Bits & Pieces - The World & Me: Melbourne, Australia 2013

08th August 2013

Hooray…!!! “I say what about breakfast at ~~Tiffany’s~~ Queen Victoria Market?”. Why am I humming to the song of Deep Blue Something? What to choose, what to eat, what to drink? Head spinning and eyes rolling, we keep going round and round the food market. There are just too many choices and everything looks so delicious….saliva drooling…..

Queen Victoria Market

Choosing from stores that already have a queue waiting (thinking that they must be popular), we bought bratwurst hot dog bun, spinach & ricotta cheese pie, hamburger and last but not least, chicken & mushroom gluten free pie. For mum, it is the safer choice – bacon and egg toast set. Of course, not forgetting our dose of morning coffee.

Bacon and Egg Toast set

Mum's Long Flat

Mocha, Latte and Hot Chocolate

Black Pepper Bratwurst Hot Dog Bun

Queen Victoria Market is really huge and one can easily spend hours and hours immersing in this place, taking photos of everything or lazing at a corner coffee shop enjoying people watching. However, since I am with my family, I can’t be selfish and have to move on.

Within the market, there are so many stalls.

The delicatessen sells coffee, macadamia nuts, sausages, breads, mexican dips and many more.

Can I have a cup of hot chocolate, please?

Burgers and pies

Coffee and Tea

Sausages

Mexican dips

Fruit & vegetables market sells all kinds of "freshly pluck and harvest" greens. You get to see carrots, capsicums, persimmons, strawberries and many more.

Fruit stall

Red, Yellow and Green

Carrots

Vegetables stall

Continue to souvenirs and fashion market. There are plenty of stalls selling similar items so you must be patient and calculative enough to get the best buy.

Souvenirs

SO TRUE for our Baby Miniature Schnauzer, Toby

Souvenirs and Fashion

Wool shoe

Coin purse

Queen Victoria Market resting area

Last but not least, seafood, meat and poultry. It's a pity we are not oyster lovers, or else, we can share with mum. They sell only in dozens. Some stalls "promote loudly" to attract customer while others already have their loyal customers.

Fresh salmon anyone?

Oysters in a dozen

Poultry stall

Nicely "cone" diet mince meat

Marinated drummies

Seafood

Fish

Click to find out more.

Credits : Queen Victoria Market

Are your legs tired after ‘stalls shopping’ in QVM? How do you like a ride on the City Circle Tram for a loop tour around Melbourne City? The City Circle Tram provides a free and convenient way to get around within central Melbourne. It covers major attractions and tourists can “hop on and hop off” to enjoy the various Melbourne tourist spots. Frequency is not too bad too as it comes in every 12 minutes and operates till late (9pm – that’s late for Oz standards) on Thu, Fri and Sat.

Normal tram - remember to pay

City Circle Tram

Alighting at the tram station near South Wharf, it’s Shopping Time!! DFO, which stands for Direct Factory Outlets, carry various popular sports brands (Nike, Puma, Reebok, Adidas, etc.) and apparel brands (Jeanwest, Quicksilver, Billabong, Espirt, etc). Take some time shopping and you might be able to get some really good bargains like us.

Another thing you can enjoy while walking to DFO is the beautiful buildings and scenery by the Yarra River. The 2 river banks are connected by Seafarers Bridge.

Yarra River - Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre

Yarra River - South Wharf DFO

By Yarra River

Yarra River

Seafarers Bridge

Yarra River

Click to find out more.

Credits : South Wharf DFO

While we were shopping in DFO, mum is relaxing and spending her time in Crown Entertainment Complex playing pokies again. That is her main interest in Melbourne City. Walking back to Crown after our shopping spree, the sun is setting. This is the best time to take night scene of Yarra River.

Yarra River - Crowne Plaza and Crown Casino

Yarra River - Crown Casino

Yarra River Night view

Click to find out more.

Credits : Crown Entertainment Complex

Dinner was Japanese ramen near our apartment. Some may find the ramen in Melbourne tastier than Singapore. However, it really up to individual preferences but I really do think that the Gyoza is おいしい!!

Katsu Ramen

Tan Tan Men

Chashu Ramen

Age Gyoza

Tonight, we are changing to a new room – 2 bedrooms 2 toilets apartment and as agreed, the housekeeping moved our bags over for us. Just as what the reception staff said, this room has the size but not the view. The room yesterday was on the 24^th floor and there was a good view of the city and even the room fixtures were better. Anyway, there’s always a flaw and nothing is perfect.