穿越千年·回到大马

到西安打了一转，发觉我之前的忐忑多余呢。

在夹馍里凉皮中，一不留意，那些千年来的人间美味舌上跳跃；
在石板上城墙内，一不留心，那些千年来的时光跫音耳内回响；
在佛像前陶俑间，一不留神，那些千年来的刹那永恒心底震荡；

回到家，还没调节过来，放张六百多年前的钟楼公告天下：我回家啦~



请你也读：
5 days XiAn and LuoYang itinerary 古韵漾动·十月西安
我们在西安的家 - 西唐青年旅舍
景点：墨香洋溢的书院门
景点：西安环城公园及古城墙
景点：最艺术的聚会 - 碑林博物馆
景点：西安清真大寺
景点：回民街
美食：魏家凉皮
景点：兵马俑博物馆
景点：汉阳陵博物馆
美食：醉长安
景点：龙门石窟

景点：华山

景点：永兴坊

选一本书去旅行

每一次去旅行或公干，我总要带上一两本书。（可能你会问为什么不用e-book呢？其实我手机里e-book多得是，但我想念书香时怎办？）然而，我每次出门前收拾行李最头痛的不是衣物，而是选书。

考量实在太多：

太厚的不行，太薄的不行。太厚的重量叫我吃不消，太薄的旅程还没结束就完了。

太轻浅的不行，太沉重的也不行。太轻浅的没意思，太沉重扰乱心绪。

想带一本自己喜爱的重读，又觉得对不起一橱新书；要带一本不熟悉的作者的，又风险太大（不好看的话在旅途中没折）。

去中国又尽量不带中文书。那里书太便宜，走着逛着多买几本没问题，但看到自己千里迢迢带去的书在那儿卖得比我买的便宜还自找苦闷。

恼了好几天，终于在新书堆中选了这"How to Save Your Own Life"。

人到中年了，文艺青年扮不成了，新诗、散文、小说全撇一旁吧。

四十了还疑惑，就看这十五个小故事给我一些什么崭新的希望呗。

西安·许巍·旅行

我爱旅行，不收集纪念品，专收集那些来自骨子里最莫名的感动。

我爱旅行，更多时候不是追求地理意义上的跋涉，而是渴望漫看云卷云舒的境界。

因为已经去过西安，做起功课来没那么积极，然而关于西安的故事啊什么的，最近倒还是读了一些。这才知道，原来许巍、郑钧、张楚都是西安人。看来，经过漫长的岁月洗礼和深厚的文化积淀，盛世长安不再，却还留下几个摇滚乐手在围墙内外孤独呐喊。（郑钧说，摇滚就是现代的秦腔。） 

我一直喜欢许巍。可能骨子里有着执拗而坚韧的生命力。歌词写得特好。质朴。可以让一切喧嚣走远。

 

许巍 《旅行》

许巍作词、作曲

阵阵晚风吹动着松涛

吹响这风铃声如天籁

站在这城市的寂静处

让一切喧嚣走远

只有青山藏在白云间

蝴蝶自由穿行在清涧

看那晚霞盛开在天边

有一群向西归鸟

谁画出这天地

又画下我和你

让我们的世界绚丽多彩

谁让我们哭泣

又给我们惊喜

让我们就这样相爱相遇

总是要说再见

相聚又分离

总是走在漫长的路上

即将重游西安

人生第一次背起行囊自助游，第一站就选了西安。那，已经是十多年前的事了。

十多年前，西安的旅游业已经做得很好。古城内步伐缓慢，保留了古都精华；古城外硬体设施开始发达。没有牺牲了历史的烙印，没有牺牲了前进的步伐。而丝绸之路的文化交流促成自成一派的美食文化，至今让我魂牵梦萦。

我爱西安。这一次将要重游，我有点儿忐忑……

那十三朝古都的文化底蕴，在发展的巨轮下，依然迷人吗？记忆中那些个性十足的西安小食，依然美味吗？那些夜色下的剪影、秦砖汉瓦旁的晨钟暮鼓，还吼着厚朴的秦腔吗？

气象预测说将会细雨绵绵呢，妈妈和阿姨们在乌云满天的情况下是否也会爱上黄土高坡？或许我可以用胡辣汤和泡馍诱惑她们，或许我们可以在城墙上撑把油纸伞看雾雨蒙蒙，或许西岳华山秋韵可以帮我一把……

我希望，我们都爱西安……

Designated Survivor

Because of Kiefer Sutherland, I decided to watch Designated Survivor. (I think Kiefer Sutherland is an adept performer and he has a gift for projecting resolve and decency. I spent a few years of my life watching a few days of Jack Bauer's life. Seeing him save the country is believable)

Though I have only watched 4 episodes so far, I think this political drama is fast-moving, reasonably believable, intriguing, and is a ton of fun. Seth Wright (Kal Penn) is my favorite character so far. (As of now, Josiah Bartlet is still my favorite fictional President of the United States onscreen. We shall see if  the mild-mannered but firm Thomas Kirkman could surpass him.) 

Anyway, this blog is not about the TV series. 

After watching the pilot of the TV series, I googled Designated survivor. Apparently this TV series premise is based on the real practice which is governed by the Presidential Succession Act. The concept of a “designated survivor” first arose sometime during the Cold War, but become more serious after 911. There have been two designated survivors — one Cabinet member to rebuild the executive branch and one member of the congressional leadership to lead a new legislature. Since this designated survivor may have the possibility to become the president, the designated survivor candidate must be at least 35 years old and a natural-born citizen. (Of course, the designee doesn’t automatically become president. If another administration official higher in the line of succession happens to survive, he or she would take office instead.)  So, in the event of an attack that wiped out the nation's leaders, there is a functioning government within a week of an attack. 

Out of curiosity, I want to know what happens if this happen in Malaysia? Since we inherited British system, I googled and found this: What Happens if the British Government is Wiped Out? Apparently, Britain doesn't have procedures in place. In short, it means outside of a very tight inner circle, nobody knows exactly who would be in charge once the bombs start dropping. The reasoning: "Britain is relatively well placed to deal with it because of our strong governmental institutions. If your governance is pretty good then government departments can go on automatically for some time.” 

Unfortunately, we inherited British system. In a rough equivalent to Designated Survivor, that Parliament was attacked during the Parliament Opening, we are doomed. 

How I Pack for Two Weeks Autumn Trip in One 7-kg-hand-luggage

As I said, my principle is to pack light. For my recent Sydney + New Zealand 13D13N trip, where we visited glacier and all, I packed everything into my 7kg backpack as hand-carry.

I wore the most comfortable yet decent items for the flight: an Airism bra-top, an uv cut cardigan and a lounge pants. The lounge pants is comfortable enough for sleep, and 'normal enough' for me to wear outside. If it gets too warm, I can always remove the cardigan.

To prepare for the weather, I brought a Heattech long sleeve turtle neck, a Heattech leggings, a pair of glove, a pair of fleece socks, a beanie, a light pocketable parka as rain coat, an Ultra Light Down jacket, an Ultra Light Down vest, a scarf and a fleece jacket. (Yes, I packed a bit too much for the weather, but at least they make sure I survived star gazing at Aoraki Mount Cook)

Packed for this: 1 degree C + Strong wind

To keep me warm

The extra layers outside

To shield me from the wind and chill

As usual, I bring Airism and heattech t-shirt because they are light to pack and quick dry. I can use them as inner wear or as normal t-shirt. For this trip, I packed an Airism bra-top, an Airism short sleeve t-shirt, one heattech short sleeve t-shirt and one heattech long sleeve t-shirt.

For sightseeing, I brought a pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, an over-sized t-shirt, and a short sleeve jeans hoodie. blouse, I can match them with the Airism as inner wear, or wear them as it is.

For in-house comfort clothing, I bring two t-shirts, a shorts, and a long pants. 

All that I stated above, I categorized them using compression bags from Daiso.

They all fit well into my 35l backpack, with ample space left for my toiletries, undies, portable pail, sketching & drawing kit etc.

Of course, as usual, I cheated by squeezing my favorite Ultra Light Down jacket into my camera bag, which does not eat up any space of my 7kg-hand-luggage.

See also my Detail Itinerary: Sydney + New Zealand 13D13N

家用酸奶机

几个月前淘了个酸奶机，却一直搁在一旁，前天晚上终于开箱，把它取出来玩玩。当时买的酸奶机，送两包（二十小包）酸奶菌和四个可爱玻璃瓶。还没用我已经很满意。

用法很简单，把一公升的鲜奶倒入不锈钢器皿中，加入一小包的酸奶菌，稍微搅一搅，然后开电发酵个八到十二个小时即可。我临睡前放入，睡醒已经发酵完毕。倒入玻璃瓶内放入冰箱待享用。

除了这四小瓶，我还动用了家里的大玻璃瓶子

昨晚，用酸乳泡浸麦片，准备隔天做早餐的。

今天早上，从冰箱取出，加入muesli，加入香蕉，就是我美味健康的早餐啦~

非洲菊

几个月前买了一盆非洲菊，买来时已经开花，但花谢后茎开始腐烂、叶片开始掉落。我看情形不对，赶忙把土给换了。我在盆底换上疏松排水良好的沙质壤土，上面加上肥沃腐殖质的土壤。然后把它搬到早上日照足、通风的角落。（浇水、施肥时，切忌将水、肥淋入叶丛和花蕾上，以免引起烂花和烂叶片。）

一个月的细心照顾下，非洲菊从新长新叶、结花蕾、开花啦~

27/9

30/9

 2/10

3/10

5/10

莳萝

在五姨家挖了一棵dill回家种到盆里。Google了一下，原来中文称为莳萝。这种香料在西方烹饪中比较吃香，通常用以配海鲜，去腥用的。古埃及人将它和芫荽及泻根混合，以治疗头痛。我们中餐少用，但我还是特意种了一盆，没事干时拿来煎蛋也不错。

莳萝很容易种，放在户外日晒雨淋，几个星期就长得很好很高了。