28 Dec 2006

Today was a long trip down to Margaret River. It started out really early and I didn't get much sleep, which wasn't good when I had to drive long distance. Halfway through I was getting tired and decided to turn off hoping that there'll be a little cafe somewhere and good thing I did because the decision just led us into a small little place that looked like someone's cottage converted into a cafe and tourist pit stop. It was just really cute. The scones there, however, were to die for - fluffy, moist and soft... warmed up just right to have the butter melt right into it. I mean I haven't had many scones in my life to know what's the best, but if an English bloke can say that it reminds him of home then it's good enough for me. Once again, there's just something about the whipped/clotted cream that they use that makes it all the more delicious. Guess I was too busy stuffing my face to remember to take a pic but I'll just leave it all to your imagination.

Brendan takes the driver's seat after that little stop and my sis navigated us to the first of many stops, a lavender farm. Just enter the place and you're greeted by the colour purple. Step out of the car and it smelled like someone has just placed a bowl of potpourri under my nose. They had interesting products there, all of which had one thing or another to do with lavender. They even had lavender beer, which turned out to be a rather weird combination that my sister likes, but I personally don't. After getting what we wanted, we stopped in the carpark to have a quick bite, and this was a few hours after the scones as the drive to this place was long and tedious.

Wedding Photo?... 26 Years & 2 Kids Later...








Makeshift Lunch

Then it was down to the original Margaret River Chocolate Company and it did have a few more items than the one in Swan Valley but it was really small and crowded. Guess it wasn't built with the intention of having so many visitors or such a wide range of products. Since there wasn't much difference, we left the place rather quickly, but only after getting some instructions on a map they had displayed. Off we went to Evan & Tate, another wine company and mom started to grumble that we've already reached the customs limit on wines. Well maybe it was mom's grumbling or maybe it was the wine itself but nothing interested any of us, except for the nice photo opportunity with the vineyard in the background.

The Original Margaret River Chocolate Company

Continuing on our journey, the next place my sis wanted to show us was the venison farm she went to. My dad was eager to have a look at the deer and wished he could just hunt one of them but what's the use of hunting deer in a farm? Anyway, we were greeted by someone's dog and it looked as though it's been working there a long time, leading you towards the door. We got in and it smelled like beef roasting at home during Christmas but all you see was things made with deer pelt or antlers. Then onlu after the tour group dispersed did I get a glimpse of the deli section where they displayed their consumable products. They gladly gave you portions of salami to taste and would offer you some cheese and crackers to go with it. That just sold me and I almost bought the whole store.... I mean I wouldn't know what to do with antlers anyway.

Dad Wondering If Lemons Would Go Good With The Venison

After stuffing the car with venison, I wanted to check out the cheese company that was on the map and while navigating to that, we ended up at a brewery that wasn't listed on the map. So in we went and we tested the beers they brewed, along with some pork rinds. I badly needed ome coffee and had to get a Cafe Vienna with a nice serving of cream... I'm either was going to have stomach problems or I was gonna get fat. Either way I didn't care, just as long as it was yummy. I also ordered a basket of wedges but it took so long we had to bag it and head onto our intended destination, the Margaret River Cheese Company. Apparently the one we got to was just the little shed they had for tasting and basically sold their products. It would have been nice to have been able to check out the whole cheese-making process but we were in a little rush to make it to the ice-cream factory before it closed for the day. Why do shops here close so damn early?

Something About The Whipped Cream




I Spy... Something Green,....

Getting Close....

After about 10 million rounds around the same place, I finally decide to take a road that didn't seem right and it got us to Simmo's Ice-Creamery. For all the effort it took in finding the place, it sure disappointed me when i didn't even get to see one bit of the ice-cream making process. It didn't even look like it had a cold kitchen. Anyway, what else can you do there other than get though the crowd and then get a cone to enjoy. It was nice that they had such a beautiful outdoor area to enjoy your ice-cream and I would've loved to play mini-golf but the kids were hogging it. Anyway, finished up our cones and we headed back to Perth, stopping at some place with a really long jetty along the way to stretch our legs and head to the loo before we continued on the long drive back. Good thing Brendan was doing the driving most of the day as that gave me some time to nap in the car and keep me well rested for the next day's schedule.

Nice Way To Cool Off






Drop Your Cone & Boo Hoo For You!


Cute Lil Girl Please Don't Get Swept Away

27 Dec 2006

We started off at Sandalford Wines, once again, to let my parents have a go at the wines they offer. Thank goodness my parents know enough to know what they like, but Brendan just gulped them down like water. After choosing the wines and accessories they liked, we were on the road again.

With All Our Purchases....

Next stop, The Margaret River Chocolate Company in Swan Valley. The last time I came here, we had a time limit and basically all I got to do was look around and choose the items I'd like to purchase. This time, the only time limit was the time everything else in WA was gonna close, so we had time to indulge in some of the cafe's yummy offerings. We all got sandwiches and some dessert, I mean who can resist a chocolate dessert when you're in a chocolate factory? Well other than my mom, she's the cheesecake nut who decided to try one of their cheesecakes instead. The sandwich was rather normal, something like what we have back home, but then they do use better ham. The one thing that made the difference was actually the relish that accompanied the sandwich. We each got different relishes and, the good thing is, that allowed us to sample their relish, which made me decide to get some. After the really nice lunch and buying half the store, it was back into the car, on a search for animals.

Death By Chocolate?


Cheesecake @ A Chocolate Company? That's Mom For You

The search leads us to Caversham Wildlife Park where we had to keep dad away from any weapons. Every kangaroo and deer he saw was potential hunting prey and that wouldn't sound good to anyone in a conservation park. Brendan really got up-close and personal, maybe a little too personal, with the kangaroos. Would have been funny if one of them decided to do the same to him after and chased him around, but alas it didn't happen. Mom and dad got their chance to feed the kangaroos and whatever would eat out of their hands. They also got to take a pic with another fat wombat, but they didn't get to carry her. I guess she was either not used to people or she's just really aggressive, unlike the one I held that just was a lump all the way. We get to the "farm" area of the park and got to see awhole load of really cute bunnies and guinea pigs. One little fella that caught our eye was a black bunny that had only one ear. It was so quiet, tiny and shy and I wished I could bring it home. Wonder what actually happened to it's ear though. Either way, it's adorable. With no limit on the time we spend in the place, nor having no guide to follow, we entered a section of the "farm" that held the sheep, goats and some really funky chickens. There were even eggs in a troth and I wonder if they would hatch into more funky chickens or just be fed to someone later. Anyhoo.... once I got in, the first thing that happened was a goat that came up and greedily nibbled at my skirt, attempting to swallow the hole thing but that would just kill the bugger. It didn't give up too easily and only did so after following me for a few more bits. Then just as the keeper came in, all of them just started making a whole load of noise, following him like the rats did the pied piper. It was one funny scene that got everyone's attention.

Looks Dead But Isn't... Thank Goodness..


Trying To Nibble At My Skirt...




New Exhibit or Potential Ranger?


Possibly Potential Ranger...


Black Bunny a.k.a. Lil Van Gogh


Seriously Is My Skirt THAT Tasty?




Definitely New Exhibit




Zoom In & All U See Is It's Teeth

After A Day Out Wearing Slippers...

26 Dec 2006

We managed to get a car the today, a Hyundai Tuscon, and the first task was to drive Aunty Nene back home after she stayed the night. At the same time, we got mom and dad's stuff as they were staying over at her place for the night. We left mom at Aunty Nene's and dad followed us to Yanchep to pick up my sis's toy boy, Brenden. Thank goodness the beach was nice as the drive there definitely wasn't. It was almost 2 hours away from the city and it was really boring with all u see being trees on both sides of the road. Good thing that they have the sense to keep the speed limit to 100 and over... I think we'd all fall asleep at the wheel and die if it wasn't. It was the first time I'm meeting Brendan, while it was the first time for dad and I meeting his brother, Charlie and, sorta-sis-in-law, Wai Ling. We spent some time there, dunking ourselves in the freakin' cold waters while the sun burnt us from above. After a while in the water, my eyes got tired and I got hungry so my dad told me to sit it out before I got too tired to drive. We then headed to the little shack to get my stomach filled and what do u get but fish & chips. The one thing that Singapore doesn't offer with that dish is chicken salt. It makes quite a difference to the whole taste and with the malt vinegar... all I can say is..NUMMY!

Once we all were satisfied with being baked or filled our stomachs, we had to drive to Charlie's place to get the rest of Brendan's stuff. Once we get there, I was contemplating staying in the safety of the car and risk getting roasted, or step into the house and risk getting some weird undiscovered disease. Since everyone went in, I followed and discovered Wai Ling's underwear strewn on the chair and wondered where I should sit when they told me to take one. I ended up sitting on the couch that needed upholstering but was more afraid that it would just give way under my weight. Brendan sure took his time to get his things cos I didn't know what to say to Wai Ling when everything from her was plain pessimism. Bleh...

Dropped off dad and it was back home for a good rest as we had planned a trip to Swan Valley the next day.

25 Dec 2006

Leaving for the airport on Christmas eve felt really weird, and actually flying off on Christmas day itself felt even stranger. With the loss of my flying partner due to medical reasons, it felt really lonely too. So when one is alone and feeling weird, what else is there to do but sit back, relax and just snap pics while you wait for the flight to be called while enjoying 2 cups of iced tea.

 

One Down... One To Go 

Once again it was the flight at 1am and I got supper and breakfast, and once again having the seafood meal option. Tried sleeping but ended up really tired just as breakfast was served. Great thing was that I got a whole load of movies to choose from, but bad thing was I've watched most of them. So I ended up choosing some weird ones I know I won't catch in the cinema or rent the DVD. Once breakfast was served, everyone started checking out the sunrise and the beautiful colours the sky was displaying. Sadly it occured on one side of the plane and once the sun was up, everything was just white an cloudy on my side. The one difference on this flight was I got to see more of Australia than I usually had. So while taking pics of the land below, I caught sight of a little (from the height I was at) area that was burning away.

 

 

 
Fire Fire Burn So High...

Got into a cab after clearing customs and was on my way to my sister's new apartment. Once there, I was greeted by her in her PJs, grumbling that it was really cold. When I got to the apartment, she flops down on the bed and I turn to see my parents still sleeping in the room. Nice! Once I get settled, mom & I started preparing the food for my first Aussie Xmas BBQ while dad & sis went to clean the pit. In the middle of it all, grandaunt Nene found the apartment and was given a little tour before we headed down to start the little party. It was supposed to be for 7 people but with one back in Singapore and another who decided his friends were more fun, we ended up with a party of 5. Well more food for me then.

 

 
Do The Egyptian... 

 

 

 

 

 
Putting Landscape To Good Use.