Pete's Write

Whether it's your first time, or you are a seasoned traveler to Sydney, there's something for everyone, even vegans and gluten free lovers. And no, it's not just fish and chips or a pie... First try the local food guides sites, but the general rule on long queues will help you along. Sydney is good for  - pho - almost any stall is decent due to the good quality beef - beef pies or any other pies - Harry's pie is famous but again, even those at gas stations are not too bad - steaks - again beef is good in Oz, so most places even the basic budget joints get good cuts and contrary to what you think it's not fresh. The best restaurants advertise aged beef... - dim sum, but bear in mind, Chinese food is a little more oily and salty ala Japan compared to SG, it's just that SG has become more healthy - fish and chips, the is a nice one along the pier itself and another at Manly but most places serve very nice fish and chips, vinegar is an acquired taste so go easy... a...

So children's are boring affairs with slow boring performances... not! So I recently went with my wife and kid to watch the Three Billy Goats Gruff, performed by The Singapore Repertory Theatre: https://www.srt.com.sg/show/three-billy-goats-gruff-2025/ This is based on a simple children's book and you might be forgiven for thinking it will be a slow rather dull affair and a painful way to sit through an hour with your kid and you fear the kid will get bored from the show. However nothing could be further from the truth....  Firstly, do sit either close to the stage, eg the first or second row if you like to get up close and personal, or at the circle seats if you prefer a more macro view and say your child has issues with loud noises. I got the former and it suited us fine.  The story is simple and deliberately so for younger audiences to follow. There are elements of the Three Little Pigs, mixed in with a little Bo Peep and but there is a moral behind it, and surprisingly, pl...

Josh Harnett has been in boondocks for a period after a promising start to his career.  The last good movie I saw with him in it was 30 Days of Night and that was a pretty long time ago.  Recently he's been on a roll with some low budget but entertaining movies that have been impressive.  The first is called Trap where he plays a serial killer whilst maintaining his cover as a blue collar loving family man.  He has to use his wits to escape a trap set for him at a music concert and whilst he is a killer, you can't help but root for him somehow and the tight plot with good supporting cast manage to keep the show moving along nicely with good pace and despite a pretty standard plot, it succeeds in drawing you in and there's enough meat in it to keep you engaged.  The second is sort of like Bullet Train in a plane. That movie starred Brad Pitt and a train full of assassins slugging it out for a prize.  Here the prize is on a plane and...

I’ve not visited the national museum for more than a couple of decades but a free entry promotion led me to visit.  After the visit it was only natural to feel nippy and with a little meatball in tow you won’t want to forage too far for a meal. Usually the stuff at an attraction is not too nice and expensive to boot.  Dome cafe had just reopened in June and had the fresh smell, reminiscent of my old Sydney university days getting some pie at a coffee and pie place nearby.  The waitress was attentive, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. It turns out she’s the owner but she had no airs and wore the same outfit as her staff.  The ambience felt very Japanese.  More importantly the food was very decent and the portions were sufficient but it wasn’t cheap by any means .  It felt like a place where you could sit for hours after the main meal.  A nice way to chill and relax while watching the world go by.   I have no financial interest or other interest...

Aloha! When you think of some words, there is no doubt as to the what the word is associated with. And “Aloha” conjures up beaches, surf and of course, Hawaii Five O… Hawaii is a tourist destination that sits between mainland USA, and Japan as well as the rest of Asia, with a population that is as varied as it is in Asia, and a significant Japanese population of almost 30%. You will find fifth generation Japs who no longer speak Japanese and plenty of restaurants, signboards in Japanese and there is certainly a vibe that feels Asian, and yet distinct. It is blended from Asian influx, with Pilipino, Korean and of course Japanese influence as well as the Polynesian background and of course American immersion. Let’s not forget the British aspect too, in fact the flag of Hawaii features the Union Jack in the canton (upper left corner) due to historical ties between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Great Britain. King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands, received a British flag ...

Doremon movies and cartoons have been around since my childhood and form an indelible part of them, with tales of time travel, gadgets and adventures but more importantly the human connection and this new installment is no different. At the basic level it appeals to children with its unique blend of sci-fi and comedy whilst showcasing a vignette of Japanese culture and life. On a more serious level there is an emotional element which appeals to the adult audience and that makes it another winner. The premise is that Nobi nobita is getting married and younger Nobi goes back in time because he misses his grandma and she wants to see him get married. Then come a series of misadventures and how Doremon uses his wit and his bag of tricks to help get Nobi out of hairy situations created by his blunders. Along the way he grows, matures and does fix the problems like other shows but there is an emotional component that makes you tear up. Highly recommended

There is something about the way the Brits create crime based TV serials.  The British are very good at creating slow burn, dialogue based thriller TV serials, that actually move quite slowly are mostly dialogue heavy, punctuated with a sprinkling of action, and rather economical use of production sets, but keep you on the edge of your seats anyway and keep you thirsting for the next episode. The Dept. Q joins a long line of such thrillers, that make use of the dry laconic and mostly sarcastic Brit humor,  blend in a few characters that also make use of the lone wolf or buddy cop concept racing agains the clock to solve a crime or save a life or both, whilst facing personal demons.  Although the plot of this series isn't particularly new, the added element of a fish out of water political refugee who has skills, adds the extra sting, along with the exploration of PTSD and a sly inject of possible romance along with the usual 'devil may care' protagonist mixed together wit...

Got some soap too... They are not immune to the 'civil servant' answer.. Given my limited time there, I didn't have much time to go shopping and the nearby convenient stores didn't have this, but the guy cleaning my room said you can order them from a pharmacy.. So I walked to the front desk and the first man gave the 'cannot' answer, but the man next to him heard and offered to get someone to buy it, for a INR fee. Which was fine, since the soap was about 40% cheaper. I got my soap within half and hour, and kudos to the man And for reference, this other brand at the small mall near the hotel was charging the price for a single bar, haha ​​​​​​​

 am writing to you after having survived F1 in a tiny tinny can hurtling at supersonic speeds to one of the great wonders of the world, and at some point I thought I might be really buried there too. My survival is a testament my Lord’s protection and also in no small part due to the incredible driving skills of the man in the photo, plus a healthy dose of luck too I reckon… here is my story: Oh my! Oh dear! These are amongst the milder expressions going through my mind as I watch the driver weave through Delhi traffic, and come within a hair’s breath of the adjacent cars…. I after about one hour on the road,  I have finished my prayers, decided that I should trust God and close my eyes to sleep, not just because I’m resigned to my fate, but I was genuinely tired after  flying the red eye from SIN to Del and also immediately jumping into a hired car bound for the Taj Mahal.   So about half a year back, I got an invitation to received an award in New Delhi and I was v...