My Christmas 2008 Taipei Trip

It was my first time away from Singapore during Christmas season. Pretty glad it was at Taipei - a location where the climate at that time was cooling......the climate just right for Christmas.

Arrived there on 22nd Dec........was told that it was that day that the temperature dropped......experiencing lows of 13 - 18 degrees C.

Stay at The Tango Hotel - NanShi 台北-南西 at Nanjing West Rd. It's only a few steps away from the 中山 MRT station.

I would say this is the best hotel I've ever stayed in.

All the controls are on touch panels. Toiletries are refilled daily. Likewise for the 2 sachets of coffee and tea and they've like got 5 types of chinese tea. Coke, Sprite, isotonic drink, all provided free of charge and refillable.

They'll even top up daily 2 pineapple cake from 新东杨

They've got a standing rain shower. The three panels on the ceiling will converge the water on you... NICE!

And also a jacuzzi bathtub.....off the lights in the washroom and the bath has multi-coloured lights. Not to forget that they has a built in flat screen TV mounted so that you can watch TV while you soak your fatique away.......mmmmm........

What's this control panel for? It's for the jets of water to clean yourself up after u poo poo! Oh and the toilet seat is also heated!

Besides a 32 inch LCD TV, the room comes equipped with a clock radio, DVD player and even a microwave oven! All the appliances (well with the exception of the microwave oven) can be controlled by a single universal remote - which you can even use to draw the curtains!!!

They've also got very tasty breakfast with a few staples like the porridge, cereals and different types of bread while rest of the buffet dishes changes daily. Nice, friendly and helpful English speak staff. We needed to print our return flight itinerary after confirming our flight using the 2 free internet terminals at their cafe and they allowed us to use their business centre to do so without extra charges!

Initially I never paid much attention to this song..........other than knowing that it's
梁文英 who sang it and it's title is 最幸福的事 oh and that it's one of the sound track for that movie <<海角七號>>

One day I happened to chance upon it's MTV and was touched by it.

Birthday 2008

It's that time of the year again.......

Longevity Peaches

It was my aunt's (who happened to be my god-ma too) birthday and I made these Longevity Peaches Mochi for her.

The texture did not turn up quite as expected......must try again another time.

容祖兒 - 心淡

容祖兒 - 痛愛

Quite an old song, think should be from 2001 but this song can withstand test of time and is one of the few songs that made me pay attention to Joey Yung.

Once she held a concert and it was 10 sessions! Imagine that!

Green Tea-ramisu

3 Aug Babies + 1 Sep Baby.

Calls for a celebration and as such I made Green Tea-ramisu for them.

Looks like a small catus plant right? I think it would look more so had I remembered to bring the Mocha powder there and sprinker some on top of the cream/mascarpone cheese.

Happened to see the Alphabet Candles that formed HAPPY BIRTHDAY at Chatuchak weekend market and so decided to buy and use it. To my surprise, they were lightly scented too.

Am very glad that the birthday gals and guys love what I've done and hope the taste is as good too.

My Love Will Get U Home

Such a soothing and lovely song.....




If you wander off too far, my love will get you home.
If you follow the wrong star, my love will get you home.
If you ever find yourself, lost and all alone,
get back on your feet and think of me, my love will get you home,
boy, my love will get you home.

If the bright lights blind your eyes, my love will get you home.
If your troubles break your stride, my love will get you home.
If you ever find yourself, lost and all alone,
get back on your feet and think of me, my love will get you home,
boy, my love will get you home.

If you ever feel ashamed, my love will get you home.
When there's only you to blame, my love will get you home.
If you ever find yourself, lost and all alone,
get back on your feet and think of me, my love will get you home,
boy, my love will get you home.

If you ever find yourself, lost and all alone,
get back on your feet and think of me, my love will get you home,
boy, my love will get you home.
boy, my love will get you home.

This is the 2nd time that I've stayed at Citadines Apart'Hotel Sukhumvit 16 and I'm still in love with this place.

It's furnished with microwave oven, toaster, electric kettle, stove, iron and board, mini fridge with ice-cube tray, LCD TV and DVD player.

It's 5 mins walk away from Asok BTS skytrain station which is the interchange with the Sukhumvit MRT station.

At Central World, whilst shopping, I happened to find this quaint little Thai food restaurant -named Kum Poon - that serves pretty authentic thai dishes.

At first I was hesitant and the wooden cardboard menu is in Thai but was relieved that they do have their menu in English. Love their papaya salad, pad thai and fried rice. Also love their earthen clay brown plates which they serves with a banana leaf.

Not in the pictures but their Tom Yam is yummy and loaded with many ingredients. It's also served in a earthern clay bowl which seats on a candle holder that maintains the temperature of the soup.



Giant Salmon Sushi!
One of the few sculptures of the 'balloon' poodles.

I was lucky to chanced upon this simple yet nice restaurant in Ari area .....this crabmeat fried rice is only 40 baht....same price as a cup of iced coffee I had there. Notice the curled up spring onion.....The thing about Thai iced coffee is that at every nook and corner, be it in a restaurant or push carts or 7-Eleven, it's equally addictively a must have drink!

Next to the Citadines is this pretty clean and new cafe - converted from a 2 storey tall bungalow.

They also have outdoor tables next to their garden.

I had Breakfast combo set B - Waffles, ham, sausage, bacon, fried egg and a cup of coffee - 95 baht.

Re-kindred Passion for BKK-0808

A Mid Summer's Night Cruise

The next day we set sail on board Super Star Virgo from Hong Kong to Xiamen.

The departure was in the evening.....and one of the night's entertainment was a performance by this team of syncronised swimmers from Russia.

Mid Summer's Night Dream - Visit to Tian Tan Buddha

1st time (3) visiting the Tian Tan Buddha in Lantau Island.......the world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha.

Took the HK MTR to Tung Chung station to take the cable car (also first time (4) taking this cable car).

The ride was very scenic and well a little scary at times........it was said that each cable car could hold up to 17 persons......but I just can't imagine that happening and wouldn't ever want to be in that thing with more than 8 people.

Do check with the weather station/conditions as if there's strong winds or typhoon, they will shut down the rides for the day.

Up Up and away.....

At some point, you can see the HKIA Airport.......

The weather was perfect..........not foggy and could see the Buddha clearly.

Slowly we approach the Tian Tan Big Buddha...天坛大佛.

I've always wondered why we don't get to see the Buddha when our plane take off from the HKIAirport....and this trip while the plane took off I caught a glimpse of the Buddha statue again..... from far away.......but as we ascended pretty fast and so I could not take any picture.

My relative say we are quite lucky that day as it wasn't too foggy and can get to see the Buddha statue clearly. Was very happy that day as I've always wanted to come see the Great Buddha.

Think there was like about one hundred over steps to climb up......The scenery was worth every step......