My God-daughter

Been 2 weeks since I last see her. Miss her so much... She crawls really quickly now.... cute blur blur look hor...

First day back in SG

I drove past non-arguably, self proclaimed the most beautiful road in Singapore to get to Tiong Bahru Market

Remember how I missed Kwey Teow Teng? on the road trip I was willing to pay 50AUD for a bowl if they can do it decently! Oh well that was a crazy thought, but first thing in the morning, I went to Tiong Bahru Market to hunt for my fav Singaporean food. This store was featured on channel 8's Buzzing cashier where they rescue cannot make it stores and some top chefs will train the hawker. I read that there is always a 1 hour queue, and well I saw that the queue wasn't that long so I went for it.

First bite: Not too bad... very prawnie soup but not very heavy.. pork ribs meaty but not smelly.
After taste: Because it's not too heavy on the taste. You don't feel gelat... (can someone tell me where this word is from)
Afterthoughts: Can buy if I am there and if no queue, but won't travel all the way to buy it....

Then I bought chew kwey. Tiong Bahru market is suppose to be famous for this. Went to the corner one. Well you know the rules, if it aint oily, don't buy it, cuz it's not nice then.

Firstbite: MMMMMMMMM
After taste: waaaaa damn full but completely satisfied
After thought: I will hunt you down... drive all the way from Jurong to get it? can!.. though petrol is more ex than this.

Just as i was leaving, I saw my car parked just beside this cooking school, must be a sign! Check them out and let me know what you think: http://www.creativeculinaire.com/

Last meal in Melbourne

After blanjaing EL CHEAPO in his homeland.... and shopping. I am left with little money for lunch. My last meal was left over Nandos chicken and a bottle of Juice.

This is Andrew Lau's house which I took shelter. See my sad face when leaving.. Bye Melbourne

Last day in Melbourne

My Tram ride to the city... this image is of the melbourne sam-mun auntie from Yarra Trams checking ticket. Heng I bought ah. I remember those good old days as student, too poor to buy ticket, I will hide here hide there if it's a short trip. But people in Melbourne actually really have community spirit. When one passenger spotted the inspector, she shouted inspector! and everyone started to validate their ticket.

Then I went to Mekong again. And take a good look at this face. My good friend from Singapore Who works here. His wife is Vietnamese and they have 2 boys. Samuel and Emmanuel... Wuel... I code name him EL CHEAPO... the thing is.. this.. when he is back in SG.. i blanja him meals.. when I am in Melbourne, I blanja him oso.. what kind of world is this lor.. 2 words.. EL CHEAPO!

Went pass this place in Chinatown that has buffet style chinese food. You pay for a small or large plate or container and you can take whatever you like on the spread. I remember when I was studying, I would buy a small container and put in a plastic bag, and fill up the container in the plastic bag with overflowing dishes of veg and our household just cook rice with the veg and meat, such a good value for 3 person mann. Hey dun tsk me ah.. no choy, we poor students at that time.

I had dinner with my cousin Joel... then we went to this famous gelati place on lygon street after having Italian. He blanja dinner.. thats why i never call him names and i blanja back gelati. This shop is super popular among asian students and notice the liulian flavour at the korner.

Last activity was late night shopping and sale at Chadstone, one of the largest shopping center in Melbourne. I didn't buy that much because of the ridiculous exchange but I stumbled on this pair of aldo shoe for a very good lelong bargain, so I bought it.

Andrew Lau who puts me up in Melbourne.. or puts up with me.. however you phrase it, bought a floor lamp and the rest of the stuff is really from his GF who is taking this picture.

Stylo Restaurant walao price

This is rated as Melbourne's top 5 restaurant.

Heard about this stylo place from my cousin and her fiance some months back. Really wanted to try it out. It's won quite a bit of awards over the years. You can check it out at www.interlude.com.au

First dish was called "Olive our twist"
The green thing you see is a sour twist of what they call olive noodles. The black dots are dehydrated olives.... which must be very thirsty. abit strange for both of our asian taste, but its meant to open up the appetite.

Next up "Yam Chowder Smoked Tofu,Char-grilled squid"
This was a yammy dish and the foam on top though looks like ka pui, but is some kind of infusion. The so tong (spoken in ang moh accent) was not too rubbery but small like dunno what. i think 1 is enough for the restaurant for the night, very wu hua for them.

This is an interesting one. "Rabbit, Lentils, Liquorice Beignets"
Both of us Andrews happen to be born in the year of labbit. So its kind of evil of us. I was a little hesitant at first but the stylo ang moh captain assured it makes chicken taste strong. And true enough it's very mild. And flavours from the lentils and liquorice overpowered the dish with the labbit providing the texture. Very interesting.

"Sea Breme, Baby Gem, Morels,Barley, Haddock Air"
The dish is in a potty... tum pui looking bowl. And the airy foam looks like ka pui. Look at the picture, doesn't it look like toilet bowl with sai sticking out? Heng it actually taste better then it looks. Fish is fresh, under the foam got lots of liao.

This dish "Bacon & Eggs" won the dish of the year in Melbourne 2006.
The bacon is paper thin and the egg was slow cooked at 60 degrees for 1hr45mins. It's no wonder that the whole dinner took 3.5 hours to complete. But I must say the egg yoke doesn't taste anything like the half boil egg in Kopi tiam and doesn't leave that eggy aftertaste.

"Roast Chicken, Roast Egg, Leek, Truffle Paper"
The round bola is the tender roast chicken. The second white bola is a ball of egg when the roast juice injected into it, which was suppose to be the sauce when cut open. I didn't know that at first and put the whole entire bola into my mouth and it was so kium! Or what the ang moh would say is... there was a sudden explosion of intense flavour. Ohhhh

First dessert was "Almond, Rhubarb, Celery"
Fancy some veg in your ice-cream? The celery slices were also very thin actually. Interesting mix of flavours.

Finally, the "Prune, Chocolate,Pedro Ximenez, Hickory Oats"
Bits of prune and more foam infusion. The fancy oats provided a nice crunch to this dish.

And there is more.... Plate of sweets... CHOCO!
I enjoyed this very much.... but it came together with the tea which i thought was included in the menu. The waiter skillfully asked us what we would like to have coffee or tea, like it's included like that. Being a typical Singaporean, of course ai la. But later when the bill came, we found that it was extra. Look at my face below when I got the bill.

Nen bak gui kor leh... somemore now SGD to AUD is like almost 1.4!!! ayyoh... ok la.. while I didn't think the food was absolutely worth every penny, I thought the experience was worth it.

Pub by the dumpster

A friend brought me to some back lane alley way that has rows of waste bins and right at the corner where the red bricks are is the entrance to a rather cool little pub this is really cosy. He said this place is packed on thursday and friday nights when executives go there to chill after work. I will never imagine myself finding such a place.. especially when it's really among the bins... wat a waste!

900 KM road trip

The journey started from Sydney. The weather was a little overcast the first day. But the second day was great. The decision to go to the opera house in the morning was a sound one. We managed to take some great shots before the crowd comes in. It was really windy though.

On the way down to Melbourne, we drove a fair bit to the Snowy Mountain scenic route. As we drove up to 1800 meters above sea level, it was really cold. I applaud our brave bride Huingi to be able to endure this shot across Mt Kosciuszko which is the highest peak in Australia.

Shooting down under again

So refreshing to be back in Australia..... Although I have been here many times for shoot. Each couple brings about a new experience. Kelvin & Joanna is one fine couple. No matter how tiring the shoot can be, the energy you gather from this couple is immense. I have to say I enjoyed myself tremendously.

My first bowl of Kway Teow Teng

After just a few days in Australia, my Asian taste bud is beginning to tingle. I was craving for kway teow teng so much on the road trip that I was willing to buy one for 50AUD.... so in the end, the first thing we had for breakfast in Melbourne was this big bowl of Pho... pronounce "pfher". This is from a Vietnamese restaurant Mekong along Swanston street, that I frequent alot in my Uni days. Apparently Jacky Chan oso been there. I ordered a large bowl that looks much like a basin... and no matter how hard I tried, I just can't finish.

A wedding that moves

Once in a while, a wedding comes along, that connects you to your emotional side. When Derrick & Tricia read their vows to each other overlooking the city skyline at the oriental, you will have to be made of stone to be unmoved by their sincerity and honesty. Of course, I have to hold it together for those golden shots and pry at the sniffs that is around the room discreetly.

Derrick & Tricia, I know in all certainty that you 2 will have a blissful and happy life ahead.