Apr 1 2013

SeOUL Searching

Posted on April 1, 2013 by elena.kwok

After 11 years of marriage, we finally went for our honeymoon! Woot-woot!

There were many places in our adventurous mind but we chose KOREA, “The Land of the Morning Calm”.

Without hesitation with our 2+2 feet, we wandered around the city of Seoul.

These feet were made for walking

GYEONGBUKGUNG PALACE is located in Jongno-Gu

Gwanghwamun, The Main and South Gate

Heungnyemun, The Second Inner Gate

Drummer at the Changing of Guards

Gwanghwamun Royal Guards

Gyeonghoeru, The Royal Banquet Hall

I’m at the Guenjeongjeon, the Main Throne Hall of Gyeongbokgung

Geunjeongjeon, The Throne Hall

Our shadows in Gyeongbukgung

Ajeoshi painting Sujeongjeon

Changdeokgung’s SECRET GARDEN

Path to Secret Garden

Steps to secret places

Reading Pavilion

Pavilions galore in the Secret Garden or also known as ‘Biwon’

Tempted to taste these oranges on the tree.. but better not after all they are fruits of the Secret Garden

WAR MEMORIAL OF KOREA is located in Yongsan-Dong

Hubby is making sure we won’t get lost

It’s partially shady and sunny

War Statues in the Memorial Park

Statue of Brothers

Facade of the main building where rows of black marble monuments inscribed with the names of those who died during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and of policemen who died on duty

A Time to Remember

There’s no entrance fee to enter the War Memorial Museum of Korea but donations can be given

Inspector Elena! I’m inspecting the Letters of War and Confidential Documents in museum’s vault

Getting lost amidst of weapons of destruction at the outer exhibition of the War Museum

Weapons of War

BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE – Korean Traditional Village

Alleys everywhere

Traditional Korean Home

Tea House in Bukchon

View atop Bukchon Village

GANGNAM DISTRICT pronounced as ‘Kangnam’

Busy life in Gangnam

Gangnam-Gu

Gopchang – grilled intestines

Korean Barbeque: lamb on metal skewers

MYEONGDONG – YOOGANE

Yoogane – the best Galbi Bokkeumbap

Yoogane’s Menu… we were lost indeed!

Chicken Galbi where are you?

HAN RIVER

The beautiful and calm Han River

View from the river – friends, lovers, families gather together

Man’s Best Friend

NAMDAEMUN – Market

Guess what hubby is munching on!

No.. it’s not an ice-cream potong but it’s a pineapple on a stick! Surprise? We were too!

Ajumoni making Kalguksu in Namdaemun market. It’s like our PAN MEE but on a much much more healthier side

Horrible picture of me but it’s the only picture of Kalguksu! OMIT OMIT!

This Kalguksu stall was hiding behind this rack of clothes. It’s funny that we even found this little stall. Loved it!

One can have Kalguksu feast here

COEX MALL

COEX Mall

Modern fixtures outside COEX Mall

Korean Traditional Dance

COEX has complimentary art and cultural shows during weekends which attracts the young and old

MISCELLANEOUS PARTS OF KOREA that I just need to share

BERKELEY COFFEE EXPRESS, Kyedong (BEST COFFEE EVER)

WALNUT BREAD – something new; something old but this has got to be the best nutty snack ever

GOGI MANDU a.k.a. dumplings are filled with minced meat, vegetables, glass noodles and seasoning

One of my favorite Korean street food. HOTTEOK per serving contains 230 calories because it is filled with brown sugar, honey, chopped peanuts and cinnamon sugar. All sugary sweet packed in one palm size pouch. OUCH!

DONHOYA, Hakdong

Times Square of Seoul

KRAZE BURGER

A JEWEL IN THE ALLEY

Stumble upon a little noodle shop after visiting one of the palaces

Cold Noodles; one of a kind in Seoul can be found around the area on the map in between the alleys of Jahamun-ro and Hyoja-ro

Cold noodles, kimchi, seaweed soup, buckwheat wraps, etc

Overall, Seoul was a great place to visit. It will be a good place to live too. We love Korea and will definitely be going back there again. Our trip was successful, fruitful and a joyous one. We would like to thank ALL that contributed towards our honeymoon; be it physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Thanks to JOHN HYUNG and his son that greeted us at Incheon Airport. Thank you for showing us around Gangnam and got us addicted to the many varieties of Korean food.

좋은 친구

Taking pics from the public camera on one of the pillars at the streets of Gangnam-gu

See you Seoul!

Korean Air

Mar 22 2013

Hello NYC!!!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by elena.kwok

I never thought that I would go to NYC but this was a chance of a lifetime and I’m looking forward to visit again.

Visiting a place once is never enough unless it brings you bad memories and horror experience but there’s always light in the dark. Moreover NYC is also known as:-

The City That Never Sleeps
The Big Apple
The Crossroads of the World

So the journey to NYC was LONG. We flew with Emirates with a total of 24 flight hours including 4 hours of transiting in Dubai (back and forth meaning 48 hours – Ohhh.Emm.Gyyyyyy.)

Hogging NERO Cafe for 4 hours

This trip was for business cum pleasure once again so I’m gonna start with WORK!

We exhibited in the New York Stationery Fair (NSS) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre. We got an upgraded corner booth thanks to GLM.

WRITEBEST Products on Display!

That’s Ralph from Great American Products, Texas with Jake

Jake and Me with Cinnamon Joe’s representatives (Paul, Andrea and Jennifer)

***

So with all the places that’s on our list, our main transporter was our two feet and the subway.

Subway on the 42nd Street

Our first stop was Times Square where our apartment is just 2 blocks away. We headed there right after we touched down + some sleep. I was a walking zombie but the lights mesmerized me and soon I was kinda like a little girl in Disneyland!

Crowd Mania in Times Square

Abundance of Broadway Musicals… this is Disneyland for me! Check out Joe Jonas poster.

Freedom of Speech is practiced almost everywhere

She almost killed me..literally with a heart attack when she marched towards me with her sword

***

Our second stop was the 9/11 Memorial. This was in my todo list. One could never imagine the impact of visiting this place and the people who are living here. Being at the Memorial site itself is emotional enough for me. Just the serenity of the place, the waterfall, the names of those that perished that day, the tress and surroundings which visitors kept at peace.

Ticket Price: Free with limited spaces but a ‘Support Box’ is available for sincere donations

It’s a ‘Serene Certainty’

***

Thirdly, we went to Top of The Rock Observation Deck which is situated at the Rockefeller Center. And no, we did not go to the Empire State Building because we want to see the Empire State Building with all its glory. Check out the green sea of Central Park.

Ticket Price: USD$25.00/person

***

Guess what! We also watched WICKED, a broadway musical. It was like a dream come true for both of us. We love everything about musical. WICKED is about ‘pre-Wizard of OZ’….there’s Elphaba and Glinda…the wizard…OWH just click ME

Ticket Price: USD$141.25/person

***

Next stop was Statue of Liberty where we took a ferry across to Liberty Island. Liberty’s crown was under construction therefore the area was restricted. However, it was still amazing to see Liberty in person. She’s very beautiful indeed. Thank goodness the sky was clear and we got there just when the sun was strikingly rich!

Ticket Price: USD$17.00/person

***

We also went to Fifth Avenue to have a look at shopaholics. Shoppers with bags after bags were everywhere. I had bags too but I can count them.

Tiffany & Co.

Louis Vuitton seems shadeeeee….

***

We also managed to stop by FAO Schwarz which was recommended by my best friend, Eirene.

Kinda like Hamleys but this is the ultimate Toy Emporium filled with history. Opened since 1862 by the Schwarz brothers featuring one-of-a-kind toys from all over the world

My New York Townhouse in FAO Schwarz, my dream home in Manhattan costs $650.00

And here is the proposed interior,

3-storey high, compact space with plenty of sunlight. LOL

***

And then…. there was the food. Portions were massive hence the price but it was well worth-it.

Food Mosaic

1. Burgers were everywhere and they were exceptionally huge with even bigger box of fries

2. Bacon breakfast came with 3 eggs and mountains of potato wedges

3. Each pancake came in the size of my face and I had 3 face-sized pancakes to gulped

4. Tuna wraps were amazingly tasty with fresh rocket leaves

5. Best ever Lemon Iced Yogurt Loaf which I can’t find anywhere else

6. Stir-fry rice with a choice of meat, sauce and 3 kinds of vegetables

7. Burger with bacon comes with sweet potato fries

8. Best chocolate milkshake ever; 1 cup is never enough

To try No. 7. and 8., please head to Westway Diner along 9th Avenue. You won’t missed the place.

***

To conclude this wonderful journey, need I say… NYC is a great place to visit but it won’t be my kind of place to stay. I would prefer somewhere homey, not so bustling and where the heart is.

May 19 2012

FRANK-ly & FURT-ively

Posted on May 19, 2012 by elena.kwok

It’s another day of flying but this is a long flight but thank goodness we are transiting in DXB. Hoo-ray you’ll know why later. We are off to Frankfurt again for the Paperworld Show which will be held in Messe Frankfurt. This is Hub’s first Frankfurt trip and I just now he’s going to love it. It’s cold cut food every Morgen, BABY!

Cafe NERO

Aaahhhh my love for caffeine has no country-boundaries. I can only find NERO in Dubai Airport which I have to have a cuppa each time I transit there.

Hot Boiling Soup

Never have I ever loved sizzling, boiling, bubbling hot soup ever. Back at home, I never like my soup that spiking hot but this hotness proved a big deal for chilly days. I had ‘goulash’ the tomato based soup whereas Hubs had.. HMM I don’t remember :p

Snow White

This year, I didn’t encounter much snow. The most snow I had ever laid in was in Slovenia. Bountiful of white scenery!

The place we stayed is near The Zeil; a.k.a. shopping street which I don’t make use of. I just love being at The Zeil.

Part of MyZeil

My Daily Grocery Place, 'Galeria Kaufhof'

Trenchilly in Effect

Hubby’s first winter was windy… KAKAKAK

Trenching!

Chilly… my hands are numbed, cheeks are harden and lips are pursed -> free BOTOX (gud)

Schnitzel with Baby Pots, Lemon and Mint Sour Cream Sauce

Craving for something fried but not utterly wholesomely fried. I love the baby pots though!

I think this was the Frankfurt Plate

To me, it looks like different kind of meat chunks in a platter; ham, sausages, pork belly, wieners, etc. Oooo plus mustard of course!

Beef Carpachhio

My first experience of Beef Carpachhio didn’t went too well. I had half and the remaining portion, I switched with Hubs. Lol! But I love the rocket though. They are fresh and kindy minty in a way.

Asian Food in Frankfurt?

It’s not easy to find taste Asian Food in Germany but we managed to walked into one which is just near the hotel we called HOME for a few days. It’s in one of the alley of Zeil and we went there a couple times because it’s not only good but affordable too. See the dishes above? It didn’t went over EURO25 for both of us; and that’s a catch!

Kaktusfeige - My FAV Beer

Kaktusfeige is my staple drink in Frankfurt. Morning, noon and night. Cheaper than H2O itself and it keeps me warm. I miss you, ‘Kaktusfeige’.

A MUST DO in FRANKFURT

Let me introduce to you to ZUM BITBURGER

: Special Menu of the Week

: Table with a View

: Left is owner Andreas (Andrew), to the Right is Beer-Master?

: Gloves Off; Time for….

: ‘B-EEEEEEEEEEEE-R!

: So fresh it’s bubbling to the top.. WHEEEEE!

: Best EVA Corn Soup

So delicious, Jake and I had to spoon-fight for it. Next time, we will order 2!

: OMG check out that poached chicken

Everything was amazing on this dish. The potatoes, the poached chicken which was voluptuously meaty and juicy and poppy. And, no they are not fish fillet though they look like one and the spinach was a nice portion and the sauce was marvelous.

: Hub’s Platter is always abundance of protein

Again, I don’t remember what Hub had but it was yummy too because I curi makan his dish. The erm… ‘soft serve’ potato was one of a kind.

So, we truly recommend to come and try this amazing place. Address is:

Zum Bitburger Frankfurt, Hochstraße 54, 60313 Frankfurt

How to get there? I don’t know how to explain but when you see the building below, turn right!

: “Oper Frankfurt”

Psst…. pass by the row of branded shops like FERRAGAMO, LV, PRADA, GUCCI, COACH, LONGCHAMP, etc I don’t know what else is there then you’ll find the opera house.

: Goodbye Frankfurt; see you 2013

May 5 2012

Chilly Hong Kong

Posted on May 5, 2012 by elena.kwok

Hong Kong, Land of Opportunity; “ONE country, TWO systems”. The weather was nice and chilly. Sometimes it got a bit tad chillier.. Brrrrrr. So, always bring a jacket along if you’re there in January but cool weather is good for walking around.

Hong Kong is like Shanghai. Food is everywhere! So, CHOLESTEROL & GLUCOSE.. here we come! Psst! It ain’t cheap, though!

FOO-DIES

My 'Fun-Harp' which costs me HKD$75

Smoked Pigeon

Stir-Fry Vege with Chinese Sausage

Braised Eight Treasure Seafood Soup

Stir-Fry Flat Broad Noodles with Beef

SEE-NERIES

If the ferry decides to sink, I would need this.

Dinner Cruise at The Harbour

Amazing view of Hong Kong Central

Skyscrapers of Hong Kong

We made a new friend…..

Introducing Paul Turk from CINNAMON JOE.

Paul Turk

Go on! Click CINNAMON JOE and check out their cool website!

Paul was our neighbor during the HKISF12. We had a great day out with Paul and he certainly was a great guy to hang out with. We missed you, Paul and we are very excited to see you again in May! So, our day with Paul began with meeting him at Causeway Bay. We went for lunch at SML located on the 11th floor of Times Square Hong Kong. Food was marvelous. Each of us have our very own 3-course menu. Check em’ out below!

Smoked Salad with Minimal Dressing

Mushroom Risotto with Finely Sliced Pork Belly

Caramel Profiteroles with Butterscotch Sauce

What I remember about Hong Kong?

Marrochino - Espresso dusted with chocolate and topped with textured milk foam DUTIFULLY recommended by Mr Ivan Yong (I'm addicted)

This Hong Kong trip was our first trip therefore we didn’t explore much but we are sure to come back again! There were definitely lots of walking and bumping into people. Kind of like doing a dance on the street but trying not to step on people’s toes at the same time.

I HAVE MORE PICTURES AND I WILL UPLOAD THEM AGAIN! SO STAY TUNED AND DO BOOKMARK THIS POST AND CHECK EM’ FROM TIME TO TIME!

Dec 30 2011

Mom’s Home-cooked Christmas Lunch

Posted on December 30, 2011 by elena.kwok

CHRISTMAS is always a mouth-watering subject to us especially to me. Mom never fail to cook us scrumptious food. This time around, we invited a few friends over to join us. All I can say is that everyone had a fair share on the turkey, the pastas, the red meat and the greens.