Catching up, Kinky Boots and The Bodyguard

A friend of mine, whom I met when I was studying in Queensland, flew to Sydney to renew her passport. We met last Saturday morning for a breakfast catch-up session. We haven't seen each other since I left Brisbane, which was a little bit more than three years ago.

We talked over coffee and waffles in Haven, a cafe in Surry Hills which serves all-day breakfast (Yay!).

Flat white

Amazing Kimcheese Waffle (spicy Korean kimchi, parmesan cheese, black sesame, vanilla bean ice cream and kimcheese waffle)

The waffles are to-die-for! This was my first time to try a sweet and savoury waffle. And really, kimchi + parmesan cheese + vanilla ice cream = why would I say no to that? It might taste weird when you think about it but the fusion of taste of the savoury kimchi, salty parmesan cheese, sweet ice cream and creamy egg waffle is perfect. The combination of taste balances each other out.

Hokkaido Red Bean and Matcha Waffle (red bean, coconut cream, matcha sauce, matcha ice cream and plain egg waffle)

The red bean and matcha waffle tasted great as well. I love red bean and matcha as individual ingredients so when you put them together in one dish, you will make one happy lady in me. If pancakes have maple syrup, this waffle has matcha sauce in a teapot, which you pour over your waffle.

We talked about a lot of things -- our future plans, life updates, current drama and just life in general. Catching up with friends, especially the old ones, is always refreshing and fun. I'm glad that, though we no longer talk as frequent as we used to when we were still in university, we are still "connected." We still get each other and bonding is effortless, as it always has been. At this day and age, it is important to filter the people you surround and associate yourself with and to keep and to value the ones worth keeping. I'm glad I met good people when I moved here.

After breakfast, she wanted to visit the university I went to here in Sydney. Unfortunately, the iconic jacaranda of USyd was no longer there (It collapsed late last year and will still be replanted). Also, they were doing maintenance work in the Quadrangle so the supposedly "sight to see" was not photo-worthy. Still, I showed her around a bit. And we took gazillions of portraits, selfies and Boomerangs.

Graffiti Tunnel - one of my favourite spots in USyd. The only area where vandalism is allowed.

OOTD at my old stamping ground

We weren't able to spend the whole day together though because when she told me she will be flying to Sydney, my friends and I had already booked tickets for the theatre. So after lunch, we bid each other goodbye and I headed to Capitol Theatre to meet my friends for the Kinky Boots show.

Just be who you wanna be

Unlike the other musicals that we saw, we had no idea what this one was all about. It turned out to be one of our favourites now! The cast, choreography (Lola and her "angels" were very Beyoncé) and musical score (Cyndi Lauper wrote the songs) were amazing. The props and costumes were a feast for the eyes. The story was inspiring and heartwarming. It was feel-good, high-energy show -- the vibe that you need on a weekend.

After the show and since it was a chilly night, we had ramen in Gumshara (in Haymarket) for dinner.

Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu

The flavours were packed but just right for me - not too salty and not too spicy. The thick soup, which was made from bone marrow and soft bone, added the extra punch of taste to the whole dish. I love that it was loaded with toppings. It was so filling. However, as soon as I finished the contents of the ramen, I stopped eating. The broth was overwhelming to finish on its own and I really didn't want to finish it since it was made from bone marrow. Bone marrow = cholesterol. We don't want to go down that path, my friend. Heh.

The next day, my friends and I saw another musical show, The Bodyguard, at Sydney Lyric Theatre.

So goodbye. Please don't cry. We both know I'm not what you, you need.

We were excited for this one because, as we all know, the film and the soundtrack were classic hits. However, the show wasn't what I expected. I felt it lacked something... Or maybe it's just me. Nonetheless, it was still worth watching. I enjoyed the songs! They added more of Whitney Houston's songs to the ensemble. It was lie watching a concert - Whitney and her karaoke hits! The actress who played Rachel was great. I loved the last part of the show where they sang "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." The crowd got up to their feet and danced. Of course, so did I!

We headed to Jimmy's Recipe, a Malaysian restaurant in Gateway (Circular Quay) for dinner. I started to feel under the weather and that called for a warm, hearty soup so I ordered chicken laksa. This is my newest favourite laksa. I love the flavour - a perfect mix of coconut milk/broth and spices. I love that the broth is not too runny or too light. Chicken is cooked just right and they used a combination of vermicelli and Hokkien noodles, which I don't really mind. I wanted it to be a bit spicier but one can easily add extra chilli so it's not a big issue. And it is very cheap!

... And that was how my last weekend went.