Boarding in Michigan

Singapore, my homeland, is a tropical country. I love snowboarding. so when I came to America, one of the things I looked forward to most was hitting the slopes.

On a normal weekend, I went to Michigan's Crystal Mountain with the Undergraduate Chinese Association. It was a 3.5 hour bus ride (including the stop at McDonald's for breakfast). The bus ride itself costs US$20 and because I had my own board which I bought online for US$300, I did not need to pay the US$30 rental fee.

When we arrived, we were so relieved to be off the bus and be able to stretch our legs.

We then proceeded to the debrief room to receive instructions on how to go about putting the lift tag on, the renting procedures and the free classes available. I think this was neccessary because we were in a large group and this procedure took 20min. The old gentleman explaining the rules and regualtions was very friendly and patient with our group. He then sent us down to the fitting room to get our rental. Since I had my own board, I scouted out the classes for advanced boarders.


The cost of classes were quite steep at US$40 an hour. But to be fair, it was a private lesson. I took a beginner's class in terrain parks and learnt how to do both the 50-50 and Rock & Roll in just an hour!! Before, I tried to do the 50-50 by myself for more than an hour, falling repeatedly. Though the class was expensive I think the US$40 was well spent, as it reduced the time spent learning the trick if I were to try to learn them by myself. After all, time is priceless. So I strongly recommend for you to go for the classes to help improve your skills, and bring a friend along so you need not pay so much.

The lunch available there, though not very appetizing, is relatively reasonably priced as compared to other ski cafeterias which usually take advantage of the monopoly and charge ridiculous prices for their food. They serve their purpose but don't expect too much.

The only complaint of the skiing place are that the slopes are all way too short for my taste and are way too few. The black slopes felt like blue slopes and took less than 2 min to finish. Well, beggars can't be choosers. The overall experience was good. But if you are planning to hit the slopes, try to go in a group as it will be more fun and cost less in terms of traveling expense.

p.s. Try to do snowboarding instead of skiing. It is just way cooler.

Basil Thai

As everyone knows, it will be Valentine's Day tomorrow!! =DD

and I know of a nice place to take a date to that actually prepared a menu, specially for Valentine's day! The food there are also of reasonable price and good standard.

BASIL THAI!

Though it is usually dabbles in Thai food and bubble tea, Basil Thai has actually went out of its way to create a very attractive seven course meal. All dishes served then are not served on the daily menu, and some of the dishes are not of Thai origin, so it is a really special offer!

On an average day, Basil Thai offers five basic types of Thai food. Rice, Soups, Salads, Noodles and Curry.

When I went there, I tried the Hot and Sour noodle. It was not spicy to me at all, but the shrimp (additional $2) was plentiful and the noodle firm, so i enjoyed it nonetheless. My companions had the Green Curry Chicken, Pad Ga-Prow and Pad Khing. They all agreed that the food was good. They finished every single morsel of food on their plates. If you want an extra spicy kick, ask for fish sauce with chilli. It is a sweet and salty concotion sure to burn your taste buds and yet have you craving for more.

Basil is actually best known for its bubble tea as it is the closest bubble tea shop to campus. However, I did not drink it that time round as I was watching my waistline. But based on memory, the milk teas were the best though the 'bubbles' in the tea sometimes lacked the chewiness and firmness of those found in Asian countries. I recommend the Thai iced-tea. It is an ideal way to cook down on a hot day and to satisfy your sweet tooth during summer which is fast approaching.

Basil Thai restaurant has a very comfortable and homey feel. However, if you ever dine-in during winter, try to get a table as far away from the door as possible. This is because if the door to the restaurant continuously opens and closes, letting the cold air in, which can potentially ruin your meal.

And if you don't feel like trekking through the snow, ice and sleet to get good food, you can also ring them up for delivery. They do dine-in, take-out and catering! They are a great alternative to the usual Papa Johns or Mad Mushrooms.

Basil Thai is also located next to a Hookah bar, Hookah!, so after a satisfying meal, you can sit back and relax with your friends over a few puffs. However, be warned, do not order the dessert from Hookah!, it is simply not worth it.

Ah Z

I am an Asian.

and being an Asian, I have to admit I am absolutely sick of Dining hall's American food with all that cheese, oil, and deep fried-ness. So I take every opportunity I can to eat at an Asian restaurant. And personally, my favorite Asian cuisine is Japanese.

I have had plenty of sushi in United States ever since I came over from Singapore and though it is extremely different from what I had in Singapore and Japan, I must say, they are still AWESOME!!!

American Sushi uses cheese (real sushi has no cheese in it), is more colorful and uses less traditional ingredients. I've also noticed that West Lafayette's Japanese restaurants also has a lack of entrees and side dishes served elsewhere. For example, my favorites like Chawanmushi (steamed egg in a cup) and Ramen (not the instant stuff everyone thinks is ramen here, but the authentic kind). There is none of such in West Lafayette. Not in Maru sushi, not in Ah Z nor in Kokoro.

Just looking at the ramen is enough to make me salivate as my tongue misses the taste of that rich, thick and savory broth mixed with sweet seaweed. And that egg. the yolk is not fully cooked so it is very creamy and the white have been soaked in a special sauce to add a salty tinge to it. but my favorite part of that ramen I so miss is the noodle. GOD, japan makes the best noodles, firm and chewy. And when you slurp it up, you can hear the angels sing!

So I say I am a little disappointed that's good to eat at the japanese restaurants are the sushi. Nothing else is worth the money (though the sushi themselves are really expensive).

I have been to both Maru and Ah Z(the original and the one in PMU). I wasn't available to try out the sushi in Kokoro as the owner was in a car accident and was still unable to open for business at the time of my visit. A pity really as from all the reviews I read, it served the best (though most inconvenient) sushi anywhere near school.

both Maru and Ah Z have their strong points and weak points.

Maru has a better, livelier atmosphere, but their sushi often varies in size. sometimes it they are larger , sometimes they are smaller and I always feel cheated when it appears smaller, especially if i was paying an average of US$9+tax per roll. But they make up for their shortcomings with a FREE set of appetizers.



Ah Z has faster service and has rolls of consistent size. However, they often put too much rice and not enough sauce to compensate for the rice. However, it is a young compared to Maru and has time to improve. Another plus is that it is mostly self service after you get the sushi, so there is no need for tips! =DD

All in all, beggars can't be choosers, so till I go back to Singapore, Ah Z and Maru will stand in for my beloved Japanese food.

Lafayette Farmers Market

The very first fun activity I will be writing of is one I have been wanting to do ever since I read about it in the Lafayette West Lafayette Visitors Guide.

Lafayette's Farmers Market

First a little history: This market has been around for well over a century! The Free-Press of April 25, 1846, spoke of action by the Lafayette Town Board to buy a strip of ground 30 feet wide fronting on what is now Fifth street between Main and Columbia from Aaron and Florence Claspill, husband and wife, on the condition that the strip of land "be and forever remain open as a public market space". (source)

There is currently 3 Farmers Market in West Lafayette and Lafayette. Unfortunately, the times at which they are open do not make it any easier for the Students in Purdue to patronize them. But if you actually do find the time to do so, it will be time well spent!

The main Farmers Market, as mentioned above is located on Fifth street, Down Town Lafayette. They are open August to October, Tuesdays(0730-1230), Thursdays(1600-1900) and Saturday(0730-1230).
The first spawn is on Purdue's Campus itself, 403 Wood Street. But sadly, it runs only June 4th - August 13th. They are open Thursdays(1500-1830).
The second spawn, Sagamore West Market, is located at Cumberland Park and opens Wednesdays(1500-1830).

The Original Farmers Market offers a wide range of produce depending on the time of the year. For example, apples are available only July through October and Peaches are available in June.

There are a ton of benefits about visiting and purchasing produce from the Farmers Market. Firstly, you leave behind an astoundingly low carbon footprint as compared to food you would normally get from any supermarket that had to be flown in. Secondly, you will feel a greater connection with your food as you come into contact with the person who actually grows or rears what will soon be on your plate and in your belly. Thirdly, the food items bought are also usually very fresh! Much fresher than those that had to be frozen and flown in from other cities or countries in generic supermarkets, which means they will taste better and you WILL BE HAPPIER! =D Last and most importantly, you can help keep the organic cycle going and help the environment!!!! Thus by buying produce from Farmers Markets, you are helping make the world a better place!


Lafayette's Farmers Market also sells a great variety of goods such as quilts, handbags, jewelry, body and bath products, baked goods, art, etc.
The lively atmosphere and the sights and sounds of the Farmers Market is sure to make a very interesting place to explore alone or with friends. Especially since the shopping options around Purdue university is quite appalling and most student I know take to the Amazon and eBay for their needs.

There is also the occasional live performances at the original Farmers Market. Two of the musicians who played last year were the local saxophonist/clarinetist, Danny Weiss and guitarist/contemporary folk song writer, Joe Peters.
Although I wasn't able to attend either of their performances, I searched for a sample of their performance to try to get an idea on what it would have been like.



And if the feel of the Farmers Market is anything like Joe's music, it would be fresh and a welcome change.

"the Farmers Market is a pretty cool place to go", Mr Chad Hardy, my ENGL 106 TA said in passing when I told him about my first post. This coming from someone who will be deciding whether or not I will be getting an A for class makes the statement very trustworthy and reliable. So whosoever chance upon and reads this, GO TO THE FARMERS MARKET AND HAVE SOME FUN! and see the other side of Lafayette/West Lafayette.

Intro

It is common to hear people saying that West Lafayette is an extremely boring place to be.

I am going to try to challenge that this semester.

In this 16 weeks, I will look for fun and interesting things to do around West Lafayette and maybe even travel further out to nearby cities to see what can be done for fun on those long weekends.

I will explore a wide range of places from restaurants around in Purdue West Village to snowboarding in other cities. My exploration will range from on site visits to online exploration (some activities are not available in the current weather but is extremely feasible otherwise).

I admit I am one of those who finds West Lafayette immensely boring. However, i feel that it is partially my fault because I never really took the chance to explore or get to know the place. Frankly it can also be said to be the teachers' faults as well. Because of the amount of homework I have every weekend, I don't really have the time to get to know the place outside of the scat few restaurants and parties i go to.

Hopefully by the end of this blog, I will have successfully changed not only my opinion of West Lafayette, but also the opinion of those who are reading my blog.