Thai restaurant in Melbourne

Melbourne is such a nice place for food lover (after Bangkok though hehe)

According to the variety of people in different nationalities, eating out and trying new food in city is so much fun!

For example, if you are craving for Vietnamese food, North Richmond and Footscray is the place you should go for cheap and nice food (though the suburbs are not good to walk around).

If you want some pizza and gelato, Lygon St. is the place to go.

But when you think about Thai food, where should you go??

There are many Thai restaurants in Melbourne; some are owned by Chinese or Vietnamese but sell Thai food!!!! (One Thai rest. in China town,Melbourne is owned by Vietnamese and all people in kitchen are Vietnamese and they have bad bad Thai food..pls don't go there!!!!)

This restaurant that I will recommend is owned by Korean and Thai couple and the food is cooked by Thai chef. So no worries ^_^

Golden Triangle Restaurant, 123 Park St., South Yarra is located on the 2nd floor above 7-11, on the corner of Domain Rd. and Park St. You can take tram number 8 that goes to Toorak and get off at stop 24. Or you can park on the street in front or nearby the restaurant. It's so convenient and not far from city in nice location with the view of Botanic Garden.

The restaurant opens at 6pm - 10pm (kitchen is closed) everyday.

The food is cheap there compare to other restaurants in the area. Here come the recommended dished from Tan Tanz ;)

1. Mixed Entree - fish cake, spring roll, satay chicken, golden bag and curry puff (1 each) is really good starter for people who cannot make decision of what they like. After trying some of this and that. You can order your most favourite for another round :)

2. Roti bread and peanut sauce - some people who are not from Australia might be confused as I was that why roti is in Thai restaurant. I guess it might come from high population of Indian especially in Melbourne. Therefore roti is so common in restaurant.

However the highlight is not only nice roti bread but it is the peanut sauce that was the best I've tried in many restaurants in Melbourne!!!

3. Main course time....continue from number 2...if you like peanut sauce, you should try Pad Satay which is mixed veg with your chosen meat and stried fried with peanut sauce.

4. Tom Yum soup - hot and sour soup..they usually serve in small bowl just for 1 person as entree but I would like to recommend you to order for main size and share as the taste is so nice. Also tom yum soup is like a symbol of Thai food that you must not miss!

5. Chuchi Chicken - creamy Thai curry with some herb and galanga with marinated chicken. It's tasty and creamier than usual red or green curry.

6. Talay Ruam (Mixed Seafood BBQ) - it comes with mixed of squid, fish fillet and prawn that stired fried with herbs and chilli. It's really nice dish for spicy food lover. It's not that much spicy. You can order for more or less spicy. It is served in hot pan with some smoke that might bother other customers in the restaurant haha

7. Korean BBQ beef - as the owner is Korean so there are some Korean dish in the menu and this one is the best one (as I think ) Marinated beef with onions that is served in hot pan.

8. For noodle lover, Pad thai is the recommended one. It's not really taste like Pad thai that you eat in Thailand because of the sauce that is kinda sweet but it's not bad if you want to try.

9. Dessert time!!!! Banana flitter is the one you should order. Deep fried banana with coconut and vanilla ice cream in cute dish decoration. Ohhhh...I love their coconut ice cream!!

10. Drinks and coffee are available there as well. Not many varirty drinks but enough for a beautiful night with good meal.

The ambient is cozy and nice with small size of the whole restaurant.

The service is average with friendly waitress.

They also have free delivery service with more than $20 order before 9.30pm only in South Melbourne and South Yarra suburbs.

Here is the link that talk about Golden Triangle Restaurant

www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760787/restaurant/Melbourne/South-Yarra-Toorak/Golden-Triangle-South-Yarra

Please let me know what you think if you stop by there. Hope you will like it!

On the right is Korean BBQ beef

On the close left is Roti bread and rice and

On the far left is Massamun curry (curry with potatoes,onions and peanut with meat)

Napier, NZ

First of all I would like to apologize people who will read this blog. Putting pictures in the blog is so annoying for me as it's not easy and you can't move whereever you want like other websites.

Maybe it's only me who is stupid and don't know how to do. So if anyone knows, please teach me. That would be really helpful!!!

So I will start from the first picture to last one which is not the same as what I did in my trip :p

The most beautiful beach in Napier!!

Because it was only one beach that has sand like it's supposed to be.

Other beaches in Napier had black stones.

I had never seen beach like this before.

This was the first one.

Huka Falls in Taupo

It was really powerful falls with such a really blue water.

Although the size is small but it's really worth to see.

Craters of the Moon, Taupo

Can you see the heart shaped mud pool? ^^

View from lookout of Napier

Napier town, Art Deco style town

The town is small like the city but it was decorated and has nice style buildings.

I really like these old style buildings in this lovely city.

Internet

First thing I want to say "I think I addict to Internet hahaha".

I always bring my laptop with me when I travel. So I definitely needed computer for my 1 month in NZ.

For traveller, I suggest to bring laptop with you as many hostels and places provide free Internet nowadays. I am going to tell some free Internet places from my trip.

Auckland - there were 2 places I went which are McDonald on Quay St. and Auckland library.

This McDonald was opposite my hostel (Base Backpackers) so it was easy for me to go, just crossed the street. It opened 24 hrs. But they had limited accesss. I couldn't open facebook or gmail and some websites there. Also they don't have plug (in case you need to plug in your laptop. I was lucky to have new laptop back then but if I went there now, my 1 yr old laptop wouldn't last for 10mins Y_Y ).

Anyway McDonald is a good place for using free wifi at night time as most places in Auckland close already. It was little bit scary for me because there were many homeless and weird & bad look people are around there at night.

Auckland Library was like santuary for me when I was there haha. Auckland didn't have many things to go/do for me at that time. I spent many hours in library, chatting and surfing online. I know it was lame because I went to NZ for travelling. But I was in Auckland alone and wasn't in travelling mood back then.

I don't know how many library they have in Auckland but I went to Central City Libray, 44 -46 Lorne St. The hours are Mon - Fri : 9am - 8pm and Sat - Sun : 10am - 4pm. There are 3 floors (as I remember :p ) with plug provided everywhere but the number of people went there to use free wifi were high as well. They have usage limit fo 100MB per day which is enough if you don't upload, download or watching video.

Greymouth - Greymouth library
I stayed at Neptune Backpacker (I have a blog about it already) which had only paid Internet service, not free wifi. After talking to other guests, I found out that library has free Internet to use. Sorry that I can't remember the adress but the town is so small, you can walk around and ask local for library.

If you don't have own laptop, you can use computer there for 1 hour (maybe you can negotiate for longer time if there is no queue hehe) If you have own laptop, you can use Internet as long as you want and they also have plug there. Sweet as!!

In Queenstown and Chirstchurch, I used Internet at hostel. Pay some to get some ;)

I stayed at Flaming Kiwi Backpackers in Queenstown (www.flamingkiwi.co.nz) which was nice and staff are friendly there. If you have own laptop, you will get the code for 1hr Internet each.

It's the same in Chirstchurch where I stayed; Charlie B's Backpackers (www.charliebs.co.nz) free 1hr Internet per day if you have own laptop. At first I booked the room at friendz backpackers but because some silly rule of hostel so I didn't stay. Luckily I found Charlie B's which was so clean and nice with big kitchen that had everything you want for cooking. The TV room was big. The toilet and shower were so clean. I like there!

Hope this can help you somehow :) Don't forget to bring laptop with you.

Old but nice city..Christchurch

Romantic

Touristic

Architecture

Concentrate

Artistic

Peaceful

Creative

Beautiful

Harmony

.......

Christchurch is a big city in south island of NZ.

I spent couple days there by just walking around, took pics of old buildings, visited musuem and bought souvenirs for friends and family.

It's really nice city with old & classic style.

Rainy Wellington, NZ

Apart from windy itself, Wellington was raining all the time I was there. The weather was terribly cold esp. for Asian like me :p

I visited some places as I couldn't enjoy much in bad weather. I walked around city, went to Te Papa (Musuem of NZ), took cable car to Botanic garden and saw Wellington from top view.

Also I went to Weta Cave to greet Gollum :)

Lake Tekapo, NZ

Lake Tekapo was the second destination on the South island after Christchurch. I took 'naked bus' to travel around the island. It was pretty easy for travelling but not for planning!!

I didn't have many information about Lake Tekapo. My plan was walking around, relaxing in hot pools and watch stars. I stayed there for 2 nights in nice backpackers hostel that I forgot the name. It was a hotel that has backpackers area. The room was nice and big with electric blanket (that was good for cold weather at that time) The hotel was in the middle of town, next to supermarket and have lake view in the front! It's so easy to find.

The bus arrived around noon. The first word I said when I arrived there was 'WOW!!!!!!!!' The view was so WOW! White snow and blue lake was something that I had never seen before. I can't explain how beautiful it was. You have to go see yourself :)

Star watching was too much for my budget so I decided to stay in hostel for the first night and tried to look for star myself. Unfortunately the moon was shining brightly on my 1st night.

On 2nd day, I walked up the slippy snowy mountain. I need to tell you that I don't like treking and walking down the steep. I hate the feeling that I will fall down. Actually I always fall down when I walk down the hill :p The path was next to hot pools. Good walk to see view of Lake Tekapo from above. But I didn't make to the top as I was too scared.

In the evening I went to relax at Alpine Springs & Spa(http://www.alpinesprings.co.nz/) There are 3 big outdoor hot pools with different temperature. It was such a nice feeling that you can relax in hot pools with nice view of snow and peaceful lake. I wanna go back there again!!

Luckily that the moon didn't work on my 2nd night :) It was good that I didn't pay money (about $80) for star watching because I could see from my hostel. It was too beautiful to explain. Just like in heaven!!!! (I've never been there though haha)

I saw photos of Lake Tekapo in Summer from postcard and I think it's more beautiful in Winter. I didn't buy any postcard from there. Why do you want to buy postcard when you were in one of them already?!?

Lake Tekapo was a winter wonderland for me. There is nothing much to do there but I would love to go back and do nothing there again!

Good Backpackers Hostel in Greymouth, NZ

Sunset view from my room

Greymouth is a small city in the north of south island. I stopped there because I planned to see Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki that is next to Greymouth.

Many people go to Greymouth to take TranzAlpine train to/from Christchurch (http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz/services/tranzalpine.aspx). There are not many things to do in Greymouth but walking around small town and enjoy the art of old buildings.

In this blog, I want to talk about Neptunes Backpackers (http://www.neptunesbackpackers.co.nz).
It was one of the best backpackers hostel that I stayed during NZ trip. The place is at the edge of town, next to river. I saw that they had free pick-up service from train or bus station but I didn't use it. I walked :p

Neptune Backpackers is an old building with 2 floors. The staff was helpful and friendly. The room was nice with private sink in the room and free towel. If you are couple and look for nice room during a long trip, I recommend the room in the front on the 2nd floor. It was a nice room with big bed ^^ and nice view of river. Just like a hotel!!!

They also had kinda free DVDs. No fixed charge for borrowing, just donate some coins as you want. And the most important thing that I like this backpackers was Free Bakery!!

Every weekdays about 4-5pm, they had free nice bakery from bakery shop in town. When I heard about 'free', I thought it would be like free soup and popcorn in Franz Josef so I didn't expect much. But when I saw big 6 boxes with variety of muffin, sandwiches, pies and etc. I was surprised. Once I had one, I needed more!!!

This place is the proof that there are some nice free food in this world haha. Don't forget to visit cozy and nice backpackers like Neptune Backpackers hostel (esp. during on weekdays for free bakery hehe)

Nice Nachos in Franz Josef, NZ

One more blog about food.

Franz Josef is a very small town in the South of NZ that has glacier as only 1 tourist attraction place. I stayed there for a night at Chateau Franz Backpackers. They have free soup every night and free popcorn (don't expect much from free food ;p). Apart from free food, it has big kitchen, small hot pool and nice atmosphere.

The town is so small that you can walk around in 10mins. There was only one supermarket (4 Square) that you can find food and necessary things there. I heard before arrived that there was no supermarket so I bought some food beforehand.

Next day after walking (4km.) to glacier and hitched hiking back to town because I was too tired and lazy to walk!!. I needed nice food, not instant noodle, toast or free soup. I went to 'The Speight's Landing Bar and Restaurant' that is located in the middle of town. It's nice restaurant (of course it comes with high price). I ordered just one dish which is Nachos.

It came in BIG portion with not really good look but the taste was awesome!!! It wasn't because I was hungry from long walk. But it was really delicious and the secret is sweet chilli sauce!!

While I'm typing this blog and looking at the picture, I wish I could have that Nachos right now!!!!

'The Speight's Landing Bar and Restaurant' = Nice restaurant, nice food and free internet!! :)

Fergburger; Queenstown,NZ

Almost 6 months since I left New Zealand. I stopped writing blog since I was in Auckland as I was busy with travelling :)

Right now I'm in Bangkok, Thailand (my home town) but still have good memories of NZ and Aus. I'll try to write this and that about NZ and Aus that I experienced. Today I will write about my most favourite thing in the world haha = eating!!!!

In Queenstown, there are many restaurants there but the most crowded one that you can see obviously everytime you walk pass (doesn't matter day and night) is Fergburger!!!!

I heard about this rest. before I was there that they have BIG burger and it's like a must thing that you have to do when you visit Q-town.

I went there about 2-3 pm after I did bungy jumping. (Another thing you must do in Q-town). There were so many people as always. I ordered Sweet Julie which is grilled chicken with sweet chilli sauce costs $12 and The lamb burger with pineapple in it that I forgot the name. I waited there like almost 30mins. Some people were there before me and still didn't get their foods when I got mine!!!!

The burgers came in a bag that looked like parcel. The size was BIG. The taste for 'Sweet Julie' wasn't that good, I can tell you. There was nothing special but the giant size of burger. For the lamb burger, the taste was delicious.

Although my Sweet Julie wasn't that special as the popularity of restaurant. I finished it so quick because I didn't eat anything before bungy jumping haha.

In my opinion, Fergburger is average for the taste. High price and big size and long time waiting. Anyway you should try once you are in Queenstown ;)

In Auckland

I left Melbourne with rush as I had no time to pack my bag (went out too much) and almost missed the flight (I was on the plane 10 mins before taking off) Anyway I made it to NZ!

I took Airbus from airport to city costs $14 for student (silly me that I should have bought return tickets which cost only $21) Then got off at stop number 3 in city which is the location of ABC or Base backpacker. Stay in 4beds room without window for $20. The room is so small and messy as the guy and girl who had staying there for a week. Their clothes were everywhere. So it wasn't that good impression. However the hostel is nice with many provided facilities; nice and big kitchen, two movies room, big lounge and internet (not free though)

1st night in Auckland was kinda bad for me as I was tired from traveling and less sleep the night before. Auckland city is nice, not that much different from other big cities, maybe smaller size and less people. I just walked around Queen St. and went to Sky city which is located on Victoria St. to take some pics around city. Went to McDonald to use free wifi that can't log in to many websites esp. facebook, hotmail and gmail. First meal in Auckland was fried rice from Chinese shop in food court near hostel which is kinda cheap compare to Melbourne.

2nd day I checked out frm Base and moved to Choice Plaza Backpacker which costs $19 for 10 beds dorm (more bed but bigger size in overall) The bed is bigger but other facilities are worse than Base but I dont use them that much so it's ok for me. I walked around city on 2nd day to ferry, victoria market, gallery and found the library that has free fast wifi :) I can't live without internet haha. At night I went to the bar that hostel put ad. that free beer and free food. And it was really free for 15 mins so I had 1 free beer and nacho in Auckland..pretty cool eh?

Today is my 3rd day, I woke up early to catch the boat to Rangitoto island at 9.15 am and Devonport later...total prices are $27.70. It was nice walk but pretty long way for a lazy girl like me to walk up the mountain for 1 hr...I almost died there :p Anyway I made it and I was kinda proud of myself...walked alone on the island to see the view of Auckland.

Then from Rangitoto, caught the ferry to Devonport which I think it's really nice and cute area. Most people on island are old people. There are some nice, small and cute cafe and restaurants..Nice houses and view to see. I was there just 1 hour coz my legs couldn't bear any longer!

Tomorrow morning I will fly to Wellington, the windy city. Let's see what will happen ;)

Plan in Auckland

I have 2 more weeks till my NZ trip.

First 4 days I'll be in Auckland alone. It's kinda sad but oh well...it's another lesson not to believe in sth or someone that much. At the end, it's all about you and yourself.

I will stay at hostel called 'Base' (http://www.stayatbase.com/base-auckland-central-backpackers/) The reason I chose this one cause; it's in city (good place for 1st time visitor like me), not expensive and there are good comments about it. It will be the first time that I'll stay in backpacker alone for 3 nights. I'm so excited to meet new people :)

People said Auckland has nothing much to do so I plan to travel in city, Devonport and maybe go to Northland for 1 night. It will be awesome though I don't even know what to do and where to go hehe.

Need to start

I just finished my assignment tonight and looked through the info. of travelling in NZ. There are soooo many places that sound interesting. I need to choose where I want to go coz I don't have much time and MONEY!

It's kinda hard to remember the places coz of their difficult names and all sound similar to me. I will start listing where I wanna go and see in both islands. Then start planing driving routes which I think I will follow what suggested online :)

I'm excited to travel again!

WOOOOO!!

I GOT IT!!!!!

After waiting for 13 days, I finally got my passport back with NZ visa (with single entry).

I'm sooooo happy, can't stop smiling ^____^

Now I can go there and give BIG cuddle to those cute sheep hehe.

It's not that easy.

Woke up in the morning by phone call from NZ embassy yesterday, made me little bit frustrated.

This woman told me that my document about university is not updated as it is only COE from university that I got last year. Well I knew that this might happen but I though student visa in Australia was reliable enough. But it's not!!!

I had to go to university to ask for document that says what school I'm in and when my course started and will finish. Then scanned and emailed that to her. It was easy to ask for this doc. though coz I thought that I would have to wait for a week or sth like that for one doc. to prove that I'm a student of RMIT. It turned out to be that this guy took about 10 mins and printed it out for me :)

Now I'm waiting (longer) and hope that everything will be alright.

Why is it so hard for me to go to NZ?!?!

Ps. This is not the 1st time that I've asked for NZ visa.

The 1st Step

First of all, I am supposed to do 5 assignments (2 of individual 4,000 words report + 1 group 4,000 words report + 1 exercise that I have no idea about it + 1 10mins presentation) I have left for my last semester now but I'm so tired and sick of reading stuff. So I decide to start making this blog.

Going to NZ for Thai people who is studying in Australia needs visa!! Many people misunderstand (as they think NZ and Aus are the same country lol) that we don't need visa for NZ if we have Aus one already.

I am currently have Australian student visa which will expire in August. I sent the application for NZ visitor visa last week and hope I'll get my passport back with visa in next few days (as they says it might take about 7-10 days)

For some people who are not from visa free countries like me..this maybe useful for you if you wanna go to NZ. Here are all document I sent to them:

- Return tickets AUS - NZ (you can't just ask for booking paper frm agency as they have rules that NZ is like domestic flight so you have to pay money first to get the ticket to show embassy) this is so risky coz if you can't get visa that means you will lose all money you spent! ps. I sent the tickets of my Aus trip as well to show them that I have plan to travel in Aus after NZ.

- Passport (the real one and copied one)
- COE from university to show that I'm student here
- Bank statement NZ$1,000 per one month stay. You can go to bank and tell them that you need statement for asking visa. It's easy ;)
- Application that are printed from NZ embassy website

For copied of passport, bank statement and COE, you need to go to police station or pharmacy to get them certified and send ONLY copied ones to embassy.

The fees for asking visa is AUD$105 + about $3 for registered envelope that embassy will send your passport back to you. If you don't put envelope to the embassy, you have to add $5 more. I chose credit card payment which is so easy. Just put all info. they need in application.

After completing with application and document, it's time to send these to NZ embassy in Sydney. You can check where you have to send them too as it might be different by your nationality and where you are currently living. You can check on its website.

Lastly I hope that I will get visa and have fun in NZ!!!!

PS. here is the website http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/...It's very easy process, no need to pay money for agency or anyone.