Wednesday, May 31, 2006
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Well, I'm not sure whether diamonds are my best friend yet, but I'm definitely crazy about jewelries! Necklaces, earrings, rings, hairpins... look at my jewelry box and you'll know...~~
A little break from the reading in a breezy afternoon is the best time for my treasure hunting, and a small jewelry store downstairs is my favourite hunting ground. They sell all sorts of accessories of exotic styles, and my treasure today is a pair of laced earrings!
~~
Laces are a big hit this year, for both clothing and accessories. I love the laced fringes in little vests, as it hints a lovely girlish delicacy when you only wear a simple jacket with a pair of jeans. But overdoing it can be just the contrary to its original exquisite feel and texture. I'm pretty fed up with the recent Lolita look, in which the girls look drowned in a waterfall of thick white laces from head to toe... save the heat they have to endure under the burning summer sun...
Laces are a big hit this year, for both clothing and accessories. I love the laced fringes in little vests, as it hints a lovely girlish delicacy when you only wear a simple jacket with a pair of jeans. But overdoing it can be just the contrary to its original exquisite feel and texture. I'm pretty fed up with the recent Lolita look, in which the girls look drowned in a waterfall of thick white laces from head to toe... save the heat they have to endure under the burning summer sun...
~~
This lovely pair of vintage looking earrings is a bit flamboyant and indulgent. It can be matched with a simple silky white shirt, and possibly a skirt with either light purple or turquoise patterns. With your hair tied up and a little bit of cosmetics, you're good enough for any parties or banquets. That's the magic that jewelries can work!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
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I can't wait to try the simple recipe of Durian Pancake! Durian has never been one of my family's favourite fruits, but after my first try from a friend's persistent cajoling, I have since then fallen in love with it, esp. the golden pillow. ~~
Durian is distinctive for its unique and profound odour, which can be smelt a few hundred meters away. However the amazing thing is its flavour, and believe it or not, it's SWEET! It is indeed a very rich and lingering sweetness that's almost addictive whenever one is able to detect it. The texture of a perfectly ripe durian is extremely tender, a bit like cooked pumpkin, if not softer. Therefore a piece of ripe durian after a few hours in the fridge tastes like thick ice-cream and it's heavenly!
Durian is distinctive for its unique and profound odour, which can be smelt a few hundred meters away. However the amazing thing is its flavour, and believe it or not, it's SWEET! It is indeed a very rich and lingering sweetness that's almost addictive whenever one is able to detect it. The texture of a perfectly ripe durian is extremely tender, a bit like cooked pumpkin, if not softer. Therefore a piece of ripe durian after a few hours in the fridge tastes like thick ice-cream and it's heavenly!
~~
Same as the stark opposition between the fruit's flavour and odour, there are either addicts like myself or those who hate it, nothing in between. When it is loved as the King of the Fruits in Southeastern Asia, it is also frequently compared to sewage and excrement esp. in the Western countries. I guess the smell is perhaps too overwhelming... but what a pity... although I agree that by far durian is the most bizarre fruit I've ever tasted.
Same as the stark opposition between the fruit's flavour and odour, there are either addicts like myself or those who hate it, nothing in between. When it is loved as the King of the Fruits in Southeastern Asia, it is also frequently compared to sewage and excrement esp. in the Western countries. I guess the smell is perhaps too overwhelming... but what a pity... although I agree that by far durian is the most bizarre fruit I've ever tasted.
~~
If you find having the durian alone is too strong, you can try the durian pancake, in which the cream and the pandan flavoured skin nicely balanced the richness of the flavour. The pancake skin is a normal one with a tiny bit of pandan flavour and color; whip the cream and sugar until it stands; mash the durian and wrap everything together. The pancake is best served after a couple of hours' chill in the fridge. Yummy!
If you find having the durian alone is too strong, you can try the durian pancake, in which the cream and the pandan flavoured skin nicely balanced the richness of the flavour. The pancake skin is a normal one with a tiny bit of pandan flavour and color; whip the cream and sugar until it stands; mash the durian and wrap everything together. The pancake is best served after a couple of hours' chill in the fridge. Yummy!
Monday, May 29, 2006
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I always thought that Mr. Bean has created the legendary modern comical figure, but the recent Japanese prime-time series Trainman has changed my mind. ~~
The story is about a typical young Japanese geek, secluded from normal social life, has "unfortunately" fallen in love with a virtuous girl he saved in the train from a drunkard. The poor thing possibly represents the "nice guy" class who are though kind and honest, but all too shy to socialize and find girlfriends. His only channel for counseling is from his fellow similars online, who give him advices, cheer him up, and accompany him through the difficult journey of his bildungsroman.
~~
In fact, both the wooing and chatroom plots are unimpressive and repeating; but the way in which the actor presents the silly frustrations, the awkwardness, and the nervousness of the geek, is almost a guarantee to make you laugh away all the weariness and exhaustion from your whole week's work! In looking at his expressions, I keep wondering whether he needed facial massages everytime after his shots for the series...
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I've no doubt about Atsushi Ito's being among the top in the local show business, as I guess only a very few actors can twist their faces like his. He has brought to life all the dramatic images only possible in the Japanese catoon, and has brought to the screen a perfect comical portrayal of a small potato's struggle for personal growth in a big cosmopolitan city, through the search of his own identity. You can almost visualize the drop of sweat streaming from his forehead, or the saliva from the corner of his mouth when he sees his goddess of love. Exceedingly amusing!
~~
Misaki Ito is hot and charming; but compared to Atsushi's performance, she's however no more a beautiful statue than anything real. (all pictures from Fuji Television Network)
Friday, May 26, 2006
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I've finally seen the too much discussed Davinci Code this Wednesday. It's an amazingly intricate "escape + treasure hunt" Hollywood movie, that has used a lot of historical and religious backgrounds to support the author's claim that Jesus was in fact human, that his divinity was a result of election in the court of Constantine, and that Mary Magdeline is the feminine aspect of Christianity threatening the masculine power of the Church. The response from various fields of study is enormous, and by that alone the author has achieved unprecedented success in his objective of winning the world's attention. Guided tours are formed in various traveling agencies around the world to visit the churches and places appeared in the story, and I'm just wondering whether commissions are paid to Dan Brown for all the entry tickets. ~~
To me the movie was OK but it was a tiring 2.5 hrs in the cinema. Tom Hanks did nothing but frowning, and Audrey Tautou has again proven herself only suitable to act the girl next door. It's funny that the Davinci's code has in the end become IM Pei's code, transforming Pei's structural design that aims at reflecting light, into some symbolically phallic and womb imageries. But then the fact that the mere mentioning of the Apocraphies could have intrigued so many people, compared to the nowadays little regarded Canons, is something that the Church must think seriously about. Anyway, to me, it's a nice fiction.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
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Sometimes it's just amazing to see how time flies, and that we've been dating for seven years. It's difficult to describe how the stream of love can run so quiet and so long... you just feel it and know the feeling is always there... may be it's like loving your cats, when you give all and request no return; or loving your favorite clothes, when you wear it so carefully that you agonize any scratches and damages; or enjoying a cup of cappuccino, when the aroma lingers in your mouth and mind; or watching your favorite movie, when you give your tears and laughter time and again without feeling bored...... but before all these feelings can be a part of you, the most important thing is perhaps knowing how to be loved... to know that you're appreciated, and that you're a precious little jewel to that someone who offers you the whole of his heart... although our dating anniversary is in March, i'd still want to say THANK YOU... of teaching me how to love and be loved, of holding my hands tight during the time of trial, of accepting me as who I am, and letting me have all that you are !!"The sky may be starless, the night may be moonless, but deep in my heart there's a glow; Cos deep in my heart, I know that you love me, you love me, because you told me so"
Friday, May 19, 2006
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Oh, how I miss our holiday in Australia's Blue Mountain!! The relaxed and cozy atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the hectic and bustling Hong Kong. The photo was taken outside a little tavern in the Mountain, an afternoon just after the whole day's heavy shower. The sun looked like a clean little baby after a nice bath, and the fresh wild flowers smelt like the slightly aromatic bath gel, just to fit the tender skin of the cute little one. The casual arrangement of the rustic tables and chairs created the perfect mood for us to enjoy the surrounding woods and overlooking the colorful bungalows in the succinct little valley. The muffled clickety-clack of the passing train reminded us that people were quietly coming and going, and that time for dinner has arrived.
A nice cool glass of beer before the meal did the magic of calming, and the tiny bit of alcohol was just enough to blend our souls with nature and the mesmerising sunset. We both looked afar into the bluish-red horizon, and there was a line dividing the wood and the sky: is it a line formed from the tip of the trees, or an opening of the heaven? Did the angels come circling in the sky, and sprinkled the sparkling dew on every leaf in the area? Or may be just an electric wire? Oh how disappointing! But why, of course?! For how else do the local habitants almost a hundred kilometers away from the city centre connect to the rest of the world? Possibly some of them are browsing the internet, reading about Hong Kong and looking at the pictures of Victoria Harbour. What miracle does technology make nowadays! The world is so big and yet so small...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
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I'm so proud to announce that my friend Angel is creating her blog at http://www.wretch.cc/blog/angelscafe for her upcoming coffee shop!! I love her Coffee & Earl Grey Mousse Cake, not only because it's the first home-made birthday cake I've ever had, but also because it's not at all sweet or heavy. The blend of coffee and Earl Gray is sensational, and the fact that the Earl Gray could compromise the heaviness of the cream so well is just amazing! It didn't taste like "yuen yuang" at all, because that drink tastes neither coffee nor tea. But the cake is able to present the naturalness of both coffee and tea without either one overlapping the other.It's always a joy to have friends who are willing to spend a few hours out of their busy schedule to do either cooking or shopping so as to give you something nice/surprise on your birthday. I'm sure her coffee shop will be a success! Add oil ar~~
Friday, May 05, 2006
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The remaining minced beef from last night was used to make real hamburger this morning for brunch. A lot of other ingrediences were added, like fried eggs, tomato, raw luttices, and cheese. The bread was from the supermarket, which wasn't the best when mixed with all the wonderful and nutritious ingredients. But then making bread myself is just too challenging and time consuming for a morning's easy meal. =P
Haven't been cooking for a long tim, have been spending all of my time reading and preparing for the coming exam on Wednesday. Have finally made up my mind to do something really simple: hamburger rice: one of my favourite dishes from our campus canteen. The hamburger stake is made from normal minced beef, with some diced and fried red onions. The sauce is from bottle speghetti puree, which tastes very special when thickened to be the sauce of this dish. This is a very satisfying dish, and only need less than half an hour to make.