Monday, August 18, 2014

Stockholm's summer outdoor cinema

We have been so busy for the last month, travelling around Europe.

Finally, I'm back in Stockholm and the last 4 evenings were spent volunteering my time photographing for the Stockholm's Film Festival's sommarbio in Rålambshovsparken which was just 20 minutes walk from where we live.  I had to admit, I actually had fun and the perks were well worth it!

Unfortunately, I was on a diet of soda, popcorns, chocolate bars, pringles and an occasional salami bread roll 4 evenings in a row. Whoops! But... 20 mins walking to and fro from home. 1.5 hours - 2 hours walking around the park, mingling with people sitting there, squatting and bending, sitting and jumping up, talking to different people. All while clicking with my finger!  My thighs were killing by the end of the first night. 2nd night I was so sore, I was squatting and getting up like an old lady, 3rd night I was doing a certain someone, pointing at things on the ground and asking someone else to pick up. Last night, I felt really good and I was bending and squatting, sitting down and jumping up like my first day. Yep! I'm happy! Oh yeah! I have so many half full soda bottles in the fridge from those nights and a few bars of chocolates and Pringles sitting on the dining table ;)

We were allowed to have a soda, a chocolate bar, a box of popcorn and unlimited tea and coffee each day and I only worked from around 19:30 - 21:00 ( I finish around the time the movie started) Of course, by the time I actually left, got home, upload, edit and forward the photos, it'll be well over midnight.

Pringles were one of the major sponsors and they gave out quite a few small cartons of sour cream and original to everyone at the event.  Last two days, zingo (another sponsor) was present and was giving out 'wagons' of free drinks. Unfortunately, they need to limit the bottles of drinks given as some people were running away with as many drinks as they could carry (Great opportunity for photos though!) and of course the Romanias with their plastic bags were out in force in the last few days, begging for money, bottles/cans (1KR each when returned at the local grocery stores). I seriously detest them. They were a nuisance throughout the whole event. They of course loaded as many drinks as they could into their garbage bags (which they stole from the bins around) yep! They pulled out the garbage bags lining the cardboard bins, emptied thrash in there and kept the plastic bags. Started with 2 or 3 of them. By the last day, there were at least 6 of them. Women among them.

Running away with his loot!

The last time I volunteered was at the Stockholm Film Festival 2 years ago. It's in November, dark and cold winter months and not even a hot drink was offered.  Our volunteer passes allow us to watch as many movies throughout the festival (only after the cinemas are filled up first) but photographing before the movie and after (question time with the directors) can be tiring. Travelling on your own money to different cinemas in the city, sometimes waiting 2 hours or so for the movie to end (films you have no interest in) and sometimes the movies end late and after you return home, upload the photos and edited them, it could be well over midnight before you FTP your photos to their site. Very tiring!

Last year when they emailed us to help again, I was slightly reluctant but decided, I might as well work fewer days but unfortunately they wanted days on their terms. Hmm., no thanks. I'm volunteering my time and money. I'll give you days I want to work and not have you telling me the days you want me to work or nothing at all.

No offense to gender equality but females are better at organizing and persuading than males!!

Anyway, back to the sommarbio which means summer movies.. In the local park. They erected a massive screen and screened different movies in the last 5 evenings.  They were Pulp Fiction, Darjeeling Ltd, Rust & Bones, 12 Years a Slave and Palo Alto. Great mixture of films! 

They had tents erected around. Two tents connected together for the film festival selling chocolate bars, sodas, candies, popcorns, tea and coffee and of course passes for the upcoming film festival in November. There were tents for a couple of political parties and one for Telia/Sony - another sponsor.

Had to say was a good 4 days. The volunteers were quite friendly to chat with as well.

Dogs are the cutest thing!  They were sooo well behaved throughout the evening
The first evening, the weather was beautiful!
2nd evening there, the weather weren't looking too good.  Pringles were giving out free ponchos! =)
Rain, hail or sunshine...  The show must go on!

View of the water, walking home from the bridge at night
I will definitely miss Stockholm!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Eating out in London

Been a bit busy lately with travels =)

Anyhow, just for fun.  Here are some pictures of food eating while I was in London last month!

The English Big Breakfast! - Hilton London Stansted Airport

Deep fried prawns cutlets udon - Roll Papa

Dinner @ Home!  Jack's humble abode... =D

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Chinese sausages with asparagus

Pan fried dumplings
Chicken rice

Yum Cha in China Town - Century old egg & pork congee with prawn rice noodle

We usually eat this during Chinese New Year..  It's deep fried Chinese New Year sticky rice cake with yam and sweet potato


Buns stuffed with sticky rice

Deep fried prawns with mayo

Prawn Dumplings

Four Seasons in Bayswater is another place we frequent quite a lot when in London.  We love the roast duck here =)


Singaporean noodles - Trust a more western person to order this ;)

Kai Lan

Roast Duck

Sweet and sour soup

L to R:  Spicy eggplants, fried calamari, crispy skin pork & roast duck and beef strips



L'Eto Cafe is another place we love to frequent.  Large selection of cakes and some lovely refreshing teas



It was too hot for tea... We opted for cold drinks instead

Berries berries berries!

Lots of little cafes like this all over London

Of course, markets are another great place to shop for food

When you are tired walking all day, a pitstop at some random cafe is always good =)

or Waitross for the matter.. =)

Xx

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Malaysian Kopitiam in London - Momo'wich

Was in London in June and a friend took me over here for Lunch on Sunday.  It's usually not open on Sundays but apparently they were having a pop up Kopitiam on Sundays.

So, after building up an appetite by wandering around the nearby markets (Spitalsfield and Brick Lane), we wandered over to check this place out.  The story behind this is, my friend knows the uncle of the owner..  You know how close knit some Asian communities are..  Great networking.  "My nephew is opening an eatery, so, please support and check it outlah!"

Momo'wich

75 Commercial Street Greater London, UK 
**  Free deliveries if over  £15 for certain areas of London

They have two branches and the one we went to was at Aldgate East.  I have to say, the prices were quite reasonable and the food were quite tasty.  You can takeaway or have them delivered as well.

Anyhow, here it is.  They had complimentary kaya toast for their popup Kopitiam on Sunday.. which were quite small in size... It's basically two pieces of bread, spread with kaya (coconut jam with sugar, coconut, milk and pandan) and butter, toasted, put together and cut into 4 pieces.  I've missed the taste of kaya, which is a stable breakfast diet of Malaysians and Singaporeans.. I'll happily eat them if they are free, but I'm not sure if I would pay  £3.50 for them

Complimentary Kaya toast.  Usually  £3.50..  
Let's not forget the teh tarik.  Another stable drink in Malaysia.  I ordered the iced version
Michael Jackson - Grass Jelly with Soy milk, syrup and ice cream 
Curry laksa (the works) - egg noodles & vermicelli with tofu, prawns, chicken and egg, bean sprouts, coriander & shallots -  £9.50
I had the Chicken Curry Laksa  £8.00
 The soup was definitely rich, spicy (just the way I like it!) and very tasty.  The servings were really big, but I managed to polished it all.  Originally I thought I was quite thirsty after eating it, but my friend said he had no such problems.  I could be imagining it as my thirst went away after a while.

Kopitiam atmosphere
Highlight when I was there?  A group of girls came in, each carrying blue plastic bags.  There were 4 of them.  I was fascinated as I wondered what they had in the bags.  Then, they took out their branded bags from the blue plastic bags... Then I realised it was drizzling outside ;p  No umbrellas for them, but their bags need to be protected ;)

Xx


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