Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

Tampa, Florida - Met a nice friend Hosea and he brought me to his favourite Korean restaurant - Sa Ri One in Tampa.  It was about 45 minutes drive from office. Soju Surprisingly, they do not sell the top 2 Korean Soju brand of Chamisul and Chum Churum.  These 2 brands are ubiquitous in Korea and I have never seen this Nari Joa sold in Korea. Tok Bok Gi Bibimbap Bibimbap literally means mixed rice. Beef Galbi Galbi" is the Korean word for "rib", and the dish is usually made with beef short ribs. ... The dish may be marinated in a sweet and savory sauce usually containing soy sauce, garlic, and sugar.   It was delicious and always love Korean style of Beef Galbi but this dish was a bit too sweet. Hosea and me We wear purple because it's company's purple T-shirt day.   Everyone comes to work dress in purple colour.

Dunedin, Florida - I arrived for dinner near closing time of 10pm.  I ordered Fajitas which is a dish of Mexican origin consisting of strips of spiced beef, chopped vegetables, and grated cheese, wrapped in a soft tortilla and often served with sour cream.   This Fatjias dish was too much for me one hot plate of beef strips, one plate of garnishes of vegetables, grated cheese and guacamole and one plate of 3 soft tortilla. Strips of beef on hot plate Grated cheese and Guacamole Guacamole is an avocado-based dip, spread, or salad first developed by the Aztecs in what is now Mexico.  I always like Mexican food and this restaurant food is good. 

Dunedin, Florida - I was hankering for some nice chicken wings and Flanagan's Irish Pub is the place.   I ordered Guinness chicken wings and it comes with 10 pieces deep fried and very delicious.  Chicken wings and beer goes together. Guiness Chicken Wings Nice Stella Beer

Dunedin, Florida - I decided to walk northwards along the Pinellas trail and started walking around 10am.   The trail is just behind the Holiday Inn Express Dunedin and a bicycle rental shop next to it. Bicycle rental The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a 34 mile (55 km) linear park and recreation trail currently extending from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs and is a multi-use trail everyone can enjoy. The Trail was created along an abandoned railroad corridor. The weather was around 27 celcius and humid but the trees lining the trail gave me shade from the direct sunlight.   Not many joggers but numerous cyclist. Pinellas trail Township besides the Pinealls trail Africa-American community Short detour to Andrews Memorial Chapel Andrew's Memorial Chapel The Andrews Memorial Chapel is an historic Carpenter Gothic style former Presbyterian church building now located is located next to Hammock Park (Dunedin, Florida). Pavement leading to t...

Dunedin, Florida - I was hankering for some Vietnamese food and decided to walk to Phoeiden for some Pho and summer rolls. chicken summer rolls These are the chicken fresh spring rolls made by the proprietor of Phoeiden.   Look how ugly and unprofessional the summer rolls and it cost USD 2.50 each. Beef Pho The beef are thick chuck and not the thin slices of beef usually served at Vietnamese restaurants.   I finished both the Pho and summer rolls.  It is only the presentation of the dishes that was lacking.  Since there are few Asians and no comparison, this store will be around for a long while.

St Petersburg, Florida -  One of my bucket list is to visit this Florida Holocaust Museum .  With an entrance fee of USD 16 for such a small museum it was very expensive.   Furthermore, the 2nd floor was undergoing renovations. Florida Holocaust Museum Nazi in Power Wannsee Conference Conference to coordinate the extermination of Jews in Europe.  Before WWII there were 9 million Jews and 6 million Jews were executed by Germans. Carriage that brought the Jews to their death You are my Witness Artwork on the 3rd floor

St Petersburg, Florida - I asked the tour counter of Dali Museum where to get good seafood and she recommended highly 400 Beach Seafood and Tapa restaurant.   This restaurant had good reviews and they seem to market pretty well, even has a spot on the tourist guide & map.   If this is the best St Pete have, then they have not tried Dunedin's seafood restaurants. Clam Chowder Jumbo prawns meal The Jumbo prawns was grilled tasted fresh and really good.  The rice was very dry and the vegetables are blanched and not really tasted.   For a seafood restaurant, I would expect that they would have a number of fish dishes on their lunch menu but was told that it's only available for dinner.

St Petersburg, Florida - The art pieces by Salvator Dali was amazing - a must visit by everyone to St Petes.   I was fortunate to arrive at a timing when a free conducted tour was going on and it brought a meaning to the art pieces. Dali Museum “Modesty is not my specialty. Dalí is only good because the other painters are so bad." -  Salvador Dali  Lincoln in Dalivision Dali painted a portrait of a naked lady back looking out through a window but when I took the picture, it was pixel into a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. With the conducted tour guide it was so interesting and he dwell into the genius of this artist.  Every aspect of the artwork has a meaning. Desceration The Average Bureaucrat The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus The Hallucinogenic Toreador This was one of Dali's masterpiece which took more than a year to complete. To me this was an amazing piece of art, it was surreal to me upfront. Right at the bo...

St Petersburg, Florida -  Today, I decided to go to St Pete (that's what the local call this city) because my colleagues and people I meet say you have to go there.   First of all, I like to know where this city go its name.  I asked a Uber driver that lives there and he had no idea....so I asked Google! St Pete borrowed it's name from the original St Petersburg in Russia.  St. Petersburg was founded in 1888 by John C. Williams, who purchased the land, and by Peter Demens (was a Russian immigrant), who brought the railroad industry into the area.  As a part of a coin toss bet, the winner, Peter Demens, named the land after Saint Petersburg, Russia, It took 30 mins by Uber to reach St Petes via the highway and once you reached the city beauty surrounds you with manicured parks, beautiful trees, piers, yachts, etc...since it is a city you have the high rise condos along the waterfront. My original intention to come so early and participate in the St Petes S...

Dunedin, Florida - I was hankering for something new and maybe Asian.  I browse the restaurant list and came across Phoedin - hmmm sounds Vietnamese & Dunedin.   Also this restaurant is very near my hotel. Phoedin  The sun was so hot today and I was sweating when I ordered my dinner.  A very limited list of menu, some Japanese dishes like Edamame or Gyoza.  Also have Korean and Chinese dishes. I just ordered Vietnamese good because the owner and daughters are Vietnamese.   I ordered 2 fresh spring rolls @ USD2 each and Bun Cha.   Both dishes tasted really good. Bun Cha

Clearwater, Florida - Just around the corner of my office is a small Middle Eastern restaurant called Mana Mana .  Today will be my second time eating middle eastern food at this restaurant.  I tried Falafel Pita the last time and it really tasted very good - it has so much flavour. Falafel is a deep-fried ball, doughnut or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern food and commonly served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon; "falafel" also frequently refers to a wrapped sandwich that is prepared in this way. Shawarma in a Pita But today, I tried Shawarma Pita (is a soft, slightly leavened flatbread baked from wheat flour).  Shawarma are thin cuts of lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or mixed meats are stacked in a cone-like shape on a vertical rotisserie. As it rotates and the outside cooks continuously, thin slices are shaved off.   I ate everything as it was r...

Dunedin, Florida - After my dinner, I walked to the pier and watch the sunset over the horizon.   It was a beautiful sight. Sunset on the horizon Beautiful sunset

Dunedin, Florida - I went to the marina and had my dinner @ this award winning restaurant.  Quite atas restaurant - Bon Appetit .   At the corner was an elderly pianist paying oldies... Filet Mignon Very succulent and tender beef steak and this is the best portion of beef you can have.

Dunedin, Florida - I walked past this Irish pub along Main Street many times and today decided to have my dinner here.   The waiter was very friendly and recommended Reuben dish to me. Reuben Reuben is Guinness-braised corned beef, kraut, swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. Served on buttery rye bread.  The beef was very tender and delicious.   This is my first time eating Reuben sandwich.    It is 100% an American dish and not Irish.  Well, the only thing Irish about this dish was the Guinness-braised corned beef. Yummy beer I will come back to taste their other dishes....

Dunedin, Florida - I decided to walk down Main street to this sushi restaurant - Pisces Sushi & Global Bistro to have my dinner and it was my biggest mistake as the food was mediocre. Yellow tail and Tuna sashimi and I also ordered the gyoza and it was deep fried... Gyoza and was the worst Gyoza for $10.   I left the restaurant after eating the Gyoza.

Dunedin, Florida - Today @ Hog Island Fish Camp is mussels day and it's only $15 for all-you-can-eat.  I ate 4 bowls of mussels and I was so full. Mussels with Fish Camp sauce The Fish camp sauce is made up of tomatoes, wine, garlic, capers, feta cheese and lemon. Mussels in coconut curry My 2nd bowl of mussels was in coconut curry... Mussels in White Wine sauce Mussels in Marinara sauce This restaurant also has crafted beer and the crooked thumb larger beer was really good. Crooked Thumb Larger beer