Friday, October 31, 2008

UFO Catcher

aka - the devil incarnate -

Australia is such a slow moving country, in terms of everything: technology, movies, games, fashion trends, hair styles, brands etc. You name it, we dont have it. Yet. Australia's also one of the 'copycat' nations. Never one to start a trend, but always one to follow it.


*Clawing for Toys*

This is yet another phenomenon that Australia has been slow to catch up with. Already hugely popular in other countries such as Japan, in which there were MANY stores only containing these awesome machines, UFO catchers are slowing moving into Australia.


*In Kabucki-cho, TOKYO holding RILLAKUMA!*


*Total prizes from JAPAN*

Previously only available in video arcardes, now, Sydney finally has a whole spot dedicated to UFO catchers, with lots of claw machines in one central spot: CAPITOL SQUARE!

Its been around for a few months now, but its only recently that everyone seems to be completely crazed by it! I know that since I've been back from Japan, I've been completely obsessed by this money making machine!! - except now, I'm completely *KAPUT*-






*Not sure what characters they are, but SO completely cute! NAKED BABIES!*

However, I havent really been winning much! =(

Everytime I tell myself NOT to go there...I GO!!

and then I tell myself NOT to change any money...and then I DO!!
and I tell myself NOT to put any money into the machine...and then I DO THAT TOOO!!

but evil is too tempting sometimes...

one BIG difference between Japan and Australia is not only that Japan is more advanced in terms of trends and technology, but the people are SO much friendlier!! No matter which UFO-catcher store we went to, the staff were really nice, and willing to help, even without us asking them!! They automatically open the machine, and place the toy in a super awesome position and even tell us exactly where to grab so we can have the toy in one or two tries.

BUT, here in Australia, the staff are not helpful AT ALL! They are not very friendly, and when asked for help, they just grumpily open the machine, and they dont even put it in a good position! Hmmpphh!! Lost lots of money! Its worse than gambling!! Even so, managed to get a few triumphs...


*Mr Banana with a handphone and briefcase! THIS IS FOR YOU JESS, MY BANANA LOVER*



Another month has passed us by...
HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN, peeps!!

=)

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Fancy a bowl of coffee?

Had breakfast at Maitre Karl today. Finally got a chance to try it, after driving past it so many times, and seeing the tons of people inside!

Its a Cafe serving French / Euro cuisine ~ really really nice interior; with dark wood, wine glasses hanging from the bar, abstract painting hanging on the walls (that you can actually buy!)

Perfect family setting!! You can even bring dogs!!
*Not that this applies to me anymore since I no longer have Handsome Rob =(
But its still a really cute idea!! Even selling dog biscuits and something called 'dog parking' which I'm not sure what it involves!*


Highligh of the day was: MY BOWL OF COFFEE!!
Yep!! a BOWL of coffee! To be specific, thats a bowl of latte!
That's their largest size coffee that you can have, dining in!

It was so big...bigger than my face!!

Just picture me on the sidewalk, with messy hair and dirty clothes....and I'm a begger from China, drinking some poor soup!

But their coffee was SOOOOOOOOO good! The milk was good, the froth was good! and it didnt lose that texture throughout the meal! Somehow, their coffee beans are really unique...not sure what they use, but its got a sweet aromatic tang to it.
Other food we ordered:

*Egg Omelette with mushrooms and bread and tomato on the side*



*Scrambled eggs with bread*

The egg was also super nice!! I normally refrain from eating scrambled eggs etc in other cafes because they always make it really milky and buttery, so the texture is sloppy. And sometimes they're not cooked properly!! and it leaves that really gross *vomitty* taste in your mouth!!

BUT, the eggs at Maitre Karl were superb!! OMG! It tasted So good. Texture was JUST right! I regretted not ordering it! =(

What I ordered:


*Toasted banana bread with fromage blanc and toasted coconut*

When i saw this on the menu, I thought it was just some fancy schmancy way of saying banana bread. I mean, fromage blanc? (wtf??) Toasted coconut? (yea...for decoration!)

But the banana bread was actually really fancy schmancy! I mean that in a GOOD way!
The banana bread was toasted just right (crusty on the outside, soft on the inside)!! It turns out that fr0mage blanc is actually white cheese (I think I'm the only person to not know this!! tsk tsk) and the toasted coconut gave the banana bread a totally different texture! It was like...eating banana bread for the first time!!




Address:
Highh St
Willoughby
NSW 2068

This is officially my fav cafe~! ♥

Monday, October 6, 2008

30DaysOfFashion

September is OVER! and so is fashion month...

I attended a few events hosted by 30-days-of-fashion! Specifically the Pandora and GLue night event! My sister booked it really really early...I think one or two months in advance..crazy huh? We missed out on it last year because we were too late in booking...and we were really really looking forward to the Breakfast@Tiffanys one where they provide you with really posh breakfast at Tiffany&Co !! AWESOME huh? yeah...too bad they didnt have it this year!! :c

Pandora Night of Discovery
@QVB flagship store


Nikki Phillips- face of 30DaysOfFashion

She was completely blinged up on the night...lucky bitch! =P
Pandora was launching its new range at the same time: Mix n Match. Hmmm, liked the concept, but didnt really like the product!

The food that night was really good though! Too bad no photos...but basically they served Champagne (Moet!!) and canapes! Big fat prawns, tiny gourmet sandwiches...mmmm yummmyy!

But best of all...FREEEBIES! =)

Tons and tons of magazines (ShopTillYouDrop, Maddison, Cosmo), freebie showbag, chocolate, VeraWang perfume and Pandora earrings!

Glue Store Night of Fun & Fashion
@Pitt Street

Hehe I actually went there WITHOUT make-up because my sister told me that they can do you make-up there for you!! I was so eager...I ♥ getting my make up done! Makes me feel like a celebrity of some sort XD I was the first in line (yay!) and the Priceline girls did my make-up for me.


*End Product*
Yeah OK so I know, its not great. I look like a tranny! But she DID ask me whether I wanted the natural look or not...and since I'm always in the natural look (i.e. mascara, eyeliner, DONE!) so I told her I wanted colourss. And she gave me COLOURRR!!! Blue AND red eye-shadow on my eyelids. LOTS of blush. LOTS of gloss.

The food they served that night....was crap!

Maybe it was just a disappointment after Pandora night...but basically, we had...sausage sizzle. Cooked by people wearing white so you feel that you're eating some sort of sophisticated gourmet food...but really, I've tasted better hotdogs. Is there even such a thing as better tasting hotdogs? I mean, how can there be different tasting hot dogs? Its a friggin sausage and breadroll!
Fashion show...
...with really non-hot models...

That's about it! We did get a shitload of freebies from the GlueNight as well, but not really worth talking about....just tons of magazines and detergent and fabric softener (wtf?) which completely leaked in the bag and destroyed my magazines...BLAH!

well...cant wait for FOOD MONTH! =)