Saturday, December 28, 2013

Homemade Salted Caramel Macarons

A few thoughts...
After a few failures in the past...
- Don't bake on a humid or rainy day
(if you do, make sure you have your aircon or dehumidifier on)
- Make sure you sift your almond meal & icing sugar (no cheating!)
- Don't be afraid to mix the meringue well with the almond meal & icing sugar with a spatula
(scoop the batter from the bottom of the bowl and press down the mixture and repeat until firm and drips slowly off spatula )
- To make perfect rounds, draw on a baking sheet or buy a silicon mat with rounds drawn :)
- Need more practice to get the right consistency to get rid of the tips in the picture above

Monday, September 30, 2013

Scottie and his magic "Phiten" dog collar

Thank you auntie Kim for the magic collar!!


Watches & Wonders - Hong Kong 2013


For those who never get the chance to visit SIHH in Geneva, Switzerland. Thank you auntie Amanda for the tickets to the event.

Tools of the trade


Hand operated lathe for producing all the intricate parts in the AP caliber.


Inside an AP pocket watch


The caliber of another AP watch


Roger Dubuis Quatuor prototype -
using 4 springs at right angle to each other to achieve even distribution of gravity.
An alternative to the well known tourbillon concept.


Humans are still the best precision machinery the world has seen.


Monday, August 26, 2013

ICC Light Show

If you look over from Hong Kong Island towards West Kowloon at night, you might noticed a new light show has started in addition to the long-running light show at 8:00pm. The ICC light show lasts 3 minutes and you can see it every night at 7:45pm and 9:00pm.

A spectacle well-worth its place in Hong Kong night sky

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Blythe in HK - are you a fan as well?

A few of the photos taken at the Blythe show in Metroplaza in Hong Kong Aug 2013
They are 1.2m tall!!  Pickle Winkle Blythe


Lovely details on these semi-life sized Blythe dolls

Want a picture with me?  I am Neo Blythe Vinter Arden

Kiss Me True - Ginza Cool Girl Look
Some of the better pictures taken off the glass display cabinets.





12th Anniversary
Neo Blythe “Allie Gabrielle” 


Friday, June 7, 2013

Travel Snaps - Japan - best of the rest

Hakone Shrine

Lake Suwa 諏訪湖

Tsumago 妻籠宿 in Kiso Valley
One of the stops along Nakasendo 中山道

Shiraito falls in Karuizawa 軽井沢 白糸の滝




Kawaii!



Blueberry flowers covered in morning dew

Busy!

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa 兼六園

For those of you who like Japanese gardens.




Shirakawa-go 白川村

It would be nice to see all the roofs covered in freshly fallen snow, but it would be tougher to travel around.





Kamikochi 上高地

Scenic mountain resort offering views of snow-capped mountains.



All the bridges get really crowded
Try to get there early
Take an early bus

Not to be missed
Beautiful flora everywhere you walk



Perfectly clear water runs through Azusa river

Around Nikko - Fukiware Falls, Lake Chuzenji, Toshogu, Lake Yunoko

Fukiware falls

A field of wild flowers along the path surrounding Fukiware falls

Lake Chuzenji

Sun deck at the boat house in Lake Chuzenji

Beautiful, ornate crafts found all over Toshogu






Peace and quietness at Lake Yunoko

Lake Yunoko

Lake Yunoko