Japan Part 2

I am running out of ideas on this post....

Will write short notes on these pictures....

Breathtaking views to enjoy while we skied away.....

It was soooooo cold up on the slopes...

Happy New Year!!!

People were at the temple making wishes to their Japanese god.....

Getting their car 'blessed' by this scary looking man in a green robe.

I hope he was blessing it....not performing an exorcism :P

Washing their hands outside the temple before going into the temple

In Otaru... where its famous for glassware and musical boxes.

This has sooooooo many musical boxes. I regret now not buying one.

I would have bought this one... 2 dahschunds playing the violin and the flute

* Back to Hokkaido again???? Yes pleaseeeeeeeeeeee

Yupe..... i got sucked into buying a Burberry Blue Label scarf.

I bought it only because its exclusive to Japan... :p

Remembering Japan (Part 1)

Its been a little over a year ago when the hubby and I visited Hokkaido, Japan. Sapporo and the other towns we visited were blanketed in fresh snow. Only a few days ago there was this heartbreaking earthquake/tsunami at Sendai (north east of Japan?). Its more of a mountain/agricultural area..and the damage is devastating. We didn't go there but the news of it certainly made me sad. I can't bear to watch anymore of the news on television....

Anyhow, lets go back to the happier side of this post. Now where was I? Oh ya...there was a lot a lot a lot of snow when were there in January. It was actually new years when we were there.

We experienced all forms of snow:

1) Light, soft and fluffy snow...gently falling on your face.

2) Heavy, piercing..OMG get me outta here snow

We went skiing...and I must say its the best snow! Soft powdery snow... We skied on snow that were fresh...and no one has skied before us. Falling over (which did not happen too frequently :P) was comfortable :P because it was like falling on fluffy cushions. The scenery was very picturesque. Too bad the ski trip was a little too short. We were on a tour from HK and no one wanted to ski except us. So we had only the morning to ski, and by noon....we had to do compulsory 'shopping'/'sight-seeing' stuff.

Me and my snow angel. Bringme back to the snow!

We went to some mini bear zoo. This is the part I do not agree...they kept bears and raccoons in some enclosed area out in the open in the middle of winter. Tourists like us will then buy apples or whatever to feed them. I thought bears we supposed to be hibernating in winter? These poor animals were doing tricks to make us feed them. I have to say I fell in love with a few..ehhee... because he/she was too cute. Check out the photos below. Which one is the cutest?

Of course we ate and ate. How can one go to Japan and not stuff their face with their cuisine? Boy did we eat. Seafood is abundant in Hokkaido. There must be some form of growth hormone in the sea of Hokkaido. The size of the prawns, crabs, scallops, abalone are like XXL compared to the ones we find back in Australia, Malaysia and HK.

One thing I didn't enjoy was the way it was cooked (or lack of..). We were adviced to eat them all raw...... I can eat raw stuff but not everything...every meal. Not in the middle of winter when it is 1 degree outside. Sometimes there is a shabu-shabu style meal but still...where is my stir-fry crab with XO sauce served on a bed of noodles? I have Chinese blood flowing in me....so I love my stir-fry :P Yeah too much raw stuff on this trip. I gave up on raw stuff one lunch and ordered a Tonkatsu Bento. MmmMMm crispy deep fried pork.

We did eat some non-raw stuff too.. We had some ramen.

My ramen chef cooking away...and my lovely buttery Hokkaido ramen..mmMMmm.

Dinner is complete with Sapporo beer on tap ^^

Of course the Japanese McDonald. Joe's mum told us we had to eat their prawn burger. Hmm nothing special..... Maybe it had to do with us trying to gobble it down quickly while we were there because our eyes and noses were burningfrom the cigarette smoke. Smoking is allowed indoors in Japan.All these ladies were puffing away in McD. EWWwww......

I didn't get to do any clothes shopping in Hokkaido :( The one thing I did get though was a Blue Label Burberry scarf. Since Blue Label is exclusive to Japan, I had to get one :) The tour didn't allow us much time to do retail shopping.

Oh yea, I did buy another thing...I bought a Le Creuset Round 24cm (Wasabi Colour). The tour guide was SHOCKED that we were going to lug a pot home. He said he's never ever seen someone buy that :) What can I say? I'm special. Also, the Wasabi range is only available in Japan. Good purchase! (oh it was on sale too). I love cooking with it........ So pretty :)

Next Post: Japan Trip 2010 !

This one is a special request by Audrey :)

* I need to find the photos :P

Embarrassing Moments

(image by Garance Dore)

This happened in 2010 April/May when I was shopping in HK with the husband and the mother-in-law. We were hunting for a bag for Joe's aunt who resides in Malaysia. So we were browsing in Salvatore Ferragamo @ TST. When suddenly a beautiful bag caught my eye sitting there on the side table next to the shoes. I quickly walked over....picked it up and admired it and thought:

"Gee... this display bag is kinda heavy. Its so beautiful. Since when did Ferragamo make a Hermes Birkin bag look-a-like?"

Sales lady: "Excuse Miss, this bag belongs to the lady trying on her shoes over there"

-______________________- """"""""

ZOMG...I was so red faced...... And yes my husband saw me doing the crazy deed. I had to dash quickly back to the bag section...and pretended that never happened. Thank goodness the onwer of the bag did not see me.......

Thats why I put up a picture drawn by Garance Dore of a lady carrying a Birkin.

Welcoming 2011...the year of the Rabbit

We didnt spend the lunar new year in Malaysia or in Hong Kong due to work commitments. So we had to celebrate it in Australia with our buddies. I've never really cooked a CNY meal so this year, it was my attempt No.1. Its not a very traditional FooChow CNY meal but it still feeds 4 people :P

1) Roast duck (this was a take-away dish)

2) Steamed osyters with XO sauce..mmMm

3) Steamed Snapper with lots of garlic and scallions

4) Stewed Abalone (everyone liked it except me)

5) Crispy Pork Belly

6) Braised mushrooms with scallops

7) Spinach with Goji berries in Superior sauce

8) Red bean soup with mochi (sesame paste fillings)

It was a coincidence that we had 8 dishes. I just realised it while doing this post! Does that mean we'll be '8' for the rest of the year? :P

Trying to Grow again..

Introducing my mini garden ...

1) The hardy herbs (Mrs Rosemary, Mrs Thyme and Mr Spring Onion)

If they die.... I will never attempt to plant again....

2) Japanese roses / a.k.a 9 a.m flowers (according to my grandparents)

They look a lot better now (this was taken 3 wks ago)

3) ???? They just looked cute so I got them from Bunnings :P

4) The bravest thing I've ever planted... Baby Snow Peas!

They are about 30 cm now and have started flowering ^^

Joining the Work Force..

(Barbie Dentist 1997 image from google-images)

Van has finally started working in 2011. But some (i.e the husband) will argue that working 3 days a week is slack). Hahaa...yea it is a bit slack but working 4 days a week in the place I;m working is considered full time already. They didn't have enough rooms to give me 4 days. So I'm not arguing :) Work is good so far....and everyone is nice. The boss is willing to give guidance anytime and that is a bonus.

I bought a similar barbie gift for my dear friend. I'm glad she absolutely adores it. Phew!!! Otherwise she'd think I've gone cuckoo in the head for buying her a toy as a birthday pressie. I wonder is it in her surgery or at home? I would put mine in the surgery...but I guess kids might smother it will they germs......

Talking about barbie dolls, I've only had ONE barbie during my entire childhood. She had long wavy blonde hair but over the years it straightened out and turned a bit brassy. And of course I gave her a haircut! I gave her a BOB..and why didn't it grow back???

Ooh La La...My Bison Pot & Carrots...

The last photo was edited to give an antique/rustic feel.... do you like it?

The main reason for this post was to show the ginseng like carrots the hubbie took home from work. A nurse at the clinic had a huge harvest last week so she was giving them away.... They look too cute to be eaten.... Maybe I should replant them? Will they grow more baby carrots? Haha I doubt it......

Most of my friends would know that I can't grow anything. I can even kill cactus. And up til today I still have the dried cactus sitting on my kitchen bench....I don't want to believe that I killed it....so I'm just gonna pretend that the cactus/cacti are still alive :)

FYI: All my herbs die too (even rosemary)

The only things that thrive in our garden are the things planted by our gardener i.e everything. Anything else we put in..... it goes to vegie heaven....

Hmmm actually we do have one thing that survived. Our Olive tree....but I think it only survived because my gardener transplanted it into the ground...otherwise I think it would have been short lived too....

Lesson learnt so far....is to get the gardener to plant it and look after it. No potted plants in the house unless its plastic... :P

Christmas 2010 DIY

Do you like my rustic Christmas wreath? Its made of intertwined rattan, and decorated with red/green/yellow wooden buttons. Oh I don't think you'd believe I actually made it... :P The wreath came 'naked' and I sewed the buttons onto it..and tied the massive green ribbon. Ta daaa... easy easy. The houses on my street tend to not decorate (exterior) during Christmas. They would only put a wreath..and I think its really nice that way. Too much Christmas lights are kinda Over The Top unless you're entering the Christmas Lights competition which happens yearly and the residents of Oakleigh/Heidelberg go crazy with the lights. You can probably see their houses from the moon :P

I did take a few other photos of our Christmas tree and our trustworthy mascot Muffin in his costume but its on the other camera and I havent loaded it yet. Will update this post once I get it done....

I GRADUATED !!!! Now I have the License to Drill

On the 4th Dec 2010, I finally graduated after 5 long years. My friends came to congratulate me and showered me with sooooo many flowers. I love love flowers...

Thank you x 999 (You braved the crazy summer heat)...

When I got home, I had to dismantle most of the bouquets and put the flowers into every single vase, bottle I could find (e.g milk bottles, glasses, etc). My house turned into a floral shop and there was pollen everywhere... I had to load up on the antihistamines :)

I will officially start drilling on Monday 31/1/11...and I wonder how long I'll stay in the Australian work force before making the move to another land (to be revealed slowly)... Wish me luck! Hopefully no screamers on my Day 1 (fingers crossed).

Illustration by Garance Dore

Totally ignored this blog for so long......

But I'll return to it in 1 months time.........

Wish me luck...

Its the final dash to the finish line......

Then i'll be freeeeeeeeeee......

Whats on my to do list when I finish? Hmm....

1) Hair cut

- Hair is so disgustingly long/thick/unmanageable MOP now

2) Dress shopping

3) Shoe shopping

4) Clean my bat cave (a.k.a. combat/study zone)

5) Do nothing...and just sit there and enjoy nothingness....bliss

6) Get a job if I haven't got one by then..AHHH STRESS AGAIN

7) Prepare for a holiday in Sept/Oct 2011

P/S Do you like Garance's illustrations? I heart them...

If only i had legs like that...

Vietnam & Cambodia (June 2009)

Winter break last year was spent with the hubbie and in-laws in Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. It was a 14 day trip...and boy did I have FUN FUN FUN. This post will be primarily on Vietnam and Cambodia.

First impression of Ho Chi Minh city.... MAD TRAFFIC x 1000

For the first time in my life I witness more motorbikes than cars on the road.

They drive madly..have no sense of traffic rules...and trust me, when motorbike riders get knocked down (which is all the time) they just get up and continue their journey like nothing happened! AHHH!!

Tiger Cage Cell

Vietnam had a sad war history.... we went to the War Remnants Musuem which was quite a harrowing experience. It had depictions of the atrocities carried out by the US troops and the effects it had on the vietnamese people.

Plastered all over the walls were pictures showing torn corpses, severed heads and the most disturbing were the pictures of kids that had been born with defects as a result of the US use of chemicals (Agent Orange, Napalm etc etc).

Now lets move on to something more positive...Mystical Ha Noi

This place reminds me of GuiLin, China. I have never been there but it definitely looks like it from all the photos my parents took when they were there...and all those travel shows. But apparently GuiLin does not have so many mountains and is not as wide.... The sea water at Ha Noi is eerily green.....

(image from googleimages.com)

I did not take a dip in the sea (unlike the hubbie). I'm scared of the great ocean..and yes JAWS. Too many movies...Jaws I, II, III

The Ben Thanh Market! This famous Saigon landmark has been present since the French occupation. They sell all sorts of things from food to counterfeit items. The most annoying thing about shopping in Vietnam is 'Getting Ripped Off'. Some old lady tried to sell me an orange for 1USD after realising that I wasn't local. So she thinks I can't do mental arithmetics huh?? I can convert Dong to USD!!!

My trip would be INCOMPLETE if I didn't taste a bowl of true Pho, Saigon style. So what's the verdict? Its not as salty, less MSG than those in Melbourne...and I like it that they use lime instead of lemon. But the rare beef slices are definitely not as tender. I mostly had the Chicken/Gai Pho. So I'd say Saigon Pho = Melb Pho. BUT one thing I know for sure.... Melbourne Pho is CLEANER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so unFortunate to have gastro problems after eating Pho and their Iced Coffee on the second last day of our trip. I think they left the milk out too long on the counter before serving it to patrons. I felt sick...was spewing, and made numerous toilet bowl visits.... The in-laws thought I was pregnant!!! Sorry I am not.

The Three Ballerinas

The best thing we bought in Vietnam was this painting by local artist Binh Nguyen.

CAMBODIA!!!!

I'm gonna be biased and say I prefer traveling in Cambodia. The people are genuinely nicer, and are not trying to rip you off at every opportunity. The 'tuk-tuk'/moped drivers would recommend restaurants that serve true Khmer food without the tourist prices (compared to those printed on hotel brochures). And even came back to pick us up after dinner! I guess he knew we'd tip him....and we did it gladly.

Even though Cambodia went through hell under Pol-Pot's regime, I'd say the people have moved on and this was reflected on the paintings the locals produce. Most of them have smiling faces...kids running around... We bought one called Happy Cambodia! It is now sitting in my living room....will take a pic of it soon.

Our planned trip to Cambodia was only to visit Siam Reap and its mighty Angkor. The travel agent who booked our tickets accidently booked Phnom Phenh instead of Siam Reap. Our hotels were booked for Siam Reap!!! We checked in at the airport...was waiting to board the plane when I gazed unto my boarding pass 'Saigon' to 'Phnom Phenh'.

- I asked, "Hey are we going to Phnom Phenh or Siam Reap?" (I am usually the blur one).

- The hubbie replied,"Siam Reap...Angkor Wat is in Siam Reap".

-I replied," but the boarding pass says Phnom Phenh!!!!"

- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Frantic calls were made immediately....and we had to fly to Phnom Phenh and it was an eye opening experience. A mistake I'm glad the travel agent made.....

We didn't have enough time to visit the infamous killing fields. They say that bones and clothing jut from the grounds.....

But we managed to go to prison, S-21 (Tu0l Sleng Genoicide Museum). This is where Pol Pot housed victims before they were sent to the killing fields. This was a rather reflectful trip. Every single person that went into this prison was documented on photos. Pictures were taken upon entry and when they're dead. These pictures were plastered all over the place. I did not take much photos because I felt they needed respect...and also I had goosebumps throughout my time there.

The prison cells were erected in an old school building. Rooms were subdivided into little cells for 'upper class' prisoners and 'lower class' prisoners had their legs shackled onto the ground. They (50 at a time) were made to lie on the ground, side by side shackled up. It was painful to just see the empty shackles on the floor.....

They used Physical Ed bars as torture places, and all sorts of unimaginable tools. Prisoners were banned from talking, and even banned them from crying or making any sound when tortured....... it was so inhumane....

The guy in-charge of that the Khmer Rouge prison back then was Comrade Duch. He was charged for crimes against humanity.... and he pleaded guilty in 2009. He pleaded to be released!!!!! NO NO NO NO NO!!!!

Ok enough war stuff.... Please visit Cambodia if you have the chance....

Beautiful...breathtaking...majestic..... 12th Century Temple Angkor Wat at dawn.

Tourists (including us) wake up at 5am to get here to capture this shot.

A reflected image of Angkor Wat on the pond...

Inside, the walls are carved to perfection with the dancing 'Apsara'. These are supposedly beautiful, supernatural, elegant woman. Each Apsara is different... Many walls/carvings were destroyed during Pol Pot's regime because they used Angkor Wat as a fortress

When we were temple hopping, we realised that animals loved the temples too.....

Some other temple had carvings of Chinese troops battling the Cambodians! Woo Hoo!!

Ta Phrom Temple

Made even more famous after Lara Croft's Tomb Raider was shot here. Go Angelina Jolie!

This blog post is sooooo long.... You might get sick of it...so I'm gonna stop here.

Hugx

Van