While travelling around China and speaking none of the local languages I resorted to either pointing at other peoples food or picking random items on the menu.

While travelling around China and speaking none of the local languages I resorted to either pointing at other peoples food or picking random items on the menu. I had learned how to ask for rice and beer so that worked well with what was usually a bunch of random but very interesting and tasty dishes. One day while in a border town in the south near Laos, my wife and I were in a suitability weird and humid restaurant with a slow ceiling fan keeping us a bit cool. On the only other occupied table sat a bunch of police with what looked like the local police chief due to the hat on his head but otherwise naked torso. They were just getting drunk so we couldn’t point at food and order. We asked for a menu. I pointed at 6 random things. They gave me a funny look. I then asked for 2 beers in Chinese. They confirmed “two beers?” with an inquisitive look. I confirmed. Then I asked for rice and remembered how to ask for spicy cucumber, a delicious side in china I had come to love. Eyebrows were raised. Shortly thereafter out came two beers, spicy cucumber, and 6 mocktails in tall sundae glasses with umbrellas and curly straws. The police table almost died laughing. Good times :)