STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN'

I'm back! Been busy with family and I've a couple of freelance projects going on. I have totally lost direction of where this blog should go, cause as far as I wanted this to be a publicly decent blog free of emo posts over another phase of transition in life, I found myself clicking 'new post' and I ended up writing like a 13 year old girl on PMS.

So I've been trying to stay away from this blog (to no avail...notice the 'visitor' bar on the side) and now that I feel a lot less 'confused'...I'M BACK!! haha

Still taking baby steps here, so I'm gonna post photos from the farewell months and just bits and pieces of my most beloved city Melbourne. Ta :)

I hope that all my familiar faces of Melbourne are taking good care of themselves, wherever they are...miss you guys and our amazing city SO MUCH!!

ARSE BACK HOME

Taken from my last flight to Melbourne, it was the first time I could see those beautiful patterns of ice flakes clearly, and the first time I sat in business class on an international flight ( I don't mean to brag about it but ironically, it was during one of the hardest times for my family, till today I'm still kind of amazed of how I could even end up there)...so seriously, this has been one hell of an amazing journey, Melbourne!!

Sadness is finally kicking in!

THE PARLOR

Hummingbird cake

BLT

Potato bravas

Corn fritters with avocado salsa & tomato relish

Benedict

Love the relaxed homy ambience. Love the friendly staffs. Love the food....just.hate.how.far.it.is! It took me 1hr from home to go there by tram, train, and finally bus. If it wasn't for a good friend of mine and the three of us are leaving soon, I wouldn't even bother.

But hey, the trip was worth it! Although I reckon there's no harm in increasing the quantity of food servings, the ingredients are fresh and the presentations are delightful. Heard the buzz that they serve the small milkshake in milk-carton-like-glass with cute stripe straws, and was happy that it really was what I thought it was as I've seen it before at Myer's Basement....and creme de la creme to that was...the aforementioned friend bought me one yesterday...YEAY!! :)

The cute milk pint glass

Lil corner towards the back room where they display all these cute items (they are for sale, and so does the adorbs milk pints!)

Cute little tags for your gift (update: these are actually small bottles of herb seeds with tags)

The back room is where the three of will 'open' the farewell weekend *sobs* it is initially A's farewell drinks session and Y and I just hopped on board and voila! It's ours too now lol. To 'close' this weekend, we're gonna have a Sunday brunch at, what better place than, my fave *drum rolls* Mess Hall although A will have left Melbourne by then.

The back room: where the farewell will be held

Lovely wall piece made of torn strips of cloth in chic patterns

Melbourne, it's one week to go......

The Parlor Milk Bar & Kitchen

40 Weatherall Road, Beaumaris VIC 3193

(03) 9515 4514

A PEEP INTO HOBBA

By 'peep' I mean really this is not a review (not like I've been writing good, solid cafe reviews anyway...because I am mainly intrigued by the euphoric smell of coffee and the design of the space rather than the food) so this is just a quick overall look of Hobba Coffee + Kitchen. We were there for take away coffees on our way to Mornington. Half sleepy, I couldn't resist crossing the street from the place we rented the car from.

Set in a converted garage, Hobba still has that industrial looking elements in the space like the perforated metal counter, aluminum high chairs (okay, to be fair you can find them everywhere, but they enhanced that industrial-garage-feel here), to the bare brick walls and their seats.

Hello there, pretty lady :)

There were lots of white collars (despite it was a Tuesday morning) and also mums with their prams. It was quite packed that morning and there was quite a long queue for the take-away coffee.

Been hearing the buzz of Hobba from few friends that said their food is fresh and great. Coffee wise, the mocha that I had was quite decent to my taand my cousin loved her soy latte. Judging from the crowd (every time I passed by it's always packed), I bet it's a good place to start your day with.

Hobba Coffee + Kitchen

428 malvern road, prahran
p: 03 9510 8336

Mon-Sat 7-5 / Sun 8-5

HOW STELAR

Brother Baba Budan @ 359 Lt.Collins St, Melbourne CBD

De Clieu @ 187 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

You ask me if their coffee is one of the best...Yes. You ask me if those are chairs hung on the ceiling...Yes those are. You can just never go wrong with anything from Seven Seeds coffeehouses from Baba Budan's unique chairs, De Clieu laidback window sills that you can sit on..to their friendly staffs, and the awesome coffee. Simply stelar. Period.

If you pardon the pun....I'm currently hooked to Parov Stelar :)

EMBRACE

Have I told you I've developed absolute hatred towards airport and all things related to goodbyes? (perfect example was when I picked up my cousins, it felt like I was actually leaving for good right then and there haha)

It's only 28 days to go. Trying to embrace every second I have left in Melbourne...well, sort of :)

ANYWAY

Pic taken one gloomy avo at Lovers Walk, South Yarra

So anyway.....we had a really awesome time at Mornington Peninsula today. Just got back and had the urge to post this song as we heard it few times on the radio during our trip. Really glad we did it. Pics will be up soon....awesomeness :)

AUSSIE DAY OI OI OI

Boy Bruynzeel - The Video Yearmix 2011 from Boy Bruynzeel on Vimeo

Yesterday we celebrated Australia Day with a really fun lunch with good food, good music, good weather and a lil splash at the Suzukawa's in Sandringham! I cooked beef & vege springrolls, vege samosa (recipes will be posted soon) and apple crumble. We prepared the rest of the dish there. It's a really beautiful house slash ceramic studio...so you could find beautiful ceramic table, cute plates and bowls through out the house. Spent the afternoon eating and eating, swimming, played with the dog (sorry for my unrequited love, Buddy!), and of course watching the Australia Open semi final. STOKED!! :)

The beautiful ceramic studio..should've snapped a pic when the sun was shining through

Lovely blue ceramic coffee table

Summer !!!

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!