Birthday Treats
8 November 2005 — Yup, 2 days ago was my 29th birthday! Thanks to all who sent their well-wishes, including Wendy who remembered despite going in for an op, Sumie who sent her greetings all bright and early, my parents who called all the way from Zhuhai, Sean (how do you even know it’s my birthday?!?), Shihui, Kiat,
Peiling who never fails to send me an actual paper card in the mail,
Amy who gave me these gorgeous books a month ago!
And even Ray, my acupuncturist (albeit a very impersonal message, probably sent by his receptionist).
Haha! and I called my brother to give him a chance to wish me Happy Birthday. Turns out he already sent me an e-card earlier, just that he sent it to the wrong address. Awww… he loves me…
And of course, my Pipi! On the 6th, I asked him so what has he planned? To which he replied, “It’s a surprise.” And I said, “Right, it’s probably even a surprise to you ‘cos you haven’t even planned it yet right?!?” Ok lah, ok lah, at least on the day he delivered, so I’ll give him a break. And this is what he got me:
A huge hippo named “JollyBaby” — meant for a one-year-old when I’m 29! (What IS the cut-off age for buying soft toys?!?) I luurve it!
So the day started with yum-cha at Chatswood’s Kam Fook.
We had har-gow, some fishcake thing and chicken pie! Yummers!
And then we went shopping for candy at this sweet shop called Sticky.
See, the candy is all made instore. Absolutely stickilicious!
…and so colourful too! Doesn’t my billie look handsome in his new shirt? We both agree that red’s his colour!
Heh heh, and guess where we were off to next?…
Haha see such resplendent surroundings 就知道不是什么简单的东西!!! Mai xiao xiao, we even got 5 hours’ worth of free VALET parking right in the heart of the city for Maggie ok?!!
Got it yet?…
Yes, yes! Spa-ing at the Four Seasons! Wah… Billie must really adore me…
Come, let’s take a tour!
Even the ladies’ room also so luxurious, and got provide so many kinds of toiletries!
And see, can help ourselves to OJ, coffee and all kinds of tea. I’m having peppermint tea with honey.
But wait till you see the couple’s suite we’ve specially booked for today. Super 夸张!
Right?! Right?! Comes with its own steam room, shower, and two-person jacuzzi! Next time my house also like dat.
So romantic right? And if you want, while being massaged, you can even hold hands like this couple in their brochure. No lah! William and I where got so hiao?!!
As for the treatment itself, we chose Healing Secrets (Australian Bush Medicine):
This all-natural indigenous treatment employs the curative and restorative properties found in Australian native plants and produce. A focusing ritual to harmonise therapist and guest is followed by a full body brushing with tea tree oil. Next, a Blue Gum honey and crushed sesame seed scrub exfoliates and moisturises. While this is processing, a lime blossom, honey and cucumber facial refines and hydrates. A rejuvenating shower is followed by a blissful back and shoulder treat. Heated poultices of eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon myrtle and lavender is applied in a rhythmic press and roll motion to soothe aching muscles, then a massage of peppermint and macadamia nut oil assists detoxification. Rejuvenation is complete with an energising ritual and a cup of bush tea with honey. (90 minutes)
With a description like that, how not to kena right?!!
Unfortunately, because this is meant to be a PG rated site, I have not put up any photos of our scantily clad bodies during the treatment process.
Just the “after” rejuvenated shots. Doesn’t our skin look all baby-soft and glowing?
You would just have to trust me when I say that we both thought it was super-duper shiok! Our only complaint is that it was way too short! The massage at the end was actually quite firm and invigorating (better than the one in Cairns which I’ll tell you about later), but alamak, just when I was starting to enjoy it, the therapist stopped and rang the tingsha bell, signalling for us to come back to our bodies. Sian lah. On retrospect, we both agree that the best spa visit we’ve had to date has got to be the one at Divana in Bangkok, only $99 for 3 hours of pure indulgence! And the service, outta this world. The next time any of you go Bangkok, please promise me you’ll try it out for yourself. We know we will.
With a few hours to kill before dinner, we went shopping for more wedding stuff. I also paid a visit to Christine, my ex-manager, at the Helen Kaminski shop which was actually part of the Four Seasons. Yup, before my days at GNC, I used to sell hats for them at the Rocks.
It didn’t take long for my stomach to start rumbling, so we headed for our dinner spot. It was meant to be a surprise, all I knew was that it was somewhere in the north. To get there, we had to cross the Spit Bridge, which I love… the views are magnificent, especially since the sun was setting. Just managed to get a couple of darting shots from the car:
Doesn’t do the real thing justice of course.
After a few wrong turns, we finally got to the restaurant.
It’s called Pilu at Freshwater, and Billie chose it ‘cos it was awarded two chef’s hats in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2006 and named Best New Restaurant, not to mention it was located right on the beach and boasted magnificent views of the waters.
The pictures on the website are even more tak-kong!
The path leading up to the door of the restaurant was lined by orange blossom hedges, the fragrance of which was simply intoxicating.
On their website, Pilu claims that the building in which the restaurant is housed is in fact a heritage listed site, and indeed, it has been beautifully restored.
The service offered by the waiter who served us was also impeccable, professional and yet very personal. As for the food itself, the type of cuisine served at Pilu was known as Sardinian, a branch of Italian. And unlike the local trattoria that dishes out pizzas and pastas, the menu here featured items that all sounded pretty poshy. For instance, our orders were: Hervey Bay scallop carpaccio with Sardinian green olives and capers (or Carpaccio di capesante con olive Sarde, caperi e erbette di campo) for starters, and Oven roasted suckling pig with scented apple sauce (Porcetto arrosto) and Swordfish with baby clams and fresh globe artichokes (Trancio di pesce… bah! you get the idea) for mains.
So as you can imagine, with all this buildup, I was now expecting nothing less than phenomenal. But by a cruel twist of fate, the food arrived and I have 3 words for them: BLAND, BORING AND SHITTY!
First, the entree:
That scallop thing. The raw scallops were so fishy and foul that even after trying to drown it in olive oil and sauce, I still passed up on it. And if you know me, I’m not one to pass up on anything, definitely not seafood, and much less SCALLOPS! In fact, I was just about to return it when Billie happily claimed that he liked it and downed the whole plate. Wu-Ngia-Boh?!? So smelly he can oso eat ah?!? Fine, whatever.
Then the mains:
First, that fish thing. Other than a slightly smokey taste, it was dry, bland and shitty-ass boring. The clams were teeny-tiny and that little itsy bitsy bit of sauce they served the fish with was just single-dimensionally saltish. But once again, Billie insisted that the soup(?!?) was very tasty and that he loved it?!? @#$%! Man, he’s really starting to irritate me now… I mean, just look at the picture, SO beh-beh (white-white), how tasty can this dish be you tell me?
And finally, that pork thing. Ex-cuuse me, didn’t the menu say “roast suckling pig”? Where is the roast suckling pig?!? This just looks suspiciously like a bad rehash of our terrible experience with that German pork belly thing! And yes, it was. Other than the fact that it was a bit crispier, it was just as fatty, dreary and tasteless. And see, again so dry! Don’t even count on that stupid apple sauce, so dry and bland. Say what “scented”? Scented my a**. Somemore they dare to boast that this is their signature dish?!?
I was so bored with the food that I was trying not to fall asleep while eating. That’s how bad it was. And initially we had brought a birthday cake to have as dessert there, but the meal had been so tedious that I told Billie to just forget it and bring it home. Honestly, I really don’t know what the hype’s all about. Granted that the views are lovely and the place itself is pretty charming, but isn’t the whole point of a restaurant its food? I for one really don’t know how to appreciate Sardinian food, and definitely have had my fill of it! Poor Billie, I was so upset and felt so cheated by the experience that I kept complaining on the way home, until I literally fell asleep. That’s after he had to pay a pretty penny for the meal too! (Sorry Poopie, didn’t mean to whine so much. I know you tried. It’s the thought that counts!)
The saving grace for the night was CAKE! Sumie, I enjoyed the chocolate cake you got from David Jones so much that I chose a miniature version of it for the occasion.
So here we are, back in the comfort of our own home and on our bed having cake.
YUMMERS!
But ’tis not the end.
‘Cos I had promised myself that my birthday meal was gonna be the meal to end all unhealthy meals before I really launch my lose-weight-for-ROM-program, I wasn’t going to let it go just like dat!!! That Pilu meal was just way, way, way too unsatisfactory! So last night, on the 9th, I pestered Billie into having my REAL birthday meal. No fancy-schmancy place for me this time. Just good ol’ Stir Crazy Thai right outside Kirribilli, 5 mins walk from our place. We’ve been there, we know they’re good, Great!
Know why I’m so excited?
Royal fish served with a green mango salad sauce…
…and Chilli jam seafood. That’s why!
And now, I’ll be good.