Yay for Australia & Steak!

Went to Milton on the recommendation of a few randoms on the net (i.e. googled “best steak +Brisbane” and looked at some random rants) of which the Embers Restaurant (http://www.embers.com.au) was recommended.

So I made a booking for 3 (really shouldn’t have). The interior was not really what I was expecting for a steak restaurant. A bit pretentious with fancy wooden chairs with arms. It had a strangely up-market feel which I did not really expect for a steak and grill place. But it had no ambience about it, being pretty empty it was like a hospital cafeteria feel, but as it filled up it just got noisier.

Service: About 60 seconds after being seated we were asked if we wanted a drink – hmmm how about you let us look at the drinks menu first??? Thanks Waitress # 1.

And then shortly after this we were served (?? More like just approached) by waiter # 2, which when IP asked if there were any special tonight we were told that everything was special, and then that specials are only for when the chef wants to get rid of something that is getting a bit past special. Hmmm.. ok ..RUDE!!!! When Waitress # 1 came back she balls it up not writing down our order properly so had to come back and confirm. I would like to say that the one saving grace was the waitress # 3 who served our meals, cleaned up and settled the bill - she was "nice" and helpful.

Food: I have to say that I had no complaints about the food. I ordered the rib on the bone and I absolutely loved it - a perfect medium rare, tasty AND tender. It's good when a steak is cooked as ordered (rare but required).



I also eyed up my brother’s rump (well his steak to be specific) and it was thick and looked very tasty.



IP ordered pork ribs (swear he is obsessed with ribs at the moment – this is the third time in a week), they didn’t look like anything to write home about! And can I add that the waitress asked "how would you like them cooked?" (ummm cooked please? geez it's not a steak!!)



Overall I think that they may have the best steak in Brisbane. The salads that we ordered, also were tasty and more importantly fresh!



Overall: I was going to give them a solid 8 out of 10 (one point off for the lack of ambience and the weird ass service) although after getting the bill, I am giving them a 7.5 because the steaks were expensive enough with out having to shell out another ten bucks for sauce and salad (side salad $6.50 and sauce $3.50) Damn you embers for charging me to have more than just a steak and a potato!

RATING GUIDE - 10: perfect; 9: excellent; 8: very good; 7: good; 6: passable; 5: disappointing; 1-4: woeful.

Day 21 - Last day on Formosa

Well last night started off well .. we (Yvonne, Sean, her brother and me) scootered off to a nice Japanese establishment called Kawata Yakiniku where you actually cook (BBQ) your own food - WAGYU steak, pork, chicken, bacon wrapped asparagus, prawns, japanese fish, scallops and squid. We then went and saw enchanted, which was a very light hearted and sweet movie.

We then went to the local pool hall and the boys had a couple of games of 9-ball and then a few of 8-ball.

We got home and I went to bed at about 3am. Shortly after this, some got violently unwell and proceeded to up-chuck the contents of their meal and the rest of their stomach contents. So between that and my snoring not much sleep was had.

Today we did absolutely NOTHING! Bit of a downer for our last day and we are not looking forward to the flight home either.

Bring on Brisvegas! ciao for now.

Day 20 - Fast train to Taoyuan

Waking up relatively early considering our 3am bedtime, we were picked up by Jacob & Vicky and escorted to the local computer area of Taichung. Sean was looking for a laser mouse for his new hot computer systen which his mate is building for him. No luck - as the prices are comparable to Australia. I managed to get a great deal on a 9 inch digital photo-frame, which will have pride of place on our new (yet to be bought) ikea buffet (to match the dining table), to display the memories of this GREAT trip. They also threw in a free (stuffed) giraffe!

After this we went to the restaurant from where it is reputed that pearl milk tea orginated (the previous nights was better) and also filled up on Taiwanese snacks including noodles, spicy stirfried mushrooms and dumplings.

Jacob and Vicky then dropped us in a youth area (as they had afternoon commitements) where were browsed the markets.

We then decided to head home - the transport option of choice for this trip was high speed rail. Due to the heighten use of this service we had the option of waiting one hour - or going first class. I don't know if it was worth the double price fee, although it was definately an experience. It did not feel like we were travelling at a highspeed. First class involved a bigger seat and free tea & coffee (also nuts and bottled water).

Now home in Jhongli - only one sleep and an overnight flight between me and Australia. Can't wait to get home to the boy and the girls. Wish I didn't have to return to work.

Day 19 - Slow train to 苗栗

Yesterday we went to Elaine's hometown, to meet up with her. Drove around in her little Nissan March (equivalent of a MICRA in Australia). This would have been excitement enough, but we had the complications of Elaine's CRAZY driving and the fact that we started the day on EMPTY! It was a fun day - as all adventures with Elaine have been.

We first went toa disused train station in the mountains which is now a bit of a tourist destination. Ate some traditional Hakka food. This consisted of what looked like a fern salad, stirfry Pork, and a noodle dish that was very delicious.

After eating, and walking the street area, we ventured on to pick strawberries. This was a soggy experience which was very muddy (not a good idea in brand new WHITE shoes). I utlised the gum boots which were on offer.

We finally caught the train down to Taichung to meet with Scott & Hyatt. We also met with a couple who were their close friends - Jacob & Vicky. Together, we enjoyed a hot-pot, with WAY (way way) too much food. I don't know how we fit in the peark milk tea later - maybe it was the stop-off at the sportswear store which worked up a further appetite.

After all this, (at midnight) we started the look for a place to stay for the night. This turned out to be quite a mission as the only hotels which were on offer were "love motels" or similar. In our quest we had a look at some - they were really unsuitable as they only had one bed (couples really do not require more) and no doors to bathroom areas. This was also complicated by the fact that it is CNY meaning expensive season. Some of the rooms we looked at had interesting chair like contraptions in them which were a bit shocking.

After a through search we finally found a room for a reasonable price and bedded down for the remaining hours of the night.

Day 18 - Happy New Year

Today is the new years eve in Chinese tradition. We had a pretty quiet day as the family were up early going to traditional hometown temples. Which meant sleeping was done this afternoon.

Yvonne and I then went to the city to do some last minute errands and shopping. I bought some fake eyelashes! Very practical errand.

Tonight we had a huge family dinner which was very tasty. There was a ricewine soup (very alcaholic), mud crab claws, steamed chicken, pork & mushroom soup, pork & green onions, sweet & sour whole fish, and a crab stirfry with green snap beans.

Fireworks can be seen and heard from the surrounding streets. There is a lot of people letting them off in the neighbourhood, some can be heard every minute. This photo was taken by Sean on the roof of the house we are staying at.

I hope to get back up to the roof later tonight, but it is VERY cold up there ... Maybe it will be going off at midnight. When I went up before, I did not realise that my camera did not have the memory card in it, so only got 30 mg of recording.

Day 17 - Zzzzz

Today was a bit of a non-event. I slept in until noon, and then we went downtown to the SOGO (posh department store) had some snacks (Sashimi) at a Japanese Restaurant and then came home in time for a huge Taiwanese hotpot. Need to make these at home!!

After dinner we watched "Memiors of a Geisha" to make up for not seeing any in Japan.

After that the family disappeared to begine CNY celebrations which prayer and now chinese firecrackers can be heard throughour the streets.

I should be in bed, but am strangely wide awake.... I want a Canon Camera - or a panasonic FX-33 - can't decide. Last time I went out on a limb with a digital camera purchase I got stuck with the damn Olympus. Four more sleeps (and an overnight plane trip) before I am home. If only I didn't have to go back to work on Monday ...

Have been having some Japanese medicine (tastes like cinamon but disgusting) which seems to have helped my cold - YAY!

Day 16 - Resting & then Cinema

Today Yvonne & Sean went to Taipei via the train and I stayed home to give myself an oportunity to get better. It's still cold here and I thought a day in bed would be more helpful than one spent in the cold wind. Instead I decided to upload my photos onto my website - instead I lost them ALL! Good job Leigh!

When they got back at about 4pm, Yvonne and I went into her city to buya replacementUSB reader, SD card and a certain person a DualShock3 controller. That done we came back to have dinner with the family which included turnip & mushroom soup, pork in soy sauce, chilli stirfry pig's snout (It was yum I promise) and chinese cabbage with tiny shrimp. Very tasty!

After dinner we decided to go and catch that movie. So we saw "Cloverfield" it was ok. But I wouldn't reccomend, Blairwitch style camera work with a monster in Manhatten. One highlight was the chocolate popcorm. yum yum double yum.

On the way home we went through the night markets and one thing that we saw at the markets that we also saw at the other night markets, which we found amusing is the sudden packing up of stalls with notification that the police were on the way through the market! Aparently it is people who are selling pirated goods and those who are avoiding paying tax on their sales.

Now home chilling out in front of the TV. Tomorrow looks like a trip to the local SOGO.

Day 15 - Jhongli

The wind-down weekend begins as we have returned to Taiwan. Back at Yvonne's family home to share in the preparation and experience Chinese New Year (CNY).

Today we went into the centre of the town, to look at the computer shops and a general browse, with the intention of finally getting to the cinema to watch a movie. When we almost got to the cinema we were invited to go to the supermarket with Yvonne's parents to do shopping for the CNY. One of traditions when visiting friends and family is to take a gift, so the store was rife with cakes, biscuits and candies prettily packaged - and they were flying off the shelves ... We also bought a lot of snacks and candies for our own consumption, from what I understand, CNY is a time of family and friends coming together, prayer, eating and playing Mahjong.

I absolutely love going to supermakrkets (the bigger the better) in foreign countries as it really gives you a snapshot of how the household functions by the different offerings available and it is also interesting to see things that you don't see in Australia.

After all this excitement we decied not to see a movie and went home instead. Tried to get an early night in to try and get over this cold.

Day 14 - To be or not to be

I was awoken this morning with the decision that we would not be staying in Tokyo for the additional night so instead we packed up & checked out - ready for the journey back to Taiwan.


Before leaving Sean and I utilised the last hours revisiting Akibara on what I can only label "The Knife Run". Following the sucess of our inital run, we went back to pick up additional supplies for those that had indicated their interest in such knives. I also tried to find a watch (as the $4 cheapy had died in the night before and I wanted something nice like that to take home). I also purchased some SONY headphones which I am very happy with great sound quality AND they fit in my ears (i.e. don't fall out).




We finally made it back to the rendevue point to begin the journey to the airport. The flight again, I was impressed with, China Airlines is up there for me with cabin service and quality of food. The fact that there was a TV in the back of the seat gave definate brownie points also. I watched this weird movie about this guy who has this "real doll" which he is deluded into thinking is a real person, it was called "Lars and the real girl" and then got through most of "Good Luck Chuck". I hate not seeing the end of a movie... will have to wait for DVD now....


Before boarding the plane I found the perfect watch - it is DKNY and I love it.


Oh well back in Jhongli with Yvonne's family and I do have a headcold. Lost 3 train tickets in the past 2 days - definately not with it!

Day 13 - Shibuya, Harajuku & Tsukiji

An early start today as we trekked off to the vibrant (??) and very busy Tsukiji FISH market. What a sight! I saw lots of "things" which I never seen before and doubt (hope) to never see again!


It was very interesting and this was something that I had mentioned wanting to go to...


It's just that I walked away feel a bit sad for all the dead fish, and moreover, concerned about the state of the oceans, if this is indicative of we are ganking from the waters on a daily basis. Sorry for sound a bit "conservationist" there! I mustn't have felt that bad (or got over it very quickly) as we then went to a sushi bar onsite, and chowed down on a selection of what essentially was raw fish (also prawn, squid & cooked eel) on RICE! This was not a cheap one at 3500 Yen a serve.


Walking away very full and a lighter hip pocket, we wandered down the main street of nearby Ginza, which is full of Luxury goods (i.e. Gucci, BVLGARI, etc) which were not on the shopping list. Very interesting though.


Next was HARAJUKU station, which is well known for it's eccentricly dressed youth, they didn't fail us today either - would love to be able to go on a Sunday when apparently it is TEEMING with such specimen.


Harajuku also is the location of a shrine called the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This was built in honor of Emperor Meiji. Very beautiful!


After a quick look at SNOOPY TOWN, we proceeded onwards to close-by Shibuya. We ate lunch at a Japanese BBQ restaurant, which was very yum!


The reason we went here is so that Sean could find a tackle store and it was finally located - after some time walking the cold streets. :) While we was busy in the store, I filled up on Japanese cosmetic items, at a local pharmacy.

With very sore feet we proceeded home, to find out that our great idea to change our return date was not suitable with the hotel as they are fully booked tomorrow night. I think we have found another one though, fingers crossed, or we will be sleeping in the subway station tomorrow.

I think I am coming down with a cold.