Saturday, August 10, 2013

Melbourne, Australia 2013 - Day 9

10th August 2013

Today is our last day in Melbourne. We decided to go back to Queen Victoria Market for our yummy breakfast and some last minute souvenirs shopping.

We have half a day to spend in Melbourne before it’s time to leave for airport so we decided to just roam around Swanston Street. As it is Saturday and with nice weather, there is quite a crowd on the streets. You see street performers too. 

Amazing Street Performers 
Amazing Street Performers  
Little Bourke Street

We also had a chance to visit Royal Arcade and Block Arcade. The architecture is beautiful too. 

Royal Arcade 
Macarons Stall in Royal Arcade 
Macarons Stall in Royal Arcade 
Royal Arcade 

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Credits : Royal Arcade

Before reaching The Block Arcade, you will first enter a small back lane called Block Place Melbourne. Line up with restaurants of different theme, it's an ideal place to enjoy a meal or tea time. The restaurants are so attractive that even though you are not looking for a place to eat, it is still enjoyable to stroll through the lane.

Block Place
Block Place

The Block Arcade is another beautiful historical building. We came across a queue outside one particular shop. When we approached the shop, it is actually a Tea Room. Looking at the cakes, I cannot resist the temptation but to buy myself a slice of Vanilla Slice Cake.

The Block Arcade
Hopetoun Tea Rooms @ The Block Arcade
Hopetoun Tea Rooms @ The Block Arcade

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Credits : The Block Arcade

Time is running out. We had a quick lunch in a Hong Kong restaurant before leaving for the airport.

Hor Fun
Fried Kway Tiao
Wanton Soup

Melbourne International Airport is less than an hour away from Melbourne CBD. We took a maxi cab which costs us AUD65.00. 

Melbourne International Airport
Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport
SliverKris Lounge @ Melbourne International Airport

It's time to board. Bye Melbourne, see you again…..I will be back! 

Friday, August 9, 2013

Melbourne, Australia 2013 - Day 8

09th August 2013

Happy 48th Birthday, Singapore!! Our first time away from the celebration back home.

Credits : Gardens by the Bay

Grey sky greeted us this morning. Not raining again?? Fortunately, it was just a slight drizzle and stopped shortly after. However, today remains a gloomy day but this is still better than a rainy day.

First and foremost, the most important meal of the day - breakfast. Hearing from my brother that there is a foodcourt in Melbourne Central which is 5 minutes’ walk from our apartment, we strolled towards the shopping mall cum subway station. The stalls were just opening. In Melbourne, all cravings can be fulfilled, be it Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian and Italian. There are so many Asian foodstalls and restaurants around.

Without hesitation, Mum picks Laksa. A bowl of hot and spicy noodles is nothing more than she can ask for. This might even be her best meal throughout the whole trip. The rest of us choose our breakfast after going round and round the foodcourt. *SIGH*

Melbourne Central Shopping Centre
Laksa
Chicken Noodle
Burgers and Fries
Almond Crossiant
Hot Chocolate
Mocha

Sightseeing time!!! Yeahhhhh!! We walk to the State Library of Victoria which is just across the road. The building’s architecture is very nice. Tourists tend to leave this ‘footprint’ behind with at least one photo.

State Library
State Library

From State Library, we took the City Circle Tram to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The church is very impressive and beautiful. It is a popular tourist spot and you can see many tour buses parked outside. We spent some time exploring the beauty of this place, both the interior and exterior before moving to Chinatown near Little Bourke Street.

St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral

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Credits : Saint Patrick's Cathedral

The Melbourne Chinatown is unlike those Chinatown that we have seen in Japan. It is mainly dominated by restaurants. However, this is also the perfect place for tourists as all “touristy” stuff that you are looking for can be found here. I was still wondering where to buy nougats as they don’t seem to be readily available till I got here. Can’t help wondering, is it true that only Asians buy nougats as souvenir snacks from Australia? Please enlighten me.

Chinatown Melbourne
Chinatown Melbourne
Chinatown Melbourne
Chinatown Melbourne
Chinatown Melbourne

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Credits : Chinatown Melbourne

From Chinatown, we strolled down Swanston Street and passed by St. Paul’s Cathedral before arriving at Federation Square. You can see the Visitor Information Centre strategically located there. This is a good place to start your Melbourne trip by collecting all the maps and information you need. Furthermore the famous Melbourne landmark, Flinders Street Station, is just opposite.

Little Bourke Street
Swanston Street
Swanston Street
Swanston Street
Swanston Street
Swanston Street
Horse Carriage @ Swanston Street
Horse Carriage @ Swanston Street
Federation Square
Federation Square
Federation Square (Night view)
St. Paul's Cathedral
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station (Night view)

Our next destination is Fitzroy Gardens, one of the city’s most historic and aesthetically pleasing gardens in Melbourne. In the gardens, there is Cook’s Cottage (also known as Captain Cook’s Cottage). This place is another popular tourist attraction. We met a loving Australian elderly couple who told us they got married under the big tree in front of Cook’s Cottage 32 years ago. It’s so touching to know that they are still so deeply in love and revisiting the tree after they moved to Brisbane.

Fitzroy Gardens
Fitzroy Gardens
Fitzroy Gardens
Cook's Cottage @ Fitzroy Gardens
Cook's Cottage @ Fitzroy Gardens
Cook's Cottage @ Fitzroy Gardens
Fitzroy Gardens

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Credits : Fitzroy Gardens

After a short stay, it’s shopping and mum’s pokies time. We try to balance sightseeing and shopping so that everyone does not get bored. Today, we are visiting Harbour Town Shopping Centre – Melbourne’s most exciting venue of outlet and specialty shopping with over 120 outlet stores, 70 specialty stores and more than 1,500 brands all in the one place.

Harbour Town
Harbour Town
The yet to open Melbourne Star from Harbour Town
Harbour Town
Harbour Town
Harbour Town

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Credits : Harbour Town

For dinner, we wanted to checkout Changgo – a Korean BBQ restaurant that my sis’ colleague recommended but the waiting list was way too long. There is a good 1-2 hours’ wait at least I guess. We then settled in another Korean restaurant nearby. We were so cold and starving by then so army stew was the perfect choice.

Pork Bulgolgi
Chicken Bibimbap
Army Stew
Seafood Pancake

This is our last night in Melbourne. Tomorrow we will be returning to Singapore, where we call HOME.