Before moving on from my coverage of the Perhentian Islands, I need to address one more thing: though there were poisonous spiders and monitor lizards aplenty, the issue of hairy satay was one that rose to prominence as the weeks went by.
The beef satay at Senja Bay Resort was absolutely delicious, and at 10RM (about $2.95) for 10 sticks, it was a great deal. But there was one big problem: it was hairy.
Hairy satay!
While one might normally stop eating a hairy stick of meat, my dinner group and I rationalized as follows:
- the chicken satay was not hairy, so clearly it wasn’t actual hair falling into the food while it was being prepared;
- the hair was less “hair” per se, but rather something fibrous, like fishing line;
- it still tasted good – really really good; and
- we were not getting sick
Jeroen and Dennis with their satay.
However, as the days went on, Jeroen started to feel a little off after his nightly foray into hairy satay, and we started swapping out the satay for something else, like grilled squid or a rice dish.
Finally, after almost 2 weeks on Coral Bay and knowing the manager well enough to ask, I presented the question as politely as possible.
The answer? “The satay is hairy because beef is hairy!”
And that was the end of beef satay for me.
-Jodi
I am a former lawyer from Montreal currently eating my way around the world, one country at a time. Marshmallow enthusiast, volcano climber and cave spelunker - and also a geek. Traveling since April 1, 2008. See the 
Most probably the 'hairs' were actually bits of galangal, which can be quite fibrous. It couldn't have been hair because hair would burn. The manager was probably pulling your leg. Bad case of humour though, if you ask me :)
We gave him a list of options as to what the hair could be, but he insisted it was because beef was hairy. Even if he was joking, I was satay-ed out! :)
oh dear. hairy meat lollipops are probably something i'm only willing to try once…(and that's what she said)
Can I just say that this TOTALLY grosses me out Jodi! As a long-time vegetarian, I have to say, it's stories like this that keep me that way! ;-)
LoL@ its hairy because beef is hairy
kinda gross though haha
I am a carnivore for life and even that makes me hesitate. But if you were eating it for two weeks could not have been that bad.
Sometimes it is NOT good to ask 'what is that' when eating unfamiliar food.
They tasted so good, and yet looked so….confusingly bad. I always ask what it is, because it usually doesn't give me pause. In this case, that was just the (hairy) straw that broke the camel's back!
so… vile hahah
Thanks Brooke. I also loved your "shut up or I will punch you in the face post." Well done!
hairy beef YUM!
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Looks so good I'd eat it. With the right spices anything goes!
Jodi, this is a hilarious story. Yes, sometimes, I have hairy satay too, on the chicken skin, which makes the satay so much better and richer. :)
You have a great travel blog here. I have one myself which is quickly growing into one of the top resources for people to find information on top vacation destinations. I'd like us to exchange links to spread some traffic around. Let me know if this is possible.
Jason
ThatVACATIONfeeling.com
@anil @rasamalysia: it was a hilarious dinner time conversation, and have to say, it tasted fantastic!