It's amazing how pervasive food is. Every second commercial is for food. Every second TV episode takes place around a meal. In the city, you can't go ten feet without seeing or smelling a restaurant. There are 20 foot high hamburgers up on billboards. I am acutely aware of food, and its omnipresence is astounding.

- Adam Scott, The Monkey Chow Diaries, June 2006

Finally touched down at the City of … No Lights. Like literally, as my plane was crossing over the South China Sea towards Borneo at around 8 pm, I was absolutely astonished by the darkness ahead. The land looked just as dark as the sea, with only clusters of light embellishing the land occasionally, like clusters of fireflies in a dark, dense forest in the middle of the night. I have never flown on a night flight to Brunei and never have I, until that day seen a city that deprived of lights from a bird’s eye view from above the skies. Well, I am surprised that I felt surprised by the sight. After all, Brunei is a country that has 70 percent of its territory covered with rainforest. But with all said, I do feel absolutely relieved to be home, at last. This 6 months’ period of ‘hideout’ in Perth has been the longest break that I’ve taken to be away from home.



Enough said about Brunei. Perth’s been absolutely amazing despite what everyone has said previously. Whenever I mention Perth, the all too common response would be:

“Why Perth????” with the utmost emphasis on the word ‘why’. It sounded more like “Waaaaaaaiiiiii Perth??” with a look of disbelief mixed with a tinge of disappointment. Then the conversation would draw on and on with the familiar content of “what is there in Perth?? Perth is so boring with so little people. So uninteresting.” “Is there even a city in Perth?” I don’t blame them. At first sight, Perth is very much super toned down. The pace of life is so slow, so laidback, nobody wants to work a hard core city life there- It’s very much like Brunei; it isn’t a place that you would fall in love with at first sight, but with the right people around, it grows on you, and before you know it, it settles itself in this special little corner of your heart. ;)



If there’s one thing Perth is quite good for, it’s their food. They say cities like Sydney and Melbourne’s got greater food, and I don’t deny it, because food in Melbourne really was pretty mind-blowing, but while at Perth, there are some eateries that I frequent which ultimately contributed to the 5 kilos that I gained while staying in Australia.





A Cop-The-Lot burger from Fast Eddy's at Carousel in Perth. According to the menu, Fast Eddy's boasts to serve the best burgers in town and this burger was pretty mind-blowing. It's got NACHOS in it. NACHOS IN BURGER. just thinking about it is getting me so excited! according to a friend, Fast Eddy's also serve the best milkshake in Perth. I am a pretty huge fan of mcD's milkshakes so naturally, i wanted to try any milkshake that is rumored to be able to beat mcD's. but time wasn't on my side, and i had to miss Fast Eddy's milkshake. :(





Spaghetti Marinara from Ciao Italia's at South Perth.



Calamari Rings from Ciao Italia's at South Perth.

Ciao Italia's is like a legend of Perth. If you've never stepped into Ciao Italia, then don't say you've been eating in Perth. Any 'Perth-ian' that you know will definitely bring you to Ciao Italia's regardless of their personal preference of the food in Ciao Italia. For me, the food was pretty good, the Italian servers however were superb. They are so friendly that they make you feel just right at home. funny people they are. They also serve pretty good desserts, not the best in my opinion, but definitely something to look at.


Then this little lady (no longer so) strutted her stuff and made her way to the great city of Melbourne.




Here's a tagliatelle in squid ink from some german restaurant on the streets of Melbourne. The ambience was quite cozy. Food so- so, i only liked this dish. It happened to be one of my favourite dish in Melbourne.




Melbourne's infested with little cafes and cozy restaurants. This is a city where i established and cultivated a new found passion for breakfast and eggs Benedict. i love Eggs Benedict, and that above is one my favourite in a little place called St. Ali's. It was to die for. oh, what i would do to just be there once more to have just one more taste! see those perfect eggs sitting atop of the bacon? they look like... baby's nutsacks. sorry peeps, but they really do. even the name of the dish was kinky - "My Mexican Cousin". Even the guacamole at the side was delicious, all-oh-avocado goodness.