Things I'm looking forward to in the coming week:
1) Barclays Premier League - Arsenal vs. Blackpool. Tonight! And Cesc Fabregas is playing :)
2) Champions League Leg 2 - Sevilla vs. Braga Tuesday. Jesús Navas and posse have the advantage of playing at home at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium, so they better whup Braga's arses if my 3 am vigil is to be worth it. Viva Sevilla!
3) AK coming home. Dear if you're reading this, it's not in the order of favourites, but of timing, OK?
4) We're off to KL (i.e. civilisation!!) on Thursday!! Merdeka sale - and food we're actually looking forward to eating - here we come. Hope AK is up to taking me to a Pasar Ramadhan.
Excellent.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
What were they thinking LOL
Champions League 2010/2011 1st Leg Playoffs - Much-touted Tottenham lost to Swiss side Young Boys 3-2 in the opening leg. Everyone is playing up the Young Boys, mostly because of their hilarious club name. I suppose Ryan Giggs wouldn't be allowed in this club. I like this article :)
"...........Is there a team name in world football funnier than that of Switzerland's finest? Yes, says Mirror Football's Akhil Vyas . Here's his top 10...
10) Young Boys Berne: The Swiss Axpo Super League side, in Champions League play-off action against Spurs after knocking out Fenberbahce, have won 11 titles and six Cups. Have significantly reduced their comedy potential since knocking down the Wankdorf Stadium - leading to the classic headline 'Young Boys plan new Wankdorf erection - and replacing it with the less gigglesome Stade De Suisse.
9) Wankie FC: Zimbabwean Premier League side who brought rare moments of comedy to Robert Mugabe's fiefdom before "pulling a Wankdorf" and changing their name to Hwange Colliery FC.
8) Botswana Meat Commission: The country's Coca Cola Cup winners in 2007, they currently play Mascom Premier League.
7) Naughty Boys: Recently relegated to the Botswanana First Division South - meaning they do not have to play First Division North side Miscellaneous.
6) KFC Winterslag: Dutch side who merged with K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk in 1988 to become Racing Genk. Have won the Belgian league twice since.
5) SC Feucht: Bavarian side whose name mirrors their attendances - they averaged 154 spectators per game in 2007/08.
4) Frigg Oslo: Norwegian side who are named after the Norse goddess who was Odin's wife - but who can't help reminding you of Paul Gascoigne's famous message for the people of Norway.
3) Deportivo Moron: Alma mater of Sevilla's Diego Perotti, the Buenos Aires side currently play in Argentina's Second Division - one level below Atletico Colon.
2) Deportivo Wanka: Peruvian team named after an ethnic group, the Wankas, based in the Andes who speak the language Wanka Quechua. Haven't played in a league since 2004, when they pulled out after protesting their relegation. Still play in the Copa Peru.
1) Semen Padang: Indonesian Premier Division champions, named after the local Semen cement firm. The hardness of their product is not in doubt. "
Meanwhile it's funny how things pan out - Werder Bremen, much criticised as whores for selling their so-called playmaker Mesut Oezil to Real Madrid less than a day before the match, won their match against Sampdoria 3-1, while Sevilla, who retained their key players after the World Cup, lost 1-0 to Braga (from Portugal).
Well, it's only the first leg I suppose. Much more excitement to come!
"...........Is there a team name in world football funnier than that of Switzerland's finest? Yes, says Mirror Football's Akhil Vyas . Here's his top 10...
10) Young Boys Berne: The Swiss Axpo Super League side, in Champions League play-off action against Spurs after knocking out Fenberbahce, have won 11 titles and six Cups. Have significantly reduced their comedy potential since knocking down the Wankdorf Stadium - leading to the classic headline 'Young Boys plan new Wankdorf erection - and replacing it with the less gigglesome Stade De Suisse.
9) Wankie FC: Zimbabwean Premier League side who brought rare moments of comedy to Robert Mugabe's fiefdom before "pulling a Wankdorf" and changing their name to Hwange Colliery FC.
8) Botswana Meat Commission: The country's Coca Cola Cup winners in 2007, they currently play Mascom Premier League.
7) Naughty Boys: Recently relegated to the Botswanana First Division South - meaning they do not have to play First Division North side Miscellaneous.
6) KFC Winterslag: Dutch side who merged with K. Waterschei S.V. Thor Genk in 1988 to become Racing Genk. Have won the Belgian league twice since.
5) SC Feucht: Bavarian side whose name mirrors their attendances - they averaged 154 spectators per game in 2007/08.
4) Frigg Oslo: Norwegian side who are named after the Norse goddess who was Odin's wife - but who can't help reminding you of Paul Gascoigne's famous message for the people of Norway.
3) Deportivo Moron: Alma mater of Sevilla's Diego Perotti, the Buenos Aires side currently play in Argentina's Second Division - one level below Atletico Colon.
2) Deportivo Wanka: Peruvian team named after an ethnic group, the Wankas, based in the Andes who speak the language Wanka Quechua. Haven't played in a league since 2004, when they pulled out after protesting their relegation. Still play in the Copa Peru.
1) Semen Padang: Indonesian Premier Division champions, named after the local Semen cement firm. The hardness of their product is not in doubt. "
Meanwhile it's funny how things pan out - Werder Bremen, much criticised as whores for selling their so-called playmaker Mesut Oezil to Real Madrid less than a day before the match, won their match against Sampdoria 3-1, while Sevilla, who retained their key players after the World Cup, lost 1-0 to Braga (from Portugal).
Well, it's only the first leg I suppose. Much more excitement to come!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sambal Tumis
A recipe, I am proud to say, not self-developed, not off some cookbook I ordered from Amazon.com.
This is something of a family heritage. An extended family that, on the night of Christmas eve, after splitting up to attend our chosen Midnight/evening masses - the Lengs and the Boeys go to the Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus one that starts at nine, the Boudvilles attend the Cathedral mass that starts at ten, grandma stays in her house and waits for everyone to arrive - gather at Grandma's place to exhange presents, and eat turkey until two in the morning. The celebration before the celebration. Or, come to think of it, the celebration.
The family that orders, in the only way it knows (the Malaysian way perhaps?), orders a magnificient spread of Malay curries, augmented with Chap Chye (Peranakan stir-fried turnip), lor bak, soy milk jellies, Chinese pork leg-beancurd stick-dried scallops soup, replete with sugee cake, pineapple tarts and whatever chocolate confection I experiment with for a joyous Christmas luncheon.
The family that eats its prized purchase, the-getting-more-expensive-each-year Christmas turkey, with Gardenia bread, mashed potatoes made by Auntie Flo and THIS heavenly concoction.
Eating this brings me back to my childhood, to days growing up in my grandmother's house listening to the blender whirl, to each new Indonesian maid learning it anew, to an even older time when we took turns bashing my grandfather's pestle and mortar.
You might not believe me when I say all that, but as far back as I can remember someone making this, whether with prawns or petai, in my grandmother's house.
I don't know what took me so long to make this. Oh, maybe it was because I waited till I had the opportunity to buy belachan, pungent shrimp paste, from Bintulu (which is apparently famous for it). Or maybe it's just intimidating to try it - after all, my concoction would have a whole childhood of tasting to live up to. And I have to say, after all the Nasi Lemaks I've eaten, none come close to the one my mother/aunt/grandmother/maid (who learnt it from them) made.
Anyway, shrimp paste from Bintulu comes in cute dried coconut leaf packaging like these.
One weekend, I did try it. It was easier than I imagined, and better than I expected - especially the next day onwards, when the flavours had developed and melded together.
Recipe, courtesy of my fabulous mum. Feel free to double or triple the quantities as you wish -
Three handfuls dried chillies
One handful fresh chillies
About one teaspoon-sized piece of tamarind (I actually used tamarind paste - a shortcut)
One inch-squared sized piece of belachan (shrimp paste)
One cup shallots, or two large onions
A little sugar (palm or brown)\
A neutral oil
Raw Prawns - peeled, about 600 grams (optional, it tastes just as good as a condiment by itself)
Soak the dried chillies in hot water to soften, then remove the seeds and inner membranes. Soak the tamarind in a little water, and, separately, add about three tablespoonfuls of hot water to the belachan and mix with a fork to dilute. Peel the shallots, and place them in the blender/food processer with the chillies. Add a little of the shrimp paste water (not all), and a little more water to enable all the ingredients to blend properly.
Heat a heavy pan with enough oil to cover its base. Pour in the chilli-shallot mixture and let it bubble up and thicken. Add about a teaspoon of sugar and the rest of the belachan liquid. Add the tamarind water, a little of the time, to taste. Cook until most of the water evaporates.
If using, add the prawns last and simmer till they're cooked.
This is something of a family heritage. An extended family that, on the night of Christmas eve, after splitting up to attend our chosen Midnight/evening masses - the Lengs and the Boeys go to the Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus one that starts at nine, the Boudvilles attend the Cathedral mass that starts at ten, grandma stays in her house and waits for everyone to arrive - gather at Grandma's place to exhange presents, and eat turkey until two in the morning. The celebration before the celebration. Or, come to think of it, the celebration.
The family that orders, in the only way it knows (the Malaysian way perhaps?), orders a magnificient spread of Malay curries, augmented with Chap Chye (Peranakan stir-fried turnip), lor bak, soy milk jellies, Chinese pork leg-beancurd stick-dried scallops soup, replete with sugee cake, pineapple tarts and whatever chocolate confection I experiment with for a joyous Christmas luncheon.
The family that eats its prized purchase, the-getting-more-expensive-each-year Christmas turkey, with Gardenia bread, mashed potatoes made by Auntie Flo and THIS heavenly concoction.
Eating this brings me back to my childhood, to days growing up in my grandmother's house listening to the blender whirl, to each new Indonesian maid learning it anew, to an even older time when we took turns bashing my grandfather's pestle and mortar.
You might not believe me when I say all that, but as far back as I can remember someone making this, whether with prawns or petai, in my grandmother's house.
I don't know what took me so long to make this. Oh, maybe it was because I waited till I had the opportunity to buy belachan, pungent shrimp paste, from Bintulu (which is apparently famous for it). Or maybe it's just intimidating to try it - after all, my concoction would have a whole childhood of tasting to live up to. And I have to say, after all the Nasi Lemaks I've eaten, none come close to the one my mother/aunt/grandmother/maid (who learnt it from them) made.
Anyway, shrimp paste from Bintulu comes in cute dried coconut leaf packaging like these.
One weekend, I did try it. It was easier than I imagined, and better than I expected - especially the next day onwards, when the flavours had developed and melded together.
Recipe, courtesy of my fabulous mum. Feel free to double or triple the quantities as you wish -
Three handfuls dried chillies
One handful fresh chillies
About one teaspoon-sized piece of tamarind (I actually used tamarind paste - a shortcut)
One inch-squared sized piece of belachan (shrimp paste)
One cup shallots, or two large onions
A little sugar (palm or brown)\
A neutral oil
Raw Prawns - peeled, about 600 grams (optional, it tastes just as good as a condiment by itself)
Soak the dried chillies in hot water to soften, then remove the seeds and inner membranes. Soak the tamarind in a little water, and, separately, add about three tablespoonfuls of hot water to the belachan and mix with a fork to dilute. Peel the shallots, and place them in the blender/food processer with the chillies. Add a little of the shrimp paste water (not all), and a little more water to enable all the ingredients to blend properly.
Heat a heavy pan with enough oil to cover its base. Pour in the chilli-shallot mixture and let it bubble up and thicken. Add about a teaspoon of sugar and the rest of the belachan liquid. Add the tamarind water, a little of the time, to taste. Cook until most of the water evaporates.
If using, add the prawns last and simmer till they're cooked.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Girona Shots
What a pleasant, pleasant surprise.
Truth is, the only reason we visited this magnificient medieval town was that our flight back to London departed from this airport.
I still dream of what it would be like to live in such a historic place. Where the walls have witness centuries of fighting, and the architechture designed for lliving lives of centuries ago.
The inner town is actually a fortress/castle, and a paradise for photographic opportunists.
An ivy-covered wall, in fall colours.
An old well I think?
Sunday market - people selling cheese, baked goods, antiques.
Truth is, the only reason we visited this magnificient medieval town was that our flight back to London departed from this airport.
I still dream of what it would be like to live in such a historic place. Where the walls have witness centuries of fighting, and the architechture designed for lliving lives of centuries ago.
The inner town is actually a fortress/castle, and a paradise for photographic opportunists.
An ivy-covered wall, in fall colours.
An old well I think?
Sunday market - people selling cheese, baked goods, antiques.
The grand pair of doors leading up to our little inn, the charming little Bells Oficis.
Steps and narrow streets abound.
.....and in the day.
Shot from different angles, this one from the cathedral onto the stairs leading up to it.
Shot of one of its walls.
Gardens behind the cathedral.
I truly dream of living in such a city, where it looks as if people are living within the ancient fort, and its walls are still living and breathing after centuries, still protecting its people inside it.
Inside the dining room of the Bells Oficis.
Steps and narrow streets abound.
The ancient Girona cathedral at night.
.....and in the day.
Shot from different angles, this one from the cathedral onto the stairs leading up to it.
Shot of one of its walls.
Gardens behind the cathedral.
I truly dream of living in such a city, where it looks as if people are living within the ancient fort, and its walls are still living and breathing after centuries, still protecting its people inside it.
Barcelona Shots
The many faces of this vibrant city, at once elegant and avant-garde. We paid homage in 2008.
Barcelona was, like, one the places I felt I had to visit from a young age. I don't know if it was the travel advertisements in the Elle magazines I used to read, or the football, or the language - Spain always held a certain attraction for me.
The pier, lit by the winter sun. See the giant cruise ship docked at the port.
Inside the very Goth Barcelona Cathedral. All dark, moody and imposing as are all the rest of the Gothic cathedrals we've been to in Europe.
Gaudi's crazy genius on display. La Sagrada de Familia, a project a hundred years in the making and still not yet complete.
Mind-boggling Parc Guell and apartment buildings, all by Gaudi. Barcelona must be an architechture students' dream?
Shots all round the city.
Mind-boggling Parc Guell and apartment buildings, all by Gaudi. Barcelona must be an architechture students' dream?
Shots all round the city.
We met all kinds of people here. The friendliest locals, who helped us find our hotel tucked away in an alley.
A well-dressed crook who tried to sweet talk (aka swindle us)of our precious Euros.
An old croon attempting to rob AK in the metro train, only for us to be warned by another local.
La Ramblas and its street performers, its stalls hawking impromptu portraits, souvenirs, and all sorts of pets - hamsters, rabbits, reptiles and the like.
Fresh off the Spain's World Cup win, I guess I do regret missing a visit to the legendary Camp Nou, home to Barcelona FC, "more than a club".
Things to do before it's too late and I stop caring
~ Watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, any city, any year
~ Take Dad to watch either the World Cup or Man U in action. I especially want to watch a World Cup final!!
~ Visit India
~ Safari in South Africa
~ Tour Southern Spain (Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Ronda...) and Basque contry.
~ Live in a more cultural city, e.g. The Hague, or Penang :)
....too ambitious?
~ Take Dad to watch either the World Cup or Man U in action. I especially want to watch a World Cup final!!
~ Visit India
~ Safari in South Africa
~ Tour Southern Spain (Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Ronda...) and Basque contry.
~ Live in a more cultural city, e.g. The Hague, or Penang :)
....too ambitious?
Amsterdam, Holland as a whole
Waterways, wind turbines and flatness all around.
I can't think of anything really distinctive about this place, honestly. I mean, I do remember the red light district, with girls on "display" in windows, and rows of shops selling stuff made in China (football jerseys, knitwear)
Town square, as always.
View of the train station, if I can recall correctly.
Bicycles everywhere.
I can't think of anything really distinctive about this place, honestly. I mean, I do remember the red light district, with girls on "display" in windows, and rows of shops selling stuff made in China (football jerseys, knitwear)
Isn't this pretty? We stumbled upon this little handmade toys shop and took a photo of this beautiful mobile.
Town square, as always.
View of the train station, if I can recall correctly.
Bicycles everywhere.
Nothing much, really.
Brussels Shots
We managed a day trip out of Rijswik. Took a train out of Amsterdam to Brussels.
Photo montage of the Cathedral of St. Micheal. Breathtakingly beautiful, and when we entered choir practice was going on in the darkness of the insides.
If you care to look at the top right, it's a photo of the famous organ.
Photo montage of the Cathedral of St. Micheal. Breathtakingly beautiful, and when we entered choir practice was going on in the darkness of the insides.
If you care to look at the top right, it's a photo of the famous organ.
It was December, as you can see. The giant Christmas tree right in front of the famed Brussels Town Hall, or "Hotel de Ville", or "Stadhuis".
Pretty.
Pretty.
Paris Shots
Paris 2006.
An Arc de Triomphe photo montage.
Again, one of the many buildings I, for the life of me, cannot remember the name of.
Golden gates to....sigh.
La Defense.
I wish I could go again. I'd buy Ispahan and vanilla macarons at Laduree, try real duck confit and eat croissants for breakfast, visit flea markets and food halls, and work up the guts to walk into Louis Vuitton in the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
Looking at the photos four years on, I can hardly remember taking so many beautiful photos of this place.
I recall snooty salespeople, locals who replied our question "Parlais vous Anglais?" with "Do you speak French?", and streets that stank of dog pee. Tall, skinny women dressed in form-fitting black trenchcoats. A sea of black suits at the La Defense.
An Arc de Triomphe photo montage.
Again, one of the many buildings I, for the life of me, cannot remember the name of.
Golden gates to....sigh.
The pictures belie the rain, the early nightfalls, and us living on a combination of kebabs and crepes.
View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, the all too famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
La Defense.
Saint Chapelle, with its legendary stained glass windows.
In and out of Notre Dame, paean to Gothic Architechture.
The inverted pyramid at the bottom of the Louvre.
I wish I could go again. I'd buy Ispahan and vanilla macarons at Laduree, try real duck confit and eat croissants for breakfast, visit flea markets and food halls, and work up the guts to walk into Louis Vuitton in the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
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