This was a hectic travelling month for Victor. Barely back from Tokyo for two days, he had to fly off to Melbourne for work again! However, this Melbourne trip was a happy trip bcoz En and I were travelling with him!! 😄😄
DAY 1 - Arrival, Queen Victoria Market, DFO South Wharf
Again Victor gave up his business class seat to me, the infrequent traveller, so that sua-ku me can better enjoy the flight. Seriously, I hate to fly.
Juz as Victor had to fly to Tokyo and work before he could enjoy this short hol in Melbourne, I had to work hard too before I could enjoy this vacation. It was En’s SA2 and I tenaciously made her do the Maths and Science exam papers I bought, afterwhich I marked and went through the corrections with her. I had wanted to boost her confidence in at least her Maths and Science, and also her marks. It was sheer torture to make her do the papers bcoz she was super resistant. Nevertheless towards the end, I could see that she appreciated all our efforts put in. Alas.. that experience, that appreciation was rather short-lived. After En’s SA2, I had to quickly put together a Melbourne itinerary.. haiz, another task which I didn’t quite enjoy. So, I really did work hard for the Melbourne trip!!😆😆
Melbourne is a very familiar place to Victor who’s gone there for work countless times over the past two years. I’ve also accompanied him there on two occasions previously. But it’s En’s first time!! First time to Melbourne, first time to Australia!! First time to Australia is always a big deal and there are certain things that one must see and do—like see and touch a real koala bear and kangaroo!!😉
Upon arrival and after checking into our hotel, we decided to juz walk around the CBD area and re-familiarize me with the free tram travel. Although our hotel is within walking distance to the free tram zone, I don’t remember taking the free tram all by myself even as I ventured out on my own the last time I was in Melbourne while Victor was at work.. hmm.. that remained challenging to me 😅😅
First stop: Queen Victoria Market before it closed for Saturday at 3pm. Nearing closing time, there was not much to see. We managed to tick off our list with the aromatic ☑️ Market Lane Coffee, and jam-filled ☑️ American Donut!!
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| En mesmerised in front of the candy stall 😍 |
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| Victor loves mangoes 🥭🥭 |
Now that I have exercise classes a few times a week, I’m always in need for more tights! My favourite label is an Aussie brand, I should be able to get a good deal here!!
And I did.. At about half the original price!! ✌🏻✌🏻
For dinner that evening, we returned to Victor’s favorite Vietnamese restaurant!!
En’s favorite food is white jasmine rice!!
Victor’s favourite glass noodles !!
Striking a pose !! ✌🏻
DAY 2 - Healesville Sanctuary, Puffing Billy Train
As I have wanted En to see koala bears and kangaroos whilst in Australia, and Victor and I both loved the Healesville Sanctuary the last time we drove there, we decided to make a trip there again with En!! I even booked a session of Up Close and Personal with Kangaroo for En!!
Since Victor only needed to report at work on Tuesday, we decided to rent a car for sightseeing these two days!! Yaayy..
After collecting our car from the hotel basement, we drove more than an hour to Badger Creek. I was so excited to see koala bears again!! And the echidnas, and kangaroos, and the wombats.. all Australian natives!!
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| Up, close and personal with Roo!! |
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| See the kangaroo behind us? |
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| Much fewer roos and more enclosed, as compared to when we're here March 2017 |
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| Are they standing in front of the Mega Mob, extinct distant relative of the wombat? |
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| En spent quite a while on these ropes, and she's proud to have overcome her fears! |
Taking a breather from the animals, we bought some snacks to fill our tummies--our hurried lunch!
Another highlight of the zoo trip was the 12pm bird show "Spirit of the Sky". Yeah, even if it might render us a little late for the next item on our itinerary, we must not miss this!!
Frankly speaking, I was not totally confident of making it on time to our next stop; according to many sources, it was a 45-minute drive to Belgrave Station, and we had to allow ample time to find parking and then to walk and reach the train station at least 30 minutes before its strict departure time at 2:30pm.
Well, I read that parking was scarce.. all the while i was chanting fervently in my heart that everything must go smoothly as planned, or else it would be a huge disappointment! I was very glad that at least Victor was much more dependable than me as far as time and timing were concerned, and he was right here with me!!
Puffing Billy Train is a century-old steam train which is still running on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook in the magnificent Dandenong Ranges 40km east of Melbourne. It is a genuine relic of our more leisurely days, and is now a major tourist attraction which operates everyday except Christmas Day, thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 900 dedicated volunteers!!
We made it on time!!
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| On our way back to Belgrave from Lakeside. |
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| A lil' tired, but still have to take pictures!! |
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| The scenery was beautiful.. |
In my frenzy mode earlier, I did not even notice that the place we parked our car was actually quite interesting!! More interesting pictures..
After a long day out, we decided to just head back to our hotel and settle our dinner nearby.
DAY 3 - Mornington: Pure Peninsula Honey Farm, Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens
Something at the back of my mind when I think about Australia was to buy Australian honey, and if possible, to visit a honey farm. Well.. from the website, the Pure Peninsula Honey Farm did not seem like a farm we could visit, but they definitely do sell honey!!
So off we go.. another 1-hour drive from Melbourne to Mornington Peninsula, and Pure Peninsular Honey Farm!!
The honey store did not look like a very big place, but amazingly we spent more than an hour in there, and Victor had to drag me out!!
That did not stop me from becoming a really very happy woman when we came out!! Also glad we drove there and did not need to handcarry back all the honey stuff we bought.. phew!!
We were really hungry after our honey spree, so we just swing by the next road sign that looked like they offered food. It happened to be a pretty neat place too!
Next stop was The Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens, home to Australia's oldest and most beautiful hedge maze, a beautiful circular rose maze, and the year round flowering Lavender Labyrinth, all set among 25 acres of world acclaimed gardens!!
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| Entrance of the maze.. |
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| Amazing labyrinth.. our first!! |
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| I was thoroughly amazed by the thick hedges, made up of so many branches and stems!! |
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| This place was really fun.. not jus a paper find-your-way-out puzzle but a life-sized one!! |
Out of the labyrinth, we have came to the Garden part of this place!
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| Same colour, same colour !! |
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| A pose i learnt from a warmup dance during Chingay!! 🐥 |
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| Yellow is a very pretty color to be among flowers!! |
DAY 4 - We’re On Our Own: Queen Victoria Market (again), State Library of Victoria, Southwharf DFO (again), Persian Fairy Floss
Vacation was over, and Victor had to go to the office!
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| Looking smart for the office & going to earn our keeps!! |
To make sure we don’t starve in the morning, he ordered room service for breakfast and left us lots of food!!
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| Our urban Melbourne adventure!! |
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| Outside State Library of Victoria? Maybe not, as exterior of Library was under renovation! |
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| My healthy 'salad' lunch fr a food court. |
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| En loves this airy sweet cotton candy, otherwise known as Persian Fairy Floss! |
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| In tram on our way back to meet Victor! |
DAY 5 - We’re On Our Own: Hotel Gym, Royal Botanical Gardens, Lululemon Outlet, Royal Park Nature Playground
We got up earlier today than yesterday bcoz I've managed to talk En into allowing me to visit the gym before we go gai-gai for the day.
After i bathed and had our hearty breakfast, we walked to the Royal Botanical Gardens.. then to the Lululemon Outlet (which I only bought 2 head bands), and made our way to the Royal Park Nature Playground. Well, this playground place was really sourced and placed on the itinerary bcoz of En. Since Victor was at work and we had a lot of time on hand, I could indulge En for a couple of hours at the playground!! This was probably something Victor had little patience for..
DAY 6 - Victor's Off Work Again: Roaming the Streets!
With Victor having completed his duties in Australia, he was in an ultra good mood, holiday mood!! With Victor around and I could stop relying on my GPS on my mobile, I was in a super good mood too!! No stress some more...😂
We roamed the streets a lil' further from our hotel, and boy, the sight was pretty different!! We came across many atas gift shops and book shops.. happy to know that book shops can survive here in Melbourne! With my love for local products, of course i took the opportunity to take in the sights of all the local products on display in these shops!!
A shopping stop before we head home was definitely Target!!
We had burger dinner at a local joint. The burgers were yummy and so juicy!!😋
Hmm.. it was a very good holiday indeed.. with our last-born kiddo.
svsdsd
