賀詞一覽

My parents received yet another red bomb, meaning another wedding invitation. :D

This time it's a very close friend, so they, instead of just make standard red pocket money as wedding present, they went to a bank to buy Cash certificate.

The cash certificate comes with a note to teach you how to write meaningful good greetings for different situations. :D

click for huge version :D

:D My birthday is coming up :D Since it's not everyday I turn 35 :D, by then, I will wish myself, "三秩開五榮壽大慶", after all, an ordinary "設帨之慶" is just too ordinary for me. :D

Dad's Painting II

In response to Old Lee's requests about leaves on bamboo, here's my dad's presentation. :D

This is my dad's bamboo leaves. I think it's more Willow than Bamboo. :D He still needs a lot of practice to be as good as his master, but he's getting there. :D

This is my dad's teacher's work. This, I call bamboo. :D The teacher has been painting his drawings on a scroll for each student to take home to practice. This is practically my dad's art learning book.

New Fruit discovery: Bayberry

The other day, I have found some fruits I haven't seen before. In Chinese, they are called 水楊梅.

After a bit of searching, I found that their common English name is called Bayberry.

According to this wiki page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrica_rubra, these berries suppose to be sweet! :D

Not so in my case! :D I boldly bought a big bucket to try. >.< Oi!!! It's sooooo sour!!!!

I felt that my teeth had melted after eating 3 of these little monsters :D

These might look cute and pretty, but they are deadly sour! :D Think twice before you approach them! :D

Another blogger has wrote that it's sour too!! So it's not just me! :D

我心目中的靚仔.. Handsome guys :P

First, I must declare... :D Nobody in this whole wide world is more handsome than my boyfriend and my dad (not necessarily in that particular order 排名不分先後). :D

My Dad, so handsome :P 西裝骨骨,多帥哪!

But, there are these actors I fancy such as: Dean Cain (mmM.. Mmm.. mmm :D For no particular reason :P), Brandon Fraser (For his Canadian wholesomeness :D), 金城武 (For his cute Japanese features), and Keanu Reeves (only when he acts with Sandra Bullock, he's Canadian also! :D).

I rarely like local actors, just no HongKongese can be more handsome than my dad... :D *uh hurmph* :D

Of course, there could be exceptions. :D I used to only like 苗僑偉. :D Back in the elementary school days, he used to play many main hunky hero characters. I fancied him being my older brother who would fight off bad guys for me! :D

Now as I age, I think I start to prefer people closer to my age. :D Lately, I've started to admire this character actor, 歐錦棠. He usually plays supporting characters on TV, but when it comes to the stage, he's the protagonist.

There is this other blog someone wrote about him, (http://WindChao.pixnet.net/blog/trackback/1ac6e5c9e3/25414128)

This is his concentrated expression. >:|

This is his sad teary eye expression. >:~(

This is his happy expression. :D

Why do I like him? :D Well, he has this single eyelid thing that I always adore. :D His character in his latest Tv show, successfully portrait him as a gentle, loving, timid, protective ex-husband with a strong sense of principle. :D A perfect man with a flaw. :P (the flaw being the ex-husband part :P )

Just looking at those pictures above, I think he looks a little bit like my dad :D haha He has the same kind of stern when he's not smiling, but cute when he's smiling look. :D



Anyways... let's not indulge in my own fantasy for too long :P

Back to the real world, my own Mr. Monkeyman is 100x handsomer, gentler, more loving, timider and more protective than this actor on TV. :D

My Mr. MonkeyMan is hunky even without showing his face.. *Swoon* :D

Office drama :D 公司舞台劇: 願死也為情

同事甲 :　Labean, 豬流感啵, 你仲去吾去美國呀?
LaBean :　點可以吾去嘅呢？
同事甲 :　會死人ｏ家！
LaBean :　咁又係，我條氣管咁弱，第一個美國死人個案一定係我喇. (當時還未有人在美國死亡個案)
同事甲 : 你真係應該 重新計劃你個trip..
LaBean : 無事嘅!

<<一個全不知以上對話嘅同事乙行過>>

同事乙:　(唱) 願死也為情....　

同事甲和 LaBean 在這個時候都情不自禁地大笑. 阿乙嘅哀怨歌聲 實在太應景喇!





願死也為情 - 葉蒨文

曲：顧嘉輝
詞：鄭國江

從來眼中沒情聖
遇著你只好要承認
我的心中也有情
溫柔是我本性
由來愛戀沒憑證
遇著你心境再難靜
每當不想見你時
淚珠心中拼
你的心一絲絲驚擾
在我心一般反應
縱是在遙遙千千里
亦有心靈同感應
雖說是由來愛戀沒憑證
但是我今天也承認
若我得不到你時
願死也為情

Mom's Cooking: Tofu Skin Rolls

My mom has a few signature dishes. :D They include, "Curry chicken 咖哩雞", "Spicy chicken knuckles 椒鹽雞軟骨", "Steamed Chicken with Chinese wine 酒香白切雞", "Fried Oysters 酥炸生蠔" and "Tofu Skin Rolls 香煎腐皮卷" ....


A few days ago, my mom made us the "Tofu Skin Rolls".

Ingredients include:

• shredded pork ( I prefer when she made it with roasted duck meat :D )
  
• bean sprouts
• shredded carrots
• shredded mushrooms
• shredded celery
• sheets of thin tofu skin

How to cook:

1. wrap the above pre cooked shredded things in a triangle shaped 0.1mm thin tofu skin into a bundle. :D
2. heat the pan
3. sear the bundles until the skin is browned

How to eat:

1. sprinkle Worcestershire sauce
2. put into mouth and chew :D
   

Yummy

Dad's Painting

My dad has been practicing calligraphy for a while now and he's been really into it. :D My mom and I support him 110%! :D

Lately, he has been taking this other class, which is a Chinese water painting class. (水墨晝)

He has so many tools nowadays. :P

The first thing he learned was how to draw bamboos :D

 

I think he didn't do too bad as a novice.  These bamboo looks like it's swaying with the wind. :) 

Proof I sang in the choir! :D

In respond to my "Songs I sang in my high school choir" post earlier, since my old pals all have memory lapse (老人痴呆症), I decided it's time I show them some proof! :D

This is from a page in the 89-90 high school year book! :D I was form 4 in that year. :D Click on the picture for a huge version. Can you locate me in the picture?

No? Well, I will give you some help.

There you have it! :D I can sing! 我不是五音不全的. :D

Things I haven't done yet in San Francisco

Now that I have gotten my summer vacation days confirmed, it's time to plan my itinerary for my next trip to SFO. :D

Counting my fingers, I have been visiting San Francisco-Sunnyvale since April 2005 with a total of 6 visits through these years. :D

I was watching a show on the Discovery Travel and Living Channel which showcased San Francisco. It got me thinking about how much I haven't seen in San Francisco yet.

Below is going to be a blueprint of my future journeys :)

1. Ride the cable car
2. Visit the Aquarium at Pier 39
3. To see the "Painted Ladies" in Haight-Ashbury area
   
4. USS Pampanito
5. Musée Mécanique
6. The Haas - Lilienthal House
7. Walk around the China Town instead of ride along it :P
8. San Francisco Botanical Garden
9. Beach Blanket Babylon
10. Wells Fargo History Museum
    
11. Teatro ZinZanni

Why do I want to visit these places? :)


Stay tuned.. :)

Amazing Pressed Coins - Part 2. :D

:D Let's show you the rest of my Elongated penny collection. :)

These are from California, my favorite states of USA. :D

Somehow, I could only find these ones from Monterey and from San Jose. I am sure I had some made at the Coit Tower in San Francisco, but I can't locate them just now.

I got this one from a gift store called Kristonio's.

I got this one at the Mackerel Jack's Trading Co. It's also a gift store. :D

Now this one is very special. It's from the Wax Museum in the Cannery Row. Why is it so special? According to this site, it's retired!! It means the press machine has been removed and this design can no longer be made. :) This is so kewl. :D

Now, let's check out some at San Jose.

I didn't have the chance to roam around San Jose to get many of these made. When we visited the Rosicrucian Museum, I made these 2 below.

That's it for now. :D

If you asked me what regret do I have in life... I would have answered that I do now have a quarter (0.25 US$) tree which grow enough quarters for me to make these coins. :D hehe

For more information about these pressed elongated pennies, please visit: http://www.pennycollector.com/AreaList.aspx

Giving Singapore Airline a 2nd chance

Finally got my trip set! :D 1 June - 21 June! :D

3 Weeks!! :D hahhaha

I have been avoiding Singapore airline since the last trip 2 years ago. :D Because Asian airlines are so stingy with their mileage. Worse of all, last trip I was seated next to a family with a screaming baby. :D

I am a person who prefer to sleep as much as I can on the flight, since the baby was constantly screaming right next to my ear, I dare say that flight was the worst I have encountered. :D

Now I have just booked my flight with singapore airline.com because of their good pricing, I was surprised to found that they had actually put in "non carb" meals for passengers now. :D It's like music to my ear. :D

I have also selected my seat too. This time I chose a seat with just 1 passenger next to me. Pretty sure would have no babies! :D

Now I have selected my preferred seat, I can't wait to leave for a long vacation! :D

Home Made soup from colleague :D

I am such an admired team leader at work that I even get home made soup offered sometimes. :D

The other day, I got a big mug of "Duck's kidney, pork bones and veggie and Chinese herb soup" from my team member, Crigs. :D

It was soooo delicious, I must post it here. :D

Amazing Pressed Coins - Part 1. :D

I love pressed coins!!! It's always been my addiction (one of many). I think it's a very smart souvenir idea! :) After a bit of research, I find their correct name should be "Elongated pennies or pressed pennies" :D

Whenever I see these coin press machines, I have to get some! :D It's a perfect witness to where I have ever been.

These coins usually costs US$ 0.51 to make. 2 quarters + 1 penny. :) Whenever I travel to USA, I always keep some quarters in my purse, not only for car parking meters, but for these pet peeves of mine too. :D

Here is a showcase of what I have kept.

These 2 are from the Dole Plantation in Oahu, Hawaii. :) Mike and I went there back in summer of 2006. :) It was such a fun trip.

Dole is famous for their pineapples there, which I loathe. :P But I had enjoyed the largest Maze of the world there which is shown on the coin on the top.

This is the Battleship Arizona memorial pressed coin. It's a very solemn place.

The above 2 coins are about USS Missouri and USS Bowfin also located at the Pearl Harbor.

This is a coin pressed made at another memorable place in Oahu, the Byodo-In Temple. It's a replica of the Byodo-in temple in Kyoto, Japan.

It's such a tranquil place. We even get to see live peacock and other exotic birds roaming freely on the temple grounds.

This is the depiction of the large sitting Buddha inside the temple.

That's all the coins I have pressed in Hawaii. Such a lovely place!

I will show you some of my California collection later. :)

7.7. Plastic Bag Fee 事變!

Starting 7/7/2009, many major Hong Kong retail stores would charge a HK$0.5 fee for a plastic bag should you require a bag after your purchase.

Here's the detail of the ordinance: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/prob_solutions/env_levy.html

I think it's a very good piece of news. :D I personally don't really care for collecting plastic bags as I always have 1 or 2 reusable bags with me.

But for my mom, it's like worse than the WWII :D. (仲慘過七七事變) My mom always collects those bags for garbage bags or other wrapping purposes. Now without these free bags, she will really have to think up new ways to use the remaining plastic bags effectively. :D

Now, let me introduce you to my reusable bag buddies. :D



I 100% support this change!! I would suggest to also band the plastic cutlery and foam lunch box too!!!!

Go back to the basic!! Let's all bring tin take out cans to buy your take outs!! :D Yay!

BBQ Pork 101

The other day, I was reading a magazine (飲食男女) about foods... :P

There was this extensive report about the best BBQ meat stores in Hong Kong.

So, lured by the delicious pictures of all these bbq porks, bbq baby pigs, roasted ducks, steamed chicken and roasted ribs... :D I went and bought a box of bbq pork and roasted goose rice box for dinner the other night.

I was looking for the '5 storey pork' in my meat.. :D

What is 5 story pork? :D

This picture demonstrates what is a good piece of bbq pork. :D It consists of 5 different distinctive layers. Top to bottom: crispy pork skin, fat and tender meat, lean meat, thin slice of fat, and then last layer is a mixture of lean meat and cartilage.

source: 飲食男女　magazine.

Here's my piece of pork.. :D Not exactly 5 storey high, but close enough. :D

My pork was missing the 4th layer of fat. :D But it's nonetheless a very good piece of bbq pork! :D

Eating can be educational too :D haha

Food Lables in Hong Kong!

Good news!!!  Starting 1 July, 2010, all Foods sold in Hong Kong (unless otherwise exempted) will have Nutrition Labels!

I remember back 4 years ago, when I was doing Atkins' diet in Hong Kong,  it was quite frustrating because I pretty had no idea what I was getting. :D

Now I can watch out for the labels and stay away from high sodium, high sugar and high carbohydrate things. :D

1 YAY for the government of Hong Kong! :D We finally progress like the rest of the civilized world. :P

Here is the Centre of Food Safety of Hong Kong.

http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/food_leg/food_leg_nl_guidance.html

Fun with GPS :D

Phone these days are so much fun! :D

Not only you can take pictures or videos, play games, and browse the internet, you can do many fun things with it too.

Today, I am gonna show you my phone's GPS in action. :D hehe

It's my favorite pass time on the bus after work now. :D hehe

北京油桃 Beijing "Oil" peach

Hehe..what do you see?? :D

I see a nipple on the peach!! :D

These are called Beijing Oil Peach (just a straight translation, probably not the real english name).

I think it's a cross between a Guava and a nectarine. It's not too sweet, not too sour, just right. It's not too soft and not too crunchy. :) It's also note too big and not too small. :D hehe

Songs I sang in my high school choir. :)

My pal, Old Lee claims she didn't know I was in the Choir back in high school! :D She was in the same Choir I was in! :D Gosh! :D

To jolt her memory, I have located the 2 songs that our Choir had sung many many years ago.

The first song is called "Trees". I think it's my all time favorite. It's a very green song which is still good for today's eco friendly climate.



The other one is a Mandarin song called "白云之歌" (The white clouds song). It's also a lovely song. The version we had sung was a bit more cheery with a lighter beat. This version is more like classic opera kinda feel. :D

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/JmR1BlPChXU/

Please enjoy these 2 songs and walk along my memory lane with me. :)

New toy means clean up time! II

To continue yesterday's post, there were so many treasures of the old days I had found underneath the old printer.... :D

That printer has been such a permanent fixture on my desk, I simply haven't noticed anything under it. :D

Now to show you how bad the "ink asborber"'s problem is...

Eww.. ink actually sipped through the old printer's crack.

Thank goodness the ink is easy to clean off.

Now, here are the treasure from the olden days.

I had actually threw away all my floppy disks a few months ago, but there was this 'escapee' hidden under the old printer!!!!!! I swiftly terminated it without mercy. Muhahahah!

God save the Queen!!! I wonder.. if I mailed out letters with these now... would the letter be sent successfully? :D  I mean... If coins with the Queen's head are still in circulation, why not the stamps?  Come on, I had paid for these stamps in fact!!

Whoa! I forgot about this! :D

This is a key chain designed by students of my Alma Mater, St. Clare's Girls' School. It's a school girl wearing our summer uniform. I think our school's uniform is quite pretty. The 4 red buttons and the maple leaf batch are so distinctive! :)

It's amazing that our school song is considered the longest there is in Hong Kong. :D I used to be in the choir and I still remember how to sing it on top of my head.

These are the rare finds under my old printer. :D It was such a fun journey to discover these objects of history.