'FRESHLY SQUEEZED MORNINGS'

One of the signatures of Kandooma is their in-room hospitality set up, notably the 'juicer'. Every evening during turn-down service 6-8 oranges, super sweet, are supplied for guests to make their own wake-up potion. It is something novel, and a welcome idea that adds a definitive style to the resort. The rest of the items on the table are quality goods too, including ground 'illy' coffee in a pressed pot, peppermint & camomile teas, and branded hot chocolates. Apparently the Holiday Inn Group has taken a major interest here, which explains the influx of an international management and supervisory staff 'to upgrade standards & services'. It looks like Kandooma is postioning for a bigger market share in the Maldives, which the FAM thinks is well deserved.

CHEF PETER @ 'THE KITCHEN'

One of the outlets at the Kandooma Resort is 'The Kitchen' where we had dinner last night. A totally separate structure built right on the waterfront, next to a bleached-white sandy beach, the setting is idyllic. We had pre-dinner drinks on the roof to watch a bright orange sunset, it was outstanding. The only sunset scene that could beat this one was at Terri & Fergus' wedding, at the Four Seasons in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Then it was dinner downstairs .... WOW! Chef Peter, who hails from South Africa, floored us with an incredible platter of Maldivian seafood caught in the neighboring waters. Our consenus was 'we have never had such fresh and delicious seafood, ever'. He prepared a mixed plate of local spiny lobstsers, prawns, yellow fin tuna, garouper, and squid.
We were told the resort has 400+ live lobsters for the season, kept next to the Dive Center. As most chefs who produced cook books would attest : ingredients must be the most fresh, cooking method the most basic, presentation the most simple and you will be guaranteed the best dish. That was exactly what we had, freshest catch from the sea, grilled to perfection. I do not think he added much of anything, probably a pinch of sea salt, not even lemon juice I do not think. The sweetness of the lobsters, with every morsel still clings to the shell, softness of the squids, texture of the tuna, succulence of the prawns .... so natural, and so divine. We were greedy and ordered the house-special, BBQ lamb rack, plus a confit duck leg on mushroom risotto. It was a mistake as the meats were simply no match, they did not even come close to what the Indian Ocean offers.

Thank you Chef Peter, we will be back for more before the end of our stay!

GROWN-UP CHILDREN

We use this expression often but what exactly does it mean? Are they grown-ups, are they still children, or are they somewhere in between? The fact is; as long as we are still alive as parents, they will always be children. I get to realize this now, more than ever before. I may be 60 but my mother, at 88, is still telling me what to do. I might be getting on a bit, but a child nonetheless in her eyes. This picture I took at the Kids Club of the resort is priceless. The fact they let their hair down, to become kids again even for a brief moment, is worth a lot to me. Always a sentimentalist, being able to capture their childhood behavior warms my heart. They grow up too fast, much too fast and I miss those years when they were children, when Daddy was front-and-center. Where has all that time gone?

DORA LOOKING SO GOOD .... 27 YEARS LATER

I just want to blog this picture of Dora, my better half for 27 years and my good friend for 30, in one of her (rare) super relaxed moods. I love this photo, because she looks close to perfect in it. We had our shares of disagreements, arguments, fights, even bad ones but we survived. Dora is a key pillar of the FAM, even more so now as the one who brings home the bread. My role is relegated to the kitchen - one day I may even bake bread - which to me is like winning the lottery. As many of you who know us throughout my 3 careers ie healthcare, MNC and recruiting Dora epitomizes the best of a "Supportive Spouse". I could not have finished my 35 year work-life without her by my side, certainly over some challenging times in each career, including one as my colleague when we were at J&J together in the early 1980s. Our girls may make all kinds of faces now but they know, deep in the recesses of their hearts, that Mom taught them the basics of most of what they know today.

We were swimming in the lagoon yesterday and I over heard Dora asking Jess who, like her sisters, is a good swimmer. Jess was on the Diving Team at Deerfield Academy. "Do you remember I taught you how to swim, when you were barely a year old?" I think she does, Dora, in fact they all do and one day they will step forward to thank you. Before that happens, let me do the honors right now, on this blog. "Thank You" for all your have done for me, for our daughters, and for our FAM ... unfailingly ... all these years. Well done, Mom!

WELCOME LEAF

Quite a nice gesture, awaiting our arrival at the reception, along with ice cold towels and cool minty lemonades after a 45-minute shuttle boat ride. The last time we were around these waters were 27 years ago, almost to the date. It was a very different world then, when the Maldives resorts were just beginning to make the world scene. Our package was arranged by Air Lanka on a DC-10. My RHKAAF pal Edwin Lau was station manager then, he upgraded his newlywed friends all the way to First Class from Row 66 ie the lowest fare we could afford then. We drank the Dom with vigor but literally did not know what to do with the caviar! We hired a car and driver in Colombo, and spent a week around the country including Kandy for the festival at the Temple of the Tooth, before returing to the capital to stay at the Gaulle Face, the proverbial colonial style hotel from the Raj. Maldives followed, but without realizing we booked a cottage in a semi-nudist resort with mostly European patrons. The big question was popped by a nice German couple, 2 days after we arrived, " .... we are all wondering when the Japanese couple will take their cothes off" ... yes, they were talking about us, and it was such a natural thing to do afterwards. Well, that was post-Xmas 1982 and not in our wildest dreams would we imagine this very day, post- Xmas 2009, when we revisit the Maldives with our own clan.

KANDOOMA RESORT - MALDIVES

This is an ariel view (from Jess' post card) of our island, Kandooma, situated 35 km south of the capital, Male. It is named after the Kandoo tree, found in abundance on the 13-hectre island. It is managed by the HPL Hotels & Resorts Group based in Singapore, plus interest from the Holiday Inn Group as well from its name. Check out http://www.kandooma-maldives.com/ for details.

How about a few fun facts about the Maldives :

* right on the equator, southwest of Sri Lanka
* comprise of 1190 isalnds to form an archipelago or 26 atolls
* 202 inhabited, 87 are resorts & tourism is 20% GDP
* average temperature between 29-32 & it is warm, humid with sunshine year round
* economy grows at 10% per annum in the past 20 years - hard to beat!
* 98% functional literacy, following the British system
* total population 369,000 per 2007 census
* islands were inhabited as early as 3000 years ago by seafaring traders
* 'Dhivehi' is spoken all over the country, so is English

We have only been here for one day but the the genuine disposition and warm friendliness of the Maldivians are simply admirable.

2009 FAMILY SOJOURN

Since our successful trip to Kagoshima in 2008 the FAM - coined by Jess - agreed to dedicate our year end vacation time as our 'Annual Family Sojourn'. I welcome that as everyone can put aside the stress, the frustrations at work, the family feud, the sibling rivalry to return to being a nucleus of meaningful and loving purposes. It is not a dream, I really want that, and it will happen as we all age a little. A democratic process - even though Mom & Dad foot the bill - the vote goes to 1-week in the Maldives, plus New Year's in Singapore on the way back. We left Hong Kong mid afternoon on Xmas day, transitting Singapore, and arrived around midnight the same day. Jess, Terri & Fergus hold diving licenses and they have convinced Andrea, who fears sharks to the n-th degree and who has problems watching the Jaws series, to go for hers. Maldives is also a location Dora & I have fond memories. We spent our honeymoon here after touring Sri Lanka, at the outer most atoll of the Maldives archipelago, back in 1982! Here we are the FAM at our first breakfast. The shades 'are to hide those tired eyes' I am told, mostly from partying and last minute packing at home where we will vacate upon return, to make way for a major renovation project. Except for the overweight patriarch, it is rather a handsome group, don't you think?

MR JAM aka NURY VITTACHI

Nury Vittachi is, without question, my favorite satirist in town. He is truly acculturated into the Hong Kong Scene which is why his humor is 'right on the $'. I have his site on my favorites list, it is http://www.mrjam.org/ .... log on and see what you think? The following are a few Child Friendly Jokes for the season that appeared in the Standard a few days ago.

What nationality is Santa Claus?
Polish, or North Polish to be precise.

What do monkeys sing at Christmas?
Jungle Bells ... Jungle Bells ....

What did Adam say to his girlfriend on December 24th?
Its Christmas, Eve!

If Santa & Mrs Claus had a child, what would he/she be called?
A Subordinate Claus.

Mom, can we have a dog for Xmas?
No, you will have roast goose like the rest of us.

I love them, they bring back fond memories of our children growing up and how we kept them entertained over the Yuletide season. All adults now, they stop laughing at my jokes, but laugh at me instead. I call this transitional parenthood.

Thank you Nury, it is Christmas day so ... Merry Christmas!

SCMP FOOD & DRINK SECTION

Much to my surprsie and embarrassment Susan Jung, the well regarded Food Editor of the Sunday Post Magazine, mentioned the TangCanCook blog in her section today - December 13th 2009.

SPRY & RETIRING Most food blogs are written by tech-savvy Gen Z-ers but here is one by someone who could be a father, at least, to some of the other bloggers. Raymond Tang of Tang Can Cook (tangcancook.blogspot.com) was born in the mainland and raised in Hong Kong. He starred blogging in April, after his wife launched him on a 'culinary journey' with an exciting 60th birthday present : Basic Cuisine & Patisserie Courses at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Institute in Sydney, Australia. Of course, Tang is older - much older - than the other students and he often struggled to keep up, but in the end he was successful, receiving certificates in both sections, plus 'distinctions' in organisation, food preparation and presentation, and for following health, safety and security procedures.

Having graduated, Tang continues to pursue his love for food - by eating, not cooking. He posts about restaurants he visits at home in Hong Kong and on his travels : On Lot 10 (on Gough Street in Central) ; Vue de Monde (in Melbourne) ; Tetsuya (in Sydney) and Jadis (in Paris). Susan Jung

Thank you, Susan. I am flattered, you made my Sunday!

BABETTE'S FEAST

Dora and I watched this incredible foreign language DVD over the weekend which I must share with you. Written and directed by Gabriel Axel, it won the 1987 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The story is set on a desolate Danish coastal township whose inhabitants live an austere existence in the name of faith and duty. Babette, a mysterious refugee from the civil war in France came along and things began to change. A talented gourmet chef, she terrified the pious townspeople 'with the prospect of losing their souls for enjoying too much earthly pleasures'. Half of the film is devoted to 'transforming a sumptuous dinner into a love affair, where there is no longer distinction between bodily apreciation & spiritual appreciation'. It is a brilliant mix of humanity, romance, indulgence and of course cooking. Voila!

Needless to say I was mesmerized by the menu, presented as follows :

* Turtle Soup, with an Amatillado
* Caviar on Blinis & Creme Fraiche, with Veuve Clicquot
* Cailles en Sarcophage or Roast Quail Vol-au-Vents, with Clos de Vougeot
* Salade of Endives & Walnuts
* Cheese Assortment
* Gateau with Rum
* Exotic Tropical Fruit Plate

Many have told us about the film and we are in full agreement with the Los Angeles Times' remarks some 22 years ago .... 'Delectable! A fable told with passion, intelligence and sumputousness'. HMV carries it!

WAH KEE CONGEE

My brother-in-law Joe, an American from NYC who has tempered his Hong Kong palate after almost 25 years here, and I are always on the look out for 'the next best congee'. We were at Wah Kee in Wanchai just this morning, a joint worth sharing. Located near the Wanchai market, the address is at the bottom of the menu. I have no idea what it is in English, I only know it is the 2nd right hand turn if you continue to go east, from the entrance into Wanchai market, towards CWB. It is run by a matriarch via her 2nd generation. She looks and acts the part, I imagine her iron-clad discipline is no different from Michelin chefs at the pass in a rated restaurant. She must be feared in her younger days, as things are absolutely ship-shaped now. The menu is extensive for a small place but every bowl is individually prepared upon order. My all time favorite is their meatballs, made fresh from well grounded and well seasoned pork. Add a few slices of fish, 'pei dan' ie thousand-year-old-eggs, and a very generous splash of scallions I was close to heaven. Their sides are worth a mention as well; especially the rice flour rolls with sliced pork liver, flavored with local coriander stalk ... masterly! If you want to start your Sunday on the right foot, a comfort congee breakfast at Wah Kee may be the answer. It is usually quite full from mid morning, and it closes after lunch service on Sundays.

NEW STYLE PATISSERIE

We have not been to Kowloon City for a while, and decided to explore last Sunday. The 'new face' of this area is a mix of old Chiu Chow & Thai eateries with more contemporary outlets like; wine shops, tapas bars and of course the darling of Hong Kong, pastry shops. Patisserie Tony Wong is a good example. We met Tony, the owner, at his brand new shop.
An experienced Patissier he is bringing his hospitality and big hotel background to the neighborhood, which he is obviously committed as he runs a parallel specialty cookie shop almost next door. There are clearly freshness and creativity in his products which you can check out at http://www.patisserietonywong.com/ Tony's motto is 'using the finest ingredients, and paying attention to details from the heart' .... which sounds like a winning formula. We bought a box of his nouveau mini pastries, they were fun. What we should have done is to finish our dinner with dessert & coffee there, Lavazza by the way, to wash off the garlic from our Thai fare.

Patisserie Tony Wong is at 74 Fuk Lo Tsun Road Kowloon City ... open till 9pm on weekends. Try it!

QUOTABLE QUOTE

Church is not on my schedule on Sundays, nor is it on Dora's. However, she has become a regular on this Sunday morning broadcast from the Crystal Cathedral in America. She likes the setting, the singing, but mostly the non-denominational sermons from preachers who are true masters of communication. Just this past Sunday I sat with her and became mesmerized by this 50th something pastor from a Chicago parish. He talked about prayers from on high that guided him, and his Church, to cope with one economic crisis after another. He reiterated the need of faith in such dire circumstances when helplessness over-rules.

He then observed how people have such short memories that as soon as the going gets better, we are out spending. The quote I want to share is ' ... we must all learn to emancipate ourselves from this insidious escalation of incessant consumer insecurity ...' Wow! Just how these preachers can put words together and make them sound like a Rx prescription from a physician is absolutely beyond me. As the only man at home for so many years (before my son-in-law joined the clan) I am happy to report I surived this highly contagious & incurable disease that, fortunately, only targets the Tang women. I will pass this on to the bona fide members of Shopperholic Anonymous in my dear family.

Postscript : I believe Revlon - or is it the other cosmetics company - created the 'Lipstick Index' some years ago ie when the economy goes down, lipsticks sales go up, since it is the most cost efficient way for women to look and feel good. One more excuse for the shoppers, I guess.

GO FANCL .... LESS IS MORE!

OBAMA SIGNATURE

Here it is, the signature that signed off on trillions, literally! This letter from the White House was displayed at a Special Batik Exhibition hosted by Alun Alun (a very succesful, high end local retail department store at the West Mall in Jakarta) that aims to revitalize all forms of age old Indonesian arts & crafts, notably batiks. Apparently Obama's mother Ann Dunham, had a noteworthy batik collection, which is on display. His sister, Maya Soetoro Ng, also wrote a piece on the family's interest to preserve and promote the fine art of batik. I was attracted not only by the beautiful work but Obama's signature, wondering if someone should take it to an analyst for a 3rd degree check. If Facebook made it to the master 'To Check' list, before someone gets hired, why not signatures? BTW as a retired career headhunter, I am disgusted, it is painful to watch all this BS unfolds in the trade.

70!

Once you passed the magic 60 mark I guess the next big one is not 65, but 70. While it is a fact of life I was shocked by how quickly it came, even before my 61st birthday.

Dora and I are due to renew our driving licenses before year end, and being the 'Family Messenger' I was tasked to the Transport Department. Hers was straight forward, renewed for 10 years until 2019 at a nominal fee of HK$900 .... one of the few remaining benefits from our low tax base in Hong Kong.

Then it was my turn .... HK$873 please! Why am I privileged, could it be my looks? "Sir, your new license is only good until March 16th 2019, before you turn 70 on the 17th, hence pro-rated. BTW we only give 3-year licenses when you turn 70. Is there anything else?"

Anything else? Yes, wait till you are 60, young lady, what else can I say? I guess this is one of those circumstances around which the expression 'rude shock' was coined. 70? Me? Give me a break, not so soon please!

CHOICES

I was in Jakarta this past weekend, staying at the Crown Plaza. I was at breakfast this morning, and overheard an argument between two young, modern day parents. They are obviously returnees, judging from their American accent. At the core of the dispute was whether their kid, not much older than 5, should be eating a fried egg!!! Mom was the classic willowy match-stick look, and Dad could well be the son I never had, who looked and argued like me!

Mom thought cereal and fruits were plenty enough and 'if you really insist, egg whites, but only at lunch'. Dad wanted his son to try fried egg on mee goreng which Mom vehemently opposed. Dad's best line was, ' ... how can you deprive him from our local fare, food I grew up with, who gave you that right?' 'His health', Mom retorted, ' ... this is for his own good, before he becomes a fat slob like you'. Ouch, what a low blow!

I almost choked on my eggs - yes, a double, never a single - on beautiful dried noodles, with a splash of laksa sauce. The whole scene was funny, but also sad, very sad.

My religion is; kids should be exposed to as many types of food as they are willing, at an early age. They should be given choices, and taught to make them. Kids growing up with health food only, to me, are deprived and unfairly treated. They can make those choices later in life, why not? I fully realize the global problem of child obesity but that does not justify deprivation, it is more a matter of 'appropriate monitoring' on the part of caring parents.

Speaking of religion I hold more or less the same view on religion itself. I do not subscribe to baptizing children soon after they are born. Like food, they should be allowed to choose their religious leaning, as adults. I better shut up now, before my diatribe offends.

To prove how invigorating my BF was, I prepared another helping for your reference. Delish, as Jamie Oliver would proclaim!

"THIS IS IT" ....

Today was the last showing of this amazing MJ documentary, one that would never surface should he not leave us so suddenly, and prematurely. I was in tears several times as the passing of MJ represents the passing of various stages of my own growing up. I am not the lone voice, there must be others in the audience who felt exactly the same way, I can guarantee that. Aside from the fabulous music, the seemingly unending energy, and of course the mind boggling choreography, the documentary can well be presented as the 'walking definition' of ; talent, charisma, professionalism, trust, commitment, dedication, stamina, creativity, team work, respect between coworkers ... the list is almost endless if you care to watch, carefully. What impressed me most was how MJ inspired others, and how he led from the front. We do not find too many like him, not just in the entertainment space, but broadly into the world of global leaders today. How many can claim that he or she can inspire as MJ had?

Micheal Jackson, the definitive King of Pops. I miss him so much after 'This is It' ... I can only take comfort in the fact that MJ is now at a place where there is eternal peace, where he can truly rest.

CHEF LEE IS BACK

I am sure those of you who have been to Home Wanchai must be wondering what has happened to it since they closed their doors in March. I bring good news! This little gem of a private kitchen has reopened on October 2nd under the new name 'Fullka' or 'Wealthy Family' as a loose translation. Chef Lee Yue Ching - of 'Ah Yat Abalaone' fame - is back, with his battle tested kitchen crew. Fullka is a truly Cantonese restaurant, its menu brings back fond memories to us old-timers who grew up in the 50s-60s, who might even had the luxury of a family cook.

For newcomers the best orientation to Chef Lee's magic is to order 'Mrs Wong's Special Menu' which comes in either $300 or $500 per head. Mrs Wong is an ardent fan of Home Wanchai like us, whom the restaurant honors by naming 'tasting menus' under her name. Needless to say, they are sumptuous with 12-13 courses respectively, all signature dishes. The must-haves include : Braised Giant Garoupa Fin, Top Soya Sauce Chicken, Stewed Pomelo Skin in Abalone Gravy, and for the anti-environment types who still worship Sharks Fin, the Chef will pan fry them for you. Shameful, yes, but its taste and texture are simply unmatched. For me, I would not leave until the House Fried Rice is served ... try it, and you will know why. Most admirable is the Chef's executive order to keep the much talked about lunch menu, another offer one cannot resist. This collection is 50 of the most favorite classic Cantonese home style lunch dishes @ $88 each ... which comes with soup de jour, vegetables, rice, dessert & tea. Now who can beat this in today's economy? BTW new dishes will be launched soon, once the crew gets their footing, as I salivate with panting breaths.

Without question 'honesty' is the best word to describe Fullka, the reincarnated Home Wanchai. Chef Lee is extremely honest, and that extends into his cooking, his menu, his presentation, his decor, his staff, his prices etc You cannot find the slightest tinge of fancy footwork, not here.

FULLKA : 1/F 'Butterfly' on 39 Morrison Hill Road CWB (2834 8378) ask for Money Kan the Relationship Manager ex-Ah Yat Abalone as well who will book for you ... enjoy!

CHINA TURNS 60

The People's Republic of China was born 60 years ago, on October 1st in 1949 ... 6.5 months younger than me. 60 is a key milestone as it 'marks the beginning of a new era in the Chinese culture' as the SCMP reports. Today she celebrated with a huge parade in Beijing and it must be one of the most impressive show of military might & humanity in recent world history. According to the newscasters, more than 8,000 troops & 300,000+ civilians participated. The 2-hour parade was like a Chinese history lesson on what transpired since the Communist Party assumed power 60 years ago. The 4 most prominent architects - Mao, Deng, Jiang and Hu - were hailed as leaders who put their signatures on the nation's development in earth shattering dimensions. Mao, the founding father, is fully exonerated from the Cultural Revolution; Deng the leader who opened China's doors; Jiang who launched her on the world stage; and now Hu taking her to global dominance.

The awe inspring moment was the raising of the flag, when more than half a million - supposedly what Tiananmen Square can hold, but there must be more than that number today - stood at attention and sang, in unison, the national anthem. Talking about chills down the spine, here is one for you.

Lots of slogans were paraded, among them I like these the best : (1) Socialism is Good (2) Our Nation will be Strong, Prosperous, Democratic, Civilized & Harmonious ... very well said.

Happy Birthday China, may there be many many more!

ART OF RELAXATION

The week I spent in the South of France, among beautiful folks and in the beautiful surrounding of Capdenac & Salls-Courbaties has raised my awareness of what 'life style' is about. We thrive on efficiency, on luxury, on things only money can buy as the nouveau riche of Asia generally, and Hong Kong in particular. What is mssing in this equation is the word 'quality'. Are we truly relaxed when we are on vacation? How much time do we think of problems at work, and at home whilst on vacation? Are we at peace with ourselves? Do we get the quality relaxation we desperately seek? I know it is an apple & orange discussion now that I speak as a retiree. Nonetheless, I post this blog because I found 'quality relaxation' this time. It has nothing to do with efficiency, nothing to do with luxury, nothing to do with what money can buy. It is all about human interaction, loving family values, kindness among friends new and old, generosity of sharing, lasting relatonships that cut through generations, but above all, genuine happiness that can only come from the heart.

To Alban & Myriam Barbette, the newlyweds, thank you for inviting me. You simply do not know how your wedding party, your familes, and your friends have changed the inner soul of this poor city boy who, in his 60 years on earth, has yet to define the 'Art of Relaxation'. I think I have the platform now, and my search continues, thanks to you.

CASSOULET @ CHABBERTS

The recipe check list calls for ..... confit duck legs, duck fat, ham hocks, pork shoulders, pork skin, salted pork, pancetta, prosciutto, French garlic sausages, cannellini beans, mire poix of onions & carrot, garlic, crumbs from a baquette, bouquet garni, chicken broth, plus herbs galore. They call it 'Toulouse Style', takes hours to make but parts of the recipe can be prepared days ahead. My mouth waters as I write, as my taste buds recall the wonders of this extremely flavorful dish which I over indulged at the Chabberts', embarrassing myself, and possibly the other dinner guests. This has to be close to the epitome of classic French cooking, perfected by one Monique Chabbert. Every morsel, every bean, was worth it!

CHABBERTS

Andre & Monique are the parents of Frederic .... Executive Chef at Petrus in Hong Kong, and a long time friend of Alban. Fred, his lovely wife Vanessa, and Juls their 2 year old just spent August at Salles-Courbaties (a stone throw from the Calmettes in the same village) with the grannies. The Chabbert family owns a quiet corner of town over a few generations, running the equivalent of a 'neighborhood pub' where fellow villagers congregate. It is an idyllic setting that is rustic, quaint and welcoming. The Chabberts hosted the Hong Kong group to, firstly, a classic alfresco lunch and, secondly, a cassoulet dinner. Monique is quite a chef. To me she is the 'Julia Child of French Country Cuisine' ... Michelin quality, no less.

Come back to visit Hong Kong, Monique & Andre, let me cook for you. I am very grateful to your kindness, and your heart warming hospitality. Merci!

PS : do not forget to send the Chabbert family Cassoulet & Baked Cheesecake recipes now!

SOULAGES @ LA SAULOU

Colette & Bernard are parents of Myriam. The family has been running this huge farm, named La Saulou, for 4 generations. It is situated in the town of Capdenac which is divided into 3 parts ie Gare (station, lowlands) Port (dock, waterfront) & Haute (highlands) ..... from the farm on Gare we were taken to Haute and, as far as we can see, the land belongs to La Saulou. It is that large!

The Soulages belong to a class of their own, and one cannot find nicer people as genuine as they are. Both wonderful cooks, they hold a full range of hearty farm recipes which we had the chance to taste. Bernard built a stone oven, by hand. I watched in amazement while he breezed through the process of making perfect crusty breads that will beat any bakery, anywhere. They are that good. Though retired, they still keep the regimen of a full day starting and ending with milking the cows at 7am & 7pm, every day, year round. How does that sound to you?

I wish I could speak French as it was fascinating talking to him via mutual guess work & sign language. It would be so educational if we could chat over a common tongue. One thing we can all see, they are very loving parents and they are so proud of Myriam & Alban, rightfully so. I loved mingling with the family.

Thank you Colette & Bernard, for taking us as your extended family.

OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

The Hong Kong guests were put up in this beautiful weekend home of Bernard & Michele Calmettes who are the most hospitable hosts. Bernard single handedly rebuilt this house from essentially a shelf, adding to it bit by bit to make it a 5-bedroom house complete with grounds, swimming pool, a large work shed etc Their family obviously had good memories here while the children grew up. It is located on a knoll in the beautiful surrounding of Salles-Courbaties. The environment is pristine, and it is so quiet we can hear the symphony of breeze, insects & birds throughout the day.

Bernard is an Occupational Therapist, Michele a Social Worker and they both work for a center that caters to mildly retarded adults, about 1.5 hour away. Very dedicated, they have a small house near work and commute every weekend for the most of 20 years. This is the walking defintion of adjusting the fine balance of work vs play, or in our daughters lingo .... 'Getting a Life'!

Thank you Bernard & Michele!

WHAT A WEDDING PARTY

This is a beautiful 15th century, 600-year old Castle where we, literally, partied all night. When Alban sent the invitaion he said ' ... you have never been to a country style French wedding, it is something you will never ever forget'. His every word is true. To give a flavor let me recap :

* BBQ dinner hosted by bride's family in their huge farm the night before
* special breakfast of tripe & calvadoes for the wedding party
* country style lunch, very French, for other guests
* loud motorcade into Town Hall, to witness signing of the Registry
* then to the local Church for the nuptial service
* champagne reception at the farm with home made canapes
* motorcade to the Castle, horns blaring passing through townships
* aperitifs on arrival which was 9pm already
* 5-course gourmet banquet with matching wines, lasted 4-hours
* disco starts at 1am
* dancing continued literally all night, all ages were on the floor
* newlyweds made their retreat about 430am
* friends prepare 'Pot de Chambre' * for the newlyweds
* newlyweds rejoined the party after being waken at 6am
* more drinking/dancing until 'Potage de Formage' * was served at 7am
* all retired to large common rooms with bunk beds to catch a 'nap'
* up at 10am after 2-hour snooze to return to the farm
* a large cochon on rotisserie awaiting, plus the best cheesy mash potatoes
* red & white wines flowed until late afternoon

One has to 'train' for such a wedding, one cannot possibly just show up and expect to last. The most amazing observation is the stamina of the older folks, who did not miss a beat. They were all there dancing, drinking, challenging the younger ones and having the greatest time. Their collective spirit was infectious. I was exhausted by 3am, and was going to cheat by taking a break. I was urged to stay which I am glad I did lest I would miss the fun that followed. If I were to close my eyes for 5 minutes I would never wake up.

'Pot de Chambre' means a 'pot for the room' ie the newlyweds' nupitial bedroom. Their best friends would gather around a table to create this concoction to 'wake them up'. In this particular pot there was; fine XO brandy, whiskey, beer, champagne, banana, banana peel, apple juice, bread crumbs, nutella spread & to get the texture right, a few balls of tissue paper. I was honored to be the 'Taster' .... you know, it was quite good. I was not drunk either. When we woke them Alban had 4 & Myriam 3 gulps. Such good sports!

'Potage de Formage' is really a heavily cheesed up onion soup that is served with light beef stock. It did everyone a lot of good, some even had 2 large soup plates. Indeed, another French wedding tradition.

Merci Beaucoup ... Alban & Myriam for the enlightenment .... it was truly a memorable wedding!

THE NEWLYWEDS

Raising their swords to form an arch for a fellow military officer is an age old tradition. I have no idea how it started, perhaps it is an interesting item to Google. I have also seen skiiers with poles, rowers with paddles, even anglers with rods but Alban & Myriam have the most creative idea .... Wine Bottles! The newlyweds have plans to start a wine business based in the South of France, and this is a perfect setting to welcome them as man & wife. Look at those million Euro smiles.

PARIS IS ABOUT STYLE

Speaking of style, here is another .... sun tanning the Parisienne way, right in the middle of Jardin des Tuileries near Musee du Louvre. Without any doubt walking is the best way to explore the French capital, be it night or day. The evenings along River Seine are particularly romantic, there is this uniqueness that is unmatched in any other city. The days are now drowned by tourists, French seems to have lost its edge, as Arabic, Japanese, Eastern Europeans languages and of course, how can we forget Putonghua, the latest on the menu. If you think I am full of it, just drop by the Louis Vuitton flagship on Champ Elysee. You will be amazed how language versatile is the sales staff. No French? No problem lah!

ONLY IN PARIS .....

This is without question the high point of my trip to Paris! I can feel the excitement as I post this blog. I was walking along Rue Saint Peres this afternoon after lunching at Brasserie Lutetia, window shopping over a Hoyo Petit Robusto and enjoying the sun on my balding forehead. I was feeling the spirit of 'Gay Paris'. As I turned the corner into a side street I ran right into this incredibly fashionable man, in silver mane, and squid-ink shades. We nodded to each other .... "excusez moi" .... I thought that was what he said. It took me a few seconds to realize who he was, none other than Monsieur Karl Lagerfeld, the definitive "King of Fashion" !!!!!!!

Just imagine, me, likely to be the least fashionable person on that street, with my jeans tucked "too high around my waist" plus a boring Brooks Brothers' polo shirt .... exchanging a quick nod with Karl Lagerfeld? I made a U-turn and took 2 quick pictures. One as he walked away and another as he stopped to look. I was going to ask for a handshake but he stepped into the jewellery shop. I did not think it was PC to follow, I backed off, which I now regret.

As I reviewed my precious photos a street cleaner, yes, a street cleaner with a big bloom came over and said .... "Lagerfeld, oui?" Now, how can you beat this one? No one can beat me on this one. I will live to tell my grand children this brief close encounter of the 'North & South Poles of Fashion'.

It was a truly wonderful moment for me, it reminds me of another such moment years ago when I introduced myself to Sean Connery at the bookstore of the Vancouver Airport, except in that episode we had a chat. I even shook his hand.

Karl Lagerfeld, man, Karl Lagerfeld ... a fashion supremo even Raymond Tang recognizes!