Police of Richmond = HORRIBLE

My bag got stolen on Friday afternoon while I was filming and I lost over 1K worth of valuables. I understand that it is impossible to find the thief and I basically resigned to fate immediately. But I still I had make an official police report anyway in case of identity theft. Unfortunately Victorian Police was beyond disappointing.

At 3.54PM I dialed 000 for the police. I was told by the lady on the phone that I could choose between these 2 options - option 1 being me heading down to a local police station and option 2 being the police making their way down to me. I chose option 2 and they said the police would be on their way. We waited really long so I made a call at 4.41PM again. I was attended by another woman this time who was way too rude and unfriendly. I mean c'mon I am a victim surely you could be nicer?! She started saying it was MY fault and since I did see who stole it, the police will NEVER head down. Zzz. I informed her about the previous phone call. She kept snapping at me and didn't even want to let me talk. Worse still, she should have apologised about their station's miscommunication but she did not. So my friends & I waited the entire time for nothing. P.s. I was in Richmond so yeah if you ever get into any trouble and need the police in Richmond to rescue you, dream on.

I had to still head down to the police station anyway. So the following morning I headed down to Flinders Lane's station. The entire station was inaccessible due to some construction going on outside the station. I returned again in the evening at about 630PM. Constructions have stopped and I managed to enter the police station but there was nobody at the counter. I pressed the button to alert the police inside (there was someone inside, we could see through the tinted glass) but he did not leave the room to attend to us.

Today (Sunday), I went down to the station again at noon & finally made my statement. The guy who attended to us was really nice. He told me that I would receive my police file number via text by today and another through mail (eventually). He noted that my case would be passed to Richmond since that was where the theft took place at. Several hours after my report, he called me to inform me that the case had been handed to Richmond's police and that Richmond's police would call me in awhile. It never happened. Police of Richmond, how inefficient can you guys be? I need my tax file number so that I can pass it to Singapore's government & RMIT to replace my identification card and claim insurance (hopefully for the latter). ARGH.

Beauty tutorial for straight hairstyles

The article, Beauty tutorial: How to style straight hair is finally out on Meld Magazine!

It was such a pleasure working with winner of 2012 Rimmel Beauty Insider Jessica-Anne :)

I'm so glad that the pictures turned out well. I thought I'd just share a few of my favourite images in full resolution here since the pictures uploaded on Meld were cropped.

Chuckle Park Bar & Cafe

I have walked past Chuckle Bar several times before but never actually stepped in to have a meal. After seeing the positive review on Jacq's blog, I finally decided to pay a visit.

4 kinds of impressions could possibly be formed after a visit to a cafe - one being "argh, I'd never return", second being the #epicfail scenario when it didn't even leave an impression and you end up "I've never been here before... Oh maybe I did... I think...?" Third being the neutral person where you'd probably say "I don't mind coming back again and I don't mind not coming back at all." While the forth would be "I LOVE THIS PLACE! I AM SO COMING BACK! I CAN'T WAIT TO BRING MY FRIENDS HERE!" Chuckle Park is in category 4.

This cafe-cum-bar is located at one of the alleyways along Lt Collins Street. Seems like all the good stuff these days are always hidden away from the main streets. I love such crazy set ups - an old caravan, tall red chairs against green grass (here's the season to be jolly~), friendly wooden tiny tables surrounded by a statue of Mother Mary, wire mesh, pipes and bricked walls. After having written about fine dining in New York City, Melbourne & Singapore, I think it's time I start focusing on one-of-a-kind gems like this.

Chuckle Park does not only look great but they serve awesome food at fantastic prices! I hate how I always end up sounding so advertisement-like. Sigh. But that statement above is a valid fact. I got my pulled pork slider and apple cider for only AUD $15. What a steal. If you are not a cheapo like me who gets excited over value deals, here is the full menu:

I didn't realise that the clipboard menu looked so dirty :o It's hanging on the wall so you don't actually have to touch it. Anyway there are heaps of promotions on their FB.

Sorry for digressing. The pork slider AUD $9.50 was a mash up of deliciously spiced pulled pork together with crunchy walnuts, cheese and slaw in between two soft buns. My friend had the vegetarian one but I have no idea how it tastes like because she didn't offer me a bite. I offered her mine but she didn't get the hint. (Hahaha Kim I'm kidding!)

While writing all that chunk of information above yesterday evening, I ended up heading out to Chuckle Park for a late dinner simply because I wanted a tasty slider and witness the pretty scene of hanging terrariums glow in the dark. I told you I was a moth in my previous life - it is the only logical reason behind my uncanny attraction to lights.

Chuckle Park is so damn beautiful at night. But beauty is subjective so one could also look at it as spooky or mysterious. It all depends on how you want to see it. I finally got to try the vegetarian slider (which is the vegetarian sandwich AUD $9.50 on the menu). It was nice, but definitely not as good as the pork slider. The grilled corn AUD $6.50 was covered with parmesan cheese, coriander herbs and chuckle sauce. I don't know what chuckle sauce is but it was probably one of the best corn cob I ever had in my life. Somersby apple cider was amazing but I would love to try their passion punch cocktail soon :)

To my dismay, Ashley's reaction was merely IT'S OKAY. Why?! How could anyone not be in love with such a wonderful place, sigh. I was so intrigued by this place that I even started making up my own lyrics based on the tune of Rihanna's We Found Love. I am weird.

Cute terrariums in the sky
And we're eating side by side
Yummy cider and slider
What it takes to come alive

Chuckle Park Bar and Cafe
http://www.chucklepark.com.au/cp/home.html
322 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Founding Farmers (Washington DC, USA)

A few months ago I contributed an article on ladyironchef (Asia Pacific's best food & travel blog) about an amazing restaurant I visited in Washington D.C, United States of America. Click HERE to read the entire entry :) In short, one of the best meals I ever had! Everyone who is in Washington DC must dine here. You will regret if you do not.

Founding Farmers
http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/
1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006

Instagram Diary for this week: School x Filming x Photoshoots x Haircut x Cakes

Happy Sunday! :D

I'm so happy because I had less work to do today (just photo shopping of a banner and an article on a road trip destination). I even took a nap?! I also went out for brunch, dinner & supper. Finally no takeaways or random mash ups of leftover ingredients at home. These days I forgot that procrastination even existed. I deserve a pat on the back.

Anyway I had a hair cut after 5 horribly long months! I really like my new hair so I guess I didn't mind paying a ridiculous AUD $58 at Tokyo Hair Design (located along Russel St). My hair stylist is a Senior Creative Stylist from Japan called Rie. I have this phobia for thin hairstyles because my hair is incredibly fine so I kept telling her that my fringe must be thick... Unfortunately she didn't quite understand the word thick so I ended up showing her pictures of my desired fringe, emphasizing on the words 'heavy' & 'not thin'. I love the fact that I can now alternate between bangs and side swept fringe.

Pictures above at Seb's birthday party where I had significantly longer hair. P.s. Happy Birthday Seb!!! :) Seb is such a talented person, everyone do check out his portfolio.

I have been eating way too much cakes and putting on weight - Black forest cake from Secret Recipe, Tiramisu cake from Brunetti, Strawberry Cheesecake from Aldi. It's so funny because everyone on instagram thought it was some heavenly cake. Must have been such a wtf moment when I said it's from Aldi. Then again, it tasted great. Kudos to supermarket Aldi!

I was also happily digging into Max Brenners and Brunetti's assorted mini cakes. I just can't seem to ever reject desserts. I'd usually say "no thanks" but end up eating them.

Pictures of the wonderful chicken parma that Ashley made for me and my housemates (above).

Anyway I have been so busy lately that Ashley & I didn't really spend any time together this week?! If any time were spent together it would be him walking me to somewhere, cooking me something and vice versa. Even when we have meals together, we are both glued to our respective mac books typing away. WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING!!! We are only 20 years old yet we are behaving like we are 40 years old. I have been too hardworking, I really need to stop being such a workaholic. He's currently out of Melbourne so yeah sigh. Thankfully we are flying to Singapore together in 2 weeks plus time so I can make it up :)

Photos of boring communication theories and my ugly but essential storyboard drawings. I think many of my Singaporean friends are confused on exactly what I am currently doing. Just a clarification - I am STILL in university! Currently in my final year and taking 4 modules per semester like any other university student in Australia. I have no exemptions since I took 'A' levels which is totally irrelevant to my course. The only difference is that I am supposed to be taking a maximum of only 2 majors but I ended up taking 3 (hence I am currently majoring in media, public relations and journalism). But I have already decided to only take media & public relations next semester (my final semester)!!!

So I am currently taking the following subjects: Film TV, Online Journalism, Debates & Approaches and Specialist Public Relations. My favourite subject would be Film TV (duh!) We are all assigned a specific role in our productions group and it's really interesting. Most of the time we take on more than one position since there's only 4 of us in a group! So most of my meals this week were accompanied by scripts, shot lists and whatnot haha.

We revisited our filming location for the 2nd time to try to visualize some scenes and try out the lightings. We seriously struggled with the heavy equipments but thankfully an abandoned trolley saved us (temporarily). We also finally had a rehearsal in school.

There's so much to do prior to an official shoot (be it filming or photoshoots) and everything matters so much. The more I learn, the more respect I have for everyone's role - be it make up, costumes, cinematographer, director, actors, camera operators, animators etc. In the past I'd never sit through credits after a movie, but after Iron Man 3, I sat through the entire credits and tried to imagine the amount of efforts put in by everyone in the production group. I was speechless. The number of people involved were countless. But everyone played a part in making the movie work. I wonder what it's like to work for a big productions company. I'm so damn curious. I hope I'd be given a chance one day.

So anyway besides university, I am also currently interning at Meld Magazine as a photographer, videographer and a writer. Everyone usually has only one or two positions but I shamelessly volunteered to be all simply because I have a passion for all. I have too much love for too many things. I am also still an active contributor to Lady Iron Chef (best food & travel blog in Asia-Pacific). I am also currently freelancing for two fashion apparels - Style India and another local Aussie designer as a photographer. Next week I'd be assisting a finance company for a corporate shot. I will also be filming for 3 days. On top of all that, I also have a test and heaps of editing work to do for images and videos. How exciting! Some people think I'm crazy for overworking myself. I think I am doing fine. It's pretty comforting that I scored distinctions for my two recent assignments. Hurray!

As usual, Swanston St has its protests & rallies - Falun Dafa on the left & May Day Workers Protest on the right. There are more coming up, such as fight for equal marriage.

On Friday, uni ended at about 8ish and I had dinner and drinks with my friends. It's been so long since I last had drinks with them. I had to go home at midnight because I had a photoshoot the next morning. It was so sunny so I went out in shorts. I finally attended yoga class after a quick photo shoot in the city. I was aching so badly after. I am seriously so unfit now. I wonder how I even got medals for running in the past?! P.s. I used to be a hockey captain lol I know what you're thinking... Unbelievable right!?

Despite my hectic schedule, I am still eating very well and at times still eating way too much for my height/size. A foodie will always make time for food no matter how limited her time is. Hahaha. Shall spam the remaining space with food pictures from this week:

I finally visited Chuckle Bar after seeing the review on Jacq's blog. Absolutely love this place! Shall do a proper review another day since I actually brought my DSLR out.

I don't think I have ever been that optimistic and strong in my life. I guess that's what happens when you do stuff that you really enjoy. I found my passion. Finally. Goodnight :)

Squisito Bar

I finally had brunch at Squisito Bar located at one of the laneways in Qv. Their lunch menu stops serving at 2pm and is definitely not a place for nocturnal creatures. Squisito Bar serves simple Italian food at affordable prices. They serve great coffee too.

I had their delicious smoked salmon salad with tasty rice served in a generous portion which tasted and looked really homemade.

I had never seen any Tigella bread in my life before but they were being sold at the counter of Squisito Bar in several flavours. Tigella is a flattened bread with its ingredients in the middle as fillings. I had the Parma one. They are such great snacks.

Squisito's comfortable wooden decors makes it a favourite lunchtime getaway for many businessmen. An interesting note is that this cafe turns into Wine Lane at night.
 

Squisito Bar
www.squisitobar.com.au
24 Artemis Lane Qv
Melbourne, VIC 3000
03 9654 1544

Live Below The Line Campaign

If you haven't heard about Live Below The Line Campaign, here's a short summary of it: From 5 May to 10 May, thousands of Australians spend only $2 on food a day to raise funds for Cambodians living in extreme poverty. While I didn't sign up to spend only just $2 a day on food, I did my part by donating to a friend. The goal of Live Below The Line 2013 Campaign is to raise $2.5 million and help 4600 Cambodian kids go to school. Last year, the campaign raised $1.9 million and allowed thousands of children to continue attending school. In Cambodia, children graduate at year 7 and starts working at a tender age of 12.

Credits: Tumblr

You can help them. You don't have to donate a big lump sump. Any amount will play a part in helping these poor children a chance to escape the poverty cycle. Visit the campaign's official website https://www.livebelowtheline.com.au/ for more details on how to donate.