The weekend trip is coming to a close but the last day - including a mad rush for the flight (yes, a heart-stopping story again) is nothing short of being super happening! It sure feels like a few days stuffed into one, but completely feasible and not too packed. After two days, Adelaide became so easy to navigate, so come away on this day itinerary that I'll probably refer to anyone who wants to know what to do around here:

In case you're new around here, I secretly moonlight as a chocolate guardian, so I like to visit chocolate factories to make sure they are well-kept. Adelaide is home to Haigh's Chocolate Factory, where they give free tours to show you how they make premium quality chocolate from cocoa beans from different plantations around the world. If you plan to visit the factory, you have to fill up this form here for the tour (AM - 0900/1030/1130/1200). They will send you an email confirmation thereafter.

Photography of any kind is strictly out of bounds so we kept our cameras. The tour is very family-friendly, considerably designed for tourists. Before starting the tour, they sweeten you up with some Haigh's chocolates as you will go through this passageway lined with glass windows. Through these windows, you can see the Haigh's factory staff kneading or crafting chocolate in their final stages. There are also huge metallic cylinders in the background that you can sort of see them churning about, most of the tour is dependent on the narrator who was really good at providing the explanation! You are allowed to ask any questions during the tour too.

The 20-minutes tour ends with the browsing of the Haigh's shops, there is absolutely no obligation for you to spend after the tour - which they feed you with plenty of delicious chocolates, but I just feel like getting some because chocolates make me happy and I spend when I'm happy (good strategy there, Haigh's). Plus, the chocolates here are priced at factory-outlet prices because it is a factory outlet. 

Parkside South Australia 5063

After a quick checkout at our accommodation at Grand Chifley's, we hopped onto Bus 190 to Glenelg, a quaint, cozy and extremely photogenic beach town. I can't compliment this place enough, just look at this:

It's so beautiful I feel like I am walking through some kind of theme park.

With a boardwalk that stretches out into the ocean... my heart just melted straightaway. I already have a soft spot for coastlines, I can't say I have a favourite, but this one is really one of a kind. 'Azure blue' is really not just some fanciful essay description, but breathtakingly real.

I am jumbling up the photos a little bit, they aren't in chronological order, but I like how they turned out because the lighting is really flattering that day.

The Bay Discovery Centre was some kind of museum which requires a gold coin donation. The whole area isn't very big, not too many exhibitions so it's easily done in 10 minutes. What I remembered was that it showcased some historical artefacts and uniforms of the olden days.

Bay Discovery Centre
Glenelg Town Hall
Moseley Square
Glenelg South Australia 5045

Let's continue to take more photos because it's what we like to do.

Someone offered to help us take a photo, and ended up taking one with our faces occupying half the frame (almost like a selfie) with the gorgeous blue sea being blurred out at the back... pretty hilarious effect, and he even asked if we're sisters! I actually can see the resemblance in this photo now that I'm writing this...

I do miss the seagulls. A little weird to say because seagulls are supposed to be pests in Aussie but they are so cute, aren't they? I guess they must be my favourite type of birds, and they appear in flocks wherever we are near the coasts... which I can't resist taking photos of (I have tons of these pictures in my camera).

This Thai restaurant in the Chinatown vicinity left a really good impression on me. I cannot really remember exactly what we ordered, but it was quite delicious and I finished everything nicely. The service here is madly efficient, one of the service staff came over to ask if everything was okay, helped us out with the directions and even saw us to the door.

Star of Siam

67 Gouger Street

Adelaide SA 5000

Adelaide Central Market is supposed closed on Monday but I guess Asians are too hardworking to leave their stalls closed for two consecutive days. Which is wonderful because we got to visit it, and we got ourselves mini kangaroo soft toys for AUD2.5 each? It's crazy how cute and cheap they are. That's probably my only souvenir from Adelaide but you know it's good enough.

We went on a little tour on the free bus ride around the North Adelaide residential vicinity which we didn't manage to see in our itinerary at all, but it turned out to be quite draggy and I even almost fell asleep on the bus! We got to see their houses which was similar to Perth's, and some of their schools. We got off at Chinatown again.

With a bit more time to kill, we decided to pop by the Hello Kitty Cafe which we've been eyeing since day one! The matcha waffle and ice-cream set was surprisingly quite well-done despite my initial expectations that pretty food always doesn't taste good. Of course it's not spectacular, but you know, it just kept us in a super good mood!

Hello Kitty Cafe
31 Moonta Street

Adelaide South Australia 5000

Last sunset in Adelaide, taken while waiting for the tram at South Terrace to take us to Grote Street. Time stamp: 5.06pm

Whatever that ensued later, was a crazy, crazy blur... which explains the lack of photographs. Maybe we really didn't want to leave Adelaide, but somehow there was a miscalculation and underestimation of the time needed to get to Adelaide airport. Our flight departs at 6.45pm, and we just collected our luggages from our hotel at 5pm, and needed to catch the J1 bus (30-minute bus ride) somewhere on Grote Street by the free tram. All seems like the perfect plan. So we waited for the free tram, took it up to Grote Street, and waited for the bus... until we realized we actually missed the J1 bus (5pm) that only comes every hour. It doesn't come every 15 minutes as assumed (lesson learnt). The next one comes at 6pm.

Obviously by catching the 6pm bus, we can't reach the airport in time to catch the flight (we will only reach at 6.30pm, earliest). The only cab/Uber option will cost us AUD120 for such a short ride, which in essence is practically equivalent to my flight ticket. 

So... we are pretty much stranded.

The next bus came along, and we asked the bus driver (not J1) if he knows any way, any way at all, to get to the airport. He gave us a look of bewilderment like... why am I your plan B?! And then after a bit of deliberation, he tells us

I think there's a bus that goes to the airport on Currie Street. It comes at 5.15pm.

I dart a glance at my phone - 5.13pm.

You can imagine the string of expletives that sprung in my mind and the tingling brain nerves shooting around my head. Currie Street is, mind you, two major streets away. And it was slightly past five, which means all the office crowd is pouring into the streets. I have never seen Adelaide so crowded since I came, and now we had to maneuver across two busy streets with the busy crowd, buzzing traffic, a trolley luggage... all in two minutes.

Well, by hook or by crook right?

So we started running, navigating which exact bus stop on Currie Street - six bus stops to choose from... and then I couldn't figure out exactly which because we were running so frantically, and then I suddenly saw the J1 bus coming on the road (I guess it's the one we missed, but it took a big round) - about a hundred metres away.

I never ran as quickly as I did in my entire life, dragging my suitcase behind me (very trusty and hardy) on the cobblestoned path. I basically parted the crowd like how Moses parted the sea, partially sprinting on the road right in front of the bus in case it didn't see me.

And we got on it. You can say we amazing-raced the heck out of the ending of our trip.

And we were safely enroute back to Melbourne.

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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!

I entered Ginza Teppanyaki not expecting more than well, teppanyaki, but I certainly went away feeling quite speechless with how active mealtimes can be. Maybe I've already gone way too far from childhood, but it's definitely more than just eating around here.

I only saw this sign when I was leaving, thankfully, or I might back away in fear. I kid. I love a good challenge every now and then. Especially when it has to do with food!

Ginza is unusually quiet during lunchtime, but soon I realized they were waiting for an entire table to fill up before they begin the teppanyaki cooking. We began with a simple bowl of egg fried rice first - thankfully, I was starving.

And then the feast began! The chef was really quick, efficient and incredibly neat in his teppanyaki cooking. We could see exactly every stroke he did, and yes, he is impressive in making sure every guest at the table has what we ordered, one after another, without stopping halfway. I had the rockling fish, squid, Maryland chicken and vegetables teppanyaki (beansprouts with teriyaki sauce) with miso soup. They were all really delicious, and just as expected, each of the ingredients tasted very fresh and I simply can't get enough - I finished it all...

We even got to play two food games - one of which is to catch flying omelette pieces sent from the teppanyaki chef's hotplate... with our mouths! It was easier than I thought, not by any credit of mine but because the chef's aiming is really accurate. Next, we got to catch bowls with a bowl in our hand, stacking them up one after another thrown by the chef. It was also not as difficult as it looks. The idea is to just trust the chef.

I have such a positive impression of Ginza's service - I forgot about the ice-cream (I know, blasphemy!) and was already almost halfway out of the door before they reminded me! It was pretty much normal vanilla ice-cream, but their kind service made it all especially sweet. The total damage for this meal was AUD20, courtesy of Groupon Australia which I highly recommend because out of all my Groupon dining experiences, I have never felt like I was provided a subpar product/service.

Humans are complex, different. We get that part. Some people like to hear compliments (read: white lies); and a way smaller proportion, cruel truths, and then there's the majority that occasionally like to hear partial truths. All statistics are approximate and very much by intuition, and much more dependent on another factor: how close you are to that person.

Your mindspace is an assemblage of different information that you receive from the experiences you go through day to day. The endless scroll of the newsfeed across different social media platforms - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, 17, WeChat - what have you, is creating a new-age predicament to our ability to think. There is an assault of fragmented information upon us.

Much of these fragmented information has already been simplified by the editor for the easy consumption of the reader. In this digital world where pageviews, clickthroughs and unique users are kings, strategies have been outlined to retain the attention span of users. Unfortunately, we have become more easily distracted than ever - with our attention span shortening from 12 seconds to 8 seconds just within fifteen years. The ideal sentence consists of 40 characters. That is, the length of this very sentence. However, such writing and reading material obviously dulls the mind and does not encourage any further thought processing on the reader's part. There is a continuous bombardment of facts, but very little memory or knowledge construction due to the lack of links made between these facts.

When I returned to Singapore from land of coffee snobs, I steered clear of cafes knowing that it'll be hard for me to feel wow-ed again. Especially coffees - I'm not adept at tasting notes of coffee but I do know a good one from a bad. I came to BLACK&INK by a Sugarrush event (read: #welovesugar #sugarapp) and we were treated to an array of BLACK&INK's specialties. From the outlook, they look ordinary, but they are one of a kind mindblowing. If you self-professed to place more importance on taste than looks, this is the place to go. Note: BLACK&INK's menu does not include pork or lard, but they are not officially certified Halal. One of the cafe's founders is Muslim, so one of the motivations is to create a cafe that serves food that our Muslim friends can enjoy as well. I can't wait to be back for more this weekend, but here's what BLACK&INK has to offer:

I have no idea what good coffee is made of, but Big Roy from BLACK&INK knows. A friendly coffee-loving giant of a barista who really knows how to charm his customers with the many cuppas, Roy made a really neat mocha (SGD5.50) for me with sweet berry acidity and dark chocolate finish. Whatever that means, it is definitely one of the best on this sunny island. Spoil yourself silly and have a cup here.

Muffins can really be fun, as you will see two carefully curated flavours that are bound to be extremely popular - the Salted Egg Yolk Muffins and Thai Milk Tea Muffins. While you can't see the flavours through these pictures, they are thoroughly infused throughout the muffin. It is not overwhelming, not too sweet but well-balanced. The flavours are taste very natural which makes them very enjoyable.

If you're looking for mains, BLACK&INK serves their unique cafe creations, the Hot Chick Burger (SGD8.80) and Brown Cow Burger (SGD10.80). I really can't decide which one I like better, because the Hot Chick Burger is really piquant and fragrant, with hints of spiciness that is quite manageable. The Brown Cow Burger is like the comforting and classic good ol' burger sort. Both patties are quite juicy and on top of that, sauces help to make it better.

I'm two minds about sharing this limited edition Under Table Cake (I mean in limited quantities, while stocks last) because what if I don't have access to this when I need it right?! How I was initiated to this cake was pretty strange - I settled into my seat and overheard one of BLACK&INK's returning customers comment, "This is really, really very good." Of course, I am always curious when a certain food gets such high praise, and then I sneak a look over... the platter was polished clean. Damn. What is it?! Later, I got my own share and was blown away by how delicious this tiny little cake can be. I can go on forever eating it. It feels so dreamy, luscious and moist, not heavy at all (as opposed to what it looks) and really good.

Their Tiramisu is rum-free, but with BLACK&INK's own tweaking of the recipe, it turns out to be even better than the usual rum versions that I've had. It's very down-to-earth, moist and delicious. I love alternating between the Under Table Cake and the Tiramisu, because... let me have my cakes and eat them all!

They make their own Signature Gelato (SGD4/scoop, SGD5/premium scoop; additional scoop at SGD3/4 respectively) as well, definitely more expensive than most gelato places but I would say their gelato is of premium quality, smooth and rich. It is surely more value-for-money than say, if you were to order a dessert at a restaurant for around 10 bucks. BLACK&INK have some pretty unique flavours that you can't find elsewhere including Honey Lemon Sorbet (new flavour which I haven't tried), Dark Chocolate Sorbet (my favourite) and a more localized Kaya Pandan Gelato which is really lovely to have!

Vita Italiana is located along the quiet stretch of Mosque Street, a classy Italian restaurant that I would never accidentally chance upon unless I work nearby. I found with the instructions on the Sugar app (#wewantsugar) and came face to face with this lovely place.

Trying only two things on its extensive menu probably doesn't suffice as a full review (check out its Facebook page here) but their Bismarck (Ham, Mushroom and Egg) 12-inch pizza was really finger-licking good... I mean, can eggs on pizzas be a compulsory combination already?! I went for slice after slice without feeling like I will ever get sick of it until I finished it, and still feeling like this is gonna be the pizza that I will keep craving for a long, long time to come. Dessert is also always mandatory on my solo binging trips, so I got myself the dessert of the day - daily surprises are good for health - and had a double scoop berry ice-cream. This was too sweet even for me, so I think they really have to tone it down on the sugar level. I had to drink a lot of water to balance the aftertaste. Special mention to the on-the-ball service throughout my stay in Vita Italiana, as well as to the other diners while I was there. They are still quite new - only three months as of this review.

It's out of character to be attending a football match, yes, especially to support a team which I don't know a single member. But when opportunity appears in the form of university-sponsored free tickets, I guess I just take it and see how it goes, yeah? You know, why not since football is a major part of Melbourne's culture and I'm all about new experiences so let's go:

To be honest, I've been racking my brains how to get into Etihad Stadium by hook or by crook since I first saw it. It is this massive sports stadium that sits prominently at one of my favourite corners of the city, Docklands, and yet entry seems so heavily guarded all the time. Etihad is an open-air stadium and we soon learnt the hard way that it'll be freezing cold even in the beginning of winter in the audience seats.

Every game is supported by massive throngs of each team's fans, and this time - North Melbourne (my suburb! /waves frantically) vs. Brisbane Lions is no exception... but the Brisbane Lions' fans were obviously much lesser as they are playing away from their home ground.

As the game begun, it was soon evident that violence is an integral part of it! It was surely exciting (and a lot of wincing on their behalf) to watch as the players constantly try to outrun, and/or outmuscle each other while wrestling for the ball. It took me a long while before I understood the basic mechanics of the game, how they score, what is considered fouls... it was a good run as it was really educational. North Melbourne won by a huge margin but we left before the game was over because it got too unbearably cold. And we had to do groceries. #ExchangeStudents

I fell right through the rabbit hole and straight into dessert world, a-k-a Hatter Street Bakehouse & Cafe. This cute cafe is right at the foot of a housing block in Kovan, curiously sparkling and pink amidst the humdrum of a regular neighbourhood. It was bustling with an enthusiastic post-lunch crowd, all gathering around for ice-cream, cakes, and waffles.

Opening everyday at 1pm, Hatter Street's main draw is their sweet offerings on the menu, scratched on chalkboard features on the wall. If you're spoilt for choice - you will - here's a handy quick list of their signatures: Smoked sawdust pudding (SGD5), Whoaffles (Pandan/ Vanilla/ Chocolate - SGD8.90), and Choco-tella (SGD6.80). You are forewarned, everything here is made to give you a no holds barred sugar rush and whirls of happiness.

Their whoaffles were surprisingly good... heh, I know, I have very low expectations when they are priced as such, which makes it doubly worth it. They were really crispy on the outside and eggy buttery soft goodness on the inside! I have a soft spot for pandan ice-cream, and it matches the waffles nicely. I think overall, it definitely exceeded my expectations given the competitive price points as such. For people who don't live nearby, it wouldn't be really worth it to travel all the way, but if you're going to be in a region, why not? People with an inclination towards sweet desserts will really like these.

If hosting a party is in your cards in the next few weeks, it will be handy to put Bee's Cake on your radar. This family-run cake business have been around for two years but they already have a loyal and impressed following under their wing. While their small shopfront can only literally contain four seats, most of their regulars order cake takeaways instead.

Bee's Cake has four different flavours on their menu - Bee's Carrot Cake (8" $40; 6" $22), Country Apple Cake (8" $45; 6" $23), Red Velvet (8" $50; 6" $26) and Chocolate Praline (8" $52; 6" $28). My personal preference goes to the Country Apple Cake which reminded me of a very down-to-earth apple pie, generous with the sweet apple stuffings, and outside remained really crispy and fragrant. Their signature Bee's Carrot Cake was very delicious as well, with a moist sponge middle and minimal cream to reduce its heaviness. If you're getting cakes from them for a party and prefer your cakes to be less-sugar, just drop them a note when you're ordering. They offer fruit tarts as well, fruits stuffed in lovely custard... so fresh, they burst into a explosion of juiciness in the mouth.

4 days/ 1 wash after

I didn't exactly plan to write on this... because it's my little secret on doing hair makeovers on the (very) cheap and with really good quality too. A lot of friends have been asking me where I did my hair, and after three weeks I've decided that this is really worth recommending - so you guys reading this, are in luck!! Once again, I've cast caution and my hair to the wind and that hopefully, a cheap hair makeover can do wonders. It did. Prices, exactly where to go - all inside. Come on in:

Left: new hairstyle, poker-resting-bitch-face.

You will be subjected to a lot of my selfies, as I dish out the information, sorry. I didn't plan to write a post on this so I didn't take too many relevant photos, so you've got to read on.

Roots are growing out horribly and I had to do something about it.

I couldn't decide which hair salon to go to, there are so many places with prices like RM155-170 for Cut, Treatment and Colour of long hair. Of course, there are also more expensive salons at RM200 onwards as well that looks obviously more posh - there's even one island-themed hair salon. In the end, I chose Zest Hair Salon which offers the cut, treatment and colour at RM160 (approx. SGD52) which is the final price I paid. Ask for a quotation before going in, and then if you like what you hear, then enter. They aren't too persistent with badgering you, which is something I'm glad for. I am not saying Zest is the best of all the salons in Holiday Plaza because this is the only place I've tried, it is one of the lowest prices I saw around, and ultimately I had a great hair results here.

For the sake of pinching pennies, I've put my hair to the test... my hairstylist, Emily, is very laidback and confident in her hairstyling skills.. and I can totally see why - I was undecided with my hair colour, and she decides that purple is good for me because I had fair skin. But I told her it was too bright and crazy for me, so she decided to mix a darker purple pigment dye for me, which was quite accommodating considering I'm paying a lower fare than I would normally do (+1 brownie point). She then pointed out wifi for me (+1 brownie point) which made the four-hour wait much more pleasant. Later I needed to charge my phone because my battery was dying - she gave me her own charger (+999 brownie points). Then she pampered me with fashion magazines, gossip conversations, and tea. She is so awesome. Obviously she doesn't know I will blog about this, which makes it even more touching.

Hair dyes are ammonia-free. I hate hair colouring processes because they always stink a bomb, but I didn't even catch a single whiff of that disgusting smell here during my colouring process. Hair washes were as usual, a luxurious enjoyment.

Initially I didn't want to do hair treatment - which will save me a good amount -  Emily recommended twice but wasn't pushy about it, and in the end I relented. I don't regret it one bit because it improved my hair quality so much and I am being complimented so much for it, I actually felt shy for the first time in my life. They do this 10-minutes oxygen hair mask thing, which doesn't seem cost-effective per minute, but post-treatment effect is insanely good and lasts even three weeks after (ie. now). Would I recommend you to do the hair treatment? Yes. 

For your reference.

Photo credits: +eatwithroy

What it looks like in real life - really reddish now rather than on the purple end, but I am surprised that the colour and treatment effects are still very obvious, strong and did not falter much from the immediate post-hair makeover look. In fact, it's growing out nicely on me which I really like now! My hair looks so much more tame and smooth, someone actually commented - "is this fake anime hair?" like... I'll take that as a compliment thank you. Yes, for SGD60 you get a pretty good hair makeover, and now you know where to go! In the same building you get very good prices for manicures/pedicures/massages too. So... pamper yourself away this weekend!

Postscript: I am using colour protect shampoo and conditioners so this will definitely play a part in extending the lifespan of my hair colour/ quality. In particular I'm using this Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner every wash since I finished my hair session with Zest.

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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!

Vintage must be Brunches Cafe's middle name, with every corner of this roomy hideout having a touch of vintage, including their serving plates and feature shelf. Despite the weekend afternoon's crowd having their brunch (heh heh, what else here?), there are plenty of seats available. As we were there as part of the Sugar Rush event, we probably didn't exactly had an experience of a walk-in customer as they already prepared a menu set for us to try.

The service crew at Brunches is very efficient and kindly allowed us in, even though the rest of our team hasn't reached yet. So we had a bit of time to roam around to explore the cafe, and discovered this Halloween-sque shelf with lots of dolls and that the prominent vintage car near the entrance is actually part of a booth. No way, that's too cute. Undoubtedly, another big plus factor is Brunches Cafe's size which made me feel so comfortable.  

The most photogenic and afternoon sweet treat was the Mixed berries waffles with vanilla ice-cream (SGD13.50) that was quite delicious, but there was some technicalities that didn't meet the mark.. the waffles weren't adequately warm or crispy, and the ice-cream didn't taste the premium sort. If your priority is to take an awesome Instagram photo, this will be your best prop but when it comes to taste, I guess Brunches Cafe can afford to improve the quality of the ice-cream and increase the price accordingly.

Their Juicy Beef Burger (SGD19.50) was decent, the grilled beef patty erred on the side of being slightly dry, contrary to its name, but the rest of it was alright. I would personally try something else again if I had the chance. Their BBQ Chicken Wings (SGD11) was more disappointing as it was simply too salty, I think they over-marinated it. It was impossible to eat without downing glasses of water, which the service crew did refill promptly.

Brunches Cafe is a lovely place to hang out, perhaps for desserts and coffee (which I haven't tried so by all means I'm not recommending from my own experience) but their mains and sides need a bit more of a boost. 

Power lah. Laksa is a very specific local food: spicy, lemak-coconut rich, piquant, fiery delicious slurping soup with smooth noodles. It's not an everyday thing to develop a craving for, until you catch a whiff of charcoal-powered laksa. It is everywhere in the atmosphere around Sungei Road Laksa, and practically an aroma appetizer - if there is ever such a thing. This is my one of the stops with Roy on our noodle trail and the awesome fragrance in the air just perks us up immediately.

Am I late to the game for trying out Sungei Road Laksa only after twenty-two years of existence on this island? I can only say that this definitely goes into the list of food that I hold dear to my heart (and my brain will occasionally conjure it up in the depths of the night).

Rather than a city that never sleeps, Singapore is a city that never stops eating. Really, there are people eating everywhere regardless of the time of the day. That's probably why even at two in the afternoon, the folks at Sungei Road Laksa are still super busy with their duties at the stall - replenishing the charcoal, scooping out delicious laksa into their iconic pink bowls. Sharp eyes or regulars would notice they've upped their pricing from $2 to $3 a bowl. 

No chopsticks, just spoons. Like 368 Katong Laksa's, they've chopped up the noodles to make it easier to eat... which is really a smart way to do it because I definitely cannot resist slowing down on this one! This bowl from Sungei Road Laksa has got a creamy coconut base, chock full of cockles, shrimps, and fishcake, making it really lavish with the taste of the oceans. Mouthwatering just to think about it... the spiciness level is not overpowering but remains apparent, very manageable and enjoyable. It is a good representative of what laksa should be.

I fall in love with Vietnamese cuisine again and again. Each time, harder... first beef pho, then bahn mi. Phuoc Thanh Hot Bread Bakery is undoubtedly a stopover that I do repeatedly whenever I go past Richmond, and one of those places I miss so much now that I am back in Singapore. A bahn mi is like a baguette stuffed with fresh vegetables and delicious meat... or the more 21st century way of explaining: Vietnamese version of Subway (cultural purists hold your horses, you've to admit they are pretty similar). 

But honestly, this really good kickass bahn mi from Phuoc Thanh is miles and miles ahead of Subway. I approached it with skepticism. I eyed it with suspicion because I don't particularly like Subway, and how good can a 'sandwich' be? Then... the first mouthful had me tears springing up in my eyes. How can anything this heavenly exist... and at such an affordable price of AUD4? Folks in Richmond are so lucky, I swear.

It is a mess to eat, for sure. But the freshness of those carrots, herbs, cucumbers in it is so unworldly, almost as if they just got harvested and immediately used for creating this humble straight masterpiece. This makes the whole sandwich extra juicy. I love coriander, so its omnipresence in most of Vietnamese dishes fits me perfectly. All you coriander haters.. you can request to exclude it of course. On all occasions, the meat - regardless grilled chicken, shredded pork, grilled meatballs - they are all so tasty and tender, slathered with sauce. All of the above, stuffed in a freshly toasted, hot crispy baguette.

I haven't tried all the bahn mis in Melbourne to really say it's the best for sure, but this is definitely extremely, extremely difficult to surpass. But Melbourne always surprises me, so yes... if you know somewhere even better than Phuoc Thanh, leave a comment below! ;)

Private white sands, turquoise waters - checked. Luxurious residential villas with your own butler and chefs - checked. Infinity pools - checked. Photo perfect holiday - checked... and wait for it, you'll get a professional video done with a newly launched Director's Den. Assurance of the best unwinding experience ever, Trisara is Phuket Island's most special resort experience, encircled around tropical forests and exotic gardens, they have 48 ocean-facing pool villas (say yes to waking up to a sea view), 2 bedroom signature villas and 3-6 bedroom residential villas. Trisara is also only 15 minutes away from the airport, and free airport transfers are available too.  

Trisara means 'The Third Garden in Heaven' in Sanskrit, and it's not difficult to see why. The Trisara experience is meant to pamper you like royalty... unwinding and relaxing has never been easier. Leave all your worries to yesterday, and just melt into this faraway, private world here. Renowned for authentic dining experiences, spa treatments and imaginative experiences, Trisara and our guests are cared for by a team of warm Thai staff who regard hospitality as a joy.

Drenched in simple and rich colours, all pool villas, suites and residential villas are what dream houses are made of. Their infinity pools are lined with natural grey marble, which appears to flow right into the Andaman Sea. Spectacular year-round sunsets are expected.

If you want to make this your home, 20 privately owned residential villas are available for rent. All villas have a full kitchen with dedicated staff including a cook, consists between 2 to 6 bedrooms each with large swimming pools and various living and dining pavilions. Most are located directly above the oceanfront, with some set higher back with magnificent views of the sea. The villa owners have decorated the villas with beautiful artwork. Some have a small gym, private cinema or even a bar. Warm and family-friendly, or a bachelor(ette)'s party? Trisara will cater to all your needs.

Dine like kings and queens at their award-winning Trisara Seafood, The Deck or The Bar. There are three restaurants on this resort. The Deck and The Bar each offers fine dining within walking distance to the beach and the sea, with regular beach barbeques held between December and April. If you'd prefer to enjoy your meals in the privacy of villa, that's possible too, at any time of the day. There's also a private barbeque by the pool in each villa. You can find the best brunch in Phuket in Trisara, named the Sunday Jazz Brunch. A few local residents mix with guests each Sunday for what is a must-do experience on Phuket, so you get to know some of the locals as well. Fresh seafood, beautifully executed tapas, unique selection of petits fours and desserts are served to the sound of live jazz music, right above the sea.

If lounging around, enjoying the sea breeze and letting the world go by isn't your thing, you have a wide range of interesting experiences to choose from - including private boat charters to visit beautiful islands and bays nearby. Private cooking classes, yacht excursions, gyms, muai thai boxing, water sports, massages, private poolside barbecue, tennis, kids club, yoga, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing (and having your catch cooked by a private chef), kayaking, paddle-boarding, golf... wow! Take your pick.

Weddings at Trisara look so dreamy and magical. Their impeccable sea views will make everything especially photogenic and flawless, making it a popular location to exchange vows.

Who says that only weddings deserve a gorgeous video? All your beautiful memories can be weaved with Trisara's help. The Director’s Den is a digital lounge located at the heart of the resort and a world’s-first.  Guests can enjoy professional photo or video production and editing to create top quality videos of their holiday to share with friends and family with the help of Trisara’s team of experts. Designed for today’s traveler who has a desire to capture and share  holiday experiences but lacks the time, expertise and resources to do so in a professional way, the Director’s Den is a unique, dedicated resort service that enables guests to tell their holiday story through professional and engaging photo and video content as well as novel digital formats like virtual reality.

Today’s luxury travellers love to capture and share their holiday memories but often don’t have the time, expertise or resources to do so in an engaging manner. The Director’s Den at Trisara was conceptualised as an answer to their needs.  Our guests can look forward to more innovative experiences that will continue to enhance their stay, while resting assured that the authenticity, attention to detail and level of service they have come to expect from Trisara will always be at the core of what we do. 

Double-storeyed restaurant and bar inspired by Modern Asian cuisine, CATO Singapore packs a punch when it comes to giving you an awesome night out. This jazzy, fun affair is lined with fancy cold brews, coffee stouts, craft beers, and more - whichever is your chosen poison, they will have it. Groove to the beats from their live DJs spinning 90's retro remixes, and then, hang out with friends over interesting fusion creations from CATO's talented chefs.

Image credits: CATO Singapore

The first floor seemed a little muted and has a slow, lulling effect for a quiet date night, but the second floor is truly made for memorable nights with its cozy setting, and a large arching window that oversees the grand glowing Sri Mariamman Temple in blue.

Prawn bisque with home-made cod, fishball and coriander leaf (SGD12) is a velvety product of simmered prawn shells for a more full-bodied flavour, typically served in an espresso cup for you to down in one shot... ideally. In reality, it was so full of goodness from the seas and I would really prefer to sip at it slowly and dip in bread to enjoy it in entirety. Portion is likely to be small as this is a 'quality over quantity' sort of tapas selection.

The super savoury Garlic fries (SGD8) would be good to share among a crowd. It is tasty with strong garlic-crusted flavour, but probably not the sort of fries to binge on as it can be quite overpowering after a while.

Chicken Noodle Salad (SGD16) is the spiciest thing I've ever tasted, meant to be both smoky, savoury, and sour with vinegar vinaigrette... but numb was the only feeling I had after the 'ghost chili' (bhut jolokia) which the noodles were seasoned with! It was pretty crazy, but people who love to push their limits... here it is.

Fashioning one of man's greatest discoveries - the salmon - in a very different way, the Acai cured salmon (SGD18) has cured the Tasmanian Salmon Rounds with superfood of acai berries, which is intended to accentuate the fattiness and juiciness of the salmon. Oh my, if the chef hasn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known why this salmon tasted especially plump and delicious. Pair it with the marinated starfruit ceviche with light and refreshing calamansi creme fraiche and the maroon-coloured sweet acai jelly squares on the side. 

Photo credits: CATO Singapore

The Crispy Squid in Thai Style Glaze (SGD12) is known to be a regular-favourite and also quickly swept off the table by fellow hungry dinner companions. Strangely, I didn't find that I like it as much, it wasn't crispy but instead, feels chewy, with a sweet and sour sauce that stays true to Thai cuisine.

Steam Baked Pork Cheek (SGD28) is wrapped in a Fata cooking foil in a rather aloof way, as if it doesn't care much for being photogenic in this era of Instagram... unwrapping it, an inviting aroma wafts over, revealing tender strips of sous vide pork cheek and steam-baked in a port wine mustard sauce. The pork cheeks were super tender, I didn't even feel like I had to bite it (not literally) but it sure doesn't feel like any other regular pork cheeks. My impression of it just went on an exponential curve after getting to know it.

My favourite amongst the mains, appetizers and sides goes to this ingenious Aunty Jasmine's Fish Curry (SGD25), made from a family secret recipe. The New Zealand Ling fish is used, doused in an in-house Indian curry made by CATO's culinary team. It is really good, my eyes watered with tears as I ate it because finally, a curry that is perfect in a way I liked it... generous and full of coconut milk, spices and spicy enough too. Honestly, the fish and curry took centrestage, and everything else was promptly ignored. If you're wondering, the little yellow blobs of caviar is olive oil.

What took my breath away was the Papaya Nougat Glace (SGD14) which I thought was really special... the homemade nougat had a soft texture almost like tofu, the juicy papaya chunks and caramelized almonds lies in a pool of papaya and sweet wine reduction, all in all such heaven on earth! Desserts should all be like this, a little mysterious and hundred-percent starry-eyes inducing. I didn't exactly know what I was eating before the chef came over to explain, I just knew this was glorious dessert in the making.

In comparison, the typically good Valrhona Warm Pistachio Chocolate Cake (SGD14) wasn't as spectacular in the creativity department, but scores brownie points in how classic and well-done it is. The ice-cream on the side is in a strong premium almond flavour.

Drinks scorecard for the night: apple ciders on tap, coffee stouts (sip), CREW republic drunken sailor handcrafted beer.. all of which were very refreshing and powerful in their own strides. The coffee stout tasted about 80% coffee and 20% stout, making it quite an interesting one to hype up the night.

People who love Chinese pop songs, we've heard of this disclaimer so many times: I only know songs of the last decade, also known as the Jay Chou, S.H.E, Kenji Wu, JJ Lin, Jolin Tsai era. With the waves of Korean pop crashing over us and mega popular American pop stars, most people don't really know what is going on in Chinese pop industry right now. There are lots of gems that were released in recent years, the sort that breathe life into their listeners, does not attempt to replicate styles from Korean pop, and has their stand-alone personality... truly 'new age'. I will be recommending 16 songs that were released in 2014 and 2015 and deserve a good listen:

I knew about Seven Seeds way before I arrived in Melbourne, it always seemed as though everyone who has been to the city as a tourist has to stop at this cafe because apparently, it is the place to go if you want to know what hipster in Australia looks like. But then again, just about every other major cafe in Melbourne looks, serves and dishes out coffee as awesome as those from Seven Seeds.

This probably won't work as a complete review given that we only tried one out of the seventeen selections: the most delicious-sounding Brioche french toast with blood plum curd, stone fruit and vanilla labne (AUD16)... yes I know I ordered it without truly understanding some of those terms, but you know I trust the cafes around here too much. Because they deserve my trust, the french toast was piping hot, with a toasty crispy exterior, and a cushy creamy interior, together with the sweet and fresh blood plum curd and a touch of sourness from the vanilla labne, everything just comes together nicely in a plate.

A helpful glossary of terms which I googled for
- Labne: greek yogurt
- Stone fruit: drupe
Some flowering plants that produce drupes are coffee, jujube, mango, olive, most palms (including date, sabal, coconut and oil palms), pistachio, white sapote, and all members of the genus Prunus, including the almond (in which the mesocarp is somewhat leathery), apricot, cherry, damson, nectarine, peach, and plum

Both the Mocha (AUD4) and Mork Hot Chocolate (AUD4.5) are characteristically more intense than other coffees from elsewhere. I'm not a coffee connoisseur so I can't tell you exactly why, but from a layman's point of view, it is slightly acidic in a way that's still very enjoyable. It's not my favourite, but it is worth going to try it because coffee is after all a very personal choice.

This is the menu of Seven Seeds.

Seven Seeds
106-114 Berkeley Street
Carlton VIC 3053

Opening hours
Mon - Sat: 0700 - 1700
Sun: 0800 - 1700

Contact
+61 3 9347 8664
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I wish I can be a pho tester connoisseur - if there's such a job opening, I'll take it right away (impending jobless fresh graduate alert /waves hand). Because I would love to see that bowl of pho that can actually beat the one at Pho Hung Vuong, my favourite pho in the world.

I took a selfie with my favouritest bowl of pho in the world. I have no regrets left.

If you're in Melbourne, you have to try it at least once. The pho is silkier than silk and the beef slices are excellently medium-rare, tender and flavourful, I couldn't stop eating the moment I started. I finished a small-bowl (which is as small as a face basin) on my own. Although getting a medium-bowl and sharing with someone is a cheaper and viable option in terms of fullness, I recommend getting a small bowl for yourself for maximum satisfaction. A tray of Vietnamese spring rolls go very well with the pho too. These are easily better than the ones in Vietnam itself, because I guess Australian beef is much more intense in taste and tender in texture. Sydney's Bo 7 Mon Thanh Tam comes really close as a second, but well.. Pho Hung Vuong is better. It is located within Little Saigon/ Footscray, so you can really get a somewhat authentic experience even though you're not in the country itself.

Following the Melbourne suburb day trip of Footscray/ Williamstown/ Westgate Park, this is the picture story of how dreamy Williamstown is. There is almost nothing much to do but chill and enjoy the sea breeze, but your creativity can take you way further. On a sunny summer day, I can imagine having picnics with icicles, watermelons, and paddling around the lake with kayaks.

 

It was quite chilly as we were entering winter then, thank goodness for the sunlight and piping hot corn that we prepared before heading to Williamstown. Lovely place that oozes tranquility just by being itself.

Folks who are always on the lookout for new restaurants to have family dinners, celebrations, tzechar meals, steamboat, seafood feasts with friends... look no further - Jing Long Seafood Restaurant 金隆海鲜楼 will pretty much satisfy everything that you want with their thoughtful chefs knowing exactly what customers would love to eat. With the freshest seafood on the stretch of Punggol Settlement restaurants, they promise the most value-for-money and a good mix of classics and creative dishes on the menu. 

Both the alfresco area and indoor area (read: air-con!) of Jing Long are bustling with regulars and new customers, most of them opting for steamboat, and some are enjoying the tze char seafood and classic Cantonese dishes as well. The flexibility means you can literally decide only when you're here, depending on your mood.

It should be quite an ideal location for birthdays as well with the accommodating staff that helped with cakes and keeping surprises. You know most Chinese restaurants I've gone to really don't understand the concept of a birthday surprise, but Jing Long is more than experienced to handle all your celebrations.

As for seafood, they are freshly caught and cooked, you will be assured that you will be enjoying premium dishes at an affordable price tag. 

We started the dinner with Cantonese traditions, Chilled Pork Slices (SGD15) which were surprisingly enjoyable even on its own, every bit melty and delicious. It retained much of its original flavour, and preps my appetite for the meal ahead. You can also pair it with the soy sauce on the side, but it is good enough on its own.

One of my personal favourites was the Crispy Seafood and Duck Delight with Crepe (SGD15) which would imaginably be a crowd-pleaser as well because of its light crispy batter wrapped around the multi-layered and deep flavoured fillings of both seafood tastes and roasted duck.

While Jing Long has a range of beverages, juices, coconuts, and alcohols, their in-house unique concoction - the Green Apple Juice with Sour Plum (SGD5.50) is an absolute must-try, with sour plums specially sourced to achieve a refreshing and interesting blend. While the green apple and sour plums may seem strange, but they actually complement each other very well. I love this one.

Note: There is a cover charge per person of SGD1.50++ which includes Pu-er tea, and water and wet towels. This is common practice in all traditional Chinese restaurants.

The Prawn, Scallop & Banana with Bagua Rolls (SGD6/each, minimum 3) are curiously delicious, with the amalgamation of all things awesome in the same place. Well, well, isn't that a dream come true? Savour this slowly to appreciate the nuances of this delightful creation, just meant to pamper you silly,

The Red Garoupa is steamed to perfection with deep-fried crispy salted turnip bits (SGD10.80/100g), lightly drenched in subtly-flavoured stock, helping to retain the original fresh flavours of the fish itself. I really liked that traditional focus on the fish itself rather than dousing it with too much flavouring. It would surely be suitable for family dinners as everyone always love digging in together to this. The crispy salted turnip bits were a hit with fellow diners as well for its savoury kick.

Dragon Vegetables (SGD12) is the most understated dish of vegetables, ever. I mean, I looked at it and thought how special or delicious can vegetables be? Especially when I am not a fan of vegetables at all.. I absolutely fell for this, and it was so crunchy and delicious, it instantly sits at the top of the list as my favourite plate of vegetables ever. The reason why it is so good - it is farmed on the chilly hills of Cameron Highlands, with no pesticides used at all. Healthy and delicious - finally we see it truly manifesting in this plate of Dragon Vegetables.

Lobster Porridge (Seasonal pricing) is easily the most lavish porridge there can be, with sweet and pure lobster essence flowing from freshly caught lobsters into the superior broth, stewed for hours to achieve this ultimate umami taste. Indulge away, and it doesn't end here yet, you get to slurp and feast on the generous and fat portions of lobster meat that left me starry-eyed.

As tantalising as it soothes my OCD-ness, these delicious creamy milk-coated Spicy Prawn Balls (SGD22) are really the most sinful of all, no prawn shells so you can simply sink your teeth into the juicy, succulent and chewy prawn. Can this be a mainstay of every tzechar I go to? I wish, but this is not easily found in Chinese restaurants, but this is so good!

For those who came here precisely to enjoy crabs, one of Singapore's many favourite national past times, Jing Long presents the Black Pepper Crab (Seasonal pricing), pulling no punches when it comes to ensuring the crab is fully sauteed with a strong savoury black pepper taste. Shiok is the word! Plunge into the messy world of yummy crab meat, there's plenty of juicy meat to feast on. It is the rare times that I actually didn't have to fight with the crab to actually eat, the meat slips out quite easily. I have to emphasize again how fresh it is, the sweetness of the crab is unrivalled. 

Note: As usual, the cost of the black pepper crab is dependent on weight. Jing Long holds themselves to a high standard of integrity when it comes to weight vs price, and they are transparent about it, so do not hesitate to confirm with the service staff before ordering.

I understand that steamboats are equally enticing, so if you want to, by all means go for it. I haven't personally tried the steamboat, but if the quality is upheld the same as the tzechar dishes, it would be really good too. Here is the menu for you to consider the steamboat option (Jing Long Seafood Restaurant - Punggol Settlement)

Jing Long Seafood Restaurant 金隆海鲜楼

The Punggol Settlement 

3 Punggol Point Road, #01-03/04/05

Singapore 828694

Opening hours

Mon - Fri: 1130 - 1430; 1730 - 2230
Sat - Sun: 1130 - 1430; 1700 - 1030

Contact

67027223

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!