Wet markets are the best place to visit if you are after exceptionally fresh fruits and veggies. Not only are the items cheap, visitors will more often than not be overwhelmed with the crazy variety that are on offer. My friends and me have decided to visit a wet market which is about 15 minutes from our hotel on the last morning of our stay in Kunming. Prices were really cheap. I bought a zucchini at 50 sen and 2kgs of broad beans for RM3.00
Fresh sugar sweet strawberries and cherry tomatoes
China fuji apples
Green Vegetables
Potatoes
A veggie stall
Zucchini
Zucchini cooked in miso - delicious
Fresh broad beans still in pods ( not available in Malaysia)
Broad beans removed from pods Broad beans cooked in enough water with a little salt
Dried black snow fungus
After being soaked in water, it looks like small little cups and can be fried with vegetables, tofu, gourds or even eggs. It is very springy and delicious.
A delicious oriental MAS meal to prep us for Kunming, China
We have been advised that March/April will be a good time to visit Shangrila, Kunming, China as the weather will be favourable and some wild flowers will be in bloom. We started our trip on 1st April and found that the weather in Shangrila was fine and with a few layers of warm winter clothings we felt really nice and comfortable. However, the sun is very strong already at this time of the year and to protect ourselves from the strong ultraviolet radiation, it is good to wear a sun hat that is large enough to keep off the sun rays from the face. On board the MAS flight we had selected the Asian and Oriental vegetarian option.
Wholesome and delicious salad with an acceptable variety of cut fruits Oriental menu - stewed bean curd sheets topped with shitake mushrooms to accompany a bowl of steaming hot Jasmine rice Asian menu - Yum, this is one of the best Asian vegetarian I've had on a flight as I particularly liked the variety of veggies that was used in this option. :)
Jiuzhaigou - 九寨溝 - the "Valley of Nine Villages" is a heaven on earth sweet spot. Look up, look down, look left, look right, every single angle is a picturesque shot that is perfect for a postcard. Jiuzhaigou is unspoilt and scenic. I cannot help but feel like I've stepped foot onto a fairyland. No words can describe the beauty of this heavenly place.
Kudos to the authorities for the excellent upkeep and maintenance. Hopefully, tourists will be able to enjoy what I have experienced at Jiu Zhai Gou for many more generations to come.
Jiuzhaigou can either be reached by bus (about 9 hours ride) or by plane (about 45 minutes). We chose to fly as we heard the bus ride can be very strenuous and scary. Upon arrival at the Jiuzhaigou valley, there will be shuttle buses to take you from one destination to the next. You can choose to just hop on and hop off from one scenic spot to the next with minimal walking needed.
For those of you that are looking for something more adventurous, like us, there is a pathway that goes round the scenic spots. You would be rewarded with a very different view of the attractions, with very captivating landscapes of the many lakes, waterfalls and autumn colors.
There is only one place that offers hot lunch in Jiu Zhai Gou. Coupons for buffet lunch at RMB 50, 80 or 100 are available. We went for the RMB 50 spread and we were glad that there were plenty of vegetarian options available.
Phenomenally Mind Bogglingly Spicy Sichuan Tofu at Jujube Tree, Chengdu, China
Since we did not manage to try the MaPo tofu on our first visit , we decided to make a 2nd trip to this eatery. It was definitely a tongue-opener trip, read on to find out why....
Mapo Tofu Phenomenally Mind Bogglingly Spicy are the words that comes to my mind when I think of this dish. Immediately after my first mouthful, a weird sensation fills my entire mouth. It was as if I was undergoing a dental procedure that required a hundred local anesthetic injections. My entire mouth was numb. Then all of a sudden, I experience an overwhelming gush of pins and needles. Never had a weirder feeling in my life! Amazing what a few Sichuan peppercorns can do, though I do not think I will be craving for this dish in the near future!
Chili oil and rice vinegar to go with my dumplings and wonton!
This time we tried the mixed dumplings
The wontons were so good we ordered them a 2nd time.
The toothpicks are not made from wood, but from glutinous rice. I was told it is edible, weird I know, but one would have to have really strong teeth to eat them.
Chong Qing Hot pot We actually prefer the Sichuan hotpot, but this is still worth a try! This would be a great option for those of you who have a low spicy tolerance. The chef used a wide variety of mushrooms in this dish. One of which is not available in Malaysia. We found a dried version of it at Carrefour in Chengdu. In fact Carrefour is a great place to shop for local products.
Appetizer. Black Fungus and walnuts, drizzled with a generous amount of sesame oil. Just one word, YUM.
Name: Jujube Tree Vegetarian Restaurant. Address: 4-A Platinum Age City (铂金广场）, building 2, 27 Qinglong Street, QingYang district, Chengdu. 成都市青羊区青龙街２７号２号楼４楼（铂金广场） Tel: ０２８－86282848.
Absolutely tasty Sichuan hot pot at Jujube Tree, Chengdu, China
We were extremely pleased to have read about this restaurant online when we were doing our research on where to vegetarian food in Chengdu. Oh... the food, the service, the ambiance... there's nothing to complain about at this eatery. Jujube Tree is only a 5-10 minute taxi ride from Chun Xi Lu, making it a great dining option for visiting vegetarians. The highlight of the restaurant has to be the Sichuan Hot Pot (featured below)
Sichuan Hot Pot (天府麻辣锅） - RMＢ３２ filled with konnyaku jelly, generous amount of beansprouts, sliced 'ham' etc, the taste is unique and very delicious, and is something that I have never experienced. It was not very spicy but the spices used was very overwhelming but pleasant for the tongue. Definitely something that I would want to try again.
Steamed Dumplings （水饺）－ RMB 12 goes very well with the rice vinegar!
Wontons (鲜香云吞）－ＲＭＢ８ Wontons in a delicious vegetable stock. The celery and seaweed used greatly compliments the dish.
胜瓜虫草花 － ＲＭＢ２８ Lufa with a very crunchy and tasty sichuan mushroom.
The very famous Sichuan Dan Dan Mian （双色担担面） －ＲＭＢ６. It is as delicious as it looks, don't waste your stomach space for rice, order this instead!
This restaurant believes fruits consumed before meals promotes healthy digestion as they serve a complimentary fruit platter before you begin ordering. =)
Total cost: RMB 86
Name: Jujube Tree Vegetarian Restaurant. Address: 4-A Platinum Age City (铂金广场）, building 2, 27 Qinglong Street, QingYang district, Chengdu. Tel: 86282848.
Chengu, China, a city that is bursting with culture, flavor and pandas!
Chengdu, the city with minimal sunshine, lesser than London, was chosen as our holiday destination this time. Not that we are anti-sunshine, but because it was home to one of the international airport close to JiuZhaiGou. The weather was perfect throughout our trip as it was not too warm nor too cold, though we were told that the temperature dropped 7C while we were at JiuZhaiGou.
With a population of 11 million, Chengdu is a bustling city with plenty to offer. However, we were a little bummed when we only found less than 10 vegetarian restaurants in Chengdu, but were more than happy with the ones we tried. I will be posting my culinary adventure in separate posts for easier reference.
We didn't have high expectations for Chengdu when we arrived, and were worried that it would be difficult to find activities to fill our 5 full days in Chengdu. We were so wrong, and we were indeed glad that we were!
For shopping, Chun Xi Lu (春熙路) is a must visit destination. Chun Xi Lu is the main shopping street near central Chengdu and is closed to traffic. It houses numerous departmental stores, Isetan, Ito Yokado and the newly opened Chicony (affordable posh vegetarian restaurant on the 9th floor!). There are also individual shops along both sides of the street, and one may find big brands like Metersbonwe, Giordano, Uniqlo etc.
Jin Li Road (锦里路) and Wide Narrow Alley （宽窄小巷) are one of the two shopping and dining streets in Chengdu with an ancient deco. Do try the '3 big bombs', a popular street food in Chengdu - steamed glutinous rice flour that are bounced on a steel plate before landing in a pot of grounded peanuts.
One should also find time to visit the traditional Face Changing art of Sichuan Opera. We visited Shu Feng Ya Yun （蜀风雅韵). For RMB260 per pax, we got seats at the middle row but we did not find the performance to be very fascinating (when compared to the performance at Shenzhen's Window of the World and Guangzhou's Panyu Circus). However, the face changing art, now combined with clothes changing, still intrigue us.
A Sichuan Opera sketch
Face changing using a puppet
Shadow Art
Tea and snacks to enjoy during the show.
And finally, one cannot visit Sichuan without going to see the pandas. We were told to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base instead of the zoo as this base is home to over 60 pandas. The internet is a traveler's best guide. We found out through blogs that it was best to visit the base in the morning when the pandas were most active. True enough, most of the pandas were up and about, eating, scratching, drinking, playing, fighting and posing! When we ventured further into the sanctuary, we spotted a panda resting on a raised platform when a woman walked toward us, shouting "Xia Lai, Kua Dia Ar" repeatedly. We were wondering if we wandered into restricted area by mistake before we realized that she was actually speaking to the panda instead. She was holding two lumps of grounded grains and nuts and was telling the panda to come down from the platform to the edge of her enclosure to get her food. The panda rolled around lazily, reluctant to move from its spot. The keeper raised her voice further and the panda obediently came down to get her food. What an up close experience with a "trained" panda!
Two avid vegetarians are here to share some insights to the world of vegetarianism.
Hopefully, through this site, the lives of some animals can be spared. Always remember, animals have feelings too, they are our friends not our meal.
Broad beans removed from pods
Broad beans cooked in enough water with a little salt
Oriental menu - stewed bean curd sheets topped with shitake mushrooms to accompany a bowl of steaming hot Jasmine rice
Asian menu - Yum, this is one of the best Asian vegetarian I've had on a flight as I particularly liked the variety of veggies that was used in this option. :)
Mapo Tofu
Chili oil and rice vinegar to go with my dumplings and wonton!
This time we tried the mixed dumplings
The wontons were so good we ordered them a 2nd time.
The toothpicks are not made from wood, but from glutinous rice. I was told it is edible, weird I know, but one would have to have really strong teeth to eat them.
Chong Qing Hot pot
Appetizer. Black Fungus and walnuts, drizzled with a generous amount of sesame oil. Just one word, YUM.
Sichuan Hot Pot (天府麻辣锅） - RMＢ３２
Steamed Dumplings （水饺）－ RMB 12
Wontons (鲜香云吞）－ＲＭＢ８
胜瓜虫草花 － ＲＭＢ２８
The very famous Sichuan Dan Dan Mian （双色担担面） －ＲＭＢ６.
This restaurant believes fruits consumed before meals promotes healthy digestion as they serve a complimentary fruit platter before you begin ordering. =)
A Sichuan Opera sketch
Face changing using a puppet
Shadow Art
Tea and snacks to enjoy during the show.
Eating
Socializing
Sleeping
Posing
Standing up to reach an apple
Red panda who looks very much like a fox.
Vegetarian Party
Pot Luck Party