No Matter How Far Or How Wide I Roam
I love travel. I love going to new places, seeing different things. But honestly, I'd give that up for the chance to go back to a place where I spent four wonderful years of my life. Yep, I'm willing to forgo New York, Paris and London - just give me Melbourne! Well, ok... give me London and Melbourne, if that's not asking too much :-P
I never really entertained the thought of a trip back there before, simply because the airfare would leave me too broke to even grab a cab from Tullamarine to the city. But now, with a new long haul budget airline on the horizon, maybe I can finally do this - it'll still take months of eating instant noodles and refraining from shopping, but at least it's gone from pure fantasy to possible dream now. And yes, I do realise I'll have to suffer 8 hours of ubereconomy travel (aka kamikaze-cattle class), but I guess I do want this badly enough.
In the meantime, I'm not gonna be counting my chickens before they hatch. But I'm perfectly willing to count somebody else's chickens...
Genieqt left me a note asking for recommendations on where to go while in Melbourne. Unfortunately, the last time I was in Melbourne, it was in the summer of '99. A long time, no doubt. Since then, my uni's been upgrading and expanding, Federation Square was built, and who knows how many other things have cropped up.
So for those who are in Melbourne now, or who were recently there, any tips on what a tourist rombongan of 10 adults, 2 toddlers and 1 babe (I'm hazarding a guess here but I'd say they're straight) might get up to while in Melbourne? Comments would be most appreciated :-)
I never really entertained the thought of a trip back there before, simply because the airfare would leave me too broke to even grab a cab from Tullamarine to the city. But now, with a new long haul budget airline on the horizon, maybe I can finally do this - it'll still take months of eating instant noodles and refraining from shopping, but at least it's gone from pure fantasy to possible dream now. And yes, I do realise I'll have to suffer 8 hours of ubereconomy travel (aka kamikaze-cattle class), but I guess I do want this badly enough.
In the meantime, I'm not gonna be counting my chickens before they hatch. But I'm perfectly willing to count somebody else's chickens...
Genieqt left me a note asking for recommendations on where to go while in Melbourne. Unfortunately, the last time I was in Melbourne, it was in the summer of '99. A long time, no doubt. Since then, my uni's been upgrading and expanding, Federation Square was built, and who knows how many other things have cropped up.
So for those who are in Melbourne now, or who were recently there, any tips on what a tourist rombongan of 10 adults, 2 toddlers and 1 babe (I'm hazarding a guess here but I'd say they're straight) might get up to while in Melbourne? Comments would be most appreciated :-)
11 Comments:
~~~~~~~~~~geekchic
I'm just gonna cheat :)
http://geekchic.notdesign.net/?cat=10
This has all my posts on melbourne, including an extensive explanation on what i got up to the last time i went back. not applicable to everyone since i was back for a walk down memory lane :)
Yes! Bring on the low airfares!
If you get around to visiting Melb again (which is a matter of time, i am sure), Damien and i can play host, if you wish.
Perhaps not 10 adults, 2 toddlers and 1 babe, but we should be able to bring a few friends around. (the gay-er, the better!)
And maybe we can finally drag Bunnyban along when the time comes. ;)
Good grief! haven't been down under for almost five years. Or more. I have this odd feeling that I was there in 99 too.
Other than the trams and South Yarra, I doubt I can recall al that much either.
Paul
Hehe Sorry 'unfortunately' my family is straight, well as far as I know. Our group age range from 1 year old to late 70's, so not a very gay group, I'm afraid. However, if need be, maybe I can persuade my husband...? Not a bad specimen, if I may say so, late 20's, clean cut face with bambi eyes and lashes (almost la) albeit 'slightly' overweight.
Thanks WS for the advertisement, I do appreciate any kind of info, esp on the 'insides' of the city, non-touristy stuff that only a local would know. Thanks again.
genieqt
"And maybe we can finally drag Bunnyban along when the time comes."
Bunnyban no like to travel. Meeting frinds is another issue though. :)
i was there twice last year. I'm gonna cheat like geekchic to link you to my post abt it.
http://ashangelo.blogspot.com/2006/04/tonight-we-pay-tribute-to-melbourne.html
Um, the last time i went again, i didn't really travel out of the city, but my friends and their family made their trip to a lot of places, one a one day road trip.
Great Ocean Road is a must, though right now with the bushfire and all, might be a little dangerous if you're coming back through the valley way, through Forrest. Also, winding road and babies and elderly don't mix.
For some family fun time, take a drive to Mornington Peninsular and Frankston abt 45 mins drive or 1 hr train ride (i didn't go so I'm just quoting friends on the location). These places, you can visit cherry farms, winery there's even a petting zoo. There's a beach.. i seen the pictures of the trip, and i think it's quite family fun/safe.
Um, renting a car to go to Philip Island to see the penguins is quite fun too, but its really really cold and even the person with huge amount of body fat would agree. Get your warmest clothes if you intend to go there. The penguins only comes back to the shore at sunset, and seemingly its summer now there, the sun sets at 9pm. So please think twice.
Um, so far that's what i can think of. Enjoy your trip genieqt... it's really REALLY warm there not.
that link above might not be able to copy. so try this one instead.
http://ashangelo.blogspot.com/2006/04/quick-one.html
then scroll down.
Also, I meant to say that it's really REALLY warm there noW.
Hahaha! Well, a visit to Fed Sq, not a bad idea although it's pretty much an expanse of concrete prettiness.
Visit Mekong only if you want to visit a restaurant that re-uses the leftover soup and serves it to others :S
The Museums aren't half bad- there's one encased in glass near Fed.Sq.
Hope you have a good time- I'll be going back there myself soon for Uni.
Totally agree on the Great Ocean Road. Bring a picnic basket loaded with goodies so you can stop over at one of the little towns that dot the place. Maybe even Orlando Bay.
Not sure about the Phillip Island thing. But hen I'm not a penguin enthusiast. Waking up at some ungodly hour to drive there just to see penguins just isn't my style.
Or you could go a bit further and get some old time kitsch at Ballarat.
Paul
Geekchic:
Mmm... I wanna trip down memory lan myself! There are plenty of gems waiting to be rediscovered, no?
Louis:
Hey I may very well take you up on that offer. Of course, 'a matter of time' could be 10 months or 10 years :-P
Hopefully the sooner the better. Hehe
Paul:
But aren't the trams cute? I remember the parks and the cafes the most - Melbourne's just perfect for a guy as laidback as me.
As for picnic baskets to Great Ocean Road, I prefer eating at one of those little towns dotting the coast - the seafood's really fresh and good :-)
Genieqt:
*Gasp* Sounds like you're trying to turn your husband gay! (Eh, he cute or not...)
Anyway, hope you have got some useful tips out :-)
Ban:
Well if you're still in Melbourne then you won't have to travel lor! Though it'd be weird for two KL-ites to go meet up in Melbourne. Hehe
Ash:
Oh yes. I remember that. You were so generous with the writeup and the photos it must have taken you ages to finish! And such good photos too... even makes me wanna go to Weribee (honestly never thought there'd be anything worth seeing there)
Greg:
Hey Greg. That's for dropping by and leaving the comment :-) Hey is there still a Pho Dzong (or something like that)Vietnamese restaurant on Rathdowne St (or thereabouts)?
I only remember Crown Casino, Flinders Street and err... a trip down to Victoria Market. That's about it.
Occasionally, names like Springvale or Knox City pops up in mind - but for the life of me, I don't know why. What exactly can we find there anyway!?
('tis coming from a guy who only visited Melbourne once)
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