Blisshouse has always been a familiar name for extravagant event hosting, known for its gorgeous backdrops and white trellis interior. I've always been curious about what cuisine they serve in this gorgeous house, so when I saw Blisshouse listed on The Entertainer, I was thrilled to try their menu out at 2-for-1 prices.

You can check out their full menu here... not that they only serves pasta, but occasionally when that craving hits, I just got to have it. The best part? I totally don't regret it. Either I was really hungry, or their Mushroom Alfredo Tagliatelle (SGD20) has got to be among the best I've had. I've no idea how they made it, but the proportion of everything was just perfect with the al dente pasta. The Soft Shell Crab Arrabiata Linguine (SGD23.4) on the other hand, was also savoury, tangy and really appetizing... the soft shell crab requires some effort to unravel, but in fact it was quite fresh so it slips out of its shell easily. All in all, at least these two dishes were quite stellar. I wished I had greater appetite to enjoy its other mains and desserts but that'll be left for next time.

Equilibrium is different. Taking on an avant-garde approach to their culinary aspiration, Equilibrium is set to realize an extraordinary experience for diners. Feeling adventurous and waiting to be surprised? You've come to the right place of the Capitol Piazza.

This Italian restaurant is tucked away at the quieter end of Capitol Piazza, which brings you into a rare, serene corner of the city. Equilibrium's leaden-grey interior exudes a sense of stability and grandness that is unmistakable, set amidst details such as hand-picked Oriental centerpieces from far-flung cities.

Innovative delicious drinks from Equilibrium abound. Refresh your tastebuds with The Earl (SGD8), concocted with earl grey tea, hints of rosemary and yuzu. The Earl doesn't impress on the first sip, but the gradual infusion of rosemary enhanced the taste amazingly. On the other hand, The Chrysanth (SGD17) transformed something as dainty and simple as chrysanthemum flowers into something very layered. Choose The Chrysanth for a blend of chrysanthemum tea, tequila blanco, cointreau, dehydrated chrysanthemum, lemon and fresh chrysanthemum flowers (yes, it's alcoholic). Delve into a darker bourbon drink with the Smoky Nectar (SGD18), which comprises a medley of muddled raspberries, raspberry nectar tea, and smoked hickory wood. Newfangled, yet much less promising in taste than the other two.

Featuring Pugliese grilled skewers of pork belly hand, the La Bombette (SGD9.5 per skewer, minimum order of 2) are savoury bites that are served with a delightful mixture of grated parmesan, oregano and chili flakes. They are made especially delicious with the spicy garlic lemon dip provided.

The Caesar with Salmon Salad (SGD15) is definitely the best healthy camouflage, but truly far from it.. check out its sinful ensemble: sliced smoked salmon, romaine lettuce, garlic crostini, crispy bacon bits, shaved grana padano with sous vide egg and homemade dressing. This must be the ideal salad I would build myself.

If you're craving for a seafood choice, grab onto this gorgeous plate of Calamari Alla Griglia (SGD15). A flounce of citrus air, mint butter, and fennel chili elevates the grilled squid and plays on several different flavours on the tip of the tongue. It came at a smaller than desired portion though.

The Panelle (SGD12) drew inspiration from Sicilian cuisine - these crunchy fried fritters made from gram flour were paired with a vibrant cucumber salad and two choices of sauces. First, the mango chutney left a deep impression with its playful fruity taste. The other spicy garlic aioli easily whets the appetite and makes for a good complement. Highly recommended!

Coscia Di Pollo Arrosto (SGD24) is a classic dish of herb-infused roasted chicken leg with potato and vegetable ragout which was less exciting than the others but nevertheless, well-executed and a happy portion that is sufficiently filling.

My favourite of the night goes to the Risotto Al Funghi E Mais Mushroom and Corn Risotto (SGD24) - a lot went into this darling of a risotto to create the taste, including rich chicken broth as the base, sweet corn, farm mushrooms, pepperoni piccanto and a generous serving of parmesan cheese. It was finished with cream, butter and shaved grana padano. Lip-smackingly delicious!

Slices of Italian coppa ham, truffle paste and rucola leaves are sprinkled atop the thin-crusted Sull'Imbrunire, At Dusk (SGD27), which is possibly the most value-for-money given how the chefs created their pizzas with hand-opened bases. They are indeed perfectionist in their pursuit of great pizzas.

Equilibrium's desserts are highly amusing and fun - the Deli Dolce (SGD21) is presented as a charcuterie board with four items masked as different forms of meat: the caramelized onion chocolate caramel jelly with whiskey was a convincing pâté, fruit leathers with pretty golden rims as jamon ham, chocolate as salami, and a cube of bacon jam. Definitely a dinner conversation topic and a memorable dessert to try, however I found that this unconventional dessert may not satisfy your sweet tooth.

Then, they presented to us this winner of a dessert - the Watermelon Carpaccio (SGD14) created from compressed watermelon with milk cheese foam, brown butter dust, mint basil gel and watermelon sorbet. I would surely recommend this to anyone looking for an ace to end your night perfectly. The texture of compressed watermelon is quite out of the world, a little slippery, yet retaining a shadow of its original juicy crunchiness. You've just got to try this for yourself.

Equilibrium has their own bespoke bar, so yes, drink the night away!

My search for ramen has gone on for too long to go back to the basic tried-and-tested ramen place everyone loves. Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King, also known as 'the ramen place near Tanjong Pagar MRT', 'the one at the hotel', et cetera et cetera. In any case, here I am.

I get why everyone likes it. It has the most basic of what a ramen place should have - the choice for how thick you like your broth, how hard you like your noodles, and all the add-ons you could have. Oh yes, and it is attuned to the Singaporean palate sort of ramen broth, not too thick nor salty, reaching this well-rehearsed perfection. It's your no-nonsense, reliable ramen.  

Within the first five minutes of researching for Melbourne's best restaurants and must-trys, Chin Chin is a name that surfaced multiple times. Making a point to really try Chin Chin is definitely really high up my never-ending list, but anyway, I only visited it after a few weeks because this Thai-Asian-fusion restaurant is better enjoyed with a bigger crowd so that I could try more dishes. But does this (extremely) highly raved restaurant live up to its name?

Thai-inspired cuisine is the main game that Chin Chin plays, with a smattering of Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indian and Chinese influences all over. That's exactly the kind of taste range that I've been accustomed and most critical of, given how I actively seek for it most of the time. On a regular weekday afternoon, we found a table quite easily without any queuing. There are a lot of reviews that warned of long queues from their regulars and fans, so our luck was much to my relief. They have a restaurant bar corner if you'd fancy a drink, whimsically named Go Go Bar.

Chilli Salt Chicken Wings with coriander and fresh lemon

Steamed Gai Lan & Sesame with Asian mushrooms, oyster sauce and ginger

Pad Thai Noodles

Pad Thai Noodles

Crispy Barramundi and Green Apple Salad with caramelised pork, chilli and lemongrass

Butter chicken with yoghurt and green chilli

There are actually a whole lot to choose from at Chin Chin, and it's really easy to be spoilt for choice. Ultimately, we chose a line-up with an item or two from each section. 

Little something | Chilli Salt Chicken Wings with coriander and fresh lemon (AUD14): Actually, it was at Chin Chin that I really recognized how incredibly hyper-seasoned most of Melbourne's 'outside food' is, and this was the prime example. Undeniably, the chicken wings were really tender and finger-licking delicious, exciting my tastebuds a little too much. I would say they can go much, much easier on the salt.

Green stuff | Steamed Gai Lan & Sesame with Asian mushrooms, oyster sauce and ginger (AUD15): This is a dish that nobody can mess up. Delivered piping hot to our table, the steamed gai lan was short of being fully cooked, hence it didn't have the supposed crunch and juiciness that was expected.

Green stuff | Crispy Barramundi and Green Apple Salad with caramelised pork, chilli and lemongrass (AUD26): This was another hyper-seasoned dish but errs on the sweeter end instead. It would probably be much better enjoyed with rice.

Soups/Noodles/Rice | Pad Thai Noodles (AUD27): Their Pad thai noodles is their only saving grace, which was delicious, slippery and gives a strong whiff of wokhei, brimming with king prawns, dried shrimp and banana blossom. Yet, if I knew the portion is tiny like that, AUD27 is definitely way more than what I am willing to pay.

Curries | Butter chicken with yoghurt and green chilli (AUD25): This was pretty good curry considering it was very thick, rich and coated the chicken with a delicious persistence, with quite a strong spicy kick. Get some rice to counter the saltiness and you'll be good to go.

Coconut Sago with Sweet Corn Ice Cream, Praline & Puffed Wild Rice

Palm Sugar Ice Cream Sundae with Salted Honeycomb and A Lime Syrup

Coconut Sago with Sweet Corn Ice Cream, Praline & Puffed Wild Rice (AUD14) was the object of curiosity when it arrived - I was quite, quite fascinated by the puffed wild rice which I've never heard about, much less for it to be found in dessert! It doesn't taste like much, but it sure added some interesting texture in this dessert. The sweet corn ice-cream was already in its melting descend when it arrived on our table, but ultimately I knew I was going to like it when I saw this dessert's name.

Palm Sugar Ice Cream Sundae with Salted Honeycomb and A Lime Syrup (AUD14) arrived almost together with the previous dessert, but pales in comparison so much. It feels like a very random experimental attempt at putting incoherent features together. I never liked honeycomb, and this doesn't change my opinion of it. The only wonderful thing about this was the palm sugar ice-cream as this flavour is not usually found in ice-cream. We actually waited forty minutes for these two desserts, which hey, is really quite unacceptable by any standards, especially without any apology or follow-up. 

Chin Chin isn't a restaurant I will recommend, not for the food, nor the desserts, nor the service. The service did not have the usual friendliness of other restaurants in the city, and it was incredibly s-l-o-w.  I left deeply perturbed on why people love Chin Chin so much, but I am guessing most of their regulars/fans are not natives to Asian cuisines. If you are expecting authentic Thai food, you will be sorely disappointed, especially when you can get much better quality ones at a fraction of the price elsewhere. Nevertheless, as a personal goal, I am glad to have visited this restaurant which topped many charts and officially say, 'been there, done that' to satisfy that list-conquering urge.

All you eager eyes and keen ears out there must have heard about the little clash between Wang Feng and the media, and here we are, watching the episode itself this week! We can finally be the judges to see for ourselves if the media had indeed been biased against Wang Feng or it's all in his mind. Here's my summary and take on it:

Wang Feng picked the song that is always associated with Harlem as the opening song - 让我一次爱个够, which was appropriately tuned to become Wang-Feng-ized! Pretty satisfying to watch for sure, and Harlem, too chose a popular Wang Feng's song 春天里 (shameless plug for my favourite rendition of this song - Geng Si Han & Chen Zhi's performance) which was very adorably changed to Harlem's style. It's a soul swapping experience that is worth replaying again and again. But the night is long and so, let's begin the games! As a quick refresher, here are the contestants that will be fighting it out in this episode:

This is the 'youngest' cross battle in the history of Voice of China, with 16-year old Huang Xiao Yun performs All by Myself and 19-year old Zhao Da Ge singing Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Zhao Da Ge does her signature snazzy singing, giving this classic song a new modern feel. I like how she has her own personality when she sings, which is quite rare in this season. That's a characteristic of the members in Harlem's team. However, Huang Xiao Yun totally nailed it with her stunning All by Myself, which is an extremely difficult song to sing, let alone re-organizing and having so much emotions in it at such a young age.

Zhang Shu picked a cutesy song that is very unlike her previous styles. It must have been Harlem's idea, I mean, Zhang Shu singing 你的甜蜜?! Are you see-ree-ious? I would have preferred her to sing heavier, emo songs but anyway, it might be to show her versatility. She does pull it off nicely, though it's a visual and audio mismatch. Bei Bei performs an extremely soulful 大桥上, does not exceed her previous stellar performances, does not break out of her female Wang Feng character, but touches me deeply as usual. The crowd is undoubtedly wow-ed by Bei Bei and entertained by Zhang Shu. Both Jay Chou and Na Ying holds Bei Bei to high regard and compliment - Na Ying even comments she has the flair of a champion (I agree). 

Before going into the next round, host Hua Shao asks Wang Feng to comment, and he says, 'The previous two contestants from my team have exceeded my expectations so much. Our team currently faces a treacherous situation, but I think I don't have to use the immunity privilege anymore, given the ability of the remaining two contestants.' Na Ying and Jay Chou both looked highly uncomfortable and solemn. I have never seen Harlem look so uneasy before either. Ho-hum. Okay, next round.

Tan Xuan Yuan is currently my favourite contestant and in my opinion, the best contestant in Harlem's team. He sings a really beautiful 欲水, the sort that I would replay in the darkest of nights for respite... he draws the audience in to his world as he sings. His voice is very suitable to sing theme songs for period dramas too. Zhang Xinxin is strangely flat when he sings a solo - I remembered him being really good in the previous PK battles. It remains comfortably relaxing to listen to, but at this point, it is a dangerous move. It could be a wrong song choice as it didn't reflect how good he is. It is also difficult to surpass Zhang Lei in the department of minyao, so... yeah.

'I've been thinking of something from the first song. I wanted to wait until the final song before saying it. I need to express some nagging feelings that I have. The next few lines might not be broadcast on the official show, but I will definitely be responsible for my words. First, I want to express that what I am about to say has nothing to do with my losses on this episode. As the opponent to Harlem, I have told my assistant and my family that my favourite part of this season's Voice of China is the attitude of Harlem's team and the songs he picked. My interactions with Harlem have also been pleasant. I have no issues with Harlem. What I am about to say has nothing to do with Harlem and his team.

To all my students that have failed to go through, I am extremely apologetic to all of you, please pardon me for my frankness. You did not lose in music, you did not lose in Harlem's point of view, you did not lose to your opponent's spectacular performances, you lost to the materialistic and crude world of gossip and bias, to which it is aimed at your mentor (himself). Please do not cry, I am grateful for The Voice's band, director, music producers, music critics and DJs. I've said this long ago - your journey in The Voice can end any time, it is unpredictable. But your performances will surely be broadcast, the memories of every one here will never be gone.' 

Ma Yin Yin sings a quiet, romantic version of 三天三夜. If you haven't heard the original before, you will never imagine how it sounds like. I recommend this version from the super-awesome Season 1 contestants here. I really like how she plays with the song into this jazzy, bar-music, country, drunk sort of version, it is really so creative that has got me captivated all the way. But... Huang Yong has found a new fan in me. This is the best performance of the whole episode, and boy am I glad that Wang Feng saved the best at the last, it's really icing on the cake. In fact, I secretly wish that Huang Yong would win the entire competition. I never noticed him... and guess this is what we call a black horse, eh? I really liked how he smiles while singing such a crazily motivating song 流浪, he revved up the entire crowd. Haven't seen this Wang Feng spirit since Geng Si Han. Tears in my eyes as he finished up the last line, and longing for more.

It is true that Ma Yin Yin has already developed her own distinctive singing style, a lazy sophisticated way reminiscent of Shanghai in the 1930s. She sings 在水一方, reminding me of a scene with whiskey and soft bokeh lights. I would love for her to star in a coming-of-age movie, and/or sing the theme song of that movie. Bei Bei does a powerful, effortless 蓝莲花 by 许巍 (performed during PK battles of Season 2 by Zhao Han and Zhang Heng Yuan) as usual. 

I've always wanted to go on the Puffing Billy Railway trail ever since I read about it (on Groupon Australia, no less), and it seems like the perfect autumn activity to do when the parents came to visit me while I was on student exchange at Melbourne. You don't have to walk a lot since you're on the little train most of the time, with plenty of sights to enjoy. What's more, it is completely build for quality time since you're literally stuck in the same space for a good one to two hours.

I was so thrilled to be at the Puffing Billy Belgrave station because everyone was in this happy holiday mood waiting for the train to pull into the station! In the far distance, the train was already sputtering smoke and blaring its way over. It was freezing cold too as we piled into the train. You can choose to hang your legs out of the windows, but I found it was quite scary (but safe) so I kept my limbs to myself. There is considerable difference in scenery between sitting on the left or right side of the train. The right side of the train has much more interesting attractions and points of the journey where you can see the curvature of the track, so try to get the seats on the right if you can (it's free seating). Of course, be nice people and try not to hog the windows all the time so everyone in the carriage can take turns to take pictures.

It was a really relaxing journey well, similar to taking a ferris wheel. Even though it was enjoyable, I was glad I didn't pick the one to Gembrook which would be way too far out! Remember to grab the brochures at the start of your journey so you can watch out for some stunning attractions along the way including the Cardinia Reservoir, Port Philip Bay as the train brings us to elevated heights along the Dandenong Mountain range.

Everywhere was filled with autumn leaves fluttering in the air, it was so pretty! This is where I went to pick autumn leaves for souvenirs - there are so many that stayed in perfect maple-leaf shapes. At Emerald, we took a leisurely walk around the lake. There are other activities to be done in the summer, but it was really too cold to do anything but eat and lounge at a corner then.

I lost this scarf the next day (R.I.P scarf) in my university due to my carelessness and never got it back.. sigh nothing will ever replace it. This is the last set of pictures with it.

Introducing Ippin Cafe Bar, a Japanese cafe bar that prides itself on providing different nooks for both indoor and outdoor dining that ultimate creates an intimate place for dates or small group dinners with your friends. A project that is undertaken by the hardworking and capable Ayumi Fujishiro, also known as the chief cheerleader of Ippin Cafe Bar, she aims to deliver dishes 'better than mom's home cooked food'.

Originating from Chiba Prefecture, Yakisoba is the Japanese staple that is doused with savoury sauce. It is an easy, straight-forward enjoyment, nothing fancy but still delicious. The Yakisoba set (SGD12) is the unassuming choice.

Richly flavoured, the deep fried oyster set (SGD24) exudes a homely feel with the fragrance of the Nikujaga pork and potato stew wafting around the moment it is served. The oysters are also lightly battered to ensure a thin layer of crispiness on the outside and juicy oyster meat on the inside.

The Oyakodon set (SGD15) features especially oishii chicken boiled with the dashi stock and egg on rice, which makes for a wonderfully comforting dish and generously proportioned too! I would imagine this is the one I would order when I am here.

The crowd-pleaser goes to the ginger pork with rice set (SGD15) which reflects how the syoga-yaki (fried ginger pork) is immensely popular in Japan too! This is the tried and tested successful formula that whets the appetite. The pork is thoroughly marinated with sweet soy and ginger, which is just perfect to re-create this homely dish, just better.

One of their unique desserts is the hojicha pudding which is really lovely to have, smooth texture with a refreshing tea taste with a little malt feel. If you drop by Ippin, try this too.

If you like oysters, Ippin Cafe Bar has them too, goes beautifully with their hand-picked premium selection of sakes and beers - check out their collection!

The owners of Ippin Cafe Bar personally selected their favourites to bring it all the way from Japan's top prefectures to this little corner in Singapore - be sure to try their tsutsmi brewery plum wine kurahachi umeshu - 720ml (SGD29) which is particularly unique, which is lighter than normal wines, with a hint of sour plum that is quite addictive! It functions as an appetiser drink meant to stimulate appetite and promote digestion. Their range of craft beers are different from elsewhere too - Waku Waku  Hyajumangoku Beer Koshihikari/ Pale/ Dark Ale (SGD9) and Waku Waku Granagri (SGD9).

For those who love Japanese-imported merchandise, Ippin Cafe Bar has a boutique section for you to shop too! These are carefully chosen - in particular, check out their hojicha tea packs!

Ooh la la, here we are, at the second last episode of The Voice of China Season 4. Already?! Yes, they sure eliminated the contestants fast enough and we are left with the final 10 now. In this episode, each of the ten contestants will perform one song. Their performance will be given points by 27 music producers and music critics (50%), public assessment team made of audience and media representatives (50%) - at this moment, the camera pans over to Wang Feng's triumphant face (find out what happened on Episode 11). The contestants with the top 5 scores will advance into the finals of The Voice of China.

In the first section of the episode, each of the judges draw lots to decide the line-up priority. Harlem gets the first choice - and he picks Zhao Da Ge. Next, Jay Chou picks female rapper Chen Zi Tong (Queen T), Wang Feng goes and introduces Bei Bei as his representative in this round. Na Ying chooses Sun Bo Lun. 

Packing on the retro blues just like her usual style, Zhao Da Ge doesn't deviate much from her sultry personality in her performance. It is a classier song for sure, but somehow it reminds me of a performance in a hotel ballroom event where no one really pays attention to the singer. It is quite obvious that Harlem worked his magic for her marked improvement, but she doesn't appeal to me. In all honesty, I think there are more deserving candidates than Zhao to be in the top 10, so naturally I am slightly biased against her. 

Straying away from her usual rap style completely, Chen Zi Tong strives to prove that she can sing beyond rapping. She did not do a single line of rap. I find that she has always shown a little glimmer of talent in her pure singing throughout the few performances she did in this competition, so she never really had to do this. She shines brilliantly in this song by Alicia Keys. This is the first time we can hear her voice in an extended amount of song; it is exceptionally clear and layered. Great job there.

Even though Bei Bei continues to sing another of Wang Feng's song, this song is slightly differently performed as compared to the rest of his songs and her other performances. It doesn't require a constant heavy input of emotions, beginning with a few gentle, delicate verses before exploding into a more impassioned ending. I like how Bei Bei has a very well-put-together 'branding' but finds versatility within that. There is a quiet improvement in her, even though she has always been regarded to be really good. Jay Chou even invites her to be a special guest at his concert. It is note worthy that Bei Bei has only 18 votes from the media team (as opposed to 20 and 23 for Zhao Da Ge and Chen Zi Tong respectively). Yet, she has gotten remarkably much more from the public audience assessment team. I guess the rumours aren't baseless.

I really like Sun Bo Lun particularly because he has a magic touch to fill every song with so much appropriate emotions but yet, not too overpowering. He draws people in easily with his voice, and I watched this performance from start till end with undivided attention. I guess it might have something to do with age which this competition desperately lacks now, and he is one of the few who can really do this readily.

I must say I am pleasantly surprised by her transformation, and the precisely suitable song for her that managed to display the really skillful rhythm of her voice. She performs the most rock, fierce version of herself yet, albeit in a rather non-mainstream fashion. One of the media representatives comments that she has great potential as a singer.

Isn't it stressful to sing this song by a contestant from the previous Season 3, Rose Liu Ming Xiang? I found it a really risky move to take, especially it has already been done to near-perfection in vintage before. Li Xin Ni tries to outdo her senior in another way, jazzing it up with a sophisticated way. When she sings, I have a strange imagery of strolling down the streets of London on a rainy evening, quite a misfit with what the song is about. I think it's a case of a wrong song choice.

Huang Yong, similar to Bei Bei, has forged a certain branding for himself - a rather aloof and free wanderer. He sounds like an extension of last week's performance, 流浪, and seemingly doesn't break out of his rut. That is not necessarily a bad thing as some people who can't get enough of his style, yet at this stage of the competition, most of the audience and judges are looking out for versatility and mainstream appeal. Of course, the media dislike for Wang Feng seems to reflect in the music producers and critics voting again as Huang Yong suffers a disproportionate low vote from them. I mean, 7 votes?! That's ridiculous. After all, he got a much higher vote from the public audience. I think at this point, everyone is crying from feeling extremely aggrieved for Huang Yong.

I love Na Ying's choice of songs so much! Zhang Lei singing 思念谁 is an instant tear-jerker combination. Instead of an emotionally-loaded way, Zhang Lei sings the song in his special way... a very simple, light way, but somehow it brings out a really sad story. We shouldn't forget his amazing minyao performance during the previous cross battle within his own team too which won over so many hearts across the audience of Voice of China. He has an incredible lead ahead of the rest (Chen Zi Tong in 2nd place as of now, at 89.1%).

Total from music producers and music critics: 25 votes

Total from public assessment team: 348 votes

Score: 94.6%

9. Tan Xuan Yuan 谭轩辕 - Carrie by Europe

Here comes my favourite contestant of Voice of China (being impartial is not a forte of mine). Disturbing mispronunciations apart, the strong flow of his voice even at the highest notes is impressive and amazing. He is also the rare few that remains quite unaffected by nervousness or stage fright, which makes the audience relaxed and enjoy his performance too.

Total from music producers and music critics: 21 votes

Total from public assessment team: 338 votes

Score: 85.8%

10. Li An 李安 - 再回首 by 苏芮

Bouncing back confidently from his rather weak performance in the previous episode, he manages to perform the re-choreographed the classic 再回首 and stamps his own mark on it. I almost forgot what the original sounds like (it is completely different except for the lyrics), and this feels like a new song by Li An. I am guessing that much of this is owed to the brilliance of Jay Chou, his mentor. Of course, there are obvious strains of Jay's style in the nuances of this performance especially towards the end. Jay sure looks really proud of his student. I am happy to see Li An's voice put to good use finally.

Total from music producers and music critics: 19 votes

Total from public assessment team: 353 votes

Score: 84.2%

Top 5 contestants in Voice of China:
Chen Zi Tong (Jay)
Bei Bei (Wang Feng)
Zhang Lei (Na Ying)
Tan Xuan Yuan (Harlem)
Li An (Jay)

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!

Jetting off for a holiday is awesome. But logistically and financially, not so much. If you find yourself studying or working in Melbourne soon, this list on the cheapest, fastest and 'best of both worlds' ways to get to and from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport will be of help to you. These are ways that I have personally tried and ascertain to be reliable.

Add a little understated jazz in your dinners this week with teochew muay paired with tasty dishes - think: your usual tze char, but with a lighter and healthier twist. Friends who are looking for Chinese-based cuisines and a homely comfortable atmosphere, this is your pick. ChaoZhou Porridge is air-conditioned and serves an extensive range of dishes that goes really well with porridge. Each of them is quite large in its serving, and you can easily pick one or two and have your fill.

Located along River Valley Road, ChaoZhou Porridge (潮粥糜) is a fantastic corner for you to recharge for the week. Its incredibly homely and air-conditioned atmosphere (read: haze-free!) sets for a good reunion and friends gathering, with the anticipation of Chinese food without all the usual oily grime in the air. Despite its small space, all the round tables are positioned with adequate distance from one another, allowing for cozy conversations within your own table.

True to the versatility and flexibility of Chinese cuisines, ChaoZhou Porridge tosses in a variety of cooking methods in their menu with cold appetizers, steaming, braised, deep-fried and boiling. This means there will be something that fits your mood no matter what. Of course, their Chaozhou signature porridge is done to this plain humbleness to complement the tasty dishes. Don't underestimate the boring-looking Cold Bean Curd with Preserved Radish (SGD4.80), its gentle savoury sauce and smooth beancurd accented with nuances of saltiness from the radish provides an easy initiation to the meal. I would imagine it being a hit across ages. The Big Sotong (SGD6.90) was a clear winner on the table, being swept away quickly the moment we picked up our chopsticks and demanded for a second serving. Why, its pillowy bite is just too addictive and together with its spicy chili soy garlic sauce - it is simply kickass. Recommended starter to go with your teochew muay.

Their Clams (SGD6.90) were especially flavoursome, a little drowning in sauce, but you always have your plain porridge to back you up on this. My favourite of the night goes to the Minced Pork with Black Beans (SGD4.20), which appeared spicy but it's not, the beans flavour are well mixed with the pork, which makes it very appetizing. I could totally eat an entire bowl of teochew muay with this alone... without hesitation, order this! Their Radish Omelette (SGD4.50) is expectedly yummy (I mean, omelettes. Who don't love these?) so I guess it's good to order since everyone is likely to enjoy it.

The Braised Delight (SGD16.90) is a hearty platter of pork belly, duck, large pig intestines, beancurd and taupok, which will probably be ideal to order for a bigger group because everyone gets to share a bit of this feast! Their Steamed Mullet Fish (subjected to seasonal prices, ask before ordering) tasted like the oceans as the chefs took special care to ensure its freshness during the cooking process. Somehow it doesn't appeal to me because it is a tad too plain in taste as compared to the rest of the side dishes.

The dessert representative were these Crispy-fried taro rolls, which were unfortunately not sizzling hot as we had wished it was fresh off the stove. Nevertheless, the taro filling was sticky and starchy with a good generous dose, and edged nicely on the level of sweetness. 

Best of all? ChaoZhou Porridge is opened from 10.30am to 5am, which means only one thing... NEW SUPPER PLACE! You are welcomed, fellow night owls!

ChaoZhou Porridge 潮粥糜
221 River Valley Road
Singapore 238279

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!

The agenda that night was simple: a date with myself, and pho. Oh, my favourite kind of night. I has my eyes set on Mrs Pho,.. and then I went headlong into Vietnamese food paradise. I rarely feel this amount of ecstasy when I eat - I must have looked slightly deranged smiling to myself while slurping down this bowl of pho. Moving on: 

Mrs Pho is set on Beach Road. Quite, quite a walk from Bugis MRT station. I was honestly about to give up and sneak into one of the cafés along the way. But I am so glad I didn't because otherwise I wouldn't have found this gem of a place which looked really hipster in the industrial way... Mrs Pho is actually very similar to many modern pho places in Ho Chi Minh (yes, yes I'm working on those posts /  soon  /).

Fuzzy pictures for all the fuzzy feels I have for this bowl of Pho Bo Tai (SGD7.90). I mean, look at that silky smooth pho noodles and the best part? The soup was properly rich with its sweet meaty goodness, yet clear and so aromatic. Honestly, the taste alone brings me back to the ranks of Melbourne's bests. The beef wasn't as good though. It wasn't tough but it wasn't satisfying tender either. I guess the source of the beef matters a lot as compared to the abundance of good beef meat available in Australia. Still... I think it's really way better as compared to a certain popular pho-chain restaurant (here is the link of my one and only visit in 2013 which made me swear off Vietnamese cuisine for two entire years). I also ordered some Cha Gio (SGD3) - fried spring rolls at a dollar per pop - at first I thought it might be too expensive but I changed my mind after I tasted it. It is wonderfully tasty and legit - I might go far enough to say it tasted very similar than the ones in Ho Chi Minh. This is a compliment.

I left feeling really fuzzily warm and happy, I even left a tip for them - not my usual practice but hey, this is a rare occasion. The whole place was actually very packed, there was even a (short) queue outside - it's not hard to understand why. So I'm saying it again - 100% will recommend and 100% will come back again when that pho craving hits. Ngon on, Mrs Pho.

(1) For the lazy ones... I know, you haven't been chasing the episodes quick enough. Not all performances are built equal, so if you only have limited time, here are the top 25 performances (in my books).  

(2) Song list for Voice of China Season 4 Finale is OUT! For the hardcore fans, chew on this list as you try to figure out how these songs will work out for each of the contestant and their winning stakes.

(3) My prediction for the finale and explanation

People have asked me why I don't like Guan Shi Min's voice, I find her a very 'vanilla pop star', but I have to admit that this is nicely done during the blind auditions round. I find myself singing along with her for this one.

She is not Teresa Teng, she is Lang-ga-la-mu! She developed her own style quickly enough, and this is the most angelic performance of the entire season, hands down (not including finale's performances).

23. Zhang Shu 张姝 + Li Wen Hui 李文慧 - 燕尾蝶

Going back to listen to this again and again somehow, and it haunts me. It's an insanely difficult song to hit the highest keys with enough power. These two strong ladies pulled it off with ease. Along with new choreography to it. #respect 

22. Li Wen Hao 李文豪 - 你的背包

I love this song so I am slightly partial on this one, but I liked how he was so cool about this. He was facing off against Tan Xuan Yuan (final 5) in the PK rounds and got eliminated, but understandably since he was up against a strong competitor.

21. Huang Xiao Yun 黃霄雲 - 你

I love this voice so much - she imbued this song of Jam with a Disney quality to it. How? All the crescendos are also so beautiful and meaningfully done. Even the goosebumps on my cheeks are standing in ovation. 

20. Saya Zhang Hui Chun 張惠春 - 怎麼說我不愛你

I guess A-mei's voice but in a more sensual and emotional strain is the voice we never knew we lacked in this world. I wished she will sing more but she got eliminated pretty early in the PK rounds. All we've got in the season now is this...

19. Huang Yong 黄勇·- 流浪

I noticed this gruffy man a little too late. I like how relaxed he always seem, and it always sound like there is a personal story behind his singing (probably is).

18. Zhao Da Ge 赵大格 - 我在人民广场吃炸鸡

Similar to Guan Shi Min, I never liked Zhao Da Ge because she flirts with the camera more than necessary, but I ended up bobbing my head to it whenever this song comes up on my playlist. Yes I can like the song but not the person, okay?

17. Will Jay + Xu Lin 徐林 Just the Way You Are and 稻香

Much of my love for this performance comes from the ingenious choreography and weaving together of these two songs that seemed impossible. Bruno Mars and Jay Chou?! Who knew. The guys also managed to perform it brilliantly with a dual-piano playing act.

16. Chang Yu 長宇 - 氧氣

I really like this gentle voice that has this quiet strength in it. Not to mention, he picked the right song that suited his voice very much - a recipe for instant success. Nevertheless, he wasn't as showy as the rest so I guess his early exit is unavoidable.

15. Chang Yu 長宇 + Chen You Pair 晨悠組合 每天愛你多一些

This is the best duet of this season (technically it's three-way. um, oh yeah)! Onscreen chemistry cannot be more awkward, so just listen to it. If you're up for some laughs, look out for the clumsy, forceful bear hug at the end. 

14. Will Jay - Lemon Tree

Need I say more? Will Jay is such a popular kid in the season - especially after he sang this well-known song that everyone could sing without referring to lyrics. I ended up hitting replay so much. 

13. Liu Chang Yuan 柳畅源 + Chen Zi Tong 陈梓童 - 刀剑如夢 (中国好声音中秋晚會)

Madness. Simply madness - these two talents should make more songs together. I emphasize that you must watch the Mooncake Festival Show's version because they are much more expressive in that.

12. Jay Chou 周杰伦 - 默

Heh heh in the alternate universe, I will rank this my number one. This probably shouldn't qualify because Jay Chou isn't a contestant, but this opening song really kicked my in the gut so I shall just... leave this here... He is giving Na Ying the queen a run for her money. But I love the two versions equally in different ways.

11. Zhang Lei 张磊 + Zhu Qiang 朱强 - 车站

Here comes the start of the barrage of Zhang Lei's performances... tear-jerker, this one. It feels like a narrative sort of song that draws audiences in.

10. Xiu Er 修儿 - 张三的歌

She doesn't care what you think about her, obviously. She does what she wants. The results? People love and hate on her strongly, but for me, she definitely is a winner. Jay even promised to sign her on.

9. Chen Zi Tong 陈梓潼 - 双截棍

Who can forget the song that Queen T first performed on the stage of VOC? This song exploded on charts the moment it was released, no doubt because it totally owned the original even if it is by the unbeatable Jay. Hngh-hngh-ha-hee! 

8. Tan Xuan Yuan 谭轩辕 - Carrie

Should I bump this up? I love Tan Xuan Yuan's performances in general so much because his voice just tells you one thing: for him, singing is effortless. There ain't no key too high for him.

7. Bei Bei 贝贝 + Xiu Er 修儿 - 我的天空

A strange pairing that created unprecedentedly good sparks. I find myself going back to listen to this occasionally, haunted by the quirky verses and the repetitive 'hello, hello'. If you love this performance, go see a slightly different version on the Mooncake Festival Show in which Xiu Er became even more liberated in her performance style. To me, watching her feels as satisfying as screaming at the top of my lungs at the mountain tops. Bei Bei is... well, being Bei Bei, owning the game as always.

6. Zhang Lei 张磊 - 南山南

I know I know, this is a chart-topper!!! What is it doing on #6?

5. Zhang Lei 张磊 - 寂寞是因为思念谁

I honestly like this one better because I heard the original before, and when I hear Zhang Lei does it in his way... it breaks my heart so much. If you are the sort who loves C-pop emo songs... goodness, this is right up your alley. Get ready buckets to contain your tears. 

4. Bei Bei 贝贝 - 存在

Aha. How many people have tried this song? Uncountable. How many songs have Bei Bei sang in this season? So many. Ultimately, somehow all the stars are aligned right on this one - this is definitely her best performance and also the best of all 存在s yet. If you want to know Bei Bei's true prowess, I pick this one. 

3. Sun Bo Lun 孙伯纶  - 像疯了一样

Affective, and inspiring. I went on to put it on replay because it's so comfortable to listen to. It might come across boring at the start. But this song is just like that, not out to impress you, but it sticks. Trust me, it'll start playing in your head when silence comes around.  I actually found and finished a 40-episode drama to watch because Sun Bo Lun sang this song. Yep.

2. Zhang Lei 张磊 - 虎口脫險

Somehow, when I first saw Zhang Lei singing this song, I knew I am going to love this song for a long, long time to come. Even when seasons change and new songs may come around, I will still go back to this one. Zhang Lei's voice has magnetic properties, really.

1. Tan Xuan Yuan 谭轩辕 -  欲水

I tried searching for what 欲水 means. There aren't any proper explanations but somehow I feel the most strongly for this performance. It's crazy how this originally extremely sad song has turned into an angry/rock song and still works. Even though I can understand every separate sentence, this song still doesn't exactly make sense (If you know Chinese, read the lyrics and please explain to me if you do understand. I can guess some possible metaphors it refers to, but I am not confident.), yet I could feel the meaning of this song. What? I think that's the power of human communication through song.

(2) Song list for Episode 13, Finale 巅峰之夜
Courtesy of diyiapp and qq.com, translated

Jay Chou and team's opening
Jay Chou 周杰伦 + Chen Zi Tong 陈梓童: 鞋子特大号 + 牛仔很忙 + 免费教学录影带
Jay Chou 周杰伦+ Li An 李安: 发如雪 (ft. Guan Shi Min, Jiang Yuan Dong)

Na Ying and team's opening
Na Ying 那英 + Zhang Lei 张磊演唱: 南山南 + 梦一场

Wang Feng and team's opening
Wang Feng 汪峰 + Bei Bei 贝贝: 石头在唱歌

Harlem and team's opening
Harlem 庾澄庆 + Tan Xuan Yuan 谭轩辕: 我最摇摆


Chen Zi Tong 陈梓童: 黑色幽默 OR 刀马旦 (Unconfirmed)
Li An 李安: 蜗牛 + 我爱的人
Bei Bei 贝贝 - 回来 + 青春
Zhang Lei 张磊 - 旅行+ 异乡人
Tan Xuan Yuan 谭轩辕 - 流浪记 + We are the Champions

(3) My Predictions for Finale

#1 Tan Xuan Yuan 谭轩辕 (3 turns during blind auditions - All except Jay)
#2 Zhang Lei 张磊 (3 turns during blind auditions - All except Jay)
#3 Bei Bei 贝贝(4 turns during blind auditions)
#4 Li An 李安 (4 turns during blind auditions)

#5 Chen Zi Tong 陈梓潼 (4 turns during blind auditions)

Explanation for predictions...

Chen Zi Tong and Li An are arguably the ones who are the weakest at dealing with stress (so it appears in past performances) so there is a possibility that their live performance might slip up. I like them, but yeah... things are cruel around here. As compared, Bei Bei, Zhang Lei and Tan Xuan Yuan are more stable. Among the three, Bei Bei is the wild card because she is not popular among the media representatives and yet most popular among the audiences (she had the highest votes in Episode 12 in the audience voters component). I'll put her as #3 because I like Tan Xuan Yuan and Zhang Lei a lot more. I choose Tan Xuan Yuan as #1 because I am biased. The end of story. 

Okay okay, it's because currently, Zhang Lei is considered as champion by many in forums, threads, and news articles. If the trend continues from previous seasons, the finalist with the highest champion potential always end up to be #2 (See: Momo Wu, Zhang Heng Yuan, Yu Feng). People love a story of about dark horses. It is difficult to predict how far the minyao factor can bring Zhang Lei in a different (massive!) setting like the Bird Nest, perhaps Tan Xuan Yuan can rev up the crowd better with his rocker style (but there is a danger of him going off-tune as he challenges a lot of high tones).

Past champions' blind auditions performance results
Season 1's Liang Bo: 1 turn during blind auditions by Na Ying
Season 2's Li Qi: 4 turns during blind auditions
Season 3's Zhang Bi Chen: 4 turns during blind auditions

I hereby emphasize that predictions above are speculations... I don't have any insider information. I have also scoured most places but no... there aren't any reliable sources confirming any 'internally fixed' championship so I guess we just have to watch it ;) I'm so excited!

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!

Whether it’s too hot out or you just don’t feel like styling your hair, ponytails are go-to glam looks that take mere seconds. There are quite a few ponytail looks that are simple to style and complete any ensemble.

Photo credits: http://hairecuts.blogspot.com/

We’ve all heard that accessories can make or break an outfit. So to ensure that you nail all of your effortlessly chic ponytails, it’s essential to find the right earrings. If you prefer ponytail up-dos for lush affairs or just a no-fuss way to run errands, the ponytail can easily be transformed in a stylish and purposeful hairstyle—all with the addition of earrings. No matter if you’re a hoop, stud or dangle kind of girl, there are all kinds of earring styles to take your ponytail from drab to fab. Here are some great choices from one end of the style scope to the other.

An ear cuff is easily visible with a high pony, and it’s a trendy twist to the notably posh hairstyle. When working with a high ponytail, an ear cuff appears like a hair jewel, making it a great way to style this earring trend as noted by She Said. Another stunning accessory is the thin drop earring. Drop earrings balance out your hair’s height and elegantly elongate your neck.

A low pony often insinuates low-maintenance, so it’s a good idea to model your style after the laidback lead with just a glimpse of glam. As seen on Altuzarra’s Resort 2016 collection, large, thick hoops make a simple but chic statement.

 If you’re looking for something low-key, try basic studs.

With slicked back tresses, your look is refined. Play into this style with classy, crystal studs that are not too overbearing for a clean look. Online shopping hub Lyst is displaying a wide variety of studs that fit this description. If you want to go for gold and attract even more attention, try short dangle earrings to add flair.

If your aim is to radiate effortless energy, have your earrings match your mood. With edgy and chain-link earrings, you’ll nail the coveted cool girl style. But if you want to keep it simple, try a geometric, shapely stud. Pairing unique, unexpected accessories with your “careless” messy pony, you’ll look much more put together and purposeful.

No matter the occasion, ponytails can easily be dressed up or down all with the help of the right accessories. Don’t be afraid to incorporate glitzy earrings for a luxurious feel, and for every day errands, a small but stunning stud can be the only glimmer you need. Whatever your reason for a ponytail, just make sure you do it right and add earrings that flatter your face and outfit in the best way possible. Be a true beauty queen and "make" your look; don’t "break" it!

Can you imagine no more angst and trouble with sparse brows and short (read: non-existent) eyelashes with a single tube? I don't do product reviews that often anymore unless I come across something that I feel strongly for, so yes... here is my true account on the three-week journey to my completely natural fuller lashes and brows.

That is perpetually my face whenever I have to deal with my brows. If anyone noticed my brows in my pictures, I am crazily self-conscious because every single time, it's different and it's always in danger of imperfection. Why? Because when eyebrows are sparse, it is difficult to decide where to draw them. The most straight-forward and natural-looking way of drawing brows is growing them into fuller brows. I mean, obviously. But things aren't as simple because it is nearly impossible to grow brows when they refuse.

For my lashes, it is equally annoying because I am born with sparse and short lashes. I have always been jealous of people with very long lashes - even with mascara, my lashes cannot achieve that natural length and density. The current ways on the market to correct this include (natural) eyelash extensions or fake eyelashes, all of which are temporary, has a record of causing damage to your original lashes and can never achieve true naturalness.

When I was introduced to newbornLASH from BeauLAB SEA, I was not that confident about this tube could do anything to my brows and lashes which have been like that since forever. I have tried a lot of methods to improve my sparse brows but they have never done anything. As for my lashes, there is actually nothing much I could do that feel remotely safe because they are so close to my eyes.

newborn LASH promises have results proven after 3 weeks for usage on eyelashes and 8 weeks for usage on eyebrows. So I started using the newbornLASH daily for 3 weeks, well, I occasionally missed a day or two each week (because I am usually even lazier than that)...

Some background information on this product which I read up before I actually started (because this product is going near my eyes, yeah)... newbornLASH is formulated in United States to help in lash and brow growth, and BeauLAB SEA guarantees results with diligent use. I love their confidence when they say 'guarantees results' with no asterisks at the bottom of the page (guarantee means guarantee!). Within the first week of usage, I could already see and literally feel more lashes growing from my eyelids. It actually itched mildly because there were so many new hairs growing!

I have tried all kinds of strange products and not all works as they promise (and hence I did not review them here) so I was indeed pleasantly surprised and mildly wildly excited. What is in this magic liquid-eyeliner-like tube? They have natural protein peptides as their main ingredient, which helps to strengthen and enhance the appearance of lash length and thickness while panthenol (pro-vitamin b5) aids in lash flexibility and durability. They include aloe vera gel in it as well, which soothes, calms and moisturize the lash line. So... it's not magic, it's science put to good, glorious beautiful use.

 

Sans makeup, no photoshop on the eye and brow area (heh heh) - not like I needed to anymore! I look like I have mascara on, but this is fully natural brows grown from my skin. This sounds weird but that's literally how it went. No professional poking or adding things near my eyes, just a one-minute application every night (or less, if you're fast). With mascara, my eyelashes never looked so full and long, I could even see it when I look up. For the long-lashed lucky ones, it might be an everyday affair but the only times I've seen my lashes is through the mirror... up till now. Whut?!

Now I am also confident enough to grow out my fringe and push it behind my ears... no more bangs to cover my brows because I don't need to anymore. Liberation, I tell you. Of course, filling them in is a lot easier and consistent now, and someone actually told me my brows look nice. Thanks. :) This is my little secret, but not so secret anymore.

Now you might be curious how it is done: instructions say to apply once a day, every night before bedtime. My personal habit is to keep it on my bedside table with a tiny compact mirror, so you can simply apply it before you sleep (and let it do its job overnight as your body renews its cells). It's similar to applying eyeliner - apply the newbornLASH to the eyelid skin right above your lashes (minus all the smudging eyeliner brings). After application, wait for 5 minutes. Carry on with your skincare routine thereafter.

It is that easy. Within the first days, I have mastered the art of putting this on left eye, right eye, left brow, right brow within one minute. The brush is also very thin and softer than any eyeliner I've used, so it is pretty much straightforward for anyone to use - man or woman who have or never tried makeup before.

The newborn LASH product retails at SGD238 per tube. It is expensive for its size, but relative to the price of eyelash extension sessions, this is cheaper (average sessions can cost $150-200 depending on type). This is comparatively truly natural, completely painless, no risk of averse effects given the nourishing natural ingredients, and easy to administer. I have used it for three weeks and counting, and the tube is still nearly full so I guess it should be able to last for a long while.

The tastes of Macau is not particularly striking, unique or memorable.. but one thing I remember about it was how comforting it was, a quiet companion and a friend to the soul. Tai Lei Loi Kei was on one of the food trails I've recently done, and knowing it was from Macau, I was pretty excited to find out what it has.

We tried a few items, including the Signature pork chop burger (SGD6.90) which didn't live up to my expectations, I was disappointed because I was hoping to taste something similar to the original. I didn't find the oil used fresh, and there was a slightly stale feeling to it. Then we also had the Bouncy noodles Macau-style set (SGD7.90) which wasn't much better either. The Macau chicken wings - 6pc (SGD5.90) were slightly burnt and overcooked too. The Macau curry fish ball (SGD4.90) was really delicious though, my favourite of all because the curry was very rich and fragrant, with quite a strong spicy kick! For desserts, their Sawdust cake in Original, Milo and Cookie (SGD3.50) is unique but I didn't take to the idea much because it had the tendency to choke me due to its dryness. Overall, I find that Tai Lei Loi Kei is a far cry from its original in Macau and will not be a good substitute.

The Voice of China Season 4 has finally built up a crescendo to its finale on the evening of 7 October 2015. It is the best episode of this season because every contestant really showed that they could hold their own fort and deserves a place in the top 5. Finally, Zhang Lei from Na Ying's team was crowned winner. Chen Zi Tong from Jay Chou's team was the runner-up of the season.

The Voice of China proved itself to be the most influential Mandarin Chinese singing competition with its impressive stage set-up - in Beijing's Bird Nest, no less, surround sound system, and even the judges line-up consists the best in the industry. Viewership records have shot through the roof, with so much gossip and advertisers fighting for space on the show, we've got to admit... this season is the best yet. I personally found contestants from other seasons to be individually stronger, but on an overall, Season 4 has a relatively more comprehensive quality group in their top 48.

Sweet child of Wang Feng's team. Bei Bei has improved leaps and bounds from Episode 12, she managed to showcase more of her gentler moments which are much more pleasing and emotive. Despite the fact that she has established the most vocal fanbase among the five contestants, she doesn't garner enough votes to bring her into the top three. Her live performance is highly stable for the level of difficulty she has to maneuver through. She has the makings of a C-pop queen. I especially liked the duet she did with her teacher, Wang Feng 汪峰 - 石头在唱歌 (literally: The Rock is Singing). It is my favorite performance of the entire finale. Although the song is enjoyable, it is a wrong song choice to pick because it doesn't explicitly tug at the heartstrings of the audience as compared to songs related to family, love, and life in general.

Li An exceeded my expectations by truly flaunting his R&B talent through his low and layered voice. He breathed life into 发如雪, a Jay Chou's song from the yesteryear and turned it into something less Oriental and more marketable on the international arena. His personality only shone through during the finale, but it wasn't distinctive enough to earn votes which was quite a shame. Potentially, the fact that he wasn't born in China might have affected his popularity too.

After watching the finale, I maintain my stance that Tan Xuan Yuan is my choice for championship. He was at prime condition, balancing the essence of being cute, cool and a rocker all at once with the first song with Harlem in 我最摇摆 (I know, how?!). Later, he was totally in his element by doing a mash-up of We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You, perfecting all the higher notes and I love how pleasant it sounds even when he does it - most people end up sounding quite irritable. What's more, he does this effort-less-ly. I couldn't be more sad to see him go... I cannot help but feel if he picked a more tear-jerker sort of Chinese song, he would have had a better chance.

I didn't particularly liked her performances that night - it seems like Chen Zi Tong should have done better... lingering memories of her 刀剑如梦 reminded me that her 刀马旦 didn't really surpass it. Her androgynous get-up for her funky duet with Jay Chou didn't suit her as well. Nevertheless, the core of her talent - rapping - was still amazingly stable for a live performance, not a single trip-up! She did went off-key during her final performance against Zhang Lei as her vocals were already strained by that point in the night. Not like all these technical errors will be of any issue when most of the votes are dependent on their existing fanbase! 

Ultimately, Zhang Lei managed to win the hearts of most of the audience with his minyao. This is understandably so. Much criticism is aimed at how boring his performance is, and how he didn't do fanciful high notes like Bei Bei or Tan Xuan Yuan... he was only singing while remaining rooted to the stage. In fact, he hardly had any background dancers or additional stage decoration. How could he be the winner?

The reason? Na Ying is the queen of choosing songs and she has her eye on the prize all along. She has already exhibited that ability in the past seasons, and she knows exactly what makes the audience tick and what she should do to get votes. All of Zhang Lei's songs hit the bullseye again and again. From the first opening duet, she reminded everyone how the entire country went crazy over his 南山南 (none of the other contestants repeated their 'signature' songs) while capitalizing on her Voice of China classic song 梦一场 sung in previous seasons. Later, Zhang Lei sings 旅行 and  异乡人, both of which focuses on themes of family, longing for love and loneliness. All of which are highly relatable to the audience, regardless if they were the one who wandered away from home or the ones being left behind. All I can say is good strategy, and also thank goodness for her less competitive counterparts who did not pick songs according to how they can win the competition.

Outbound from Melbourne, inbound to Adelaide! Trying to travel during what would still be considered officially a 'school semester' is quite a fix, especially when there are so many possible destinations. Adelaide was chosen over Canberra (officially the capital of Australia) because it has more interesting sights and activities around the city! Well, what do we know until we get there on the ground itself? The Internet doesn't tell us much about these two sleepy, quiet cities compared to their overachieving sisters (Sydney / Melbourne / Perth).

Upon landing in Adelaide airport (you will soon realize Adelaide's attractions are named extremely functionally),  we took bus J1 straight to the city. We were supposed to buy the Metrocard from the convenience store right outside the airport gates, but unfortunately they ran out because the other two tourists in front of us bought the last ones. What luck, I know. Adelaide is obviously under-prepared for visitors... But it turns out that for a weekend trip like ours, it is more worth it to pay for bus fares ala carte than getting the visitors card. Students from the Victorian state do not enjoy student perks in South Australia either, so everything is paid in adult fares.

We were practically starving because the last meal was lunch - we settled for the first food source that we saw - this shop with a bright red Dumpling King signboard. It wasn't that tasty even though I was completely famished. But it'll do, because everywhere else was closed or stony, food-less office buildings (wtf, Adelaide, are you serious). 

But then dragging our luggages everywhere ain't gonna make anything fun, so we quickly checked into our accommodation - Grand Chifley Adelaide Hotel. I normally wouldn't be so extravagant, but there was a really good steal on Groupon Australia, so why not? It was going at AUD50/pax/night (okay, still rather expensive) but the Airbnb owners weren't replying. The room was very spacious and a bit too comfortable for budget students. This is not a complaint, of course.

Adelaide SA 5000

Australia

A word on accommodation in Adelaide in hindsight: I would definitely book somewhere in the town of Glenelg if I were to  recommend to you or visit Adelaide again. There are not many attractions in the city itself and can easily be done in a full day. Glenelg is also a very beautiful and relaxing beach town and much nearer to the airport too. There is an advantage of staying on the South Terrace is that it rests nicely at the last stop of the free tram zone in Adelaide, but ultimately, Glenelg will be the best choice.

We were out wandering again - the sun has set and we took the free tram (from South Terrace - Adelaide Casino) to see Victoria Square at night! Glittery lights are so beautiful, especially with a quick shower of the rain, everything was glowing. It was immediately striking that Adelaide city is extremely quiet to a fault - it was a Friday night and the streets were almost completely empty. A really strange feeling since we are used to Melbourne's boisterous, jostling streets at night. This makes for easy photos because we don't have to crop out any random photobombs. But it sure feels like an abandoned city. How can such a gorgeous place be left alone?

Like hardcore Asians, we did visit Chinatown which was slight-ly more crowded but not really... Gouger Street and Grote Street are apparently where the action is at. There was a slight culture shock because everyone is effortlessly quiet and speak in hushed tones. We felt almost compelled to not talk at all, but well we are technically from elsewhere. Shopping was dismal, but we did get some telephone hairbands which turned out to be very useful later in life. 

Ice-cream at Gelatissimo seemed like the most attractive thing so off we go - it turned out to be really awesome! Nothing like a good dessert for some uplifting cheer. I guess it's because Adelaide sleeps really early, and in general, the city isn't built for tourism. 

Gelatissimo
101 Gouger Street

Adelaide Central Station - the main station in the city, looks like it had more station masters than guests! The architecture within the station is a sight to behold, it looks like there was much meticulous work to construct the grand hall area, almost like a museum.

We soon found where ninety percent of the city inhabitants were holding up - Adelaide Casino (right beside Central station). Seriously, it was packed to the gills as compared to the rest of the places in the city, but everyone was still silently minding their own business (or rather, happy betting their chips away)! It was so queer. That concludes the first day - Adelaide certainly looks better in the day time, I am sure. If you are in the mood, you can try a hand at what seems to be apparently their favourite activity - gambling at the casino!

Adelaide Casino
North Terrace

Adelaide SA 5000

Australia
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!

Railway tracks / South Terrace Adelaide, pictured by C

Adelaide bathed in sunlight is very much different from its sleepy, lonely night version. Everywhere was in matte colours, undisturbed, almost sanitised. Coming from supposedly the cleanest country in the world (ie. Singapore), I would say we aren't the only contenders for this position. Day two was the only full day we had on the weekend itinerary, and we covered a few places around and understood the city a bit more:

Launching into photoshoot mode steps away from our hotel because everywhere is in hypercolour in the morning! I have a thing for railway/ tram tracks too so... let's risk it one more time. This is the last stop of the free tram zone in Adelaide which is literally a straight line running down King William Street. For public transport around Adelaide, you are advised to download the Adelaide Metro app which was extremely helpful, accurate and a complete lifesaver on day three (more on this in the next post).

Shooting some early morning shots - okay not really, it was half past ten - along Grote Street. It was very different to see it in the day as compared to last night when we were roaming around to see Chinatown for the first time!

One of the city's most raved attraction, the Adelaide Central Markets, are closed on Sundays and Mondays - essentially means we are going to miss it. It is right at the heart of Chinatown, but we realized the markets are actually not completely closed on Mondays, so we caught a bit of it the next day.

Zuma Caffe seems like the locals' favourite Sunday brunch location within Chinatown! It was also opened fairly early as compared to the rest of the cafes/ restaurants. Off we go. I picked the Eggs Benedict (AUD14.90) and C ordered the 1/2 Full On breakfast (AUD12.20) - which is a thoughtful option for those with smaller appetites. Breakfast at Zuma's wasn't fancy but so down-to-earth, simply well-executed and hearty, it was the perfect fuel for a full day of exploring. Overall I would say Zuma Caffe is strategically located to fit right in a tight itinerary, and you'll get to mingle amongst the locals too.

I cannot stop being dumbfounded on how this gorgeous fountain in Victoria Square is not surrounded by humans gaping at it in awe! We were literally the only humans within its vicinity.

Lush greenery so inspiring, yoga, bird-watching, picnics, reading a book, dog-walking... all the lovely things you can do here. It was quite cold at that time, if I don't remember wrongly, temperatures were at around 15-17 degrees in the daytime. Perhaps that's the only reason why people are leaving this wondrous piece of land alone.

We were back at the Central Railway Station to find out how to get to Port Adelaide, and train isn't here till 40 minutes later so we took a little walk outside.

Man vs Wild: Be glad I had my breakfast, Swan

Terrorizing swans / It eyes me with suspicion / Hey we both wear black #SwanHaikus

We went out to the bridge, and there, a big black swan squawking and wandering around. What luck! A bundle of randomness and joy indeed. We were three minds around trying to catch her, hoping she won't peck us, and that she won't fly away (she never did during our stay, but we had to leave for the trains).

Where are you guys going

We got quite lost on our way to Port Adelaide. The idea is not to intuitively get off at Port Adelaide station (which we did) and go straight to Largs station instead. Largs station, Largs station, Largs station (gotta repeat important information thrice)! Then walk 10 minutes to the jetty/ Semaphore Beach.

We took a roundabout way to get there - getting off at Port Adelaide and taking a bus, and finding out how the outer suburbs take quietness to another level, and also no shops are ever open on Sundays except supermarkets.

We finally made it to the Semaphore Beach - I love the sound of waves and being there just makes it so lovely to experience what it sounded like in Adelaide. Languid and rumbly waves. It wasn't particularly beautiful like island lagoon turquoise sort, but reminded me of a deserted beach scene from City of Angels. 

After a long stroll peppered with occasional smatterings of rain, we found the Semaphore Jetty! But first, we had a little rest playing with seagulls which are all so cute. Can I keep one as a pet? Or two? Or three?

the only picture before we ran continuously back to the beach for shelter

And then this happened.

I decided to drag C to venture out onto the jetty bridge, which was evidently a stupid decision because the thunderclouds were rolling in and it started pouring heavily. The winds were so strong, loud swishes were going past our ears that made conversation simply impossible! The waves were pushing and slamming inland; obviously, umbrellas were completely useless at this point in time and ponchos were so difficult to maneuver as it was fluttering about faster than a butterfly's wings! There were fishermen in their full gear, putting on their poker face and just keeping calm to fish on, probably laughing at us... It was pretty crazy but... 

... definitely memorable so I regret nothing!!!

Trekked back to Largs station across a residential estate and caught the train after some waiting... Port Adelaide is less eventful than it was portrayed in the travel brochures, and took quite a while to travel to. Maybe it'll be better in fair weather, but the area looks pretty abandoned. It was still an interesting experience for us from the series of unexpected events, but I guess if you are on a tight schedule it isn't recommended to go to Port Adelaide.

We reached the North Terrace just as it was glowing in the golden hour! It was such a glorious view in full autumn bloom - Melbourne was already officially in winter then, so seeing such generous sunlight here was such a treat!

I found the Matthew Flinders statue, apparently the reason why Melbourne's busiest and most famous train station is called Flinders Station.

All the museums closed at 5pm, and due to time constraints, we only managed to pop by the two that could give us the most insights on South Australia - South Australian Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia. The most memorable images I had of the South Australian Museum was their life-size depictions of megafauna around the world - I finally corrected my misconception that lions were as huge as elephants (apparently not) after observing the animal models. The Art Gallery of South Australia presented an appreciation for the Aborigines of Australia and their lifestyles. What was exceptionally striking for me was that they had an impressive range of medicines made from natural sources as pictured above.

They were serious when naming everywhere functionally because when you need pho, you go to Adelaide Pho. Now isn't that easy to remember? I had several sources pointing me to try this bowl of pho and this restaurant in general. I couldn't stop slurping down this bowl of noodles until it was all gone and I was still craving for more - was I too hungry or is this way too delicious? I think it's a bit of both. But alas, this IS a worthy competitor to Pho Hung Vuong of Footscray, Melbourne (aka. currently my favouritest pho in the world)! I had the luxury to enjoy avocado juice too, it certainly wasn't within my expectations for it to be this good but it was really one of those meals that I will look back on, and smile to myself. Adelaide Pho is within the city centre area too, which makes for a convenient stopover at Pirie Street station of the free tram zone and walk for 10 minutes.

1market by Chef Wan had their crab extravaganza in the month of September (which is over by now) which featured many different ways of crab dishes! 1market is a very popular buffet place especially known for its halal certification, so it's very useful to bookmark this down for future gatherings with Muslim friends! 

The chefs at 1market have fashioned out four themes during their crab extravaganza month - Asian wok-fried, Cold Seafood, Salad and Japanese crabs. Being a buffet, of course guests can have an infinite amount of these crabby dishes - Asian wok-fried favourites such as the Salted Egg Crab and Black Pepper Crab. There were other creative Chef’s Specials to be savoured such as Crabmeat with Avocado Salad; Glass Noodle Crabmeat Salad with Lime Leaves; and Oden Hotpot Soup with Crab Stick. The cold seafood counter continues to dish out flower crabs and snow king crabs in all their glory. There is also the Softshell Crab Maki for your indulgence, so rest assured that any crab cravings will be satiated! 

The Halal buffet spread has many international and local choices. The more notable and dine-worthy items include the Japanese sashimi and oysters, lo mai kai, and satay which I could never get enough. For desserts, 1market has a chocolate fondue fountain will flow on to keep your sweet tooth happy, and an ice-cream bar too!

1market by Chef Wan
Plaza Singapura #04-45-49 68
Orchard Road
Singapore 238839

Opening hours
Daily: 1130 - 1430 (Lunch); 1800 - 2200 (Dinner)

Contact
6341 9159

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!