XI'AN（四 安）

We embarked on a 14-day journey to Silk-Road in early September.  It was an eye-opening adventure, especially we had to deal with filthy toilets, bad customers' service, be it on the air and land, and different culture.  An early morning flight (12am) from Singapore to Beijing (6am) and transit to Xi'An, the ancient capital which is the starting point of the Silk Road.  Here we started our journey by coach till the end destination at Urumqi.

Xi'an is the biggest processing industrial base and the largest trade center in the central and western part of North China, as well as the starting point of the Silk Road.  It is a road to civilization, friendship, trade and cultural tourism.  There are many modern housings, shopping outlets, including big shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets in and around the city.

The main magnet of Xian is the city wall, which is the most complete city wall that has survived in China as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

 

Most visitors enter the Xi’an City Wall through the south gate (Yongning) – this is also the closest gate to the Bell Tower (Xi’an city centre).  Entering through the south gate also has symbolic meaning as this is the only gate used by armies returning home from a victorious battle.

Entering through the South gate also has a symbolic meaning as this is the only gate used by armies returning home from a victorious battle. - See more at: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/china/xian-city-wall-sightseeing/#sthash.b5ZJHbUY.dpuf

Entering through the South gate also has a symbolic meaning as this is the only gate used by armies returning home from a victorious battle. - See more at: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/china/xian-city-wall-sightseeing/#sthash.b5ZJHbUY.dpuf

Entering through the South gate also has a symbolic meaning as this is the only gate used by armies returning home from a victorious battle. - See more at: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/china/xian-city-wall-sightseeing/#sthash.b5ZJHbUY.dpuf

The Xian City Wall now offers a good combination of the city wall, city moats, forest belt and city ring-routes.  The City Wall has corner towers, ramparts, sentry towers, gate towers, battlements and a a number of city defensive fortifications with very strong defense capability.

"Rolling donkeys", are glutinous rice rolls with sweet bean flour, one of the most established Beijing snacks, made mainly of soybean flour. The skin of a "rolling donkey" is yellow, so it looks like a donkey rolling about on the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. We did not buy to try as we were concerned about hygiene, moreover it was the first day of the trip.

(Dayan Pagoda) is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It is located in the southern suburb of Xian City, about 4 kilometers (2.49 miles) from the downtown of the city.  Externally it looks like a square cone, simple but grand and it is a masterpiece of Buddhist construction. Built of brick, its structure is very firm. Inside the pagoda, stairs twist up so that visitors can climb and overlook the panorama of the city from the arch-shaped doors on four sides of each storey. On the walls are engraved fine statues of Buddha

BEAN CURD BAMBOO SHOOT

Soya sauce pork with eggs and fried bean-curd is a delectable dish to go with rice, especially when boiled for long hours till the pork is soft and melt in the mouth, and the bean-curd absorbed the flavor of the sauce.  With only the bean-curd left after all other ingredients had been consumed, I used the bean-curd to create another dish by stir frying with preserved bamboo shoots and chilly & pepper corns.

HALIA

We celebrated our daughter's birthday by having brunch at the Raffles Hotel restaurant HALIA which offers European cuisine with Asian inspirations at affordable price.

A spacious restaurant with green environment and a collection of wood-carved tables.  Large French windows to let in an abundance of daylight. 

Open concept kitchen and bar for great show

Once seated a large basket of assorted bread, scones and pastries was offered served with clotted cream, butter and jam to go with

Hot and cold cinnamon infusions with orange syrup and mint berry mocktai

The Salmon pate ($16) was served in a glass jar topped by roast floret, tomato and cauliflower puree with vanilla. The texture of the pinkish salmon was smooth and served, and to be eaten, together with baguettes

The Oriental Pulled Duck ($18) is light and refreshing. The flavorful duck was served with soba , tossed in sesame oil, which gives a contrasting texture to the meat

Sous vide lamb rack ($49), done to tender medium-rare perfection, is accompanied by a delectable artichoke, green peas and arugula

Must try chilli crab pasta where the thick gravy covered every strain of pasta.  There was real crab meat

A grilled breakfast with poached eggs ($23) that comes with Italian pork sausage, sweetened bacon, portobello mushroom, vine tomato and toasted sourdough

Oriental dish of steamed tender halibut to go with Japanese sesame rice garnished with pickled cucumbers

Pork Square - compacted meatloaf crisply fried with poached eggs, stewed beans, spinach and diced vegetables

A lemon curd cake for birthday girl

VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS

To eat healthily we occasionally replace rice with couscous.  Couscous are healthy whole grains and  is good for the body and helps with weight loss. Couscous gives a feeling of fullness, thus curbing hunger.  It is a specific cultural dish mainly found in Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean areas.

Steam couscous till fluffy.  When cold add in whatever food or vegetables you fancy and it makes a healthy and balance meal.  For this meal I added in zucchini, cucumber, sun dried tomatoes and flaky salmon.

BLOOD DETOXIFYING SOUP

With all the eating and drinking one needs to detox occasionally to maintain good health.  This soup helps to cleanse and enhance blood metabolism -

Shengdi (生 地)

Chuantaipian (川 太 片)

Baishao (白 芍)

Maidong (麦 冬)

Xuanshen (玄 参)

Haima - Seahorse (海 马)

Gancao (甘 草)

Simmer with meat for approximately 3 hours

IRISH SODA BREAD

Baking bread is not my cup of tea.  I had tried numerous times but without success, either the dough did not rise or the bread is hard and when throw against the wall it can bounce back.  Time is needed to wait for proofing and rising of the dough which I lack the patience.  There are blogs that featured "no rise bread" which I tried and succeed. 

Ingredients : flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, butter, egg, buttermilk and dried fruits

Proofing and baking of the dough

Soda bread ready in 1 hour

It goes well with cream cheese and my apple blueberry jam