Blogs from Asia
May 26th 2012
Pingyao is a commercial and touristic place. Not much of real China today. Is a city behind the walls, like in the old times. Very pretty, very crowed. It has performers paying by the State or the City to do public shows all around. We arrived to the hostel, Jean, Florian, and I, and took a cozy breakfast. I ordered the Israeli options because it seems that it had not meet. Well, it is an egg under a pomodoro sauce full of spice things that I do not recommend. Florian is the son of Jean, in his 30 traveling the first time with his father in the middle of his 50. They get alone well, and make a funny duo. Florian is the one that wants to try local things and mingle with local people. He ... read more
Food, Sports and Fun - A week in Beijing - May 20-25, 2012
Published: May 26th 2012Asia » China » Beijing
May 26th 2012
Sunday, May 20 Fernanda and I decided to take a trip to the Pan Jia Yuan flea market, over on the east side of town. The market was pretty cool, it had lots of random Chinese things and souvenirs. We didn’t buy anything yet since we have so much time to shop, but so far it seems like the best deals were at that market. Fernanda did buy herself a scarf which she successfully bargained down from 120 to 20 yuans (so she paid about $3.50 for it). Pretty sweet! We had lunch at a local eatery which seemed popular but which was most definitely the sketchiest meal we’ve had since arriving in Beijing. I ordered chicken and rice but the chicken was totally pink so I only ate rice. Fernanda got dumplings by pointing at ... read more
May 26th 2012
Day Two and sleeping Asians I was flying to Bali today so I arrived at the Bangkok airport at 4 am. The first thing I’ve noticed was that people there can sleep everywhere. On the floor, on top of the closed baggage claim and in the elevator moving stairs that were closed for few minutes for maintance !! I arrived in Bali and I’ve met my host Agus. I will be staying with for next two days. I was brought for a little trip around Kuta on the back of Agus’s motorbike. To say that Bali is beautiful is an understatement … Its so different and exotic like nothing I have ever seen before. And peoplea are so nice. Agus brought me to the beach to meet some of his friends. A bunch of guys works ... read more
May 26th 2012
Day Three and …. sore bum!! Driving around Kuta and Danpasar all day. In the eveing we headed down south for a traditional dance show called Kecak Dance. An amazing show… But getting there was a real pain … you know where. The second day riding a bike was even more painful then the first and made me wish I has some additional padding … :P Anyway few things I’ve noticed about Bali driving their motorbikes. (Mum and Dad please stop reading now). There can be up to 5 people on the scuter (but children ride only without the helmets), the drving on the road and foot path is allowed. People take over in the row of three or four. Amd sometimes if they are riding in the next lane going in the opposite direction and ... read more
May 26th 2012
Thursday 24/05/2012 Up early and dressed in my suit for parent’s day. Got to work early planning on cleaning up, to find that someone else had already vacuumed. Spent the morning wiping down tables over and over again as the children messed them up. The parents started arriving around 10, and piled into the classroom even though some children had just arrived and were getting changed. A few of the parents spoke to me, but mostly they chatted to each other. The children behaved extremely well, they sat on the mat and sang the hat song, they said the days of the week, they were so good! Then came the activity, and they made little mouse hats with the assistance of their parents. The kids were so excited to do the activity with their mums. Then ... read more
May 26th 2012
Settle in to the university--Check Get a bank account--Check (although it has a 0 balance. I tried to deposit a check from the US and they said it would take up to 6 weeks to clear. Living on the ATM so far. Get a local phone number--Check Find a place to live--Check Move In--Mission Accomplished. Check. Although I still have two boxes in Bangkok and a couple of other boxes at Dr. Kol's (University President) house from a previous trip last November, I'm starting to build something that is akin to home. Now this is something between ALF wilderness week accomodations and my loft in Houston but by local standards, I'm livin' pretty well. The pics don't totally do it justice because you haven't seen much to compare it with. In a month, I went from ... read more
May 26th 2012
May 26, 2012 (Kowloon) We had a great breakfast on the 20th floor Harbour Plaza Lounge and then met in the Hotel Lobby to go start exploring. There are a few "traditions" Dr. Farris has initiated in Hong Kong and we went out to do them all: the Regal Jewellry store, Lee's of Paris shirt tailors, "meat on a stick" at Kowloon Park with Mango jelly and then dim sum. A little twist in our escapades today included a torrential downpour halfway through our jaunt through Hong Kong. We all bought cheap umbrellas and are now quite soaked, but had an enjoyable time. Resting up a bit and then off to Victoria's Peak and dinner at Bubba Gump's on the mountain top overlooking the city. Enjoy the pictures!... read more
May 26th 2012
JAVA...THE MEN. When Surabaya travels to Yogyakarta...to play Football ...the local Police are ready for trouble...ready to meet the "Football Hooligan"...ready and waiting. But unlike the "riot squad" attitude necessary in some parts of the World...in Java they have discovered the answer... how to control the "Football Hooligan"...Javan style. There was a time when Surabayan supporters...packed into a 5 hour train ride to Yogy...arriving hungry...going through the warungs that had assembled to feed the masses...vendors complaining they were not paid...some warungs trashed...fights...more fights...opposing supporters...Police busy. Then someone in the Police...the Polisi...had an idea. So now when Surabaya travels to Yogyakarta...to play Football...the local Police are ready...ready to meet the Surabaya supporters. On arrival they are each given a... read more
May 26th 2012
After leaving Hanoi Claire and I decided to get a flight to Hoi An to save ourselves a 20 hour bus journey.. We checked into a nice little hotel that had a small swimming pool and included breakfast, all for about 7 quid a night (this is why i love SE Asia!) On our first day in Hoi An we decided to check out all the tailoring shops as this is what Hoi An is famous for! You can get any clothes or shoes made for you after one fitting. Claire not being on a budget like me was in heaven and got herself 3 gorgeous dresses and a pair of wedges, but I still treated myself to one dress which luckily we got a good deal on.. Hoi An is such a cute little town, ... read more
May 26th 2012
Chicken Adobo is an authentic Filipino dish and is one of the mostly recognized Filipino foods. Not to be mistaken with Mexican adobo, this dish is uniquely prepared by stewing chicken in vinegar and soy sauce. Several sources who are experts in Asian food history say that the Filipinos were already cooking adobo even before Spanish colonization. According to them, cooking with vinegar preserves the meat. This method is also considered as one of the earliest food preservation practice. Try this Chicken Adobo recipe. Ingredients 2 lbs chicken, cut into serving pieces 3 pcs dried bay leaves 4 tbsp soy sauce 4 tbsp vinegar 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups water 1/4 cup cooking oil salt and pepper Cooking Procedure In a large container, combine the soy sauce and garlic then marinade the chicken overnight Place ... read more
