Auc Lac Do Brazil: That's all-you-can-eat

I have always been a fan of all-you-can-eat BBQ meat concept (Brazil Churrascarias), particularly Brazil Churrascaria along Sixth Avenue which I have tried some years ago. It has remained one of the best among its competitors over the last 10 years.

Brazil Churrascaria has done well enough to setup franchises out of Singapore, particularly in HCMC, however, with quite a different fate. After 2 attempted visits to its old location (moved) and then its new location (closed for 'renovation'), I gave up after waiting for a month and decided to give its competitor, Au Lac Do Brazil, a try.

The deco & ambience first impressed me. Next, the first half hour of the experience was great with fast service and fantastic food. The servers (totally serving 12 different kind of meat on skewers, salads & rice) came round the tables with lotsa enthusiasm & politeness. One of them even said "Enjoy your food & I will come back again".

But none of them came back again. After waiting for another hour, I decided to raise a request for a repeat round of chicken, beef & pork. Even that took another half an hour before I gave up & asked for the bill.

So, was it "all-you-can-eat" or "That's all you can eat"?

The nation celebrates its Independence Day

Vietnam's Independence Day falls on the 2nd of Sep. But I have never seen how the locals celebrate it as I always use the public holiday to travel back to Singapore. However, streets are lined up with the nation's flags weeks before and while looking out of my apartment's windows, I could see beams of lights coming from the prime areas, days before the actual day

Mooncakes in Vietnam

Mid Autumn Festival is in a month's time.

The Chinese in Vietnam celebrates this festival like how Chinese does in Singapore - eating mooncakes and kids carrying lanterns. Boxes of mooncakes are seen in almost all bakeries and Chinese restaurants in hotels. But the mooncakes here are still very much traditional - mainly baked skin, huge with lotus paste, lotus seeds and salted egg yolk while mooncakes in Singapore are moving ahead with a lot more creativity!

Rustic Barbecue Garden ruined in the rain

Barbecue Garden is situated diagonally opposite the Norfolk Hotel with alfresco dining in a rustic setting. But during the raining season, chances are, you will find yourself and your barbecued meat soaked in the rain. Despite the raining season, I've decided to give it a try after reading from its website about its efficient execution of backup plan, should it start to pour.

As expected, it started to rain heavily just 5 minutes after the food arrived! However, the back up plan execution was not efficient as I read. Waiters were running around aimlessly not knowing what to do. Activation of mobile shelters were slow and there was no ushering of affected patrons to the sheltered areas (there was also no space to setup additional tables).

I was lucky to find an available table under the shelter and took new orders of food (no extra charges of course!)

Before the rain. The iced fruity tea is a must try!

See the helpless waiter standing by a table? That's our food soaked in rain!

Rustic BBQ garden getting ruined in the rain. Some of the patrons hoped to brave through it!

Found an available table under the shelter

New orders arrived!

A traffic ticket for everyone?

You would have read my past entries about how crazy traffic here can be. No one here ever follows traffic rules and yet we see traffic police positioning themselves along the road catching traffic offenders. Wonder what would be their daily criteria for their 'catch of the day'?

Hopped onto a taxi only to find out that the driver's getting booked by a traffic police.
Wonder which traffic rule he has violated, parking by the roadside?

FV Hospital D3 vs FV Hospital D7

I've always been skeptical about the medical facilities here and I still am. The FV Hospital seems to be the most recognised medical center among the foreigners and I have visited both its newest & biggest premise in the developed areas of district 7 as well as its smaller premise in a commercial building at distrct 3.

It took me 4 hours to complete 4 check-up items (as part of my yearly medical check-up) in the bigger premise of district 7 while I was whisked through all (also 4 check-up items as part of my work permit application requirement) within 2 hours!

Newest & biggest premise in district 7

While waiting for my turn outside the consultation rooms of FV hospital in district 3

Thai Express comes to HCMC!

I was not surprised to learn that it has come to HCMC and know that it will do well (despite the downfall of New York Diner, the previous tenant). Thai Express does not serve authentic Thai food but its concept attracts many. Its Phad Thai & Glass Noodle with Shrimps (2 of my favourite) are different from and not as good as the ones in Singapore's outlets. Despite all, its business is booming each day!

31°C in HCMC, 13°C down under

The daily downpour in the late afternoons during this raining season does bring the temperature down a little. It feels like 34°C in the noon but feels like 31°C or lower in the evening. It is summer almost everywhere in July except for some countries like Australia and New Zealand. A few years ago on this day, I remember freezing my ass down under...

Great Ocean Road

Flinders Street Station in Melbourne

Skyline of Melbourne's financial district

Federation Square in Melbourne

The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge

The famous Sydney Opera House

The town hall of Sydney

Queen Victoria Building in Sydney

Skyline of Sydney's financial district

Tons of seafood at the Sydney Fish Market

See creatures from Monster Inc. & the Tiffany Co. boxes behind? These are wedding cakes!

Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast

Casino in Brisbane

The All-Star Parade at Warner Bros Movie World

Mediterranean food...at what price?

There seems to be only one mediterranean restaurant in HCMC - Skewers and it seems to be popular with mainly the foreigners. After reading about it in a few magazines and websites, I decided to give it a try.

I like its ambience and setting - very romantic. As for food, I didn't take its mediterranean dips quite well but its famous vodka-flamed beef skewers was not bad (no vodka taste though). The bill cost over VND1 million for 2 persons - 2 soft drinks, a soup, an apetizer and 2 mains (beef skewers & pork ribs).

Another Parkson coming your way

Parkson as we know, originated from Malaysia and it has never been the most popular shopping destination back in its home. However, in HCMC where shopping malls are scarce, Parkson has developed a niche of its own here and apparently doing so well that it is opening its 3rd branch near the airport (First branch in the heart of district 1 while the other is in the busy district 5 - very popular among movie goers as it is housing HCMC's biggest & newest MegaStar Cineplex on its top floor)

Parkson's newest branch - view from the airport