Some happy holiday music

It's almost Xmas! Cant believe it's already December and I will spend Xmas in Canada this year. It's a long time since I spent Xmas not in China. Really looking forward to this holiday because one of my best friends from China will come and spend Xmas and New Year with me. We have known each other since kindergarten. I don't remember much but from the kindergarten photo we took together, we are probably in the same class then, since age 4. Man, this is a really long time. The most valuable thing is, no matter how long i have not seen her, she does not change. She is the same person, same personalty, funny, stubborn, smart. She is sometimes mean when she talks, but cares for you from her pure heart. Haha, I just love how she is very true to herself. I can never be the same as her. 

Just want to share this lovely music I heard from CBC radio the other day. It is perfect for Xmas....
Larsson - The Winter's Tale, Op. 18

Invisible Apple Cake

it's a rainy Sunday morning, felt like doing some baking and always wanted to try out EMOJOIE CUISINE's recipe of invisible apple cake. It is very straightforward and easy to make. He didnt't have a written one so here is a word version of it:

Ingredients
Cake pan 18cm*8cm*8cm
A
2 egg 50g granulated sugar 20g melted butter 100ml milk Pinch of salt 1tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla syrup
B
70g plain Flour
C
3 apples skinned and thinly sliced
D Salted Butter Caramel Sauce 50g granulated sugar 30ml water 100ml heavy cream 40g unsalted butter Pinch of salt

Steps
Mix A well, add B, then pour the mixture of A+B to C. Bake at 170 deg C for 45 min

Turn out
Easy, right?! not quite so, i forgot about the milk in mix A, :(((( i was wondering why the batch A was so thick and little and thought the apple will just melt after baking, haha, the cake is still being baked right now. It smells good and let's wait and see how it will turn out... Time for a new recipe!! lol

Updated on Nov 25
Here are the photos of the apple cake. Apple becomes very sweet after baking. I like how it's tender inside and crispy on the top.

See you again, Met

Dear Met,
I've been thinking a lot of you lately. When we first met at work, you were trying to be cool and professional and would not want to talk to me. Then our friendship started, you were the one would always reach out to me, phone me for drinks, clubbing (never happened), food, movies and selfies. OMG, you loved selfies so much and you would borrow mine to take hundreds more. You bugged me for so many things and sometimes I just got annoyed and ignore you. I am just glad that you didn't give up on our friendship and kept reaching to me and created so much great memories with me.

You were just sleeping quietly with your grumpy face. Were you not happy that they didn't do a good job with your hair? Were you not happy with the suits I chose for you? Your chest was so hard and your face was so cold. I wish I could slap your face and wake you up!

Did you know how many people showed up and want to say Hi, Thank you and Goodbye to you? Did you know your friends exceed the donations in less than 24 hours? Did you know you had a huge impact on everyone's life in such a good way? I'm so lucky to have you, my brother.

I'm just not ready to let you go yet. I don't want to and I don't know how. You must be happy to go home with your VIP seat. You must be happy to see you parents, sisters and nephews. Would God make you a mountain goat in your afterlife as you wished? Would you stop and say hi to me when you see me again?

See you again, my brother

Love,


JJ Bin

Two days in Seattle

I just went to Seattle for two days with my friend in Calgary. It's our first time traveling together and it went pretty well. 

City Pass

We bought a city pass from Costco online and it provides you access to five places.

1. Space Needle
Friday 10AM–9:30PM
Saturday 10AM–9:30PM
400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 

2. Woodland Park Zoo
Friday 9:30AM–4PM
Saturday 9:30AM–4PM
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA

OR Experience Music Project Museum
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–5PM
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 

3. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Friday 11AM–7PM
Saturday 11AM–7PM
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 

OR Pacific Science Center
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–6PM
200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA

4. Seattle Aquarium
Friday 9:30AM–5PM
Saturday 9:30AM–5PM
1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 

5. Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront
Friday 10AM–4:05PM
Saturday 10AM–4:05PM
1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 55, Seattle, WA

Food

Din Tai Fung (famous Taiwanese chain restaurant, I have had it in Taiwai 101 and it's amazing how it tastes the same)
Friday 11AM–10PM
Saturday 10AM–10PM
University Village, 2621 NE 46th St, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

 

Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge
Friday 8AM–2AM
Saturday 8AM–2AM
601 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA


5 Spot (breakfast, recommended by our AirBnB host)
1502 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle, WA

Shopping

Nordstrom Rack Downtown Seattle
Store #16, 400 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Mon-Fri: 9:30am-9pm
Sat: 10am-9pm

Alexandra's Consignment Seattle

412 Olive Way, Seattle, WA

Recommended by our AirBnB host. She bought a beaver leather jacket for $300 or something, it was really nice.

Seattle Premium Outlet

Before you go there, register free online. Get a discount booklet at the customer service

Parking Downtown

Parking can be expensive during weekdays, usually by hour and limited by 2 to 4 hours. Cheaper on the weekend, $6 for weekends.

Watermark Garage (convenient location if you are taking cruise, $3 per hour)
1108 Western Ave

Public Market Garage (connects directly with the public market, $3 per hour)
1531 Western Ave 

Parking info
http://downtownseattle.com/parking/index.html
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/epark/mobile/Watermark.htm

Other Places to visit

Fremont Troll
Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA

Kerry Park

A great place to see the Seattle skyline during night time

Air BnB

We stayed at the Air BnB near the Queen Ann Street. Very welcoming host, Cheryl, has six dogs and two parrots. She used to travel a lot and understands what you need.  

Sherlock final season?

just watched Sherlock season 4 ep 3 and it looks like it's the final season.

a lonely girl wanted a company and that's all she asked for. Yet no one understood her world. Sherlock and Eurus are the same in the same way. They are very smart, emotional and simple.

Sorry about your sister, K. Dont blame yourself. The end is predetermined and you can not change it.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Duck

Went to a potluck party on the weekend and it's my first time trying this recipe out. Quite a few people asked me about the recipe but the original recipe is in Chinese only. Here is the translation. I added some curved green onion and cherry tomatoes to make it festive.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Duck (Cold Dish)

Ducks can be very fatty sometimes and this recipe offers en excellent way of bringing out the refreshing and tender flavor of duck. 

Ingredients

1. Duck (~2 to 2.5 kg), trim the fat

2. 3 tablespoons of sea salt, 1 table spoon ground Sichuan pepper .

3. One piece of green onion, 5 slices of ginger, 1 star anise, 2 clove flower bud, 1 tablespoon salt

Preparation

1. Mix ingredients 2 and cover them allover the duck. Massage duck and let it marinate for min 24 hr (~ 24 to 48hr) in fridge.

2. Rinse the duck

3. Add ingredients 3 in water and bring it to boil in a big pot. Make sure there's enough water to cover the entire duck. 

4. Put the duck in the pot. Turn down the heat right before water is gonna boil again. Simmer at low for 30 mins. 

5. Turn off the heat and let it cool down to room temp.

6. Put the duck in the fridge for a min 4 hrs.

7. Carve and serve. Enjoy!

Chinese version and photos are originally from Maomaoma.

荼蘼 Life plan A and B

最近刚看了一个台湾的电视剧《荼蘼 Life plan A and B》，一共6集，与以往的台湾爱情很不一样。荼蘼是一种花，是春季最后盛开的话，用来比喻某事到结尾了。女主人公需要在爱情和事业中做选择，于是有了计划A和B，就像是PARALLEL UNIVERSE. 两条不可复制亦不可相交的人生路线，在不断的后悔，懊恼和痛苦中进行着，最后女主人终于想通，不再纠结。人生本来就不完美，咀嚼人生百味，方可享受任一方案。

cooking

最近长智齿了，希望不会影响我吃东西啦。放一些最近做的菜。

 红白排骨汤

满园春色

荞麦冷面

烤trout （菜谱见下）

烤鱼酱 （有点咸~）

pear and avocado sandwich

糙米糖藕

卤猪尾

avocado and cheese sandwich

avocado and shrimp salad

卤肉饭

random

was talking to a friend about how her classmate from middle school all got a very good life, wealthy, have their own business, making her want to do her own business and have a full filling life.

What is life all about, make lots of money, live in a big house, drive a super fancy car? Everyone has their own answers. To me, I do not need a big house but a warm home, I do not need a fancy car but a proper transportation to take me wherever i need to go safely, I do not need lots of money but enough to spend for me and my family and maybe a bit extra to help others, I do not need lots of friends to hang out every day but a few true friends that I can call anytime.  Do something makes you smile everyday, that's life.

背影

母亲回去了，走之前的前一晚和我说了很多，突然明白了为何给我起单名卓了，她把所有的希望都放在了我身上，一心培养我，栽培我。人的一生有很多选择，如果选错了，如果可以即使改过来也很好。如果一直错到底，那就只能自己接受。都说事情都是有好与坏两面的，也许多从好的一面去看看，积极的面对才是对自己最好的交代。

不善言辞的我，有时候和母亲顶撞，有时候冷漠的对待母亲的话语，让母亲说话变得有些小心翼翼。

送机之前的那个拥抱，纵有千言万语，却一个字都没有说出口，眼泪会自己悄悄地留下来，是心疼母亲，还是觉得突然自己又是一个人了。总是孤单的一个人过，习惯了一个吃饭，一个人看电影，一个人做所有的家务，一个人旅游，似乎只有属于我自己的记忆才是不会被别人打搅的。不用去刻意的去遗忘，不用去刻意的去掩盖。

$2.5

what can you buy with $2.5?

I'm the team manager of a Dragon boat team this year and also in charge of the money. We have $2.5 left for everyone, just trying to think what i can get for everyone. It's very hard since if I go online and shipping fee alone would probably cost $10. I also tried to google "what can i buy with cad $2.5?" all the search results are showing stocks or Canadian dollar being weak etc, Maybe i should invest this $50 dollars and use this for next year's race. If i buy a penny stock, i can buy a lot.

what is travel is all about?

what is travel is all about? why do people travel? i travel far to see elephants enjoying a mud bath, to have a conversation with local people in the pub, to tastes the local fresh white asparagus that i would never have in Vancouver, to understand my airbnb host's life. She is an amazing woman, also a single mother who is proud of her son, an immigrant who lacks sense of belonging, a musician who is passionate about her music, an artist who creates arts presenting her home country. I reflect myself in her, in my trip, in my solo time.

travel is all about experience

Netherlands and Germany

I just came back to Vancouver and try to stay awake for jetleg. Figured I will share my itinerary for my one week trip in Netherlands and Germany. Since I only have so many vacation time every year, I only took one week off this time. It was short and sweet.


Itinerary:

Day 1: arrive in Amsterdam, traveled to Den Haag/Hague

Day 2: day trip to Rotterdam and Den Haag/Hague

Day 3: train ride to Koln, the Dom

Day 4: Koln/Cologne and Bonn (birthplace of Beethoven)

Day 5: Koln/Cologne and train ride to Amsterdam

Day 6: Alkmaar (cheese market and trading center), Amsterdam

Day 7: Country side: Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Marken, Amsterdam

Day 8: fly out


most of the time was spend on either commuting or museums. The cities list above are pretty walkable except Amsterdam. I stayed close to Koln Central and Amsterdam Central, which are pretty convenient. I can spend more time in the city sigh seeing without needing to worry about getting back to hotel too late.

Day	location	point of interests	accommodation
Day 1	Amsterdam, commute to Hague	Hello Europe! pick up Holland Pass at GWK Travelex - Schiphol airport landside - Arrival Hall 3/ 4.
Day 2	one day in Rotterdam and Hague	Rotterdam Central Station,  Cube Houses, (silver pass, save $3) Markthal, City Hall, Kunsthal, (silver pass, save $12, closed on Mondays) Erasmus Bridge world trade center
Day 3	half day commute from Hauge to Cologne (4 hr train ride)	7am train from Hague - Cologne Cologne 1. Gothic Cathedral (guided tour, Monday – Saturday 10.30 am and 2.30 pm, Sunday and Feastday 2.30 pm, http://www.koelner-dom.de/index.php?id=home&L=1 2. go to any public museum or Cologne Tourist Board Kardinal-Höffner-Platz 1 get museum card. Mondays - Saturdays: 09:00 a.m. – 08:00 p.m.	air bnb
Day 4	cologne, Bonn	Cologne: 1. Romano-Germanic Römisch-Germanisches Museum 10am-5pm Tue-Sun 2. Museum Schnütgen Mon closed Tues to Sun 10 am – 6 pm Thurs 10 am – 8 pm http://www.museum-schnuetgen.de/default.aspx?s=1909 Bonn: 1. University of Bonn, 2. Beethoven house: birthplace of the renowned composer Ludwig van Beethoven	air bnb
Day 5	half a day in Bonn, train from Bonn/cologne to Amsterdam (4 hr train ride)	Cologne:Wallraf-Richartz Museum, with most monet (i only saw one, lol) collection, Tues to Sun 10 am – 6 pm arrive at Amsterdam 1. take 10pm night canal tour 2. check out the red light district, Randy Roy's Redlight Tours everyday 8pm plus10pm Fridays and Saturdays (I didn't end up doing tour, but review of this tour is very good)	hostel in Amsterdam
Day 6	Amsterdam	Amsterdam 1. Rijksmuseum, gold pass, Open daily 9:00-17:00 2. Van Gogh museum, gold pass, (9 am to 6 pm and Fridays until 10 pm, Tip: visit the museum from 9 am to 11 am or after 3 pm. The busiest times are between 11 am and 3 pm.)	hostel in Amsterdam
Day 7	Amsterdam	Amsterdam 1. country side morning tour start from 8:45am, pack a light lunch or eat at Volendam 2. Amsterdam market 3. Royal Palace 4. Dam Square	hostel in Amsterdam
Day 8	Amsterdam	Goodbye Amsterdam!

A few tips:

1. It's a good idea to buy international train tickets ahead of time Tickets can be sold out. They can be booked online or at the computers at all the information booth at main train station. Print out the paper tickets and conductors will check time to time.
2. I bought a Holland pass for Netherlands travel, there are also Amsterdam card and museum card, depends on what you want to do. Google Holland pass vs Amsterdam card, you will see the differences.
3. Holland pass gives me voucher for museum tickets, which I still need to go line up to exchange for museum entrance tickets. There are difference line up for voucher and tickets.
4. Ann Frank house is one the most popular places to visit in Amsterdam. If you are interested in history and it's highly recommenced to reserve your tickets and they will be sold out!
5. Royal Palace is where dutch royal greets guests but it's not super fancy and even the Queen does not like it. I did\t go inside and just took a picture.
6. Last canal cruise is at 10pm and I was able to see the night view of Amsterdam. All the bridges are lighted up and quiet. Quite different from the Amsterdam's day life.

alternative itinerary:
i have met people that travel to/from Berlin, Germany and Paris, France. Flights may be cheaper than trains sometimes. so check the price before you go.

world cam

这几天一直在研究欧洲旅游的事情，学到了好多东西，从一开始3个地方，加到7个地方，看来还是不现实，还是减少到3个地方吧。

发现了一个很酷的网站，http://worldcams.tv/ 全世界著名景点都有的live camera，现在温哥华是晚上9点38分，Amsterdam 是早上6：38， 17度，dam square 有高清的摄像头，360度一直在转，我在想，如果一直盯着看，是不是可以看到一些有意思的事情发生。有辆车掉头了，摄像头每次都会zoom到一个阳台上，那里是有活动的时候有重要的任务出场的，或者是有表演的时候演员的舞台？此时此刻伦敦阴天，巴黎下雨，艾菲尔铁塔完全看不到。再过几天我也会到dam square了吧，想想就开心啊，就像是时空穿越一样，哈哈。。。

Amsterdam， 我来啦
http://worldcams.tv/cities/amsterdam-dam-square

母亲

妈妈又生病了，她的身体状况一直不是很好，高中的时候是校篮球队的，可是现在年纪大了平时也不锻炼了，只忙着工作，照顾外公外婆老爸，就是一操心的命。突然很害怕，会不会哪天她就突然离开了，我还没准备好呢，我还没有能力养他们，给他们大房子住，房车开，让他们去环游世界。12年夏天，老爸老妈第一次来加拿大，自驾游去了banff，路上全是trailer，就开玩笑说以后有了外孙，外孙女，一起带着他们到处旅游。

今天把家里的家具挪了位置，沙发靠窗了，躺着能看到天空，火烧云，转眼就不见了。望着Kingsway上的车水马龙，幸好还能看得见一些人烟，如果一个人住在house里，会害怕的吧。

我幸福快乐，这才是爸妈最大的欣慰吧。遥祝老妈身体快点好起来，母亲节快乐~

Fort McMurray

这几天Fort McMurray 大山火，全城清空，昨天想给red cross 发短信捐钱，结果没反应。只好上网站捐钱。今天居然抽奖中了昨天公司楼里的头奖，真开心，哈哈。

加拿大很人性，red cross 鼓励大家短信捐款$5，方便又实际。一方有难，四方支援。

future

i gave away everything to forget about you, to not remember about you. saw the post card you mailed to me today, just realized how much i miss you. time to move on, Jamie. future is in my hand. Good luck, to you and me.

Acumen, Mincome

my coach said i have creative thinking, jumping over things. there are so many things i want to talk about, and they need to be in an organized and relevant way. as usual, i wrote down many random thought and come to a conclusion:

DRAFT

Hi Naomi and Malcolm,

Thank you very much for such a wonderful experience last night! I like the how the environment is very welcoming. I don’t feel like being judged and everyone is free to express themselves. It's exciting to meet with so many people are passionate about making a better world.

Aha! moment:

key words: dignity, what can we learn from a small community?

The environment didn’t change. What have been changed is my perspectives.

Naomi taught me how to look from a positive side. I am always looking for more, what Naomi has taught me is that I can apply what I have learned and what I know of towards what my passion is.

Social media

What I didn't know is that homeless people also have cell phone and maybe we could do something from creating some apps that would encourage and help them to learn some skills or make some money.

Struggle to live and survive, live like an animal

it's also interesting to hear that some people think Canada is finally moving from developing country to developed country back in the 70's and people finally have a right to choose what they like and live for a higher standard of life instead of just making money for survival. I came to Canada in 2005 thinking that Canada is a developed county, compared to China. China still have lots of catch up with.

Mincome, pilot program

I am also interested in learning more about Acumen and looking for expertise in different field. I have always believed the power of teamwork and collaboration.

————————————————————————————————————————

email actually sent out

Hi Naomi and Malcolm,

Thank you very much for such a wonderful experience last night! I like the how the environment is very welcoming. I don’t feel like being judged and everyone is free to express themselves. It's exciting to meet with so many people are passionate about making a better world.

I got so many inspirations but most important Aha! moment for me is the people there. There are eight of us bouncing the ideas, trying to come up with a practical and economical solutions that can be started with a local community. Isn't that the most exciting thing? Collaborations and connection between people.

Cheers,

Jamie

friends forever

stayed at Nanaimo for one night for work, went to a Greek restaurant with pretty decor.  10 old ppl were sitting across me and they were chatting and laughing all the time. they are all with white hair, so probably around 60 to 70's, I hope I will have some friends to hang out when I get older as well. cheers to friendship!

connect the net

i was doing an exercise called Connect the Net. it asks me to list the most important contacts in my network and they are the people that i rely on for key information, expertise, advice and creative inspiration.

it took me a long time to think which names to list, then i realize i have such a limited social circle. some of the ppl, i don't even contact that often, maybe once a year. there is no problem having a small social circle, as long as it's a high quality one with trust, support and allow vulnerability.

I'm recently reading the 21st century business written by Robert Kiyosaki. it starts changing my mindset about money, asset, wealth building. i was not born in a rich family, but my family is not poor either. my parents have been working very hard to make money but I never had to worry about money. I have always thought i will just go to university, get a job and work the entire life. but when it comes to financial freedom, i have none. i will be scared to make mistakes at work, i will be scared to be laid off, i will be worried about not being able to pay my mortgage. i want the financial freedom to allow me not worry about making money for the sake of the money. why work for others' dream? work for my own.