Got Pho???

The Vietnamese called it “Pho” but us laotian folks called it “Fer”.  Although the dish is originated from Vietnam, but just about every Asian countries had their own version of it.  My brother and I loves eating pho especially during the cold months.  At least once a week we would meet up at the local pho joint.  But, lately I been cooking my own pho at home.  With about the same amount I paid for two of us at the restaurant, I can easily make it at home and able to feed about 10 people.  Some people likes all kind of meats from various part of cow on their pho,  As for me, I like to keep it simple to just meat and meat balls.  I always buy my meat from Costco because it is fresher and priced better than most of markets.  This particular time I picked up a tray of top sirloin for $12.89.  With Costco, the meat doesn’t stays on the shelves as long as most grocery markets.  I do not trust the meats from any Asian markets, who knows how long those meats been on the shelves.  The rest of ingredients I picked up from local Asian market.

Just got back from the stores. Little princess wants to help. Here are all my ingredients.

I've tried so many brands of meat ball on the market. This is the best one so far and made in USA.

I like to set up two pots, one to cook the noodle. I normally soak my noodle prior to cooking it.

Some people would just throw in all the ingredients in the pot, but I don't.

 

Here is the finish product... Let me tell you... This bowl is much better than the local pho joint that we normally goes to.

After writing this post, I have to go home and make me a bowl .

 

 

 

Christmas Lighting and Decorations

Last night I drove around my neighborhoods to take some Christmas lighting and decorations.  At every subdivisions, there is always that one guy trying to out do all his neighbors.  In my circle, most of the houses have some kind of lights or decorations except my house. hahahhahah  I’m way too lazy to hang up all those lights, perhaps just didn’t feel like spending the money on the lights and electrical extension cords.

Even my brother got into the Christmas spirit.. Little princess posing next to the reindeer, it is hard to see.. I didn't get to play with different settings, it was really cold out..

My parents even got their lighting up and on...

My folks neighbor...

 

I like the lighting of this house... I parked across the street and set my tripod... few neighbors drove by and stop to see what am i doing..

This guy out did everybody in neighborhoods.. I've notices that he doesn't keep his light on too long like other years.

*** double clicks on pictures to view larger sizes.

 

 

 

Port of San Francisco

I sure did a lot of walking this past weekend.  The weather was almost perfect for this time of the year.  There are so many people out walking around the Port of San Francisco/Ferry areas.  I managed to snapped few shots from this area.

Port of San Francisco

Port of San Francisco with Coit Tower on the background..

Bay Bridge...

This little guy is waiting for people throw away some foods..

 

 

 

Occupy SF

I heard on the news about “Occupy NY Stock Exchange” few months ago and didn’t pay much attention to it.  This past weekend I found myself in the middle of all protesters near Financial District in San Francisco.  Across the street from Port of San Francisco building are tents/camp ground set up and looks like they been there for weeks.  I weaved through the crowds to get few shots.

Talking about ruining the nice park..

This guy see me taking picture and he was trying to hide his face.

**disclaimer** adult viewing only please.. I couldn't believe what I saw too... smack in the middle of all the protesters, there are these two naked guys... only in san francisco

the cops are in full forces..

The Best “Dim Sum” in San Francisco

I think New Asia is probably hands down the best dim sum in San Francisco Chinatown.  This past weekend, I stop by for late lunch and people are still waiting for tables.  We waited for about 25 or 30 minutes before our numbers got called.  For some reason they only had the 1st floor open, normally both floors are full with customers.  I’ve been eating dim sum at this restaurant for at least 20 years.  But, it was the first time for my niece.  She said it was the best chicken feet ever and she ordered two bowls.  I don’t eat chicken feet at all:-).

shu mai and chicken feet..

pot stickers... we had 2 orders of it.

garlic and pepper chow fun.... so good...

1 shu mai, 2 chicken feet, 2 pot stickers, and a plate of chow fun for $20.65 is not bad at all.

This place is locate on Pacific and Stockton Streets.

 

 

Last Match of The Season

I had a chance to catch the University of the Pacific, Women Volleyball last match of the season this past weekend.  The team ended the season with overall record of 18-10, which meant no post season tournament for the lady tigers again.  It is been so many years ago since the last time team made it to the NCAA tournament.

I manage to captured few decent pictures.  It is tough for me to shoot indoor sports with no flash.  I really need more practices time on shooting under these conditions.

not much of a turn out for women volleyball game.

jump serve!!!

Senior No. 2 going up for a kill.

Outside Hitter of Seattle University hitting over the Pacific blockers

Sr. Outside Hitter #2 tooling the blockers

Ready.... Set!!!

The Lady Tigers easily beat Seattle University 3-0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Colors of Fall

Finally, it is feeling the fall here in Northern California.  This year weather has been exceptionally warm for the October and November.  The temperature was in the low 80′s Fahrenheit for the last weekend of October.   I even had my house exteriors painted on that weekend.  I’ll take this kind of weather any day comparing to all the winter storms in East Coast.

Today, I’ve notices some of the trees are changing colors.  I went out and snapped few pictures before Sunday morning football kickoff.

changing colors

The japanese maple still looks bright red

upclose

first Lily in the fall...

 

Asian vs. American Persimmon

It is that time of the year for all persimmon lovers out there. Persimmon is not for everyone, either you like it or you don’t. I prefer asian persimmon over the american one because of its texture. Couple of weekends ago, I stop to check on my folks and their asian persimmons are almost ready to be pick. It is just the way I like it, not too ripe and still somewhat crunchy.

As far as american persimmon, I’ve tried it once and didn’t like it at all. American persimmon needs to be super ripe before you can even try eating it. Also, so much fiber comparing to asian one.

This is my dad asian persimmon tree and the only tree he have. Tiny little tree produces so much fruits.

I stop by 3 or 4 days ago, all those persimmons are long gone. My parents love to snack on it.

Just right!!! It is ready to be pick

These are american persimmons that belong to my dad next door neighbor. Notices the size and shape?

The american persimmon takes awhile to get really ripe. Most people makes cookies out of persimmon.

So, which persimmon do you normally eat?

Human Trafficking

After reading this article below,  I am sad and heart broken to see so many young laotians women are the victims of human trafficking.  Most of these young ladies are probably from small villages and promised good paying jobs in Thailand.  Since, there aren’t much jobs available in villages near them.  Majority of these young ladies are probably misled by the recruiter to work at some fancy hotels or restaurants.  Once they arrived in Thailand, it is totally different story.  Part of the blame is the government, not creating jobs for the people.  It is sad stories for all those young ladies, dreams of making a good living turns nightmare quickly.  I hope the two countries are working hard on battling this issue of human trafficking.

Flesh trade’s newest victims

Dozens of Lao girls have fallen prey to a gang in Songkhla’s tourist district

• Published: 3/10/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Young Lao women and girls seeking a better life in Thailand are at risk of being lured into the flesh trade by human trafficking gangs, a senior police officer has warned.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Division has been closely monitoring one gang following the arrest of two Thai women accused of conning girls into the prostitution business and illegally detaining them.

Benjawan Chaiprew, 32, and Pranom Kottirak , 47, both natives of Kalasin, were arrested on Sept 20 following a complaint filed by a woman, who asked not to be named, that her 14-year-old daughter had been lured into the sex trade by Ms Benjawan and Ms Pranom, who were their neighbours.

The two women had persuaded her daughter to work as a waitress at a restaurant in Songkhla’s Sadao district, which is a popular tourist spot.

When her daughter arrived there, she said she was forced to provide sexual service to clients. The girl said she managed to flee the brothel _ for which the restaurant was a front _ after being held there for five months.

After arresting the two women, a team of police from the Anti-Human Trafficking Division expanded its investigation and found at least 50 Lao girls had allegedly been victimised by the gang.

When the girls arrived in Sadao district, they were reportedly taken to a restaurant run by a Singaporean man and his Thai wife to earn their keep.

Another woman, identified as Yupin Chaipaew, allegedly worked with Ms Benjawan and Ms Pranom to procure girls for the brothel.

Police secured warrants for the arrest of the three women. Ms Yupin is still at large.

Ms Benjawan and Ms Pranom denied any involvement in human trafficking, but police believe they have obtained evidence to implicate them and other suspects in the gang. “The gang works systematically to lure women and girls, into the sex trade. They particularly target Lao women. It is human trafficking and it goes against the law and against humanity,” said Pol Col Prasert Pattanadee, deputy commander of the division.

Members of the gang normally looked for victims in remote villages. They try to get close to the families of their targets to gain their trust, Pol Col Prasert said.

The gang would offer to find well-paying jobs at a restaurant for the girls and would then pay a cash advance to the families before taking away their daughters.

If the victims were Thais, the gang would normally take them to Bangkok first to join other girls before a vehicle took them to Sadao.

If the victims were Lao, they would be sent to a halfway house in Nong Khai province before being transported to the same destination in Sadao. Some of the Lao girls who fell prey to the gang had entered the country legally, Pol Col Prasert said.

Most of the Lao victims are aged between 14 and 18 years old.

“The underaged girls are forced to provide sex to male customers for a salary of 2,500 baht a night. Some of them were lucky enough to escape, but others ended up being sex slaves for a long time,” said the deputy chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division.

His agency is gathering additional evidence to arrest others members of the human trafficking network.

He has also received many complaints about brothels with Lao workers in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon.

Pol Col Prasert warned families to be wary of anyone who tried to persuade their daughters to work with them.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/259415/flesh-trade-newest-victims

Jujube aka “Chinese Apple”

About 1 1/2 year ago, my dad gave me this little tiny jujube tree and I didn’t it would survive the first winter.  But, it did and also it is the first year of this tiny tree to produce some fruit.  The only regret is that I planted too close to the japanese maple and the european beech trees, but I really don’t have much space elsewhere.

Prior to writing this blog, I didn’t really know the common name of this particular fruit.  Although, I know it is similar to “mark tun” as people back in Laos refers to this fruit.  After talking to my landscape buddy and checking his reference books I managed to narrow it down.  The official name of this fruit is “Zizyphus Jujube” aka Chinese Apple.

This picture was taken last year back in June 28th of 2010. Also was taken with my old camera rebel Xsi/18-200 IS lense.

This picture was taken back in Sept. 15th of this month with new camera and lense. What a big difference:-).

Notices the different sizes of the jujube tree in between the japanese maple and european beech tree.  I’m glad that I planted all those trees as soon as I moved in.

Close up of the jujube tree. I need to get some new tree posts.

I forgot to count the number of fruits. I'm guessing it is probably somewhere between 10-15.

It is almost there, maybe in a week or so.. I can get my first taste

Mom stop by to get some banana leaf to wraps her "kao tome". I didn't think she would clean it all up like this.