It’s been 7 years since I last went to Caversham Wildlife Park and it has changed so much, in a good way! It’s alot more organised and picturesque, but my only complaint is the hard to follow park maps they provided at admission. The park is about an hours drive fro Perth city centre into the Whiteman park district of Swan Valley.

If you’re not driving, you can book day tours through the Perth Information Centre as well, which I’m sure will include other destinations in Swan Valley. It was close to summer when I was there, so it was stinking hot and the flies were persistent. Very very annoying. You’d keep on brushing the pesky flies off, but after the 115th time, you’d give up and let them crawl around your face like you were a dead carcass.

The park is great for kids and family picnics and the best place to get up close with the Australian wildlife like the Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and koalas.

The Kangaroo enclosure, to me is the coolest part of the park, because you are walking amongst them while they chill on the grass or hop around. You can get kangaroo feed and let them eat it off your hands as well. Look around carefully and you might just see little joey poking his head out of mummy’s pocket!

And do check out the gift shop on the way out, quite a few interesting hats to choose from there. Even the good ol cork hat to chase away the flies.

Caversham Wildlife Park
Website: www.cavershamwildlife.com.au/
Address: Whiteman Park, Whiteman 6068
Tel: (08) 9248 1985
Opening hours: 9am – 5:30pm everyday except Christmas (Last entry into the park 4:30pm)
Ticket price: A$22 (Adult) A$8 (Child 3-14yrs)

You said you’d follow me into the dark…

So I’ve heard about the infamous chicken rice at Newton, but it was only last november when I tried it. Jim is a visiting brit so it was mandatory to have chicken rice checked off his must do list, I almost believe it’s our national dish! Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomach, and ordered far more than we could handle for 6 of us.

My advice is to go with more people, so you all can have a taste of these must try dishes:
- Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Marmite pork ribs
- salad yiu tiao
- baby kailan with garlic
- fish head curry
- char siew, siew yok (roast pork)

Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice Restaurant
Address: 275 Thomson Road, #01-05 Novena Ville
Tel: +65 6255 6396
Opening hours: Daily 10.30am – 2am

It seems like gourmet burger joints are popping up everywhere. Definitely trending. Jono insisted I try this new place called Jus Burgers in Leederville Perth when I was there last November.

What I liked about this place was their emphasis on using local produce and the transparency of cooking methods, ingredients and suppliers used. At least you know what exactly you’re eating and where it comes from. Very much like the philosophy Jamie Oliver tried to preach in “Jamie’s Kitchen“, knowing the source of your ingredients.

Below is a list of suppliers and companies that are likely to be used at the time of writing:
Meat/small goods Mondos, Ryan’s meats, Mt.Barker chicken, Princi, Mahogany Creek Bread Turkish bakery Fruit & Veg Morley Growers, Supa Spud Fish Festival fish Dry Goods Angry Almond, European foods, Eustralis, Ladle and Table, The Grocer, Pisconeri, Sealanes, Centra

I also like the honest story about how Jus Burgers came about and who were the people behind it all. You can read about it HERE.

Here’s a sample of their menu:

Jus Burgers use Turkish buns; fresh white or wholemeal, gluten free bun available. All burgers served with fresh lettuce, beef tomato, Spanish onion, relish & house made aioli

For special dietary advice, please refer to our board, or speak with Chef on the pass or our till bitch. Thanks

Original Beef Recommended with creamed horseradish or balsamic onions (+ $1) $10
Cheeseburger Blue, swiss or cheddar cheese, recommended with mushroom (+ $1) $12
Pommy Burger Cheddar & back bacon $13
Spanish Snag Chorizo sausage & sweet red peppers $14
The Mullet Bacon, beetroot, cheddar cheese, & free-range egg $14
Wagyu Beef 100% wagyu beef, wasabi mayo $14
The Guvnor 270g burger, recommended with foie gras/duck liver, France (+ $6) $15

Jus Burgers Leederville
743 Newcastle St
Leederville, Perth WA 6007
Phone: 08 9228 2230

Jus Burgers Subiaco
1 Rokeby Rd (rear), Corner Roberts & Rockeby
Subiaco, Perth WA 6008
Phone: 08 9381 2093
Takeaway: 08 9381 1895

Website: http://jusburgers.com.au/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jusburgers/
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10.00pm (Tuesday to Saturday)
12.00pm – 9.00pm (Sunday)
Closed on Monday

No trip to the city is complete without a sit down coffee at the Merchant Tea & Coffee House.

Also bought a bag of my favourite beans to have at home:
The Merchant Espresso Blend – A medium – dark roast that is full bodied with an earthy aroma and a smooth lingering finish.

Merchant Tea & Coffee House
Address: 183 Murray Street Mall, Perth, Western Australia 6100.
Phone: +61 8 9221 1323
Website: http://www.themerchant.com.au/

I’m not a fan of lollies, but we were walking around the city decided to go in to show D the live demonstration at the store. My favourite designs were the moustache for movember and the skull & crossbones one for halloween!

Went on their website, and found the page where you can design your own candy!

Roc Candy
Shop 34/36 Piccadilly Arcade
700 Hay St
Perth WA 6000
Australia

Ph: +61 (0)8 9324 3060
Mob: +61 (0)414 519 211
Fax: +61 (0)8 9443 8346
Web: roccandy.com.au

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, but I know Daddy chose my name.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Watching ‘Constant Gardener’ on DVD
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No, it looks childish.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? What is a lunch meat? Hmmm if it’s just meat you’re asking about,Turkey?
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No
Read more…

In a little corner of Millpoint road sits my FAVOURITE Italian restaurant in Perth. Ciao Italia was opened in by chef Spartaco Rotella, who is more often now front of house rather than in the kitchen. I have not tasted ANY spaghetti cabonara or marinara as good as the one from here and I challenge ANYONE to recommend me a better cabonara!

I used to live on Millpoint, so it wasn’t too far of a journey for me. Ciao Italia doesn’t take reservations and is packed everyday from the minute doors open. Every time I go there, it’s at least a 15min wait. What you could do is open your bottle of wine and have a drink outside while you wait. When you do finally do get your name called, you will have to meander through a labyrinth of chairs to get to your seat.

Even though they are so busy, service is never compromised. Staff are quick to take your orders and even with a full restaurant, food is served fairly quickly. In all Italian style, restaurant is bursting with energy, vibe is lively and loud but cozy at the same time. Birthdays are a daily occurrence. At least twice in a night you will find the whole restaurant and staff piping to the happy birthday tune played on the sound system.

Mains are around $18.50-$27.50 and desserts from $5.50-$8.50. Portions are HUGE so I’d recommend sharing or doggie-bagging the left overs. If you have an impatient stomach, take away option is available and still highly recommended. The reheated pastas taste different, but just as amazing!

It’s been at least a year since my last visit, and it’s nice to know Spartaco still remembers his loyal customers.

My Recommendations (All prices include GST)

• Spaghetti Marinara (Combination of marinated seafood in a fresh tomato sauce) A$19.50
• Spaghetti Carbonara (Bacon, egg and cream cheese sauce) – A$18.50
• Ravioli Carbonara (Ricotta and spinach pillows of pasta) – A$18.50 – This one is a special request. I always get weird looks from the waiter when I ask for this combination
• Homemade garlic bread – A$4.50
• Tiramisu (A homemade Italian delight consisting of layers of sponge finger biscuits soaked in coffee, liqueur and mascarpone cheese topped with fresh double cream) – A$7.50
• Wood fired Pizza Siciliana (Whole peeled tomato sauce, Mozzarella cheese, mild italian sausage, bacon, black olives, Ricotta cheese and mushrooms) – A$21

Ciao Italia
Website: http://www.ciaoitalia.com.au/
Address: 273 Mill Point Rd, South Perth 6151
Phone: +61 (08) 9368 5500
Licensed: Yes
Operating hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa and EFTPOS
BYO $3 corkage per bottle
Parking: Limited lots available at the back of the restaurant. Alternative parking lots across the street at the jewellery & bookstore.

We decided to go into town for a look-see, but before doing so, we took a slight detour to King’s Park for a short wander.

Kings Park is a 4.06-square-kilometre (1,003-acre) park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza.

Besides tourist facilities Kings Park contains the State War Memorial, the Royal Kings Park Tennis club and a reservoir. The streets are tree lined with individual plaques dedicated by family members to Western Australian Service men and women who died in World War I and World War II.

Credit: Wikipedia

Kings Park has hectares of natural bushland and has the best view point to see the Perth City skyline. It was a great chance to try out more HDR shots with my camera. These two are my favourite ones.

It was Saturday morning, and the lawns were scattered with families having picnics, kids playing footy and friends sitting by eskies having ice cold beers and wine. The walking tracks and cycleways were busy with visitors taking photos and admiring weird bush plants like the indigenous Kangaroo paw and Xanthorrhoea aka black boy.

It was at this point I realised how much I missed Perth, and the lifestyle this country could offer. I too wanted to have this laid back lifestyle, I too wanted to be home by 6 everyday, I too wanted to be sitting on the lawn on saturday morning with a sandwich in hand.

This never happens in Singapore. Perhaps one day I’ll have the guts to move somewhere where I could. Someday.

The minute my parents told me they were selling the Perth apartment, I quickly booked myself a ticket in November for a week. My friend Duncan hadn’t been to Perth before, so it was a perfect opportunity to show him around. It worked out well for me too because that meant I could do mini-road trips (because I could never do it alone, far too dangerous for a girl to be travelling by herself).

Perth was always my escape and sanctuary, so it was bitter sweet going back there this time round.

First full day in Perth was absolutely beautiful. November is around the time summer rolls in so it was the perfect time to be there. Bottom left is a picture taken from the apartment balcony, look at how all the colours just pop! Almost looks DI-ed.

Duncan said he could cook pretty well, so the only way to test him is to ask him to poach eggs for breakfast. Check out the result above!

Now that’s a brilliant way to start the holiday! Nom nom…

I don’t like using the words “Best Friend” lightly when it comes to describing my friendships.

To date, I’ve only called 3 people my Best friend: My mum, sister and Wayne.

Wayne was and is still my best friend. Though we have broken up, there will always be a special place in my heart for him. I could talk to him days on end about anything and everything under the sun.

Then there are good friends. These are the people in my A-Team, like the Danlis, Nattles, Kimmys (Ma Girlfriends) and Jons (whom I call my best mate just coz he’s aussie).

Speaking of Jon, the last trip down to Perth was extra fabulous because I got to spend a good chunk of quality time with him.

In the past 7 years, we’ve both been through lots of life’s trials and tribulations together, and he has definitely proved his loyalty as a friend. Mate, if you were a girl, you’d definitely be one of my bridesmaids!

He is coming up sometime in April and I just can’t wait to party on up with him.

Do you have a Best friend hierarchy as well?

When I was studying in Perth, I would drive down to the farmers market at Subiaco every weekend to do my weekly grocery run. I just loved walking through lanes and lanes of fresh produce, planning my meals for the week. It just has a different vibe to the wet markets here in Singapore, I don’t know what it is. It’s just different.

Most common items in my basket would be:
- a punnet of strawberries
- Courgette
- Mushrooms
- Avocado
- Cherry tomatoes
- Grapes

When I went back last November for a holiday, I re-lived my Uni days, walking through the isles picking out vegetables and fruits for picnic baskets, dinners in and breakfast. I’m really going to miss this place.

Subiaco Markets
Station St
Subiaco WA 6008, Australia

Whenever I felt like a need to escape, or be taken away to a place for some ‘Me Time’, I would just close my eyes and let myself be transported to this very place in Perth, Australia.

One of my favourite-est places to spend some ‘Me time’ is at this cafe called Barchetta on Cottesloe Beach. It’s not fancy, nor does it have great reviews online for the food. But it does over look the Indian ocean and that just did it for me. It’s perfect for coffee and cake at Sunset with a book in hand.

I brought my DSLR on this trip, and managed to take some really awesome HDR photos. Here are my two favourite shots taken from Barchetta.

Two different sets, two different treatments.

Barchetta
149 Marine Pde, North Cottesloe
Phone: (08)9385 2411
Open: Seven days breakfast and lunch; Tuesday to Saturday dinner
Licensed: Yes
website: www.barchetta.com.au/

What if there was no light
Nothing wrong, nothing right
What if there was no time
And no reason, or rhyme
What if you should decide
That you don’t want me there by your side
That you don’t want me there in your life

What if I got it wrong
And no poem or song
Could put right what I got wrong
Or make you feel I belong

What if you should decide
That you don’t want me there by your side
That you don’t want me there in you life

Oooooooh that’s right
Let’s take a breath, jump over the side
Oooooooh that’s right
How can you know it if you don’t even try
Oooooooh that’s right

Every step that you take
Could be your biggest mistake
It could bend or it could break
But that’s the risk that you take

What if you should decide
That you don’t want me there in your life
That you don’t want me there by your side

Oooooooh thats right
Let’s take a breath, jump over the side
Oooooooh that’s right
How can you know it when you don’t even try
Oooooooh that’s right

Oooooooh thats right
Let’s take a breath, jump over the side
Oooooooh that’s right
You know that darkness always turns into light
Oooooooh that’s right

I have a habit of not finishing what I started. Been sitting on my arse on the PC examination for ages because I just haven’t got round to calling my Golf Pro Vincent to get me tested. This year, I hope to play more golf which means more time at the driving range.

Went to the range with Chris a couple of weeks to go, thinking I would embarrass myself by missing the ball completely. Thank goodness I still had my swing (even if its awful, at least the balls are going just short of 100m on a 7-iron). Goal this year is to hit 100 consistently on the 7.

Golf gloves from Stella McCartney by adidas.

Birthday morning hangovers are not fun, and the only way to recover is a P.S. Cafe brunch with my favourite eggs benedict and skinny latte. Usually that would have been the case, but I don’t know why I decided to go with something different that day. Had major food envy when I saw the eggs benedict on the table next to me.

Next time, just stick to the usual Angela!

And you know what’s one of the best presents I got this year? Watching my nephew Julian walk/run on his own. He is growing up so fast!