Byron Bay: Random Shots

As the title says, this is basically just a collection of some random shots taken at the Byron Bay Beach and town area. We wanted to come by the beach before or during the sunset, but unfortunately we spent way too much time hanging around at the Cape Byron Lighthouse, probably two hours or lesser or more, I don't know.

Expand this post ↓↓

Hanaichi Japanese Restaurant: Farewell to Shaine

Shaine brought us here, to the Hanaichi Japanese Restaurant a few hours prior to her flight departure. To my amazement, they do serve absolutely fresh and tasty sushi which comes in a great variety.  Aww, I'm missing those food already *drooling with excitement*

Expand this post ↓↓

Novotel Brisbane: Room Service Please

In one of my earlier RiverFire trip posts, I mentioned that my boi and I were offered one-night free accommodation at the 4.5 star Novotel Brisbane. Not only that, we were also given a $50 dining voucher to be used for either in-room dining or in the hotel restaurant! So, why waste the opportunity to indulge ourselves with finger-smackingly good food under such delightful circumstance?!

Expand this post ↓↓

Hervey Bay: Bayswater Hotel and Restaurant

In today's post, I will virtually fly you all the way from wherever you are to Hervey Bay, a beautiful city situated approximately 290 kilometres north of the Queensland's state capital, Brisbane, and lies on the coast of a natural bay between the Queensland mainland and nearby Fraser Island (according to Wikipedia, of course). As we checked-in to Peppers Pier Resort, we were given some vouchers to claim free drinks from this nearby restaurant called Bayswater Hotel and Restaurant. The meals they served can only be described with one word, "terrible"! 

Expand this post ↓↓

Shaine's Farewell Dinner

It's been the third day since Shaine left us for good. On the night before her flight back to Malaysia, we had a potluck farewell dinner together where everyone has brought their signature dishes along. My boi and I on the other hand, boiled a big pot of Roasted Chicken Soup with pickled mustard and dried chilli (which you can't see in the photo above or any of the photos below). Anyway, let's have a look at those good food and desserts prepared by the ladies that night! 

Expand this post ↓↓

RiverFire Trip: Golden Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant

Some time ago, a big group of us went to "Yum Jo Cha" (have morning tea) at Golden Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant on the Gold Coast. The service there was pretty bad and slow, we waited very long for the "Dim Sums" to get on our table. What's worse was that we had to cut and divide the food ourselves, and the waitresses didn't even bother to provide any dipping sauces for us, totally disappointing!

Expand this post ↓↓

Daren's Birthday: Contemporary Japanese and Korean BBQ

I've been really sick since the last few days, and when I started to believe that I'm almost fully recover today, fever strikes me again, sigh! I spent most of my time resting on the bed while watching my recent most favorite Korean drama, You're Beautiful / 미남이시네요 / Minami Shineyo (A.N.Jell). It's such a great romance-comedy, and I couldn't help falling for Jung Yong Hwa ❤ he's just too cute to resist!!! Oh wait, am I already dragging you too far away from the topic? Hehe, sorry! I shall now lead you to Daren's post-birthday bash to see what happened back there =)

Expand this post ↓↓

Celebration Dinner at Christopher's Restaurant (Blue Mountain Hotel)

In celebration of me getting a part-time night job, my boi and I, along with several other friends of us came to have dinner together at Christopher's Restaurant. My boi has ordered some extra cheesy garlic bread as starter, just in case we have to wait for an hour or longer like our last visit here.

Expand this post ↓↓

Tommy Hilfigirls Outing at Picnic Point Restaurant

No, I got the title right, peeps! I intentionally changed the "ger" behind to "girls" because it was a girls-only date with Bev, and Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt was the theme of the day. Just so you know, all of us bought the shirts separately but we happened to own the same color in pairs, amazing isn't it?

Expand this post ↓↓

Pre-Party Preparation: Sushi Making and Tempuras

Before Daren's actual birthday party, my boi and I went to his place to help out a little bit here and there in the afternoon. I have zero experience in making sushi, hence it was a golden opportunity for me to watch and learn from the pros. Yum, I really feel like making sushi for myself now!!!

Expand this post ↓↓

List of Toowoomba Restaurants, Bars and Cafes

Chinese Restaurants

• Chinese Noodle Magic

• Chinese Noodle Magic (兰州拉面): Food Tasting on the Opening

• Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

• First Golf Experience and Dinner Afterwards
• CNY Day 11: Dinner at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
• Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant: Lunch After Floral Parade
• Dinner at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant
• Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

• Jonathan's Cafe

• Jonathan's Restaurant: Char Koay Teow & Char Koay Kak

• Ni Hao Chinese Restaurant

• Ni Hao Chinese Restaurant Toowoomba

• Ocean Breeze Chinese Restaurant

• "Chap Goh Meh" Dinner Gathering at Ocean Breeze Chinese Restaurant

• Qi'Lin Chinese Restaurant

• Dinner at Qi'Lin 
• Back to Qi'Lin Restaurant
• My Birthday Celebration 2009: Qi'Lin Restaurant
• Halloween Dinner: Qi'Lin Chinese Restaurant Toowoomba

• Royal Asian

• Super Duper Hot Day
• My New Haircut
• Toowoomba City

• West Lake Chinese Restaurant

• Dinner at West Lake Chinese Restaurant

Indian Restaurants

• Bindi Spot

• Dinner at Bindi Spot
• Bindi Spot Indian Restaurant Toowoomba

Italian Restaurants

• La Porchetta

• Eat, Live, Love at La Porchetta Toowoomba

Japanese Restaurants

• Hana Japanese Sushi Restaurant

• Sushi and Movie Date Night 
• Dinner at Hana Japanese Sushi Restaurant
• Sushi Train at Hana Japanese Sushi Restaurant Toowoomba

Mexican Restaurants

• Amigo's Bar & Girll

• Friday Night: Amigo's Bar & Grill Toowoomba

• Montezuma's Mexican Restaurant

• Montezuma's Mexican Restaurant

Thai Restaurants

• Dee's Vintage Thai Restaurant

• A Christmas Turkey Dinner
• 2008 Christmas Dinner & Celebration
• Return to Dee's Vintage Thai Restaurant
• Dee's Vintage Thai Restaurant Toowoomba

• Hot Basil Thai Cottage

• ANZAC Day: Lunch at Thai Cottage
• Same Old Brand New Thai Cottage
• Hot Basil Thai Cottage Toowoomba

• Pandan Delight Thai & Malaysian Chinese Restaurant

• Vera's 21st Birthday Celebration at Padan Delight
• Pandan Delight: Just Do What You Do
• Farewell, My Dear Friends
• My Boi's 24th Birthday: Pandan Delight
  
• Pandan Delight Thai & Malaysian Chinese Restaurant Toowoomba

• Thai Lee La Restaurant

• Thai Lee La Restaurant Highfields

• Thai Majestic Restaurant

• I'm So Orange Today
• Thai Majestic Restaurant & Noodle Bar Toowoomba

• Thai Royal Restaurant

• Thai Royal Restaurant Toowoomba

Turkish Restaurants

• Sofra

• Sofra Turkish Restaurant: Chap Goh Meh Dinner Joy
• Sofra Turkish Cuisine in Toowoomba
  

Modern Australian Restaurants, Bars and Cafes

• Angel Cafe

• Frank's Belated Birthday Dinner at the Angel Cafe
• Graduation Celebration Lunch at the Angel Cafe
• The Angel Cafe: New Management
• The Angel Cafe: Craving For Caesar Salad
• The Angel Cafe: Happy Go Lucky
• The Angel Cafe: San's Farewell Dinner
• The Angel Cafe: Dinner with Friends

• Angelo's House

• Reunion Lunch at Angelo's House
• Toowoomba Show Holiday: Dinner at Angelo's House 
• Sunday Afternoon: Lunch at Angelo's House
• Angelo's House Restaurant Toowoomba: 七夕快乐

• Cafe Inferno

• Brunch at Cafe Inferno Toowoomba
  

• Cafe Valetta

• Cafe Valetta: Brunch under the Sun
  

• City Golf Club

• Gathering at Selections Restaurant, City Golf Club
• Selections Restaurant at City Golf Club: Not-So-Impressive Dinner
• City Golf Club: Graduation Celebration Dinner
• Alex's 24th Birthday: City Golf Club

• Christopher's Restaurant at Blue Mountain Hotel

• Shopping Night at Christopher's Restaurant
• Celebration Dinner at Christopher's Restaurant (Blue Mountain Hotel)
• Mid Autumn Candlelight Dinner with My Boi
• Graduation Dinner at Christopher's Restaurant (Blue Mountain Hotel)

• Coffee Club

• Saturday at the Coffee Club
• Weekends Come, Weekdays Go
• Cakes and Coffee at the Coffee Club 
• It's Been a While
• The Coffee Club: Just You and Me
• The Coffee Club: Meet Baby Preston
• Delicious Meals at the Coffee Club 
• A Bright and Sunny Lunch at the Coffee Club
• Catch Up Lunch at the Coffee Club
• Late Dinner at the Coffee Club
• A Night Out at the Coffee Club

• Cube Hotel

• Friend's Visit: Toowoomba Day Tour
• Monday Blues and Exy Dinner at the Cube Hotel 
• April Fools Lunch Gathering at the Cube Hotel
• Double Date at the Cube Hotel
• Stone Grill at the Cube Hotel: Back Again
• Stone Grill at the Cube Hotel: Good Friday Lunch Gathering

• Downs Hotel Restaurant

• Downs Hotel Restaurant

• Engine Room Cafe

• Engine Room Cafe: Lunch Gathering
• Brunch at Engine Room Cafe
• Engine Room Cafe Toowoomba

• Encore's Restaurant at Empire Threatre

• Encore's Restaurant Toowoomba

• Fire & Ice

• 09.09.09 at Fire + Ice Restaurant
• Fire + Ice Restaurant Toowoomba

• Firefly Cafe

• Firefly Cafe: Sunday Morning Breakfast

• Fitzy's On Church

• Fitzy's On Church: Easter Saturday
• Fitzy's On Church at Fitzy's Fibber Magee Irish Pub

• Gip's Restaurant

• Celebration Dinner at Gip's Restaurant

• Gladstone Hotel

• Dinner at the Gladstone Hotel

• Gordy's Cafe Deli

• Gordy's Cafe Deli at the Ridge Shopping Centre

• Highfields Tavern

• Dinner at Highfields Tavern

• Highland Fling Steak and Seafood Restaurant

• April Fool: Long-Time-No-See Dinner
• The Highland Fling Steak & Seafood Restaurant Toowoomba
• Highland Fling: Sunday Morning Breakfast

• Hog's Breath Cafe

• Hog's Breath Cafe: Just Food and Beverages
• Hog's Breath Cafe: Celebrating 20 Years of Hog'spitality
• Hog's Breath Cafe Toowoomba

• Intersection Restaurant at James Street Motor Inn Motel

• Intersection Restaurant at James Street Motor Inn Motel

• Metro Cafe & Events

• Brunch at Metro Cafe

• Park House Cafe Restaurant

• Park House Cafe Restaurant Toowoomba

• Phat Burgers

• Phat Burgers aka Phatburgers

• Picnic Point Cafe & Restaurant

• Picnic Point: Tommy Hilfigirls Outing
• Picnic Point Restaurant Toowoomba

• Platform 9

• Platform 9: Pre-Valentine's Day Celebration

• Preston Peak Cellar Door &Cafe

• Saturday Morning at Preston Peak Cellar Door and Cafe
• Sunday Morning: Preston Peak Cellar Door & Cafe (I)
• Preston Peak Wines: Cellar Door and Cafe
• Preston Peak Wines

• Shingle Inn

• Breakfast-Turned-Brunch at Shingle Inn

• Sizzler

• My 20-ish Birthday Celebration at the Sizzler
• Catch-Up Dinner at the Sizzler
• The Sizzler: Re-Opened After Renovations
• Sizzler's Signature Seafood Salads
• Sizzler: My Mother's Birthday In Australia

• Sports Club Toowoomba

• Toowoomba Sports Club: Chop Goh Meh Celebration Dinner

• Spotted Cow

• The Spotted Cow: Kitt's Farewell Dinner
• The Spotted Cow: Christmas Reunion Dinner 2009
• The Spotted Cow Toowoomba

• sSs BBQ Barns Steakhouse

• sSs BBQ Barns Steakhouse Toowoomba

• Weis Restaurant

• Sunday Night: Weis Seafood Smorgasbord
• Weis Restaurant Toowoomba: Seafood Smorgasbord

• Zarraffa's Coffee

• Good Memories: Zarraffa's Coffee
• Zarraffa's Coffee: Sit Down and Relax

Fast Food

• Eagle Boys Pizza

• Eagle Boy's Zest Lemon Prawn Pizza

• Nando's

• Nando's at Kmart Plaza: Extra HOT Meals

• Noodle Bento

• Noodle Bento for Tonight

• Pizza Hut

• Pizza Hut: All You Can Eat
• All You Can Eat Buffet Lunch at Pizza Hut Toowoomba

Bon Voyage, My Dear Girls

Bon voyage is a French phrase borrowed into English meaning, literally, "good journey", and usually translated as meaning "have a good trip". It was a line suggested by Kitt (if I'm not mistaken), and I just shamelessly stole the explanation from Wikipedia =x Anyway, it doesn't really matter as the main point of my post today is about farewelling our dearest girlfriends, Bev and Shaine. We secretly started our SFP "Surprise Farewell Party" mission on the 1st of October. In between, we did put in a lot of efforts and lied a lot too, for the sake of the surprise party (I do hope they were really surprised). Once again, thanks everyone for making it happen, also thanks my boi for fetching us here and there to buy the ingredients and everything needed for the farewell party.

Expand this post ↓↓

Saturday Night: A Good Good Night

My boi and I only club like once in a blue moon. It could probably be 2 to 3 times a year or maybe lesser or even none at all. Speaking of which, what's so different between the night clubs in Malaysia and those we have here in Australia? When I was back in Malaysia, the word "clubbing" always remind me of going to a place with lots of smokers around, and I always ended up coming home with terribly stinky hair (even after washed for a couple of times). I'm sure you ladies understand what I'm saying here. But here, we get to enjoy clubbing in a smoke-free environment, that means no hair-wash required plus extra time in bed!

Expand this post ↓↓

Hervey Bay: Home Cooked Seafood Dinner

It was my first time preparing and cooking such a big meal in a resort hotel that night, the night when we visited Hervey Bay, which also happened to be our first! Yeah, we seemed to experience a lot of first times on this trip! *giggles* From the groceries stores, we've bought half a dozen of freshly frozen crabs, a kilo of prawns, few packs of instant noodles, and some broccoli. It's pretty amazing how we cooked this meal with only limited ingredients and seasoning like sugar, tomato sauce, chilli sauce, garlic, butter, and beer.
Expand this post ↓↓

Farewell Potluck

My boi and I have prepared three plates of Braised Chicken Wings tonight and invited some friends over to share the taste of our home-cook dishes. Still remember the first time (about half a year ago) we had potluck together, my boi and I also prepared the same dish and Bev happened to like it very very much. Without telling you the reason, I bet you can pretty much guess why I made this dish again, can't you? My dear friends, thank you all for showing up and for all the special dishes you've made tonight.

Expand this post ↓↓

Mantra On Salt Beach Kingcliff

Mantra On Salt Beach Kingcliff is a horizontally built resort located in the Tweed River Valley, on the north coast of New South Wales. We checked ourselves in at 2 something that afternoon, after two hours drive from Sunnybank. Who knows, we had to go through "nine bends eighteen curves" (九曲十八弯) only to get to our room (the pathway was really long, very very long, and our room was like a few blocks away from the lobby) to unload our luggage.

Expand this post ↓↓