I dream of sushi

As part of Bupa's best blog competition for 2015

I Dream of Sushi is Moonee Ponds newest sushi place in town. It is tiny and too close to the railway station.

It is run by Japanese who not only do sushi but they also do Japanese meals such as soba and udon noodles. Nat Stockley said that it was a healthy Japanese place. But it was Consider the Sauce that recommended that I try this place.

They do eat in and takeaway for train commuters

I was greeted by a lovely waitress and when I saw that sashimi don was on the menu for $17, I thought that I got to have this. And so I did. It was easy to eat with a spoon as all the sashimi was diced. I loved the marinade, it was not too garlicky. I enjoyed eating the rice as well as it was the Australian rice that was used. but what would be nice is some avocado.

And no boom gates outside (not that they can help it). It is too noisy. And there is not much seating but still it is a cozy place to relax or grab takeaway.

Rating: 15/20 enjoyed the sushi but hate the noise outside.

Co Thu Quan

As part of Bupa's best blog competition for 2015

Co Thu Quan is in Saigon Market in Footscray. After walking past it several times we decided to try it. We saw how clean it was and cheap it was. About nine bloggers including Eat and be merry and cahsing a plate really enjoyed the foods.

The serving sizes were just reasonable and everything was $10 and under. I was decently full after my meal and kumquat drink.

They are cash only and you order and pay at the cashier and then they will bring out your food within record pace. The kitchen is open so you can see what they are doing and whether it is clean. The kitchen is clean.

The meats and seafood are sourced from the Footscray market so you know it is fresh

I had the kumquat drink ($4). It was refreshing for a nice warm day. But it was a little bit salty from the sour plum part. The sweetness came from the kumquat.

Next up were the rice paper rolls ($6 for three prawn ones). These were dry and stuck together from having being made in the early hours of the morning and then being stuck on shelf at room temperature. Be careful vegetarians and pescatarians there is a small bit of pork in there. But the nuoc nam was charming.

Last up was the sticky rice with chinese sausage and bbq pork ($5). This easily fed me and I was full from this after all. But it was very salty from the sausages and pork floss and I can still taste the salt.

It's a lovely place for the meat eaters and I encourage Ming from Sweet and Sour Fork to visit soon as she loves her meats. I don't think that this is too much out of her way. It is about a ten minute train ride to Footscray from the city and a two minute walk from the station.

15/20- cheap eat with no frills service. But no vegetarian food though.

Mr Kitchen

Mr Kitchen has one store in the city and the other in Box Hill. I went to the city one of course .

Mr Kitchen is a Chinese Vietnamese place which sells street snacks. Think Bings and Congee, but the city one does skewers and hotpots.

Stuff for the hotpot

They are mainly a take away place but they do have some seating for their patrons.

I went on a few visits. The first one I just went for morning tea/late breakfast of Jian Bing and Chinese donut ($6). It was eggy a little more than Bing Boy but still good. They put spring onions and herbs in this and then they brush on the soy sauce. You can watch them make the crepes from the outside and they make it when you order it.

It was so hot when I got it, but delicious. The second time around I went for the congee and the skewers. The congee was $5.50 and fed me but it was bland. I would have expected a little bit of salt or vinegar which is offered at the place. But the fish and tofu skewers were damm fine. No hold that... GREAT!!!!!

ceiling- I love the colours

Menu with the bad spelling

With congee there are a few flavours to choose from in the display and when you order it they will put it in a takeaway bowl even for eat in customers.

The congee was a little watery at times and gluggy at times.

I might only just come back for their Jian Bings, donuts and skewers

Julien Blanc

 Julien Blanc is a teacher of sexual assault on women and is infamous around the world for this. We tell female international students in Australia to watch out for a guy like him and other rapists that went to his seminars.

"At least in Tokyo, if you're a white male, you can do what you want. I'm just romping through the streets, just grabbing girls' heads, just like, head, pfft on the dick. Head, on the dick, yelling, 'pikachu,' with a pikachu shirt." Julien Blanc

Julien is from the US and he makes a living by teaching men how to rape women. He had plans to host his seminar in Melbourne's hotel como but after about 10,000 signatures the Hotel Como decided to cancel his stay. Three other hotels have done the same including the one in Brisbane.

Now protestors want Immigration to cancel his visa. On November the 6th there was a peaceful protest at the Yarra river where Julian and the delegates were on the ferry.  More hotels and companies cancelled on him as they saw who he really was.

Australia in the last few years has had lots of assaults on women and it is usually late at night in dark lonely areas. International students often don't know that dark lonely areas are often places where unscrupulous people target.

If Julien was to come and give his talk in Melbourne then assault on women would be ten times worse.

Free tram rides in the city as of 2015

The free tram zone. Map courtesy of yarratrams.com.au

The Victorian Government has introduced free tram rides in the city from Queen Victoria Market to Federation Square and from Victoria Parade to Waterfront city.

This comes as good news for the many International students who work, study and live in the CBD and Docklands. This is also good news for tourists but it can be confusing for some as it does not include Melbourne's Crown casino or the Art gallery. It includes Melbourne Museum though

Unfortunately Melbourne Uni is outside the free zone so students will have to pay. Luckily RMIT's SAB is just a short walk from the free zone.

You don't need to touch on and off within this zone and if you do you will be charged a 2 hour default fare.
But if you are outside this zone you still need to touch on when you first board the tram or before you leave the free zone