A box bursting with mum's love

Dad came back from his vacation. As soon as we arrived home, I tore open the box of goodies mum had packed. I told her I didn't need anything coz i still have lots of food waiting to be finished. But mum will always be mum. She worries that I don't have enough to eat at home and insisted to export more food from Aus to me *幸福*

I've always thought my mum doesn't love me. Remember the story about mum buying a BBQ bun for me as lunch but a chicken drumstick for Husky, my dog that died in a car accident a few years ago? T____T Yes, I haven't forgotten! *我幼小的心靈被傷的很深*

I now totally believe that my mum loves me just the same. How do i know?

Coz the big red capsicum she packed inside the box for me said so...

I bit into this capsicum and....
it shows my mum's love!

In our family, we show our love thru actions. After all, actions speak louder than words ^V^

People say, love makes everything good. No wonder this capsicum was sweeter and better than the normal ones i had... Would a bitter gourd taste sweet if mum had packed one for me, I wonder? Good that she didn't coz i don't ever wanna know... Bitter gourd, i don't like :P

Mum really knows me...

Big Birds

Spotted this signboard in Yangshuo.

Come take picture with my birds
Apparently, tourists can take pictures of or with the fishermen's birds here!! How exciting! What's more, you get beautiful scenery of Yangshuoas the backdrop! And all for ONLY RMB5! Is that money for value or what?

I didn't know that people are so open-minded in China these days! Sigh, looks like I'm the country pumpkin....

I was tempted to take picture with their birds but i was a bit shy. Too many people around to stare at me la. I would feel uncomfortable having to pose with birdies when so many eyes would be on us... *camera shy*

The fishermen's birds are indeed different. They are so big and full of dark fur that it makes other birds jealous of their masculine look. And they have very pointy peaks. I think they can spear through anything without much strength.

Big black bird waiting for business

Okie, i didn't pay for this pic :P i saw the signboard only after i took it. By ethics, i should pay. If not, I should delete it. But, i decided to exchange it with something better ~ a post on it to advertise for fishermen, and their birds.

The bird is called 渔鹰. It dives under the water and helps fisherman catch fishes. Because the fisherman ties a string around birdie's neck, it has to spit out the fishes. Kinda pity the dude. Food is so close but yet so far.....

Fisherman looking for the spot

Birds waiting patiently to start working

Caught a fish! But cannot swallow in...
If you are on diet but cannot control your food intake, maybe you can tie a string around your neck to stop you from eating. No need to spend thousands of dollars at slimming centres liao... woo hoo... do let me know the result after u try ya!

Bake at home!

My sister introduced this Korean Drama to me when she was here a few weeks ago. It's called 面包王卓求 (King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo).

30 episodes altogether!!

A bit regret to watch the drama because I COULDN'T STOP!! The dirty dishes are piled up to the ceiling; I'm late to meet people; I grow sideways because I couldn't stop eating junk food; I get panda eyes due to late night sleep; I hold my pee coz I keep telling myself that I will pause and go pee after this scene... etc... Gosh! Watching good drama is making me a BAD person!!!!

There are quite a lot of bread making scenes in the drama. But making bread is not the essence of the story. It's only part of the story. But without the bread making part, it's also impossible for the drama to continue. Ai ai, it's very complicated to explain la... very hard for me to summarise 30 episodes here........

I've always imagined myself baking my own bread at home. Wah, just imagine the aroma of fresh bread in the house! And eating warm bread as soon as it comes out from the oven is gonna be yummy yummy! I'm drooling just by thinking abt it!

I never go for it because bread making requires a lot of time ~~ have to knead knead knead and then wait for it to rise. Then after a few hours, you punch out the air in the dough, knead knead knead again and wait again... Too much waiting! So u see why i prefer to just buy from bakery ~~ just walk in, take a loaf of bread and pay. Easy-peasy, right?

That's why I never make my own bread even though I'm tempted to. But the drama really influenced me! Homemade bread looks so so so so so delicious in the drama so i decided to challenge myself and make my own bread.

Shhh... kneaded dough is sleeping

After dough had a nice long rest (like one day), it's finally time to bake it (happiest and most exciting moment!)

In 10 minutes, here is what i got....

Nicely baked Bread

Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside

It's darn delicious! I can't believe that I actually made it with my own hands, in my own home! My home smelled of fresh bread, just like how it smells in a bakery! Gosh, if only my home can smell like this forever!

My bread went really well with cheese omellete. It still tasted good even if i just had it with a cup of cappucino!

Ooo.. I'm also imagining myself being a Queen of Baking, making my own bread and cake everyday, and watching people enjoying my work of art....

One day. May be one day...

Dec Last Year

It's the last month of the year... and it's Xmas next weekend! *jingle bell jingle bell...*

Too bad that Xmas and New Year fall on Saturdays this year. And since I work 5 days a week, I don't get extra 2 days off from work. Darn! I lost 2 days of publich holidays just like that! Well, the only person who is smiling now is my employer....

I'm not in Xmas mood yet. Must be because many of the shops here are already playing Chinese New Year songs. And CNY is 2 months away! Also, many places are already decorated with red lanterns, cherry blossoms etc... With so many red red happiness, no wonder I forget about Xmas!

Not much to look forward to this year *boring* I could only get myself into Xmas mood by looking at old photos... Long life to digital cameras! haha...

This time last year

What are your plans this year? Please please get me into Xmas mood! It would be even better if you could bring me to some place for white Xmas! *dreaming*

Something from afar

It has been ages since I received ‘hardcopy’ letters from friends. So when I saw a postcard sitting in my mailbox, I was excited!!

And Angkor Wat is on the card! No mistake that it must be sent all the way from Siem Reap. So glad that my friends still remembered me!

What can I say? I have a bunch of thoughtful friends!

Yeah, i guess i did miss out some fun times in Siem Reap like my friends said in the postcard. Too bad that I didn't make it to the trip... Coz I'm sure the trip would've been EVEN MORE fun with my presence! hiak hiak hiak...

Oh well, looks like i'm not the only one losing out hiak hiak hiak....

Thanks guys for the thoughts.. Thanks for sending Angkor Wat to me :)

Lazy or just creative???

There is no secret that I like to eat. Once i start, it's hard to stop. But when it comes to cooking it myself, i stop and think. Not because I don't like to cook. In fact, I LOVE to cook. The process can be long but the end result of sitting down & enjoying my own cooking is satisfying... How I wish all the dirty dishes would just disappear by themselves! *dreaming*

Recently, I 'invented' a quick, easy & delicious dish with v little cleaning up to do. I've experimented a few times and am proud to say, IT WORKS! *clap clap*

It's easy. I just throw all the ingredients and seasonings in a pot, place that pot in my rice cooker and let the ingredients 谈情说爱 (love to blossom) while I continue to attend to other things like watching tv or talking on the phone... In minutes, i get my yummy meal!

Getting to know each other

Jane called my dish a 懒人的料理 (lazy person's meal) but i think 香亲香爱 (Be kind to and love each other) is a more suitable name since all ingredients get to develop their loves for each other in that small pot.

Spaghetti in Chinese Style

It's quick, easy, delicious and fuss-free... Just what I wanted.... :) AND healthy too since all the nutrients go into my stomach!

It's amazing how creative I can be sometimes! ^V^