Sam Sam - Melbourne CBD

Are you looking for a good Korean Restaurant in Melbourne CBD? 

No need to look further! Sam Sam is a new Korean Restaurant that's located along the Swanston St and it is also located just opposite the Swanston St and Bourke St tram stop. 

As Swanston St is consider as one of the busiest street in Melbourne and it could be hard to decide where to eat, but Sam Sam is a restaurant that is worth to be try!

Eventhough this restaurant is located in a busy spot, I wasn't expecting that I would be seated so quickly. But, guess what? I was being able to get a table so quickly and easy. 

I was so surpise and never thought that Sam Sam has three floors dinning area. When I came here, I was being seated in the basement area. 

Here was the situation of Sam Sam's basement dinning area. 

The restaurant's ambience and music are great. Their service was just okay as the food is delivered pretty quickly and well presented. But, their staffs wasn't that friendly and didn't explain the food in details.. 

Sam Sam has several menus ranging from chicken menu, soups, hotpots, bulgogi and others.

 Me and my friends were ordering their boneless sweet soy spring onions chicken, spicy pork bulgogi and also their kimchi fries.

Sweet Soy Boneless Chicken that is served with spring onions on top! 

This dish also come out with salads and a small portion of potato wedges. It was quite sweet but, it still tasted very good and crispy.

Kimchi Fries. 

It is a crispy fries that is served with spicy kimchi, cheese, small amount of pork belly and also sour cream. It was such a great combination! This dishe was really delicious and made us want to order more. 

Bimbibap that is served with a choice of Spicy Pork Bulgogi

To be honest, this dish looked considered as a big portion for me when it arrived! But, after I mixed everything, it doesn't looked a lot anymore. They doesn't served their rice, veggies and meat in a proportion size. I found it that they served too much rice and too little of pork bulgogi. Overall, their pork bulgogi tasted very plain and the food wasn't that good. 

This restaurant prices and foods are average. 

My recommendation is not to forget to try their Kimchi Fries.

Sam Sam  

209 Swanston Street 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar - Melbourne Central CBD

The moment when you walk into the Max Brenner's cafe, you will instantly smell their soothing smells of their chocolate. Max Brenner is a cafe that is dedicated entirely to the pursuit of enjoying chocolate in its different forms, whether it is desserts, confections and beverages, both hot and cold. 

I headed to Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, Melbourne Central CBD couple of days ago. It's located at the Elizabeth st entrance of Melbourne Central. 

Luckily, when I came here during the weekday, it wasn't as crowded as compared on the weekend. The best thing was that I didn't have to lined up when I ordered and didn't have to wait for so long for my desserts to arrived. 

I kinda dislike coming to this cafe on weekend because it's hard to find a seat and I have to wait for so long (approximately 15 -20 minutes) for my order to come up. Usually, the queues  are often flowing out the door. 

If you like sweets, I am pretty sure that you will love Max Brenner. The desserts and drinks served at this cafe are sweet. 

When it comes to hot chocolate, I usually ordered their Hot Dark Chocolate because their Milk Chocolate is too sweet for me. 

But, that time I ordered something else and can you guess what I ordered? 

Chocolate Souffle $10.50

Max's signature delight with a warm, melted centre

I usually called this cake as a Chocolate Lava Cake. This cake is smooth in the inside and outside and the dark chocolate inside was pretty thick and smooth. It usually came with a scoop of vanila ice cream and strawberries that will costs you extrea, but I didn't asked for it that time.

Tutti Fruti Waffle Single $14.50

 Belgian Waffle served with a milk chocolate drizzle on top, ice cream, fresh bananas and strawberries.

The fruity flavours can be dedicated to this tutti fruit. It was a good combination when you eat this  crunchy warm waffle with the ice creams and fruits :)

So, I spent around $25 for those two desserts. The desserts here are quite expensive but I think we are paying for a better quality of desserts. 

If you are a chocolate lover, I would highly recommend you to try this place. But, if you are not, you could avoid this place because you might not be able to tolerate with the level of the swetness. 

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar

Melbourne Central Dome 

300 La Trobe St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

Sir Charles

After looking at the photo that has been posted by many people on Instagram, I really wanted to visit Sir Charles. I have never thought that there would be another fancy brunch spot at Fitzroy.

 Top - Salmon Benedict $18 

Below - Sir Charles Benedict $18 

Ice Chocolate -$6

The main reason of me coming to Sir Charles is because I have been craving for their Sir Charles Benedict! The Sir Charlse Benedict served with 2 panko golden crumbed eggs that are likely drizzled with Sriracha hollandaise and sprinkled with chilli, spring onion, corriander and black sesame seeds too. Not to forget, it also served with bacon and roti. This food combination is a perfect combination with the perfectly cooked eggs, rich hollandaise, caramilized bacon and roti. The best thing is that the food is not oily too!

Sir Charles also served good iced chocolate. That's not too sweet and yet I could still able to taste their chocolate.

I have to say that breakfast at Sir Charles gave our usual expectations of Melbourne brunching a best shake up!

Sir Charles

121 Johnstone St

Fitzroy 

My Skincare Routine

Do you guys ever wondering when looking at the Korean and Japanese girl's SUPER FLAWLESS skin face? 

Is it because of their weather, genes and the food that they ate? 

Hmm.. those might be some of the reasons why their skin looks super good! But, yeah I think their skincare routine is also the reason of why their skin looks very good too.. 

I don't have a perfect skin but one thing that I've learned is that taking care of our own skin today could help reducing chances of blemishes tomorrow.

 I have a normal skin type but, sometimes my nose is dry and oily. 

I haven't had any problem since I started on this skincare routine from couple of years ago. And I have never changed any of the product that I used.
I am also quite disciplined and I could saw an excellent result =)

So here are my favourite Skincare Routine:

Step 1

Wash my make up using L'OREAL Makeup Remover

Step 2 

Cleanse my face in the morning and night using the Clarins Cleansing Milk. I use this product as a precleanse before using a foaming cleanser. Sometimes, I only use this product alone in the night.
How do I use this product? I usually apply this cleansing milk on my face. Then, I wipe it off with cotton pads.

Step 3

Then I rinse my face using a cream cleanser that lathers into a thick foam -  Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser in the morning and night. 

Step 4

Before applying the lotion, I always applying this Clarins toning lotion which is alcohol free. I purpously always applying this toner to my face as this toner leaves a fresh and smooth feeling into my face.

Step 5 

Applying the ShiSeido Bio Performance Super Corrective Serum. I am appying this serum  because I live in a cold weather so, when I applied this serum, feel that my skin is not dry, and feeling fresh. This serum is also gives solution to counteract wrinkles, sagging and dullness. 

Step 6

I am applying the Ibuki Refreshing Moisturizer for the night time

and applying the ShiSeido Ibuki Protective Moisturizer for the day time as this lotion has the SPF15. 

I've been using this lotion since when I was 14 and I am always satisfied with the result of this hey very good lotion. 

Step 7

I use this masker in any of the alternative day because some of the night I don't have the time to wait for my skin to absorb to this masker. I usually buy the Etude House or Face Shop mask as they are most affordable and works for me well! 

I really like the Collagen, Pearl & Green Tea Etude House Mask. 

These are what I have at home:) 

So, what are your personnal skincare product?

Do you adjusting your skincare routine accrding to your skin type condition?

Let me know in the comment!:)

Things to do in Southern Europe: Day 3

Day 3

Andora La Velle -> Marseille 

I finally left Barcelona. Till we meet again Barcelona! 

So, I continued travelling to Andora La Velle that took me 3 hours ride by coach. 

If you are wondering about what's Andora La Velle?

Andora La Velle is a city between France and Spain. The city is small and calm, but there's nothing in there. That's why I didn't spent much time in that city. 

I only went for lunch in one of the restaurant in Andora and I remember that I ate the traditional lasagne that time. 

After I had my lunch, I immediately continued my journey to Marseille. So, it took me 3 hours to reached Marseille. However, something was happening along the street, so we had to passed another alternative road that took much more longer time to reached Marseille. 

Guess how many more hours we need sat inside the coach?  

It's NOT 3 hours anymore but, it's 6 HOURS! 

Everyone was so dissapointed of the accident that was happening:(

I was so sad because by the time I reached Marsaille everything was close down except cafes and bars. 

So, I rushed to the hotel to had our dinner immediately.

As I was staying at Marseille for only one night, I couldn't enjoy anything much:( 

If you're wondering where's Marseille...

Marseille is the a city that's located in between France and Paris. It's the second largest city in France after Paris and the center of the third largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon.

I hope this helps for those who doesn't know about this city.

Scrolll & scroll down for more photos that I took at Marseille :)

These 2 photos were taken from the main street. And there's nothing much we could enjoy from these location except like cafes.. 

From my prespective, there's nothing much at Marseille. So, yeah don't spend too much time staying there. But, overall if you want to know how the city looks like, you could come and stay for a night. 

Thanks for reading and see yo next time. Enjoy!

Things to do in Southern Europe: Day 2

Day 2 

Barcelona 

Montserrat Monastary Basilicia & La Ramblas 

Still, the sight and sounds in Barcelona really took my breath away. 

Naturally pretty yet amazing!

We took a coach from our hotel to Montserrat for half an hour. Then, we decided not wasting time and took a cablecar to reached the Montserrat. It was much faster that getting on a coach!

The nice street from inside of the coach. 

This view was taken from the Cablecar station. Belive it or not all the rocks was naturally arranged by themselves. The rocks looked clean and huge from the bottom. 

It's me with the view from the Cablecar station before headed up to the monastary. It took me around 15 minutes by Cablecar to reached the hill and another 15 minutes walked to reached the monastary. 

Again, it was HOT! 

Me & my brother's took a picture after we reached the other Cablecar station! You can spot the huge rocks at the back! The rocks each's shape was different. 

And finally after 15 minutes walked, we reached the Montserrat Monastary Basilicia. It was pretty tiring as we need to hiked up to reached the monastary. But that was okay!

And finally we reached the monastary YAY! So, me and my mom immediately took a photo from the outside of the monastary with those rocks view as well! From the outside area, the monastary wasn't crowded as compared to the inside of the monastary. 

If you guyd wondering what's Montserrat Monastary Basilicia? 

Montserrat - serrated mountain that plays a vital role in the cultural and spiritual life of Catalonia. As it's Catalonia most important religious retreat and group of young people from Barcelona makes a hight at least once in their life to watch sunrise from the top 

Basilicia - the name of the church at Montserrat. Most people visit Montserrat its because the gotchic building of architechture significance. Also, it houses what is arguably Montserrat's most important feature - the statue of the Black Madona

Scroll, Scroll & Scroll to see more pictures! 

Me & my family was standing at the front of the monastary's door. Really like their wall! Looks very majestic LOL! All of their floor was made up from a marble.

How beatiful it is! The had a church service - silent mode that time so, I wasn't able to snap lots of picture. 

That's some of the pictures that I managed to snapped from the right area of the church. Evnthough it's not much, I hope those pictures inspires you to visit this church :)

Finally, I had to lined up from the outside to get to see the Black Madona Statue. It took me around 30 minutes wait outside to see the statute. They will just open their door once their church service is done so it will not get disturbed. 

And, I had to queued for another 15 minutes inside to get to see the statute. Because the corridor was small, so people must walked closely and in a silent manner. 

Oh btw, the photos that I snapped previously was taken along the corridor before I got the chance to see the Black Madona statue. 

And finally, here we go. Black Madona Statue

What do you think about this statue? Each person must see it individually because the space was too small. We could pray and touch the statue for couple of minutes too. 

That's was our visit to the monastary and we was waiting outside for the other group member.

We had our lunch nearby the monastery, then we headed back to the city to have a walked at 

La Ramblas!

La Ramblas is the centre street in Barcelona that's popular with tourists and locals too. Its popularity with tourist has affected the character of the street, with a move to pavement cafes and souvenir kiosks. Branded boutiques such as LV and others as well as normal boutiques such as H&M, Zara, Stardivarius and others could be found along the street. 

This street has also suffered from the attention of pickpockets

I ended my night by watching the Flamenco Show and also had dinner at the same time. It a traditional show. But, I didn't really like it and it was wasting time LOL. 

Thank you Barcelona, I am beginning to fall in love with you. 

See you on the next blog & thanks for reading! 

Things to do in Southern Europe: Day 1

It's been quite a while since I finally travelled out of Asia because I was studying at Melbourne. But,  am super happy to finally get to travel again with my family. 

I went to Western Europe couple of years ago. It's completely different from what I saw especially the scenary and the atmoshphere. I couldn't be more thankful that I choosen this destination.

So in this post, I'm going to share about my day 1 of stay at Southern Europe trip and hoping that everyone would enjoy it :) I was 10 days travelling and I joined a tour - Karmel Tour and Travel from Surabaya for this trip. So, they had already prepared everything for my trip including hotel, transportation, foods and destionations. 

First, whenever in Europe, you must be very careful with pickpocker / it is known as "copet" in Indonesia. They are just anywhere around the corner; it could be a child, man/women that's goodlooking and doens't looks like they're a pickpocker. They are very smart and have a trick on how to take our important stuffs without us realizing it. 

Therefore, it's better for us to apply an insurance as we could claim the money back if something's happening. Because, one of my mom's friend money was stolen that time and surprisingly she could claim her money back. 

Getting the SIM card at the airport was easy and wasn't that expensive. But, I didnt't getting any SIM card because my tour leader told me that WiFi could be found anywhere and also always available in the hotel. 

And yeah, that's TRUE!

Most places close at 19:00 if I am not wrong. However, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets opens till later time.

Bad experience that I had with this trip was the time when I didn't realize that it was summer over there :( So, yea I was patiently beared with the hot and quite humid weather. 

It reached till 40 degree celcius, DAMN! 

Day 1 - Barcelona, Spain

So, my first destination was to Camp Nou Stadium. It cost me 23,00€ to purchased this tour ticket.     I was inside the stadium for one and a half hour and being able to discovered the huge stadium and FC Barcelona Museum. I'm not a big fan of any soccer club, but yeah I was okay when I have to visited a soccer stadium. It's was a great experience for me as that time was my first time visited a soccer stadium

Can you spot me? LOL!

 I looked really small standing in front of the soccer field. Eventhough, it was really scorching hot under the sun, but the huge fan that's standing around the corner helped to cooled me down. 

I really like the soccer field as it was super duper clean - the grass looked really fresh and green too. 

This is a closer look of me with the soccer field and this photo was taken near by the audience seat. I couldn't stepped to the soccer field because there was no access to get to the soccer field. 

Sadly, I didn't snapped any of the museum photos but my brother has it in his camera. 

Sagrada Familia Church

Me and my brother took a photo from the back of the church because it enabled us to took picture cleatly as compared from the front of the church. The back part of the church wasn't as crowded as compared to the front of the church. 

This church is a large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, Spain. Although its incomplete, it looks really sturdy, luxury and beautiful inside and outside. 

Here's the inside look of the church! The building itself looks really majestic lol! Antoni Gaudi - the architect must be very creative till he was able to came up with an idea of the construction of this church. I don't know how the workers built everything back then. No wonder, it took them a very long time to construct this church. I'm not sure how many more years they need to complete the inside and outside of this church's construction. 

Harbour view on top of the hill

I finally took a photo on top of the Barcelona's hill. YAY!! Being able to saw the beauty scenery of the Barcelona - the harbour view. I enjoyed the view as it really took my breath away. The city looked really clean and has a great pattern from the top. 

oH I remember that I was wearing the wrong clothes that time. I was wearing a long blouse and jeans and it was really hot for me. Are you guys wondering why? Because, I just landed from Singapore that day, so I straight away had my city tour.

I passed by Plazza Espana, Plazza Reial, Gothic Square, and others. But, I the photos're not with me that's why I couldn't show it here. Sorry.. 

I just have to end this post and will be posting my other day 2 at Barcelona soon. 

Hope you enjoyed my day 1 post!:)