My First Attempt in Making Singapore Chili Crab (Lobster)

One of my favorite things to do when travel to new locations is sampling what each state/region/country has to offer and try to replicate it at home. The love of travel also lead to other interests, such as cooking and gardening (to mirror my home like the Versailles or Tuscany ;-). When I was in Singapore in 2007, my friends took me to a local outdoor markets/restaurants. They ordered all kind of food and I loved all of it! One of the dishes that I can't get out of my mind is the famous Singapore Chili Crab!  I'm a big seafood lover and love anything spicy. This dish totally hit the spot.  When I came back to the U.S I went on youtube to look for the recipe, but everything looked so hard to replicate.  My friend in Singapore said don't even both cus it would be easier to send me the premade package.  Here is my attempt to make Chili Lobster (Crab wasn't available that day).

*My husband and I devour this dish in Singapore

*I cleaned the lobster and cut it into small pieces and steamed the lobster until it is semi-cooked

*Set aside the steamed lobstor and us the same pan to sautee the onions and garlic

*At the meantime, prepare the chili sauce

*Add the semi-cooked lobster into the sauce and close the lid so it will shimmer for 5 minutes

*Here's the final product with a nice presentation to serve my hungry tummy. Absolutely delicious!

The Reality of Slumdog Millionaire?

India is not the typical vacation spot for most people.  For me, it was one of my ‘must-go’ places when I graduated from college. I wanted to see the Taj Mahal before it disappears! I knew that going to India, I have to adjust my mindset and expectations.  Going there would be an eye opener for me and my family!  A lot of my friends have warned me that if you go there, be prepared!  I am quite an adventurous person and willing to try everything once, but I’m not sure if my two girls can handle the experience.  I purposely made the trip short to avoid any health issues for the kids.  My husband and I decided that maybe we should only spend 3 days and 2 nights there so that I will get to see India and the Taj Mahal. Sounds crazy right?  We were crazy!!!  Even with the short time in India, we saw a lot more than we could've imagined.

*Just like in the movie, Slumdog Millionaire.  Its actually very sad to see this, but this type of home is seen throughout Delhi

*Our journey to the Taj Mahal was  6 hours ride, sharing the road with many interesting drivers/people/animal.  I guess this little tuk-tuk is suitable to carry loads of goodies

*Safety? That doesn't mean anything in India! Goal is to transport as many people in one vehicle

*Cows are sacred in India, yes they get a very special treatment. They were my road neighbor during the 6 hours drive.

*I thought Indians are considered "Asian".  Can't believe the amount of attention my two girls got! From picture taking, to squeezing/kissing their cheeks and huggings. They were overwhelmed

*Finally, seeing this makes it all worth it!  It is truly amazing to see the Taj in person! It's absolutely gorgeous and feels a lot smaller than what you see on pictures.

*Unfortunately we didn't get to eat a lot of the local food there. We only had one meal at a pretty fancy restaurant (not our typical way of dining as we enjoy local stalls and food markets) that cost as much as what we would pay in the U.S. I have to admit that the nan bread was the BEST!


***Now, are you brave enough to go to India?***** btw..we didn't have any health issues after we left India. The trip was smooth!

Oh Chiang Mai, How I Miss Thee!

I love Thailand! I love the people (honest and nice), the culture is so rich and the food is absolutely delicious!  I have been there 4 times now.  Thailand is still affordable and it makes my dollar worth a lot more.  My family and I took a trip to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in November 2011 (with a side trip to India). On this excursion, I really wanted to spend more time in the Northern part of the country, mainly in Chiang Mai. There I was able to fulfill my dream of meeting a unique tribal group, the Karen ladies.  As you can see, these ladies have different culture and practices from the western world.  I find them  very fascinating.

*This is considered 'beauty' to the Karen ladies. Without the neck ring, they will be attract a man for marriage. They reside in the northern part of Thailand (Chiang Mai). These folks escaped from Burma to be in a safer environment from their home country.

*My daughter, Ava and her new friends. They start them young!

*I assumed as you get to this lady age, the neck ring is taken out. This lady is making scarfs to sale to the tourists. Everything on her table is handmade. All profits goes back to her family in Burma

About Katie

Hello Classmates,

My name is Katie Wang and this is my 2nd course with the program.  I live in Mountain View, California. I have a crazy life (as you can see from my title) and trying to make the best of everything! I have a loving family that I love to death! I am a Risk Manager for a software company and enjoy my job very much. I hope someday to use my experiences and education to be a great Project Manager.

On the fun side, I LOVE to travel and see the world.  I've been to many places around the world and my next target spot is Turkey, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Greece and Eygpt.  The three places i do not mind going back to are: Thailand, Japan and Italy. The best part of traveling is to see the country's history as well as experiencing the unique food!  I'm a foodie girl!

Here is a photo of who I am. I know it makes it easier to connect the name with a face.  I hope to get to know some of you better in the next 7 weeks!

Best,
Katie

                           *my travel troopers: Alan, Ava (4), Emalyn (1.5) & Me*