Thailand episode 1: Bangkok by night

Hi everyone!

I've been in Bangkok for about 3 weeks...and I have only 1 week left to stay....how time flies! I rarely find time to compose a well-organised post, this evening I just thought to begin my stories about holidays in Thailand with this picture. I and my family frequently come to this area. It's quite near my home but it takes time to travel because of the intense traffic.

I promise to post much more pictures and stories when I'll be back in Italy.

See you soon!

Counting down to the departure....

Well, exactly this time in exactly 2 weeks later...I and my beloved hubby and son will be checking-in at Malpensa airport...and the destination is...our beloved city Bangkok!

To start the chapters of my holidays' blogging, I just would like to announce that Bangkok won the Best City Award 2012 from Travel & Leisure Magazine! Well..well...in my opinion, there're no other cities that own such characteristics as Bangkok. Who's never been there yet can't understand the feeling. I'm not talking only about its beauty, its ancient architectures, its traditional costumes and dances, bla bla bla...certainly there's also the negative side of Bangkok, but the feelings, the emotions or whatever you want to call it, that the city and the people offer you are really unique and unforgettable.

Visit the link below ;)

Bangkok Wins Best City Awards 2012 from Travel & Leisure Magazine

So much....sushi!

After a long absence, I came back with one of my most favourite dishes: Sushi! What you're going to see is the picture of my masterpiece (don't mind the exaggeration..) made a couple of days ago. My version of sushi is usually modified as the convenience of finding ingredients. This time I had a pack of smoked salmon in the fridge, so I used it as the main ingredient.

As rice seasoning, I prefer the powdered one. You can use rice vinegar adding some salt and sugar but the rice remains too wet. As my own experience, Thai rice comes out dryer than the Japanese one after steaming. For the reason that I don't live in a place where I can buy very fresh salmon, I don't trust eating it without cooking. I, then, choose to use smoked one. The result is quite satisfactory! Not having conserved ginger to accompany the sushi, I sliced a cucumber as it help reduce the heaviness of grease from salmon. Sorry that I don' t have a Japanese style plate...it would have been more original!

Happy Friday: something about "Air"

I've been quite busy recently and almost forgot about the blog!! I just wanted to wish a happy friday to whoever passes here. Feeling fresh air of spring, I just think to express it in some ways. Firstly, I'd like to quote a piece of poem of a great English poet, John Donne (1572 - 1631) and to follow by a piece of vdo clip of my boy performing "Air" by John Blow (1649 - 1708). Actually, he's practicing it for his very first performance in public at an art gallery next Saturday. Although he just started the piano lessons last October, his teacher assured he was ready for the event. Now, let's be poetic and enjoy the music!

Air and Angels

By John Donne

Twice or thrice had I lov'd thee,

Before I knew thy face or name;

So in a voice, so in a shapeless flame

Angels affect us oft, and worshipp'd be;

         Still when, to where thou wert, I came,

Some lovely glorious nothing I did see.

         But since my soul, whose child love is,

Takes limbs of flesh, and else could nothing do,

         More subtle than the parent is

Love must not be, but take a body too;

         And therefore what thou wert, and who,

                I bid Love ask, and now

That it assume thy body, I allow,

And fix itself in thy lip, eye, and brow.

Whilst thus to ballast love I thought,

And so more steadily to have gone,

With wares which would sink admiration,

I saw I had love's pinnace overfraught;

         Ev'ry thy hair for love to work upon

Is much too much, some fitter must be sought;

         For, nor in nothing, nor in things

Extreme, and scatt'ring bright, can love inhere;

         Then, as an angel, face, and wings

Of air, not pure as it, yet pure, doth wear,

         So thy love may be my love's sphere;

                Just such disparity

As is 'twixt air and angels' purity,

'Twixt women's love, and men's, will ever be.

 Air - John Blow

Delight of the day: Kukicha

I recently have got a new Japanese - style kettle and cups and I was so eager to use them! I and my hubby love trying various types of teas. He likes particularly Indian spiced tea while I prefer light ones. However, infusing tea leaves such a pleasant scent in your room, doesn't it?

Today I'd like to introduce you a particular green tea called "kukicha"; a Japanese blend made of stems, stalks and twigs. Kukicha has a unique flavour and aroma among teas, due to its being composed of parts of tea plants that are excluded from most other teas. It's mild and slightly sweet. It's recommended to steep into hot water at around 80 °c for 8 - 10 minutes. Kukicha is special because it's naturally very low in caffeine without any industrial decaffeination (because of the very long drying process) and for this reason, it's also suitable for kids.

A sweet and colorful treat to brighten up your days!

The so long and enduring winter seems to come to an end...finally!!! It's reported that this spring is the coldest in the last 50 years. No wonder, each year there're some new records regarding weather; the coldest, the hottest, the rainiest, the droughtiest, etc...etc...

Well, to celebrate the sunny and beautiful day like today, I was wearing colorful jeans and jacket. A new haircut is done too! Some time ago I've seen a very cute vdo clip of one of my favourite bloggers. She's Thai like me! I just think it's worth sharing. A cheerful breakfast like this must help brighten up your day. But how patient she is!!!

Have a wonderful day!

What's happening around: Thai Festival in Milan

Hi readers!

I'm back with an upcoming date. If you are curious about Thai culture, love its cuisine and are a fan of Thai boxing, you can't miss this event! The first Thai Festival (ever organised this way in Italy) is taking place on 19-20-21 of this month, in Piazza Beccaria, Milan. There will be various shows such as Thai traditional dances, Miniature Puppet show, Sword dance, culinary demonstrations and the spectacle Muay Thai. To see the programs of each day, please click here.

I'm wishing we'd have warm and sunny days! I can't stand these cold and humid days anymore. It seems summer will never come!!!