Out & About #443 | Collective April Visuals

​April showers bring May flowers.
If that's true then I expect cherry blossoms in full bloom within the next five days.

​The first quarter of 2018 was a strange mix of sun, gloomy precipitation-filled periods, strong gusts, and - the most painful of them all - freezing rain and ice. With the conclusion of these thirty days, it is with utmost optimism that the upcoming days shall bear warmer temperatures and clear skies.

​As always, here are some visuals to wrap up the month, some more reflective of indoor activities than others.

1) Accidental creation of Nutella Mousse
2) Oh-so-luscious Egg Yolk Lava Buns and freshly-steamed BBQ Pork Buns from Summit Garden have become my new (likely temporary) addiction.

​Be mindful that such 小點 are only available during dim sum hours (ie. between 11 AM and 3:30 PM), where wait times can be extensive but sustenance is guaranteed fresh.

​3) The formulation of an ideal Japanese-style Soufflé Pancake was undertaken as research, resulting in three experimental sessions. Some boasted superb texture, while others delivered visual appeal. Regardless, the desired height and consistency had failed to be attained, and so the saga continues.

​4) CoCo and Matcha Lattes are musts in all types of weather.
5) Cold Foam Cappuccino and Cold Foam Cold Brew are wonderful introductions to the spring/summer menu at Starbucks

6) Satisfying Beef Brisket cravings at Wonton Chai - this is honestly Cantonese comfort food at its simplest, swiftest form!

​7) The limited edition Maple Syrup Honey Butter Chips have finally been secured! Galleria marks them up quite significantly though: a small bag rings in at a whopping $2.99 before tax.

8) On a chilly Saturday afternoon, several Sauga stops were made with my favourite fangirl. Miniso Erin Mills was revisited, and Vanilla Soft Serve was obtained.

Regrettably, Sushi Tei's Oyako Don and Unagi Don have also proved less tasty with my most recent visit. No longer is the marinated eel served intact, but instead of small chunks. The portion of chicken and egg in the Oyako Don was rather meager and devoid of sweet, dashi-based sauce.

Dry Hair Gloves hmmm...

​9) A lazy Sunday was spent running errands, then arriving late to an afternoon showing of the recently released Avengers: Infinity War.

​Possibly the lengthiest movie I've seen in theatres since Inception, the amalgamation of several Marvel hits was an intense adventure packed with vivid battle scenes and sympathy-evoking scenarios. The sci-fi content was sufficient enough that children and/or teenagers could comprehend without much background knowledge, but made interesting enough such that adults could appreciate. The dialogue was well thought out, especially where comedic relief was skillfully interwoven into serious, potentially ominous scenes.

​Time had slipped between my fingers - quite literally since my hands were clenched for majority of the two-hour-plus showing - indicating its success at capturing my attention span for a longer period than I would have normally remained still. In spite of the simulatenous progression of events within the movie and sequential ordering of the plot, the ending was utterly disheartening, leaving more disappointment than wow factor. Personally speaking, it is believed that a movie should be able to be enjoyed as a standalone regardless of the existence of prequels or sequels.

The day was concluded with a lousy dinner at Summit Garden. Service was amiable, though the dishes that were delivered falled short of the quality and presentation witnessed during lunch and dim sum hours. At this, I was once again reminded of the reason I steer clear of Chinese dinners.