Melbourne's Trip Day 1

Tired of posting... Haha.. Got a lot of things to write.. But my mission now is to finish all the trips post first. Haha...

Let's continue with Melbourne Trip. I am going to change a bit, now I will write in the intervals of days, not parts. Easier.

Day 1, we depart a bit late due to flight delayed. Upon arrival, we took the Skybus to the city centre. Upon arrival at the Southern Cross Station, to our horror, we made a mistake in understanding the condition of the free shuttle bus. They will only send us to our accommodation place if we have the check in letter. At first, we thought of asking them to send us to the nearest hotel to College Square, the place we going to stay for the rest of the week. Since they won't send us, we will have to find another way to get there.

View from aeroplane overlooks Melbourne (Clouds)

Plane

Well, we walk. Based on the map we get from the tourist information centre, we walk until half way when we finally give up and ask for direction to get a tram (too tired). Finally, we arrive at College Square Lygon and really just want to rest. Haha...

However, without resting, we continue with our plans. First, we have dinner in a Malaysian Restaurant. Very cheap... Then city view of the night since we bought a tram ticket that allow us for unlimited travel on bus, tram, train in Zone 1, Melbourne until 3 am the next day. This is where Melbourne and Sydney's system are different. In Sydney, we pay the trip according to distance travelled, while in Melbourne, the fare is calculated based on both time and distance travelled. Which is better? Haha.. Honestly, I don't know...

In the tram...

University of Melbourne Tram Station

Oh ya, forgot to mention one thing, Melbourne is indeed much colder than Sydney. We are shivering in the night. Haha..

Yarra River as background...

Ok, nothing much to add. Let the photos tell the stories.

Yarra River 1

Yarra River 2

Yarra River 3

Art Centre (Or Eiffel Tower?)

Art Centre again...

Federation Square 1

Federation Square 2

Sydney's Trip Part 2

Resting these few days.. That's why it took me so long for the next post. Now I understand one thing, blogging is like doing homework, you don't wait until you free then only you blog, but you must blog whenever you have something to write.... :-)

Well, now let's continue with part 2. The fourth day, I think, we continue the journey. Quite energetic after one night sleep. Next stop, Sydney Opera House. Hold on... I thought I had been there so many times already. Yes, but this time I am going into it. Basically, this is a tour. We book the early bird ticket (save money). Our schedule time for the tour is 10am. That day was a wonderful day. Things just went wrong. Firstly, wake up late. Next, while waiting for bus, lots of bus heading to Bondi Junction (400) and Railway Square pass by. While the bus heading for Circular Quay just vanished. We wait for a long time, and finally, the bus came, but at that time I already sensed that we won't make it, given the Aussie style of punctuality.

I was right. We arrived at the reception desk 10.10 am, after running from the bus stop to the opera house. The tour left 15 minutes ago. We were lucky as the receptionist did not charge us extra as after 10 am, the price will be normal pricing, no more early birds. We then join the next group at 10.30 pm.

The tour begins. There are several occasions we were not allowed to take photos especially when we are inside the theatre due to copyright reasons. Other than that, let the photos tell the stories.. It is indeed a magnificent building both its interior and exterior. Great!

Before the tour begins...

Inside Sydney Opera House

Interior of Sydney Opera House

Our tour guide

Utzon, designer of Sydney Opera House

Tired... We continue the journey to Royal Botanic Gardens. A place I told myself I will never go again after I went there about 3 months ago with my roommate that time. Tiring... The only word to describe the trip to there. Therefore, this time, I don't go around that park anymore. We 'attack' the strategic places only. First the Government House. We did not join the tour, one is we don't have much time left, next is we are hungry... :-p

In Royal Botanic Garden with Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as Background...

Wombats (Flying foxes)

Government House

Then we go to Art Gallery of NSW. Interesting and the collections are fantastic. That's all I can say. You have to go there yourself to experience it. The ART. Haha... (I am a science student)

Art Gallery of NSW

Next, Queen Victoria Building. The shopping centre paradise for the rich. Full of antic clocks. We just walk around, really cannot afford those luxury items. So, just let photos tell the place.

In Queen Victoria Building (See the Clock behind me)

Finally, the event of the day. Cocktail Cruise. Wonderful experience. The view of the Sydney Harbour from the cruise is so different compare with the one you see from Sydney Ferry. We get to choose the drinks (juices, wine, champagne, etc..) I picked champagne. I thought champagne should be low in alcohol percentage. Then, I get a red wine after seeing other people also go and get a second drink. Champagne + red wine. After that only I know, both of them are not low in alcohol content, but quite high indeed. The last time I had beer is just 5% but champagne and red wine are 15% and 10% respectively. 2 of them together, I lose. I Drunk. On the way back, we took ferry (safest way so I don't lost in the city). At that time, I suddenly understand why people like to drink when they are not happy, that kind of feeling really can make people forget everything for a while. After that, while I having conversation with Wei Chuan, I can realise I gave irrelevant response to his question (indicator I am drunk).

The Cruise

Sunset with the Cruise

On board the Cruise

Pose with champagne...

The given package of snacks and Champagne

Red wine...

...Red Wine...

Am I Drunk?

Then, on the way back by bus, I slept. I succumbed to the power of wine + champagne. Upon reaching home, sleep again. I must thanks Wei Chuan for preparing the dinner. I just sleep, can't fight the alcohol... Too low, my alcohol tolerance. Haha..

The next day kick off with..... 2 tired guys heading for museum. Wow.. Sounds perfect to sleep. Too bad. This is Powerhouse Museum... Not those historical museums. This museum offers the visitor a brand new experience and a lot of hand-on experiments. To me, it is more to a discovery centre and science centre to a museum. Nice!!

Powerhouse Museum

Cool?

Ok, let's move on to the next stop. Chinatown. Actually, I must apologise to Wei Chuan. Due to my mistake (actually that was my third time visiting Chinatown only), I brought him to Paddy's Market on Monday, forgot the fact that the market only operates from Thursday to Sunday. Haiz, missed a good opportunity grab some cheap stuffs. Anyway, I still managed to find some shops for him to get souvenirs of which at the same time I grab some T-shirts as they are cheap!!!

Chinatown

Opps, forgot the lunch. We have dim sum. It was nice, but when the bill came, it wasn't nice anymore. Haha. Nice experience though. Haven't tried that for a long time already. When go back Malaysia, must eat a lot. Haha. Nothing for the rest of the day. Just rest and start to plan the Melbourne Trip.

Next day, woke up late. Go to Bondi Junction. Then when reach home, I realised my heater is giving out cold air. Haiz. Go back to the shop where I bought it, and I am 20 minutes late, it closed. Haiz... Have to come back another day. Then, go to Coogee Beach for a night view instead of Maroubra Beach (too far). That's the end of the simplest day.

Night of Coogee Beach

My first very amateur astronomy photo of Jupiter

The next day, I just send Wei Chuan to Han Chow's place as he will take over to be the tour guide to University of Sydney. I quickly rush back to change my heater which I succeeded. Then, it is Melbourne.

PS: More photos please visit my facebook or friendster... Lazy to post all nice photos up here. Hehe... Anyway, you might have noticed, I have some bias towards the cocktail cruise in this post... Lol...

Sydney's Trip Part 1

Wait a minute... I thought I stay in Sydney? True, but I didn't really explore Sydney after the Easter Break. Maybe because exploring the city alone can't really bring my interest alive. So, I just put the plan on hold. Until...

My friend, Wei Chuan from Brisbane came to visit Sydney. Good for him, I just finish my Physics paper (last paper) that afternoon. Haha... I grab this opportunity to be a tour guide cum visitor to Sydney. It will be a long story, so I will split into a few posts.

Firstly, you can't miss the night view of Sydney Harbour if you just arrive. Nothing much, just the view. Hehe... Then, I tried out the ferry. Mind you, this is the first time I take ferry at night. OMG, it is damn cold. Freezing!!! Anyway, nice experience.

Sydney Opera House

Another One...

Nice view?

Again...

Again...

The Freezing Experience

The next day, we go and do something quite crazy, at least in the eyes of my friends. We try out the Bondi-Coogee Coastal Walk. Very tiring, imagine walking 7km along the coastal. Uphill and downhill. But the view is spectacular. There are a lot of place that you can't see if you just visit the beach. It took us about 3 hours to complete the walk. The good thing is, it is winter. Therefore, I am not sweating. Lol..

What a view...

Nice?

I am actually standing just beside the cliff, very scary...

Wow!!!

The Map

We walk and walk, even have to pass by a cemetery. Just beside the cemetery, lay the most spectacular coastal walk in the entire journey. We are just beside the edge of the cliff, prevented from falling by the bar. Wow! It is just amazing.

Then we continue our day around Darling Harbour and finally off to celebrate Sheng Yu's birthday.

Happy faces...

The following day we go and visit the National Maritime Museum. We boarded a destroyer and a submarine to visit them. I have never imagined that I have the chance to be in a real submarine before until that day. Although submarine look awesome from outside, it is actually punishing if one is to work inside it. The area in a submarine is like gold, every space counts. Therefore, crew members have to work within a limited space and I mean it, really limited. I will let the photos tell the story.

National Maritime Museum

Torpedo Tubes

Captain's cabin in submarine (compare with the ship)

When boarded the destroyer, conditions change totally. Suddenly, it looks so spacious with plenty of spaces for the crew to move around compare to the submarine. Again, just let the photos tell the story.

Captain's Cabin in the ship

Then, we visit the replica of the Captain James Cook ship, Endeavour to see the ship Cook used to discover Australia. It is small and cramp inside, but that's a big ship some 300 years ago. Hehe..

Captain Cook's Ship

The day continues with a trip to Sydney Fish Market. My first visit. Over there, I get to try the fresh seafood. We have Salmon, fish chips, calamari and last but not least, raw oysters. Never try raw seafood before, that was the first time. Luckily I found the taste of raw oysters with lemon acceptable for me. Nice new experience.

Sydney Fish Market

One new experience is coming. Hehe.. Star City. My next stop. We get ourselves register and go in and play. Well, to people that's still don't have a clue, Star City is the only licensed casino in New South Wales. Haha.. They give me AUD $10 for joining their club, and I used that as modal to play. Wow, now I understand why people love gambling, if you bring a lot of monies into casino, you might stuck in there forever until your money is finished. Haha.. I tried my luck on the machine and managed to win some small monies then quickly escape from casino before stuck in there and lost all the winnings. Lol..

Casino!!!

We finish off the day with a visit to Sydney Observatory. Well, this is my second visit after my first visit was ruined by the clouds in the sky. Thank god, the weather is clear enough that night to allow us to view stars and planets through telescope. We get to see stars and cluster of stars. The guide also let us sees the Alpha Centauri.

Alpha Centauri

Why am I mentioning this particularly? I knew that Alpha Centauri is a binary star system, but since it is too far away, our eyes treat them as a single star. Only through telescope we can see they are actually 2 different stars orbiting around each other. That's why they are called binary system. That night, I actually able to see that 2 stars. Knowing something theoretically is one thing, seeing them with your own eyes is another. Lastly, we also get to see Jupiter which is high on the night sky that night and its satellites. This time, the trip is well worth its cost compare to last time.

Quite similar to what we see from the telescope (Jupiter and its moon)

Group Photo with Telescope

Group photo

That's it for part 1. Thanks.