Liverpool the European Capital of Culture '08

For a city that has a lambanana as its symbol, you know you're in for a novel time there.

It's not a joke, the lambanana, is intended to be just what you think it is - a cross between a banana and a lamb. Reminiscent of Liverpool's golden era as a flourishing dock where wool and bananas were common cargo.



Liverpool was colourful and inspiring for me at every turn,


allowing me to look past the rainiest of days and the bleakest of winter.



I'm pretty sure this has something to do with its hippy ties. As I infringe upon The Cavern where the Beatles use to stage live performances,



and fiddle with old school style nick nacks in various souvenir shops, I find myself happily transported to lala land.

This may be a controversial statement, but there's definitely more than the Beatles and Liverpool FC to the city.



There is art and architecture where you seek it



and dainty little Georgian houses to peer at.



The latest Liverpool One shopping district is a joy to stroll around for half a day,



and if you ever need a meal to fill you up and warm your heart, Barburito at the top floor of the arcade is an excellent destination. Quite like the Starbucks for burritos, you get to tailor make your dish - grilled chicken with mild beans, medium hot salsa, extra cheese and guacamoule please. The steaming hot, jam-packed and piquant wraps really can hit the spot.




In fact, I have had no problems with food at Liverpool. An all time favourite Chinese restaurant would be Mei Mei at Berry Street. The portions are hearty, the service friendly and the food...oh the glorious food! I can rest assure you that you are in good hands there. We had roasted duck wrapped in yam paste, deep fried to perfection; steamed garlic prawns and sizzling tofu. And that, was sincerely at the top end of the list of good Chinese meals I had in the UK.

Finally, a leisurely stroll at the Albert Docks among twinkling Christmassy decorations and buzzing restaurants is the perfect way to end a perfect day trip around Liverpool city.

Pit stop - Hong Kong

I love cities that could swallow me in whole, and Hong Kong, is definitely one of them.

The roads are bustlier,

the buildings are taller,

the lights brighter. (View from the Peak)






With each step that I took, I was losing myself in the city's tempo and its cacophony of advertisements.



We stayed at JJ Hotel, Wan Chai, which is at the heart of wonderful eateries and morning markets, and a 5 minute walk away from the shopping outlets (e.g. Sogo and Times Square) at Causeway Bay. This place is considered a steal relative to the extortions you get in Hong Kong, at HKD600 p. night. I just love boutiques like this - take away the gym, breakfast and fancy restaurants, throw in free wireless and free water bottle refills each day and voila - everything that you really want and need in a hotel. Unbelievable but true, the beds are so hard that they are incredibly comfortable. You'd have to try it to understand.





Food is an endless discussion topic in Hong Kong. Even the roads are named after foodstuff! Skip the travel guides on this, it's the locals you'd have to speak to. They are the guides with the fussiest palates in the world so follow them and you're in safe hands.




My favourite Yum Cha (or Dim Sum) place was Hong Shing at the 9th floor of Times Square. Just get whatever that's recommended such as the Crab meat Xiao Long Bao dumplings, the tempura prawn Cheung Fun (broad rice noodles) and the Lau Sha custard buns (see picture), and you're in for a treat.




Tang Dynasty at Canton Street in Kowloon is famous for its variety of desserts especially its mango pudding. Nevertheless, its main dishes are very delectable and I was licking my cutleries clean by the end of it.







While Yung Kee at Wellington Street is considered one of the top restaurants in Asia widely recommended for its roasted goose, I thought I had a better roast meal at a non-descript diner called Hei Hei situated at the junction of Lockhart Road and Luard Road. If you do go there, their poached egg with mince beef claypot rice is to die for, I still dream of it every other day.





Nobody needs any directions for shopping in Hong Kong. Everything you see screams buy, buy, buy! And somehow the magic works. Within less than 24 hours, I was lugging 4 pairs of shoes and whatevernots, which is certainly my personal best. What can I say - Hong Kong really is a world-class port, where at the end of your stay, you would have definitely reloaded.

Driving South - from Lyon to Marsaille

My best and most vivid memories of this trip were of my meals there.

Before this, I must have never really had French food, only inferior renditions of it. Nothing I had ever tried resembled the invigorating and rustic flavours I found in Provence.

The foie gras...

The wine tasting...


...and the cheeses, a whole galore of them. Stinky, gooey, nutty, sweet, savoury, creamy...just trying them out is an excursion in itself.


In Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain describes his initiation to good food when he was a 4th grader, after having his first cold soup - Vichysoisse - on a cruise to France. My initiation to good French food was in Le Mangevins, just around the corner from Cave de Tain l'Hermitage winery. (Turn in from RN7, pass Lyon)

Instantaneously after walking into the cosy little enclave, you'd know that this restauranteur takes his wine seriously. And that, is probably the best reassurance that he will take his food seriously too.

That's me polishing off a plate of very succulent, tasty and earnest lamb shank. And truth betold, I have never liked lamb until then.

Between meals, we trundled along the road, gaping at stretches of wineyards...

and grasslands...

awed by the colours...

the dappled light...

and quaint little villages and farmhouses...


We stopped once in awhile to wander around the cobbled stone, Romanesque towns.

Safely hidden in the village of Vaison la Romaine is a little gem: Au Coquin de Sort. I can just imagine it being a cottage taken right from a French fairy tale.



We scouted around the house and each turn was a surprise. They even have a hammock at the balcony! I love hammocks! How could we not stay at a place with a hammock? So we took all the 3 rooms they had.

Breakfast at Au Coquin was down to earth yet amazing. A selection of home made jams, that went perfectly with crusty home made bread, and a bowl of coffee for dipping. Yum. And did I mention that there was a harpsichord in the dining area? No kidding.

Having tucked in so much good food, it would be cruel to pick a favourite. But for your benefit, I'd say that the meal at Le Boteleur in Vaison la Romaine, was top notch from the entrees to dessert to the last drop of wine. Certainly my personal best. Pleeease try it, it'll do you good.


I was a little bit disappointed with the Boullabaise that everyone touted about in Marsaille, to be honest. Boiled Fish served with savoury fish soup and croutons to me didn't really call for that much of a parade, or funds (€40 per head).

And if you think that you have had enough fancy pansies, then Quick, is the French solution to McDees.

Souvenirs? Other than the bottles of wine, why not try the market at Aix En Provence for something to bring home.

It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that we loaded on more good food.