Crab, glorious crab

Actually I'm not an expert on Crab and wasn't looking forward to having to dismantle one for its meat but Mb had been told of a Colombo restaurant, Ministry of Crab, which is highly ranked in a survey Asian restaurants and which is booked out daily. Mb made our reservations two months ago and when we arrived there last night we encountered a more casual venue than I was expecting but one with loads of atmosphere.

I enjoyed the quality of the dishes we ordered if not the work needed to get at the meat in the main courses. I suppose I'm averse to getting my fingers sticky and messy.

The open kitchen

Crab and avocado salad

Crab pate, the glass jar contains treacle which you pour over the pate

Chilli Crab

Crab Curry

Philadelphia

Philadelphia International Airport

Broad Street Philadelphia

Dinner at The Continental

What's for dinner?

Every evening we wandered the back lanes around our accommodation choosing a restaurant at random - those that weren't booked out of course - for our evening meal. We didn't experience a single dud meal.

Time for lunch

After a morning at the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps it surely was time for some lunch.

What could be better than pizza in Roma?

Some Vietnamese Tucker

Last night we met up with local friends for dinner at the Griffith Vietnamese Restaurant. It is reasonably priced middle of the road restaurant with a generally favourable reputation although an internet search shows mixed opinions about the food. We enjoyed our meals and would return happily based on that experience.

Apart from the quality of the food, the other main claim to the restaurant's fame is that it is frequented by many of Australia's Federal politicians often around their work breaks from the nearby Parliament House.

The walls are covered with handwritten testimonials from those dining Pollies. Here is a photo downloaded from their Facebook page.

Should you not enjoy your meal, the walls may still prove entertaining.

Food, glorious food

Melbourne's reputation for fine dining I am sure is justified. I've made two visits there in the past month and street level cafes were bristling with customers both times. I imagine finer and more expensive dining is also thriving but I made no attempt to try that out on these visits.

I spent less than twelve hours in the southern capital yesterday and my senses were sorely tempted at several sites in the city.

Hopetoun Tea Rooms

A patient queue suggests the Tea Rooms have quite a reputation

More queues, this time in a laneway for Doughnut Time

A lavish array of doughnuts

I succumbed to temptation at the Arts Centre with this Mango and Pineapple Cheesecake. The chocolate ball was hollow inside.

Tree knitwear

On South Dowling Street

We had a leisurely lunch today seated outside South Dowling Kitchen (in the background of the photograph).

Hopping on/hopping off in Helsinki

I slept in this morning. The outcome of two busy weeks in NYC, the overnight flight and the time zone changes no doubt but also an indication of how quiet it is in Helsinki. People are not noisy; not in the streets in daytime anyway. Are they rowdy in the evenings; or after a drink or two? I don't know but my CBD hotel, with its double windows, provided no early morning noise to go with the daylight to wake me.

I took it pretty easy really, doing some more walking and two round trips on the sightseeing buses viewing things from afar. Imitation tourism I suppose but it was sufficient for me today. It is also the reason some of the photos I am posting have reflections; they were taken from behind glass, the upstairs windows of the buses.

The south harbour was glistening in the early sun and there were three cruise boats berthed today, not just the one from yesterday.

Helsinki's south harbour

Lutheran Cathedral at Senate Square

My new favourite shopping centre principally because it provides clean and, significantly, free public toilets not readily in evidence elsewhere.

Galleria Esplanad

At lunch a cafe called Picnic attracted my attention because of its clientele. They were either young, or older ladies or working men in their flouro jackets all of which suggested an inexpensive establishment. I selected what I thought was a cheese and tomato roll but it turned out to be chicken and cheese in a BBQ sauce. Never mind, it tasted fine and was chock full of its ingredients even if my photo suggests otherwise. But I draw your attention to the plastic packet on the plate. This was offered as free 'bubble gum' which goes with the meal. I thought that to be unlikely but, hey it was free, so what the heck.

'Picnic' lunch

So what about the 'bubble gum'? Well the product is (apparently) Professional Taysksylitolipurukumi and the packet says it is 100% Xylitol. I had no idea what any of that meant until I opened the packet and tried it. Well, thankfully it wasn't bubble gum - which doesn't appeal to me - but a pellet of strong peppermint chewing gum that freshens the mouth after the meal. Not a bad idea really.

A familiar brand in faraway Finland.

Fosters in Finland

On my third trip today the bus packed with German speaking passengers.

Before

who all but disappeared when we reached the stop where their cruise ship was berthed.

After

Hietalahti Flea Market

A statue of the great Finnish Olympics athlete Paavo Nurmi graces Helsinki's Olympic Stadium

And then back on the streets...

Don't ask me, I have no idea

Sunday in New York

Last night we saw 'Matilda: The Musical' on Broadway. The stage show, which is coming to Sydney in August 2015, has music and lyrics by the Australian musician Tim Minchin and is based on a children's novel by Roald Dahl.

'Matilda: The Musical' at the Schubert Theatre

It is a very entertaining show with energetic performances from a group of talented children and adults. The tunes are catchy, if not memorable afterwards.
★★★★

Today was our most leisurely so far in New York. We walked down to Madison Avenue at East 90th Street for brunch at the Corner Cafe and Bakery.

Smoked Salmon & Cheese Bagel with Lemonade

Whilst at the Bakery, talk show host Geraldo Rivera and his wife called in for take away coffees. We understand they were on their way to the Joan Rivers funeral about to be held nearby.

After lunch we walked across to Central Park where we sat for a while watching the activity around us.

Families playing softball in the Park

We had tickets for another show this afternoon and caught the subway into town around 1.30pm. Although it was a Sunday the train was as crowded as at any other time we have travelled.

Subway packed, as usual

Today's show was the comedy 'It's Only A Play' a wicked comedy about theatre people waiting for the reviews of their play which has opened that night. The show makes a lot of fun, some of it pretty crude bordering on cruel, of real performers and shows. The audience received it with a standing ovation. It was very funny.
★★★★

Here are some photos from that theatre.

Outside the theatre, cast details

Waiting for the curtain to rise

The audience to my right

Decorative auditorium

Dinner tonight was pasta and meatballs at a nearby tiny Italian restaurant to which we have taken a shine.

Visitors day 3, Cruise day 1

The excuse for our get together is Fd and my birthdays which are one day apart. Fd is one year and one day younger than I am. We have booked on a short cruise Sydney to Brisbane all of 38 hours in duration. It amazes me that a short cruise like this would attract something like 1,950 passengers but there you go.

There are all manner of passengers aboard. A number go 'hen's' groups one of which all wear identical tutus and blonde wigs and another group wearing identical caps identifying each member as 'Mum of the bride', 'bridesmaids' etc. There is a group of about 20 who look like a team of footballers and their 'WAGs' (wives and girlfriends) all wearing identical tropical shirts. There are young families with babies in prams and elderly passengers with walking frames. Looks like everyone loves cruising.

We are travelling on the Pacific Jewel. It is not the newest or the most luxurious of cruise liners but perfectly acceptable for a journey like this. We were on board by about 1pm and 'sail' time was scheduled for 4pm however this was deferred until 6pm because 'hundreds' of passengers were delayed arriving by a power failure at Sydney Airport during the morning.

We started with a lunch in the general smorgasbord dining room but frankly didn't fancy the quality or choice very much and (it transpired) that all subsequent meals were to be taken in the formal dining room which we enjoyed far more.

We spent a few hours exploring the ship and the layout during this afternoon until it was time for the mandatory safety drill.

The evening's activities included a go at the Guess the Famous Faces Trivia quiz which we did reasonably well at. We popped into the evening show at a moment when a magician was tearing up a passenger's bank notes but we didn't stay.

Then it was back to our cabins for some conversation and finally bed.

Visitors day 2

This morning I took my three house guests to Bronte for breakfast. Actually the there of them all had some breakfast and then a second go when we selected a cafe. I was the only one to show rare discipline and wait until we reached the cafe before eating anything.

On previous breakfasts there we have noticed local actors at other tables. Ll and Mt were hoping we see some more this time around and although one patron looked vaguely familiar I think it was wishful thinking that it was someone famous. All four of us ordered eggs of some sort' mine were scrambled.

I then drove them over to Centennial Park to walk off some of the food we had consumed over the previous 12 hours but only Mt walked with me. It was windy again today and so felt much cooler than the official temperature.

When we returned Ll and Fd, the latter informed me he had made an appointment to make a business call in Rosehill this afternoon. Rosehill is located about 30 kilometres away in western suburbs of Sydney and I am not very familiar with the area. However I know of Bicentennial Park which is located about a 20 minutes drive from that suburb. So, I drove us over to that park for a second go at a walk and a drink stop and we then used the GPS to locate Fd's meeting place.

Traffic in Sydney's west is horrendous and the other three's eyes were popping at just how slow the journey proved. We dropped FD off at his meeting and left him to find his own way back to my place (three train trips and a walk). He managed very well and was back in time for tonight's dinner arrangements, a Thai meal at Thai Nesia.

Dinner at the DOG

Two meals for the price of one night at...

... the Duke of Gloucester Hotel

Beware the 'bergs

I renewed my membership at Bondi Icebergs Club today. As clubs go it is a great one to impress your guests or visitors. Not because of its facilities or services which, frankly as clubs go, are quite modest. No, it is the location right alongside Bondi Beach with that fantastic view up the beach and out to the sea that makes a visit here for the uninitiated such a memorable experience. Provided it is not too crowded that is, because it doesn't take too many people to crowd this small establishment. I have had to abandon a visit to the club with guests previously when unable to find anywhere that we could sit to enjoy drinks, let alone our intended meal.

As you see from my card I am a social member. That is distinct from an alternative membership that requires you to swim in the club's pool many times through winter, an activity that gave the club it's name and fame. I'm not fit enough, nor active enough, nor motivated enough to endure that burden. However, I very much enjoy my meals sitting on the balcony overlooking those members as they plough their way up and down the sea filled pool shown in this year's membership card.

For those of you possessing hefty wallets there is always the separate Icebergs Dining Room and Bar located above the club. It is very fancy indeed - from reputation, not personal knowledge - and is frequented by many international celebrity visitors to the country.

I'll stick with the Club.

Breakfast at Lennox Head

Spanish Baked Eggs

It was delicious

Home made Thai Chicken Curry

Lasagna and laughter

My friend, fellow volunteer and cinema going companion, Cs, has house guests from Canada. His sister, Ch, her husband, Rn, and her lady friend, Pt, are in town.

Cs, as is his practice, made detailed plans for their stay especially with regards to meals. Cs loves cooking and as amateur cooks go he is very good. The guests flew in on Friday. On Thursday Cs made a Lasagna and the base for his intended dessert, a Pavlova. This was to be their Friday night meal. On Saturday night the plan was for four others of us to join the four of them at dinner in a modest Thai restaurant in Bondi Junction.

That plan quickly fell apart for various reasons. To start with it turns out the Thai restaurant is still closed for its extended Christmas break. Second, the visitors' departure from Canada was delayed a few hours meaning their arrival in Sydney was later than expected. Third, the visitors arrived on Sydney's hottest day on record and in no real desire to sit down to a Lasagna meal or indeed any meal of substance.

So the Lasagna and the Pavlova were held over to Saturday night and the eight of us dined at Cs home rather than seek a substitute venue for the closed Thai diner.

It was a very enjoyable evening. I have heard a lot about Ch, Rn and Pt but unlike the three other locals had not met them previously. Ch and Pt are a lot of fun, much raucous laughter punctuating the night air. Rn, perhaps through necessity, is quieter but managed his share of input to the conversation.

It is fascinating how alike are Cs and Ch, not only in looks and build but also in behaviour. Cs possesses a very hearty laugh, his laughter when he is enjoying a comedy movie regularly attracting glances from other cinema-goers. Ch's laugh last night was as penetrative as a Kookaburra's. She really enjoys a laugh.

Ch met Rn, a French Canadian holidaying in Australia, at Bondi Beach nearly fifty years ago. They have been married 47 years. They have three generations of family in Canada and will visit Ch's other brother in Queensland on this trip. Pt is of Polish origin and was born in Canada. She also has three generations of family both in Canada and in Queensland.

The trigger for this visit is Cs' milestone birthday. The actual birthday was yesterday, hence the small gathering last night but the official party will be next Sunday with as many guests as his age. Unfortunately I can't make next weekend's celebrations as I depart for an overseas holiday on Saturday. However the Canadian visitors will still be here when I return so there should be more happy get-togethers before they wing their ways back to Canuck-land.

Oooh lah lah

Mooloolaba is not exactly Paris, actually it is nothing like Paris, but it provides a pleasant day of casual leisure in the sun and, should you wish, the surf.

It should only be an hour's drive from my friend's home in the northern suburbs of Brisbane but it took us two hours of occasional road crawl to reach today. I doubt the travel delay was because my local Member of Parliament, Malcolm Turnbull, was also in the area addressing of all things the Woodford Music Festival about honesty in politics but rather the festival itself.

My evidence for that includes but is not confined to the men in a car alongside us who regularly flashed a sign with the words 'Show Us Your Tits' emblazoned on it to the female companions in our car. Class!

We had lunch at the Mooloolaba Surf Club packed with Sunday 'revellers'. I cannot recommend the basic fish and chips dish most us ordered but the Sunday roast one friend ate looked delicious. The club is well located on the surf beach. Der, I just realised how lame that reads.

Afterwards we joined a couple of friends at the camp site where they are staying for the week. Camping is not my scene, not that type of camp at least, but overall it was a splendid day. Here are some photos.

The Surf Club's dining room

The view from our table

Mooloolaba Beach, late afternoon