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Cream Restaurant
04
November

cream_entree.jpg Cream is a classy little restaurant located in East Perth, which was highly recommended by a friend of a friend. I was curious, but not convinced because both my siblings hadn’t heard of it and they eat out at these types of restaurants all the time. The restaurant itself is not too difficult to find, especially with the help of GoogleMaps =)
The easiest way is to just GoogleMap search:

Cream Restaurant
Suite 2
11 Regal Pl
East Perth 6004 WA

The restaurant itself was very nicely done up, the only complaint I might have is that it was a bit too dark for my liking. If the food had been bad, I might have suspected they didn’t want their patrons finding strange things in our meals hAHa! ^_- As a group, below is a list of the dishes we ordered at Cream

ENTREE PRICE
Twice Baked Lemon & Goat’s Cheese Soufflé
Fresh Grilled Local Scallops		 24.5
Warm Fillet of Cream’s Home Smoked Tasmanian Salmon
Steamed Spinach Tossed with Horseradish Crème Fraîche, Salmon Caviar		 25.5
Handmade Potato & Ricotta Gnocchi With
Fresh Tomato, Basil & White Castello Sugo, Reggiano Parmesan		 22.5
MAINS
Crispy Roasted Pork Belly
Caramelised Apple, Leek & Goat’s Feta Strudel		 36.5
Red Wine Slow Braise of Baby Beef
Green Pea Puree, Horseradish Potato Crush, Crispy Onion Rings		 35.5
Slow Roasted Breast of Free Range Chicken
Fluffy Organic Roast Vegetable Couscous, & Wild Fig Jus		 35.5
DESSERT
Individual French Chocolate Baci Cake
Frangelico Vanilla Bean Ice Cream		 16.5
Fresh Passionfruit Cremé Brulee Tart
Belgian White Chocolate Sorbet		 16.5

cream_pork_belly.jpg

All in all it was a good experience, and the bill totaled to a bit over $50 per person. Pretty good considering the range and quality of food we had. I’m no critic, but I do have my personal preferences, and I think that the food at Cream Restaurant was pretty good. Things to note:

  • The pork belly, which I ordered, had a really crisp and overly sticky skin
  • I would totally go back just for the gnocchi =P
  • The Baci Cake tasted a lot like the Beard Papa ‘Fondant au Chocolate’ I had in Beijing. It cost was a whole lot more though! cream_baby_beef.jpg
  • Baby beef main seemed very mushy. Mushy beef sitting on a pile of mash potatoes and mashed peas. It was very filling, but felt like it was more appropriate for people who don’t have teeth… But you’ve got to love the onion rings!
  • Loved the fresh scallops (they were pretty big!) but wouldn’t have paid that much for it (Freo would probably be better), I would rather have had another salmon or gnocchi dish…
  • The walls are furry…
  • Staff was friendly and efficient, we only had a bit of difficulty getting their attention because we were hidden in the back darkest corner
  • The wait between Entree, Mains and Dessert were okay, though it could be better. We were just a little miffed that a couple of the other tables who ordered after us were served before us.

So maybe I won’t be going back there any time soon, but I wouldn’t mind going back (when I’m actually working full time) ~

Cream on Urbanspoon

Category: Food, Reviews  Tags: , , , , ,  4 Comments
RIP Canon IXUS 800IS
13
October

My dearest Canon IXUS 800IS,

May you rest in peace and be cherished and loved more than I ever cherished and loved you…
I just want you to know that no matter how often I dropped you or scratched you up, it was all in the name of the Perfect Photo. I hope you knew how much I appreciated the fantastic quality photos we shared together… From the weddings in Malaysia, to my parents trip to Europe, and especially when we went to Beijing. And I definitely won’t forget the blackmail worthy video moments we shared with friends and family.

Did you have a good a time as I did? Is the new 2Gb SD card keeping you company? I hope there wasn’t any incriminating photos or videos on that…
Well I hope you’re safe, and I also hope that whoever picked you up (it seems this is most likely the case) is treating you with as much love as you deserve.

Your terrible ex-owner who lost you,

- Selina

canon_ixus800is_frontback.jpgThe Canon IXUS 800IS really is a fantastic point-and-shoot digital camera to have. The quality photos, the feel of it in your hand, the features and functionality all add up! A great comprehensive review can be found at dpreview.

I’m now starting to move on from the loss and looking into getting another camera. At first I thought of just getting the same model because that’s how much I loved the IXUS 800IS, but let’s just keep my options open. Chances are I’ll get a Canon but it will be a different model. My sister has the IXUS 950IS and it seems exactly like the 800IS plus the face recognition feature and a pricey tag which doesn’t quite impress me.

Although I’m no professional photographer, I do like my photos and videos to be of decent quality (at least comparable to that of the IXUS 800IS), but I’m also a point-and-shoot kind of girl. It’ll be hard to find another digital camera which is convenient to handle and also delivers good quality photos and video, but I think I might take this opportunity to look into other brands. Maybe there are other digital cameras of similar value on the market.

I must admit though, my family is strongly Canon orientated when it comes to digital cameras! So if you have any suggestions, please let me know =)

Category: Reviews  Tags: , , ,  2 Comments
葡萄园之恋 aka Vineyard Man
05
October

The Vineyard Man Synopsis

Bright, energetic, and just a bit spoiled, aspiring fashion designer Lee Ji Hyun (Yoon Eun Hye) is the picture of a typical city girl. She drinks expresso, takes dance lessons, dresses impeccably, and knows the value of money. After she gets fired from her job, Ji Hyun’s grandfather asks her to go work at his vineyard.

Moving to the countryside is the last thing Ji Hyun wants to do – until she realizes how much the land will be worth when it gets redeveloped. In exchange for a year at the vineyard, she can get the money to start her own fashion line.

Life in the countryside is unbearable for this clueless city girl, especially when she has to work with a hillbilly like Kang Taek Gi (Oh Man Seok). But as time passes, Ji Hyun finds herself falling in love with both the vineyard and the man in it.

I’ve just finished yet another Korean drama called The Vineyard Man (葡萄园之恋 pu tao yuan zi lian) which (again) stars Yoon Eun Hye, she also starred in Coffee Prince and Goong (Princess Hours). After 16 episodes I finally learned to love the male lead, Taek Gi, although it was after a bad first impression (especially after I watched Goong). It was a little like Endless Love, I grew to love the characters by the end of the series instead of an instant connection.

One thing I really love about The Vineyard Man is one of their theme songs played throughout the show called 想靠近你 (xiang kao jin ni). It’s track number 5 on The Vineyard Man OST, da ga ga go ship uh by Kim Jung Eun.

The Vineyard Man OST Playlist

01. 愛上你 (Loving You) – 褐眼超女 (Brown Eyed Girls)
02. 鄉巴佬的嘻哈 – Johnny-G
03. 上當了 (Rap By Johnny-G) – UNME & Johnny-G
04. 好女孩 (Good Girl) – 李路 (Eru)
05. 靠近 – 金情恩
06. 這就是愛… – Johnny-G
07. 雨中歌唱 – 想像帶&文利慶民
08. 首爾市 – Johnny-G
09. 那種男生才算優 – 想像帶
10. 筷子進行曲 – Various Artists
11. 我該怎麼辦 – Various Artists
12. 命中&奔跑 – Various Artists
13. 我有個夢想 – Various Artists
14. 筷子進行曲 (「太子妃娘娘」特別混音版) – Various Artists
15. 好像懂了 – Various Artists
16. 貼近你 – Various Artists

Play the youtube video below to have a listen and watch the ending of The Vineyard Man.

*Spoiler warning*

The Vineyard Man is a very sweet romantic comedy which I would recommend for those looking for some light entertainment, my mum loved so I’m sure yours will to giggle. Yoon Eun Hye and Oh Man Suk are great performers who bring the characters to life, and they’re definitely entertaining to watch. Unfortunately though, The Vineyard Man is very similar to other Korean dramas out there, there’s some pretty heavy crying scenes…

Category: Drama & Movies, Music, Music & Lyrics, Reviews  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
TPG mobile
02
September

I’m running on empty now, my mobile phone only has enough credit for 2 sms’s because I’ve been waiting since last Tuesday (26th) for TPG to send me my mobile sim card! Don’t expect any calls or sms from me, I’m saving those last two sms’s for emergencies like when I get jumped at Curtin (Did you hear about yet ANOTHER attack?).So a warning to you guys, if TPG say that your sim has been sent out and to expect it in 5 working days… they mean 7 days. And even if they say it’s been sent out on a 1 day courier when you tell them you STILL haven’t received it on the 7th day, don’t expect it by the next day.

Personally, I think it’s more of an East vs West problem. Maybe TPG sends the sim’s going West a day later than usual, and maybe Australia Post purposely takes longer delivering East to West… even the express mail? …..

gGrRRr! I just want my mobile to function without any fear of running out of credit! I want to be able to call ’000′ instead of just throwing the mobile at potential attackers!

TPG $19.99 Mobile Cap Saver Plan with $300 worth of included calls, text and data – tpg.com.au

Sounds too good to be true?
sigh. Just give me my SIM damnit!

- – - – -

-Edit 6th September 2008-

I still haven’t received the sim from TPG!!!! The TPG Mobile Cap Plan really is too good to be true…. They keep giving me the typical: “Oh, just wait another day or so” response! Bleh…

It’s quite hard not to get annoyed at the TPG Customer Service staff because:

  1. For some odd reason, the connection is a bit fuzzy.
  2. They keep giving me answers which tell me they’re following systems and processes which don’t work!
  3. I can’t call/sms anyone
  4. Staff don’t placate or give me a bit of TLC
  5. I’ve been put on HOLD much too long to actually believe the automated reassurance BS given, they should just let me listen to some radio!!
  6. They tell me that they’ll contact me but don’t! >=(

I was told again to give it until Monday…. *sigh* I suspect that Australia Post messed up and the mobile sim was delivered to the wrong address. And unfortunately for me, TPG are too stingy to send out another SIM *cry*

- – - – -

-Edit 19th September 2008-

I FINALLY received my TPG sim 3 weeks 1 day after they first sent it out and confirmed payment! It took 2 weeks for them to confirm that I wasn’t going to get my sim and 3 working days for it to arrive after the second send.

I’ve activated my account and waiting for confirmation of my number to be ported… it’s been 48hrs. I think I’ll have to call them again on Monday to confirm whether my account has been activated. It was awfully nice not to have to speak to TPG Customer Service reps for a week.

- – - – -

-Edit 25th September 2008-

Was told that my number will be ported by Monday, Tuesday the latest. I didn’t have time to call TPG on Tuesday and got home too late from work to call on Wednesday.
Number hasn’t been ported, sim is inactive.

My brother’s TPG arrived in 3 days AND he’s already activated it. How happy do I feel?… You can only guess…

TPG were nice enough to call today, just as I arrived home from work (good timing!), to tell me that the number wasn’t ported because the DOB I provided is wrong (bad news!). And this is the point where my happy positive energy from work started draining.

  1. Called Optus to work out what’s the problem, they tell me that I wasn’t the person who activated the Optus sim that I’ve been using since I’ve had a mobile, so I can’t be told anything
  2. I deduct that it might be under Dad’s name and tell dad to call Optus
  3. I called TPG back and they transfer me to some other department, they put me on hold and the proceeded to HANG UP on me
  4. I call TPG back and they transfer me again, only for me to be put on HOLD to be transfered AGAIN……… AND THEY HANG UP AGAIN!
    • At the same time, Dad calls me back to tell me that he doesn’t have access to it either. He suggested my sister.
  5. I call my sister up and tell her to call Optus.
  6. Optus calls my mobile (the very same one we’re trying to verify), they tell me again that it’s not me or my mum.
  7. So it’s not me, not mum, dad or my sister. We get my brother to call.
  8. The TPG guy calls me up again to tell me the other DOB I gave him was wrong and when I tell him my dilemma he gives me another number to call
  9. Another call to Optus finally tells me the sim is under my Dad’s name… How the hell did he not get it the first time? I don’t know
    • At the same time bro tells calls back to confirm the fact…

2.5hrs later I’m back in square one, waiting for my sim to be activated….

How do I feel? Completely drained and hating how systematized our world is…

- – - – -

-Edit 28th September 2008-

Finally I can use my phone!~ The first day I wasn’t able to send or receive sms or mms so it was a bit inconvenient, but a girl from TPG called me up to inform me that my sim hasn’t been activated because of the wrong DOB… which was incorrect information obviously. But I was glad they called because I was then able to get my mobile working properly without having to call them up and go through the whole process again!

So to wrap it all up, I guess I would say that TPG is crap when it comes to re-issuing a sim but their technical support is pretty efficient if you can actually get through to them.

Category: Reviews  Tags: , , , ,  3 Comments
End of Romantic Princess
02
August

princess hoursJust recently, I found 公主小妹 (Romantic Princess) on CETV1 as well as Princess Hours =) I previously watched a couple of episodes of Princess Hours, but it was the female lead, Yoon Eun Hye, which made me want to watch it again. She’s the same girl from Coffee Prince and there’s just something about her which makes me like her.

Anyway, I just wanted to rant about 公主小妹(Romantic Princess) because I actually watched the ending of this very short Taiwan drama and was left extremely disappointed. Of all the different types of endings they could have had, the last episode of 公主小妹 was definitely one of the worst ones I’ve seen!

*Spoiler Alert*

Romantic PrincessInstead of leaving me smiling and feeling happy, crying my eyes out or even satisfied, 公主小妹 (Romantic Princess) left me with thoughts of how stupid the characters were. I mean, the characters were all making it seem like Xiao Mai leaving for 3years was a life or death event, and that it would be a tragedy if Jin didn’t see her before she left. She’s an heiress for goodness sake! How can she not be able to afford a plane ticket within those 3years?

I don’t think the director or whoever was in charge realised that the last impression is just as important as the first impression.

Romantic PrincessIf they repeat Romantic Princess 公主小妹 on another channel, I’m going to attempt to watch those episodes I’ve missed. I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe, those missed episodes make a difference to how I view the ending….

- – - – - -

P.S. I’m pretty disappointed at the lack of English subtitles for Romantic Princess found at YesAsia!! They’ve got Japanese subtitles, as well as both traditional and simplified Chinese but NO English???

P.P.S. I’m starting to notice a strong trend with these drama’s that I enjoy so much. They all seem to be based on a manga / manhwa / comic! No wonder I’m such a sucker for these dramas… I can still think of a few mangas which I’ve read that I would like to see in Live Action, I have a feeling I won’t have to wait too long at this rate =P

Category: Drama & Movies, Reviews  Tags: , ,  3 Comments
Hana Kimi – Drama or Manga?
24
July


hana kimi manga
When I was going through my Manga (comic) phase, gobbling up all the manga I could get my hands on, I stumbled across Hanazakari no Kimitachi E (For You in Full Blossom or better known as Hana Kimi) by Hisaya Nakajo. And I have to say that Hana Kimi is definitely still one of my favourite comics because I can’t resist these romantic comedy story lines which are full of fluff and the beautiful artwork. I suppose it’s also because Hana Kimi is such a typical Japanese story, so much like a fairytale and full of things we deem not possible (or at least very unlikely).

When I first started reading Hana Kimi, I didn’t like Sano the main male lead, because of his lack of emotions and expression. But in reality, that’s exactly how some people are… all emo… and I personally think it just makes it even sweeter to see Mizuki bring his personality out. Nakatsu is another character I grew to like, he’s a complete opposite to Sano. Where Sano is calm, cool and collected, Nakatsu is full of energy and emotion and comical expressions.

hana kimi taiwan drama
So when I stumbled across the Taiwan tv drama version of Hana Kimi (花样少年少女 Hanazakarino Kimitachihe) when I was shopping in Dalian, I just couldn’t resist – I had to buy it!!

The good thing about the Taiwan drama is that they follow the Manga pretty accurately, I really hate it when movies based on novels or what not are completely killed because they’ve made so many changes to the storyline. I’m a strong believer that the novel is better than the movie because a novel gives readers so much more detail which you can’t find in a 1-2hour movie.

That much said, obviously the original Hana Kimi story was changed – they cut the 23 volume Hana Kimi Manga down to around about the first 9-10 volumes. I found the drama to be a a little too condense….If they didn’t change and cut the storyline with the photographer, I think it would have clarified it a lot more. Without the extra information, viewers would think that the photographer was just thrown in for the hell of extending the series…

hana kimiAlthough Hana Kimi it’s a fairy good fluffy drama, I personally found it a bit TOO unrealistic to be a Live Action Drama. It’s one thing to have a fairytale on paper, but completely another thing to have it played out on screen. BUT I still found it as great entertainment, I liked the cast (mainly Ella – Mizuki, Chun – Sano and Jiro – Nakatsu) and it’s good for me to practise my Chinese =P

Watching drama or movies in Mandarin is classified as Studying!

Category: Drama & Movies, Reviews  Tags: , , ,  2 Comments
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