Legally Blonde (The Musical) in Sydney

Chalk it all up to experience,

They said i'd fail but i disagreed

Who could say then where my path would lead?

...it's not up to me 

Just let me be legally blonde.

I've seen the film a couple of times and when I learned that they've turned it into a musical, I hoped that one day it will reach the shores of Sydney and stage here. It took awhile for that to happen and when it did, I resisted the temptation to read reviews and even listen to the soundtrack. Since this show originated from a movie, I wanted to experience the musical with only that knowledge that it was from a movie. I wanted to experience it with raw appreciation and a fresh perspective.

Legally Blonde (The Musical) is a fun and entertaining show that will remind you how great it is to have girlfriends who will always be there to share the highs and lows of your life, get over the man who broke your heart, fall in love again (with the right man this time) and celebrate the uniqueness in you. It's such a refreshing musical that will leave you a feeling of warmth and positivity plus a certain fondness for the colour Pink :D (LOL).

The Songs. They've got catchy and easy to "sing-along with" songs. My favourites are "Omigod You Guys", "Serious", "Chip On My Shoulder", "Legally Blonde" and "Find My Way".

The Cast. It was great to see Lucy Durack, Rob Mills and David Harris together on stage once again. I saw them when we watched "Wicked" and they were the perfectly casted for the roles of Elle Woods, Warner Huntington III and Emmett Forest respectively. Lucy was a natural "Elle", Rob was charming and David's presence was very engaging. I was highly entertained by Helen Dallimore (who played Paulette) as she brought the house down with her singing and dancing and Erika Heynatz (who played Brooke Wyndham) as she captivated all of us with her strong voice, great stamina and stage presence.

The Production. The production design was well-executed as there were a lot of scene changes. The stage was colouful and added life to every scene.

We sat on second row and it was freakin' awesome! I usually wear glasses when watching shows but I didn't have to. The orchestra below the stage was well-within sight too. Kudos to my friend Rachel for getting the best seats. 

I was lucky to snap a photo of the main cast as they did the final curtain call. Note that I only used my Lumix GF1 with 20mm lens to capture this and yet it turned out clear enough. This was how close we were to stage.  The main characters (from left to right): Prof. Callaghan, Brooke Wyndham, Warner Huntington III, Emmett Forest, Elle Woods and Paulette.

Personal: Watching "Legally Blonde" is our way of celebrating the birthday of our dearest friend Rachel. It was a very apt way to celebrate her birthday as she is very fond of watching musicals like me and our other friend Hilda. I got her Adriano Zumbo's "Happy Birthday" cake and had a Din Tai Fung dinner before the show. Experiencing "Legally Blonde" was more fun and special because I watched it with two of my dearest friends. We ended the night having our favourite gelato at Messina and a walk at Darling Harbour.

Legally Blonde will stage at the Lyric Theatre of The Star until 27 January 2013. Check out their website http://www.legallyblonde.com.au/ for details and tickets or buy directly from Ticketmaster.

Tweethearts Meetup at Tom N Toms Coffee (Sydney, Australia)

I invited myself to a tweetup when my friend Pen mentioned something about meeting a tweetmate from Adelaide. I was able to work out my schedule last Friday and got myself to the city for an early afternoon coffee klatch with Pen and Shai who was in Sydney for the Windows 8 Launch.

Funny thing was the Windows 8 Launch finished early and Shai had to wait for us in the city. We were supposed to meet at MSM but she fortunately hung out at Tom N Toms Coffee. Great choice because they free wi-fi and have more food offerings in the menu. I have always thought of having coffee at Tom N Toms but I always forgot. I got acquainted with Tom N Toms when we traveled in Seoul last year. It caught my eye because it looked very similar to a famous American coffee brand but we never got the chance to try it.

Tom N Toms is a Korean cafe and it opened its first store in Sydney in 2008. Their cafe looks modern with youthful drawings on the wall but their menu offerings have a touch of Asian culture such as a Sweet Potato Latte and Gelato Bread. They serve an array of drinks (coffee, tea, smoothies and lemonade), sandwiches, pretzels and toasted breads.

The coffee tastes good and done well by their barista. The Husband had a creamy cup of Cafe Mocha while I had a cup of strong Long Black.  

The Gelato Bread looked awesome! Such a big serving that all four us had a hard time finishing it (we actually didn't finish it). But it was delicious. The bread was toasted to a nice crunch and the syrup had the right kind of sweetness. The best part was the gelato. I loved it but I forgot to ask what flavour it was.

We also had a serving of Pretzel with caramel dip. They had the pretzel cut up in small pieces probably because they want people to have an easier time eating it. This one's a good option for customers who are alone as it's more manageable to finish.

The best part of the afternoon was being with Pen and finally meeting Shai. I've known Shai since I started plurking and tweeting in 2007 and then eventually, I discovered her blog where I got to know more about her. She's considered as one of the best Filipino bloggers around the world and it's such an honour to be able to meet her. With the three of us happy and excited that we finally met, the time passed by quickly as we exchanged stories of our life in Australia and a little about life in social media. We hope one day soon, we get to meet for a coffee klatch again.

Grateful for Pen who let me "gatecrashed" the tweetup and Shai for finding the time to see us. 

Tom N Toms Coffee 97-99 Bathurst Street NSW

Coffee Date with Meds

So how was your weekend? I hope you were able to do some things you loved, spend time with family or friends and still had time to rest and relax.

My weekend was a mixture of spending time with friends, sending care boxes to our families in the Philippines and hanging out at home with the Husband. It was one of those busy weekends but thankfully we found time to relax as the weekend came to a halt. 

I started my weekend on Thursday afternoon. I met up with Meds for coffee at a Starbucks near her place. Meds and I met via a common friend and we also found out that her cousin Rachel was an ex-workmate of my Husband when he worked in Dubai. Thru shared interests and coffee dates once once in a while, Meds and I have became closer thru time and I'm very grateful for her gift of friendship and positivity. 

It was fortunate that for the first few hours, Starbucks was quiet when we were there. We were able to enjoy our coffee while we chat non-stop about anything and everything we can think of.  

Funny that we wanted to try the Salted Caramel Frappuccino but wasn't available when we were there. So I opted to try a Caramel Macchiato Frappuccino. It was my first time to try it and I was happy to know that it tasted good. I enjoyed it with a slice of New York Cheesecake which I haven't eaten for long while.

Starbucks
Pad Site 1, Westfield Mt Druitt
Carlisle Avenue, Mt Druitt NSW
Phone: (02) 9625 9800

Cafe 86 (Cabramatta, NSW)

Our visit to Cabramatta always starts at Cafe 86 to have our fill of coffee. Cafe 86, used to be owned by parents of Luke Nguyen, is well-known for their Vietnamese Coffee. We usually get here at around 10ish in the morning and there would always be a few tables occupied by people chilling and chatting with friends while having a glass of coffee or fruit juice.

The ambiance is reminiscent of simple cafes in Asia. There's nothing very fancy with the interiors of this cafe but it is homey and relaxing. I always feel like the world stops while we enjoy our drinks whenever we are here and the vibe to stay is always alluring.

The Husband always orders the Hot Cup of Vietnamese Coffee so I get to have a taste of both everytime we're here.  It's strong and very creamy.

Their Iced Vietnamese Coffee is considered the best that's why people come here just to have a drink of this rich, sweet and smooth beverage. There's nothing quite like it. It's very strong compared to other coffees but it's bitterness and is greatly balanced with the sweetness of condensed milk.

Drinking Vietnamese coffee becomes a more beautiful experience when chased up with a glass of Jasmine Tea which is served free of charge. During cold season, they serve it hot while in warmer days, they serve it with ice.

The service staff of Cafe 86 are accommodating although they may have a bit of difficulty understanding what you want, just be sure to point at the menu board or point at someone else' drink (works all the time!). If you think your Vietnamese Coffee's too strong for you liking, just let them know and they are kind enough to adjust the bitterness/sweetness for you.

Other than coffee and tea, they also serve fresh fruit juices.

Cafe 86

4/29 John Street, Cabramatta 2166

Phone: (02) 9723 2696

Related Posts:

The Husband's Birthday Weekend
Cabramatta Part 2

Gastro-travel: Cabramatta, Sydney Metro's Vietnamtown

Gastro-Travel: Cabramatta, Sydney Metro's Vietnamtown

The great thing about living in Sydney is one need not go overseas to have a fill of different authentic cuisines.  I've shown you different areas of Sydney Metro that has Koreatowns and I've also written about Chinatown. This time, let me bring you to a gastronomic tour of Cabramatta, Sydney Metro's Vietnamtown.

Located in the Metro South West, Cabramatta is Sydney's Little Vietnam. Although there are restaurants that offer different cuisines, majority of the establishments here are Vietnamese. A short walk from Cabramatta Train Station to John Street and you'll find a long avenue of restaurants and shops. This is where you can have a glass of Iced Vietnamese Coffee at Cafe 86 or have some Pho at Pho Viet and Tan Viet.

In a bakery called Viet Hoa Hot Bread, we chanced upon the Banh Kep or Pandan Waffles. Sweet, fluffy and soft. Perfect when eaten hot and fresh. 

You will see a few establishments with Sugar Cane Makers.  Fresh Sugar Cane Juice made only when one orders. They're refreshing and healthy.

We went to Eastland Supermarket for some fresh produce and rice cakes. It's a bigh store full of Asian products. Outside the store are fruits that liven up the place.

You can also find sliced and packed fruits should you want the convenience just eating it right away.

Vietnamese delights such as desserts, rice cakes, nuts and jelly cakes on take away containers. 

We went inside one of the laneways of John Street and found more stores. One store offered cooked dishes for take-away. They looked delicious but I didn't buy them when we where there. I swear though that next time I had the chance I will definitely buy us some of these.

Tim Tim Cake Shop (Shop 16, 105-107 John Street) sells simple but delicious cakes of different flavours such as Sesame Roll, Green Tea Roll, Pandan Roll, etc.

Other than food, we went thru some of the shops but spent more time at a video store that sells DVDs of Asian dramas. Of course we gravitated towards the Korean dramas haha.

We were so full from all coffee and lunch we had at Cabramatta so we just bought a few desserts to share with our relatives. We got rice cakes, bean cakes and a Taro Roll. I also bought a pack of sliced Green Mangoes.

We enjoyed the Taro Roll and Rice Cakes when we had tea. The next time we visit Cabramatta, we'll try some other desserts and goodies we can find there.

In the coming days, I will share with you the Vietnamese restaurants we've eaten at Cabramatta. 

Related Posts:
The Husband's Birthday Weekend
Cabramatta Part 2

Things I Love: Our First Instagram Mini Book

Instagram is such a big part of my life in social media. When the Husband and I started our Instagram accounts in 2010, we used it as an outlet of our love for photography. But as time goes by, Instagram became more of an extension of my social media life. I now use Instagram to share what goes on in my day, moments that make me happy, foodie adventures and shopping finds. I use it as a way to reach out and send out information to social media friends too. 

I currently have tons of photos now in Instagram and have mentioned to the Husband that I hope to find a way to compile it and make an album out of it.  The Husband made a few searches online and found out about Printstagram, a company that prints Instragram photos and turn it into different cute products such as mini books, stickers, memory box, calendar and posters. 

Getting your instagram photos printed is so easy. Just go to their website http://printstagr.am/ and just choose a product that you'd like to avail and click "more info". It will then lead you to the details of your chosen product. Click "buy now" and it will ask you to log in your Instragram details. Once logged on, you will need to choose your chosen product again and your Instagram photos will show up. Then you can choose the photos you'd like printed. Once finished, check-out and pay via credit card. They deliver worldwide via UPS and DHL. For more information, click here.

We ordered our first minibook last Tuesday night (16 October) and we received the package today (22 October). Less than a week!  I chose the minibook because I like the binding. An order of the minibook product comes with two minibooks containing 50 photos for only US$12.00.

The Husband and I are so happy to receive it. Our first Instagram mini book has a theme. We chose photos that showcases what we love about our life here in Sydney. 

What liked about the minibook most was its vivid printing, good quality paper and glossy-photo finish. 

It's sooooo cute too! It's only this small....

I can't wait to get our Instragram photos printed again and try their other products.

Got instagram? Check out my photos via @ibyang. See you there!

Friday Night-In with Kolokoys

We had a fun start to our weekend as we had a Friday Night-In with our group of friends, Kolokoys (that's what we call our group). It's been awhile since we've spent time together. We do meet up for meals or parties every once in a while but hanging out for no reason is something we missed. Having a night-in on a Friday is such a welcoming thing. The Husband and I like staying home on Fridays that's why we love Friday Night-In with friends. The relaxing experience of being at home, talking with friends, playing with kids and sharing good food are some of the best ways to welcome the weekend. It's one of the most laidback things as we just all arrive at a friend's place after work with food to share with everyone. No dress code, no reservations needed, no time limit. Our presence and food, those two were the only things we needed.

Speaking of food, we had lots of it: Cheese and Ham platter, Pork Sisig, Relyenong Bangus, Pork Roast, Baked Spaghetti, Buttered Mushrooms, Green Salad, Apple Pie and Apple Danish (hindi naman kami masyadong mahilig sa apple nyan hahaha). And us ladies enjoyed a refreshing Pimm's and Lemonade Cocktail and some bubblies before going home (no drinking for the Husbands who drive).

The start of our weekend did set the tone to a relaxing but productive Saturday and Sunday. The positive cheer and love from friends on Friday night was something we brought with us back to our home.

Hope you had a lovely weekend too.

Style Musings: Dotted Rain Boots

I already own a pair of rain boots but that didn't stop me from looking for another pair. The first one I bought goes up to my knee and I found it bulky. I wanted something lighter and shorter. 

At one of my visits to Morning Glory last month, I found that they're selling rain boots. It was fortunate that they've got a dotted black pair and had it in my size.

I fell in love with it instantly as it's the right length for me and it has heels!!! At first look, it doesn't seem like rain boots. It can pass as normal boots. 

Photos taken during our Koreatown Fri-date
Black Shirt and Dotted Scarf: yesstyle.com.au  Denim Skirt: Topshop  Puff Jacket: SES
Black Tights: Voodoo Hosiery  Rain Boots: Morning Glory
Satchel: LeSportsac  Umbrella: Daiso

Asadal Japanese Korean Restaurant (Parramatta, NSW)

Discovered a place that serves the best looking and best tasting Bibimbap. We had lunch at Asadal in celebration of the Husband's birthday last month and we got to have the most abundant and gorgeous Bibimbap and more.

Asadal is a restaurant that successfully married Japanese and Korean cuisine and served them in beautifully made dishes. Not every Japanese-Korean restaurant can do this, but with Asadal, they've perfected both cuisines that's why they're recognized as one of the best restaurants in Sydney Metro.

Once we entered the restaurant, we saw the sushi train on the left and the dining area on the right. We asked to be seated in one of the tables and just grabbed a few plates from the sushi train.

The prettiest water jug we've seen so far. How very Korean, aye?

The best thing about a Japanese-Korean restaurant is having the best of both worlds. Only in restaurants like these do we see our table laden with Sushi and Banchan dishes. Such a wonderful and mouthwatering sight to behold.

We ordered a plate of Takoyaki Balls to start with. Deep-fried Octopus enveloped in creamy mayonnaise and dipped in Tonkatsu sauce. 

Our choice for the Sushi: Chicken with Avocado and Scallops. The Chicken was crunchy while the Scallop was so soft and fresh. Their sushi are one of the best I've tasted in Sydney Metro. 

The Husband ordered the Sizzling Teriyaki Chicken. It had the right balance of salty and sweet which is a winner in my books.

While I had a big bowl of Bibimbap. It's the prettiest, freshest and well-made Bibimbap I've had so far. The beef was half-cooked when it arrived to our table but the bowl is so hot that it will cook all the ingredients in it. In a few minutes, the beef turned brown but it was juicy and tender.

We took our time and savoured the Husband's birthday lunch. This restaurant was perfect for us because we love Korean and Japanese cuisines and we're so glad that Asadal makes them both so well.

Asadal Restaurant (Korean Japanese Cuisine)
Shop 1, 76 Phillip Street, Parramatta NSW
Phone: (02) 9633 4765