I picked this from the menu even though I've no idea what it looks like... the Maultaschen. It turns out to be pasta pockets stuffed with savoury chicken meat which was very well marinated and vitalized with herbs, along with very rich cheese to go along. It looks tiny but it was very filling in a good way.

Nowadays I get to sleep even longer... because I can now effectively skip most of my hair blowdrying process just to get half of this effect. This is all thanks to NINE by Sweet Basil, a Japanese hair salon that has just opened on Purvis Street. Here is to share what is their salon specialty is: straight curls, or more commonly known as perming.

NINE by Sweet Basil is a Japanese hair salon that opened its door in July last year. The NINE team is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and research to do straight curls in the most gentle way and achieve a beautiful and lasting effect. This is different from normal perming which is much more harmful to hair. They are also the official hair salon for famous Japanese celebrities including Oguri Shun & Yamada Yu!

This is the 'before' picture of my hair before it's ready to be revitalized under the magical hands of my stylist, Yoshi. My natural hair is slightly wavy, but this is already after blowdrying. On a normal day, it is limp, shapeless and has the potential to go astray any time if I don't take care of it. 

It can get even worse but I don't like to put overly-awful photos in this space to scare you away... these are just show you how my hair can get very unruly on a regular day. Hair can really make or break your whole look of the day, and I didn't know that managing it under professional hands can make a marked difference.

NINE By Sweet Basil is very minimalist, clean, sleek and very neat. Upon ushering me to a private salon booth, Yoshi passed me this form to fill up to ensure that they understand my hair situation and needs completely before they begin. They make me feel very much at ease, even though I was initially quite nervous about what to expect there. At the end of the session, I realized that Yoshi really took care to make sure all my concerns and desired effects are achieved!! I thought I was being very demanding as I wrote it but it was no problem for him at all.

Every booth also has a bag container to protect your belongings before you begin the treatment. It is most thoughtful to have a cloth to cover it and ensure that no random chemicals or hair strands will fall into my bag. What's more, it is right beside me all the time, making it easy and convenient to retrieve my phone when I need it.

If you noticed, I added that a bad experience I once had at a hair salon was the strong ammonia smell from the colour dyes and other chemicals during the process. Before we began the perming process, Yoshi took note and asked me if the perming solution's smell was okay for me! The perming solution is made in-house by themselves, and it has no smell at all unless you sniff really hard at it close-range.

You get to choose your ideal straight curls effect from the Japanese magazines available at the salon, which you can get to flip throughout your session. There's something more attractive about their own magazines as their models are so pretty and they have so many to choose and pick from. There are many different styles on almost every page. If you already have a specific style you want from any celebrity, you can also show it to Yoshi! He is very flexible with any styles and very nice to work with :) I didn't thought of any specific person that I want, so I left it up to his professional acumen to decide it for me.

They will also provide drinks for you! Lucky for me, because I forgot to bring my waterbottle out that day... Do try their hojicha, which is a sweet special Japanese green tea which they drink during the summer for its refreshing taste. It was highly recommended and I enjoyed it a lot.

Before beginning the perming process, Yoshi helped me snip my hair to create the desired shape first. Yoshi was extremely neat and systematic when he handled my hair. It was something that is quite unprecedented in my experiences at hair salons. He brushed on the perming solution into my hair in a quick manner, and I felt very comfortable throughout the session.

They also had this U-shaped bowl to help contain all the perming solution during the session, to ensure utmost comfort to the customer! I really appreciate that little things that they do.

Here are some more pictures during the session! The perming process took a while, about fifteen minutes to let it set with the machine. Yoshi took care to come and check on me every once in a while that I did not feel neglected at all. He is very considerate in every step. 

I didn't manage to take photos of the washing process because... well I was too busy enjoying it. I must say that the head wash was amazingly satisfying. This is without question my favourite step of every hair pampering session. It is super shiok because the huge armchair is very plump and soft, with a leg rest that can be adjustable to a comfortable angle. He also worked through my scalp with warm water and super sweet smelling shampoo... after that I don't really know what happened because I fell asleep under the hypnotic massaging...

Their thoughtfulness extend even into the washrooms that customers may not visit! But honestly, their toilets are so nicely decorated and well-equipped, there are even q-tips, cotton pads, towels, and a lot more items for your convenience. Check out those matte-pictures pasted on the walls with stickers! I almost forgot that I was in a washroom.

Yoshi has seven years of experience in the hairstyling industry and it shines through when he does his magic. He is very passionate about his work, has a very pleasant personality to talk to. During the last stage of the session, his fingers worked nimbly through my hair and in the most interesting manner by swirling my hair and achieved a uniquely Japanese straight curls style that I really liked. I could see myself transforming into Ayase Haruka ('s hair) already, for the first time in my life. I love the effect!!!

After nearly four hours of hard work, my hair is done! It is said to be able to last for six months to a year. I'll be looking at how it change over the next few weeks and now I've had it for over a week.. it has actually gotten more prominent and natural looking than immediately after the straight curls session. Thanks Yoshi for making my hair look so pretty so I'll be all photo-ready for my exchange in the next few months!!

Some photos immediately after the session! So much more shapely that I never knew could be achieved in my usually messy mane. I couldn't even get this effect with an hour of blowdrying at home, but after I did this straight curls, it is reality for me now.

Some photos even after a week later! I did not even put any hair products or do anything special to it anymore and it looks incredibly soft and gentle-waves to the touch. In fact, I did not even comb it through with a brush but just with my fingers before I get out of the house now. That is how low-maintenance it is. So I can literally roll out of bed and look like this now.

If you're interested in doing the straight curls session or any other services with NINE by Sweet Basil, you can get 20% off by quoting my name or blog 'Amie'. They do not mark up prices during the CNY period/ Valentines Day period! How awesome is that? Here is their price menu (before discount):

Sometimes, it's hard to find someone to just take a walk around. Don't be a stranger to being alone and doing fun things just with yourself out and about Singapore. There are plenty of introverted activities that you can do without looking like you're forever-alone. And perhaps, you might just find a lot of people just like yourself.

Jurong Point is the nearest shopping mall to my home so I've never really find anything special despite it being the largest suburban mall in Singapore and a massive human nest on weekends. The Japanese food street featured in the mall has been recently revamped and there comes a whole parade of new restaurants inspired from the land of the sun. 壁の穴 Kabe no Ana looked most appealing with so many displays right outside their shop.

Have you goat any idea where you are going for a sumptuous meal with your family over the Chinese New Year period? Not just for reunion dinners, Dian Xiao Er has three extremely lavish Lunar New Year sets available from 30 January to 5 March 2015. They would definitely agree with all your mass-feasting wishes. They've got all your CNY specials covered. Find out what they are:

Dian Xiao Er invited the OpenRice Singapore team and members for this special CNY tasting. This is Reka, our super hyper host for tonight. We were introduced to the three main sets: 

The Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng lohei is not only super fun to 'lo' literally because it has so much of everything to grab and toss! The Dian Xiao Er lady staff was very knowledgeable and hospitable in addressing all the sauces, ingredients and auspicious sayings while she poured everything together. In this yusheng, Dian Xiao Er used Norwegian smoked salmon, drizzled with rich oil, plum sauce, and brown melon sauce to create tangy, fresh and varied flavours of which I polished off a huge serving and grabbed a lot of 'golden moneybags' in the process. Be sure to delight in this appetizing yusheng and enjoy a whole year of blessings!

To indulge very lavishly in shark's fin is possibly a very rare opportunity that is only possible during Chinese weddings or Chinese New Year. If you would like to opt for the more sustainable seafood option, you can replace it with fish maw, crab meat and conpoy. I would strongly recommend you to do that especially because I personally feel that fish maw replicates the shark's fin texture perfectly well and is more environmentally-friendly. The velvety rich texture leaves a savoury, fragrant aftertaste that lingers beautifully on the tongue.

The roasted duck is an exclusive dish specially available only for Chinese New Year! Depending on which set you choose, you can have Angelica Herb, Ten Wonder Herbs or Wild Ginseng herbal sauces to complement the premium roasted duck. The Angelica Herb is the least intense, followed by the Ten Wonder Herbs and then the Wild Ginseng being the strongest one. The roasted duck is marinated with 10 herbs, the same ones used in the ten wonder herbs sauce, including wolfberries and danggui. I loved this dish particularly because the roasted duck is very aromatic and supple that is very good even on its own. If you're asking me which sauce I liked best, it'll be the angelica herb sauce because it adds on further variations to the tastes without being overpowering. I would expect the older generations to love the wild ginseng sauce though.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this one...very much. When I saw 'lobsters' (alongside 'pomfret', 'abalone', 'hashima'...) on the menu, I felt like it resembled an imperial palace menu! The next thing on my mind was: lobsters... isn't that very difficult to eat? The last thing I wanted was to fight against shelled seafood with my sticky fingers. My experience of eating these baby lobsters was that they were so fresh, they easily deshelled with a very gentle tug with my fork. It didn't require much dining skills and I could stuffed a plump, juicy slab of lobster meat into my mouth, slathered with robust coconut, curry leaves, salted egg, pumpkin and a light touch of chilli padi. It might come off as very spicy, so remember to highlight to the chef to go easy on the chilli padi if your family members can't take spiciness! I found it very satisfying though. This is definitely my favourite dish of the night, hands down!

Lightly steamed in ginger, shallots, spring onions, this definitely tastes every inch of reunion and family dinners that I would always miss once in a while. This is Dian Xiao Er's special CNY upgrade from the daily fare of black or white pomfret, presenting a very rare, large breed of pomfret that is specially imported. Recently in the wet markets, it's difficult to find such luxurious huge pomfret but it's easier for restaurants to source for such exclusive good ones.

The classic braised trotters is a hearty addition to the menu after hours of professional hard work from the chef! Braised trotters is a must for many people during Chinese New Year. With familiar mainstays in Chinese cuisine like broccoli and shitake mushrooms, there is also a more deluxe upgrade of oysters in the mix for a wholesome feast.

Looking at abalones just bring the festive cheer into the room instantly! Each of the abalone is cloaked with a unique special in-house chef's blend with a satisfying bite and intense flavours. These stars of the dish totally overshone the other ingredients like fish maw, sea cucumber and green peas, but well, aren't they enough already?

Whenever I hear of hashima, I think of empresses and imperial concubines in the palace preserving their beauty with this extraordinary goodness. It is kept very cold even minutes after it was served, resulting in a refreshing, lightly sweet and elegant dessert. Hashima is also believed to boost vital organs like lungs and kidney, as well as improve skin complexion.

If you want to grab a handy takeaway to supplement your reunion dinner at home, Dian Xiao Er's popular dishes include:

Stepping into On The Table, you'd think that this must be the most spacious cafe you have ever seen. The next thing that pops out at me: the cafe team is also superbly young, energetic and bucketloads of fun!! One of them even performed a bendy-thumb trick for us - that's definitely a first. What's more, no GST or service charge - that certainly lifted my mood up. But the menu is always the most important... so what's on the table tonight? Let's see:  

The Big One ($18)

The king of all-day brunch items, The Big One has a bit of everything and should only be ordered if you have an extremely voracious appetite. The pork sausage, the only item which I pinched from C's plate, was very savoury and chewy.

Fries with Truffle Mayo ($8)

This comes with medium-cut fries that understood the meaning of crispy-exterior-fluffy-insides completely. It won't be complete without a dip of the rich aromatic truffle-infused Parmesan mayo sauce served on the side. After tasting it, it is evident why this dip is very popular! It costs an additional dollar if you want another serving though. Highly recommended to order this as a side dish!

Swimmer Crab Meat Linguine ($16)

How is it possible to go wrong with this? No... this classic, fool-proof combination certainly satisfied my pasta craving in a jiffy and it was also highly appetizing for me to continue munching on the sides. From the moment I stopped taking photos of it to the first mouthful, I didn't stop eating until the plate was clean. Highly recommended to try this!

Salmon and Mushroom Truffle Cream Linguine ($16)

I know I am reading a fantastic menu when I have not one, not two, but three items I want to order for my mains all at once! Or maybe I'm just a glutton... But in any case, this was one of those that I gave up for that tantalizing plate of crab meat linguine. I'll never say no to salmon and mushrooms, they rank pretty high up on my favourite pasta combination - but caution: the truffle cream might get quite substantial after a while. It would be good to order if you're sharing all the mains together; to finish by yourself might prove to be challenging.

Spicy Chicken Harissa Bolognese ($15)

The other one that got away... I will come back for you next time. This pasta can get quite spicy, though from that one pinch I took, I found that it was quite manageable. The pasta base tasted similar to my crab linguine which I love - this is the exact taste I have in mind whenever I'm looking for tomato-pastas!

Love-hate relationship with these tasty, glistening tender chicken wings... I look dauntingly at them, wondering if I should make the plunge. It's impossible to use the fork to tackle it. But I'd tell you, getting your fingers coated with honey goodness is extremely worth it and it tastes so damn good when you do it the Stone Age way, I'm drooling thinking of it. If you can only order one thing from On The Table: THIS IS IT.

Waffles + Double Scoop ($10)

Still space for dessert? I know right... but if it's good, the question is: why not?! I couldn't resist swinging by their ice-cream cart, rudimentary as it is, very comprehensive in its creative flavours.. even Lemon. Say what! We went for Baileys and Earl Grey anyway, which turned out to be much better than average. The waffles played trusty supporting roles too! I love how they have everything under one roof.

This cafe also has such large communal tables for mass gatherings, they bring new meanings to cafe feasting together with friends and family. Moreover, they make for perfect overhead pictures too... *calling out to all the Instagram fans* 

For some serious apparel shopping, you may want to consider Bishops Square where they have a congregation of market stalls selling a lot of pretty clothes for ladies at reasonable prices. Old Spitalfields Market is in a distance away, but this area will get you walking for quite some time - say, at least an hour or two. I didn't take many photos in here because photography is not allowed, but I guess enough to let you figure out what it's like.. I'm quite a disobedient tourist at times: 

We managed to zoom past The Gherkin on one of the London buses on the way to Bishops Square. Lo and behold the magnificent bullet-shaped building.

It is a vibrant place that also sells little trinkets, souvenirs, furniture, and whatnot. It gets quite repetitive after a while. For the really good and reasonably-priced goods, you need to spend some effort looking for them. You will find it very difficult not to part with your cash... so many adorable and pretty items that makes you want to shout, 'just take my money!' If Bishops Square doesn't interest you, at least Spitalfields next door would offer more to see.

As my saying goes... it's never too early for alcohol! Let me try to justify it: it was a really hot day. When they say London is all rain and gloom, don't trust them completely, especially in the middle of July! I guzzled down the inviting icy pear cider and immediately feel like I'm being restored to normalcy.

Coincidentally, it was a Sunday so occasion and all corny sentiments call for a Sunday Roast to be ordered to the table. This was one of the rare traditional British moments experienced, albeit in an air-conditioned restaurant. I loved every single bit of it, especially the roasted beef which succumbs easily to every bite.

The free-range chickens on the menu jumped out to our eager eyes, served with seasonal salad and gluten-free herb mayonnaise. It was equally delicious though less special than the Sunday Roast!

The Cracklings was a 'miss'; we concluded promptly that it could not pass even the least picky of tastebuds. It was inconsistently crispy, mostly not, and threatens our molars to a trembling fight most of the time.

Cheers! Look at me struggle taking a photo versus throwing the entire glass down my parched throat from all the shopping.

More spectacular building facades that captured my fancy as we walked away from Bishops Square to find a bus to get to Westminster for our next stop for the lazy.. the cruise! :)

The Lokal will be considered expensive for a casual dinner at $35/pax for the main+dessert combination, so be prepared. Alternatively, I used The Entertainer app and paid $40 for two at the end. Still slightly pricey, but I guess it will make for a good spot for a special occasion.

I should get down to log-in with my exchange details, travelogues, thoughts and whatnots. It's getting embarassingly empty here except for the extremely backdated food reviews from the island where I live, Singapore. It's a lazy Sunday here in Melbourne, I made a little note to run to Queen Victoria Market to catch the tail of the marketing activities at around half past three - that's when I'll get the best deals. They close at four on Sundays. So I'll blog a bit before I head out into the merciless sun.

A little update on where I've been (I'll try to get through the details slowly bit-by-by): I've been in Perth since the sixth of February, and then flew into Melbourne with two friends on the twelve. I've been here ever since and am so in love with the city, I'd never want to leave. At least until the novelty wears off, that is. I'm inspired to do this post to kick-start the series of my exchange travelogue because I get an honest run-down on what other people think of Singapore/Singaporeans quite a lot. It's very interesting and entertaining to hear their perspectives as a native, because you'll never ever see yourself in that angle as they do. I guess being an arts student has increased my tolerance for potentially offensive remarks, but these are honest comments from friends or strangers that provoke a lot of discussion and thinking.