Book Review: Freakonomics

Given my recent (cough) "career change", one would think that I should have a pointed interest in matters of the financial nature. Hmmmmmmm....well, hmmmmmmmmmmm, look that stuff really doesn't tickle my fancy.

This is where Freakonomics comes to the rescue. Economics for the masses. Or more correctly, economics for the uninterested folk like me. Which errmmm I guess is the masses.

The basic gist of the book applies the principles of economics to establish a relationship between things that would be seemingly unrelated otherwise. I won't bother listing the questions they ask, if you really want to know, go to the Wiki entry.

I do like the quirkiness of it all. I like how the book wasn't filled with numbers and statistics; just simple explanations to draw conclusions from the most bizarre questions. I also do like how they use economics to undermine common anxieties, highlighting how stupid we all really can be and succumbing to fear mongering and scare tactics.

Whilst I don't doubt that Freakonomics has it's critics, I was rather disappointed that this book had come to an end. I really did want it to be longer! Even if this book was full of lies, I would still find it engaging and enjoyable.

Ok, enough praise, here's the verdict. Do remember it is very hard to get a 5 with my grading scale.

Quality of Content: 4 - 4.5
Readability: 4
Would I recommend this book: Duh, yes.
Who to: Everyone except for those who have particular difficulty grasping concepts of any kind.

Zurich

Smee and I decided to go to Zurich at the last minute cos it was relatively cheap and close. It was not on my To-do list but at least it was away from the crowds and pollution that epitomise London.

We tried to find a guidebook on Zurich. No such luck at the library. We did a search on the Internet. Not much there that tickled my fancy either. We couldn't find much to 'do' in Zurich. In the end it didn't really matter as we didn't really feel like doing anything overly energetic anyway. Traveling is tiring! Oh, woe is me.

I dunno about everyone else, but Switzerland conjures up images of Lindt chocolate, Roger Federer and Martina Hingis in my head, with a dash of green mountainside and a sprinkling of Alps. The Sound of Music also springs to mind, even though the Von Trapps only arrive in the last scene of the movie.

Smee and I nearly missed our 7am flight when we both slept through our alarms to awake at 6am. Needless to say, there was a classic "OH F**K!!!!!!!!" Luckily our taxi was still waiting downstairs for us and the airport we were departing from was only a 10 minute drive. London City Airport rocks.

Switzerland doesn't use Euros which is somewhat annoying given that their Swissfrancs can't be used in any other country! Smee and I got lucky and found 10 SF on the ground as we entered the airport.

After checking in to our hotel, it was necessary to eat some food. Hamburgers with cocktail sauce (I think it was more Thousand Island to my tastebuds) go surprisingly well together! We also made it into a supermarket where I munched on a Kinder Surprise snack while Smee had another food battle.

The main shopping strip in Zurich was reminiscent of a longer Bourke St mall with it's trams running down the middle - erm, except they drive on the opposite side of the road. Also, above, the largest clockface in Europe.

Smee and I stayed on the 'funky' side of town, which also was the red light district. Ok, ok, I'm lying, we worked in the girly bars on the weekend.

I insist on being an embarrassing tourist wherever I go, hence eating the national food (whether the locals eat it or not) is one of my favourite pasttimes.

Smee's veal steak and rosti. Mmm mmm..

I highly doubt the Swiss actually eat fondue more than once a month. When you think about it, dipping bits of bread into melted cheese and eating that as an entire meal is quite gross. I have to admit, I did feel quite icky afterwards.

The next day began with a food battle. I love how the continental Europeans eat nice sausages.

A river cruise on Lake Zurich was next, where Smee had the luxury of kicking me out of photos.

Afterwards, it was a leisurely stroll back to the hotel before heading back to London.

Clockwise from left: Me insisting on posing with some touristy St. Bernard doggie. One more sausage for the road! I also fell in love with the Kinder Maxi King. It was kinda like a Maxibon covered in hazelnuts but instead of ice cream, there was a fluffy creamy centre. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm... I liked it so much, I bought four to bring back to London. Why am I writing about Kinder Surprise? It's not even Swiss!

It's coming.....

*sigh*

This is a horrible feeling.

After the worst Summer ever, it's apparent that London is not going to get another day above 20 degrees until next year. It's colder, greyer and getting darker sooner. I've never felt so cheated of a summer in my life. It's already dipping to the 14-15 degree mark. Admittedly, they've forecasted sun but that doesn't compensate if I have to wear a furry jacket outdoors.

I'm dreading the worst part - turning back our clocks. I do like the extra sleep but I don't like sun setting at 3-4pm.

I can already feel the depression kicking in.

Ok, I just had to whinge and get that off my chest.

Smee's Laksa

I was meant to post up these photos when Mooey was still around but kinda forgot about it. Smee is the master chef and he thought he'd give Mally a treat and cook her some laksa.

Smee saunters towards the stove.

Oh hello. Yes we cheated. The char siu was bought.

In goes the soup. Yummo!

Replicating C&R/Straits cafe in our dining room.

Hawker stall owner (and Mooey on the side)

Book Review: A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers

I want read this book long time. I saw in book shop. I think maybe very very interesting story. Is about Chinese girl, go England, study English. This story not too hard reading. I very quick reading finished. She every day go school, learn English. She meet man, then go to he's house. They live in he's house. She love him.

This book is written in first person whereby the Chinese protagonist's second language is English, hence the inappropriate grammar and vocabularly. Is the above paragraph annoying? Or somewhat endearing? I am leaning towards the former.

First, I'm going to ignore the content and examine the prose alone. It was a bit distracting and sometimes exaggerated but that in itself was not repulsive enough to stop me reading. After a while, I just went with the flow and it was barely noticeable.

Now - the content. Me no likey. It was impossible to identify with the main character. She was to put it plainly - a moron. Yes, yes, there is a coming-of-age component but her naivete was to the point of disbelief. I would have to also consider that her incorrect use of English amplified her unworldly views. Probably the effect the author desired. I couldn't tell if the author wanted us to like or dislike the protagonist. Possibly neither.

Let me tell you more about the main character and why she frustrated me. *spoilers ahead*

• She's 23-24 years old and has been sent over from China to develop her English skills in hope that it will assist in expanding her parent's shoe making factory. She meets a guy, 20-something years her senior and moves in with him after one week. ONE WEEK. They can barely have a conversation.

• She lives rent-free and lo and behold a sexual relationship begins and they kinda fall in love. I should say more correctly, she falls in love with him. He appears to have a strong homosexual past. She falls hard. Why? It beats me. There appears to be little else in common. He's vegetarian, she eats meat. She a student, he's a labourer. Their conversations are really just a basis for her to extend her English skills.

• He tires of her endless questions (ok that's bad on his end) and tells her to go off travelling in Europe. She goes but misses him dearly but she still goes on to have sex with a complete stranger within half an hour of meeting him. She stays at other random guy's houses. Within minutes of meeting a complete stranger, she follows him (it's only ever a male) off to wherever they're heading.

I'm all for 'loss of innocence' stories but she was so annoying. I need to slap some sense into her.

Also, the sexual descriptions were merely a unifying theme and I felt they were there to serve as a reminder that it is a book about 'lovers'. I didn't find them explicit but that isn't the point. Yes, yes, yes, it is a coming of age tale however, I do think that the story could have been just as good (if not better) sans the obligatory and commonplace addition of sexual scenes. I couldn't help but contemplate that such scenes, few as they were, were included to satisfy those who fetishise about the 'exotic orient'. Maybe I'm taking offence where no offence should be taken.

Alright, despite the criticism, I would still recommend people read this book. Don't let my dislike for the lead character put you off. Other book reviews consider her poignant and charming.

Content: 2 - 3
Readability: 1 (sometimes) - 2
Would I recommend this book: Err... yes?
To who: women who like soppy rubbish and are easily shocked. Only for the purpose of de-sensitising you. You know who you are.

Cafe East

I have made it a personal quest to find decent Vietnamese food in London. It is most certainly shameful here. It takes an Aussie to make acceptable pho and after reading this blog (written by a fellow Aussie), Smee and I thought we'd give Cafe East a try.

Cafe East is actually quite close to where we live. Much closer than Old St/Kingsland Rd, the traditional home of Viet food in London. Nestled on a street corner next to a decrepit store (I think, never been there during the day), it blends in nicely into the neighbourhood with it's minimal signage , yet manages to stick out sorely as the single Asian cuisine restaurant filled to the brim with a small queue outside. Admittedly the restaurant only seats about 20 at most (and the queue was only 2 ppl plus us), but I didn't see any other queues outside the kebab store or other small Asian restaurants nearby.

The other blog says that the restaurant is owned by a Brissie dude. Who is KOREAN. I don't care, he's probably not doing the majority of the cooking and when it comes down to it, if you can make decent pho, then you shall be my friend. But please don't put kim chi into it.

In a smart and economically advantageous move, they choose to only make a small number of dishes. This is probably their stongpoint - doing fewer dishes but doing them well. It keeps the locals coming back!

The herbs for our Pho. Smee ordered the rare beef one and I ordered the special (as always).

We also ordered the Banh Cuon. I haven't had this in years! Years I say! It was done very well, with the pork spiced to perfection and the fungus adding the nice crunch. Tasted just like home - Melbourne home that is, not Vietnam home.

Banh cuon and all the tidbits.

Now here's the dealbreaker - pho. I will say this. It seems that nowhere in London can you find anyone using fresh rice noodles in pho. Hence it will never compare to home. But this has to be the best pho soup stock in London so far. Better than Song Que, our other haunt.

Smee's rare beef.

My pho special was a little odd. I've never had prawns and chicken in it before and it was missing the tendons I so desire. But it still tasted fine.

Here's a shot before the herb addition. Necessary pictures.

Smee and I returned a few days later. Hahaha. No pictures this time, but I had the Bun Bo Hue which was lovely.

Despite the little things that I shall always gripe about, I have to say that I've found my new place for a pho fix.

For those who want to get there, the closest tube is Surrey Quays on the East London line. The number 47 bus from London Bridge goes past as well and drops you off closer.