The snow monkeys are quite the favourite among nature photographers. I had seen so many stunning photos of them prior to my trip to Nagano, Japan, spring 2015. These snow monkeys are unique and quite docile. However, the weather was not exactly on my side at the time. I was expecting snow so I could mimic those famous photos I saw. Anyhow, these are some of the photos of the snow monkeys that I took.   Adult snow monkey...

During my trip in Chengdu, China, I went to the breeding centre to see pandas for the very first time. They are very adorable and clumsy too.  The breeding centre itself is a beautiful attraction with breath-taking lakes and parks. I sure hope I will visit it again. Here are some photos I took there: A young panda Another young panda An adult panda A young panda cub Yours truly, A....

There are times that you just want a good plate of steak right on the table. I like my steak medium rare as always. Honestly, I can't remember how long it'd take to cook a medium rare steak. Usually, after searing the steak I'd finish it off in the oven for 10-15 minutes. During that time I would check on the doneness from time to time. The trick is to compare the firmness of the steak with your palm. The palm can have different...

I was so lucky to see the sakuras in Japan a year ago during spring. These photos were taken in Tokyo, Osaka , Kyoto and Nara. Again, I travelled with the same travel companion that you may have seen in my first entry under 'Photography'. She is Kak Nina. We were travelling in Japan for two weeks- Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagano and finally Tokyo.  Pink sakuras in Kyoto Pink sakuras in Nara White sakuras...

I love fish. Lately, I have been buying only fish in the supermarkets. I can't fathom why I no longer tolerate the aftertaste of chicken. And since I am aiming for a healthier lifestyle, I'm trying to restrain my urge to eat red meats. So I'd like to share a really simple fish recipe that I always have. It is quick, simple and scrumptious of course!  The method of cooking used is grilling or pan-frying. Here is the recipe...

I was in Sichuan province of China in Spring 2014. I had the chance of visiting Jiu Zhai Gou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nature reserve and national park. Here are some stunning views I managed to capture. The Panda lake My travel companion at one of the lakes The duck at the Panda Lake Yours truly, A.T. ...

I love being at home mostly because I get to cook. And cooking ,as always, is a therapeutic routine. In most occasions,  I would cook pasta because it's quick , healthy and tasty.My family loves pasta and Fettucine Alfredo is one of our favourites. And so on a fine and sunny Sunday, I prepared the recipe together with home-made croutons and dried chili condiment. It is a simple, easy and quick recipe. It's something...

Here, read my rant on why I should buy a waffle-making machine: I sauntered the capitalistic corridors of a mall massively filled with day-time materialist-zombies sucking out every single bit of the mad dog-eat-dog world of consumerism. I stop at almost every clothing outlet thinking what would actually be worthy of my money. Each time I get all drained out by window-shopping, I would find an interesting snack to champ on....

I constantly remind myself to restrain the urge to binge on sweets or any other unhealthy snacks. I think the perfect alternative is either a really delicious salad or a fruit parfait. When i don’t stack up some yogurt, I would make myself a perfect salad. And so I have named the dish as ‘The Perfect Salad’ . The flavours, textures all unite in a harmonious, nutritious mix displaying vibrant colours. The recipe is as below; A 50g...

I have a never ending romance with seafood. It’s so intense that I sometime wish I could build a home by the sea just so I could have endless –and not to mention fresh and affordable- supplies of seafood products. I yearn a good piece of lean white fish meat and pack it up with some fresh off the sea squids and prawns. I really don’t mind going through the tedious and messy shelling and veining processes .Although not quite...

            Let's face it fellas. Tempe is not just delicious. It's seductively inviting; deliciousness to the level of obligatory ingestion. Well in my case at least. I simply can't resist the sight of tempe. Fried, stewed, steamed, dried or even breaded, you name it, I've tried it all. The texture of a tempe is so magical, like biting into cotton candy clouds as they burst like fairy dusts in your...

I wanted to create a new refreshing recipe for an all-time favourite delicacy, the muffin. So I figured a way to combine two of my most favourite ingredients; walnut and strawberries. The techniques are simple and the result is spectacular. The feeling of seeing the muffins baked to perfection is truly exciting. Sometimes, as the baker, you don't really want to fulfil your greedy taste buds,but that itching feeling,...