2010年5月31日 星期一

古鎮西塘 Old Town Xi-Tang

We had visited several old towns last year, but not this year.  The rare good weather yesterday took us to another old town Xi-tang in zhe-Jiang.  Water, bridges, boats, and old houses together make a great view. Now I would let the pictures tell the story.
好久没全家出游锻练脚力了,过去的天气不是太冷就是阴晴不定,昨天天气特别好,趁天气大热之前,我们临时安排了一趟古镇之旅--西塘。
西塘 Old Town Xi-Tang
古镇西塘位于浙江省嘉兴市嘉善县,距苏州只有60公里。西塘是一座已有千年历史文化的古镇。早在春秋战国时期就是吴越两国的相交之地,到元代初步形成市集。西塘与其它水乡古镇最大的不同,在于古镇中临河的街道都有廊棚,总长近千米,所以在西塘旅游,雨天不淋雨,夏天太阳也晒不到,逛起来很舒服,不过古镇很大,走完脚很酸。
西塘和乌镇很近,所以很多旅客会夜宿西塘,次日游乌镇,也因如此,西塘的民宿、小店、夜色、夜生活都很出名。
西塘不像同里或南浔古镇有很多富人或名人住过(我只知道前上海的副市长祖宅于此),所以里面的庭院不是太华丽,多属小品,但她的水道宽阔,看起来也跟着心宽,70%的路上有木作廊棚,不热;小店很多也很有特色,若不是身边有一个老公和一个七岁小孩时刻阻止消费的话,很容易让人流连忘返滴!
 
Behind us is the reception center.
Crooked hall way led us to the entrance.
水上戏台(很有创意,下方还能让船通过)
Water Stage. Boats can cross under the stage.
Many residents provide guest rooms RMB100-150 per night.
They hang bedsheets on the river side.
这里有很多沿河客栈,到处看到晒床单
 
More bedsheets
 Small hall way beside the garden
The garden
The garden: Stone-chairs and talbe are fixed on the water.
 View from the bridge
Water, boats, and old houses
 
Rock cave in Chinese garden
Pavilion and fish pool in the garden
 
 A great view for painting.
The stores' outside decoration
The Stores
The store's wooden plates decoration 
 Narrow street crowded with stores and shoppers
    
Metal Souvenirs
 
  After 4 hour hiking, it is our turn to take the boat to the exit.

2010年5月28日 星期五

Great Detoxifier:Green Beans Tea 綠豆茶


Tea made from Dried green beans

 

A China cup or Steel cup is suggested.  Glass cup is not for hot water.
I use glass cup to show the ingredients.






最近看到一篇中医文章,提到绿豆水排毒的功效,雖然那位中醫後來被踢爆是個假冒中國國家級醫生名號的中醫,就像宗教,我依法不依人。況且綠豆水在此之前流傳已久,也不是該冒牌醫師的創意。
我们平日吃下的食物,多少含毒,像农药、防腐剂、色素、添加剂等,造成身体负担,积久成疾,因此,需要定期排毒。
根据文章说明,绿豆谁是如此作的:绿豆放入冷水,煮开5分钟后,取其水喝,剩下的的绿豆可以煮成粥吃。前面的绿豆水才是有排毒功效的水,至于粥是饱食及营养作用的(绿豆营养成分高,矿物质、抗氧化等等,但肾脏不好的勿多吃)。中医说法,绿豆煮爛就没有排毒的療效了。

今早,我试了此方,一大早就先煮绿豆水,放着等它凉点再喝。 后来,我打电话回家,告诉我妈这个做法,讲了半天,问她有没听懂,结果她说:就是泡绿豆茶嘛!我恍然大悟,是呀!这么简单的事,拿个杯子放入洗净的绿豆和热开水就可以做好,我还洗锅子,看着时钟计时煮了一堆绿豆。总之,就这么简单,以后可以常常泡绿豆茶了,又不担心喝茶睡不着。
Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. They are also a very good source of vitamin A, dietary fiber, potassium, folate and iron. In addition, green beans are a good source of magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, copper, calcium, phosphorus, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Here is more information about Green beans.
The above is about the nutritional effect of green beans.  The Chinese Medicine Doctors have different views on green beans' detoxifying effects.  They suggest that green beans essence can help discharge chemicals, preservatives, pesticides and other harmful substance from human liver. If you eat cooked green beans, you get the nutritions. If you drink green beans tea, you get the medical benefits.  The internet knows how to cook green beans.  As for the tea, it is as simple as the way we make other teas.  Add some washed green beans to one cup of hot drinking water, cover and wait 30 minutes. That's it.  Enjoy!

2010年5月15日 星期六

Parents' Visit 家有二老

At the beginning of May, I went back to Taiwan to file my family's tax report. Then I escorted my parents to Suzhou for a 5 day-visit. This was their first time being abroad.  We had great time together.  My father is a farmer, still doing some farming at this age of 77 (he insists).  His eyesight is bad with one eye completely blind and one eye of less than 20% eyesight due to the overworking at his young age. Except for the trouble with his eyes, everything is fine with his condition. As for my mom, she is as healthy and nagging as before. Their visit is very precious to me because we haven't been so close together for so long (5 days) since I got married.
I took them to places around Suzhou.  My parents never felt tired during the trip because they used to walk 1 hour every morning back home . Ironically, I was the one who always called for rests during the trips. My mom was excited to see every scenes. My dad tended not to fuss about the places ( I guess that might be because he could not see very clearly about many sites.). We talked and joked a lot on the way. 
My older sister was worried about my father's eyes, so my  brother-in-law took a flight to take my parents home.   Winston's eyes were wet when he saw his grandparents took the bus to the airport. I made a DVD to record my parents' visit and let them bring the memory home.  However, I try not to watch the video, because I know I am gonna miss them if I do. 
After their visit, I think my arents are very sure that my family are doing very well in this poetic city. And I am sure they had a fulfilled trip.
Visit the Budda Temple (重元寺)
 
Budda's Hand (無錫靈山)
Hundred kids playing with smiling Budda
(無錫靈山-百子戲彌勒)



甪直古鎮 Old town boating
Water dance at Gold Chicken Lake
Ancient Gardens( 獅子林)
 
Ancient House of the Rich(獅子林一隅)

獅子林

獅子林


獅子林



拙政園


拙政園

Science and Art Museum
Dine in an Indian restuarant with Brother-in-law
 who came to take my parents home.