Thinking out loud, Friday Afternoon

It was late afternoon when I left to Maastricht today. In fact ,I didn’t plan for it at all.It was a prompt decision made after work  when I was sitting in the car starting the engine to drive back home,a thought of an almost-empty make-up tube of the foundation I used this morning  came into my mind.Fortunately, I always keep my Friday afternoon free for myself or other words for my „me-time”.I then thought to myself,„just drive to Maastricht” , „ I need to buy a new tube foundation”

Maastricht Shopping Street

So I drove to Maastricht and it took me about 20 minutes on the highway to be there in shopping center.

On the bridge above Maas River

Top news on the radio that afternoon was this : Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte obtained little support for his proposals for a way forward following the referendum in which his compatriots rejected the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. 

Good to know that ! That’s a bit of politics news today. "I would definitely read or hear more about that when I’m home"

When I was approaching Maastricht, I noticed that the new split way of the highway close to the intersection,the entrance to Maastricht was today in use.It had been under construction many months earlier.But I think the well-fluency of vehicles today was not due to that new split. It could have been the point of time motorway used. Afternoon traffic  on road is ,very often, less congested anyway. That’s why I was not stuck too long during my entering Maastricht that afternoon.

Maastricht City Hall where fresh market's around

Maastricht on Friday is always busy.There’s a huge open-air market around the City Hall every Friday.And so it becomes a place where people from Maastricht and around (there are lots of folks from our Belgian neighboring towns like Liege and Vise,for example, as well ) gather for their own purpose.The market is composed of more than 300 stands.You can find any kinds of products you can ever imagine to buy ;from plants, foods,fruits,vegetables,clothes,garments,seafoods to tools and other non-food articles.Whether you are planning to buy things or just to stroll for some fun, you will definitely enjoy yourself anyway.

By the time that I was walking across the market square to the shopping streets ,which were just next to the market itself, was actually the time that those merchants were packing in their goods.The market was already broken.So please keep in mind, if you would really love to spend time on the market, you should leave to Maastricht earlier.As far as I understand,the market there starts at 9 and will be finished at 15 o'clock. This didn't matter my case, as my plan today was not to buy things at the fresh market but in the shop on the other side. And  so I just walked through it quickly.

That's the Chrismas Market on Vrijthof

As I didn’t plan to stay long in Maastricht today, I just parked the car in a parking lot along the drive way opposite Hasseltweg. Walking to and back, from there to the shop took me exactly an amount of time I paid for. Parking in Maastricht is more expensive than in my town, Heerlen. At the parking lot today,I had paid 2,60 euro for approximately an hour.(I could have paid 2,20 in Heerlen). It could be more expensive, however,in some other areas or garages. One thing I’m sure of is that having a certain plan for your stop, you will never have to pay more than necessary.

Along Maas River,boat hotel,restaurant and coffee shops

So I bought a new tube of foundation and by coincidence, saw such a lovely color for my lips, bought therefore also a new lipstick. When staring at the watch and saw that I had plenty of time over to hang around for something else. I thought of my facial soap which was also almost up in very near future so it’s better to purchase it by now too, so that I wouldn't have to drive back here again so soon.

I parked my car opposite Hasseltweg

Here is my final thought of today :
As women need to invest more in their beauty,you guys,should know by now…why we „women”  have to work hard for !!!! 

Journey Journal : A bit of Genk

A bit of Genk today in my free time this morning to early afternoon after a vist to a newly-opened Asian Food shop on Hasseltweg.I dropped by for a cup of coffee at C-mine Arts/ Cultural center,took a little walk there and around ,and found some interesting spots I’d love to recommend if you’re in the neighborhood. 

C-Mine Cultural Center, Forefront building from main street

Genk is one of those Dutch-speaking cities and municipalities in the province Limburg of Belgium. Driving from my home,Heerlen of The Netherlands had taken me just about half an hour on A76/E314.Not only the distance that attracts but also the language the people speak make me always feel home when communicate. 

Genk is one of the most important industrial cities in Flanders though,I find it a very quiet and peaceful village which possesses some hidden charm that can allure some passersby already from their very first glimpse.

Vennestraat where many seasonal events take place  

I dropped in the Main building of C-mine vicinity, walked upstair passing by the Euroscope,took a seat on the terrace opposite the old mine terrain where I could also see the Labyrint in a few footsteps in front of me.

Restaurant Terrace looks very simple but yet friendly indeed

So after that brief coffee break with some extra cookies, I walked into that Labyrint,an artistic collaboration of two architects; Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenberg,an exhibition of Boolean Voids which is called after their names: Labyrint Gijs Van Verrenberg.

Some dimension from where I stood

During my wander in such distinctive masterpiece architectural typology,  I experienced some extraordinary catchups of some dimensions and here are some pictures I made.

The entrance Labyrint

The floorgroud

a Wow catchup on sudden turn back

Out of that exhibition, I walked in the energy building on the opposite side where you would find the visitor hall as well as the c-mine cultural center on the ground floor, meanwhile the C-mine Expedition, C-mine Design Center and Machine Hall could be found upstair on the first floor.

That C-mine center of todays was in fact the place of an old mine terrain,Winterslag which is transformed into a creative and attractive cultural center, not a mine museum but rather a place to stimulate the curiosity and creativity of the visitors both adults and kids.

Unfortunately,I didn’t go through the expedition to explore more of the working life of those mine workers in the past,I could be a "bad student”,never mind , instead I walked around on the ground- and first floor taking some pictures of those old-fashioned electric machines used in that old time before leaving the building heading back home.I had sufficient pleasure with my visit today. What I would love to do in my next-time visit is perhaps to explore more events and activities offered in this town.I got load of info's in my hands. Let me say by now…until next time.   

Pari
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A metal Cricket that played an important role in the legend,presumingly

Primier Charbon de la Campine stood elegantly in Visitorhall

Iamsterdam !

Time to travel again. Most recently,last Monday to Amsterdam.

Traveling to Amsterdam for me is not new. Some pictures of snapshots in Amsterdam are very familiar to me though, I’m always excited whenever I am about to be there again.

I had been travelling very often to Amsterdam during 2007 to 2011,due to my social work in educational field. After that ,travelling to Amsterdam has been more for pleasure,some times alone ,some times with a friend or two,to visit some events or to meet and to catch up with other friends in the area or so. Very rare for some business or work.

Last Summer,I was in Amsterdam with a new and challenging role, a local tourguide to show the city and beyond to my Thai folks, who came from Thailand to join the conference there. It was such a lovely and merrily job. As time always flies when you are having much fun,the work was done and ended real fast and without doubt with satisfaction from both sides.That was the last impression I had with myself and my guests in the city.  

Heerlen Railway Station,platform 5

Heading to Amsterdam,Monday Morning

I was traveling to Amsterdam again last Monday.Unfortunately,not to explore those tourist sightseeings or attractions as you might have expected. No really, I was not visiting those museums,historical buildings or any other city tours as it might seem to be.I was there fortunately just to see and to spend  a lovely time with an old friend,who has been travelling to see me very often already in my town Heerlen. As our gradually-grow-friendship comes from both side of us,it’s now my turn to come to visit him. He lives in the outskirt but the appointment took place in town. We had such a lovely agreements.Two determined plans that both of us loved 1) to eat Peking duck for lunch and 2) to enjoy Asian hightea later afternoon. The plans as well as the catch up went very well. And eventhough it was not such an exploring trip, I couldn’t help behaving like a tourist, taking pictures again and again, perhaps on the same spots which I probably have already taken more than once. But do not worry you would like to see them all again  and again too, I am sure. 

Another drizzle day

I made the trip to the Dutch capical again this time by train. Thanks to the Dutch Raiways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen – NS for short) which always offers seasonal “cheap” tickets to irregular passengers. The tickets were issued and available at some period of time in the store,not at the ticket counter or automatic machine of NS  and they must be used not only in a certain period of time but also at the certain points of time as well.

I must say that normally traveling expenses by train in the Netherlands are quite high. For example, a return ticket Heerlen-Amsterdam-Heerlen, second class will cost you about 51,40 euro. But with this occasional rail cards you will spend only 14,95 euro for the whole day trip, no matter where you are going to and how many time you are going to get on and off. That’s why the tickets have become very attractive,popular and were sold out fairly quickly after a few days released.

So according to the condition of the ticket,it had to be used in the off-hours which were between 9.00 to 16.00 and after 18.30 o’clock. I chose to travel at 9.14  and it took me 2 and a half hour approximately to there. The train left on time and arrived also on estimated time.I thought that was great.At 11.37 I was already in Amsterdam Centraal and met my friend at 12.

st.Nicolas Church,View from front Amsterdam Centraal 

As mentioned earlier, I was quite familiar in Amsterdam, especially with the route from the station to  Zeedijk where rows of coffee-shops and diverse restaurants lacated,including our meeting point ; Chinese “Eethuis” named “WingKee”. So I just took a walk and was there in just a few minutes.

Traffic on the main road on Monday morning didn’t look much different from the other days, nor the other points of time. But on a small street like Zeedijk at the time of that day, it looked quite sparsely, which I liked a lot. And I was so glad that we met on that day and at that time, not on the weekend or in the evening,that would be certainly much more crowded than this day.

Quiet Zeedijk last Monday !

There are small roads on left & right on Zeedijk

Kailaan Broccoli with Garlic

It was really good to see and to spend time with an old friend again. I loved that momentum. Before I knew it,our lunch passed by so soon. We enjoyed definitely our chat and catch up as well as our favorite roasted Peking duck and red pork,accompanied with Kailaan broccoli with garlic. Well, in fact we always ordered the same menu whenever we came here.The meal was awesome as wished, the meeting was superp.That was exactly what we were looking forwards to .We both were absolutely satisfied. We smiled and life went on !

Roasted Peking Duck & Red Pork

The next program after lunch was to go for Asian high tea. We reserved it for two on Spuistreet. We strolled

from the restaurant, made some stops in some shops and chitchatted along the way We came in the tea house right on time.We were greeted with friendly smile and such a warm welcome.Then tea was served with collection of various bites. I didn’t like this part that much,to be honest. I expected to have some tea with some sweets actually. But what I had experienced in that afternoon was what I thought I would never recommend any of my friends to try it ,even myself ,I would never come back again for the second time though, the better part came later, after a very long while and almost at the same time when we were looking in our eyes making an accord to leave for some sweets somewhere else.

Tea from Jasili Blooming served

Bites for Two,first round

Some Indonesian fresh springrolls

Sweettreats,second round

There came a tray of all sweettreats.In my opinion,nothing was really special. There were “spekkoek”, mixed fresh fruits, some icecream ,a piece of apple with dipsauce for each, little glasses of wipped cream with (again) little pieces of “spekkoek”, and  “dadar gulung”. We both tasted a bit of each kind,and that’s enough. It was good to have tried this.We both have experiened Asian High Tea as we were quite curious about it before. It was such a wonderful time together and then it was time to say good bye.

I left Amsterdam at 18.38 and was home at 22.04. Please do not count hours I spent on the way back home. I didn’t want to think-,to talk-, to complain about  or to blame the Dutch railways for any inconvenience and all delays for whatever reasons. The journey was long enough and the night seemed be too short at this time of the year. I just needed my warm bed and a very good-night-sleep. So once I was home...Good night! was mine.    

Apple sticked with dipsauce

Very well known Indonesian "spekkoek"

Dadar Gulung

Whipped Cream with Spekkoek

Mixed Fresh fruits

See you next time,

Pari 

Cooking With Pari “Thai2”

Cooking Class 1 on 07-01-15

Finally the first class Thai Cooking course Thai2 took place last night.

Thai Cooking Workshop Course Thai 2 consists of 3 menus. To start with a prosperous and abundant “Goldenbag” or “MoneyBag”,this is deep-fried appetizer made of minced pork mixed with shrimps,garlic,pepper,soy sauce and sesam oil,wrapped with wonton sheets.Whatever you wish to call it ,every bite you chew,it will absolutely satisfy your tongue and rouse more of your appetite. In this class, you will learn not only to bag mixed minced pork in wonton sheets but also to tie the bag with spring onions. You will make an awesome deep-fried,brown-gold, delicious opulence for your own stomach then.

The second menu is Pineapple rice. Like other cooking,to get started, participants will have to prepare all ingredients. But for this menu also a pineapple bowl will be made by each. This is very intersting. The boat-bowl will be made by two-half cut of one pineapple and then the meat will be scooped out and put  in a bowl, then set aside.Those pieces of pinapple meat will be used to stir-fry with other ingredients and rice later on.

Last but not least,the chicken menu. This is Laap-Kai. Kai means chicken and  ‘Laap” is dialect of North Eastern and Norhern part of Thailand, which means mix and mingle. So it goes without saying that this manu must be the mixture of chicken meat with all spicies and herbs.You may call it chicken salad. How hot and spicy,you may define it yourself.One of those remarkable ingredients that will amaze the participants,I’m sure, is for example roasted raw sticky rice which will be crushed and added during the composition.

The first workshop of this course went well. Most participants were those who joined me in the kitchen the year before in "Thai1". Some came back this time with their partners.It was really good to see them back again.And I am so glad that our Thai cooking classes are making progress.I do hope,like in last year, there will be more bookings for this new course as well as the old and still available "Thai1" this year. 

Ladies and gentlemen, as “experience is the mother of wisdom”, just join me in the kitchen and experience yourself Thai Cooking Workshop. Having fun with cooking and enjoy your meal <3

Till next time,

Pari