ร่วมประกวดคัพเค้กที่อูแทร็กท์ (Utrecht)

ดั๊นไปร่วมประกวดคัพเค้กมาอีกแล้วเมื่อวันที่ 29-30 กันยายนที่ผ่านมา ในงาน  Taartentrends ที่เมือง อูแทร็กท์ (Utrecht) โอ้โหลุ้นน่าดู คราวนี้ตั้งใจอยากได้ที่หนึ่ง อยากได้โล่ห์ขนาดจิ๋ว น่าร๊ากมาครอบครองให้เป็นที่สุขสมอารมณ์หมาย จึงตอกไข่ใส่ใจ ลงมือทำคัพเค้กอย่างมุ่งมั่นตั้งใจเหมือนเช่นเคย 2 ประเภทๆละ 6 ลูกรวม 12 ลูก ตามกฏระเบียบการเข้าประกวดภายใต้หัวข้อ Carnaval Mundial ดั๊นได้ทำคัพเค้กดังกล่าว 2 แบบคือ 1. แบบประดับด้วยหน้ากาก และ 2. แบบประดับด้วยเทียร่า สวมศรีษะ (ตามภาพด้านล่างนี้)

เนื่องจากทางกองประกวดได้เขียนระเบียบการประกวดไว้อย่างชัดเจนแล้วในระเบียบการ ว่าการตัดสินจะไม่มีการชิมรสชาติเค้ก แต่จะดูเทคนิคการสร้างชิ้นงาน, ความคิดริเริ่ม, ความประทับใจ ,การสร้างงานให้เข้ากับหัวข้อการประกวด (Theme) และการนำเสนอชิ้นงาน ฐานตั้งคัพเค้กจะต้องไม่ใหญ่เกิน 30 × 30 เซ็นติเมตร โดยไม่จำกัดความสูง 

ปีนี้ดั๊นไม่คิดจะประดิษฐ์ ฐานตั้งคัพเค้กเองเหมือนปีก่อน เพราะดั๊นเองมีฐานตั้งคัพเค้กอยู่แล้วหลายอัน รวมทั้งที่เพิ่งได้รับจากเพื่อนๆ เป็นของขวัญวันเกิดเมื่อสัปดาห์ที่ผ่านมา จึงคิดว่าจะเอาฐานคัพเค้กที่มีอยู่แล้วมาประดับให้แลดูได้บรรยากาศครึกครื้นแบบ คาร์นาวัล นั่นเอง

เมื่อพูดถึงเทศกาลคาร์นาวัล นอกจากจะทำให้นึกถึงสีสันสดใสร่าเริง หน้ากาก วิกผม 

มงกฏ ชุดเครื่องแต่งกายแบบโอ่อ่าย้อนยุค นอกโลก นอกจักรวาล หรือออกมาจากเทพนิยายใดๆก็ตามแต่แล้ว สิ่งหนึ่งที่ทำให้ดั๊นคิดจะนำมาใช้ประดับฐานตั้งคัพเค้กคราวนี้ก็คือขนนกและขนนกยูง ซึ่งบังเอิญได้ซื้อเก็บเอาไว้เมื่อไม่นานมานี้ จึงได้นำมาประดับต่อยอดฐานคัพเค้กตามที่เห็นในภาพด้านข้างนี้ค่ะ

การสร้างสรรค์งานประกวดครั้งนี้ ดั๊นใช้เวลาเพียงสัปดาห์เดียว โดยเฉพาะ 3 วันสุดท้ายก่อนส่งงาน เรียกได้ว่าอยู่กับงานเต็มเวลาเลยทีเดียว ถ้าจะบอกว่าชุดกินขุดนอนชุดทำงานเป็นชุดเดียวกันคุณๆจะเชื่อดั๊นมั๊ยคะ มันเป็นเช่นนั้นจริงๆค่ะ

ก็สรุปว่าทำงานได้เสร็จตามเวลาที่คาดไว้ ตอนย่ำค่ำของวันพฤหัส ทำงานเสร็จเก็บงานเข้าที่ จัดเตรียมทุกอย่างให้พร้อมสำหรับการเดินทาง แล้วจึงเข้านอนแต่วัน เพราะเช้าวันศุกร์ที่ 29 กันยายน ดั้นต้องตื่นแต่เช้า ต้องนำชิ้นงานไปส่งให้ถึงกองประกวดระหว่าง 8.30-9.00 น. หากช้าไปกว่านั้น จะไม่มีสิทธิ์เข้าร่วมประกวดทันที

เข้านอนคืนนั้นสุขใจมากมาย งานเสร็จ สวยสมใจ ภูมิใจและชื่นชมกับมันมาก สมาชิกในครอบครัวและกัลยาณมิตรรอบๆตัว เห็นผลงาน ล้วนต่างพากันชื่นชม เชียร์ให้กำลังใจกันจนดั๊นตัวลอย  แค่นี้ก็มีความสุขที่สุดแล้ว จนทำให้เคลิ้มแและเผลอคิดไปว่าดั๊นต้องได้ที่ 1 เป็นแน่แท้

เช้าวันที่ 29 กันยายน ตื่นแต่เช้า อาบน้ำแต่งตัว พาลูกๆคัพเค้กทั้งหลายรวมทั้งส่วนประกอบต่างๆที่เกี่ยวข้อง ขึ้นรถ ไปแวะรับเพื่อนกัลยาณมิตรผู้น้อง บ้านใกล้เรือนเคียง ผู้อาสาเป็นเพื่อนร่วมเดินทางเพื่อสู่งานการประกวดครั้งนี้  

ขับรถแบบชิลๆ เกือบ 2 ชั่วโมง ถึงที่หมายตามเวลาที่วางแผนเป๊ะ อะไรๆก็ดีไปหมด คนโบกรถเข้าที่จอดก็ดีน่ารักมีน้ำใจ ขึ้นลิฟท์เข้างานก็มีคนกดลิฟท์ให้ แล้วยังนำทางไปถึงชั้นจัดงานอีกด้วย ก็เป็นอันว่าได้ส่งงานตามเวลาที่กองประกวดกำหนด จัดชิ้นงาน แสดงไว้บนโต๊ะที่ถูกจัดไว้ให้แล้วนั้น เสร็จ ถอ นหายใจเฮือกใหญ่อย่างโล่งอกโล่งใจ รอฟังผลการประกวดบ่ายวันรุ่งขึ้นอย่างชุ่มชื่นหฤทัย

หลังจากที่คอยอย่างมีความหวัง ตื่นเต้นมากกกกก..ผลการประปวดที่ออก...ทำให้ผิดหวังจนได้ ชิ้นงานของดั๊นได้ใบประกาศทองแดงค่ะ Bronze อีกแล้วค่ะ ปีนี้ 

My Awesome Cupcakes

ไปยืนดูผลงานที่ได้ที่หนึ่ง  อดส่ายหน้าไม่ได้ แอบบอกตัวเองอยู่ในใจ เป็นไปไม่ได้ ๆ ซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า จนซักพักใหญ่ๆ หลังจากหลับตาสูดลมหายใจเข้าลึกๆ แล้วค่อยๆปล่อยออกมาช้าๆ ด้วยใจที่ยอมรับความจริง กับการตัดสินของคณะกรรมการ แล้วจึงเก็บงานลงกล่อง เดินทางกลับบ้าน

บทสรุป :  ผิดหวังค่ะ  แต่ไม่เสียใจ ขอขอบคุณทุกคนในครอบครัว และกัลยาณมิตรรอบกายที่สนับสนุนและให้กำลังใจเสมอมา ปีหน้าฟ้าใหม่ ตั้งความหวัง สู้กันใหม่ คอยลุ้นกันต่อไปคะ

ขอบคุณคะ

Journey Journal Monaco Day 2 "In Menton"

Journey Journal Monaco Day 2 "In Menton"

I woke up the next morning by the Southern Thai dialect accent coming from the bank of the pool approximately 10 meters on the left side of my room’s balcony. It was Daranee who was chitchating with her Thai friend from Thailand on her celphone. As the villa was on hill and the pool area was surrounded partly with stone and row of trees on the other side.The sound could be echoed pretty well,even through the slide double-glass door of my bedroom.I must emphasize Southern Thai dialect is a kind of sturdy,heavy and somewhat manly language. It may sound a bit rough if you don’t know its genuin characters. If you hear both counterparts talking without seeing their faces, you might probably think they are quarelling. But there’s nothing such, rather than the sincerity and wholeheartedness derived from deep down bottomhearts of speakers, believe me. The Southern Thai people are very well known of being flocked. Like other social animals, we love gathering to the same species and hanging around each other when possible. No less than that ,we enjoy keeping in touch quite a lot or....other words...socializing with each other pretty much.And so...the loud and tough voice of Daranee that morning, was not an hassle and it didn’t bother me at all. On the contrary,I considered it  a snug good-morning call to dig me out of bed to join her a very fantastic and isolated presence on high hill. Let us just celebrate the day together.

Breakfast was served after our warm-greeting-hug whereat Daranee hung up the line and turned her face to Grace and me. Pleasant and Joyful conversation among us started consequently.

our breakfast that morning

Our forenoon activity that day was not much more than talking to one another ,to catch up with everything we had been missing. And also to tune on those social medias to let friends and the world know where we were and what we were doing. That was kind of fun thing so far. Well,whether they would be interested in it or not ,actually I didn’t mind. To speak my thought and words out on letters was what mattered me most.

Catching up w/ what we have been missing

Besides talking to each other face-to-face and leaving words on medias, Grace and I were enjoying swimming at the pool pretty much. Laying sunbathing was also one of Grace's favorites. I, on the other hand, prefered not to expose to the sun that much. In fact, I was confronting skin problem and having lots of pimples on my face those days. And so I tried not to make thing worse and was looking forward to seeing doctor once I was home in The Netherlands the week later.

GrcaeAnne was enjoying sunbathing along the pool

Daranee loved talking both on phone and to us. I shall say, we could spend that morning together harmoniously till the noon approached. Then we went for lunch at Darane’s restaurant “Royal Thai”again, planning to visit Menton later when the sunray became softer. Our lunch was great. Again they were selected according to our eating habit, some easy-digestable dishes,composing of much of vegetable then.
Later in the afternoon, we left to Menton,the pearl of France.Menton is definitely a lemontown. I saw yellow lemons everywhere. Parfumes ,oils and soaps, for example, are made here too. I smelled  fragrances and aromas allover the atmosphere when we were strolling along the tourists'walking street. They also say Menton is very famous for its gardens ,whether Jardin Serre de la Madone, the Fontana Rosa or the Jardin Botanique exotique de Menton, I didn’t see any of them I must confess. Not even seen the port and an old part of town. That’s too bad,I know that . Probably because it’s too hot and we didn’t feel like to walk much that day. Let me make a better story next time. I guarantee I will be back here and will have more to tell by then.

Dropped for some shoots

The main aim that afternoon after parking the car close to the market place was to get some icy ice cream  to cool our throat off and we did it before moving on to Saint Michel Church,where we went inside and stayed for a while as we were making  some wishes.

downstairs from St.Michel

Right, we were making wishes and if our wishes come true we will come back for sure to thank and to show our gratitude.We smiled to each other and...
Let's move on to the next station...

Till next time then.Pari
Follow me on Twitter
Please Visit our website too, thanks a lot <3    www.stgthaipride.nl P.S you can view those pics again on our FB later

Me and Daranee

Daranee and GraceAnne

avoided crowded street

Excursion Culinary Day 4 (1/2)

Day Tour: Admiring Lavender fields in Sault  
24-06-2014

We woke up early again today though we were very late to bed last night. This was the fourth day of the trip,and I had to admit I was exhausted.I didn’t know how others felt,I didn’t ask. But I sometimes thought to myself, like a naughty girl, I should have stayed home and taken some better rest,so that I would be recharged and refreshed when I would restart my work in the next few weeks after this vacation period.I was kind of languid,drowsy and had to force myself to get out of bed reluctantly.

I shouted to myself then...“come on ! Be strong ! Get up !” and so I made a better move.It worked !

After a refreshing shower,however, I went downstairs to join friends at breakfast terrace.The jolly greet of our friends, the merry hugs and morning kisses of one another had really brought me again back to life.This was the best remedy.And probably, coffee and our freestyle Thai “petit dćjeuner” had also played some role.I was awake, frisky and delighted. I was ready to march boldy on any track we would make that day.

As we had quite some plans today,we left home right after meal.Our first program of the day was to go admiring Provence lavender fields around the lovely villages in Sault. It took us quite a while on road from Pranee’s house to be at the farms.Pranee had surveyed the route beforehand some weeks prior to our jaunt.Therefore she made herself such a professional guide that day,leading us from one place to another fairly swiftly.We made panorama stop along the way and visited some lavender fileds, one of Provence popular tourist’s attractions,that we pormised not to miss on this trip.

The best season for lavenders in Provence said to be late June through July. But this depends on the seasonal weather too.Begin of August will be harvest time.

By the time we were there,I think, Lavenders were just about blooming.There should be more blossem thereafter.The color would be more intense as well as their fragrance. Although I were there for the first time, I was inspired enormously already.Life was colored violet and impressed with lavender scenery a little while at each pause. We made pictures,we smelled very pleasant natural scent. Soon, this would be more full of charm when they reached their ripe peak.Another extraordinary thing beyond this -- the bees’s buzzing—the bees were making natural music harmonously in their own tone.How marvelous ! At that point,it was a good moment to  shout out “I love life and I’m sure all of us do!” It was incredible, megical and wonderful !

Back to little town in Sault, we found a very lovely small restaurant for lunch.Well,small—that’s what I said. It was however 3-storey building that looked a bit narrow inside.But fortunately,there were tables outdoor with great view,where we prefered to sit.We were in at about a quarter to one.But believe me,before we could make orders and next...far later came our victuals...finally... it was quite late.I meant it was not lunch time any more. And we were almost died of hunger ! Anyhow,thanks to that panorama outlook from our tables, the exotic air that diverted our attention and the wind that blew. However, when the food came, it was so good and tasty that we were nearly close to a Russian proverb which said “when I’m eating,I’m deaf and dump”. That sounded awful I know.But trust me,that was just a joke.We were not like that at all. We kept talking and enjoying every bite of our meal as we always do.If you had been there with us, you would have noticed how much we appreciated food, friends, atmosphere and etc. Moreover, we always remembered “at the table with good friends and family, you don’t become old”

Finally,food came !

Fish Menu

Duck Menu

Chicken Menu

Burger Menu

Steak Menu

To be continued !

Stay with us,
Pari

Follow me on Twitter

Subscribe to Pari Channel
Like us on Facebook Pari Channel
Like us on Facebook ThaiPrideAssociation
Visit our website ThaiPrideAssociation

Butterfly Pea Tea

I have always been not only talking about but also drinking much of ice coffee. But lately,I was fastinated by blue tea and have changed drinking habbit a little bit. Instead of ice coffee,I just make ice tea, to cool my body’s temperature down in these warm summer days. Mostly, just pure tea with ice cubes,no sugar nor honey added, not even sour taste of lemon juice in it. That helps refreshing as well as revitalizing. I love sipping it at any time whenever I’m home.

So for the time being (perhaps, for later too), coffee has become the second choice (probably, the third and/or the fourth,hereafter). As I was recently in Thailand Festval in Badhomburg,Germany, I have bought 2 bags of healthy herbal tea back home; butterfly pea  and  lemon grass. I will tell you about lemon grass tea later,by now, let me tell you more about this (wonder) blue pea.

Butterfly pea or known in Thai as “Anchan” is vine plant that grown well in moist and neutral soil.Sometimes it’s simply called blue pea,whilst its elegant scientific name, entitled a bit harder to remember (well, for some people,then), is --“Clitoria ternatea”.

Butterfly pea is well-known to be used in traditional Ajurvedic medicine since the old times.Every part of it; the leaves,flowers,seeds and roots can be applied to use as a remedy to cure deseases. And what amazes me most is,in fact, its fancy and vivid blue flowers that contain concentrated deep blue pigment. They can be squeezed and used as coloring for food and desserts. But more interesting than that...its health benefits that should be made better known.The flollowing list I collect here is just some examples.So you can have some ideas  how powerful those gentle petals of little vine plant can be.Here they are :

• Nourishes and strengthens the hair as well as hair roots {optimum hair care products made of butterfly pea flowers are also available, my favorite ones are unfortunately only possible to get by importing from Thailand.They are not yet popular in the Netherlands  (nor in Europe,I think) }
• Prevents skin bruising and keeps it  healthy
• Prevents numbness/beri beri
• Reduces risk for developing blood clots
• Treats urinary dysfunction
• Improves eyesight & night vision
• Helps prevent cataract (a clouding in the lens that hampers the vision ) and glaucoma (a condition that causes damage to the eye's optic nerve)
• Treats eye infections (as well as inflammation in the eyes)
• Stimulates blood circulation
• Detoxifies the body
• Provides antioxidants
• Slows aging process
• Enhances immune system
• Reduces thirst
• Helps refreshing and revitalizing

As butterfly pea plant is rare to find in Europe or if I would say “impossible”,I can be right as well. I’m so sure not even to find it in my own garden in the Netherlands.This plant is actually native to tropical Asia. However,we can make things possible nowadays. When we can’t find it fresh, then just try to find the dried.When we can’t find it in the local shops, then just buy the one imported That’s how I enjoy comsumption butterfly pea tea these days.


 As I mentioned above,I often drink it without any sweet.But sometimes,I love to make thing different.By adding a few drops of lime or lemon juice ,my deep blue pea tea will turn purple in a second.This is awesome.That’s why I’m stucking on it everyday now.


See you again next time,

Pari 

join me in Twitter

Subscribe to Pari Channel

Visit our website ThaiPrideAssociation

Like us on Facebook Studio Pari Channel

Like us on Facebook Thai Pride Association

A few drops of lime or lemon juice turn blue to purple

 

Excursion Culinary (Day3 -- 1/2)

Left Paris to Nimes
23-06-2014

Normally,I hate to get up too much early.I won’t absolutely do that if it’s not really necessary.

Though I loved and was looking forward very much to this trip, I didn’t feel like to get up out of bed that early at all that day. But I had to,otherwise I would never get to where we had planned to.

So I was a very good girl for myself as well as for my gang. Like Patty and Gigi,I got up pretty much early to get ready to leave to “Gare de Lyon” Railway Station to catch the 9-o’clock train to Nimes.Our private taxi came to pick us up at about 7.30 a.m. Patty knew the chauffeur well,he was a local French who married our Thai girl friend. He was a professional one and so very reliable.He knew the way and that's why he took us just about half an hour on road from Avenue de Segue to the railway station.Surprisingly,there was only a bit slight traffic jam that morning eventhough it was the start of working day of the week. 

At the railway station,3 of us met other 2 friends,Nicky and Sesami at platform 17 before getting on the train. We sat together, and now we made 5,riding on our way to find more mates at the next destination in Nimes.

Sesami and I



Patty and Gigi





Shortafter the train left the station,it began to overcast,followed up with some rain.There was not much to see along sideway. I started to think of my warm cozy bed at home and suddenly, fell in sleep pretty easily.Undoubtedly, I spent most of my time in the train sleeping, which I (and all my friends) agreed that it’s okay and quite beneficial for my health ! [;-)] 

Nicky

We arrived finally at Nimes railway station afther a few hours and met another friend, Mary, who came from Grasse to join this excursion too.She was there already about an hour before we arrived. 

We all together took the afternoon trip to Uchaud after that,to see another friend,Somying, and her family by a rented car we reserved earlier on line in advance. From Nimes station pick-up point,it took us thus another half an hour en route before we could have a recess at our friend's home.

Our excursion culinary started in fact there. Somying and her husband cooked lunch for us. Started with delicious appetizers,then Poulet à la provençale before ending up with some fruits and/or cherry tart. (pls see pics below) 

Because of the heat of summer temperature that day,together with too short of sleep the night before,I guessed,we felt a bit weak and exhuasted after stomach filled. And so most of us decided to take some rest after food. Some had found her own cornor to lie down whereas the others chose to change into two-piece bekini and sprang into the pool nearby.I, of course, picked the first choice.  Once I closed my eyes,I had absolutely no idea what the others did. Until some good time passed by and I woke up again to get myself ready for the further journey.

After 5, we made now 6. Somying was leaving with us to continue the ride --excursion culinary amongs friends-- too to the next destinations.

Fron Nimes Railway Station,we rent a car to Uchaud.

So all together, along the way from Paris to Uchaud,we became 6,and along the next voyage, we would have more friends to collect.
After food and some nap.The journey was on.We,including Somying, left Bernard (Somying’s husband) and the dog behind.Our next stop was in Grasse before we drove over the French border to Monaco's territory,to see another friend,where we stayed a night and took her with us,to join the trip the next day.

Warm welcome on arrival

Lunch at Somying´s home,was great. 

Cheers!

Another cheers for our friendship !

Delicious Appetizer !
Started with French-style appetizer with bell pepper.

Followed by Poulet à la provençale

Ended up with some fruits and dessert Cherry Tart

It was real good to have had some food after long jouney.To be honest, we had only light breakfast that morning and by lunchtime, our stomachs growled...or other words, we got `Borborygmi`

This piece was mine.

My favorite sleepping cornor. Cozy Couch!

Some nap after meal did us real good !

Me and my sleeping sofa <3

Till next time,

Pari 

Let’s twitter
www.stgthaipride.nl