Sakura Matsuri 2011

Updating my previous post with some photos taken today, the last day of Cherry blossoms festival at Auburn Japanese Garden. 

(Two food stalls selling Takoyaki and Yakitori)

Cherry Blossom Festival 2011

Spring is just around the corner! Sakura season is on!
If you live in Sydney here are two Cherry Blossoms Festival you shouldn't miss:

1. Cherry Blossom Festival at Auburn's Japanese garden, Chiswick Road-Auburn.
     When : 21 August - 28 August 2011.

2. Sakura Masturi at Cowra Japanese Garden, Cowra.
    When : 24 September 2011.

Black Rice

Indonesian black rice (not glutinous rice), is one of the several varieties of black rice.It is a deep black color and turns deep purple when cooked. It has a relatively high mineral content (including iron), the grain has a similar amount of fiber to brown rice, and like brown rice, it has a mild, nutty taste.

(Black rice served with deep fried chicken and tofu)

During my holiday in Bandung, my second hometown, I happened to enjoy some of the local favorite dishes of Sundanese cuisine (West Javan): black rice, brown rice, and rice mixed with oncom. Oncom is a secondary product from the production of other foods. It's made from fermented groundnut and soybean, fermented using molds.

(Brown rice served with deep fried chicken)

The below 'Nasi tutug oncom' or rice mixed with oncom, served with gepuk (sweet smashed fried beef), crispy fried tofu and sambal (special chili sauce)

(Nasi tutug oncom or rice mixed with oncom)

Singapore stop over

Stopping over in Singapore has been part of my holidays for years, despite the heat and muggy weather, the convenience of Changi airport and their airline have been my favorites for traveling. In Changi you can shop and pay by major currencies and not to mention the comfort of its facilities. As far as I remember, the first time I visited my Singapore 10 years ago, I didn't find many Japanese eateries nor shops around but now you'll come across Japanese eateries and shops in every shopping mall, some maid cafes around Bugis and the Japanese related events such as cosplay, all of those showing the influence of Japanese culture in this city. Talking about Japanese food stuffs, my favorite place is Meidi-ya supermarket in Liang Court shopping centre around Clarke Quay area.

Some of my shoppings..

(Chocolates from Royce)

(Blue Mountain coffee from Meidi-ya)

(Choya umeshu extra years bought at Changi)