Little Saigon

funny. i write a blog entry during the week which mentions the film "Little Fish" which was set in Cabramatta, and then I end up spending most of today there on the invite of a friend.

Waz, his girlfriend Tash, and another friend Melissa and I drove out to Cabramatta this morning for yum cha. Actually, Waz drove us, which was wonderful so I could sit back and enjoy suburbia in all it's glory. The drive took about 40 minutes, so we were there around 11ish. Having finally found a space in the carpark (good spotting Tash!) we wandered over to the restaurant which Warwick had been to several times before. There was no numbering system to getting a table, so after 10/15 minutes and several people pushing in, we eventually got our table (communal on a larger table) and sat down to some of the best yum cha I've ever had. Yumcity!

We feasted on the usual yum cha fare, but also discovered some new things. Perhaps Viet-Chinese hybrid dishes? After gorging ourselves on so many wonderful things, we were handed the bill of $43. *shock, horror* ONLY FORTY-THREE BUX??? If we had dined in the city, or more "classier" restaurants, I am sure we would have paid at least 10 dollars more.

Waz, in his email invite to us said we could do a bit of Cate-Blanchett-spotting at lunch, and apparently he wasn't joking. The Blonde One has apparently been spotted eating yum cha at the same establishment we were in, no doubt having discovered the suburban gem whilst shooting (up) the film "Little Fish".

After the lunch, we ventured outside into the crisp autumn air and walked towards the plaza. Mmmmmm, the smells reminded me of Saigon and I felt a comforting sense of security.....SECURITY?????? Afterall, this was the place from my childhood which everyone seemed to fear. I remember Mum, going out to Cabramatta to buy food when I was a young teenager and Dad freaking out. Granted, back then things were different I suppose and I remembering feeling frightened when I went with her. Today, I felt no fear because the plaza seemed no different to any other suburban shopping district, albeit filled with Vietnamese faces and shops. It felt good to be there - again I seemed to blend into the crowd I suppose...I think....

We wandered up and down the shopping strip, occassionally venturing in to any shop that took our fancy. Melissa bought some new jeans at a clothes shop and a blue (not white) salad spinner at a discount variety store. Waz and Tash bought various bargains at the aforementioned shop. I remembered I needed to buy an 18th birthday present for my cousin, but couldn't find anything in the shop that didn't look CHEAP :(. Waz and I discovered $70 mens suits on sale, and sequiny or see-thru men's shirts which "could" look good at next year's Mardi Gras.....

I ended up buying some delicious custard cakes ($3 for 15!) fresh off the hot plate. OMG yum. I also bought a HUGE drink of fresh sugar cane, mixed with orange and ice. 2 bux is all that cost!!! they don't sell 'em like that at fucking Boost Juice!

All in all, a good day.....