Sunday 9 August 2015

How I Pack for One Week Autumn Trip in One 7-kg-hand-luggage


A lot of my friends complain that Air Asia promotion fare is not as cheap as it seems because the published fare in the advertisement does not include luggage fee. However, I do love this concept of adding features only when it is needed so that I can get real cheap airfare. I never really need on board entertainment because I usually sleep all the way. I never really need on board food because I usually sleep all the way and have to specially request the air stewardess not to wake me up :) And I never need to pay Air Asia luggage fee as I always manage to pack everything into my 7kg backpack, even during my one week autumn trips, when keeping warm is necessary.

I normally wear the most heavy yet comfortable items for the flight. For example, on my recent trip to Perth, I wear a bra top with legging pants, and layer with my jeans jacket and scarf. If it gets too warm, I can always take out my jacket.



What I packed in my luggage:

For bottoms, I bring only one legging pants. 

For in-house comfort clothing, I bring one old t-shirts and shorts. 

For tops, I invested in a few pieces of Uniqlo Airism. I like the fact that this collections is cool to touch and light to pack. The fact that it is quick dry make it really suitable for backpack trip as you can wash them anytime when necessary. I always bring 3 pieces so that I can mix and match. When needed, I can wear one, wash one and dry one :) I bring also 1 over-sized t-shirt and 1 blouse to match with the Airism.
  
Just in case it gets too cold at night, I bring one short sleeve Uniqlo heattech and one long sleeve turtle neck heattech. I like the fact that it is light and sufficiently warm when layered well.


Finally, my favorite, is the Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket. It is so light and compact that I can squeeze it into one of the lens compartment in my camera backpack, which does not eat up any space of my 7kg-hand-luggage.

Friday 7 August 2015

Caversham Wildlife Park

Of course, I must show off my photo with koalas
I love Caversham Wildlife Park!

I visited Cleland Wildlife Park last year, and I thought it was great. To my delight, Caversham is even better!

First of all, you'll have chance to get up close with many iconic Australian animals including koalas, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies etc.

Secondly, the 'rangers' are very professional and friendly. They are knowledgeable and hence gave a lot of insightful tips. They also patiently answered our questions, and helped us took some group photos.

Thirdly, all the attractions (be it photo sessions or food for feeding) are inclusive in the entrance fee. No extra fee needed.

Oh, and my parents got discounted entrance fee for being over 60 years old too.

I'm sure they got a lot of visitors from Malaysia

We arrived early in the morning, right after the park was open. Based on my previous experience, normally visitors flood the koalas sanctuary. So I led everyone rushing to "Meet the Koalas" zone. To our surprise, we were the only visitors there. The ranger asked us to wait for another half an hour while he was cleaning the place. After finished his tasks, even though it was not the scheduled time yet, he happily invited us to go in to the "koalas sanctuary". Most of them were sleeping, except the youngest one was busy eating. The ranger gave very detail explanations about koalas behavior and habitat, and he answered our questions patiently. Everyone enjoy touching them, watching them eating and sleeping and totally ignore the human beings.

how many koalas can you spot?

After we finally took enough photos of the koalas, we started to explore the park. For me, this was like an educational tour as there are so many new vocabularies to learn. I'd say I don't know half of the animals here. The park was separated in a few sections that representing various parts of Australia, and most of the enclosures house more than one species so you really have to pay attention if you really wish to learn more about the animals.

Dingo

Elegant fox

So colourful

kangaroo joeys nursing area


wallabies taking shelter from rain
It started to rain when we were near the "Wombat and Friends" section so we decided to take shelter there while waiting for the session to start.

We thought "Wombat and Friends" is an animals show. However, we later found out that this is where you get close encounter with the animals. You can touch the wombat, bobtail, possum, python, owl, frog-mouth, woylie, parrots etc, or take countless photos (and without extra charges)



bobtail - I always think it looks like it is at the very beginning of evolution

The super cool Frogmouth

The owl that wouldn't stop staring

Me and the golden possum

My dad touching the snake (which I skipped).
Look at his expression, must be very suspicious
about the statement of this snake being "friendly" 

WOMBAT!!!! This is the first time I met a non-sleeping-wombat!

After the rain stop, we didn't have time for the "Farm show" but we visited "Molly's Farm". It was real fun as you can walk into the farm and feed the animals. The goats just love to chew anything that they can find, including my brother's shoelace, and the turkey was trying to chase everyone away.

Took photo with the one meditating


That shoelace must be super tasty

Territorial turkey

he is smiling at me :)


Wefie with the kangaroo :)
"Kangaroo Walk Through" was our last stop at the Caversham Wildlife Park. It is a relatively huge area where the kangaroos and wallabies can wander freely.

You can interact and feed the kangaroos and wallabies. The park provided ample free food for visitors to feed the animals.


gatal, gatal

Can you see baby joey's leg hanging out from the pouch?

Baby joey in the pouch and papa is preparing to attack anyone that comes near

OK, this one with clearer view of the pouch



See also:
Greater Perth 6D6N Itinerary
A Short Stay at Dianella

Tuesday 4 August 2015

妈妈不在家之食谱(二十三):炒粥

今天回家路上,突然收到妈妈的简讯说他们还在槟城,叫我自个儿解决晚餐。我一时也想不到回家路上有什么好吃的,反正妈妈在家冰箱从不缺食物,就回家再打算。

刚好剩一碗粥
回到家,发觉锅里有粥,突然想吃炒粥。这就炒吧!(别被我骗去了,其实说穿了没什么。以前听说Serdang以炒粥闻名,还以为是什么特别佳肴,吃了才知道原来也就是小时候吃的粥。我祖母是娘惹后裔,我们吃的粥一点儿都不清淡,全是重口味的炒粥,配料各种各样应有尽有,想吃什么就炒什么的。)





我在冰箱拿了昨天吃剩的炒肉、切了些小辣椒和蒜头、再偷一点妈妈的虾米茸(我是假娘惹,什么都爱加虾米)


把锅弄热,蒜头、小辣椒、虾米茸丢下热锅爆香。嗅到香味后把肉也丢下去炒。


然后加入白粥,大火炒之。依个人喜好适当地调味。


最后,我再从冰箱内偷了几根菜,tada~ 上桌啦~

有谷类、有肉、有菜,很健康的。

Sunday 26 July 2015

Penang Ginza Japanese Restaurant

槟城好多家日本餐厅的营业时间很短,味楽如是,銀座如是。上一回全家浩浩荡荡来到Vantage Desiran Tanjung却已经是午休时间,这回庆祝妈妈生日,怕吃闭门羹,我们早早就到槟城了。

我们一家人食量很小,再加上弟弟才吃了早餐我们就来吃午餐了,大家看着菜单再想吃也就只能点了几样尝尝而已。

爸爸无饭不欢,所以每次吃日本餐一定给他点一份饭类套餐。这回我们选择了叉烧午餐。肉非常松软,腌得入味香郁,爸爸很满意。


叉烧

我们又点了叉烧拉面,还可以选择猪油浓度。我要了个中等的,汤底creamy香浓,面也做得不错,至少对我而言这是在北马吃过最好吃的拉面咯。下次要点个特多猪油的,嘻嘻!


弟弟一如往常一定要点一客鱼卵寿司,一个dragon roll。銀座可大方了,你看,料吓得很足呢!不过他们没有dragon roll,我们点了另外一种用unagi的(忘了什么名字),我个人觉得比dragon roll好吃。

忘了这叫什么roll


既然是妈妈生日大餐,当然要点一客和牛isiyaki。这儿的和牛品质好,脂肪如网状分布均匀。在石焼上稍微烫一烫,入口即化,真的是净吃也可口。




Address: B-3-3,3A,5, Vantage, Jalan Desiran Tanjung, 10470, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 2:30 pm, 6:00 – 10:15 pm

Saturday 25 July 2015

The Voyager Estate

我们既然决定到玛格丽特河(Margaret River),当然一定要酒庄走一趟。我在网上找了好多并shortlist了几家,最后因我的老板说Voyager Estate的服务比较好,于是我预订了Voyager Estate的Estate Tour



Voyager Estate入口很堂皇,有一种进入大富之家的感觉,我们在停车场就已经开始拍照拍个不停,兴奋得很。



我们到达时间稍早,也就在酒庄内走走瞧瞧拍拍照。

Wine Tasting Room




Estate Tour总共为时一小时半。

首先,Linda带我们走到酒庄主建筑外看葡萄树。种在靠近主建筑的都是酒庄的镇山宝,大多数都是老树了。

他们还是用着一些古老的种植方式,比如说在葡萄树主干上绑着布,布质绒毛可以阻止害虫爬上树。他们也养ladybug来控制害虫数量。又比如说每一排葡萄树前都种了一棵玫瑰花,原来害虫爱玫瑰树,所以总是先攻击玫瑰,只要看见玫瑰树有什么“冬瓜豆腐”,就知道开始要抓虫除害了。



游葡萄园坐的车子
之后我们就乘车游葡萄园去。我们去看酒庄的蓄水池、去研究泥层对种葡萄的重要性、去参观地下藏酒处、去参观装瓶的机器……还有机会品尝从酒桶内取出的葡萄酒呢!











蓄水池旁的一大片葡萄树

从葡萄园远观主建筑

地底藏酒处




最后,我们再回到酒庄主建筑品尝三种白酒和三种红酒。

我们对这地方太满意了,于是决定在这儿用午餐。(其实在网上除了可以预订每人AUD35的Estate Tour,也可以预订Estate Tour+Set Menu午餐,每人AUD75。为了flexibility,在做功课时我可不敢订午餐)我们点了一瓶红酒,让服务员给我们介绍了几道,吃了一顿丰富美味的午餐。

Venison, beetroot, salt baked jerusalem artichoke, brussel sprout, pain d’épice crumb

Black angus beef fillet, celeriac and truffle purée,
wild mushrooms, roasted heirloom carrots, kipfler potato
 




吃了午餐我们到玫瑰花园逛逛,天气极佳,妈妈和阿姨都心花怒放。爸爸则找上园丁,称赞人家把花园打理得非常漂亮,然后在那儿天南地北。





我们对于酒庄的Estate Tour、餐厅的食物、花园、服务态度等都非常满意,极力推荐Voyager Estate。

以wefie画上句点

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