Enchanted Maze Gardens x Ethan's Birthday

Chris and I have been planning to catch up with our good friends, Cassy and Ethan for a day trip for a while now. We chose a Saturday that happened to coincide with Ethan's Birthday. We all decided that we wanted to go to a late night hot spring session so we planned our day around that. We had brunch, went for a walk to the coast, went cheese tasting, Strawberry farm, enchanted maze gardens, dinner then hot springs.

Ethan mentioned that he wanted to visit the Enchanted Maze Gardens. Chris and I actually wanted to visit this place about a month back but didn't end up going in because we thought the facade looked like it was designed for children and not suitable for us - it also rained that day, which drew us even further away.

We were really blessed with the weather on Saturday. It was forecast to rain that whole weekend but it was such a beautiful sunny Spring day. Chris and I were actually glad we didn't go in the last time because the rain would have spoilt everything as the maze gardens is entirely outdoors. Going in Spring made it so much more enchanting and beautiful, the flowers were in bloom and the trees were luscious green! Look how perfect everything is.

It really is so beautiful inside. The sculptures are perfectly cut out! Really impressive. It's not easy to maintain such a big high-maintenance area!

The lady at reception recommended we visit the Tube Slides and The 3D Spooky Maze first because they close earlier compared to the rest of the park. Good call from her because our favourite hang-out for the day was at the Tube Slides. Too bad it's super tiring because you have to lug these huge tubes

up a super steep hill before you can slide down and get sprayed with water. What's not to love?

Can't say the same about the 3D Spooky Maze. In my opinion, it was quite lame. You walk through these rooms with your funky 3D glasses on and the painting on the walls appear in 3D. I have to admit, I did get freaked out (at the very end, when the air machine popped and steam touched my leg). Props to me for freaking out the others! :P

Whilst we were going through the gardens, we looked up and saw these people tree surfing! Omgoodness, looks like so much fun but too bad, you require a booking to participate. Will definitely find time to go back there to tree surf!

Finished off a jam packed day with a relaxing night at the hot springs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ETHAN :)

Read More

Ten Minutes by Tractor

Chris and I decided to go to a winery known as 'Ten Minutes by Tractor' to spend our Saturday. We have driven past this place many times but have never taken the opportunity to go inside as we thought it'll just be like the many other wineries that we have visited. Wine Tasting and a small store/café linked to it. We thought it would be nothing too special.

We decided we'll visit this time around because we heard some really great (!) things about this place. Chris' mum also recommended it to us after she went for dinner with her friends.

Their menus are seasonal - Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring - with an emphasis on fresh produce, sourced locally if possible. They have their own veggie patch out back and their vineyards are all within a ten minute tractor ride away - hence their name. We researched their chef, Stuart Bell and found that he has won many awards and has previously worked with many Michelin star chefs in the past. We were sold.

We had to book a whole 3 weeks in advance because they were so busy! Even then, we couldn't get a seating for the dinner session so we settled for lunch. Since we knew it was a dégustation menu, we skipped breakfast.

Chris decided to go for the 8 course dégustation whilst I went for the 5.

Here we go. Time to spam the food pictures.

We both started off with the still-warm multi grain bread with olive oil, pink salt and butter.

 Amuse Broche aka the entree before the entree to 'cleanse our palette'

 Trout - cured ocean trout, cucumber puree, horseradish and creme fraiche snow, baby cos, potato salad

 Goat's Cheese - Red Hills Somers Soft, red quinoa, beetroot, avocado, green beans, aged balsamic

 Chef's Selection - Scallops

 Whiting - King George roasted fillet, spinach and fennel, dill gnocchi

 Quail - roasted breast, confit leg pillow, spring vegetables, apple cider and quail consomme

 Duck - breast, sweet potato, cumquat espuma, citrus granola, spring greens 

 Lamb - roasted rump, Jerusalem artichoke, baby leek, pine nuts, golden raisins, leek veloute

 Avant Dessert - A dessert before the real dessert

Carmelised crisp on a vanilla and mandarin custard with pear cubes.

 Chocolate - torte, Michel Cluizel chocolate, raspberry espuma, crispy raspberry canoli, liquorice ice cream

 The amazing view of their vineyard from our table.

Finished off with a chamomile tea to help us digest and not feel to heavy. Really impressed with the food quality and the service. Even their bathroom was amazing, they had hand exfoliate/cleanser, hand cream and individual hand towels. Was tough to pick a favourite dish, the duck and lamb were way up there. Also, because we both have a sweet tooth, we absolutely loved the avant dessert! 

Worth coming again but probably not any time soon. Burn a hole in our wallet. :( 
Thanks babe for spoiling me x

Did I make you hungry? 

Ten Minutes by Tractor

1333 Mornington Flinders Road, 

Main Ridge, 3928, VIC

www.tenminutesbytractor.com.au

Read More

From Day to Night

As you probably already know, I love photography. I take pictures for fun, I love that I can have something there to look back on my past memories.

I love to photograph scenery although I do occasionally photograph people, food etc. One aspect that always amazes me is what different lighting can do to your final picture hence I love waking up early to capture sunrises and taking pictures of the same view by day and by night.

Here are some day to night pictures I've taken and to this day remain my favourite!

Read More

The Melbourne Story

Chris recently had his RDO (rostered day off) and because we were still in holiday mode from our weekend away. I decided to join him on another relaxing day off work. 

We both love exploring Melbourne city but are always short on time so this was the perfect chance for us to get out and stare in awe at unique architecture, eat good food and visit Melbourne's little secrets.

My best friend. My Lover x

 We walked all the way to Melbourne Museum and spent almost 4 hours inside! It's surprisingly interesting. There's a lot to learn and a lot to see.

This was so fascinating. This is the nest of the tree ants. 

By the time we finished with the museum, it was already way past lunch time and we were starving so we went to visit an Italian restaurant nearby. They just so happened to be having special meal sets that day so we scored a really satisfying meal for a cheap price! :)

Walked again along Southbank to enjoy the view and the sunset - damn good exercise that day, so much walking! 

Such an amazing view. Beautiful way to end my day x

Read More