Sunday, October 29, 2006

MasterCard



Do you know anything about the history of VISA, MasterCard, Diners.. etc? neither did I, until now.

It gets more confusing when some banks issue both.

Well, as it turns out, as the picture suggested, I've got it wrong. The tagline belongs to MasterCard!

I truly believe advertising works. How the hell can you get people to drink dark, fizzy drinks otherwise?! Yet the yellow logo doesn't go all that well with National's Thoroughbred card....

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

The Devils Wears Prada


Is money everything? Or is it like the Visa ad I loved.. I think it goes something like "There sre some things money can't buy, but for everything else, you have the Visa card..

It seems like even if money can't buy love, money can get you decent translations.

Just compare HSBC's endline with the translated movie title of The Devils Wears Prada in Chinese.

Hmm, maybe having a Visa card alone is not enough.

Watched the movie yet? The Sunday's Star gave it a 2, Herald gave it a 4. I give it a 5/5.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/fukagawa

Monday, October 23, 2006

Best Fish & Chips?



Where to get your fish and chips? Salt in Grey Lynn, Fish cafe in Kingsland or dress up and go to Sails in the CBD? Well, if you've got 3 hours (return) to spare.. but not quite the four hours (one way) you need to get to Mangonui Fish Shop...

Try Kaiaua Fisheries. While I'm no fish aficionado, their fish was pretty good. Maybe the good old newspaper outer wrap has something to do with it.

My local fish and chips shop? The Fishmonger, as well as known for selling Cardinal as "Deep Sea Hapuka" in the past, you'll recall they were named best fish and chips by Metro in 2005.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

where East meets West


You'll feel quite comfortable in this place. Those with an eye for details may notice that, under the dim lights, the opulent sofa covers are in stark contrast to the modern wood tables. The bird cage has no bird. The service is prompt yet insouciant, hm, does it make sense?

On a more positive note, their black sticky rice dessert is quite unique and worth a try. Unique is defined as "hard to find elsewhere in this city", unlike "roast pork belly", it seems like every chief who is worth their salt has to put it up on the menu....

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Frozen


Chestnut gelato, from the Ferry Building in Auckland CBD, is perhaps one of the best kept secret in town - it's not listed on google.co.nz, yet.

You don't want to have more then one scoop by yourself, however. The flavor follows the law of diminishing return.

Oh, share one scoop with a loved one. Your taste buds will leave the place as if you were in heaven. Who cares if it's 7 degress outside.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

The best Bloody Mary












Late September, early October is probably the best time to visit the Iguazú falls.

Two nights in the Tropical Das Cataratas will give you enough time to have a Bloody Mary in the bar, with the afternoon sun and the falls as the backdrop. Spend the next evening with a Martini by the pool, and watch the occasional lizard under the moon.

You know what to do once you are home - plan for the next getaway.