21 April 2016 (Thursday)
Impromptu getaway to Australia! Only booked the tickets and settled everything a week before the trip - the flight, accommodation and online visa (cost about $20). It's my first trip with just my mum without my sis, and to a totally foreign land since I've never been out of Asia! Not sure what made me suddenly want to go to Melbourne...
We took a night flight and only arrived after 7-8 hours at about 10.30am Melbourne timing! They are ahead of us by 2 hours so it was only 8.30am in Singapore then. First time taking Scoot and we were quite skeptical about the airline after reading multiple negative reviews. But surprisingly it turned out great and I really love the wide leg space. We took Jetstar back and you can immediately feel the difference hahaha. I just need leg space on flights 'cause I have some kind of knee problem.
Desperately went finding for food upon reaching and there's only this that seemed the most interesting.
Had to find out where's the Skybus located at and head to Southern Cross station. We asked an elderly staff there that initially looked quite scary but she was so friendly and even tell us the direction and let us know how to get our MYKI pass. I ended up getting the tourist pack which was inclusive of many discount coupons to certain places and etc. But we had to purchase a separate ticket for the bus ride. I bought the round-trip ticket 'cause I have to take the bus back on the last day.
Finally arrived at our AirBnB which was just located opposite Southern Cross station! That's so damn convenient. We just had to drag out luggage across one street.
I can't remember what time but we check in early and left the apartment at around 2pm? Headed to the Pho downstairs to have lunch first because we were so hungry. It was kinda good, my mum loved it and kept having it like about 2 more times.
Was so amazed with the architectures around us and especially all those little alleys. Everything's just so new because we've never stepped into an English country. HAHA.
St. Francis Church
State Library of Victoria
The most exciting part of this trip is probably the visit to the library! The interior's so huge and there's even a gallery and what not inside. It's so beautiful and I remember Running Man visiting this library during their trip to Melbourne quite some time ago... Running Man is coming to an end but I believe those years of bonding together are real. I'm an avid fan of the cast but I know everything has got to come to an end someday. We are all afraid of the end but nobody knows anything about what goes behind the scenes. It might not be as bad as it seem. Nobody knows...
It was raining heavily in the late afternoon and so we walked around the area with an umbrella. I was trying to find for Hosier Lane but I cannot find it so we ended up at the National Gallery of Victoria and sat there for awhile 'cause our legs couldn't take it anymore.
National Gallery of Victoria
Royal Arcade
Shopped as we walked and spent quite a lot at Target on the first day already. Hahaha. Had this kind of expensive Belgian waffles but it was really good! I nearly dropped it upon leaving the shop... The shops were all starting to close at about 5-6pm. There's really nothing to do at Melbourne at night! But it's also a good thing because you can go back to rest early and fully enjoy the holiday. Went to some of the bookstores we chanced upon and bought a couple of magazines. Hehehe. That's probably the end of my first day.
The second day's spent at Ballarat and this post will be only for the days I'm at the Melbourne CBD area.
23 April 2016 (Saturday)
Started off Saturday going to Queen Victoria Market in the morning. Took the tram there from a station nearby our apartment. There's free Tram services around the CBD area.
Queen Victoria Market
Walked around the outskirts of Queen Victoria Market and there were like a few Asian streets and lots of Korean restaurants around so I decided to stop by one of this Korean restaurant and had Army Stew!!
Old Melbourne Gaol
After buying the MYKI Pass I think they included a discount coupon of 50% off or something for the Old Melbourne Gaol (their old jail) and I wanted to go there so we headed there.
I think this trip was such a fulfilling one. I really love historical places and I love to imagine that all these history had actually occured at that particular spot many years ago. There's stories about all the criminals that lived in the Gaol in every room and I went to read every one of them room by room.
There's a prison tour at about 2/3pm at the other side of the Gaol and we went to queue for it. The experience was really cool when the tour guide (acting as the prison guard) treated all the tourists as criminals. Then we were locked up inside the room with padded walls and she switched off the lights for like about 5 minutes. After the whole tour then we were allowed to walk around freely and take some pictures.
26 April 2016 (Tuesday)
6th and last day in Melbourne! Morning was spent around the CBD area looking for The Pancake Parlour.
The Pancakes Parlour
It probably doesn't look as appetising but it really tasted good! Forgot what I ordered but it was some chocolate pancake.
Chanced upon this old bookstore which sold many old newspapers and etc. I bought an old newspaper home for $15.
Hosier Lane
Finally found this lane and after going to Union Lane and other random lanes, this is really another level of graffiti man. Little did I know it was just opposite the National Gallery of Victoria but I guess it was dark that day and raining heavily so we didn't notice the lane.
Southern Cross Station
Headed back to our apartment to put down some of our shopping loots and then we left to go to the Aquarium by tram!
S.E.A Life Aquarium
There's the Ice Age 4D show which is something like Shrek 4D in USS.
DFO South Wharf
Last stop was the factory outlet. Went shopping at the outlet stores and I bought so many things with my remaining money left. Had some kind of ramen for dinner before stopping by a massage shop for some massage.
Left that area and headed back to Southern Cross station which was just a few stops away and explored the area and found some supermarkets and etc only only on the last day.
27 April 2016 (Wednesday)
Overall the 6/7 day trip was a good one. There's still 3 more posts yet to come :-) I'm mainly just uploading my pictures hahaha.
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