Bite with a Blogger, Sydney
Mel bungie jumping in Queenstown

Bite with a Blogger: The Mellyboo Project

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My sides still hurt and I still feel a little embarrassed about traumatizing a jogger on Circular Quay with our entirely not-suitable-for-blog conversation after our interview. I think it’s safe to say that my interview with Mel from The Mellyboo Project was a whole hell of a lot of fun.

Last week I introduced my new Bite with a Blogger segment with an interview over Korean BBQ with Nicole from Bitten by the Travel Bug. Since that post hit the interwebs I’ve been flooded with expressions of interest to take part in an interview of their own. It’s enough to make a boy feel like the prettiest girl at the dance.

Over the coming weeks you’ll see Bite with a Blogger segments with Tony from It’s Good Overseas, Annie from The Wayward Traveller, Andy from The Travel Maverick, and Nicole from Hola Chica Travels – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of great travel bloggers here in Sydney I still need to interview (hopefully someday I’ll be able to pin down Brooke from Brooke vs the World, Pat from The Laksa Blog, and Caz or Craig from yTravel Blog as well).

Mel preparing to be interviewed
Mel excited at the prospect of crocodile pizza and rigorous questioning

But this week I had a chance to sit down with my bride-to-be (Twitter in joke) over some delicious saltwater crocodile pizza, wedges drowned in sour cream, and Aussie boutique beer at The Australian Hotel. And where Nicole and I managed to keep the first Bite with a Blogger segment relatively PC, there were certainly no holds barred between Mel and I.

Wait, that sounded pornographic.

I just meant that no topic of conversation was taboo. I feel for the tourists whose meandering exploration of Sydney took them by our table. Poor bastards.

Eating a Crocodile with The Mellyboo Project

Table outside of the Australian Hotel
The table upon which our rhythmic back and forth took place

Our plans for the day had originally involved my Hart’s Pub, which has the honor of being my favorite bar in Sydney. Alas, the bar kitchen had closed moments before we arrived for our late lunch at 3.30pm and so we instead headed to the Australian Hotel. Famous around Sydney for its pizza and its home brewed German style beer, the Australia was a pretty good second choice if you ask me.

I was last at the Australian Hotel in the aftermath of the epic Great Nomads Chase, so it was nice to be there considerably less sweaty and sore. There’s an innuendo to be made there, I know, but try and be classy people.

We ordered a tasting paddle and a large saltwater crocodile pizza. I’m a big fan of crocodile meat. In fact, it might have surpassed kangaroo as my favorite Australian animal to dine on.

I’ve yet to try koala though…

But enough about food and beer. On with the questions!

So, how long have you been travel blogging?

I’ve been travel blogging ‘consistently’ for the last year or so. However, back in the day I was quite the avid Livejournal-er and documented every last detail of my life – it’s quite fun to look back on those posts.

OMG! I had a Livejournal too! I was all emo and such in it.

What made you start a travel blog?

I started travel blogging because I really enjoyed reading other travel blogs. I also felt it was a great way for me to document my crazy adventures and share them with my friends and family back home. It actually shocked me that people other than my friends and family would be interested in my silly travel stories — but I suppose I’ve decided to run with it.

Mel went on to talk about how excited she was the first time she got ‘fan mail’. I’m sure we all remember the first time somebody who wasn’t a friend or family member commented on one of our posts, right?

What made you choose ‘The Mellyboo Project?’

I had read a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and it documented this woman’s mission to do little things to make herself happier with her life. When I made the big decision to give into my lifelong desire to see the world around me, I decided that it was me doing my part to make myself ‘happier’. Mellyboo has been a nickname of mine since high school. Thus, I created THE MELLYBOO PROJECT. Plus, like most bloggers out there, I suppose I’m a touch narcissistic.

Where has your pursuit of happiness taken you so far?

I’ve been to Scotland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, a few places in the USA (New York state, Florida), a few places in Canada (Montreal, Nova Scotia, Regina, Southern Ontario)… and… yeah… I think that’s it. I’ve touched down in Iceland for a layover and have their stamp in my passport, does that count?

Somebody always tries to sneak one like this through. Last week it was Nicole with Germany, and now Mel with Iceland. Not cool!

And you’re in Australia now, but what’s next for you?

I’m currently in Sydney on a working holiday visa but will be heading over to New Zealand in the new year on a working holiday. In May 2012, I plan on heading over to Africa to do a 3-4week tour through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Money permitting, once I finish the Africa tour, I hope to stop in South East Asia for a few months to explore Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and hopefully Malaysia. Then back to New Zealand before returning home. Lots of travel plans in the works. Just need to keep making the big bucks to afford this expensive hobby of mine.

During our interview Mel handed in her CV with the staff at the Australian. Keep your fingers crossed for her.

What would you say has been your most memorable experience?

Mel poses while scuba diving
Photo from The Mellyboo Project

Oh man, most memorable experience?!

I’ve done and seen so much, especially in the last year — but I’d have to say doing the Nullarbor Traveller tour from Perth to Adelaide in March 2011. We covered nearly 4000km in 9 days; slept in swags; swam with dolphins, sea lions and blue fin tuna; went to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches in Cape Le Grande National Park; found ourselves on the edges of the stunning Bunda Cliffs; learned how to surf; and even slept amongst the koalas. I’ve got amazing memories from that tour for sure. Plus it’s always cool to do things that not a whole lot of people have done or even seen before – yay for pretty pictures and bragging rights.

And the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Scariest? Hand feeding the blue fin tuna was absolutely terrifying. They are massive and as quick as a bat out of hell! Not to mention fingers can easily be mistaken for pilchers! When a massive bluefin tuna is swimming at you with its mouth open because a pilcher has landed in the water mere inches from your face- it sure makes you get out of the water quickly!

(Please Note: this is coming from someone who has scuba dived amongst sharks!)

And the most exciting?

Getting a kiss on the lips from a baby sea lion was pretty cool. But I must say bungy jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand was the ultimate adrenaline rush! I’ve gotta do it again!

Mel bungie jumping in Queenstown

Mel bungie jumping in Queenstown

On the subject of kissing, got any travel romances to tell us about?

Oh come on! Every backpacker has had at LEAST one travel romance.

*Sigh* I don’t…

I met my first travel ‘boyfriend’ – a guy from Sweden- my second day in Sydney at the end of 2010. It just so happened that a girl I had befriended owed him money, we had to go drop off the money at his house in North Manly, we hit it off and over the next few weeks we spent heaps of time together. He had invited me to join him in Thailand and I seriously considered it, but in the end decided to do my own thing. We still chat every now and then, and I know that if I ever go back to Sweden, I’ve got a friend I can stay with.

At this point in the interview sex had been a pretty constant topic, much to the amusement of the pretty girl who was serving us. So I had to ask Mel if she had any interesting sex on the road stories to tell.

What kind of girl do you take me for!? A lady doesn’t kiss and tell… however, I guess we’ve already established that I’m kind of shameless.

4 words.. accidental live sex show. Whoops!

What’s one travel tip you’d like to share?

One travel tip? Since the previous Bite with a Blogger tip was zip-lock bags, I will just say be open to change. Don’t plan too much. Go with the flow. Some of the most rewarding experiences and memories can happen when you least expect them.

I touched on this very concept in my post about Detours!

My last question would be – what is your ultimate travel dream?

My ultimate travel dream, would be to become a gazillionaire and to never work a day in my life, and just explore and see every last inch of the world. Realistically though, I would absolutely love to dive the Galapagos Islands and travel through South America – Machu Picchu, The Amazon, Patagonia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile… I want to see it all!

And last but certainly not least – recommend two of your blog entries that you think people will enjoy.

Here’s a post about my experience on the aforementioned Nullarbor Traveller tour, and here’s a Pros and Cons of Solo Travel entry I wrote.

The Bite

With questions done and stomachs rumbling, it was time to launch into our meal at the Australian. We ordered the saltwater crocodile pizza and a tasting paddle of beers. The staff were super friendly and eager to chat with us whenever they came by. The bartender was happy to tell us all about the beers they had on tap and the girls outside would stop for a joke whenever they came by.

Mel, if you get the job there, hook me up with that cute girl who was waiting our table?

Crocodile is… amazing. Whether you’re eating the Cajun Crocodile Bites at Hart’s Pub or sinking your teeth into the wonderfully light pizza at the Australian Hotel, you’re in for a treat. It’s a bit like chicken, but an experience all on its own. Where else in the world can you not only dine on both animals on the national crest – but also dine on one of the most dangerous predators in the world.

This truly is the lucky country.

Our pizza didn’t quite fill us up. Nor did our tasting paddle satisfy our beer hunger. We ordered a serve of wedges with sweet chili sauce and sour cream and a full size beer for each of us. While Mel had a generic beer I can’t recall the name of, I splashed out on the fantastic Kolsch from 4 Pines Brewery in Manly.

When the eating and drinking were done it was time for a leisurely walk through The Rocks to check out Mel’s favorite photographer’s studio and snap a few obligatory photos of The Opera House as we made our way to Circular Quay. Mel’s going to be tagging along on for my trip up to Port Stephens this weekend – so I’m sure I’ll have more tales of this crazy Canadian for you real soon.

Go read The Mellyboo Project!

This series isn’t just an excuse for me to eat delicious food with cute travel bloggers. It just so happens that I’ve carefully planned it so that my first two interviews fit that description >_>

The main purpose of this series is to highlight the many wonderful blogs out there. The Mellyboo Project is full of funny anecdotes from all around the world and you’ll find that Mel’s writing is every bit as infectious and inappropriate as her real life persona. You can also find her on Twitter as @mellyboo.

Mel abseiling at the Blue Mountains
Mel abseiling at the Blue Mountains

Want In?

I’m really looking forward to adding more to this Bite with a Blogger series. There’s a lot of travelers both here in Sydney and around the world I’d love to get to know a little better.

If you’re ever in Sydney and want a bite to eat, a good chat, and some free publicity for your blog or project – let me know! You can reach me through my Contact page, hit me up on Twitter (@aussieontheroad) or ask on my Facebook page.

Sydney
Thai Food from Spanthai cooking at the Night Noodle Markets

Sydney’s Night Noodle Markets

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The intermingling smells of lemongrass, Annis, cumin, and lime reach me before Hyde Park North even comes into full view. I’m fresh off my late lunch interview with Mel from The Mellyboo Project and my stomach is full of crocodile pizza and good beer, but it growls appreciatively at the feast of flavors it imagines are right around the corner.

Hyde Park, normally reserved for picnickers and dog walkers, has been transformed into a bustling street market for the annual Night Noodle Markets. Chinese lanterns strung between trees sway gently in the warm October breeze and the murmur of a growing crowd accompanies the rattling of cutlery, the sibilant sizzle of woks, and the distant sounds of a city winding down after another busy working day.

For two weeks every October the Night Noodle Markets turn the usually quiet park into an old time market square as restaurants from all over the city representing cultures from all over the world gather to celebrate Sydney’s diversity and promote their cuisine. From the big names such as Chat Thai down to the often overlooked hole in the wall restaurants – they’re all on display here as Sydney locals turn out to sample the best the Asian community has to offer.

It’s all a part of the larger Sydney International Food Festival – which also brings world renowned chefs to the city for a series of masterclasses and encourages Sydneysiders to get out and sample from the rich tapestry of foods that Sydney has on offer. While the Night Noodle Markets focus on promoting the city’s Asian cultures, anybody who has been to the city will be well aware of the broad variety we have to choose from. Whether it’s a humble Lebanese kebab, some rich Spanish tapas, or some chilled Russian borscht, Sydney is a treat for anybody with a taste for fine food. And the Sydney International Food Festival is a celebration of that.

Feed Me!

My poor stomach took a beating earlier in the day as I interviewed Mel for my second Bite with a Blogger segment. That’ll go up just as soon as the lovely lass gets her answers to me.

Even as my eyes and nose were assaulted with all of the options on display, I took a moment to take in the whole festival while my friends Anthony (from the Art of Conversations), Nicole, Dave, and Steph (an upcoming guest blogger on this site) went off in search of tasty treats.

Magro is very excited by his walnut and banana salad
Magro is very excited by his walnut and banana salad

While Magro went off in search of healthy food and found the intriguing salad pictured above, Steph and Dave came back with the foods more commonly associated with our neighbors to the north – lots of noodles, meat, and spring rolls just begging to be devoured.

Dave bites off more than he can chew with some noodles and a few hearty skewers
Dave bites off more than he can chew with some noodles and a few hearty skewers
Steph looking lovely as she prepares to dive into her dinner
Steph looking lovely as she prepares to dive into her dinner

There’s a great community feeling about the whole affair. When the limited number of tables and chair on hand are snapped up, people simple settle down on the soft grass beside friends or family to share an evening picnic. Kids rush about giggling and dodging diners while their parents pop open a bottle of wine and enjoy the increasing beauty of the city skyline as the horizon turns purple and the lights of skyscrapers blink on to compliment the stars appearing overhead.

Sydney has turned on a pleasantly warm evening and t-shirts are perfectly acceptable fare as diners go back for seconds or thirds. There are far too many stalls on offer to sample everything the market has to offer in one evening – but between the five of us we tried to sample as much as we could.

A tasty looking Chinese snack box
A tasty looking Chinese snack box

 

Thai Food from Spanthai cooking at the Night Noodle Markets
Thai Food from Spanthai cooking at the Night Noodle Markets
Pad Thai and Pad See Ew
Pad Thai and Pad See Ew looking all delicious and stuff
Poffertje (Dutch Pancakes)
Poffertje (Dutch Pancakes) are not so Asian. But so, so delicious.

Photograph Me!

With bellies full and bed times approaching, my party begin to make their way home. This left my camera and I with some time to capture a few shots of the festivities. While the Night Noodle Markets are primarily about the food, there’s a lot of great people watching opportunities as well. Here’s just a few shots I snapped during the course of my evening.

An old couple out enjoying a bite to eat in the warm Sydney afternoon sun
An old couple out enjoying a bite to eat in the warm Sydney afternoon sun
Traditional Chinese dance on display at the Night Noodle Markets
Traditional Chinese dance on display at the Night Noodle Markets

 

Hyde Park all lit up for the Night Noodle Markets
Hyde Park all lit up for the Night Noodle Markets

 

The Sydney skyline is an impressive backdrop to the markets
The Sydney skyline is an impressive backdrop to the markets
Two girls posing by a fountain
These girls asked if I was a professional photographer. I think this photo is proof that I am not...

At the end of the day I could write pages about the fantastic food on display and the atmosphere at the festival, but I think the pictures above are going to do a better job than I ever could. Get out there and see Sydney’s multicultural side and treat yourself to some delicious food while you’re at it.

The Bad

While I had a great time at the Night Noodle Markets and would recommend it to anybody, I will give two warnings about the affair:

  • Lines can get pretty long. Get there early if you don’t want to wait too long and don’t want to sit on the grass.
  • Prices run a tad high. A meal will set you back about $12-$16.

That being said, I had a very good feed and a great time for $30 last night. It’s a bit more than I’d usually pay, but the atmosphere and the selection make it worthwhile in my eyes.

The Night Noodle Markets run from October 10th through until thr 14th, and then opens again from the 17th to the 21st. It runs from 5pm until 9pm. You can learn more on the Night Noodle Markets website.

Sydney, Video
Delicious Malaysian noodles and skewer at the Sydney Night Noodle Markets

Video: Lion Dancers at the Night Noodle Markets

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I’ve got an entry proper on my experience at Sydney’s annual Night Noodle Markets last night in the pipe line, but in the meantime here’s a little bit of video showing the wonderful melting pot of cultures on display.

If you’re really curious about the event, you can also read my entry about my experiences at the Night Noodle Market in 2010.

While Chinese traditional dance is obviously most prominent in this clip, you’ll also catch glimpses of the many different cultural foods available to those at the Night Noodle Markets.

Would love some feedback on this new video feature. I’ve borrowed a little inspiration from Nomadic Samuel’s fantastic blog, and will be hopefully introducing much more video content to my site in future.

Any other Sydneysiders get out to the Night Noodle Markets last night?

Melbourne
Delicious dumplings

Guest Post: The Best Food in Melbourne

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I’ve got a real treat for all of you food fanatics out there. My old friend Anthony from Art of Conversations has become something of an expert when it comes to all things Melbourne and recently asked if I’d like an entry or two on the subject. How could I say no to an offer like that?

The first of these posts is presented below. Like myself, Anthony appreciates good food and here he runs down some of his votes for the best food in Melbourne.

Enough from me. Bring on the foodgasms!

I’m Anthony, a 27-year-old sales trainer, author at Art of Conversations, and guest blogger here at Aussie On The Road (thanks Chris). I spend a fair amount of my time on the road and interstate so I thought I might share with you some of my favourite spots in my second home – Melbourne.

Shanghai Dumpling House

I’m going to start with my all time favourite. Hidden in a small alley in Chinatown, this dumpling house is the bomb. A wide selection of vegetable, meat, and seafood dumplings which arrive moments after you order them. You can easily chow down on thirty dumplings with a beer for under $20.

Mamasita

Another hidden gem at the end of Collins Street, this Mexican restaurant is in high demand. No pre-bookings are allowed and on a quiet night you can still expect a thirty minute wait to take your seat. The menu puts a modern twist on classic recipes which include a sensational chicken and pineapple soft shell taco.

Toto’s Pizza House

Established in 1961, Toto’s claim to be Australia’s first pizzeria. Toto’s is one of the first restaurants you will meet when you hit Melbourne’s food capital of Lygon Street. An Italian greeting, patrons from the old country, and classic decor might convince you that you’re actually in Italy. It is easy to see why this pizzeria has survived for 50 years in Melbourne’s ultra competitive food scene.

Lord of the Fries

Australia does not have a big street food culture, however Lord of the Fries breaks the mould. A twist on the classic book title sets an accurate expectation – the best french fries. Your fries are served in a paper cone with an option of over 15 sauces and toppings which are taken from all over the world. The most popular choice would be fries with spaghetti and bolognaise. There are two outlets conveniently placed at opposite entries to Flinders Street Station.

Tropicana Food/Juice Bar

This delightful cafe instantly catches your eye with bags of oranges hanging around the door and pineapples holding the specials on each table. Based on Elizabeth Street opposite Myers, this cafe focuses on great fruit and vegetable juices rather than the millions of coffee focused cafes that exist in Melbourne. An average breakfast will cost you $15 for a tall exotic juice, breakfast, and a cup of coffee or tea.

Queen Victoria Markets

Fresh produce mixed with Melbourne”s melting pot of ethnic backgrounds can only mean one thing: great home-made food! The most popular item at the markets is the Borak, which is like Turkish bread with a filling of your choice such as spicy lamb, potato, or a spinach and Ricotta mix for only $2.50. There are also plenty of organic teas and coffees, flavoured nuts, local beers and wines, and delicatessens where you can create your own antipasto. The Queen Victoria Markets are a must if you’re searching for the best food in Melbourne.

Cafe Segovia

Often the best food in Melbourne can be found hidden away from the main streets of the CBD. Normally I would not be lured into a dark cobble-stone alley, however the flamboyant and artistic street art of Melbourne does put your nerves at ease. One of the great hidden cafes in the city is Cafe Segovia. Open from the early morning for breakfast and up until really late for coffee or hot chocolate – it’s a perfect place to escape the cold Melbourne weather. With ample seating, a large menu catering for all types (I’m a picky vegetarian during the weekdays), and plenty of waiters on hand Cafe Segovia captures a little slice of Italy without the expensive intercontinental flight.

Get out and eat!

Melbourne is the great food capital of Australia and while it would be easy to continue writing about my favourite spots to eat, I will keep the spirit of adventure open for you to also discover your own.

Did I miss any of your personal favourites? Got any recommendations you’d like to share? Where do you think the best food in Melbourne can be found? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Anthony will also be providing a second guest post about must see tourist sites in Melbourne real soon. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t forget to head over to Art of Conversations for some really inspiring reading.

Life on the Road, South Korea, Sydney
Pouring soju

My Random Korean Friday Night

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“Is there anything else I can help you with tonight, sir?”

It’s 8.10pm and I should have finished work ten minutes ago. I’m fantasizing about a night in with the Socceroos v Malaysia game, a little Dead Island, and maybe a few episodes of Big Bang Theory.

You know, a regular hard-core party kind of evening.

I’ve thrown my satchel over my shoulder and I’m preparing to make my way to the bus stop when my mate Ben stops me.

“Keen for a few beers?”

I should say no. I’m doing horrendously with my diet and I’m on a budget. But it’s been a long Friday and the night I’d had planned for myself doesn’t exactly ring true to the kind of wild nights I had when I lived in Gwangju or Busan. A night out sounds pretty damn good.

The Stratton Hotel, conveniently located approximately fifteen metres from where I work, is our venue of choice. It’s hard to say no to a pub that has $4 Oscar’s beer from Monteith’s Brewery in NZ on tap and friendly staff who know me by name. The beers begin to flow as we dissect our days and I boast about my upcoming Queensland trip and my bargain purchase for next year’s Fiji trip.

Olivia, one of the bar staff, just happens to hail from South Korea. She also happens to be pretty gorgeous and super friendly. Many a drunken night has been passed with me trying out every phrase I learned during my team ESL teaching in Korea or bemoaning the lack of good Korean food in Sydney.

Missing Korea

A Korean girl is curious about my iPhone
One of my students is curious as to why I'm pointing my iPhone at her. Sucker!

On this particular evening Olivia was knocking off early, so she joined Ben and I as we drank beers. While poor Ben listened on and tried to keep up – the two of reminisced about Korea, discussed the nightmare that is being a student in the country, talked about our experiences of racism as minorities in a new country, and talked about how much greater her town of Iksan is than neighboring Jeonju. Having been to neither, I could offer no opinion on the matter.

I left Korea for the right reasons, but I often find myself missing my lifestyle there. I miss the way that even on a bad day there’d be a few kids who could brighten my day with either their silliness or by grasping a difficult concept.

I miss the way that every Friday or Saturday night out – even if it was at the same few bars every night in Gwangju – introduced me to new people and lead to great experiences with old friends. I miss meeting like minded people and occasionally even taking them home. What? I’m only human.

It was funny hearing Olivia talk about how she hated being in Korea because she felt like she got lost in the shuffle. That’s exactly how I feel about being in Australia.

I wonder how many of my fellow travelers do what they do because they don’t feel like they belong in their home countries?

I don’t know that I’ll ever go back to Korea full time. While I’ll always have fond memories of the place, it feels like it would be a waste of my limited time on this earth to dedicate more of my youth to the place. For two years Korea was the place where I grew as a person, fell in and out of love, and had the time of my life. I’ve still got friends there I’ll be inviting to my wedding when I manage to find Mrs. Right and friends who I like to think I’ll consider friends until it’s time for me to shuffle off this mortal coil.

But while I do have a lot of fondness for Korea, I know I’ll never go back there to teach again. As I said: there are too many other places I need to visit and experience. But that doesn’t mean I can’t miss Korea…

Oh, Hi Mum!

I was downing beer number 5 or 6 when I received a text from my mother. Excellent son that I am, I had forgotten that she would be in Sydney for the evening and that she wanted to meet up.

Thankfully the Stratton Hotel is only a block from where she was staying, and so Olivia and I (Ben had to pike) wandered off to meet her.

Our talk of Korea had stirred up a huge hunger for good Korean food in the both of us, and my mother’s love of all things Korean meant she was a willing participant in our hunt for BBQ.

I’d originally wanted to try out a new restaurant I’d seen because it served albap (similar to bibimbap but with fish eggs stirred through) but Olivia put the kibosh on that. Apparently she’d worked at the restaurant in question when she first moved to Australia and she’d left on less than amicable terms.

Double fisting soju and Korean beer at BBQ City in Sydney
Grant double fisting soju and Korean beer at BBQ City

Never fear! BBQ City again came to the rescue. I’ve talked about this particular slice of Korean culture in the heart of Sydney before, and it didn’t disappoint as it again turned out a fine spread of galbi (BBQ beef), bibimbap (rice, vegetables, and spicy paste), kimchi, and gochu (peppers) dipped in seomjjeong (soy bean paste) to fill our rumbling stomachs.

The staff even recognized me from my recent visit with Nicole for our Bite with a Blogger interview.

On this particular evening the South Korean national football (soccer) team was also playing on the big screen – so there was lots of raucous cheering from customers and staff alike as Park Chu Young grabbed a rapid fire double to snatch the lead. It almost felt like I was back in Korea as the Wonder Girls danced on one screen, the football covered the others, and the staff capitalized on the quiet evening to watch the game and have a bite of their own.

I’m a big fan of BBQ City. As far as Korean food in Sydney goes, it’s even held in high regard by Korean natives. Their prices aren’t quite on a par with the dirt cheap menus you’ll find in Korea – but the food is authentic and the atmosphere is very similar to what you’d find in the land of the morning calm. There’s Korean beer and soju. There’s the tacky plastic cups and ugly napkin dispensers.

The only thing missing were the service buttons on tables that you’re usually able to press insistently if you want service. Sort it out!

With midnight approaching and the last bus to Lane Cove not far off, we decided to call it an evening. Our meal for three only set us back $66 and I think all three of us were full to brimming. A good night out.

Making New Friends

After saying my goodbyes to my mother and promising Olivia I’d make an appearance at her expat BBQ on Sunday (where there’ll be three former ESL teachers from Busan in attendance!) I began the stumbling walk towards the bus stop. Along the way I decided to duck down an alley to cut back on my travel time and stumbled across a small Korean grocery.

Various Korean cooking ingredients
Heaven! All I'll ever need to cook Korean food in Sydney 🙂

The young Korean behind the counter was super excited after I asked him where to find seomjjeong. I love how proud of their home country Koreans get. Soon he was following me around the aisles pointing out various snacks or treats he thought I might remember.

Fifteen minutes and $15 later I was leaving with a haul that included:

  • 1kg of kimchi
  • 1 pack of Choco Digits
  • 1 pack of gim (dried and salted seaweed)
  • 1 roll of gimbap (similar to a sushi roll)
  • 1 deck of Go Stop cards
  • 1 can of grape drink with pieces of real grape
  • 1 bowl of spaghetti ramen

Oh, and the phone number of the guy behind the counter. He was keen to get some new friends in Australia and me, I’m just a friendly guy. Maybe he can help me finally learn to read hangeul?

With my arms loaded up with Korean goodies and my stomach full of delicious galbi, I hopped on the last bus to Lane Cove and reflected on a wonderfully random night.

I’ve waxed lyrical about Detours in the past and tonight was a prime example of one. By all accounts I should have ended up back at home watching TV – but instead I managed to make two new Korean friends, eat delicious food with my awesome Mum, and discover a great (and cheap) place to buy Korean food in Sydney. Winning.

And totally worth today’s hangover…