Sunday 28 April 2013

Overpriced Cafe

We planned for a simple lunch at Georgetown yesterday, not knowing that it was a replacement school day. Traffic was terrible and it was hard to get a parking lot in Georgetown. Our initial plan was to try the Micke's Place but it was closed. We then went to The Mugshot Cafe and it was full house!! So, we ended up at this lovely famous cafe at Muntri Street.

The decoration has not much changes since Cafe-C. It still has the cozy ambiance of old charm. I have always wanted to come and try what the new owner has to offer but I have dragged this for years. Finally.

I am still very excited about everything, until I saw the menu. Overall, everything is overpriced for Georgetown standard. I told myself "who knows, maybe the food is heavenly, maybe the portion is huge" so we ordered what the waitress recommended (I always do this when I go to any restaurant that I've never tried before. I always believe that the waiters and waitresses must have known what are the best)


We ordered one Seafood Tapas (RM89), one Traditional Tapas (RM55), a cup of cappuccino, a glass of plain water, and 2 glasses of fruit juices. The bill says RM219 for 4 of us!!!

This is what we get for the 2 tapas sets

The food doesn't come with huge portion as you can see from the photo. The juices are forgettable. The food is not bad, but very far away from heavenly. Nothing to shout about.

I still think this is a good place to enjoy the peaceful weekend at Georgetown, as long as you don't mind paying two three times higher price than other cafes.However, if your purpose is just to sit down and chit chat with friends, or to read a book while sipping coffee, or just to enjoy the rustic / nostalgic feel of Georgetown, I could easily list more than 10 cafes that you should consider FIRST before this :)

Not bad, really, just overpriced.

Bud Spencer & Terence Hill


Does anyone I know out there watched Bud Spencer and Terence Hill's movies before? I used to love them a lot when I was in primary school because my dad is a fan and we used to rent a lot of their movies VHR back then.

I don't know how my brain function. Out of no where, suddenly, I recalled the beautiful bright blue eyes of Terence Hill, and those funny scenes that brighten my warm afternoons during school holidays...

I guess it is time for me to ask En to download some old movies of them for me :)

Saturday 27 April 2013

五条路Rojak

我从小酷爱啰吔(rojak)。

小时候住在垄尾,炎炎午后总有小贩“叮叮叮”地从外头经过。有时候妈妈心血来潮,会给我两角钱解馋。我总是兴奋地拿着铁碟子到外头等待啰吔伯伯。我最爱酸酸的芒果、连雾和黄梨配上啰吔酱,感觉特别解暑。

长大后,啰吔一直是我最爱的小吃。而我最爱的,就是这档“五条路”的赤脚uncle的啰吔。和别人稍微不同的是,他的啰吔还洒上belacan粉和虾米,正适合重口味的娘惹后代,嘻嘻。

今天,天气酷热,又想念啰吔啦~就特地绕去瞧瞧。Uncle的女儿说今年六月底后他们就不做啦。我说那你搬去哪儿呢。她说你误会了,我是说我们再也不做生意了。对我而言简直是晴天霹雳!

她给了我一张名片,说六月之后可以打电话问问,她可能会继续给别的档口supply啰吔酱。不过belacan粉及虾米的比率秘方就不传啦~

啊啊啊~~~~~!!

我买了一包,再买三瓶啰吔酱,回到家一面慢慢品尝,一面盘算着接下去两个月是不是应该勤力一点儿到五条路走走……

Friday 26 April 2013

北越逍遥游(三):沙坝

沙坝是个说大不大说小不小的山上旅游小镇。民风依然纯朴,适合想要逃离城市喧哗的游客。

我们在沙坝的第一天,天气时晴时雨的。我们非常享受微凉的气候,要么躲在房内休息、要么到院子里看书、 要么到镇内走走、要么喝杯咖啡、要么吃点春卷……反正就是悠闲。

骤然间浓雾笼罩的沙坝湖


游客聚居的地方


餐厅公然卖烤狗

第二天,我们在沙坝的梯田间游走。天气一流,弥补了我在龙脊梯田没有阳光的小小遗憾。不过,我在龙脊的经历触动内心最深层的感动而近乎完美,沙坝的美景反而比不上了……



背着孩子和我们一块儿走
我们在酒店和导游汇合,然后随她到沙坝镇上。她到较远处的小旅馆迎接游客去了,苦了在广场上等待的我们。我们被一群当地妇女团团包围,她们或许是想做生意、或许单纯是因为好客、或许是想多多练习英语,反正她们都以英语问“你叫什么名字”、“今年几岁啦”这两个问题,我对这些问题没有意见,但问题是一行人十来个,个个轮流来问我们一样的问题,开始时我们还很有礼貌地和她们对答,答久了好想找洞钻避开她们。尴尬得很。

导游好不容易终于带着另一个游客出现,我们才发觉原来她们将会一路随我们走回她们的小村庄。

我们走了差不多十二公里的路程,或许是因为气候好、空气清新、风景宜人,我们一路走着并不觉得不难走,在村庄间穿梭走进当地人的生活还真是不错。

我们的导游给我们介绍了好些植物(我却只记下了路边采下的大麻)、带我们到学校走走、看当地人耕种、看外来自愿者建道路…… 


浩浩荡荡出发

大麻的茎是麻绳原料、叶子是土药

学校整洁而明亮







Tuesday 23 April 2013

An Unplanned Visit to Penang Hill

It has been quite demotivating recently, so I planned a ladies' day out last Sunday. We were aiming for the afternoon tea at Suffolk House. Unfortunately, when I arrived, this is the sign that's waiting for me:


I have to make a quick decision so that the girls will not be disappointed. I have a few restaurant options in mind but my criteria was: it has to serve English Afternoon Tea in a pleasant environment. The first one that came into my mind was David Brown's Restaurant. I love the picturesque restaurant whereby we can enjoy an afternoon tea along a pond with fresh air. So, I made a call, confirmed that they do serve English Afternoon Tea, and headed to Penang Hill after met up with the girls.

They were very excited with this unplanned trip to Penang Hill. Some have never been up there, and most of them couldn't recall their last visit decades ago.


By the time we reached the cable car station, I was shocked to find that it is under renovation. (I would have gave up if this ad hoc plan doesn't work too.) Luckily the cable car is still in service. The two-way ticket cost RM30 per adult. However, if you have a MyCard, you can get your two-way ticket at the price of RM8 :)


The cable car ride is always fun if you are at the first car. The kid sit next to us was a bit nervous since this new cable car provide better (or scarier) view compare to the older version. I love being elevated while seeing more and more areas of Penang Island, and getting closer and closer to the green. (By the way, do you know that technically, this is a funicular and not cable car)


Just love the panorama view of Penang Island on top of Penang Hill. Like every other tourists, we took lots of photos before we even start exploring Penang Hill. 

After a short walk from the cable car station, David Brown's Restaurant is on your left. You won't miss it since you can easily see the patio umbrellas decorating the blue sky.  


You will first arrive at the newly renovated viewing platform (Sky Terrace) of David Brown's Restaurant. Great view, yes! Seems like a great place to chill, fully agree! Lively jazz music makes you wanted to stay, I can understand that. However, if you are here for the afternoon tea, don't get distracted. Please don't stop here. Keep going, find the stairs and continue your journey. 





You will then come to this lovely part of the restaurant, the original bungalow. The pond is full with pink and purple water lilies. If you are lucky, you can meet a few cute frogs jumping around too.

We were very excited. The garden is excellent for afternoon tea, the patio is very welcoming, and the indoor is with very authentic feel too. It was not very hard to choose though (who wouldn't want to sit under the trees by the pond with cool breeze and birds chirping?!). However, we couldn't help but to explore everything about the restaurant before we finally decided to sit down and take a look at the menu.

The price is slightly high for Penang standard. Obviously you are paying for the view :)

However, we have planned to pampered ourselves at Suffolk House anyway so price is not the issue here. It is already budgeted :)


This set comes with a pot of tea for two. RM78
We ordered all the 3 different choices listed under the afternoon tea menu. The food is just so so, but we love the ambiance. The girls imagined that this is how 贵妇 (ladies) spend their afternoon: chit-chatting, wandering around from time to time to take photos or for a sudden change of view, enjoy the tea, have some bites, laughing and joking around......

While we were there, besides being constantly harassed by 3 little wasps that love strawberry jam, we also spotted squirrels and musang running around between the trees.

We spent more than 3 hours at this restaurant, and we had lovely time. The fact that this is unplanned, the fact that this is a little surprise in life, the fact that we were close to the nature, the fact that we have friends that we can share some wonderful time, make these few hours memorable.



We left before sunset because some of the girls have other plans after the prolonged afternoon tea.


We wanted to take some selves-portrait photos but even the Facebook Queen couldn't get satisfying shots.


The "Big Sister" (not me!) decided to ask the tourist that was laughing at us be our photographer. So here's our group photo to conclude our Penang Hill Surprise Visit :)

Thursday 18 April 2013

看牙医去

我看起来好像天不怕地不怕的样子,却当然也有死穴。牙医肯定是其中一个。进到牙医师,不知怎的,膝盖就无力,双脚发软。


上一次看牙医,没有十年也至少八年前的事了。这一次,要不是已经连续几个月刷牙流血,要不是恰逢有事得请假一天,我可能还没能下定决心去看牙医呢。

我今天看的是个女牙医,非常温柔。 可是由于我的是千年牙垢,洗牙可是大工程。整个过程至少一小时半,我张嘴张得全身酸痛。加上那些各种各样的仪器在我的嘴里发出各种各样令人毛骨悚然的声音,我即使穿着长袖外套仍觉得寒气攻心。那一个小时半仿佛过了几个世纪,可怜的护士除了得帮我抽嘴角的口水,还得帮我抹眼角的泪水……

洗完牙,女牙医语重心长地劝我半年后再来见她。“以后每一年都洗牙就不会痛啦~”我对她苦笑。届时再说吧~

至今七个小时过去了,牙根非常敏感不说,我吃东西仍然双颊肌肉酸痛。

唉,牙医……我知道你们是为我们好,只是……唉……

Sunday 14 April 2013

北越逍遥游(二):河内街景

老实说,河内对我而言,实在没有什么看头。这反而好,我们就无所事事呗。

不知怎的,我总觉得河内的街景正合了外国人对东南亚的审美,老旧的、杂乱的、人性的、单纯的、强烈的……对于在东南亚长大的我们,却有点儿过量了,我不讨厌,但没有学会爱上它。

我喜欢悠闲的喝咖啡的日子,喜欢漫无目的乱走的脚步,是既来之则安之的自得其乐,与河内无关……

还剑湖为市区带来绿茵

到处可见中国文化的踪影

当然还有殖民地风情

信教的应该不少

还站在街角看报纸呢!

我的相机里最河内的一张照片

是学书法的吧?

民以食为天

有人爱狗。有人吃狗

累了?来一杯咖啡






Friday 12 April 2013

邮购初体验

我从来不邮购,特别是衣服。我对那些我摸不着布料、试不了剪裁的衣物完全没有信心。不过,前一阵子因为迷上Sheldon穿的T-shirt,曾经很认真地在网络上寻找便宜、可靠又提供国际运送服务的T-shirt网站,并且很认真地寻找那periodic table shower curtain

结果Sheldon's T-shirt买不成,却因为碰上Threadless大减价(再加上薇曾经在这网站给我买过恤衫,有了信心),而第一次在网上败家。

昨天回到家里,第一批货物已经收到啦~(这次邮购得分两批,因为其中一批是卖断货后重印的,反正是免费运送,我倒不在意)

因为是第一次,有点儿兴奋,赶忙拍照留念。 

Package from Threadless

里头有一件给恩的T-shirt,名为“Spoilt”(是的,threadless网站上的衣服都像艺术品,都有名字的)。我自己非常喜欢。很有顽童恶作剧的调皮,又只有电影爱好者才会发出会心一笑的设计。

SPOILER ALERT!你要是注意看,全和电影有关。而且都是非常要命的spoiler哦~不过设计师也算相当含蓄,大多数spoiler在你还没看过那电影前应该不会明白,我也还有几部电影没给认出来呢。













另外,我又买了三本笔记本(由左至右:Thumbper, Field Study 01, Break Free)。尺寸是我喜欢的小巧型,正适合作为我的旅游日记。

接下来,就期待另一批T-shirt的到来啦~

北越逍遥游(一):Hanoi 7D6N 流水账

已经养成了一种习惯,每去某个地方,回来总要把itinerary及花费和大家分享。也不是特别坚持,但觉得平时自己自助游总是在网上得到许多他人的资讯帮助,我也希望自己可以为大家贡献点什么的。

Ha Long Bay


我对北越的印象可以以几个词儿形容:交通糟、市容脏、物价贵、咖啡香。看起来好像贬义词比较多,但我们这一趟旅行非常悠闲,倒享受得很。说是北越之旅,说穿了也就只为沙坝梯田(Sapa)、下龙湾(Ha Long Bay)以及河内的“饮饮食食”。以下是简单的行程及花费供参考(一切花费以两人计):

3月31日(Old Quarters + Hoan Kiem Lake;乘夜晚的火车到Lao Cai,睡在火车上)
我们于早上九点到达河内机场。在机场要了一辆的士到Old Quarters,然后绕着还剑湖(Hoan Kiem Lake)转,和当地人一样享受青绿公园的悠闲。午餐也就索性到City View Restaurant吃午餐继续欣赏湖景就是了。吃了午餐我们就开始在Old Quarters的街上钻,顺便物色最后一晚的住宿地点。
一来扛着重重的背囊,二来懒惰,我们找个借口到Finnegans Hotel(我们4月3日的住宿)做一些行程上的安排,然后把行囊给丢下就走。我们到酒店工作人员介绍的越南馃条档子学当地人坐在矮凳上吃晚餐,然后回酒店还借用冲凉房洗澡更衣,才乘的士到火车站去。
(taxi from airport to Old Quarters VND330,000; Coffee break near Hoan Kiem Lake VND174,000; Lunch at City View Restaurant VND280,000; Dinner - Pho at road side VND70,000; Taxi from hotel to train station VND53,000; Night train to Sapa USD86)

4月1日(Sapa;宿Sapa Garden B&B
火车到达Lao Cai才凌晨六点,我睡得糊里糊涂的,从上铺下来时一不小心就摔了下来,吓坏了美美。我反正也跌惯了,也不觉得怎样,拿起背包就往火车站出口走去。Sapa Garden B&B已经安排了车子来接我们到民宿。一下车,迎接我们的是两只异常热情的大狗,给人一种游子和爱狗久别重逢的错觉。哈哈!民宿花丛簇锦,在凉风薄雾里显得特别漂亮温馨。我一到步,就爱上了。
我们原想随团到乡村trekking,老板说这天天气不太好,你们今天就休息休息,明天才去吧。正合我意呢!我们吃过早餐,回房间梳洗、休息,然后到院子里看书、喝咖啡,还奢侈得有机会小睡一会儿!
睡醒后我们开始步行到沙坝镇,半途下起倾盆大雨,我们俩躲在一家小旅馆的五脚基避雨。我一如往常般幸运,小旅馆老板差女儿出来请我们俩到客厅休息喝茶(改天告诉你们详情)。雨停后我们继续往上走。小镇真的没什么看头,我们绕了一圈就决定找个地方坐下来喝咖啡继续悠闲。由于我们刚看见烤狗,对于“食物安全性”存疑,决定找家西餐厅吃午餐算了。
吃了午餐,lepak够了,我们又走回舒服的Sapa Garden B&B继续lepak。老板妈妈在夜幕还没低垂就开始在壁炉起火,叫我这个热带长大的山芭佬兴奋万分!晚餐后继续在壁炉旁看书喝咖啡。
这样子就过了悠闲的一天。
(pick up from train station USD8;Sapa Garden B&B早餐USD10;Gecko Restaurant午餐VND229,000; Sapa Garden B&B 晚餐USD20;Sapa Garden住宿与隔天早餐 USD50)

4月2日(Sapa Village Trekking;乘夜晚的火车回河内,睡在火车上
司机把我们载到老板在镇上的另一家酒店Thai Binh Sapa Hotel和guide汇合,然后随着她一家一家酒店去接其他的游客。奇怪的是,除了我们五个游客,还有一群当地少数民族对我们不离不弃地一路尾随我们到她们住的村庄去。有点尴尬哦。
我们在竹树小径上、在梯田间穿梭,虽然热得要命,又走了十多公里,但我们还是挺享受的。Trekking完毕,还有车子来把我们载回小镇哦。我们到Thai Binh Sapa Hotel抹身、换掉一身臭衣物,然后乘上我们在越南全程最‘臭脸’的司机的车子到Lao Cai。那位全车人欠他几百万美元的司机兜兜转转游花园,还绕了远路,等我们到火车站时我们就只有近30分钟的时间吃晚餐。一路上看起来脏兮兮的黑黝黝的,再加上“食物安全性”非常可疑,我们再一次选一家灯火光明的西餐厅Le Bordeaux解决晚餐。
这一趟和我们共车厢的是一对以色列退休医生老夫妇,美美对于不需要和两个‘麻甩佬’共车厢松了一口气,和他们谈得愉快呢。我则因为正读着The Story Teller,有一种抱着他们痛哭的冲动……
(Trekking tour inclusive lunch USD36; Dinner at Le Bordeaux VND189,000;train back to Hanoi USD80)

4月3日Hanoi Cooking Center + Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long + Temple of Literature;宿Finnegans Hotel
到达河内才凌晨五点,Finnegans 的那位小弟弟老早就站在寒风中等我们。把我们送上的士,替我们谈好价钱后,他才乘电单车尾随。服务真的很周到。到了酒店,我们获得免费提早check in,可以好好的睡上一个好觉后再次出发。睡醒后小弟弟又替我们打的,交代好价钱,让我们到Hanoi Cooking Center上课去。
上完课我们到久仰大名的“西湖”(是的,河内也有个西湖!)去走走看看,可惜没什么看头,我们又继续到Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long(其实当地旅游地图都简称之为Flag Tower啦,不过我崇拜世界文化遗产,就偏偏要世界文化遗产的正式名称)。拍了几张照片我们就累垮了,又躲在文化遗产内的咖啡厅喝咖啡去了。休息充电后再走向Temple of Literature,由于这一回到北越功课没有做足,好多东西没有多加注意,进了Temple of Literature才知道原来是孔庙啦!不过,除了是孔庙,这儿还是国子监,也是越南第一家大学。 我们走累了就要了个三轮车,在市区内走马看花一小时。
回酒店休息一阵子后我们又往市区的另一端走去,为的,就是在网上口碑不错的法国餐厅La Badiane。(越南既然曾经是法国殖民地,那,除了吃一些道地的越南餐,我们总该也尝一尝法国餐,至少我是这样想的。)餐厅情调不错,顾客服务也是越南少见的好,食物也非常好吃呢,待我下次好好的给大家介绍介绍。
(从火车站到酒店的士费VND50,000;从酒店到Hanoi Cooking Center的士费VND48,000;烹饪科学费VND2,320,000;Flag Tower入门票VND60,000; Temple of Literature VND40,000;三轮车一小时City Tour VND150,000;La Badiane VND1,870,000;Finnegans Hotel inclusive breakfast VND630,000)

4月4日(Join Buffalo Tour's L'Azalee cruise at Halong Bay
我们吃了早餐,Buffalo Tour的司机就来接我们到下龙湾去啦~从河内到下龙湾近乎四个小时车程,开始时风景如画,绿油油的稻田在路旁无限展延,浓雾覆盖着大地,鸭群已经在戏水了。之后,我已经昏睡过去了,无法向你报告。
睡醒时已经到下龙湾海港,我们和一位菲律宾来的Microsoft Sales/Marketing的小男孩,三对澳洲来的夫妇,以及我们全程导游Hugh一起乘小船到L'Azalee Cruise去。L'Azalee Cruise外表看起来有点儿残旧,里头却应该刚装修不久,新颖而舒服。我们要么就在甲板上吹海风、要么就在船舱里听雨、要么在雨中kayaking、要么就在饭厅和大家谈天玩游戏。
(Buffalo Tour's L'Azalee Cruise twin sharing, lunch/dinner/breakfast/dinner and transportation between Hanoi - Ha Long Bay inclusive USD358 )

4月5日(Cave of Surprises at Ha Long Bay; 宿Viethouse
我们在浓浓晨雾中甦醒,下龙湾若隐若现。早餐后,船把我们带到Cave of Surprises看溶洞。在船上吃了午餐我们就回河内啦~这一天我们住在漂亮的小酒店Viethouse。我们住在十楼,房间有片落地窗,可以俯视河内老市区和一小片的还剑湖湖景。
我们梳洗完毕就开始寻食。我和美美心头各有所好,于是我们去我想吃的Cha Ca La Vong(我们去的不是那家出名的百年老店,而是酒店老板介绍的另一家)点了一人份儿,再到美美想吃的Quan An Ngon点了两个道地小吃。再到Radio Cafe‘叹’咖啡去。
(Viethouse Superior room USD50;Cha Ca La Vong一人套餐VND160,000;Quan An Ngon两个小吃两杯果汁VND318,000;Radio Cafe咖啡一杯VND21,000)

4月6日(回家啦
我们用过了老板准备的早餐,就乘约一小时的的士到机场。(Continental breakfast at Viethouse USD14;从酒店到机场的士USD15)




Other itineraries:
2017 - Germany: Upper Middle Rhine Valley One Day Tour (Stay tune)

Sunday 7 April 2013

The Geekiest Games of TBBT

I found certain games that the guys in The Big Bang Theory play pretty amusing. I'm not referring to the video games or board games or card games that they still playing today. I am referring to the cooler, geekier, funnier games that they played back then, in the earlier seasons.



1) To switch on light through satellite (S01E09)
The guys are in awe (and so do TBBT fans around the world) when they hooked their lights, stereo and radio-controlled cars to the Internet, allowing them to be controlled remotely. It is the idea that count, it is "because we can" :)




2) starch and water (S02E03)
How come we never had non-Newtonian fluid experiment in school? Our science labs need more fun than our current syllabus.




3) Secret Agent Laser Obstacle Lunch / Chess (S02E18)
Be it Secret Agent Laser Obstacle lunch or chess, seeing them acting like Johnny English in action with Sabre Dance as background music is hilarious. I do think these are some cool games that we can play when all my crazy cousins are around.




4) Time Machine (S01E14)
OK, honestly, I do think the idea of playing with the time machine is quite dumb. However, I somehow feel connected, seeing 4 of them being so obsessed with a game that all of them enjoy. With a little bit of imagination, it is like being a child all over again.