Travel
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Besides the tropical sweat factor, is 5 nights in Cairns too long? Considering the first and last one are essentially dead space for flights.
Did looong road trip to Cairns last Xmas.
You'll want aircon ... :).
We did Croc farm on Cook Highway, Reef and Kuranda. That would be minimum I reckon. That's two full day and one half day (Croc farm) in my experience.
Want to go back and do Atherton Tablelands, Daintree. Would be separate full day trips.
Also wherever else @mariner4life recommends.
Gets warm though.
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Mangonui Fish and Chip shop is massively over-rated.
Yep - definitely living off it's reputation now.
But, from memory (January 2021) - not quite to the point where it's serving paltry portions of shit... it's just... decent fresh fush'n'chups, with high prices and high wait-times. -
Mangonui Fish and Chip shop is massively over-rated.
Yep - definitely living off it's reputation now.
But, from memory (January 2021) - not quite to the point where it's serving paltry portions of shit... it's just... decent fresh fush'n'chups, with high prices and high wait-times.My main issue with it is that it didn't feel like NZ fush'n'chups, and just felt like we were in an Aussie fesh'n'chep shop aside from the pineapple rings.
As I said earlier in the thread my non NZ friends didn't find it any different than Aussie style - prices were similar too. But thankfully we rectified that down in Hawkes Bay so they didn't think we were lying to them about NZ fish and chips all these years.
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Mangonui Fish and Chip shop is massively over-rated.
Yep - definitely living off it's reputation now.
But, from memory (January 2021) - not quite to the point where it's serving paltry portions of shit... it's just... decent fresh fush'n'chups, with high prices and high wait-times.My main issue with it is that it didn't feel like NZ fush'n'chups, and just felt like we were in an Aussie fesh'n'chep shop aside from the pineapple rings.
As I said earlier in the thread my non NZ friends didn't find it any different than Aussie style - prices were similar too. But thankfully we rectified that down in Hawkes Bay so they didn't think we were lying to them about NZ fish and chips all these years.
Sadly - I think a few of the classic/good NZ-style ones went under during lockdown didn't they? I think a couple of the classic Hawkes <...> ones did?
I think I've just thought of a summer bike mission - riding around the country visiting all the traditional/famous "classic NZ fush'n'chup places" - and see which ones are still up/running, which have been bought out for better/worse, etc. -
Mangonui Fish and Chip shop is massively over-rated.
Yep - definitely living off it's reputation now.
But, from memory (January 2021) - not quite to the point where it's serving paltry portions of shit... it's just... decent fresh fush'n'chups, with high prices and high wait-times.My main issue with it is that it didn't feel like NZ fush'n'chups, and just felt like we were in an Aussie fesh'n'chep shop aside from the pineapple rings.
As I said earlier in the thread my non NZ friends didn't find it any different than Aussie style - prices were similar too. But thankfully we rectified that down in Hawkes Bay so they didn't think we were lying to them about NZ fish and chips all these years.
Sadly - I think a few of the classic/good NZ-style ones went under during lockdown didn't they? I think a couple of the classic Hawkes <...> ones did?
I think I've just thought of a summer bike mission - riding around the country visiting all the traditional/famous "classic NZ fush'n'chup places" - and see which ones are still up/running, which have been bought out for better/worse, etc.Sounds like an awesome way to get fat. I'm in.
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Mangonui Fish and Chip shop is massively over-rated.
Yep - definitely living off it's reputation now.
But, from memory (January 2021) - not quite to the point where it's serving paltry portions of shit... it's just... decent fresh fush'n'chups, with high prices and high wait-times.My main issue with it is that it didn't feel like NZ fush'n'chups, and just felt like we were in an Aussie fesh'n'chep shop aside from the pineapple rings.
As I said earlier in the thread my non NZ friends didn't find it any different than Aussie style - prices were similar too. But thankfully we rectified that down in Hawkes Bay so they didn't think we were lying to them about NZ fish and chips all these years.
Sadly - I think a few of the classic/good NZ-style ones went under during lockdown didn't they? I think a couple of the classic Hawkes <...> ones did?
I think I've just thought of a summer bike mission - riding around the country visiting all the traditional/famous "classic NZ fush'n'chup places" - and see which ones are still up/running, which have been bought out for better/worse, etc.None of the ones I go to in Hastings had closed when I was back in April.
Maybe the Hawkes Bay Seafoods one might have but I've never really considered them one of the classics.
Speaking of fish and chips there's a shop near Sea World on the GC that does pretty good almost NZ style fish and chips. Pretty long queue but they keep it moving like a theme park ride. You wait outside with some music going, then when you get inside you go round the corner a bit and there's another queue to the counter. I saw Homelander there too. Well the actor who plays him whose name I can't remember.
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Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
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I saw Homelander there too. Well the actor who plays him whose name I can't remember.
HIs name is Jethro/Van - depending on what flavour/style of fluffybunny he is at the time.
Yeah - Hawkes Bay Seafood/Takitimu was never really a classic - but another along the lines of "fresh... super fresh".
I think I'd heard one or two of the classics in Napier maybe went under, or sold out.What are the top fush/chups recommendations for Hastings? I used to live there, but a looooong time ago. As a kid. Nowadays - when I'm in the region, I typically only head into the Stings for an afternoon "working from home" at Brave.
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
They don't need you mate, it's not for you.....
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
They don't need you mate, it's not for you.....
Considering a couple of them have gone under recently I think they probably needed to.
-
@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
They don't need you mate, it's not for you.....
Considering a couple of them have gone under recently I think they probably needed to.
They probably don't or barely speak english
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
They don't need you mate, it's not for you.....
Considering a couple of them have gone under recently I think they probably needed to.
They probably don't or barely speak english
I'm sure it's not that hard to hire an English speaking staff member, I don't think there' any Chinese restaurant I've been to in Chinatown that doesn't have someone with basic english skills. The two nearest me are closed, but next time I see one without any English signage I might go and ask them.
TBH, I think the majority if Chinese here would speak English. My old boss had terrible English though, and she's been here since 1986 and her husband is fluent.
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I saw Homelander there too. Well the actor who plays him whose name I can't remember.
HIs name is Jethro/Van - depending on what flavour/style of fluffybunny he is at the time.
Yeah - Hawkes Bay Seafood/Takitimu was never really a classic - but another along the lines of "fresh... super fresh".
I think I'd heard one or two of the classics in Napier maybe went under, or sold out.What are the top fush/chups recommendations for Hastings? I used to live there, but a looooong time ago. As a kid. Nowadays - when I'm in the region, I typically only head into the Stings for an afternoon "working from home" at Brave.
I usually just go to the local Mahora ones. Either Duke St, Mahora Fish Shop or Shaun's.
Had to look up Brave. Never been there before, assume it's reasonably new.
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@booboo glad you've had a good trip. Me and Neps have been waiting for you to reach out to catch up, but assume you're saving us for next time.
Chur
Yeah not quite sure how to explain to Mrs Boo that i want to meet these random blokes I "know" on the Internet ...
Unless you're around tomorrow (Thursday evening) up the northern end of the CBD?
We have nothing planned ...
If you ever go to Cairns and hang out with @mariner4life and his friends, be prepared to be called the "Penpal".
I've been called worse.
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@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
They don't need you mate, it's not for you.....
Considering a couple of them have gone under recently I think they probably needed to.
They probably don't or barely speak english
I'm sure it's not that hard to hire an English speaking staff member, I don't think there' any Chinese restaurant I've been to in Chinatown that doesn't have someone with basic english skills. The two nearest me are closed, but next time I see one without any English signage I might go and ask them.
TBH, I think the majority if Chinese here would speak English. My old boss had terrible English though, and she's been here since 1986 and her husband is fluent.
In Auckland there are lots of little Chinese places in areas like Balmoral/ Mount Roskill that either speak little English or pretend not to
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@booboo glad you've had a good trip. Me and Neps have been waiting for you to reach out to catch up, but assume you're saving us for next time.
Chur
Yeah not quite sure how to explain to Mrs Boo that i want to meet these random blokes I "know" on the Internet ...
Unless you're around tomorrow (Thursday evening) up the northern end of the CBD?
We have nothing planned ...
If you ever go to Cairns and hang out with @mariner4life and his friends, be prepared to be called the "Penpal".
I've been called worse.
@mariner4life pretended to go to the Gold Coast to avoid me ...
-
@MajorRage said in Travel:
Haru
Good to know they're still chugging along.
Always packed when I go back, bookings essential!
For more dodgier but very authentic cuisine , Beijing Hotpot is also awesome
Don't think I ever booked there, when I was living in hell.
I tend to avoid hotpots as there's so many of them in Sydney these days.
I do not understand hot pot / steamboat. My wife absolutely fucking loves it. I think it's basically taking a whole bunch of average Asian ingredients and then boiling it in some random flavoured soup.
Or, getting the chili option, and boiling it in some random flavoured soup with a chili oil slick on top of it.
My mates and I have regular pot lucks, we had a hotpot version most recently (quite a few of the group are chinese), and it was actually really good as we made our own sauces (in our bowls) etc in our bowls and everyone brought a range of foods.
Unlike when you go out to them and they're crazy expensive with as you say chilli soup. A lot of the new ones that are open here don't even have any signage in English, which I find weird, as they're just ruling out a large subset of potential customers.
They don't need you mate, it's not for you.....
Considering a couple of them have gone under recently I think they probably needed to.
They probably don't or barely speak english
I'm sure it's not that hard to hire an English speaking staff member, I don't think there' any Chinese restaurant I've been to in Chinatown that doesn't have someone with basic english skills. The two nearest me are closed, but next time I see one without any English signage I might go and ask them.
TBH, I think the majority if Chinese here would speak English. My old boss had terrible English though, and she's been here since 1986 and her husband is fluent.
In Auckland there are lots of little Chinese places in areas like Balmoral/ Mount Roskill that either speak little English or pretend not to
There's a good dumpling place in Balmoral I usually eat at when visiting mates in Auckland, but I can't remember the name of it.
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@booboo glad you've had a good trip. Me and Neps have been waiting for you to reach out to catch up, but assume you're saving us for next time.
Chur
Yeah not quite sure how to explain to Mrs Boo that i want to meet these random blokes I "know" on the Internet ...
Unless you're around tomorrow (Thursday evening) up the northern end of the CBD?
We have nothing planned ...
If you ever go to Cairns and hang out with @mariner4life and his friends, be prepared to be called the "Penpal".
I've been called worse.
@mariner4life pretended to go to the Gold Coast to avoid me ...
Dude, you were here 4 days before you let us know. We probably walked past each other daily.
