Today is Sunday, we so excited

This week has got to be one of the most relaxing weeks I've had in a long, long... long long long time. Love how it's raining right now, just adds to the whole relaxation- perfect weather for snuggling into bed with a good fantasy novel and just falling asleep in the warmth of thick blankets.

On Friday, I spent a record time of 4 hours in cafes. 2 hours in Gloria Jeans sipping a regular flat white, then another 2 hours in Starbucks sipping lemon tea, passion flavor, before heading home. That was my whole day (including sleep in). Should have spent the time working, but instead started the book Mistborn, which is part of a trilogy. Goal is to actually finish reading the whole trilogy. It's been so long since I actually completed reading trilogies, I always give up somewhere and skip straight to the end.

Then yesterday, I was preparing a lesson for Sunday School and tt challenged me.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Kawasaki rose, you say? Testing my origami skills a bit, but it wasn't impossible.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Truth was, I actually attempted to fold this rose about 5 times previously, and my patience ran out each time. However, when given a challenge, it's important not to back down. Can't usually follow online instructions well- I much prefer watching someone fold it or getting my hands on a sample and taking it apart to figure out. Realised that I actually like working backwards, taking the solution and figuring out the process from it.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Lunch after church was Vietnamese! :D I've been feeling kinda dejected lately because of the lack of new places to eat. Wait, I went to somewhere new last Sunday too, but throughout the week, it's just been... canned soup... noodles... bread... *yawn*... basic food.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

As soon as we sat down, the waiter efficiently placed a plate full of basil (I think?), lime wedges and beansprouts at the table.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Anyone who knows me, or has been out eating with me, will know. This atrocity CANNOT be my order.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

*Shudder*

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Unfortunately, by requesting "no coriander", they assumed it was "no shallots" too =( Would have liked some... but alas, my hatred for coriander runs deeper than my like for shallots. Way, way deeper. The waiter didn't question my request, not even once. It must be a fairly common practice there.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Ahhh... chopped chili without a surcharge. These were just placed on the table too, along with a nice little pot of tea. Ordered half cooked half raw beef noodles, and within 2 minutes, it was on the table. Talk about fast service! No wonder the place was packed. Literally. People were standing at the door waiting for tables despite the place being actually quite big.

Impeccable service, quick and efficient, wonderful Vietnamese food. We finished the big bowl within 15 minutes and focused on the food rather than on talking. Ok, so it wouldn't be as cheap as Cabramatta or Flemington, but it wasn't too bad still. Left the place feeling happy :) This was at Bankstown by the way, just opposite the sports centre. Free parking there by the way!

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Tried to find the dessert place, but never found it while walking, nor even after asking for directions.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Were about to leave, but decided to just go one final round... there it was.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Turkish dessert place! Gotta say, I prefer Auburn when it comes to Turkish desserts, but this place has its own uniqueness.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Am automatically drawn to these large discs of genoese-looking cakes. There's something about the look of sponge, madeira, castella and genoese cakes that attract me. Wonder what it is...

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

The place was quite empty, but apparently it fills up at night and gets really crowded. There were outdoor-ish seats, and it was a smoking area, but since there was no one, why not~

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

The menu itself was interesting. I had to ask the waitress what a lot of the things were, like... "Argilah", which costs $20 and came in flavors like double apple and strawberry, listed under drinks.

Aka "Nargile", it is a Turkish water pipe and you get the flavored water, which, when burnt, produces a smoke that you inhale through the pipe, and you can even do stuff like blow bubbles in the water... or something. Those are the pipes on top of the cabinet. Apparently, it's not the same as smoking a cigarette, you won't to get addicted and it's not meant to do anything risky to your body.

Did I order it?

Nuhuh. The two tables behind me did though.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Played safe and ordered sweets instead. This is their "Sweet city mix plate" with knafeh (Semolina, butter with cheese), mafrouhki (semolina, butter, Ashta with pstachio sprinkled with fresh almonds on top), sweet cheese, Lady's arms (filo pastry filled with ashta and sprinkled with fresh pistachio), fatayer (filo pastry, syrup) with Ashta.

(Was I speaking another language just now? ._.)

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

This was great. I loved this! It had the same texture and appearance as pear, but slightly chewier. It's actually sweet cheese. Most of the pastries weren't (emphasize weren't) too sweet. They didn't slather syrup over the top like baklavas usually are, instead, there was a small bottle of syrup on each table which we can then pour onto the plate. Adjust to taste. I prefer mine with a moderate amount :D love my sweets.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Also ordered, just for fun, a fruit cocktail. No alcohol I assume, and I think I was right. It's really just like a mixed fruit salad.

From Weeks 13-16, 2011

Is this dragonfruit? I've never had this before!!

It started drizzling, but that's fine, we were under shelter, but it felt outdoors because of the open windows. Loved the atmosphere, the service... the waiter kept coming over and asking if everything was good, asked where we were from (we were obviously not local in Bankstown- most of the people there are either Vietnamese or Turkish I assume..), but he was very pleasant about it.

Time for happy hamster to snuggle into bed with a book nao. Night!