Would you eat pineapple tarts that have disintegerated into powder and blobs of sweet pineapple jelly?
Most of us would not I think. It does sound kind of miserable to have to eat pineapple tarts from a tub with a spoon.
But then again, when overseas and not having easy access to things that are generally considered back at home “everyday can buy at shop downstairs one”, everything seems to take on a different value.
A pineapple tart say from any shop such as sweet secrets at Bishan is no longer just 30 cents each. It seems so hard to assign a monetary value to it anymore. A totally mangled pineapple tart is still worth more than that. Just because it is not replaceable, especially in the middle of the school term when no one is going to be able to go home to get you another batch.
The reason why I am ranting on about this is that I have 2 boxes of pineapple tarts at home. One from bengawan solo is well packed and it arrived in UK intact. No visible damage, still perfect. The other one, which is comes in one of those plastic tubs with a red screw on lid is all mangled up. Everything has been powdered in the 6500 mile journey. Unfortunately, the bengawan solo pineapple tart has someone’s else name on it and my own stock is that of the plastic tub. All pineapple tart raids from now on till I go back again or until someone couriers me a tub again from home will have to be restricted to spoonfuls of powdered pastry and blobs of jam.
Morale of the story, Always buy pineapple tarts from bengawan solo or Polar as they pack their tarts really tight into tinee weeney boxes and artificially bulk it up with bubble wrap stuffed on the inside to prevent rocking about. Home made or cottage industry pineapple tarts may carry more to the tub or go further for the dollar but they are not packed well enough to survive a luggage journey across continents.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
More on Thessaloniki
Having stayed in grey London for so long without the chance to enjoy a little decent sunshine, we decided to stop for coffee at one of the many café along the sea front. Instead of just bringing us a simple latte, look at the spread that came with it. A bottle of water served up to us with 2 glasses and 3 of those thingie bobs. And how much did this table service cost us? €1.50. And they were lovely….. Think that there was a live DJ inside the café as well.
And we walked through the little old town. (or at least the old buildings) There are not many old bulidings in this city even though it is like 3000 years old. The reason is because the Greeks like their homes new. They love new things, hence things get knocked down pretty quickly if they hold no ancient historical value here...
JG was getting a little impatient waiting for me. I kept running off to take random photos. He and greek guy had already threatened to throw away my camera the night before....
Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king that I think saw his daddy the king killed when he was younger and his mother brought him up well for greatness. Conquered almost all the known world in his time. Too bad all great ppl die young. Look at Mozart. (keeping my fingers crossed that I will die young as well) Anyway, there was this BBC programme on him. Think it was called “Who Killed Alexander the Great. Some random facts from the programme included (from what I can remember…. Don’t quote me on this…)
1) He was bisexual. Had many females that he slept with and one male lover that was his best friend as well.
2) Could have died from the west nile virus when trying to invade Egypt but was most likely poisoned by something root extract thingie that was supposed to be a medication that he overdosed on.
3) Was alcoholic. Must have a pretty buggered up liver as he can drink gallons of wine at a sitting. Usually drank others under the table.
4) Was a little of a megalomaniac near his end. Named something like 7 cities after him.
Thessaloniki, unfortunately was not. It was named after his sister.
Random umbrella sculpture. Midway along coastline from white tower to squid town. Don’t know what to say about it other than I like it. Maybe that’s what modern art is supposed to be like. Don’t need to understand it, just as long as you like it. Anyways, its not nearly halfway as whacked as some of the stupid shit (toilet roll rope, tent with names of everyone I slept with, room full of rubbish etc) they submit for the turner prize……..
There were a lot of wild dogs here. Was a little freaked out when they kept following me…..