I am trying very hard to trace back to the day when i started becoming so emotional, but I can't. When was it that i began to tear so uncontrollably during a touching scene (and maybe not THAT touching), crying over something that I feel that I haven't done right, or even for a misunderstanding that I knew was just a misunderstanding but can't get over the fact that it had happen.
Today I cried very hard. Over something very minor, a one-sided misunderstanding as u might call it. Initially I didn't know what I was crying so hard for.. but as my head slowly cleared, and as the only person who knows me really really well pointed out, i finally had some idea. That I was holding very hard to something I should have let go of, that i was aware things are not the same anymore, but not accepting it until today.
People in your life come and go. Friends become acquaintances, it seems you know less and less about them each time u see or talk to them. You find that you can't really hold a conversation of longer than ten minutes and what you talk about are only superficial.
Take for example, when I found out I was pregnant, i made it a point to send a private message to a few groups of my closest (at least I thought they are) friends. Because I was really happy and wanted to share my joy with them, thinking that they will be equally excited. Some congratulated me, and went on to ask more about the pregnancy. While others congratulated me. yes full stop there. Then you realise that some people are really not that interested in your life anymore.
I am a easily contented person in the sense I don't care about material stuff at all. Because I have realised that the marginal joy a branded bag can bring to me becomes zero after a day or two. But I really care about my relationships with people I treasure and these mean the world to me.
And sometimes I wish they didn't. Because being emotionally uncontrollable as I am, I am just that far from being perfectly happy with my life. I am not blaming anyone, because its really not anybody's obligation to do anything for me. Its just that I really have to learn to let go...
Pyrenees
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Post-Texas
It has been a while.. in the last 6 months it has been changes and changes. Ah C successfully completed his UPT training, we moved (3 hour drive) from Del Rio to San Antonio, stayed there for 2 months, completed IFF training and came back to Singapore. 2012 has been a rough year.. and we take in comfort that we had each other to brave through it together. But who's to say that it will be a bad year throughout? For we are now blessed with the best thing in our lives (other than each other)... our little one that I have been carrying in my tummy for 4 months now :) The first trimester has been challenging.. ultimate fatigue (never felt so tired in my life), nausea, loss of appetite. And time seemed to be crawling by.... But now that is all over, and its exciting to see my tummy getting bigger and bigger day by day. I can't describe how happy and excited i am, as I await the day I can finally hold it in my arms.
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Drop Night
Last night was one of the memorable nights we have on Laughlin AFB, because it was Drop Night, a key milestone in UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training). Basically Americans who want to become a pilot in the US Air Force undergo the UPT program. It consists of 6-month training in the T-6 aircraft, after which is Track (another key milestone in UPT) whereby they get assigned to continue pilot training on the helicopter track, the heavys track (i.e. transport) in the T1 aircraft or the fighter track in the T38 aircraft. However, even training in the T38 doesn't guarantee you a fighter at the end of the program.
So Drop Night occurs after training in the T6 for 6 months, and T1/T38 for another 6 months, and its the day when our American counterparts are assigned the aircraft that they will be flying on their next phase of their Air Force career. For us Singaporeans, we won't know until we are back in Singapore, which means another good 3-6 months.
I must say, it was an Awesome drop, and we are really very happy for these guys and their spouses, who have become good friends. Most of the guys in the T-38s got there first choice - one F16, one F15, one F22, two A10s and one B52. That means for 5 fighters and 1 bomber out of 8 people. And that is an AWESOME drop, probably one of the best I have heard of. Even for the other other two, one turned out to be a FAIP (First Assignment Instructor Pilot) meaning he will be an instructor training new students right after he becomes a pilot, which is a great honour, and the other will be flying the MC12, which is used for special operations, and both I think is a great honour. It wasn't really their first few choices, but that is the life in Air Force, you don't always get what you want. But i think that whatever you get, you are doing something great.
Anyway, Jonathan, one of our best friends here, got the F15! And we are very thrilled for him and his wife Anna!!! This also means a possibility that Tay C gets the F15 too and we might have a chance to be posted to the same base as them again (Mountain Home AFB in Idaho)!
In two weeks, we will be having our graduation. I can't believe our life in Laughlin is coming to an end soon. Some beautiful memories we have here, some great friends we have met. I am thankful for this 9 months here.
So Drop Night occurs after training in the T6 for 6 months, and T1/T38 for another 6 months, and its the day when our American counterparts are assigned the aircraft that they will be flying on their next phase of their Air Force career. For us Singaporeans, we won't know until we are back in Singapore, which means another good 3-6 months.
I must say, it was an Awesome drop, and we are really very happy for these guys and their spouses, who have become good friends. Most of the guys in the T-38s got there first choice - one F16, one F15, one F22, two A10s and one B52. That means for 5 fighters and 1 bomber out of 8 people. And that is an AWESOME drop, probably one of the best I have heard of. Even for the other other two, one turned out to be a FAIP (First Assignment Instructor Pilot) meaning he will be an instructor training new students right after he becomes a pilot, which is a great honour, and the other will be flying the MC12, which is used for special operations, and both I think is a great honour. It wasn't really their first few choices, but that is the life in Air Force, you don't always get what you want. But i think that whatever you get, you are doing something great.
Anyway, Jonathan, one of our best friends here, got the F15! And we are very thrilled for him and his wife Anna!!! This also means a possibility that Tay C gets the F15 too and we might have a chance to be posted to the same base as them again (Mountain Home AFB in Idaho)! In two weeks, we will be having our graduation. I can't believe our life in Laughlin is coming to an end soon. Some beautiful memories we have here, some great friends we have met. I am thankful for this 9 months here.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Mixing strawberries (washed, hulled and cut) with sugar and some lemon juice. Then boil it, mash it and simmer it until it thickens.
Here's what you get.. then refrigerate it.
They could look nicer if I had a circular cookie cutter. But I don't, so I used my hand to shape it. The spouses from our class came over for dinner so I served these as desserts after the meal. It was great to see them enjoying the goodies. These are definitely going onto the menu when we have high tea at my house next time!
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Faith
I was a buddhist from birth due to family beliefs then. When i was 13, I followed a senior in secondary school to church and stayed for a year - attending saturday youth service, bible studies and cell groups. Not sure if I was just too young back then, I felt I never really learn much about Christianity. Going to church was more of a "fun" thing, singing, meeting new friends etc. Then i felt that it was taking too much of my time and effort and I stopped going. From then on, I became a free thinker, and it has been 12 years, almost 13 now. During this time, my brother converted to become a Christian, followed by my mum, then my dad. My brother and my mum have asked me to follow them to church a couple of times, but I was rather skeptical and never took a great interest. I didn't think there is a meaning in praying to God for anything. And that if there is anything you really want, you should just work hard for it yourself, why pray? This was until about a month ago.As you know, CC is undergoing his pilot training right now. Pilot training is a long process.. airgrading, basic wing, advanced wings,conversion... and this is a important phase because it leads him to his pilot wings - meaning it officially makes him a pilot (no longer a trainee). And going through his training day-to-day, i realised it is much tougher then I thought. For this 11-month training, it is split into two phases - the T-6 aircraft and the T-38 aircraft. He is into phase 2 now and is required to pass 3 flying tests i.e. check rides to complete the course. So.... his first check ride didn't went too well. And we were really at the phase where we thought we might have to go back to Singapore earlier than expected. I never doubted his flying, and he has really been doing very well. But somehow, things just seem so out of our control at that time. I knew how bad he wanted this but there was really nothing I could do. I wished I could do something - so I turned to God, even though I am not a Christian. I prayed and prayed. And then CC passed.
I will never know if its really because God answered my prayers. But when I prayed, I told God that if CC get through this, I would start to learn more about Him. So that very same day, I read up online about Christianity. One thing that I have always been curious about was the different types of Christianity there are - so thats what I began with. And then one strange thing happened. The next evening, because CC went for a weekend flying assignment, I went for dinner with the other spouses in the class. In the car, one girl suddenly asked the others if they fast or have eating restrictions on certain days - something she does for her type of Christianity. And this started off a conversation about the different kinds of Christianity. I have hung out with them a couple of times and that was really the first time they even talk about religion. This, i truly feel, is more than a coincidence.
So I am not yet a Christian. For one thing, i feel that His teachings has been translated in so many versions I really am not interested in just following a certain group's beliefs and do what they think is the way to worship God. I want to learn more about Him through His original words. So here I am, with my new book of the Holy Bible, learning about Him the way I think I should..
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Act of Valor
Last weekend we went to catch the movie Act of Valor, one of the best military movies I have ever seen.
It is a fictionalized story about the US Navy SEALs (US Navy Special Operations force) on a mission to rescue a CIA agent, and unexpectedly uncovered an imminent terrifying terrorist threat. Though a fictionalized story, it is based on real life Navy SEALs operations. It was a great movie, extremely touching, and made me deeply appreciate what the military men and women do to protect their civilians. Although the context of the movie can hardly be applied to Singapore military because of how safe we are (as of now, which is indeed very fortunate), I know there are serious people (in the Singapore military) who are prepared to give up their lives to protect our people. And I know my husband is one of them, which is why I am so proud of him. Yes, indeed it seems a little far fetched that anything could happen to us in the near future, but sometimes I also feel that we are a little overly complacent over how safe our country could be. We are, afterall, a small country and very dependent on others in terms of economy, political strength and even our food are mostly imported.
Anyway the movie kind of highlighted what it means to be a military spouse. After spending the last six months here in Laughlin, I realized this is the kind of life we will be having, even after this round of training. Air force pilot training is so full of uncertainty. After he finish his UPT this May and IFF in August, we will return to Singapore. BUT, we don't know if it is for good. He still has his next phase of training i.e. conversion and he could be doing it in Singapore or US. The training will last 9 months, and after that, he might be posted again. After his 9-month conversion training, he might be sent overseas for detachment, which can be 2 years or more. So the uncertainty lies, whether he will be posted, when, and for how long. And I can only go with the flow. Well, I am not complaining, but it was more than what I had imagined it to be. I knew it would involve a lot of being away from Singapore, just that I thought it would be more structured so I could have plans.
What this means to me? The worst part is being away from family, not being there when things happen. Being away from friends, cos these are great friends who know me so well and whom I treasure. Giving up my career, though I have no ambition of climbing the corporate ladder, I would love to have the financial freedom to spend on people whom i care and things i enjoy doing. Also, because it is so difficult to take leave for him, seems like there will be a lot less travels in the future.
But I truly believe this is all worth it, because of the man I am doing this for. He thought me the many values in life, always being my role model. He makes me laugh and has learned to know when I am upset. He makes time for me despite his 12-hour work days. His passion for his work, the brotherhood he has for his airforce mates. And for who he is, I am so proud of him. Hence, having a life with him is better tnterehan having a life with anything else.
Yes, I seem to have a lot of thoughts lately. Probably cos of all the free time I have. Other than cooking a lot, I haven't been doing anything extraordinarily fun lately. And I have no intention to bore this blog with all the food pictures I have. I do hope that I have something more interesting to post in the near future!
It is a fictionalized story about the US Navy SEALs (US Navy Special Operations force) on a mission to rescue a CIA agent, and unexpectedly uncovered an imminent terrifying terrorist threat. Though a fictionalized story, it is based on real life Navy SEALs operations. It was a great movie, extremely touching, and made me deeply appreciate what the military men and women do to protect their civilians. Although the context of the movie can hardly be applied to Singapore military because of how safe we are (as of now, which is indeed very fortunate), I know there are serious people (in the Singapore military) who are prepared to give up their lives to protect our people. And I know my husband is one of them, which is why I am so proud of him. Yes, indeed it seems a little far fetched that anything could happen to us in the near future, but sometimes I also feel that we are a little overly complacent over how safe our country could be. We are, afterall, a small country and very dependent on others in terms of economy, political strength and even our food are mostly imported.Anyway the movie kind of highlighted what it means to be a military spouse. After spending the last six months here in Laughlin, I realized this is the kind of life we will be having, even after this round of training. Air force pilot training is so full of uncertainty. After he finish his UPT this May and IFF in August, we will return to Singapore. BUT, we don't know if it is for good. He still has his next phase of training i.e. conversion and he could be doing it in Singapore or US. The training will last 9 months, and after that, he might be posted again. After his 9-month conversion training, he might be sent overseas for detachment, which can be 2 years or more. So the uncertainty lies, whether he will be posted, when, and for how long. And I can only go with the flow. Well, I am not complaining, but it was more than what I had imagined it to be. I knew it would involve a lot of being away from Singapore, just that I thought it would be more structured so I could have plans.
What this means to me? The worst part is being away from family, not being there when things happen. Being away from friends, cos these are great friends who know me so well and whom I treasure. Giving up my career, though I have no ambition of climbing the corporate ladder, I would love to have the financial freedom to spend on people whom i care and things i enjoy doing. Also, because it is so difficult to take leave for him, seems like there will be a lot less travels in the future.
But I truly believe this is all worth it, because of the man I am doing this for. He thought me the many values in life, always being my role model. He makes me laugh and has learned to know when I am upset. He makes time for me despite his 12-hour work days. His passion for his work, the brotherhood he has for his airforce mates. And for who he is, I am so proud of him. Hence, having a life with him is better tnterehan having a life with anything else.
Yes, I seem to have a lot of thoughts lately. Probably cos of all the free time I have. Other than cooking a lot, I haven't been doing anything extraordinarily fun lately. And I have no intention to bore this blog with all the food pictures I have. I do hope that I have something more interesting to post in the near future!
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Saturday, 7 January 2012
A different new year resolution
2012 and forward, I want to be a better person.
Judge less
because everyone is different, and in many ways. Be it the environment you are brought up in, life experiences that make you behave the way you do or something else. Instead, learn to listen, to understand and embrace the differences.
Not compare
because there is always someone less fortunate than you. There is no end to comparison and everyone's definition of happiness is different. Instead, always remind yourself of your priorities and values and be contented with what you have.
Take things in stride
because things will not change no matter how you dwell on it. Whine about it for a while and move on. There are many other things in life that you can put your energy to and make a difference.
Judge less
because everyone is different, and in many ways. Be it the environment you are brought up in, life experiences that make you behave the way you do or something else. Instead, learn to listen, to understand and embrace the differences.
Not compare
because there is always someone less fortunate than you. There is no end to comparison and everyone's definition of happiness is different. Instead, always remind yourself of your priorities and values and be contented with what you have.
Take things in stride
because things will not change no matter how you dwell on it. Whine about it for a while and move on. There are many other things in life that you can put your energy to and make a difference.
Friday, 6 January 2012
San Sebastian
Before I talk about my experience in San Sebastian, I would like to share some things I have learnt about eating in Spain.
Eating in Spain is not as expensive as I thought it would be. Of cos, you won't be able to find food centers charging $3 for a main course like in Singapore. Most eateries are in a restaurant/cafe/bar setting and for that, i thought the prices are pretty reasonable.
It is a habit of the Spanish people to start off with a light breakfast, usually consisting of a pastry with a cup of coffee, leaving room for a heavy and satisfying lunch. So if you ever come to Spain and breakfast is not included in your hotel room rate (like us), forget about paying that extra 12 euros for that buffet line of omelet, ham and sausages. Instead, head to one of the bakery/pastry shops, which can be easily found.
So for the most part of our trip, we would go into one of the cafe for a cup of coffee and pastry which costs about 4 euros/person (approx. S$7) - I think thats cheaper than Starbucks! On days we slept in and were short of time, we would grab a pastry to go for less than 2 euros/person.
The displays in bakeries and pastry shops in Spain are very pretty and appetizing.. and I always feel the urge to go in whenever I pass by one:
Churros with hot chocolate:
Hot chocolate served in Spain are literally melted chocolate with little or no milk and very very thick! So be sure to pair it with some pastry!
In Iruna Cafe in San Sebastian, the pastries are displayed on a bar top alike a tapas bar:
2 Cups of cappucino and 3 pastries, all for 8Euros!
When it comes to lunch, most restaurants offer a 3-course set lunch ("menu del dia") which is very value for money, approx. 10-25 euros.
One of the set lunch (15.50euros) we had:
Appetizer - Russian Salad
Main course - Grilled squid with i oli
Dessert - Tiramisu
Choice of drinks including bottled still/sparkling water, wine, soft drinks are included in the price of the set!
Moving on to our trip to San Sebastian, a city in the Northern part of Spain, in autonomous community Basque Country and southern coast of Bay of Biscay.
I would say the most popular place to visit will be Playa la Concha, some say its the best city beach in Spain, with fine sand, clean waters and the city just behind.
Surrounding La Concha are Mount Urgull, the Miramar Palace, the sculpture Wind of Comb and Mount Igeldo, which we took a day to explore.
Mount Urgull
Used to be a military fort until 1924 when it was sold to the city council and acquired a tourist resort status. At the top of the hill is a 12m tall sculpture of Jesus Christ which was added in 1950.
View of Mount Igeldo from Mount Urgull
Miramar palace
Wind of Comb ("Peine del Viento")
One of the best known works by sculptor Eduador Chillida, formed by pinkish granite terraces and three pieces of steel anchored to the rocks.
Pretty rainbow on one of the mornings :)
La Perla
La Perla is a popular spa-fitness center along Playa la Concha with many positive reviews and is highly recommended on Tripadvisor. I had a chiropractic back massage and the technique of the masseur was one of the best i have experienced. The strokes were so smooth sometimes I thought I had more than a pair of hands on me and the transition of the strength across my back were also executed very well.
We also went for the thalasso fitness circuit (http://www.la-perla.net/ingles/circuito.htm), which is a series of seawater pools at different temperatures with water jets massaging the entire body. This system helps to tonifies and strengthens the muscles, improves the circulation, while improving body strength and bringing an overall feeling of wellbeing. The circuit was interesting but for 24euros/2hours, we expected more than what appears to look like a large swimming complex crowded with people of all ages, both locals and tourists.
Dining at Arzak
San Sebastian boasts a high concentration of Michelin starred resturants and we had dinner at one of the 3-michelin starred restaurant, Arzak. For Eur 170/person for the tasting menu, I wouldn't compare it to any other places I have eaten, and it being my first Michelin-starred restaurant, it was a totally new and awesome dining experience.
From conversation with the service personnel attending to us, ingredients are locally sourced and the menu changes with the availability of seasonal ingredients and of cos, new ideas from the chefs. As each course was served, the composition of the dish was patiently explained to us. Unlike our usual meals whereby we know exactly what we are expecting, there are many times when I couldn't really make out what was in my plate because everything was so new to me. Talk about bringing dining to a whole new level.
One of two photos of our meal - our appetizers. I didn't take photos throughout the meal because nobody else did that and I thought I should just concentrate on enjoying the meal too!
Pintxos bar hopping
Pintxos (or "pincho", similar to tapas in other parts of Spain) are snacks typically eaten in Northen part of Spain, expecially in the Basque country. Normally found in bars and taverns, it is a tradition to eat one/two with a wine/beer at one bar and move on to another, when hanging out with friends or family. They typically consist of small slices of bread upon which an ingredient or mixture of ingredients is placed and fastened with a toothpick, which gives the food its name "pincho", meaning "spike."
The barman gives you a plate and you can take whatever you want from those displayed on the bar tops. When done, you show the plate to the barman and he will keep tab on what you have eaten. Pintxos costs about 2-3euros a piece and it normally takes 5-6 pieces to fill me up, hence its not really an expensive meal. And I always paired my meal with a glass of taxacoli (a local sparkling wine) or sangria. I made use of this website to guide me on the best pintxos bars in San Sebastian - http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en
You see the things hanging above the bar tops in most of the pintxos bars? These are called "Jamon" i.e. cured ham,which is a specialty and tradition of Spain. Also, the conical-shaped object is what we believe is used to collect the oil dripping from the Jamon. The two most traditional kinds are Jamon Serrano and Jamon Iberico. Jamon Serrano are made from white pigs and cured 12-18 months. Jamon Iberican is the pride of Spain and is generally cured 24-48 months. Jamon Iberico de Bolleta is a sub category of Jamon Iberico where the pigs are free to roam the meadows of the 'dehesa'. During the autumn prior to their sacrifice, they are encouraged to gorge on acorns (bellotas) from the holm oak and cork trees, sometimes gaining as much as a kilo of weight a day. Much of the resultant fat is mono-unsaturated. When served, Jamon are carved paper thin, and reveals a dark red colour with an incredibly complex taste and intense ham flavor coming from mono-unsaturated fat.
More pintxos pictures to end the post!
Eating in Spain is not as expensive as I thought it would be. Of cos, you won't be able to find food centers charging $3 for a main course like in Singapore. Most eateries are in a restaurant/cafe/bar setting and for that, i thought the prices are pretty reasonable.
It is a habit of the Spanish people to start off with a light breakfast, usually consisting of a pastry with a cup of coffee, leaving room for a heavy and satisfying lunch. So if you ever come to Spain and breakfast is not included in your hotel room rate (like us), forget about paying that extra 12 euros for that buffet line of omelet, ham and sausages. Instead, head to one of the bakery/pastry shops, which can be easily found.
So for the most part of our trip, we would go into one of the cafe for a cup of coffee and pastry which costs about 4 euros/person (approx. S$7) - I think thats cheaper than Starbucks! On days we slept in and were short of time, we would grab a pastry to go for less than 2 euros/person.
The displays in bakeries and pastry shops in Spain are very pretty and appetizing.. and I always feel the urge to go in whenever I pass by one:
Churros with hot chocolate:
Hot chocolate served in Spain are literally melted chocolate with little or no milk and very very thick! So be sure to pair it with some pastry!
In Iruna Cafe in San Sebastian, the pastries are displayed on a bar top alike a tapas bar:
2 Cups of cappucino and 3 pastries, all for 8Euros!
When it comes to lunch, most restaurants offer a 3-course set lunch ("menu del dia") which is very value for money, approx. 10-25 euros.
One of the set lunch (15.50euros) we had:
Appetizer - Russian Salad
Main course - Grilled squid with i oli
Dessert - Tiramisu
Choice of drinks including bottled still/sparkling water, wine, soft drinks are included in the price of the set!Moving on to our trip to San Sebastian, a city in the Northern part of Spain, in autonomous community Basque Country and southern coast of Bay of Biscay.
I would say the most popular place to visit will be Playa la Concha, some say its the best city beach in Spain, with fine sand, clean waters and the city just behind.
Surrounding La Concha are Mount Urgull, the Miramar Palace, the sculpture Wind of Comb and Mount Igeldo, which we took a day to explore.Mount Urgull
Used to be a military fort until 1924 when it was sold to the city council and acquired a tourist resort status. At the top of the hill is a 12m tall sculpture of Jesus Christ which was added in 1950.
View of Mount Igeldo from Mount Urgull
Miramar palace
Wind of Comb ("Peine del Viento")
One of the best known works by sculptor Eduador Chillida, formed by pinkish granite terraces and three pieces of steel anchored to the rocks.
Pretty rainbow on one of the mornings :)
La Perla
La Perla is a popular spa-fitness center along Playa la Concha with many positive reviews and is highly recommended on Tripadvisor. I had a chiropractic back massage and the technique of the masseur was one of the best i have experienced. The strokes were so smooth sometimes I thought I had more than a pair of hands on me and the transition of the strength across my back were also executed very well.
We also went for the thalasso fitness circuit (http://www.la-perla.net/ingles/circuito.htm), which is a series of seawater pools at different temperatures with water jets massaging the entire body. This system helps to tonifies and strengthens the muscles, improves the circulation, while improving body strength and bringing an overall feeling of wellbeing. The circuit was interesting but for 24euros/2hours, we expected more than what appears to look like a large swimming complex crowded with people of all ages, both locals and tourists.
Dining at Arzak
San Sebastian boasts a high concentration of Michelin starred resturants and we had dinner at one of the 3-michelin starred restaurant, Arzak. For Eur 170/person for the tasting menu, I wouldn't compare it to any other places I have eaten, and it being my first Michelin-starred restaurant, it was a totally new and awesome dining experience.
From conversation with the service personnel attending to us, ingredients are locally sourced and the menu changes with the availability of seasonal ingredients and of cos, new ideas from the chefs. As each course was served, the composition of the dish was patiently explained to us. Unlike our usual meals whereby we know exactly what we are expecting, there are many times when I couldn't really make out what was in my plate because everything was so new to me. Talk about bringing dining to a whole new level.
One of two photos of our meal - our appetizers. I didn't take photos throughout the meal because nobody else did that and I thought I should just concentrate on enjoying the meal too!
Pintxos bar hopping
Pintxos (or "pincho", similar to tapas in other parts of Spain) are snacks typically eaten in Northen part of Spain, expecially in the Basque country. Normally found in bars and taverns, it is a tradition to eat one/two with a wine/beer at one bar and move on to another, when hanging out with friends or family. They typically consist of small slices of bread upon which an ingredient or mixture of ingredients is placed and fastened with a toothpick, which gives the food its name "pincho", meaning "spike."
The barman gives you a plate and you can take whatever you want from those displayed on the bar tops. When done, you show the plate to the barman and he will keep tab on what you have eaten. Pintxos costs about 2-3euros a piece and it normally takes 5-6 pieces to fill me up, hence its not really an expensive meal. And I always paired my meal with a glass of taxacoli (a local sparkling wine) or sangria. I made use of this website to guide me on the best pintxos bars in San Sebastian - http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en
You see the things hanging above the bar tops in most of the pintxos bars? These are called "Jamon" i.e. cured ham,which is a specialty and tradition of Spain. Also, the conical-shaped object is what we believe is used to collect the oil dripping from the Jamon. The two most traditional kinds are Jamon Serrano and Jamon Iberico. Jamon Serrano are made from white pigs and cured 12-18 months. Jamon Iberican is the pride of Spain and is generally cured 24-48 months. Jamon Iberico de Bolleta is a sub category of Jamon Iberico where the pigs are free to roam the meadows of the 'dehesa'. During the autumn prior to their sacrifice, they are encouraged to gorge on acorns (bellotas) from the holm oak and cork trees, sometimes gaining as much as a kilo of weight a day. Much of the resultant fat is mono-unsaturated. When served, Jamon are carved paper thin, and reveals a dark red colour with an incredibly complex taste and intense ham flavor coming from mono-unsaturated fat.
More pintxos pictures to end the post!
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia (an autonomous community in Spain) and is not really that Spanish. I really enjoyed Barcelona as there was a wide range of things to see and do. We visited several of the works of famous Catalan architecture Antoni Gaudi, the Picasso Museum and Museum of History of Catalonia, and also did some climbing and sightseeing on the beautiful mountains of Montserrat and Pyrenees.
Pyrenees mountains
A mountain range in Southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain.
We did a walking tour to explore the medieval mountain villages of Pyrenees with the company Spanish Trails and it was a tour like no other. The tour was very personalised with only four of us in the group, and we were led by our guide Victor, a widely-travelled European (because of the mixture of his heritage he could not even state his nationality), who provided many valuable insights on travelling. For a price of EUR95, transportation, breakfast of pastries, jamon, and coffee at a local cafeteria in Vic, and a sumptuous lunch at a very traditional Catalan restaurant were included. I never really liked guided tours but for a country where there is so much to learn about, reading everything off a museum exhibition or guidebook was too tedious and some interaction really can make it more enjoyable. This was when this very personalised tour fit right in.
The entire hike was 3hours long and it brought us to where some of the most beautiful scenery could be seen. There were some parts where we had to walk along the trails on the edge of steep slopes and I was scared out of my wits. Every time i go on such hikes i ask myself what have I brought myself into, but I find myself doing it over and over again. And this is the reason why...
Houses dating back to more than 500 years ago
Camp Nou
Home to one of Europe's best football teams FC Barcelona and also the largest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 99,354 seats.
Montserrat
Catalonia's most important religious retreat
After an hour train ride from Barcelona, one can choose to take the cable car or the rack railway. We chose to take the cable car because it offers a better view of the mountains.
Many people also come to see the unusual rock formation on the mountain:
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey/basilica which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat, a statue of the Virgin Mary (and infant Christ), Catalonia's favourite saint. The entire structure of the basilica is really beautiful and it takes a while to marvel at every intricate detail of the entire place.
Architecture
Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) is one of the most internationally prestigious figure in Spanish architecture. His highly individual and distinct style are reflected in three of his most famous works:
Casa Batllo
Balconies which look like skulls and pillars which looks like bones. Use of colours and shapes found in marine life as inspiration. Use of trencadis (waste ceramic pieces).
La Sagrada Familia
Under construction since 1882 and still not completed.
Use of highly symbolic content, both in architecture and sculpture, dedicating each part of the church to a religious theme.
The remains of Gaudi's designs are opened to interpretations and there are controversy surrounding its continued construction today(notice the difference in colour between the old parts and new parts of the building due to the difference in materials used).
Parc Guell
Multi-coloured tiling. Use of natural shapes. Sculpted fountains.
Magic Fountain of Montjuic
Fountain performance incorporated with light and music. Performance varies and the time we were there, it was a Christmas-themed one which lasted about 25minutes. (And its free!)
There are many museums in Barcelona in all spectrums - art, history, archaeology etc and we visited two of the them - the Picasso Museum and Museum of History of Catalonia. Though there are many museums, I was careful to limit the number on our itinerary because I think it is important not to information overload (it becomes boring after reading too many things and we won't remember them anyway) and picked only those that we were really interested in.
Tourism in Barcelona, like in many cities, brings along problems as it flourishes. Pickpocketing and theft is prevalent - in fact we witnessed a pickpocket in action at one of the metro stations. But like our tour guide Victor advised, to concentrate on the beauty of the place and not dwell on the ugly side, that way you enjoy your travel much more. So just be extra careful with your belongings, because Barcelona is indeed a beautiful place and well worth visiting.
Pyrenees mountains
A mountain range in Southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain.
We did a walking tour to explore the medieval mountain villages of Pyrenees with the company Spanish Trails and it was a tour like no other. The tour was very personalised with only four of us in the group, and we were led by our guide Victor, a widely-travelled European (because of the mixture of his heritage he could not even state his nationality), who provided many valuable insights on travelling. For a price of EUR95, transportation, breakfast of pastries, jamon, and coffee at a local cafeteria in Vic, and a sumptuous lunch at a very traditional Catalan restaurant were included. I never really liked guided tours but for a country where there is so much to learn about, reading everything off a museum exhibition or guidebook was too tedious and some interaction really can make it more enjoyable. This was when this very personalised tour fit right in.
The entire hike was 3hours long and it brought us to where some of the most beautiful scenery could be seen. There were some parts where we had to walk along the trails on the edge of steep slopes and I was scared out of my wits. Every time i go on such hikes i ask myself what have I brought myself into, but I find myself doing it over and over again. And this is the reason why...
Houses dating back to more than 500 years ago
Camp Nou
Home to one of Europe's best football teams FC Barcelona and also the largest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 99,354 seats.
Montserrat
Catalonia's most important religious retreat
After an hour train ride from Barcelona, one can choose to take the cable car or the rack railway. We chose to take the cable car because it offers a better view of the mountains.
Many people also come to see the unusual rock formation on the mountain:
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey/basilica which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat, a statue of the Virgin Mary (and infant Christ), Catalonia's favourite saint. The entire structure of the basilica is really beautiful and it takes a while to marvel at every intricate detail of the entire place.
Architecture
Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) is one of the most internationally prestigious figure in Spanish architecture. His highly individual and distinct style are reflected in three of his most famous works:
Casa Batllo
Balconies which look like skulls and pillars which looks like bones. Use of colours and shapes found in marine life as inspiration. Use of trencadis (waste ceramic pieces).
La Sagrada Familia
Under construction since 1882 and still not completed.
Use of highly symbolic content, both in architecture and sculpture, dedicating each part of the church to a religious theme.
The remains of Gaudi's designs are opened to interpretations and there are controversy surrounding its continued construction today(notice the difference in colour between the old parts and new parts of the building due to the difference in materials used).
Parc Guell
Multi-coloured tiling. Use of natural shapes. Sculpted fountains.
Magic Fountain of Montjuic
Fountain performance incorporated with light and music. Performance varies and the time we were there, it was a Christmas-themed one which lasted about 25minutes. (And its free!)
There are many museums in Barcelona in all spectrums - art, history, archaeology etc and we visited two of the them - the Picasso Museum and Museum of History of Catalonia. Though there are many museums, I was careful to limit the number on our itinerary because I think it is important not to information overload (it becomes boring after reading too many things and we won't remember them anyway) and picked only those that we were really interested in.Tourism in Barcelona, like in many cities, brings along problems as it flourishes. Pickpocketing and theft is prevalent - in fact we witnessed a pickpocket in action at one of the metro stations. But like our tour guide Victor advised, to concentrate on the beauty of the place and not dwell on the ugly side, that way you enjoy your travel much more. So just be extra careful with your belongings, because Barcelona is indeed a beautiful place and well worth visiting.
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