Frozen Lake

I have been in Copenhagen for 2 winters now but this is the first time I saw whole lakes frozen up. Last year I was back in Penang for a month during the winter, so not much to comment but this year's winter is hard and cold. All four large lakes in Copenhagen in city centre is frozen, uo to 16cm thickness (else we're not allowed to walk on it). 

Frozen lake with a little water opening left

I was so excited to walk on lake for the first time in my life. Not a good skater but I like the opportunity to see the city from another view, another angle...although it might be a little too slippery sometimes ;) Danes who are more accustomed to frozen lake are using this opportunity at a wider spectrum than I am. Skating, cycling, taking a 'short cut', putting their children on a slayer and drag along the lake...it's fun to see.

'Playing' on frozen lake

The discussing couple statue that's sitting by the lake

Glimpse of flying birds

I like snow, at least when they're fresh makes everything looks clean & beautiful & dreamy. I live in a fairy tale country!!!

Laksa

Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay, found in Malaysia & Singapore. There are several types of laksa but from where I came from - Penang, we're loyal to the ultimate laksa of all laksas - asam laksa.

Asam (tamarind) laksa is a sour fish-based soup. The main ingredients for asam laksa include shredded fish, typically mackerel, and finely sliced cucumber, onions (red / yellow), red chillies, pineapple, lettuce, mint (or daum kesum) and ginger buds; normally served with thick rice noodles and topped off with 'hae kor', a thich sweet dark coloured fermented shrimp paste.

There's no lack of recipe on the internet to cook Penang asam laksa from scratch but I received this wonderful laksa paste from my mom and also some dried laksa noodle (thick round rice noodles), just can't wait to try it out. The cold winter weather provides more reason to do so. 

Laksa paste from mom

Frozen mackerels from asian shop

A blend of sliced onion, mint, chillies, lettuce, cucumber & pineapple.

All ingredients are available from local Asian shop except the shrimp paste. Luckily I 'smuggled' a bottle with me when I came back from Penang last time. I knew there's always a need for it, at some point ;)

So boiling the fish & cook everything per instruction on the paste package and voila ~~ a bowl of steaming hot laksa. The taste? It's not as good as home, of course; but being 10,000 miles away and still can taste laksa, priceless.

A satisfying bowl of laksa