清迈傍晚市场

我们的这一趟清迈之旅，非常的轻松，终日悠哉闲哉的。我们在清迈的第二日，花了老半天才结束了我们的shopping之旅。陪雪萍回房休息后我和美美便在酒店附近闲逛，意外发现了这个傍晚市场。

和马来西亚的傍晚市场一样，这儿普遍上以上班族为主，因此熟食占了大多数。我们看得心痒痒的，却苦于只带了一张1000 baht出门，在这市场内什么也没买成。

Sweet Homebake N Coffee

清迈是我见过的，最悠游的地方之一（但是还是比起桂林还是输了点儿）。那些咖啡厅呀、餐馆呀、一天只工作几个小时。即使是背包客聚居的城门边的starbuck也是晚上九点就关门了。这儿的“正常作息时间”可想而知。而在这种地方，正是最适合泡咖啡小屋的。

我们在街头闲逛，无意中看见角落处有家咖啡小屋，虽然简简单单的，但花园打理得别有心思，从远处看来已经觉得很温馨了。我们从街头走到街尾，累了，还是回到了这家小店。

走进咖啡小屋的范围，才发觉座位寥寥无几。我原想坐在花园内，但苦于清迈那几天热死人不赔命的天气，只好躲进有冷气的小屋内。



店内空间很小，但胜于摆设恰当，倒不觉压迫。小店装潢非常简单，但有情调，看得出店主花了好多心思。那一墙的橙黄色把空间给点亮了，有一种活泼的感觉。店内每一个角落皆有些小惊喜，很合我意。而且，店主特意保留了旧屋的特色，我特爱那个五、六十年代流行的铁窗设计。

Sweet Homebake N Coffee不只有情调，而且价格廉宜。我们俩在那儿泡了整一个小时吧？只花了90baht。下次到清迈，要是有机会，别忘了去坐坐哦~ （不过他们7pm就关门了）
Sweet Homebake N Coffee就在Holiday Inn对面Cheroen Prathet街角。

Kannichikan (KNK)

I always love Kannichikan (KNK). It's a Japanese style Korean BBQ shop, which means you can have all your simple food grilled in high grade charcoal(^^). Brought my family there several times and my mum's conclusion is, "if you want to buy me Korean dinner in the future, this IS the place" (what an expensive taste!) ;p.

Yesterday, we have a small gathering there and this is the first time I manage to bring my camera along. However, I was so focused on the food, I only managed to take very few photos ;p

Our appetizer is yukke (yukhoe in Korean). Ever since I tried this dish in Korea, I just love it. However, this dish is with raw beef and egg so please don't simply order this dish in Malaysia unless you know the quality of their material. KNK is the only certified restaurant so far (certified by my boss - the guy with the Golden Tounge ;p ).

Coming up next is my favorite BBQ dish - Gyu tan (beef tounge). Most of the Japanese and Korean restaurant serve good gyu-tan but to me KNK serve the best gyu-tan in Penang. Compare to the super-thin-sliced gyu-tan in Miraku, the gyu-tan here is slightly thicker and hence more satisfying(更有咬劲英文怎么说呀？). Go real well with lemon juice.

The pork here is also great! I love the one that marinade with pepper. (I've learnt a trick from my Korean customers from their previous trip to Penang. To have an almost-perfect grill, you can turn your meat maximum twice (professional only turn once). First, place your meat on the grilling pan nicely. Wait until the whole surface get watery then only turn to another side. You will get a nicely grilled meat when this surface turn brownish.)


We orderred two types of wagyu, one is REAL Japanese wagyu while another one is cheong-ted Australian wagyu. (well, actually both are real wagyu lah, but once, when we told our Japanese friend that we ordered "Australian wagyu", his eyes almost pop out! "Wagyuu和牛" means "Japanese Beef", he claimed! So, ok loh, we told him that Australian wagyu is OEM one loh~). The picture below shown only Australian wagyu as I was too busy eating, only 'cin-cai' take some photos of food that put in front of me.

look at the marbling fat

Well, after the wagyu beef is served, I have decided to keep my camera in the beg and be more focused on the food ;p

It's until when the following sake is served, I decided to take out my camera again. So, what is so special about this sake?

See the words that I circled? It means this sake is with edible pure gold flakes inside. And there's 2 of them in each bottle!

Can you see the gold flake in the following photo?

How about this?


Well, after more than hundres tries, I finally managed to get one of the gold flake stick on the bottle. It's a nicely carved golden flower! This can only found in Japanese products~
Well, I have to say, I'm so sorry that I focused more on eating than thinking photos. Nothing much to show here. Next time lah~ Next time I'll take more photos. Hee hee hee.....


How to go to Kannichikan Yakiniku?
~ From gurney drive, keep right. At the traffic light in front of Island Plaza, turn right and immediately to the left where there stand a row of shop lots. Kannichhikan Yakiniku is on the first floor, above the teppanyaki shop.

How Silk Is Made

I visited Silk factory at Chiang Mai last month and posted some photos on Facebook. Sha requested for a process flow for the silk making process and I promised her then. However, when I wanted to start to write about it, I noticed that I didn't "audit" them and hence do not know about all the details of the process and decision making steps....... So, I finally gave up the plan of preparing the process flow. I think a simple "Show and Tell" will do.

1. The silk worm - The newly hatched silkworm multiplies its weight 10,000 times within a month

I dare not go near to these worms so I have to use the maximum zoom in the dark condition

The fatty one, almost near the days of spinning cocoon

2. Sorting the cocoon - The cocoons are sorted according to the color, size, shape and texture as these affect the final quality of the silk. The photos below show yellow cocoons and greyish cocoons from the factory.

3. Softening - I always love silk. I always tought that it was made from the cocoon after the silkworm moth left their cocoon (yalah, never do my research properly). It was to my surprise to find out that the cocoons are put through a series of hot and cold immersions, ALIVE! I doubt if I still love silk......

Can you see the fine filaments from the cocoon?

4. Reeling the filament - this lady is unwinding the silk filaments from the cocoon and combining them together to make a thread of raw silk.

5. Bailing - checked from internet and found that these are called "book"

6. Weaving - i love this traditional way of weaving. Timeless.

This Is It

薇薇和恩恩一定纳闷了很久，“大姐怎么还不写This Is It?”
是的，他们俩分别在自己的部落里写了观后感，他们也深信我一定也会写下这么一篇，我忙了一个星期，今天，我们姐弟仨终于分别以This Is It做标题各写了一篇。


就像薇所说的，这明明是骗钱的事，但，在我生日那天，我正是明知道被骗钱也“傻傻”到电影院去。无他，就是为了MJ。

和薇及恩相比，我根本不是歌迷。也因为如此，我相信自己是更为中肯的。和许多人一样，我也不喜欢他的外表，我也不喜欢他的歌声。但是我没有办法否认，当他站在舞台上，他就是有那种慑人的魅力，让你无法不承认，他确确实实是世界上最棒的entertainer。

媒体总是把他描绘成苍白、无力、病态的怪人，老实说，我们不都瞧不起媒体描绘的那个MJ吗？可是，你想想，他们，真的认识他吗？我们总是很奇怪的、轻易的相信媒体给我们说的故事。可是，我们总是忘记，我们既不是当事人，也不是他生命中重要的人，更不是他身边任何一号人物，我们知道些什么？我们凭什么给他判罪？我们凭什么瞧不起他呢？很多年前我已经学会把那些我所不知道的“事实”摆一边，放下一切成见，纯粹的以欣赏演唱会的眼光欣赏他在舞台上的精湛。

This Is It电影刚开始不久，我有一点疑惑自己是不是选错了影片作为我庆祝自己生日的方式。那是一种非常复杂的心情，在黑漆漆的戏院内得慢慢地调节。是同情那些舞蹈员、是感慨可能我有生之年再没有第二个同等的entertainer、是遗憾自己不曾看过现场的MJ演唱会、是惋惜一场更棒的演唱会最终没有成为事实、是为现今世界乐坛觉得悲哀。这位被大家视为过气的“老”歌手在保留实力的彩排内让我们看见先今当红歌手们所没有的精湛与震撼。影片缓缓地铺开来，我嘴角开始挂起笑意。那些大家耳熟能详的歌曲原来还有这么多新意。They Don't Care About Us的概念好像很有型、Smooth Criminal的新MTV有一班老演员助阵、The Way You Make Me Feel的音乐竟然比舞台更有画面、Thriller(我们几时有得看3D的？)这么趣味怏然、Beat It仍然神采飞扬、Earth Song比以前更为震撼……唯一的遗憾是，哪有没有moonwalk的Billie Jean的呀？

我庆幸自己有幸活在有MJ的年代，有一个永恒的轻盈，会常驻我心……

柏林围墙倒下二十年了？

很难想象，才一转眼，已经二十年了。
小时候的大事，记忆都很鲜明的。我记得那一天，报章、电视上全是伯林围墙倒下的新闻，那是屹立28年后终于倒下的围墙，那是墙的两边盼望了28年后终于倒下的围墙，那是冷战终于真正结束了的希望。那个载歌载舞的场面，我记了下来……
这墙倒下前是匈牙利把它和奥地利之间的“围墙”给拆下，然后像骨牌效应般，伯林围墙就奇迹般意外地被人民给拆下了。东、西德国并没有因这一次意外立刻宣布统一。但是，终究是在一年内再次成为一家人。
从小，我喜欢这种皆大欢喜的大团圆结局，所以我把那一幕幕的新闻给记住了。我喜欢倒下的伯林围墙，正如我被南北韩手牵手走在奥运开幕礼上搞得泪盈满眶。（虽然，围墙倒下后是不是真的皆大欢喜是另一回事）
才一转眼，伯林围墙真的已经倒下二十年了。这二十年来，德国人们，你们都还好吗？

Happy Birthday to Me

哦，别误会了，并不是像叶倩文那么哀怨，是真的生日快乐的！嘻嘻！

好多人都很好奇，什么都吃不下了，究竟该怎么庆祝生日呢？但是嘛，让自己快乐起来本来就是我的看家本领，这，一点也难不到我。

早上睡到自然醒，吃一碗热腾腾的鸡粥，上面子书搞搞笑，陪妈妈看了一部影片，然后硬把老弟给拉去陪我看This Is It，让the King娱乐我。看完后意犹未尽，再到Borders买了一本Jodi Picoult打算今晚通宵达旦。在回家的路上，我拿了Häagen-Dazs寄来的生日卡，到Autocity败了三桶不同口味的雪糕，一边吃一边玩Bejewled Blitz!

呵呵，真是生日快乐！

悲壮

这几天的每一个清晨和每一个晚上，我总要做令我非常抗拒又非做不可的三部曲。
第一、刷牙。刷牙虽然本是小事一幢，但当你的上下牙龈全又痛又肿，刷牙就是一件非常艰辛的事。一来要用一种相当于刷等于没刷的力度，二来不小心弄到牙肉、附近的口疮是再平常不过的事。结果刷了一轮牙，洗脸盆上血迹斑斑……
第二、漱口。既然刷牙是以刷等于没刷的力度，漱口就得非常讲究了。最低限度也得用上Listerine吧？这一漱可就不得了，我希望它真的如广告所说的可以杀菌，否则我的命可是平白牺牲了。
最悲壮的，就属第三步了：以盐水漱口并饮之。我总是拖着沉重的步伐，慢慢地从房间一步一步地走下楼，像等着上靶场的囚犯，明明知道是难逃一劫的，却又想要争取那么一点点最后的自由的时光。我一个人呆呆地站在厨房，手里握着一杯盐水，像港剧内那些借酒消愁的失意人，目光无神，双眼含泪地往窗外望，偶尔眼泪还会不听使唤地缓缓滑过脸颊。小小半杯盐水，一喝就喝它半个小时……

平时我洗刷冲凉换衣到跳上汽车，前后最多也只不过二十分钟。这熬人的三部曲几时才会成为过去呢？

真的打败仗了~

我很少生病，一病起来却总是石破天惊，不把旁人吓怕不罢休的。
这一次，一样啦，我以为自己是外星来意志力超强的superwoman。身体开始向我投诉时，我一直想，不要紧，用我的意志力，熬过着一个星期就没事了。结果事与愿违，星期三下午我开始有点儿发冷。回到家九点多倒头就睡，隔天醒来龙马精神的，还暗暗自喜，觉得自己真的很本事。谁知道到了办公室，冷气吹几吹，我又发烧了。交待了一切，向老板拿了半天假回家睡觉。我以自己向来的偏方，把自己裹得结结实实的，焖出了一身汗，睡醒，万病皆除，沾沾自喜的，谁须要医生？
星期五，才到办公室不久，全身冷得起鸡皮疙瘩、小指指甲还冷得呈紫色。自己也吓怕了，这才甘愿去看医生。医生轻描淡写的，也不像有什么大事，我拿了药回家，吃饱后吃药，事后便不省人事了。
到了星期六晚上，口腔内全是ulcer。我开始怀疑我其实中的是coxsackie（以前听我侄女中coxsackie也是一口ulcer的），只是医生碍于年龄实在不符而不敢乱下定论。接着是牙龈开始又红又肿，牙齿好像都不长在我的牙龈上。这可吓死我了，那天正好是万圣节，我真担心隔天睡醒一床头的牙齿，我成了名正言顺的巫婆。颈项两旁的淋巴腺开始肿胀，肿得连我的脸颊也肉肉的。太可怕了！（不过我依然倒头就睡）
今天睡醒，我照镜子，自己怎么看都不像正常人，只好硬着头皮要妈妈带我到Adventist去。我也不是真的很爱Adventist，只是听说礼拜天就只有这么一家医院是有专科医生就诊的（难道他们都比其他的医生‘等钱洗’？）
到了医院，妈妈把我放在lobby，她找位子泊车去了。我明明是双颊红润，红唇烈焰的，一幅思春的模样（真的，你试试40高烧时照镜子看！）到了登记处，那个护士竟然问我：“Do you want to go to Emergency Room?”我一我高八度的嗓音问她：“Emergency Room?? Why??”，她一幅很无辜的样子说：“I thought you can't stand anymore so I want to send you to emergency room”。真是夸张。我当然不会傻傻的让她哔卟哔卟地把我送去急救室，只好乖乖的挂号等着。
我对医院不熟，找118号房也找了好久，中途遇见威正一家人，原来小宝贝来打针。我离他们远远的谈了几句就走了。自己变巫婆就好了，别传染给人家。
好不容易等了两个小时才终于轮到我，吕大夫看起来五十多岁的模样，很严肃的样子，我也不敢多话。待他终于检查完毕，他说，是扁桃腺发炎呢！你得住院观察。在那一刻我突然之间以平时fat lan za的语气和声调对他说“NOOOOO!!!!”，也不知他真的被我吓怕，还是真的只是小事一庄，反正我就是可以回家休养啦~ 这是一定要庆祝的！(^^)
他说，要是星期二烧还不退，记得回来看我。我笑。
现在，全家人都去看This is it了，留下我孤零零的，一直徘徊在半梦半醒之间……

Wat Chedi Luang

还没有到清迈时，在网上、或旅游册子、或朋友们介绍，都说Wat Phra That Doi Suthep是清迈最漂亮的寺庙。但到了那儿，我发觉我更爱Wat Chedi Luang的纯朴与真实。
Wat Chedi Luang是清迈最古老的寺庙，那个chedi古老而庄严。 有一种历经沧桑的感觉。