向世界出發 - 法國篇 (2)

蛋Omlette，加左D龍蝦，連同Appertizer，甜品，再加咖啡、茶、白酒兩杯、橙汁，VAT，tips，兩位盛惠千二個大洋。當初都覺得，喂，蛋離架窩，而且是Brunch。。。使唔使啊。到頭來又想，哎，有幾何會再來啊。。。所以就括左出去。橫掂都預左咯。

其實這個所謂Omlette獨特之處，除了是有過百年歷史之外，是在於其非常fluffy及看來分量非常大。爲什麽flulffy?因爲有個專門打蛋的重量級廚師，非常有節奏地從11am到晚上用全銅的器皿快速的打出來：

之後就把batter放入在一個已在oak fired oven烘熱的長柄平底煎鍋上，就像平時煎Omlette一樣，但size超大。（當然事前加了一大pat牛油啦）:

你問我這個更像Souffle的Omelette好唔好味？hmmmm...是很特別，而且個dining room都幾有ambience。服務都一流，但始終味道才是最重要，我覺得呢。。。太貴嚕。個Omlette gum fluffy，其實内裏都是熱空氣，all fluff。其實與現實世界很多事都一樣，得個樣。以爲很多，一定吃不完，但食落，兩三啖已經吃完。都是一個經歷je...

你看看幾多遊人慕名而來？甜品的賣相都不錯ge...

左手邊的sorbet及右手邊的蘋果批（撻？）都幾美味，朱古力更加令整個午餐完滿。

Houston:

We've made Contact!

向世界出發 - 法國篇 (1)

6年的人與事、10年前的足跡、14天的旅程……

2007年的8月，我向世界出發。

若果比我柬，我當然是想去一些未去過的地方：Madrid，Sicily，Greece，Turkey等等。但今次與友人同行，就唯有作些妥協。橫掂上年都有計劃去一趟意大利，（已經10年了）所以，都是時候了。

上次去歐洲，是2001年以前的事嚕。記得在巴黎曾經過左一個微雨籠罩、煙雨朦朧的情人節。（微微雨在撲.滿街給輕薄.迷濛裡視野.寥落是汽車 - 憶蓮的“微雨撲巴黎”最貼切）奇怪的是，可能年紀大左，很多片斷都已經忘記得乾淨利落。可能是repressed memory 挂。。。

8月頭，到達巴黎之後，立即去Hertz攞車，因爲要開車到Normandy那邊。

原本book了部MB A-Class，但後來要改爲什麽Renault或Citroen。到達櫃檯，阿C又想要部CLK。雖然比原價差不多半價，但還是比book左的貴一倍。最後要左部Green Car... Toyota Prius, with GPS!部車都幾正播。

我們開車到Mont-St. Michel。我開車，一定快啦。Speed Limit 是130km/h 的路段，我輕易以160-170km/h就征服了。但都不及多年前在Germany的 Autobahn上的風馳電掣--在沒有速度限制的公路開住部BMW...真是一樂也。

上路的途中在另一旅遊勝地，Deauville稍作休息及吃午飯。在法國的第一餐正餐，怎能可以虧待自己嗎？看看以下的圖片罷。。。

實在有點兒誇張。膽固醇高的我都放下任何疑慮，盡情吃過痛快。

Deauville是一個高檔消費區。除左海灘之外，全部LV，Ferragammo，Hermes都開了鋪頭。另外就是飲食地帶，還有絕不缺少的麵包鋪啦。

再啓程去Mont-St. Michel，不很遠。離遠已經看見，像童話中的城堡，亦像沼澤中的樂土。其實La Baie du Mont Saint Michel 除了有驚世的中世紀建築之外，這個灣區的另一特色就是它潮汐高低的幅度。Mont-St Michel 亦是全法國第二最受歡迎的景點。第一？巴黎鐵塔囖。

其實Mont-St. Michel是由一條Causeway與内陸連接。潮水不會淹沒這條Causeway，但泊在停車場的車輛就要留意潮汐時間表。因爲停車場是位于潮水淹沒的地方。以下就是幾張在Mont-St. Michel拍的照片。日落的景色真是璀璨。夕陽無限好？

下一集，全世界最貴的奄列(!)。。。

向世界出發 - 預告篇

原本已經開始寫這個旅遊entry，但越寫越長。。。唯有先賣個關子
吃了最鮮甜的生蠔、最貴的奄列、最美的甜點、最香的麵包、最wut dut的德國菜、最好的朱古力，看了最震撼的現代藝術、最浪漫的日落……

等我慢慢寫吧。先看圖：

美味的朱古力

Mont-St. Michel的日落
完美的婚禮After party
遠離煩囂的水鄉小旅館
瘋狂購物團

色彩繽紛的飽點
令人讚嘆的藝術
海市蜃樓?
歐洲的咖啡室。。。還有更好的下午時光嗎？

I venture into the World...

向世界出發。。。

歐洲，從香港去要大約12個鐘。對一個身形高的人來講，坐Upgrade不到的經濟客艙差不多是酷刑。不過，始終都成6年沒去過，而意大利更是第10個年頭，去逛逛都是時候。

接Fun的Blog, 發覺原來我多去過世界上13%的國家。這兩年成績都不錯，越南、柬埔寨、印度、尼泊爾。。。雖然沒有踏足比較遠的郊區，但都足以感受到不同民族的風情、每個國家的風景。河内的林蔭街道、法式建築；暹粒的沙塵、吳哥窟的驚世文化、令人摸不著頭腦的皇城、廟宇；孟買的繁華、文化的深厚；喜瑪拉亞山的宏偉、尼泊爾人的笑容。。。

今次的行程：巴黎、威尼斯以前都去過了。Mont St-Michel, St. Malo 及德國的Kassel會是新的目的地。不知道會否為我帶來什麽新的體驗？不如先作個預告 :)

正在plan明年的新旅程：非洲！（去探朋友）

See you in 2 weeks. :)

Late nights

連續幾晚開夜，今天人都半死狀態。但也沒有想象中辛苦。
好在終點在望，而且在等我的是一個歐洲旅程。興奮十分。

住在工作附近的好處，就是可以久唔久番屋企休息一下。前天在灣仔同D Friend睇完戯，去做埋gym，然後回家看我近期每個禮拜都追的"Ugly Betty"。Ahhhh~~~完美的一個晚上。。。跟著就是番公司做野lu。。。比想象中OK既。其實flextime work都幾好架，可惜公司沒有這個policy。OT 就可以flextime. They never care about what time you leave work... just have to show up on time.

Oh well.

講開Ugly Betty，套劇質數真係好好。有豪門恩怨之餘，又有"The Devil Wears Prada"。我覺得套劇講人與人關係講的好好。。。前幾集提及亞Mark最終向其母come out。Handle得好好，點到即止。每個角色都沒有因爲個topic有點兒敏感而破格。Character development很強很特出。無論是Betty, 或是Alexis，Justin或Henry，角色都有深度，不只是一個平面。講Ignacio，Wilhelmina兩個各自的綫都很好，有持續性。Amanda更是個show的一大配角。有她出場的戯非常搞笑。She's bitchy, she's superficial, she looks great, and she rocks. Everybody needs a bitchy friend like her.... haha.

我本人十分極力推介！！！

Making my Blog more INTERESTING wor....

Given heads up by Fun, copied from a very impressive all-around blogger Wordy (THANKS), see below to get to know me better la...

Your Blogging Type Is Thoughtful and Considerate

You're a well liked, though underrated, blogger. You have a heart of gold, and are likely to blog for a cause. You're a peaceful blogger - no drama for you! A good listener and friend, you tend to leave thoughtful comments for others.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

You Are 58% Jealous

You're a fairly jealous person, but it's nothing to beat yourself up about. A little jealousy is perfectly normal, though sometimes you take it a little far. Recognize when jealousy is taking over your life, and try to hold back your impulses. You'll be a better (and happier) person for it!

How Jealous Are You?

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

You're a Little Stupid

You got 9/10 questions right! Or at least careless. Better go back and recheck your answers!

Are You Stupid?

Your Seduction Style: The Natural

You don't really try to seduce people... it just seems to happen. Fun loving and free spirited, you bring out the inner child in people. You are spontaneous, sincere, and unpretentious - a hard combo to find! People drop their guard around you, and find themselves falling fast.

What Is Your Seduction Style?

This is so much fun, I can do this all day... haha.

Stomach problem, again

今年都唔知做mut,每幾個禮拜就肚屙。有時仲發燒。是否今年有凶星高掛？

病得來，心情又唔好、脾氣差；搞到成日黑面神gum既樣，仲瘦左成10磅……識我既人都知道，我怕瘦，而家直情瘦到面都lup埋。

心情唔好，連至親的都黑面對待；沒辦法，請了解我的苦況。唯有講聲對不起，Sorry lor.

剛剛從尼泊爾回來，過兩個禮拜又去歐洲了。You're right, I'm excited too。本身的工作甚少需要出差（最多都只是去附近的省市），而歐洲都有成6年沒去過了。記得從某雜誌專欄中看過，年輕人應該每年都到一處沒去過的地方旅遊。今年都起碼去過尼泊爾，下個月還會去法國的Mont St. Michel及德國的Kassel。唉，d歐羅gum貴，我想暑假之後要再次瘦身了，沒錢開飯啊嘛。

今天Fun告知一個好消息，就是Sandy真的會在11月開個唱，而且仲會在最新的EMAX Star Hall 舉行。無論是場地/形式而言都會是嶄新的嘗試，希望出來的效果會滿意吧。開gum多場，應該睇邊場呢？

不如又睇睇相哩。。。

Pashmina 是尼泊爾/喀什米爾的著名特產。Quality及style都有好多種。價錢由HKD$200至$1,000都有。

另外，茶葉都是尼泊爾山區的特產。Ilam及Darleeling就是該處最頂級的出產。還有花茶、生果茶等

每個地方的戶外廣告都有一些特點。尼泊爾有很多香煙廣告（仲沒有法律管制），通常都是一個很專業look的男士在喜瑪拉亞山脈下用手機講電話。

在Baktapur這個UNESCO世界遺產中這個廟宇的柱上，刻有Karma Sutra經文裏面的幾個做愛場面。其中比較搞笑的是有個女人被男伴搞時在洗頭。唔知是個男人技術稍遜，還是女人的房事都是比較死板/千篇一律呢？

Mid-Summer's Day Dreaming

剛剛從尼泊爾回來。gum就過左一個禮拜。

第一次因爲飛機機件故障而需要押後行程。。。一整日。。。好在買了旅遊保險，可以賠大約$650。好過無。

原本走之前想寫寫有關回歸十年的一些感受；始終我還記得10年前6月30日我回到香港看回歸的一個旅程，還記得當天舊同學說了一句“歌舞星平、粉飾太平”。好一句“粉飾太平”。

gum，2007年都仲有半年，留待遲D才再回望1997罷。


尼泊爾是一個可愛的小國，而加德滿都就是她的補給站。因爲要參與朋友的傳統婚禮，所以沒時間去其他城鎮，如風景如畫的Pokhara。但也不要緊罷，加德滿都市内的景點多的是。今天沒時間詳細解釋，不如看看一些相吧！

貪玩

多謝,Safety!!!!

後面就是加德滿都山谷，天朗氣清的時候可以看到喜瑪拉亞山脈

Through the years... (Sporadic updates)

今晚maang車邊，去睇左“每當變幻時”。港產片來説，都算過得去啦。兩位主角交足功課，事關角色與兩位的形象頗爲相似，算數啦，起碼唔係諧星做文藝片主角。okok啦。仲有盧Deh-wick、馮淬帆，都算新鮮既。。。
其實套戯除左一段不太令人感動的關係之外，首主題曲/戯名是小弟比較感受深的一環。下午跟 Funfun MSN時至開始領會歌詞中要“刮醒你”的溫馨提示：
每當變幻時


原曲：
月光小夜曲 - 紫薇 / 每當變幻時 - 薰妮

作曲：周藍平 填詞：盧國沾

懷緬過去常陶醉 一半樂事一半令人流淚

夢如人生快樂永記取 悲苦深刻藏骨髓

懷緬過去常陶醉 想到舊事歡笑面常流淚

夢如人生試問誰能料 石頭他朝成翡翠

韶華去 四季暗中追隨 逝去了的都已逝去 啊

懷緬過去常陶醉 想到舊事歡笑面常流淚

夢如人生試問誰能料 石頭他朝成翡翠

如情侶 你我有心追隨 遇到半點風雨便思退

常見明月掛天邊 每當變幻時 便知時光去

啊 常見紅日照東方每當變夕陽 便知時光去

每當變幻時

最近，“十年”呢個話題電視、報紙、電台通通都在討論，除了“每當變幻時”之外，“老港正傳”都係食住呢條水，與港人緬懷回歸以後每件大事、每個難忘得片斷、每個你與我都記得的故事。記得，在美國讀高中的時候，聽説每個美國人都會記得穿梭機挑戰者號於1986年升空爆炸的慘劇，並會記得當時一刻自己在那裏在做什麽。然而，對當年在香港10嵗的我來說事件只是美國的新聞一則；並因爲腦筍都未生埋，而不明白對當時世界的影響。。。

1989年，讀中一的我突然有一天假期，班主任亦跟我們有一個特別的談論，六月的這一天，真是過得不平凡。我只是依稀記得她跟我們說，八年之後，當香港回歸中國時，我們將跟當天在天安門廣場上的大學生年紀差不多；類似的事情會發生在我們身上嗎？幼稚的我只想。。。1997離太遠吧，世界每天都在變，不可能在發生罷！


有什麽對我來說等同對活在80年代的美國人看穿梭機挑戰者號爆炸的回憶？可能個人大了，香港回歸後，實在有很多人和事是令我難忘的。給我一點時間，中文寫作對我來講，實在是困難及需時 ：）但以下是其中幾段；先看看片/圖片罷！

下次再加多D！

Retail spaces? MORE?

MegaBox opens this week, but another mega mall is coming at the end of 2007...
"MegaBox" in Kowloon Bay
MegaBox is actually part of Kerry Properties' Enterprise Square Phase V development (the office towers retain the name). The retail component itself is about 1,100,000 sq ft of floor space, undoubtedly one of the largest in Hong Kong. With Hong Kong's first IMAX Theatre and an international-standard-sized ice rink, MegaBox aims to become a new retail magnet for a new development area (they call it "up-and-coming"): Kowloon Bay. Standing at 19-storeys high, the design of MegaBox is revolutionary... with carparking at every level... can you imagine the time it'd take just driving up and down the parking garage? I haven't been there myself, but there are already many photos available online, and I could also see the big red box almost everyday when I commute.
"Elements" at Kowloon Station
While recent focus on Kowloon Station has been on the 118-floor International Commerce Centre (ICC), with the new Ritz-Carlton on the top 15 floors, and the twin-tower skycrapers, hotel-cum-service apartment W Hotel and "Cullinan" project next door, "Elements", the 1,000,000-plus square feet of retail space (comparable size to Mega Box, IFC Mall, etc) is another "Super Mall" that we will roam in the near future.
Named "Elements" there will be 5 Themed Areas, each devoted to one of Nature's Elements: Metals, Fire, Wood, Water, and Earth. In addition to large "duplex" shops, there will be a 700,000 sq ft. of outdoor space for shoppers to enjoy the podium space. There will also be an ice-skating rink, and a 14-screen cineplex. While this mall is positioned to be another upscale shopping mall (like IFC), it will also strengthen the weakest component of the whole development and the surroundings. Residents at The Waterfront, Harbourside, The Arch, and Sorrento currently have to commute to nearby Harbour City or Olympian City to stock up for their daily needs. It is hopeful that upon completion of Elements and ICC, the comprehensive development intention of this whole Site will be achieved.
I find the biggest failure of this whole development is its integration with the surrounding. It is virtually an "island" which you would only get there by MTR. There is NO pedestrian foot traffic at all, as surrounding uses are mostly elevated roadways, entrance portal to the Western Harbour Tunnel, a vacant waterfront site reserved for the West Kowloon Cultural District (which I should add is NOWHERE near implementation timeframe), and a temporary golf course and a Drive-In Theatre. Of course pedestrian traffic hinges on the implementation of the waterfront promenade that would be part of the WKCD, yet its development timeframe is so uncertain, Kowloon Station will remain a destination to be served mainly by MTR... which is not such a bad thing, as Hong Kong has always been known to have an efficient mass transit system. But from an urban planning and urban design point of view, we should encourage people to utilize outdoor spaces more often than air-conditioned indoor ones. Think about all the energy required to air condition a big space!? And a bit of walking and breathing of fresh air is good for the mind and the body.
Other big malls in Hong Kong:
Shatin New Town Plaza (including Phases I & III and Grand Central Tower): 2,000,000 sq ft.
Harbour City (including Ocean Terminal, Ocean Centre, and Harbour City): 1,913,000 sq ft.
Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong: 1,200,000 sq ft.
Cityplaza (Taikoo Shing): 1,100,000 sq ft.
Times Square: 936,000 sq ft.
Telford Plaza (Phases I & II): 850,000 sq ft.
IFC: 800,000 sq ft.
Grand Century Place (Mong Kok KCR): 720,000 sq ft.
Pacific Place: 700,000 sq ft.
apm (Kwun Tong MTR): 630,000 sq ft.
Tai Po Mega Mall: 600,000 sq ft.
Langham Place: 587,000 sq ft.
Tsuen Wan Plaza: 584,000 sq ft.
Metroplaza (Kwau Fong MTR): 540,000 sq ft.
Citygate (Tung Chung MTR): 520,000 sq ft.
Olympian City II: 510,000 sq ft.
Marine Square (Tsing Yi MTR): 500,000 sq ft.
The Landmark: 400,000 sq ft.
(I only realized we have so many medium-sized malls after doing this research)

New and exciting vacations!!!

After planning for a couple of months, my summer travel plans are coming together piece by piece...
Most importantly, I finally got approval from work, so now everything is set to go. *YEAH*
Well, there will be two trips this summer, both rather big ones... because they involve places I have never visited... And as I have planned last year, this summer's return to Italy will mark the 10th Anniversary my first and only visit to Italy (gosh... how time flies), a country with so much history, such beautiful architecture, and MANY things good-looking. Would be so much fun to dig out the journal I kept (the only journal I've kept, EVER) and visit the same places again.
Last time I went there all alone, made a couple of friends along the way, and was semi-adventurous. I had just graduated from college, and was living a dream. Now, 10 years on, am I any wiser or smarter? Will I see these things any differently than before?
Well, at least 10 years on, those famous sites will still be there, as they were then. They never seem to change much over such little time, do they? Staying beautiful, magnificent to look at, still loved by visitors the world over. What if the same happens to us?