Visiting Lung Kong Havana/An Afternoon with Nino+Frank

[Edwhatever]

I urge those who have a moment to learn about the background of the Chinese in Cuba, please visit Nino's post in November:

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=116445&p=434657

I also want to say thanks to everyone here on FOH. By being a part of this community, we are all connected in some way, and through FOH I have met great people, and have come to learn of the Chinese in Cuba. A big thank you to everyone here, everyone have some way or another, made this happen.

Brief background about Lung Kong Havana:

After a month of coordination, a few Chinese friends from FOH Toronto, and Nino have decided to visit the Lung Kong Association in Havana on the 25th of November. Lung Kong Associations are established all around the world for Chinese diaspora. Once a thriving glorious community of 200,000 now 120 or so Chinese, the Lung Kong in Havana is a place where the Chinese elders receive their daily bread, and gather.

Reflection on my N.American society

In North America, new Chinese immigrants grumble about the lack of authentic Chinese cuisine variety and quality. I feel deeply ashamed as once I did too complaint about how in Toronto, we don't get Chinese food as good as back in Asia. In Havana, don't even talk about an Asian grocery store, you won't find a drop of soy sauce, a grain of Chinese rice, or a stalk of Chinese vegetable. Yet the Chinese community in Havana is as tight-knit as a family could get. Even though all this is taken from you, but your heritage is buried deep in your veins.

Thoughts on visiting the Lung Kong Havana

These seniors are different than the seniors you visit at a senior home. These people are old but however not only they do not need someone by their side to take care of them everyday, they are active individuals that have their day-to-day business to attend to. They only show up once-twice a day to collect food and to have conversation with others. Of course the Lung Kong hold activities such as movie nights, mah-jong tournaments, but in no sense I feel that these people are old, sick, and waiting to die. Every one of them I’ve spoken to have something to talk about, cheerful; they don’t want to share their sob-story, just wanting to get to know you. Visiting the elders and having conversation with them is a treat for me, as it is for them. I want to help them as much as I can, not just by donating supplies, but to be their company. I just cannot wait to go back to see them again.

Credits

Many many thanks to Tom (tmac77), Art (maverickdrinker), Garfield (Longsdaleto), Dave (Wang), and Joe (Blackham), for their donations, and effort in coordination. And of course Nino, for his kind heart.

Chinese condiments:

Fermented Tofu, speciality soy sauce, shrimp paste, chilli bean sauce, hot pot satay sauce, chicken stock.

Chinese delicacies:

Preserved dried sausages variety pack, preserved salted eggs, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese red dates, an array of Chinese tea.

Dining utensils:

Chinese soup bowls, rice bowls, soup ladle, chopsticks

Hygiene products:

Toothpaste, Shampoo

Pharmaceuticals:

Pain killers, Vitamin C, Calcium, multi-vitamin for seniors

Others:

2 x Mahjong sets, scoll paintings of Chinese landscape, incense, incense pot, Chinese tea ceremony set

If anyone wants to know more about what we do to help the Lung Kong Havana, interested in donating money to purchase supplies, please feel free to contact myself [email protected], or Presidenta Sociedad Lung Kong, Graciela Lau [email protected] if you would like to contact the Lung Kong Havana directly.

Nino will have his post up shortly, so please stay tuned.

[Edwhatever]

ERDM Infantes tasting with Nino+Frank

After visiting the Lung Kong, we had lunch at the Prado. Since it was my first visit to Prado 309, I shared a grilled meat platter with my friend Dave (Wang). Fantastic grilled meat, just a little too windy. Cigar ash blew onto my plate of grilled meat (made it taste better I guess). Dave (Wang) offered Nino and Frank the Juan Lopez Canadian Regional. Funny enough Nino recieved 3 other Canadian Regionals a few days ago, except for the JL. What a pleasant coincidence!

To see what Nino thinks about Prado 309 and other gourmet restaurants in Havana, please visit his blog:

http://flyingcigar.de/startseite/visiting-havana-faq-about-hotels-casas-and-cigars-2/

Later that afternoon, we had a tasting of the ERDM Infantes at Nino's Casa. This is the second time smoking the cigar. The first Infantes was given to me by Enis (EBHead), my impression of it was very bland, neutral, flat. The second cigar from Nino was slightly better, at least for the first 3rd. Still mild flavours and underwhelming. I know there are people are would love to get a box of these and do enjoy them. I personally think it another trick HSA is pulling on us.

It was very nice time spent with Nino and Frank, as always. We talked more about the Lung Kong, and catching up with each other. Having a nice relaxing smoke (even a boring smoke), nice coffee, nice rum is always a treat when you are with good company.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you:

Nino's head on a cigar

[Nino]

Hey Edward,

thank you for your precise and detailed account on Lung Kong in Havana, the contacts as well as for the call for donations for this worthy cause.

Again - I am very happy to be of assistance : what counts is that the donation of my friends, both from here and my Hong Kong Kong and S'pore friends helps this community and the elderly.

There's plenty more to Cuba than rolled dried leaves, so any help, any assistance is very much appreciated.

Thank you, Edward and David !!

[Cigar Surgeon]

Ed are you going back to the Partagas festival this November?

[Nino]

Hey Edward,

fill out that "reservated space" on post # 2 with some text ... LOL

Want me to help you out ??

It was a great lunch at Prado 309 and afternoon Frank and I spent with you guys at our Casa and we thoroughly enjoyed it !!

Let's do it again - soon !!

[Edwhatever]

Ed are you going back to the Partagas festival this November?

Possibly, I would love to.

But I really can't say for now...

How about you? I think the international FOH members are going this year?

[Edwhatever]

Hey Edward,

fill out that "reservated space" on post # 2 with some text ... LOL

Want me to help you out ??

It was a great lunch at Prado 309 and afternoon Frank and I spent with you guys at our Casa and we thoroughly enjoyed it !!

Let's do it again - soon !!

I just did, enjoy !!

[Cigar Surgeon]

Possibly, I would love to.

But I really can't say for now...

How about you? I think the international FOH members are going this year?

I got the nod from the girlfriend so it seems like a waste of an opportunity if I don't.

[Edwhatever]

I got the nod from the girlfriend so it seems like a waste of an opportunity if I don't.

Oh thats great! I really hope I can make it this year then. Hopefully my gf and work will allow me to take time off too...

[maverickdrinker]

Ed and Nino,

Thanks for sharing this with us. It was a pleasure to meet with the ladies last November. Happy to bring down more supplies this November....

[Afficionado1]

It was a real pleasure sharing all of this with you guys.

Thanks again Ed and David for sharing the real cuban life with us. I hope we can do it again soon.

[Blackham]

Thanks going back the second time and show us the real Barrio Chino, glad to see the residents are happy with the supplies

[CanuckSARTech]

Ed, this is an awesome write up. I remember discussing with you and Nino about how excited you both were about this extra assistance during the last trip in November as well.

Ed, if you're not going this November, I'm sure that us other Canucks can help do a muling down of the various to-be-donated items.