il Giardino Romantico

Before you start preaching to me about how unhealthy it is to eat pre-cooked meals, I need you to understand a few points.  First of all, I have a small appetite.  Even if I can afford to eat out every night, it would still be a total waste of money because I probably won't be able to finish the whole meal.  Second of all, I don't have a lot of quids to throw around, so I must try and make my own meals on a daily basis and save my money for special occasions.  Thirdly, the vegetables here are so different from Asian vegetables, it will take me a really long time to try and figure out what I can do with them.  Finally, pre-cooked foods are actually GOOD, meaning delicious, here.  I'm sure you'll see what I mean once you see the pictures.

你可以不用告訴我：『微波食物很不健康』。因為我知道。只是你要了解：
一、我的胃口並不大。即使我有很多££，出去吃也不一定能把盤子上的菜吃完。浪費呀！
二、我沒有很多££。所以平時一定要靠自己想辦法。等到大夥人馬想去餐廳用餐時，我才不會覺得自己負擔不起。
三、這裡的蔬菜跟亞洲的蔬菜差很多。還是要一段時間之後才能想出到底能拿他們做什麼。
四、這邊的微波食品很好吃啊！

看照片就知道啦！

Is 'Best Kebab' really the 'Best Kebab' in town?  Well, seeing that I've only had one kebab since I got here, it would be unfair to claim that it is, indeed, the best kebab there is in Liverpool.  But undoubtedly, it is pretty good.  Its name certainly lives up to its reputation!  Below is a picture of my veggie kebab.  Fresh veggies, fried mushrooms, what more can I ask for in a kebab? It's absolutely delicious.  In addition to that, it is just the right portion for someone with a small tummy, like me.  I could finish the whole thing. 

店名叫做『Best Kebab』。不過真的是城裡最棒的kebab嗎？我只吃過這間的kebab，所以如果現在就稱他為城裡最贊的，好像對其他賣kebab的不太公平。但不可否認的是，他真的很好吃。份量剛剛好。胃口本來就不大的我，剛剛好可以把他啃完。新鮮的蔬菜配上熱炒菇菇。那菇菇真是鮮嫩多汁。搭配冷冰冰的蔬菜，溫度剛剛好適合馬上一口接著一口吃。

After our kebabs, we went to a pub on campus and had a pint each.  The after taste of the kebab goes hand in hand with beer.  Although I don't expect myself to dine out much, due to the rediculously expensive prices here, I will definitely return to 'Best Kebab' for another veggie kebab.  I will also try out other kebabs, just to see if their kebab is, truly, the best kebab.

啃完kebab之後我們到校園裡的一間pub喝啤酒。那kebab殘留在口中的味道，配上啤酒真的是絕配。雖然我不會太常吃外食，但我一定會回來這間再多吃幾次他們的素食kebab。而且呢，我也會試試別間的kebab，再來看看，他們是不是真的是城中最贊的kebab。

I noticed the sign upon my first roaming about city center.  Though, I kept telling myself that I would not touch Chinese food unless I absolutely have to.  Yet, on this day, I saw two Chinese people walking out of it, and so I was tempted into taking a look at their menu.  They have a lot of vegetarian dishes.   Then I saw 'Egg Fried Rice' for only £1.80.  I decided that if the dish was good, then not only could I recommend this place to my friends, but also come and get a taste of home once in a while. 

So, after I went down to Tesco Metro and got my groceries for the next couple of days, I went back to it and ordered myself a serving of 'egg fried rice'.  The restaurant definitely had a very 'Chinese' atmosphere to it.  As I wasn't sure if they spoke Mandarin, I ordered the dish in English.  I heard the chef shout out in Mandarin: 炒飯！, but still feeling a bit awkward, I thanked the waitress in English when she gave me my fried rice. 

I got to the dorm, and couldn't wait to open the box.  I took a mouthful and decided instantly, that I would become a frequent patron of the restaurant.  Yeap.  It was that good.

Mind you, this is still the first day of our welcome event!  All international students were invited to a free dinner at the Adelphi Hotel, which is only about a 10min walk from where I live.  It was a nice opportunity to dine in a HOTEL, and socialize with new friends.

As we were walking towards the hotel, I was surrounded by people from the Mainland.  You know, folks, I spend five years working my arse off, and flying over so many countries, I wasn't going to spend the whole time here speaking Mandarin.  No offence to nice folks from across the strait here, but I hope you understand what I mean.

I couldn't get away from them walking faster than they were, so I decided to slow down.  And just as I slowed down my paces, who did I happen to see but my buddy from the same coach ride the day before - Mamo from Japan, with his new American friend, Sam.  I was overjoyed to see them, so I stuck myself to them...

At the entrance, already, you feel the Liverpudlian's passion for soccer football:

Ladies and gentlemen, these are the meals that you'll always remember, as the meals that made me forget TAIWAN!!! (oops....)

跟老姊、老哥、Jason說掰掰之後，發現得趕快去登機才行。可是在等安檢以及檢查護照時，我已經哭得像小北鼻喝不到奶一樣。好慘。後來直奔登機門，上了飛機，起飛時又開始掉眼淚