The temperature is creeping up towards 9 degrees today. But it doesn't feel like it ... rather it's like zero degrees. everyone is still in thick winter clothes, hats and hoodies. The streets are dreadfully slippery with black ice and sludge. Definitely no fun.
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| Spectacular rise of the moon |
But one thing good about this rare snow storm is it cleansed the sky. Now we have spectacular sunrise and sunsets, moonrise and moonsets as well! The sky is a splash of pastel colours every morning and evening. Stunning. The air is alot cleaner - very unlike Shanghai. An early morning visit to the outdoors and drawing a deep breath will hit you with a sharp intense blast of cool clean air into your lungs. What an experience! No dust, no sand ....
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| My 1st sahlab this winter |
And another good thing is sahlab is back. It's the thick gooey starchy beverage made from an orchid root, mixed with rose syrup with nuts and whatever tossed on the top. Nice and warm ... the perfect comfort food for a very cold winter. I believe it was originally a turkish beverage popular in the Ottoman Empire. Had my first sahlab 2 days back .... just needed it to keep myself warm.
We're hearing rumours that another snow storm is on its way but all official weather forecasts say it's not true ... the weather will warm up over the next 2 weeks. Christmas will be bright and clear. Chilly but what is Christmas without the cold?
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