barbecued alligator ribs

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From popular show Crocodile Hunter to true stories about alligator attacks in Florida neighborhoods, I often wonder why people would want to visit, or worse, live in such a place. But a recent trip to Orlando in Central Florida opened my eyes to wonderful sights and a good time. In contrast to cosmopolitan San Francisco and crowded Los Angeles in California where I first entered the United States, Orlando is still developing commercial centers and residential areas. But despite additional construction, the city’s panorama offers a restful picture, free from clutter and urban decay, because off the presence of forest reservation areas as mandated by the state. No wonder, everywhere you go, acres of verdant trees provide a refreshing sight. Going around the city, I couldn’t help but notice the existence of more than one lake, natural or man-made, in a single subdivision, probably covering half the area. I complained that with the existence of gators and snakes, why does Florida abound with so many lakes all around? It was explained to me that lakes are necessary for their drainage system, for they are nearer the water than the rest of the states. I accepted the explanation without being reassured. Despite the many things going on around Florida, my mind keeps going back to the gators. So when a suggestion was made to check out an alligator farm, I did not hesitate. The entrance to the Gatorland at Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, is ensconced in a concrete interpretation of a humongous alligator’s open mouth. The door then leads to the gift shop, which comes as a surprise as most theme parks entice visitors with memorabilia before they leave the place. First stop was the Gator Wrestlin’ Show, where an animal trainer would take out a small gator, about 8 feet long, from the pond and demonstrate the reptile’s power. Before and after the show, there’s a photo opportunity where anybody can sit on a gator and hold its mouth for $10. This does not include the picture—you may use your own camera or pay another $12 for an official Gatorland photo. The animal’s mouth is taped, of course, and the trainers are always on stand by if there are setbacks. We then witnessed the feeding of the Nile Crocodiles inside their caged sanctuary. The host went on to explain that these big animals are the cause of many human deaths wherever they may be. I shudder at the thought that they may dwell in the lake next to my aunt’s house! The audience outside the giant pool was standing on tiptoe in order to see these daring trainers lure the crocs with red meat. Our hearts were pounding for the two men who bravely interacted with the four crocs until the show was done. I also saw gators in a pond compete for lunch of dressed chicken hung high above the water during the Jumparoo Show. These 10 to 13-foot gators can jump as high as five feet above the water when food is the issue. We also rode on the park’s monorail and went around this jungle complete with a taped discourse on the different sites that we passed by. But the most interesting attraction for me was the 10-acre breeding marsh. We passed by the area on foot at first and we saw signs that we should be careful not to disturb the ferocious beasts while on the process of increasing their number. It was okay because the area was fenced up and all we saw were tall grasses and trees. Or so I thought. Then I realized that the fence stopped short of encompassing the whole area. I didn’t want to appear stupid by asking about my observation because nobody seemed to mind, I just pretended to catch up with somebody and ran as fast as I could ahead of the tour pack. Finally it was lunchtime so we went to the park’s cafeteria called Pearl’s Smokehouse. Aside from the usual American burgers and hotdog, there were Gator offerings on the menu, such as deep fried gator nuggets in batter and smoked gator ribs or a mixture of both. The kids may also have Gator Munch Kid’s Meal. I sampled the ribs, but my aunt, who has never been adventurous with food, had a hotdog sandwich. Each rib measured about 4 to 5 inches long, so it was probably that of a young alligator. It tasted like regular pork ribs brushed with smoked barbecue sauce but it has a certain after taste, which was malansa. The meat also became tough when the ribs cooled down. I said that if I did the cooking, I’d marinate it in salt, ginger, kalamansi, and a little soy sauce, boil it a short while to make the meat tender and let the flavors of the spices blend deep inside the meat. I think it would taste a whole lot better. During the meal, we had to jealously guard our food against the birds—they can fly off with an entire plate of fries if you’re not alert. Aside from these alligators and crocodiles, there are other attractions, such as the aviary, a Snakes of Florida exhibit, and a 10-minute walk around an eerie swamp complete with cypress trees, Florida wildlife, birds, and other unique swamp critters. There were also ponds filled with piles upon piles of lazy gators on wooden platforms while basking under the Florida sun. Before going out, I bravely sat on a 14-foot gator and patted its back. Good boy. Good thing—it was only a life-size replica.