Tuesday 23 December 2014

平安夜

Singapore & Hong Kong - Changi Airport & Hong Kong International Airport

新加坡 和 香港  樟宜机场 及 香港国际机场

平安夜凌晨飞香港度假。

未飞却已经在樟宜机场受一肚子的气。

国泰航空的地勤人员竟把我当猴子耍。

事因我的行李箱有些许超重。

在跟国泰航空的地勤人员商量看能够在不多付超重的情况下,让我过关吗?

这时有个在柜台外跟女同事聊天的男职员走来,插一脚管起我的行李的事。

他先是看似在帮我解决问题。

他假惺惺的要我把一些托运的物件转移到我的背包说这样就不用多付超重费。

等我乾坤大挪移重新装好行李箱和背包回到柜台时,他说我的背包也肯定超重。

他叫一个应该是执勤主任的人来跟我要超重行李费。

他摆明是在玩我。

我实在忍无可忍,就跟他们对质。

那执勤主任要我又把物件从背包再放回行李箱,并要求我支付超重费。

我向执勤主任表明,支付超重费不是问题,但问题是这离谱的待遇,都拜那自觉得很高级的地勤人员所赐。

当执勤主任在向我了解情况时,那无礼的地勤人员还凶神恶煞的打断我们的对话。

幸亏,那执勤主任在理解了整件事情的来龙去脉后就放行了。

经过了这一番折腾,什么旅游的兴致都被扫光了。

过了关卡,所幸迎面而来的美丽圣诞装饰,才稍微平复了心情。

樟宜机场

樟宜机场

樟宜机场

香港国际机场

香港国际机场

香港国际机场

在这平安夜里祝愿大家圣诞快乐。

Friday 19 December 2014

Merry Christmas

Singapore - Orchard Road (Christmas Light-up 2014)

Christmas to a lot of people is white with snow.

Tropical country like Singapore has its own way of celebrating Christmas.

The whole of Orchard Road (shopping street) is engulfed by exotic lightings.




The Christmas Light-up at Orchard Road was first organised in 1984.

It has since then become an annual event to celebrate Christmas.

Christmas in Singapore was being transformed into a celebration that transcends religious and cultural boundaries.


  

The economics of Christmas is significant in many nations around the world.

Christmas sparks a frenzy of shopping and feasting that makes it an annual season of joy for the retailers and restaurateurs.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Monday 8 December 2014

泥菩萨

China - Putian

中国 - 莆田 (囊山慈寿寺)









歇后语:泥菩萨过江,自身难保。

其意思是指泥塑的菩萨在水中会被浸坏。

比喻连自己都保护不了,更顾不上帮助别人。

此歇后语的出处为:丁玲《太阳照在桑干河上》:“哥哥说:‘泥菩萨过江,自身难保’,送回去也好。”

我想泥菩萨除了怕水,也怕寒冬。

因为在腊月天寒地冻,泥塑的菩萨也会龟裂。

真是阿弥陀佛。

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Scam City

Thailand - Bangkok

When travelling overseas, the most popular public transports will be bus, MRT or taxi.

Bus is the cheapest mean of transport, but the downside is that commuters have to be very familiar with the various bus routes.

MRT, on the other hand, is a better choice as passengers get to know which station to alight when purchasing the ticket and of course no traffic jam.

Sadly not all cities in Asia have MRT.

Taxi is considered the most expensive transport to travel on.

But for tourists, taxi is also the most convenient way to travel.

Traveller can be sure that taxi will definitely transport you from Point A to Point B.

In reality, not all taxi drivers are honest enough to use the shortest route.

One of the reasons for doing so is that they know you are tourist and that you do not know the roads well, so they can make extra cash out of it.

Ever heard from a friend, when she visited Bangkok, she paid 2,000Baht for a taxi ride just to transport her from hotel to Pratunam Market.

The hotel she stayed was just 10 minutes walk to Pratunam Market.

As it was her first time there, she decided to take a taxi.

The taxi driver asked for 4,000Baht and she negotiated to 2,000Baht.

At one point of time, she was so happy thinking that she had made a good deal by slashing half the price.

With that amount she paid, she could have travelled from Bangkok to Pattaya!

Just last month, I had the worst taxi ride in Bangkok.

Normally it took me around half an hour to 40 minutes by taxi to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the hotel at Sathon via toll road.

Instead that whole journey to my hotel took me more than 2 hours.

All thanks to this con artist taxi driver who took me for a joy ride.


P/S: Although you can take down the taxi driver's particulars and lodge a complaint, but god knows any action is taken against him.

Friday 10 October 2014

吃盐比米多?

Up in the sky - In the cabin

天空中  机舱内

不晓得你们可曾听过长辈们很喜欢跟小辈们说的一句话:“我吃盐比你吃米多”吗?

小时候对这句话感到很纳闷。

为什么长辈们都好奇怪,放着好好的白米饭不吃,跑去吃什么盐巴呢?

长大后才明白其中道理,不外就是说长辈们的经验比小辈们多很多。

言归正传,今天要说的是飞机餐。

以前,搭飞机是很隆重的事。

原因是搭飞机是“有钱人”做的事。

因为机票非常昂贵,所以当时有搭飞机的人,有些会在用完餐后把不锈钢餐具当纪念品收下。

不知道你家有没有飞机上的“餐具纪念品”?(不好意思,我家有!)

十年前当新加坡刚有廉价航空的时候,我搭 Valuair 去曼谷时还有免费飞机餐吃。

现在的廉价航空的飞机餐都是要另付费,不但不好吃而且又贵。

曾搭过 JAL 从新加坡飞吉隆坡,它的飞机餐是一包饮料和花生。

觉得还不错吃的有 SIA, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways 和 EVA Air 的飞机餐。

商务舱的食物呈现和餐具摆设都比较讲究和精致


低盐食物


经济舱的食物呈现就比较一般,餐具也是塑料的

低盐食物


中国的航空公司他们的飞机餐都放在盒子里






可有在半空中吃着飞机餐时,觉得味道不是那么好的经验吗?

那是因为在高空中,机舱内的潮湿度掉了百分之十五。

人的喉咙会因为潮湿度的降低,嗅、味觉会比较慢将信息传送到大脑。

人的嗅、味觉在这种情况下会降低百分之二十至五十,就像患重感冒般。

调查显示飞机在半空中搭客会对咸度降百分之二十至三十,对甜度则降百分之十五至二十。

如果要食物像在陆地上一样可口,那食物就需要多加百分之三十的盐。

据我所知,航空公司的厨房会在准备飞机餐时多加盐以让食物更加美味可口。

温馨提醒:有心脏或健康问题的搭客,订票时最好通知旅行社帮你向航空公司要求低盐的飞机餐。

Wednesday 17 September 2014

10Baht (Baht 2)

Thailand - Bangkok (The Best Of The Boat Noodle)

泰国 - 曼谷 (最佳船面)

有读过上次为大家介绍船面(Boat Noodle)的读者一定奇怪,为什么又再炒冷面。

现在什么东西都流行有续集,电影是这样、就连书籍等都出了 Part 2。

所以也来凑个热闹,来个 10Baht (Baht 2)。

哈哈哈,言归正传。

最近刚去了趟曼谷,有朋友读了部落格说想去那里尝鲜。

因为故地重游,有了新发现,所以就再写啰。

到底有什么新发现,这里先卖个关子。

上次写得不是那么详细,这次把沿路的照片也放上,有图参照就应该会去了吧。


搭 BTS 到 Victory Monument 站,出了闸直走就会看到以上的景观。

沿着行人天桥的右边走。


行人天桥的下面是一排排的小摊位。

吃完了船面,有空可以倒回来这里逛逛。


如果怕热的话,可以到附近的商场吹吹冷气。

一直沿着行人天桥走,右边会看到另一个行人天桥,别换跑道继续往前走。


当你看到右边这栋外墙写着 Eat Am Are Good Steak 时,再往前一点点就有梯级下天桥了。

下了天桥,绕过小摊位,过了小沟渠就是 The Best Of The Boat Noodle 的所在地了。


写到这里就给大家揭晓这新发现吧。

这间已经经营了十多年的 10Baht 船面店也因为物价高涨而起价到一碗 12Baht 了。

Monday 8 September 2014

中秋随谈

Singapore - Chinatown

新加坡 - 牛车水

今年的牛车水中秋节灯饰是以花卉为主题。

但少了嫦娥的中秋节灯饰,总觉得怪怪的。





提起农历八月十五中秋节,通常会联想到什么?

应该离不开月饼、灯笼、柚子和字谜吧。

中秋节的起源据说有几个版本 - 嫦娥奔月、吴刚折桂、朱元璋与月饼起义等。

中秋节除了华人庆祝外,越南人、韩国人和日本人也有庆祝。

中秋节也是一家团圆的大日子。

跟大家分享一些关于中秋节的趣闻。

中秋节的英文直译是 Mid-Autumn Festival。

在新、马,多数人把中秋节叫成 Mooncake Festival(月饼节)或 Lantern Festival(灯笼节)

广东人更把屁股比喻成八月十五,因为够圆。

有关八月十五的歇后语:

八月十五的月亮 - 正大光明
八月十五办喜事 - 人月共团圆
八月十五生孩子 - 赶上节了
八月十五看桂花 - 花好月圆
八月十五吃年糕 - 还早
八月十五过年 - 差了节气

借以下经典的诗词,祝愿大家在中秋节里“花好月圆,人月共团圆,千里共婵娟”。

《水调歌头》苏轼(宋)

明月几时有?
把酒问青天。
不知天上宫阙,今夕是何年?
我欲乘风归去,又恐琼楼玉宇,高处不胜寒!
起舞弄清影,何似在人间?
转朱阁,低绮户,照无眠。
不应有恨,何事长向别时圆?
人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺,此事古难全。
但愿人长久,千里共婵娟。

Friday 1 August 2014

10Baht

Thailand - Bangkok (The Best Of The Boat Noodle)

With the escalating cost of living, what can one buy with 10Baht?

Would you be surprised, if you could buy a bowl of noodle for just 10Baht?

With only 10Baht, you can have a bowl of noodle with pork or beef.

Take BTS to Victory Monument station.

When you are out of the BTS station, keep right and walk along the overhead bridge. 


(Left side) Row of stalls selling boat noodle
(Right side) The Best Of The Boat Noodle






Menu

Both outdoor & indoor (air-con) are always crowded

Count how many bowls they have eaten

8 bowls for me

Next time when you visit Bangkok, other than going to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market, try this restaurant.

Challenge and count how many bowls of noodle you can stomach.