WHAT is a holiday without FOOD especially tasting local cuisines !

Who doesn't LOVE to EAT when going on holiday?

Well, many like myself will try to eat as much as I can when abroad to enjoy the mouth-watering delicacies as I don't go abroad that often and it might be another few months wait before going abroad!

So, let's start CHOMPING on our delicious & delectable food (with words ) !!

If you don't eat this in Chengdu, this means that you missed the local famous hot sizzling food which you won't survive without a cup of cold chilling water.

Yes,I'm sure you know what I'm referring to : Szechuan Hot Pot that is a pot filled with hot spicy oil and surrounded by raw meats and vegetables !!!!!!!!!

It's so terribly spicy and hot , bringing out the local unique flavour ! Well, lucky for those who couldn't accept hot spicy dishes, the Szechuan Hot Pot is seperated into two : One half is filled with the spicy oil, and the other is filled with a delicious broth for those who are not a big fan of spicy foods.

I guess if I were to visit Chengdu , I will sure try the SzeChuan Hot Pot but not too much of the hot ones because I will sure result my temperature blasting to more than 40 degrees especially eating it during Autumn !!!!!!!

Therefore, the best time to enjoy this local Szechuan Hot Pot is during winter when the temperature is cold , which will make our body warm and boiling for other activities within the day!

Moving on to the Second dish, DAN DAN Noodles is again another mascot for the local dish!

Hot and spicy noodles, it is a common dish that any visitor can source for throughout Chengdu! Acting as an appetizer or main dish during an time of the day, it is a classic favorite dish that both the local and visitors love.

Although Dan Dan Noodles are easily available in many Chinese restaurants worldwide nowadays, nothing beats having a bowl in its place of origin…the taste and authenticity triumph it all.

After all the HOT and SPICY food, it is time for us to COOL down !!

Here comes ..

Kefir Yogurt tastes sour and bubbly like milk ! It is quite a cool dessert with various flavours, accompanied with sweet colourful toppings like red bean and black plum!

With the hot weather during Autumn and after hot sizzling dishes that make your eyes pop out, why not enjoy a cool sweet Kefir Yogurt?

SzeChuan Lai Tang Yuan are common delicacy which we usually eat during dong zhi and they are balls made of glutinous rice flour. What makes a delicious tang yuan is a thin skin, delicious stuffing, sweet taste and a good smell which is smooth when bite and crunchy with the peanuts fillings oozing inside your mouth !

So, if I visit Chengdu, I MUST go to the dessert store for SzeChuan Lai Tang Yuan as it is liked by the locals and where else dares to boast to be better than its roots -Chengdu ?

And do you know that if you are a tea lover and loves to enjoy your holiday with relaxation and tasting different tea , you won't be disappointed if you visit Chengdu.

Reason being that there are so many tea houses and tea plantations within Chengdu , so the next time you visit Chengdu, don't just rush through your schedule but enjoy a warm .

Listening to the chatters,soothing bird churping sounds, the click clack of spoons lightly on hot tea cups with the cool weather during summer makes a great combination for you to enjoy your warm tea with your friends and family members at Chengdu!

*Click image below for animation !!!!! *

Of course, these words just can't describe how great the food at ChengDu is.

I really wish to have the chance to experience and indulge myself with the beautiful scenery in CHENGDU which plays a hugh part that affects your mood and taste bud sensations as well as tasting different cuisines to know the real taste of Kefir Yoghurt ,Szechuan Hot Pot and Dan Dan Noodles which I have not eaten for my whole life till now.

ChengDu, HERE I COME !!

Friends were appalled when I told them I was traveling in Bali for 10 days :

"You were alone-ah? Traveling alone, good meh?"
"What did you do, having 10 days in Bali?"
"Bali very small island, what can you do there? 10 days, such a long time."

Bali is a big island compared to Pulau Pinang or Singapore. It is almost 19x the size of Penang Island and almost 9x the size of Singapore. You can find practically everything you want for a great holiday escapade in Bali : trekking, nature walks, mountains, temples, volcanoes, art, shopping, temples, food, organic stuff, temples, biking, cycling, temples, padi fields, 7-star spa resorts, temples, surfing, para-sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, temples......really, everything you want for a good time.

I have been to Honolulu, Hawaii and I was in Kuta, Bali. I would say that what Hawaii is to the West, Bali is offering it to the South Pacific, maybe minus a few G-strings and biceps. But at a fraction of the cost for Asians, Bali is always the best choice.

I like this description from one of the website about the island which many Balinese embrace Hinduism : "Bali is a society of hamlets clustered around temples. Bali as a culture organism, the villages are its vital organs, and the network of temples its nervous system."

Where did I go in Bali? You may want to follow these route too.

Kuta - south : beach resort, sun, sea, water sports, thousands of tourists, constantly jam packed with people, action place.

Ubud - central : art town, handicraft, creative stuff, organic foods, spa, spiritual activities, yoga, nature walks, great foods especially Babi Guling, Bebek Betutu and Bebek Bengil.

Mt Batur - north east : temples, Pura Penulisan, Pura Gunung Kawi (Water Temple), mountainous terrain, restaurants on side of cliffs.

Mt Agung - north east : mountain scenery, cool air, Besakih Temple, lunch en route is best.

Amed - east : beachside resorts, azure sea, hardly anyone around, beautiful beach and lovely villagers.

Mt Lempuyang - east : about 3,000 ft above sea level, a sacred Balinese once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage trek up, with more than 1,000 steps to the summit with 6 temples along the way.

Candidassa - east : beach resort, spa resort, small place but lots of beautiful eateries and restaurants.

Tanah Lot - south west : temple in the middle of the ocean, great sunset viewing point.

Uluwatu - south : temple perched on a cliff, beautiful sunset and sunrise viewing point.

Sanur, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua - all beachside resorts.

So many things to do in Bali, all alone to enjoy it. Hmmm....so in touch...

Even having breakfast on the beach under a coconut tree, banana pancake with honey, fried egg and coffee + the breeze from the idyllic sea at 7 on a bright and sunny morning, makes it all worthwhile to live.

To read more of my travelogue, login http://www.lifestyledesigners.blogspot.com

What would you do if you only have 48hours and a limited budget in Krabi?

These costs 5baht each stick.

This crispy and sweet dessert costs 20baht for 14 pcs.

5 pcs of these huge, fresh, prawns per stick cost 20baht.

This spicy Thai seafood noodle salad costs 40baht per serving.

This excellent ice-blended cappucino topped with fresh cream and others stuff costs 25baht each.

And this excellent beef noodle for breakfast costs 35baht a bowl.

Oh....and there's a lot more choices of food to enjoy. Just travel to Krabi and visit their night market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and you will definitely put on some extra kgs before you leave!!

At the moment I wrote this, I'm at St James's Park, London. Waiting for the Changing Guard Ceremony at the Buckingham Palace. I don't know how the expressed myself. I don't know how to thank to AirAsia that make my wish come true. I never thought that one day, ONE fine day, that I'll be in London. Oh dear .....it is a wonderful feeling.

I, together with my husband, flew from LCCT to Stansted, London on 19th March, 2009 at 4.20 pm (local time). My heart pounding as this is the first time we will be going to London. Our dream destination. All the way to London, not to mentioned its 14 hours long journey....we had a pleasant journey. We talk, we ate, and we watch movies from the E-player. The E-player helps a lottt. Then, the Captain announced, we will land in Stansted in a few minutes. Once the captain says " we already safely landed in Stansted, London" Oh My God.Oh My God. I'm in London! I'm in London. I asked my husband to pinch me a bit. Just to make sure that I'm not dreaming, and I'm NOT.

We passed the immigration without any hassles. It just go smoothly and nice. The officer, Alan, is so nice and warm. He asked 5 question :-

1) is it your first time in London ?
2) how long you'll be in London?
3) after that what u do ?
4) can i see your return ticket?
5) where will you stay in London?

There. it's done. no worries okay. once we get out from the airport to catch our bus to central London, we freezed. Its so cold. Then by Easybus, we off to Victoria Station.

In London, we walk..walk...walk..and walk again.I think that is the best way to feel like London people. Oh, not to mentioned how sufficient the underground tube and the buses. I did not faced any trouble while in London. The people are so warm. Just asked them how and where to go, and they will explain and show the easiest way. We went to see the changing guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, the Big Ben, Tower Bridge, ride the spectacular London Eye, went to Stanford Bridge - Chelsea Stadium, to Camden Town-just to experience the 4 flea markets. Hey...you can get what ever you want in Camden and its cheap too.

Stanford bridge - Chelsea Stadium

For those who crawling for branded item, must not to forget the Oxford Street. It will make your feet screwed up! Trust me. With Selfridges, Primark, Clarkes, Gap and many more. Just prepared your loaded pocket and your credit card as well.

For Muslims, a lot of halal foods in London. There's one at King Cross/St Pancras Station, Leicester Square, Bayswater and others. The food is huge!

Today, is my last day in London. Its quite sad as i have to leave tomorrow morning. I have a lovely stay in London. I love the city. I love the weather. I love St. James's Park.

To AirAsia, Thank You. Thank you so much for making my dreams do come true. Now, I believe, " Everyone Can Fly".

Food. So interesting and intriguing a noun that it gave birth to food hunting and the emergence of culinary “experts”.

I was out with my colleagues for another culinary adventure (also known as lunch in some parts) where we were busily snapping shots of the meals and ourselves posing of course. When my dismal chicken chop rice arrived, one of my colleagues asked me how would I rate it to which I promptly replied,”3 stars out of 5!”. We all had a good laugh but yes, that’s how pampered we have become in these times of “recession”.

3 out of 5 stars

After finishing my meal to the last rice, they further poked me questioning if all the meal deserved was a 3, how did I manage to finish it to the last bite; was it simply pure hunger (mine arrived last) or maybe I should have given it more stars. It actually was the thought of my dad, a staunch Buddhist who would simply be p*$sed off if he ever caught me. To me, therein lies the value of a meal/food. (read more...)