My 29th Birthday

I know, I tried but I failed. Yes I am talking about updating my Dubai trip and yes it was back in June!!! Well, at least I still remember it - looking at the upside!

The Dubai trip was a birthday present from T and guess what? We still talk about it like we were only there yesterday. Anyway, so here are some of the pics taken on my b-day, my last twenty-something birthday!

Posing in front of the infamous aquarium at the lobby. And look at us, our rigid smiles!

Here is another one of me, under one of the many chandelliers

At the Skyview Bar, having a quick cheeky drink before our dinner

The beginning of our 'splendid' culinary journey - the so-called three minute 'simulated' submarine experience and T can't seem to keep his eyes open already!!!!!?????

To be honest, the food wasn't all that but the ambiance was quite extraordinary. I think most people just go for the experience than anything else. The aquarium is just amazing! Unfortunately no photographs are allowed within the restaurant.

This is back to the hotel room after the dinner and there was a bottle of bubbly waiting for us!!

and rose petals around the bath tub!

the bathroom

and yes the bed, too! Courtesy of T and the hotel!

Flowers from T, which was quite incredible considering neither of us are really the flower-type of persons. More cakes and fruits from the hotel.

Oh and the best bit was that T proposed at dinner and bless his cotton socks - his face was as red as a lobster and I think it was more of a nerve thing rather than the influence of alcohol... or could it be the latter? I don't know but I know he didn't really enjoy the meal as he was contemplating the timing and so was fidgeting the whole time!

Anyway, it all ended very positive and I say positive is because we were both rather 'merry' after a few drinks but one thing I do remember is that I said YES!

So there....my 29th Birthday.

Oink Oink

Um hum, that's right! You are looking at a PIG! But it's not just any other pig; the ordinary stereotype. I saw this pig while I was in Taipei two weeks ago and I was stunned by the skin colour! If you look closer, its body has a large black swath while the rest of the skin is pink with two beautiful grey bands.

Since then, I've tried to research the name/breed of this pig but the best answer I have come up with so far is that it is called miniature pet pig. Please do let me know if anyone knows THE real name of it.

Apparently, this type of pig doesn't just have the 'look' but it smells like milk! As it is the year of pig, miniature pet pigs have became one of the most popular pets to have in the Far East. Most of us know that pigs are actually very hygienic creatures, according to its owner, the pig would stand by the door all day long waiting for the owner to get off work and it would never ever rest on the streets. As a matter of fact, the pig has it's very own blanket and that's the only place where the pig would rest and sleep on! So it seems that pigs are not just clean but very smart too! According to research, pigs are smarter than dogs. They are, in fact, among the smartest of all mammals!

Oh and did you know that pigs do not actually have functional sweat glads, therefore the way they cool themselves is by using water or mud during hot weather. Hence the old saying of 'sweat like a pig' isn't exactly accurate!

Hey, isn't it wonderful that we learn something new everyday?!

One Night Feast Hangzhou-nese Style

Stir-Fried Lotus Roots with Sugar Snap Peas

Roasted Spicy Pigeon

Fried Cod with Grapefruit - Light and Fluffy

My Absolute Favourite - Rice Cake in Chinese Dates

Hangzhou Style Pancakes

The 'Star' of the Evening - Braised Duck in Chinese Herbs

Edamame Beans with 'Stinky Tofu'

Fried Shrimps & Eel - interesting texture

Fragrant Hair Tail - A kind of fish, which tastes lovely despite the blackened skin!

Hangzhou Style Smoked Fish - A Real Delight

Hangzhou Lenten Goose

Together we had one other noodle dish and rice! As one can imagine, we all went home happy and very very full indeed!

The meal was scrumptious and set me off a good start in Nanjing!

Marichyasana D

Woopi! Our guru is back and my, she looks trimmer than ever! and gosh, it's so good to have her back, the class yesterday was just like the good old days apart from me struggling to cope!!! Partly I guess it’s because I hadn't been practicing since ..um..whenever, but also it was back to the old pace and dear, it wasn't easy to get back to the rhythm after three months of not pushing myself and all those sleepy classes! Okok, I know I have to let it go and I promise it’s the last time that I whinge about it.

I couldn't get into Marichyasana D and Iling seemed to be surprised and so asked how I managed to 'lose' it as we were supposed to be practicing and improving?! well, we barely did Marichyasana B or C, let alone D! Anyway, it was good not to skip any postures.

After the class, my legs were shaking but I felt really good. I promise that I will be going to yoga class at least three times this week and I WILL make them!!!

नमस्ते