Bo 7 Mon Thanh Tam, Market City

After reading this very infromative post on the wonderful food blog Noodlies, where this food court pho was described as the best pho in Sydney.



I had time to kill before I had to do something at uni so I stumbled across the road and decided to try it out. And I'm so glad I did. It was amazing. And the best part was the broth. Usually with pho the broth is okay. Nothing especially exciting or amazing but this broth was so good. It was broth that I actually wanted to drink. And if I wasn't so terribly full I would have drunk it all. So yes, try this.

• Find Bo 7 Mon Thanh Tam at Store F3.13A Level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000.

Random post with stuff in it

A couple of friends can back from overseas and I met up with them at dinner with a bunch of friends last night (Sunday). It was also an end-of-holiday/back-to-uni dinner was some of us too. Finally, in my last semester right now. First day back today and already worried about my time management.

Anyhoo, we had Korean for dinner last night and lots of soju and beer was had. Which was good because I haven't drunk a lot in a long time with other people. Bits of memory from leaving the restaurant and the train ride back are ... missing. I wasn't falling-over drunk. I was talkative-loud drunk and missing-little-bits-of-memory drunk. It was somewhat stress relieving. Catching up and just talking with a whole bunch of friends didn't hurt either. XD

So, yes, people came back from overseas and they handed out souvenirs.







These are photos that you can purchase from the Johnny's store in Japan. They aren't really that big fans of Johnny's people so the shop was probably underwhelming. Actually, even fans say the store itself is pretty crap. The only thing worth buying, to me anyway, are the photos. I just want them. I don't know what I'd do with them but yeah. I don't know what other stuff you can get there.

There's also a bunch of unofficial idol shops. I think that's where they got the pacer/mechanical from. Don't really think I could bring that to law school with me. XD Those have unofficial photos like taken by media and apparently some private and paparazzi ones too. That one of Matsumoto Jun, the guy without a shirt, is an unofficial photo.

The phone charm thing is from KDrama Heartstrings. I didn't finish the drama so I don't know if that bear makes an appearance anywhere. XD

And random things from my day ...



I was in the IGA in Market City and saw these as I lined up to pay. Kis-My-Ft2 are endorsing these mints soon-ish? This cost me 3 bucks and the only reason I bought them was because I knew they were or will endorse them. Lame, I know.



My new headphones. These are a really pretty pink-red colour. I bought them from Officeworks while buying supplies. It was around $10. I'm trying to save up for those Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. I want the white over ear ones. Putting that on a birthday list.



And the mints with the the headphones with the iPod.

And, yeah. That's all.

And it's midnight already.

Rather pointless but I wanted to blog. So, yeah. :D

I woke up in time to see a friend I haven't seen in like 1 1/2 years!

I kept on snoozing my alarm but I got an SMS at around 9am telling me to wake up and get dressed. So, I made myself coffee, checked twitter then got dressed. My friends and I were heading to the city to see a friend of ours from undergrad uni days who had been living in Japan for the past year and a half, though it didn't feel that long. (By the by, yesterday doesn't even feel like yesterday. I know I went to dinner and dessert in the city but I don't feel like it was yesterday.)

Meet my friend!

I made it in time for yum cha and for the longest time we were standing outside this place just waiting for others to arrive.

Our usual yum cha place in the city is Marigold. I love dumplings. Love, love, love. All sorts of goodness inside.

After yum cha we headed over to Capitol Square (got some sticker photos and played some games) and to Galaxy World, souvenir store and Morning Glory in Market City.

Kinda want UGG boots now.

Then we headed off to Chinatown for Friday night markets! Amazing smells, sights and sounds! I should go more often!

Twisty Potato? I think that's what the stall called it. Remember Arashi no Shukudai-kun and they had the machine that made this food and it was censored becauase it was still being patented? YEAH. LOOK IT SPREAD. I LOVE IT FOREVER BECAUSE OF ARASHI. Only $3.50 at the Chinatown Friday night markets. Comes in different flavours too.

We then back to Capitol to kill some time while waiting another friend. Walked around and saw all the pretty, expensive Japanese phones in the stores on the second level beyond all the games and sticker photo booths. But eventually it led back to the games. Well, just one - pachinko. Still don't know how it works.

Around 5:30ish we headed back up towards Town Hall area, said goodbye to our friend who's going back to Osaka on Sudnay and had dinner at Pepper Lunch. Been so long! Had the beef curry - $9.90. Want to try the J-Curry next time. My friends had it and it looked so so good!

J-Curry.

Beef curry - not yet mixed.

Beef curry - mixed.

Headed for drinks up and across the road at the Pavilion Hotel where my friend was working behind the bar for the night. We only got to see him once before he had to work at the bar downstairs. I did not know how to take a good photo of these drinks. No idea. Tried so many times. XD

Such a long and busy Friday. I so thought that I was going to be home much earlier. Like, while it was still daylight. Ended up at home about 10pm which is still relatively early compared to other people's Fridays. How was yours? Straight back into uni work. Must study. Been bludging all week!

• Find Marigold at 5/683-689 George Street, Haymarket, NSW.
• Find Pepper Lunch at 537 George Street, Sydney, NSW.
• Find Pavilion Hotel at 580 George Street, Sydney, NSW.

Stuff I bought

Apple espadrille wedges from Rubi Shoes at Market City - $5.00
GANTZ vol. 4 - $16.91
GANTZ vol. 5 - $13.36 (I don't know why they're priced differently)
Otona no kagaku (大人の科学) Gakkenflex TLR - $43.74 (It was 20% off. Full price $54.67)

I bought a shirt and cardigan thing from Cotton On but I'm too lazy to photograph them. I'm surprised there was still some Gakkenflex TLRs still available. I was so worried they'd be sold out. Great price for them too.

I was hoping to pick up Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro but they didn't have that particular novel of his in stock. Also, wanted to buy A Game of Thrones, the first in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series but they didn't have that one. They had the 2nd and 3rd ones but alas not the first. In my quick perusal of the store I didn't find Tina Fey's Bossypants either. I guess it's a sign to not read non-uni things and instead do uni readings and assignments.

Shall put my Gakkenflex TLR together later ... I'm very hungry right now and am trying to get over this cold still. Might go to library again tomorrow. Sigh sigh sigh. Need to buy Easter eggs too!

Poporo, Market City

After I handed in my essay I ate all on my lonesome at Poporo. Had beef sukiyaki udon. It was pretty cold yesterday so I wanted something soupy and I need some beef. I'm not eating enough red meat. Affecting my iron, me thinks. And tofu! That was unexpected. I love tofu!

• Find Poporo at Market City, Top Floor, Shop 301, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket.

[2009] Poporo, Market City

I have a lot of spare time of my hands before uni starts up again so I was browsing through some old photos and decided to post some. These are old. This is from a trip to Poporo in Market City in December of 2009. It's at the top most level of Market City. I think it used to be that you order from a touch screen but currently, that is the last time I went there (sometime last year), you order normally via a waiter/waitress. It's very pretty and clean and somewhat upbeat looking inside which is a plus. There's a discount if you show your student card. From memory, I don't think they let you pay separately. And here are some photos!

Chicken karaage.
I think it was listed on the menu as a side dish but is like a meal in itself.

Squid ink spaghetti. More creamy than squid ink-y.

Some kind of burger. Obviously. XD That's renkon right?

Some sort of katsu set. 

Drinks/dessert

• Find Poporo at Market City, Top Floor, Shop 301, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket.