Riverside Drive

It was a full moon tonight

And I realise whenever I'm back in Perth 

I'm grateful for seeing the bright big yellow moon rise above.

I'm glad that there aren't that many high rises (apart from the CBD) area to cover nature.

I'm glad that when I stroll along riverside, the foreshore

I'm glad it hasn't been damaged by man-made harbours and annoying bars and cafes

Whether it's on a humid night...

when I take that stroll along the foreshore

to the Narrows Bridge from the Bell Tower,

the breeze finally rolling in from the coast cools my body and my temperment down.

Then the nights when the river is alive by the lights of the city

and the way they shine back, reflected from the glassy water to brighten my eyes

Then on days when the sky darkens grey,

heavy clouds sit low on the surface of the swan.

The intoxicating mixture of the smell of rain

and slow ripples breaking over still water..

I cannot help but love our sleepy city, Perth.

Vue De Monde

I realise this is a long awaited post, mainly due to my complete laziness and the fact that the photos weren't all that great giving that my compact camera at the time of taking these photos were on its last legs, which topped with a policy of removing flash at any fine dining venue makes it all the more low in quality.

Whatever the case, the photos does no justice to the wonderful culinery experience that I had at Vue De Monde. A french restaurant in the heart of Melbourne city, on Little Collins street in the Normanby chambers. The deco is very understated elegance and luxury, with rich, warm colours highlighted by velvet curtaining, bronze mirrors and  spanish pendant lighting (which many would find it contemporary sheek and "cool" but makes me think that it's rather incomplete - but then again, I've never been one to understand the contemporary look - cool but so inpractical at times). Artwork provides a quirky element and a sense of the mischievous to the dining room.

The waiters were superb in every way, quick, polite and were excellent at describing their degustation options. The first one is their famous GASTRONOME MENU - which consists of 10 courses (minus the palate cleanser, pre-desserts etc. etc. etc.) and their more refined version of the gastronome menu which is 5 course degustation meal - regardless, both could be tailored to our needs, wishes, tastebuds and how bottomless our stomachs were.

The menu we got was the more refined 5 course meal with 2 desserts (which really turned out to be 4 desserts..) and a glass of wine seeing as they have a splendid collection. I opted for a red wine, a 2007 André Kientzler Gewürztraminer Alsace, France, while S opted for the white, a 2005 Domaine Bruno Sorg Riesling 'Florimoant' Alsace, France.

To top it off, the degustation that was available to us (whether it was gastronome or not) was special - it was catered to towards celebrating Easter.

I now present you the menu that was on the 30th March 2010.

Chef in the kitchen doing their culinery thing

The bread and butter - butter was just perfect and it was salted too

Amuse Bouche - Kangaroo charcuterie - Kangaroo cooked in three different ways

Jardin De Legumes - Heide Vegetable Garden

Truite Fumee Acommpagnee De Caviar - Ocean Trout with osetra caviar, wasabi and baby beetroot, smoked at the table - in what looks like a greenhouse glass apparatus.. and omg the trout was gorgeous!! One of my favourites.

Risotto Aux Champignons - This dish is no looker but damn the classically inspired cep and king brown mushroom risotto was delicious (a little salty for me) but it just melts in your mouth!

ÉCREVISSE RÔTIE - Roasted marron with bisque glaze served on hot river stone - sooo delicious i still remember the taste of this!

After the vegie and the seafood tastings a palate cleanser is usually served - its a light, usually very refreshing and most likely tangy.

TROU PÉRIGOURDIN - Palate cleanser - which I believe was some kind of sorbert thing..

The palate cleanser is usually indictive that the more "meatier" courses are about to start..

FILET DE VEAU POCHÉ À LA SAUCE AUX MORELS - Poached veal fillet with morel sauce and pomme mousseline

Then it's time to let our tummy rest - this is where we decided we want dessert - two desserts - little did we know that we would end up with more than 2...

Our toothpick man - given to us after the meats..

Before desserts are served the table is usually scraped clean.

Our transitional dessert - SORBET AU MAIS - Sweet corn sorbet

The Pre-Dessert - OEUFS DE POULES - Prune and Armagnac eggnog, pistachio custard, Grand-Marnier mousse, served in an egg carton - the best one is the pistachio custard!

DESSERT 1: SAGO AU CASSIS - Blackcurrant sago and blackcurrant mousse with raspberry meringue and bubble gum ice cream - i only liked the bubble gum ice-cream but thats probably because i found a lot of the blackcurrent quite sour and the fact that it was the best bubble gum ice-cream ever!!

DESSERT 2: SOUFFLÉ À LA PISTACHE - Demoulded pistachio soufflé with crème anglaise

YUMMO!

NOTRE SÉLECTION DE CAFÉS, THÉS, INFUSIONS ET PETITS-FOURS - A selection of coffee, teas, infusions and petits-fours

The petit fours and the various business cards - given to us due to request.

Seriously the waiters were awesome. They were bemused by us and our chattiness and constant squeals of delights. Even the neighbouring diners got excited due to us. They were also more than happy to take our group photo too.

Vue de monde really defined one of the many reasons why I love fine dining, it is a testament to the belief that restaurant food can be a wondrous, unforgettable experience. A dining experience that cannot be created at home, achieved from sourcing incredible fresh and rare ingredients cooked with a way that just makes your tastebuds sing and then reminisce long after you have dined at the place.

Everything is done to perfection, from the food to the service, including expensive cutlery, glassware and even the business cards. You really don't know fine dining until you been to somewhere like Vue De Monde. It makes Amuse look so much like a pre-schooler.

Will I go back? Yes. Maybe to try their cafe monde. But probably not in a long while.

I'm back

I'm back from sydney and what a four-day trip that was. It went by so fast and yet the trip came at the right time to help me clear my head.

S and I did many things - whale watched, climbed the sydney harbour bridge at twilight, watched the Australian vs. Serbia game at 430am in the morning at Darling Harbour "fifa fanfest" posts (one of a few around the world), saw participatants of Amazing Race rushing through sydney CBD, caught up with Al, made a last minute decision to eat degustation at Aria (instead of just a la carte), shopped for a few hours ONLY, went to Bondi, Manly and walked around way too much.

A short break thats very much needed.

oo and who would have thought a few days away from home can make such a big difference with regards to the news that you get...

I'm starting to think that family and friends only do interesting things when I'm away on holiday..

hm... maybe to even out my travel adventures?

fllllyyy awwwaayy

I WILL BE ON A PLANE HEADING TO SYDNEY IN 5 HOURS TIME.

Then I shall be dining on a platter of seafood - completely to die for at the seafood markets..

Eating fine dine foods at Aria

Having a degustation at Assiette (hopefully - if they return our call - so that we can book a time)

possibly climbing the sydney harbour bridge

watching whales do their dance

and of course... living life to the fullest!

HUZZAAH... sometimes i think i have an awesome lifestyle.

Relativity - Patricia Piccini

I want to venture into the Art Gallery of Western Australia - agains - .. Because I feel as though I should get cultured in what little culture we have in Perth, and the fact that the exhibition held currently by the Art Gallery seems so interesting.

It's called Relativity and it's by Patricia Piccini whose startling sculptures examine the connections between science and nature, art and the environment. The sculptures were created using a combination of materials such as silicone, fibreglass and human hair, Piccinini’s sculptures are familiar yet fantastical in their depiction of possible future species and their interaction with human beings.

I want to go and it'd be fantastic, just need to find people to go with.

Pompeii Exhibition at the WA Museum

This morning I got a phone call from my beloved cousin asking me to come along to the A Day in Pompeii exhibition currently held at the WA Museum - which firstly to my amazement that she wanted to go - she never fails to surprise me, and secondly I've been wanting to see it, but have somewhat forgotten it's on. Living in your own little bubble tends to do that to you.

I've also had a fascination with Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius ever since I was in primary school and we had to learn about natural disasters. A roman city, inhabitated by 12000 people, completely destoryed and buried in 79 AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. So, before I visit Pompeii (whenever that is going to be - but it will be on my Europe adventure - which I hope will be soon) I'll get a chance to see a glimpse of it here.

For a change, we actually get an exhibition thats remotely interesting. It features hundreds of extraordinary objects that were recovered by archaeologists in the 1700s - marble and bronze sculptures, jewellery, gold coins and everyday household items – all of which evoke the richness and culture of daily life in the Roman Empire's favourite vacation resort.
There was also a 3D theatre animation which highlighted the town's citizens experience during the 48 hours of eruptions that wiped out Pompeii and encased the town.Oh as well as the body casts of people and animals that were buried by the volcanoes.

It's pretty interesting and I actually learnt a fair bit more than what I read in books as a child.

A Day in Pompeii exhibition is still running and will continue until 5th September at the WA Museum.

imagine that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars.. i can really use a wish like now.. wish like now..

There are two things I really want right now.. apart from happiness, good health etc.

ONE is that I get one of the PERMANENT positions at SCGH.

the other is that bf PASSES his exams in NOVEMBER.

you know you love me.. xoxo

Yes, I have had a massive Gossip Girl marathon - Season 2 - over the past week. I must say despite all her bitchiness, Blair is actually my favourite character. There is something about the way she hides her insecurities and her "sweetness" behind a wall of self-obsession. She's actually really loyal and will stand up for her beliefs and her friends no matter what - even if it means doing the most despicable things ever. In other words, she's complex. Not just your typical "I'm a rebelling against everything" S or just your "BITCH" Georgina. Her bitchness always has a reason. If anything, in a way she's so "real"... exaggerated.. but real.

And of course, how can you not love her impeccable style. She dresses to suit every occasion to a tee. Blair’s style is very classic, preppy, and polished. Her outfit is flawless, and she never has a hair out of place.
Although, I've always been torn between Serena's and Blair's style. Serena is always so edgey, while Blair is so sweet and cute.

BUT hey, who said you have to choose? I'll draw inspiration from both.

In fact, they all dress nicely. Even the boys.

And omg ... CHUCK. who taught him to have that "look" that he has.. *SWOON*

ok, yes, i realise i seem to have this attraction towards the two "anti-heroes" in this series, but hey why like the goodey-too-shoes.. it gets so old and boring.

ps. according to Teen Vogue quiz - which gossip girl are you? - I am Serena. hmms.. hahahah.. I do seem to have trouble follow me.

love..have you met my new love?

I promised all of you that I'll show you the MOST EXPENSIVE item in my wardrobe and my very very first Christian Louboutin shoes - to be precise - Christian Louboutin Decollete 868 Metal Patent Pumps in Rouge.

These are what Dorothy would wear if she were to go back home to Kansas.

I'm still tossing whether I should return them or not...
Mainly because at this present time I can't really afford it considering I'm not working fulltime (which I'm hoping would change within the next week..)
Secondly, I don't know if I'll wear them, because I'm too scared I may scratch them.. patent leather - not exactly the toughest of materials.
BUT
They are sexy, hot, comfortable and are LOUBOUTIN.
AND OMG THEY GO WITH EVERYTHING IN MY WARDROBE. from my trashy jeans to my LBD to my sexy red number!

See why it's so hard to decide....

with that I leave you with a question.......What do you all think?

explanation for the short hiatus..

Life has just been crazy.

Emotional rollercoaster anybody?

With at least 3 job interviews in passing.

Massive dramas at home front.

Moody people.

Confusion on the love train.

But shall be back to normal soon, I hope.

If not another hiatus while I take a short trip away from life in Perth and visit Sydney again.

ps. I would like to thank everyone thats been there, you know who you are. And for those I have yet to talk to, I promise I'll explain.

silence is golden

i have too much to say.

but sometimes,

it's best to just shut up and not say anything at all.

"And my hair will shine like the sea and everyone will wanna look just like me"

Tez and I had fun the other night after dinner playing around with my camera for a while. She was a little camera shy and would probably want to kill me for putting a couple of these photos up but she just looked so damn adorable!

Of course, we no supermodels -  in fact both of us are quite awkward when made to pose on command, so the whole time, we were quoting Tyra Banks "pan dead fish eyes.." "awkward hands" "same poses"

You got to love America's Next Top Model and Tyra.

We decided we going to undergo a fashion challenge and see how good we are at styling. Then hit Perth and just be tourist in our clothes. Until then..

Sex and the City 2

I went to see Sex and the City 2 with S on Wednesday night, premier night. I must say there were lots of ladies looking very stella. BUT believe it or not, there was also a whole entire row of boys sitting in front of us.

The movie, well, I won't ruin it for those who haven't seen it, but lets just say that it has a different look at all the characters. OH how far they've come.

The fashion? Some of the outifts were a little more than mere cloths wrapped around them, it looked as though Patricia Fields started to run out of ideas with some of the outfits, but nonetheless I loved what the girls wore on their camel ride trips - maybe except for Charlotte - the red, tight, PVC looking pants is just not a good look for anyone. Superwoman much?

Plot? It kind of dragged out something for nothing...

Overall? Wasn't brilliant but wasn't tragically bad I suppose. Good chick flick. I just loved how the audience reacted to some of the scenes the whole cinema going into girly giggles and "OOOOOHHHH HOT" or someone screaming out "YES!!" very excitedly mind you. That is exactly how movies like these should be watched!

i have so much to say but so few words to say it in..

Swirls of ideas, desires, responsibilities, "being an adult", adolescence ideologies, mirages, images, photographic-should-be-moments, float around in my head, it's hard to understand and distinguish between what I want, desire and am passionate for, versus, what I know I should do, which is get on working, making money, being responsible.

If only there was a tap somewhere, or a sieve, where I can just sieve through everything and put them back into their little boxes and let the "non-adult" things, the dreams gather dust and be forgotten again. But I know, if I did that, sooner or later, they'll be found again.

I've suppressed them for so long that I've forgotten how happy I've been to finally let it all out. Yes, I have these mixed emotions.Popping some little white pill, have crossed my mind so that I'll forget about these dreams and just become an adult, like everyone around me is.

But I have yet to live, yet to experience, to see, to smell, to taste, to touch. I have so much more of the world to explore and I don't want to tie myself down to one job, day in day out. God it scares me so much. And yet I know, I know my responsibilities, I know what i have to do and 6 months have passed where I have worked, even if at times it's sparodically and during that period, some of the time I have felt happy, passionate with what I am doing. I know parts of wanting to get away stems from feeling so hopeless, defeated, depressed, almost bitter. These are emotions and feelings I don't want to feel, I don't like, I know I'm so much more than  that and I having these feelings is not who I am. I just need to get away from everything, I know some of you are thinking, aren't you already recharging? No. I struggle to get up in the morning, because I'm tried, I'm tired because I can't sleep, and if I do sleep, I have horrible dreams, where I wake up anyway. I'm unable to truly be happy. I need to find out what I want, what direction I want to take and I think getting out of Perth is the only way I can do it. I need to get away from everyone and everything.

I hate this rut I'm in. I feel as though I'm hiding from my problems instead of facing it. I feel as though I'm not being pro-active with anything and I really need to start. Either get away and do something I truly love for a while or just ignore that and get on with it and be forever complacent.

a collection of things..

So I've been doing a lot of side projects - none of which unfortunately involved me actually exercising, unless you classify dancing around in your pjs in your room a form of exercise... at least it's physical activity i guess. I have however, contemplated on more than one occasion and in fact attemepted to change into gym wear, but alas I was distracted by shiny things... and you know me and shiny things...

The first and most importantly side project is my ebay store filled with all sorts of goodies, mainly completely unworn (or worn only a few times) pieces from my wardrobe as well as my cousin's. Do check it out, at the moment, it's not very exciting at all, only because I have yet to post the really exciting pieces. Laziness. But there is this minkpink dress I a bought from Melbourne that I've only worn TWICE - it's virtually new!

My second side project seems to me running around doing interviews. At least it's a start, now I just need to wait around for that phone call or email - I don't like emails, usually means I didn't get the job, so I want the phone call.

Thirdly, I've been thinking about taking on a barrista course seeing how much I love coffee and all. And maybe, that way I have an excuse to buy a coffee machine with real coffee beans instead of the instant coffee that my parents drink at home - maybe that way I'll save $5 on coffee everyday!! WOW that's a lot of savings actually.. hmm.. come to think of it, I really need to detox and get rid of my caffeine addiction, it's not healthy.

I've also thought about opening up a business - or before I venture into that, I've thought about taking on a marketing diploma or something like that. We see how that pans out.

OH I'm also trying to convince bf to come shopping with me, not for me, but rather for him, and what perfect timing, the mid-year/stocktake sales are on! I think he would look fantastic in a double breasted coat from politix/calibre.

I also bought a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes - they are absolutely gorgeous, sexy pair of shoes. ALAS, cost me an arm and leg, and with money I don't really have. I really should return them, but they are so absolutely sexy and it was LOVE. IT loves me because it's so damn comfortable and just sculpted to my feet, and I LOVE it, for the colour, the red soles and just the sexiness of it all. I might put photos up later.

I've also been posting my past photos up on Lookbook. So why not hype my looks yeh - just log in with your facebook account, all because you love me! I decided I'm going to take  learn to take fashion shots and my cousins are all going to be my models, although I haven't quite told them that... but it'd still be fun, who doesn't like pretending to be models? HAH.

I have to run, meeting up with cousins and bf for dinner tonight - but alas not all the cousins can come so it's just going to be Tez and boy. Hopefully she'll be nice >"<

Then after that.... Premier of SEX AND THE CITY!! NUMERO DUO!!! with S.

YESH! Cannot wait. FASHION. SEXY HEELS. SEEING IT WITH YOUR GIRL...WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

i now have a lookbook account!!

I now have a lookbook account which is a big deal because you have to be invited to have be part of lookbook.

so the following is what I've posted up on there. Hype the look pleasee!!
It's my second posting.. i realise i'm still an amature but it's all for funs.