Brisbane, Sydney, Strawberry Watermelon Cake & Friendship

I always want to blog and i have loads of things that I want to type out, pictures I want to share, but somehow, when I get home, aside from rushing with emails and inventory and whatever else for Hungover Sundays, i have often found myself seeking the much needed comfort from the TV. 

I could survive with no internet, no computer, no phone, if i just had the TV.

Anyway, I just got back from a 8 day holiday break down under. It was part of a 7 year long promise i had kept to one of my best friends, Ju-Anne to visit. She's been in Brisbane for 9 years, and she's one of those friends where the awkwardness of being miles apart, across continents, in time zones of daylight savings or not, surviving in vastly different social circles and having lifestyles worlds apart have never been excuses to keep us apart. Thus, you see why she's one of my best friends.

Bribane I Farmers' Market I Ju-Anne & Me

I arrived at midnight, on a Friday morning, welcomed and greeted by 19 degrees of fucking awesome weather but looking like the bottom most level of hell. It was an almost 8 hour flight, where instead of sleeping, I indulged in on-air entertainment. This is really sad but the truth is I haven't watched a movie for maybe a year? Hence, the indulging.

And I highly suspect I was in some kind of mood. So, first it was "The Vow" and then this Chinese movie "Love You You" with Angela Baby as the lead actress. From the first movie to the next, I CRIED LIKE MY DOG DIED IN AN ACCIDENT. Or rather, i wept, on the plane, until my eyelash extensions became wonky and my eyes were all swollen.

So there I was at the pick-up point at the Brisbane airport, 12am, 17degrees, pink lojel & ready to conquer Australian soil, not realizing how these 8 days would eventually impact how i see life, friendships, work and love.

My first meal was Maccas!! So I have this thing, where no matter where I am in the world, I have to eat McDonald's. It's one of my favorite things in the world. I'm serious. If I didn't put on weight eating it, I could do it every night. There was one time, I did 4 nights in a row, and i felt so sick after. I can finish an entire upsize meal with milkshake and apple pie. The Aussie Maccas are No. 2 on my list after Japan's. =D The milkshake is really DOPE!!

Brisbane I McDonald's I Beef Burger something meal & Fillet O Fish

And then, I completely knocked out for 10 hours. I don't remember the last time I slept for 10 hours in Singapore.

The plan was that we were flying to Sydney on Saturday for 4 days. I haven't been back to Sydney for many years now, maybe 4 or 5. And i missed the place terribly, I had lived there before for 9 months before when I did my internship for Uni in 2004.

What i love most about Australia has always been the simplicity and randomness of how a cup of damn good latte can be sipped and enjoyed over a conversation with a complete stranger for 2 hours. I will always compare this to Singapore. It will NEVER happen.

On a larger scale of things, I define this as the quality of life.

Brisbane I Campos Coffee I Skinny Latte

Brisbane I Campos I Exterior

Now, I just have to say that the next paragraph is just my own personal opinion, it's not that I'm imposing my views on anyone.

Singapore's quality of life is zilch. I don't mean the cleanliness of our roads, the variety of food, the convenience of going places or the safety of our country. But essentially, Singapore has no soul. There isn't the spontaneity of the moment, of finding peace in chaos and creativity in the mess. Everything's too clean, too neat, too governed, too sheltered, too restricted. This hit me very hard.

We were at one of the hotel bars along Bondi Beach in Sydney one night, having a beer, post Hurricanes ribs. And we ended up chatting with a bunch of Aussies, of whom one of the girls just got back from Singapore. So the usual small talk went about how Singapore was, it's funny how the first thing she said was, Oh i went to this club, Zouk, and it was Groove Armada playing. It was good fun! Then she said, other than that, I didn't like Singapore, it has no soul.

You will never find the random cafe tucked in a corner or a vintage shop run by 2 generations with mum and daughter just chilling and chatting about a tourist's tattoos.

And the flea markets <3 what else can i say? Raw, real people, home grown lettuce, happy children.

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Book store

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I "Looking through you"

Brisbane I Farmers' Market

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Ju-Anne & Me

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I "Vegetables grown to Classical Music"

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Fresh Fruits

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Live Performances

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I "The kids are happier"

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Freshly-Made Churros

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Divine Doughnuts

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I Hot Spanish Sausages

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I "An Apple a day"

Brisbane I Farmers' Market I "Lettuce Loving"

I took pictures of all the fresh produce to show my mum! And i hand-carried the sausages back home, it can last for 3 years, and mould would grow around it but you just need to scrub it away and apparently it's fine to eat it! HAHA.

There was just way too much food, and i realize that each time when I think back fondly about any one of my favorite countries, or memories of any unforgettable trip, it always links back to a restaurant, a dish, a cake, a drink that is the best ever in the world, to me. So, please let me indulge on what took my breath away this time.

Brisbane I I forget the name of the restaurant! I Big Breakfast

This was really good, but i can't believe I forgot the name of the cafe! I loved the sweet potato and the polenta sticks were crazily good! It went perfectly with the beetroot & caramelized onions sauce.

Sydney I Hurricanes I Pork Ribs

Sydney I Korean Cafe in the city I Chocolate & Cinnamon Waffles

Oh no, I'm terrible, I don't remember the names of the cafes I went to. This one was next to Lumiere apartments in the city center. Had gone to meet up with Cindy, and she stays just round the corner. Cindy is my brother's friend, and she's doing her Masters in Sydney. Our conversation ended up being about how to attain our Aussie PR, how she ended up in Sydney and tonnes of other stuff.

Sydney I Cindy & me

I ended up having this chat with Ju-Anne about how it is so different overseas, where when you meet up with Singaporeans and make new friends, it seems easier. I'm not sure if its because we are all overseas in a foreign land, so the need to be part of a community becomes stronger and we become more acceptable and flexible on expectations, choices and preferences.

Back to the food, strangely enough, I ended up eating a lot more Asian food than Aussie food. Generally, my palette prefers Asian food, in order of sequence- Japanese, Chinese, Thai...

Sydney I Chat Thai I Boat Noodle Soup

This is potentially the best beef based Thai noodle soup i have ever had in my life. And we went at 3PM, it was only AUD$5! It is part of a chain of eateries, Chat Thai (www.chatthai.com.au) So damn fucking amazingly good. I have to swear to describe the extent of how good it was. I go to Bangkok quite often, but I've never had anything close to this even. I miss it already.

Sydney I Black Star Pastry I Strawberry & Watermelon Cake

This was the highlight of trip. The Strawberry & Watermelon cake from Black Star Pastry (www.blackstarpastry.com.au), Charlene (one of Ju-Anne's friends who just got married and moved to Sydney) took us there, and her husband had bought her this cake on one of their first dates. Obviously it worked, it was a done deal!! =D But this cake was absolutely delightful- light, refreshing yet full of flavor. I have a favourite cake from The Patissier here in Singapore- The Passionfruit Meringue Cake, but this one tops that for sure.

At my wedding in future, I will have this cake.

Brisbane I Northern Thai Beef Noodles

Brisbane I Thai Papaya Salad with Salted Egg

I did Thai quite a bit this trip, this was back in Brisbane. The Northern Thai noodle soup- never had anything like this before. It felt very home-cooked, like comfort food. I even sent the picture via BBM to my Dad, and his only reply way: Sofie, you're going to get fat. My dad never calls me by my full name, so it must have meant something.

Brisbane I Campos I Chocolate & Beetroot Cake- I don't even like beetroot, but it was hell good!!

Brisbane I Bubble Tea from Sunnybank- look at how big the cup is!!! I laughed so much!

Brisbane I Some beer place

 I really liked the beer, it was fruity and easy to go down.

Brisbane I the same beer place I Mussels

Brisbane I $1 Mussels!!

Brisbane I University of Queensland I Pizza & Boost

Brisbane I Korean Char Siew & Jellyfish

Brisbane I Korean Hot Pot

This blog entry is getting too long.

Ok see the summary of my trip via pictures as below: 

1. Tried to buy chips & Golden Gaytime (my favorite Aussie ice cream) from the petrol kiosk really late one night. Not realizing that because of security and recent shootings, you have to order from a hole in the glass and the guy picks out all the items for you, you can't even step into the store at all. It was freezing as hell. (and i was cursing like there was going to be no tomorrow)

Sydney I Some petrol kiosk I 2 girls in need of Honey Mustard Chicken Rock Deli Chips & Golden Gaytime

2. Walking by Chinatown in Sydney, and when I saw this shop, i walked in because I thought of Ghetto (all the sneakers and limited edition shoes- but has to be Nikes) and Leyla- rabbits & foxes (hell yeah!)

Sydney I Chinatown I Hell Yeah Rabbits & Nikes

3. In search of animals and pets living it up and being extraordinary to take pictures of!  This cat was indeed "Like A Boss". Cat walking owner, while the 3 dogs gathered for brunch.

Sydney I Bondi Market I "I am Boss- said the Cat"

Sydney I The Grounds I Brunch with the girlies

 4. Being awed and remembering why life is more than Singapore and we need to search for that light at the end of the tunnel. Vivid Sydney (www.vividsydney.com) - a festival of lights, music and ideas.

Sydney I Vivid Sydney I Video Mapping- Museum of Contemporary Art 

5. Indulging in cereal and milk every day because the milk in Australia is just so darn good, creamy and doesn't get non-cold (that temp. between fridge & post fridge- like how it gets in Singapore and totally sucks)

Brisbane I Just Right & me

6. Having very carefully and meticulously planned for a next tattoo, going down for a consultation, only to be told the wait list is 3 months, so I have to fly back to Brisbane in August- MEH!! My inspiration for the ink is below.

Brisbane I Lust for Life Tattoo

Tattoo Inspiration I Source: weheartit.com

7. Being completely amused by every small thing in sight and view- in today's context, nothing surprises me anymore, but anyone up for hire as a Badminton companion? It's AUD$6.50 an hour, pay is better than retail in Singapore.

Brisbane I Sunnybank I Badminton Companion for Hire?

8. Appreciating the finer things in life like home made cold pressed iced latte served out of a vintage VW van and then being completely Asian and making the owners take a picture with us.

Brisbane I Outside Farmers Market I Coffee please?

9. Having all the patience in the world and queuing for 2 hours to have brunch which later became lunch/tea. It was at this cafe at Alexandria called The Grounds. Apparently, it's this crowded every weekend. But this also brings me back to my point on the quality of life- how much of our time do we actually spend in enjoyment? in good company? having deep conversations? or appreciating the simpler moments?

Sydney I The Grounds

Sydney I The Grounds I Coffee on drip

Sydney I The Grounds I BURGER

10. Focusing so hard and taking what feels like a million pictures to try to capture the perfect rainbow picture but it didn't turn out great...at all. I did however see another rainbow in Brisbane, it was beyond my wildest imaginations-- I can't even describe it. 

Sydney I Bondi Beach

 11. Taking random pictures of life's tiniest yet most previous moments...

 

12. Meeting up with friends and new friends, no pretenses, no frills. We met Melba at a vintage store in Newtown, and became friends. The randomness of how people meet people and the coincidences of how things fall together are the moments that make up life itself.

Sydney I Baxton's Inn I Ju-Anne, me & Charisse (this picture was taken with an iPhone- it SUCKS)

Sydney I Bondi Beach I Ju-Anne, Menreet & me

Sydney I Newtown I Ju-Anne, Melba & me

Sydney I Ju-Anne, me & Cindy

Sydney I Chinatown I Menreet & Ju-Anne

Brisbane I Josia & the giant bubble tea

Sydney I Charlene & Ju-Anne

 13. Doing all the non-tourist things simply because I didn't want to be labelled a tourist. Steven studied in Brisbane so he said since I insisted on trying to be a local, i had to visit UQ, eat pizza and sit on the grass. 

In Australia, sitting on the grass is the norm. Bible studies are held at the grass patch in school, and they sing hymns. In Singapore, you go try to sit on the grass patch. JUST TRY.

Brisbane I University of Queensland

14. And of course, cam-whoring =) 

Too long a blog post! 

But thank you Australia for reminding me how much of life I'm missing out. xx

Of hen's nights, weddings and so called happily ever after

At 29, more often that not, most Singaporean girls are expected to be married or at least in some kind of stable relationship, having found the other half aka one's soul mate. So in the past 2 years of my life, i have been subjected to have to attend wedding after wedding of friends and acquaintances. It's that time in our lives, as so they all say.

Please don't misunderstand me. Each wedding of a close friend, always brings much joy to my heart and tears to my eyes. I believe i have remained a firm believer of the sacred ceremony and the joining of lives despite some heart wrenching past experiences that would otherwise have left many jaded.

I remember my girlfriends and i made a pact some years back, in the comforts of Holland Village's Coffee Club, where we shook little pinkies that by the age of 26 we would all have found the "perfect" other half. Being the idealist that i was, and with a past history of only being in long term relationships, i never saw the pact as something i could not keep to. Now, many years later, i attended the weddings of 2 of my closest friends this year, single. I did a quick count of past relationships: 4. I must say i did pretty well in terms of staying in each one, long enough to realize it wasn't the happily ever after for me. 

I have been a bridesmaid many times now, and the recent one was for a very close friend, Chui Ling. I can't begin to express how happy i was for her, having been through a few relationships and finally finding someone to share her life with and who truly deserves her.

Chui Ling's Hen's night Dinner at Table at 7

Chui Ling is one of those friends that i will always hold close to my heart. Each boyfriend i have had, would have had to go through some kind of threatening process from her, and each birthday and Christmas, she never fails to write hand written cards and give me presents that she very carefully puts thought to. She is also fiercely loyal to Zouk. <3

Chui Ling & me

Hence, it was one of those weddings that gave me the hope that love does exist in today's hopeless world, plagued by betrayals, lack of trust and bitterness. (At this point, i can't help but hear "Love in a Hopeless Place" as the background music.)

But i have also vowed to myself to NEVER ever have to put my girlfriends through the pains of the wee hours of the morning tortures. Once again, let me clarify. I am one of the more traditional and conservative individuals amongst many of the people my age that i know. I know it is very hard to tell, given my inks, and appearance plus the nature of my job does not help either. However, i am traditional and maybe in some instances even old school, so i would definitely want to have the tea ceremonies, the Chinese dinners and that my future husband would have asked for permission proper from my parents before proposing to me.

BUT i will spare all my girlfriends the agony of having to wake up at the god forbidden hour of 3 or 4am to go through the rituals of "torturing" the husband's best men.

The rituals of "torture" for the best men

The tasks to complete

Very creative way of "bribing" the bridesmaids- "A*" for Effort!

 So it was morning rituals, duties of a bridesmaid, church wedding and dinner, where not surprising, I found myself as the alcohol-in-charge.

Rose petals for the picture perfect moment

On the way home after the early morning rituals

Chui Ling & Derek <3

Of weddings and love, hens nights and friendships, every girl wishes for her own happy ending. The knight in shining armor, the perfect wedding, the more than perfect marriage- but really, at the end of it all, isn't it true that what matters most is how he makes you feel? If each time being with him, is enough to make you smile and in the simplest of moments be happy, in our very complicated world, a love like that would be enough for me. =)

To the many happily-ever-afters.
2012, bring me mine please! 
<3 very much,
Sof
xx

#Love is.

I don't think he quite understands or maybe he chooses not to or maybe he does understand. I don't even know anymore.

Sorry doesn't make it all go away and it doesn't make me feel any differently for him. In fact, i think the only thing i feel is that my heart melts despite knowing fucking well that it shouldn't and i tell myself you deserve to be treated better than this.

Sorry i don't remember, sorry you had to take care of me.

I would do it again if i had to, each time he needs taking care of, but i remember the times when he says i don't remember that we had this conversation or what we spoke about and it really hurts. Because i remember everything. Because he matters that much.

It's funny because he is scared that i get upset or that I'm angry yet, he still does the things he does and then i get upset, not angry. And it's so strange the way he makes me feel, react or behave.

He takes it for granted that I'm here, always.
He probably doesn't realize how much he means to me.
And that i wish i was his.

So i guess it's goodbye.

Zouk gives back & what it means to love...

Most people don't actually know what Zouk does. This often leads to the misconception of how my work as the Marketing & Business Development Manager of the top 5th club in the world equates to just partying on the weekends, drinking and making merry.

But yes, this isn't a blog post about my job scope and what i actually do, but to set the record straight, I do work normal office hours from 1030AM to officially 730PM, but from Wednesdays, we often work beyond that and we stay late when there are events. Essentially- my life is the club, and the club is my life.

Aside from being a club, as most people just see Zouk as, we are also an events venue and amongst many things an organization. As part of our contribution back to society, we do quite partake in charity events and campaigns from the Milk Run which started in 2006, working with Beyond Social Services, it is today known as the Streetwise Run, Anti-Binge Drinking, Safe Clubbing, etc. and many more.

But the one event that we hold annually for the past 17 years that touches my heart is the Zouk CNY Charity Reunion Lunch that we hold for the Senior Citizens of the Tiong Bahru Befriender Service.

Zouk staff are in yellow

Full CNY props & table setting

It's a time when a committee is formed from within the Zouk staff force, from various departments and a program is planned from at least 1.5 months in advance.The Zouk main room is converted into a chinese restaurant style setting and a stage.

All the staff would come together to put up performances- singing, dancing and serving an estimate of 120 Senior Citizens. Prior to the day's program where all the citizens are brought down to Zouk for a 8 course sit down Chinese lunch, there are rehearsals every week and we also come together to donate "ang pows" for the Old folks.

The Zouk Security doing a dance item

Eric, our Zouk Members Bar Supervisor doing a solo

The "ang pows" along with cash donations from our big boss's mum- Mrs Cheng end up as the Meal Allowance for the Senior Citizens for a whole year. This amounts to more than $60,000 in cash not including goodie bags that have ointments, "liang chas", biscuits, etc.

Our staff work really hard to learn the dragon dance, see if you can recognize any of them!

Zouk Staff becoming pro dragon dancers

I remember the first year that i was introduced to this "charity event" that all new staff were "incorporated" into, i was part of a dancing item. But it was a very heartwarming finale for me after, coming to understand how so much thought, effort and most importantly heart is put into it. And it is a team effort of the entire Zouk family to put this together.

Yasee, Natasha & Charmaine

Kai-er (Benny's daughter)

Tony, Rexx & Sam from Maintanence

Kareirei & me

Zouk Security

Hence, it's always difficult to explain in words, why i have come to love this club as my life, and why I've been here for 7 years. Maybe this small insight can shed some light as to why this isn't just a job for me, and why I continue to love what i do and with so much pride. It is the people, the Zouk family and how much heart there is in some of the people here continues to inspire and motivate me. <3

The Entire Zouk family!

A gentle reminder each year for me of how blessed I am to be where I am, to love what I do and be surrounded by people who care.

Zouk just got voted no. 5 club in the DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs in the World Poll 2012. I cried at my desk when the results were out. =)

Zouk has always about people and passion. I can't be grateful to be part of it all and I hope from the bottom of my heart that we never lose this spirit of what makes Zouk special and unique. 

xx

The Cranberries LIVE!

And I'm in so deep, you know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger...

Big love <3 <3 to Hype Records and Ruth dearest that we were invited to catch The Cranberries LIVE tonight! So I'm jumping the gun and blogging about it now! Even though, i have tonnes of entries I need to schedule since Feb!!

The main vocalist Dolores O'Riordan's voice is fucking amazing, truly solid and one of a kind. Effortless is the word to describe how her performance went, belting out one hit after another.

 

 

As you can see it was crazily packed!! And i must say that OLD IS GOLD baby!!! We really enjoyed the concert, it was perfect to kick start April! Further more, we were so fortunate to be given front row tickets!

Some snap shots of us at the concert! Cam-whoring at it's best! Always!

Me

Caylee & her boyfriend

Natasha

Rai

Tim

Some bands like The Cranberries will always remain forever gold, classic and always enjoyable. Thank you once more and big loveeee to Hype Records for the tickets!!

April to a good start.
xx