Sunday, 9 September 2007

Snow skin (Ping Pei) mooncakes

In another 2 weeks or so, mooncake festival comes again. This means that I would have missed 2 mooncake festivals in a row. Last year, I left Malaysia right before the mooncake festival and "celebrated" it in the UK. (Frankly, I don't think there's not much celebration because I can't seem to remember what I did.) There're no lanterns here, no yummy mooncakes made by your family and absolutely no festive mood. It's just another normal day.

I'm not really a hard core fan of mooncakes; just that I enjoy them once in a while. But after seeing the stuff and tools that Uncle Victor brought back all the way from home, I've suddenly got this crazy craving for Ping Pei mooncakes that I kept bugging him to make it. I actually prefer snow skin mooncakes to the baked ones because it's feels less oily and just works better for my tastebuds. HAHA!


Snow skin mooncake...


...with lotus paste and melon seeds.

Frankly, I have no idea why that Uncle is so worried about it lor. He probably thinks that I'd be criticising it badly. *shrugs*

First, it doesn't look that bad (even though he insisted that it's kinda out of shape), second, it tastes pleasant (the skin goes absolutely well with the paste) and third, it's not too sweet for me. SO?? No problem what! Che~~

Can eat, can eat!

P/S: Emily, don't worry...it's safe to eat it! :) Yours is in my fridge so come and get it!

Saturday, 8 September 2007

Connected anywhere

Not for me...but for my dad.

Good news for him: new technology, new gadgets, 24 hour surveillance.

Bad news for me: neverending tracking...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo....

Sometimes I really hate the fact that technology extends its arm so far out...but I still can't live without it. Luckily for me, not everyone (my parents inclusive) has got the hang of it...yet...

Friday, 31 August 2007

Happy 50th Birthday, Malaysia!



5 decades; half a century worth of independence.

We've indeed come a long way since 1957. Many things have changed. While for some, it will always be the same.

This is the 50th year of independence and I'm sure celebrations will be rampant back home. But I'm actually missing it. (It's not everyday that we get fireworks in BP, OK...) *sigh*

And also...another person's birthday also falls on this day of the year. Not in 1957, but in 198X. (Reason for X: to stall a few years' time for her) See...I even dedicated the Jalur Gemilang to her as well. HAHA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SZE YIN!!! :)

Monday, 27 August 2007

It's almost like Opera!

Call me backwards or what, I have never heard of this guy's name before yesterday. So when I heard that his vocal range was amazing, I thought there'd be no harm checking it out.

And where's the best place to start? Youtube of course!

The keyword is: VITAS

Lots of results came up and I randomly clicked on one called Opera #2.

Nothing special in the beginning (except for the fact that he's quite cute...) but continue watching...



Now...THAT took me by surprise.

Eager to find out more, I googled him and found him in Wikipedia. Read it here.

I can only say, he's really intriguing...seriously! But when I saw Opera #2's MV, I thought it's pretty freaky.



See it?

Yeap yeap...he has GILLS.

Thursday, 23 August 2007

The City of Luxembourg

Luxembourg, a small landlocked country in Western Europe, surrounded by France in the south, Belgium in the west and Germany in the east. Luxembourg City, being one of the wealthiest cities in the world, naturally became the centre for banking and administration of the European Union.

To begin with, it's basically a relatively small city which spans over high cliffs to narrow valleys of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. Though there're many more places that we could have had a proper look at (for example, the European Court of Justice), the lack of time (what's new now?) and the endless drizzle dampened everyone's spirits considerably. (Is it really summer?)


Grand Ducal Palace:
That's all there is to it...there is nothing else. But it's kinda surprising to find the Palace of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg right in the middle of the city and in close proximity to the people there. There're no walls or gates beyond the main building...just a guard or two at the main entrance to keep people out. Hmm...


Hall of the Chamber of Deputies:
The legislature which is housed (and I think connected internally) next to the Palace.


The Gëlle Fra monument:
Dedicated to the Luxembourgers that volunteered their service in the armed forces of the Allies during WWI.


The valley within the city centre with the Adolphe Bridge in the background.


A statue of Charlotte, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. (Grandmother of the current Grand Duke Henri)


Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg:
A Roman Catholic cathedral with neogothic architecture. This is the view from afar...not a very impressive picture though...but it really does not look that depressing in real life. Especially not after it provided shelter and warmth for us when it rained (very suddenly) cats and dogs outside.


The Cathedral Quire


Organ gallery in the cathedral.


Stade Josy Barthel:
The national stadium of Luxembourg, and home to the Luxembourg national football team.