蜗牛餐 Escargots

到了法国, 第一件事就是想要吃蜗牛!　招待我们的唐太太带我们到家乐福 (Carrefour) 买现成的方便蜗牛．家乐福开始于法国，是欧洲最大的零售百货市场公司，也是 Wal Market 之后的世界第二次大零售百货市场公司. 在巴黎看到熟悉的家乐福标志, 里头却与马来西亚的有大大不同.

蜗牛买回来后,直接放进微波炉烤就可以吃了. 蒜,葱,奶油,调味料和蜗牛加起来的味道咸咸香香,ＱＱ的好像在吃螺类海鲜.




一般上,蜗牛法式料理的前菜 (starter). 很讲究吃的唐先生在第二天晚上, 和唐太太请我们到一家在巴黎高级的不得了的法国餐厅．难忘的一顿晚餐，我品尝了在小说里看过和想象过的法国菜如鹅肝（Foie gras) 和蜗牛（Escargots) .

上菜的方式有点不一样, 蜗牛已经去壳, 烹煮后盛在有小圆孔的陶瓷盘类器上, 在左手边的是专门吃蜗牛时用的小叉子... 要开动了!!!




我不知道我们一共花了多少钱, 我想, 欧币兑换成马币的话,应该是把我当时的一个月薪水吃完了吧!　


第三次吃蜗牛是在越南的山区, TamDao. 越南被法国占领成为法国的殖民地, 所以越南人的饮食习惯多少受法国的影响. 有一天吃饭的时候, 负责人很神秘的说要让我们试一道可能大家都不敢吃的地方菜, 结果一看, 蜗牛!




每一只蜗牛还用一片类似班兰叶绿色植物来装饰, 在碟子上滚动!!!　我们就这样配着白饭吃，感觉上还带着泥土的味道，深褐色的壳也不怎么讨好．哈！！！　

后来回到越南的首都河内，到了一家相当有格调的法国餐厅，也点了蜗牛作前菜，卖相和口感还算过关！

第五次吃蜗牛, 也是在一个与法国有密切关系的国家 - 加拿大. 我在法语为第一语言的蒙特利尔 (Montreat) 的一家得奖无数的法国餐厅, 吃了非常美味的蜗牛...

我好怀念这道法国特色名菜, 不知道下一次的相遇是何年何月, 在那里....

Travel ideas for Italy

I have not been to Italy, but i planned the 6 days 5 nights Italy trip, covering 6 cities for my sister and her husband. I feel so proud of myself and below is my achievement :)

Route : London - Rome - Vatican City - Pisa - Florence - Venice - Milan - London

Accomodation :
2 nights in Rome (Vittoria B&B)
1 night in Florence ( International Student House Florence)
1 night in Venice (Hotel Alloggi Agli Artisti)
1 night in Milan (Hotel Demo)


International / National Transport :

London Stansted Airport - Rome Ciampino Airport (Ryanair) , 96.54gbp for 2pax
Rome Termini Railway Station - PISA C
PISA C / PISA AE station - Florence Santa Maria Novella (FI SMN)
Florence Santa Maria Novella (FI SMN) - Venice Santa Lucia Train Station
Venice Santa Lucia Train Station - Milan Central Staion (Trenitalia)
Milan Bergamo ( a.k.a Orio al Serio) Airport - London Stansted Airport (Ryanair)


Airport Transfer :

Return train London Liverpool Street to London Stansted Airport, 53.6gbp for 2 pax
Bus from Rome Ciampino Airport to Roma Termini Railway Staion (walking distance to Vittoria B&B)
Bus from Milan Central Station to Milan Bergamo ( a.k.a Orio al Serio) Airport

Local Transport :

1 day Rome Day Pass
Pisa bus, taxi, train
Florence bus, taxi, train
Venice Vaporetti Pass
1 day Milan Day Pass


Activities :

Day 1
530am arrive London Liverpool Street Station ( zone 1)
555am train depart from London Liverpool Street Station to London Stansted Airport (reservation xxx)
642am train arrive at London Stansted Airport at 642am, ready to check in
840am flight depart from London Stansted Airport to Rome Ciampino Airport (reservation xxx)
1205pm flight arrive at Rome Ciampino Airport
flexible time bus from Rome Ciampino Airport to Roma Termini Railway Station, 40 minutes journey
approximate 2pm arrive at Roma Termini Railway Station
5 mins walk from Roma Termini Railway Station to Vittoria B&B
Check in Vitorria B&B (reservation xxx)
3pm start to self explore around Rome on foot

Day 2
Breakfast included
Buy Rome Day Pass from Roma Termini Railway Station
Self explore around Vatican City (early morning) on foot, tram, metro, bus, self explore
self explore around Rome on foot, tram, metro, bus, self explore

Day 3
Breakfast included
Check out and keep luggage with hotel
Self explore around Rome on foot, tram, metro, bus, self explore
Back to hotel, collect luggage, walk to Roma Termini Railway Station
1209pm depart from Roma Termini Railway Station to Pisa C. (no reservation. Buy when you are there)
415pm arrive Pisa C
travel around Pisa
1030pm depart from PISA C / PISA AE station (no reservation. Buy when you are there)
1150pm arrive Florence Santa Maria Novella (FI SMN) Station
2 mins walk from Florence Santa Maria Novella (FI SMN) Station to International Student House Florence
Check in International Student House Florence (no reservation. Buy when you are there)

Day 4
Breakfast NOT included
check out from International Student House Florence
travel around Florence
1237pm depart from Florence Santa Maria Novella (FI SMN) Station (reservation xxx)
317 pm arrive Venezia Santan Lucia Station
5 mins walk from Venezia Santa Lucia Station to Hotel Alloggi Agli Artisti
Check in (reservation xxx)
4pm start to self explore around Venice on foot, boat, water taxi, canal, condola etc

Day 5
Breakfast included
Tour around Venice on foot
12noon check out from hotel, 5 mins walk to Venezia Santa Lucia Station
1250pm train depart from Venezia Santa Lucia Station to Milan (reservation xxx)
325pm arrive at Milano Centrale Station
5 mins walk from Milano Centrale Station to Hotel Demo
Check in Hotel Demo ( reservation xxx)
4pm start to self explore around Milan on foot

Day 6
Breakfast included
Check out and keep luggage with hotel
Buy Milan Day Pass from Milano Centrale Station
Self explore around Milan on foot, tram, metro, bus, self explore
Back to hotel, collect luggage, walk to Milano Centrale Station
1 hour bus journey from Milano CentraleTrain Station to Milan Bergamo (a.k.a Oria al Serio) Airport
320pm arrive at Milan Bergamo (a.k.a Oria al Serio) Airport and ready to check in
520pm flight depart from Milan Bergamo (a.k.a Orio al Serio) Airport to London (reservation xxx)
620pm arrive at London Stansted Airport
Train ( available every 15mins) from London Stansted Airport back to London Liverpool Street Station
approximate 8pm arrive London Liverpool Street Station

What should i bring for my next trip?

1) a lot of snacks such as chocolate, candy, raisin, cookies...

2) memory card for my camera if i do not have the chance to transfer photos to laptop. 3G is just not enough for two weeks.

3) more sanitary pads so that i can use freely and no need to use it on budget

4) body shampoo, shampoo, hair conditioner and body lotion. To be specific, body lotion is a must, as well as sunblock. Never assume that i have the sunblock and can use it as body lotion.

5) will be really good to have a hat or cap

6) at least two universal power plug adapters. One is simply not enough for the night to charge the laptop, handphone, blackberry, camera etc

7) contact lenses

8) sunglasses

9) raincoat or water proof jacket with hood

10) laundry powder or detergent

11) reading material

12) head lamp ( if it's a outdoor adventurous trip)

13) alcohol swaps or sterilizer

14) dairy and pen to write

15) additional bagpack besides trolley bag

16) first aid kit with medicine

Hiking to Tam Dao Peak at Vietnam

No, i didn't make it. The hike took 8 hours from 815 early in the morning and back to our hotel at 415PM.

Reasons i'm not joining :

1) I'm not fit for mountain hiking. Thank God i didn't go! All my friends came back and told me the hike was crazy!

2) I need more rest after days of on site Earthwatch Butterflies of Vietnam Project

3) I would like to save my energy fo the next day and day after, my Halong Bay trip

4) I need to recover from giant leech bite!!!

5) I rather not to push myself too hard. I'm not good at self motivation when come to hiking and i don't have a strong determination to conquest Tam Dao Peak


I stayed at the hotel room doing my laundry, reading, writing dairy, book my flight, nap, chatting with locals and called home.

It was so leisure, relax, with a lot of free time and taking photo of my wound dressing in toilet paper!!!

No personal laptop with me, and the internet cafe with six computers and very slow connection located quite a distance away from my hotel.

I spent time on day dreaming, thinking, eating the local fruit snacks... it was a different experience and i enjoyed it very much.

I was trying to play with plater but it jut simply didn't work well.

Conclusion, plaster with tobacco still the best solution :)

Business Class vs. Economy Class

1) seat of cause

2) hot tower, warm and refreshing vs. cold tissue paper with weird pfeeling

3) variaty of juices, wine, champagne, anything you can think of as welcome drink vs. orange juice and coke

4) drinks in a glass vs. serve up in plastic cup or paper cup

5) travel kit vs. nothing or very basic

6) pillow and blanket vs. nothing or totally different quality pillow and blanket

7) newspaper, magazine for everyone, just ask for it vs. only a few copies of newspaper at the entrance, if you are late, it will be taken by others

8) wonderful in flight entertainment from choices of multilingual music, news, drama, tv show, games, movie, information... with high quality sound system vs. everyone watching the big screen with lousy headphone

9) flight attendants who address you by name and smile to you vs. not friendly flight attendants with high ego

10) great lounge before you start your journey vs. loitering around

11) priority check-in, luggage allowance, immigration fast lane vs. queuing, queuing, and more queuing

12) premium fine dining food vs. packed meal

13) PRICE!!!

Language

I find it very difficult to travel in Germany because all the train announcements are in German, without any English translation. I can’t understand the message and start to check for written announcement, notice board etc. Too bad, all are in German only.

When my train is delayed, I’m so worried and lost. I will never know if my train is being rescheduled, canceled or just changed of platform? I will never know. I asked the officer or public but they speak very limited English.

Same feeling when I was at Tokyo. The younger generation speaks better English yet less friendly, at the other hand, the seniors are very passionate to help out using both Japanese language and body language.

This happen again when I was at Americas. In Brazil, the Portuguese while Spanish in Chile and Mexico. I’m a dumb!!! Now I know how much I love English even though I speak broken English and wish to travel to Mandarin speaking countries.

I have a dream. I wish to use my language talent - Mandarin in my career. I can read, write and speak one of the upcoming most important language in the world! I should make full use of it in my business!

枫叶之国

２００９年的冬末初春，我在加拿大的蒙特利尔 (Montreal).

蒙特利尔位于魁北克 (Quebec) 省南部, 是加拿大第二大城市。多伦多（Toronto) 是加拿大第一大城市，而温哥华 （Vancouver) 则是加拿大第三大城市。第四大城市- 渥太華(Ottawa) 也是加拿大的首都。

我从温暖的南美洲－巴西, 乘上10 小时的加拿大航空（Air Canada) 到北美洲．我在多伦多的转机2.5个小时，清晨时分抵达蒙特利尔，温度介于－１０＇C 至　5'C　之间．少少的阳光, 常有风, 天气还是冷冷的, 四周围可见还未溶化的冰雪.

由于不是秋天，我没有机会赏枫，却遇上了采集枫糖浆（Maple Syrup）的季节. 加拿大的枫树种类繁多,只有好几种的枫树可以产出枫糖浆. 而在魁北克省处处可见枫树林, 其枫糖浆产量更为全球之冠.

采集枫树树液的过程与我国割胶有点相像　：

"农夫在树龄超过40年的糖枫树上钻一个深入树干约5公分的洞，并插上导管，挂上收集糖枫树树液的桶子，让树液慢慢地滴进桶里。只有在夜间0摄氏度以下，白天5摄氏度以上，才能采出枫树液. 当地的“枫糖小屋”由原木搭建，小屋里有专门熬制枫糖浆的大锅, 温度一般保持在水沸点以上4摄氏度。大约30公升到45公升的树液才能提炼出1公升的枫糖浆. "　

各种各样的包装来自不同的枫糖浆食品公司, 1976 的老字号 Turkey Hill 算是当中的佼佼者.

枫糖浆一般上就直接加在 waffle, pancake 或 toast 上. 也可以当热饮如茶，咖啡，巧克力的糖源和调味剂. 烹饪, 烘烤甜品糕点糖果等等枫糖浆都会被派上场. 感觉上枫糖浆有点像蜜糖, 但是枫糖浆的营养价值却比蜜糖高.

在当地很受欢迎的一种枫糖浆吃法，我自取了一个名字－冰雪上的枫浆棒棒糖！

首先，煮一锅的枫糖浆．乘着等待的当儿，在木板上铺上厚厚雪做预备．

把煮的沸腾的枫糖浆直接淋在雪上．要注意淋成一条美丽的直线，大约３－５公分的宽度．

枫糖浆会慢慢的凝固．把吃冰淇淋的小木棒放在枫糖浆的其中一端，待用．

大约三分钟后，利用小木棒把刚刚凝结，还是微软的枫糖浆卷起来

好啦! 加拿大式的 "麦芽糖" 新鲜出炉!!!　





除了枫糖浆，我还带回国不少的枫叶纪念品，其中右下角的 Canadian Jade 枫叶型项链是我的最爱. 穿着它, 我会想起冰天雪地的加拿大.