First night out at the Kitten Club

Arthurs Seat Maze
We were meant to be pointing at the cows on the hill
Birthday breakfast @ Cafe Sweethearts, Sth Melbourne
Tram Ride into the City

Late lunch at the Dumpling place in Chinatown
Grandma Kimchi, Carnegie
She got way too excited when it came to the cake

My long weekend at Philip Island/Mornington Peninsula

The girl has came and gone. The past week was definitely a fun-filled, food-filled, adventurous, although a lil tiring but still enjoyable and memorable experience with my yet-to-be-officially-confirmed-possibly-maybe-cousin, Constance.

Our lil road trip started with breakfast at South Melbourne. She had her scrambled eggs w/smoked salmon, Weng Yu had his egg(s) benedict while I had my Spanish poached eggs w/tomatoes. *yum* The weather definitely didn't start off too well as it showered throughout our breakfast & drive to Philip Island. Thanks to our lucky stars that the rain settled down by the time we went to catch the Penguin Parade. Some advise to those who are looking forward to see penguins at Philip Island:

1. You are there to see Fairy Penguins, which happen to be the smallest penguins around. So if you're expecting to see Emperor Penguins, either get yourself a ticket to the Antartica or to watch March of the Penguins to prevent dissapointment
2. PLEASE pay an extra $10 for the premium entry - I promise you it's worth every cent!
   For just an extra $10, you'd pretty much get to see most of the penguins that come onshore. Should you decide to be thrifty, then don't complain about just seeing one or two penguins 'coz those couple of penguins are the "wonderers" which decides to go astray from the rest

We headed to Mornington Peninsula the next day - down to somewhere I can't remember where it's called, then to a market, and then to Arthurs Seat before heading to Red Hill. The highlight: Arthurs Seat Maze.

Came Monday, it was the girl's birthday. Breakfast at Cafe Sweetheards, Sth Melbourne. A visit to the Melbourne Aquarium (it was dissapointingly small). A ride on the tram into the City. Late lunch at the dodgy dumpling place in Chinatown (it's cheap, so we shouldn't complain too much). Went to Allans to settle my piano (nope. It's not here yete ... somewhere on some ship in some ocean at the moment). Home. Dinner @ Kim Chi and MI3 @ Chadstone.

Tuesday: I finally tried dim sum @ the Red Emperor, Southgate. It was pretty good. Not spectacular. But I'd say a lil better than average if only I wasn't feeling that constipated. Trust me when I say I'm "over food"!! The egg tarts were brilliant though. If you're a big egg tart fan, don't miss going to the Red Emperor although Dad insisted that the best egg tarts he ever had was at Taipan, Doncaster. That was pretty much the time I had to spend with Constance & Weng Yu 'coz my tummy just wouldn't permit me to have anymore food intake. :(

I hope she did have the time of her life here (I have to admit that I am a rather poor tour guide). Have a pleasant flight back to KL & the UK !!! ... Photos to be up soon ...

After 7.5 years ...

I am finally ready to put my foot down and say "I think I'm ready to settle down here" and hence, explains the purchase of my piano today. Mom offered to ship mine over from home but 1) it's too much of a hassle, 2) I doubt Dad will allow it. He says that the piano is a piece of furniture that fits into our home back in KL and 3) I think my piano at home is crapped out 'coz Mom refuse to listen to my pleas to have it tuned. I haven't touched my piano in KL for awhile now ... it's really out of tune.

I was going to buy a Yamaha U-series but it was going to set me back too much and I don't want to settle for the C-series as it's assembled in Indonesia. Call me a bias, but even if it's going to be a third the price, I don't want it. It took me half an hour to toss between buying what I got - an upright Kawai K-60E or the Kawai Baby Grand (which was surprisingly cheaper than the upright). Due to space and lift constraints (flashback: my Freedom 3-seater couch episode), I bought the upright. *whoaho* I'm excited!

The bad side is, I'm not too sure if I can still read and play as well as I used to. *covers my face*

Egg-ed out

I'm officially egg-ed out - two rounds of seafood souffle in less than seven days .... anyone would !

On a different note, Varekai opens in Melbourne April 19th next year. Tickets will be on sale May 8th (Monday) so be quick before the good seats are gone, everyone!