Going back to Shanghai

Going back to Shanghai for few days! Yay!

I am debating with myself, should I bring Lee Kai Fu's 世界因你不同 to continue finish reading it, or the novel I bought in KL's mph "Dear John".

Dim leh???  Probably Dear John because it is lighter, and because I want to slowly read this great book written by LKF. Some of his childhood stories made me laugh even when I was bangsai-ing.... haha~~

Hooray~~~~~

Warming Drawer

I am very 孤陋寡闻，only today I realized the existence of such appliances, named "warming drawer". Quote from a website "Warming drawers are the perfect solution for keeping dishes warm while you're waiting for guests to arrive or putting the finishing touches on the rest of the meal. "

They are not cheap!

Look at that! It's really a perfect solution to keep your dishes warm while waiting for your other dishes to complete cooking eh? For me, I always have this problem -- i like to cook, then only take shower before eating the meal. So by the time I finished the shower, some of the dishes are already turned cold, which I really don't like. But there's no way for me to eat first and then shower later because that will mean I have to shower much later - 2 hours after the meal.
 
I want this "toy" when we have our own house next time. It's such a cool feature!

Inception

I had so much expectation towards this movie Inception after I saw its trailer 2 weeks before it's show time.

I went for a movie last night, to watch Inception.

The outcome --- not quite I expected. First of all, the movie have this jap guy right called Saito - without subtitle of the movie in the cinema (I miss those english movie with subtitles in china and in KL), sometimes I don't know what is he talking about with his strong accent. And the dying father of Fischer, the last word he muttered "disappointed....." the "....." is so important, but again, I can't hear it, neither can Jay nor my English speaking friend. Arghh... a bit frustrated on that part.

The whole movie is too "intelligent". I can't understand some of the part, like the part Cobb told Mal they did grow old together.. and the 50 years they spent in their dream, then how come they not old one?? OMG, it's killing my brain cells so much. I have to come back home and googled for "inception explained" and got some of the answers (not all).

Overall, I don't quite like it lah. It's not my cup of tea I guess. I like to watch something I can understand with my own intelligent level. But I get to know that the director of this movie Christopher Nolan, he himself have this experience and fantasy to control his own dreams since he is young. But have to admit his plot is very very sci-fic loh. And the "effect" is very "real" in some part. I like it when Arthur walks in the hotel upside down and sideways. Hehehe... very cool. :p

Recently also watched Clash of Titans (downloaded). I find it quite nice. Not super nice, but not that bad also lah. I don't know why most chinese in China do not like the movie. They said the movie very childish. I find it quite OK, i will give it 6.5 out of 10 loh. haha.. The chinese only give 4-5. I also "accidentally" watched andy lau's 未来警察, because it is starred by Andy Lau, I thought it is a nice movie. But I was totally, absolutely, miserably disappointed by the whole movie. It's cheap, childish, and totally without nice graphic effect except for Andy Lau's police outfit. Damn, wasted my 1.5 hour. I was very angry after I watched it.

Composting

Just get to learn new vocab as I researching on composting method:

- straw: 稻草
- bark: 树皮
- sawdust: 木屑
- manure: 肥料

And apparently coffee grounds contain high level of nitrogen which worms will find it tasty..

And then, there are those specialize compost bin for sale one, and they are not cheap. This is so new to me.

Have a little faith

I have become Mitch Albom's reader after my dad passed away in 2008. His books soothe me in some ways, not spiritually, just something I cannot explain. And also most of his stories are true stories, real life stories.

I bought this book in Chicago Airport last year, when I was transitting the flight to Virginia to meet my family for the vacation. And I only get to read it early this month. I finished the book this morning, as usual, his book always leave me with teary eyes at the end. I am easily touched by emotional sentences in the book, especially when it is death related, because every death related incident made me think of my dad, and I miss him so much, still do, every single day.

At first glance, it is a book of religions. After my dad passed away, I believe in no religion at all, for if something so powerful named God, I am sure he wouldn't make somebody as nice a person as my dad to leave this world so abruptly. This is unfair, and I still hold grudges towards Him (if he is out there). I don't care if I go to hell after I died, because I am losing faith that there is a Heaven anyway. Anyway, why do I still buy this book even though at first glance it is about religions? Because I believe in Mitch Albom the writer. Well, he proves me right again, this is aother good book written by him, after Tuesdays with Morrie. I have 5 of his books, and I still think Tuesdays with Morrie is still my favorite. I have to "murder" 2 tissue papers when I read the last chapters. It is that moving.

Just like to share some of the good books I read recently, now that I have so much time on hand for reading.

My first attempt on muffins

My first attempt on muffin. Turns out quite good and Jay is loving it:) It is his birthday today. This is his birthday cake so to say:)

Making muffin here is so easy, they already premix some ingredient and sell it in pack, u just need to add 2 eggs, some water, and some blueberry:) And baking time needed is only less than 20 minutes.

I want to learn how to bake cake next!

The Christmas List

I haven't had this feeling for very long time, too long that I don't even remember when was the last time - to finish a book within a day because I simply can't get my hands and eyes off it. I borrowed "The Christmas List" from library yesterday, and I was having such a good time reading it. At some chapters, i will laugh out all loud, some chapters I will laugh cynically, and towards the end of the chapters, I was crying and Jay was so worried he asked me what am I reading, is everything OK?

This is a book of love, friendship, father & son, betrayal, redemption and repention, etc. Oh.. so emotionally rich! Towards the end of the chapters, I was first crying because I was feeling so romantic and touched, then I cried because I felt sad because his wife is dying, then I cried because I felt happy for him that he has changed to a better man!

I am seriously thinking of buying this book to keep. Jay said I crazy, it will just collect dust on our bookshelve and I won't even read it second time. Maybe he is right. Anyway, I can picture how great a movie will the plot from this book make. Not sure if they made it into movie before?

bui bui's "new" bike

Bui Bui's "new" bike. We bought used one advertized online. He joined a gym lately, the gym's location is not very far, not within walking distance either, so, driving is a waste and parking is a hassle. Instead, biking is the best option. But we very giamsiap on spending. New immigrant mah, get used one loh. It is selling for $100. It took us forever to get this bike fit into our car, and at the end, scratches our baby (our honda) a bit on the trunk. Bad boy! It had better worth all the effort in getting it. It is now sitting in our store-room. Bui Bui is lazy, he should have brought it to pump air in the gas station nearby, but instead, he goes to take a nap. He very 吊儿郎当 sometimes.

In order to bike "legally", he also made an attempt to buy a new helmet, and a new lock. We were so startled when we went into the biking store, it has so many biking related stuff that we will never even think of. Sports is a crazy industry and good business in BC. 

The used bike, as advertized, it is a "18-speed Sportek "Mud Dawg" Full Suspension with Shimano Altus parts". Without the stickers though.

It's a bright sunny day @ Stanely Park

We didn't have a swim suit when we visited Stanley Park yesterday (I totally forgotten Stanley Park has a beach), so we just chilling under a big tree, and playing with jay's phone's camera;)

new hobby

I bought chives and superhot chilli (指天椒) and transplanted them to small pot at my balcony today. Jay commented sarcastically "let's see how long will my honey's new hobby last this time". Hmmmmm....

I forgot to get any furtilizer... yiu.... have to go back to the farm again?

Learnt new vocab

I am constantly learning new vocabulary here (shy shy...):

I thought all 地毯 is called carpet. I didn't know the smaller ones are called rug until now.

I thought the small drawer next to bed is called drawer, but it is actually called "night stand".

I thought all tables are called table, i didn't know there's coffee table, tv stand (yah i considered this table too), and dining table.

And then, I thought chairs are chairs. I didn't know there's a type called "ghost chair", and I thought it is very scary. Then only I realized ghost chair is just those chairs very plastic feel, almost transparent, maybe that's why it is called ghost chair.

And then, I didn't know 烤 is broil. I didn't even know the word "broil" existed before this. Luckily we brought a dictionary over. So I checked it out and realized I have the chicken "baked" instead of "broiled" for past 5 minutes, so, I quickly change the setting to broil and have the wonderful broiled chicken. haha.

I have to say I am a bit lost here still. I really miss Shanghai a lot. Miss the food, miss the cheap books, miss the cheap stuff, miss the taobao.com, miss amazon.cn, miss sooooooo many things. wooo...wooo...... Miss communicating people in pure mandarin. sei mei?

One lazy afternoon at Granville Island

All the troubles seem so far away when you have such beautiful day.