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China Sticks
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One of better pieces of advice I was given before heading off to travel China was to bring my own chopsticks. This is not because China has a shortage of them, by any means. No, I was told to bring chopsticks because the majority of restaurants provide their guests with wooden chopsticks which are not thrown away after being used, but are washed and given to the next person who sits down to eat.
The problem is that the nooks and crannies of cheaply made, wooden chopsticks are great places for germs to hide. Unless those chopsticks are thoroughly sanitized with copious amounts of steam or hot water, the last stranger to have inserted them into his mouth has probably left a few little surprises for you. Yum!
Of course, you can buy your own set of chopsticks at practically any street stall in China, but why not bring your own? Especially if they are as cool as the Flip Stick made by Brunton. As you can see by the above photo, the bamboo shaft folds nicely into a stainless steel handle for easy transport.
Of course, for the $20 they cost, you can hire your own Chinese peasant to personally hand feed you throughout your entire stay in China.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
OMIH Dec 17th 2006 9:13PM
are you serious? As someone who has lived in Vietnam for two years I would die of embarrassment on behalf of any foreigner who thought the local chopsticks weren't up to scratch and bought their own.
What's good enough for several billion Chinese is not good enough for you?
My own travel tip. Number one rule: don't offend your host nation by suggesting their cutlery isn't up to the job and bringing your own.
Neil Dec 17th 2006 9:42PM
Thanks for the local insight. Good to know. If I recall, Lonely Planet was one of the sources that recommended this, in addition to some fellow travelers (who probably learned about it from Lonely Planet as well). I'm curious if there are any studies that have researched this...
Chris Maki Dec 17th 2006 9:55PM
I have to agree, suck it up, use the sticks soaking in the rice cooker.
OMIH Dec 18th 2006 1:22PM
If you spent your time worrying about things being a little unhygienic then you'd never do anything in Vietnam. Better to just throw caution to the wind and dive in.
So far, minor tummy upsets aside, I've been fine.
The Lonely Planet also says you don't need to bring anything with you and you can buy it all cheaply here.
It fails to add... if you are Asian sized.
Currently home for Xmas in the UK, stocking up on shoes, trousers, t-shirts etc. If I'd listened to the Lonely Planet I would have had to resort to wearing sacking and going bare foot.
lf Dec 18th 2006 3:48PM
1. You foreigners offend your host nation in various other ways without the faintest idea - this one is negligible.
2. What is good for the billion Chinese people might as well hurt you, but your body would adapt to if you stay long enough!
3. Chinese living in more developed part of the country don't really feel more comfortable with the chopsticks than you guys do, and that's why so many trees are cut down for disposable ones!
My suggestion: lower your standard a bit; follow the locals when possible, but feel free to BYO when it looks ^#$%^@%@
bonus point: impress people of how environment friendly you are with your fancy funky chopsticks when the disposable ones are provided!
-- Shanghainese who spent the last 3 years in the US
lf Dec 18th 2006 3:57PM
oh.. did I mention that you should never use your own when dining at others' home? But even then, you have the option to claim that you're protecting *THEM* from *YOU*... (at your own risk)