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originally i didn't want to go out to dinner but when the magic word "thai" was mentioned, i put on my shoes and was out the door before anyone else could get ready. i forgot what i ordered, some sort of pork curry, three stars (highest hotness ranking). it was excellent, i was the first person to finish my entree, and usually i'm the last person to finish because i'm a notoriously slow eater. the curry wasn't that hot, but because there were a lot of peppercorns, everytime i ate one it made me take notice.
afterwards we went to the super 88 market in allston, an asian supermarket that recently opened. i've never been there, but there's been a lot of hype surrounding this new place. 
when i got there and saw the place for myself, i was pretty amazed. this isn't your daddy's asian supermarket. those supermarkets in chinatown, they're small, they're noisy, and they're dirty. super 88 market is a legitimate supermarket contender, going head to head with the likes of star market and stop & shop. the place is spacious, wide aisles, high ceiling. it's clean, items neatly stacked, easily identifiable, clean meat department, no flies, and even their bathroom was spotless and smelled nice. 
as for the noise, what a pleasant shopping experience! for whatever reason and i am totally not complaining, they were playing the greatest hits from the 80's. rick astley, a-ha, wham, did they steal my playlist and went out and created a mix tape? i'd shop here just for the music alone, regardless of all the other niceties! 
what about selection? my parents were thoroughly impressed. they found stuff that they couldn't find anywhere else. i was also very impressed with their large selection of porcelain ware, many imported from japan. i spent a few quiet moments running my fingers over the smooth textures and admiring the glazework. super 88 market isn't just about asian food either, there's a long aisle stocked with more mainstream western food. and it's not just a place for asian people, half of the shoppers i saw were definitely non-asian in composition. asian food is suddenly hip now, as people branch out in their food selection and preparation. i highly recommend super 88 market for your shopping needs, and there's free parking to boot! did i also mention they're opened late, to 11pm?
and finally, write your own jokes!
 frozen sugarcane |
 tapioca balls (how much? 69¢) |
i met alex in central square and together we went to the new england aquarium. admission was free because for the month of may, you can get into all sorts of local museums for free if you have a fleet banking card. it was pretty crowded, which was what we were expecting, being that it was a weekend and a lot of families and tourists would be flocking to the aquarium. i haven't been there in a long time, not since they renovated the place.
sea turtle: things in the central tank are hard to take photos of because 1) the lighting is very dark and 2) they swim by really fast. so for this turtle, i actually had to track it with the camera. when it saw it coming by, i'd actually follow it with the camera for about a second, until the shutter closed.
and how can you visit the new england aquarium without making a stop at the gift shop? i have a knack for finding inappropriate toys. 
there was this plastic sea otter for $2.95 that was all dark brown and shaped little a long piece of turd with an otter's face and tapered at the other end. i was so tempted to buy one. there was the phallic shark toy, which i guess it's suppose to be collapsible and pop out of something but i couldn't locate the rest of the toy, just the 10" shark cylinder. and finally, the vibrating seal plush toy, with the ripcord strategically placed to come out of the seal's private area.
