An Unexpected (Extended) Holiday!

Due to fly off on Tue (3 Jul). Was happy to be on the way home as I missed my Darling a lot.

We arrived early at Cardiff Airport, expecting jam and such due to the high alert state that UK is in now after the various bomb scares and Glasgow Airport bombing. As we waited, the timing of our departure kept changing. In the end, our flight to Amsterdam was delayed as a result of bad weather. We knew we would be late for our connecting flight. I could only pray that that flight would be delayed too. Alas, we did miss the flight back to Singapore and we ended up staying one night at Amsterdam. We had initially wanted to visit that city when we had a stopover on our way to Cardiff. That didn't materialise as time was tight. Well, well, now we did have the chance to have a quick glance of the city!

It was indeed an extended holiday! We managed to visit a windmill park and gotten some souvenirs. It was a good trip on the whole, aside from all those unforseen circumstances.

It'd be quite some time before I have the patience and courage to travel long distance to Europe again (& having to have Western food all the time!).

** Will include photos in the next entry

I Visited Millennium Stadium @ Cardiff!

Yesterday, we went to the Millennium Stadium. That's the home ground for Welsh Rugby. It's a mulit-purpose stadium where various diverse events take place. The staff were preparing the stadium for a Grand Prix this weekend... Also, Rod Steward will be performing there this Saturday night too! What our guide said is true... next time when I see the stadium on TV or watch any games playing at the Stadium, I'll know how it's like in there... and what's more, to know where the players and performers get ready for their show! It was an awesome experience!

This morning, we went to a fruit farm to pluck some berries. There are quite a number of berries in season - strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, just to name a few. We had fun finding the ripen fruit. It had been a shower-cum-sun weather today. As Mum said, whenever we're in the car, the sun comes out, whenever we're out of the car, the rain comes... but it was really fun! We then had lunch at a pub! The locals term the food as 'pub food'. It's simply western food.

Next few days we should be going to Bath and London. Bath is actually a valley and heard it's beautiful. London seems to be a gloomy, cold and dirty place from what I've heard. Well, we shall see ;)

Second Day @ Cardiff, Wales

Arrived at Cardiff yesterday.... got a 'rude' shock. It's cold! The weather has just turned from summer hot, to summer cold as it's been raining for a few days. When the wind blows, it can be real chilling!

It's kind of interesting to see that most people around you are caucasians, when it used to be Chinese more than any other ethnic groups in Singapore, let alone comparing it to expats at home. They people here are generally friendly and polite. The food here is, ahem, mainly western cuisine. We've been having fries (chips) on most meals! Not a lot of meat stufff tho, so it's still alrite.

The buildings here are beautiful... tho some are built more recently while some are decades or even centuries old! Here's a photo of the home of the famous author, Roald Dahl.

The things here are actually reasonable for the locals.... it's same as Singapore price tag... just that it's in pounds. Comparatively, it's definitely more expensive if you were to convert to the Singapore dollar. Like what my bro said... don't compare it in Singapore dollar... see it as how the locals see it. Still, I must say multiplying the price by 3 comes almost naturally :)

4 More Days to Go....

4 more days and I'll be flying over to Cardiff, Wales, to attend my bro's wedding. Have never travelled that far before, so it's kind of exciting for me. Moreover, this's the next "ang-moh" country I'll be going to, other than Australia. I wonder how is their culture like. I also can't imagine taking such long flight! What shall I do while in the air? I sure hope that flight will be a pleasant one.
Well, that also means that I'd be leaving my Darling behind for 12 days! I've never been that long apart from him before (tho he had been that long apart from me...erm.. is there a difference? Which ever way, we're still apart! Ha!)
Stay tune while I blog from UK (if there's a chance)!

Rice Dumplings!

Today is my first time trying my hands at making rice dumplings. Was quite nervous that I even dreamt about it last night!

Went over to my Darling's house early this morning (I requested to learn from his mum, you see). His mum had got all ingredients ready and was waiting for me! (oops!)

I watched as she fried the meat, mushrooms, nuts and dried shrimps. The aroma was great! Next was frying the rice. It requires a lot of arm muscles, mind you. Not an easy thing mixing all ingredients together in a wok without spilling any. Quite a skill...

Finally the moment of anxiety was here! Time to work my hands! First aunty (future mum-in-law) showed me how to choose the leaves and fold them. It's an art holding them at the right angle before putting in the rice, otherwise you risk the dumpling coming apart while tying it. Then in went the almost cooked ingredients. You must ensure you've put in each kind before covering them with more rice. Here comes the tricky part. Packing in all ingredients to make the triangular dumpling is a skill that needs lots of practice! Well, the dumplings I made are still presentable but perhaps not of sellable standard yet. At least, it didnt split open after I tied it!

I'm pretty pleased with my effort, tho I'm not sure what the great master chef has to say about those odd-shaped dumplings I made ;p

Bon Appétit!