I crocheted a bag!

Next skill unlocked! Crochet. 

I crocheted a bag. I cannot believe that I could do it. Those who crochet say that it is easy. Now, I can say that too. I bought a DIY kit from Lidl, a grocery store. I thought it will be a kit for kids but it came with an instruction and materials. I was frustrated in the beginning because I did not understand. I searched through many articles and videos online. Finally, I understood.

I crocheted half of the bag in one evening, about 3 hours. Then, I completed the strap the next evening. I did not follow the instruction for the strap. The instruction to do the strap was a simple chain mask and I read that a chain mask needs to be strengthened as the strap can be pulled down by the contents of the bag. So, I made the strap thicker and now, the bag can definitely hold contents.

The kit came with beads to make braided beads at the bottom of the bag but I skipped it because I will give this bag to a kid. 

I am so proud of myself. Now I have a hobby to keep me occupied during my retirement. 

Tastebud : Kanto Bistro (2nd time)

7 October 2026

After dinner at Rara, we took a stroll to look for a place to have dessert. First, we went into Bröd & Salt (Bread & Salt) but they have buns only. Then, we passed by Mellqvist Kaffebar. There were so many people sitting outside on the outdoor serving enjoying their drinks and it was quite lively. I thought it was cold but I guess that don't stop anyone from enjoying a cold beer and wine. Continued on to the end of the street and we saw Kanto. We were here in 2024 to have Filipino food. I loved it here! 

We had ube cassava SEK120 and ube ice-cream SEK120. My friend had the ice-cream and I had the cassava. Price increased by SEK10 from the last time we were here. I had cassava too when I was here the first time.

Tastebud : Rara (2nd time)

7 October 2026

Today's dinner is Nepalese food. Well, the only significant dish is momo that is from Nepal. A different name for dumpling. Looks exactly like a dumpling, like how I make mine and the fillings are similar, pork, chicken, mushroom or prawn. The rest of the food in the menu is similar to Indian food. The restaurant was full and there were even walk-ins who had to wait. I was here in 2025 and had fried momos, curries, naan bread and starters with individual prices. Today's price, a year later, has increased, as expected.

We shared 3 smalls SEK365 - pork belly cooked in gochujang, puri, and spinach sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. SEK122 per plate is quite expensive since the portion is small. Also shared two of 8 momos SEK400 - one set with hot soup and the other with butter gravy (cooked in tomato sauce. Each set costs SEK200. 

Based on the description in the menu, puri dish is made of Semolina puff, potatoes, yogurt, mint &

coriander, tamarind and lentils. There is 5 balls. 

Chill belly - Slow cooked Pork belly, schezwan, gochuyang, soy, onion and paprika. There are 4 pieces of pork belly. It is sweet due to gochujang. No taste of sichuan pepper though although it is one of the ingredients in schezwan. I like this dish.

The momos. The one on the left is momo is tomato-butter sauce. We chose the filing with pork, shrimp and chives. The filings did not have any special taste. The sauce is good. I hope there were 8 momos because I am seeing 7 momos in the photo. The one on the right is momo in Nepali hot soup that is infused with Himalayan spices. I can taste the spices and I prefer this compared to the butter sauce. 

Tastebud : Farsi (2nd time)

30 August 2026

Iranian food for lunch at Farsi located in Mall of Scandinavia. I was here last year and had lamb stew. This time, my friend and I had grilled plate for two persons - Grilled lamb, grilled ground lamb, grilled chicken, cucumber yoghurt, grilled tomato and salad (some cut tomatoes, onions and cucumber). With a plate full of rice. So full. Shared between two persons SEK499. Not spicy. Meat is juicy. Not the kind of food I will go back to again. I thought I could not finish my rice but I did. We chose this place because all the other places were packed as a football match was taking place in 2 hours' time and many people were in the mall occupying the restaurants to have lunch and beer. 

Thailand Festival 2026

21 July 2026

I am at Thailand Festival this year. I was here in 2018 and 2019. I enjoyed during those visits because I got some freebies and there were cultural tents too which are not related to food. Potpouri, fruit carving. I thought that I would get to experience something similar this year. No, unfortunately. There were MANY food tents which sell similar food - papaya salad, mango sticky rice, porkball skewers, noodles or rice with beef or pork, cold drinks and smoothies, Singa beer everywhere. The event is for 5 days! There were parasols, benches, tables in abundance for visitors to enjoy their meals. They really thought this event well! There is security too that requests to check your bags to remove any liquid. I suppose this is a method for them to encourage folks to buy drinks from the food tents. Singa beer 330ml for SEK93. Daylight robbery. I got mango smoothie for SEK99. Also daylight robbery. Not fresh mango, but frozen mango chunks from a sealed package (saw that the brand is Simply Good). Felt cheated by this.

Once the performances ended, two persons came up and sang loudly at the top of their lungs - seem like karaoke to me. So loud that my friend and I needed to leave the stage area to hear each other. 

Most of the food was pre-cooked and ready to be served. Except for papaya salad. The food was cold when we bought ours.

Mangosteens, rambutan and durian available too. Seems expensive for me. SEK130 for the rambutan packet.