Frozen Fantasy

I've visited Japan three times yet I've still got two unfulfilled dreams, first is experiencing hanami in Japan and the second is visiting Sapporo's Snow Festival. This news from Mainichi about 'Frozen Fantasy' in Sapporo makes me think..' when will I visit Hokkaido again..?'

These pictures courtesy of Mainichi news..

Ramen Championship Singapore

I got one night stop over in Singapore last month and I was hoping to have a chance to try the ramen at Iluma Building in Bugis, but unfortunately I was too early, the shops open at 11:30am and I didn't have time to wait since I need to run for my connecting flight. The Ramen Championship has been run since last year till July this year (as long as I know), didn't get the chance to take proper photos either, but I managed to go to Liang Court in Clarke Quay to try Marutama Ramen.

The good news is that the Ramen championship has new outlet at T3 Changi Airport, so next time I can try the ramen without leaving the comfort of Changi Airport.

(Ramen championship at Iluma building, Bugis)

Marutama ramen in Singapore is quite famous but frankly speaking, it was a little disappointment, for me there are two most important things from a good ramen, first is the broth and second is the noodle's texture, in this case the broth didn't taste as I expected, too light I would say and the noodle was a bit overcooked. 

(Marutama ramen in Singapore)

Europe trip

I am spending my last night in Rome after 15 days travelling around 10 cities in 6 countries, yes it's quite a tight schedule. All the hassle and pain from dragging around our big luggage, travelling in the notorious Paris metro, being stuck in Spagna metro station in Rome, waking up early to catch our train etc, all paid off by the joy of viewing the beautiful Swiss alps (even only from the train), enjoying the beautiful Titisee lake in Blackforest near Freiburg, tasting escargot and laduree macaroon in Paris, wandering around the gothic city of Barcelona, all thanks to our best friends in Freiburg, Amsterdam and Paris!

Here are some of my favourite shots (apart from Vatican) taken by my Nikon D3000, Olympus though and iPhone 4.

(Amsterdam city)

(Barcelona city view from parc guell)

(The amazing La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona)

(Parc guell Barcelona)

(Frankfurt city)

(Freiburg, Germany)

(Ulm Münster church in Freiburg)

(Titisee lake in Blackforest near Freiburg)

(Le jet d'eu in Geneve)

(Old city of Geneve)

(Sushi restaurant in Geneve)

(Cathedral in Milan)

(Milan)

(Paris)

(Escargot dish in Paris, cooked and served without the shells)

(Pisa city)

(The leaning tower of Pisa)

(Japanese resto in Venice)

(Pizza in Rome)

(Poffertjes with advocaat, not avocado but more like rum)

(Poffertjes with fruit in Amsterdam)

(Fontana de Trevi, Rome)

(The famous Colosseum in Rome)

(Gondola in Venice)

(Venice)

Happy New Year 2012

A quick post from Rome..

I happened to attend New Year's mass at Basilica St. Peter in Vatican yesterday, here some photos from Vatican.

Happy New Year 2012.. wishing you all the best 

(some people wearing kimono for the mass?) 

KuraKura

Kura haymarket Sydney, one of my favourites for casual dining in the city just opened the new KuraKura. I believed they are under the same management. The new KuraKura is located on the same corner of Ultimo road in Haymarket, with the same great service and affordable menus, but this new KuraKura takes place on the second and third floor with more spacious and cozy atmosphere. They have exactly the same menu with Kura plus new ones and some drinks from cocktail to hot sake.

My favourites from Kura are aburi salmon and salmon don, but this time the Hokkaido Udon on the menu is really tempting, comes in cream and cheese with pork and onsen tamago (half boiled egg) and served with baby spinach. The Hokkaido udon looks more like a pasta and tastes really yummy but quite heavy though. 

 (Hokkaido udon)

  

(salmon wing)

For healthy choice, the tofu salad is really light and refreshing.

 (Tofu salad)

Wanted to try the Umeshu jelly for dessert but unfortunately sold out so I picked ume-apple from the cocktail range as I always love umeshu.

 (Ume-apple)

The mini okonomiyaki comes with crispy skin which is nice and the combination of okonomi sauce and mayo is perfect. 

 (Mini okonomiyaki)