有趣的 Simon 町。

上回提到我去了西門丁買手信，　除了買手信外, 也要醫肚! 沒有貴貴的 buffet, 在走鬼聲中掃街頭小吃也不錯吧!

左: 鹽水雞, 腎, 豆腐, 未生出來的蛋大雜會, 右上: 生煎小包子, 右下: 回酒店後把食物放在碟子上。

在買那鹽水大雜會的時候, 小販問我要多辣, 我說, '要大辣的'.

小 販面有難色地說：　’不行，大辣是可要命的呵!’

不怕丟命的辣豆小妹我回答說：’沒關事的喇，　我要大辣，　多辣也行！’

小販先生再三要我放棄, 我也再三的簽下生死狀, finally 買下了一袋 充斥著騰騰殺氣 紅辣椒粉的鹽水東西。

買完食的, 再逛一會兒才坐捷運回酒店, 但不竟太累了, 所以也沒仔細地 explore. 但也不難發現有趣的東西啊。

什麼是＂大雕＂！？ Zoom in 看吧！！　今年是民國 100 年, 所以街上掛滿了青天白日滿地紅旗呢！

我真的不怕死嗎!?

在捷運上才越想越心寒... 终於也在7仔買了一公升的 milk , 做好撲火的準備。


咁最後，是辣還是不辣?  milk, 當晚沒有喝完, 我還 "生歐歐" 的, okay 啦!　

看來老板是小看了我這從香港來的過江辣虫囉!!!

此 肝 不同 彼肝!

那天遊完九份後, 原本想重遊 台北101的 Wasabi 去刷餐勁嘅buffet 嘅, 由於太累,在飯店洗澡後, 最後還是決定快遊 西門丁, 買手信去也!

今次來台灣的其中一個手信目標 就是 "老天祿" 的辣鴨舌& 一粒潤 (潤, 是那老劉說要的!) 。

到底國語的 潤, 和腎的發音真的是相同的嗎?

我明明對店員說: "Chin wan ke bu ke yi mai yi ge ya gan?" (請問可不可以買一個鴨干?) 很淳正的國語, 對不對!?!?!?

她也回答說, "你買回香港的嗎? 沒有一棵賣的, 一包十隻潤 (她是就我這香港來的而說"潤"的) , OK?"

我回: 哇塞! 十棵這麼多, 怎吃的完吖!?! (可知道, 潤這東西 吃多了是很 "漏" 的啊!)

我敵不過那 阿桑的 hard sell, 而且, my bestest friend 老劉要求到, 的怎能不買!?! 便買下了那pack 比 鴨舌大盒的所謂鴨干! 誰知, 一打開, 便發現 原來台北的干, 是腎才真!!!

真 "甫碌" (foo luk - 不知怎寫!)

工作小記

昨晚 1am 的時候, 有個比較新同成日late & 甩 cases 的同事問我: "老細, 點解你返工比我早, 現在下班時間你又吾走呢?" 

我便隨便答佢: OH! (還得逞的模樣去指住自己) 呢個咪就係有責任感嘅同事同無責任感同事嘅分別囉! 你想倍我嗎? (還再抛他一個微笑中隱藏著凌厲剎氣嘅眼神)

他馬上扁咀& 撤退!

我發現, 我潛伏已久嘅強悍又返來喇!!

看台劇學 台 slang :D

除了寄居當地, 如要學地道的外語, 我認為 看電視是最好的方法啊! 由其是 slang! :D


我還記得我的一口流理英語是除了在加拿大時 減少和香港人混外, 還有是多看電視劇, 當時的 sitcom - "Full House" 真是我的良師啊.當然, 三個前男友 being 老外也有幫助吧!


近期天天的煲台劇, 我的台式國語和中文也好多了! (你看我用中文寫近期的 post 就知啦!) 


以下是我特別留意到在電視劇裡常聽到的口頭禪.

哇塞!   - 有的說這是粗口, 但我看這麼多台劇, 以我用 context 去理解, 是用來表達驚訝呀! e.g. 哇塞! 這個是 LaBean's Gazette 的第 500th post 呵!!!!!!! (是真的, 呢個真係第500個 post 啊!!!! *\o/* cheers)



超屌的! - 是種讚美啊! e.g. 超屌的! 這個是 LaBean's Gazette 的第 500th post 呵!!!!!!!

把妹　- 完來是追女仔的意思. e.g. 他不上課, 怕又去了把妹囉!!

所以,我的學外語三寶便是,  "移居", "看電視" 和 "把仔" :D :D 囉!

$6000 的去向。。。

唉！　錢 呢種東西呢，　係不會留在的口袋裡太久的，　它們好像在說 "此地不宜久留，　快逃到那網上商店吧!"

昨天才收到　"古錢銀號" 嘅　ＳＭＳ，報告那 六千氏 一家嘅移民申請已收到, 10個星期內就入伙, 今天, 我呢個 辣豆國 當家 就已把它們 evicted! :D

evicted 到那兒去?!?


我看到呢隻色就瘋了!!!! source: (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/suzi-chin-maggy-boutique-tie-waist-silk-dress-plus/3205173?origin=category)

Due to 我練得一身 麒麟臂 嘅絕世武功, 還是好好把呢 pair 一出鞘就剎人不見血嘅連身武器 隱藏著為妙. :)　呢條裙子恰好。source: (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/adrianna-papell-dolman-sleeve-dress-plus/3197010?origin=category)

I just can't resist this one!!! :D source: (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/gallery-faux-fur-cape-plus/3208277?origin=category)

其實自從港府announced 六千元派發後，　我都不知洗了多少個 $6000了, 洗埋呢次耍 忍 喇!!!!

100 分的九份！

不經不覺就行到九份的高處, 風景真美!

好彩雨雲剛散, 景色多令人自在啊. 

這個景我在旅遊書看過

欣賞完美景, 行完 so many steps of stairs.... 肚子裹的計時器又叫了! 怏醫肚為妙!!!

這是一碗太好味的"豬腳麵線"!（嘩！豬腳麵線　一定係好出名的，　因為　速成也自動　打出　＂腳麵線＂　after 個 "豬" 字 !)

肥!?!?!?!　一不做二不休！　來張 close up 吧！　肥而不膩的呢!!

 為什麼食飽了才覺乏呢? 在餐館寫完 postcards 後, 便有下山的念頭. 但, 還未找到那出名的 cinema, 怎能下山!?!? 鬼叫你肥呀, 頂硬上啦!!!!

找到! 得咗! Cinema 內 play 緊不是 "悲情城市", 而是其他的台灣老片, 但我也坐了下來看他 八,九分鐘啊.

走的時候, 都不忘拍下特色 buildings. 怎麼會有Victorian style 嘅圓 balcony 呢?

 行了四個多鐘, 真的累了, 原本想去埋金瓜石 & 黃金museum 那邊, 但最後還是打道回府囉!

如有興趣看多些九份的 pictures, click: http://ticklelabean.shutterfly.com/10410

九十九分的九份 :)

上文提要: 原本可用NTD$20 搭公車上 九份, 但又沒法say no to 黃色的計程車啊!

從的士的window 看出去, 個天在哭哩

九份,又名"悲情城市",連天氣都是令人那麼的 會令人感到 down啊! 明明在台北的時候還是30 度的大晴天, 一到了九份就下起最令洩氣的人濛濛細雨.

I have the habit of taking pictures of maps just in case I am lost :D

九份其實并不很大, 小半天便可行畢。 那窄窄的小巷在我到此一遊那段時間歞得更窄了.

雖然下著雨, 但大部份嘅遊客都不介意, 我也一樣濕下濕下咁在九份遊蕩, 多寫意啊.

行下行下, 我忽然覺得有點似 赤柱那條遊鴨街. 好多東西買啊!!

上: 左我forgot 係咩, 但好像是some type of 肉棵子什麼的.. 中: ginger mother tea　這個名；　我喜歡！右：　老味!, 左下: 老板娘說: 來啊! 來啊! 這裡有 "楊過" 的最愛啊! 快來嚐嚐 "姑姑" 囉!  下右：　好ｃｕｔｅ 的台灣酒品, 有很有趣的名字啊: 膽小鬼, 角頭老大, 狠角色, 拼命三郎, 大哥的女人, 恰北北. 

有很多無聊但有趣的店呵.好後悔沒有買那 iphone skin called"屌"!　：Ｄ hahah 不耍誤會, 台灣人說 "超屌"是種讚美啊! 呵呵呵!!

好 colorful 嘅遊客熱點, 泥人吳 & 九份秘密基地

.... 待續....

有冇咁鬼幸福呀!

今個月每晚都係收3am, 因為小食店都收擋了，　所以呢個月基本上係減肥嘅最佳時候。

　但辣豆媽最喜歡就係一邊話我肥，　一邊就塞東西給我吃！

今晚都夠誇張喇吧!!!

辣豆媽果然名不虛傳，　怎麼弄來了一隻大閘 crab!? :D

。。。盪盪盪

昨天寫到為了那個　吳尊尊　而春心盪盪盪。。。

昨天趁放假，　終於清理呆放咗兩個星期嘅台灣行理箱，我都忘了, 我在第二次夜遊士林的時侯, 又做出了情不自禁嘅 買買買!

 就是這DVD，　那店員還對我說： "這個是正版的, 我給你Copy 的平一點!", 我一口便用很有自信的國語回答: "沒關係兒, 我買這個就可以啦!" :D

呢部"花樣少年少女" 係有吳尊尊＆S.H.E. 嘅 Ella 演出嘅, 我呢三個月已煲咗起碼三次. 嘻嘻. 不全是因為my吳尊尊喇，　而係劇中演員和情節實在係超攪笑，把我隱藏久了的幼稚和活潑嘅心境一次過喚醒了!!

老實的說, 去年的人生經歷, 翻覆起落, 我真的累到忘記了怎樣放鬆自己。　雖說用煲劇去麻醉自己係爛了點，　但可以令我輕鬆地像個傻婆咁大笑，誰敢說不可!!! :)

我沒有咁叻去寫劇評喇, 但早前讀了一篇"blue phoenix灰姑娘穿的鞋子" 寫的, 我好agree嘅, 如有興趣, 不妨看看。

尤其係以下呢段：

節錄自：　http://blog.udn.com/fanciatang/detail

呵呵呵！！讚! :)

資深美少女 之 春心盪盪盪盪.....

近期狂煲台劇去減壓, 發現了現在D 台灣偶像劇嘅質素真的比我少女年代時高了很多, D 帥哥多到吖!!!! 仲要幾帥有幾帥添! 哈哈哈!

近期嘅心境係好像一個心傷痊癒了的失戀少女一樣, 重新對男生偶像有興趣囉... :D

繼 廿年前迷上金城武 後, 現看中了呢個從芠莢去台灣嘅 吳尊!! :D  每每見到佢在 magazine cover  便會情不自禁地買!買!買!!!

今日又比我找到一本囉！！！！！當堂個心都 春到盪漾起來。。。　嘻嘻嘻!

雖然係９月嘅 edition, 但依然很帥。。。　呵呵呵！　當然啦，　照片係吾會有過期日喇!

左起：　Elle Man, 是第一本買回來的，　中：　今日用特價買的，　右：　在ＨＫＧ　Ｂusiness class 老笠嘅 teeheehee。。　：Ｄ

我好懷疑，　呢Ｄ所謂嘅 "man magazines" 係咪真係 target Ｄ　男士讀者嘅呢！？

向九份出發

第二天, 赖床赖到　9am，獨自在這麼大的床翻滾是 多麼的 relaxing 啊!! :D  一覺醒來把原本沒做到的決定都做了! 就是去九份!!

我真的變了!

以往我去旅行前一定會做足功夫, plan 好晒個 itinerary 才出發的, 目的只為一個:就是為了給身邊的那個人一個完美嘅旅程，　但今次呢個隨心之旅係以 "見步行步" 為目標, 小資中女向前衝囉!!

 先說早餐！　早餐卡上說 breakfast served till 10am, so 我　９：２０分才優哉柔哉地到飯店餐庁，　但一去到那裡，　服務生對我說　９：３０分就停餐喇!!!!

"趕快!!"

這個時候是沒有太多選擇啦，　連 my usual pick: scrambled egg 都沒了! 所以盛了一小碗粥，　一粒 sausage, 一粒quail egg, 兩片短短的 "培根"(入鄉隨俗，不說 Bacon，　要說 培根）, 一粒鴨血，　1/2 個小 bun bun :D　兩片 dragon fruit. 呢個叫做 用 Quantity 去彌補 不足的 choice :D

好彩食得飽些，　因為去九份的路很長呀!!!

先坐火車到瑞芳站，　要企成粒鐘才到呀!

到了瑞芳，　轉了一部 NTD$180 的 Taxi，不用１５分鐘便到達九份囉. :)

下回待續... :)

重遊士林夜市

食對我來說比睡覺更重要!!!! :D 所以第一晚嘅晚餐一於舊地重遊, 士林夜市 去也!

雖說是舊地重遊, 但感覺完全不同!! 上次同 Mike 來的時候, 我只知道有那個 indoor market. 但今次可能是自己來的関係, 對眼睜得大些, 用心去認方向, 一眼関7, 我發現原來 仲有個仲旺過女人街嘅 Outdoor 部份!!! (原來女人嘅 poor sense of direction 係因為佢對男人太依賴!!)

Here are what I sampled at the indoor market :)

Top to Bottom: 鴨血湯, 豐胸木瓜鮮奶, 蚵仔煎, 臭豆腐!!!!

I only picked out the baby oysters from the 蚵仔煎 to eat because I don't really like the gluey egg paste and the weird orange sauce on top. The 臭豆腐 is not that stinky, it's different than the Hong Kong style stinky tofu. I like it because of the pickled cabbage they placed on top. It made the tofu less heavy.  I only ate about 3 pieces though.

One draw back about traveling alone is that you can either over order or not able to try different things.  I of course opted for the 'over order' style and tasted a bit of everything. :D

Legend has it that papaya milkshake makes boobies bigger which I shouldn't need more of but I don't care how big my boobies are, papaya milk is always my favorite! :D

 And then that duck blood soup is awesome for a certain period of the month! :D but highly not recommended for a 28 degree hot summer night!! :D

Thursday's normal crowd.

 Now let's head to the busiest part of 士林!! I actually went there 2 times this trip, I must say, on a Thursday evening, 士林 isn't too too crowded.  From a hermit's point of view, this kind of crowd is considered scary already.  Now imagine the crowd on a Saturday Night, I went nuts encountering the Saturday night's crowded!!! 我不禁用國語叫了出來: 真的瘋喇咧!

Weekend's crowd!!!! 我擠! 我擠!

有時尚用品賣啦

Foods!

More Foods!!!

What I like most about this place??

It has to be the peeled fruits! :D Nobody peel fruits at home for me!! :D I ordered NTD$400 worth of fruits on the first night's visit!! :D The fruits are the only thing I finished eating instead of just sampling a few pieces. :D

有 peeled papaya, persimmons, watermelons and nectarines.

Alright, ate myself some stinky tofu, blood, mystery meat sticks and papaya milk... etc... It's time to call it a night and head back to the hotel. :)

回家囉!

Taipei day 1

Right after getting out of the airport I got  pestered into ridding a hired car instead of the planned bus to the hotel. :D Oh well, what can I say, I am a softy and money is no object to me (yeah right!) HAHAHA

The driver was going to charge me NTD$1100, but I haggled it down to $800 :D Well, I didn't really haggle, I just told him I am gonna take the bus and frowned. :D  So, in the 1st hour of my arrival, instead of the $125 bus ride, I took a $800 car ride with a stranger. :D This is a little reckless and I will not repeat this again. :D

I must say, after 3 months of learning Mandarin by watching Taiwan TV shows, I was able to strike up a meaningful conversation with the driver. :D hahah What did we talk about? Well, we talked about the correct pronunciation of 火鍋, 辣, 故宮.... and of course how much I like Taiwan and how much he wants to go to Hong Kong Etc. :D 

There was no traffic at noon on a Thursday, so the ride only took about 45 minutes to get to the hotel.

But what is the point of getting to the hotel so early when the hotel has a straight 3pm check in rule. :D  So after dropping off my luggage, I decided to get familiar with the surroundings.

I think my sense of direction got better after this trip on my own thanks to these road side maps every couple blocks.

The hotel's location is quite convenient, it's only about 10-15 minutes walk from the 中山MRT. After wandering around the area for an hour, I found myself a Starbucks and sat till check in time.

Since I only slept like 2 hours before I flew, I couldn't help but took a nap till 5:30pm after shower.  I think this room is newly renovated because it smells new. :D I especially like the wooden floor.  When I sneak a peak at other rooms, they are carpeted room instead of this.

After the refreshing nap, I am finally ready to get out!! It's time to eat!

... to be continued...

小資中女 Business Class 遊記 2

原來坐 Business class 係咁忙嘅! 個八月十五接觸到比我個八月十五 大幾寸嘅 seat 吾夠兩分鐘, 個靚女空姐便 serve 我 drinks... then 問我要不要報紙/magazines, then 比溫暖的熱毛巾, then 比我 "入台entry form", then 問我要不要和平民艙不一樣的毛氈, then 問我要不要買 duty free, then 比 menu 我 choose lunch :D..... 好忙喇嘛!!!

Lunch 有 chicken or fish. :D  I forgot what chicken it was... but the fish is cooked in lobster sauce... :D so I picked the lobster sauced fish. :D

Maybe it's my 心理作用, the food did taste better than economy class!! :D hahaha

I ate all the fish and the fruits, I taste tested the pasta and the strawberry cake or whatever... :D It's not bad, but at 11am, I just couldn't eat the whole thing yet. :D   I also ordered a German white wine to compliment the fish. :D

Too bad this flight is only less than 2 hours. :D maybe I should save money harder to fly business to SFO next time. :D HAHAHHAAH

在 Business Class 看到的天空. (其實都是同一個天空!　：））

 A little follow up on the last post, turns out I couldn't find the throne room inside the VIP lounge... :D

If you are curious, the washroom in business class is no less different than any economy class :D

So in conclusion, business is just better food, better service and more leg and butt room! :D

小資中女 Business Class 遊記

哈哈!!! 辛苦搵來志在食之外, 我嘅目標係起碼一年去一次旅行! 由於今年已去了 Spain, 本來呢個台北之旅係可有可無的. 但我又有二萬幾 Air China miles 今年內 expire, 所以把心一撗, 就買張 $17XX 嘅 平民機票, burn 埋30k 嘅 miles, upgraded Business Class!! :D hahah

所以今次出城, 台灣不是重點, Business Class experience 才是!!!　哈哈哈！！！ 個 Dynasty Lounge at HKG 吾係好 Grand，　勝在 quiet. 好在有老李嘅忠告, 空住肚來, 好吾好食都要 try Breakfast bar. :D

 Breakfast 嘅Choice 吾多, 只有簡單嘅 pastries , dim sum 和 cup noodles. 我對一早就食甜沒興趣, 所以就只食了 dim sum.

好喇, 飲完三小柸 cuppachino 後, 又得到老劉嘅 推波助瀾, 呢個 post 就寫到呢度先, 我要 experience 下個 Business Class Lounge 嘅 VIP throne room! :D

Back from the Cruise!! :D :D :D :D :D

I am back to Orlando, FL after a 3 days cruise to the Bahamas!! :D You can tell by the ":D" on the title that I am extremely happy! :D heheh

But tired. :D

We will be flying back to SFO in about 16 hours. :D

三袋同堂 :D 3 bags!

Heheh. These are the bags I was carrying to visit my best friend, Liza this weekend. :D

From left to right: my tote bag, laptop bag and finally camera bag. :D I was ridding the ferry from San Francisco Pier to Sausalito this Saturday. It was such a relaxing 1/2 hour ride to the Marin County.

The ferry was quite packed here on the top deck which was an open deck. I would have gone up to the front if I wasn't too afraid of the sun and the wind. :D

I saw this structure as our ferrie approched the Sausalito pier. If I didn't remember wrongly, this was where Liza's wedding banquet was held back 5 years ago. :D

I am finally back to Mike's place now. So tired. It's not that bad feeling kind of tiredness, it's a relaxed kinda tiredness I am experiencing right now.

Tomorrow is gonna be a chill out day at home. Will update some more about the weekend then. :D

Stuffed Eggplants with Minced Lamb :)

I like to try cooking a new dish every time I come to my vacation cabin (Mr. MonkeyMan's house). :D

I love eggplants. Since my mom is allergic to it, our family avoids it at home for my mom's sake. :)  So now that I am on vacation, I decided I should treat myself a delightful eggplant meal. :D

Mike got home this pack of lean lamb meat, so I figured I'd stuff them in the eggplant. Lamb is also one of my favorite meats. I especially love the unique lamb flavor. :)

I have made enough to serve 3 people. :)

Ingredients:
3 eggplants
a large onion
a bunch of button mushrooms
a bunch of tomatoes
a bunch of cilantro
a bit of garlic
a pack of mutton
a handful of love :D
salt and pepper to taste

How to cook it:

1. chop onions and garlics into fine bits
2. chop the tomatoes, cilantro and mushrooms into chunks
3. brown the onions and garlics in olive oil, then mix in the meat together in pan
4. throw in the tomatoes and mushrooms and mix with the meat mixture
5. while the above is cooking in the pan, hollow out some of the eggplant meat to form a bowl shape for holding the mixture later.
6. throw in the egg plant meat in the pan too. We don't want to waste anything here
7. throw in cilantro just before turning off the heat
8. season it with some freshly grounded pepper (since we don't really eat salt anymore, but you can add some salt to taste of course)
9. when all is mixed and 80% cooked, scoop the meat mixture into the eggplant bowls
10. place the eggplants into baking dish and pour water or beef/chicken stock with a bit of olive oil which almost covers the eggplants.
11. cover the food in tin foil and bake for 45 minutes to an hour until the eggplants soak up the stock and tenderized.
12. Serve on plate with forks!

Isn't it a perfect little eggplant ship carrying a bunch of delightful lambs ready to sail into my tummy? :D

I love kitchen gadgets :D

I love kitchen gadgets. :D If you got the right ones, it would greatly assist you in the kitchen. :D I am not saying they are necessary, I am just saying I like them. :D


The other day, Mike and I went to shop for fruits. There's this favorite fruit store of ours that has some fruit related tools. :D Since we are avid cherry lovers, naturally, we have to get a cherry pitting tool! :D

I just couldn't resist the cuteness of the design.

It works quite well, but there are a few misses and nearly broke Mike's teeth! :D So I end up have to cut every pitted cherries in 1/2 to make sure they have no seeds remaining.

I made the cherries into a fruit salad which was so sweet and yummy. :D

Cherries, avocados, plums, mangoes and bananas salad. :D