Monthly Archives: May 2012

What women are Wearing@King Street Wharf

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When I studied Fashion at F.I.T in New York, footwear fashion always intrigued me. I had some really hot looking Swede classmates who modelled part time, and I always wondered how they managed to ramp walk or strut their stuff on those stilettos which looked ‘Oh so uncomfortable‘. One of those girls did confess that these styles did give her ankle aches, but she wore them as they were really hep. Hmm, and we were taught that “Form follows function”, but not for women I guess.
On the weekend me and the wife were at King Street Wharf, waiting to board a cruise, when I decided to use the time at hand and have a look at what the Cool women of Sydney were wearing on their lovely feet. There were boots, high heels, sneakers and flat soles. I’m not sure how many were comfortable in their shoes but they all looked happy. King Street Wharf also houses some of the best restaurants and bars in Sydney,so it’s obvious that women dress up fashionably when they dine here!

So, have a peek at the footwear fashion as seen on King Street Wharf.
Fashion

Fashionable
Fashion

Fashionable
Fashion

Fashionable
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Fashionable
Fashion

Three To Tango
Fashion

Fashionable
Fashion

Boots That Go For Miles
Fashion

Fitness Is Fashionable
Fashion

Heels Make Calves
Fashion

Fashionable
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Prolonged Heels Wearing Is No Good!!
Fashion

Fashionable
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Legs Maketh The Shoes Or Vice Versa
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The Plot Being Hatched
Fashion

Fashionable
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Fashionable
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Fashionable Mommies!
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Best Foot Forward
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Different Strokes
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Cinderella
Fashion

Careful On Those Love!!

So, it seems that winter time is boot time. And all shapes and colours of boots. It is interesting to note that modern fashion evolved around women after the end of WWII. During the war there was a ration on fabrics and advertisers utilized mens’ need to see more flesh and skin by making skimpy dresses. That’s how the hemline went up. Some women who worked during the war days, didn’t want to go back to being house wives. So, many of the clothes/fashion created was based on that requirement and boots being part of that. Like I said earlier, we were taught In F.I.T, that “form follows function,” but I genuinely believe that women defy that theory!
Kudos to them, as they make our streets colourful and fashionable- well at least some of them. Do visit King street wharf as it offers a unique waterfront dining and a fantastic view of the famous darling harbour!!

http://www.ksw.com.au/precinct_map.aspx
Hasta la vista

X200 4WD DIESEL AUTO TEST DRIVE

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I have been hearing and reading a lot on the Great Wall Motors and the vehicles it has been unloading in Australia for the past 2 years.I have seen many tradies and ladies driving them.Till last year,they were only offered as manual ute’s and pick up’s and also as SUV. Now they have introduced them in auto,diesel and 4wd. It’s a great combination on paper and for $28,990 DA,it sounded great too. So,a test drive was on the cards! I also have a friend who’s planning to settle in Sydney and wanted an SUV when he landed here. Raj Singh from Parramatta Great Wall,Granville,called me and we made several appointments before finally meeting last weekend. He was extremely courteous and welcoming for a Sydney Sales rep.I have lived in countries all over the world and Sydney by far has the rudest customer service.They will get their acts together,when competition heats up. Raj quickly introduced me and the wife to his manager and then took us on a tour of the showroom. The showroom had Alfa Romeo,Chery and Citroen along with Great Wall. The one thing that strikes you first about the X200 Dsl Auto, is its simple yet “getting a second look” styling.I remember reading reviews where the reviewer found it too boxy or old styled! Well,each to his own.Like they say “One can’t compare apples and oranges.” And I found it hard to compare this SUV,at the price offered,with anything else in the market. Raj Singh is one of the many South Africans of Indian origin who have made Sydney their home. He quickly apprised us with the specs of the vehicle. Raj used to be with servicing before,but moved here to meet interesting people,he said.

New Kid On The Block(The Suv)

Getting in and out was easy for me at 170cms,and it wasn’t a fuss for the wife either who is a few inches below! Off we went for the TD,and I felt how light the power steering was.

Adjustable Power Steering

Now do bear in mind that my drive is an FG G6,and so everything is bound to feel different. I found the diesels clatter coming through,but then it was a cold engine,and it didn’t sound too agricultural. As Raj had warned me,there was a slight turbo lag from take off and stopping,but that can be adjusted if you squeeze the pedal right from take off. The indicator lever being on the left,like most European models,was a change. Inside,the seats felt a bit stiff compared to my cushion but it’s something that one gets used to.For the same reason I dropped the Mondeo,for the FG G6. The aircon was fine,but there are no vents for the rear passengers.

Simple But Neat Dashboard

Reverse sensors and parking cameras are standard on the X200,as are rain sensing wipers and auto lights.One has option of selecting drive in auto and manual as well. The wife drove in the back and gave her verdict that it was comfy for 2 adults and three would be a squeeze.Foot space was generous.

Ample Foot Space For rear Passengers

The boot space is decent and one can throw in a pram,and a bike with seats down.

Decent Boot

The vehicle did pull our combined weights uphill and arriving at 90km/h on the M4 was a breeze. Adjustments on drivers seat are electronic,and the steering can be adjusted up and down but not forward.

Light Steering

The 2.0 litre turbo diesel has power of 105kw and torque of 310nm arriving as low as 188rpm. Claimed fuel is 9.2l/100km.

Turbo Diesel Engine

In slippery conditions the AWD can be engaged with a 4WD Lock.

4WD For Slippery Conditions

I believe that Great Wall is soon going to touch the golden milestone of 20k in sales,which isn’t a mean achievement for a company which was welcomed with sniggers and skepticism. As history has shown,all companies like Toyota and Honda,started of similarly,but the advances made by Great Wall in such a short time is stupendous.

Great Indeed

Gut Feeling: Their logo says “Better Than Great” and I can’t help but agree. With the kind of features they are lavishly throwing in at a ridiculous price in today’s cut throat market,if they keep the prices competitive,there’s nothing stopping them.Way to go Great Wall Motors!! Good on you!!!

If you live near Parramatta,do call the friendly Raj Singh and take the X200 for a spin. You will see that this a competitively priced package.

Parramatta Great Wall Motors

Corner Church & Meehan Streets
Granville
NSW 2150

Phone: 02-8841 8388

Asta la vista

Billu’s@Harris Park

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Harris Park near Parramatta,is a suburb that houses some of the best Indian eateries in Sydney.But because it’s about 26kms away from the main CBD,it’s not so popular as it should be. Billu’s is one of these eateries and clearly the popular one.

Billu's

When me and the wife landed in Sydney in 2006,one of our friends brought us for a quick lunch. That time it had that Indian sweets/take away kinda look,but six years down,things have changed..for the better. It has become more popular and on a Thursday night,it was not so empty!

All decked up

In fact after we settled down,it started filling up.

Ladies busy at the counter

The wife was in a mood for Dosa(Indian crepe).I fancied chole bhature,which is a deep fried Indian bread made of white flour,accompanied by spicy chickpeas. But my bad luck,they only serve chole bhature on the weekends.Damn them!! So the Wife settled for a Paper masala dosa- it’s a looong Indian crepe that has a potato masala filling.

Paper masala dosa-$10.90

Potato masala filling

Dipping into the Sambar

Me and the Wife are from Kerala,in the South of India.We rarely go to North Indian restaurant’s like Billu’s, for dosa’s,which originate from south. But we were so disgusted with the quality of dosa’s at south indian restaurants in West Sydney,that we decided to try Billu’s.I’m not sure if their chef is from the south but he knows what he is doing. The Wife is a difficult customer to please and she sure knows her dosa’s. She was happy with her dosa. I ordered a Ghee masala roast,which is similar to the Wife’s except that its not so long and it has dollops of ghee(clarified butter) on top.It has the same masala filling.

Ghee masala roast- $10.90

Both the dosa’s were accompanied with Sambar,and two Chutney’s-one white and one red. Sambar is a lentil based vegetable stew and is used a lot in south indian homes. The white chutney was ground coconut based and the red one was a tomato chutney. The sambar and white chutney were not to my taste.I make better white chutney at home,but the red one was not bad.But the dosa’s got our full marks and at $10.90 each,they were a steal. We will definitely be returning; hoping that they maintain standards. The problem with Indian eateries is,the constant changing of Chef’s. Anyway,let’s hope for the best and good luck to BILLU’S,after all they did win the the Gold licence caterer certification.

Accolades

BILLU’S

62-64 Wigram Street  Harris Park NSW 2150

(02) 9687 7785

Hasta la vista