Overwhelming requests to update.....
Ok ok.....
Blogging adds more stress to the already-so-busy-phd-student's-life. As if I don't have enough to do. I have not watch today's daily dose of youtube yet, have not written up my quarterly report which was due last fri for submission, have not checked email, have not eaten supper.... grrr....
Anyway for those that didn't know, I escaped the so-busy life for 5 days in May. Booked on the Lufthansa promo air tix to Milan for 49 pounds return from Heathrow. Beat that! Obviously I didn't want to go to Milan. I didn't have a good impression of that drab and dull and rude city when I visited Lynn few years back. So I went onto google map and checked what's around Milan. Just south-east was Parma. Ok Parma ham: tick. Slightly more SE of Parma is Modena. Ok balsamic vinegar: tick. On the same straight line is Bologna: WAAAA bolognese sauce and lasagna. Set. Let's go on a gastronomic hunt!
Yingru opening the trip with a double-scoop gelato in Milan
Excellent trattoria in Bologna. On my plate, the very traditional handmade tortellini in broth (tortellini brodo). Just let the flavour of the parma ham fillings immersed in the broth do the talking. YUM. Yingru's having asparagus risotto instead.
Having some random thoughts during shower. If I have to leave London, which places do I want to move on to? Unexpectedly, they are all big cities; ok I admit that the thought of wanting to move back to the village Biberach did appear and I had to quickly force myself to erase the idea of returning there to live. Ok, I think I can survive there another 6 months maximum, of course with internet this time.
(in no order of preference)
1. Berlin
One of the coolest cities in Europe. If London is #1, Berlin is definitely #2. This city is ever-changing. It has the richest history of the WW2, then endured the cold war and segregated into Russian, American and etc territories, isolated from the world by a wall and then this new youthful city has taken a turn from its past to spring into the future with some exciting developments. Can't stop marvelling about the S/U-bahn system, the modern Hauptbahnhof, the checkpoint with the fake guards posing for photos, the old Nazi HQ and many more. I will definitely be back there since I have regrettably left out the Pergamon Museum on my past 3 visits.
2. New York
I know I know, I'm not a fan of the US, but New York has been such a pleasant surprise when I visited last spring. Central Park, MoMA, Metropolitan Museum, Fifth Ave, Times Square, Chinatown, Nolita.... Food is good (not to mention the gigantic portions), shopping is cheap, museums aplenty, Broadway has its share of the theatres, plenty to see and do every week and it's the city that never sleeps. I think it's the London of America, except the streets are in grid. If there is one place in the US that I must choose, I know it's NY even though I have not had the opportunity to explore the other parts of US yet.
3. Munich
Surprising contestant here but I have always been impressed with the German lifestyle. Everything is so systematic and efficient. Coming from Singapore, the German lifestyle makes me feel most at home. Outside Germany, everything is rubbish including UK especially London. Munich is the heart of the Bavarian culture, the countryside not too far away and on a good day, you can have a glimpse of the Alps if you are in a building tall enough. I actually like Viktualienmarkt a lot and during my last visit there with my family, we actually wondered into some really interesting streets and hidden shops in which I have never discovered in all those times when I was visiting from Biberach. Totally different from Berlin. Munich has a richer and glorious past. Berlin feels like it's leaping into the unknown future ahead.
4. Tokyo, then Kyoto
Tokyo is full of gimmicks, the city is restless and has no distiction between day and night, young and old. The ultra kawaii culture not overshadowing traditional cultural heritages. I have to admit, the Japanese are strange people. Living in Tokyo can be fun and convenient, but after one year, I'm bound to be burnt out. Hence Kyoto is my next choice. The peaceful retreat where everywhere in Kyoto looks like remnants of the samurai-era. Everytime I turn into a little street, I'ld expect to meet Kenshin my idol. Kyoto is stylish rustic charm + the efficiecy and convenience of the Japanese lifestyle.
5. London
How can I not stop repeating myself that I still like to live in London and that I'm not sick of it yet. Vibrant music and arts scene, the museums are constantly bringing new stuff and it is never-ending, food is still good especially the dim sums. Although I love London this much, there is an equal amount of reasons that I hate it for. Maybe I will save it for next time.....
M-flo is amaaaaaazing! Check part of their concert out, it's a shame I couldn't be there as there were so many guests invited. I particularly liked Monkey Majik, Bonnie Pink and BoA's performances - great synchronisation! They are much better live than in my mp3s...... M-flo's versatile performance was clearly demonstrated in the concert by the display of the various productions they were involved in. Amazing duo.
M-Flo loves BoA @ Yokohama Arena 2007.
M-Flo loves Bonnie Pink @ Yokohama Arena 2007. Can't believe she's 35 this year!!
M-Flo loves Monkey Majik - this video is out of synchronisation, the crunchyroll edition is much better but I can't put the embedded player here....
Now I must rave about this Ah Yat set lunch (only in the Ah Yat branch in Allson Hotel near bugis) which is only $20!!
Included in the menu:
Roast pork and white sliced meat with garlic sauce
Sharks fin and abalone dumpling in soup
Deep fried garoupa with spring onion and ginger puree
Abalone mushroom and baby pak choy drizzled with stock sauce
Braised E-fu noodles with king prawns
Sweet Dessert of the day
(arghh it's so difficult to translate chinese food names in english, they are not the true names in the menu.)
Each dish is simple but the quality of each of them were truly exceptional - it was enough to get me back to the same place for the same menu 3 times! Dim sum was great as well, and I also complimented my set menu with another portion of Braised Sharks Fin soup (environmentalists, dont kill me but shark's fins are really yummy food that I can't give up).
All herbs freshly grown at home.
My popo is a herb gardener.... @ home in Singapore 2008.
Never seen such breath-taking scenery before, better still, a fantastic day in Innsbruck even my sister ascended the mountains in t-shirt during a late October day.
At the top of Hafelekar, Innsbruck, at 2256 m. We did a little trek up the top bit which set everyone panting (see how unhealthy we are!).
River surrounding the old town, with the Tirol Alps in the background.
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