We finally made it! After planning to have lunch at the Sydney Fish Markets but never remembering when the time came around to decide where to go and what to do. I was a bit disappointed, though, because we didn’t see any of the action that you would expect down at the fish markets. The place was tiny and filled with retail shops. Whhhheeeeereee oh wheeeeeere were the real markets, yo? Where people scream prices at each other and haggle?! And fresh seafood is thrown all over the place?! Maybe we were in the wrong area… or maybe a few hours too late!

Looks a bit like he stole it, doesn’t it? lol.

Lobster mornay platter. Can’t remember what was on there. I think oysters – kilpatrick and mornay, octopus, prawns, calamari and chips. The abalone and scallop were extra.

This is where we ate – The Fish Market Cafe.

ZOMG! ALASKAN KING CRAB… legs!

The (_I_)head is an avid fan of The Deadliest Catch and was excited to see what the men of the show put their lives at risk to bring back. They were huuuuuuuuge! Crab legs bigger than my head!

Chocolate dipped strawberries. I am a sucker for these! You should’ve seen my eyes roll into the back of my head when I was indulgently devouring a strawberry kebab at the Royal Easter Show. SO. GOOD. I didn’t go to the Easter Show this day but I fondly think back to it when chocolate dipped strawberries come to mind :Q___

Big birds! (Seagulls for comparison)

It would be cool to see one of these with their beaks full like in the cartoons! These pelicans are lucky they’re hanging around the fish markets! Can’t say the same for their mates in the Gulf of Mexico at the moment, though. Poor bastards

Yummmmmmmm! I was looking forward to this event for some time and was glad when it finally rolled around. We attended the extended lunch time session on the last day which worked out well for us as the rainy weather from the days prior had cleared up. We made sure we were there ready to be let in at noon which was great because it was quite a bit more crowded by the time we left at 2 – 2:30pm. I don’t have snaps of all the things we ate (oh lawd, there was just too much excitement!) but we did manage to exercise a bit of restraint to capture a few pictures

Sydney rock oysters with Vietnamese dressing, crispy shallot and baby coriander – Assiette

Saddle of Suckling Pig with Garden Peas and Smoked Bacon Jus – Restaurant Balzac
I  have never been so willing to eat peas in my life… I think this might have had something to do with  the Smoked Bacon Jus that they were swimming around in

Chilled Vichyssoise, Salmon Caviar, Hawkesbury River Oyster Beignet – Berowra Waters Inn
Yummm! I love anything creamy (huge veloute fan, here!) so this creamy foam was an instant hit with me. I had no idea what vichyssoise or a beignet was but I knew I had to have this when I saw it floating around. I have always wanted to head to Berowra Waters and this just confirmed it.

Organic Grass Fed Wagyu Beef Burger – Plan B
Now, you’re probably wondering why I am posting this blurry, unfocused photo. It is because, my friends, this is how it appears in my memory. Quite frankly it wasn’t that special but maybe I’m being harsh in my judgement because…

… of the freaking HAIR I found sticking out of the pattie! I wanted to get a shot of this but David compulsively yanked it out before I got the chance. Needless to say, I was pretty turned off which is a shame because we have always wanted to eat at Becasse/Plan B. You sort of have higher standards for restaurants of this calibre. I’m sure though, that this was just a one off…

The outdoor dining and entertainment area

I spotted a pirate! Arrrr!

I  have to make a mention of the following dishes I didn’t document because they were damned good!

• Waygu Beef Daube with Paris Mash (Guillaume at Bennelong). Mmmm, didn’t even need a knife because the meat fell apart with just the prod of my spork!
• Vanilla panna cotta with lavendar honey and fresh pomegranate aka the booby pannacotta (Jonah’s at Whale Beach). Awesome. The combo of flavours was fantastic! I can’t even describe it.

We had a few ‘Crowns’ (festival currency) left so I decided to buy a cocktail with it. Man, I forget what it was – rum of some sort with pomegranate and lime but BOY did it pack a punch. I couldn’t finish it. The few sips I had, I’m pretty sure, would have burnt away my stomach lining if I hadn’t just eaten so much food throughout the day, haha.

The (_I_)head and I went out to a fancy dinner to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Note the donning of ‘cheesey’ (i.e. BAWLER) accessories, lol. We had to make sure we ‘fit in’, so we spruced up our outfits with little details, (although this did not help as much as we expected because we soon discovered that we needed a few years on us if we were to truly blend in ). Dinner started at 8:30 and we weren’t out of there until 10:30pm. I was sooo knackered! It was quite a contrast from the bustle of the Royal Easter Show, where we had spent the day earlier.

Check out the cool architecture in the background! I can’t say I have dined anywhere like this before. I guess there isn’t any other place quite like the Sydney Opera House! It was really nice, despite being initially seated at one of the less desirable tables at the back.. on the side. But that’s ok, we were moved to the front where we could admire the beautiful view after some of the other diners left.

ze menu!

Our Amuse Bouche. I think it was foie gras and gingerbread off the top of my head.
I can handle foie gras in small amounts but I think this was just too much.

I made the rookie mistake of filling up on the bread ): There was a selection of three varieties and of course, I had to make sure I had tried all of them while I was there!

YELLOWFIN TUNA basil infused with soy and mustard seed vinaigrette

ROYALE OF ASPARAGUS with spanner crab and truffle
This was amazing! I hadn’t ever tasted anything like it before. I guess this is where the dollars go. I’ve found that with fine dining, you also pay for the innovation, not just the ingredients. I can’t think of anywhere else I could get a Royale of Asparagus if I felt like it. God forbid I ever get a craving for something like this, lol.

MORETON BAY BUGS steamed and served with Sterling caviar and cauliflower veloute
Again with the innovation and creativity. From reading the menu, I did not expect the dish to come out the way it did. Oops, I could have gotten a better picture, it just looks like custard in this shot

BLUE EYE TREVALLA roasted on an étuve of baby Autumn vegetables

GRIMAUD DUCK roasted breast with braised endive, leg confit croquette, sweet potato and foie gras puree with a fig jus

DEBONED RIB EYE OF TAJIMA WAGYU BEEF (500 day grain fed, F1 marble grade 9+) with a tombé of field mushrooms, baby spinach, confit of shallot, merlot sauce. Paris mash on the side.
Delicioussss! The merlot sauce added such a complexity to the dish. I wish I had more room at this stage for another dollop of smooth, creamy, paris mash. *Sigh* By now it was about 10 o’clock and I was just absolutely knackered from spending the day at the Easter Show. I have to admit, I struggled through this despite how lovely it was. I wish it came out before the duck!

SOUP OF SEASONAL FRUIT with lime marshmallows and mango sorbet

SELECTION OF BERRIES with lemon verbena cream, meringue and a trio of raspberries

Mmm, nomz!

We battled it out with the heat to attend our first music festival together. While it wasn’t mine, it was a first for all the boys and for Nghi (but she isn’t really a stranger to these events). Glad we made it this time after our failed attempt last year. Muse was awesome and so was Calvin Harris (for the 10 mintues of his set that we actually endured the boiler Room for. It was just way too stuffy in there). I was surprised at how many fans Dizzee Rascal actually has. Wow, he packed out that stadium like a mother fucker. Here’s some proof that we went Grape Tropical Sno snow cones saved my life!

It was so hottttt. We spent alot of time trying to stay cool in the shade during the day.

Nghi and TN. You know, chillin’.

Paul Tang a.k.a Dumpster Boy!

Why, hello there! Nghi and I could spot the boys assuming their positions in the mosh while we chilled out in the grand stand.

Chilling out in said grand stand. More like sweating it out, actaully. SO. FOCKING. HOT.

The crowd getting ready to see Dizeee Rascal perform. Wow, it sure filled up!

Here we are waiting for Muse to come on. Powderfinger’s set seemed to last aaaaaaggges. LOL @ seedy Will & TN.

Yes, we were sitting amongst all that rubbish. And again, LOL @ bad ass Will.

Our first sweaty, dirty festival together. I was shiny with a slick of sweat all day. Groossssss. You don’t know how satisfying it was to shower that night. OHHHHH LAWWWD! CLEANLINESS!

Christmas came around and it went away and we suddenly found ourselves in January which meant it was time for our annual camping trip! These little escapades started with our trip to The Entrance last year and it seems to be turning into a tradition of sorts. It was nice to kick back and relax but only after putting in the hard yards of setting up. We had to relocate because it wasn’t long before some locals approached us to tell us we were in the middle of a flooding cause way. Oops. Good thing we moved though, because our first site was plagued by mozzies and it ended up raining on our last day! That would have been interesting. Anyway, here are the first round of photos.

Rob with the Tang Mobiles all packed with our gear. Thank you Mr & Mrs Tang! Please don’t hesitate to go on holidays again, hehe.

Setting up at our first site

Ahh, Westcoast. What camping trip would be complete without a white wine cooler with fruit flavours?

I have a hideous case of out-of-control baby hair at the moment. Had to cover it up with Thien’s hat.

This is what happens after enough bottles of Westcoast, haha.

… and eventually this!

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEHEHHEHEHEHE.  Snail trail, anyone?

Springing into action to seize the opportunity~!

It seems no nail polish can save these Cambodian feet…

06.12.09 – Mount Stromlo

The next day was spent at Mount Stromlo. It was a loooooong ride up the mountain but the ride down was definitely worth it! Good thing we rented the bike-mobile or we wouldn’t have been able to fit another run down before rushing back to Sydney to make a wedding. Shuttling FTW! Weeeeeee! I was feeling a bit vulnerable at the top, looking down at the trails laid before me (serves me right for being lazy and not wearing my knee and elbow pads up) but it was A-OK and there was lots of fun to be had through those berms. YEEEEHAR!

(Credit: Justin)

Unloading the bang bus.. I mean van.

(Credit: Carl)

Where to?

(Credit: Justin)

Enough room for 6 bikes…

(Credit: Carl)

… and a few illegal immigrants, haha. A few of the guys hitched a ride up the mountain. I think it was sickly and hot back there and I’m sure it didn’t help that we drove the wrong way for a good ten minutes, either! I’m glad noone puked back there, would’ve been horrendous driving back to Sydney in a stinky van!

(Credit: Carl)

At the top of ze mountain!

What a great weekend! We were rushing like crazy to get back to Sydney, get ready for the wedding, rush to return the van and then finally make our way to the reception. I was pooped by the end of it all and was glad to finally get to sleep in my own bed.

David, Wilson and I thought it would be a good idea to hire a van for a weekend which would’ve worked out easier and cheaper than taking two/three cars down. It was a great idea, I loved just chucking stuff in the back and not worrying about the car.

Our trusty rental van! Nice and reliable but we would probably get something with a bit more power next time. This thing was one slow mover!

Six bikes in the back, fuck yeah!

05.12.09 – Sparrow Hill & Saturday Night Shenanigans

Sparrow was just absolutely amazing! It is by far the best trail I’ve ridden so far. Flowy single track that undulates up and down, winding through a picturesque pine forest. It was so lovely and peaceful in there, I’m sure I could’ve just enjoyed walking through it and admiring its fragrance… Which is what we did when David’s leg seized up in a monstrous cramp, poor thing! Wilson and I limped back with him to the fire road that took us back to the entrance.

(Credit: Jing) Heading Out

(Credit: Jing) Through the Forest

(Credit: Jing) Pine Trees!

After a well-earned dinner at the Kingston Hotel, we returned to our apartments where I dozed off into a food-induced coma that I was later woken from by cries of agony that sounded something like “Ughhh, fuckkk! My leg! It’s crampeddddd! It hurtssss!”. I entered the lounge area to find this:

(Credit: Justin) Timmy writhing around on the ground!

What happened, you ask?

(Credit: Justin) Timmy + A jug of vodka and pineapple juice = Sixty dorra and…

(Credit: Justin) Timmy trying to crawling back to his sofa, LOL!

Stacks on… Cliffy!!!

After sitting in my car for ten minutes while my parking spot transitioned from a loading zone into a 4P spot,  I met up with the girls for dinner at Wagaya (I seem to end up there alot don’t I?) followed by sticker photos at Capitol Square and karaoke. We thought it would be fun to relive our high school days in the photo booth. I forgot how hectic it was, changing poses every 10 seconds and how hot and stuffy it is in there with all those bright lights! One thing I did remember though, was that sticker photos were only $10 max a sheet. We paid a whopping $18!!! WTF! Surely inflation hasn’t increased that much since 2003? But anyway, it was lovely to catch up with the ladies and to meet a new face! Wagaya wasn’t so bad, either – I figure it’s better value for money when you go with a group of girls instead of a bunch of hungry guys (!!).

It was about time for lunch (a late one, anyway) when we were done with Fashion Weekend, so Nghi and I met up with the boys to have us some Ribs n’ Rumps (GAH! Sunday surcharge, we forgot about this! I am never dining out on a Sunday again! $5 could have paid for a scoop of Bubblegum ice cream at Cold Rock!). No pictures, here, but I do have some of dessert and one of the Glebe Street Fair that was on that day. I totally forgot about it which was a real shame because they were packing up about ten minutes after we had arrived We bumped into a few blasts from the past which was really nice. It’s amazing how people change in appearance over the years! Yes, I am talking about you, Bird Boy! :> (also, hurro Joli and Grasso!)

Anyway, on with ze pics!

Glebe Point Road. The stalls stretched allllll the way up the street. You can’t really see it in this size picture so click here for an enlargement! We saw the road closure on the way to get ice cream. NOOOOO! I can’t believe I forgot about it, boo!

Pancakes and Durian ice cream @ Passionflower. Yes, those are peanuts on the ice cream that Nghi so tastefully placed there. Boobies!!

Black Pearl: Black sesame ice cream, glutinous rice balls rolled in black sesame, topped with roasted peanuts. NOM.

Crepes with Lychee and Green Tea ice cream.

It’s so bloody hot here at the moment. These pics make me hang for ice cream, but funnily enough, it’s the Bubblegum ice cream from Cold Rock that I want. Mmmm, artificial colouring!

As promised, here is some coverage on the Fashion Weekend that Nghi and I attended on Sunday. It was nice to have something to look forward to, especially after my exam on Friday. We weren’t quite sure what to expect but we caught on pretty quickly. The hall was lined with stalls offering discounted clothes and accessories which would have been great if were in the mood to shop and spend some money but we were just happy to browse. Some stalls (like the Mink Pink one) got a bit crazy – jam packed with women attacking clothes racks from both sides. I’m a very lazy girl and while I love a good bargain, I’m just not prepared to trawl through copious amounts of stuff and to fight off  other fashion-crazed ladies to find them.

But don’t worry, it wasn’t all bad. There were cat walk shows, a wine bar, a ghd style bar and an Essie nail bar where you could get an express mani and bottle of polish for $20. I didn’t leave completely empty-handed because I made sure to swing by the Glitter Gal stall to take them up on that wonderful offer of a free holo polish upon mentioning Nixxy’s Nails. The ladies were all very lovely! I certainly went away with more than I expected (and was saying this to Nghi on our way out) when Kerry offered to have one of the girls paint my toes. I certainly felt pampered! Not only that, but I left with a set of newly shaped ‘brows for $20. Glitter Gal were introducing the technique of eyebrow threading that I have to admit, had never heard of before. (What? You haven’t either? Don’t worry, I’ve included a video on it in this post for you ). I’m not your typical girly-girl and don’t usually take an interest in make-up or beauty treatments (as strange as this sounds because I am so enthusiastic about nail polish!) but I threw caution to the wind and thought “why the hell not?”. It certainly was interesting and I wish I had been a better demonstration of it because my eyes watered as the hairs on my brow were jerked out. I’m such a pansy and probably scared some people away! In any case, it was lovely to meet one of the people behind the nail polish that so many of us adore so much. Kerry was a wonderful lady who was happy to tell me all about her products.

On with ze pictures!

Glitter Gal cosmetics. Oops! I think I caused a bit of a stir when I took this picture But all was well after I promptly went up there to introduce myself and explain that I was just documenting my time at Fashion Weekend for my blog. Kerry explained how competitive the beauty industry can be and told me about a time a rival company sent one of their people over to check out her ideas and products.

Glitter Gal’s range of polishes that you can find at Perfume Connection or online

They also design and manufacture a whole range of Australian make up products including lipgloss, eye shadows and mascara

I’m not the best model for it, but here is Glitter Gal’s red holographic polish on my toe.

Mmm, so much shimmahh!

The free bottle of blue holographic polish that I scored!

Newly shaped eyebrows. Excuse the pimples, I’m in the middle of a terrible break out at the moment. Ick.

And finally, a short Youtube video on eyebrow threading