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Archive for the ‘travel’ Category

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Bus culture … I just don’t get it

In Sydney, travel on February 3, 2013 at 9:26 pm

I’ve never really done the public transport commute to work so the last four weeks has been an eye opener.

Yes, I caught the train to and from school but, frankly, travelling in a pack as a schoolgirl doesn’t really count, surely. It was just a jolly break between school and avoiding homework.

But now I am riding the Daily Fun Bus … that’s the 428 in to the city and the Mighty 412 out again.

Clearly everybody hates riding the bus. Eyes front, shy away from whoever’s sitting next to you … MUST. NOT. TOUCH. Earphones in. Ignore IGNORE.

Have you ever got on a full bus and been the only one facing backwards? The waves of misery that come off your fellow travellers is astonishing.

It got too much for me one week, especially after the Mighty 412 turned into the Twitchy Bus one Thursday afternoon. The guy in front of me was clinging on and looking out of the window like he was expecting a meteor to land on us, and the old guy across the aisle was drooling. And they were the sane ones.

So the next day I said, that’s it, I’m driving in. And then I forked out $75 for parking for the day.

Back to the bus. Lighten up, people.


JOB!!!

In about me, media, Sydney, travel on December 3, 2012 at 8:54 pm

I have been sitting on this for a week, but today I signed the actual contract so here goes.

As of January 7, 2013, I am a Journalist/Writer with the Medical Journal of Australia.

Yay!!!

The job’s in Sydney so I am now spending a lot of time on planes trying to find somewhere to live. If anyone knows of a 2-bedroom unit in a cat-friendly block, with onsite parking for under $500 a week … WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING???

*grins*

Anyway, the next several weeks are going to be mad hectic, so forgive the sporadic appearances here.

I HAVE A JOB!!!!!

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New Thai restaurant … The Terrace

In food, Gold Coast, travel on November 11, 2012 at 1:18 pm

Thai food lovers on the north end of the Gold Coast have been pretty much out of luck of late. My local shopping centre churns through restaurants like they were paper cups.

A new one has opened up just recently … The Terrace … and I gave it a whirl last night.

Calamari ring … deep fried, served with turmeric mayonnaise … $8.90

I feared for the calamari when my first bite met a little resistance, but things improved markedly from there.

Have to say the mayonnaise was the best part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetable spring rolls served with sweet chilli sauce … $7.90 for 4

The spring rolls were bog-standard with most of the kick coming from the sauce.

Crispy wrappings were a little thick. More Chiko than spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken massaman curry … $16.90

Easily the best dish of the night … creamy, spicy, plenty of the trademark potato, very tasty. also available in vegetarian, beef, fish, calamari, prawn and duck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetarian drunken noodles … $14.90

A little bland but otherwise solid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there you go. I will give it another go as there are some options on the menu that look interesting and well worth a nibble.

6.5 out of 10, but early days.

The Terrace is at Oxley Circle on Lae Drive at Runaway Bay … 07 55292666 … and there’s a 10% discount for cash.

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What to eat, what to eat

In about me, food, travel on November 10, 2012 at 5:14 pm

What’s that old saying? Starve a cold, feed a fever? Well, this started as a cold, had a brief fever and is now just a phlegm factory and lung strangler, so what to do, what to do.

I didn’t get this body beautiful by holding back on the tooth, so eating it is.

Part of me wants pizza, part of me wants something juicy and comforting, like chinese or buckets of pasta. Oh, the dilemma.

Eggs benedict sounds good today.

Speaking of which, I can heartily recommend PJ O’Brien’s at Terminal 3 of Melbourne Airport. I was there early on Wednesday and had their eggs benedict and a cranberry juice. Twas most excellent. Lashings of Hollandaise, perfectly poached eggs, quality leg ham and toasted English muffins underneath. For under $10.

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Goodbye Novotel on Collins … a bad start to a terrific day

In food, travel on November 4, 2012 at 11:13 am

Things did not improve at the Novotel on Collins, ladies and gentlemen. No as-advertised couch, one chair for two adults, we had to beg for a table on which to eat our food. Has to be said the food at dinner was very very good, so that’s a point regained. But the thermostat in the room was buggered and the next morning our hot breakfasts were stone-cold. And you could bounce the poached eggs.

BUT.

Things improved, gentle reader, things definitely improved.

Dinner was late, but exquisite. The venue was PM24 on Russell Street and yes, the chef was in … Philippe Mouchel himself, patrolling the pass. Fabulous.

I had gnocchi and the pictured scallops which popped in my mouth before melting on my tongue. My dinner companion had the most divine jerusalem artichoke soufflé and the cauliflower gratin was to die for. Desserts were crepes and for me, the blood orange soufflé … Bloody fantastic. Topped off by Chef signing his book for us. And then a cab pulled up almost as soon as we stepped out of the door.

Perfect. P.E.R.F.E.C.T.

Yay!


The weirdest little hotel room in town

In fail, funny, travel on November 2, 2012 at 4:24 pm

All hotel rooms are not created equal, ladies and gentlemen. Even when they cost the same, and are described the same.

My King room at the Novotel on Collins in Melbourne promised a couch and an ottoman. And floor to ceiling glass.

Neither of those things have eventuated, however. It is in fact one of those bizarre corner rooms wedged between the rest of the floor and the pool/spa. A weird space, too big for a broom closet and too oddly shaped to be what a King room should be.

But I can forgive all because of the most bizarre lampshade in the history of the world. What is that about??

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See these rocks?

In about me, oxygen thieves, travel on October 22, 2012 at 9:29 pm

These rocks hate me.

They are on one of my very favourite beaches, down in the Broken Head Nature Reserve. But last Tuesday, these rocks were not my friend.

Base over apex, arse over tit … put it how you like, but I went backwards down the rocks into a pool. Awesome.

Scrapes and bruises were the sum of it … had a CT scan and a an x-ray or two to make sure, but damn I’m a walking bruise.


Paris

In great photos, travel on May 12, 2012 at 12:28 am

My second favourite city.

Impeccable Sauce.

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