#MellyEats || Chicken Up

Like most people suffering from Monday blues, I see myself thinking of last Friday night's supper gathering at Chicken up. *cue Katy Perry's last friday night* Though we did not dance on tabletops or took too many shots, we had the infamous watermelon soju. It was good enough to get us buzzing with energy and laughing hysterically at our own silly jokes. Never have I ever tried anything like it and it was refreshing! I thought it would taste weird but the watermelon juice gave this concoction a sweet aftertaste.

Shortly after, the star of the night came. We were greeted by golden brown chicken with a heavenly scent. Glistening under the moonlight, it was so irresistible that we dived in immediately. Keep in mind that we waited for almost 1.5hrs for a table. We were famished by then. It's usually crowded around supper so come earlier to avoid disappointment. Girls, don't worry about getting your hands dirty because that's the best way to indulge in those glorious meat. Besides there are plenty of tissue paper available. Both baskets of chicken were well marinated with yangnyum (sweet & sour sauce) and soya respectively. Apart from the fact that one's a half chicken while the other is solely chicken wings, they were equally amazing to pick a winner. Meat is tender and chickens weren't dripping with oil so it was a pleasure eating. Even talking about them now is making me salivate. 

Chicken up, though very sinful, is a great hangout spot for good food, booze and lots of laughter. 

Back to the daily grind

As the new year begins, everyone is back to the work/school routine. I am no exception. One of my new year resolution is to put up content once/twice a week. Juggling expectations and life isn't going to be easy but I'm going to give it a try. 

Since the start of the year, I've very much been dependent on my leather bucket bag (tan medium) from strawthelabel. It's a birthday present from my girlfriends. Every time I carry it, I'm reminded of how blessed I am to have such loving friends. I really love this bag because it's big enough to fit my necessities, especially my Nalgene bottle. Thus it is able to withstand heavy load. With the adjustable straps, I can adjust the length to according to my preference. It is definitely my go-to bag at the moment. 

Another one of my go-tos will be this pair of Sperry woven. Sperry has not been an issue to my broad feet. Their shoes are comfortable to walk for long distance. It is tested and proven as I wore my Sperry while discovering Australia. If you find them pricey, take advantage of their occasional sale. I got this pair at half price. It was a steal!

Are you like me who loves to don on new items to begin the year with a fresh start?

#MellyEats || Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters

Unable to curb my cafe cravings, Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters became the first spot to my 2015 visited cafes. Reason being, the pictures on instagram give no mercy to my temptations. Located at Upper Thomson Road, beside shell station, it is the first shophouse to the many cafes further down the line. It's interior is simple and clean, somewhat fresh and welcoming. The lunch crowd soon fills the place so do come early to avoid disappointment.  

Scanning through the menu, items like truffle eggs benedict and iced thai coffee excited my taste buds. Though unusual, there is no reason to not offer thai coffee as Pacamara originated from Changmai, Thailand. Without doubt, that cup of coffee brought me back to those Bangkok days. Its authenticity is worth ordering.

The truffle eggs benedict is another winner in my books. With it sitting beautifully on the table, I could smell the light truffle scent. It was irresistible. Liquid gold oozed out with one slice of the poached eggs. In my opinion, it's a smart move to add spinach to the usual egg, ham and bread combination. This way consumers can get protein and carbs in one dish and I do not feel guilty for not having any veg in my meal. Nothing more needs to be said about this plate of goodness expect to try it yourself. 

Unfortunately, the red velvet pancakes fell short on hitting the mark. They may look good but taste wise, there isn't anything special. The mascarpone helped in giving more flavour and texture to the pancakes but they are a little dry and tasteless for my liking. My friend and I ended up not finishing the plate. 

Overall, I would return for a second visit to try their pasta selection and have another round of truffle eggs benedict. 

Travel Essentials

In the midst of sorting the 1230842 pictures taken and nursing my travel bug, I shall start the Australia recap with my travel essentials. 

Storage:
I chose my trusty Kanken backpack because it is waterproof, has ample size, fuss free and accessible. Not only can this structured bag store all my essentials, it has two side pockets which I can slip in any miscellaneous items easily. Besides, I have own it for almost 2 years, of course I have to bring it along with me on this adventure. 

Important documents:
It is definitely a traveler's nightmare to forget the passport! So it's always first on my packing list and first in the bag. Apart from that, hard copies of important documents like travel insurance, NRIC, passport and flight/accommodation confirmations should be in the bag in the case of emergencies. Modern technology may be reliable but when it comes to a foreign country with no easy access to data, it's always best to have a hard copy readily in the backpack. Airports may provide free wifi but not all wireless connections are top notched.

Gadgets:
To capture the brilliant moments, I brought along my Canon G15.
To keep me company on long journeys, I jammed with my Creative Zen.
To connect with family and friends back home, I relied on my ancient iPhone 4s. 
To recharge, I used my enormous power bank. 

Nitty Gritties:
I cannot emphasize the importance of physical cash, especially when you are shopping at the local market where credit cards are not allowed. Be a local for the day and soak in the bustling market life like how i experienced it at Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne. Also, I brought along a huge wallet so I can chuck money/receipts/bus tickets in without losing them.
While shopping, don't forget to hydrate yourself. Instead of spending money on bottled water, why not bring your own bottle? Bottled water from convenience stores can be expensive too. Friends know I can't leave the house without my Nalgene bottle. Nalgene is very durable and can withstand hot/warm water without melting.

There you go, those are my travel essentials. It doesn't look much but it's always best to travel light. You would not want to carry a burden wherever you go. One tip is to pack your bag according to the day's activities so you won't bring unnecessary items.