I'm two minds about blogging Nobuya: I want to keep it for myself, but yet it's so good I want to share it with you. Guess by now you know which of the two decisions I chose... I'm so nice, right!? Yes, I know... so onto this non-descript izakaya right in the middle of town that you would erroneously dismiss as a suspicious gambling den. Nobuya is extremely underrated.and probably would not surface in most 'best izakayas in Singapore lists'. And this is why you should go, because you know, it's non-mainstream.

I love how it is a whole new world in here, bustling with Japanese locals who have apparently found where the real authentic stuff is in a place far from home. The dinner crowd appears to be mostly working adults having a dinner and casual unwinding drinking session. It sure didn't feel like fast-paced Singapore there! It is often stuffed to the brim despite its low-key profile, so be prepared to queue just a bit. Reservations are allowed.

One thing about Nobuya is that it's mandatory to drink (sakes) in here. Before you go 'what?!' and turn away immediately... stay for a little while more. There are two critical reasons for this 'rule': their sakes are damn awesome, and it'll be criminal not to try them. If you're unsure of what to choose in the long list they have, ask for recommendations - they have a lot of pride in their sakes so they will have lots to tell you about them :) Or go ahead and order the Harushika ($13/glass, $24/carate) which I've certified exquisite and divine to enjoy alongside the dishes at Nobuya.

They have a comprehensive list of dishes on the menu - be prepared to gape at it for the first three minutes, the next three enjoying being spoilt for choice, and the last three being rushed into ordering something because it's hard to resist the temptation of delicious fumes all around. I dashed into ordering the Ika Shoyu Yaki (Grilled Squid Teriyaki Sauce) which turned out to be very chewy and swept with a good dose of sweet sticky teriyaki sauce. It was very good - I rushed into eating it like a glutton as always, and got choked in the process. Hazards of being a glutton, eh? Caution: eat slowly despite good food ahead.

Just when you think rice is just rice... this Shake Gohan (Salmon and Ikura Rice) proves you wrong with plenty of explosive, fat, juicy salmon roe for your savoury pleasures. Uh-huh, every burst is so satisfying and it goes in all directions in your mouth upon the slightest pressure. #SoFiftyShades Enough food porn, just order this.

Go for the Suji Nikomi (Soy Braised Beef Tendon) as well which surprised me with its carefully attuned beef texture that is rather tender and tastes of home. It is bathed lovingly in a savoury broth of garlic, onion, soy sauce, and possibly hours of beef stock. It feels like good quality stuff. I would expect the rest of the menu to be pretty stellar too as these dishes were picked randomly without much referring to much recommendation. Nobuya calls for a second visit soon.

Let me quickly recall the rest of London's adventures before I get overwhelmed with the amount of incoming photos (Actually, I already am). So on day two, it wasn't long before we got lazy and succumbed to the temptation of taking a cruise to see London's iconic landmarks instead of walking to them. It turned out to be an incredibly good decision because it would be very time-consuming to travel to each of it and yet not being able to spend much time there anyway. The cruise also provided a much needed breather for our tired feet, so yes, it was a worthy 6.50 pounds spent (per adult).

We were there at St Katherine's Pier where the cruise starts. It is actually a legit form of transport from St Katherine's to the Big Ben, but of course most of the passengers are tourists who want to catch glimpses of most of London's landmarks without too much effort.

There are timings for the cruise to set off, so if you don't want to be disappointed or wait for too long, do check up the timings first. We showed up at the pier without much prior research; luckily, we didn't have to wait too long. There was just enough time for some photo-taking before we board the cruise.

There were overcast clouds during the cruise - but it didn't rain despite the threatening gloominess. It was quite windy and comfortable on the ride, and we got to see the London Eye, The Shard, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the various bridges (Waterloo, Blackfriars, Southwark, London Bridge, Tower Bridge). It was pretty cool. It was also my first time being on a cruise ship like this, so I was pretty excited and fascinated by how relaxing it is. I should do this more often...

 

What the cruise looked like at the bottom floors. Obviously, everyone was at the top deck where you can enjoy the wind and view without any glass windows to obstruct though.

A jolt of panic went through us, but the initial shock was overcome by rational thinking: rectify the problem by calling them and switching the dates up? Of course, Fate has it that it's not going to be so simple. We tried calling the bus company from the hotel reception we were staying at - but no one was picking up the line.. what to do?

Upon reaching the bus station office, they merely told us, with a overwhelming dosage of nonchalance, 'No more tickets for buses tonight. You can come and try to see if somebody doesn't show up, and in that case, you can take their seats.' The thought of not having accommodation for the night seemed less crucial.

The weight of the situation dawned on me then: If I don't get onto the bus to Paris by the next morning, I will miss my connecting flight back to Singapore.

Moral of the story: Check your bus timings and tickets at least three times. And always take a picture while you're panicking... yes.

So it's all a waiting game now - we have to be at the bus terminal at 8.30pm/9.30pm/10.30pm/11.30pm to see if there were any no-shows for us to replace. And it was only mid-afternoon... so we went to The Buckingham Palace to calm our ruffled nerves. It all makes sense, right? 

About to be stranded in London! Let's do some jump shots to celebrate! #Priorities

Even though we got on, the night ahead was young and treacherous. I told myself that if I could get onto the bus (and ultimately catching my flight) - I don't mind any sort of arduous journey.

The bus turned out to be functional, but the ride wasn't exactly smooth. Even for someone who is usually not prone to motion sickness, it was very uncomfortable. Luckily or unluckily, I didn't have much of a dinner that night, so there was nothing to throw up anyway. I was very sleep-deprived, but the throbbing headache makes it really difficult to fall asleep. I managed to grab some sleep though before getting abruptly awaken to board the ferry to cross the English Channel. 

Contrary to popular beliefs, the ferry was not at all fun... it was freezing my bones away, and even with a heat pack and a pitiful towel (I wasn't expecting it to be so cold, I didn't bring much fabric on my carry-on bag), it was a hell of a shivering two hours. It's impossible to sleep, and watching the crashing waves against the ferry reminds me of the Titanic... I was kind of laughing at my own bad mood at the moment...convinced that I really don't have much of a temper. (Is that a humble brag? Perhaps)

Anyway, the rest of the night was pretty uneventful. We got off at Douvres-la-Délivrande on the other side of the English Channel, and then continued our journey straight to Paris CDG Airport. After that, we decided to be a little more adventurous and challenge the Western European transport system to scare us once again... more travel stories (less epic than this) coming up... (I can soon create my own drama series)

Sir Antonio says hello to you at Tiramisu Hero, the land of decadent, homely desserts! Tiramisu Hero feels a lot like stepping into an illustrated book feature. You'd find a little whimsy touch at every corner.. the front door greets you with a riddle: A dance of long, flowy moves, a sound the walls make, or American Airlines, a boy what's his name? I tried Argentine (a bit of a stretch for a sound that walls make) which is wrong... tell me if you do get the answer right, aye?

This is one of the more chocolatey desserts: Finn Muddy Mud Pie. It's funny how the yellow design of the plate was quite misleading, it looked like a pool of salted egg sauce (or perhaps, it's the obsession that's creating hallucinations)! I would say the mud pie is pretty good if you love chocolate, it is entirely made of all things chocolate and nothing else. For me it gets a little banal after a while, and wouldn't recommend to get the whole mud pie for yourself. It's good for sharing at three or four in a group.

Their house-specialty tiramisu in a jar ($7.50/jar) is quite decent though their rendition of tiramisu felt more kid-friendly than actual tiramisu. It is moist, fluffy sponge cake with a tiny hint of espresso aroma, and almost no taste of rum. 

A word on Tiramisu Hero's service... I thought I was the only one feeling this way, but apparently a casual check across the Internet shows that the curt service was not unique to me. While Tiramisu Hero's staff was very eager when it came to ordering (and collecting money), thereafter they weren't exactly friendly anymore when I asked them about the riddle (you'd get an iced tea if you get it right), they became very defensive and slightly hostile. Why would you put the riddle out there, I would guess, for the entertainment of your guests, when you're going to be so rude about it? That left a bad taste in my books and I'll probably not return... 

Traveling can be stressful and you can run into all sorts of mishaps if you aren't careful enough. Well, at least these make for excellent travel stories and dinner conversations. How many of these FML-cases have you encountered? My score is 4, what's yours?

This post follows the previous night of a frigid ferry ride and a sleepless bumpy bus ride... we arrived at this fluffy bed in Sheraton CDG which I promptly laid in immediately after I took a hot shower. It was one of those times I felt like I could sleep anywhere stationary, and this plume of cloud is really God-sent. 

After I recharged and became alive once again, I began to explore the different parts of the room with more zest! The view of the room is the airport's runway. Whoever who thought of this ingenuity deserves a prize. Anyway, there was no time to lose with hours before departure... so we decided to take the train (EUR20 for return trips) from the CDG airport to the city centre for some final Paris-adventures. Let's see where our feet take us!

EUR20 is pretty expensive to pay for a few hours of last-minute shopping and to tick a few more items off the Paris wishlist. But if you'll ask me again... I'll do it again anyway. It's Paris, yo. So I'll take more pictures to make my time worthwhile, that's all. #21stCenturyLogic

Please look past my fashion sense. 1. It was very cold that day. 2. My luggage was packed. 3. Time is gold. But at least it was comfortable. Here I am, ticking off 'taking a photo in the metro station of Paris'. :)

Jardin des Tuileries was on our to-go list previously. We didn't managed to go because we were overambitious with the planning, but now here we are! There are a lot of dubious, pushy people asking for charity donations. If you look Chinese enough, pretend you can't speak a word of English, smile and walk away. They can be very persistent in making you donate "just 20 Euros" (nothing less).

These are some photos that I've taken! It is a modest garden with a small theme park, it's quite okay to give it a miss if you're rushed for time. It feels like a more homely version of Versailles, which you should go as a day trip if you can.

The Bridge of Locks was also within a few steps of Jardin des Tuileries which was quite a stunning sight. There were so many locks of different shapes and sizes. There were little temporary stores selling locks on-site too. Needless to say their locks are less interesting, so if you want a unique one, bring it yourself ;)

The flags were at half-mast in remembrance of the MH17 tragedy victims. It was a really gloomy day too, unlike the sunshine Paris had a few days ago.

By a stroke of luck, we were strolling through a very comfortable route and scoring attractions all the way: our third stop was Musee d' Orsay which showcased 19th and 20th century masterpieces. We didn't go in, but just to look around the museum gift shop and... chased pigeons...

Havre Caumartin by Metro: As you can probably tell by now, what was on our minds then. This is a repeated stop from previous days but we just had to get a Longchamp.

A precious last meal at La Maison Blanche, who knows when will I see you again, Paris? This was a restaurant across the road from Gare Du Nord, where I was supposed to catch a train back to the CDG airport. 

Duck breast in pepper sauce served with tagliatelle (EUR16) which was divine - the duck was lovingly smeared with a lot of that tasty sauce and the tagliatelle was every bit of what pasta should be like. We didn't find this restaurant from Trip Advisor or any online reviews, but it seems like the casual finds on the streets have maintained a certain standard throughout.

Breaded turkey escalope spaghetti (EUR11.50) was pretty good as well though not as beautiful as the duck breast. I wished there could be more sauce!

Escargots for the very last time? Bring it on, and take my money (EUR8/half dozen, EUR15/dozen)! These are imported from Burgundy. I couldn't tell the difference because I haven't been eating enough escargots, but it was so delicious and chewy I love it! I miss it so much too.

My camera suddenly lacked a lot of documentation of what happened in between because our patience were once again tested by the transport system of Europe and when I'm agitated, I don't take photos (they'll probably appear jumpy and blur anyway). If you intend to take the train to catch a plane from Paris city centre to the CDG airport, please note that there are two types. 

1. The train that goes straight to the airport with minimal stops (only the major stations)
2. The train that stops at every small station.

I didn't know there was an option like that, so I took the first train which said that it was heading to CDG. It was two hours before the check-in counter closed, and the train journey was expected to take half an hour. It seemed like it had a comfortable (not too comfy for the worrywarts) buffer time for me to return to the hotel, get a quick shower, pack up a little, rest a little before heading to the check-in counter.

It seems like Fate doesn't like me to feel too relaxed then. No, the train has to break down. Or rather... it slowed down to a stop at a forsaken, deserted station surrounded by vegetation. The rest of the passengers looked very unaffected, presumably this happens quite often and they aren't catching flights.

I still didn't know what happened till today because the train announcements were made in a consecutive slew of rumbled French which I don't understand. Nor does it sound vaguely like English at all to make any intelligent guesses.

After ten minutes of ominous waiting, I decided to pluck up some courage to ask one of the burly old men in airport uniform,

"This train to airport?" (while flapping my arms)

I must have looked pretty funny then, because he started laughing a bit and nodded. The train announcements continued, and minutes ticked by while the train remained unmoving. Another girl from the next carriage brought her luggage down onto the platform, looking slightly worried. My heart did a mini celebration - I've found someone in the same boat as me. I called out to her and asked her if she knew why the train had stopped.

Turned out, she was as clueless as I am.. but she said someone told her the train will "resume shortly". I mentally calculated how much time I had left, discounting all chances to shower/pack/rest back at the hotel. Forty-five minutes. Not a good sign... after forever has past, the train kicked into motion again and started chugging its way into the airport while stopping at numerous stops (different from the 30-minutes train we took from the airport to the city centre).

The million things that can go wrong, eh?

My phone's battery was running low then, and I had to run to grab my luggage (nevermind fancy packing), then dash over to the check-in counter... which was closed by the time I reached. No surprises. I had to jump the queue to get to a human staff because the machine didn't recognize my flight number anymore. The human staff was engaged by another traveller who has misplaced his boarding pass and had to reprint. I had to wait... and soon I realized I forgot that I had to provide my flight reference number. Where was it?

The amount of commitment and thought given to the return flight home: zero.

I knew it was at some obscure corner of my bag which was very messy at that time - ain't nobody got the time to pack! I poured the contents of the bag onto the floor of the CDG airport, rummaging through my own things haphazardly, electric sparks going through my brain with stress. But that little piece of paper was nowhere in sight.

My phone! I must have it in one of the emails they sent. I wasn't connected to the airport Wifi, I had no data, and my battery was threatening to shut anytime at 7%. FML! Luckily, I could still access that email... and load it, and bring it to the staff to key it in and print my boarding pass. All was well there and then - I stuffed every bit of my things into the bag again as the machine churned out the beautiful boarding pass.

Quick recovery after that little scare: did I tell you that the duty-free shopping at CDG airport for Longchamp is cheaper than if you get it at departmental stores in the city centre? Ooh yes, I had time to browse those shops inside the departure gates because there was still ten minutes before the boarding gates opened.

At this moment of boarding, I was feeling sad because I didn't get to see Paris from the Eiffel Tower or the alternative Montparnasse, but guess what.. the city of lights gave me a little surprise on the plane... 

This isn't my photo... it's a HD wallpaper I pinched from somewhere to represent what I saw on the plane. This is almost the same as what I saw! Forget climbing towers and buildings to see Paris. The best view of Paris is from the plane (night view)!!! Hands down. So much chills down my spine and I actually teared a bit at marveling at this glittering beauty. Paris hasn't been very kind with all kinds of mishaps, but I'll still miss it all the same... a la prochaine, Paris!

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!

Here begins the journey of a thousand miles down under. Initially, I was apprehensive about going to Australia because I've heard lots about the rife racism towards Asians (more on that if I am inspired), but what is life without a little venturing out of my comfort zone? My first stop, technically pre-exchange, was the amazing city in Western Australia... Perth. A monosyllable for a city's name, very short, but truly difficult to pronounce it right. It sounds a little like purrft because of the nasty 'th' at the end. But it's okay. People around Perth are humorous, beautifully fun and warm hosts to guests into their city, there wasn't a moment in time that I felt uneasy or unwelcomed. All thoughts about racism were out of the window when I visited Fremantle, a seaside harbour port at the mouth of Swan River.

 

One of the key attractions of Fremantle is their Fremantle Market, which has a lot of food stores, accessories shops and also a supposedly famous ramen bar (Dosukoi). It's great for tourists who want to get obviously Australian souvenirs like koala bear or kangaroo plushies, boomerangs, and that sort of thing. We finished walking around the market within ten minutes.

- Opening hours of Fremantle Market: 8am - 6pm (Fri), 8am - 8pm (Sat & Sun)

Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm had a little mobile farm at Fremantle. I don't think they are stationed there permanently so you might not come across that. When I was standing right outside the fence going all heart-eyed at the fat chickens, lambs and rabbits, I received the very first initiation of how accepting the locals are... they invited me into the animal pen and allowed me to pet the baby lamb (which felt like a thick, warm wool puff), carry the obliging lamb (thank you for not resisting), and even perched a hen on my head with the farmer's own cap! Western Australia is known for its drier, hotter climate in the summer, and their wildlife is very amazing. I feel like I'm in a zoo whenever I walked down any other ordinary street, with ducks, seagulls and different species of birds all around.

The street buskers in Perth (and also later in Melbourne) are superbly talented. One of them is Zitoune here. A lot of them sing, play the harmonica and the guitar all at once in the same song. There is a lot more in Fremantle, but I shall break it up into different posts. Till the next time (;

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 Fremantle Prison was thoroughly fascinating as I had no similar experiences of visiting jails. I have always been curious about what it is like in a jail, and with this visit, I can find out without committing any crimes. It also deterred me from any activities that may potentially land me in a prison cell.

2. Fremantle Prison

Fremantle Prison is no longer in official use for the detention of criminals since November 1991. Now, it is opened to the public and utilized as a tourist attraction. There is a chapel at the back of the prison used for wedding services if anybody is interested... don't laugh, our tour guide said it's actually quite popular!

This is the chapel where you can apply to hold your wedding at. The whole chapel is quite enormous, with tall ceilings... it's not magnificent, but definitely functional.

Important notes for travellers

- 5 Prison Tours available: Doing Time Tour, Great Escapes Tour, Tunnels Tour, Torchlight Tour, Fremantle Prison Art Tour

- Tours are subjected to different fees as stated below:

- If you are on a tight budget, don't give this place a miss yet. You can still browse the Visitor Centre, Prisoner Gallery, Gift Shop and the Convict Cafe for free.

These pictures you see above are taken in the areas where everyone can browse for free. That's what we did while waiting for our Doing Time Tour to start. The aim of prisons is to strip the convicts of their identity and to give them time to reflect on their mistakes with a punishing, simple, banal life.

During the Doing Times Tour, our tour guide explained to us the process of how a criminal is brought into the premises, then briefed, checked, and cleaned. We were brought to the different sections of the prison (which was really very huge), and introduced the functions of each section. The kitchens, the courtyards, and the prison cells were individually explained. We could feel the solemnness of the circumstances, and it was as depressing as it was enlightening. 

The haunting and enchanting memory that stuck with me long after I left: the beautiful prisoner art that was drawn within the four walls of the prison cell. Painting was allowed as part of rehabilitation during the last six months of the prison's operation. I wonder what this particular prisoner was thinking when he drew these images of the outside world... and he chose to use such vibrant colours despite facing greys and blacks all day long.

In the final part of the tour, our tour guide showed us the locations of where the executions were done, and how it was for the prisoners. It was really an eye-opener for me to see everything in real life. It feels surreal how there were people who died on the very ground that I was standing. The people who were executed by hanging committed really atrocious crimes like serial murders. The whole tour was very informative and taught me a lot about what prison life was like for most of Western Australia before 1991. I would have never imagined it in so much detail if not for going through the tour, and now I am interested in going for the Tunnels Tour if I have the chance to return to Perth again.

Sea and the sun, long stretches of beach. What do you do to get a panoramic view of the whole place? At Fremantle, your vantage point would be the Fremantle Monument right beside the Bathers Beach.

 

Follow these tracks till you come to the Fremantle Monument Hill (corner of High Street and Bateman Street), where you'd climb a bit of stairs (probably about two-storeys worth). These tracks are still in use, but it stretches out straight some distance away; you'd be able to scramble away in time if a train were to come.

 

Australia has a lot of structures and places set aside to commemorate their war heroes, this is one of them. This is established to remember the soldiers and sailors who have perished in the line of duty during the World War I. It was extremely sunny and the floors/walls were white, so essentially I couldn't really keep my eyes open without potentially incurring photokeratitis. Sunglasses are extreme essentials around Perth in summer! 

I quote my favourite author, Murakami - "The ocean changed its colour and shape and expression according to time and place and weather." That day, the Indian Ocean was a curious shade of dark azulene blue and generally calm. It faded out at the horizon and fused with the sky, it was so breathtaking.

Here are some more shots I took along Fremantle streets: they have a lot of surprises at every turn to be discovered, so make sure you walk around the area thoroughly to fully experience everything. For example, a life-sized chess display and table tennis tables for the public to start playing! How creative, and a smart solution to get kids away from computer screens and into the outdoors.

 

One of the shops we spent a more substantial amount of time in was the Elizabeth's Secondhand Bookshop which had a lot of books sorted into different genres. I delved into the psychology and sociology ones because of my personal interests. I love the creativity sparks that sit quietly without much broadcasting, you need to really look carefully or you'd miss it. For example, the bookshop was organizing this mystery book exchange for Valentine's day, with only its synopsis written on the brown paper. It's such a cute idea.

Another one of those shops is the Chart and Map Shop (I love how literal they are with the names). I didn't take much photos in there because I was busy looking at the maps... but it's a really good place to start finding the perfect map for your room decor! I always wanted one to put up in my room wall but well, it's going to get crumpled if I had to carry it for another six months... so I gave it a miss. The prices are pretty reasonable for maps, I forgot how much but I remember it's not the exorbitant sort of place.

 

 

 

And then we saw this crazy dude which has an endless stream of jokes and humour that incited more snorty than hearty laughs, who performed how to escape from chains and cling wraps. Even though he was entertaining, it was such a waste of cling wrap. But I like how their buskers are amazingly good at what they do - being incredibly thick-skinned to attract attention and making sure everyone has a good time watching him as well. They do this for a living, so we are supposed to give some change to encourage him, but I'm a poor student as well... so I kinda walked away after his performance was over. And then that was that! In the next post, I will be talking more about Bathers Beach Sunset Market which you mustn't miss in summer!

If wanderlust is striking you hard and you can't get away too far due to financial or time constraints, this is what this travel series, My Next Door Neighbour, is all about. Just a day trip out of the country, even across the causeway, can be rejuvenating for your overworked souls. Don't be bogged down by inertia, start planning now. Where to go, what to do?! Here: Faculty of Caffeine is one of the hot favourite cafehopping comfort ground in a land away from home.

Some pictures of the interior at Faculty of Caffeine, which consists of three portions: the main cafe area in front of the counter, a connecting room which can play up into a private space if you're coming in groups of 8-10, and a balcony which overlooks the busy Jalan Wong Ah Fook and City Square. The balcony usually services smokers, but non-smokers can enjoy clean air in the other spaces. They have washrooms made available to guests as well. 

I decided to be adventurous and try the Salted Caramel Affogato (RM11.50) which was admittedly a weird combination. The half-melted vanilla ice-cream was sprinkled with a good dose of butter cookies, sea salt and topped with a pretzel... all sitting in a pool of espresso. It feels a little like something you eat for a game forfeit. This is one of their seasonal items and possibly still in the trial period of how customers take to it, so don't take this as a benchmark of their standard. Their signature item is the Generous Breakfast (RM17.50) so you can try that if you are feeling hungry!

The hot mocha was pretty good as well, a strong-bodied Arabica blend that was generous with its chocolate sauce.

Menu of Faculty of Caffeine

Check this out to see if you'll be interested in dining at this cafe.

Getting there

If you find yourself in Perth during summer, look out for this Sunset Beach Market at Bathers Beach happening every Saturday from 5 - 9pm in the evening. It's a fantastic way of settling your dinner - you will be indulging in international food selections right at the beach with the sea view all for your taking. I really like how I am spoilt for choice, but then I wished for a second stomach and endless cash to stuff myself silly with everything. It's a place I'll go back to when I visit Perth again. Entry is made available to the public for free. It's also within the Fremantle area to end off a lovely day trip! 

I was mentally prepared to let go of all Asian food for the next six months... but hey look at what's this? I chanced upon a stall named Malaysian Food selling prata and satay. Whoa, are my eyes working?

But the best way to test it out is to jump on it for real, and okay, it proved to be less than safe for those with only rusty skills. When I landed (right after this shot)... I landed weak-kneed and crashed into the sand. But how lovingly the sand caught me, so soft and inviting to roll in. So all was well.

Did a less challenging jump to prevent potential sprained ankles...

More shots of me doing stupid touristy jumps with very, very rusty skills and an inflexible body. This reminds me to stretch and regain my original flexibility but then procrastination takes over. Till the next time, I'll be blogging about DAY TWO IN PERTH! :)

Never miss a post again!

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

I need Hermione's time turner in order to for my posts and reality to be in step with one another again... but till then, I shall work hard. In real-time, I am in week two of the semester when school-duties start to get a little bit heavier. I am comfortably settled into the pace of life (read: sl-o-w-w-w) and fixated a certain daily routine, so all is well. So today, what do we have in this post? Recalling the day I went to one of my favourite places in Perth: Point Walter Sand Bar.

Point Walter Sand Bar is nothing short of amazing. It is very exotic, and looks somewhere straight out of a geography textbook. The sand bar extends into the Swan River about 1km outwards, a narrow strip of land. In some areas, it is submerged in water and if you wade through, it's about knee-deep for adults as tall as I am (~158cm). It brings a lot of brilliant ideas to what a beach day could be like! The view across the sand bar is gorgeous too, a staggered mapping of dream homes with private boat jetties in their backyards.

The natural wildlife around here is very diverse, with scores of black swans just waddling around, seagulls fluttering, and jellyfishes (warning: look out, do not step) floating about. You probably won't notice the jellyfishes unless you looked out for them, there are some transparent ones and the darker ones looked like seaweed.

Such a lovely, lovely place! I adore it so much, I will come back here and do more jump shots!! (Err what jump shots are always valid reasons)

Is it just me or... Love Me Like You Do came out in January, but has only begun fervently played all over town this week? Blasting from windows, cars, shops... everywhere. Not that I mind because this song has been in my head non-stop. Ellie Goulding is a pop goddess! Alrighty, let's get back on track on lunch at Secret Garden Cafe, a mystical floral-themed cafe set in South Perth. You'd probably not realize that it hides a gorgeous backyard dining space if you were to just see from the street, which appears to look like an unimpressive regular cafe and another florist shop front... just as well, because those who know this little secret are already flooding the place during peak hours.

The backyard alfresco area is enormous for a cafe, even with a dedicated area for a children's birthday party, a bridge, and different sections depending if you want to bask in the sun or dine under a roof.

Fulfilling my garden nymph dream by venturing into the herb/ flower garden at the other side which is accessible for cafe guests. It makes me feel like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, it is quite, quite magical.

These are some of the dishes we tried at Secret Garden Cafe! You can check out the lunch menu here. The meals presented are quite large servings (serves one hungry man); I felt very happy after eating because it feels very healthy with a dose of refreshing, cold, fresh salads and the chips are not over-fried or oily at all... yet it's delicious and satisfying. Nevertheless, the main attraction is still the ambience and scenery you can enjoy while dining in the picturesque cafe.

Looking forward to a long holiday, but the packing before leaving for the airport can be an annoying chore. What's worse is forgetting to bring something important and ruining your vacation! Most of the time, you can probably buy an alternative at your destination, but nothing beats the feeling of well-preparedness when having everything with you. Here is a list of girly essentials that you might potentially miss:

1. Care & concern for your feet

Not sure about you, but I absolutely hate having cold feet! Don't forget to pack enough pairs of socks to last you through the freezing temperatures (get cute ones too, they do amazing things to your mood; groupbuy price excluding shipping: S$0.68/pair). Rollasoles have saved my feet from the tortures of heels and insoled high tops on a few occasions and I'm so glad I bought them. They can be rolled up or flattened, and popped into a clutch (Rollasoles have very thin soles and will make you feel like you're barefooted; q-price: S$9.90/pair).

2. Dresses for your holiday pictures

It's not CNY, but you'll want to be in new outfits on your holiday especially with awesome backgrounds to take pictures. Don't risk bringing clothes that you will end up chucking aside in your luggage because they turn out to be less than ideal; bring outfits that you know you want to wear any day, anytime! Zalora and ASOS has some pretty dresses waiting for you.

3. Makeup vs Skincare

The importance of bringing the right makeup and skincare along with you cannot be stressed further. Being in a new location, waking up early (and late nights), having to stick to an itinerary, catching flights... these will cause additional stress to your skin. You don't need extra problems like not having damn good warpaint with you.

1. With the right shade of red lips, you can conquer the world: Vicky Butterfly (Red Burlesque) - S$36

2. Don't go scrambling for all your weapons... here's all in one: Ecotools (6pc Brush Set) - S$29.90

3. Tried and tested - every girl who has used it swear by this: Bioderma Sensibio H20 250ml - S$26.90

4. Primer to recreate baby skin on your face: Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser - S$18.61

5. Eyeliner is important. Even if not this, you know it's vital: Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner - S$19.46

6. When you're running out of time in the morning, at least your concealer will give you a flawless 'I Woke Up Like This' look: Bloom Cosmetics Secret Weapon Concealer Kit - S$26

4. All your electronics and hardware tools

For a one-stop online shop for your electronic items, you can count on Lazada.

1. Snap away on your camera with an extra SD card... SanDisk is what I always used and it has never failed me: SanDisk Extreme Class 10 8GB SD Card - S$17.33

2. Bring a powerbank with you to enjoy a stress-free holiday: Gosh Joule Pack 7800 mAh - S$55.90

3. Drop-proof, water-proof quality camera that is cheaper if you buy on Lazada than a second-hand one on Carousell (I'm using it now and I love it): Nikon COOLPIX AW120 - S$334

4. Never pay for overweight luggage ever again with a simple device: Electronic Luggage Scale - S$9.90

5. Buying luggage - you should care about its weight, durability price, and how it looks. This has everything: Ultralight Expandable Luggage 28" in SHINY PINK - S$66.90

6. This is on my wishlist right now: Army Fur Bombe Jacket - S$32

If you do your online shopping on brands like Luxola and Lazada, you can enjoy more deals and coupons with SHOPBACK for every purchase. Now that you are more informed, you can save more!

I find myself going back to KSL City repeatedly because of so many awesome deals and irreplaceable food places around that area. The first time I went to KSL, I did a cut+colour+treatment hair service for approximately S$50 (not all salons are so cheap, you've got to ask around the top floor of KSL). It doesn't promise celebrity-standard hairstyle but for that price, it's definitely great value. This time, I'm back to hunt for their food.

Now, to show you an incredibly comforting and lovely meal with my parents at one of the street-coffee shops along Jalan Serigala right outside KSL City! This is where you can enjoy seriously authentic and yummy Malaysian-style charsiew and seafood horfun. If I can choose what to eat for my last meal... these two will probably be part of the menu (what, you didn't think I'll just eat one thing for my last meal, did you?). The char siew is perfect done, the level of saltiness and crunch of the skin and the meltilicious roasted pork meat... when I start wondering if I can eat any faster, I know it's damn delicious. The seafood horfun was overshadowed but nevertheless, also excellent. I'm biased because I love seafood horfun, but in that sense I've also eaten quite a bit to say that this sits neatly at the top of the board.

To quote one of my wise friends, you do not go to Malaysia and simply eat "shopping centre food". One of the tips when you go to these coffee shops - try to hit the street around four or five in the afternoon when the hawkers are getting ready for the dinner crowd. You get piping hot dishes fresh off the stove. You've definitely got to remember to get out of the mall and try this as well for a different experience! Safety is often on the minds of Singaporeans when they go JB, but if you don't brandish your iPhone or wallets in public, keep your bags close to you, exercise common sense and keep a low profile when you walk along the streets, it should be okay. People generally mind their own business.

A trip to Perth cannot be complete without rolling around the grass at Kings Park. I'd think that such a beautiful place would be flooded with people having picnics because it is really one of the finest enjoyments in life, but no... there were very few people around, mostly families. The afternoon light lends soft repose to every part of the park.. at that moment I swear I'd come here everyday just to enjoy overlooking the city. There is also a free transit zone within the city zone with trams running up to Kings Park from the business district.

Pretty right? You can get to see Swan River and Canning River, and the different highways too from here. Everyone is busy down in the city, but then we are up here, wind in our hair and having an awesome picnic for lunch. There are not many food sources here except for a cafe and bushes to forage for (potentially poisonous) berries.

So yes... buy some snacks from the supermarkets in the city before coming up!

One of the monuments I spotted at Kings Park was the State War Memorial. In addition to my experience of touring around Melbourne for a few days, I realized that Australia places great emphasis on remembering their noble soldiers who have died in the line of duty during the WWI and WWII that they dedicate quite a lot of public space for these purposes.

The lookout to see the place where Swan River and Canning River meets.

The floral diversity at Kings Park is wide, and they have little information stands to talk about the different species too.

We found a bottle tree too! It's really quite fat. However, when we reached the elevated Lotterywest Federation Walkway, we realised it was already closed for the day. The opening hours are 9am-5pm so do take note! We came back another day so we didn't miss out much.

That's the Botanical Cafe in Kings Park near the tram stop.

It was such a lovely place to be, and I'm definitely listing it as a must-go in Perth. I will be back with more pictures from the next day that we returned to Kings Park again after cycling along Swan River. :)