My Introduction to Montblanc

When I was younger, I had heard of Montblanc and was vaguely aware that it made fancy pens.  However,  upon actually seeing one of these pens, I nonchalantly inspected it and felt absolutely nothing. Not a single note of interest, besides a 'hmm, nice pen'.  Perhaps I was not particularly interested in pens back then, just as I was not interested in watches either.  As I have become older, my perceptions toward quality timekeeping and writing instruments have gradually changed.  It is quite funny that one starts to really appreciate such devices upon reaching a certain age.


Perhaps what intrigues me about these highly personal objects is that they reflect our personality and desires, such as the status or wealth flaunted when signing your name with a thousand dollar pen (that's US Dollars by the way). Yet, I think it is more than just another medium for building your image.  For such craftsmanship and fastidious attention to detail, these pens will last past your lifetime, just like a quality timepiece. And thus, I started to become more aware of brands such as Parker, Waterman, Visconti and ST Dupont.  Naturally, it also awakened my interest in Montblanc.

via: 9penshop.com

Interestingly, most folks that I have spoken are also aware of Montblanc, but they seem to think that it is a French company, as its name, Mont Blanc or 'White Mountain', is derived from the highest mountain in the French Alps.  However, it is in fact from Germany, where it was founded at Hamburg in 1908, where the company was initially called the Simplo Fillerpen Company. This changed after creating their second pen, when the founders were searching for a symbol to represent their ideals and principles. Eventually, they decided to use the highest mountain in Western Europe, with its perpetually snow-capped summit and six glaciers, to embody their commitment to the highest quality standards as well as the timelessness of their pens and company.  Hence the white star symbol is placed on the cap of their pens to represent this snow-covered summit.  Perhaps it was this timelessness that attracted me towards Montblanc, where trends come in and out of fashion, governments change, but Montblanc will still be here, lasting on for generations.

via: wheremilan.com

Montblanc produces a wide range of writing tools, but their most famous is its fountain pen, namely the Meisterstuck or 'Masterpiece' in English. The large, cigar-shaped pen has classically been made from a black resin and the bands are plated in gold.  The nib is created from solid gold, with 4810 etched onto it, indicating the height of the Mont Blanc summit.  As gold is a relatively soft metal, the nib will form to the owner's writing style, but the tip is actually another metal alloy that is harder than gold to prevent damage to the nib when writing.   The basic shapes are produced by machinery, but the finer details of each component are individually finished by the hands of skilled craftsmen.  What is more impressive is that all these components are produced in-house to ensure the quality is up to their high standards.

It is no wonder that John F. Kennedy used a Montblanc to sign important documents with, and so did Mikhail S. Gorbachev when he signed his resignation from the presidency of the Soviet Union. Used by highly influential people during significant events only adds to the legacy passed down by the founders.  Thus, implying that when one purchases a Montblanc pen, one does not only obtain a high quality writing instrument, but also buys into a part of the tradition of the hundred year old brand, Montblanc.

Exotic Beverage - Thai Tea

Thai tea originates from Thailand as per its name.  It is known as ‘cha-yen’ in the Thai language, which translates into “cold tea”. This strongly brewed tea is made from cut, black tea leaves, with red and yellow food colourants added to provide its distinctive orange colour. Quite often, star anise powder is also mixed into the blend, to exude a subtle, sweet liquorice flavour, while others add crushed tamarind seeds and orange blossoms for a slightly bitter yet citrusy taste.
The result is an unique spicy and floral flavoured tea, which is softened out and sweetened by adding condensed milk and sugar.  

Quite often, thai tea is served chilled in a tall glass, where the condensed milk and sugar are blended with the tea before it is poured over ice.  Thereafter, a few drops of evaporated milk is splashed over the iced tea to give it a creamier texture.  It is a very popular beverage that is found throughout Thailand and in many Thai restaurants throughout the world. On the other hand, many Thai people also drink this tea hot, called cha-ron, in the morning.  Usually the hot tea is consumed with ‘you tiao’  or chopstick cake, which is a golden-brown, deep-fried strip of dough. Similarly, Taiwanese people also eat ‘you tiao’ for breakfast, but generally it is with soya milk.

A word of caution though, due to the large amounts of sugar and condensed milk that are usually mixed with the tea, I find that Thai tea is often tooth-achingly sweet.  However, this can be adjusted if you ask them to reduce the sugar concentration. Despite this, it is a refreshing and flavourful tea that is growing in popularity all over Asia.

Tainan's own national park

There are a great number of tourist attractions in Tainan, most of which are historical sites, such as the Chihkan Towers, Anping Fort and many temples that have been around for ages and ages.  While these are impressive sites that are definitely worth visiting, there are a few other wondrous places to visit, that may perhaps be a bit off the beaten path.

Located outside of Tainan City, north of Anping Harbour, lies Taijiang National Park. Yes, that’s right, Tainan also has its own national park. It is Taiwan’s eighth and newest national park, where it was established in 2009.  The national park covers almost 50 square kilometers of coastal landscape, where the majority of the area comprises of ecologically valuable wetlands.  These wetlands are divided into four main areas, namely Zengwen Estuary Wetlands, Shicao Wetlands, Qigu Salt Field Wetlands and Yanshui Estuary Wetlands, where each wetland is abundant with its own natural treasures.

The Taijiang national park is not just a diverse natural environment with rare and endangered animal species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, but it is also a significant historical location, as the Taijiang area is one of the earliest places that was developed by Han immigrants from mainland China during the Ming  and Qing dynasties. This national park retains thorough records of the immigrants’ cultivation history as well as the historical and cultural remains of the indigenous Siraya Pingpu tribe. Hence, the Taijiang national park offers serene, natural beauty as well as rich cultural histories for visitors to appreciate.  It really is a wonderful place to admire the sunset over a lagoon, cycle leisurely around the wetlands or relax on a boat ride through tranquil estuaries.  The scenic spots are many and diverse, however some are quite dispersed from each other, so using your own transportation is the most convenient. However, the Tainan City Bus, route 99, is also able to take you to most of the scenic places.

A great place to start would be the Shicao Green Tunnel, which offers scenic boat tours between the mangroves and river channels.  To get there, head across Shicao Bridge near Anping Beach, then continue along Shicao North Boulevard until you see DaZhong Street. Turn right into this street until you reach DaZhong Temple. Naturally you can also take the city bus, route 99, but be prepared to wait. Tickets for the 30 minute ride costs NT$150 per adult, while the 70 minute ride costs NT$200.

The tranquility of the Shicao Green Tunnel has really left a deep impression on me, as if I have entered another world and time period.

The decadent Opéra cake

The Opéra cake is a type of French cake that is rectangular shaped with visible layers, where with just one bite, one is able to taste the entire cake’s flavour and texture. It is created with three delicate layers of almond sponge cake, also known as Joconde in French, which is bathed in coffee syrup.  Then it is garnished with coffee buttercream and chocolate ganache while the top of the cake is coated in a dark chocolate glaze.

There are conflicting theories as to the origin of this cake.  Some say that the cake was originally created at the beginning of the 20th century by Louis Clichy, a famous pastry chef, who naturally named it ‘the Clichy’.  However, the Parisian pâtisserie house, Dalloyau, claims its chef, Cyriaque Gavillon, invented this cake in 1955.  It was his wife who who named it the ‘Opéra Gâteau’ or Opera Cake in tribute of a prima ballerina (a highly distinguished ballet dancer) in the Paris Opera, and so it is mostly known as the opera cake today.

Regardless of who was the first to invent the opera cake, it is certainly worth trying for those who want to indulge in a rich and decadent cake, especially with a cup of quality black coffee. When the flavour of the black coffee mixes with the chocolate, the rich aroma of the coffee and opera cake escalates in a stormy yet synergistic blend. The result is to die for!