Yeah it was great - Melbourne & Victoria

Welcome to Melbourne! It's a fantastic city in the state of Victoria - the garden state of Australia. Its fairly easy to get around Melbourne too and the city is gorgeous. While I was there, I stayed with relatives who lived in the north-eastern suburb. Its a few kilometers to the nearest station (Epping or Lalor), but its really convenient to get to it by bus. In addition to buses and trains, they have an extensive tram system as well which is very charming. Loved taking the trams for the first time.


Here's a suburban view from Mill Park in the city of Whittlesea. Lovely sky eh?


Meet Blind Bella (front) and Missy (back), my aunt's two fox terriers that look like cows. Its interesting that these dogs (these 2 particular ones) love vegetables. And I must say that Bella is a real glutton.


Although Australia is a temperate country, it is not void of rainforests either. Here I am at the Maits Rest Rainforest in the Great Otway Range along the Great Ocean Road. It was a pretty place that was dense with different kinds of plants - ferns, tall trees and eucalptus trees.


Of course, no visit to the Great Ocean Road is complete without a visit to the 12 apostles. Magnificent eh? Look at the ocean and the surf. Beautiful.


This is Loch Ard Gorge. Again, look at that spray from a wave dashing against the rock. It was somewhat hypnotising to watch it.


For some reason, I really love this shot. It's on the other side of Loch Ard Gorge. Perhaps its because of the play on the shadows? But nevertheless, it was a sight to behold as well.


Being touristy with the Great Ocean Road sign.


London Bridge and its famous story. The story behind it was that years ago, when that section you see out at sea was still connected to the mainland, a group of people walked out to the furthest point out. Just as 3 of the 5 of them walked onto mainland, the middle section crumbled and collapsed leaving 2 of them on that section isolated. The media soon caught hold of it and rushed out to film this man and lady stranded on the London Bridge to which they tried to hide their identity. Why? Apparently they were both married to other people and not each other. Heh.


The Melbourne Aquarium was awesome. Loved the range of fish they showcased there, but most of all, the huge tank with huge sting rays. I'm sorry, but Underwater World Sentosa does not hold anything up to the Australian Aquariums. The one in Sydney rocked too.


Jellyfish looking like a type of fungus in the jellyfish display section.


That day, I met up with Arisya and her friend Lydia who were also in Melbourne. I had a great time guys! Note the HUGE ass shark behind in the background.


This is St. Kilda beach, where the 3 of us went to after the aquarium. Not the best of beaches - I found a used syringe in the sand. And you can see the pesky seagulls which have a reputation in Australia.


We tried to eat fish & chips on the beach. But the seagulls bothered us too much. Anyway, nice picture.


Now, this is us trying to be artistic after I saw one of Kathy's pictures against the sunset in Costa Rica. Well, this one seems okay.


But Arisya seems to have a really nice silhoute (sp?) with the reflection off the ocean as well.


One of a few views of Melbourne from the Melbourne 360 Observation Deck at the Rialto building on the 55th floor.




Well, looks like how the Empire State building would look. So good substitute. Hey, I've been to the Empire State look out people (NOT!).


Another day, another destination. This time, the seaside town of - you guessed it, Williamstown. This was also Arisya and Lydia's last full day in Melbourne.


This was at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat. Doesn't look like I'm falling does it? But it's kinda funny. I remember Kathy and I laughing heaps over this.


That is a gold bar being formed. Its really hot, so our demonstrator was showing how things could still actually catch fire if they touched the hot ingot.


An interesting sign at Sovereign Hill. The whole theme seemed really charming too. Ye Olde Working Days.


See what I mean? They even have a stage coach ride and the people dress like they were in the 1800s.


This was the sweet making demonstration. I thought the whole thing was pretty sweet. Over there, you see Mark (the presentor) dusting the Raspberry Drops in flour to stop them absorbing the moisture in the air.


A close up of the dusted Raspberry Drops. There's over 2000 of them there from one batch altogether.


Here's our completed bar of gold - an ingot. Doesn't look very shiny does it?


Here I am, once again. I'm panning for Gold pieces. (sign to tune of Kelly Clarkson's song)


That was an interesting drink. I'm not too sure how to describe the taste exactly.


Sunset on the way home to Mill Park from Ballarat. And so concluded my stay in Melbourne and Australia as I flew home the next day.

This post will be about Melbourne & Victoria state

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