Fall of the Phantom Lord

Reading on the world class rock- climbing expert Dan Osman (a hero in the mind of many climbers), he is famous for free soloing (climbing without rope or other safety gear) and free-falling.

There was a report about him not so long ago on TV, where they recorded his last interview (he died in 1998 when his rope broke during a free fall jump from rock in Yosemite National Park). He was saying that he was afraid when he was climbing and suddenly realised how high he was from the ground, and that his arm was aching, but he told himself that he had to get to the top of the rock, and said that it was time for him to do something else, that he had fun doing what he was doing... Maybe for many he is a hero for pushing the notion of taking risk, of challenge fate and take control of your own death, but for me it was more for his lifestyle that I admire.

How many of us dare to live the passion like he did? We are too busy to find ways to make a living, to pay debt, to take care of family. He did earn just enough money so that he could carry his dreams to reality, so his death is not sudden but a matter of fact, and he is the one who is controlling it. Was he selfish and irresponisble? or acting stupid for leaving his daughter behind? Surely, everyone takes risk when we think that it is at an ok level for us to take, and dying is destined (hey, we could die while we are eating), and if you read the book, he did think about his daughter, and that most of actions he has taken were well calculated, he did not wish to die, but it is a risk in doing certain sports. It is not because we are not willing to take certain kind of risk, that everyone else takes it is wrong. Anyway, I don't know him, so I can't say whether he was a stupid guy for taking too many risks, and to be honest, we are in no position to make a judgement on a man who already passed away. Sadly, we are trapped with too many values that when someone did something different, we say it isn't right ;-). Who knows, maybe his daughter is actually proud of what he did (eh, we human usually seem to see things negatively)...

That image of a man with long dark hair climing on the face of the straight rock like a spider stayed in my mind. He surely was a cool talented guy!

Grrh, look like this year we are unable to do some outdoor climbing...

Asperge soup and gniocci

When Mika is sick...

He just looked for different places that are comfortable for him to rest...He does not eat at all, and can't sleep a lot ;-(, just stay in one place for a couple of mins and then stand up, walk a short distance, and lay down again. I am sure he is in a lot of pain. Poor baby.

Today doctor says he gets a bit better and is not in danger anymore (he almost died as his kidney is inflamed).

Sunday Brunch in Blue Elephant

I hope in 7 years, I will be able to open a restaurant like this Thai chain. So, it means that 2 years of training, then maybe a couple of years working, after that I want to be an entrepreneur ;-). It's so nice to work for yourself, free from everything else. Of course, you may as well work harder, but well your spending at least varying according to what you have earned.

They offer brunch at around 35 E, and the foods are fresh and well taken care of. Of course, they are smart enough to choose the location in Chee de Waterloo, where many rich people and expats live in. I like their salad de Vermicelle and lemon grass most, and then the desserts ;-). The noodle soup is not bad either although the impression I got when I stood in front of noodle soup table was like "hey, that looks like pho. Don't tell me that you guys are serving pho now", but well, different noodle soup, taste is little sweeter, and with some peanuts. I think Vnese food has a lot of similarity with Thai, we use a lot of coconut milk in cooking as well as for desserts, lemon grass is also used in making some soups...and of course the fish sauce, and other fresh ingredients like coriander, Thai basilic...etc.

Anyway, the staffs are Thai...okey, I think the girls have a little big bones, but to compensate, they speak very politely, soft, and sweet. The guy who was serving the noodle soup is kinda cute ;-P

...And they have fresh young coconut...MMM yummy. I ate a lot of guavas, sweet tamarind, rose apple...many nice fruits

Exotic fruits as dessert

Surprise!!

Last Thursday, Irina had an interview in Brussels, so she dropped by my place for a couple of hours as Cris was here to wish Cris luck.

So, Cris's flight is on Thursday, and well...I feel better, maybe I am used with the thought that she wants to go there, and it's a positive change for her?

To the baby prince ;-)

Two princesses of uncle Hung.

The baby boy is not born yet, but surely he will be surrounded with so much love. Last week, they showed me the picture of the echography, and it took me a while to really see that the baby is a boy ;-). The father was so proud to point "hey, this is his willy", "where? this one?", "there", "where?....No, but so big...that can't be but it's bigger than his leg?" ;-). The thing is the picture was taken from the bottom, so basically you would see the two legs, and the penis, bit since I didn't get it....

So, of course, father opened too many champaigns, and mum cooked many foods ;-).

Cris's farewell

Departure date Thursday, 1st Jun ;-(

Surely, there is stress (I think women were born to be worried and emotional ;-), men usually do not care much when it comes to move to new country, I think), but also excitement. Australia, Sydney...that's a long way (24h flight with stopover in Singapoor). Anyway, thinking positively, we are gonna have a new destination for holidays, and it's a good experience for Cris, and experiences always make us stronger. Besides, she is not alone there, Jeremie will take care of her, she will be too busy to think of those poor people in Belgium who don't even have proper summer ;-).

Hic hic hic I already miss her

Small get together with Chinese classmates

Kevin, Man, David, Doreen

Since they have been whining about not eating rice for some time, I decided to have them over for a small dinner. To be honest, I like many things about China, the country, the history, and maybe because the culture is close to VN (if not to say we, Vietnamese has been deeply influenced). So far, I think people from North China is very warm, friendly, and they speak what they think, polite. People from the south is a little bit too diplomatic, and sometimes arrogant. But it does not really matter of where they are from, I like hanging out with them, and we enjoy each other's company. I guess because of the unspoken understanding, and we discuss about things without having to explain what and what.

Maybe it is also because we like cooking, tasting food, and their knowledge with wines is impressive. Doreen is funny to talk to, maybe because she is a little older than us, the way she sees life is really practical ;-). She was talking about how strange it was for her when her husband told her that he had a surprise for her. In China, she said a surprise means gift ;-), and as she expected him to give her something, he showed her that he had fixed the lamp in the house ;-). Apparently she told him that it was not a surprise because it was HIS duty as a man in the house to do so ;-). I think she drives her husband crazy, and there must be a lot of things that she has taught him (or train??). For me, she is hilarious...

Anyway, Brussels Jazz Marathon is on agenda, and hopefully I will be able to at least enjoy a couple of good bands this year...But it looks like I am gonna miss it this time...

Amuse bouche and Tomatoes farcie, mix vegetables served with rice

Boy or girl? ;-)

The Vietnamese couple who are expecting a baby discovered yesterday that their baby would be a baby boy ;-). Of course, the young father is really happy, although he said that he did not mind whether baby is boy or girl but I could see that he wanted to have a boy first.

That's the thing about being pregnant, I guess, even though you know you can't decide on the sex of the baby, you still somehow expect the baby to be boy or girl. People say but most boys are wanted in VN, not anymore, my family so far has only girls, and nobody seems to bother like that. Even my youngest uncle, he even made joke about his wife and his daughters all the time. It is good that women are not expected to give birth to boys only otherwise their husbands will find another woman (yeah, men, they usually find excuses for their infidelity act) to have a boy to carry his name.

Talking about this, North VN is much more traditional, so some parents still expect daughter in law to give birth to boys. I find some traditions are haft good haft bad, they are good because they create a distinc of who we are from the other culture, but some of them are like rope used to tie us into deep unhappiness.

Modern Vnese parents are better, maybe because the education level has rose up, our generation is more open minded (in an acceptable extense I would prefer), give women more air to breath, and a certain equality although in VN, there are still many sad stories about them...I was reading a short story, a short diary of a Vnese woman, and I could not imagin how in this time we live, there are still so many people who suffer because of poverty, of family tragedy...Yeah, people say but VN will change. For me, it has not been changed, if not want to say it gets worse. People who are at the bottom of the society, still are at the bottom, from generation to generation...The more I read her story, I could feel that my country is going to have a revolution (like what is happening in Nepal??), where people are upset for being exploited, where the word humanity is not in the vocabulary that they are using. I don't dare to read some parts for it is too sad and hopeless because even the author, she accepted that there was no way out, that was her life, and it would continue, nothing could change. Yes, a life where you see other people die and you wish that it was your own death.

...Let's get back to what I talked about before...baby? ;-) Before, I used to wish to have a girl, but I think I want to have a boy ;-). Maybe because boys don't have to go through many heartaches like you do? Maybe it is just more interesting for me to raise a boy, I suppose ;-)...Anyway, but that in later chapters hehehehe. Meanwhile, I will just enjoy being godmother of someone else's boy ;-))

Foods and Papers

When the weather is good enough to sit outside and not so hot ;-)

The BBQ followed by a fondue of goat, fermented tofu and taro, creating a cool, excited atmosphere. Besides, less meat...

I went to eat Reunion foods last week, and love it. Their cuisine has many similarity with Indian (I guess because of the Indian majority and the geographical location of the island). The restaurant is called "La case de Creole", and it is near to where I live. They have very good curries, and they are served with beans, rices, veggies, and a sort of really hot sauce made with tomatoes, lemon grass and chillies. Desserts are not recommended ;-)

BTW, apparently there is a new bar opened called "The Flat" by two good friends, and a very good architectures. It is a place to meet after work, and a great hang out for expats in Brussels. You can have drink in the bedrooms, on the edge of the bathtub, from living room to dining room...And the interesting concept is in the price fluctuation of drink consommation at "The Flat"

Talking about foods, there are some very strange ideas recently come out, like enjoy your dinner at 50 meters above the ground (in an unsual way of course), but hey I guess we can onyl enjoy the view at the first few minites, afterwards, how long will the excitement last? and imagin the shortage of drinks, and limitations of serving. Anyway, you may like the idea http://www.dinnerinthesky.com/, I don't ;-)).

On the note apart, the other day I went to the renew passport, I guess it has been years since I last went to the VN embassy. They don't renew anymore but only making new ones ;-), and need 8 photoes. I have never been asked for many photoes before for passport. Anyway, I was really upset when the women in the counter talked to a loser, who apparently goes back and forth to VN several times, and this time, he went back to get married. And the woman said "I am sure you can get many girls you want, men like you who have Belgian passport, they will run after you". Really, I find it like an insult to any Vnese girls. I really wanted to punch her.

Talking about papers, I hope mine will get in order soon...It is really a pain in the neck when many things I do depends on it. Grrrrhhh

Antwerpen

Central Station from China Town

Recently, they are making a lot of construction work in this area, making the area around the zoo become difficult to access.

I had the impression that the safety also decrease in this area, plenty of suspicious cafes, and people with strange look. I am sure you can easily buy grass or drugs here.

But then talking about the town itself, fashion and design, one of the famous design school is in Antwerpen, and the number of Belgian famous fashion designers came from here. Plus there are plenty of nice, trendy bars to hang out (and people dress really nice here although I think they are a little bit snobbish).

A day trip

You can either spend time in the garden where there are plenty of entertainment, from the old music jukebox (carton box music) or taking a coffee or just simply enjoy the beautiful nature surround you.

You can as well rent a bike to go to the flowers fields, also excellent, and you will feel like doing sport heheheh.

But don't buy fresh cut tulips there, I think there aren't much choices, cost the same as in Brussels ( I prefer buying flowers from the Flagey market, btw now it is the time to buy pivoine, bought 5 yesterday, and they are great) and by the time you get back to Brussels, the flowers will probably dead. If you are really interested, buy bulbs, all the tulips in the garden, you can buy bulbs of your favourite ones.

Keukenhof tulip garden and the flower field

The animals

Different beautiful sculptures in the garden

Paper mill and wooden shoes ;-)

Orchids and lilies

I haven't seen many beautiful orchids, and the variety of them before. And the lilies are so big (really big), different colours, the smell is strong when you entered the lily house.

Do you know...?

Tulips were brought into Holland in 1594, and a bulb costed an equivalent of a house in Amsterdam today. After years of cultivating, now it just costs a few euro cents.

This particular flower needs water to bloom, and three months cold winter (-9 Celcius) to prepare themselves to bloom in Spring.

...And has also made Holland become famous for its flower industry.

Tulips

...more tulip

Vermicelle noodle with pumpkin's flower farcie

It is difficult to find pumpkin's flowers here, but from time to time you still can. Usually restaurants can easily get them.

Quick BBQ for two

Weather is good? BBQ season!!!

Very tasty Plantine banana ;-)

The Male role in a woman's expectations ;-)

Congrats to Tam and Frederic ;-))

It was a small wedding a weekend ago with only close friends and family members, but it was sweet and nice. Despite their 10 years different in age (she is 27, he is 37), they made a very nice couple. Tam came here 10 years ago, she met Frederic while she was studying computer science, Frederic has been traveling to back and forth to Japan for his work, and he admited he always wanted to marry a Asian wife ;-). I like Frederic because he did come to see Tam's family to ask her parents to marry her, it is one of the customs in VN, and not many Westerners do that. Frederic is the only son in the family, and Tam's family is really big ;-). It was fun to be in a VNese-Belgian wedding, with Vnese traditions, guests and family came with money in envelops and gave the couple when they came to say thanks (even the wedding invitations gave bank account number)...I almost forgot that ;-)

Not so long ago, Tam said, "my mom said it's hard to find the right man today, if you meet one who is rich, he is ugly. If you meet one who is good looking, he is poor. If you meet one who is good looking, and rish, he is probably already married" ;-)))

I guess she has found the right man, anyway ;-))