No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (57-60/50)

As always, food features prominently in all my trips away.

Went to Pancakes on the Rocks in Sydney because although I've been to Sydney plenty of times, I have never actually been to this restaurant.  The buttermilk pancakes were pretty good but that's about it.

Zest Restaurant in Port Stephens. Very good, except for the risotto. I've been disappointed 3 times in a row in various restaurants - I think I'm never ordering that dish ever again. I'm not sure if it's because I like my risotto really firm or is everyone just making congee?

New Shanghai in Chatswood. Yummy.

Bub's Famous Fish and Chips in Nelson Bay, supposedly Award Winning. The batter they used was pretty good, but the chips were very ordinary and so was everything else to be honest. The Victorian winner, Fish In A Flash wins hands down.

No. 3 - Own A Home

I did it. I bought a piece of Melbourne.

A tiny piece, but a piece nonetheless.

I'm sure I'm going to be happy here.

My 101 List Is Not Enough

Decided to pack my Port Stephens trip to the max and as much as possible. Seeing there were so many new experiences to be had, I realize that my current 101 list doesn't fit them all! Mainly because a few were a tad more ambitious than what I thought I would go for in 1001 days. Anyway, I'm counting them as items and will be deciding whether to:

• Make it 150 in 1505 days
• Start a new 101 list that will overlap the current one

Anyway, first things first. I went parasailing!

It was surprisingly not as scary as I thought it would be - a very smooth and silent flight over the bay - amazing views. You don't even get wet - they let you off from the boat and you land back on the boat. Would love to do it again sometime.

Also went on a camel ride over the sand dunes and along the beach. Very similar to horse riding, except slower. Pleasant.

Also went to a Shark and Ray center where you could put on a one size fits all (it's true - it really does fit all!) suit that keeps you bone dry while you wade waist deep in pools full of rays and sharks and feed them. Didn't take many photos because I didn't want to get my camera all fishy and wet, but it was quite enjoyable. One of the rays was about 2m wide and very friendly.

Also climbed up a hill - am very proud to say that I got to the top of it without having to stop. The view from the top was totally worth the climb! I'm not sure why I'm working in Benalla - I should be on the coast somewhere so that this is in my backyard.

Last but not least, we went fishing! I don't have pictures of my catch because I didn't want to touch any of my belongings when my hands were all fishy and baity. Which in hindsight now is kind of a shame. Anyway, my haul wasn't that great although I was happy to have caught anything at all. Caught 3 yellowtails, about 20-25cm long.

Fishing I realize, requires a lot of skill. Half the time I wasn't even sure if it was a bite or not. Also, the sea was pretty rough - I think if I go fishing again it'll either be from the shore or on a lake. Nonetheless, an experience to remember.

After that jam packed weekend of non stop activities, all very uncharacteristic of me (most of you would know that I'm usually a very sedentary sort of person who would really rather stay clean and dry) I think I have found my inner sporty person.

Yes, she exists. Somewhere. Very deep down.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (53-54/50)

When we found out that Eaglehawk had an award baking bakery that made a vanilla slice that was the runner up to the Tatura Vanilla Slice, we knew we had to go and try it out.

Conclusion? The Tatura Vanilla Slice is still the best vanilla slice I've ever tasted. Their Whipstick Pie however, was really quite good and well deserving of their Gold Medal. Definitely comparable to Parker Pies in Rutherglen.

Straight after that we headed to the Boardwalk, which was situated right on the lake in Bendigo. Lovely view and the food was also yummy! 

It seems like all we do every time we travel is look for food. Well, it's true.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (52/50)

Spent a night out in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and was told by my friend that there's a pretty good Malaysian restaurant in that area and we should go check it out.

Me: What is it called?

Friend: Petaling Street.

Except he pronounced it petal-ing street. As in, the petal of a flower, followed by -ing. I cracked up laughing.

My friends make fun of my Malaysian accent all the time I felt it was only fair that I got to ridicule theirs for once.

Here we are, extremely excited to be confronted with Malaysian food.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (51/50)

Baileys is a winery in Glenrowan set in a very pretty part of the country. The buildings are really old and rustic as well.

The food however, is rather mediocre. Don't think I'll go back there again anytime soon. Brown Brother's or Gapsted for me any time.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (25-27/30)

More evidence that spring has sprung.

Did you know that I learned colors by eating Froot Loops when I was young? Walked down memory lane yesterday by buying one of  those 6 pack tiny boxes of cereal. Way too much sugar and very artificial - don't think I'll be eating it anytime soon again.

And finally - finally - after procrastinating for ages and ages and ages I have managed to put up black and white prints of Milton in my surgery. Looks good, even if I do say so myself.

3 more days to go...I can do this!!

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (49/50)

I was in Echuca a couple of months ago and we headed to their award winning fish and chip shop - Fish In A Flash.

It is so greasy and good! 

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (48/50)

Tatura Hot Bread. I am devoting a whole post to it because their vanilla slice is absolutely to die for.

Yes, we make detours to Tatura just to get these amazing slices of goodness. Love it. If you are ever in the region, this is a must go!

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (47/50)

I love my meat (doubt I could ever go vegetarian) but a few weeks ago I headed to Vegie Hut in Box Hill for the full fake meat experience.

The food was inexpensive and the variety of soy based meats was pretty impressive. I personally ordered sweet and sour pork and they got the texture pretty right there. 

Only problem with vegetarian meat is that there's always this aftertaste that I don't particularly like.

Real meat for me.

No. 82 - Run 5km

Anyone who knows me fairly well would know that my fitness level is at 0 on the scale of 0-100.

Anyway, I've decided that this is the year I will somehow get myself to run 5km. Have semi-started training now that the weather is warming up a little.

Am currently at the grand total of 250m before I have to slow down to a brisk walk. I kid you not I really am that unfit.

Will post periodically as I hit my milestones.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (46/50)

Mart 130 is a breakfast place right on the tram tracks next to Albert Park. We headed over there a few weeks ago for breakfast and bumped into my ex-housemate from Singapore! What are the odds of that?

It's a very popular breakfast place so we had to wait to get a table. Food was good - pretty standard breakfast stuff. 

Would probably not be dying to go back there anytime soon, but not adverse to it either.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (10/30)

Every minute, every second, every hour of the day

Iyiyi

Every hour of the day

Iyiyi

Everytime that I'm away

Iyiyi

Missing you, missing you

Every moment that is stolen, it can never be replaced

Iyiyi

Even if it's for a day

Iyiyi

I'm a text you up to say

Iyiyi

Missing you, missing you

No. 73 - Get To Know 5 New People

I am pleased to announce that I have managed to get to know 5 new people.

Crossing that off the list.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (6/30)

What is it like to be a dog, I wonder? 

I think Milton's main hardship in life is the fact that he has to stay at home alone when we're away at work. Other than that, I think his life is pretty cushy.

He doesn't have to do anything but come when he's called and the occasional trick or two.

Lucky little thing.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (5/30)

I have a habit of buying USB keys and losing them 2 weeks later. 

It doesn't matter how careful I am with them - they somehow just seem to walk away.

Here's my newest one which will no doubt join the rest of my family of USB keys who have abandoned me.

No. 22 - Take A Photo A Day For 30 Days (1/30)

I've been putting off this item on my 101 list because I figured that my life isn't that exciting that I can churn out 30 exciting photos in 30 boring days.

Housemate pointed out that I could take photos of mundane things too and talk about it. Which is what I've decided to do.

I've been wearing contact lenses since I was about 14. I remember when I first wanted to switch from glasses to contact lenses I had to beg my parents to let me do it. It was seen as a risky thing to do - what if you get an eye infection and end up blind? Because you know, that's what happened to so-and-so's daughter.

Anyway, I finally wore my parents down with my perpetual whining and got my way in the end. 10 years on, I went to the local chemist and realized that Renu's contact lens solution now comes in clear bottles.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I can see the froth, and I don't like seeing froth much.

The Wake Up At 7am Challenge

It was my intention to get up bright and early at 7am today and make the most of my morning off.

Except when the alarm clock rang at 7am, I honestly could not be bothered.

It wasn't like I was sleep deprived and couldn't get up. If anything, I've probably been oversleeping for the past year or so. But I just could not get myself out of bed.

I did everything people suggest you do to stick to it. Make a list of things you're going to do with your extra time in the morning (bathe Milton, cook, clean, wash, tidy). Decide the night before that you are going to get up. Give yourself a reward for sticking to it.

Didn't happen.

Will try again tomorrow morning.

No. 53 - Take A Photo An Hour For 12 Hours Straight

Went to Warrnambool over the weekend and decided to complete this item so that I could tick it off my extensive list.

Had a really good time there. A more detailed post will follow.

No. 44 - Eat At 50 New Eateries (36/50)

One of my childhood friends visited Melbourne and I had the honor of showing them around.

Brought them to my favourite haunts - Koko Black and Cacao. Can never go wrong with them.



Disregard the San Churro chai latte - that was with another friend that I met up with just to have a catch up session.

Brought them for dinner at Scusami on Southbank.



We had an amazing table - really good view. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the food. Very mediocre - I will not dine there again.

In all, I had a really good time meeting up with friends who weren't at all connected to the dental world for once. Because yes, the vast majority of my friends now are dentists. Not that there's anything wrong with that - but sometimes it's nice to have an entire conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with teeth. Very refreshing.