What are these? And what are they for? Where was I traveling when I saw them?
Take a closer look, guess and maybe you’ll win this week’s Trippy Travel Photo game. The prize? A mention of your name and a link to your site from within this post (which is great for Google/SEO, etc.)
The Game
I post the pic, you try to guess and we have fun. Answer these questions (expanded instructions here):
What is it? (Or, as in this case, what are they?)
Where was it taken?
What was the situation? What is the purpose of the item?
How to Play
–Post your guesses here in the Comments Section (tweets don’t count–sorry)
–Keep checking and guessing as the guessing gets good
–See who won; maybe it will be you!
The Prize?
Nothing fancy. The winner gets their name/website link posted (and that’s great for SEO.)
By the way…this week’s Trippy Travel Photo falls into the category: Off-Beat Oddities.
Click here to see the last three Trippy Travel Photos and the winners or to see more detailed instructions re: how to play the game.
The Winner…
Katrina of www.tourabsurd.com!
Her guesses: She had many and little by little, she got closer and closer to the answer. Here are two of her best guesses:
“… nut-stuffed figs (blanched almonds)…I’m leaning toward Turkey, but possibly Albania or Greece.”
“Is it a fertility symbol? Given to a couple to ensure a, ahem, fruitful union?” This is what made her the winner!
The Answer: Turkish Viagra
The photo: figs stuffed with nuts (blanched? almonds and maybe a few ‘other’ nuts).
The location: Spice Bazaar, Istanbul.
What is it? What is it for? These snacks are referred to (by those selling them in markets) as “Turkish Viagra,” aka– an aphrodisiac for men.
The almonds (and walnuts), which contain Vitamin E , are supposed to increase a man’s libido.
The figs, which have a high mineral content, were one of Cleopatra’s favorite foods. Put nuts and figs together and, well…watch out Pfizer! 
Like this photo?
Then you’ll love Trippy Travel Photo #3, which is also from Turkey and is connected with, um, let’s say a dotted line?
Can’t get enough?
Here are all of the Trippy Travel photos, guesses and winners–all on one page.
Enjoy!
Cool, they almost look like shellfish on a beach or something, maybe gorging themselves on tiny whelks!
Caption peas in a pod also comes to mind
Maybe a pea ‘swinging’ party and all are threesomes…. did I really say that?
Suspect they are actually some sort of pâtisseries though, no idea what or where however!
Hi, Iain. Great guesses….very funny! So shellfish pigging out? Not bad, but not exactly. Other guesses? Hilarious. Interesting re: the multiples of three…LOL.
I would have to say that out of all of them, the “pea swinging” is closest–believe it or not. Connected with a dotted line somehow.
Perhaps you could rethink the type of food?
[…] Trippy Travel Photo 4-Guess what? Guess where? | Chicky Bus […]
Fantastic picture. Looks like perhaps a pastry–almonds in a cinnamon dough. Probably from Turkey. Then again, maybe all of that is wrong because it is just a wild guess.
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Thanks, Charles–glad you like the photo!
And guess what? In terms of location, you are officially winning right now. I did take the photo in Turkey. But the food side of it is only partially there…yes, almonds…but what else?
And what is the purpose of what’s in the photo?
The “eyes” look like peanuts, not sure what they’re wrapped in….but what a fun photo!
Glad you like it, Michelle. They certainly look like eyes, don’t they?
They do resemble peanuts, but I’m 90% sure they’re almonds. Will check to be sure.
PS: when I reveal the truth about these unusual snacks, I think you’ll be very surprised! Now you’re intrigued, right?
Of course! I’m curious about the “purpose” of the photo as well 😀
LOL…the purpose will be posted by midnight tonight perhaps!
It looks like Turkish figs appetizers.
*smooch*
Hi, Dana. Excellent guess! And you’re officially in 1st place right now, thanks to:
–the right country: Turkey
–1/2 of the right food: figs
So…now, we just need:
–what’s inside the figs (see other comments for clues)
–the actual purpose of this unique food (an appetizer might be a good word for it–although there might be another).
Thanks for playing….!
This showed up while I was typing, lol. I’m sticking with blanched almonds, though it looks like a few near the top have walnuts, too.
Katrina recently posted..Serenella’s Limoncello Recipe
ps: ok, dessert for Ramadan?
Katrina recently posted..Featured photo- Black Rhino
Great guess, once again, but…..no, not for Ramadan. Your first guess was excellent!
Interesting that some have one type of nut and others have a different kind. I think you might be right!
Oh, did I not mention the almonds? My bad.
No prob!
I’d also say Turkish figs stuffed with walnuts (at the back) and almonds – looks like an appetizer to me.
Great guess, Leigh! I think you’ve got the food down and the country. The purpose is very close, but…not quite…. You’re doing great, though….definitely a possible winner. But there are still 8 hours to go!
I’m going with nut-stuffed figs (blanched almonds). Sweetened figs are also known as sugar plums, so I’m guessing this is a holiday celebration, maybe somewhere in the Mediterranean. I’m leaning toward Turkey, but possibly Albania or Greece — or even Italy, where I learned to love figs! (As with any leetle, round sweet, it’s possibly a wedding specialty, too.
Katrina recently posted..Morocco prep- camel sketch
Definitely Turkey, Katrina! And yes, nut-stuffed figs. I love the added detail of ‘blanched almonds.’ I think you’re right! These are not for a wedding, though (although they could be for the honeymoon–LOL). Still, the rest of your guess is excellent. You’re in the running for 1st place!
Well, if it’s not for a wedding, then I’ll go with a birth/christening! 😉
Katrina recently posted..Featured photo- Mt Vesuvio
…and/or baby shower. 😉
Katrina recently posted..Morocco prep- camel sketch
Is it a fertility symbol? Given to a couple to ensure a, ahem, fruitful union?
Katrina recently posted..What’s the deal with Egypt
Guess what, Katrina? Because of that guess, you are officially the WINNER!
I’ll explain it all within the post and list your name. Thanks so much for playing. You made this so much fun!!!
Ha, ha….maybe that, too.
Good one! And if not careful, eating these snacks could lead to that….
Whatever it is, this photo is making me hungry!
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler recently posted..Photo of the Week- Light at the End of a Prison Cell 10
Hi, Christy. Yes….me, too. ‘They’ certainly look yummy!
I’m guessing they are either stuffed dates or stuffed figs – probably with pine nuts.
Great guess, Patty. What do you think they’re for? Anything beyond snacking?
Stuffed like that they’re usually a dessert – often a traditional one during Ramadan.
Good guess, once again! But….as you will now see, they’re for something else. I’d say more of an appetizer for….um, men….who could use a libido boost? LOL
I would guess from the comments that someone has already got this. To my eye they look like old toothy mouths, about to burst into conversation. I suspect that may not be the case though.
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Actually, Laurence, no one has officially won yet. People have gotten what the food is and where I shot the photo. But no one has guessed the purpose of these unusual snacks, which appear to be looking at you.
I love your guess, by the way. “Old toothy mouths, about the burst into conversation.” Hilarious!
Hi Lisa,
My first guess was figs stuffed with pinenuts, but I think someone already said that! Can’t fathom the purpose, other than munchies.
Good guess, Karyn. As for the purpose, it’s not exactly munchies….. You’ll see very soon!
They look like blanched almonds or what we call habas in Spanish, broad beans in English and in American? Not sure.
Hi, Rachel. Thanks for playing! I think there may be some blanched almonds in there….definitely.
My comment above – forget the appetizer … just for a good old dessert with a cup of mint tea. Probably found for sale in a big market while a rug seller lures you in. And yes blanched almonds. Looks yummy – especially at 4 pm.
Good one, Leigh. I could imagine eating these while enjoying tea at 4. And yeah, someone’s definitely luring you in to buy a carpet–LOL. But, as you will see, these snacks are (allegedly) for a certain purpose (which I’m revealing momentarily). You’ll be surprised. And, once you know, you might be carful whom you give them to!
I believe they are served with Turkish tea around 4pm…
Sounds yummy and perhaps it’s true, Robert. Just be careful whom you share with…LOL. Find out why in a few minutes (answer will be revealed in the post).
Hahaha! Turkish viagra! You may find this odd, but as I was falling asleep last night (before the answer was announced, mind you, since I’m on GMT), I had one more thought. “I bet they’re an aphrodisiac…”
Yay for persistence and yay for Chickybus! This was lots of fun. Thanks!
Katrina recently posted..Featured photo- mud volcano!
It’s not too odd, Katrina. You were getting warmer and warmer by the minute!
Glad you had fun. Thanks for playing!
I think one could run an entire series based around things that are believed to be Viagra-like around the world!
Aaron @ Aaron’s Worldwide Adventures recently posted..The Secret to Ultralight Backpacking
Great idea, Aaron! Want to guest post for me? Just kidding….
LOL! They’ve got some doosies in Asia…still-beating snake hearts and bottles filled with liquid & snakes or scorpions to drink. All of them are supposed to increase your (ahem) potency…
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LOL…Like that “ahem.”
Wow, 5 times a night sounds very interruptive.
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Nice one Lisa, Figs stuffed with nuts, that’s the answer, I will definitely put this on my Christmas shopping list. I like it when people tweet out the old posts, that’s how I found this one. I’m looking to more posts from the Chickybus…
Hi, Alan. Yes, figs with nuts! Will you put it on your list? I’m sure the dudes at the various bazaars would be more than happy to ship you a box or two–for an extra charge, of course.
Glad you like when we tweet the old posts–and that you enjoyed this one. It’s one of my favorites!
Those nuts are sure winners on the cookies!
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