Thursday 22 September 2016

Gurney Bay

相对来说,Gurney Bay Island Seafood 是槟岛一家较新的餐厅,我一直想去尝尝但总没法成行。最近较有空,有好多理由到处吃吃走走。结果,一个月内,我去了三次。



餐厅设计简单,过了入口的小桥流水,就进入摆设海产、河产的区域。廉价的、昂贵的、稀有的、普通的,反正就是形形色色。如果你来的是海鲜大排档营业时间,那服务员就会在这里给你介绍并点菜。







进入餐厅,则是开阔的半露天设计。白天来全是自然光,多好。


穿过餐厅,可以到达沙滩。渔船很多,幸运的还可以看见渔夫归来。我特幸运,还碰上老天把苍穹染紫,还没开始吃晚餐心情已经特佳了。




我个人觉得海鲜大排档价钱公道,食物也都不错。我尝过了一些比较平凡的菜色,发觉他们肯下料,所以都简单得来又好吃。比较稀有的海鲜也点过了,(有些还真是只有在这家见过)都物有所值。
(不好意思,许多菜肴名称都忘了,价钱更记不起,就写一些我还记得的吧)

咸蛋菇(对不起,菜肴名字忘了) - RM24

咸蛋虾(对不起,菜肴名字和价钱都忘了)

芥蓝两味(对不起,价钱忘了)

蛋蒸濑尿虾(对不起,价钱忘了)

由于我难以遏制的好奇心,我点了多宝鱼。(目前特惠:6只鲍鱼+1只1.2kg多宝鱼共RM268,我们有七个人,多要一只鲍鱼,多加RM19.80。)我孤陋寡闻,第一吃多宝鱼,肉质鲜嫩,连啃鱼头都啃得好开心。
南非鲍鱼

清蒸多宝鱼

我们也点了法国面包蟹,约1.2kg左右的吧,好像是RM168左右。蟹脚都拿去煮咖喱(配炸馒头),蟹身拿去蒸蛋。我比较喜欢蒸蛋的口味,蟹膏好多,淡淡清香。




吃晚餐时发觉它也做广式早餐,于是又找机会来这儿叹早茶。(梹城人周末很迟起身,我们九点多到达,餐厅内相当冷清,到了十点多就差不多满座了。)环境很好呢,吹着海风,慢慢叹。点心都不贵,蒸的、炸的都好吃,只有包类水准惨不忍睹,叉烧包、流沙包都啃个半条命。以梹城的点心水准来说,这家算不错了。




特惠:烧卖一笼RM0.80




广式点心营业时间:6:30am ~ 2:00pm
海鲜大排档营业时间:11:00am ~ 12:00am
地址:82, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang
电话:04-2288168

Wednesday 21 September 2016

我看Stranger Things

我最近有点儿闲,但我还是尽我所能避开电视连续剧。我怕自己上瘾,然后一发不可收拾(如The Big Bang Theory),叫我自己郁闷。

可是我最近还是看了两部,一是Master of None(才5小时,甭怕!),另一部就是Stranger Things了。



我第一次看见Stranger Things的poster,我就有想看这部电视剧的冲动了。虽然我对它一无所知,但那海报有种熟悉的八十年代的味道……

那,最后,我怎么会下定决心看这部电视剧并喜欢上它呢?

第一:只有八集
小舅到我家,我问他看了Stranger Things吗?他说好看!才八集。正合我意,不就是我八小时的人生嘛。不怕挥霍掉。而且,看完了这电视剧后,发觉八集刚刚好。这种supernatural的故事,太长就有点儿拖泥带水了。

第二:八十年代
八十年代初的浪漫以及Steven Spielberg式的天真单纯是我的死穴。戏里浓浓的八十年代怀旧情意结是我的死穴。而这剧从小孩的视觉出发,唤醒了我们孩提时对未知的强烈好奇心。那,是我的八十年代。

第三:一流选角
除了让Winona Ryder勾起我们的八十年代记忆,他们还找了一班很棒的演员,特别还有几个出众的童星。(你看他们几个小瓜怎么在Emmy ’16里抢尽镜头就知道什么叫魅力了)
我最爱小胖Dustin(Gaten Matarazzo饰演)。有时候很害怕童星长大,但是我们看着他在戏里渐渐发育变声,可爱不减。小瓜大有来头,从舞台剧出生,演Les Misérables呢!我忍不住,follow了他的Instagram
Finn WolfhardCaleb McLaughlinNoah Schnapp也都很棒。不知道以后会不会像Stand by Me的演员们一样,叫人一见就想起童年。

第四:Eleven
更重要的是,我们现在认识了Millie Bobby Brown。这小妹妹再次肯定了我一向来的看法:演技和明星魅力是可以与生俱来的。戏里她只有几句对白,可是她深度地表达了悲伤、恐惧、疑惑、爱、对友情的渴望,让我们随着她的情绪起伏屏息紧张轻叹……

第五:娓娓道来(别怕,我的部落格不会有spoilers)
故事叙述倒也没有辜负一流选角。作为悬疑剧,气氛营造得很好。因为是从小孩的观点出发,所以观众很容易被带入其中。老实说,我个人觉得故事多多少少有点儿空洞,欠观众太多解释(可能他们早决定要拍续集)。但是,作为娱乐节目,这剧的叙述法值得我花上八个小时。

 

只是哦,对于Stranger Things还有续集,我真的有所保留。好莱坞总是贪得无厌,不懂得见好就收,因而毁了好多好戏。以前Heroes叫我惊艳万分(Sylar还是我心目中电视史上最有型的反派!),然后越拍越不像样,像Sheldon所说:“Heroes gradually lowered the quality season by season till we were grateful it ended.”;我再爱24,也就看到season 5就放弃了;当我觉得Prison Break概念不错想要开始看时,一听主角逃狱了四次(共四个seasons)我就没兴趣了。

希望好莱坞别毁了Stranger Things。

Tuesday 20 September 2016

Master of None



I have no idea who Aziz Ansari is when I decided to watch Master of None. Now I completed watching all his shows on Netflix Malaysia.

I didn't know anything about the show either. I was expecting for a lighthearted goofy comedy, but it turns out to be more of a drama with some comedic elements. All ten episodes are basically short films of themselves, bringing largely unaddressed issues of sex and race into a mainstream comedy. 

I binged this 5 hours show in one evening! It is entertaining, and at the same time, thought-provoking to me.

If you read the synopsis, it says it follows a 30-year-old actor who has trouble making decisions, navigates life in New York City. You change the age and city, this synopsis is applicable to everyone of us. At least, it fits me well. "Jack of all trades, master of none". That's me! Approaching 40 and I still haven't figured out anything about myself, not to mention Dharma.

Dev’s dad sums up what may be the greatest blessing but also the biggest curse Dev and all of us face: “You realize fun is a new thing, right? Fun is a luxury only your generation really has!”

(One of my favorite episode, "Parents" won Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series at the 68th annual Emmy Awards.)

Monday 19 September 2016

A girl, a friend, but not a girlfriend

Watching the first 3 seasons of TBBT, you would think that Sheldon would never, in a million years, have a girl friend. (When most people characterized Sheldon as narcissistic, I do think he is more of content in his own way than being narcissistic) Then, the writers present us Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, Ph.D, and this is the starting point of Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper, B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D slowly growing into a more affectionate, open-minded person.



1) How it started 
We really have to thank Howard and especially Raj, for making the effort.





2) You've Got a Friend in Me
Sheldon and Amy started to develop a very sweet friendship, spending the next four months communicating with each other on a daily basis since they first met. I am sure they found each other fascinating since they are more similar to each other than anyone else. They know how each other thinks, they have logic that is very obvious to both of them, and only to both of them (see how they play Counterfactuals)

Sheldon's new friend Amy 

Sheldon's first date

Their Counterfactuals Game



3) The first 'break up'
Of course, in any healthy relationship, we argue, we disagree and we fight. For Sheldon and Amy, their friendship 'outlived its utility' when Amy belittled Sheldon's occupation as a theoretical physicist. Sheldon terminated their friendship and adopted 25 cats as a substitute for Amy. Of course, this problem was easily solved by Mrs Cooper, using reverse psychology to make Sheldon offer to reconcile with Amy.

The fight

Reconcile



4) Amy held Sheldon's hand
Then, their friendship started to evolve. We see Sheldon's first sign of jealousy.
Sheldon preferred to assume that Amy has contracted an alien parasite than the reluctant conclusion that Amy is sexually aroused by Zack. Of course, to our relief, Amy chose Sheldon's intellect over Zack's looks, and even held Sheldon's hand. I like the idea how Sheldon did hold her hand back and uncharacteristically did not pull his hand away and he let his hand be held.

The Diagnosis

The Experiment



5) Fun together, as friends
They have lots of fun together as friends. They conducted social experiments (Look at you, getting me to engage in the social sciences. You're a vixen, Amy Farrah Fowler.), they danced, they kissed. Of course, Sheldon may not want to cross the line of being just friend so they agreed to treat their relationship like a "crashed computer" and restored it to the last point it worked for both.

Amy getting Sheldon to engage in the social sciences

Amy and Sheldon dancing

Amy kisses Sheldon



6) Sheldon got jealous
However, no matter how Sheldon wishes to deny, still, we do know that he has feelings for Amy. When Leonard told Sheldon that he had a great time with Amy, Sheldon karate hit him on the shoulder and angrily retorts "She is not for you. Not for you!"

She Is Not For You



7) They cuddled
When Amy got really upset, and not returning any of Sheldon's various digital attempts to contact her (I tried email, video chat, tweeting her, posting on her Facebook wall, texting her, nothing), Sheldon came into her rescue. Amy made clear what Sheldon could do for her: “At this moment, I find myself craving human intimacy and physical contact.” So, even though Sheldon is uncomfortable with human physical contact and has germophobia, they cuddled......

Sheldon And Amy Cuddle



8) Sheldon wanted to win her back
When Stuart asks Amy out on a date, Sheldon seems to not mind though it becomes obvious later on. He friended Stuart on Facebook to find out how they date, he tried to make Amy jealous by trying to ask Penny out for a date. Even though Sheldon still insists that Amy is a girl who is his friend but not his girlfriend, he wanted to know what are the ways to get her back.


妈妈不在家之食谱(五十八):Yorkshire Puddings

上一回发神经突然间弄了个自己从来没有吃过、完全没有概念的Yorkshire Puddings,觉得好玩,决定用这个作为我的DOE project。



我还是以Jamie Oliver的食谱为基础,但这次稍微做了一点儿更改。

Yorkshire Puddings食谱:
材料:
猪油(上一回用olive oil)
鸡蛋两粒
100g 面粉
140ml 牛奶(上一回用100ml)
*牛奶和鸡蛋都放入器皿后,我稍微加了一些水,让液体共260ml
盐和黑胡椒作调味

步骤:
1. 前一晚把鸡蛋、牛奶、面粉和调味料打散,收在冰箱内。隔天早上拿出来,尽量给它恢复室温。
2. Preheat the oven to 230°C.
3. 在cupcake tin里涂上猪油。我为了尝试不同猪油分量的成品,我在每三格里用了不同分量的猪油。j结果发觉没太大分别。
4. 把涂上猪油的cupcake tin放入已热的炉内,热上15分钟
5. 把热了的cupcake tin取出,倒入batter(我又自作聪明,想要在每个洞里放上不同分量的batter,看看有什么不同,结果其中一个放太少了,比其它洞内的都提早变褐,吓死我妈,烘到一半,发得好漂亮的一碟,被妈妈取出来硬行挖出了快焦的那粒,结果其他几粒又稍扁了)
6. 放入炉内烘23分钟。



chili beef Yorkshire Puddings配料)食谱:
这样子可以下chili paste了
材料:
猪油一匙
牛肉碎
九层塔切丝
chili paste(我偷妈妈的sambal udang酱料,简单又好吃。哈哈)

步骤:
1. 锅里猪油热了就加入牛肉碎中火炒一炒。
2. 牛肉半熟时就可以加入九层塔丝。
3. 熟透前加入chili paste大火再炒一炒就可以上桌。

卖相不错哦


不知道英国人怎么吃,但我这“盈式Yorkshire Puddings”肯定合我自己的口味。哈哈!

我的Yorkshire Puddings反过来刚刚好有个小杯口,放我的牛肉刚刚好

妈妈不在家之食谱(五十七):山姥叶牛肉蛋


阿姨带了一大把她自家种的山姥叶(Google了一下,才知道这名为蒌叶,又称青蒟,蒟叶,真蒟,槟榔蒟),我决定物尽其用,就简简单单弄个煎蛋吧。

材料:
猪油一匙
鸡蛋一粒
牛肉碎适量
蒌叶十来片,洗净,切成丝


调味料:
黑胡椒适量
酱油少许
这样子就可以倒下鸡蛋了

步骤: 
1. 鸡蛋里加入黑胡椒和酱油调味,打散后放一旁备用。
2. 锅里下一匙猪油,油热了就把切好的萎叶丝丢下去爆香
3. 然后加入牛肉碎大火炒之。
4. 在牛肉碎还没熟前就把鸡蛋倒入锅内。
5. 在鸡蛋已经快要成型但还有些生的蛋在上面时,就可以把鸡蛋对折成半。只要双面都已经金黄就行啦~

Sunday 18 September 2016

关于“妈妈不在家食谱”

这年头,在马来西亚觅食,有一种越来越可悲的感觉。以前的人生活简单,你点一碗面,人家就老老实实给你捧一碗货真价实的面。现在你点一碗面,可能是个外劳正心不在焉地灼面,可能是老板为了高效率用之前准备了冷冻起来的食物翻热……有时候,我们究竟在吃些什么,都说不上来。

两年前我开始写妈妈不在家食谱时,用意其实很简单,我想要鼓励身边几位渴望吃得健康却懒得下厨或害怕下厨的朋友,煮一餐饭其实很简单简单。像我这样一年进厨房没几次的人都可以下厨,那么,谁都可以成为厨师了。(没想到,这么久了,我还在写。而我这种不事生产的懒人,分享出来的都是三十分钟两菜一汤的食谱,绝对适合天下懒人。)

最近,可能为了当年成都开往亚丁山路上一个不知名的小镇里一家不知名的小店内的那碟蕃茄炒蛋,可能为了读了那些Farm-to-table的当懂,可能人有了年纪,我开始想要多吃自家种的菜。而我的‘下厨’经历也顺理成章地多样化起来。

除了偶尔上网看食谱,偶尔自己在厨房内胡搞,偶尔想要复制某些菜肴的味道,最近,我也玩‘清淡禅味’。比如说,我会拿些香菇茎和红枣煮汤,然后到自家菜园剪几茎红笕菜,洗净后放在碗里。香菇茎红枣汤开始飘香后就一勺一勺地淋在红笕菜上。滴几滴生抽就上桌了。喜欢味道浓郁的人必定喝不入口,可是我爱!香菇红枣本来就各带清香,而现摘现煮的红笕菜又有着嫩嫩的口感。细品,就有土地踏实的味道。



这妈妈不在家食谱,不管妈妈在不在家,我应该会继续写下去吧。对我而言,这像探索自我,像成长的味道……

Saturday 17 September 2016

Guilty Pleasure

Watching The Big Bang Theory every now and then is definitely a guilty pleasure for me.

I am still trying very hard to make sure I continue to learn new things, to grow, to be, to live a balance life. However, sometimes, I need a break.

Blame this smile!
Recently, because I am slightly more free than usual, because TBBT Season 10 is coming up real soon, because I start to follow Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik on Instagram, when I need a break, I watch The Big Bang Theory clips online.

I know. I'm hopeless sometimes. Blame Sheldon and the gang!! Mainly, blame Sheldon! Oh, and blame Jim Parsons blue eyes!!

Oh, and I definitely going to blame ShAmy, my favorite TV couple.

Amy and Sheldon relationship is not what normally people think relationships are supposed to be. Sheldon being Sheldon, taking those tiny steps, doing those small gesture, and truly believes he is in the best relationship ever. To me, that relationship is actually more intimate than anything else on TV to date.


The Evolution of ShAmy:


Friday 16 September 2016

Sydney 2 Days Layover

在安排我们的纽西兰之旅时,为了我们一家人(三个乐龄人士,一个一岁半的宝宝)可以好好歇息,我安排了在悉尼layover,以减短一次性长时间的飞行,也顺便让家人到悉尼走马看花。

去纽西兰之前的悉尼游
严格来说,我们的旅程的第一站就是悉尼。这时,大家都仍然精神奕奕,所以我选择把第一站弄成“悉尼一日游”。

我选择住在Sydney Central YHA。因为它地点非常方便,就在Central Station对面,又与Chinatown毗邻,夜里找吃比较少麻烦。
Sydney Hop On Hop Off Route

要在悉尼走马看花,最容易的就是买了Hop On Hop Off巴士票坐在‘开篷巴士’上,在悉尼所有重要景点中穿梭。

如果你是第一次到悉尼的话,我建议你早点儿醒,先乘Bondi & Bays Explorer到Bondi吃早餐,Hop On Hop Off回到Central Station后再乘Sydney Explorer到Sydney Fish Market吃午餐,然后到Royal Botanic Garden漫步、吃下午茶……一路走到Mrs. Macquarie's Chair,再沿着海堤一路走到Sydney Opera House,吃个晚餐,看蓝天白云转为夕阳西照……然后跳上最后一趟巴士回到住宿。

我们因为不想走得太吃力,选择睡到自然醒,近中午了才慢条斯理地跳上Hop On Hop Off巴士。老人与小孩游嘛,当然是越轻松越好。所以我们只选择性的在Bondi Beach, Sydney Fish Market和Sydney Opera House下车,名副其实的‘游车河’。

Bondi Beach

Sydney Fish Market

坐在巴士上看得更清呢!

Sydney Opera House

巴士上看悉尼夜景

兰州拉面


交通花费:
KST Airport Shuttle从悉尼机场到Sydney Central YHA - 每人AUD17 (四岁以下小孩免费)
Hop-On Hop Off Bus - 六十五岁以上的AUD30, 我们每人AUD35
Taxi 从 YHA 到 Sydney 机场一辆AUD36.50

住宿花费:
Sydney Central YHA 5-beds family room 两晚共AUD334

食物花费:
Five Star Kebabs 五个AUD40
Sydney Fish Market午餐五人共AUD92.90
兰州拉面晚餐五人共AUD78.90
在机场吃早餐五人AUD45.50




从纽西兰回到悉尼

这严格来说是我们的旅程的最后一站。我猜大家都累垮了,所以一早安排行程时就已经决定在这儿无所事事。

我选择了地点上佳的Sydney Habour YHA,要么呆在rooftop休闲处一览Sydney Harbour美景,要么出去看看The Rocks neighborhood

View at rooftop - sunrise

View at rooftop - sunset

View at rooftop - at night

Australia Hotel beside the YHA

Susannah Place Museum behind the YHA

Bought ourselves some nice chocolate for afternoon tea

The Rocks at night


交通花费:  
机场到YHA, 四人乘sedan-size taxi AUD57.15,所有行李和八人乘van-size taxi AUD90
Taxi from YHA to airport 每人AUD 10.00

Sydney Habour YHA住宿花费:
6 Share Female Private Bathroom AUD260
Double Room Private Bathroom with View AUD202
5 Bed Family Room Private Bathroom AUD225

其他花费:
Luggage storage at YHA:大的四小时AUD5,中的四小时AUD4 
Cruise Bar五人午餐AUD 110


Hobbiton Movie Set
Waitomo Glow Worm Cave
Woodlyn Park - 圆我的Shire梦
Auckland
兰州拉面
Sydney Fish Market
Sydney Habour YHA
The Rocks, Sydney

澳洲之七天七夜流水帐(2014年)
澳洲之悉尼印象(2014年)


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