and into the fire.  He gets adopted by an illegal Ethiopian woman and her one year old boy.  When she gets picked up by immigration, Zaid is left to care for her child and himself, and things go about as well as you might expect.  In the end, Zain is pushed too far, and comes up with an unusual remedy to the problem that his parents brought him into. 

Ode to Penzeys Spice Mixes

I am a cook who has always had some trouble understanding why you would choose a mix for something that is relatively easy to put together from scratch.  For example, making pancakes is so easy to do that I don't understand why one would purchase Bisquick.  Even when planning a camping trip, we would put together a bag with the ingredients already mixed, and then how much wet ingredients to then add.
The only exception to this rule is the Penzeys spice mix.  I have come to be fairly reliant on a wide range of spice mixes to flavor roasted vegetables.  My favorites that are not spicy are the Tzardust Memories, Turkish, and Greek mixes, and the Bangkok,iVindaloo, and Berber.  In addition, I use their chili powder, pie spice mix, and Chinese five spice.  They are just exceptional, easy to make delicious food, and to my mind, also time saving.  In addition, they have been quite vocal about their support of a democratic government that provides a social support for all it's citizens, which is something I can get behind as well.

Dumpling Making in Datong, China

 

There is an old saying in Shanxi province which states: “China has the best flour-based foods in the world, and Shanxi province has the best flour-based foods in China”. For over 2,000 years, the people of Shanxi have used their skill and imagination to develop more than 1,000 different kinds of flour-based dishes.  I would love to try them all, but settled for this typical dumpling of the area.

In Datong, the dumplings, Jiaozi, are one of the most popular staple foods. Different from the ancient times when people only had dumplings on important festivals, they now eat whenever they want. But still, making and eating dumplings is an important activity for most families on the Eve of the Festival of Lights.

Starting in the capital Chang’an, the current Xi’an in Shanxi province, in the north of China, in the Han Dynasty, two thousand years ago, it was thought that eating  jiǎozi would bring luck, wealth, and happiness.  Maybe this was because they were shaped like ancient gold ingots, or maybe just because a meat that tasty was bound to bring luck and wealth.

Pictured is the dumpling making at a restaurant we ate at.  The ease with which the women made and then steamed
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What Men Want (2019)

I have been traveling for a couple of weeks, and have been watching things that are available on planes that I have not seen.  In other words, this is not a movie that I would have necessarily cued up, but I enjoyed.
This is the opposite situation of the Mel Gibson movie, where a man acquires the ability to hear what women think. In this movie, Ali is a sports agent in a male dominated world.  She is driven and somewhat annoying, so when she gets to hear what men think her first thought is that it will help her to land a superstar and gain partnership in her agency.  What she learns though, in addition to a lot of unwanted information about men cheating on her friends and that the one night stand bartender that she brought home is actually a really great guy, is that she is the one who needs to change.  She starts to see herself as others see her, and she doesn't much care for the view in the mirror.  All told, she uses her superpower mostly for good, and learns about herself in the process.  I found this very likable as a movie to watch on a plane.

Melk, Iowa City, Iowa

 I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I very much enjoy a restaurant that focuses largely on breakfast cereal (which in this particular eatery is served all day.  It is not just for breakfast any more).
The restaurant was started and is run by a young man who put together the interior of the restaurant in an Ikea like fashion that is very pleasing.  It is your typical bowling alley set up, but the lay out of tables and booths is nice.

So you walk in and are optimistic.  And not unreasonably so.
I tried the chicken tenders covered in Cap'n Crunch.  You might be thinking that this sounds truly awful, but is actually delicious.  Plus, as is true of most breakfast cereal, it is gluten free, which is a huge advantage for people with Celiac's Disease who want to eat things out that are hard to make at home.  Like fired chicken.  So that is reason enough to return, in my opinion.  You can get that with a delicious kale salad or with waffles and maple syrup if you want to go healthier or more Southern.  Then my kids say that the cereal milk shakes are another reason to return.  Check it out.

In a Sunburnt Country by Bill Bryson

I was so disappointed in the last Bill Bryson book that it didn't occur to me to read this, but when it came through a few sources that this would be a good read for someone going to Australia, and I was indeed going on said vacation, that I decided to read it and was happy to do so.
And I was rewarded for listening to my spouse.  This is a book full of what I would call fun facts, that are in part a way to demonstrate just how unique a place Australia is and in part a cautionary word.  This place is full of dangerous insects and reptiles on land, and equally problematic sharks and jellyfish in the ocean, interspersed with geographical challenges like riptides and desert.  Just be on your A game when it comes to being a tourist.  That is all tempered by his unbounded enthusiasm for the country. He loves the people and the places, he has flown and driven and ridden the rails, so he really says that from a sense of knowing.  His only foot note to all that goodness is the past and current treatment of Australia's incredible indigenous people, the oldest known immigrants out of Africa, and who have a remarkable history all their own (which is left almost completely uncovered in this book).  Highly recommended for anyone traveling there.

Storm Boy (2019)

I watched this movie after a lengthy transpacific flight, on the last leg from Melbourne to Cairns, and I loved it (fair warning though, as some reviewers found it not appealing).
The story takes place in the remote even for Australia Coorong National Park coastline, where young Michael lives with his reclusive father.  Michale's mother was killed in a car accident and since then father and son have lived a life of fishing and isolation.  Michael's father comes off well in the film, homeschooling Michael through the grammar school years and is emotionally nurturing, even if they lack social contact.
Michael loves animals in general and birds in particular.  One day he finds a next of three pelicans who have been orphaned by a hunter, and with the help of Fingerbone Bill, an indigenous Ngarrindjeri who is equally shy of company, they grow to adulthood.  He teaches them everything and two of the three leave him.  But one stays behind, and is instrumental in a sea rescue of the father in a storm.  It is light but beautiful both in scenery and animal driven story.

Shrimp and Mushrooms Bisque

Here we go, a new shrimp recipe with some improbably components.

3 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 to 1/2 cup tomato sauce
5 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 Lb Mushrooms
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sweet chili sauce
½ cup sour cream (not low fat)
1 Lb large shrimp, peeled
1 cup broth or wine
Pepper and salt to taste

Saute onions, then add mushrooms and garlic until soft.  Add shrimp and cook on high heat until just solid, about 2-3 minutes.  Then add the tomato sauce (I used a pizza sauce), wine or broth, sweet chili sauce and sour cream.  Stir until heated through, season to taste and serve with rice, or over pasta.