Chinese new year is celebrated every year all over the world. For as long as there is Chinese people gather anywhere, they will celebrate Chinese new year (CNY for short) or lunar new year. No one can really back date when this tradition started but it is quite obvious as the history went back a long way, when the society then was very much agricultural base. And therefore, food is what it is all about. To celebrate the start of the new year after a very cold freezing cropless winter. A new hope, a new chapter to start to sow the first seed, to wish to have a great harvet at the end of the autumn.

Food therefore is something very significant and you can’t get away from when coming to celebrate CNY.

This year I was fortunate to have such ‘coincidence’ to happen to be in Taipei. Fortunate because I know Taipei is very much still keeping their tradtional even as she portrays herself as a cosmopolitan. There is this famous street called Dihua Street (迪化街） that about 1 month before the CNY, the whole street will be filling with streetside stalls that sell all kind of food just for celebrating CNY – treat your family and your visitors during CNY.

I am attaching some pictures here just to show you the varieties they are selling on the streetside: from dried food like dried octopus, mushrooms, to fancy candies like imported Jelly beans (the real stuff)!

Candies! candies!

Ah…barbecue pork..

It is still quite early in the day time to experience the crowd. Wait till you go there at night! I preferred to visit there during lunch time, not so congested yet.

Many of the street stall helpers are likely to be students working part time. As times are bad, many teenagers are willing to work part time to earn some wages.

Traditional candies, kind of like nougats, with many flavours too!

Hmm, yummy, all kind of flavoured dried squids. They are really delicious but watch out the calories and etc.. he he.

All kinds of dried seeds like melon seeds. You have to skillfully bite open the seed to eat the flesh inside. It comes with various flavours too!f

Traditional ‘biscuits’. Inside these have different kind of ingredients. Mostly are made from nuts or bean pastes.

去淡水很方便，搭台北的捷運就可以到。從捷運站走不到兩分鐘，就可以看到很多的游客進出的一條街道，就是公明街。你可以選擇一直走，街道兩邊都有商鋪；又或者選擇左邊，沿環河道路走，一邊是商鋪和小吃店，一邊是遼闊的河岸風景。

我喜歡走公明路，沿著許多商鋪走。不是因為我喜歡花錢買東西，雖然我不否認愛買東西，呵呵:p; 而是我發現，當我沿著這些商鋪走的時候，仿佛我是走進了一個時光隧道－我回去了淡忘已久的童年回憶。有些商鋪仍然賣那些我小時候的玩意儿和小糖果。

我還記得童年喜歡吹的泡泡，大概要花新幣5分吧（那是70年代了），就有一支小管和一支吹管。把小管里的紅色液体（應該是橡膠做的吧？）擠出，用吹管的一端把粘糊糊的液体卷起，然后在吹管的另外一端吹，就能吹出一個像气球的泡泡。它很容易破，但是，懂得玩的人會知道怎樣去補救，把破洞的地方捏一捏，就把洞粘起來。我也學會怎樣在泡泡弄個“ 啵”一聲，搞個小洞口，繼續的給泡泡吹大。當然，這個泡泡是不會持久的。記得小的時候，破了就赶快在吹多一個。

當我看到一家商店有賣的時候，我發出了會心的微笑，我想起自己童年的光景：吹泡泡，吃5分的糖果。我買了一些糖果和玩意儿回去，讓孩子跟我分享，在沒有變形金剛的日子、沒有HELLO KITTY，那些包裝精美的各种玩具的日子；爸爸是如何快樂的渡過童年。

當然有的商鋪還是以游客為主的，小吃店也不少。最不能錯過的，應該是要吃阿給。為什么叫阿給？參考這個鏈接就知道了。呵呵，現在的微基小百科，真的很方便：
阿給

阿給很好吃，是油炸的豆腐里面加了粉絲（廣東人叫冬粉）。由于粉絲很會吸湯汁，當你一口咬阿給的時候，豆腐的皮酥、豆腐里的粉絲的韌性（QQ的感覺）和吸飽的湯汁，真的是很令人回味的一道小吃。

淡水的美在那里？在熙攘的人群走動中，我們走到環河路那里，沿河邊有許多的小吃店和咖啡館。在海風吹拂（河是靠近海岸）下，在輕送爵士音樂的咖啡館里品嘗咖啡，在黃昏的夕陽照射下，可是別有一番情景。當然，如果是晴朗無云的天空，黃昏可是仍然刺眼的。呵呵。

我喜歡的淡水，是因為它有一种寬容。各种商店、各种美食并存。在許多游客的商店間，我們可以找到一些老鋪，這對我這個新加坡人來說，是一种欣喜。它沒有被旅游觀光而排斥，我覺得這樣是很有性格的。我更喜歡的淡水是，在周末的時候，靠近捷運那里有各种攤位，喜歡發揮創意的人，都可以在那里來展示自己的創意。我找到不少惊喜：用吸管做成的各种昆虫、一個老外吹排笛子pan flute發出悠揚歡樂的樂曲。

淡水是個令我不斷駐足，不想跟其他游客一樣赶場的一個景點。

冰糖葫蘆，真的很可口，甜中帶酸。味道特別。

沿公明路那里走，兩邊都是商鋪，各种廣告牌，各种顏色，雜亂無章中，又仿佛是一种抽象的彩繪。第一次的感覺是眼花繚亂，不過，慢慢的走，就會發現很多有趣的商鋪、小吃、小玩意儿。

大家都知道台湾的 顶泰丰把小笼包一个这样简单的小吃，铸造成为一个美食神话。这不是乱盖的，事实上在1993年1月的美国纽约时报NEW YORK TIMES评选它为世界十大美食餐馆，或者说，你应该要去品尝不可的世界十大之一。

顶泰丰我是去过了好几家，台北的，上海的，新加坡的。可以这样说，它们的品质管控导入到中央厨房生产的结果是，几乎到那里吃，都可以看到18褶的小笼包，口感、味道都有一定的水平。

就在我以为台湾只有顶泰丰的小笼包的时候，我出差常住在台北的亚都丽致饭店（位于台北民权东路）那里的服务生告诉我其实它们对面就有一家小笼包馆很好吃，叫点水楼点水楼 。

第一次进去的感觉，没有象顶泰丰那样的喧哗和挤迫的感觉，却有古朴的的味道，空间也满大。让人可以在舒适的环境下品茗美食和茶点。记得有一回，应该是2007年的时候吧，他们推出了张爱玲筵，感觉是很特别的。我除了喜欢他们的小笼包外，也喜欢他们的江浙的菜肴。记得有一回，我点了个东坡肉，真的是油而不腻，那种口感，给我留下了深刻的印象。（嘿嘿，至少吃了也没有犯罪的感觉）而且，据了解，他们去年还获得了台北美食评定为4星级的餐馆的荣衔，真的是实至名归。

2009年1月17日目睹失火

1月16日，我抵达台北，又是下榻于亚都饭店。本来也是有打算呼朋引伴的计划到自己心仪的美食地点去吃，也考虑了要到点水楼去。由于友人是在周末才会有空，只好等他们确认了才约在那里吃。

没想到的是，隔天17日早晨，当我在饭店餐厅享用了早餐后回到房里，正打算好好的办点工的时候，却听到了不停的消防车的响声还有救援车的响声。开始我不以为意，以为是路过而已。可是，后来我发现，我的房间里开始有烧焦的味道，我就慌了，赶紧出门外看，也没有发现什么浓浓的黑烟。

回到房里，到窗外一看，赫然发现对街停了很多的消防车、救援车。还有浓浓的黑烟，不住的从某个地方往上冒。那时候，台北还是凉快的，寒流刚过去，太阳也算温和的。我带了我的索尼爱立信手机下楼，结果给我派到了这一幕：

我身旁的亚都同事告诉我，原来是点水楼失火了！我吓了一跳，就快要过年了，怎会呢？八卦的问他们，果然消息灵通的说，原来点水楼本来是在装修的，预计是要过年前再开业。坦白说，台湾这个非常时期，大众还是消费在吃为主，尤其过年，更是许多餐馆靠过年的各种筵席来抬高收入。

没想到点水楼的民权店居然被祝融光顾了，满街的黑烟散布，搞到我都很难呼吸。脚下一紧赶紧回房去，心里叹息不知道什么时候，他们能开业，让我再品尝美食。

This is probably my first post on writing about a few hotels that I frequently stay while travelling for business. I feel that I should share that so that some of you might find it helpful to understand the quality and services of the hotel.

This Hotel sounded like Hyatt when I first told by my supply partner. They clarified with me that it is actually Haiyatt. My first thought was, “wait a minute, do you mean they even copy the name to mislead people?”. By then they show me the Chinese name: 海悦饭店that I realised it was pronounced slightly different and the Chinese name didn’t suggest similarity of the famous Hyatt(凯悦）.

I have been to this hotel a couple of times over the years. When I travel to Dongguan, I like to pick this hotel because although it is a China local 5-star rated hotel, it is quite well run and managed comparing to other Chinal local hotels.

Let me explain why:

1. Non-smoking floor -

Not many local hotels in China bother to allocate non-smoking floor. As most local hotels in China entertain at least 70% local business or casual travellers (my observation during morning breakfast) and most Chinese in China smoke (yeap, I really don’t like it), most hotel don’t really commit to cater for non-smokers. Even if they have a local 5-star rating, you might want to find out more if you don’t want to ‘live among smokers’ especially when you are allergic to  the cigarettes. And I had also bad experience even in hotels run by international chain that they admit smokers in non-smoking rooms and fume the whole floor with their puffs and that really drive me mad to complain to the front desk.

Smokers said I had the freedom to smoke. But I said, I should have the freedom not to breath in what you breath out, go do it somewhere else!

I find Haiyatt having dedicated non-smoking floor and maintain it quite well without any cigarette smell. Of course, can’t gurantee when during peak season like the notorious Guangzhou Trade fair (twice a year).

2. International standard buffet breakfast-

Not many 5-star hotel in China really served the full international breakfast buffet. You can tell by looking at the choice of cheese they put on the platter. Some of the hotel just couldn’t afford to put more than 1 choice like the cheddar cheese. Not in Haiyatt. I love their varieties displayed on the platter. Their streaky beacon is really streaky too although a bit oily. Well, the ham was generously cut, not like some hotel that cut as thin like a piece of paper, fall short of seeing through when put under the light. And the ham is not the typical local made ham (can tell by the colour and the amount of fats on it). English tea serve with decent taste ( some hotel put 2 bags of Lipton tea and make a pot out of it, no taste at all!) Not to mention the varieties of salad, fruits and cereals. They really assure you a nice breakfast for a good start of the day.

3. A choice Chinese Dim-sum restaurant

Although I may not like the smokers smoking freely, I do have a choice to have breakfast in the Chinese restaurant. I tried once and it was remarkable. The Chinese tea served come with a selectable varieties: 铁观音、香片、普洱. They give you a piece of menu that you can pick your own choice of dim-sum. Once you pick them and give it to the waiter, they will steam them to your orders and serve it warm on the plate. I can only say that they have very good standard of Dim-sum and flavour too!

4. Nice and neat bedroom

Haiyatt Dongguan has 2 buildings combined together. I like the one right ontop of the main lobby. The rooms are nicely done up with Zen touch. It comes with LCD TV, no longer the typical Philips or Sharp CRT TV. It also comes with JVC mini-hifi that can play DVD. One thing I like is that they even provide a few music CD for relaxations.

5. Firm bed and selectable pillows

I am very particular about the bed and pillow each time I stay in a hotel. As I am going to spend 1/3 of my time lying on it, I cannot believe that some hotels really couldn’t invest or pay attention to such important details. I have seen hotels put one king size ontop of 2 singles support below. So, at right at the centre, you can see a hum. With prolong usage, you find that the bed is acutally like a moutain with the peak at the centre. Ouch! How to sleep on such a bed? I also find hotels don’t turn over the bed, you can find over time, it has formed a certain contour on it. Sags. Worst of all, a 5-star hotel only provide 1 choice of pillow! When i need a harder ones, I was told to use my own creativity – fix your own problem, sorry can’t help here.

Not in Haiyatt, for a local hotel like Haiyatt, I am glad that they do provide harder pillows. Their bed is firmed too. Nothing more important than a comfortable rest.

Lastly, my recent trip there was caught by a surprise. Their Italian restaurant was having a Truffle promotion and I was served free with a truffle appetizer. Here is a picture to share. I am telling you, with a buffet dinner at RMB 200+, I find it quite worth it. No qualms at all!

And here is the link to the hotel:

Haiyatt Hotel>

可是，来到街上，就是截然不同的步伐。行人行色匆匆，嘴角不带一点微笑，每个的脸上都有个故事，茫然的望向自己的目标，丝毫没有察觉到旁人的存在。

台北最不可思议的，就是上下班高峰的时候，在路口的红灯，永远有很多很多的摩托车。有的你甚至可以看到一家大小坐在一起，或者是在主人的腿间，冒出一只小狗狗的头。由于路面的面积有限，大家都似乎挤在一块儿，却又小心翼翼的避免碰撞旁人的摩托车。排出来的废气，在等候80秒长的红灯转绿的摩托车骑士来说，是个每天都要面对健康问题。于是，为了健康，为了面对天天要挑战的废气，大部分的人都戴上了口罩。

说来很好玩，很多的人带口罩，不是千篇一律的，有的很别具特色。女士们戴的花样可多了：米奇老鼠、小叮当、HELLO KITY的都有。男士们就比较简单，不过有看过有花布做的，不知道是不是太太亲手做的。不过口罩的功能不是只用来对付废气，事实上如果有人有感冒，都会很自觉的带上口罩。因此，在步行匆匆的人群中，总会看到有人戴口罩。

没有尴尬、没有不好意思。

The beautiful love story (well, actually kind of weird to the westerners) was also written with xihu, the west lake, as the backdrop. A young scholar one day ran into a beautiful lady with her maid. They fell in love, got married. However, the young scholar didn’t know that this wife was actually a snake (so was her maid) that had lived so long and acquired the ‘way’ to live long with magical power and also able to transformed into human.

Such love was forbidden to the eyes of the ‘righteous religious’, a monk represent (subtly) the tradition view that such marriage was unorthodox, insane, unheard of, unacceptable, ‘no one did this before’. Only speculative that the wife would harm him one day, no longer love him.

The scholar was scared and frightened and agreed to help the monk to deal with his wife. Only did he realise later that how much the wife had sacrificed to choose a life that was never in her plan, crazily in love with this young scholar only resulted turning against her.

I was at xihu for business trip. I believe that was 2004 Jan. Due to the drastic development in China, the weather had changed that some told me, Hangzhou, where xihu was located, had not been snowing for many years.

But that morning, the magical moment came in as a surprised. I was having my breakfast in the hotel cafe when someone was shouting, “oh look! It is snowing outside.” I quickly dashed out with my camera although I was freezingly cold. I walked across the street (I stayed at Shangri-la which is very close by to xihu) and just simply shot pictures. With only a simple digital camera, without any carefulness in getting views, and this is one I got which I really love it.