Matsuri in Sydney 2011

Matsuri in Sydney 2011 is coming soon!
Set your reminder on October 15 at Palm Grove Darling Harbour!

Tulip Time

It was Sydney's gloomiest weekend since February, according to weatherzone, with less than an hour of sunshine all weekend, but it doesn't stop me from going to Bowral for Tulip time! The weather was much cooler on the highland but the beautiful garden blanketed by colourful tulips is worth the visit.

Heavens of Kamikochi

I was reading this 'Hiking with the gods of nature in the heavens of Kamikochi' from Mainichi news and it reminds of of my dream to visit Nagano.I've been to Japan three times and somehow never made my way to Nagano,  one of  the best alps in Japan. It was in 1998, the first time I dreamt of Nagano while watching the Winter Olympic and then few years ago I happened to watch 'Season of Snow', a movie taken in a snow resort showing the stunning view of the majestic white mountains of Hakuba, at that time I told myself 'why don't you go there on your next trip to Japan?' well somehow Nagano is still on my 'next-visit list in Japan'

Back to the Kamikochi, if you love nature, hiking and mountains this article about the priceless view of sacred highland of Kamikochi and the energetic 73-year-old mountain guide is worth the read.

Here are some useful links about Kamikochi and Nagano:

http://www.kamikochi.or.jp/english/index.php

http://kamikochi.org/

http://www.hikyaku.com/nagano/naganog.html

(The scenic beauty of Kamikochi, picture courtesy of Mainichi)

Animania 2011 Sydney

I've been a regular visitor of Animania in Sydney, I missed out on the first event last March but I made it to the event yesterday for this year's second one. It's always a good time when anime lovers of all ages get together enjoying the stage show, dance classes, video games, art workshop and taking pictures of fabulous costumes!

(A stall from Japanese Foundation Sydney) 

Butaebi Maki

It's a prawn wrapped in thin slices of pork fillet cooked with teriyaki sauce, a simple dish yet the taste will make you go back to Nazimi Japanese restaurant at 141 York st Sydney.

The crispness of pork fillet and the buttery prawn blended in teriyaki sauce doesn't taste greasy at all, so you won't get the guilty feeling from eating this special dish from Nazimi.

(Butaebi maki from Nazimi)

As I mentioned on my previous post, Nazimi, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in town also has the best Tasmanian salmon steak I couldn't resist. 

(Tasmanian salmon steak from Nazimi)

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)

Ippudo Sg

A quick post from Singapore, stopping over for 2 nights before flying to my hometown for a-three-week holiday visiting families and friends. 

Ippudo Singapore is quite famous for ramen lovers in Singapore and decided to try the one in Mandarin Gallery Orchard (they have another shop in UE square), got there around 12 noon and I had to queue for about 20 minutes before finally got the seat. It might be the best ramen in Singapore but still you can't compare to the ones in Sydney such as Ryo's or Ramen Genki, but if you happen to be in this city and craving for some yummy ramen to slurp then this Ippudo is worth a shot.

(Shirotama ramen from Ippudo sg)

(cucumber with sesame)

(Ippudo Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Singapore)

The shirotama ramen I ordered wasn't a disappointment but nothing special though, while the cucumber with sesame side dish is quite refreshing and gives a pleasant after taste for my taste buds after slurping  the rich tonkotsu broth of Shirotama ramen.