Home made poison pork rolls

One of the things I've really missed since moving here are poison pork rolls, more properly known as banh mi thit. In fact, it's been quite the thing to talk about - when Michael visited us, Steffi (my boss) mentioned to him that I'd been really suffering about the lack of specialised Asian foods, and he even mentioned how great poison pork was and how he could get it in....Okhlahoma City. WTF?!?!? He also told Steffi how delicious they are and how he totally understood that I missed them. But on the spirit of *Stop Complaining - Start Making!* I made my own poison pork rolls!

The various things I needed to assemble it, clockwise from top! Some mini baguettes, soy sauce, margarine, one chili, Japanese mayonnaise, home pickled carrots, spring onions, leberwurst, coriander, cucumber, and cha lau (viet pork loaf). 

First step! I couldn't make the eggy paste that's usually used but Pooey assured me that when she made them in London, that butter/margarine and mayonnaise worked as a good subsitute. Also, I used leberwurst instead of pate because they're pretty much the same with leberwurst being a fraction of the cost pate given that I live in Germany.

Second step! Layer the pork loaf, carrots, cucumber, spring onions, and coriander. I couldn't find the other meats that go in there but Gott sei Dank! cha lua was in the shops!

Season with soy and chili (chili optional!). I also put a bit of pepper in. 

OM NOM NOM!!!

Upon first bites, it wasn't quite the same - the different meats have various flavours and fat content that of course affect the overall flavour, but I'll say it - it was a pretty damn close feeling! I happily made and ate two and life got a little bit better here :D

Spanish classes.

I've actually been thinking of taking up Spanish classes for a while now. There are many reasons for this. First of all, I've acquired a number of Spanish friends since coming here and when I'm around them, they all speak English. That's very nice of them but, I think you'll all agree, somewhat inconvenient. Secondly,  while travelling in Spain with the parentals, it was a bit frustrating to not really know what to say to people in terms of instructions or what they were saying to me. Clearly, the solution is to learn Spanish, and this decision was made easier when Ele told me that the Muncher Volkschochshule (similar to the CAE) were have a *Spanischen Sommer* special where various Spanish-related courses (e.g. dancing) were offered at a moderately cheap price. SOLD!!!


This announcement was met with a degree of disbelief from my German friends. "But you can't speak German properly yet!" was a common refrain. I agreed - but perhaps learning a language I didn't know in a language I know imperfectly would help each other out! Other people just pointed and laughed. The Spaniard just said, "Are you sure you need to learn this? Oh well, you'll find it easy since you can already speak French." Now that's positive thinking!


So after the first week of classes (twice a week, 3 hours/session), I've made a number of observations. 

1. I am literally the only non-German in the class. And the only person of non-European background.
2. Maybe because of this, my accent is apparently pretty good - I have no problem saying *j* as an aspirated *h* sound compared to others confusing it as a *y* (as in German.
3. Having said that, after saying *ch* as a *k* sound when reading it in a foreign language for the last 19 months, it was strange to be saying it as a *ch* (as in chocolate) sound again!
4. I have absorbed many more Spanish words through travelling and listening than I thought I had, to the extent that...
5. I sometimes actually find that I understand the Spanish instructions more than the German! 

Anyway, for now I'm really enjoying classes. Muy divertido!

Wontons!

One thing I never really thought about until I left Melbs was the sheer amount of Asian food I ate. I know that sounds somewhat ridiculous given my racial background but it's true! In particular, since there is not a lot of racial heterogeneity in Munich, people don't understand when I talk about different Asian cuisines - someone even asked me what the difference between Korean and Vietnamese food was!!! :O My reply was that they're completely different! And one thing I've missed is Hong Kong/Cantonese-style food. No dim sum (or at least, no dim sum the way I'm used to!), no roasted meats hanging in windows, no seafood blah blah blah. I've finally gotten tired of whining and decided to do something about it. So this past weekend, I ended up setting aside Sunday afternoon to make myself my own won tons to make wonton noodles!


I was too busy getting my hands dirty to show you how I made them, but after conversation with Pooey, I put in mince pork, minced prawns, minced chinese mushrooms (Pooey doesn't put them in hers but I like them), salt, pepper, sesame oil, and corn flour. I can't remember what else went in there. But a couple of hours and lots of sticky hands later, I had lots and lots of wontons! Some of them I ate immediately with chilli sauce and sesame oil to try and replicate sichuan chili wontons! It wasn't quite there and I'm not yet sure if I want to invest in sesame paste to make it more authentic. I guess it depends on how much I crave them. 


After freezing a large amount of them for future use, I then made the real thing for dinner!

Pre-soup adding! I had it with egg noodles, bean shoots, lettuce (local shop's baby bok was a bit sad looking), spring onions, and chili. 

 With the broth and ready for eating!

I had it with a chicken-based broth that was unfortunately made from powder because I mistakenly thought I had some frozen chicken bones. All in all, I was pretty happy although I will definitely make proper chicken broth next time. I also kinda wish I had some cha siu pork to go into the noodles though. I guess that's next on the *Stop complaining, Start Making!* list.

David Guetta concert

A few months ago, I got an excited group email from Ruben saying that David Guetta was coming to Munich and did we want to go? I gave an excited affirmative reply. It turns out that other people weren't so willing to come (it wasn't cheap and it was in a kind of strange location), but who cares?! Me and two of my hombres? That's a FIESTA!!!


And so that's how I ended up standing in Konigsplatz on a humid Saturday night in some gummistiefel (gumboots) hopefully ready for any rain while listening to commercial dance music. He played a two and a half hour set containing pretty much all of the songs I knew, kicking off with

Titanium - feat. Sia

When Love Takes Over - feat. Kelly Rowland

Without You - feat. Usher

And a new song whose title I can't remember. Something I noticed though - unlike other djs who remix their songs when in concert, while the songs were mixed into each other, they largely sounded like their radio edits/the youtube vids. This was a good thing in my opinon!

A funny moment was when the guys went off to get bier and told me to stay where I was so they could find me again. Needless to say, they never came back and I ended up dancing with people who looked like teenagers. When the concert ended, I found them on the other side of the fence. And they had the nerve to say I was the one who moved!


Also, it didn't rain that much which is lucky - other friends who were at Odeonsplatz (about 1km away) said it rained like crazy there!

Movie review - The Amazing Spiderman

Did the Spiderman series need a reboot? It seems not so long ago that the Tobey Maguire/Kirsten Dunst movies came out. Or I'm old. 


Orphan Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an awkward high school student who lives with his Aunt and Uncle (Sally Field and Martin Sheen). He attends a *Science High School* where his crush is Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and despite his nerdiness, we see him standing up to bullies even when it means he gets beaten up. Things change when he discovers his (scientist) father's old briefcase and decides to get to know his father's old research partner, Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) and learn more about the genetic modification work they were doing...


So what can I say? My initial feeling upon walking out was that, in contrast to one of my companions who said it was terrible, was that it actually wasn't bad. Certainly the casting choice of Garfield was inspired as he not only looks like an awkward teen, despite being 28 (!!!), but also does a great job showing aspects of Parker ranging from teen insecurity and cockiness to a person who realises that the path he has chosen is a lonely one. Also, I was intrigued that in contrast to Mary Jane (Dunst) who fell in love with Spiderman and didn't make the connection to Parker, Gwen Stacy falls first for Parker and accepts the Spidey side of him. And this I think is key - this movie is about Parker less so than Spidey, and it makes the film feel somewhat less *superhero action-ey*. This is not a bad thing in my eyes because I liked that they showed that Parker's/Spidey's powers come from his intelligence rather than acquired from the spider bite. I also liked that despite his newfound powers, all the fighting and rescuing physically hurts him. 

But by the same token, some things were very weak. Connors transforms very quickly from a (somewhat) rational scientist to an evil villain VERY quickly, to say nothing of the character design of The Lizard. Actually one key criticism I have is that things are brought up, discussed as though they are important, and then passed over. What's the point in bringing up the mystery of Parker's parent's death and then not addressing it? What about Ratha's appearance and his cryptic references to *he*? It's clearly all (annoying) sequel baiting. Also, because I like to criticise poor lab practice whenever I see science in movies (cough cough, Avatar), in the scene where Connors and Parker conduct an animal experiment, well, you'd only handle a mouse like that...IF YOU WANT TO GET BITTEN AND MISS THE INJECTION SITE!!!


So in conclusion, this is by no means a bad movie. If you're walking in expecting another gangbusters Avenger's style bombast, this is not it. But I think it's a fair movie showing how the transformation of an ordinary teen to a superhero affects him and the people in his life. Oh yeah, Garfield also has great hair. And in that suit, great ass!
6.5-7/10

Kocherlbal 2012

Despite being surrounded by Germans, nay, Bavarians, at work, there is a running joke that I'm the one who spends the most time in tracht. Actually, this is not a joke - it's the truth! As I said to my boss, "Just give me the smallest reason to put it on and I'm there!" Well this past weekend there was a reason - she had an old friend visiting from Ohio and we decided to show him Munich via the Kocherlbal!


Like many other things in Munich, the Kocherlbal (Cook's Ball) comes from a 19th century event that just kinda kept on going (except it was banned for a bit). In ye olden days, rich people only let their servants have the wee hours of the morning off because, after all, all those servants need to be awake when the 1% are having their own balls. This gave the servants only a few hours to themselves to party, and thus, a tradition was begun - the Kocherlbal is a Summer food, beer, and dancing party that takes place in July between the hours of SIX AND TEN AM. 


And this is why I was dragging my sorry ass out of bed at 4am to put on my dirndl and watch the sun come up with friends while eating a Leberkaesemmel and then later some hazelnut cake for breakfast. Alas, I didn't have a beer because drinking at 6am is even a little too weird for me. This didn't stop Michael (our visitor) though - he sank two weissbiers (a cumulative volume of 1L!!!) before 10am! Also, because it was so cold and rainy, Christine suggested that the best way to warm up was to join the traditional Bavarian dances! This was incredibly hilarious because, forming a partnership with Michael, I am too small to see the demonstrations of the steps and he couldn't understand the instructions, leaving Christine and Philipp to translate and demonstrate the formation dancing. Hilarity ensued but it didn't matter because I think most people didn't know the steps either. Or were drunk. Believe it or not, I have actually managed to find the exact dance we did on youtube!

We also did some waltzing that was a bit like what I imagine being inside a washing machine would be like. Having said that, Christine and I found that the best way to navigate through the crowd to get back to our seats was to dance! Much easier than trying to walk through!


Unfortunately, with the early morning rise, I forgot to pack my camera so you'll have to look at this entry by another blogger but imagine the scenes with more rain.

So...ummm..yeah...

I walked into a tracht shop looking to buy a new blouse (bluse) for my dirndls...when I walked out with a new dirndl.

Black with white polka dots. I keep telling myself it's really cute and black goes with everything!

But now I'm not sure if I like the blouse....HAHAHAHAHA

12 Days, 6 Cities - Shopping!

And now what you've really all been waiting for - the things I bought while travelling! Plus bonus San Sebastian pieces!

San Seb - I love these coolway flats. So comfy, so airy, and so cute! They remind me of strawberries! Patri took one look at them and said, "Did you buy those today?!" when we met up :D

San Seb - Never have truer words been plastered over my torso. (For those who can't read it, it says "I really like to eat cookies.") I also bought another t-shirt but I wore it before photography and alas, it's in my laundry basket.

Barcelona - Ma looked at these shoes from Campers and wondered if I was simply wearing an odd pair or if they were meant to be coloured like that :D

Barcelona - I needed a handbag since the zip on the bag I was carrying broke :( But this bag was a bit too small to handle all the things I needed to carry in it (passports etc).

Paris - I'd actually tried on this dress from Comptoir de Cotonniers in THREE different countries. Ma saw me in it and finally said, "You should buy it." The same thing was said by the random French woman in the change room opposite me!

London - Peplums are all the rage now (Primmy)

London - Me and Pooey both got this dress! (Primmy)

London - another kid's size t-shirt to add to my wardrobe! (Primmy)

London - I'm hoping this will be an inter-season coat for the transition to Autumn. (Primmy)

London - And these half-gumboots as well. While we were at the checkout, the shopwoman actually commented that we were lucky to get these boots because they'd been flying off the shelves! She also thought they were cute. Can I just say, BEST SHOPWOMAN AT PRIMMY EVER?! She was so different from the usual grunts we get!

London - And another Cath Kidston bag to replace the one with the broke zip. Sigh, it's not the same though, and not because it's actually a nappy bag - the satchel flap is kinda annoying :(

And these red converse/one stars. So funky.

And it has occurred to me that most of my clothes now seem to be purchased in London or at least while I'm on holiday. It's probably cos it's the only time I really get to do nothing except shop. But that's okay - I'm just helping the European economy!

12 Days, 6 Cities - London

Eventually we made it back to second home aka Rundon, and I've gotta say, I've got some concerns about how the Olympics will run. I say this because there was a massive queue for cabs at the St. Pancras/Kings Cross Eurostar terminal. Okay, it was the same night that England played Italy in the quarters of the Euros...but still!!!

So basically we did in London what I always do in London - shopping! But this time with bonus Ma company! As always, we made our way eastwards from Marble Arch and we did start off with Pa but after about 30 mins in Primmy, he said *Righto, I'm off! Toodle pip!* I would also like to say, and Pooey acknowledged this, that I took shopping in Primmy to another level by trying on clothes while walking through the store. Yes, I have finally conquered la Foule!  

We took a short break during the shopping to take this pic on Regent St. with the flags that are up for the Olympics!

But London wasn't all shopping and eating - we also made it to Leicester Square/Chinatown for some Asian roast meats (which I'd been craving) and to make sure that Pooey wasn't alone when we went to watch Singin' in the Rain. 

All Aboard the M&M bus!

Waiting for the show to start. 

I can barely contain myself.

Singin' in the Rain was sung just before intermission. Here are people mopping up the (chlorine-smelling) water.

Ma and Pa outside the theatre afterwards

And then Pooey, H, and me.

So then, my thoughts on the show? It was good and it was enjoyable but...I don't know, I think the movie is more coherent. They have really expanded the role of Lina Lamont though and I must give a shoutout to the actress playing that role (name forgotten). She was really good. It must be hard to be that shrill all the time. 

On the last day of my trip, we paid a trip to Piccadilly to raid Fortnums and try to have afternoon tea for lunch. Unfortunately the restaurant was booked out (boohoo) but I got a selection of biscuits and a tin of jubilee tea! Ma and Pa also went a bit crazy and bought about £40 worth of foodstuffs. Yarm. We ended up going to Rasa Sayang for lunch where I got to fulfill a last craving for laksa. By now we had to get back so I could make my way to the airport and return to Muenchen. The nice gate guards at Blackfriars let Ma, Pa, and Pooey come to the platform and wait with me! 

And so, I did survive 12 days travelling with the Parentals (and sometimes with bonus Pooey). However out of exhaustion and stress, I did declare that as much as I loved them, I was never going to do this for Ma & Pa again. Ma's reply? "That's okay, I'm not coming back to Europe, it was too stressful. You're just going to have to come back to Melbourne." Well then! See you in SIX MONTHS!!!

12 Days, 6 Cities - Paris

After the pain and horror that was Madrid, I was both dreading and highly anticipating going to Paris. On one hand, Paris! A city I know almost like the back of my hand! French food, Asian food, French shopping....and Pooey was rejoining us again! She would be there to help me take care of Ma and Pa, and I was needing it 'cos I was feeling pretty weak. I wasn't looking forward to it because Paris is a city I love and eating all that food and doing all that shopping would require energy :( 


Not feeling up to fighting the RER and metro with luggage, we decided to take a cab from CDG to ...er.... the 13e arrondissement where we were staying in CHINATOWN!!! Seriously, this was one of the best decisions me and Pooey made in terms of accommodation evah! However, like Madrid we got caught in a monster traffic jam but this time, I was able to translate between the cab driver and questions from the parentals! (He said the situation was not normal for a Saturday morning and that he believed that it was due to a broken down car.) Eventually we made it there and met up with Pooey where I had some noodles and clear soup to get food in me and needed to lie down afterwards. I can't remember what else we did during that day. We did go to the Printemps across the road though. Kekekek. By the next day, I was pretty much back to normal and so we headed out to the city to get some tourist and shopping action!


First stop, parking Ma and Pa at the Arc de Triomphe while Pooey and I went to try and find some lemon biscuits in the Monoprix on the Champs Elysee. We couldn't find them and were slightly devastated by this. Lydia!!! Do you remember what those biscuits were called?!?!?! Anyway, we then headed off to Boulevard Haussmann for some shopping at Galeries Lafayette. 

No matter how many times I come here, I'm still awed by the 19th century opulence of the central dome and balconies.

We decided to have lunch in the upstairs restaurant and discovered something fantastic - Lafayette has opened up their rooftop and it has an AMAZING view over the city!

FOR FREE!!!!

Me and Ma with the Opera Garnier and Tour Eiffel as backdrop.

Sacre Coeur!!!

Family relaxing on the fake grass. Others had purchased maccas and were sitting on the rooftop enjoying their cheesebaos.

Kekekek.

We ended up eating in the Chinese restaurant on the 6th floor.

It was...alright. It's been a while since I had a seafood combination that I didn't make myself. 

Not the dumplings though, they weren't great.

After a lot of shopping later, ended up near the Madeleine which I was surprised to find that the others hadn't visited before...

And so didn't know that it had a great view of the Place de la Concorde. 

The steps for some reason were covered in flowers. It was purdy.

Photobomb!

For dinner, we had more Asian food. While exploring last night, Pa apparently found an authentic restaurant run by people who came from the same place in Vietnam that they're from and where we could get seafood congee so we decided to go there!

Various foods that we had!

But after dinner, me and Pooey decided to let the Parentals continue talking to the restaurant staff while we headed out to Bastille to get her a crepe. Unfortunately I wasn't up to it :(

We also went to a supermarche where this goggie was waiting for his master!

We also saw these - Bastille ruins!!! :D

The next morning, Pa had discovered one of the best things about Paris - there was a street market down the street from our hotel!!!

ROAST CHICKEN!!! YEAHHH!!!!!!!!!

MEAT!!!!!!!!!

My smile is just as cheesey as the cheese in that case!!!

Big smiles all around!

And then we headed to Pont Neuf then strolled towards Hotel de Ville for some classic Paris moments. 

Photo on the Pont Neuf!

Excuse me while I charge my car.

And then attempt to be the ultimate Asian by hitting all those ASIAN POSES!!! Kinda lost it at the end. Unfortunately, some girl came along and did a one legged pose. This is not a joke. 

Here I am ordering a crepe because I also had to speak French since no one else could. We were trendsetters though - after I was done, there was quite a few people wanting to order some crepes from this guy!

Ma and Pa enjoying the ease of still having someone talking for them.

It was MIAM MIAM!!!

On peut manger un crepe, mais un sandwich est interdit!

And finally at the Hotel de Ville. 

Alas, we then bid adieu to Paris and headed over to Gare du Nord and make our way to the last stop - Londres!!!