3/31/07 - 4/4/07

上個星期我買了張廉價機票，也是最後一分鐘匆匆忙忙的決定！現在要開始張羅明年的旅程了。這次的旅遊主題應該是美食和購物，只是短短的3天2夜遊；行程會比較趕。我真的要做好功課！現在唯一頭疼的是選擇酒店。不過離那天還有一段時間，我得花點時間慢慢的詢問身邊的朋友！

7天6夜

我回來啦！第一次沒有帶手機和筆記電腦出門，過足一個星期的私人旅行。感覺完美！這次的主題是美食和文化之行。

這一次的自助旅行蠻方便。台北真的很容易走，而且人又親切。當你迷路時，隨便在街上拉一個人都會告訴你。最重要你懂華語。捷運真的可以帶你到任何的景點！

台北給我的感覺就是一個大都市，就好像翻版新加坡。生活水平也蠻高的。普通一碗麵食都要NT40。不過NT100肯定能吃的飽！但不是每一檔口都是好吃！別讓電視上的美食秀騙到，真的要凴運氣和本身的口味來斷定。

這七天，我去了淡水，九份和台北市。淡水真的是如其名。食物和湯頭真的好淡！有一家用了周傑倫的名和大頭照來宣傳，但味道真是不可恭維！出名的“阿給”，真的多得不可勝數！好多冒牌“阿給”。我們去了一家，是一位阿嫲。本以爲我們的選擇是對的，但原來是錯誤。淡水的食物我只打4/10。但如果你要買土產送禮，那你一定要在淡水下手。價格會比一般的地方便宜。鳳梨酥-NT100，鉄蛋-NT65。。。來到淡水一定要看日落。但一定要守住時間，因爲那金黃的夕陽很快就沉入大海中。

另一個鎮，九份。我覺得還不錯。只是單單一條街已經夠我們花幾個小時了。大致上都是離不開食物和精品。可能是旅遊區的關係吧！食物的味道還好，我打了6/10。除了美食之外，還可以慢慢的欣賞一間一間的老店鋪。充滿了濃濃的老臺灣風味。沿路走，會有意想不到的收穫；就是免費試食。讓你品嘗不一般的臺灣零食。我買了一盒純手工鳳梨酥。價格當然比淡水貴，但味道真的很好！放在飯店的桌面上竟然能吸引一堆的螞蟻。當然那機械製造的鳳梨酥誘惑不到那一群的黑兵。飯店的經理還要賠我們一盒的鳳梨酥！

在這七天裏，逛了兩個夜市（士林&饒河街）。讓我告訴大家，你只需要逛士林夜市，另一個可以省囘你的時間和車錢。士林夜市只要在劍潭下車，過條馬路就到了。而且美食真的是一檔接一檔。 讓我告訴大家如何讓自己有機會品嘗全部小食的策略！就是點一份而分兩份吃。比如雞排，點一份就足夠了！然後就將它分一半給你的旅伴。你就可有機會吃到全部的小食。我個人比較偏愛大腸包小腸，沙威瑪，棺材板，雞排。你會發現很多檔口都賣同一樣食物。但不是每一檔口都是美味。那就要靠你的眼光啦！我們就跟隨大隊，看那一家的顧客最多。還好，沒有讓我們失望。不過有一些食物就不如檳城那麽的美味。比如蚵仔煎，就是我們的蠔煎。蔥抓餅就好像我們的印度薄餅！

除了美食之外，我們也去了故宮博物館。我卻有點失望！此宮只展示過去的花瓶和杯碗之類文物，真的有點悶。相比跟陝西博物館真的有點遜色！但對中正紀念堂就另眼相看。台北101，就是高級的購物中心和讓你瞭望台北的景色。如果你真的想要買廉價服裝，那就到五分埔吧！跟西門町和百貨公司比起來，真的便宜得多了！

除了以上之外，這次的旅行可說是無驚有險。我們入住的那棟樓在淩晨3點多的時候，底樓竟然失火！原因是電源故障。導致我們必須逃離。從十二樓跑下一樓。幸好沒有被濃濃的烏煙薰倒！鬧了兩個多小時，才讓我們囘房休息。真是一個逃生的好經驗！

Vietnamese Restaurant - Pho Hao

Two days ago, I went to the post office to collect a registered letter from Malaysia. I found a Vietnamese restaurant next to KOHL. The name of the restaurant is Pho Hoa. The specialty of the restaurant is Noodle Soup. My car was parked in front of the restaurant and quickly rush to the post office to collect the mail.

The location of the restaurant is not obvious. It is not easy to spot and it comes with a small sign board. The restaurant can only occupy less than 50 people. The restaurant is own by the typical Vietnamese. You can see their face, their colour and their language. Also the music and song that broadcast.

I am lucky enough to get a table during the peak lunch hour. The menu is only a big folded card. But it is not simple to read , in fact is complicated for those 1st timer. Just a simple Beef Noodle Soup it comes with so many choices. With tender beef, raw meat, meat ball or without this or that. I picked the Adventurer's choice, No. 44. Pho Chín, Nam, Gau, Gân, Sách. It means noodle soup with brisket, flank, tendon, tripe, and fatty flank.

The meal served less than 5 minutes. From far, I can imagine how delicious is the noodle. What a big bowl! Even I ordered a small size. When the big bowl of noodle is on my table, I quickly put the bean sprout, basil leave and squeezed the lime into the soup while it is still hot. The first thing I would do is drink the soup.

Wow. It it is superb! The soup is so nice and tasty. Is really what I used to eat in Melbourne. Honestly, it is better than the other Vietnamese restaurant along E Bidwell. The Pho, noodle is so smooth. Besides that, there is a compliment, the chili sauce. Is really hot. Real Chili! Not those fake that I had in the past month. The meat is so tender and lean. Really nice to dip the meat into the Chili sauce. What a wonderful meal!

At first I doubt my ability to finish the meal. But I made it finally. Almost clear the bowl. The price is cheap. Less than 6 dollars. Before I want to leave, found their website - http://www.phohoa.com. They have so many branches. Even Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Bahija, you should try the branch in Malaysia. Strongly Recommended!

白摩卡

在这里呆了一个月多，每当在忙里偷闲时，总会走去食堂买一杯香浓可口的白摩卡；躲在自己cubicle里，慢慢的一口一口享用热腾腾的摩卡。真是人生的一大快事！也是我最舒服的时刻。

我对摩卡有特别的偏爱。因为它的味道不会太浓郁，带有一点苦和甜。不需要加入糖及奶精就可以饮用。但我本身对太妃糖有点抗拒！不过加入摩卡中，又有另一番不同的味道。不甜不腻，味道刚刚好也没有流失咖啡的原味。棒！

An Outing Day

Yesterday went to Sacramento Old Town with Mr. and Mrs. H. It was my first time to meet Mrs. H. She is so kind and friendly. Actually the couple they are very nice. They purposely took me to the Sacramento Old Town to attend the Jazz Jubilee.

Sacramento Old Town. Is what you have seen from the TV, those cow boy town. The buildings are still well up keep and maintain. This is what I am going to praise the community and government. They deserve a merit on their contributions.

A lot of street performances during that day. They are art lovers. I saw a lot of brass band, singers, and the "Sampah" music as what Bahija told me before. Haha... Mrs. H bought me a Jazz Festival T-Shirt. She insisted me to take the present as for a remembrance. Both of them take good care of me on that day.

After the performance, we went to the Train Museum. Wah! I like the tunnel that they built. It is so real! Too bad, I didn't manage to capture a fine picture... The lighting of the room was too dim. I think the museum doesn't really mean for commercial purpose. When Mrs. H was asking about her friend that working in the museum, the ticket attendance asked us to go in directly without paying any entrance fees. We felt so bad and wanted to pay for the entrance. But she said is a compliment for us.

I had my dinner in Mr. H house. I can't believe that his house is so big! The land area of his house is 125,000 sq. He has a big house, garage, work shop and land. Is isolated from the town. In that area, they do not have any cell phone signal. While Mrs. H is preparing the food, she asked me about Asian cooking and food. She was preparing the salad and side dishes and Mr. H was grilling the chicken.

After dinner, is dessert time. We sat down and talk, exchange culture and value. She would like to understand the Asian culture as her son is dating a Korean girl now. She is an open minded person. She can accept anything even different religion or background. We really have a great chat.

牙根痛

已經痛了將要一個星期。每當疼痛的時候我就會像一條死魚，很難集中精神去思考。最糟就是晚上，痛到難以入眠。昨晚我就在床上躺了兩個小時，那種滋味很不好受。昨天后面的牙根痛，今天是前端。

真的好懊悔！上個星期我本身太貪吃，一直過吃了半瓶的花生醬，導致今天的下場。不能再寫寫去了。。。很痛。。。

The Mimis Cafe

I visited again. The food is too delicious. Today I tried something different. I order a Chicken Pot Pie. Instead of green salad, I asked for the French Onion Soup. The soup is so rich and tasty. On top of the soup, it covered with a slice of French loaf and melted cheese. It was still hot, just came out from the oven.

Mom was having Corn Chowder soup because she doesn't take beef. Besides the soup, they also served with 4 slices of a small French loaf and 4 slices of bread cake type. We didn't grab that because we worry later on we can't finish the meal. The serving for today is kind of slow. I guess there was so mistake happened because one of the table waited for 30min but the meal was not served. The waitress and manager came out and apologized to the customers, because of one of the new waiter lost the order.

Our food, finally on our table. The Pie was so big and inside full of ingredients. Is just like the chicken soup pie type. The pie was not the crunchy pastry, it was the non sweet cookie. Very hot and delicious. My mom couldn't finish the fish and chip, so we "ta pao" back together with the bread and cake. I managed to get the website from the receipt. Visited the website and found the recipe of French Onion soup. I will try it once back home. :)

Lunch Date

Today, I have lunch with 2 of my team members here. Although we are in the same team, but we have no work related at all. Just enjoying good food and good chat. They are so kind, they bought me the meal. I ordered a Cafe Fish and Chips. It was so large until I left out all the salad. I love the mash potato so much, didn't waste any single scoop. We chat so much, about culture, working, life and company. They are simple people, they don't like to involve in office crisis. Just enjoy to be a individual contributor. Together with them, I feel very comfortable. We can talk anything. We will meet up next week for lunch, but I told them no to pay for me anymore.

Counting...

I received my first accomodation bill this morning. Mean, I've been here for 9 nights. I still have 54 nights to go. I am counting the 7 bills...

Lake Tahoe & Vacaville

Yesterday I spent two hours drive to Lake Tahoe, one of the tourist hot spot in this area. However the Lake doesn't really impress me much. Why? I guess I am not a person fancy in mother nature. :)

On the way to the lake, we still see snow start to melt. and part of the mountains are still cover with snow. Some of the roof still cover with inches thick of snow.

Didn't spend too much time there, as my mom wanted to rush back after we reach Lake Tahoe. She didn't really walk close to the lake. Why? She is getting old and feel uncomfortable to walk that far. Just sitting on the chair that in the park and picking up some pines. Poor thing... this few days, I really notice that my mom is old. She is totally different from previous. Not as active as before. :(

After the long journey drive trip of Lake Tahoe, I dropped my mom back to the Hotel and went to Vacaville alone. It is a large shopping outlet. You named it they got it. Finally I managed to get the fossil watch for my friend. Now, I am a little bit regret why I didn't get the same for myself. Thought of going again but it is too far away... 1 hours drive from here and my back is really ache after the long journey.

Sleepless in Folsom

It is 5:11am now in Folsom. I just reached this new place few hours ago. I feel exhausted and sleepy but my eyes cannot close.

It is a new good experience for me. This is totally new to me as I need to drive in a foreign land. Somemore is a right hand drive which is totally unfamiliar to me. Until now, I couldn't figure out how I reach the hotel from the airport. I know that I made a lot of mistake. Turned in a lot of roads as I believe I do not really understand how the never lost system works. Tomorrow I will spend sometime to find out how does it work. A good tip from Bahija, driver usually is close to the divider.

I feel excited. Can't wait to explore this town. Even though is a small town but I just want to make use of my free time. I supposed to plan for the Lake Tahoe trip tomorrow. Guess it is too rush. Tomorrow will just visit those outlets around. Try to practice the driving skill and familiar the car.

Guess later I will go to the fitness center and breakfast before I go to bed.

2 Months Away.

My US trip is confirmed. I will be two months aways. It is a joy to me but I have a lot of worries. Those worries are actually not a big deal!

I found that Aspect of Love is going to show in Singapore. However the date is during my trip to US. What a waste! I wish to watch this show, too bad. I am not around. :(

POTO will be in Hong Kong this coming June. Hope one day will come to Malaysia. I wish to see this show from my own home country.

I will try to source some interesting shows in US. Hope will get some. :)