If you follow me and spent any time on Twitter yesterday, you probably saw a live-tweet or two from my “Hole-in-the-Wall” Hawaii Food Tour. As tour operator and CFG (Chief Food Guy) Matthew Gray explained after my group of three boarded his mini-bus, along with seven other tourists, the tour focused on food that actual Hawaiians eat, rather than simply foods of Hawaii. There was plenty of that too (poke — marinated cubed ahi, bananas, and pineapple), but we also sampled rice noodles in Chinatown, exotic fruits, and pork buns that tasted identical to those I’d find down the street from my apartment in New York.

I first discovered Hawaii Food Tours a few days ago  while browsing TripAdvisor for activities, and after seeing overwhelmingly positive feedback (the tour is rated #5 of 238 attractions in Honolulu), I signed my family up immediately. I’ve being wanting to try one of the many food tours offered in New York City, and while this tour was a bit pricier ($99 per person), it seemed like the perfect way to spend half a day in Hawaii.

Since I already covered most of the tour in my posts on Twitter yesterday, I’m going to repost some of them here, with updated (higher-quality) photos.

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10:19 AM: First stop on the Hawaii Food Tour: Royal Kitchen in Chinatown for manapua (steamed meat buns).

10:46 AM: Stop #2: Coco Puffs at Liliha Bakery (pic). WOW.

11:09 AM: The tour has moved to Chinatown. CFG (Chief Food Guy) and newspaper food critic Matthew Gray talks to the group. *Continued: Locals approach, assuming that Gray is holding a tray of free samples.

11:24 AM: Rice noodles at Look Funn noodle shop… one of the last of its kind. Time to eat!

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11:37 AM: Live bull frogs in Honolulu Chinatown… $6.99 per pound. Guessing they’re not being sold as pets.

(Not from Twitter) – A Honolulu police officer writes a ticket after using a ruler to determine that this food stall’s produce extended too far out onto the sidewalk. Slow crime day, I suppose.

12:00 PM: Eating some exotic fruit in Chinatown… This is called a rambutan.

12:04 PM: Here come the Hawaiian foods… Spam “sushi” and poke (raw, seasoned ahi cubes)!

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12:09 PM: Now: “apple” bananas and coconut tarts.

12:17 PM: Pineapple two ways: natural (and the best you can get – anywhere), and marinated in preserved plum powder.

12:25 PM: Dessert: A “Keira special” smoothie … Topped with plum-infused vodka and pineapple juice.

12:55 PM: at Sun Chong Grocery.

1:02 PM: The most awful smelling fruit in the world: durian. The taste is described as “custardy rotten onion.”

1:18 PM: A fresh-flower lei at Lin’s Lei Shop.

1:56 PM: Last stop before it’s back to Waikiki: malasadas (like an overstuffed donut) at Leonard’s Bakery. So full!

Unfortunately I’m too exhausted to post any more today, but there’s plenty more to come tomorrow! For now, I need to rest up before my next dim sum breakfast, in a little over 8 hours.

Q: Well, how was Beijing? Should I go?

A: After spending two months living in Beijing, I’d hesitate to recommend the city to tourists looking to soak up Chinese history and culture. Sure — there’s plenty of that in Beijing, but there’s so much more to China that you won’t be able to see through Beijing’s environmental and propaganda haze. I came to tolerate life in the city towards the end of my journey, but only because the Olympics were in town, and many familiar Western conveniences became available, such as an Apple Store and Cold Stone. Unless you speak Mandarin, communication with locals is almost always impossible. Some are learning limited English, but are unable to pronounce words correctly due to a lack of native speakers to practice with.

For photographers, Beijing can be a great place to shoot on clear days, but unfortunately, the sun only breaks through the clouds every so often. If you’re only in town for a week, you may not have a single day without a hazy blanket to get in the way of you and that perfect shot. The Chinese make incredible subjects, and are generally more open to photographers than Westerners. Unfortunately, I think much of this comes from a fear of confrontation, especially when they’re unable to communicate with the foreigner behind the camera.

Q: What was it like to work at the Olympics?

A: I can’t even begin to describe the Olympic experience – it was so incredible to be able to work alongside the world’s top photographers, reporters, and athletes. Just being around the athletes was a thrill – there were so many, from almost every country in the world. There were also plenty of opportunities for staff and journalists to mingle with athletes outside of the competition venues, especially towards the end of the Games.

During the first week of competition, I answered questions for photographers at the road cycling course (and ended up doing quite a bit of computer troubleshooting as well). A few days after road cycling, I transferred to indoor volleyball, where I worked as a flash quotes reporter, interviewing athletes in the mixed zone alongside reporters from around the world. Often, we had to work through translators — it was really an experience unlike any other.

Q: Can I work at Vancouver 2010 or London 2012?

A: Honestly, I’m not quite sure. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) required the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) to hire native English speakers from overseas only because very few were qualified in China. Fortunately for the next Winter and Summer Games, that’s not the case — both will be held in countries where English is the official language. If you’re an expert with relevant experience, feel free to contact VANOC or LOCOG for more information about joining their staffs during the Games. I’d certainly recommend giving it a shot — working at the Olympics is an experience like no other.

I have a few regrets about my experience in China. Some are less significant, and were only realized when I read the United Airlines magazine on the flight back to the States. I can’t believe I spent two months in Beijing and only visited half of the locations they suggested in their cover article. I never made it to the restaurant, Made in China, but I certainly heard great things. My biggest regret, however, is not taking more time to travel around the country. I visited Shanghai and Tianjin, and made a side trip to the suburbs with Vincent Laforet, but I really wish I had taken more time in the beginning of my trip to explore other parts of the country. Some friends flew to see pandas in their native habitat near Chengdu, or visited the Terracotta Army at Xi’an. I’d love to visit China again at some point in the near future — but I don’t think Beijing will make it on my itinerary.

This marks my final post to Behind the Lens at the Beijing Olympics. Thanks for visiting, and feel free to continue sending questions or adding your comments to individual posts.

1. Take the train to Tianjin — The coastal city of Tianjin is located 120 km east of Beijing, but a new high-speed train will zip you from the capital to the coast in just under 30 minutes. You’ll need at least half a day to explore, especially if you plan to shoot at the “beach.” The ocean excursion is pricey (about 160 CNY r/t including taxi and light rail), but the incredible pictures you’ll be able to make there make it well worth the time and money.

2. Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City — Several photographers I’ve spoken to haven’t even had time to visit the world’s largest public square, or the Forbidden City. If you have a few hours free, visit both, but if you can only spare an hour or two, head to Tiananmen Square to shoot tourists and locals enjoying the recently constructed Olympic displays.

3. Eat Chinese food — Under immense pressure to stay healthy so they can produce images, experienced photographers are avoiding eating anything outside of the media village, Main Press Center, or Olympic venues. While this makes sense, they’re really missing out on some incredible Chinese food. Peking duck roll ups (available for 15 Yuan at the MPC) aren’t going to cut it — experience the real thing at Quanjude, or visit a hole in the wall eatery to enjoy Chinese food at its best (and cheapest).

4. Wander the city on your own — Escape the Olympics bubble to meet locals in the hutongs, or roam the streets with a camera in the older parts of town. Don’t worry about having a plan — take the subway away from the Olympic Green, and get off at a random stop. If you don’t like what you see, simply hop back on and go somewhere else — you’ll also be able to make great pictures on the train.

5. Bring back some goodies — You can’t return from China without gifts for family and friends, so visit one of the city’s markets to bargain hard for souvenirs. Jade and pearls are very popular, as are calligraphy paintings, chopstick sets, and knock off clothing. Visit the Pearl Marketfor pearls (and sometimes jade) and the Tianya market (literally a few feet away) for everything else. Tianya is also a great place to shoot locals gathered around televisions to watch the Olympics.

1. Don’t eat salad — I’ve mentioned the drinking water before, but eating anything raw washed in it could result in some pretty nasty stomach issues — I’ve seen it happen to several friends so far, and salad is definitely not worth the risk.

2. Reconsider vegetarianism — Since salads are out, it can be extremely difficult to find a variety of dishes cooked without meat — even tofu in Beijing is served in a meat sauce, and the green beans are cooked with beef.

3. Always carry toilet paper — I’ve found myself sick to my stomach a couple times, and most bathrooms don’t stock toilet paper. Napkins are also hard to come by so toilet paper can be used at the dinner table as well.

4. Decide what you want in advance — If you are a picky eater, have your concierge write down your favorite dishes in Chinese for you to show your waiter, as many restaurants don’t have English or picture menus.

5. McDonalds is always an option — I don’t eat fast food in the States, but I’ve already visited McDonalds twice and KFC once in the past week. It’s good, cheap, and familiar.

6. Try new things — China is a great place to rediscover your taste buds, and Lazy Susans make sharing dishes easy. Order a variety and sample everything on the table. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, head to the Donghuamen Night Market and sample some scorpions or seahorses. This is also a great place to shoot some exotic eats.

7. Carry Tums and Pepto-Bismol — If you can’t afford to be out of commission for a few days, these may be your only alternative. Be prepared to get sick once or twice, and pick up any medication you need before you leave home.

8. Order something else — You’ll probably come across a dish you just can’t stomach. Luckily, food is cheap here, so feel free to point to a neighbor’s dish if you’re not happy with your order.

9. Eat like a local — Hot pot (like fondue) and Peking duck are favorites in Beijing — available at hundreds of restaurants in the city. Try the Peking duck at Quan Ju De, it’s out of this world.

10. Don’t be turned off by low prices — Some of the best meals I’ve had here have cost less than 20 CNY (about $3). Just because a restaurant’s prices are low doesn’t mean the quality is as well.

Last night I could honestly say that was the best two bucks I’d ever spent… that, of course, changed with today’s lunch. A single U.S. dollar (about 7 CNY) bought my lunch, complete with tofu, rice, soup, fried chicken, and an enormous bottle of beer. My first two meals were both on a university campus, but great deals can also be found elsewhere in the city — as long as you’re willing to be fairly flexible with what you eat.