I hit a new low today.

So this morning doing my morning ritual, i was thinking about my poor or in this case 'lack of' nutritious substantial meals this past month and how it has affected me, the only quantitative method to find out was my weight. 54kg's the number was, if i can recall correctly my weight was just reaching 57kg's last time i checked. That is a loss of almost three whole kilo's in a month! I don't know if i am losing my non existing fat or my muscles. Whatever, it does not matter, i don't ever and i mean ever recall having a weight lower than 55kg's in the last 5 years. It goes up and down between 55-57 and so if anyone does ask for my weight i just say 55 but ... damn 54kg's must be a new record. I wonder if i can still bench 60? lol!

That said I'm glad that a certain someone seems to be doing a lot better than i am, i envy that person (from what i can gather), going out practically every night, returning late at night despite the 9am start, having such loyal friends around, eating at new and adventurous places, a new social group to hang with and not to forget the new found relationship. I wish i could just move on like that, that or at lest not waste myself down to nothing.

I bought a Snickers bar yesterday, left it in my bag and only ate it today. I won a free bar! Maybe everything else in my life will turn for the better.Last minute plans at uni was to go watch the new movie Ironman 2. So keen, but considering it is such a big movie and it only just came out any popular cinema would of been booked out. So what about Beverly Hills! New and in the middle of nowhere, perfect. Yeh plan was to go to the "Lulu's" restaurant for dinner and watch the 8pm session, everything was planned. Even though i had to go to Bankstown to check out the tombstones for my grandparents, i would of gone after to watch it with my mates. Yeh..... It didn't happen, they didn't even end up going. I was looking forward to it. Now i hate using internet slang but.... Fail..

So after checking out the tombstones making sure all the characters to be engraved are correct me and my family went down to "Sunny's Seafood Restaurant" in Bevo. Thursday night it was pretty damn busy for a weeknight. Oh and it was 50% off crab tonight!! Woah crap how come we didn't know about this earlier, as opposed to the regular market price of $36 per 1/2kg it was just $18 per half kg!! So of course the crab was a must with the e-noodles underneath of course.
Crab cooked with ginger and shallots and a base of e-noodles(my fav)We ended up getting 2 crabs one small one and one big ones (1.5kgs). Now my dad is always nitpicky to the point where it gets highly annoying, this time it was no different he insisted he had to personally chose the crabs himself. Well today it worked out for the better these crabs where so full of meat! It was great, and don't forget the noodles, cooked with the right amount of moisture making it not too sloppy and wet. I notice some places when they make this dish they stirfry the noodles with too much starch and water resulting in an almost soup when you get near finishing the dish but today was great, none of that horrible starch soup.The quail, now i am made to believe this is a Chinese delicacy, i think that is just rubbish. We are made to believe that they slowly roast the quail until it is perfect. I know better, they chuck it in the deep fryer without the batter, how else do they manage to get it out to us so quickly. Anyway this quail was nice, the skin was not as crispy to as what i thought it would be, which is a plus in my books. Served with a side of Chinese vinegar and salt spice(which i don't ever touch) makes for a very nice appetizer. Steamed Oysters with Soy, Ginger and Shallots.You know what, i actually think i liked my oysters cooked Chinese style the best over all the other ways to eat them. Really i think i do, maybe though i just need to go to a place that can actually cook decent mornay and killpatric oysters. With this way the oyster is full cooked with the shallot zing and a nice light soy base.Dessert! Sweet Red Bean SoupI never appreciated the dessert they serve in Chinese restaurants but now i do because not only is it complementary and comes with a fruit platter it does give your tastebuds a break from the savory (or msg filled) dishes.

We also got 'Fu yu tong choy' Direct translation is (er......) Bitter fish tube lettuce. I just love the names of Chinese dishes sounds so authentic. Basically 'Tong choy' is a type of Chinese lettuce that is tubed and has sparse leaves sprouting out the sides for it's the stalk people generally eat it for. The "Fu yu" -'Bitter Fish' is a type of preserved beancurd spice you can mix in with almost anything you like. I didn't get to take a picture of it and i didn't think it was that great, a bit too salty or heavy on the beancurd spice. I have had better at the place next door called "Mas Thai".

So for four people we ate for just under $150! This is practically a seafood dinner and we didn't actually finish everything we took some of the e-noodles and lettuce home cause we were just so full. So for 4 dishes and complementary tea,fruit and dessert for under 150 is damn worth it! Next time when I'm out with friends despite how often i have this i will suggest it.

* Also saw YKM walk in near the end of my meal. I almost felt awkward and i don't know why. I know they are a competing martial arts/lion dancing troupe but we're all friends, kind of, not really, i don't know their names i only know Trevor and Esmond. lol

Food for thought.

Quick blog, didn't eat much today or even drink. It got to a point where i noticed myself swaying a bit while walking and standing. Just a bit dizzy but it didn't bother me, strange. I eventually forced myself to buy a blueberry bagel from the quad and eat it during the lecture.

Mid sem test on Thursday, should start, should eat properly too.


*While i was at work, it got to the point where i started to shake uncontrollably. Shiet...

Anzac Monday. Abseiling

Last night i got a call from my mate Glenn asking if i wanted to go abseiling with him. Never been before, so i made sure i made no other plans and said yes! I met for the first time again Andy and his girlfriend Maria (i'm so terribly sorry for forgetting names and people, i just have horrible memory). Great people the are Andy is Glenn's stunt mate and Maria is working on her own media project about Jackie Chan and his fans (check out her shirt, it's great!). Very interesting people and its nice to learn about gossip about a world you never heard of too.Drove out to Warringah, ok drive no traffic on a public holiday so *thumbs up* to that. There were already a small club/group/gathering of people already there and set up. The old man showed us around and we opted to take an easy one down.
Many people don't do these kinds of things and i personally think they are missing out. I know i am missing out on a lot of things i don't get to do. But looking at the view at the top of this small cliff reminds me of all the things i want and/or wanted to do with someone and there are still things i would like to do by myself too. Bush walking, rock climbing, snorkeling, complete the city to surf are just a few things on the list.Setting up. Have not been abseiling in so long, I've forgotten how to rig myself up! Check out the shirt she made!
Going down..... First step was scary, but when i got the feel that the harness is secure and has 'got me' the fear was gone and down i went. Did this many times until we got bored and so Glenn suggested we rappel down (going down forwards as opposed to backwards). That was scary, looking down over the edge of the cliff, straight down to the floor. The only way to go down safely was to lean forward and try be as horizontal as you can get so your feet can protect you is quite daunting but we got it eventually.
Glenn and Maria

After a few of that we got tired and decided to call it a day. Down one last time, by that time i was confident to almost run down, i could almost say the harness was slowing me down. We packed up the camera gear, yup they got tons of footage "All that for three seconds of footage" they kept on saying. The main purpose of this day was just to get some footage to add onto Glenn and Andy's show reel.
So hungry after that me and G. decided to go have Korean to fill our stomachs. Now here is the odd thing, i hardly almost close to never eat Korean foods. Its too spicy most of the time and i have no idea on what to get! But today i got the 'Chicken noodle soup' safe enough, not spicy and ordinary although i did cringe about it because i don't particularly like buying foods i can make myself but hey I'm hungry and it was cheap.
Chicken noodle soup bottom, Spicy fried rice top.
Weeee, free side dishes! I like, i was just recently told from a friend Korean places are the best because the sides you can keep refilling and just eat off that. So i did! Only once though, i was embarrassed already on asking for more but it was nice, i liked it. Might even consider suggesting Korean next time i go out to eat. G.'s rice was nice too, not too spicy but G. did mention about its spice by the end of it. My Noodles was...ok/comfortable/acceptable nothing to winge about.

A good end to my long weekend i say. Thanks Glenn for taking me out man, really appreciate it.

*This morning i actually bothered to make myself noodles for breakfast. That was a first in these past few weeks. I hope my eating patterns are getting better.
That being said after eating with G. dinner was being served at home so i had a double dinner tonight. Can that make up for my lack of eating lately.
*Also finally managed to link the 'Formspring' gadget on the side properly. So feel free to ask me a question, that or make fun of me, either is fine.

DIY Flame poi.

Today I helped out at the BLIA temple in Hurstville, i felt useless and could of possible caused more problems by trying to solve on of theirs. Didn't go to training today, its been quite a while since i trained wushu/martial arts/lion dancing/whatever properly. I just can't put in everything i have into it. When I'm there i just feel like shit again and have no motivation to continue, maybe this is the end? Still feeling like shit and depressed as usual i wanted some fun company. With no one available i wanted to die... Again..

Over this long weekend (or since Friday/Saturday) i discovered a group on facebook called "Fire Fairies" Basically it's a group of pyro's who get together every fortnight in Sydney and just jam with flame staffs, flame poi and drums and just have a good time i assume.

There is a place in Newtown which sells this type of gear (I'm yet to find out the exact location) but being the long weekend i highly doubted it would be opened for business. So instead of being stupid and pathetic I decided to make my own makeshift flame poi!

""Poi" is the Maori word for "ball" on a cord. Poi is a form of juggling where the balls are swung around the body with the purpose of enhancing dance and rhythm. The Poi was used, many years ago, by the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand to increase their flexibility and strength in their hands and arms as well as improving coordination." http://www.homeofpoi.com

Now a days thousands of people around the world partake in this tradition. There are all sorts of Poi, there are the traditional fabric ones, tailed Poi, Sock poi, poi flags, LED poi and of course there are flame poi.

Because of my wushu training in the double broadsword i already have the ambidextrous skill of twirling things in both hands. Hell i already do this to much around. So starting off was not as dangerous for me as it would be for others. So i figured how hard can making one of these things be, i can at lest make one for fun and if i really like it i can actually go out and buy one, or two.

"Easy" i said, I just need a weight, a nonflammable rope/string and material to act as the wick...


















I got two blocks of wood drilled a hole with my useless drill, i got fabric string as the rope and intended on keeping that wet to keep it from burning (or in this case melting).

















Then I nailed on cheap nylon fabric to soak in the kerosene and presto! My very own flame Poi.

















Starting off. Now when i first soaked in the kerosene i wasn't how much or little to soak in so i just did ..... "that" much. I had trouble figuring out how i should light it without lighting my face on fire at the same time. But when i got it i was amazed, it was then i realised i have never actually done anything like this before. Hearing the kerosene burn listening, burning even stronger when mixed with more air, feeling the warmth swing by my legs. It was exhilarating!















Look at me go! It was relatively easy and i wasn't afraid. I guess playing with Glenns chain whip helped out a lot. The nylon string i used was borderline substantial and i had to continuously dampen it every time i relit.













The string failed on me and fell off. Dangerous? Very! Did i lose my eyebrows? Just maybe.
















I kept going. Notice the second source of light to the right. Yup I didn't bother to put it out.


















End product, so it turns out my poi is a one time use only. The nylon worked ok in soaking up the kerosene but once it burned out it would char and melt the nylon and so there was still kerosene left to be burned underneath the surface layer. I did manage to actually burn myself today playing with the poi, only noticed while i was typing this up, It's itchy but it's small.

















My fingers are slowly healing. Still very annoying, I'm wearing gloves with alot of the things i do now so i can avoid washing my hands. Moisture on the skin almost resets the healing and goes back to looking horrible.






















Is this Poi the birth or something new? I hope so. I do intend to buy some proper Poi to practice with and hopefully meet tons of new people also maybe if i continue with wushu Sifu can teach me the double chain whip and i can perform with the flame poi! That would be cool.


*All i want to do is to keep myself busy so 'Time' will pass and hopefully heal more than just my fingers. So i have been watching "How i met you mother" Good show, good time waster. So fucking annoying to how relative it is to me. Up to season two now, sometimes i get angry, sometimes i feel i should cry. Fuck Fuck fuck! So not the series to watch if you are in my position right now. But good show none the less.

Listening to the radio is almost painful.

I apparently look 'ruggard ' today. I concluded i look like shit. Can't sleep, eating is not the same anymore, hardly drinking and i can't even find the effort to clean my aquarium. I hope the fishies will be ok with just food for now. I just want this period of my life to be over.

Today, i honestly thought of crawling out of a window on the 10th floor was a reasonable solution to my problem. To end my pain, to end my patheticness of being human. It's a stupid idea, i should hit myself for thinking such a stupid thought ( i did).

Also to give this depression a helping hand Sydney's top radio stations keep playing 'love sick' rnb songs, i hate it because the songs they play are actually nice to listen to. But when it seems like each and every song describes an aspect of my pathetic love life on what was... or what is... I can't explain how shit i feel in words. The closest description i can give is that, i can almost feel that lactic acid burn, throbbing in my chest, its painful.

I'm just going to read. I hope that will just past time. My fingers are still rotting away slowly. I wish it would stop and heal already, it's stopping me from doing things. Argh, life sucks!

Life sucks... period.

In this stage of my life i feel useless. So what else to do but surf! I stumbled upon a friend of a friend's blog who posted this

"It's a waste for me even blogging right now. I should be studying or focusing on completing uni tasks. But it's hard to be focused on that when all I can think about is this whole situation :(
It's the last thing I think about before I go to sleep and the first thing I think of when I wake up.
I'm not even exaggerating. It's true." http://omfailing.blogspot.com

I think it explains my situation exactly and it comforts me in a way to know others are in the same situation. Not comforting in a way where I'm saying "Yes! Others are suffering just as bad as me! Suck shit!" Its more like, I'm comforted to know that I'm not alone and there are thousands of others out there in the same situation (or worse) and they come out of it fine and maybe even a better person. I hope that, that blogger finds no offense in me quoting what she wrote, and i hope she pulls out of it fine as well..

Also.. I think this group shot is epic. Tiny room, soo many people, nice job!

Awareness test.

Formspring dot me!

I joined this i guess you could call it a social networking website called Formspring. It is a place where you can sign up and people can ask you any question that would might like to know. That person can remain anonymous or let the user know who they are. You obviously don't need to answer all the stupid questions everyone asks you but you can answer any given question anyway you like.

When i first saw this on someone's computer i thought it would be loads of fun asking anyone stupid questions and see how they answer them. I assumed there would be an option like on youtube a "Most popular" button or a "Most view question" etc. etc. But that is not how this site works, you actually need to find a person yourself or already have friends on this site and follow them. I can type in the name Timmy and hundreds of people would turn up.

So actually, this is not as fun as what i first thought. I don't know any of these people, not just personally but i don't know if they are funny and/or interesting enough to ask random questions to. Maybe I'll lurk on the site a bit more and see what it could off me.

That or follow me and ask me stupid questions !
http://www.formspring.me/Nonebutim

Mamak

Last night i caught up with Joey and Bel. It seems to be ages since i last met up with them. But comfortably.. not much has changed. Its nice to know the people i knew are still the same person i know now.

Went out to Mamaks! I quite like this place, its cheap and its very satisfying! Only downfall is that you will almost always have to wait in line to get in. When we got there at about 8pm and there was still a crazy line. So being a Friday night we checked out the night markets. Its a place for impulse buying because being a market you really have no idea what to expect and if you see something there its always pretty cheap and negotiable *wink wink*. I did notice that there were two stalls that had a puppy just sitting there. So cute!

So an hour later the line outside Mamak's was significantly shorter. Still had to wait, but not too long. Bel and Joey had never been to Mamak before and so their eyes were just drawn to the guys throwing the dough to make the roti.

Being their first time they wanted to try all sorts but we already had dinner and this was our
dessert.
























We got the Roti pisangang, its a roti and they slice bananas in it with a side of ice-cream. he rotti itself reminds me of pastry from something you might get in a bakery, then the bananas are slightly cooked so its a little bit caramelized making it taste even better.























We also got the Roti tisu, its the roti but made super thin and crispy with a lot of sugar coated on the inside, again served with ice-cream. This is really fun and could get messy when you eat it. It's a lot lighter on the stomach because its so thin and crispy. Like sweet chips!

After that we went and chilled at Darling harbour because that's what we kids in our twenteens do ( still believe i am a teenager!!). Said hi to a friend, who happens to be gay. Gosh it still makes me think how gay guys can get so close to girls so physically without getting awkward. It amuses me to no end.

Also Bel lent me her LOTR novels so i can read and distract myself. I am expecting a lot from this book because everyone just loves it. I still find it hard how good it could get because from when i saw the movies it seemed it was just about hobbits and ogres fighting against each other non stop. I'll see where it takes me.

Sigmund Freud

On facebook today, someone's facebook update was... "Freud is sooo twisted". To my curiosity i said to myself "How twisted can someone get?".

(here are some wise words from the internet) Google is your friend.

And in seconds i learned that Freud.. Sigmund Freud was 'psychology's most famous figure and is also one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of the twentieth century'.

It seems that Freud was someone who was infatuated with people and their personalities. 'The most important contribution of Freud is his division of the human psyche in three different energies: Id, Ego and Superego.' What the three energies mean I'm not too sure .. yet.. But from my short readings of this guy i found that he has created many theories to why people are the way they are. What intrigued me was his research about 'Phychosexual Development'.

'Freud believed that personality develops through a series of childhood stages during which the pleasure-seeking energies of the id become focused on certain erogenous areas. ' And he suggested that if a child completes these stages successfully he/she will have a healthy personality. But if a child is stuck in a certain stage it could result in personality disorders.

In short a child would go through stages Freud called

• The Oral stage- The child's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth which is vital for eating. This develops a sense trust and comfort towards the parent. If the child does not move on from this stage in a healthy manner it could result in drinking, eating, smoking, or nail biting problems.
• The Anal stage- This in short is the toilet training. If it is done in a negative manner it could result in a messy, wasteful, or destructive personality
• The Phallic stage- A stage where children begin to realise the difference in gender. Which may or may not lead to a rivalry between their fathers for their mothers affection.
• The Latent stage- A time of exploration in which the sexual energy is still present, but it is directed into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions. This stage is for the development of social and communication skills and self-confidence.
• The Genital stage- This is where the child would have grown up and have realised the sexual urge. Directing their attention to the opposite sex focusing on individual needs or just being horny.
  

I found this very insightful but the issues with his research was all his theories were based on boys and never girls. There was no quantifiable way of measuring someone's 'sex drive' and the length of time between the 'cause and effect' was just way too long to be monitored.

I'm not too sure if my interpretations of his works are 100% correct but i hope to learn more about his theories and experiments so i can decide for myself if he is really crazy.

Just found "To Freud the sex drive is the most motivating force, not only for adults, but for children and infants as well. It had been scientifically proved that the ability for orgasm is neurologically present from birth, but Freud exploring much more than that. To him sexuality involves not only intercourse but anything and everything that feels pleasurable to the skin." Now i really do want to know more.

Food!

Ok so, I have not had a solid meal in over 24 hours! That is crazy, if it was someone else who did this i would most probably hit them in the head to see if they are ok. But it is just amazing what stress from lack of study, lack of sleep from study, a broken heart and pure laziness can do to you. I have just had so much on my mind these past few days/weeks that i just forget about eating. It's stupid!
So finally being forced to eat i was given wontons!


















My family always make wontons and for some reason (could be my hunger) this time they made it perfect in taste and balance of textures!


















Also today i finally finished reading 'Tales of the Otori' which could be possible my 3rd time reading it. Its a trilogy, that and after this series she continued to write a sequel and a prequel to this series (which i also have). Great series, i highly recommend it if you like Japanese fiction about ninjas, war with love/sex and lots of blood. Great time waster if you just want to get away from reality i say.

Did i mention i like music?

They call it a 'Hang drum' Sounds great and very melodic. It also appears that (on youtube) there is an abundance of street performers in Barcelona, I'm sure there are thousands of street performers all over the world I'm just not looking hard enough (on youtube anyway). I really do love live music even street music can brighten my day so much. It just saddens me that when i do hear fantastic performers on the streets I'm just too busy or distracted to actually stay and watch and tip them a good dollar or two. A lot of these guys i personally think deserve so much more than busking but then again, everyone needs to start of somewhere, huh?

Bora Bora

Its just so beautiful i almost do not believe it exists. This is just a dream place i would like to visit one day. A holiday, honeymoon, getaway who knows. I might never be able to afford it or even have time for it. I wonder how much it would cost to live in that type of resort for a week, do i even want to know right now!?

Its ok I'm happy to dream.

Drunken escapades!

I learn to never pass out in front of my friends. These photos are just classic. They are old but i thought i would just post it up.

What the!?

So crazy. It's apparently a sport too!

Acoustic music rocks!

You know what i am also a hug fan of? Acoustic versions of popular songs. Sometimes i honestly think an acoustic version of a certain song is ten times better than the original. I just love the noise of strings, the aura of live music and the feel it can give. Its just great.

Also another guilty pleasure i have is live music. I honestly think out of all the people i know, i appreciate live music a lot more than most of them. It doesn't matter who is playing, what genre of music or even if its just a guy on the decks. Live music rocks!

Any other youtube acoustic mixes you think is just worth a watch? Just send it in and I'll enjoy every second of it (hopefully anyway)

Pwor....

I had to say. I very much enjoy watching dance crew's routines rather than individual routines because i think its just so much more entertaining. I personally think working with a crew is a much harder job than doing a solo. So props to these guys, great moves and even better choreograph.

Free phone!

I love getting stuff for free. Ok technically not for free as such, but at no extra charge. So my previous INQ slide phone had programming issues, it would just turn off itself every now and then (although i do suspect that could be due to my own laziness in not checking if it is locked or not) 3 called me up telling me to repair this problem they would need a new motherboard! Far out that is a new phone already. But because the old INQ model is discontinued it would of taken a long time to get a new motherboard. So they offered me the new INQ mini in replacement/warranty . Pretty good catch i say.

But my personal preferences are slide or flip phones only because unlocking and locking the keypad is just so simple on a flip/slide phone. So.... Should i sell it and make some money out of it? Or just use it? I'm content with my phone now i guess. Only thing i can pick at is the battery life but that's about it.

Anyone want to buy the new INQ mini off me?

Mazda astina

I helped out William today with his latest and doubtfully last project car. Just an easy clear coat. I don't think he would of trusted me doing anything else though. lol. The novelty of spraying a car lasted until the last jug of it. Spraying it in smooth even strokes is actually not that tiring on your arms, its only when you do it over and over again. Four coats i counted. Should be enough, we did run into a problem with the spray gun dripping and landing two drops on the car, one on the roof and one on the bonnet. Hopefully that won't be too visible when he buffs it and polish it.

End product. Pretty darn good.

The new apple IPAD.

Click me!

Embedding disabled. But defiantly worth the watch!

The mont!

Ok so the mont was from a while ago. But here goes.


Got in the car Friday, managed to get there nice and early in the afternoon to set up camp. It took us a loop or to to decide on a spot but we eventually found one. After setting up we decided we should go out for one nice group ride of the lap before the race starts the day after. I'm glad we got to do this, this gave me the scope of the lap knowing where is what and when i should be done. Jing dropped out after that, i was bummed that he did, but was glad he wont have the chance of falling and regretting it even more. Also even more grateful for him taking up the manager roll later.

Friday night was filled with high spirits, hitting the sack early ish. Despite how warm it was we i got into the sleeping bag, i woke up almost shivering to my toes. Bloody Canberra.




















Group shot. I'm already off!!! Nah, i just rode off to warm up not knowing there were going to take a group shot =(. Also the Bikes move us jerseys look great! Nice work Justin.


Ok So here is a little video of the start, where me and Alex were off the start line to get the bikes.


So being the one who goes first i have a different first lap to everyone else. You give the bike to someone (clifton) walk down to the start line about 500m down the hill and wait till go. The first Hour of the race was dedicated to James Williamson the honor roll and at 1 pm the race began. The run up the hill felt like alot longer than 500m, i could hear the clacking of cleats smacking the floor from every rider. Drowning the noise and cheers from the crowed. Trying to weave in and out of people was a big problem, there was so many people it was impossible, the only way i managed to pass people on the run was going off the edge and running back into the pack. Half way( i think) My lungs hurt already, i'm not a runner. Finally saw the glow of the clean BMU jerseys but my run was far from over. From here i had to keep running with the bike until the point where we were allowed to finally ride. Any rider i saw hopping on the bike copped verbal abuse from pretty much everyone until they jumped off.

Finally passed "the palm tree" no idea what it was, but it was the point where we could hop on our bikes. Now the race started.... with a hill climb. I knew in my head this is where i have to make ground or else it we would be stuck behind a bottle neck. It was not easy, dust was everywhere, it was unavoidable. I passed people, alot more pros passed me, i think this climb lasted 2 minutes at lest! Finally hit the single track, i only just made the cut where i wouldn't be stuck waiting to get into the forest. But it will still high in traffic. Constantly braking or else i would hit the rider in front. I passed a few slow guys who managed to get in front somehow, i assumed the pushed themselves way to hard at the start ( but this was just the start!). For the first section of the single track i was almost glad i got to start of first. Due to the traffic i couldn't ride any faster than a cruising speed. Constantly hearing my brakes howl and others skidding and also (which is something new to me) people yelling "Stopping!" "Slowing!" to avoid getting rear ended. It made perfect sense! but i didn't follow, these strangers always called out before i opened my mouth.

I was glad that we all made an effort to ride one lap the day before because every section gave me an idea to how much longer i had to go. It was also a great track, many passing points, not too technical and still challenging. So after the high volume of riders, it finally filtered out somehow and i found myself passing a rider or being passed. After passing through parts named, big dipper, horseshoe track and other various names, you come up to a sign saying 'Home run' I laughed at this because i knew quite well this was a lie, no where near 'home' because there is also a 'Home run extended' lies i tells ya! and even then its still a while. I could only laugh at the people who would pass this and think it is almost over.

Finally coming out of the forest and into the fireroad and back into the forest in the last 2 km's was my signal of home run. And then i hear TIMMY!! i knew it was Jing taking photos, i thought. DO i pose or something. Nah! just keep riding.





















So riding through the last section being able to hear the commentator i ride even faster knowing its almost over. Ride up the last fireroad hill into the tent. Then i see the steel rails put together in a tight S shape. This forces the riders to dismount and walk/jog through the transition, slow enough so the race coordinators can record your lap times. But it was still a bitch to get off the bike and walk, as tired as i was walking was the last things my legs wanted. Out of the transition tent i saw clifton at the front waiting. Yes!! first lap over, handed over our passport (just a little card saying passport) and exchanged a few words and i saw him go off. First lap done! just another 5 laps to do...

Originally a 4 man team down to 3 and maybe a 4th. Our 4th meaning not Jing and anyone willing to put on his plates and ride for us. was hard. It was ok during the day... but..

Well my times out was.. 1pm, 5pm, 9pm, 1am, 5am and 11am. If i tried my laps times should be at a about ...1hr 5mins i guess with my ego somewhat ok.





















All in all, it was fun. it hurt. I learned that i shouldn't eat a whole meal if i am to ride within the next 2 hours. I couldn't wait till i got home, i couldn't wait till it was over. Laughed at screwing over cliffy with his two night laps. And now can't wait till the Scott 24 hour comes around.

Taste of sydney!

Oh so this is a bit late. More than a bit late A whole month late. But better late than never!

On the 12th of March i decided to treat Tiff to something a little special.




















I took her to the taste of sydney! The taste of Sydney is an a new annual event ( i hope!) where some of Sydney's finest restaurants get together and showcase to everyone what they've got.


So first off!!

















From Marque, The Cured Ocean trout with coleslaw, lemon and drill jelly. It was awkward being our first dish to chose of the day. Walking through the stalls seemed like the Friday nigh markets but alot cleaner in china town and for food of such caliber to come out amazed me. The trout was superb, similar to what you get in japanese sashimi but this was somewhat denser, coupled with the caviar made it burst a brilliant texture. Although the 'lemon & drill' jelly was a bit too sour/sweet and in this piece of trout it wasn't filleted 100% i still managed to feel a few bones.




Second from Berowra Waters Inn, Quail Brest & truffled risotto croustillant. Now when i first read this on the menu i had no idea what the term ' croustillant' meant. So for the kicks we went and got it, boy it was nice! Croustillant i assume refers to the crusty outer layer, gives it a very nice bang with the risotto. That sauce on the side is not avocado to my displeasure it was a grassy kind of taste Tiff didn't like it, i on the other hand didn't mind.






















Next.. The Wagyu Beef Daube with Paris Mash from Guillaume. Here we go high roller here busting out dishes with names i wouldn't know how to pronounce. This was Tiff's favorite of the day. My first impression was, how do i eat such a dense piece of meat with just a fork but as i dug into the meat with that fork it just sunk in, soo soft! soo tender! have it with the mash, soo creamy! I couldn't call it my favorite because i thought it was just a bit too dry. But given a second chance i would not turn it away.






















Now from Pilu , the Suckling pig panino with apple, mustard and rocket served on Sonoma sourdough. It sounded a lot more appetising on paper to be honest. To me it was just a mini sandwich of mini burger and the pig? (or pork) had a texture somewhat similar to canned tuna but the mustard seeds did bring it up a little. I just think this was one dish i didn't know how to appreciate.






















Thirsty?
I do like the Chinnotas and Limonatas but its something i could of gotten outside for alot cheaper too!






















Now this was my favorite of the day, the Vanilla panna cotta with lavender honey and pomegranate. I may be biased on the sweets but this was just awesome. When it first came out even the waiter could not help but play with the bouncyness of the panna cotta it just wobbled also considering its shape the smig of vanilla beans on the top it just reminds me on a nipple. lol! Casting that aside it wasn't too sweet texture was what panna cotta should be ( or even better) and have that with a little bit of the lavender sauce and pomegranate... nice! I even found the recipe .. Wait no.. its just a description of its method... damn it!






















Last was the Tiramisu roulade from Bird cow fish. Casting away the strange name the restaurant, this tiramisu had a twist to it, it had a chocolate sponge rolled around a paesanella marscarpone and marsala sabayon. That's right i get foods with shit i don't know what it could be! But i am afraid that the tiramisu Tiff can make just smacks this one into something less than a pancake! That syrup was a bit too thick and heavy, too much of it really. But its texture was nice.























After all we thought we would go to the 'Gourmet traveller taste kitchen' and watch the head chief Peter Kuruvita from Flying fish in action. It was my first time every in an audience for a cooking show. It was interesting and very insightful to hear of little tips and tricks a head chief knows. It was also very nice of him to actually let the audience try out some of his potato chips, it wasn't much but i think the presenter of the show was not happy about that at all. But to me it was just a shameless plug for the chief to advertise his products to the audience, that and he can make almost any pile of junk ( in this case crab) look tantalising.