*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

Freelancing

I don't know what is it about freelancing that gives people the impression that you're not working. I've been freelancing as an editor ever since returning from Dubai, but some of my friends seem to think I'm not working just because I'm at home while they're in the office.

This afternoon, a friend of mine sent me a message over msn. She asked how I could stand staying at home and not get bored when she was already bored to tears after just an afternoon at home, having taken the day off (she probably needed to clear leave).

'I AM working', I wrote back. And I have loads to do other than work. I have to reorganise my room. Last week, I went to IKEA and bought $158 worth of storage boxes. I'm throwing out old stuff and repacking things to make my room neater. It's all part of the Reorganisation-of-my-life project! I also take time out to exercise. Most of the time it's just a jog to MacRitchie and back. I did a slow 5km jog there yesterday and am aiming to increase that distance gradually. I catch up with friends, I read, I write, and I'm still looking for a full-time job. So really, I don't have time to feel bored.

Anyway, what is it about people who seem to need constant entertainment? I mean, isn't it enough to just pick up a book and read? Or just going for a jog or a slow walk around the neighbourhood? Or sitting by the pool and lazing the day away since it's a day off? Or cooking up a storm in the kitchen just for the fun of creating something? I just don't get how people can feel bored when there are loads of things to do. It's just a matter of going out there to look for it.

And please, freelancers ARE working too.

Shiseido Parlour

I discovered that a Shiseido 'cake' could take on two meanings in Japan. Before going to Tokyo, a Shiseido 'cake' would have just meant a two-way cake to me. Two-way cakes, by the way, are fantastic for a lazy person like me who's too lazy to slap on foundation and powder separately, if at all.

But ah, I was to discover that the Japanese cosmetic giant has something else up its sleeve in way of 'cakes'. At Shiseido Parlour, feast your eyes and stomach on the exquisitely made cakes and chocolates. I was on my way to a sushi dinner so I didn't actually sample any of the delights. Seriously, there is too much good food in Japan for my stomach to handle!

That Mille Feuille au Chocolat looks devilishly good.

You can browse and buy cookbooks. You can also dine in and the seating area is upstairs.

Shiseido Buildingg 4-5F, Ginza 8-8-3, Tokyo

Giant Tako Ball

I came across the biggest tako ball while walking along the street market in Ueno (上野), Tokyo. As I was hungry, I was more interested in filling my stomach rather than looking at the shoes and clothes around. So I went on the prowl for food while I left my friends in the shoe shop where they got waylaid. My eyeballs caught sight of these baseball-sized tako balls when I walked past the stall. Naturally, I just had to give it a try!

You can choose different toppings - plain, with cheese, with spring onions and three others which I can't remember now.

This giant taco ball is a different from the normal ping-pong ball sized one in that it has got pieces of sausage and a quail egg in it. They were also generous with the taco (octopus).

It is then served in a cute little box not unlike those used for Chinese takeaways in the US. It's not fine dining or anything, but it's hearty junk food and I enjoyed it thoroughly!

And don't worry if you don't speak or understand Japanese. They have pictures with English translations and you can just point to it. Each taco ball costs 300 yen (approx S$4).

Travel Woes

Backtracking a little, but just thought I'd share a tale of my travel woes...

I left Germany on the morning of 22 Dec whereupon I boarded a train at Würzburg early in the morning at 06.37. That was the beginning of a 10-hour train ride which saw me stop at Stuttgart and Zürich to change trains to get to Milan. I like German trains best and the way Deutsch Bahn runs trains is top-class. The ICE (Intercity Express) German trains are the best! Fast, comfortable, clean and it has power sockets where you can plug your laptop into. Someone told me it also has wifi...but I didn't try 'cos usually I just like to look out of the window or read a book.

By the time I reached Milan, it was 17.00 and my legs were screaming for a stretch. I had actually booked a room at a budget hotel which was quite far from the central station, but decided to forgo that for a hotel that was nearer the station as I had to have a early start the next morning. Feeling in need of some pampering, I decided to splurge on a nice hotel that was near the station. I went to one of the hotels and splurged on a 120 euros per night room. Yes, it was pricey, but it was what I needed - a little bit of luxury.

The next morning, I woke up at 05.15 to get ready to leave for Milan Malpensa airport. After having breakfast at the hotel, I checked out and was out of the hotel by 06.30 intending to walk to the bus stop just two minutes away to catch the 06.40 coach to the airport. In Milan, you can't take a train to the airport from the Central Stazione. It's ridiculous. So most people take a coach from the station. The journey takes about an hour. There are two operators and the coaches are supposed to depart every 20 minutes. I was intending to catch the 06.40 bus, but I was soon to learn that Italian time is always flexible time. Instead of leaving at 06.40 sharp, the bus driver kept waiting till the coach was full before he decided to leave. That really frustrated me as come on, I have a flight to catch! Eventually, at about 07.00 the driver decides to leave as the coach was almost full. I'm every sure that if that was in Germany, the bus would have left at 06.40 sharp even if there was only one person on board! That's what I love about German reliability and efficiency.

But that was just the start of my travel woes for the day.

When I arrived at Milano Malpensa airport, it was only to find a horrendously long queue at the check-in counters for the AlItalia flights. They seriously need to do something about their queue control. I ended up waiting close to an hour before I got to the counter. Then I'm told by the woman serving me that I don't have a reservation. And I'm like "What do you mean I don't have a reservation? My travel agent emailed me the confirmed itinerary."

I guess the screw-up occurred when there was a change in flight. Originally I was supposed to fly direct from Milan to Tokyo. Then a few days before I left London, I was emailed a new flight itinerary by my travel agent. Apparently AlItalia cancelled that direct flight and now I would have to transit in Rome to get to Tokyo. Somehow that change didn't make it into AlItalia's system and I was left with no reservation. I was horrified!!! In the end, after standing for about 45min at the counter, all I was given was a stand-by ticket as the flight was overbooked. Then I was told to go to another queue to wait and see whether I could get a seat.

When I got to the other queue, there were probably about 20 other people before me and the queue wasn't moving at all. A Japanese couple in front of me was in the same situation as I was, except that the woman had confirmed seats but her husband didn't . Instead of waiting around (there were many others in front of us), he went to buy two tickets from Swissair each costing 1000 euros. I wrote that option off the moment I heard the price.

My flight was scheduled at 10.30. At 09.55 I was still standing at the counter. I was never so stressed out in my entire life. I mean, missing a short-haul flight sucks, but it's still not ssoooo bad. But this is a long-haul flight we're talking about. I was on the verge of texting my friend to say that I probably won't be able to meet her in Tokyo!

Just as I was going to resign myself to the fact that I would miss my flight, a massive stroke of luck and alertness on my part saw me dashing to a member of the ground staff who was calling for people on stand-by to Rome. I know there were others in front of me but they probably thought it was safer to remain in the original queue. However I thought there was nothing to lose and so I dashed to her. And as if I had struck lottery, she gave me a boarding pass with a confirmed seat number!

With my boarding pass in hand, I sprinted to through the departure gates, only to find myself faced with a long security clearance queue. Thankfully it moved along pretty fast, but my watch was already showing 10.15. After I cleared security, I dashed to the boarding gate and for once, I was thankful for a flight delay!!! They were still boarding passengers and you can't imagine the relief I felt when I finally sank my ass into the plane seat. Seriously, I've never been more stressed out and traumatised!!!

But that's not the end of it. When I arrived in Tokyo, I saw my name being held up on a piece of paper by a member of the ground staff as I was exiting the plane. And I'm thinking, "What now??? I'm not expecting any limo service so this can't be anything good."

As expected, it wasn't.

My luggage didn't arrive on the same flight as me because I had checked in really late. In the end, they sent it to my hotel the next day but with my combination lock missing! As a security measure, they had asked for the code because I think customs must have wanted to check to make sure I had no drugs, weapons or banned substances in it. But they forgot to put the lock back!!! Pissed off.

Anyway, with this sort of crap service, it's no wonder AlItalia is now being bought out by Air France-KLM. If I can help it at all, I'm never flying with them again!

Back in Singapore

So I'm finally back in Singapore and will definitely be homebound for a long time to come. My flight from Dubai touched down this morning at 7 and I had a long nap after I got home.

Now I'm faced with the task of unpacking my stuff that I shipped back from London and there's also the stuff I bought from Japan to unpack. My room is going to look like a war zone soon. I took lots of photos in Japan and may I add that I absolutely loved it there!

Dubai was like a big construction site and I didn't think much of the city. My main reason for going there was to visit one of my best friends who has just relocated there. Anyway, now that I'm back home for good, I have to start looking for a job. Friends out there, please let me know if you hear of any job openings to do with writing or editing or perhaps some marcomm stuff. Any form of help is appreciated!

Anyway, photos to come. Eventually. Too many things to do right now.

Christkindlmarkt Snapshots

It's a bit late, but I thought I'd just put up some shots I took of the Christmas markets in Germany. As far as Christmas markets go, I don't think anyone does it better than the Germans.

The stalls sell lovely handcrafted Christmas ornaments and mingling with all the people out doing their Christmas shopping is quite a joy. Typical food being sold at the Christmas markets are caramalised nuts, Glühwein (hot spiced wine) in special Christmas cups which you can keep if you don't want to get back your deposit of 2.50 euros, crepes (sweet and savoury), sausages, Christmas cookies and chocolate-coated fruits like strawberries, bananas and grapes.

I went to the Christkindlmarkts in München (Munich), Nürnberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Würzburg. The one in Nürnberg is biggest and most famous, but seriously after you see one, you see all.

Cookies galore

Handcrafted wooden toys

A stall selling Christmas ornaments

More Christmas decorations

Bratapfels (roasted apples)

One of many creperies

The crowds at the Christkindlmarkt at the Marienplatz, München.