Chet Baker – always steal my heart

May 13 1988 the great musician Chet Baker had passed away. He is always one of my favourite Jazz musicians with his legendary trumpet and sentimental voice.After watching his documentary in BBC iplayer – Let’s get lost, and knew much more about Chet. He was such a talent for music and trumpet. Jazz was the most popular music in his era, and he was naturally picked it up without any properly training.

Chet’s personal life was quite a story. He had married three times, and all women just felt in love with him instantly. However, he never settled down in a place. Not like nowadays’ musician, he didn’t have too much glamour extravagant life style. He had been tried very hard to survive in recession as a musician. His life was like a dream – floating and travelling all the time. He was alike a lot of  musicians – do whatever he liked, no limitation and all about freedom. He preferred performing in Europe rather than the State personally and he was such a hit in Europe in that time from Let’s get lost documentary.

He was such a charming and passionate musician. Even after watching his documentary, I did fall in love with him as well. Chet was indeed a handsome and boyish look with his incredible gentle and soft voice. When he sang, your heart is literally melting, and you could just non-stop listening to his music, just like a magnet.

I found it is so interesting that even he aged in late 50, he still could sing and perform so well, and his voice didn’t age at all. Unfortunately drugs got him killed – what a pity! As my website is using theWordPress programme, the 2.8 named the version called Baker because the owner Matt Mullenweg likes Jazz as well.

One thing I like about Chet’s music is more unique and the way he liked to play jazz, more like smooth Jazz rather than commercial jazz.  Chet’s music will always in our hearts and every time when I listen to his songs, it makes me think, day-dreaming and feel the world – about sadness and happiness. I could listen to his songs nights and days.

Found an interesting article about Chet Baker’s

Visiting York for a day

Since we moved to Leeds, we haven’t got time to explore North Yorkshire yet. It was warm and sunny yesterday, so we decided to travel to York for a day, and to enjoy the Spring weather.

York was founded by the Romans in 71 AD, so is famous of its nature beauty and historical heritage. It is a wealthy small city with a lot of historical churches, buildings, and houses in every little corner. The picture I took in the front cover was one of the churches properly had knocked down by Henry VIII in 16th century.

We also went to see the famous Jórvík Viking Centre and experienced how the Vikings’ lives were in 866 AD. It was really authentic experience and they said you supposed to smell of the Vikings’ cooking too. It was indeed a really fun experience. At lunch, I ordered a famous ‘a taste of York’ roast belly pork sandwich and was incredible delicious. After lunch and few cup of tea, we went to see the Railway Museum and to see how Britain was so powerful and rich when it had discovered the steam engines and the world was changed after it.

York is really a nice place to visit and I am sure we will return it next time to discover more castles or scenery nearby York as well. Here are some pictures we took.

从搬来利兹之后,忙于各种各样的东西,都没有时间去旅游。昨天太阳高照,我们决定去出了名历史悠久的约克城市观光下。约克大概有1千9百年历史,果然是历史悠久的城市,所以你到处可以看到很多15-16世纪的教堂啊,18世纪的房子。象伦敦一样,路上的每个砖头都有历史味道,当然,以年龄来说,约克比伦敦老很多。约克曾被称为当时的英国首都。约克是一个蛮富裕的城市,可以感觉到以前或现在都是蛮有钱人住的城市。一个蛮小休闲的城市,居然很多名牌都部落在街头,感觉游客们个个都穿得富贵华丽,街头也有很多名贵的豪华车,不愧是以前的首都。

封面的照片应该是16世纪亨利八世反对天主教然后毁灭掉的教堂。我还走过去摸了摸1千多年的教堂石头,教堂的毁灭真的蛮可惜的。我们还去体验了北欧海盗侵入约克的时期,地学研究家把海盗们在约克的生活点滴都用假人雕磨出来,假人还会动也会和你说话,虽然有点毛骨悚然,不过还是蛮真实的体验。

中午时候我点了约克最老最有名的烤肉店,我点了烤乳猪肉三文治,超正超多肉 - 真的吃肥死我了。喝了星巴克Latte充实精力后,我们去参观了英国铁路博物馆,看了许多旧的火车和汽车展览,体验了英国蒸汽时代英国的繁荣和如何成为不落日帝国。蛮有趣经历的。

我相信下次我们还回去约克玩,开车去约克周边的城堡啊,坐下小船之类的。等大家来,带你们去约克玩。点击这里我们照了有些约克的照片!

28th Birthday!

Before my birthday, I already got the best present ever! Plus John’s family bought some presents for me as well – they are incredible nice and sweet. Nothing really special happened on my birthday day. We shopped some households stuff and John treated me to have a big sunday roast, which is my favourite food ever!

We walked to the Whitehall road, and the restaurant called The Roast near the canal served really nice british food. It was sunday, so they only served sunday roast. It was £5 per person, then we had some sticky toffee pudding with custard too! Yum! Beef was tender and juicy with a lot of vegetable and the home-made gravy. The yorkshire pudding was nice and light, not flowery at all! Oh, comfort food is the best sometimes. Definitely need to return!

Trini sent the song from Lorene Scfaria called 28 , singing that we are turning to 28! Things ganna be great!

Friday night out in Leeds

Since moved to Leeds, we have been so busy organising the new house. After two weeks, we finished it mostly, and decided to eat out on Friday night.

Piccolino Restaurant

I haven’t try a lot of restaurants yet, but it certainly plenty in city centre. On John’s birthday, we went to the Italian restaurant Piccolino Restaurant in Park Row. It was really expensive like London price. Main courses are like £12-14. I ordered a sausage risotto and was really a good one. However, portion was small, but taste really authentic! John and Mel ordered the chicken pizza and they both said it was really good. 4 out of 5 stars

Primo Ristorante

On Friday night, we tried another Italian restaurant downstairs of our building called Primo Ristorante. It had really fancy decoration inside. Price is really good – main courses are from £10, and pasta / Pizza was £6-7. Wine is from £14. Dishes was well presented, and really tasty; services were friendly too! However, I wish the dishes could be bigger portion. For example, I ordered a duck with berries sauce, and it came with 4 pieces meats. Despite the portion, it tasted really good. 4 out of 5 stars

Sky Lounge

Then we went to the popular bar called Sky Lounge on the top of the City Inn Hotel. The decoration and atmosphere was fantastic. Drinks are same price in London, but worth a try and certainly will bring my friends there again!

It all thanks to Melanie and Paul to take us to experience these good places!

Moved from London to Leeds…

We decided to leave London and living in Leeds for a year to experience different cities of the UK. It has been two years for me leaving in London. It was sad to leave the charming London and my friends. However, life is always on the move.

We live in the financial city centre Wellington Street in Leeds, and 5 minutes walk to the shopping centre, thus easily to find many restaurants and supermarkets for us. Location is perfect. Besides, the most exciting me is the our new apartment. It is 8 floor high, new, modern, spacious with 900 sqt with en-suit, plus one supermarket is just downstairs. What’s more, I got a fantastic huge wardrobe to fit all my clothes and shoes. John got a big spacious office room. This is exactly what we need.

In early March, we moved to the apartment and started to clean and made our home in Leeds. Leeds for us was a complete stranger, only John’s sister lives in Leeds. But I am sure we will explore the Yorkshire well in the future. Hopefully after all settling down, we will buy a car soon and start our adventure journey.

I love our new flat and new life – so many excitements to discover!

Japanese Okonomiyaki

It was our ast weekend living in London, so we met Eileen to try the Japanese Okonomiyaki in near Leicester Square Station. The restaurant Abeno is really famous Okonomiyaki in town. I remember Eileen took me there last year, and I loved it so much.

Okonomiyaki is like the omelettes with different meats, or seafood or vegetables inside, and on top with Japanese mayonnaise sources. So we decided to take John there for his first Japanese meal in town. The restaurant is small with only three tables and a round sussi bar. Luckily, we got a table, then we tried some Japanese beers, two okonomiywaki with different meats, and one Om-Soba.

Waiters bought all the raw ingredients in a bowl and used teppan-yaki grill to pan-fried everything into a pancake. You got the entertainment from the waiter cooking in front of you. Then at last, dressing with Japanese mayonnaise, BBQ sources, then some fish flakes on top. (dressing are optional)

It was so tasty and highly recommended. Surprisingly John really loved it. I was not sure that Japanese food is his cup of tea, but he tried, and he liked it.

Girls’ Fun weekend + Jin Go Gae Korean BBQ

Fun Girls’ weekend

John went to Ireland a week for his business trip, so I asked Eileen to stay my house for the weekend, so girls can enjoy some champagne and eat different food. As we planned before, we went to eat unlimited PingPong Dimsum on Friday night, then we were back home and we drunk two bottles of Rose Wine while we were chatting. It was dizzy but so much fun to get crazy sometimes.

Next morning, I cooked my new recipes Green Thai Prawn with baby spanish and Jasmine rice for lunch. It was so easy to cook and we enjoyed it so much. Then we decided to travel to Wimbledon where Eileen lives and had a walk in the park, then went to try the famous Korean Barbecue in New Malden.

Jin Go Gae Korean BBQ Review

Eileen from Soul of South Korean so she introduced to us a lot of Korean food and culture. We have been tried different Korean food in Central London. However, people say that New Malden is one of the popular Korean communities and the food from there is more authentic and cheaper. While we were in Wimbledon, New Malden is just 10 minutes by bus.

Eileen has booked the table of the famous restaurant called Jin Go Gae, and Miwa joined us for dinner as well, so we hopped on the bus 131 from Central Wimbledon and went to Burlington Road. We are so glad that we booked the table, because it was a small restaurant, and packed with Korean, Japanese Asian people eating there.

First, we were served with several compliments dishes which is impossible to find in Central London. Then Eileen ordered three portions of BBQ Beef Ribs and two portions of Pork Belly. All the meats were Marianne with delicious sauces, and you Barbecued by yourself. Then when it was done, you need to use the raw Vegetable rapped with the meat plus some spicy green onion or rice. The meat was unbelievable tender and juicy. Miwa and I was eating non-stop and Eileen was laughing at us.

It was the most delicious Korean BBQ ever. I gave it 5 stars and we only paid £15 each! What a good meal and bargain!

Place: 272 Burlington Road, KT3 4NL
Tel: 020 8949 2506
Tube: Nearest Train station: Motspur Park Rail / Raynes Park

女人周末大吃会

约翰去爱尔兰出差1周,我叫好朋友Eileen周末过来我家住,两个女的一起吃喝聊天。约了周5见面,先去PingPong喝茶吃点心。然后回到我家,两人买了1瓶香槟喝酒聊天,然后感觉还不够mood, 再去买多一瓶。聊天到凌晨1点然后睡觉。

隔天,我煮了泰国绿咖喱大虾加菠菜给Eileen,她说味道十分正宗也十分美味,全都吃完。然后我们去温布顿Eileen的家坐会,决定晚上吃期待已久的韩国BBQ烤肉料理。Eileen幸好定了位置,因为那家人十分受欢迎。美和决定加入我们的大吃团。进了餐厅,哇,烧烤肉的味道都漂入你鼻子,再看看,里面都是坐的全是韩国人和日本人。

韩国烤肉我实在太喜欢了,正宗的吃法是用碳熏肉,然后加生菜和辣葱和肉一起吃。我们点了3大份牛肉2大份猪肉。我和美和吃得太高兴,生活肉是奄过,烤完一点都不老,多汁加十分鲜甜!实在太野味了。Eileen总笑我们吃得狼吞虎咽,韩国烤肉实在太好吃了,我天天吃都没有可以。我们实在享受这次女人周末大吃会。

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch is a youthful brand of casual apparel from California. With extremely popular in the hight street, London in Mayfair and one from Milan are the only shops in Europe. Thousands of tourists and local people shop there everyday.

The location is the beginning / ending of Savile Row, depends which direction you are. It was quite hidden and opposition of the museum. The store is famous that they only recruit young, fit, pretty faces to be their staff. When you walk in, it feels like a night club rather than a normal shop. It smells perfume in the air and even in the clothes, and it appears dark with loud disco music.

The funny thing is every time I shop there, I don’t know whether I should look at the staff who look like models with so pretty faces, or the clothes. The staff is chatting, dancing, but also helping people out. However, it was certainly a unusual shopping experience. The price is quite expensive compared with normal retail shops, but you are buying the brand and the images and of course, they never on sales

So what is their image? Some people might say that Abercrombie & Fitch’s image is young, blonde, rich-middle-class but rather superficial. Although superficial, I do like their beech casual look and so colourful. More importantly, it has XS sizes for me. It is hard to find XS (extra small sizes in the UK for normal shops). Surprisingly that there are so many middle-ages people shopping there as well. Whether they buy for themselves or buy for someone, I guess that everyone like Abercrombie’s image – young and fit.

I like the colourful T-shirt, pants and bikini. Last weekend I bought a leather flip flop for this summer. It was quite pricy, but it was fun to shop there. For such a unique shop and experience, it is worth to maintain in my blog, and definitely will bring my friends there.

小鹿是一个年轻阳光沙滩的休闲品牌,落于美国加州。因为超级受年轻朋友们的欢迎,整个欧洲只有伦敦和米兰两家。每天都有上千的旅客因为它的名气去那里购物。地理位置在高级购物街Mayfair – 全伦敦最贵的地皮。店面十分隐密,正对着一个博物馆的对面。店名专么没有打出来,不知道的人走过还以为里面是个酒吧或夜总会。

当你看到店外,外面已经有两位性感的男模特(八块胸肌半裸体)在店面迎接大家。走入店里,感觉象是个高级夜总会。店里到处闻到是浓浓的香水味,连他们卖的衣服都是香水味道。店里面暗暗的酒吧灯光加上放着沙滩迪斯高音乐,给大家一个轻松快乐,边跳舞边买衣服的体验。

因为小鹿的高消费水准,店里只雇佣全欧洲最漂亮,年轻,身材好的年轻人。最搞笑的是每次我去那里购物,我不知到是要看帅男美女呢,还是要看衣服,还是要享受里面的气氛。虽然衣服休闲,但价格比市面的衣服贵,t-shirt衣服买到400-500人民币一件。不过他们从来不降价,也没有这个必要。卖的就是人气和品牌-这就是小鹿的形象。

那什么是小鹿的形象呢?有人说是那些金色头发,年轻漂亮,模特身材和中高级消费人群买的牌子,但这些人比较肤浅喜欢物质的人群。这里没有对或错,也不意味着所有人都是这样。虽然肤浅,但我还是蛮喜欢他们颜色鲜艳,富有活力和沙滩形象。最重要是他们有小小码供我选择。英国很多普通店都没有小小码的衣服,所以每次逛街,我都知道哪些店有我的码数。惊奇的是,很多中年夫妇也都在里面买东西,不知道他们买给自己还是买礼物给别人,但我想他们都想感受下年轻活力的服装或时尚。

我个人喜欢颜色鲜艳的衣服,所以我蛮喜欢小鹿里面的T-shirt,裤子和比基尼。上周末我又买了一对皮拖鞋,虽然价格蛮高,不过实在是一个另类的购物经历。等我朋友们来旅游,我一定带他们去小鹿购物,让他们感受下一个全新独特的购物经验。

Apple Ipad just released!

Apple Ipad just released yesterday in San Francisco. It is a very simple design – everything just a big touch screen. People said including me, that it looks like the big iphone. However, it is much powerful and advance than the iphone 3G. A everything-touch screen you can use to read books electronically, brown Internet easily, and type and email people like using the laptop, and you can play games, watch DVD in high definition, or organise and view your photo easily etc.

I can see that Ipad’s released will change the industries. But this is technology – whether it is updated or outdated. Moreover, it has unbeatable price: $499 for Wifi, or you can choose 3G ipad with contracts with phone companies. A single Amazon / Sony electronic book reader is cost the same price. Or it is considerable to have an Apple Ipad which had all the computer functions, including the book reader too?

There is no need for me to review the technical terms. A very good blog about Ipad fromStephen Fry is worth reading it. Stephen likes technology and like using Apple.

Some people are still talking about comparing the google-phone to the iphone. I think google needs a long way to reach Apple’s technology and designs. John before had skeptical about using PC or changing to an Apple. However, when we first bought an Apple Mini in 2005, and constantly using it, then we felt in love Apple’s products. It does simplify your daily life as we can not live without computer nowadays.

John has one 24 inch IMAC for his programming, Macbook Pro laptop for travelling and iphone for daily life. I have one Mac Book and Nano Ipod, and the Apple Mini is waiting to be sell. This is not showing off that how much Apple equipments we had, is more to say that once you love using Apple’s stuff, and you will continuously using it. And I do admit that we are a little bit crazy about Apple’s stuff. How could you not too?

This is not saying that we will also have Ipad soon as well for the sake of having it. It all depends do we necessarily need it or not? But for other people, it might be a good change.

(cover pictures from official apple website)

昨天最新的苹果Ipad在三藩市隆重推出一个全自动触摸的大屏幕。很多人包括我也在想,就像大型iphone一样,不过比iphone更先进,更多功能。Ipad 可以当成电子书籍阅读器,自动触屏去阅读杂志和新闻,同时也是自动触屏使用键盘,这完全改变我们需要实际键盘的需要,触摸即刻!也可以当DVD看高清录像,再可以组织和编辑你的旅游照片。既轻薄又多功能。

我可以想像到 Ipad即将改变很多科技工业的发展,但这就是科技,与时进步,这也推动企业更以先进的科技发展。再说,Ipad 更有无懈可击的价格 -wifi才是499美元,或是买3G的Ipad,然后和电信公司签约。索尼或amazon的电子书籍阅读器就要一样的价格了。为何不选择苹果的 Ipad呢?苹果的市场策略就是,价格实惠,但永远不会因时间而改变价格。

这里就不用我介绍所有的功能。被封为英国的多才多能的Stephen Fry 用了4遍文章介绍了苹果的Ipad,你可以阅读下。Stephen喜欢科技的东西,也喜欢用苹果的东西。有些人还在讨论google发明的手机好还是iphone好?我想google的科技发明还要走一段路才能比的上苹果技术和设计。我们之前也对苹果机有一定的怀疑,不晓得真的那么好用。自从05年买了第一台苹果机,之后我们就开始爱上苹果的东西。

约翰因为工作需要,他有1台24寸imac,一个macbook pro手提和iphone;而我只是简单的mac book手提和nano ipod播放音乐,我们还有要卖掉的苹果mini。这里不是说明我们有很多苹果的东西,而是说明了,一但你用了apple的东西,你就爱不舍手,让你的生活简单化。当然,这不代表我们也要买个Ipad,要看我们真正的需要它不,不过价格真的十分便宜。但给其它需要新电脑的朋友,何尝不考虑下呢? (照片封面来自苹果官方网站

My Obsession Women – Daria Werbowy

In fashion industry, most people adore Kate Moss and Keira Knightley in the UK because they both have typical high cheek bones and classic British elegant faces. Personally, I think they both are pretty but rather common. When you talk about perfect face and body, everyone will think of brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen. Indeed, she has everything and she is incomparable.

However, I like Gisele, but I set my eyes on Daria Werbowy, who is an Ukrainian Canadian model, originally was born in Poland. My obsession of her is her eyes and smile -mystery and sexy!  Her face is very unique and she got a perfect body as well. In style, she wears a lot of simple, chic and street style fashion. I am totally adore her body and her look. Look at her pictures, how could you not like her?

We all know that faces and beauty eventually will wear-out, and it is rather superficial and temporary, but I appreciate and love seeing pretty things and people. Sometimes I just could not stop staring at them. Anyway, Daria is the most popular supermodel and fashion icon nowadays. Maybe sometimes we want something that we can not have. Cover pictures are from Style.com