oranje.day

it's queen's day today. the whole lowland goes orange oranje ! this is a chance not to be missed, not at least the outdoor market and the orange sphere. since you didn't intend to mingle at your own city, you head to delft, it's ideal - not too far and yet big enough to catch the orange spirit yet not crowded as in amsterdam.

 most shops are open and you chanced into this one which you thought the dress is quite decently nice.

the temperature finally warms up (yes, 25c), it's sunny and bright out there.  you just like it this way, weather is bright and warm but just nice not to be sweaty. the entire city square is transformed with orange banners, stage and terrace tables laying on the square,

there's performance going on stage, mostly lame performance but the dutch audience didn't mind when the weather is too good, and everything else can be overlooked.

meanwhile, you just enjoy your portion of kibbeling and watching the entertainment from a distance...

and the continue your stroll in the city square, doing nothing, just enjoying the street party and people watching...

 

you bump into some friends, had a brief chat and move on...

 at the other side of the historical city, the party atmosphere is equally high, waiters and waitresses are too busy running around serving the guests...

 sun seekers occupying the terrace cafes, it's indeed a chance not to be missed....

and a typical dutch scene where bicycles are docked

and balloons of orange, red, white and blue are decorating up high...

more of this scene will come in the summer for sure, for now just enjoy spring...

gifts.from.jerusalem

look what you got here... souvenir gift from israel. a mustard seed, a candy, a postcard and a wooden cross.

these little gifts do bring back a lot of memory, it's 1997 summer that you traveled to israel for the first time via jordan. prior to the journey you have to apply for a special pilgrimage visa and at the immigration, you have to ensure your passport is not stamped.

the journey was a wonderful one that gave you a lasting impression, you  re-live of the bible passage that you know yet it's so different when you're there to experienced it. an up close and personal bible reinterpretation and had a real feeling about the weather, the desert and the environment. you finally understood the psalmist expressions in the book of psalm and how precious water were/are to country like this.

you been to bethlehem, galilee sea, nazareth, jerusalem, the mount of beatitude,  the garden of gethsemane and many other places, at the end, it really didn't matter where you have visited as long as Jesus is living in your heart, it is faith and personal relationship with God that matters most.

dahl.is.not.dull

the weather is really suck here, somehow it just remains gray and wet... you are desperate for warmer weather but the temperature refuses to spike up...
and so you're craving for a bowl of sunshine, and all the sudden you also craving for the roti canai...

 you made a pot of lentils with generous indian spices and had that with rice a night before. it's great, it gives you warmth that you desperately needed

 the next day, you heat up the store bought roti canai, whisk up a cup of dirty chai and the dahl...

 it looks like a light lunch but in reality it's quite heavy but satisfying when you look at the drizzling weather out there....

dahl is definitely not dull.  you have two more portions in the freezer and you really need them on the rainy days...

it's a long weekend here in lowland ^^.

east.meets.west

an east meets west dinner by a dear friend S.

 a lovely plate of appetizer with french baguette topped with a slice of pineapple, salami and cheese... simple and delicious.

 a pork wellington

 lovely starters plate

pork vinegar made by another friend who didn't come but this is really good, you devour two big pieces of the pork and actually enjoyed the fat...

 you feel a little guilty for your host to cook up a storm on her last weeks of her trimester, she can be due anytime from now...

my bowl of kuay chap, this is more the northern malaysia style closer to thai version.  it's quite different from what you used to but nonetheless, you can associate this is kuay chap that you're craving occasionally and it's really good to have a hot bowl here

dessert is a store bought rich chocolate mousse cake that satisfied everyone...

you had good food, great conversation and companions, the kids really behaved themselves, that made a great sunday evening.

m&m.world

let's get back to bustling big apple, you still have a few posts about the american dream.  let's start with this one.

 m&m world can be fascinating...

 even for an adult like you....

it can temporary transform you into a girlish and childish girl that falls in love with all things bright and beautiful...

 like the little m&m chocolates

 

or even a t-shirt like this...

however the fact is, you walk out without any merchandise in your hand... it's just a dream, a temporal transformation to a childhood you...

spring.flower.parade

you returned home in time to catch the annual flower parade last saturday. not only that you're blessed with a rather fine and sunny spring weather in the afternoon which enhance the overall experience. it's just a pristine moment with blue sky and colorful flower carts...
you are not going to write more but let the flowers speak for themselves...

spring is beautiful in lowland ^^.
have a blessed day!

one.day

one thing that struck your heart on sunday during the church service. one day in the house of the Lord, is better than thousand days in the world.

returning home on saturday morning, despite of the overcast and rather chilled weather, the lowland welcomed you with a picturesque flower landscape... 

 there is nothing more beautiful than this.... there is no neon lights, no skyscrapers of new york

 just a bed of roses tulips

 and the two of you...

 and the endless sea bed of tulips...

 one day in the house of the Lord, is better than a week in new york and certainly better than thousand days in the world.

::brooklyn::

 you finished work earlier, and while heading back to manhattan... you decided to head to brooklyn....

it's not your first time but it's the first time to your colleague and your client, so it's worth the detour on such a fine sunny day....

 you had the view of the bridge and the view of downtown manhattan for yourself...

 this place changed a little bit, what used to be a ice cream parlor is now housing a carousel

but the view is not affected at all... the freedom tower is surfacing from a distance, replacing the history and writing a new chapter after the tragedy of 911...

life sometime can be too good, at least this week, you are blessed with the fine weather, a very smooth and easy workshop/assignment, an easy going client and the luxury of dining and drinking. it's been an intense week but certainly a good one ^^.