Hong Kong no Phooey TR (Apr 2012)! The Yee's have it....TR finish #1101, 07/09

[PrincessInOz]

This made me literally LOL Anyway, the pictures are gorgeous! I particularly like the one of the guys in suits in the fish tunnel!

Thanks for reading!

 

[aussietravellers]

Fabulous Fabulous posts! I was and at the fish/shark portion

This was chocolate cake with chocolate mouse on top encased in that dark chocolate shell. It was delicious but a little too rich for me.

They served a mouse with the chocolate cake? YUMMY

Christmas is my favourite holiday of year. I just love the decorations and everywhere I walk in the city....there is the colour and glitter of Christmas, albeit in a summer setting.

Mine too

Absolutely gorgeous!

I took the above shots in daytime. Just so you know...the people come all day until late. This is outside the Myer windows at 10 pm at night!

Melbourne City decorations are reasonable. They aren't a patch on the ones in Europe; but they do hold their own as a collection of pictures....

They are heaps better than on the Gold Coast! We hardly have any, it's SO sad!



...and a number of grand old buildings that are just beautiful inside. This is the outside of my favourite building in Melbourne...

Why? Check out the interior!

And that domed roof!

This is walking out the back of the foyer.

Stunning!!! Absolutely Stunning!

Thank you for sharing your photos PIO, they were all absolutely gorgeous. Your Christmas party meal look divine, made me hungry looking at it (especially the desserts, as really, dessert is the most important part of a meal )

 

[aussietravellers]

Were some of those photos from outside the Westin hotel? That's where we always stay when in Melbourne.

 

[PrincessInOz]

You know....I might just leave that mouse alone!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Were some of those photos from outside the Westin hotel? That's where we always stay when in Melbourne.

The ones of the square with the large nutcracker and the boxes are of the old City Square outside the Westin.

I do have some night shots of the same place taken at night. I walked into the Westin and headed out that balcony...just haven't loaded it up yet.

 

[aussietravellers]

You know....I might just leave that mouse alone!

You have to leave the mouse there! I thought you may have put it there on purpose being a "Mouse" related board/forum

 

[aussietravellers]

The ones of the square with the large nutcracker and the boxes are of the old City Square outside the Westin.

I do have some night shots of the same place taken at night. I walked into the Westin and headed out that balcony...just haven't loaded it up yet.

It's not the normal view that we see from our window. I can't tell you how many times my DS has looked out of the hotel window in the morning and drawn in the sandy/gravely stuff below is a very large drawing of the male anatomy. He finds it hysterical.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Let's pretend it was deliberate!

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's not the normal view that we see from our window. I can't tell you how many times my DS has looked out of the hotel window in the morning and drawn in the sandy/gravely stuff below is a very large drawing of the male anatomy. He finds it hysterical.

I'm going to have to take a look in the early morning now.....

 

[aussietravellers]

I'm going to have to take a look in the early morning now.....

Yes, make sure you go up to the lobby balcony as it wouldn't be the same view at street level and more likely to find some interesting artwork in that gravel on a Saturday or Sunday morning . We are often on the 3rd floor (it's the starwood floor or something) and the few times we have seen it, they have drawn it quite large Oh the things intoxicated youth get up to That gravel is just too tempting to not draw big things in

I just went through my photos to see if I'd snapped a photo but I haven't. If we ever see it again, I'll snap a photo for you

 

[bobbiwoz]

Your pictures are amazing! Wow!

 

[skier_pete]

Beautiful shots of Beautiful decorations. I do find it amusing that even down there the displays depict the European view of Christmas which is "It's snowy and cold and everyone is dressed in their winter coats." when clearly this is NOT the case down under! I admit growing up /living in a Christmas/Winter climate nice weather is a real stumbling block to feeling "Christmas-y". Partly why I find I don't really get into the decorations at Disney.

 

[OziJo]

Melbourne looks beautiful all dressed up for Christmas! Thanks for the Gorgeous photos.

I'm going into the city (Sydney) today. I might get some photos of the QVB in her finery but Sydney overall doesn't have the same old world charm that Melbourne has.

Have a Wonderful Christmas

 

[franandaj]

Beautiful Photos, love the Christmas Lights on the church!

 

[ACDSNY]

Beautiful photos, I think I remember seeing that church when I was there in 1999.

 

[stephielela]

Beautiful pictures!! Makes me want to come visit!

 

[usnuzuloose]

They are wow pictures! Its nice to see a place that makes the city all christmasy..

 

[PrincessInOz]

Your pictures are amazing! Wow!

Thanks! Glad to see you visiting again.

Beautiful shots of Beautiful decorations. I do find it amusing that even down there the displays depict the European view of Christmas which is "It's snowy and cold and everyone is dressed in their winter coats." when clearly this is NOT the case down under! I admit growing up /living in a Christmas/Winter climate nice weather is a real stumbling block to feeling "Christmas-y". Partly why I find I don't really get into the decorations at Disney.

Give it some time....its only been 7 or 8 generations since the white settlers left the Old Dart. They might need a bit more time to get used to the idea of Christmas in a t-shirt, thongs and that shrimp on the Barbie!

Melbourne looks beautiful all dressed up for Christmas! Thanks for the Gorgeous photos.

I'm going into the city (Sydney) today. I might get some photos of the QVB in her finery but Sydney overall doesn't have the same old world charm that Melbourne has.

Have a Wonderful Christmas

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas yourself. And I checked out your pictures of QVB on your PTR.


Safe travels.

Beautiful Photos, love the Christmas Lights on the church!

It's the first time I've seen them light up the city like this. I hope this becomes a yearly tradition; with more building added to the list.

Beautiful photos, I think I remember seeing that church when I was there in 1999.

I hope you liked your visit in 1999. The church is St Paul's Cathedral and stands opposite the main railway station; and Federation Square. I don't think Fed Square was around in 1999.

Beautiful pictures!! Makes me want to come visit!

Just let me know when.

They are wow pictures! Its nice to see a place that makes the city all christmasy..

They are a little bit spaced apart...but there is a nice Christmas feel to Melbourne; if you go walking and seek out the decorations.


Thanks everyone.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OT - Christmas Food Porn

A Christmas Eve Feast!

On the first dish of Christmas, my mother made for us,
A Pork and Pineapple Assam curry.

On the second dish of Christmas, my mother also made for us,
A picked vegetable Achar.

On the third dish of Christmas, my father made for us,
Chicken Rendang!

Sambal Prawns… (I made this)

Fried spicy chicken…

Chickpea curry (another one of mine)

And a vegetarian mushroom broccoli.

For the eighth dish of Christmas, my brother made for us
Warm Thai Beef salad.

My plate!

For the ninth dish of Christmas, we ventured into sweets.
A lemon tart with berries.

For the tenth dish of Christmas, we OD’ed on fats!
Vodka laden trifle.

Two more dishes of Christmas….to have with coffee.
One of which was Madelines….

And my alcoholic soaked Rum Balls!

(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


Followed by another Christmas Day Feast….


Not content with stuffing ourselves on Christmas Eve, we had my parents over for Christmas Day lunch.
My menu consisted of Roast Turkey Breast Roll. My chicken shop at the Vic Market debones it and sells them in a roll – stuff or unstuffy. I decided to go with the unstuffed version this year.

It might look a little pink in the picture…but it was beautiful. Tender and moist. I did make gravy…but I didn’t take a picture of it (nor of my plate!)

Salmon with a dill stuffing. DH is vegetarian; so the turkey is wasted on him. I found this recipe years ago and it seems to fit the festive season. The stuffing includes breadcrumbs, onion, dill, pine nuts and parsley.

My sides included roasted bell peppers, marinated in oil and white wine vinegar;

Stuffing for the meat lovers. After consultation with the What’s For Dinner thread, I decided on individual portions cooked in a muffin tin. The stuffing is made from breadcrumbs, pine nuts, apple, onions, apricots, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper.

Potatoes, roasted with rosemary and garlic. They were cooked, just…and could have done with 10 more minutes in the oven.

A large salad. The lettuce leaves are all from my garden, the tomatoes come from my MiL’s garden. We dressed it with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Dessert? Absolutely.


The traditional plum pudding.

I served it with custard.

Another trifle.

..and berries.

I would have pulled out the Rum Balls; but everyone was stuffed to the gills by this stage. No dinner for me.


Merry Christmas everyone!






ps. These pictures and the recipes for the Salmon and the Sambal Prawns are likely to feature in the WFD thread in the next week or so.