Japanese food... why??

each time, when I meet up with friends who just came back from japan, I'll ask them if the food is so good so good... ^_^, and each time, when I asked them, they'll give me that “super yummy”, type of look, when talking about japanese food...

same food, simple, for eg. Just a simple shoyu udon, it just taste so good...

so, I talked about this with him the other day, why??? why is it that good, whenever we're there, the food,

just a simple gyu-don, for example,

well, maybe it's due to the weather, but then, not so, if it's the same cold weather, in UK, or in Australia, it will not give us the same “umph”...

why??

he then told me one very important clue, I guess,

the clue!!

it's the portion,

japanese food, served in japan, not too big, not too small, just right!!!

I don't know how to really put it in reality, maybe just a little bit more, it'll spoil the so-called “portion”, the size...

we all know that, generally, the portion's smaller than the rest of the world,

when we get a drink, for eg. A starbucks coffee, over here, it's medium, over there, it's large,

same as their cake, the portion is always 1 size smaller...

so, his point is,

the portion is not obviously too small, but after you have it, you feel that, you just want more, cos, it's just right, it's just good, but then, you won't take another one, you know why?? it's not cheap, wahahahahahaha!!!

so, it's the price vs. portion thing...

which, I think, it's been overlooked in other parts of the world...

where you know... if it's in UK, or it's in Australia, the portion, will always be HUGE!!

which, will defeat the purpose,

and when it's in the country where I'm residing, the price... will be just enough, for us to get a second helping...

but that's not the case in japan...

so, whatever you put in your mouth, the portion is just right, and you'll just have to feel super grateful with whatever you're eating, cos, you're not going to get a second helping...

and of course, the weather kinda help...

I've not been to japan when it's summer,

I'm not sure if... in a hot weather, their food will taste particularly good or not... but then, japanese has their own summer food, that's one of the key thing... they've seasonal food,

so, in summer, you may have the cold soba, running down in a bamboo tube, cold water...

one thing, they don't mind eating their food cold!!!

which, I came across an article, about carbo... (just let me side-track a little bit!)

apparently, the best carbo's still rice, or potato...

but, you've to eat it cold...

and, THAT's how japanese have been eating their food, ie. COLD!!!

which, again, other parts of the country will not do that...

(or probably only scandinavian!)

until, in the near past, the taiwanese introduced hot food to them, ie. Microwave your rice, microwave your whatever... then only they started to eat it hot, then, only they hm... started to overuse the microwave... then... hm... there seemed to be an increase of health problem nationally??

FORD SERVICE CENTRE, PJ, my experience

ok... this is supposed to be told, half year ago... it's my experience, half year ago, in the service centre, PJ...
my car is old, >7 years... to a lot of people, it's old, but to me, it's still... ok... cos, during my parents time, it's 15-20 year-old car, IS old!!! anyway,
so, I sent it in for a thorough service and checkup, and maybe, to replace something, if I need to...
1. after nearly 1 day of waiting, with my kids tagging along (cos, I'm a fulltime housewife), they told me, this is just round 1 service, thorough checkup was not done yet! And I gotta bring the car back to the centre ONE MORE TIME, for thorough checkup... so, on that day, I've no choice but to take back my car, and I gotta call in again, to arrange for another day...
thus, I did...
so, I sent in again, and they told me, this and that, bla bla bla, needed to be changed...
then, the service officer told me this,
2. she said, “why don't you bring your car to other service centre, the price will be halved!”, I was like... err... I've already sent my car here, and you know I'm dragging my 2 precious peas, do you think, it's so convenient, and so easy for me to simply go anywhere to get my car serviced?? I came here for a solution... but I know she meant to be good, so, I didn't retaliate, but then, I thought, it's kinda... weird... and she even gave me a contact number...
3. after I left the car for thorough checkup, I left, and it was a holiday season, so, I didn't quite need the car, but I left a message, where, if there's anything need to be changed, please call me back to let me know, the parts, and the price... and she never call back, and you know what? It's difficult for me to call in too... the phone's forever... NOBODY picks up... anyway, I've no choice, but to call in... and I called... and I managed to get her... guess what??
she told me, bla bla bla, ie. Price and parts...
then, I said, “go ahead, please change for me, thanks!”, and guess what she said???
“wow!! you're rich!!”,
again, my OS was like... #T%$@&%*#&%$%@#$!#@$ what do you expect me to do?? too expensive, and I gotta take back my car, and send to somewhere else?? I told her, I expect the centre to be a 1-stop solution centre for me...
anyway... I have to INSIST that, I'll leave my car to be serviced, fully!!! then, she's scared that this will be too expensive for me and that I'll complain later... and that, she's to get a black and white from me...
ok ok...

in the end, yes, I did have my car serviced, and parts changed... buti then, this experience was like... kinda... frustrating and weird....
sigh...