Ahoy!

I now have a love-hate relationship with theme parties. They are fun and I enjoy searching for costume inspiration. But they also take a lot of effort and sometimes $$$ as well.

I am fortunate and honoured to be invited to two such parties. One is a nautical/ from the sea theme, which we can dress up as anything that has to do with the sea. The other one is Moulin Rouge/ Chicago theme.

The nautical theme party is this coming Friday. Invitations were sent out ages ago so we have a lot of time to prepare. But being tied down with cash and time, I only started shopping for costumes last week. It is great that Spring/ Summer collections in retails are out. So it’s all red/ blue and white stripes.

After comparing prices and shopping everywhere (Chadstone, Southland, Melbourne Central, DFO South Wharf, Bourke Street Mall), I bought the key item to my costume in Supre: A cute  navy blue mini skirt with gold buttons in front for $30.

My initial plan was to pair it with a white shirt, make a name tag and pass off as a cruise staff:

But I found a cute top that goes really well with the skirt as well and now I prefer this combination:

But I don’t look like a cruise staff anymore 😦 I am going to try and pass off as a 50s navy pin-up. But that might require a sailor hat, curls, red lipstick and lots of make-up.

Nevertheless, I am still happy with my purchase because I can see myself wearing the skirt for other occasions. Not to mention there will be an after-party in a club on Friday and the skirt is suitable for clubbing as well.

While I was ransacking my closet for the perfect top, I found the maxi dress I bought in Malaysia. This is the perfect outfit for a 21st birthday party I have a week after the nautical theme one:

The party will be held at a football club (function hall) so I would love to wear something more classy. I reckon it will be perfect for Melbourne Cup Day too. My only concern is there will be a dance floor and maxi dress is not tailored for flexible movement.

Anyway, I am still wondering what am I going to be for the nautical theme party. First combo or second combo? My last-minute solution will be to explain myself as facing a case of identity confusion.

Aegean Dream

Yasou my friends!

I recently (10 minutes ago) found out that Melbourne is home to the largest Greek population outside Greece (over 800,000). Italian came second at (230,000).

They say your significant other will influence you, one way or another. True enough. Mine got me into Mediterrenean cuisine, while I got him hooked on Singapore Fried Noodle, Nasi Goreng and Sambal Belacan. (Before we met, his favourite Asian dish was plain boring combination noodle in egg sauce aka Hor Fun or Wat Tan Hor).

Back to my point. Melbourne, having a large Greek population naturally gave rise to the availability of a wide range of Greek cuisine, the most common one being souvlaki. So far, I have been fortunate enough to sample some souvlakis around Melbourne. My favourite?

1. Cafe on Eaton (12 Eaton Street, Oakleigh, VIC 3166) – 8.5/10

I will not go as far to say this is where to get the best souvlaki, because I am no expert. But I suppose you can’t go wrong with Greek food at Oakleigh, the suburb predominantly occupied by Greeks.

I had a giros plate that day. Basically a giros plate is an open-plate souvlaki, as opposed to the ones wrapped in pita bread. But, do not be fooled by the name. It is not “mini” at all. The waitress placed a plate full of chips, yogurt, salad, pita bread and heaps of juicy grilled lamb in front of me. The chips were fresh, pita bread was of a suitable thickness, the grilled lamb was no-nonsense: Juicy and rich in flavour. However, I wish they were more generous with their lemon slices. Mine was hidden beneath a pile of salad and chips. I found it when I was about 3/4 done with my meal.

The place has an excellent atmosphere though. Everyone knows everyone in the area. You get people greeting each other. Some switch between Greek and English every few sentences. Every fifteen minutes or so you get Steven and his friend going: “Hey, is that (insert person’s name here)?” followed by some anecdotes of that person.

The place is within walking distance from Oakleigh train station. So if I ever do have a souvlaki craving, it’s only a train ride away. Also, drop by Vanilla Cafe after meal to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the sunshine 🙂

2. Lamb on Chapel (394 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141) 8/10

This humble little eating place situated at the famous Chapel Street is the favourite eat-out/ pig-out place for many intoxicated clubbers and drinkers in the wee hours of morning, looking for big portion meal to fill their tummy/ sober up after a good night out with mates. Despite its modest exterior, the place has a rustic interior with wooden floorboards and friendly serving staff.

$12 for a lamb souvlaki meal that comes with an abundance of chips, souvlaki in garlic sauce (you will need all that garlic to digest the meat) and a drink. You can’t ask for a better deal. The souvlaki wrapped in pita bread is stuffed with a generous serving of lettuce, tomato, onion, garlic sauce and so much of grilled lamb. It was heavenly. The chips were fresh and warm as well. However, their servings are too big for my appetite and I could only finish 2/3 of the souvlaki and chips, which was a shame.

This little eating place deserves to be on top of the list. Sadly, I prefer open plate souvlaki because I tend to make a mess when I eat wraps. Plus, the playlist at Lamb on Chapel lean towards the above 45 age group *yawn*

The place is within walking distance from public transport too. Take tram 72, 78 or 79 and jump off at corner Commercial Road and Chapel Street.

3. Stalactites Reastaurant (177 – 183 Lonsdale St Melbourne VIC 3000) – 7/10

I had my first experience of greek cuisine at this restaurant, situated in Melbourne CBD’s Greek precinct, Lonsdale Street. The name of the restaurant reflects the interior. Upon walking in the restaurant, you feel as if you’re in a cave surrounded by stalactites. This is a more uppity eating place and has a bar.

I remembered that we ordered an open plate and some bread with hommus dip to share among three of us, which was just enough because at that time, I just arrived Melbourne from Malaysia and still had a fairly small appetite. It was a decent meal, but a little way out of my price range. However, if you are after something other than souvlakis, Stalactites have a wide range of authentic Greek dishes and dessert to satisfy your cravings.

Their home-made baklava served with vanilla bean ice-cream looks soo good! I have to try it soon. The good thing is: Stalactites is open 24/7, except on New Years Day and Easter Day. So, another after clubbing pig-out place!

Not all of my souvlaki experiences are pleasant.

Lamb’s on Lygon (98-100 Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053) boasts 25 years of experience in souvlaki-making and was even mentioned in Wikipedia as a “popular restaurant strip that operates 24 hours a day”. However, I believe its glorious days are well behind. Just today, I was greeted rudely presumably the owner’s wife, who rushed me to place my order and told Steven off for not combining our orders. Basically, she ruined my dining experience by lecturing her husband and the poor Indian waitress loudly.

Putting aside the service attitude, the souvlaki I had was sub-standard as well. It was slightly burnt and too dry for my liking. Steven also noted that it lacked the essential ingredient: garlic sauce and chips. I later found out that chips are a part of traditional souvlaki.

I was pretty disappointed because I dined there ages ago and although their souvlakis are nothing compared to Lamb on Chapel or Cafe on Eaton, it was not as bad as the one I had today. I wished I could somehow take away the piece of grilled lamb I couldn’t finish and turn it into stir-fry or just as some add-on ingredient in fried rice.

But, if you insist to dine there, take a peek and make sure the owner’s wife is not around and spare yourself some bad service.

Food over here are generally in big servings. After some time in Melbourne, I am now able to finish my meal. But, for  a meat-filled dish like souvlaki, I can only eat about 2/3 of what I order. Sometimes I feel so sorry, because I think it is disrespect to the person who made the dish if I don’t finish eating it 🙂

Disappointment

I hate being disappointed. It is undoubtedly the worst feeling ever. As disappointed as I am that the Tom Yum above was a failure, I am disappointed that I did not get the Zoos Victoria internship offer. They said it was a close call and they would had me if they had the logistic to accommodate two interns. Meh. The fact remains that the other person got the offer and I did not. Not only did I lose out on an internship with a prestigious organisation that promotes good cause (which will do me good in the near future should I decide to apply for jobs in Australia), I will be missing out on a glorious summer in Australia.

… and now everyone is talking about Good Vibes 2011, the ultimate summer music festival, featuring Nas and DJ Rusko. Last year they had Kid Cudi while I was stuck in my bedroom at home. Truth is, I am not a super fan of dubstep (Rusko) and HipHop/Rap (Nas). But, it’s the summer, the atmosphere, the freedom, the abandonment, the spirit and the energy that only carefree youth exudes that attracts me. I’ll be missing out on that.

Think about it, next year will be my final year studying abroad. I have no idea what comes after. I will most probably return home, start working and never have the chance to be free again. Maybe I should take advantage of my youth and be carefree. Then again, being carefree now will pay in the future, in the form of debt and unemployment. On the other hand, in an increasing competitive environment, it is vital to get a head start as soon as possible, but that means losing out on many other things.

I am influenced by a laid-back Western culture that is oh-so-enticing. Yet, my Asian upbringing and influences back at home constantly pulls me back. It can get pretty confusing and frustrating.

I don’t know. I guess it is a wake-up call. I need to start thinking again. About everything and…everyone.

p.s.Tom Yum was made for Steven and I. It was too bland 😦

Update:
The late Dame Joan Sutherland, a world renowned Australian opera singer once said: “You can listen to what everybody says, but the fact remains that you’ve got to get out there and do the thing yourself.” I’m inspired.

Sweet Sweet Maple

I have a sweet tooth. Always have, always will.

I love pancakes. Always have, always will.

My first memory of pancake involves Hotcakes from McDonald. They are the best. Soft and fluffy with butter and LOTS of maple syrup. So, on a sunny then rainy then sunny again Melbourne spring day, I made some pancakes to calm my nerves for tomorrow’s interview.

That’s right. I have an internship interview with Zoos Victoria tomorrow. It’s a PR internship, which if I do get it, basically means I am slowly making my way into the industry. I am nervous, anxious and excited; I am not confident that I will get the position because I am inexperienced andI have no idea what to expect for the interview even though Rachel (the lady who called me) said that it will be just a short 30 minutes discussion on the role.

Somehow it sounds sinister because 30 minutes is not short for a job interview. I once got a job within 10 minutes of meeting my boss.

If only everything is as easy as making pancakes…

These pancakes are made from ready-made mix. They have clear instructions on the back of the box so I don’t feel the need to post the recipe. However, I have some personal tips to share:

Tips:
1. Grease the skillet with salted butter/margarin instead of cooking oil. It adds more texture, flavour and scent.
2. Cook pancakes over low heat. Pancake will be a little crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.
3. A more consistent batter will give a “heavier” texture whereas a less consistent batter makes flufflier pancakes.
4. Adding eggs to the batter will make pancake fluffy.
5. Replace water (as stated on the recipe behind pancake mix box) with milk.

Enjoy!

Reminiscing

I am a very lucky girl to be surrounded by great individuals who are supportive and provides me with comfort and companion when I need them. I am always thankful for their presence in my life. Even though some of us are miles apart from each other, separated by work/ studies, knowing that they are safe, healthy and doing well is enough comfort for me. They are a constant inspiration and motivation for me to be a better person.

My Girls (From top left) – Anne, Abby, Carolyn

From 1 Amanah SMK Seafield, we stuck together through thick and thin, break-ups and make-ups. I remember how we skipped classes by abusing our “power” and innocent facade; helped each other to check out our crushes when they walked past; encouraged each other during down times. These girls taught me Cantonese and never ceased to make fun of my pronunciation. Anne is the perfectionist and a high achiever completing her final year in NTU, Singapore. Abby is the quirky one doing well in graphic designing. Finally, Carolyn, the smart and truly innocent one is studying Pharmacy at Monash University, Melbourne. I love them and I hope for nothing but the best for them.

Bhakti

I know this guy for as long as I know the girls. I was the prefect in charge of “supervising” his class and he teased me about my crush. Bhakti is the funniest, most animated kid around. At 21, he is still a child at heart. Always have a funny story to tell, this guy has the ability to turn the most boring conversation into a skit on Saturday Night Live. He is probably the only Mauritian who can’t swim. Ask him about me and he will tell you how he had a hard time keeping track of my dating life. He is a budding engineer at UNSW and drops by Melbourne occasionally. I am excited to catch up with him when I drop by in Sydney next month.

Girl from Taylor College – Sara, Xiao, Sharon

You girls look stunning in this picture, especially Xiao – just like a character out of an Austen novel 🙂 I know Sara from our Seafield days. We work well as a team. I met Xiao and Sharon in A Level English Literature class. We cracked Shakespeare, that-crazy-feminist-drama and Geoffrey Chaucer together. I can never forget our breaks and revision sessions at the long table in Starbucks SS15. Sharon does not like the sun, Xiao is the artistic one and Sara is feisty, despite being small in stature. The girls are all around the world too, with Sara recently departed for Reading, UK to complete her law degree. Xiao is at Emerson College, Boston doing a creative writing degree and Sharon is in her 2nd year of BA degree at Melbourne University. They are intellectuals and I have no doubt they will have great achievements in the near future. p.s. Xiao I still keep the bookmarks you made and the card you got me from Japan.

My Friday 9am Asia Cafe mates (from top left) – Dominic, Kuhan, Debbie

We are the non-math people. So while our other classmates were in Math class, we had breakfast at Asia Cafe. Such good times. Dominic is the quiet guy with a unique accent who joined the rest of us in A Level after completing his high school studies abroad UK. Kuhan is the guy who loves horses, cars and girls. He is protective over me like a big brother. Deborah is the little devil, despite her goody-two-shoes appearance. Kuhan hated my ex’s guts and teased him endlessly during our breaks. It was so funny I laughed till I cried. All three of them are in UK now. Dear Debbie recently departed for Reading as well, Dominic is at Warwick and Kuhan…I think he is at Glasgow or London? p.s. Debbie, I don’t think I can complete our little “mission”. He is graduating soon.

Nicholas

The last of his breed, Nicholas is everything a girl can wish for: Patient, understanding, kind and generous. I know this guy through Xiao and through common breaks and lunches. He is a fun-loving guy and so patient when it comes to accompanying Sara and I to shop. This guy is usually soft-spoken, but his inner Sasha emerges when he is on stage debating with his moot opponents. He is charismatic and I wish the future lawyer all the best in Reading 🙂

Alex and Marcus

They are my close mates in Melbourne, like a surrogate family. Alex was my housemate and lives 5 minutes away from my house back in Malaysia. I know Marcus through Alex. They’re good people who provide me with comfort and company when I need. They are also my lab rats (especially Alex) when I decide to concoct a cooking experiment. Memories of them revolve around clubbing, going on road trips and midnight hang outs at the weirdest places chatting. Marcus taught me poker and helped me win my first (and only) $10 in casino. Both RMIT engineering students, they lament essays and would come to me for proofread. Alex is the most neat and tidy guy I ever met while Marcus is…a little messy. But they both make my days in Melbourne more bearable.

Thao (Jasmine)

She is like the big sister I never had. Having seen more than I have seen, she gives some pretty good advice. I only known her for a bit more than a year, but she is warm and open from the moment I met her. Call it fate, perhaps. She taught me to let down my hair a little and have some fun. One of the nicest and generous person I ever met with a good nature, I have learnt a lot from her. She got me to stop swearing (in my defence, I was going through a phase :P) and took care of me when I needed her. My shopping mate, she also taught me how to find bargains 😉

Steven

My boyfriend. I know him through Jasmine and we hit it off instantly. He is very supportive and brings out the best in me. Despite coming from different cultures, we get along really well. He showed me a different side of the world and makes me appreciate what I have. He is also the inspiration for me to get my first paid job and internship. Life in Melbourne is more colourful now with him around. He is more mature than I am, so he guides me and encourages me when I am at the point of giving up. He is not perfect, nor am I. He always tries his best to give me the best he can and I appreciate everything he has done for me. He makes me happy and I hope we will always be happy.

I have saved the most important people for the last…

My family

I love them, and I know they love me. If everyone turn their back on me, I know I can turn to my family. Anytime. Unconditional love. We are a close unit and we are a happy family. I have such good times with them and I miss them all the time. They are most supportive of my decisions but they are also very honest with their criticisms. My family have my best interest at heart and my parents, especially, always make sure I am in line. Thanks to them, I am who I am today. My siblings are the best. They get on my nerves, but they are the only ones who put up with my occasional burst of weird doings. For that, I love them.

These people made me the person I am today. Without them, I won’t be who I am today. I am grateful for having such positive influences in my life. Best wishes to each and every one of you! xoxo