December 2006

2 Dec 2006 ~ Day trip to Mornington

Decided to try out Wahab's wife's restaurant in Mornington Peninsula, so took a short day trip there. Started out after lunch and its about an hour and a half drive out from Melbourne, with Imelda, Tay & Wahab. The beach was absolutely beautiful. Sooo windy, and weather was just perfect. Not too cold, with the sun giving out just enough warmth. The coastal line was just beautiful!!! After that, it was chow time...Mornington Masala (1E Albert St, Mornington 3931 - 03 5975 7377). Authentic northern Indian Cuisine. Remember how I was telling you Wahab used to feed me and Lisa sometimes with his wife's cooking?? Well, this is the real deal. The food was soooo good....mmmm. Rating: 8/10. For starters, we had the tandoori platter - a mix of chicken, fish and lamb. Then for the mains, we had seafood curry, chicken korma, lamb roganjosh, palak paneer (minced spinach with cottage cheese cubes), served with basmati and naan. Absolutely delicious!!! Highly recommended, especially for a short getaway from the city to enjoy the coast and for a scrumptious dinner. We practically had to carry our bellies on the way out!!!

Imelda & me, braving the winds.
Not the best situation if you are one who cares for your hairdo!!!

Wahab, me & Tay

~~~~~~~

6 Dec 2006~Team dinner @ The Quay Bar & Brasserie, Docklands

Another team outing, dinner this time at The Quay Bar & Brasserie (40-43 Cander Tower, NewQuay, Docklands). Had a couple of drinks at the bar when we got there just to chill out a little before dinner. Then when it was time for dinner, we were ushered into the main dining area and the first the waiter said was, "Guys, guess what?!? We are really sorry, but the chef has quit and we have no cooks tonight. But don't worry, there are a few courses on the menu that I'm sure we can handle!". Hmm...interesting, not sure whether he was kidding...but surely it must be one of their practical jokes. They gave us a few choices to the main courses on stonegrill, chicken breast rolled with seaweed coated in sesame, surf & turf - combination of steak & seafood, and steak. I had the chicken - honestly, not very impressed at all. Apart from looking pretty unique and having to grill it yourself, the taste was bland, and the seaweed was just cheap japanese marinated seaweed in the middle. Sauce - sweet chillie & other one I can't remember (obviously didn't leave an impression). Main course came with a glass of red. Price: $40 p/p. Overall rating: 5.5/10. I'm not one for stonegrill, it just a novelty and maybe something to experiment with, but not something I'd go back for the price you're paying and quality doesn't add up. The surf & turf and fillet steak looked alright, but still nothing out of the ordinary.

Mili in Melbourne

15 Dec 2006~Simon & Mili...here on a short trip for a week to meet up with her parents. Took a day off to hang out with her, (very nearly ended up on a holidaymaker to London 3 years ago had we not had to wait for an interview with the British embassy for a year!!!) Too long to wait, totally messed up our plans :( ...but of course our dear fren here got herself married to Simon, and is on a 'permanent' holiday over there. So anyways, we met up for dinners and shopping while she was here and had a lot of fun bar hopping.

超人特工隊 積仔全攻略

Most of you would probably have seen this already, but its one of my favourite pixar shorts...still enjoyable to watch even after the hundreth time...

MAXimise ~ November 2006

Max back from Sydney!!! Just finished his contract for Happy Feet!! So proud of him...he's a computer graphics animator...and was in Sydney working for Animalogic since earlier this year. His job is to make the characters and lighting angles realistic. Being only back for a month or so, and greatly missed by the housemates, we all tried to spend as much time as we could with him as he was looking for a job overseas. He's now in London, and was working on Harry Porter - The order of the Phoenix, and a few others I don't remember. We miss ya buddy!!!

BBQ@Kew

Mmmmm....

One of our drinking sessions at home....

Vunita, Max, Wil & Lucy
Farewell dinner at Cafe Coretto's, Lygon St, pizza & pasta joint next to Papa Gino's.
Rating: 5.5/10

Ray, Wendy (Vunita's older sister) & Max
Ray & Max with their futsal team

October 2006

Phillip & Lorraine's Wedding ~ 7th October 06

Finally, the 2 tied the knot. Gosh, I've known Phillip ever since I came to Melbourne, and have never seen him in a serious relationship, that is until Lorraine managed to pull the reigns...kekeke. Lorraine's a sweetie, and they have both known each other for a long long time, but the getting hitched part came in much later....but yes, was great to see them get married. Was there for the whole chinese ritual thingy....get the bride in the morning, progressed with the tea pouring session (inevitable if you're chinese....). Then it was the wedding reception, 9 course dinner....wasn't too bad. This was one of the few occasions I would ever bother slapping on some make up and dressing up formally. Biggest blessings for the couple.....cheers!!


Leanna in Melbourne

My dear girl in Melbourne...had a great time catching up on all the gos back home. Leanna was here for a couple of days for her cousin's wedding or something. So I took a friday off to hang out with her. That's us in Brunetti's. Reminiscing on the times we had when we first came to Melbourne for uni. Fun fun fun all the way!!!

She stayed with me for a night, and the rest with her girlfriends. The poor thing caught the flu on the last few days she was here and was bedridden for 2 days with fever.

Miss ya girl!!

Sept 2006 ~ Family Holiday to Melbourne

Parents & brother flew over to Melbourne to visit with an aunt. Miss them heaps...hadn't seen them for a year since my gram's funeral. It was really good to see them, my brother especially. Took them around town, Victoria Market, and also managed to take them to the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

It was basically this huge food fest...took them to the better foods around Melbourne. First stop, shanghai dumplings at Camy's off Lt Bourke St, yummm.....siao loong bau (steamed little dragon buns), wor tie (fried dumplings) and shanghai noodles. Then to Ling Nam for a proper chinese meal: for starters, steamed oysters in half in x.o. sauce and half in black bean sauce, x.o. pepes with yau char kuay to dip in the gravy. For the mains, lobster on noodles (drool.....), salt & pepper fried chicken (arguably the best jiu yim kai par in Melbourne), and some stir fried veges. Talk about being content...! And of course Lygon St is a must on the list...Villa Romano, my favourite Italian restaurant around town. Pizza for starters, and for the mains, Seafood spaghetti olio...the best!!! and ricotta raviolli amatriciana, and some other pasta I don't remember...satisfaction rating - 9/10. And my dad's favourite yum cha, took them to Sharkfin House. A selection of dumplings and spare parts, 'pheonix claws', and finished off with delicious mini egg tarts, my absolute favourite dessert....yummo! Last but not least, Squire's Loft for steak on Toorak Rd. Eye fillet, medium rare with bluecheese sauce on the side...you can't go wrong. Also took them to Cafe Greco's in Crown for dessert...carrot cake and delightfully scrumptious warm sticky date pudding with ice cream....a little piece of heaven on earth....somebody pinch me please.....

I only see my folks once a year or once every 2 years, so every time I see them, they've aged more than I like to see. Miss them alot...I guess the only sad part about my decision to stay in Melbourne is that I don't get to spend time with family, so every chance I get is all very precious, so I try to make the most of it.

Short and sweet 5 precious days...

Mom & Dad

At the airport...

Me & John (boy version of me....)

My brother & aunt

Lucy's Birthday 15th July 2006 ~ Shoya

Celebrated Lucy' Birthday at Shoya (25 Market La Melbourne), its in a little lane off Bourke St next to Flower Drum. Lavish modern Japanese cuisine, damage: $80 p/p. Good environment. Very well prepared and presented (you'd expect that for the price you're paying), really pretty entrees and impressive main courses, and not forgetting the desserts....mmmmm.....topped off with some good hot sake. Satisfaction....8.5 on my score chart. Didn't have a camera, so had to make do with what my phone is capable of....

http://www.yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/?action=venue&venue_url=shoya_japanese_restaurant

Eye Fillet

Poached Salmon topped with Salmon roe

Mash on Salmon

Grilled Scampi

June & July 2006

These 2 months have been really hectic for me...changing to a new job and moving out of my city pad. Nic decided to move in with Tim, and living alone is too expensive for me, so I moved in to Wil's place since Max found a job in Sydney and moved out a month before, I took over his room. And yes, decided to tell the Commonwealth to get stuffed! I have been working there for nearly a year as a casual full time staff, and when my team leader put me and 2 other colleagues up for permanency, they rejected the proposal. So we got annoyed and started looking for jobs elsewhere and I was really lucky to find one in a week!!! When they heard that me & Lisa had been offered permanent roles by Members Equity, they decided to offer the permanent position. What the...?? Stuff that!! What do they take us for?? So yeah...major changes all at the same time. Over those few weeks, was so busy cleaning up the city pad, had to make sure it was in good condition so that we can claim our bond and also packing up all my shit. Sat July 15, moved into where I am now in Preston, and on Tues July 18th, started my new job in ME. Exciting. Love changes, and for the better too. I used to hang out over at Wil's place over the weekends, it was sorta my weekend getaway...and now that I've moved in, hmmm....no more weekly refuge after that...kinda weird. But anyhooos, I still hang out with some ex-colleagues and try to catch up over lunch or after work drinks on Fridays.

Lisa, my Aussie mom, I have lunch with her at least once a week. The most loveable character you can find. She decided to stay on with the Commonwealth Bank instead of leaving for ME when they offered us permanent positions...(the bastards!#$^&$%@!)

16/06/07: Wahab on his last day in the CBA, the nicest Indian guy you will find, (his wife has an Indian restaurant in Mornington, and I tell you what, the food is just GRRREeaaat!!! He occasioanaly brought us some of his wife's cooking for lunch and me and Lisa would go crazy over them in the tea room. One of the best Northern Indian cuisine you will find, and for me anyways, it's worth the hour and a half drive out to the coast if you feel like good Indian food....mmmmm.....plate licking worthy curries....seriously!). I'll tell you more bout it later...

Shane...aaahh...this kid, he's a sweetie. Just 21, raging hormones...and a party goer. Used to hang out with him and Pali (this hot Sri Lankan chick whose age you will never guess...) on Fridays after work
1/07/2006: Shannie's Bday

11/07/2006:Lisa's Birthday balloon at work...recycled as you can see....

27/06/2007: World Cup - Australia vs Italy (the dirty bastards...!!!@#^%@*!!)

Me & Wil at the Yarra next to the Fed Square...as you can see, my face here is rounded...effects of winter and too much lamb bristet stews (the most fattening stuffs...)

21/07/2006: Pali (this photo doesn't do her justice...later, I'll show you a better one) & Lisa, we were just sitting out in the sun...don't get much of it this time of the year....

2 weeks after we had a lamb stew steamboat at my place, we discovered the dices in the bowl (we normally play some drinking dice games)...amazing stew remnants + dices in bowl....it just wouldn't drop no matter how hard we shook the bowl...hahahhaha....

Birthday March 06

Nothing special this year....just a cosy vietnamese dinner with Wil, Ray & Lucy at Van Mai on Victoria St, Richmond. Had my favourite vietnamese sour soup canh chua, and stewed pork and fish...yummmm.... If you ever go to a proper vietnamese restaurant, those are MUST tries!! I have to say I was kinda disappointed in the standards Van Mai had dropped to...their canh chua used to taste much better...this time around it was kinda bland and the stewed pork was kinda dry :( Nic, Tim & Joko were supposed to join me, but bailed on me last minute...bastards. No fancy cake this year, but I'll settle for warm food and good company :)

Boxing Day ~ 26th Dec 05

My favourite kinda summer....bbq!!! Headed down t Williamstown, about 40mins away from Melbourne, just me Wil & Max...packed up on sausages, lamb racks (can't have bbqs without them!!), and some beef steaks....oh and mushrooms too. Fantastic!!! The beach wasn't too busy...kicked some soccer after the food had settled. Weather was just perfect...not too hot with some cool breeze to keep the heat away. Needed to unwind from all the booze we were having the past few nights!! The sun....aaahhhh....really tend to miss it after months of winter hibernation....

Side effects of Shaolin Soccer...

Happy feet...!

Thought of the day...22/07/07

So here I am...lining up segments of the past 2 years...(as you know I am trying to quit smokes...but I have unfortunately bought a pack today and just had one... :(, I was sitting down in the dining room and puffing my life away with Spike putting on his best whining pleas on the balcony (which is just next to where the dining area is) for attention. Poor thing...I think he really needs some TLC (and also he's probably a chronic attention seeker). If a dog sees you and constantly tries to get you to show some interest in him, regardless of whether you are his owner, what more a human? My question is: "Would you expect a person to treat you in a certain way based on the inner status (as in in your heart) that you have granted them?" Would you??? And if so, why? And to what degree? Or is there such a thing as unconditional love in this day and age?

Tell me...it would be interesting to know what your thoughts are and it would really help me untangle some webs...just wanna compare notes to see if what i feel (or rather what I have led myself to believe in so far) is on the right track. Its one of those worthy of contentions once in a while...please enlighten me....

Christmas Dec 05

Christmas is my favourite time of the year...twinkling lights, Christmas trees, carols, santa clauses, elves, and all the wonderful shopping displays...and the presents of course...kekeke. It marks the end of another year, and just the time to reflect on what you have done the past year. I have to say that I have no regrets in coming back to Melbourne, I miss every single person at home (no, wait...or is it the food...??), and even though I don't get to spend it with my favourite people, they are always on my thoughts. Christmas this year was spent celebrating with close friends. We had a nice pre-christmas dinner and presents -- Nic, Tim , Joko, Roger & Jean, at the Union pub in Fitzroy. Got Tim & Rog some anitpasto, Nic & Joko travel pillows cos they were going to India for a holiday, and Jean a photo frame. And I got a book on "How to quit smoking the easy way" by Allen Carr (kinda only read that half way through, pretty pathetic effort...wasn't brave enough to quit yet back then).

Then on Chritmas itself, joined Wil & Max for a bbq at one of Lucy's friend's place, Maggie & Chun (cosy little house in Box Hill). (Max by the way, was Wil's ex-housemate, I have taken over his room now, and Lucy is Wil's cousin and she's going out with Ray, my other housemate. So how many housemates do I have I hear you ask? 3 and a half - Wil, Ray, Lucy, and Spike her german shepherd). Just the best way to spend Christmas....

BLACKSPLOITATION: Nic's Birthday Nov 05

Tim da Pirate, Nic the Pirate wife, Jen with Joko the Pimp

This was Nic's birthday party 2005. She had it together with Julian (her favourite work friend), birthday just 2 weeks apart i think, don't remember. They had a costume party at Julian's place in Northcote, and the theme was called "Blacksploitation" -- the 60s & 70s, affro style and anything retro...pretty cool. Was fun and drinks all evening, bbqing with lots of booze to top it off. Funky music, with everyone all in good spirits (effects of alcohol and something else no doubt...hahahah).

Nic, me, Joko, Julian & wife
Me & my Pimp
Nic & Wil (one of my current housemate)

The Cat Empire -- Biliyana~Eldorado, VIC 5-6th Nov 05

This was just a totally awesome camping trip with Nic & Joko - Nic's best friend who has Permanent Refugee status in our home, & Tim - nic's bf ( and the rest were Nic's friends). Nic decided to go see The Cat Empire with some of her friends, a pretty cool and fun band that plays mostly jazz with some reggae/funk/hip hop elements (up til then, I had no idea who they were). It was held in the outskirt of VIC at Eldorado, about 3.5 hours drive from Melbourne, somewhere near Wangaratta. We rented a car and as Tim was the only one with proper driver's, he drove all the way there and I took over the wheels for the journey back cos he was buggered. We left on the a Sat morning, and arrived around noon and started our camp site. That's me, Nic, Tim & Joko. We purposely chose a spot next to the river with easy access down for a swim!! Anyways, you know how I told you before that I had drowned my mobile, this is the part where it happened. We had all our valuables put in a bag and Tim was the one carrying it. After we were done swimming, we had to trek a fair bit to get back to camp and we were crossing this section where the riverbed suddenly plunged...water was over our heads and the current was really strong. Being the smart ppl that we are, we had used Joko's cloth bag, so everything in there drowned when we dropped in the water. Damn!! My phone died an instant death, leaving nothing recoverable. That night, we had dinner at the main amphitheatre (its all open air by the way) and got us some beers. Music was great and everyone was just enojoying themselves and dancing away, just the atmosphere alone was awesome. The Cat Empire did a really good job, entertaining us til the wee hours of the morning.

When we woke up the next day, everyone was buggered and trying to sober up. Thank god someone brought coffee and a boiler!! That really saved the morning. Grabbed ourselves some bacon & egg sandwich, and just lazed around and chilled out on the grass. Then it was a long drive back home....



http://www.thecatempire.com/ce_stage_menu.html
For those of you who are interested in what it was like, using the above link, click onto Tour Info, and choose Past Tours. This will bring you to a new page - click on "The Night That Never End Tour" to expand the story. The band put a few lines together on this event, and does alot better in narrating it.

Oh, and did i mention the toilets??? As this was totally feral, they had makeshift dump stalls, built over holes with two planks, and everything you dump big or small goes down to this bucket that contains soil in it to absorb your shit, and when you are done, you throw in some lavender to help contain the smell. OF COURSE that didnt help the least bit. It stank soooo badly I had to hold my breath until i turned blue before i was willing to take another gasp of air. And I tell you what, I LOVE lavenders, and this really put me off lavenders for a very very long time. Uggghhh....

Abalone Galore - Port Fairy 29-31st Oct 05

Ever had abalone for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Well, I'm proud to say I have. Roger invited us Nic, Tim & me, to his family beach home in Port Fairy, a few hours from Melbourne, just past Warnambool. Just to get away for from the city for the weekend to chill and relax. (Roger was Nicole's archi coursemate). That's Roger in the middle. We were playing this board game - some war game where you have to conquer your enemies' land, can't remember the name (if anyone knows what its called can you please let me know?) since there is absolutely nothing to do at night except to create your own entertainment. In the morning, Nic, Tim & Rog went abalone fishing (...tsk tsk tsk....I was too chicken shit to go down into the freezing waters despite given thick wetsuits).

We made abalone omellette, pan fried abalone, abalone steak (a whole one for each of us), you name it....yuummmy! Rog made us sticky date pudding for desert, and other stuffs we cooked were chicken in milk, and stuffed baby calamari. Soooo goood.....!! Oh, and of course, loads of alcohol to go with it, beer...wine...port. What else can you ask for??? Talk about satisfaction....


Ok ok, enough about the fantastic food. The house was right in front of the sea...awesome! You can hear the relaxing sound of the waves constantly, and had a really nice setup and garden. They even have a veggie patch...cool. We went strolling along the beach in the afternoon and looking for weird creatures by the rocks. It was just the trip we all needed, away from the city buzz with little to no television, and just purely taking time to soak in nature and spend quality time. Anyhows, this was on the daylight savings weekend. the guys took and 2 extra days off on the following monday & tuesday while I couldn't get off, so I had to take the train home from the Warnambool station.., and guess what...none of us remembered that it was daylight savings, so that when i got to the station, I was an hour late...damn!! Well, it was kinda like a blessing in disguise, so I could stay longer. I had to call in sick to work...kekekke, and took off on the evening train instead and had the day to hang out with the guys.

AWESOME holiday!!!