Disco night on Idol

I totally enjoyed the songs by Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on American Idol tonight. They both managed to take up-tempo songs and turned them into sentimental slow songs. Below videos show the originals and the ones that were performed on AI.

Only Adam's performance is available on youtube.com showing that his performance is more popular than Kris's.

"If I can't have you" performed by Adam Lambert (2009)

"If I can't have you" performed by Yvonne Elliman (1978)

"She works hard for the money" by Kris Allen on AI

"She works hard for the money" by Donna Summer

Getaways 2009

I was looking back at my blog posting from last year and realised that I have booked my December 2008 holiday as early as in the month of June 2008. So, it suddenly hit me that we are coming to the middle of the year soon and these are my travel plans for 2009.

Hanoi, Vietnam (March 2009)

Tokyo, Japan (June 2009)

New Zealand (September 2009)

Middle East (December 2009) - not yet confirmed

Cuisines in Hanoi

My trip to Hanoi was not only sightseeing, but to eat as many types of food as I could. In addition to Vietnamese food, Vietnam is also renowned for its colonial French cuisines. I had a French lunch buffet (USD22) at Le Beaulieu, Metropole Hotel Hanoi. This French colonial hotel was established in 1901.

Vietnam is also the 2nd largest exporter of coffee after Brazil. Not surprisingly Vietnamese coffee is strong and delicious and the stainless steel coffee filter adds another novelty to coffee drinking.

Bun cha: Rice Vermicille with BBQ pork and green papaya pickles

Steamed catfish in beer at Little Hanoi Restaurant

Appertisers at Le Beaulieu: Sashimi, foie gras with figs, teamed clams, braised scallops

Grilled oysters, spaghetti with clams, Beef Bourginion, ratatouille


Duck confit with bacons and croutons

Sponge fingers with chocolate dips, banana crumble, macaroon

Crepes with fresh strawberry and mango sorbet

Lunch onboard: Frieed fish, fried spring rolls, beancurds, beansprouts etc

Rice with beef and fried chicken with vegetables

DIY grilled fish at Cha Ca La Vong

Snails, Shrimp pancakes, nem (spring rolls) and bánh cuốn (steamed rice cakes)

Fried pho with beef and vegetables

Che, sweetened dessert with shaved ice

Condiments: Sausages, fried eggs, pate, roast pork and many more

Sticky rice with condiments