A so call "Seasoned IT Professional" who has worked for over 26 years in the Information Technology / Financial industry. One day it came to mind that should I continue to work in a fast lane or take a break.
Without any hesitation, I quit my job and start my new life.
Doing window shopping is one of my favourite activities when having overseas visits. In my latest Osaka / Biwako tour in end August, I had included optional visit to some of the bike shops in my plan.
Right before the day I returned to Hong Kong, I have spared some time to visit these shops.
My wife and I are not those die-hard Japanophiles who always visit Japan as a kind of worship. Instead, it is the excellent culture and the friendliness of Japanese that make us not tired of visiting Japan.
For this summer holidays, we continued to explore other parts of Japan – The Biwako area in the Shiga Prefecture.
This was a downshifting journey for us to enjoy the beauty of the Lake Biwa, the country life and the cultural side of the Shiga Prefecture.
When I’m on cycling tour, making video summary is one of my mandatory works.
How I capture those video?
Let’s take a look at how and what gadgets I used in taking video clips.
Today’s journey started at the Tatara Shimanami Park in Omishima. Major reasons are availability of bus service from Imabari and the Rent-a-cycle Terminal. Moreover, it is close to Setoda Sunset Beach where we would have our lunch. The only downside is that we have to ride the Tatara Bridge twice just like what we had for the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge in yesterday’s ride.
It took around one hour to arrive at the Omishima BS. Quickly we picked up our bikes at the Rent-a-cycle Terminal and started our ride towards the Tatara Bridge.
When I looked out from the hotel window early in the morning, I just couldn’t believe what I had seen. Blue sky, bright sunny day and flock of seagulls. That’s completely different from what we had the day before!
Weather report stated that typhoon Noru had moved across Honshu, the main island of Japan, towards the Sea of Japan. What an excellent forecast work by JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency)!
To allow more time for the ride, we planned to take the 9am local bus to Innoshima/Setoda.
Woke up in the morning after having a good sleep, my wife and I were busy checking the weather report on TV and from the Internet.
It was mentioned that typhoon Noru was moving over Shikoku and towards the main island of Japan during the day. Due to the slow pace of Noru that might result in extended periods of heavy rain, evacuation advisories in Shikoku and warning for river flooding, landslides, strong winds and high waves in other affected areas had been issued.
During my Chinese New Year holidays in Hiroshima in early 2017, we had an one-day trip in the city of Onomichi. Fascinated by one of the top cycling courses in the world, Shimanami Kaido, my family and I had an ad-hoc short ride from Onomichi, crossing Mukaishima (向島) and arrived in Innoshima (因島) via the famous Innoshima Bridge (因島大橋).
The scenery along the cycling course was stunning. The cycling infrastructure was great and convenient to the cyclists. Together with the friendly drivers we met along the way, Shimanami Kaido gave us a wonderful cycling experience.
By the time we arrived at the Innoshima Ohashi Memorial Park, it was already two o’clock in the afternoon. As we had to catch our train back to Hiroshima by the evening, we had no other choice but to head back to the Onomichi station.
On the return trip, my boy asked if we could come back again and ride along the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari.
Why not! I said.
Living up to my promise, I had gathered all the information on Shimanami Kaido, working out the itinerary and making all the necessary reservations.
During my boy’s summer holidays in 2017, we sat out to conquer the Shimanami Kaido.
Like a lot of the Hong Kong people, egg-tart is one of my favourite pastries.
Here in Hong Kong, we have two different styles of egg-tarts, one comes with a butter pastry (撻皮) base while the other one comes with puff pastry (酥皮) base.
Personally, I prefer butter pastry base which is more crispy over the puff pastry base.
This week, instead of making bread, I will practise making my first Hong Kong style Egg-tart with butter pastry base.
Hong Kong Style
Woke up in a hot summer morning with nothing to do. My wife asked if I would like to have a short trip to Stanley with our boy.
Well, why not??
Kaohsiung, the third biggest city of Taiwan, is not only famous for its port, night markets, food, prettiest metro stations and enormous public artwork, but also the emerging scene of fine dining.
During our bike ride in Kaohsiung in late March, we had a chance to be the guests of our closed friends, at one of the great restaurants, the LA ONE Kitchen & Bakery.
After months of waiting, I finally received the welcome email on the VirtuGO Beta Testing Program in early April 2018.
For those not aware of VirtuGO, it is a virtual training platform that has been opened for beta during the Tour Down Under 2018.
Given this software platform is still in its development cycle, issues encountered during trial are inevitable.
Last Sunday’s weather was not very stable. A hot sunny day but with occasional thunderstorm moving across the region as advised by the Hong Kong Observatory.
Instead of taking a long endurance journey, the group opted to ride on a short relaxing trip to the old fishing village, Sam Mun Tsai.
Schedule for my boy’s Experiential Learning Journey in Singapore is quite tight. Students have to visit a secondary school, attend STEM related training at Singapore Polytechnic, doing programming work and finally present their works.
My boy is going to Singapore for a 4-Day Experiential Learning Journey.
He has never been aboard without the company of us and this is the first time he is on his own along some of his classmates and teachers. A challenge to him as well as to us.
Today is the last day of June 2018. With no group riding and nothing else to do, my wife suggested to have a short trip to the Inspiration Lake, Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong.
Baguette is one of the most difficult breads to make and ongoing practice is a must for beginners like me.
My oven is a small one which can’t handle the usual length of 65 cm, so I am going to make a short Baguette instead.
I love fig, especially those dried figs.They are delicious and rich in dietary fibre.
Back in the good old days when I was young, I like eating Fig Rolls – a sweet biscuit filled with fig paste in the middle.
To fill my dream of eating fig, I decided to bake a fig bread today.
When looking for ways to get ride of one’s fats and reclaim the once slim body figure, people usually consider having some vigorous exercise like running, swimming, going to gym plus taking up one of those energy conscious diets.
In fact, fat burning does not necessary required vigorous exercise. Cycling for longer distance at a suitable intensity can also help to get the same result.
Sunday morning, 17 June 2018.
My boy wanted to make some bread on his own. He was thinking about bread representing various simple geometric shapes and asked for two shapes from his mom and me.
Today is 10 June 2018, Sunday and with highest temperature over 35ºC. What a hot and sunny day!
After a week of heavy rain and tropical typhoon, its time for outdoor activities again.
With two of my cycling buddies, we went on a ride to Ngau Tam Mei near Yuen Long.
