Planting a tree or two

I went out to Warwick farm yesterday and joined a volunteer group at Liverpool-Fairfield for a planting tree day. We met at 9am at Jacqui Osmond Reserve which is in the middle of Warwick Farm and Cabramatta stations. This bush land is a hidden place with not much things around, except a softball centre next to it. Even though it is quite separate areas. I have come along. With Atif and we did all planting, digging holes, get the plants out of their pots, put in the hole and put all the beautiful brownny soil back to the bottom of the plants.

I felt extremely great and so happy when I dig the soil and seen there are so much diversity under ground, the earth worms, ants, little spiders... This beautiful soil is so soft and smooth. This good soil to help those plants grown.

A good activity to do on a weekend! Not meaning to save the earth or anything... ;)

Randomly picture

Nothing I could write today... Just a random picture I made from 3 different theme time...

What do we think first ? Sex or love?

Hi all. I should have written more in this blog. And fix the whole out-look more appealling, it sounds more marketing, more promotional but in fact, I do want to learn how to write and present better pieces of thought. Two nights ago, I watched Insight on SBS and there was a discussion honestly, straight-forward, openly about pornography and how it was important to talk openly within family, education context. That was extremely interesting and I got fascinated how people can be unsure of what they perceive every days through media... The fundamental difference between sex and love is the chemistry people can feel toward each others. If it was purely sexually contact, there is no love. This is a basic and I think I have known this very well before. However, I didn't keep the mentality on-going and pretty much let it gone away. Love, Sex arenot counted in a same currency. Even though there is a link but definitely for me, myself, I have to tell that I can put them together in a same scale. What is about you? Have you ever thought so? What love means to you and why is it important for us to find one?

I watch this video last night, it was very sad. and yeah I was nearly cried. But at the end, I was like thinking the drama was caused by the guy in the video, his choice is to left behind the love one, the family and everything without empathy. It was more like self-fish, leaving the one behind in sadness, tears and the love he offers. In these days, we hardly find anyone respecfully, faithful and honestly to the world around. So what is actually the value people have and what people want to share in our life? This question is never answered, I guess.

May is just started.

I have not any clues when I have moved to Sydney, probably since last August. So I have been living in this city for almost 9 months. Been away from family, I have grown up and learnt so much from everything. Thank for the challenges and opportunities I have gotten. I have been working so much for the last couple of months in approximately 50-60 hours a week at two jobs and dried up from everything. Deciding to quit my VIP host work at the Casino, I have sticked only with my sustainable living project. Taking one week off and travelling back to Melbourne, meet friends and immerse myself in a lot of love, after, I came back to Sydney and got sick for a week. Today, I walked down to the street to get some KFC on George street. After that oily and massive meal, I feel so full and got some energy to type something on here. Been a while I left this blog empty and not update anything... to be honest, I have too much and I don't know where I should begin to write. As I have not sure what I would do next in my journey here in Australia. Seems like I am the "greedy" person as I have always been told, I couldn't decide which way I should do to make the most out of my life. Looking for someone, something ... in my life... I feel like I am old and energy-less in doing any thing. Where is my motivations and energy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY

Chuyen tinh khong suy tu. This is a sensational love song for a forgotten love story. Sometimes, you feel like to write about your love, your story, but hardly to dictate it by words, this song is pretty much what I would like to tell. Whether you understand or not... It's my story. Cheer.

Sydney People

Are there actually any nice people out there in Sydney? I was like, oh this city is so nice, people are so friendly and welcome me. Some of the work-mates they are very kind, be friend, be good friend, share a lot of things... Suddenly! They turn to be nasty. Maybe it was a mistake or something, as least I am always honest to myself. I rather have disadvantage for myself, better to try to get over people and fight for some meaningless thing. However, learning to have a certain boundary in any relationship is a good thing for me. In fact, for every relationship. Even to family, because I have been called, requested to do this, that when my life isn't only to share with them. It was pretty much in their control. Is it why people here are nice, but they seem to be very self-ish sometime and they love themselves too much, be self-sufficient and thinking that the world is only for those who can actually survive by getting over other? There are people who I can only get along well when we both talk about alcohol, sex or get wasted! I believe not, and I do not even care about that... but I will take that into account when I have more judging on everything happening around. Cheer up Van, life isn't simple as I thought! For now, you have to be strong and stronger.

Combining flavours - Bau Truong Marrickville, Sydney

I am a Vietnamese food sucker. Certainly, my origin has arisen my taste with a different aspect to any others in Sydney. Bringing up a chance to visit and taste the food at Bau Truong Marrickville

185 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/70/1619832/restaurant/Sydney/Bau-Truong-Marrickville.

This restaurant inspirate any guess about a traditional value of Chinese-Vietnamese opera with a huge mask drawing on the wall - A highlight of its' decoration. I love it for any moments, when the kids are cheering and amazed by the mask, and more more little ones upstairs (it is a big 30 tables restaurants, 2 floors).

One of my favourite dishes in Vietnamese cuisine is "Bo La Lot" - beef mince, well prepare with special herbs and spices rolled in a wild betel leaf - dipped in shrimp paste salty sauce, it is so yummy (with my own flavour of a bit of lemon juice). I can not resist myself having it at Bau Truong, the dish is available among more than 30 other tapas/bites choices. Follow by a pot of sea-snails cooked in spicy coconut sauce, this one is so delicious and hard to find in Australia. I can not believe that they could make it so appealed and tasty in Sydney.

Nevertheless, the main should be a hit for the dinner. Sharing meals is a very friendly - Vietnamese custom. People loves to share and taste all different meals with each others. That's so good with a pick of "Goi du du tom ca don" - Green paw paw salad with prawns and cripsy anchovies. Be aware if you don't like peanut or chilies... as they may give you at least one of those.

I love how to have a big hot-pot so "Lau Canh Chua" is an preference for sharing up to 4 people. It is a traditional vietnamese sour-soup hotpot with sea bass, come with load of vegetables and herbs. The taste of sour is originated from tarmarine and pine-apple, which are boiled with lemon grass (just a little bit), fried garlic and rice-paddy herbs. A bit confused for the first moment, as I wouldn't know how to explain all the herbs and spices from Vietnamese to English. Best if Bautruong could have a snap shot picture of their available herbs, vegetable... It could be fun for the kids to talk about it too.

One of the meal reminds me so much about my family back in Vietnam in the old day is "Thit kho tau" - traditional braised pork belly with egg and a plate of pickled vegetable. It is usually served in "Tet-holiday" (similar to Chinese New Year) and my mum cooks it mostly every year. Love the juice, so mouthful taste of flavour, perfect in a warm bowl of steam rice.

While having all the food, drinks are complimentary for that. Never forget to treat yourself a glass of chardonay or riesling. I also get myself a soda-lemon juice, along with the wine.

We all love dessert, and I have to recommend you something at Bau Truong Marrickville. Grilled Banana serve in warm coconut milk and ginger ice-cream. It is not a very sweet one but you will be surprised those flavours can go so well together.

Paying for a delicious dinner will tribute for your hard working day, comfort yourself at Bau Truong Marrickville with a pot of green-rose tea for a relief time, I am strongly recommend you to visit it during the weekday, to unbeat the queue, or simple call them to reserve a table. And don't forget to tip the staff, as they serve you all the best of they can.