Christmas 2009

Our very 1st Christmas tree...

Set-up by Dew...

Decorated by Moi...

X'mas party with my Secondary School Claasmates...

X'mas log cake, Turkey, Ham, roast beef, sushi, wine ...

and gift exchange

and of course,

not forgetting a mini-birthday celebration for our birthday boy, Peter

Another X'mas party with my Buddies...

Introducing the Chef for the night!

Menu
Roast Chicken with lemon and spices
Black pepper beef cubes
Brutwurst Suasages
Served with roast potatoes, slices of Gammon ham
and Salad with turkey, grapes and italian dressing

Green tea ,Magaritas, Bailey and various cocktail...

Gift exchange...
Li & Fang bullying Boon's new baby...

Check out our bar tender for the night...

Dinner with Dez~

Sashimi Dinner at one of my favourite place...

Best of all, it's a treat from my younger brother, Desmond!

Western Europe Part V

Day 8 - Belgium

Road trip to Wallonia

Trying award-winning beer at Gauloise Brewery

Day 9 - Belgium

Road trip to Leuven

Day 10 - Belgium

itinerary:
Brussels!
Tried all things famous in Belgium...

Chocolates! We tried most of the famous chocolatier in Belgium (Mary, Wittamer, Pierre Macollini and Leonidas. Regretted not trying Neuhaus though) As these are freshly made chocolates, and it has to be consumed within 1 week, we couldn't buy back any. Sad!

At las, with the recommendation of Christian, we bought back limited quantity of Galler. It's really good too and soon we regretted not buying more!

The street with all the major chocolatier

And of course, we got to try the mussels!

The Famous Mussels Restaurant near Grand Place

Look out for these Interesting comic painted on buildings

(note: Tin Tin is from Belgium!)

Day 11 - Belgium/London

itinerary:0747 Took train from Ottignies to Brussels
0827 Brussels Midi Station
0935 Took Eurostar brussels to london
1031 London, check-in and left our luggauge at hotel
1130 Buckingham Palace/Changing of Guards
Lunch at Bumbles
Went to get Tickets for tonight's musical at Leceister square
- Houses of Parliament/Big Ben
- Tower of London
- Trafalgar Square
- Tower Bridge
Dinner at Rock & Sole Plaice (supposedly the best Fish & Chips in London)
West End Musical - We will rock you

Overnight Intercontinental Park Lane

Day 12 - Cotswolds

itinerary:

- Windsor Castle

- Salisbury Cathedral & view

- Stonehenge

- Avebury

Overnight at Cornerways B&B, Bath (65 pounds)

Day 13 - Cotswolds

itinerary:

- Roman Baths

- Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge

- No. 1 Royal Crescent

Overnight Elvington B & B, Boughton-on-the-water (48 pounds)

Nice cosy place. The room we took was sweet.... colour theme: pink, and lots of laces

Famous Roman Baths - Bath

Day 14 - Cotswolds/London
itinerary:
- Bourton on the Water

- Upper and Lower Slaughter

- Bibury

- Burford

- Chipping Campden
- Oxford
and back to London:
- Tate Modern Museum
Overnight Intercontinental Park Lane

Lower slaughters

Day 15 - London/SG

itinerary:
- Portobello Market
- Westminster Abbey - Evensong
- St Paul
Then... lastly, took a Metro to airport
2205 ETD London Heathrow T3 (SQ321)

~ Home Sweet Home ~

Western Europe Part IV

1st Oct'09 (Thu): Day 6 ~ Paris - Belgium

Visiting Janice, Patrick & Nathalie

Sweet Nathalie

Lunch at L'astrance

Last Stop in Paris - Eiffel Tower

2nd Oct'09 (Fri): Day 7 Belgium

Old Town - Ghent

Western Europe Part III

29 Sep (Tue) ~ Day 4 Loire Valley
0750 Depart "Paris Montparnesse" station
Train ticket (Eur 34)
0853 Arrive "St Pierre des Corps", collect rental car from Avis office at the station
Car rental for 2 days (Eur159.5)

Gardens of Villandry

famous for its beatiful gardens... And I love the idea that there're unlimited grapes for you to eat as you stroll around the garden...

Apple Orchard along our drive...

with the freshest and sweetest green apple I've ever tasted

Candes St Martin

This is one picture taken with much effort...

Fontevraud Abbey (Abbaye de Fontevraud)

Beautiful 12th century monastery, which houses the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart

Lovely pink flowers growing wild at the backyard of the Abbey...

Sumptuous Lunch of a HUGE potful of Mussels
Posing for a victory shot after finishing the Whole Pot (with the help of Dew, of coz)!

Château of Azay-le-Rideau
Picturesque scenery~ reflection of the traditional french chateau on the calm river

Vineyard at the back of the Chateau
We found a small vineyard, but Vic brought us to a BIGGER one...
It's so big, I couldn't see where it ends!
The Grapes up-close

Dinner at L'epicerie - #1 out of 25 restaurants in Amboise
Remember to make reservation to avoid dissapointment!

30 Sep (Wed) ~ Day 5 Loire Valley

Breakfast at the Dining Room
Sumptuous spread with various choices of homemade jams.

It's so delicious, we just got to get one!

The "Cave" where the wine are stored...
Lovely Kitchen

Chateau des Ormeaux
Listed as one of the Top B&B in Tripadvisor and it's not difficult to know why...

Dew with Vic outside Chateau des Ormeaux
- Parting shot before we continued on our road trip

"Our" Lovely Chateau ...
Reminiscence of our luxurious and royal stay

Continuing on our road trip
to visit some of the famous sites and Chateau in Loire Valley
Admiring the scenic view along Loire Valley...
One fine example would be Blois City (pictured across the river)

Château de Chambord
The Biggest of all chateau in Loire Valley
Interiors are decorated with period furniture...
If there's only one Chateau that you should go, it has to be this!
Indulge yourself in the Renaissance architecture as you expore the castle's 440 rooms and surrounding grounds

Leonardo da vinci's house

Quaint little house, but interior is not so special.
Definitely not worth the entrance fee in my opinion...

Passage of trees leading to Chenonceau Chateau
I love the walk along the path lined with tall trees on both sides...

Chenonceau Chateau
Classic castle over the Cher river

The train ride back to Paris in the evening...