Carbon copies

My baby sister, looking more and more like me each day! :)

I never really saw the resemblance that everyone else raves about. In fact I've always thought it's just something people say out of courtesy or social correctness after a sibling is introduced. Much like people going, "Oh the baby looks just like you!" regardless on whether it's true or not, because you know, that's just what you say.

Or maybe it's just me, who thinks that most babies look more or less the same. =.=

But oh this photo! The eyes! The smile! The cheekbones! The hair even, if you don't take the colour into consideration (actually it's not hard to picture me in dark hair, seeing as my regrowth are sprouting rather noticeably -.-). I've never really stepped back and compare the similarities in our features, plus I hadn't seen her for over 2 years so she's grown quite a bit - mostly in height, but clearly in facial development too.


She's almost caught up with me, and she's only 11! Although I'm positive I stopped growing at 14, so if genetics dictate correctly, she only has 3 more years to go.

Ahh my baby sis. Her first boy crush, her impeccably bad taste in music (although she at least has an ear for Queen and Aerosmith, so all's not lost), her drama-mama bff antics... Brings back memories, it does. And when she comes to me for big sis advices, I have to remember how it was to be 11, when marrying Lee Brennan* was something entirely feasible, and everyone BUT the crush-upon boy has to know about the 'love situation'. And then some on-off bff will inadvertently spill the beans to said boy, and thus is the end of the world as you know it.

*Lee Brennan - lead member of mid-late 90s British boy band, 911, whom was destined to become me and my best friend's shared husband.

With all said, she's a great kid where it all matters. As much as she tries to act all grown-up and smart-ass (part having an older sister 14 years her senior, part Disney Channel influence), she's still always the girl with the big heart, who's sensitive deep down but tries very hard not to show it. I think she's at the point in her life where crying in front of others is not an option, even if it's during a sad movie, because she wants to act tough.

My big little sister who will defend me to death, and even stand up to mum for me when she knows that I'm right. My biggest fan, my no.1 supporter, my baby sis who has always been proud of me and love me despite my misgivings and absence.

Miss her to bits, the little princess, can't wait to see her again in, hopefully, a few months' time. Even though we'll probably go out of way to annoy each other if we spend any more than 2 weeks together. But I guess that's family for you, hey? :)


xx
Hsin

I work and I drink

I am so exhausted from work.

Not only do we have 6am jobs every morning the whole of last week - which means waking up at 5.00am and leaving the house while it's still dark - there's the damn World Cup.

We started off watching every single match, but then found out the hard way that we are in fact, not build to sustain through the night without sleeping and then going to work straight after. -__- Tried that for 2 days and absolutely died. Until now still haven't had the chance to recover.

On the bright side, we've had all the good staff to work with, especially now that the exam period is more or less over. And having good company makes a world of difference; even the more painful jobs seem a lot more bearable when you can crouch in a corner and laugh at stupid things/people.

And as a bonus, boss Ryan sometimes treat us to brekkie or lunch!


Making his first appearance on this blog

Where upon I finally had the opportunity to try out Bar 399 in Northbridge, which has been raved about by Perth foodies for some time now.

It's a modest, unassuming half-lot, tucked in between all the Asian restaurants, and it's simply marked with a nondescript 399 on its entrance. In fact, it looks rather unimpressive from the outside; but as soon as you step in, you are greeted by breezy lounge music and the
entrancing aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans.



I loved the clever use of space in this cafe. The extensive bar on one side and cosy booths on the other. Throw in rustic wooden floorboards and textured lighting and wah-lah, you have yourself a sexy little establishment. :)

Also present in the place (but not pictured), are paintings which one can actually purchase for a reasonable number of $100 bills.

But all these are secondary to their coffees (and I would assume, meals).

Holy shit their coffees were out of this world.



Even the dusting cocoa they used was quality stuff. I had half the mind to lick the chocolate powder off the cup after I'd finish the coffee. With my finger, of course.

Although who's to say I didn't? :D



xx
Hsin

Home and back

Today marks the end of my 2-week-long break.

I miss the noise and shouting matches already. And the sleeping in and the only having to decide what to do/eat each day. But the holiday has ended, and the savings are running dry, so it's back to work. And just in time for the busy June-July period as well, where I'll be working averagely 2 shifts a day every single day from now till... August probably?

Though I rather be kept busy than mope at home feeling sad and homesick. :(

Plus, I'm looking forward to seeing some of the folks at work. Especially in the World Cup season, it's gonna be plenty of fun with the collective misery and exhaustion that will be expected in the next month. (/^ ^)/

xxx

A quick recap on my trip home.

The whole reason I had to fly home at such notice was to renew my passport. All because my agent failed to notify me - oh I dunno, 3 months ago? - that in order for my visa to be granted, I needed passport validity of at least 6 months. And she told me this 2 weeks ago, and gave me 28 days to fix it.

And because my mum and sister had already booked their flights to Perth ages ago, I had an interval of less than a week to apply for a Bridging Visa, buy my tickets, rush home, renew my passport, and fly back to Perth with the two of them.

Do you know how much it costs to fly to KL at the last minute? Close to $400 one way. That's almost $800 for a 4 day trip home! There are tickets to London cheaper than that! T.T

BUT, it had to be done. =/ And the trip home turned out to be a blessing if only because I got to see family and (too few) friends whom I haven't seen for 2 years. I miss them like hell already, but I take comfort in the fact that I'll be seeing them again, at tops, in 6 months' time.

Plus, next time around - Jilliebeans! And everyone else important that I couldn't meet up with because my agent is stupid.

xxx

Sigh, but more than anything else now, I really miss family. Sent mum and sis off to the airport this morning, and just received word that sis was crying almost the whole way back. T_______T No kid should have to go through this kinda misery every time she has to part with her big sis. Shouldn't I be around a lot more than this? =/

Hiatus (only a short one)

HELLO, I AM ON A TWO-WEEK HIATUS.

Or rather I'm halfway through a 2-week hiatus that is scheduled to the brim with a stupidly short trip home and my family visiting me in Perth.

Along the way, I've also manage to lose my camera and I am therefore also, mourning the loss of my most precious belonging.

In the meantime, please do not forget about me. I promise a semi-lengthy, photo-less entry when I return.

To everyone whom I've managed to meet up with who is currently reading this OMG I MISS YOU GUYS SO SO MUCH ALREADY. T________T And to all those whom I didn't get to OMG I MISS YOU GUYS SO SO MUCH MORE T______________T

Take care and be good. Visit me in a week's time!


xx
Hsin

Hsin takes on the Japs

After not having Japanese for what seems like forever, I had it 3 times at 3 places within the span of one week.

It was AWESOME.

Only reason we don't do Japanese enough is cos Mitch doesn't agree with anything but chicken katsu and chicken karaage. And it's no fun to eat sashimi and drink umeshu by yourself while your partner looks on from his bowl of battered chicken and rice.

So immediate yes when invitation came to go to Kanta after work. Even though we had to drive from Malaga to Langford and then back home to Perth after. Total hours of driving probably came to about... hour and a half?

But ohhh it was so worth it. It was only my second time there because it's so out of the way for us, especially now. And it being a one-chef show, eating at Kanta requires a lot of time and patience, so it's best to go with a chatty bunch of company. :) Last time it was DDHM, and last week it was with Aunty Matt and co.



But yes, the restaurant. A small, 20-sitter family-run place, very low-profile, and promoted via word-of-mouth. Bookings are absolutely necessary on all nights, and as I've mentioned, be prepared to wait for your food.

You can expect some of the most authentic Japanese food, and the menu extends beyond the typical katsu/bento/tempura fares at most Perth restaurants. We usually order several side dishes to share, and then a main meal each just to fill ourselves up. And as the prices are pretty reasonable, we can afford to try many many dishes at one go.

Highly recommended to try:

1) Gyu tataki - thinly-sliced beef, lightly seared, and served with grated daikon and what tasted like miso dipping sauce.


Tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef slices paired with crispy radish shreds.

2) Sashimi platter


Fresh, succulent slices of fish. No need for wasabi and soy sauce, just a squeeze of lemon and indulge. X-)

And one of my favourites:

3) Grilled squid tentacles


Toasty, delightful morsels, seasoned with sea salt and carefully grilled over a low flame.

xxx

Then there was hot pot udon at Shimizu in Harbourtown.


Best remedy on a cold winter afternoon, especially after a full day of shopping. :)

Despite the commercialization of Shimizu, I reckon this branch does one of the better udons in town. The broth was delectable - strong but not heady, flavourful but not to the extend of overwhelming the taste of the noodles.

It was a very simple assemble: soup, noodles, shiitake mushrooms, seaweed and an egg. The prawn tempura was a plus, but ohhh it was a necessary bonus.

xxx

Lastly, the most fanciest of them all - Satsuki in Subiaco.

I've been meaning to try this restaurant for a while now, and what better time than to celebrate Danson's visit to Perth. My Jap food buddy (who isn't back home in KL or miles away in London), back in town to settle some scores haha.

The prices were a bit more atas than the rest, but not exceedingly so. The ambient was relaxed, casual dining, but with a touch of posh since you know, it is Subiaco after all.

We had sashimi,


Seared miso marinated sashimi tuna, served with light miso sauce and a hint of chilli

Sushi.


2 pieces each of soy marinated Zuke style tuna and seared wagyu beef tataki, on a bed of soft, pillowy seasoned rice.


2 pieces each of lightly-smoked scallops and lemon-scented poached octopus

Grilled perch


Pearl perch marinated with white miso, and then grilled and served with homemade turnip pickles

And simmered pork belly.



Which, to be honest, wasn't that great. Danson loved every sinful bite of it though, so I think my lack of appreciation is due to my inability to eat meat fats. Especially a whole chunk of it, no matter how good it's supposed to be. I had to imagine it was tofu, and then quickly wash it down with several cups of green tea. =.= And the egg just tasted like Chinese tea eggs.

But apart from that slight fatty bump, the meal was excellent. Danson ended his dinner as how he always ends his Japanese meals: with green tea ice-cream. I stole a bite under his scornful stare, but we both agreed Kanta does better matcha ice-cream.

Me, I finally had my umeshu. :)


xx
Hsin