2012 Mid Autumn Festival

I remembered when  was young when mid Autumn festival was having the best lantern and eating sweetest moon cake. In Taiwan somehow it was different, whole of Taiwan was on fire....BBQ. It took 4 years for me to understand why it has turned into a BBQ season for this festive season on this island.

Anyway we were glad our friends had took the time to plan this event. I have done many BBQ gatherings before I came to Taiwan..... preparation, cleaning up was a real headache. End of the night, we stayed back and helped the with the cleaning up.

Just like to Thank Candy and ZhongHan for their effort to make this happen.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!!!!!!!!!!

Anita's Birthday at Joy Place

Last Evening the girls all gathered at Joy place to celebrate Anita's Birthday. Joy had single handedly prepared all the dishes herself. There was one dish, German Goulash was exceptionally delicious. She too made a Wine mixed called Shangrila,  as usual the host, Joy always KO first. The ladies and me continued drinking till 3am.

Happy Birthday Anita!!

Window Farming - Watering System

I tried few methods of watering system and finally found the best way of doing it with less material used. On Window Farming website, you can find many post but they did not explain the system clearly. So now I will show you how my was done. 

There are few types of watering systems, being popular is the Air Lift System. I did tested it out but found the T-Lift system was better. But somehow this system has a problem, bubbles kept going into the water reservoir however found a solution to the problem.

Topics 

• Water Reservoir Construction
• T-Lift System

Window Farming - Recycle Material and Construction

The reasons for Window Farming

• Improve my survival skills
• Understand type of green and their environment
• Produce greens that I often use
• DIY 
• Recycle

Living in an apartment has many limitation to produce own greens. My first proto-type did not work really well till I searched the Internet and found there are people doing just the same but at a better scale. You can find more information HERE.

Window Farming - Seeds Germination and Transplanting

When I was young, I found a seed growing behind the refrigerator drip tray. I was curious and took the seed out and found it was an Orange seed which I had mischievously thrown behind the refrigerator. But how can an Orange seed grow in a Tropics? I replanted it and it died. Since then my only seeds germination was from a school project using Green Beans. 

Basil Seeds from Supermarket

Seeds Germination 

In the interest on Window Farming, I did some research and found that some seeds do need warm moisture in order to germinate. So I decided to try out using seeds from fresh chilli and Basil seeds from Supermarket, later on with fresh cherry tomatoe seeds, fresh Okra seeds and fresh Calamansi seeds. (fresh means seeds were taken from the vegetable itself). However fresh Okra seeds did not germinate at all. Maybe I did something wrong.

I wrapped these seeds in Kitchen Towel, sprinkle some water and placed in a Ziploc bag. I then placed the Ziploc bags behind the refrigerator and true enough the seeds germinated well after a week only Calamansi seeds took almost 10 days.  

Ah Hong Oyster Mee Sua 阿鴻麵線

First time when I came to Taiwan in 2004, I tasted this dish and did not like it. Since then I have not tasted any until back in 2009 when we were out marketing and saw this roadside stall. After trying it, it changed my mind. It was simply delicious, the oysters were big and the pig intestines was well textured. Both the ingredients were plentiful. If you do not like pig intestine, you can ask to opt out. Now almost one month we would visit this stall 3 to 4 times. 

I understood from the owner, the family had operated this stall for 16 years. We are frequent customers, so every time before we get off our bikes, he knew what to serve us. We normally order 2 small bowls costing NT40, the big bowl cost NT55. I have to say the price is very reasonable. Most of the time we would enjoy this dish over his monthly PC Home magazine, seems like he is a Gadget guy. This is the place to get monthly IT updates :)

Mee Sua (Taiwanese slang) is a salted noodle made from wheat flour, there are 2 types, white and brown. Oyster Mee Sua always use the brown type as it last longer in cooking.

Operating hours from 430pm till mid-night

Goggle Map

Getting Taiwan Driving Licence

Finally today I got my Taiwanese Driving and Bike Licences. In 2009 when I tried to apply for it, I was told I would have to take the Theory and Practical Exams for both bike and car because our country and Taiwan did not have any mutual relationship on this matter. Disappointed with the regulations, I applied for International License instead. 

Ladies Gathering

Last weekend 16 Sep 2012, our Lady friends, Sumei, Anita and Joy decided to gather at our place to chill out and also have a taste of my SE Aisan Curry. I decided to prepare Chicken Curry, Sambal Kangkong which is stirred fried in shrimp paste plus some others dishes. 

We ended the night with 1 crate of beers, 2 bottles of red wine and chilling out till 2am before everyone decided to call it a night. 

Banana Chocolate Sundae

I missed Swensen's Coit Tower Sundae, basically is has almond, chocolate fludge and banana. Decided to create my own version using simple ingredient and it was awesome!!

One of the local ice cream brand Duroyal Chocolate is my favourite, it is creamy and filled with chocolate chips. They do have other flavours but yet to try them. Chocolate is still my choice.

First get a tall glass, filled the first layer with chocolate ice cream followed by sliced banana and 7-11 Mixed Nuts. Kept doing that till the rim of the glass. Finally topped it with Chocolate Hershey's Syrup.

Awesome Dude!! Now waiting for strawberries season.

Mak's Kaohsiung Visit

Mak and me, we knew each other back in 2004 when both our dredging companies merged. Personally as a colleague before, he was a very nice and helpful guy. I have not seen Mak since 2008 and recently we came in contact through Facebook. He mentioned he was married to a Taiwanese wife and will be here in Taiwan. 

So today 12 Sep 2012, he and his wife came down to Kaohsiung from Hsinchu specially to pay me a visit. Both me and my partner felt very honoured to be their Host. 

Picked them up from Zuoying HSR station and took them round Kaohsiung sight seeing. Later his wife requested that she wanted to visit Liuhe Night Market. So we drove back the vehicle, took the City Bike to the MRT station instead as Liuhe area has parking difficulty. They did enjoyed the idea of City-Bike. 

Mak's wife was really a night market hunter, we stopped by couple of stalls and ate till our heart's content. Later we bidded farewell on the same MRT ride, they had decided to take the night coach back to Hsinchu. 

I think Mak now knows clearly why I prefer to be in Kaohsiung. He will tell you more when you meet up with him.

Thank You Mak for your kind calling. We really enjoyed the day with you guys. Hope to see you and your wife again!!

Photo Album Link

壽山 ShouShan Forest Jog and Hike

Been living in Kaoshiung for few years, finally this morning decided to head to Shoushan for a cross-country ran with Siboy. Arrived at Shoushan Trail head around 750am and started the the ran. To my surprise, the whole trail was fully paved with wooden platform. Those wooden steps did make the ran rather tough, ended up hiking up the steps instead.

Apparently from the information map, there are few others different trails in ShouShan. The trail we took started from Dragon Emperor Trail Head (Green) and we did a loop, extended to Lotus Cave, Rocky Banyan and back.

We completed the whole trail in 2.5hrs and ended our session with a cold spring dip before the trail head entrance. 

Google Map

Judy's Pub Birthday Party

Judy's Pub located in Wufu Road, Kaohsiung. Wufu Pubs has been my bloodline since the first time I came  to Taiwan. I knew many of the nice ladies since 2004 and they had been swell friends. Some had became good friends and one became my partner. I had never seen Pubs along one street that are so cooperative among themselves. Everyone tried as much to help each other. In any event, most Pubs will support each other. 

Judy was a recent friend few years ago, she is a very nice lady and most of the time she only drinks Wine. She had sent us an invitation 2 weeks prior to this event. We came and attended her Birthday Party...Happy Birthday Judy!!!

Wufu Pubs decades ago used to be  Seaman get away. Due to economic situation many Pubs have closed down and only handful survived. Today in reality it is no longer a Seaman playground but many locals and profesional expats gather in this area. This area had been my information source to many developments and outcome in Taiwan's economy. 

美綠生態園 Meilu Ecological Garden

Friend's invitation to join them camping at this garden camp area.  Located in Meinong, Kaohsiung, the camp area is very well shaded with trees and ample space for big group camping. The camp site has power outlet and a common washing area. The feature of this camp area is their in-house garden which is very well laid out and taken care. 

高雄市美濃區獅山里竹門14-2號
07-6851111
Fee: NT500 per tent
Website
Google Map
Last Visit 24Mar 2012

Kids Biking in Taiwan

When my kids were here in Kaohsiung for holidays, my aim was to let them enjoy biking as much as possible. Our generous friend, Ah Kuei had loan us 2 Giant Yukon mountain bikes. 

After picking up the bikes from AK, the next day before the big ride 120Km to Kenting I brought the kids for a 20km warm-up ride around the city. You can find the post HERE.

Overall they had put in 230Km on these bikes during their Jun 2009 school holidays. 

JiMuShan 雞母山 MTB

15 Mar 2009 Google Map A short trail ride in Kaohsiung City. Formerly was the army training ground, now it have turned into a small plantation and hiker / biker get away. This ground is also a dowhill biker paradise as they have created few jumps and drop off. What is amazing is our fellow biker "Ginson" the grandfather of the small boy that you will see in the photos below taking a jump. He's only 8 yrs old, Taiwan's future 'No Fear' down hill rider.!!!

鳥松爛坡 Niaosong Riding Mud

This was a video taken in Jul 2011 off-road riding with Siboy. 

Mahjong Dinner

Sun 2 Sep 2012
We were invited to Joy places for dinner, she had promised us that there will be Black Pepper Crab served. Recently she came back from Europe and Singapore trip, she had brought back some spices to make these dishes.

Joy's Daughter Nursery Graduation

This was the first time I attended a Taiwanese Nursery Graduation. It was the longest graduation lasted 4 hours. The graduation took place in one of Pingtung's school. They had borrowed this area just to hold this event. 

Joy's daughter Daniel is also my partner's god-daughter, that was the reason we were there. Daddy is a Danish who is working Singapore flew back just for this event. The kids had put up quite a performance and mummy was invited to stage to give a parental speech. 

After the event, we drove to a nearby mud volcano which erupted couple of days ago but was disappointed as the locals had cleared the area. Ended up having dinner at Wutai 

粥老大 Porridge King

Love how the owner had set up the place, there is a small garden with rabbits, hamsters, birds and mini-waterfall. He even planted two aged old Frangipani tree 雞蛋樹, one is 100years old and the other is 60 years old. The whole environment is very comfortable, could just sit there all day.  

We ordered a bowl of Seafood Porridge and Seafood Udon plus braised pig's intestine. Both seafood dishes came with generous amount seafood, 5 pieces of fresh prawns, big amount of oysters, squid, meat ball, sliced fish and there is even scallop included. The clear broth was very tasty    

Overall we were very satisfied with the dishes, very seldom you get such an eatery with such atmosphere in a city. Love the feeling of sitting outdoor, definitely we will be back again.

高雄市苓雅區文橫三路36之1號
Open from: 4pm to midnight 
Close on Wed
Google Map

Friend's BBQ Gathering @ LinYuan

For the last few years since our friends moved to LinYuan, they had been inviting us frequently to their place for BBQ. Every time there were Oysters and they knew is my favourite. Do not know where she got the oyster from but it was simply big and delicious. The oyster tasted very sweet, she claimed these are wild oyster and had to order one week ahead. This time she added something special....Blue Fin Tuna Sashimi  which only available on certain season. 

Got to know some of the friends in their area, they were friendly and fun to be with. Practical people who lived their kind of life in Downtown area, we really enjoyed being with them although it take 45mins to get to their place. 

Bike Ride to ShouShan

Summer of 2011, decided to take Siboy for a long bike ride to Shoushan and view the magnificent Kaohsiung. The day's heat was really eating into us, at some point someone on a scooter came telling me that I am torturing my dog. Told him to get lost, he did not know what Siboy is capable and he is not a pet dog. 

On our way back it started to rain and my tire took a nail. By all ass luck which I always carry my tools, this time I forgotten. Called my partner to bring the bike survival kit and Siboy was happy to take the scooter ride back. Me...I cycled all the way back home.