Category Archives: Tour guides

Farmers Market

Posted on December 10, 2012 by sinyaw

“What do you miss from California?” People asked when they learned that we lived there for decades. “Farmers Market!” has been the answer we never really said out loud. The inquirers rarely really wanted to know. It was only a … Continue reading →

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Asian Bakeries

Posted on December 5, 2012 by sinyaw

One of the joyful experience coming to Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, China) is the extravagant and huge variety of breads. American bakeries focus mostly on the crust and the texture inside of the bread. The fancy ones add aromatic or … Continue reading →

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李鵠鳳梨酥

Posted on November 7, 2012 by sinyaw

台灣的鳳梨酥,早就走火入魔了.每年比賽,又來什麼”伴手禮”. 台北的”佳德”,隊排到不行.每人限購,還可以排門外上百公尺.套句北京話,”有這麼至於嗎?” 從小,我家吃的是李鵠.只有基隆有賣,每個是紙包的.有人去基隆,一定託帶.一定買幾盒,大家分.孩子們聽到鳳梨酥就衝上來.乖透了. 來美國後,台灣發展了鳳梨酥文化,爭奇鬥艷,五花八門.越來越Fancy. 我們想的還是李鵠.但它只在基隆賣,舊友凋零,沒人可以託買了.每次朋友帶佳德來,都想起李鵠.念一聲. 這次回台,帶孩子去九份逛逛.心裏想的就是廟口的李鵠老店.這店可是清朝(1882年)就在了.真還在老地方(仁三路90號),什麼都沒變. 聽說早年分家,大房留在老店,獨佔基隆市場,不開分店.也保留李鵠這店名. 我們當然就大小包買足了一車. 是他好吃? 還是懷舊? 不重要啦. 吃唄.

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Beef Noodles

Posted on October 7, 2012 by sinyaw

“Food is the sky,” Chinese proclaimed. That, in terms of priority, food matters are always at the top. Citizens of Taipei took this to heart. This city is teemed with restaurants. Beef noodles, somehow, has ascended to obsessivity. Every year, … Continue reading →

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Coffee @ TPE

Posted on September 9, 2012 by sinyaw

Taipei When not in Seattle, getting quality caffeine is a major inconvenience. Like an addict, I need to secure my fixes regularly and would made mental notes on the locations of Starbucks while moving around the city. Imagine my delight … Continue reading →

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Sailing @ SLU

Posted on August 11, 2012 by sinyaw

South Lake Union. A sailboat is a machine. This machine was invented thousands of years ago, and was reinvented thousands of times over. Human beings are still tweaking this machine to make it more comfortable, faster, easier to maneuver, and … Continue reading →

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5th Ave Theater: Les Misérables

Posted on July 13, 2012 by sinyaw

Downtown Seattle has many active venues for performing arts. These places specialized for formats. Benaroya Hall is for classic and instrumental music; Paramount Theater is more for pop music, and occasionally musicals; 5th Ave Theater is pretty much dedicated to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Reviews, Seattle, Tour guides, Witness to my life | 1 Comment

智化寺

Posted on April 12, 2012 by sinyaw

智化寺在二环边上，朝内小街东，金宝街北，禄米仓胡同的最东一段。不好找，但值得一游。最精彩的是西配殿，叫“藏殿”。中有个转轮藏，木雕精美完整，可以流连细看。正殿祭如来佛，台后有个壁画，但光线昏暗，难以欣赏。西边有个达摩像，我看了就喜欢。 藏殿的藻井早年被盗，现存美国The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art。 这寺是明英宗宠幸太监王振的家庙。据明史记载，“振跋扈不可制，作大第皇城东，建智化寺，穷极土木”。王振的个家庙就如此，可想见其他。英宗于正统14年率50万大军御驾亲征入侵的瓦刺。大败被俘，王振死于乱军之中。史称“土木之变”。明朝太监干政，始予王振，也自此由盛轉衰。看智化寺的精美，像恭王府一样，想到和珅也是个“倾国倾朝”的宦官。 寺内的几个赑屃（bi4 xi3)居然几百年还完好，细节生动，碑文也还能读，不容易。三进的大殿是二层楼也不常见。好像山门中经常有音乐表演，我没赶上。

Posted in China, Tour guides | 1 Comment

Vancouver, A Winter Tour

Posted on January 3, 2012 by sinyaw

I have a casual Seattle bucket list. Vancouver is on it. I wasn’t planning for a winter visit.. Oh well. It seems like a lovely city, but more suitable for living than touring. Everywhere are interesting activities, but there are … Continue reading →

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Theo Chocolate Factory

Posted on December 24, 2011 by sinyaw

Everyone knows that chocolate comes from cacao. That’s like saying steak comes from cattle. How exactly? Theo (the name refers to the cacao tree) is a small chocolate factory in the Fremont neighborhood. The tour was educational and entertaining. The … Continue reading →

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