October 09, 2010

Ostrich at the Loose

Hungry Cheetah

Sunset at V&A Waterfront

There is almost no down-time at the V&A waterfront, no matter it's in the morning when the fishermen are busy working at the dock, or during the day, people are shopping, hanging out at the many shops and restaurants over there. Apprantly, South African people love to go out for dinner. Why not, give so many wonderful restaurants there with very resaonable price.

I like this picture especially, as you can see the outline of the table mountain, the most famous landmark of Cape Town, right in the background.

Window Shopping at V&A Water Front

What one should do during one of those afternoons that there is nothing serious to do? Wondering around the v&A waterfront and doing nothing seems to be a good idea. The shopping center at the V&A waterfront can be called world class. You can easily find the top designer brands in the world right here, trendy stores, botique stores filled with facinating local crafts, some goofy stores of course...A great place to spend hours window shopping, people watching, without getting bord.

Feel tired afterwards, there are many nice resturants to pick, Sushi, African local cuizine, seafood, roasted lamb, anything you ever want...


Red shed of the V&A Waterfront offers tons of local crafts. One work would summarize them all - cheesy! Maybe not quite one word just yet. Cheesy and yet fun, and colorful.


Some cute stuff to bring back home for Christmas decoration. I don't understand why I have to be so controversial all the time. At one hand, I would love to have my mom around; but on the other hand, I don't think I could handle two lifestyles at home.


Wild thing in Africa! Why those Africa dudes are so sad-looking?!


South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup. Although the exciting event ended a couple of months back, the celebratory atmosphere is still floating in the year.


Painted Ostrich eggs.


African kitchen ware.


African home decoration store.


October 08, 2010

Ostrich in the Headlight

We all have our moments of glory and brilliance. This week? As far as I know, is not mine. :)

Can I complain to God? Can I say that sometimes that God does have some weird sense of humor? Maybe he is bored with managing billions of his Christian-followers so that once in a while he wants to play with a few of us to get entertained?

The bottom line is that this is the week I feel very sad. This is slightly out of the character of mine, if I am not too delusional.

The reality is that I feel I am fighting this stupid up-hill battle at work. Why should I even be doing that, especially doing that while starting my day at 6:15 am everyday? I should just sit tight and enjoy the big bucks they are paying me. Why bother? I know I have this decease of being a hopeless perfectionist.

At the same time, I miss my friends.

And, I am getting one-year older the next week. Jeez! Am I OK with me getting older and wiser everyday? Am I really happy with my life? One the one hand, I really happy with where I am, a job I love, a couple of really good friends I can hang out whenever I want...If I get bored, I can go buy myself an expensive purse, a dress,...Oh, I learned this new word, micro-surficing for facial recently.....Or, just simply go out of the country for a change....

I cannot complain to God, can I, given what I am blessed with?! However, nobody said I cannot whine towards him!!!! Ha, ha ha.....

October 03, 2010

Cape Town Wineland - Stellenbosch

The wine farms of Stellenbosch are the closest in distance to Cape Town and are within a 45-minute drive of the city centre. This is the most well known wine region and is home to a variety of cellars- producing some of the country's most acclaimed wines.
斯泰伦博斯 南非最古老的葡萄酒之乡


The Dutch architecture can be seen all the time. And, the color white is reserved for Caucasians and priests.
斯泰伦博斯,它是南非最古老的城市之一。早在17世纪中期,从欧洲来到这里的殖民者便发现,这里气候和肥沃的土壤,非常适合葡萄种植。


南非著名的红酒乡同加州NAPA的红酒乡一样,风景如画。悠闲的小镇,四处是可爱的咖啡屋,小食店,各式各样的小商店。

Stellenbosch is very similar to those cute little towns in the Napa Valley in California, coffee shops around every corner, nicely-decorated small eateries offering delicious sandwiches and small bites, local craft shops making you wish that you could move all the merchandise home...


The cute little town offers varieties of coffee houses, small eateries, nice restaurants, casual, relaxing. A place I feel I can walk randomly and yet having lots of fun.


逛够了,停下来喝杯咖啡,享受一下午后的阳光和闲暇。好不惬意。

Spent a couple of hours wondering around and doing window shopping...Now, it's the time to sit down and have a cup of nicely-made cappuccino and enjoy the sun shine of a leisure afternoon.


Local crafts women.


小店里都是引人注目的当地手工艺。

Flowers in South Africa (2)











Delicious Food in Cape Town

The quality and variety of the food in Cape Town is outstanding. Very impressive! And the local wine is certainly much celebrated. Given the currency exchange rate, it's not expensive at all to enjoy extremely nice meals even in some high-end restaurants.

开普敦的美食可谓应有尽有。当地货币同美元的比价,同人民币同美元的比价差不多。所以享用美食也不是一件太奢侈的项目。早餐里新鲜的热带水果。


Grilled Kinklips 是我的最爱。肉质鲜美嫩滑,有点象Sea Bass,但比Sea Bass meaty.

Over the 20 days stayed in Cape Town, I found myself falling in love with Kinklips, a type of white-meat fish that is similar to sea bass and yet much meatier. Delicious! Delicious! I would have no problem of suffering through that horrible 30 plus hour flight again just to enjoy the grilled kinklips with lemon source, juicy, mouth-watering, tender, and yet meaty, flavorful, fully of imagination for each bite.


试了一下中国炒面。不好吃。 :) 酸酸甜甜的。太不正宗了。还是换吃当地的早餐。好吃多了。

Tried the pan fried noodles in Westin Grand. Although it's claimed to be Chinese pan fried noodle, it's not so authentic at all. :)


周五工作结束之后,同同事到V&港湾瞎转了一圈。出乎我的意料,开普敦的日本生鱼片相当出色。靠近海的原因吧。


炖羊腿。鲜美肉嫩。