Holidaying in Melbourne

That was my first time going to Melbourne (11 to 19 December 2009). I like the place: the pace is right and it is not too slow compared to, say, Perth.

The weather there was cooling though it is summer time. Everything is well-organized, people are courteous, transportation is efficient, public facility is clean, etc.

Lots of food and restaurants there: Japanese food, Korean, Malaysian, Thai, Indonesean, Nepalese, Indian, and of course, the prominent western food. However, a plate of char kuey teow cost ADU 6 to 9 (RM 18 to 27). Nevertheless, If we earn dollars and spend dollars, then it would be cheap.

Please click here for photos taken during my 10-day trip to Melbourne.

Melbourne Museum
. St Kilda Pier -- Outskirt of Melbourne which is easily accessible via the city tram system

On the way to Phillip Island to see penguins returning home from sea
.This is the beach to see the return of little penguins when sun goes down. Located at the lower end of Australia, this area is cold at night (14 C). In December (summer time), the sun only goes down at 9:00 p.m.

When the penguins return to their home, they stand in the shallows, often retreating back into the sea if they sense predators overhead, before gaining confidence and regrouping to cross the beach. Little penguins usually land in a similar place every night, taking the same path to reach their burrow (home). However, a few do lost their way and started calling out to other penguins, at times, engage in fight when they went to different territory. The little penguins actually walk almost 500 meters to return to their home.

Puffing Billy -- Ride on Australia's most notable narrow gauge railway through the spectacular Blue Dandenong Ranges echoing the steam train's whistle. Notice that the passengers can sit at the side of the windows.

At one of the wineries

The enchanting evening view of Yarra River at Melbourne

The RMIT University graduation ceremony includes parading in the busy streets of Melbourne. Seen here is the Royal Australian navy Band in action. What an excellent way to promote the university. On that day (Wedn 16 Dec 2009), the weather was hot -- 39 degrees Celsius !!! It was like in an oven. The next days, it was back to the cooling temperature again, around 20 degrees Celsius (but was raining the whole day).

Great Ocean Road tour -- The 12 Apostles

Yours truly (KC)... after the heat on the previous day, it was drizzling the whole day with cold wind blowing.

At Sovereign Hill, Ballarat. In 1850, the world focused on Ballarat when gold was echoed around the globe. People from all nations poured into Ballarat to seek fortune.

The young ones having a feel of panning gold at the stream beds of Ballarat.

When visiting Ballarat Gold Mine, the coach captain told a bus load of holidays makers this true story and joke: In 1800 (around that time), Britain decided to send the convicts to a continent far, far away that is Australia. 30 years since then, no one from UK was interested to go to Australia as it was reported that it is a dusty, hot and dry country. Then gold was found in Ballarat and that sparked a mad rush of people from all over the globe to rush to Australia. Of course, the Chinese also went there but there were given 'special treatment' by the mat sallehs. Unavoidably, there was fighting; people were poor (the Chinese and mat sallehs also). When mat sallehs burry their body, they lay the body horizontally in the ground whereas Chinese lay the body vertically (not sure it was true). The reason was for the spirit to have a head start going to heaven. Customarily, the Chinese will have food to pray at the cemetery. So the poor mat sallehs would then go to the grave and take the left behind food, that prompt the idea of Chinese Takeaway (ta pau food) ... :-)

The fruits in season: Mango, nectarine, strawberry, cherry.

Comparison of prices:

Mango: AUD 1 each (Kuala Lumpur RM 10 to RM 14)

Strawberry: AUD 1 for a small plastic box (Kuala Lumpur RM 10)

Cherry: AUD 5 per kilogram (Kuala Lumpur RM 60 to RM 90) !!!

Honda Accord and Toyota Camry is about AUD 40,000 and below

(exchange rate: AUD 1 = RM 3.1)

Honda Civic = AUD 24,000 (Kuala Lumpur = RM 120,000)

Honda City = AUD 20,500 (Kuala Lumpur = RM 90,000)

Drive Away means price on the road. From The Age; Special Edition; December 18-19, 2009.

Posted by KC