If you are in Melbourne and you want to decide what cafes/restaurants are worth checking out, what most people do is to Urbanspoon it, and see the ratings of the dining establishment. Usually, 75% and above is good to go, 90% and above would mean that it is pretty much the best of the area. The next thing you have to check is whether the reviews as a collective whole are trustworthy - look at the number of reviews. Usually if it goes beyond 200, you can consider it to be reliable. At this point of my exchange semester, I didn't know of this app and I wandered into one of the better cafes, Heartattack and Vine, in the Carlton region. Well, it's really difficult to find a bad cafe in Melbourne so... I took my chances.

Image credits: Heartattack and Vine Facebook page

The Royal Park is no doubt one of my favourite hideouts within the North Melbourne district. It is the biggest park in the whole city, though not as manicured as the Royal Botanical Gardens, but it is surely huge and very enjoyable to walk around. Probably not high on the list of attractions for a regular tourist, but definitely good for a picnic if you're staying here for a longer time and to meet some friendly locals walking their dogs.

I visited Royal Park an early autumn afternoon, with a banana nutella sandwich and a Murakami book in hand. These are the pictures from the different days I spent in the park.

 

I know. Melbourne's a plane ride away.

On the books, Melbourne is Australia's fastest growing city... but it is also the promised land of the hipsters and everything vintage. Venture beyond the city centre and into the suburbs to be immensely rewarded by a different experience altogether. Pack in the most you can within one single visit to the Fitzroy and Collingwood suburbs area... get ready your bellies and walking shoes!

Estimated time spent in Fitzroy/ Collingwood to complete the whole trail: 5 hours 

Rose Street, Fitzroy

Rose Street, Fitzroy

Rose Street, Fitzroy

Rose Street, Fitzroy

Grafitti walls in the Fitzroy suburb

2. Brunch with Grace, coffee with Industry Beans.

Image credits: Grace Facebook page

Image credits: Grace Facebook page

Image credits: Grace Facebook page

Breakfast places can't get better than Melbourne's, and Grace Cafe found in Fitzroy is arguably one of the best in the region. It seems like they can do no wrong with their 'kind food' menu which features default vegetarian, gluten-free with an option to add bacon if you'd like. I'd recommend the quark-filled crepes with berry coulis (or lemon curd, your pick), the banana cakes, and the mushroom & spinach baked eggs. Unfortunately, their coffees erred on the side of being mildly burnt and slightly too acidic. If you're particularly about your coffee, why not hop over to Industry Beans right beside Grace? You deserve only the best, so grab a cuppa at this boutique coffee roaster which distributes its coffee beans to many cafes around Melbourne. Definitely a gold-star contributor to the standard of cafes in this world-class coffee city.

There are multiple locations for the opportunity stores lining both Smith Street and Brunswick Street, so shop to your hearts' content, ladies and gentlemen. Opportunity stores feature second-hand, pre-loved items, as well as unsold last-season brand-new items from local stores, including but not limited to: dresses, tops, skirts, pants, jackets, shoes, sunglasses, furniture, books, electronics, accessories, wallets, bags... everything materialistic. There are luxury items and very vintage collections sold for cheap, you just have to dig for them. Most of them are in good quality that will be very value-for-money. Essentially a whole suburb of flea markets. All day, everyday.

Love, Evelyn Weekend Market

Love, Evelyn Weekend Market

Image credits: N2 Gelato Facebook page

Image credits: N2 Gelato Facebook page

Image credits: N2 Gelato Facebook page

329 Brunswick Street

Fitzroy VIC 3065

10. Browse the Happy Valley bookstore

Welcome to my favourite bookstore in Melbourne which really deserves more publicity. Or maybe not, because I want to keep it for myself. Their collection of books convinced me to marinate myself in them until closing hour. For those who loves books: this is your to-go destination.

 

11. Turn back time at Cook's Cottage.

More far-flung from the rest of Fitzroy/Collingwood's attractions, the Cook's Cottage is one of the understated tourist stops in the city. It is the oldest building in the whole of Australia, shipped brick and mortar from the old house of explorer Captain James Cook. For a small fee of AUD6 for adults and AUD3 for children, you can tour his house, and see volunteers dressed up in period costumes.

Fitzroy Gardens
Wellington Parade
East Melbourne VIC 3002

12. Roam around Fitzroy Gardens and the Conservatory. 

The Fitzroy Gardens is technically not in the Fitzroy suburb but definitely worthy to drop by if you're in need of a break from all that city fluster. Look out for points of interest including the magnificent floral displays in the Spanish mission style Conservatory. Cooks Cottage, a scarred tree, the Fairies’ Tree and model tudor village, sculptures, fountains and a stormwater cleaning and re-use system.

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Moomba Festival is an annual event in Melbourne that happens over the long Labour Day weekend, promising a flurry of family-friendly activities line the shores of the Yarra at Birrarung Marr Park. It is a short walk away from Federation Square, full of fluttering seagulls trying to play hide-and-seek with you. Be sure to arrive before the sun sets - the skies are always awe-inspiring any day here in Melbourne. 

Reunite with the kid in you, and throw some rings. I'm pretty sure your hand-eye coordination has improved over the years, right? There's no excuse to not win a fluffy plushie.

This is possibly the cutest carnival game I've ever seen featuring a dazed-looking Spongebob and Patrick floating around in a water tank waiting for you to pick them up.

If you're feeling more adventurous, go for the rides. They are approx. AUD10 a go.

This game caught everyone's attention: little wonder why it did. A whole row of minions are suspended from a horizontal bar and moved up and down... it makes everyone feel like they are part of a Despicable Me set! After observing for a while, I still had no idea how the game worked.

My Moomba Festival buddy, Lexi, who walked the grounds with me!

Everyone loves a little surprise present every now and then, and what makes it a lot sweeter is to do it on a regular day. You know, because everyday is worth celebrating when you've found someone to spend your life with. Yet finding a suitable gift is such a challenge! Whether your other half is a practical Taurus or a sophisticated Libra, at least one of these ideas will coincide function, style and utility.

The most versatile of watches goes to Daniel Wellington's, and has become a basic necessity of every wardrobe. It goes with any outfit and that makes it very suitable for either genders to wear it effortlessly. The interchangeable straps also allow for a change of colours if you ever get bored of it. This can be considered slightly pricey for a gift, so perhaps this will be suitable for more important occasions such as anniversaries. | SGD259

A celebrated winning formula loved by many girls, the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask has become one of the necessary products on the dressing table. If your partner does not have a similar product to wind down with on tiring days, this will be a really thoughtful gift to show your care and concern for your other half. | SGD36

Cameras have become an indispensable need in any modern person's life! Even though smartphones can capture pictures of decent quality, you have to admit that cameras provide a different level of quality altogether. For a DSLR, I'm more inclined towards the Canon brand because I find that it's quite easy to navigate around the buttons even with one hand. I could be saying this because I am more used to it, but it was very intuitive to start learning about it even as a beginner so I'd say it's suitable to get one as your first professional camera. | from SG432

If your partner loves cooking and baking, you could explore options about kitchen appliances. It would create more possibilities in their endeavours and you could possibly reap in delicious benefits too (ha ha ha). One of the greatly raved blenders in the market is the Kenwood BL227 Blender, but feel free to check out the other kitchen appliances here. | SGD49

Gifting fragrances can be a very personal and intimate decision, but picking the right one can demonstrate how well you know your partner. A risky choice, so go out there and sniff around at departmental stores to find out what clicks with you. | SGD24.90

Guys, if you need a little insider info: Innisfree just seems like the buzzword among the ladies now. Providing extra care for the biggest beauty enemies like wrinkles, this orchid enriched cream also ensures resilience, evens out skin tone and UV blockage at once with nutrients, resulting in bright healthy face. The excellent adherence offers dry skin nutrition and provide a great boost for a night routine. | SGD33

A proper good shave can make all the difference in a man's life especially if it is part of a regular morning routine. For a shaver with easy maintenance, find yourself this Panasonic rechargeable shave that allows both wet and dry refreshing shaves depending on your preference. | SGD75.90

Many girls skip a crucial step of primer because it doesn't seem to do much visible change and/or too expensive. Yet it is an important step to protect the skin from makeup. If your partner regularly puts on makeup and do not have a primer, perhaps the lumilayer primer from VDL would be an attentive choice for a present. | SGD33.10

Got an adventurous boyfriend that always dreams of backpacking into jungles and across European cities? Kickstart his ambition by gifting a durable backpack - an essential item to keep travelling a hassle-free process and maximize enjoyment while on the road. | SGD129

The gaudy red signage of Chinese restaurants. The loud bantering of conversations in a cacophony mix of different languages sounding like Vietnamese, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese. The rustle of the plastic bags from people pouring out of the Asian grocery store. The Superdry shirts. You know you are in Chinatown. But what's behind the main street of Little Bourke? I explore the skeleton of the city.

I secretly enjoy the feeling of venturing into dark alleyways so that I can pretend to be in a post-apocalyptic neo-Tokyo setting, complete with neon lights and shiny motorcars. That is slightly dangerous, so I shall do it in daylight. Most of it is street art, exhausted chefs sitting at the alley taking a smoke, grimy pipes and puddles of expired rainwater from last night. Or maybe chokingly expelled from the open sewage. I don't linger too long. I feel too foreign in this environment. An older man steps into the space, and notice that I'm overly interested in the mundane, the everyday he lives in. He smirks. Another tourist, I can imagine the thought bubble floating above his head. I don't bother to explain myself. Melbourne is full of confident people who would be considered strange as fuck (but cool) if they were to set foot in relatively conservative Singapore. I try to emulate that attitude. Just doing my thang, yo. Till the next time.

Third-year at university and pretty surely my last chance for a school camp. Yes way. It was a weekend hanging out with comforting Singaporean accents, sheep, horses and a lot of orientation games that reminded me of secondary school. Before I officially get too old for these games, let me have a last go at them.

Slightly over 100km away from the city, Grantville Lodge was a very refreshing (literally - it's all in the atmosphere) change. Pictures were pretty half-heartedly taken  - mostly for memory keepsakes - because I was really enjoying the technology detox and well, it's difficult to stay glam or dry during camps. These function just to help me remember the beautiful sights at Grantville, the site of our camp. Oh, and I tried night shots too. I didn't have the additional lens so this was just the original lens of my Nikon D550, at shutter speed of 30secs. I perched it on a makeshift tripod - a fallen stump. One with the nature, eh? Not very good for a first serious attempt. I will try again soon when I revived my dead camera. 

Side note: My phone fell face flat on the grounds of Grantville, sustaining a spiderweb crack at the bottom of the glass screen. It still works as of now, so that's no biggie. I was quoted a hefty 190 bucks for repair works, and a 90 bucks (the remainder intact glass screen could be recycled) at Flinders Street Station, maybe because I was speaking Mandarin. Trying to work some cultural capital, but still too expensive for my liking.

Sir Charles is a sparkling new cafe, the most conspicuous and attractive one on the entire street because of its massive spaces and open-kitchen concept. Another thing to note: their tall glass windows let in a lot of natural sunlight, making it ideal for food photography. Lunch place? Sounds like a plan.

Can I just say: I am totally digging their minimalist, white/grey/wood combination... what's more, the aroma of coffee was wafting all around, even onto the streets. Oh yes, I'm in the right zone alright. It's good strategy to score brownie points even before their food is served. I scan through the menu. It doesn't seem like a regular brunch place. Most of the items on it had very spangling oriental touches to it - with keywords like coconut, mango, kimchi, wasabi, tempura tofu. But I am hungry. I need something more substantial. My eyes lit up when I caught sight of something called the Wagyu Beef Burger. Perfect. It was every inch of goodness, with fat chunks of wagyu sandwiched between toasted butter bread. The tangy zests from tomatoes and cucumber helped break the taste when it got a bit heavy. I finished it all up, and got on my way. It was a good day.

It was an extremely unpredictable arrangement. But random is just about my middle name, and I liked the feeling of going with the flow, and springing surprises for myself. So the deal was this: I was packing my room a bit and I discovered this $5 student movie ticket that was stuffed right in the recesses of my drawer. I remember where that came from. I had kept it from the orientation welfare pack, thinking that someday, it will come in useful. I've always wanted to watch a movie by myself, I don't mean downloaded torrents from thepiratebay, but y'know, in a real movie theatre where you get popcorn and stuff. It was never easier for two and two to come together. 

By strange strokes of unluckiness, I had to abandon exploring Altona because it was way too cold and slightly uneventful, hop onto the train feeling rather unaccomplished for the day. It was only noon, and I was hungry. I extracted the student movie ticket from my wallet, scrutinized the addresses of the movie theatres and quickly evaluated the lunch options around each area. Northcote. I've been there. And I haven't finished properly touring that area because of my limited stomach space. During my quick lunch at Seoul Soul, I scanned the movie timings. There was Aloha, Pitch Perfect 2, Mad Max. I know Aloha for the wrong casting, I know Pitch Perfect 2 from its predecessor. Now, now... what is this Mad Max about? I pulled out Rotten Tomatoes, my go-to review site to determine if it's worth watching.

98%

Are you kidding me? This number can't be possible on Rotten Tomatoes, the most vicious critical movie review site ever. Without looking at the review content or movie poster, I decided to go with it.

The theatre was amazingly empty. There were only a couple of other patrons, of which I could count with one hand. I had an entire row of seats to myself, with nobody in front of me at all. I could probably even lie down if I wanted to. But no, Mad Max: Fury Road kept me at the edge of my seat, fully entertained for two hours. And I had no idea what the hell I was watching, because it was just a lot of mind-numbing stunts, gunpower, speeding, fighting. So grunge. They should rename it Mad Awesome. There was no time for rest and they just went on and on with blasts and explosions. It was good value for money.

And I love how Charlize Theron is so strong and depicted as the spunky female protagonist who knew how to outdrive her enemies, fix the massive trailer while it's moving, and totally kick-ass. What can I say? I'm a new fan. I'm even tempted to shave my head to sport the same hairstyle as her. And also tempted to re-watch it again.

If you've stuck around for long enough (you deserve a giant chocolate fudge), you would have read the first step of my skincare journey with Dermagold. Two weeks might not be the best judge if the skincare products have been effective. Now it has been 2 months since I used the Miracle C+ and the Skin Elixir concurrently. I used the Skin Elixir in the daytime right after my morning cleanse, and the Miracle C+ right before I sleep and after my night cleanse. It is working out beautifully for me, providing me with sufficient protection against the bitter cold and strong winds here in Melbourne. We are entering the thick of winters soon, although it isn't as crazy as sub-zero temperatures of Europe, the weather has been really trying with forty km/h wind speeds in the evenings even within the city. Stepping up skincare is the least I can do to save my face from being battered by the elements! [Reader benefits]

I brought my Miracle C+ and Skin Elixir along to my recent trip to Adelaide as well! They are very convenient to carry along, and allowed me to travel with a peace of mind, knowing that my face won't start peeling just like how it used to. Despite all that harsh weather out at sea, I still look presentable, with my skin feeling soft and well-adjusted.

The Dermagold Skin Elixir is the star product of this award-winning brand. It is a little bottle of the perfect skin food, culminating an ultimate blend of natural ingredients including seabuckthorn, hyaluronic acid and marine seaweed to enhance skin radiance for the perfect complexion. While hyaluronic acid is the common ingredient for making skin serums, seabuckthorn extract has intense antioxidant ability. Seabuckthorn extract is also used alone or in various preparations for burns, scalds, ulcerations, and infections. It is an ingredient in sunblock-hippophae oil, with UV-blocking activity and emollient properties that can promote the regeneration of tissues. It is also paraben-free.

It has a very, very light fragrance that melts easily into the skin. I like how it is fuss-free and can be dispensed from a pump, which makes it super easy to do my nightly routine even when I'm very tired. 

Dermagold gives me the courage to bare my skin under light! My complexion has been very good despite the worse conditions I am in now! Dermagold is a brand that I trust now. If you're looking for a skincare range to take care of your skin without any fuss, try this for yourself.

I felt oddly disconnected, but misschu Tuckshop had me at dejavu. This cozy eatery had a very thoughtful and detailed reconstruction of a street side stall, which a completely Vietnamese-Laotian-inspired menu... I should have learnt this much quicker but - at Melbourne, eat Asian (this should, very honestly, be your mantra if you're looking to eat around here). You pretty much get very legit flavours, with the exact sauces they use in their home countries, except that the ingredients taste so much more pure. Alright I shan't digress too much, let's go on to what I had here: 

Steamed dumplings stuffed with scallop & prawn (AUD7) was an absolute treat, served in a shallow lagoon of light soy sauce and.. something else. It was delicious. I remembered swooning over them and not bearing to eat the last one.

BBQ Pork Char Siu Steamed Bun (AUD2.5) was pretty stellar too. I kinda regret only ordering one, because the fluffy sweet white bun matched the tantalizing savoury and sweet pork fillings so well. It was also freshly steamed. All in all, this reminded me of the best pau days in Malaysia.

Traditional Peking Duck Pancake (AUD3.8/each) was quite stunningly priced. Did I really pay so much for so little?  I must admit, I must try to overlook the price considering how much goodness was packed in the little wrap. For one, it was succulent duck meat - boneless - and a slice of cucumber, smeared with the peking duck sauce. I didn't have to do it myself, all I had to do was to pick it up and stuff it into my mouth.

Truth be told, I am still looking fondly back at this particular meal , exactly three months since the day I had it. It's slightly expensive, but I looked at it as a whole - AUD17 for a meal, it seems quite alright to me. Besides, a good experience should not be measured by price. Aye? Aye.

Flipboard's high on my list for its coffee reputation that has traveled far and wide. It wasn't before long that I found myself at this place for my caffeine fix. This cafe is almost like a live tetris at work here, alongside its neighbours Brolly Studios and Bennetts Lane Jazz Club. Just look at this:

That's some crazy woodwork there. It is nearly impossible to capture exactly how everything is fixed with one another - it was quite, quite squeezy in there. But I try. Flipboard is tiered upwards with efforts for space conservation rather than sprawled horizontally like most other cafes. I sat right at the top on the third floor, feeling like I'm hiding in an attic. The baristas and service crew must have pretty toned legs.

Photo credits: Flipboard's website

Flipboard's not the kind of cafe for a sit-down brunch, but rather you get scrumptious bites along with your coffee. Cakes, sandwiches... perfect for an after-lunch session if you're still hungry. It is also good for finishing up some work in this super quiet corner of the city that made me feel like I'm hiding away from civilization. It will always remain the cafe in which I've had two cups of mocha at one go because... one word: delicious. How could I resist? I just can't. Self-control has officially reached the doldrums. It is only open on weekdays.

The idea of bulk shopping at Costco can be exhilarating for a shopaholic, or maybe you just live in a house with a lot of people so it is endlessly worth it to pay the annual membership of 60 dollars for entrance fee and cost-savings all year round. I tried getting in without a card the first-time round, and I got promptly rejected at the door. Security's real tight around here even at a supermarket! But how do you make it really worth it? 

Shelves and shelves of goods in massive boxes. You've got to get 36 energy bars at one go, and an entire 1kg bag of carrots. There's no way around it otherwise you can't get it cheap enough to make it worthwhile. By the way, you have to finish the food before expiry date hits otherwise it'd be better off buying groceries at QVM. Here's another tip about Costco prices (seen on WeChat user PropertyLinked, translated and edited by me). This is ranked from the least to the most worthy:

For products stamped with a price ending with .99, this is the original selling price with no discounts. Nonetheless, it could still be a steal because you are buying in bulk at Costco.

For prices ending with .97, this might be the one you are looking for. This refers to products that will not be restocked after it is sold out, and therefore it can be considered a pretty good price as it has been marked down by the vendors.

The .49s or .89s or .79s refer to the vendors' discounted price. It points to a situation in which the manufacturer is doing some market analysis for the product, and therefore will be cheaper than the times in which they are officially launched by Costco.

If you catch sight of the .00, it suggests that the product is about to be sold out and that the merchants are clearing stock desperately to make space for incoming products.

 If you found an asterisk, it is the best deal you can ever get for that product because it is the absolute lowest price possible. If it is a combination of a .97 AND an asterisk, grab the opportunity because the manufacturer will not be producing the product anymore.

If you haven't heard of it yet... word also has it that instead of raising prices of products, companies are taking to reducing the quantity within the products to cut costs. An old method of preventing boycotts and angry loyal consumers, a lot of people let this slide because they just aren't looking closely enough. What you need to look for is unit price to keep tabs on how much the prices are fluctuating (or just inflating).

After all that grocery shopping at Costco, sit down for the absolutely most value-for-money meal in the entire city that potentially is the carbon copy marketing plan from Ikea's. Their cheap food court helps convince you that the rest of their products in the main store area has some cutthroat prices - but that's sometimes only in your mind. Well, what's for sure is that the food here is good and cheap. So that's where you should be headed:

Their all pork hot dog and a 590ml refillable soda is going at... AUD1.99. Like are you kidding me? It's definitely even lower than cost prices... I think. And hell yeah it tastes good. Mustard, chilli sauce - pack on those good stuff with the hot dog! It's giving Ikea some serious competition. 

Mexican Style Beef Bake was every bit so sinful and delicious, with cheesy accents on the crispy bread layering and luscious meat sauce stuffed into it. I only wished I could have a bigger appetite because it can get very heavy after a while but share it with your friends! If it ain't enough, get another one ;) Or try making it at home with some of those ingredients you bought over at this wholesale supermarket.

Northcote deserves an exclusive suburb zero-in... has anyone put this on the official Melbourne's attractions map yet? Surely this has to qualify one of those 'off the beaten track' records. Northcote is a typical but extremely well-stocked neighborhood in the northwest of Melbourne city district, away from the rest of the touristy crowds and your best chance to mingle with the locals and see a slice of the locals' lifestyles.

As compared to the Fitzroy and Collingwood suburbs, Northcote is absurdly lacking in (spectacular) graffiti. There come a point where fancy spray paint drawings on walls become mandatory. Whatever they lose out in aesthetics, they definitely more than made up with how easily navigable it is (everything is on High Street) and the variety of activities you can engage there to somewhat feel what it is like as a regular Melburnian.

1. Brekkie at Umberto Espresso Bar

Begin your trail at Umberto Espresso Bar, a giant in its own right with an immense local following. People swear by its Italian menu - look out for their pastas in the lunch menu (hint: marinara) and punctuate your meal with a sweet note of tiramisu.

Thornbury VIC 3071

Take a tram 86 (towards Waterfront City) down to Espresso Room at stop 34.

2. Cake at Espresso Room 

I know you can't possibly eat dessert twice... or can you?! Espresso Room did a really delicious rendition of a raspberry lime cheesecake, a mixed bag of sweets and sours with a happy topping of meringue. Such a sugar rush! I have to say... I fell in love with their pastel-colored coffee cups too. I never knew I could have such a fatal attraction to ceramics.

Espresso Room
410 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

3. Bibimbap for lunch, meal buckets for dinner at Seoul Soul

Seoul Soul happens to be the next on the list if you were to move systematically down the street, though it'll be lovely to go shopping in-between first instead of non-stop eating, unless that's how you'd roll. You can always jumble the sequences by tramming up and down on route 86. Seoul Soul is one of those fuss-free, contemporary Korean restaurants that has a variety of bibimbap for 10 bucks a plate. It is highly raved on review sites - but I will tone it down a notch - it wasn't breathtaking but pretty well-done, balanced and enjoyable. I have the urge to say that I can fashion up the same dish in my kitchen but that's just me. Others make a beeline for Seoul Soul's teriyaki chicken meal buckets only available during dinner time - its neo-Seoul industrial-theme that felt slightly misfitting in daylight would be more on point. I would say: Go for this only if you really like Korean food.

Seoul Soul

315 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

4. Shop at A Quirk of Fate

There are a couple of similar shops but A Quirk of Fate is one of the more notable ones with its impressive array of whimsical products. It sure got me lost in a reverie in there. Get ready to shop to your hearts' content to search for souvenirs (yourself or others). Zip in and out of these shops!

A Quirk of Fate

289 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

5. Big Dreams

Big Dreams is a children's emporium with all kinds of funky toys, clothes, and entertainment. It transports me back to the era of my childhood and how I wished I had everything in here. It's such a wonderland. Not so friendly to photography.

Big Dreams

269 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

6. A slice of Indonesia with Yuni's Kitchen

My food hunt had me sniffing down Yuni's Kitchen, an Indonesian eatery that is tucked away in a church. The hosts were extremely welcoming to any random guest that wandered in (not really, I followed Google Maps), surprised that anyone actually can find it. I had a chicken mei goreng at a ridiculously priced 15 bucks (don't mind me, we pay an equivalent of 4 bucks back where I stay) and hence had way higher expectations than I should. I found it fairly decent, hitting the right notes where it should, slightly sweeter than I would liked it to be, but the fresh chilli was unbelievable good. Overall, it's pretty good with impeccably friendly service and a satisfying meal. Moral of the story, don't proportionately equate Urbanspoon/Zomato's ratings and price to its delicious-o-meter. 

Yuni's Kitchen

251 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

7. Organic Grocery Store

Make a mark on your map: this is a must-go. This organic grocery store is packed to its brim on weekends, and its queue snakes all around the narrow aisles of the shop. 

'Why is this place so popular?' I casually asked a middle-aged women loading boxes of flax seeds onto her basket. For a while, she seemed perturbed by the question as if she never really realized that it was extraordinary. (It is, by the way. The rest of Northcote is very peaceful, but it's a consumption nightmare in there)

'Oh. The organic food here is really cheap. So much cheaper and better than the rest of Melbourne.'Aha.

'Do people travel all the way here to buy organic food?' I try to keep the incredulity out of my voice like a deserving social science major.

'Not me. I live around this area, but I know some of my friends does. She live all the way at Richmond.'

Looking at people fervently buying organic bananas, carrots and gluten-free something, I felt like a fish out of water not knowing what to buy. The selection is crazy. I shall come back when I feel more health-conscious.

Organic Food Store

103 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

8. Catch a movie at Palace Westgarth Cinemas

I think I've been to enough regular cinemas to say... this is the most comfortable cinema I've ever been in. Wide berth for arm rests, no weirdly angled neck rests, and beautiful surround sound. Swing by to find out what it is like to catch a movie in Melbourne. This is probably the perfect winter activity where you actually get really comfortable in there. Wonderful, homely and non-intrusive service here at Westgarth. Love it.

Palace Westgarth Cinemas

89 High Street

Northcote VIC 3070

Never miss a post again!

I share interesting episodes in life revolving around food, lifestyle, travel and inspirational ideas. If you would like to stay in touch, follow me on my Instagram on @spherepiece and Facebook page! 

I apologize in advance for this morbid post which is birthed from my quiet fascination with cemeteries. Not the creepy unkempt ones bidding to be the set of a horror movie, but those which are pristine and well-maintained. Melbourne General Cemetery is one of them, located very near to the University of Melbourne and the Trinity College. Pretty much it was like that: one morning I woke up and decided to go for a long walk, and I was curious about visiting the cemetery too, so I went. It was a good time for self-reflection on issues about life and death, and it kinda puts things into perspective and pushes more ideas into the realm of the unresolved. 

Hitting up cities Sydney and Melbourne? Mamak should be the number one name that you should familiarize yourself with. This Malaysian restaurant has raked up numerous awards and finds themselves topping international and best-of-Australia lists, which also means one thing: queues. Every single night is a full house at this treasured dining alcove in Melbourne (and Sydney's), and it's not difficult to see why.

It's dangerously tempting to go on a hungry stomach because queues can snake up to 30 minutes worth of waiting time, and you will be tempted to look into the glass windows and see chefs flipping and crispifying the rotis.

The Kari Ayam (AUD16) is a piquant, thick and hearty signature curry with chicken, potatoes. The curry was likely to be cooked for a really long time and simmered with a lavish amount of spices, because it had a very intense flavor characteristic of South East Asian cuisine. It pairs excellently with rice.

Nasi Goreng (AUD12) is a tasty party on a plate, with a pinch of spicy sambal but it is also characteristic of most restaurants in Melbourne, it tends to be rather heavily seasoned. Keep your teh tarik close by.

The Mee Goreng (AUD12) is the perfect comfort food if you are missing the tastes from home (ie. Malaysia/ Singapore) because it has both Hokkien noodles and a bit of char kuay teow, all with the familiar wokhei tastes swept together as one.

Mamak is famous for their rotis, which they also sell at Queen Victoria Market's weekly night markets. There are a range of roti to choose from, savoury and sweet. The Roti Telur (AUD6.5) is arguably the best for how classic it really is - an egg is cracked and pan-fried together with the roti, It is served with two different curry dips and also sambal sauce for those who cannot get enough of the spiciness! Highly recommended to go with the sambal.

Good things come to people who wait: Roti Bom (AUD9) is one of those - 20 minutes waiting time is required, but time passes quickly when you have to appreciate the other mains. The Roti Bom is what sweet dreams are made of, served with a scoop of ice-cream to go with it. It was voraciously attacked after the cameras have eaten, and vanished in a minute.

I'm not a huge fan of fried food, and while I find the Ayam Goreng (AUD14 for 4pc) lip-smackingly delicious, it is no doubt highly sinful and a little jelat to me.

Will I pay AUD4 for Teh Tarik? Oh my, yes. When you're away from home, you lose perspective on prices and loosen the wallet in face of little comforting food like this. I'll say, take my money! For those who wants to know, this Teh Tarik is very, very legit.

Satay (AUD16/dozen) is definitely another soft spot of everyone that hails from a specific part of the world, and if you see it on the menu, you've just got to order it. Nevertheless, I would think that nobody does satay as well as the street hawkers, and save your cash till then.

The Cendol (AUD6) seems oddly different from what was normally presented (think: 'bright green worms, red beans, toppings and lots of ice') - which I find that it's a little bit disappointing even though this dessert at Mamak is still undoubtedly refreshing and enjoyable. It depends - for those chasing after a sliver of home, this will not satisfy you. But if you just want a damn good dessert, go ahead and order this for a sweet ending.

The Entertainer always throws the best dinner gatherings... number one reason? The team has an impeccable taste when it comes to choosing venues and their dinner menus (check out the previous events here). This time, The Entertainer held their event at My Little Tapas Bar, a restaurant that is dedicated to bring their guests an authentic and full experience of true Spanish traditions. Set in one of my favourite foodie streets in Singapore - Club Street, this stretch comes alive at night for everyone to unwind after work. This post also details some of the feature updates The Entertainer app did which makes it even more user-friendly than ever!

Oh god, do I miss summer clothes. I had to bun up my hair because it is so sweltering hot and humid in Singapore, I constantly feel as if I was evaporating. Club Street is a darling for taking photos, with all their classic yesteryear backdrops, it's very easy to snap something that clicks with you.

We kicked off the night with Chef Maria Sevillano's demonstration of jamon slicing. My Little Tapas Bar boasts of a Jamon Bar, featuring four legs of jamon from different parts of Spain. The current four selections of the Jamon, chosen for their quality are: Joselito (Guijuelo / Iberico Bellota / 48 mth+, $25 per 25g), Sierra Mayor (Jabugo / Iberico Bellota / 30-36 mth, $16 per 25g), Laudes (Salamanca / Iberico / 18- 24 mth $12 per 25 g), and Fermin (La Alberca / Serrano / 18-20 mth / $7 per 25g). Modelling after most tapas bars in Spain, all the jamon are carved by hand rather than machine, which makes a difference in the taste that you ultimately get to savour.

A dinner cannot be officially splendid without drinks (okay, hear the alcoholic in me talk). The first drink served was the gin tonic, the London No. 1 with a spangled of lemongrass, ginger, and cinnamon - very summer and light, and splendid to have as part of pre-drinks as it whets the appetite. The Sangria Tinta that was served after really hits home, it was less alcoholic but more fruity.

Ladies Night happens on Wednesdays at My Little Tapas Bar - so ladies are entitled to one free sangria for every order (max. one drink per night). Happy hour happens from five to eight in the evening - predrinks, anyone? :) Every drink order is served with a free montadito.

Chef Maria and Chef Edward introduced to us an array of the possibilities of tapas: montaditos (tapa on bread), pintxos (tapa on toothpicks), tapa dishes as well as raciones (bigger portions of tapa). I guess quite a lot of people have misconceptions that tapas are small servings of food on a tray but they are really much more than that!

We tasted some manchego cheese which was made from the manchego sheep in La Mancha, easily the most well-known cheese from Spain. The texture is on the firmer side, with a slightly buttery and non-overpowering taste, which makes it easily enjoyable for everyone, even those who are not used to cheese. Topped with quince cubes made from the fruit itself, I really liked this combination a lot.

Croquetas de Jamon(background) were lightly fried jamon-stuffed creamy croquettes with alioli sauce, easy pops that lead to a yummy surprise as you bite into it. The Chorizo a la Plancha(foreground) was made of freshly grilled chorizos with caramelized onions, arugula salad, a dash of balsamic vinegar and bechamel sauce. This savoury combination made for a tasty filling bite.

The Gambas Picantes(right) is definitely my favourite of the night that I cannot get enough of. It is made of prawns cooked in the pan of boiling olive oil with garlic, chili, peppercorn, spices and smoked paprika which created a sauce that was piquant, enticing and addictive. The prawns were really generously fat, but the sauce really takes the crown. I even asked for seconds for the bread to mop up all that delicious sauce. Very recommended. The Sardinas en escabeche (left) seems to mirror the gambas picantes in certain ways, with the characteristic paprika and vinegar but with red pepper sauce, sardines served on bread.

Albondigas (background) is a seemingly simple dish but it was really a league of its own. The homemade beef and pork meatballs were doused in a tomato-based sauce specially created by Chef Edward. Upon the first bite, I could immediately feel the difference of personally tweaking the sauce recipe to perfection and this was it. The meatballs were also chewy and well-marinated throughout, making it a very enjoyable dish. This is very recommended too. Patatas Bravas(foreground) is a modernized take - a bowl of feisty fried potatoes with the devil's alioli, more suitable to go with drinks as you while your time away chatting with your friends rather than eating it on its own.

Just let me say this: heaven on a plate. I don't say this often, because it's very rare to meet a dessert that is created with so much thought. This Tarte de Chocolate is not as simple as it looks - three-layered chocolate tart was decadently smooth, very premium chocolate and the meringue milk ice-cream was also handmade with a spark of lemon. I am very much in love with this dessert! 

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The Entertainer launched some pretty cool new features on their app which made it even more user-friendly than ever. If you're still not very sure what the app is about, you can read my very first post about them here. Check out how rigorously I've been using the app just this year - saving SGD428 at the sixth-month mark of 2015. Amazing cash savings that even surprised me! Goodness knows how much I spend on eating everyday...

The Entertainer users will be glad to find out the new feature of pinging offers to your friends! All you need to do is tap on the paper airplane icon when you open up an offer and input the e-mail address of the friend you want to gift a voucher to. He/she will have 10 days to accept the offer, and after accepting the offer, all he/she would need to do is download the Entertainer Singapore app and the offer would show up on their phone. They have until the voucher expires at the end of the year to use it.

Now, you can also summon Uber to drive you to the Entertainer merchant you wish to visit, and see the rates all in the same page. It is so much more convenient now! If you're a first-time user to Uber, grab $20 free credits to use with the promo code 'TheEntertainer SG'. Note that it is valid for uberX and UberExec vehicles only. 

Time to wine and dine till the sun goes down. Till the next time xx

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I share interesting episodes in life revolving around food, lifestyle, travel and inspirational ideas. If you would like to stay in touch, follow me on my Instagram on @spherepiece and Facebook page!  

If you Googled for 'best ramen in Melbourne', Little Ramen Bar will surface on the search results. That was how I got acquainted with this name when I was looking for ramen - well, a routine craving that comes and goes from time to time. This ramen bar is hands down the most accessible and easiest to find in the city, visible from the tram stop on the busy Elizabeth Street. It is very tiny and packed but I've not yet been subjected to queuing on the two occasions I've been there.

Swinging by during lunchtime, Little Ramen Bar is always the dependable choice for its range of gyozas, ramen and the usual suspects in a Japanese eatery, but bear in mind that most of the selections are rather basic and practical. It sure didn't wow me, but hey, at least I didn't have to walk another few blocks down the CBD to hunt for more food. The Chashu Tamago (top) is indeed the best out of the three ramen bowls I've tasted, so go for that if you have to. The ramen noodles were on the firmer side across the board, and the chashu was also on the tougher side. I've also tried the Tan Tan Men on the second try, which was supposed to be Chinese-inspired and slightly spicy; it ended up being quite forgettable. It sure didn't live up to its reputation of being No. 1 on the Google search engine. Lexi reconciled with her love for spiciness with the Spicy Miso Ramen which was acceptable but not spectacular. I guess Little Ramen Bar is good for convenience and a lunch fix, but not if you're looking for good ramen. On the bright side, the service here is always cheery, efficient and polite which made the visits very pleasant. I have a couple more ramen places around Melbourne to introduce to you that are surely better, so hang around a while more.

Yes, but verdict is... walk a few streets down to my upcoming recommendation because it'll be worth it.

The fourth season of The Voice of China is just about to launch... finally, after the jaw-dropping announcement Jay Chou's participation as an official judge/ teacher. He will be joining four-season veteran Na Ying, the ever-charming Wang Feng, and the animated Harlem Yu. The official date is 17 July 2015 - yes, mark that date on your calendars! 

The promotional song is sung by the third season's runner-up, Yu Feng, in an invigorating song called 觸發無限 (loosely translated as igniting your limitless potential). Hmm, very encouraging indeed for the aspiring participants, or more affectionately known as his 'future juniors'!

Tay Ke Wei, one of Singapore's representatives in the competition.

Singapore's very own Tay Ke Wei and Alfred Sim are representing the country in the competition. Tay Ke Wei is currently based in Shanghai to prepare for the competition and is nursing a flu. She has been singing a lot of the theme songs of Channel 8 dramas including Don't Stop Believin's 真善美 and You Can Be An Angel Too's 愛一直都在.

Zhang Bi Chen, winner of  Voice of China Season 3.

Refresh your memories now... Zhang Bi Chen was crowned the winner with her rendition of the moving song, Where did all that time go. She was under the guidance of Na Ying, and went to South Korea for training prior to joining the competition, which inspired her singing style. Released some singles this year, it seems like her showbiz career is going strong. Girl power, ya! 

Bella Yao, deeply missed by all.

Bella Yao Bei Na suffered a relapse of cancer and left the world in January 2015. She shot to fame for her incredible voice, singing the theme songs for Empresses in the Palace, Painted Skin: The Resurrection and Back to 1942. She participated in Season 2 of The Voice of China under Na Ying's team and managed to emerge as the second in the group. Personally, I really loved her performance Dear Friend. Last month, a tribute was dedicated to her from 孙嫣然 by 'singing with' Bella with the help of technological effects of overlapping their voices in an emotional ballad, 鱼 in another singing competition (watch it here).

Wang Feng's life is looking good.

Wang Feng retrieving the 9.15-carat diamond ring.

Wang Feng proposed to Zhang Ziyi during her thirty-sixth birthday celebration with a drone sending a 9.15-carat diamond ring. She replied in the affirmative, of course! Despite news about Wang Feng's friction with Jay Chou and mistaking the latter's fans to be paparazzi, Wang Feng's popularity is definitely escalating with his impending wedding with Zhang Ziyi.

Can't wait for Jay Chou's appearance on The Voice?

Jay Chou on Voice of China Season 4.

You're late to the game: he is already in action on the revolving seats. Head over here to watch the first 'contestant', Shen Nan, a variety show host from Beijing Star China. Who do you think turned over for him? ;) For more recaps, check out my past posts on The Voice of China here.

Never miss a post again!

I share interesting episodes in life revolving around food, lifestyle, travel and inspirational ideas. If you would like to stay in touch, follow me on my Instagram on @spherepiece and Facebook page!