Lancer 2008 VRX

What the?: Driving the Lancer 2008 VRX

Where: Somewhere in Melbourne

When: May 2008

The keyless entry "keys" or transponder.

I got a chance to drive the manual VRX on loan when I sent my lancer for service. First impressions are good, starting with the keyless entry. You just need to put the keys (transponder rather) in your pocket, walk up to the car and put your hands under the door lever. The doors will unlock automatically...hehe Its like the car knows the owner is near!

Steering wheel with bluetooth hands free system.

5 Speed manual gear shift

Rockford Fosgate sound system.

More bucket like seats, wraps more around you.

Anyways, the 5 speed manual drives rather well. Its grips the road tight with tuned suspensions and wider 18" Yokohama Advan rubbers. I like the suspension setup because its tight around the corners and very precise. On the downside, its gets rather bumpy caused by the stiffer suspensions.

18" rims with Yokohama Advan rubbers. Wonder how much it cost to replace?

Accelaration is OK even with the 18"...but i think it will fly with a turbo :) Can't wait to test drive the Evo X one day..hehe. Gosh i miss driving a manual car, time to work on getting a manual big turbo as a weekend car...hmmmm Very tempting.

Dinner at Ezard!

Wat the?: Fine dining
Where: Ezard, 187 Flinders Ln, Melbourne CBD (below Adelphi hotel)
When: May 2008

The Oyster Shooter! Slurp up the oyster in 1 gulp! :)

Sashimi!

5-star Wahyu Beef steak..oh man you got taste this once in your life!

Comes highly recommended by my project manager and I in return recommend it as well! Go for the 8 course tasting menu, it will not dissappoint you. The staff will explain each meal and also how best to enjoy it. Great service and food. Well worth the price you pay. Do forgive the poor imagery from the mobile phone..hehe.

Big OZ Breakky!

Wat the?: Breakfast OZ style

Where: Rathdowne Street Food Store, 617 Rathdowne St, Carlton North 3054

When: May 2008

Hot Chocolate with marshmallows (thats your sugar :))

Sausage, Sauteed mushrooms, poached eggs, spinach, hashbrowns with toasts

If you are looking to feed yourself with a fantastic OZ style brekky, try the breakfast menu at this place! They got it all, sausages, bacons, sauteed mushrooms, poached/scrambled eggs, toast....ooohhh yea! Wash it down with your favourite latte or hot chocolate. Promise you won't be hungry until dinner!

Moreton Bay Bugs

Wat the?: Moreton Bay bugs (a kinda seafood :))

Where: Vic Market, Melbourne

When: May 2008

I've tasted it and wondered how it really looked like alive (or close to live)! I found some bugs for sale in the market and quickly snap a pic of it. Rather peculiar crustacean!

Wine Tasting at de Bortoli winery

What the?: Wine tasting trip

Where: de Bortoli winery, Yarra Valley Victoria
When: April 2008

Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay!

T-bone steak was superb!

What a way to spend a company's away day trip! A whole bunch of us was whisked away from office in a comfy van and driven out to the countryside in Yarra Valley. Had a wonderful wine tasting session, lunch and a walk around the winery for fresh air (after all the wine...*hiccup!).


Bought some wine, IMHO the sparkling Windy Peak Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Old Noble dessert wine was pretty good! Highly recommended!

Car with 2 rear wipers

Wat the?: A car with 2 rear wipers

Where: Somewhere in Melbourne

When: April 2008

Woa! Just had to sneak a pic of this. Rather unsual for a car to have 2 rear wipers, isn't it? Its a Toyota Camry CSi wagon by the way....Hmmmm...just doens't seem right if you ask me :P

Pain(t)ball @ Coldstream

Wat the?: Paintball 20 person skirmish
Where: Coldstream, Victoria
When: April 2008




Its time to slap on the overalls, grab a paintball marker and head on down to the battlefield! Its a weekend warrior event with 10 people a side. Purchased the 500 bullet package for AUD 85. It was more than enough for 3hours + of sniping and rambo action. There were 3 fields with different objectives that was really fun rather than the usual eliminate all opponents game. The fields were much more challenging and engaging than I've experienced in Msia. Plenty of room to manoeuvre and sneak up on your opponents. Ended the day with a few bruises but most importantly great fun shooting fellow friends with paint!



Check out the website for more info: http://www.paintballgames.com.au/

Road Trip to Marysville

What the? : Road cruise to Marysville
Where: Marysville, Victoria
When: April 2008




Its time to hit the road! (Sing: Life is a highway by Rascal Flatts..oh yea!). Nothing like a good-ol roadtrip to put the Lancer through it's paces. Must say, I had trouble catching up with the Honda S2Ks and WRX. Geez, need to get hooked up with some turbo spooling action real soon just to keep up!


Passed by many scenic wineries and country side, they look so "postcard" like in the victorian autumn. Didnt had time to pursue further on to Lake Mountain. Will save that for the winter months where there is real snow!

Wilson's Promontory

What the?: Easter weekend trip to Wilson's Promontory, nature park.
Where: Sounthern most tip of Victoria.
When: March 2008



One of the "long weekends" in Australia is the easter holiday weekend. So the gang planned a trip to a nature park called Wilson's Promontory (meaning a piece of land that juts out to the sea). Time to put on the "Chindianna Jones" hat and head outdoors!


Its about 2 hour drive out of Melbourne, heading south towards Gippsland in Victoria. Had a weekend full of kangaroos and wombats. Also, the very tiring hikes along the nature trails in the park! Thanks gang! Honestly the landscape got pretty repetitive after a while, but there were some really nice views of the sea. Highly recommended as an introduction to the outback! Tip: you might want to rent a SUV to tackle the many unsealed roads around the park.

Melbourne International Motor Show

What the?: Melbourne International Motor Show 2008
Where: Melbourne Convention Centre
When: March 2008


Woa! The first motor show i get to witness overseas. Its a must see for one reason, especially in this year's edition of the motor show. The reason? Godzilla! It has come to shame the Porsche 911 owners! In it's latest incarnation, the Nissan R35 GT-R is a whopper of a beast! Well worth the trip to see it in the flesh.


Other highlights of the show include the much awaited Evo X (on sale in Australia come May 2008). Also, the horsepower freaks at RalliArt came out with the Lancer Ralliart GSR, which is a downsized Evo X. It has the same 4B11 turbocharged engine but minus the Evo thrills like Brembo Brakes, BBS rims, Recaro seats and body kits. Supposedly to be sold at the range of AUD 40,000++, it has come to dethrone the hatchy new WRX. I shall await it's launch sometime Q4 this year.


Also at show was the world's fastest production car, the Bugati Veyron. It has 1,000bhps (726kw), W16 engine, 7 gear DSG gearbox and top speed of 407kmh!! (You can see this claim in one episode of Top Gear) Crazy! its only displayed on the first weekend of the show. Me thinks its someone's bugati they borrowed to show off!


There lots more to see, but I though I include this and try to be patriotic. There was a Proton booth and they were showing off the Satria Neo R3! Claimed to have a turbocharged Campro engine. Sadly it didnt attract that many onlookers and the specifications of the car was somewhat...intentionally simplified...sigh. A brief walkthru of the specs would be:

• R3 bla-bla enhancements all over the Campro (sometimes pronounced "cham-pro") engine, EMS, exhaust and suspension system
• 17" Advanti rims with Potenza 205/40 RE001 rubbers
• Momo steering, Recaro SR4 seats and the all important R3 alluminium Gearknob (5bhps increase)

More MMS 2008 pics at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jasonj.my/MelbourneMotorShow2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/jasonj.my/MelbourneMotorShowPt2

Wedding bells!

Wat the?: Jeevan & Elsie's Wedding

Where: Holiday Villa Subang, Msia

When: March 2008

Back to good-ol Malaysia for a quick 1 week stint. Its my bro's wedding hehe...long overdue I would say.

Soda Rock!

Name: Soda Rock diner

Where: Corner of Toorak Rd and Chapel St, Melbourne
When: Feb 2008

In a mood for good-ol american burgers and milkshakes? Head on down to Soda Rock diner at the corner of a very happening Chapel St and Toorak Rd. Its got all the looks of a 1950s/1960s american diner. The food is great although may be abit pricey. Excellent milkshake!

What's with the Menu dude?

Where: Greasy mamak joint in Msia
When: December 2007

Ok, no prizes for guessing what's wrong here. I loooove Msia man...priceless... Now lets eat!