I've never had so many people reply to my Insta Story of 'What? You're in India!?' Same reaction as when my parents told their friends I'm in India (and same reaction from the pharmacist and doctor back in Sydney lol).
Went to India with some ppl from different churches visiting an orphanage and sort of like a cultural experience of rural India. Sort of like mission but not mission. The place we stayed was sheltered from 'real India' so the air was a tiny bit cleaner, but water pressure was really weak that it was my first time doing bucket showers.
It was really an eye opening experience. Visiting towns where the don't have running water, and handing out those Operation Christmas shoe boxes to them, opening a church with our name on it, and BW and I now have our 2nd sponsor kid.
Seeing where our money went to help fund churches/schools/colleges/hospitals and just essentials to kids. If an orphanage has beds, it's a luxury, even though the kids were squished together. Just playing with the kids or giving simple things like a very cheap packet of biscuits really makes their world and melts your heart. $10 water park entry fee means nothing to us, but a lifetime of memories for them. Even if the slides are dodgy metal stuff/rusty, or the ferris wheel and rollercoasters look like it's about to break apart. $2aud in India vs $50aud for high ropes since in Aus we have insurance, and India has loose harnesses...
We are alll so over spoilt in the Western world with clean water and pretty much anything. A maccas burger is equivalent to one day or one week wage of people who don't like in the cities. There are heaps of villages with cement building and palm leaves roofs who don't go anywhere except farm or stay in their villages to survive, or they trek really far away to work. $1aud in India can get you 2 ice cream and 2 soft drinks, whereas in Aus, you can get 1/4 of an ice cream. The Western dollars really do have a lot of buying power in India, where everything is dirt cheap, except for the airport where stuff is like internationally priced. Majority of Indians travel are very, very rich. Even having an old car in India and you're considered rich.
So once again, going to compile some thoughts here:
- 2 weeks of using bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. So much plastic wasted. These bottled water aren't from springs or mountains, they're just filtered water, but over half of India doesn't even have access to proper water...Anyways, pretty much if you're a tourist, bottled water it is cause it's been treated/filtered
- India is so dusty and dirty, with soooo much smog. If you have been to cities like HK, NYC in the summer and think that air is bad, India is 10x worse. When we were in NYC going to SF we were like fresh air, India is soooo bad everyday. Apple weather reporting every day it's 'unhealthy air quality.' Pretty sure if you were asthmatic, you would suffocate. They also burn their rubbish everyday on the streets. The place we stayed at were more of a controlled burning, but on the streets it's literally fires everywhere with smoke and ash
- Burning rubbish is illegal but no one cares cause actual landfills cost too much in labour, so burning is easier. Imagine smelling burnt plastic and bush fire everyday. Whenever we got driven out onto the streets, I immediately started coughing
- Streets are so dusty as well. India in general. My shoes went from black to literally dirt brown coloured
- Streets are filled with sooo much rubbish
- Everyday is a struggle to connect to 3G, most of the time I had E (although I shouldn't really be on the internet lol)
- So sick of curry and chicken. The food we had was very well controlled and cooked with bottled water, but it did get repetitive. They have quite a few diff types of long grain rice to go with it, with diff sort of bread things, but towards the end we just wanted other meat. Hindus don't eat beed, Muslims don't eat cow, fish and lamb/goat aren't really accessible...
- Maccas and other restaurants/fast food have very seperate places/lines to cook veg and non veg
- There was a massive lack of fresh fruit and veggies in India, it just like doesn't exist...
- Got sick on the second week, probs lack of hygiene from the kids, bad air, lack of proper nutritious food
- Got food poisoning in Delhi from chicken curry. Worst food poisoning ever. Ended up throwing up on the plane 5hr into 8hr flight on the 2nd flight. BW had it worse for the 2nd flight. Other ppl had it on the 1st flight. Didn't help my immune system was already down. It's been 5 days and I still don't feel hunger. Literally only eaten a few bites of congee or one slice of white bread everyday for the past few days. Never had food poisoning before, and just so happens to be when we're travelling to Delhi.
- Taj Mahal was very nice in person, but imo a bit of a waste to bury someone there rather than live in it. It was also the cleanest place in India and most expensive attraction fee, but once you step outside the entrance, it's back to crazy cars and people haggling you to buy
- Bribing people like Police is real in India, heard of stories for people to like cover deaths or incidents. Even inside the Taj, 'officially' you weren't allowed to take photos with other people's camera, but then I saw the guards taking photos and some notes in their hands...so yeah, can just pay them and you can take photos inside. It's so corrupt, and I'm sure I'm just scratching the surface
- The air was really dry, my hand started peeling like it did on the way to Europe
- First time wearing a saree, all held by one safety pin.
- Apart from India being the dirtiest place I visited, I think it's the interactions with other people which made it worthwhile
Monday, February 4, 2019
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Europe Round 2 - Grad Trip
Back from my grad trip last week, and heading off this week. Felt a bit bit jet lagged since I slept during waking Sydney hours instead of sleeping at a normal time when I got back. Defs new experiences this time round (both highs and lows).
Won't ever have the opportunity to travel during Christmas/New Years ever again until I retire. Whilst other people have company shut downs, our bookings increase towards the end of the year. Thankful I was able to have the opportunity and finances to go, since after America preceptorship which I spent 5 figures (enough to buy a car), and this trip wasn't cheap either, especially with the low dollar. Can't believe managed to coordinate a trip with my Mum and then BW for the second half, also how my mum Managed to change 3 planes in between 3 countries to navigate back to Sydney without missing a plane (even if she almost missed it). Now I know my Mum can change planes by herself if she has to.
First time moving around between different countries in a short time period. Spent just under 4 weeks in Europe, and some cities just around 2 nights. Shoutout to BW for tagging along and following my hectic itinerary (although not as hectic as previous trips). Also first time not planning everything. Thanks to BW for helping plan the 2nd half of the trip, and figuring transport since I didn't have enough time to plan since had 3 days between exams and flying out.
As usual, there's no way I can blog about each day and all the food I consumed. I ate less than the previous trip where I had about 6 places a day. This time, there wasn't a real standout city/thing, I enjoyed them all differently. There was a lot more history and scenery to look at, rather than continuously eating. There was no free tap water at all. Even in Paris and other cities I travelled to Europe before, there was free tap water. Since I went to less museums and food places this time, there was less free toilets. Also, shopping centres don't really exist in the places I went to. It was a lot harder to find free toilets this time round. There's generally less tourist around winter time, so some stuff tends to be closed. Also slight culture shock at the lack of English they use on signs and restaurants etc. Loved going to all these non English (well not main language) countries that I've never visited before.
Switzerland: Zurich, Lucerne
- Yes, everything is expensive, but not crazily expensive that I feel like I couldn't eat anything. Some things were similar to Sydney prices (well Syd isn't cheap to begin with)
- Crossing roads were a bit hazardous. There are cars, trams and buses but no crossing light. You just cross and the cars would then slow down for you
- Air so clean, like SF, they use electric buses
- Never have seen so many Audis, BMWs, Mercedes in my life before, even the police drive BMWs and taxis are Mercedes. Rich country storing a large chunk of the world's money with German made cars I guess
- Their tap water is nice, probs from the Alps
- Restaurant food consists of pretty much cheese fondue and raclette. You pretty much pay $40aud dipping bread into cheese. It was really nice and my first raclette experience (the waiter had to teach us how to use the equipment lol), but still exxy for cheese
- They have hardly any meat. There aren't any supermarkets, only small 'express' supermarkets. Didn't see a butcher, but saw a place which had half preserved meats and tiny bit of fresh meet. Iirc, beef was over $100/kg, for 'basic' beef
- First few days were pretty cloudy with some light rain, but on the day I planned to go the the Swiss Alps, we were blessed with cloudless skies and reeeeallly good weather
- Top of Europe train ticket/entry was $250aud, my jaw dropped when I first was doing research online. It was so worth the money once at the top! The view at the top was insanely beautiful. The train trip there was just as beautiful. For the whole 2 hour train ride, snow capped mountains are always in sight. The lakes look so peaceful as well. The scenery of the Alps is probably my favourite so far. The mountains are better than Queenstown, Yosemite and Mt Fuji. Don't get me wrong, those places are still amazing, but the Alps just win by a little bit. I love seeing God's creation both near and far
They also had diff Lindt flavour chocolates there in that shop, and also a cool ice sculpture park
- Day before went to Mt Pilatus where it was super cloudy, but still cool since it was snowing and the cable car ride up was super scenic, like a winter wonderland with so many big pine trees
- They have free and clear public toilets around
Italy
Florence
- Felt so dodgy walking around the streets, immediate change from streets of Switzerland. There were a lot a beggars whereas didn't see any in Switzerland...and people at night just seemed more dangerous
- Roads are super squishy and you walk really close to cars
- So many towers/domes to climb up and stairs everywhere, but the whole city is walkable by foot since there's no public transport within the main area, and views are really nice walking up
- Nice orangey buildings when you walk to the top, every building top is the same, and with the sunset over the city is so pretty
Rome
- I hate Italian police. Started Rome off with one expensive bus fine. So I bought these tourist passes which include unlimited public transport for 3 days and 2 museums. These passes tap on to work, and we tapped on the bus. Then transport officers came and took our passports and issued a fine immediately. They said we didn't tap on and didn't activate our cards. Well, if the bus tapping machine wasn't broken then it's not our fault. But when you're in another country there's no point arguing since they took your passport and can jail you up or worse, can not leave the country and under Italian authority. On the buses there was an ad of a person being handcuffed and even though the ad was in Italian, you can tell it was about people who don't pay for public transport get jailed. Later we Googled this and it's quite common for them to target tourists on public transport. Also makes sense why the night before when we arrived we saw some police looking at tourists passports in the metro. We went on other buses with broken tap on machines so then exited early and decided to walk just in case of another fine. Locals use the old school dip tickets (remember those on our buses before Opal came in)
- Apart from that, I loved Roman architecture. So many ruins and so cool to see stuff BC
- Pasta and pizza everywhere was so good. Fav was That's Amoré, we went back twice
- So much gelato everyday. Last 2 days went to 3 gelato places, oops. Never too cold for ice cream
- Also cool to just walk into another country to Vatican City. However, it's just sad knowing the history of how they managed to hoard so much stuff by getting people to 'pay the Pope' in hope of good fortune...
- Paid toilets here are the worst, so didn't go lol
- Was 'museumed out' after Italy, especially cause all the sculptures looked the same
Germany: Berlin
- Arrived on Christmas Eve, and since from here on in I didn't do any research until I got to the city, we didn't realise everything closes from 2pm, event the Christmas markets. Luckily Burger King was open, although it accepted cash only (crazy how the Germans invented so many things, but Germany was the country we encountered the most 'cash only' places)
- BW most definitely gave me a good history lesson about the Cold War. Crazy how this stuff didn't happen that long ago
- Christmas in Berlin was amazing, with the Christmas markets and the whole vibe. Although it didn't snow (#globalwarming) it was really the memories and the company which just made the whole Christmas day extra special and memorable
- Shops were also closed on Boxing Day even though all the sales signs were already set up on the 24th, but they reopen on the 27th so didn't manage to get any sales.
- Slowest airport security meant we missed our flight. They schedule like 20 budget airplanes to depart within an hour, so airport security couldn't handle all the people. Plus, only one person checked X-ray, so they had to stop the machine every time they dug through people's bags. I even got frisked 3 times even though I was wearing a t-shirt with pocketless tights. It was soooo inefficient. 10 other people also missed our flight, and other people on other planes also missed their flight. The office also had heaps of luggage from flights on previous days, it's common to miss a flight in a budget airline esp in Europe. That's why I don't fly budget airline for international flights...
- Thank goodness Europe is also connected by land and we managed to secure bus tickets on the same day to our next destination, since I had a tour booked the next day so had to arrive before then
Poland: Krakow
- Luckily there's not much to do in this tiny town, so even though we lost a day it wasn't a massive difference since we walked through the town at night and on the 3rd day there
- Main reason coming here was for Auschwitz. It's just so crazy what happened to millions of people. Went to the concentration camps and saw the gas chambers and living conditions. All the lies they told to people they were coming here for a new life and had to undress and 'shower' before entering the camp, and all the innocent people believed them, but in reality they were showered with gas. There was a room filled with 35 000 ladies hair and one of the rooms you couldn't take a photo of, but it's just so crazy at the atrocities that happened
- There was also a salt mine as part of the tour, which was pretty cool how they carved sculptures, made an underground chapel and also a recreation of 'The Last Supper'
- Felt so rich here since everything was so cheap. Even the fanciest restaurant with 16th century recipes in a 17th century building (funny how Aus wasn't even founded then), was about $80au for 2 people. Also first time trying deer which as expected, is a bit gamey and a little tough even though cooked rare-medium
Austria: Vienna
- I literally wanted to come to Vienna for the Original Sacher Torte. I'm not a big fan of chocolate cakes, and it was nice but not mind blowing. Still intentionally over ordered since I wanted to try everything. The decor there is amazing
- So many cakes/desserts, also schnitzels which melt in your mouth rather than the typical bread crumb stuff you get in places in Sydney
- Vienna is new enough to have a good metro system, big lifts yet old and grand enough with all the architecture, history and heaps of fancy palaces
- Things were about a little bit more expensive then Syd prices
- NYE here was so cool. The whole city gets blocked off from cars and then the streets become 'dance streets'. There are stages with different genres of music like classical/couple waltz, EDM, pop music etc Never danced with so many strangers on the streets before. The fireworks were alright, but I like how they paired it with Austrian classics like Danube Waltz
So much more to say but this post was a lot longer than intended...thankful for the opportunity and people God placed in my life to make this grad trip happen. Travelled so much in the past year that I now how Silver FF status lol. Just took a trip to NZ, America and Europe...defs won't be able to maintain that status, unless I do 2 mini trips every where to different sides of the world...should start preparing for next trip.
Won't ever have the opportunity to travel during Christmas/New Years ever again until I retire. Whilst other people have company shut downs, our bookings increase towards the end of the year. Thankful I was able to have the opportunity and finances to go, since after America preceptorship which I spent 5 figures (enough to buy a car), and this trip wasn't cheap either, especially with the low dollar. Can't believe managed to coordinate a trip with my Mum and then BW for the second half, also how my mum Managed to change 3 planes in between 3 countries to navigate back to Sydney without missing a plane (even if she almost missed it). Now I know my Mum can change planes by herself if she has to.
First time moving around between different countries in a short time period. Spent just under 4 weeks in Europe, and some cities just around 2 nights. Shoutout to BW for tagging along and following my hectic itinerary (although not as hectic as previous trips). Also first time not planning everything. Thanks to BW for helping plan the 2nd half of the trip, and figuring transport since I didn't have enough time to plan since had 3 days between exams and flying out.
As usual, there's no way I can blog about each day and all the food I consumed. I ate less than the previous trip where I had about 6 places a day. This time, there wasn't a real standout city/thing, I enjoyed them all differently. There was a lot more history and scenery to look at, rather than continuously eating. There was no free tap water at all. Even in Paris and other cities I travelled to Europe before, there was free tap water. Since I went to less museums and food places this time, there was less free toilets. Also, shopping centres don't really exist in the places I went to. It was a lot harder to find free toilets this time round. There's generally less tourist around winter time, so some stuff tends to be closed. Also slight culture shock at the lack of English they use on signs and restaurants etc. Loved going to all these non English (well not main language) countries that I've never visited before.
Switzerland: Zurich, Lucerne
- Yes, everything is expensive, but not crazily expensive that I feel like I couldn't eat anything. Some things were similar to Sydney prices (well Syd isn't cheap to begin with)
- Crossing roads were a bit hazardous. There are cars, trams and buses but no crossing light. You just cross and the cars would then slow down for you
- Air so clean, like SF, they use electric buses
- Never have seen so many Audis, BMWs, Mercedes in my life before, even the police drive BMWs and taxis are Mercedes. Rich country storing a large chunk of the world's money with German made cars I guess
- Their tap water is nice, probs from the Alps
- Restaurant food consists of pretty much cheese fondue and raclette. You pretty much pay $40aud dipping bread into cheese. It was really nice and my first raclette experience (the waiter had to teach us how to use the equipment lol), but still exxy for cheese
- They have hardly any meat. There aren't any supermarkets, only small 'express' supermarkets. Didn't see a butcher, but saw a place which had half preserved meats and tiny bit of fresh meet. Iirc, beef was over $100/kg, for 'basic' beef
- First few days were pretty cloudy with some light rain, but on the day I planned to go the the Swiss Alps, we were blessed with cloudless skies and reeeeallly good weather
- Top of Europe train ticket/entry was $250aud, my jaw dropped when I first was doing research online. It was so worth the money once at the top! The view at the top was insanely beautiful. The train trip there was just as beautiful. For the whole 2 hour train ride, snow capped mountains are always in sight. The lakes look so peaceful as well. The scenery of the Alps is probably my favourite so far. The mountains are better than Queenstown, Yosemite and Mt Fuji. Don't get me wrong, those places are still amazing, but the Alps just win by a little bit. I love seeing God's creation both near and far
They also had diff Lindt flavour chocolates there in that shop, and also a cool ice sculpture park
- Day before went to Mt Pilatus where it was super cloudy, but still cool since it was snowing and the cable car ride up was super scenic, like a winter wonderland with so many big pine trees
- They have free and clear public toilets around
Italy
Florence
- Felt so dodgy walking around the streets, immediate change from streets of Switzerland. There were a lot a beggars whereas didn't see any in Switzerland...and people at night just seemed more dangerous
- Roads are super squishy and you walk really close to cars
- So many towers/domes to climb up and stairs everywhere, but the whole city is walkable by foot since there's no public transport within the main area, and views are really nice walking up
- Nice orangey buildings when you walk to the top, every building top is the same, and with the sunset over the city is so pretty
Rome
- I hate Italian police. Started Rome off with one expensive bus fine. So I bought these tourist passes which include unlimited public transport for 3 days and 2 museums. These passes tap on to work, and we tapped on the bus. Then transport officers came and took our passports and issued a fine immediately. They said we didn't tap on and didn't activate our cards. Well, if the bus tapping machine wasn't broken then it's not our fault. But when you're in another country there's no point arguing since they took your passport and can jail you up or worse, can not leave the country and under Italian authority. On the buses there was an ad of a person being handcuffed and even though the ad was in Italian, you can tell it was about people who don't pay for public transport get jailed. Later we Googled this and it's quite common for them to target tourists on public transport. Also makes sense why the night before when we arrived we saw some police looking at tourists passports in the metro. We went on other buses with broken tap on machines so then exited early and decided to walk just in case of another fine. Locals use the old school dip tickets (remember those on our buses before Opal came in)
- Apart from that, I loved Roman architecture. So many ruins and so cool to see stuff BC
- Pasta and pizza everywhere was so good. Fav was That's Amoré, we went back twice
- So much gelato everyday. Last 2 days went to 3 gelato places, oops. Never too cold for ice cream
- Also cool to just walk into another country to Vatican City. However, it's just sad knowing the history of how they managed to hoard so much stuff by getting people to 'pay the Pope' in hope of good fortune...
- Paid toilets here are the worst, so didn't go lol
- Was 'museumed out' after Italy, especially cause all the sculptures looked the same
Germany: Berlin
- Arrived on Christmas Eve, and since from here on in I didn't do any research until I got to the city, we didn't realise everything closes from 2pm, event the Christmas markets. Luckily Burger King was open, although it accepted cash only (crazy how the Germans invented so many things, but Germany was the country we encountered the most 'cash only' places)
- BW most definitely gave me a good history lesson about the Cold War. Crazy how this stuff didn't happen that long ago
- Christmas in Berlin was amazing, with the Christmas markets and the whole vibe. Although it didn't snow (#globalwarming) it was really the memories and the company which just made the whole Christmas day extra special and memorable
- Shops were also closed on Boxing Day even though all the sales signs were already set up on the 24th, but they reopen on the 27th so didn't manage to get any sales.
- Slowest airport security meant we missed our flight. They schedule like 20 budget airplanes to depart within an hour, so airport security couldn't handle all the people. Plus, only one person checked X-ray, so they had to stop the machine every time they dug through people's bags. I even got frisked 3 times even though I was wearing a t-shirt with pocketless tights. It was soooo inefficient. 10 other people also missed our flight, and other people on other planes also missed their flight. The office also had heaps of luggage from flights on previous days, it's common to miss a flight in a budget airline esp in Europe. That's why I don't fly budget airline for international flights...
- Thank goodness Europe is also connected by land and we managed to secure bus tickets on the same day to our next destination, since I had a tour booked the next day so had to arrive before then
Poland: Krakow
- Luckily there's not much to do in this tiny town, so even though we lost a day it wasn't a massive difference since we walked through the town at night and on the 3rd day there
- Main reason coming here was for Auschwitz. It's just so crazy what happened to millions of people. Went to the concentration camps and saw the gas chambers and living conditions. All the lies they told to people they were coming here for a new life and had to undress and 'shower' before entering the camp, and all the innocent people believed them, but in reality they were showered with gas. There was a room filled with 35 000 ladies hair and one of the rooms you couldn't take a photo of, but it's just so crazy at the atrocities that happened
- There was also a salt mine as part of the tour, which was pretty cool how they carved sculptures, made an underground chapel and also a recreation of 'The Last Supper'
- Felt so rich here since everything was so cheap. Even the fanciest restaurant with 16th century recipes in a 17th century building (funny how Aus wasn't even founded then), was about $80au for 2 people. Also first time trying deer which as expected, is a bit gamey and a little tough even though cooked rare-medium
Austria: Vienna
- I literally wanted to come to Vienna for the Original Sacher Torte. I'm not a big fan of chocolate cakes, and it was nice but not mind blowing. Still intentionally over ordered since I wanted to try everything. The decor there is amazing
- So many cakes/desserts, also schnitzels which melt in your mouth rather than the typical bread crumb stuff you get in places in Sydney
- Vienna is new enough to have a good metro system, big lifts yet old and grand enough with all the architecture, history and heaps of fancy palaces
- Things were about a little bit more expensive then Syd prices
- NYE here was so cool. The whole city gets blocked off from cars and then the streets become 'dance streets'. There are stages with different genres of music like classical/couple waltz, EDM, pop music etc Never danced with so many strangers on the streets before. The fireworks were alright, but I like how they paired it with Austrian classics like Danube Waltz
So much more to say but this post was a lot longer than intended...thankful for the opportunity and people God placed in my life to make this grad trip happen. Travelled so much in the past year that I now how Silver FF status lol. Just took a trip to NZ, America and Europe...defs won't be able to maintain that status, unless I do 2 mini trips every where to different sides of the world...should start preparing for next trip.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Preceptorship: NYC, America
Survived 6 weeks in America! Literally flew by, but also was slow at times. Good to be back home.
I think I'm not going to blog food regularly/post food on insta until after my exams because there are so many things to do in between now and Nov.
Spent so much money, but worth the experiences since I'll never have a chance to go overseas for studies.
Quick summary.
New York
- Super humid in summer and subways smell so bad
- Managed to have lunch everyday since some ophthals were on holidays, so some days it was busy but not crazy like the May/June group.
- It was a really great experience seeing didn't eye conditions which you won't really see in Aus.
- Managed to live in a dodgy flooding/paint spitting/mouldy air con apartment.
- The charm of New York wasn't really there this time, maybe because the weather was just too hot and humid. We still prefer NYC>LA.
- Watched 4 musicals/plays, US open and first baseball game. Crazy crowds everywhere.
- Living there is just way too expensive. Like $1us for one tiny 'organic' plum.
San Francisco
- The air is so clean! Cleaner than Sydney, can understand why people would move there.
- Biking there was so lovely, esp with weather in the low 20s.
- Hybrid and electric cars, buses, trains, trams helps keep the air clean.
- Yosemite looks exactly like my wall paper irl.
Los Angeles
- Apart from Disney and Universal, LA was a bit of a disappointment. Hollywood etc is no where as glam as media portrays. People on the street always trying to sell you stuff.
- LA also doesn't feel safe at night, and public transport pretty much non existent, so we Lyft/Ubered everywhere.
- LA tap water tastes the weirdest, even after boiling. Ice helps to cover up the taste.
- Streets aren't that clean in in LA, which is surprising since less ppl walk on the streets compared to NYC (which have quite dirty streets).
Las Vegas
- Biggest hotels in the world imo. Takes like 10min to walk from the street through the front of the hotel into the lobby. Takes so long to walk through one hotel. Outside waiting area, average of 5 lanes for drop offs, where as in Sydney, it's all one lane drop offs.
- Everything is so extra.
- It's a desert, so there weren't any homeless people...
- Grand Canyon was amazing! Although it felt like we joined a retirement tour since the bus tour so many people were so old.
Didn't sleep during the day to fight off the jet lag, Eye Ball last night so disrupted sleep, and now CFEH tmr. Not looking forward to 8.30-6pm days everyday for the next 6 weeks. Although better than 6:45am starts and 4am wake ups in NYC. I should go do some prep for tmr, but so tired.
I think I'm not going to blog food regularly/post food on insta until after my exams because there are so many things to do in between now and Nov.
Spent so much money, but worth the experiences since I'll never have a chance to go overseas for studies.
Quick summary.
New York
- Super humid in summer and subways smell so bad
- Managed to have lunch everyday since some ophthals were on holidays, so some days it was busy but not crazy like the May/June group.
- It was a really great experience seeing didn't eye conditions which you won't really see in Aus.
- Managed to live in a dodgy flooding/paint spitting/mouldy air con apartment.
- The charm of New York wasn't really there this time, maybe because the weather was just too hot and humid. We still prefer NYC>LA.
- Watched 4 musicals/plays, US open and first baseball game. Crazy crowds everywhere.
- Living there is just way too expensive. Like $1us for one tiny 'organic' plum.
San Francisco
- The air is so clean! Cleaner than Sydney, can understand why people would move there.
- Biking there was so lovely, esp with weather in the low 20s.
- Hybrid and electric cars, buses, trains, trams helps keep the air clean.
- Yosemite looks exactly like my wall paper irl.
Los Angeles
- Apart from Disney and Universal, LA was a bit of a disappointment. Hollywood etc is no where as glam as media portrays. People on the street always trying to sell you stuff.
- LA also doesn't feel safe at night, and public transport pretty much non existent, so we Lyft/Ubered everywhere.
- LA tap water tastes the weirdest, even after boiling. Ice helps to cover up the taste.
- Streets aren't that clean in in LA, which is surprising since less ppl walk on the streets compared to NYC (which have quite dirty streets).
Las Vegas
- Biggest hotels in the world imo. Takes like 10min to walk from the street through the front of the hotel into the lobby. Takes so long to walk through one hotel. Outside waiting area, average of 5 lanes for drop offs, where as in Sydney, it's all one lane drop offs.
- Everything is so extra.
- It's a desert, so there weren't any homeless people...
- Grand Canyon was amazing! Although it felt like we joined a retirement tour since the bus tour so many people were so old.
Didn't sleep during the day to fight off the jet lag, Eye Ball last night so disrupted sleep, and now CFEH tmr. Not looking forward to 8.30-6pm days everyday for the next 6 weeks. Although better than 6:45am starts and 4am wake ups in NYC. I should go do some prep for tmr, but so tired.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Hobart RHH
A week after I got back from Melbourne, it was off to Hobart. I've been Tassie before last year on a spontaneous family trip, where I organised a trip for over 10 people, catering 1yo to 90+yo. It was a super short trip from Launceston to Hobart. This time I didn't rent a car since too expensive for just 2 people, and insurance cost a lot, so wasn't able to explore parts of Tassie which I didn't get to do last time, or go out at night and try to catch the Southern Lights (not that I missed any this week according to the fb group).
This was 100% the most relaxing placement ever, where you literally don't need to use your brain, and nothing is marked. Just observing, or doing VAs, IOPs and VFs together as a pair. Only the first day was busy, but Tues-Fri was pretty much finish between 11am-1pm, and then you only see 2-4 patients, and some days you just watch the optom do stuff. Probably not good to have something this chill at the end of the year since it doesn't stimulate your brain. It's nice to relax before internals next week, not that I can relax since I should study up for it but haven't yet...Not looking forward to 9am starts and 8pm finishes.
Some thoughts on Hobart:
- Royal Hobart Hospital has a specialist clinic building where the eye clinic is, it's relatively new and has a nice view from the 11th floor.
- I feel like they have a lot of funding since the iCare probs they use once for each patient, which is $1 a probe...but I guess it's a hospital so must be hygienic
- Hobart wasn't as 'dead' as I remembered. Maybe because I arrived on the weekend of a large winter festival Dark Mofo. Apparently it's some electronic music festival thing, and shows som really deep/dark stuff around Hobart. I don't really get it, but went stumbled upon a massive food night festival. Saw some other stuff like people playing music 24/7 for 7 days, and they all rotate and you can go into the building to watch.
- Would recommend MONA. Lots of modern art and stuff they remade from old art. Well did the same thing as a previous artist. Really liked the current exhibition featuring James Turrell stuff with lots of trippy lights.
- The Airbnb I stayed at was pretty big. Room was bigger than the photos, and host offered to pick me up from nearby hotel so didn't have to drag luggage up a 6m elevated hill, approx 40deg. It was super duper steep, 2x steeper than my street. They even left food in the fridge for us. Kitchen was well equipped with stuff including so many spices, and even a hand held cake mixer lol. Not that I cooked anything fancy for did baking.
- Room like 3x my room at home. I always wondered why people need bedside lamps, then I realised when you have a bigger room, you don't want to trip from closing the main light to go to your bed. Whereas in my room it's so small, I close the light and my bed is just one step away, so you can't trip in the dark.
- Discovered the tv had Netflix on the last night lol.
- Discovered the tv had Netflix on the last night lol.
- Going to miss all the half days.
- Hobart itself is a very chill/relaxing city.
- It wasn't actually that cold, most days around 10deg, some mornings were 6/7. In NZ, it was mainly 4deg in morning but also went to double temps. Sometimes I find Sydney at 12deg colder, cause of the wind.
- Manage to escape the rain, only started to rain a bit when I was waiting for the bus to go to the airport.
- The traffic lights are the same in Sydney, even the pedestrian button. They change super quickly the flashing red, unlike Melbourne which stays green for a long time. You have to press the button in Hobart even in the tiny CBD, but it changes really quickly. I think Brisbane also uses a different button.
- There are no public transport officers, unlike Melbs where they wait for you outside the free tram zone and police and also check your ticket, and Sydney officers boarding the train/bus is quite common.
- The traffic lights are the same in Sydney, even the pedestrian button. They change super quickly the flashing red, unlike Melbourne which stays green for a long time. You have to press the button in Hobart even in the tiny CBD, but it changes really quickly. I think Brisbane also uses a different button.
- There are no public transport officers, unlike Melbs where they wait for you outside the free tram zone and police and also check your ticket, and Sydney officers boarding the train/bus is quite common.
- I feel like every time I catch a Jetstar flight, I have to add an extra hour cause of flight delays. I guess Sydney airport is a busy airport, and they probs prioritise Qantas planes.
- Didn't really go out to eat a lot since there's not that much food, and been to fancier places last year.
- So many food posts to do but ceebs since need to continue planning for travel, oh and also study.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Melbourne ACO
A day after I came back from New Zealand, it was off to Melbourne for placement at the Australian College of Optometry (ACO). Lots of flying in and out of airports, but I love planes.
Trust Jetstar to experience 'technical issues'. First time having a plane cancel on me, and freaked cause wasn't sure what to do. In the end, you pretty much wait on hold for 45mins-1hr, then they change you to the next flight. Ended up going on a Qantas flight, which meant I could finish the movie I didn't finish on the flight from NZ to Syd. It was 2hrs later, so if you were actually needing to be somewhere after, then you're screwed. Hence why I don't fly budget airlines for overseas cause do you really want added stress?
Thoughts on ACO:
- Really liked how it was 2 students per supervisor, whilst at uni clinic we have 4-5 students per supervisor, and save so much time.
- There are drops in every room, so you don't have to waste 10mins of your time finding which room the drops are.
- Nice how us UNSW kids were allowed to use the staffroom and had lockers.
- Equipment there is old, but most rooms had the same slit lamp which made it easier to adjust to a diff room.
- They use Apple computers! Although on the last day, I had a super old apple keyboard, unlike the nice thin ones so really had to use some finger muscles.
- Took a while to get used to Optomate, but it's pretty nice recording everything electronically rather than on paper. I think it'll take a while for us to ever use electronic records...
- They have quite a lot of imaging equipment surprisingly.
- Saw some interesting patients with conditions I haven't seen before, and most people here are old so generally have something different to see.
- So many optoms work there, but they sort of dismiss anterior eye stuff if patient's aren't complaining, whereas I feel like our uni is very big on dry eyes/contact lenses.
- Ended up getting a few unsats, one of which I won't be able to make up for it since didn't see enough patients to do that further testing. Guess I'll be getting a supp for that, unless during internals I have patients who have symptoms indicating further testing. So no thanks for all those U's which if I had a diff supervisor would've still passed me.
- Didn't get rained on for 2 weeks, apart from just one night for like 10mins.
- Left a rainy Sydney, then left a rainy Melb when I was on the plane.
- I find that Melbs has more heritage listed buildings compared to Sydney, and more taller apartments/skyscrapers.
- Melb has more cafes with nice and more 'hipster' decor.
- Our apartment was on the 47th floor, quite some nice views from the bedroom. I guess living in an apartment is cozy, with modern furnishings and appliances makes stuff easier. I just think if I live in an apartment, how the hell am I gonna store years of stuff I hoarded...Took us 4 days to figure out how the keypad to come into the apartment worked, and realised there was a dishwasher after the first week...
- Apartment was convenient, and could walk to ACO, but I got a pass for half the trip and just trammed it there.
- Took me 2-3 days to figure out the whole red tram zone thing.
- Feels like Melbs has more interesting museums/galleries compared to Syd.
Managed to visit 26 places to eat whilst in between 8am starts and 6pm finishes. I guess we had a public holiday in between and an arvo where I got to finish earlier, but some days didn't finish until 6:45pm, and then had to walk home.
Must admit, wasn't really mindblown by any of the cafes. Melbs coffee is good, and definitely have better decor/building. Maybe Humble Ray was my fav cafe? but not by much though. Fav cake was the Yuzu Brownie from The Crux and Co, the Yuzu was so sour, but complemented the cake really well, and the bit of dark choc brownie.
I really loved Lui Bar as my last stop, just to relax and enjoy the Melbroune views (even if the drink cost more than what I ate). Also liked Cumulus Inc and MoVida, pricier food but worth it. Probs not gonna have time to do reviews for them...hopefully I have time to post on my Insta, but let's be real, I'll post when I'm procrastinating for studying. Maybe I'll blog about all the food after I graduate lol. Special shoutout to BW for coming down to Melbs to visit me on the weekend (and also eaten 6 meals a day).
List of place I ate at:
Trust Jetstar to experience 'technical issues'. First time having a plane cancel on me, and freaked cause wasn't sure what to do. In the end, you pretty much wait on hold for 45mins-1hr, then they change you to the next flight. Ended up going on a Qantas flight, which meant I could finish the movie I didn't finish on the flight from NZ to Syd. It was 2hrs later, so if you were actually needing to be somewhere after, then you're screwed. Hence why I don't fly budget airlines for overseas cause do you really want added stress?
Thoughts on ACO:
- Really liked how it was 2 students per supervisor, whilst at uni clinic we have 4-5 students per supervisor, and save so much time.
- There are drops in every room, so you don't have to waste 10mins of your time finding which room the drops are.
- Nice how us UNSW kids were allowed to use the staffroom and had lockers.
- Equipment there is old, but most rooms had the same slit lamp which made it easier to adjust to a diff room.
- They use Apple computers! Although on the last day, I had a super old apple keyboard, unlike the nice thin ones so really had to use some finger muscles.
- Took a while to get used to Optomate, but it's pretty nice recording everything electronically rather than on paper. I think it'll take a while for us to ever use electronic records...
- They have quite a lot of imaging equipment surprisingly.
- Saw some interesting patients with conditions I haven't seen before, and most people here are old so generally have something different to see.
- So many optoms work there, but they sort of dismiss anterior eye stuff if patient's aren't complaining, whereas I feel like our uni is very big on dry eyes/contact lenses.
- Ended up getting a few unsats, one of which I won't be able to make up for it since didn't see enough patients to do that further testing. Guess I'll be getting a supp for that, unless during internals I have patients who have symptoms indicating further testing. So no thanks for all those U's which if I had a diff supervisor would've still passed me.
- Didn't get rained on for 2 weeks, apart from just one night for like 10mins.
- Left a rainy Sydney, then left a rainy Melb when I was on the plane.
- I find that Melbs has more heritage listed buildings compared to Sydney, and more taller apartments/skyscrapers.
- Melb has more cafes with nice and more 'hipster' decor.
- Our apartment was on the 47th floor, quite some nice views from the bedroom. I guess living in an apartment is cozy, with modern furnishings and appliances makes stuff easier. I just think if I live in an apartment, how the hell am I gonna store years of stuff I hoarded...Took us 4 days to figure out how the keypad to come into the apartment worked, and realised there was a dishwasher after the first week...
- Apartment was convenient, and could walk to ACO, but I got a pass for half the trip and just trammed it there.
- Took me 2-3 days to figure out the whole red tram zone thing.
- Feels like Melbs has more interesting museums/galleries compared to Syd.
Managed to visit 26 places to eat whilst in between 8am starts and 6pm finishes. I guess we had a public holiday in between and an arvo where I got to finish earlier, but some days didn't finish until 6:45pm, and then had to walk home.
Must admit, wasn't really mindblown by any of the cafes. Melbs coffee is good, and definitely have better decor/building. Maybe Humble Ray was my fav cafe? but not by much though. Fav cake was the Yuzu Brownie from The Crux and Co, the Yuzu was so sour, but complemented the cake really well, and the bit of dark choc brownie.
I really loved Lui Bar as my last stop, just to relax and enjoy the Melbroune views (even if the drink cost more than what I ate). Also liked Cumulus Inc and MoVida, pricier food but worth it. Probs not gonna have time to do reviews for them...hopefully I have time to post on my Insta, but let's be real, I'll post when I'm procrastinating for studying. Maybe I'll blog about all the food after I graduate lol. Special shoutout to BW for coming down to Melbs to visit me on the weekend (and also eaten 6 meals a day).
List of place I ate at:
| Humble Rays |
| Shujinko |
| Papa Gino's |
| Pidapipo |
| Luxbite |
| King Castella |
| Cumulus Inc |
| The Kettle Black |
| Dukes Coffee |
| Higher Ground |
| Chuckle Park |
| Little Ramen Bar |
| The Crux & Co |
| Auction Rooms |
| Mork Chocolate |
| Calia |
| Lune |
| White Mojo |
| Suda |
| Hopetoun Tea Rooms |
| Kyo Tea House |
| MoVida |
| Operator 25 |
| Brother Baba Budan |
| Grainstore |
| Lui Bar |
Monday, June 18, 2018
New Zealand with OneSight
Currently typing this in Melbourne airport waiting for my delayed plane. Getting to Melbourne was drama in itself, but that's for another post. Good to see people still visit my blog (not that I really care).
So over two weeks ago at end of May, I went to NZ with OneSight. I managed to get a 'scholarship' i.e. all expenses paid trip to visit Rotorua in the North Island to do school screening for kids. I've been to South Island before on a 'budget' trip 4 years ago to Queenstown, so was super excited to visit NZ again for free whilst getting clinical experience. Coincidentally, OneSight is the charity of where I work, so even though I was the 'UNSW Student', I understood all the business talk.
We saw a total of 1223 kids and adults throughout 4 and a bit days! Take into account, normally an optom see between 8-14 patients on average per day. We had a team of 15 of 4 optoms, plus dispensers, store managers, hr staff. It was sooo hectic, and third and fourth day only had about 10mins for lunch. NZ doesn't have Medicare, so people have to pay for their own eye test. Children under 18 have free health care stuff, but most of the time parents ceebs bringing them in. It was amazing giving kids glasses, even if super cheap and not the proper script due to equipment and not a proper setting. You really wonder how they do see with their bad vision. We gave people free glasses and a quick eye test if they failed the screening. Mainly schools from around the area came in, and we set up in a school hall. Apparently this trip was relatively easier since we didn't have to set up and pack each day, and were based in the same place.
There's too much too recount, so as per my usual travel posts, dot points of random thoughts. No time to upload photos either, but I'm sure those who follow me on Snapchat saw stuff from my week.
- Flying into North Island, you have green hills and mountains are less impressive, whilst flying into South Island you see gorgeous snow capped mountains, or just very big and pointy mountains in general. South Island is prettier, but I guess I didn't have time to explore North Island like Hobbiton.
- Auckland airport is quite small.
- Weather wasn't really that cold, maybe 2 deg in morning, max 15 deg during the day, but we had old school heaters inside.
- Rotorua is a 3hr drive from Auckland, and the grass is so green all the way through, it's so lush.
- Improved some clinical skills and how to talk to kids.
- Stayed in a cute motel/apartment with 2 levels, and fit 6 people into it, with separate beds. Only one bathroom though.
- No time for sight seeing or even go to the cbd since everyday was clinic, but they did organise some night activities. Didn't extend my trip since I was going to Melbs two days after I got back.
- NZ kids can sing so well, and harmonise so well. They're taught singing or something as part of their schooling. Most learn Maori as a first language.
- Kids don't wear shoes either, like running in the grass at 8:30am in 5 deg weather, and they are all just barefooted. When we first saw that, we were like, wow, so weird.
- Loved learning about the Maori culture.
- Sunday night was pizza night delivered to our apartment
- Monday night taco night
- Tuesday visiting an old Maori village and geysers (it's called geysir in Iceland lol) and their version of an RSL club. Rotorua is a geothermal village, so underground there's a lot of heat and warm water. Also the town does stink like sulfur/rotten eggs. Just my luck I was sick the whole week, but I guess I smelt less of the sulfur. The village is like small huts, quite interesting, but tbh, doesn't look that comfy.
- Wednesday night went to the skyline buffet and luge. It's the same company as the Queenstown one, but went up there after sunset so was all dark. This time went before sunset to enjoy the view, and had time to go on the luge. The advanced one was shorted but quite fun, since parts of it is quite steep and you sort of fly off the track whilst going down, so cool to have some 'air time'. The views were amazing, with so many glass windows. Everyone was surprised at how much I could eat. Tbh, it's not that much compared to before, but yeah, ate more than some guys lol.
- Thursday night was a cultural night at Tamaki Maori Village. There was a contact who our team leader leased with, and the person who runs the tourist attraction is one of her relatives, so pretty sure we could get a discount. Didn't pay for it since OneSight paid for the Wed buffet and this Village thing. So cool learning about it all and how they used to live. It's cool trying traditional food. It was a really homely buffet, and people were also surprised how I also ate so much two nights in a row.
- Friday morning saw some patients, but then headed to the airport after. Loved looking at all the greenery on the way back.
- We got these really cute pins as a souvenir/memorable thing. They also have us some picture books in Maori about their legends/culture.
Probably more thoughts but writing this after a hectic 2 weeks in Melbourne.
Really amazing experience helping people who can't even access eye care. I guess being overseas makes it even more exciting. Hope to be on another clinic in the future.
So over two weeks ago at end of May, I went to NZ with OneSight. I managed to get a 'scholarship' i.e. all expenses paid trip to visit Rotorua in the North Island to do school screening for kids. I've been to South Island before on a 'budget' trip 4 years ago to Queenstown, so was super excited to visit NZ again for free whilst getting clinical experience. Coincidentally, OneSight is the charity of where I work, so even though I was the 'UNSW Student', I understood all the business talk.
We saw a total of 1223 kids and adults throughout 4 and a bit days! Take into account, normally an optom see between 8-14 patients on average per day. We had a team of 15 of 4 optoms, plus dispensers, store managers, hr staff. It was sooo hectic, and third and fourth day only had about 10mins for lunch. NZ doesn't have Medicare, so people have to pay for their own eye test. Children under 18 have free health care stuff, but most of the time parents ceebs bringing them in. It was amazing giving kids glasses, even if super cheap and not the proper script due to equipment and not a proper setting. You really wonder how they do see with their bad vision. We gave people free glasses and a quick eye test if they failed the screening. Mainly schools from around the area came in, and we set up in a school hall. Apparently this trip was relatively easier since we didn't have to set up and pack each day, and were based in the same place.
There's too much too recount, so as per my usual travel posts, dot points of random thoughts. No time to upload photos either, but I'm sure those who follow me on Snapchat saw stuff from my week.
- Flying into North Island, you have green hills and mountains are less impressive, whilst flying into South Island you see gorgeous snow capped mountains, or just very big and pointy mountains in general. South Island is prettier, but I guess I didn't have time to explore North Island like Hobbiton.
- Auckland airport is quite small.
- Weather wasn't really that cold, maybe 2 deg in morning, max 15 deg during the day, but we had old school heaters inside.
- Rotorua is a 3hr drive from Auckland, and the grass is so green all the way through, it's so lush.
- Improved some clinical skills and how to talk to kids.
- Stayed in a cute motel/apartment with 2 levels, and fit 6 people into it, with separate beds. Only one bathroom though.
- No time for sight seeing or even go to the cbd since everyday was clinic, but they did organise some night activities. Didn't extend my trip since I was going to Melbs two days after I got back.
- NZ kids can sing so well, and harmonise so well. They're taught singing or something as part of their schooling. Most learn Maori as a first language.
- Kids don't wear shoes either, like running in the grass at 8:30am in 5 deg weather, and they are all just barefooted. When we first saw that, we were like, wow, so weird.
- Loved learning about the Maori culture.
- Sunday night was pizza night delivered to our apartment
- Monday night taco night
- Tuesday visiting an old Maori village and geysers (it's called geysir in Iceland lol) and their version of an RSL club. Rotorua is a geothermal village, so underground there's a lot of heat and warm water. Also the town does stink like sulfur/rotten eggs. Just my luck I was sick the whole week, but I guess I smelt less of the sulfur. The village is like small huts, quite interesting, but tbh, doesn't look that comfy.
- Wednesday night went to the skyline buffet and luge. It's the same company as the Queenstown one, but went up there after sunset so was all dark. This time went before sunset to enjoy the view, and had time to go on the luge. The advanced one was shorted but quite fun, since parts of it is quite steep and you sort of fly off the track whilst going down, so cool to have some 'air time'. The views were amazing, with so many glass windows. Everyone was surprised at how much I could eat. Tbh, it's not that much compared to before, but yeah, ate more than some guys lol.
- Thursday night was a cultural night at Tamaki Maori Village. There was a contact who our team leader leased with, and the person who runs the tourist attraction is one of her relatives, so pretty sure we could get a discount. Didn't pay for it since OneSight paid for the Wed buffet and this Village thing. So cool learning about it all and how they used to live. It's cool trying traditional food. It was a really homely buffet, and people were also surprised how I also ate so much two nights in a row.
- Friday morning saw some patients, but then headed to the airport after. Loved looking at all the greenery on the way back.
- We got these really cute pins as a souvenir/memorable thing. They also have us some picture books in Maori about their legends/culture.
Probably more thoughts but writing this after a hectic 2 weeks in Melbourne.
Really amazing experience helping people who can't even access eye care. I guess being overseas makes it even more exciting. Hope to be on another clinic in the future.
Friday, December 29, 2017
🍦Elisa's Ultimate Ice Cream Guide 2017 🍨
This year has definitely been a year of #globetrottingforfood, in particular gelato and soft serves. I decided to do a compilation from all the cities I travelled to, and of course around Sydney, of all the ice creams I've consumed. Ice creams are 'stand alone' ice creams, so not included in desserts with the exception of some ice creams/soft serves (or else this post would be at least twice as long since dessert are lyf). Doesn't include samples of ice creams from food expos, freebies e.g. Ben and Jerry's free cone day, supermarket ice creams etc.
I have spent 10% of the year eating ice creams outside of home (around 40 ice creams). We also have 4 fridges at home as well which contains a good amount of ice creams, but it's just a nice special treat to have (over priced) ice creams outside your home, and the quality is usually better as well. There's just something about the height, colours and flavours a soft serve can contain which make them fun to eat and look at.
Normally I include prices in my food posts, so I'll do my best to find them in my notes since I jot down how much things cost. Prices are in Aus $ or equivalent unless otherwise stated. Flavour of things I would have forgotten unless it's recent or I have blogged about them in previous posts. Detailed reviews of some ice creams are linked to previous blog posts or my food instagram. Also names of places I'll try to include. Photos are taken with my iPhone 7 (and 8 for photos after September). The photos are sorted chronologically and here they are-enjoy! 💜
Iceland
Rhubarb caramel and blueberry ice cream straight from the cow farm-600 krona (~$7.50)
Paris
Berthillon
3 scoops: ice cream+sorbet-6 euros
Paris
Amorino flower gelato (multiple flavours) + macarons-6.50 euros
London
Amorino flower gelato-3.50 pounds
Bath
One of the famous ice cream shops in the city, pretty good value for money-2.95 pounds
Sydney
Rivareno Gelato: pistachio and mango heera-$7
Sydney
Gelato Messina: (forgot the flavours but they were that week's special), 0.5L tub-$12.80
Bathurst Maccas gave relatively 'big' soft serves (around 3.5-4 swirls) for 50c I think. Ate the ice cream in the dark in a car park so no photos...
Hobart
Salamanca Markets: blueberry and cinnamon, spiced apple and blackberry
Sydney
Ume Burger: Hokkaido milk soft serve
Hojicha-$4
Tokyo
Melon Pan: peach soft serve-300yen from memory (why is my ice cream blocking the price sign?)
Tokyo
Suzukien Asakusa: most bitter matcha in the world (level 8), and genmaicha
Tokyo
A stall on Sugamo Jizodori Shopping Street: taro soft serve
Tokyo
A stall on Sugamo Jizodori Shopping Street: black sesame and white sesame ice cream, sprinkled with freshly grounded white sesame powder
Tokyo
Dominique Ansel Bakery Japan, Omotesando summer special
The iconic watermelon soft serve served in a watermelon. First invented by Domiqnue Ansel before it took to social media and other stores have since copied this idea (although this wasn't trade marked like his Cronuts so people were allowed to copy it)-around $13
Tokyo
Dominique Ansel Bakery Japan, Omotesando summer special
Crème de la Corn: Corn soft serve served on a cob of corn-around $13
Tokyo
Daily Chico: 8 tier ice cream-390yen
Tokyo
Silkream, one of my favourite ice creams ever-515yen
Hong Kong
Icremeria: lavender soft serve with gold foil-$108HK (~$18)
The most expensive ice cream I've ever had in my life, so this deserves a few more photos
Hong Kong
Tsujiri
Matcha soft serve-$42HK
Taiwan
Modern Toilet Restaurant
Taiwan
Tamsui Old Street: strawberry and grape or taro 30cm soft serve-35NT (~$1.50)
Sad to say, disgusting ice creams do exist. Worst tasting ice cream I've ever had
Taiwan
Maokong tea house: cat soft serve with oolong and green tea-~100NT
Taiwan
Brick Ice, Ximen: dragonfruit and strawberry ice block-80NT
Sydney
Rivareno: ricotta e fichi (ricotta + caramelised figs)-$5
Sydney
LuMi Bar and Dining-review
Apple sorbet served in an apple. Tasted as real, if not better than an actual Granny Smith apple
Sydney
Black Star Pastry at Smooth Chocolate Festival
Strawberry Watermelon Soft Serve-$8 (from memory)
Sydney
Honey Creme-review
Vanilla soft serve with honey comb-$6.90
Comb with honey-$6.50
Sydney
Aqua S
Avocado and Yuzu soft serve-$4.50 each
Sydney
Elderflower + blueberry, honey + lavender w/ wafer flower-$4.50 each +$1.50 (flowers)
Melbourne
Kyo Tea House-level 8 matcha intensity ice cream (not as strong as Tokyo)
Sydney
Night Noodle Markets 2017-review
Gelato Messina: Kamikaze Katsu Sandwich-$12
Sydney
Night Noodle Markets 2017-review
Gelato Messina: O-no-giri-$10
Sydney
Night Noodle Markets 2017-review
One Tea Lounge: Ube (taro) and matcha soft serve-$8
The soft serve which won me a $50 food voucher
Sydney
Good Times Artisan Ice Cream-review
Ziggy star dust: peach iced tea, almond strawberry praline, meringue, choc white star-$10
Sydney
Good Fat-pop up restaurant review
Avoconetto: Avocado ice cream, shaved dark chocolate, sweet pumpkin shortbread cream, praline, drizzled with salted caramel in a waffle cone-$6
Sydney
Bay Vista (Parra)-review
Penny & Ruby: pear and rhubarb crumble ice cream, frozen yoghurt scoop and mango sorbet, fresh strawberries, mango, white chocolate crisp pearls, real ice cream 'soft serve, whipped cream, white chocolate sauce and crumble topping-$25.90
Sydney
Gelato Messina: coconut and lychee, grapefruit sorbet + special (tiramisu, hazelnut, chocolate), 0.5L tub-$12.80
Sydney
Ben and Jerry's: Frozen Flakes
Sydney
Macaron ice cream sandwich: taro ice cream with fruit loops and pretzel-$10.90
Here's to even more ice cream in 2018! 😋🍨
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Where to Eat in Brisbane
What to eat in Brisbane CBD in a day. There's actually not a lot of selection, we are truly spoilt of choice in Sydney, and also why we go to Melbourne for food as well. Even when I search up fine dining stuff, the stuff that pops up doesn't really sound familiar, unlike Sydney and Melbs where there are more well known fine dining places. Actually, country Victoria actually have some top restaurants as well. Anyways, quick Google search and decided to try these places in a day trip/
Coffee Anthology
food spread
Capp-$4
Iced Latte-$4.50
Food is a bit cheaper in Brisbane, well the food here was all less than $20, but coffee for $4? Pricier than Sydney CBD average of $3.50. Love the coffee art here, especially when the barista puts some effort into latte art, cause I can tell you from experience, even doing a 'free hand pouring' heart isn't easy. The flavour of the coffee was more mild, less milky and could have a bit more froth on top. I guess if you're not a coffee drinker the flavour would suit you, but I think coffee lovers would find the flavour isn't strong at all. The iced latte wasn't every strong in flavour either. I like the colours of their coffee cups, even if Tiffany Blue colour is patented, this is close enough.
Coconut panna cotta w/ housemade granola, pineapple, kiwifruit, mango coulis
Also had fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and edible flowers
Lots of pretty panna cotta popping up in cafes since it's summer, and I love the colours in this one. This is a lot pretty and taste better than my homemade granola. They spelt panna cotta wrong on the menu though. The panna cotta had a nice wobble, but the texture would have been smoother/creamier. I think they used some coconut milk or cream since it was a bit grainy in texture compared to your normal panna cotta. The mango coulis gave it a nice sweetness and the berries balanced well with some acidity. Edible flowers just make any dish prettier.
Buddha bowl: housemade falafel, pickled carrot, spinach, black rice, avocado, cucumber, mint yoghurt-$14
This bowl is surprisingly filling especially with the black rice. The falafels were a bit dry and crumbly, luckily there was the mint yoghurt to go with it. The avo portion was decent, pickled carrot gave the whole dish some acidity. Definitely a healthier option compared to the eggs benedict.
Truffled eggs benedict w/ two 63 deg eggs, house hollandaise, toasted sourdough, snow pea tendrils, salsa verde w/ pork belly-$16
I thought this was a decent price for eggs benny with 2 pieces of pork belly. The pork could have a crunchier skin, but luckily it wasn't overly seasoned. You could definitely taste the truffle oil in the hollandaise, probably a bit too strong and overpowering the actual hollandaise sauce, but I love truffle flavoured stuff so it still works for me. Salsa verde had a slight minty taste, but this dish worked well together overall. I feel like in Sydney you would pay $20+ for this stuff, then again, house prices are also more in Sydney.
#yolkporn
it's a half indoor and outdoor courtyard style cafe
menu
The Three Monkeys
Chai Tea-$4.95
Iced coffee-$6.25
Mango and passionfruit cheesecake w/ whipped cream-$7.95
Turkish delight-$1.20
The chai tea was served in a massive. They brew the tea leaves then add milk, so it's not sweet compared to your chai lattes where it's mainly in powder form with sugar included already. There was honey but I prefer it not as sweet. I was expecting a bigger hit of chai, but for people who don't really like their spices, this is probably a decent level of chai tea. The iced coffee had a decent hit of coffee in it. The cheesecake wasn't too heavy or dense. Loved how there were real bits of mango in it. Turkish delight tasted like normal, and the sugar in it was balanced with my chai tea.
cakes
courtyard/outdoor seating
Brew
This place definitely gives off Melbourne vibes, situated in an alleyway, plus basement, and graffiti like outwork. Price wise it is more expensive compared to other places.
Velvet Latte-$3.80
I thought it would be red velvet, but this latte had hints of beetroot in it, but sweet and just a little bit acidic but still milk. It was quite an interesting latte.
Signature Brew Burger: slow cooked beef brisket, double smoked bacon, American cheddar, house relish, dill pickle w/ shoestring fries and kewpie mayo-$17
It is on the small side for a burger, and I didn't really find anything special with this, so not really worth imo. It was a bit saucy and overly seasoned mainly from the bacon. The fries were mostly hollow and didn't have enough potato inside. Not worth the high-ish rating on Zomato tbh.
Mos Burger
Sushi burger w/ BBQ beef-$7.50
I didn't have time to have Mos Burger in Japan earlier this year, so I had it in Taiwan Airport and thought it was average. They don't have one in Sydney, well we have Gojima which is also pretty good. This one looks small but is surprisingly filling, mainly due to the condensed/packed in rice patty. Beef wasn't overly flavoured with marinade/sauce. It did take longer than I expected for them to make it.
I'm sure there's heaps more places in eat in Brissy, but these places for a day trip are decent.
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