Black Ink Night

When we arrived in Venice, it was already dusk. Because it was winter, the days were shorter, and it got dark early. By the time we reached the motorboat dock, it was already dark, and the cold was noticeable. The sea breeze made us shiver.

Since we had to cross by motorboat, we couldn't carry all our luggage. We took only the essentials and left the rest in the car. Upon arriving at the hotel, we checked in and took our belongings to our rooms. After freshening up, we immediately came back down because the agency had arranged a dinner for us.

The dinner venue was on the main island of Venice, so we had to take another water taxi from the hotel. Outside, a thick mist enveloped the surroundings. Since it was nighttime and the cold was intense, the streets of Venice were relatively empty. This was fortunate, as despite our travel fatigue, the agency’s arrangement allowed us to experience Venice's night-time beauty.

Excitement for dinner was building. Our group leader had mentioned it before we arrived: "They’ll serve black ink pasta. Once you eat it, you'll become vampires," she said, laughing. Her words made my already hungry stomach growl even more.

In truth, I’m quite cautious with food. I don't usually crave unusual dishes. If a dish doesn't appeal to me visually, I tend not to eat it. If it involves animals I find unappealing, I avoid it. But for this trip, I had resolved to embrace the local cuisine, no matter how strange it seemed. Normally, I wouldn’t eat black-coloured food.

The restaurant was poetically and romantically decorated, fitting for Venice. Once we were all seated, they served the first course: Black Ink Pasta. We didn't focus on its black colour but dove in immediately because we were hungry. The taste was extraordinary. Among all the pasta I had in Italy, this was the best. After finishing, we looked at each other and laughed. Because it was made with black sauce, everyone’s lips and tongues had turned black. This was why our group leader had joked about us becoming vampires.

Black Ink Pasta is also known as Squid Ink Pasta. The black ink from the squid is used to create a flavorful sauce. The restaurant we were at had prepared the pasta with squid meat. Unlike the squid I'm used to, this one was tender and delicious. You can also add other seafood or ingredients of your choice.

Since it was a three-course dinner, the main dish followed. The Black Ink Pasta was just the starter. They cleared our plates, and I kept eating, not yet full. The main dish didn’t impress me as much as the pasta. Finally, we had Tiramisu for dessert. Among all the dinners arranged by the agency, this one was my favourite and the most satisfying.

After dinner, we took a stroll around the less crowded Venice. Our leader took us to a small general store run by a Chinese person. It seemed they were friends. Our Singaporean friends bought unique snacks as souvenirs.

I wandered around the store and then went outside to admire the surroundings. The narrow streets were clean and neat. There was a bar nearby where people, preferring the warm indoors, relaxed. But like us, some were still outside, enjoying the night air.

As the night progressed, the temperature dropped further, and the wind picked up. The fatigue from the trip and the satisfying dinner made me long for a cosy blanket. While it was enjoyable to walk around quiet, clear Venice, we were all tired and headed back to the hotel.

Please make sure that our environment is not destroyed by our actions.
-May Thoon Khit-