Taipei’s Xi Men Ding (西門町) February 19, 2008
Posted by Cai in F.Y.I, Food, Interesting, Life, Pictures, Thoughts, Travel.2 comments
I can find a million excuse to explain my disappearing act over the past few days.
- Suffered a terrible hang over after Valentine’s Day (Friday).
- Accompanied my Papa to Indonesia for his business trip, which all i did was shook hands and offer my big smile (Saturday and Sunday).
- Had a meeting with my insurance agent in the early afternoon, before heading to Queensway to print my report. Returned back home with severe headaches and serious indigestion problems which caused me to be bed ridden till this morning (Monday).
- Accompanied David to the gym, before heading to Ngee Ann to submit my report and caught Jumper over at Tiong Bahru Plaza (Tuesday, which is today).
Anyhow, that’s just a short update on what’s going on with my life and it’s definitely not my sole reason of wordpressig today. Instead the topic of the day shall be the last bit of my Taipei trip, on Xi Men Ding (西門町).
Ximending is now called the “Harajuku” of Taipei. The local bookstores sell Japanese magazines, books, CD albums, and clothing, making it a heaven for the “Harizu”, or Japanese culture adorers. Individual vendors gather in the streets as well as the large business buildings, such as Wannien Department Store and Shizilin Square in the early days, and Wanguo Department Store and Eslite 116 in the later period.
Due to the density of young people, Ximending is comparable to Shilin Market and the Eastern District to be areas with the highest crime rates. In addition, Ximending is well-known for Enjo kosai (Japanese for student prostitution).
Via Wikipedia
I traveled there during the early morning therefore most of the stores are still not opened yet, and the crowd has not appeared.
I guess the main attractions should be the streets filled with stores along the way, which caters more towards the female community, sadly. From shoes, latest fashion trend at awfully cheap prices, to Japanese magazine stalls, you name it.
They do have fashion for the males, however it was more towards the hip hop type of trend, you know, 五毛钱 (50 cents). Which apparently seems like a fashion disaster for me, but i’m sure it’s the way to go for many others, yep.
Anyhow, me and sister stumbled in a female apparel store called Young, where she bought a trench coat in preparation for Sydney’s winter when she head back.
If i do have a girlfriend, and i know her size then i will be able to shop for her. Judging from the store’s catalog, the collection’s fantastic.
The street center is filled with this kind of push cart stores, where they sold snacks. Despite the wet weather, the thought of making money during the Chinese New Year period never slip their mind.
After many hours of walking, accompanied by the wet weather, we decided to take a pit stop over at one of the Japanese restaurant. It’s not the typical type of conveyor belt you see, it’s actually a train with carragies carrying the different varieties of delicious looking food, flirting with you everytime they go steaming past.
My sister had some Udon Soup.
While i had Barbecued Pork Bento Set.
Our Unagi Sushi.
Absolutely not going to forget the Ebi Sushi.
Having the chance to try out the authentic Japanese food definitely made my day.
Thank goodness my sister knew how to speak in Japanese because the restaurants caters more to the Japanese customers. After coming back from Adelaide, i realized my Chinese became really atrocious. Speaking wise ain’t that bad, just that i might stammer alittle. However, when it comes to comprehending, sometimes i have to make them repeat their sentence unwillingly for more than three whole times, disappointingly.
Technorati Tags: F.Y.I Life Interesting Pictures Travel Thoughts Japanese Food Sushi Taipei Xi Men Ding 西門町
Taipei Shi Lin (士林) February 13, 2008
Posted by Cai in F.Y.I, Food, Interesting, Life, Pictures, Travel.3 comments
The Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei City, Taiwan. It is the largest and most famous night market in the city. To get there by the MRT, you must take the Danshui Line to the Jiantan Station, not the Shilin Station. Like most night markets in Taiwan, the local businesses and vendors begin opening around 4 p.m. as students begin returning home from school, crowds reach their peak between 8 and 11 p.m. Businesses continue operating well past midnight and close around 1 to 2 a.m.
Via Wikipedia
Well well, the all so famous Shi Lin (士林). When people talk about Shi Lin, the strings of thoughts will definitely travel and revolve about the picture of good food. Then let’s allow the pictures do the talking alright.
Singapore do have the franchise Shi Lin Snacks scattered around the malls, and their signature snack is none other than the XXXL Crispy Chicken. Coming to Shi Lin and not trying their crispy chicken where it originated from will be like ordering chicken rice without chicken. Basically, it doesn’t make sense not trying.
In fact, their westernized crispy chicken contains a piece of ham inside and is filled with mustard, simply wicked.
Another famous snack will be their oyster fried egg, how could i have missed it. Anyhow, i actually don’t eat oysters because it has a strong stench taste, however not trying will be a regret. It’s all in the mind, just swallow.
I tried their Teppanyaki too, and i must comment that the portion wise ain’t that ideal. I ordered a set meal to share with my sister and that’s what i received.
Shi Lin is actually not all about food, and usually food comes hand in hand with shopping. Despite the wet weather, the crowd never ceases. If you’re looking for cheap clothes, this will defintely be the place to attend. Absolutely without a doubt, their main target are the females.
Along the way, there were many stores like the one above and it reminded me of my secondary school’s funfair days. Basically, they are game store that offer basic games, and of course you get to win prizes depending on the points you collected. Anyhow, i bet as a Taipei kid, not trying this will result in a no childhood.
If you ever visit Taipei, Shi Lin is one spot you cannot miss. Sometimes i wish Singapore’s Pasar Malam (Night Market) can reach some proper standards.
Technorati Tags: F.Y.I Life Interesting Food Travel Pictures Taiwan Taipei Shilin Night Market Shopping
Taipei Day 1 – Arrival February 5, 2008
Posted by Cai in F.Y.I, Food, Interesting, Pictures, Travel.2 comments
Hello you. Deepest apologies for not updating my blog during the thirty nine hours i have in Singapore before i left for Taipei. Basically, i was busy unpacking, packing and meeting up with the lonely hearts club over at Holland.
Anyhow, here i am in my hotel room (Cosmos Hotel) in Taipei city area and i shall do a short update on my arrival here.
Welcome to Changi Airport Terminal 3, what you see above is after the custom area. I cannot deny that fact that i am impressed.
I always get pushed to the window seat, partly because i don’t mind. Anyhow, the smooth creamy layer of clouds looks amazing. Feels like i can walk on it.
Finally, we reach Taipei!
That’s me and my mommy!
By the time we reached the city from the airport, it was already dark thanks to the bad traffic. Oh it’s raining today, and it will be raining for the following days too ):
The first shopping center that i entered.
Here’s my dinner. Deep fried pork chop with tomato japanese curry, yummy.
Yes, i couldn’t help but to ring the 爱情 (love) bell.
After a few hours of browsing around, i managed to get two items that interest me.
- Levi’s Jeans $3081 NT /$152 SGD
- Porter Sling Bag $3350 NT /$160 SGD
That’s all for the short update. It’s time for me to turn in, apparently i am typing this with my eyes half closed. Good night my friends, have fun preparing for new year (:
Technorati Tags: F.Y.I, Life, Interesting, Food, Travel, Pictures, Singapore, Changi Airport, Terminal 3, Taiwan, Taipei, City
A Taste Of Hahndorf January 17, 2008
Posted by Cai in F.Y.I, Food, Interesting, Life, Pictures, Thoughts, Travel.10 comments
Passed by Hahndorf the other time when i went to the Beerenberg strawberry farm during early October. Since then, it has always been a desire to travel there again to check out the German town that was established in the 1838 i think. However, due to transportation problem, traveling there can be quite a major problem. Well well, since Kenneth agreed to be the designated driver (DD) again, it’s indeed an offer too hard to reject.
That’s the group of pretty man walking down the street, with Kit being the camera man of course.
According to the local critiques, the preferred place to dine at will definitely be the Hahndorf Family Hotel. /Followthecrowd.
We couldn’t resist trying out the originial Hofbräuhaus beer (HB), the smooth tasty heritage of Germany can actually be tasted through it. Thinking back, i realised Becks didn’t cut it afterall.
Look at what we gluttons actually ordered!
- 1 x A Taste Of Germany (Far left) $25 AUD/$32.50 SGD.
- 1 x Bowl Of Fries With Gravy (Center) $9.90 AUD/$12.87 SGD.
- 1 x I Cannot Remember The Name Platter (Center) $25 AUD/$32.50 SGD.
- 1 x Pumpkim Soup In Bread Bowl (Far Right) $12 AUD/$15.60 SGD.
- 2 x Hofbräuhaus beer (Not In Picture) $9.90 AUD/$12.87 SGD.
F.Y.I. Coming to Hahndorf and not trying their A Taste Of Germany makes you go home empty handed. It’s actually a dish full of meat, ranging from different type of sausages (e.g. bockwurst), pork knuckles, pork chop, deep fried bacons, potato salad and et certa.
The sight of meat turns my stomach upside down after the whole meal, and we were discussing about going for a detoxification session together. I mean, hello, it’s really a meat galore feast, and it’s able to turn you into a perfect vegetarian for the following days. Anyhow, although my taste bud had an overdosage of amino acid from excessive meat eating, but one thing is for sure, every little piece of meat tasted fantastic, a die die must try experience.
According to my roommate who’s constantly doing the counting down, i’m left with twelve more working days, and seventeen more nights in South Australia, Adelaide.
Thoughts about an issue living in my subconscious state hit me a few moments ago, again. Here’s the question, you went through a whole great ordeal (rain, searching, queues, effort, misc) to buy a gift he/she apparently liked for he/she. He/she then told you it’s all so great and wonderful, expressing a total gratitude. Ta da, and few days later, her friend actually told you he/she was disgusted by the gift, “oh, it’s damn creepy la”, yes tell me how would you actually feel? Honestly, it feels like a heart shot right through into a bolt of blue, and anyway kudos to that.
Technorati Tags: F.Y.I Interesting Food Pictures Life Thoughts Travel South Australia Adelaide Handorf Taste Of German Town
Singapore’s Delicacies And Girls December 3, 2007
Posted by Cai in F.Y.I, Food, Life, Pictures, Rants, Thoughts.add a comment
Tai Hua’s Bak Chor Mee is my favorite, via ieatishootipost. Please check out this amazing blog, it’s like a Makan Sutra. The author eat, he shoot the pictures, then he post it up on his blog, and do a detailed entry. Thanks Chen for the link.
You have no idea how much i miss Singapore’s food. Eating out here in Adelaide can be a catastrophe, and all i could do is blame my adversity. For an example, i’m paying nearly $10 AUD/$13 SGD for this Hor Fun (Rice Noodle) which had minimum amount of meat, well that’s fine with me. What really inflamed me was the fact that they added cucumbers, broccolis, carrots, capsicums and e certa, should i add a bon appetite? It’s pointless to compare it to Crystal Jade, i’ll just take any random cooking stall in my neighborhood back home and they will be able to score 324324657 times better. What detest/upsets me the most, is watching the locals over here enjoying it, /blah.
Singapore’s food also reminded me of the times i shared with my buddies, nonetheless a girl that promised to send me pictures of local food which is long overdue. The thought of the unpredictable movements/actions of a girl shall forward me to the next issue in my agenda of this entry.
Most guys are hopeless with what a girl is thinking, and i am no expert either, however it will be favorable to share my two cents worth of knowledge.
A girl’s heart can easily be represented as someone in a hawker looking for food. Thoughts that will invoke her will be like,
What am i craving for currently? Is it healthy? If i eat this in this sort of weather will it cause me to fall ill? How much does it cost? Any award presented to this stall and e certa.
The weather shall represent her fluctuating mood. Her craving shall be the type of guys she has weak spot on, either cute/handsome/smart so on and so forth. The price of the food shall be the league she plays in. The amount of oil and how healthy the food shall represent your current status/age. Last but not least, winning any award will be the bonus points held by the guy.
If you do equate all the variables altogether, with the change of time included. Differentiating the complex equation will result in a even more complex equation, yes an innumerable answers, in short, undefined. Indeed, this will bring us back to square one, how pathetic aye.
In conclusion, i suck real bad with girls and the unsolvable equation above, which explains why i’m still single. We have to admit to the fact that the males are from Mars and the females are from Venus. No matter how many more variables are removed and replaced by constants, it’s still hard for either of us to understand each other, because we simply come from two different planets/worlds. However don’t give up on love, peace out.
End of presentation, merci.
Technorati Tags: F.Y.I Food Pictures Rants Singapore Adelaide Girl Heart Thoughts Understand Problems
Barossa Valley November 5, 2007
Posted by Cai in Food, Life, Travel.5 comments
Welcome to Barossa Valley.
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide.
There wasn’t a huge welcome sign, so i just had to imagine that there was one. Anyway, the first thing you will notice when you arrive is the huge nicely arranged vineyard. It sure does look never ending to me, which explains why harvesting can surely be a pain.
The first winery we visited was Yaldara. The buildings gave me an old english era feeling, with a mix of Italy’s Rome. Look, it even had a pretty fountain to go along with it.
It was really an eye opener to wine tasting/appreciation. My previous mindset was that wine tasted awful, while spirits were smooth. That’s partly because i’ve been only exposed to the pathetic quality of imported wine in Singapore, blame where i live.
The sales lady at Yaldara offered great hospitality, introducing us to some of their best wine for the year, the so called must buy. At the same time, i was busy bugging Kenneth to explain more wine terms to me.
Anyhow, i shared a promotion package with Kit for their McGuigan’s Black Label ($15 AUD). The Traminer Riesling, a soft bodied white wine, perfect for desert time. It’s the second from left in the picture above.
The next winery on our itinerary is Ross Estate, and their entrance were filled with beautiful spring roses, how appropriate.
The Ross Estate’s medium bodied red wine were quite appealing to me, however Kenneth mentioned about better ones i’ll get to taste later, therefore i didn’t get their Shiraz. Instead we were all mesmerized by their special drink now wine called the Beekeeper ($14 AUD). I know you’ll definitely be asking, what’s so special about it.
Apparently, the fermentation period of the Beekeeper is kept at minimum in order to capture the grape sugar, which give us the honey after taste of the wine. Simply awesome, i’ll defintely recommend it to you people, but sadly you can only get it at the Ross Estate’s cellar itself. By the way, it’s the one on the far left you see in the picture, hope you spot the bee.
Ah-head is the Jacob’s Creek Vineyard. I was informed that Jacob was the first to plant a vineyard and start the wine production in Barossa Valley. Who knows? This place actually produces 50% of the world’s wine and hosting all the best wine!
Therfore, Jacob’s Creek is a tourist attraction, a must go!
These are the selection of wine produced at Jacob’s Creek. I insisted that this is the place where i’m going to spend big money on, since the brand is world recongised! I jumped straight into their high end collections, and tasted their 2001 Johan Shiraz (Red Wine). Although the full bodied wine i tasted so far always gave me a in your face feeling with slight spicyness, the 2001 Johan Shiraz ($75 AUD) was smooth to your throat and sends your taste buds on a hallucination.
Since i’ve decided on a Red, it was high time i scout for my White. The 2005 Riesling ($25 AUD) tasted wonderful too though it wasn’t matured yet. The staff there told me that proper cellaring will make it something that many would long for.
I succumbed to buying the both of them since they were fascinating. Going to cellar them for another good 8-10 years, and maybe it’ll come in handy during special occasion like my wedding dinner, /yam seng!
That’s a highly satisfied customer you see above, cheers!
The next stop was Peter Lehmann where i bought my 1999 Black Queen sparkling shiraz ($35 AUD). It’s a drink now wine therefore i’m planning to pop it during the coming Chinese New Year with my family. Peter Lehmann’s wines were so good too that i forgot to snap enough pictures of the place ):
The fourth place we visited was Seppeltsfield. Shared the 2003 Chalambar Shiraz with Kit, probably going to pop it during Christmas, when we tour Melbourne with some other friends.
Finally we came to the last stop of the day, which was Wolf Blass. It’s establish in the 1966, and they claim themselves to be Australian wine at it’s peak.
Although i didn’t like the Cabernet Sauvignon (pronounced as Cab Sav in short) in the other winery. There was a connection between the 2005 Grey Label, Langhorne Creek’s Cab Sav and me. Of course i couldn’t resist but to buy it for cellaring. 10 years down the road, and i’ll be enjoying the richness of the wine with my dearest, provided if i find one. If not, i’ll just /yam seng by myself at Changi beach already!
At each cellar, we tasted around 5-7 glasses of their wine, and each glass is filled to around 20 ml from my estimation. With 5 cellar we visited, it should sum up to around 700 ml of wine, which is nearly a bottle (750 ml). No wonder i was on cloud nine when i heard Kanye in the ride back! Anyhow, while playing mahjong and cards in the wee hours, we still went ahead to down a Beekeeper too, no joke.
In total, i bought 6 bottles of wine and spent $216 AUD alone on them. Officially broke, and here i am sending my regards to budget week.
Technorati Tags: Life, Travel, Food, Pictures, South Australia, Adelaide, Barossa Valley, Red, White, Wine, Jacob’s Creek, Peter Lehmann, Rose Estate, Wolf Bass, Seppeltsfield, Vineyard
Hungry Jacks October 16, 2007
Posted by Cai in F.Y.I, Food.2 comments
In Adelaide, you can find the usual Mcdonald/KFC, however there was something amiss. There’s no Burger King, instead there’s Hungry Jacks, which is exactly the same i realised.
Here’s my yummy grilled Chicken Whopper ($2.50 AUD/$3.25 SGD), and if i am not wrong Singapore’s Burger King stopped selling this right? Oh and by the way, they do not have my all time favorite, Mushroom Swiss Double /frown.
Farewell Dinner October 14, 2007
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Farewell dinner for my new found friends was held at Gouger Cafe, also known as the holy place due to the whitish ambience. It’s located at Chinatown, and every friday evening after buying our weekly groceries there, the stroll past there made us conclude that it shall be the place for the farewell dinner.
This is vile meat, also known as deer meat, Kit ordered this.
I ordered grilled King Whiting fish with crumbed prawns , and a Hahn beer (locally brewed). It’s a total of $31 AUD/$40.30 SGD.
Kenny had chef special salmon with rice combo.
Well, the concept of the restaurant is similar to Fish and Co, however the food here has the ultimate quality that you can’t find without the effort.
Good things always have to come to an end. People can come and go through your life, but true friendship will never leave you, that’s something i’ve realised.
Frankly speaking, the 6 weeks i spent with them was too good to be true, yes i came to Adelaide being prepared to spend the rest of my time with Kit. Now that we have bonded together like a school level camp, after all the day trips, taunting, lunches, dinners, office life, i thought it was hard to let them go.
Being an emotional person, i almost tear-ed when we exchanged hugs and during the departure at the airport. Guess it’s time to face the truth, it’s back to me and kit for now.
It ain’t that depressing/bad actually, because i still have Kenneth and Jeffery around, and and i’ve made new friends like Janice (Science school), Arvee (Medicine School) etc. Anyway, shall blog about the day trip to Cleland Wildlife Park like the following day if time permits.
Pasta Palace October 11, 2007
Posted by Cai in Food, Life, Pictures.add a comment
Welcome to Hindley Street’s Pasta Palace Restaurant. It’s obvious what they sell judging from the name right, so i shall cut the crap.
Personally i feel that it’s the nearest i can get to experience Italy in Adelaide, the place is a zhen zhong bo bei zhao Italian resturant. Like the music and ambience, although some parts are a mix of both world.
This is Benson’s kangaroo meat fillet, it’s kangaroo meat, the animal that hops around and has a pouch i have to remind you. He sat across me and every time he slice the meat open to expose the bloody red texture, it sent goosebumps on the side of my arms, /glup.
Anyway, here’s my Spaghetti Marinara. It’s supposed to come with squid and mussells, however i only wanted prawns, you know i hate those weird looking seafood.
I took quite some time to enjoy the $19.90 AUD/$26.00 SGD meal. Each string of spaghetti is coated with olive oil, lubricating my lips and down my stomach. The sauce is fantastic, a perfect pinch of tomato taste that comes tangling with every bite. Not to forget, the prawns are juicy and light salted, you won’t get sick of it ever. I hereby announce that this is the best pasta i ever had in my life, screw pasta mania seriously.
Strawberry Farm October 8, 2007
Posted by Cai in Food, Life, Pictures, Travel.add a comment
Note to all: If you are allergic to berries, please leave this wordpress immediately.
I love to eat berries. any product that has berries in it will be a must try for me. Therefore during this strawberry peak period, we thought that it is definitely a must to head to a strawberry farm over at Hahndorf (a German town in Adelaide), and pick your own strawberries!
Oh yes, that’s a farm where you can pluck as many strawberries as you like, and of course you have pay for them later at $8.20 per kilogram.
Welcome to the strawberry patch, this is the only huge batch that entitles you to a free for all campaign.
That’s strawberry farmer Cai, say cheese!
Please note, you can actually start testing them along the way, yes yes i call it my very own QC (quality control).
Just look at the amount of beautiful tasty strawberries, how glossy they look, literally replicating a pin up girl on your locker smiling back at you.
That’s all the strawberries mister greedy me plucked, and i am puzzled on how to finish them all. Apparently i still have a bunch of bananas and 6 apples back home for the whole of this week, time to say my prayers.
That’s all for today, i shall do a short entry on the BBQ at Dr Yung’s place the following day if time permits, cheers.
