Han Guuk Guan

Han Guuk Guan

13 Victoria St, Melbourne VIC 3000

It was supposed to be Tim's birthday celebration so the cell and our sister cell decided to gather at Han Guuk Guan for dinner celebration as our first choice Korean restaurant - Joomak was fully booked. Nevertheless I love the food there especially my fish roe spicy tofu hot pot <3

Good food always makes me happy :)

I think I spent about AUD23 that night despite sharing the dishes among 4 person. The hot pot comes with a bowl of rice in case you are wondering - those who love rice!

Thank you Lord for the good fellowship during cell and nourishing us with yummilicious dinner <3 

P.S. do note that every Monday is Korean night so there won't be chapchae, tung soo yuk, jajangmyun and etc. Also, the standard varies perhaps according to the mood of the chef on the day itself :(

fish roe spicy tofu hot pot DA BOMB!
Flavourful spicy fish roe soup, perfect to go down with a huge bowl of rice.
 There are plenty of people who do not appreciate fish roe because of the fishy stench, but the spices in the soup covered the odor perfectly.
Huge pot filled with silky tofu and plenty of mushrooms to keep your hungry bellies happy.
 

side-dishes are must-haves for every Korean meal.
Well seasoned dishes. Sour and spicy kimich to wake your palates up.

tung soo yuk (sweet and sour chicken)

Comfort food. Something very similar to the sweet and sour pork you get back in Singapore. Each piece of meat evenly tossed with the sweet and sour sauce, yet still remain cruchy.

Chapchae
One of my favourite as well. Onions and mushrooms to bring the crunch and taste. It just makes you want to have more. Unfortunately it is a tad too oily. Will need to flush it down with some soup or tap water before continuing with second helpings.

Tim's birthday cake from Brunetti.I feel that Brunetti is pretty much overrated. Terribly long queues for horrible tasting cakes is not my ideal. You can get cheaper and better tasting cakes elsewhere.

Melbourne Gaol / Brunetti

Melbourne Gaol

377 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000

The Melbourne Gaol is really a fun place to visit as a tourist of course. It is no longer in use for quite some time though. I think it cost around AUD 29.90 for full fare but I paid AUD 5 benefit from staying at student lodge hahahas. Money absolutely well spent. I always find jail touring kinda interesting. 

The entire tour was pretty interactive.

1. Play on the story of Ned Kelly - one of Melbourne's famous hero

2. Simulate first hand experience of being a prisoner. They shut about 8-10 in an extremely dark cell. The darkness was somehow pretty creepy and unbearable although there are many others in there as well. I can't see my fingers at all when I stretch my hands out.

3. Individual tour around the cells (certain cells are really dark and have this eerie feeling ><)

 Mug shot

cell which 8-10 person got closed in during simulation. This picture was taken after the simulation. 

 Play on Ned Kelly was conducted on the ground floor here.

After touring the jail my neighbor and I decided to treat ourselves with a nice afternoon tea at Brunetti.

Iced coffee with 2 scoops of ice cream - my favourite and passion fruit tart. The place is forever packed with people regardless of the time I visit somehow. Other than the coffee, I find the pastries and desserts overrated. I prefer those at Antoinette (Mandarin Gallery) and The Line  bakery (Shangri-la hotel) in Singapore better. I wasn't surprised when I was told by my friends that it used to be very good before I came and the standard kinda drop :(

I didn't really like the place because there isn't a proper queue system and you could have waited forever without being served. Not to mention the place is really packed, pretty hard to find a seat if you are coming in a huge group.

I couldn't finish any of the desserts I got which is a sign that they are not up to standard. I am a person who can finish half a kg cake in a sitting, provided if they are good so you can try and see for yourself you you wana visit the place again. Not to mention they are pretty pricey too D;

negative disconfirmation...

Queen Victoria Market - Suzuki Night Market (Winter)

Queen Victoria Winter Night Market 

7-28 August 2013

5-10 pm

 Wednesday nights only.

The greedy pig foodie needs food to recharge before she can continue on her assignments so I went to the night market on two consecutive Wednesdays to satisfy my food cravings with two different groups of friends hahahas! On average each dish cost about $12 each, I wouldn't say that the portioning a huge - perhaps it is because I am starving but they are nevertheless good! It is a good thing to visit the night market with a huge group of friends

1. Cost saving

2. I can try a variety

Here's what we've got!

P.S. try to get there as early as possible. It gets really crowded around 7 pm and it takes forever to queue for your food - practically for ever stall. Don't miss the macaroons!

pulled pork burger AUD 12.50

 Bob Burger - $12 (the burger is really small and the filling is all fried) 

My absolute favourite - forever with the longest queue, perfect choice especially when it is so cold : Potato Leek Soup! 

 Meatballs - I kinda prefer IKEA meatballs more though

 Pancakes with chocolate syrup and melted ice cream :(

Canole 

 Band

Lemon Meringue, Bubble Gum and Passion Fruit Macaroons <3

They are not overly sweet and definitely worth your money because unlike the usual bite size macaroons, this requires four bites to finish and it cost 3 for $10 I guess.

I love the night market food and would definitely go again in summer when it is not crazy cold unlike now. My fingers froze and I am still angry with myself for forgetting something as essential as my scarf!

Oh for disco lovers there is a corner for silent disco. Those people are not crazy but the dance to the music from the rented headphones which seems pretty amusing yet cool! :D  

Melbourne sea aquarium

Melbourne Aquarium

Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Opening hours : 9.30am until 6.00pm everyday (inclusive of public holidays)

Adult : AUD 38

Child : AUD 22

A week after daddy return home I am alone so might as well visit some places of interest before school starts at a flat rate of AUD 5! I get to go at a special rate since I am staying at student accommodation - time to make full use of my benefits!

 Smiley puffer fish

Area which you can pretend to fish - there is no hook at the end of the fishing line.

Gift Shop

I have been to a couple of aquariums and I think this is a pretty decent one with quite a few creatures to observe but that's about it. Not much first-hand experience. It took me only an hour or so to finish touring the entire aquarium which is pretty short for if you were to pay the full price for the entrance fee. It is definitely a good experience since I made new friends with my neighbours and had good company but I wouldn't encourage my friends to pay the full price for it if they are on a tight budget - entrance fee isn't exactly cheap.

Good luck for beginning of sem, I am starting to dread it already :(

Pho Bo Ga Mekong Vietnam

Pho Bo Ga Mekong Vietnam

241 Swanston St 
Melbourne, VIC 3000

A week after mummy and mei mei returned home, I had to do all the cooking myself which is really tiring. Especially the dishes! I hate doing dishes and they never fail to drain me after all those scrubs on my oil pot D:

So I suggest to my dad for some affordable eat-outs. I have always heard raves about how good Vietnamese cuisine is in Melbourne due to the influx of Vietnamese immigrants  in the past so I decided to give this bustling little store a try. It is forever packed with people every time I walk past so I assume it will be good and authentic?

I was told by my friends this isn't the best pho place but I couldn't really tell since the other place I went was Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop along Russell Street  which I had the best crispy skin chicken with egg noodle soup. Really large portion and great value for money hahas. It is a pity I didn't take any picture of the food I had D;

Anyways I kinda like the pho because the smell of the herbs or spice isn't that strong compared to the ones I had at Nam Nam in Singapore. No cooking means there's no need to do dishes so I am pretty happy eating this. :)

Sorry for the blur picture but this is the only one I had hahas.

Chicken breast pho

Chronicles in Melbourne

God will provide - Always bear in mind His provenance and promises in tough times...

From the previous post, anyone could tell that I was having a really tough time settling down in Melbourne. I had cultural-shock and deep down wanted to go home. I would have board the next flight if not for my super huge ego and pride - I have decided not to be a whim and face the city bravely like an independent lady should.

Really love the verse from Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Lord really provided me with abundance. I met really amazing people in my life that I am so sure they are keeps. Lord actually regained my faith in mankind once again. People may find it exaggerating, but I had a lot of setbacks in my social life. When I am in need of help, sometimes I really do not know who I could turn to, partly because I have some fair-weather friends who made use of me for my networks and throw aside when I am no longer of any value to them. 

I was fearful, weak, but now I am strong because I have Jesus. Subsequent posts are dedicated to my adventures in Melbourne. I know it is weird because it seems like I am writing from the future - why yes. I back dated the post so... yeps, enjoy the pictures!

First day in a foreign city

I have always known that not everyone is very friendly and hospitable but usually people aren't very mean to tourist because they are the ones that generate some national income if you realized. 

My blog from today onwards shall be a record of my stay in Melbourne,Australia. I need to say that all the bad things I mention here is only a once off event to warn people to be more careful and not to take things for granted. There are really plenty of amazing people that made my day during my stay here. Let's just say that I am unlucky, but please be careful.

First day after arriving I decided to open a bank account locally to pay my bills and expenses here. Shall not name the bank, but here's my nightmare. Went to a bank, set up an account only to have the teller putting the cash I deposited into somebody else's account. Madness! I am not taking about AUD50 or even AUD5000 here and this is totally unforgivable. If not for my dad I probably kill myself in this city on the first day. Immediately, got the bank manager to rectify the problem yet not a single apology was given.

Never mind that. The person who supposed to help me open my account disappeared without going through the entire procedure. No client id, no bank account number provided no nothing. He wasn't even there to help when the teller put the money into the wrong account. Freaking irresponsible.

Next nightmare. Wait for a week to realise that the irresponsible guy who initially helped me to open my account did not verify my address and sent my debit card to the wrong address. How sweet! This has nothing to do with my accent because all the  other aussies can understand why not him? Even so, he could have verified if he didn't understood like previously letting me type in my email address. I had to go to the bank to have someone else close my case and clean up after that guy. And now, almost two weeks I have yet to receive my debit card, how efficient!

I am very disappointed with how the bank worked here. Although I know that it is not a financial hub like Singapore, some mistakes are absolutely unforgivable and minimum service recovery must be done. I have to praise UOB, perhaps other banks in Singapore are equally efficient but I think should share my experience. Unlike here, they sit down one to one, explain every details, hand the cash after verifying the amount in front of you and let you check your ibanking account immediately to verify. Bank account details, packages provided immediately. 

I only realised how many things I took for granted after I left my country, especially efficiency. I wouldn't say for all but majority.

Nevertheless, I have to thank God for a really kind staff from the bank, she help me with the rest of the procedure, gave me my client id and everything. if not for her I couldn't even check my account.Perhaps a small blessing after so much shit.

Next, school registration.

I have met the most slip-short and unhelpful staff ever. Went to do my account, had my existing portal account frozen after registration and the staff who was supposed to help couldn't be bothered, leaving me to fend for myself. My question is you are a foreigner yourself and once new in a foreign environment. I am not even asking you to go an extra mile but the very least solve my problem. The joke is the eCOE given to the school and other documentation has the right birth date and the staff keyed in the wrong one and blamed me for it ? Seriously?

Praised the Lord for guiding me, he sent me another angel to rectify the problem and brought me personally to the IT helpdesk and problem solved. Why can't everybody just do their part? Then again shit people sort of create a huge contrast, portraying these helpful souls as amazing angels in people's life.

That night,honestly,I cried a lot. Never this much in my life because I have so much to fear. It didn't help that people living at the place were freaking unfriendly. Fill you up the next time! See ya peeps!