 |
| An inside-out kim bahp. |
 |
| Sam gye tang, served in a boiling dol sot (stone pot). |
______
Photo credit: Abe
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 1 in Seoul
______
Asia Trip 2012 - 24 hours in Daejeon
Mabel met us at Daejeon Station an hour and a half after we left Busan, enthusiastically greeting us with the Korean two-handed wave. She guided us effortlessly through this central Korean city’s subway system to her apartment in a bustling part of town. After dumping our packs, we stuffed our faces at Kim Bahp Nara (or Kim Bahp Land), one of her favorite dinner spots just across the street. We stretched out our full bellies on a cool evening stroll around the neighborhood before returning home. It was a school night after all.
As we entered the school building, students replaced their "outside shoes" with slippers, which they wore throughout campus the rest of the school day. It was test day, so Mabel’s English classroom was quieter than usual. We hung out there most of the day, stepping out for a Mabel-led campus tour; a visit to the school mascot, a Jindo-ke (Korean’s national dog breed) who growled suspiciously at sketchy-looking Abe, with his bald head and goatee; and a tasty lunch in the faculty wing of the cafeteria. Braver ones among Mabel’s students came up to us and confidently blurted out English phrases, while others covered their mouths and giggled as they passed.
 |
| Kim bahp (seaweed-wrapped rice stuffed with fun stuff). |
We headed out 7am the next morning, munched on a breakfast kim bahp from G25 (equivalent to a 7-11), and caught a bus with Mabel to the girls' school where she teaches. We joined the sea of students marching from the bus stop or their parents' cars up the long driveway to school. Teacher monitors stood at the entrance to greet the incoming high schoolers and, their main focus, to check that everyone was abiding by the dress code, including:
- No permed hair.
- No makeup.
- No jewelry.
- No shortened skirts (or otherwise altered uniforms).
 |
| School dog that howls at suspicious characters. |
After school, we feasted on a shabu shabu dinner with Mabel and her friend before heading to the train station and were soon on our way to Seoul, the nation's capital.
______
Photo credit: Abe
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - 24 hours in Busan
 |
| Hae Dong Yong Gung Temple |
We parted with Brian and Nathan at Hakata Port and caught a 3-hour ferry ride on The Beetle to Busan, South Korea. After settling into our hotel room that overlooked the beautiful Haeundae Beach, we headed out for some sightseeing. Our first stop: Hae Dong Yong Gung Temple along the eastern coast, where Buddha and Goddess of Mercy statues in serene poses gazed down at violently crashing waves below. Our nice taxi driver, whom we had asked to wait with the meter running, surprised us by appearing with an umbrella for us when it started drizzling during our visit! He must have looked high and low in the maze of temple staircases before finding us.
 |
| Matching "couples shirts" and cherry blossoms |
Next, we were dropped off at Dalmaji, a pleasant beachside community of coffee shops and cherry blossoms in peak bloom, which seemed to be a popular spot for smitten couples -- including a pair we spotted wearing identical “couples shirts” that, we later learned from local friends, is all the rage these days. (I cruelly joked to Abe that it’d be nice to do the same.)
Our evening in Busan ended with a fabulous feast, thanks to our hotel bell captain (and Abe’s new found friend) Harley. After intently considering our restaurant criteria of "simple, casual, and within walking distance" and scanning a list of hotel-approved restaurant recommendations, he exclaimed "Ah!", pulled out his personal iPhone, and retrieved the address of a sam gyup sal (grilled pork belly) place owned by a high school friend. (He couldn’t help but proudly show off a photo of his infant son in the process.) We were so pleased with his recommendation. A brisk 10-minute walk brought us to an unassuming-looking place that served up an amazing meal, which we agreed with the waiter’s suggestion that it would be "better with soju."
 |
| Jagalchi Fish Market |
__________
Photo credit: Abe
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Special Photo Edition
Here are some photos from our adventures so far...
Hong Kong
1. Victoria Peak tram.
2. Monk on phone in Tsim Sha Tsui.
3. Junk boat in South China Sea.
4. Lamma Island restaurants and boats.
5. Bamboo clams at Rainbow Restaurant.
6. Kopi luwak beans at Bright Sun Coffee.
Fukuoka
1. Breakfast at Mr. Donut.
2. Ramen mini bowl at Raumen Stadium.
3. Ramen mini bowl at Raumen Stadium.
4. Wash ladles at Tenmangu shrine.
5. Lost in translation.
6. Nishijin street scene.
Hong Kong
1. Victoria Peak tram.
2. Monk on phone in Tsim Sha Tsui.
3. Junk boat in South China Sea.
4. Lamma Island restaurants and boats.
5. Bamboo clams at Rainbow Restaurant.
6. Kopi luwak beans at Bright Sun Coffee.
Fukuoka
1. Breakfast at Mr. Donut.
2. Ramen mini bowl at Raumen Stadium.
3. Ramen mini bowl at Raumen Stadium.
4. Wash ladles at Tenmangu shrine.
5. Lost in translation.
6. Nishijin street scene.
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 3 in Fukuoka
Our last full day in Fukuoka. We tagged along with Brian to the Seinan campus, where he's taking intensive Japanese. Grabbed a gourmet spicy noodle lunch for 350 yen (about US$4) at the university cafeteria, then headed out for some sightseeing while he went to Kanji class. Nathan brought us to the landmark Fukuoka Tower for a sweeping view of the city and sea; and RoboSquare, where we met Paro, the fluffy robot seal pup that has lifted the spirits of many senior home residents; AIBO the dog that eagerly responds to greetings and commands; and an impressive Samurai-bot that performs a complicated sword dance to traditional music.
In the afternoon, the four of us made a stop at Ohori-koen (Ohori Park) to relax at the lake, gaze at beautiful Sakura (cherry blossoms) in bloom, and chuckle at couples struggling to control their Swan-shaped paddle boats. On our way back home, we picked up some takoyaki (fried batter stuffed with octopus) and crunchy melt-in-your-mouth croquettes for a tea time snack.
We hung out with two of Brian's friend that evening -- cheery young ladies, English majors -- over homemade avocado burgers. It was cool to hear about their plans for the future with their English skills and learn about their lives: one comes from a family that owns a rice and potato farm, and works part-time as the Helen Hawk mascot for the local South Bank Hawks baseball team. Cool folks! Enriching interactions like these continue to motivate me to try and connect with locals everywhere we travel.
In the afternoon, the four of us made a stop at Ohori-koen (Ohori Park) to relax at the lake, gaze at beautiful Sakura (cherry blossoms) in bloom, and chuckle at couples struggling to control their Swan-shaped paddle boats. On our way back home, we picked up some takoyaki (fried batter stuffed with octopus) and crunchy melt-in-your-mouth croquettes for a tea time snack.
We hung out with two of Brian's friend that evening -- cheery young ladies, English majors -- over homemade avocado burgers. It was cool to hear about their plans for the future with their English skills and learn about their lives: one comes from a family that owns a rice and potato farm, and works part-time as the Helen Hawk mascot for the local South Bank Hawks baseball team. Cool folks! Enriching interactions like these continue to motivate me to try and connect with locals everywhere we travel.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 2 in Fukuoka
Our host, BT, enticed us out of our room this morning with the tantalizing aroma of bread being toasted and sausages being fried -- some of which, we soon discovered, he had sliced to resemble octopuses with crispy tentacle tips. What a great way to start off this special day, Easter Sunday, in Fukuoka. There was a spring in my step as we strolled leisurely to church. Although the worship service was conducted entirely in Japanese, I felt a strong sense of comfort and familiarity being in the company of others who share the same faith. We were warmly welcomed into their midst and easily joined lunchtime conversations afterwards with the few who were able to speak English.
We spent the latter part of the afternoon in Dazaifu, a pleasant community around Tenmangu shrine -- where apparently many go with pleas for success with schooling -- about a half hour out of Fukuoka. Our train pass included a tea time treat of a baked (then fried?) red-bean-filled mochi and a lovely cup of emerald green tea. Our visit to the shrine itself was a hasty one, due to closing time at dusk; then we continued our cultural adventure via our taste buds for the rest of the evening:
- Tonkatsu around the corner from Dazaifu Station, served with bottomless servings of shredded cabbage salad and miso soup. The meal was enhanced by the fact that we got to grind up our own sesame seeds for the dipping sauce with a mortar and pestle!
- Yakitori (meat on skewers) from a small roadside stall where BT knew the cooks, who were wonderfully friendly and boisterous. We ordered probably the two most artery-clogging but tastiest options: thick bacon and chicken skin yakitori.
- Sushi from a sushi boat place, where A and I tried natto (fermented soy bean) for the first (and hopefully last) time. Think snotty mush. The rest of the dishes were excellent, though!
En route back home, we detoured to Book Off, a used CD/DVD store, where we picked up discount AKB48, Boa, Gorillaz, and Bon Jovi CDs. Yes, it's weird that we traveled so far to get the latter two, but not quite as puzzling as why anyone would sell back a Bon Jovi album...
We spent the latter part of the afternoon in Dazaifu, a pleasant community around Tenmangu shrine -- where apparently many go with pleas for success with schooling -- about a half hour out of Fukuoka. Our train pass included a tea time treat of a baked (then fried?) red-bean-filled mochi and a lovely cup of emerald green tea. Our visit to the shrine itself was a hasty one, due to closing time at dusk; then we continued our cultural adventure via our taste buds for the rest of the evening:
- Tonkatsu around the corner from Dazaifu Station, served with bottomless servings of shredded cabbage salad and miso soup. The meal was enhanced by the fact that we got to grind up our own sesame seeds for the dipping sauce with a mortar and pestle!
- Yakitori (meat on skewers) from a small roadside stall where BT knew the cooks, who were wonderfully friendly and boisterous. We ordered probably the two most artery-clogging but tastiest options: thick bacon and chicken skin yakitori.
- Sushi from a sushi boat place, where A and I tried natto (fermented soy bean) for the first (and hopefully last) time. Think snotty mush. The rest of the dishes were excellent, though!
En route back home, we detoured to Book Off, a used CD/DVD store, where we picked up discount AKB48, Boa, Gorillaz, and Bon Jovi CDs. Yes, it's weird that we traveled so far to get the latter two, but not quite as puzzling as why anyone would sell back a Bon Jovi album...
Monday, April 9, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 1 in Fukuoka
A long and exhausting day, but I wouldn't trade it in for anything. It was the first in Japan for both of us, so we were big wide-eyed sponges, ready to soak in the new experiences that awaited us. Even our breakfast stop at Mr. Donuts was an exciting cultural foray for us, most notably the mochi-esque chewiness of the ringed glazed donut.
On our bus ride to Tenjin, Fukuoka's downtown, we observed how folks boarded the bus through the middle doors and exited -- and paid, based on distance traveled -- via the front. Bus drivers cut the engine at extended traffic lights instead of idling, presumably to reduce air pollution. Love it.
We spent our lunchtime with BT's English teacher friend and her three 12-year old students - a great opportunity to hang out with locals. Two of the three youngsters had studied English for 6 years already, and through their coy shyness, they let us coaxed a few conversational phrases out of them. We soon discovered the trigger points that got them talking: manga and anime characters for the boys, and J-Pop idols (like AKB48, a 48-member girl band from Tokyo) and "purikura" (photo booth pics) for the young lady. Adorable.
After buying our Beetle Ferry tickets at Hakata Station for our upcoming one-way trip to Busan, we headed to the Nakasu-Kawabata, where we explored and ate the rest of the day:
- Kushida shrine, where tourists and worshippers intermingled.
- A museum of traditional merchant's house, or machiya.
- Ramen Stadium, where we sampled "mini" portions of three different kinds of ramen noodles, including the distinctively local Hakata Ramen, with its thinner noodles and pork bone (tonkotsu) broth.
- Canal City, with its long hallways and multiple stories of mall shops, including ones that specifically featured Domo, Totoro, Sanrio (of course!), and other Japanese creations.
- Yatai, or an outdoor food stall, where we spent too much on ramen that was better in the Stadium, but was worth the one-time experience.
Awesomely tuckered out.
On our bus ride to Tenjin, Fukuoka's downtown, we observed how folks boarded the bus through the middle doors and exited -- and paid, based on distance traveled -- via the front. Bus drivers cut the engine at extended traffic lights instead of idling, presumably to reduce air pollution. Love it.
We spent our lunchtime with BT's English teacher friend and her three 12-year old students - a great opportunity to hang out with locals. Two of the three youngsters had studied English for 6 years already, and through their coy shyness, they let us coaxed a few conversational phrases out of them. We soon discovered the trigger points that got them talking: manga and anime characters for the boys, and J-Pop idols (like AKB48, a 48-member girl band from Tokyo) and "purikura" (photo booth pics) for the young lady. Adorable.
After buying our Beetle Ferry tickets at Hakata Station for our upcoming one-way trip to Busan, we headed to the Nakasu-Kawabata, where we explored and ate the rest of the day:
- Kushida shrine, where tourists and worshippers intermingled.
- A museum of traditional merchant's house, or machiya.
- Ramen Stadium, where we sampled "mini" portions of three different kinds of ramen noodles, including the distinctively local Hakata Ramen, with its thinner noodles and pork bone (tonkotsu) broth.
- Canal City, with its long hallways and multiple stories of mall shops, including ones that specifically featured Domo, Totoro, Sanrio (of course!), and other Japanese creations.
- Yatai, or an outdoor food stall, where we spent too much on ramen that was better in the Stadium, but was worth the one-time experience.
Awesomely tuckered out.
Asia Trip 2012 - Hong Kong-Fukuoka Travel Day
Hong Kong has the most efficient flight check-in process that I've ever experienced. They let you check bags and get your boarding pass at selected MTR subway stations on the day of travel, which means you can squeeze in some last-minute sightseeing, shopping -- or in our case, eating -- without needing to drag your luggage around or tip a bellhop to watch over them before heading to the airport. We took full advantage of this service by dropping off our bags and securing our boarding passes at the airline counters at Kowloon Station and heading into Hong Kong Island for lunch at Asian Twist at IFC Mall -- which featured a Singaporean menu; yay, laksa! -- before catching the Airport Express to HK International Airport on Lantau Island. Coincidentally, as a perfect precursor to the next leg of our Asia Trip 2012 tour, the train ride included a video of Japanese Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto sharing tips on how to properly eat nigiri sushi:
1. Do not mix wasabi in soy sauce. The wasabi that the chef places on the sushi should be sufficient, requiring at most a quick dip in soy sauce; otherwise, the extra wasabi should be added directly on the sushi and then dipped in the soy sauce.
2. Use fresh, not powdered wasabi. Fresh wasabi isn't as potent and allows more of the natural fish taste to come through.
3. Expect to use more wasabi on fattier fish. (Didn't catch the reason behind this one.)
After a smooth 4-hour flight via Taipei to Fukuoka, Japan, we went through an elaborate immigration process that required scans of both index fingers and a mug shot. We were relieved to finally emerge from customs almost an hour later to see BT and NW's familiar faces. We headed to BT's apartment via the Kuko then Nanakuma subway lines, then on foot through a quiet neighborhood where we sheepishly grimaced at each bump that our rattling roller bag encountered. We ended this day with a tasty midnight snack of tonkatsu (breaded deep-fried pork cutlet) over rice and then turned in for the night with peaceful smiles on our faces.
1. Do not mix wasabi in soy sauce. The wasabi that the chef places on the sushi should be sufficient, requiring at most a quick dip in soy sauce; otherwise, the extra wasabi should be added directly on the sushi and then dipped in the soy sauce.
2. Use fresh, not powdered wasabi. Fresh wasabi isn't as potent and allows more of the natural fish taste to come through.
3. Expect to use more wasabi on fattier fish. (Didn't catch the reason behind this one.)
After a smooth 4-hour flight via Taipei to Fukuoka, Japan, we went through an elaborate immigration process that required scans of both index fingers and a mug shot. We were relieved to finally emerge from customs almost an hour later to see BT and NW's familiar faces. We headed to BT's apartment via the Kuko then Nanakuma subway lines, then on foot through a quiet neighborhood where we sheepishly grimaced at each bump that our rattling roller bag encountered. We ended this day with a tasty midnight snack of tonkatsu (breaded deep-fried pork cutlet) over rice and then turned in for the night with peaceful smiles on our faces.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 4 in Hong Kong
Despite the fact that we awoke to overcast skies and got ready for the day with NHK Channel News Asia in the background assuring us of rain today, we strutted out of our hotel confidently sans raincoat or umbrella. The next scene in our Asia 2012 filmstrip showed us huddled under a glass pavilion in Stanley Plaza, along with dozens of other travelers to the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, as a thunderous storm passed overhead. It was actually quite fun, sitting on the stone steps and people-watching while strong winds billowed and huge rain drops pounded around us. Reminded me of my childhood in Singapore when daily thunderstorms cleared the humid afternoons, leaving the air crisp and refreshing afterwards.
While we enjoyed our visit to Stanley, known for its bustling street market; and the scenic bus rides through the posh neighborhoods and scenic beaches of Repulse Bay, the highlight of the day was seeing our friend WW in Aberdeen. We visited him at his family business, Bright Sun Coffee, which is known for producing Kopi Luwak, or Palm Civet ("cat poo") coffee beans. He treated us to a crash course on coffee-making -- from the plain, khaki-colored raw beans to the beautiful roasted product that were cooling in the gunny sacks -- and brewed up tasty samples of coffee, including the coveted Kopi Luwak. We arrived as non-coffee-drinkers but, in less than 2 hours, I do believe WW made converts out of us!
While we enjoyed our visit to Stanley, known for its bustling street market; and the scenic bus rides through the posh neighborhoods and scenic beaches of Repulse Bay, the highlight of the day was seeing our friend WW in Aberdeen. We visited him at his family business, Bright Sun Coffee, which is known for producing Kopi Luwak, or Palm Civet ("cat poo") coffee beans. He treated us to a crash course on coffee-making -- from the plain, khaki-colored raw beans to the beautiful roasted product that were cooling in the gunny sacks -- and brewed up tasty samples of coffee, including the coveted Kopi Luwak. We arrived as non-coffee-drinkers but, in less than 2 hours, I do believe WW made converts out of us!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 3 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has an energetic vibe that awakes at around 10:30 and sleeps past midnight. At least that's what we learned when we left our hotel at 9 and found the nocturnal shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui just starting to yawn and rub sleep from her eyes. Its denser areas are very visitor-friendly, with directional signs pointing to landmarks and useful orientation maps liberally posted at intersections and in the MTR stations. If crowds bother you, avoid the Central district during peak periods, like commuting hours and lunchtime, and hit tourist spots like Victoria Peak earlier in the day before the queues get long. Getting "caught up" in the current of commuters can be quite invigorating, though -- remembering to zip up all pockets and bags -- as you move along with the organism that is HK's working population.
It was Tomb Sweeping Day today, so after sleeping in, locals in casual dress and immigrant workers flooded the streets and malls on this public holiday. Besides pleasant morning and afternoon strolls through various parts of Tsim Sha Tsui -- along the main drags of Canton and Nathan roads and the harborfront -- our focus was on food today. And what a wonderful theme that was!
We enjoyed dim sum with Oklahoma friends WL and KC at Jasmine Place in Jardin House; and caught a choppy but worthwhile boat ride with family for a scrumptious dinner at Rainbow Seafood Restaurant on Lamma Island, 40-minutes from HK Island. I tasted (and loved) the oddly elongated bamboo clams for the first time, while overlooking floating homes of fishermen that didn't appear to have any electricity. Dozed off intermittently as the boat skimmed the waves past sparsely populated islands back to the more congested part of the country.
It was Tomb Sweeping Day today, so after sleeping in, locals in casual dress and immigrant workers flooded the streets and malls on this public holiday. Besides pleasant morning and afternoon strolls through various parts of Tsim Sha Tsui -- along the main drags of Canton and Nathan roads and the harborfront -- our focus was on food today. And what a wonderful theme that was!
We enjoyed dim sum with Oklahoma friends WL and KC at Jasmine Place in Jardin House; and caught a choppy but worthwhile boat ride with family for a scrumptious dinner at Rainbow Seafood Restaurant on Lamma Island, 40-minutes from HK Island. I tasted (and loved) the oddly elongated bamboo clams for the first time, while overlooking floating homes of fishermen that didn't appear to have any electricity. Dozed off intermittently as the boat skimmed the waves past sparsely populated islands back to the more congested part of the country.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 2 in Hong Kong
Up at 8 am, and ready to go! Weather forecast predicted a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 deg Fahrenheit), but I still packed a pullover in our day pack in anticipation of chilly air conditioning indoors. We enjoyed a leisurely and filling noodle soup breakfast at Three Sixty, a supermarket with a food court, then ventured out.
First tourist destination of the day: Victoria Peak. We caught the MTR subway, which brought us from Kowloon to Hong Kong station in 8 minutes; then walked 10 minutes to Exit J-2, the closest outlet to the Peak Tram terminal. Although we joined the tram queue early enough (10 am-ish) to miss the huge crowds, it was our initiation to being "packed like sardines" that would characterize our visit to every busy area we visited around town. Our ascent to the peak was fast and fun -- roller-coaster-like -- on the 150-year old tram, which thankfully replaced the grueling "travel up the steep mountain by sedan chair" practice of the late 1800s.
We descended after soaking in the impressive (but hazy) view, in time to miss the lunchtime rush. I was feeling a little congested from the pollution by then, but not enough to don the surgical masks that we brought with us. Even though the light blue nose coverings are a common sight around here -- understandably so, considering the persistent haze -- I couldn't bring myself to wear one. We walked westward on busy Queen's Road to the Central - mid-levels escalators, which took us up the Soho district for lunch at Soho Spices, a Thai-Vietnamese place that we'd recommend on Elgin Street.
Other places we explored that day:
Man Mo Temple, which helped fund the first free schools for underprivileged children in the country.
The antique district along Hollywood Road and its side streets, with fascinating dynasty-era wood and wood carvings, and Communist period memorabilia, including Chairman Mao's red book.
Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon, where we savored awesome Peking duck at Peking Garden with family, then ooh'd and aah'd at the Symphony of Lights and strolled through the Avenue of Stars along the waterfront.
A good full day!
First tourist destination of the day: Victoria Peak. We caught the MTR subway, which brought us from Kowloon to Hong Kong station in 8 minutes; then walked 10 minutes to Exit J-2, the closest outlet to the Peak Tram terminal. Although we joined the tram queue early enough (10 am-ish) to miss the huge crowds, it was our initiation to being "packed like sardines" that would characterize our visit to every busy area we visited around town. Our ascent to the peak was fast and fun -- roller-coaster-like -- on the 150-year old tram, which thankfully replaced the grueling "travel up the steep mountain by sedan chair" practice of the late 1800s.
We descended after soaking in the impressive (but hazy) view, in time to miss the lunchtime rush. I was feeling a little congested from the pollution by then, but not enough to don the surgical masks that we brought with us. Even though the light blue nose coverings are a common sight around here -- understandably so, considering the persistent haze -- I couldn't bring myself to wear one. We walked westward on busy Queen's Road to the Central - mid-levels escalators, which took us up the Soho district for lunch at Soho Spices, a Thai-Vietnamese place that we'd recommend on Elgin Street.
Other places we explored that day:
Man Mo Temple, which helped fund the first free schools for underprivileged children in the country.
The antique district along Hollywood Road and its side streets, with fascinating dynasty-era wood and wood carvings, and Communist period memorabilia, including Chairman Mao's red book.
Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon, where we savored awesome Peking duck at Peking Garden with family, then ooh'd and aah'd at the Symphony of Lights and strolled through the Avenue of Stars along the waterfront.
A good full day!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Asia Trip 2012 - Day 1 in Hong Kong
We arrived in HK after our 14-hour flight surprisingly alert, thanks to three entertaining films (The Iron Lady, Hugo, and The Muppets); an excerpt from the audio book, The Happiness Advantage; a Berlitz Word Traveler review of Cantonese phrases; and tasty eats highlighted by the pan-seared salmon filet and raspberry ice cream covered with a dark chocolate crust.
Smartly- dressed airport agents, some wearing surgical masks, directed us to the temperature checkpoint (remnant of SARS; hats off, please), then through immigration (where Inspector Chan with a cool thick thumb ring granted us passage), and onwards to baggage claim. We emerged into the Arrivals Hall to be welcomed by WW with hugs and a "care tote" bag filled with useful survival items (fruit juices, pears, tissue packs, and wet wipes)!
A red Urban Taxi took us from the airport on Lantau Island to our hotel on Kowloon in 25 minutes, crossing two impressive and modern-looking bridges along the way. We unpacked, dined at Xi Yan (Flavor) in the adjacent mall, scouted out our MTR subway options in the basement, and turned in by 11 pm local time, determined to overcome jet lag and awake at a decent hour the next day. We're ready for you, HK!
Smartly- dressed airport agents, some wearing surgical masks, directed us to the temperature checkpoint (remnant of SARS; hats off, please), then through immigration (where Inspector Chan with a cool thick thumb ring granted us passage), and onwards to baggage claim. We emerged into the Arrivals Hall to be welcomed by WW with hugs and a "care tote" bag filled with useful survival items (fruit juices, pears, tissue packs, and wet wipes)!
A red Urban Taxi took us from the airport on Lantau Island to our hotel on Kowloon in 25 minutes, crossing two impressive and modern-looking bridges along the way. We unpacked, dined at Xi Yan (Flavor) in the adjacent mall, scouted out our MTR subway options in the basement, and turned in by 11 pm local time, determined to overcome jet lag and awake at a decent hour the next day. We're ready for you, HK!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Adventures in Japanese
The second stop on our three-country Asia tour will take us to Fukuoka, Japan. After getting a primer on Suggestions for Daily Life: Rules and Manners* through informative (and amusing) videos for visitors to Fukuoka -- like the importance of being considerate in the spirit of "wa", or "thinking of others" -- I started compiling a list of useful Japanese phrases, similar to the one for Cantonese. Here are my Top 20:
- Hello. ä»ę„ćÆ (konnichiwa)
- How are you? ćå ę°ć§ćć？ (o genki desu ka?)
- I'm fine, thanks. And you? ćÆć、å ę°ć§ć。ććŖććÆ？ (hai, genki desu. anata wa?)
- What's your name? ćååćÆćŖćć§ćć? (o-namae wa nan desu ka?)
- My name is... ...ć§ć (...desu)
- Where are you from? ć©ć”ćććć§ćć (dochira kara desu ka?)
- I'm from... ē§ćÆ ... ććć§ć (watashi wa... kara desu)
- Pleased to meet you. åćć¾ćć¦ (hajimemashite)
- Good morning. ćę©ććććć¾ć (ohayo gozaimasu)
- Good bye. ććććŖć (sayonara)
- Excuse me. ććæć¾ćć (sumimasen)
- Sorry. ććććŖćć (gomen nasai)
- Thank you. ććććØććććć¾ć (arigato gaizaimasu); ć©ććććććØć (domo arigato)
- You're welcome. ć©ćč“ćć¾ćć¦ć©ććććć¾ćć¦ (do itashimashite)
- Where's the toilet? ä¾æęćÆć©ćć§ćć (benjo wa doko desu ka?)
- How much is this? ćććć§ćć (ikura desu ka?)
- Do you speak English? č±čŖćć§ćć¾ćć (eigo ga dekimasu ka?)
- Do you have an English menu? č±čŖć®ć”äŗć„ć¼ćÆććć¾ćć (eigo no menu wa arimasu ka?)
- Help! å©ćć¦! (tasukete!)
- My hovercraft is full of eels. ē§ć®ććć¼ćÆć©ćććÆé°»ć§ćć£ć±ćć§ć (watashi no hobakurafuto wa unagi de ippai desu)
The phrase that I'm most eager to use when we arrive: Konnichiwa. Hakata ramen, kudasai! (Hello. Hakata ramen [a popular local noodle dish], please!)
__________
__________
*Suggestions for Daily Life (Fukuoka city website)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Adventures in Cantonese
We're planning a trip to Asia this year and are looking into basic phrases that may prove useful in our host countries.
First stop: Hong Kong, where Cantonese and English are the official languages. Considering English is only spoken daily by less than 5% of the population, though, I figured we should probably learn some Cantonese. Here are the top 25 phrases* that I'm going to have us memorize (...as my traveling companion goes, "Yay!"):
First stop: Hong Kong, where Cantonese and English are the official languages. Considering English is only spoken daily by less than 5% of the population, though, I figured we should probably learn some Cantonese. Here are the top 25 phrases* that I'm going to have us memorize (...as my traveling companion goes, "Yay!"):
- Hello. ä½ å„½ (nĆ©ih hĆ³u)
- I’m fine thanks. and you? ę幾儽，ä½ å¢？ (ngĆ³h gĆ©i hĆ³u, nĆ©ih nÄ?)
- What's your name? ä½ å«ä¹éåå？ (nĆ©ih giu mÄtyĆ©h mĆ©ng a)
- My name is... ęå«... (ngĆ³h giu...)
- Where are you from? ä½ äæéåŗ¦äŗŗå？ (nĆ©ih haih bÄ«ndouh yĆ hn a?)
- I'm from... ęäæ...äŗŗ (ngĆ³h haih ... yĆ hn)
- Pleased to meet you. 儽éåæč¦å°ä½ (hĆ³u hĆ²isĆ m gindĆ³u nĆ©ih)
- Good morning. ę©ęØ (jĆ³usĆ hn)
- Goodbye. åč¦ (joigin); ęę (bÄaibaai)
- Excuse me. č«å (chĆ©ngmahn) - to get attention; åč©² (m̀hgĆ²i) - to get past
- How much is this? å¢åå¹¾å¤é¢å? (NÄ«go gĆ©idÅ chĆn a?)
- Sorry. å°åä½ (deuim̀hjyuh)
- Thank you. å¤č¬ (dĆ²jeh) - for a gift; åč©² (m̀hgĆ²i) - for a service
- You're welcome. åé§ (m̀hsĆ”i)
- Where's the toilet? ę“ęéåŗéåŗ¦å？ (sĆ”isĆ”ugÄan hĆ”i bÄ«ndouh a?)
- Do you speak English? ä½ čåčč¬č±ęå? (neih sÄ«km̀hsÄ«k gĆ³ng yƬngmĆ”n a?)
- I don't speak Cantonese. ęåčč¬å»£ę±č©± (ngĆ³h m̀hsƬk gĆ³ng gwĆ³ngdĆ¹ngwĆ”)
- Please speak more slowly. č«ä½ č¬ę ¢å² (chĆ©ng nĆ©ih gĆ³ng maahn di)
- Please say that again. åč©²ä½ č¬å¤äøꬔå? (m̀hgĆ²i nĆ©ih gĆ³ng dÅ yÄtchi a)
- Sorry, I didn't get that. å°åä½,ęåęē½ (deuim̀hjyuh, ngĆ³h m̀h mƬhngbaahk)
- I understand. ęęē½å (ngĆ³h mƬhngbaahk la)
- I don't understand. ęåęē½ (ngĆ³h m̀h mƬhngbaahk)
- Do you have an English menu? ä½ å°ęåč±ęé¤ēå? (nĆ©ihdeih yĆ”uhmĆ³uh yƬngmĆ”n chÄanpĆ”ai a?)
- Help! ęå½å! (gau mehng a!)
- My hovercraft is full of eels.** ęé»ę°£å¢č¹č£ę»æęé± (ngĆ³h jek heidĆnsyĆ¹hn jĆ²ngmĆŗhnsaai sĆhn)
Full disclosure: I actually spoke informal Cantonese with my grandmother until she passed when I was 11 years old. While we may get lost in our Hong Kong meanderings, we will likely not starve, thanks to my food-focused childish vocabulary.
*Source: Omniglot (http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/cantonese.php)
**Hovercraft drawing: Google Image
**Hovercraft drawing: Google Image
Friday, March 16, 2012
RTG Day 7: Pack rat,...or Sentimentalist?
Rediscovering the Groove, Day 7: Tell A Story.
Hello. My name is Squeaks. And I'm a pack rat. (Rodent metaphor completely coincidental.) Maybe not to the extent of deserving a spot on Hoarders, but I do tend to hold on to things that may not be... immediately useful anymore.
I would argue, though, that this trait has proven valuable when I've been able to triumphantly dig out an old e-mail from my stash of thousands,... or rediscover my almost 20-year old French class notes before our trip to Paris,... or trace my evolving volunteer interests over the years through countless folders of planning notes.
At some point, though, I guess there has to be a limit, a need for intervention. But what is that threshold? And what is exempt? I will never destroy my journals or attempts at creative writing, even though no one may actually ever read them. I have concert t-shirts from over 2 decades ago that sit in a very heavy chest, which may never see the light of day again until someone busts it open for an estate sale. Are these items being hoarded by a pack rat,... or one who appreciates souvenirs from the past? That can provide good fodder for posts like this?
Take this t-shirt, for example. My sister got it for me in the mid-80s, at a concert at IMU's Alumni Hall on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington. I was 14, I think, and it was during a period when I thought it was so cool that my college-aged sister let me tag along with her and her friends to R-rated films -- like Blue Velvet -- and rock concerts -- like Genesis (my first!) and this one, featuring four relatively new bands at the time: Will and the Kill, The Northern Pikes, Hurrah!, and The Royal Court of China. (Awesome, they're all still around.) While I finally conceded to retire this thread-bare, hole-in-the-armpit piece of history earlier this year -- it had served me well for countless workouts -- I still wonder whether I should have given it up. Well, at least good memories like this can live on, even in the absence of a "thing" that takes up drawer space.
Hello. My name is Squeaks. And I'm a pack rat. (Rodent metaphor completely coincidental.) Maybe not to the extent of deserving a spot on Hoarders, but I do tend to hold on to things that may not be... immediately useful anymore.
I would argue, though, that this trait has proven valuable when I've been able to triumphantly dig out an old e-mail from my stash of thousands,... or rediscover my almost 20-year old French class notes before our trip to Paris,... or trace my evolving volunteer interests over the years through countless folders of planning notes.
At some point, though, I guess there has to be a limit, a need for intervention. But what is that threshold? And what is exempt? I will never destroy my journals or attempts at creative writing, even though no one may actually ever read them. I have concert t-shirts from over 2 decades ago that sit in a very heavy chest, which may never see the light of day again until someone busts it open for an estate sale. Are these items being hoarded by a pack rat,... or one who appreciates souvenirs from the past? That can provide good fodder for posts like this?
 |
| Four Play concert t-shirt, circa 1986. |
Thursday, March 8, 2012
RTG Day 6: Got A Hard Habit to Break?
Rediscovering the Groove, Day 6: Ask a Question.
New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg recently released "The Power of Habit," which delves into the psychology of repetitive, unconscious behaviors that are sometimes tough to quit. He explains that habits form when there's (1) a cue (or trigger) that tells your brain to switch to auto mode, (2) a routine, and (3) a desirable reward. When you fall into a habit of doing something, the behavior becomes automatic and unconscious -- like how you probably tie your shoes or brush your teeth in exactly the same way each time -- allowing your brain to focus on other things.
So let's say you have a bad habit. What's the best way to break it? Duhigg suggests trying it while on vacation, when the usual cues and routine are broken, or the same rewards aren't around. This apparently works better during vacations because there's the opportunity to form a new pattern.
I've seen this "break the habit while on vacation" theory work with my guy, a chain smoker for over a decade, quit cold turkey during our road trip honeymoon across the country. He had tried for years to quit smoking previously, but being with me 24/7 for a full week and waking up in a new place every day helped him finally kick it.
Of course, not everyone can go away often enough to break all our bad habits, but the main thing is to somehow to "change things up" to break the usual routine. Similarly, it may be easier to start a new habit by introducing it in a different setting, instead of trying to fit it into a regular pattern.
I've been wanting to get back into practicing Spanish at least 30 minutes each day, either by chatting with someone, watching a video, reading, or writing en EspaƱol. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to set my alarm a half hour earlier, shift my entire work day up a smidge, and have an extra half hour at the end of the day for Spanish. Let's see how it goes...
What about you? What habits do you want to break,... or start, and how will you tackle it? Well,... let's do it!
So let's say you have a bad habit. What's the best way to break it? Duhigg suggests trying it while on vacation, when the usual cues and routine are broken, or the same rewards aren't around. This apparently works better during vacations because there's the opportunity to form a new pattern.
I've seen this "break the habit while on vacation" theory work with my guy, a chain smoker for over a decade, quit cold turkey during our road trip honeymoon across the country. He had tried for years to quit smoking previously, but being with me 24/7 for a full week and waking up in a new place every day helped him finally kick it.
Of course, not everyone can go away often enough to break all our bad habits, but the main thing is to somehow to "change things up" to break the usual routine. Similarly, it may be easier to start a new habit by introducing it in a different setting, instead of trying to fit it into a regular pattern.
I've been wanting to get back into practicing Spanish at least 30 minutes each day, either by chatting with someone, watching a video, reading, or writing en EspaƱol. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to set my alarm a half hour earlier, shift my entire work day up a smidge, and have an extra half hour at the end of the day for Spanish. Let's see how it goes...
What about you? What habits do you want to break,... or start, and how will you tackle it? Well,... let's do it!
Friday, March 2, 2012
RTG Day 5: How To Ride the Chicago "L"
Rediscovering the Groove, Day 5: Write A Tip Post
I have fond memories of riding the "L" every day when I lived in Chicago. Now, on my occasional trips back to the Windy City for work and even less often visits for pleasure, I cherish each CTA train ride as a novelty and, at the same time, a familiar homecoming. Here are a few tips on how to ride -- and appreciate -- the L:
- When you enter the station, purchase or top up your transit card at a Transit Card vending machine. As of March 2012, it costs $2.25 for a single-ride of any distance on the L. (The fare was $1.50 when I lived here 10 years ago.)
- Find a map, either on the wall or in a pamphlet, and figure out (a) where you are, (b) where you're going, and (c) the last station in the direction that you're traveling.
- To enter the paid part of the station, approach the turnstile, insert your transit card into the card reader, then pull it out. Look for the green "Enter" light, and push your way through the turnstile. Most turnstiles will also have a screen that indicates the remaining balance on your card.
- Look for signs that indicate the last station in the direction that you're traveling, and proceed to that platform. While some stations (e.g., in the Loop) are underground, most CTA trains are "ELevated," as the name suggests. Either way, expect to navigate some stairs.
- As you wait for the train, stand behind the bumpy blue strip at the platform's edge for safety.
- If there's a chill in the air (and it's between November 1 and March 31), seek shelter under the heat lamps on the platform. You may meet some interesting characters as you join the huddle of shivering strangers.
- Enjoy the performers while you wait. Several underground stations in the Loop have designated areas for buskers. They're required to get a permit from CTA, so presumably (and I've noticed that) they're pretty good.
- When the train arrives, check the front and side placards to make sure that they indicate the last station on the route you want.
- When the doors open, stand to the side and make way for folks exiting the train before boarding.
- Board the train carefully, and...mind the gap!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
RTG Day 4: Ode to Stars & Flags
Rediscovering the Groove, Day 4: Write A Link Post
(...an assignment that I'm interpreting as simply, "Include links in the post.")
This is an Ode to Stars and Flags. Not the patriotic kinds, but rather, the ones that highlight important and pressing messages in my Inbox. Thanks to Google's stars and Apple Mail's flags, I'm able to stay true to my packrat-ness -- hello, 40,000+ messages! -- while keeping my e-mail priorities relatively organized.
During those computer "downtimes" when I take inventory of my e-mails throughout the day, the stars and flags help me zoom in on what I should focus on next. It's like in the film, Memento, where -- spoiler alert! -- whether I star or flag something (equivalent to Guy Pearce taking a Polaroid or taking notes) determines whether I'll remember to "get to it" later. Woe to that important message that I neglect to star or flag, though,...'cos sender, you'll probably have to send me another note!
(...an assignment that I'm interpreting as simply, "Include links in the post.")This is an Ode to Stars and Flags. Not the patriotic kinds, but rather, the ones that highlight important and pressing messages in my Inbox. Thanks to Google's stars and Apple Mail's flags, I'm able to stay true to my packrat-ness -- hello, 40,000+ messages! -- while keeping my e-mail priorities relatively organized.
During those computer "downtimes" when I take inventory of my e-mails throughout the day, the stars and flags help me zoom in on what I should focus on next. It's like in the film, Memento, where -- spoiler alert! -- whether I star or flag something (equivalent to Guy Pearce taking a Polaroid or taking notes) determines whether I'll remember to "get to it" later. Woe to that important message that I neglect to star or flag, though,...'cos sender, you'll probably have to send me another note!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
RTG Day 3: Hops & Hominy Review
Rediscovering the Groove, Day 3: Write A Review
I met AT for dinner at Hops & Hominy last night, a 3-week old restaurant on Union Square that hopes to satisfy the city's "down-home cookin'" palate. We were part of the early evening crowd, arriving at 6p, and were promptly seated at a neat rustic table for two. I had a good view of the bar -- where the tender seemed to be busy shaking drinks all night long -- and an interesting mural by Audra Knutson featuring bunnies and a peacock gathered around a cobwebbed tree.*
YAYs
- Complimentary cornbread and sweet butter.
- My order of lip-smacking buttermilk fried chicken, served on top of a bed of bacony brussell sprouts, plus a wonderful side of mac and cheese.
- They let us stay -- and replenished our water -- for the 5 hours we were there.
- Nice attentive waiter who thoughtfully labeled my to-go box with the contents and date.
MEHs
- Two different versions of the menu, which was explained as an "oops, we've only been open for 3 weeks, and the menu's been changing."
- Our eager request for alligator bites was...denied. Sorry, wrong menu.
- Our beignet dessert too closely resembled our own failed attempt at making beignets previously. (Cafe du Monde, you've ruined it for everybody! No one can make 'em like you!)
- AT's rabbit fettuccine, which we agreed was tasty but wouldn't necessarily order again.
- My $10 Whiskey Smash could have used more lemon and mint, the two other main ingredients in the drink.
While I did enjoy my dinner entree, we gave the place 3 stars overall. Now..., where to next?
_________
*Photo credit: SF Eater.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Rediscovering the Groove (Day 2)
Day 2: Answer A Question.
How does one swallow? Well, I'm glad you asked. (And thanks for playing along.)
Ever since my 84-year old "Eema" -- or Mum's older sister -- had a stroke a month ago, I've become acutely aware of certain unconscious body movements that I would normally not think about. My bodily function of interest for today is...the "simple" act of swallowing.
First of all, I thank God that my dear Eema was rushed to the hospital in time. With an aggressive PT regimen and capable Singaporean doctors, she's making slow but steady progress each day -- re-learning what the right side of her body used to be able to do and, possibly the toughest challenge, realizing that some abilities may never be regained.
While we remain hopeful, she isn't able to swallow. Dysphagia is what it's called, and until she overcomes it, she gets her nourishment through a feeding tube. Medicinenet.com describes swallowing as a "complex action" and lists the 8 steps involved:
Wow.
Through slurred speech, Eema tells me she dreams about coffee and ice cream and char kway teow (a Singaporean fried noodle dish). My heart sinks as I join her in a forced chuckle.
How does one swallow? Well, I'm glad you asked. (And thanks for playing along.)
Ever since my 84-year old "Eema" -- or Mum's older sister -- had a stroke a month ago, I've become acutely aware of certain unconscious body movements that I would normally not think about. My bodily function of interest for today is...the "simple" act of swallowing.
First of all, I thank God that my dear Eema was rushed to the hospital in time. With an aggressive PT regimen and capable Singaporean doctors, she's making slow but steady progress each day -- re-learning what the right side of her body used to be able to do and, possibly the toughest challenge, realizing that some abilities may never be regained.
While we remain hopeful, she isn't able to swallow. Dysphagia is what it's called, and until she overcomes it, she gets her nourishment through a feeding tube. Medicinenet.com describes swallowing as a "complex action" and lists the 8 steps involved:
- Food is chewed in the mouth and mixed with saliva.
- Tongue propels chewed food into the throat (pharynx).
- Soft palate elevates to prevent food from entering nasal passages, while the upper pharynx contracts to push the food into the lower pharynx, and the voice box (larynx) is pulled upwards so that the epiglottis can bend downwards, preventing food from entering the windpipe (trachea). (What the...)
- Pharynx contracts to push the food along.
- Muscle that encircles the upper end of the esophagus relaxes, allowing the wave of contractions to push the food into the esophagus.
- Wave of contractions continues from the pharynx down the entire length of the esophagus.
- Another muscle that encircles the lower end of the esophagus where it meets the stomach relaxes so that food can enter the stomach.
- After the food passes, the lower esophagus muscle tightens to prevent food from coming back up.
Wow.
Through slurred speech, Eema tells me she dreams about coffee and ice cream and char kway teow (a Singaporean fried noodle dish). My heart sinks as I join her in a forced chuckle.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Rediscovering the Groove (Day 1)
Exactly 3 1/2 months since my last post. Now that's blog apathy. So I Googled "need motivation to write!" and stumbled upon this intriguing project that I'm embarking on today. Day 1: Write A List. Here goes.
I found myself curled up in a fleece blanket on Sunday night, a Hornsby's Hard Cider in one hand and an iPhone in the other, watching the Grammy's while playing Words With Friends during commercials and the less interesting thank you's. In the midst of all that "activity," I came up with...
Squeaks' Gimme Chills Mix
1. Arms (Christina Perri)
2. Almost Lover (A Fine Frenzy)
3. Someone Like You (Adele)
4. Glitter in the Air (Pink)
5. Hold My Heart (Sara Bareilles)
6. Cosmic Love (Florence + The Machine)
7. I Never Told You (Colbie Caillat)
8. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova)
Hard pressed to come up many non-operatic "gimme chills" songs by guys,... but I welcome suggestions!
I found myself curled up in a fleece blanket on Sunday night, a Hornsby's Hard Cider in one hand and an iPhone in the other, watching the Grammy's while playing Words With Friends during commercials and the less interesting thank you's. In the midst of all that "activity," I came up with...
Squeaks' Gimme Chills Mix
1. Arms (Christina Perri)
2. Almost Lover (A Fine Frenzy)
3. Someone Like You (Adele)
4. Glitter in the Air (Pink)
5. Hold My Heart (Sara Bareilles)
6. Cosmic Love (Florence + The Machine)
7. I Never Told You (Colbie Caillat)
8. Falling Slowly (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova)
Hard pressed to come up many non-operatic "gimme chills" songs by guys,... but I welcome suggestions!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
