Archaelogical Site Visit

20 October 2018

Today's 1.5 hour archaeological site visit is brought to you by Kompis Sverige. I have never been to an archaeological site in my life, hence, I am very excited when I saw this activity and I enrolled myself immediately. I was apprehensive for the cold weather because it is autumn. I am aware that this is an outdoor activity but it will be alright when one has the right set of clothes.

So, on a cold drizzling autumn morning, the group walked to the archaeological site because the bus was delayed. We walked from Västerhaninge train station. As we were approaching the site, I realised that I was in a new housing area and there were houses still under construction, and I began to wonder on what sort of archaeological site is this.

It turns out that, in Sweden (at least), before a housing project begins, an archaeological team is called in to see if there are any artifacts in the area. The preservation law in Sweden is very strict. That is probably one of the reason why there are so many museums in Stockholm! The team is based for 4 months from July to October, and they found a few areas where they discovered house structures from the Iron Age and Bronze Age! How cool is that!

These holes, once upon a time, had poles above them and they were poles for a house structure from the Iron Age. They dug a layer of earth which revealed a heavier colour of earth on some areas where the house's poles once stood or even found some poles. 

Here is a grave that has bears' claws and it was believed to be a sacrificial site. 

Tastebud : Dell 'Attore

25 October 2018

As I made a conscious effort to keep in touch with my ex-schoolmates from my language course, I got to try different places to eat. Since I am not familiar with the tasty restaurants in town, I assigned my friends (the ones that I am meeting) to choose the place to have our lunch or dinner. Today, my friend and I are having Italian dinner in Dell 'Attore. She told me that this place has the most authentic pizza ever! I thought that the Italian dinner I had in Eataly was fantastic. This one was equally good too but there was a huge-size television on the wall which was noisy and distracted my attention occasionally from my friend to the screen.

I had an all-vegetables pizza called Ortolana - mushroom, grilled paprika, zucchini, tomatoes, black olives and garlic. SEK142/RM71. Includes a small bowl of salad that is heavy with vinegar and a glass of cold water. My friend had seafood pizza with real mussels. 

Tastebud : Masala Masala

18 October 2018

The gastronomy experience continues to the Indian continent. I have expected Indian food to be very expensive in Stockholm. I decided to treat my friend to an Indian restaurant. I was unsure if the place was good but I just gave a random google and found the place - Masala Masala. I did a reservation a day before and had a table reserved next to the kitchen which was away from the main hall where all the noise is. Considering the restaurant is small, those who reserved had to wait outside for the other diners to leave.

We had complimentary salad as appetizers which I am sure has been included in the price. My friend ordered lamb (SEK175/RM87.50) and scampi - the one with the slice of lemon (SEK175) at a very spicy level which brought tears to my eyes. I did not know each of us got rice and it was a bad move to order garlic naan bread for SEK35/RM17.50. The rice and bread was too much for the both of us. As the curry was too spicy for my friend, she ordered caramel ice cream for SEK49/RM24.50. 

Tastebud : Eataly

16 October 2018

Italian dinner today at Eataly - a food court for Italian food only that also has a culinary school! It has its own store of Italian produce (meat, cheese, sauce, noodles, chocolates). Even the cutlery that I used were from Italy. I know that because I checked the spoon that I was using. 

I had pizza without cheese - plum tomato sauce, garlic, oregano and basil. SEK125/RM62.50. Glass of orange juice for SEK32/RM16. My friend had a white pizza which is pizza with 6 different types of cheese! Both pizzas tasted good! A recent encounter with an overdose of cheese in a home-baked pizza gave me high fever and a two-time visit to the ladies. So, just a little or no cheese for me. 

My friend treated me to a 3-Layer chocolate cake dessert that is sprinkled with hazelnuts and decorated with cheese cream. Chocolate cake melts in the mouth! 

The entire meal was really good!

Tastebud : Sala Thai

11 October 2018

It is Thai food for lunch today at Sala Thai. It was a huge plate of rice with lots of chicken pieces, stir fried vegetables, sliver of cabbages and sprinkled with cashew nuts. It is supposed to be spicy but it is not. The meal comes with a glass of water and a bowl of miso soup (because they sell sushi too).  Water is free in Sweden, so that should not be counted. SEK99/RM49.50. Expensive here because it is located in the city. I felt extremely sleepy after this lunch and that is not good because it was working hours for me!

India Film Festival 2018

How apt that I am posting this 2 days after Deepavali. While everyone is talking about Christmas in Stockholm, I am thinking of muruku, mutton curry, and Indian sweets...

2 October 2018

India Film Festival. I never thought that I get to watch Bollywood films again in a cinema till today. My friend invited me to go to the India Film Festival which was organised by the India Embassy. It was held in the Swedish Film Institute which was my first time too! I love going to places for the first time. 

The Ambassador gave a speech followed by the release of Mahatma Gandhi's stamps which is internationally released today, and continued with a short clip of Mahatma Gandhi and his values. It ended with a 2.5 hour Bollywood movie by the famous producer Yash Raj. Yash Raj made some of my favourite Bollywood movies - the most famous is Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gam, that has Shah Rukh Khan inside. Today's movie is called 'Thread and Needle' and the main actor bears a slight resemblance to Shah Rukh Khan. 

Tastebud : Relais de la Gare

7 October 2018

French cuisine for lunch at Relais de la Gare! Sourdough bread slapped with smoked ham slices and cheese on top. Served with salad. Includes a separate salad bar as appetizer (photo not taken) and coffee or tea with a cupcake / muffin slice for dessert. SEK152/ RM76. I do think it is a bit expensive for this dish though, but I guess, being French cuisine, the price befits it?

I joined a flea market!

22 September 2018

Early September, a friend of mine buzzed me if I wanted to help her to sell her clothes in a flea market. Now, it has always been my dream to sell my stuff in a flea market. I am not referring to clothes because I don't have much clothes here. I have limited working clothes and I have countable party clothes. I am not even sure if they are categorised as party clothes at all. Well, for me, being minimal is key. When I moved to Sweden, I had to clear lots of my stuff and I realised how hard it was to clear them because of the memories attached to them. So, I decided to have as little stuff as possible in Sweden. 

I digress.

I agreed to my friend's suggestion to participate in the flea market, but I wanted to sell too. And I wanted to sell my baking! I made 'onde-onde' and Swedish apple cakes. If you are a Malaysian, you know what is onde-onde. Otherwise, it is boiled glutinous rice ball filled with palm sugar and rolled in steamed desiccated coconut. It is my all-time favourite delicacy back home. And when I found out how easy it was to make them, I have been making them most of the time when required. I made them the morning of the flea market which means waking up really early.

I baked Swedish apple cakes because I have been getting pretty good at them. Like seriously. Those who tasted it agreed to it. I baked the cakes the night before. Baked 2 of them because I was not sure if any of them will sell. I halved each cake and so I had 4 pieces of the cakes.

We participated in a flea market located in Karlaplan. I brought a foldable table. Each spot costs SEK250 / RM125. It was a windy morning. I froze most of the time. The flea market was open from 11am till 3pm.