Animal Parts Anyone? At Kaohsiung Liuhe Night Market - PH

Photothunt theme : Animal

Night markets are a hallmark of Taiwanese culture and the best way to experience it is to try the vendor food. In Kaohsiung, the Liuhe Night Market (六合夜市) is the oldest and biggest, frequented by locals and busloads of tourists. :O

I'm gonna start with the unusual snacks at this night market, then the popular ones in my next post. :) 

yummy braised pig trotters with braised pig blood cubes, tofu....

The Taiwanese loves anything that's braised. I love braised food too. At the Liuhe Night Market, one finds many vendors selling braised animal and poultry parts, almost every part of the pig, duck or chocken can be braised. Even tofu, pig's blood cubes and eggs are braised.

This Granny is doing a roaring business selling her yummy braised food. Not only do the locals love it, the Chinese tourists bought the braised items to go with their beer.

Highly sought after braised duck's tongues, I don't fancy this.

Need to nourish your brain (补脑)? Have a bowl of pig's brain soup. :D

Animal organs are legally sold here :D They are valued for their nutritious properties.
Don't ask me if they do work, I don't eat organs.

I cannot imagine how huge this deep sea monster grouper was, but it must have lived quite long to grow to this size. And they caught and eat it. Poor fish.

This BBQ stall has a constant long queue. Each stick of BBQ bits is brushed with their specially marinated sauces and sold from NT10 (Singapore 50 cents). You can choose from chicken thigh, wings, breasts, necks, feet, heads, pork, beef etc....

The Taiwanese named the chicken butts "7-mile fragrant" (七里香). I find nothing fragrant about it because I have not mustered the courage to try that, yet. :P They are very popular in this night market.

I heard so much about this mullet gizzard (烏魚子) that I simply must try it. I paid NT50 for a small bite. Hubby almost puke after taking a tiny bite. I bravely chewed and swallowed the rest. Don't like it - it has an extremely strong fishy taste. Too strong for us.

So, what are the popular yummies at Liuhe Night Market? Next post. :D

高雄六合夜市 - 好吃又好玩!

Bullet Train (THSR) to Kaohsiung

Recently, I accompanied my husband on a trip to Taiwan. Upon arrival at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, we took a shuttle bus to the High Speed Rail (HSR) at Taoyuan station (高鐵桃園站). It was only 20 minutes by bus.

It was a cool day with temperature around 15 degree Celsius, a great difference from our hot and humid weather in Singapore. Love the cool weather!

With the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) system, Taiwan’s public transportation system has taken a leap forward. It tremendously shortened the travel time between various cities and regions. Tickets can be purchased online or via a phone voice system. For more info, visit the THSR website  -  http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/

I rarely have the chance to travel by train for long distances in Singapore, in order to have a memorable journey I simply follow the locals - buy a drink and a snack from the mobile snack cart lady. Oh, and I did forget to get a lunchbox  (火车便当) ;)

The bullet train was travelling at a speed around 300km/h. Kaohsiung is 345km (220 mile) from Taipei. We reached Kaohsiung in an hour plus. The HSR is amazingly fast, affordable and comfortable.

Passing towns and cities as we travel 345km (220 mile) on the high-speed line between Taipei and Kaohsiung. 

Kaohsiung city, its amazingly clean and the roads have lesser traffic compared to Taipei. The weather's warmer in Kaohsiung though.

Time to look for food!!! :D

My Son's Lumbar Microdisectomy Surgery

souvenir of Jaymes' cut diss :D

My son Jaymes has been living with pain and numbness in his legs for some time. He was sent to ER at Singapore General Hospital four times during the last quarter of 2011. Each time the doctors would prescribed him painkillers and sent him home.

He is serving his National Service (2 years of compulsory military service for young Singaporean men 18 and above) and the doctors thought he was faking his illness.

He was taking painkillers daily for 4 months until finally an MRI was ordered. Dr Guo Chang Ming (Senior Consultant, Spine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital) immediately ordered a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery upon seeing the MRI results.

Jaymes was experiencing pain because the disc kept pressing on the affected nerve. He has been limping for the past few months. If untreated, he may become paralysis.

Dr Guo said it was one of the worse cases of slipped discs he has seen.  The surgery aims to cut away the piece of the disc that bulges out and by using this new keyhole surgery, recovery will be faster.

Jaymes waking up groggy after more than 2 hours of surgery 

Jaymes was operated on 4th January and is recovering well.

He is warded at Ward 76 and is actually enjoying his stay in a hospital! Several of the nurses at this ward are young, pretty and helpful. After 24 hours of fasting, Jaymes first request was a McDonald's fillet burger. And the sweet nurses helped him call for delivery.  o_o

Seeing my son's quick recovery and the good service at SGH, my hubby wants to have his slipped disc surgery done too.  -_-'"

Have a Rocking 2012!

Marina Bay Singapore New Year Countdown 2012

Happy 2012!!

I chose to usher in the new year with my family at home instead of spending it in a crowded venue. After a sumptious dinner, our early new year countdown started with the explosive Sydney's fireworks as we sat down in front of the TV.

Across the world, revellers were celebrating the end of 2011 and the start of 2012 with spectacular fireworks displays which lit up the night skies.

At the Singapore Marina Bay Countdown 2012, a dazzling fireworks display attracted thousands of people who clamoured to see the impressive display.

Thanks to cable TV, we were able to watch new year celebrations in the various cities of China and Taiwan.

It was heartwarming to see Taiwan's First Lady Christine Chow Mei Ching displaying a drum performance in a new year show before the countdown. She is one cool lady.

The spectacular fireworks show at Taipei 101, Taiwan's tallest building and the world's second tallest, lasted 202 seconds at a cost of NT$30 million (US$991,380)!

I was glad I didn't join in the celebrations in town. Several friends and my son were stuck in the massive jams after the countdown and didn't get to return home until almost 4 am. I was sleeping soundly in my cosy bed. :D