Bento Box - Part 2

18Dec/110

More ski

Went skiing with Kevin Quan and his friends to Stevens Pass. Took another lesson and it really started to come together: keeping the feet together, weight forward, press into the cuffs, moving the turning foot forward, stand up right, etc. Can't wait to go again.

Dubstep n' Trick contest

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13Dec/110

Skiing with visitors

Hang came to visit and Tu had friends from Houston- we all went skiing/snowboarding on Friday and Saturday. Snoqualmie and then Stevens. Skiing is easy to pick up but seems hard to master. Things started to click on day 2- great instructor at Stevens: Carl Lyson.

Other activities from the weekend:

Seattle Underground Tour - great tour if you like history

Supposed to be a ghost in here - didn't see it

My first crumpets- savory and sweet
Top: Pesto, tomato and Parmesan cheese
Bottom: Maple Butter, cream cheese and walnuts

Other foods from Pike:
Jambon Mornay
Chowder + Baguette from Le Panier

Chirashi at Mashiko

Tagged as: food, skiing No Comments

12Dec/110

araabMUZIK

is fucking awesome. More (mostly) instrumental hip hop music. Everything, including his freestyle MPC-ing sounds great but I could do without the constant "you're now listening to araabmuzik" sample.

and he does a better Skrillex than Skrillex

Found out I was out of town when he came to Seattle last month

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6Dec/110

Pains of Blockhead Scholars

Recent music infatuations
Pains of Being Pure at Heart - catchy sound, indie monotone voice, heartfelt lyrics - what's not to like? I liek teh album alote.

I must catch their show when they're back in town.

Blockhead - Instrumental hiphop/futuristic sick blunted beats. Listen to the album The Music Scene

The music scene: trippy video

Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis - great album, a far cry from their first album. Hip hop with nontraditional beats. Discovered through Mikey, I showed him blockhead and he hit me back with Sabzi's instrumental album Parthenia and Blue Scholars' Cinemetropolis

and a bonus song I discovered tonight:

Weezer but with girl vocals! Featuring Rachel Haden of that dog. Song is a bonus track from the deluxe pinkerton album.

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25Nov/110

Thanksgiving (Rib Roast try #2)

Hosted Thanksgiving dinner with some friends. Got a 3-rib Choice grade rib roast this time. Set internal temp target for 113F because I was too chicken to try 110F like I suggested to myself last time. That's what I get for not trusting myself- the rib roast turned out to be more medium than medium-rare again. Pre-heated oven to 250F, took 2.5 hours for it to hit the internal temp target, took it out of the oven and let sit for another 30 minutes while the internal temp continued to rise. It hit a max of 130F and then I sliced. I did not broil on top like I did last time- the crisp fat on top would have been nice to have, but we were all hungry!

The brined, bagged Turkey by Kathy was amazingly moist

Tagged as: food, memories No Comments

25Nov/110

Vietnam

My favorite destination of the whole trip. Wish I spent more than 2 nights here. It felt like 'real' Asia - not sure what that even means, but I liked how it felt like having one foot back in time with all the scooters and street markets, but still have modern conveniences around. Favorite part was signing up with Vietnam Vespa Adventures - did the day and night vespa tour. It was thrilling to zip through the streets of Saigon, dodging through traffic on our way to local sights, eateries, and markets. I barely saw any other tourists while I was in Saigon- felt nice having a local take us around to hidden places; I got to really feel the 'local experience'. People are incredibly friendly and open. It was easy to relax and have fun. More pics here

The Vespa I rode pillion on

Local park cafe

Weaving through traffic

4 on a motorbike, a common sight

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica - the bricks come from Paris

Market

Intersection

Speakeasy where they played melancholy Viet and French music

Rock band at Yoko Bar

Escargot, the French influence

Frog legs

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23Nov/110

Cambodia

Entrance to Bayon

Getting around by tuk-tuk

Siem Reap was very eye-opening. My first time in a 3rd world country - first time seeing so much poverty. Even though it was a tourist town, still really hit home how fortunate we are in America. Found it amazing that people are so friendly and happy despite the poverty and tragic history. It was hard to have fun in Siem Reap without feeling exploitative- $1 goes so far to them. A family can be fed on just $4 a day. Lots more pics here

Pub Street - closed off street of bars and restaurants

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat carvings

Angkor Wat

View from Angkor Wat

Bayon

Faces of Bayon

Angkor Thom

Apsara dancing

Sras Srang

Landmine Museum

Banteay Sreay

Intricate carvings of Banteay Srey

Overgrowth at Preah Khan

Preah Khan

Sunset from Phnom Bakheng

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17Nov/112

Singapore

Singapore is one huge mall. Shopping malls everywhere you go- most connected via MRT tunnels. It felt like another huge Asian metropolis, but much cleaner and orderly. It's such a shopping mecca that I wish I brought an empty suitcase. Incredibly easy to get around- everything clearly labeled and even bus schedules are clearly marked. Stayed 2 nights in a tiny room at the Ibis hotel in Bugis, and another 2 nights with Will at the Marina Bay Sands (comped by Msft!). Escaped the city to the last bastion of nature in Singapore: Pulau Ubin island. Rented a bike and went to the Chek Jawa wetlands- in the monsoon rain. 1 hr journey back to the hotel: had to sit on the bus and MTR completely soaked through and covered in mud. Like KL, tons of pictures taken, some shown here:

Orchard Road- the main shopping strip of Singapore- reminded me of Ginza but with way more malls. I thought KL had impressive shopping, but Singapore is even bigger

Went to the National Museum of Singapore. Great exhibit on the history of Singapore- and they had an art exhibit as well with art from Monet and Van Gogh