Saturday, May 06, 2006 | 12:37 PM
Part IV
Back into action from Melbourne
The trip was really fun, people were really friendly, stuff were really nice, weather was really cool (or cold rather), architecture and sights were really magnificent.
Cld click on the photos posted to have a better view.
Pretty many number of hiccups during the entire trip, from re-timed flight to Melbourne to transport-driver missing in action, but the trip was still fun!
First time visiting Australia. First time visiting a non-Asian country alone (ie without parents). Been used to travelling to Asian countries like Hong Kong and Taiwan with my sister but it is rather different this time round. Was quite obvious that we were tourists there, unlike in Asian countries where we were often mistaken as locals. Nevertheless, we were still trying to pose as foreign students, especially with those logos on the plastic bags that we carried (places where locals would frequent).
Never like to look like tourists as we would appear easy preys. Anyway, we were fitting into the city as days went by, particularly the last 2 days where we followed what the locals do – hopping on and off the trams without validating the metcard (ie paying). Saving money as well (tram ticket was expensive! A$6.10 per day, unlimited usage)
Australians are really friendly. They would never fail to greet you and ask about you as well. A broad smile on their faces would always accompany the greetings. My cheeks were numb from all the smiling. Not to mention the cool weather. Averages 16degrees in the day, imagine the temperature at night. The cold wind blowing towards my face is unbearable, especially in the evening. Could barely open my eyes wide. Explains the small eyes in the photos huh.
Architecture and scenery was great. Architecture in the city was really Victorian and English. Simply love all the buildings.
Scenery at the suburbs were magnificent, especially the Twelve Apostles on our Great Ocean Road tour. Great Ocean Road is surely something that one should not miss on their tour in Melbourne. Rated number 1 for European’s must-visit places, according to the tour guide cum bus driver. (That’s their culture, interesting) Took a helicopter flight to experience a different view of the Twelve Apostles as well. Wonderful experience, kudos to sis who insisted on the tour though the ride was 3hours per way which meanders all the way there. Magnificent sceneries abundant on the entire Great Ocean Road, from Bells Beach to Apollo Bay to London Bridge.
Weather at the suburbs, with the absence of buildings and with the presence of loads of sea breezes was cold. Jacket was barely enough to withstand the wind, but me who wanted to look pretty in photos, refused to put on another thick jacket. Shawl and gloves did help a little though.
The Great Ocean Road tour is the only one that we went on our trip. Have always hated going on tours, but I have enjoyed this one. Australia day tours are much different from Asian tours. As stated earlier, there is only one driver and one tour guide who are the same person. The humorous driver could speak non-stop throughout the journey there and he did appear to have that little sense of passion in his job, unlike other Asian tour guides who treat it ‘just but a job’. The local movie played on our way back did help in avoiding vomits with the non-stop journey, hah.
Shopping was great. We managed to find quite a number of hot spots for factory outlets and bargain buys: fashion and sportswear, shoes and accessories, bags and stuff. Real suitable place for shopping as I could easily find sizes especially for shoes which I could hardly find in Singapore. Accessories are real pretty too. Mainly got my bargains from Smith Street and Bridge Road, and also Queen Victoria Market and the shops around the market. Expensive designer brands are plenty on Collins Street but we could hardly afford anything there. There are also 2 major shopping centres – Myers and David Jones which allows a taste of standard pricing in the CBD area.
Blew up all my money there; spent money like nobody’s business that I am now having phobia of shopping and spending money, imagine.
Really love their lifestyle there though their cost of living is rather high. Their pace of life is a little slower than Spore but the key point is that most of them end work at 5 or 6. (At least most shops close at 5) Cant quite figure out the reason behind the happy locals though their taxes are quite high. But probably the government really takes care of them.
Caught PwC and EY buildings in Melbourne.
When can I ever get my Australia CPA?
Back into action from Melbourne
The trip was really fun, people were really friendly, stuff were really nice, weather was really cool (or cold rather), architecture and sights were really magnificent.
Cld click on the photos posted to have a better view.
Pretty many number of hiccups during the entire trip, from re-timed flight to Melbourne to transport-driver missing in action, but the trip was still fun!
First time visiting Australia. First time visiting a non-Asian country alone (ie without parents). Been used to travelling to Asian countries like Hong Kong and Taiwan with my sister but it is rather different this time round. Was quite obvious that we were tourists there, unlike in Asian countries where we were often mistaken as locals. Nevertheless, we were still trying to pose as foreign students, especially with those logos on the plastic bags that we carried (places where locals would frequent).
Never like to look like tourists as we would appear easy preys. Anyway, we were fitting into the city as days went by, particularly the last 2 days where we followed what the locals do – hopping on and off the trams without validating the metcard (ie paying). Saving money as well (tram ticket was expensive! A$6.10 per day, unlimited usage)
Australians are really friendly. They would never fail to greet you and ask about you as well. A broad smile on their faces would always accompany the greetings. My cheeks were numb from all the smiling. Not to mention the cool weather. Averages 16degrees in the day, imagine the temperature at night. The cold wind blowing towards my face is unbearable, especially in the evening. Could barely open my eyes wide. Explains the small eyes in the photos huh.
Architecture and scenery was great. Architecture in the city was really Victorian and English. Simply love all the buildings.
Scenery at the suburbs were magnificent, especially the Twelve Apostles on our Great Ocean Road tour. Great Ocean Road is surely something that one should not miss on their tour in Melbourne. Rated number 1 for European’s must-visit places, according to the tour guide cum bus driver. (That’s their culture, interesting) Took a helicopter flight to experience a different view of the Twelve Apostles as well. Wonderful experience, kudos to sis who insisted on the tour though the ride was 3hours per way which meanders all the way there. Magnificent sceneries abundant on the entire Great Ocean Road, from Bells Beach to Apollo Bay to London Bridge.
Weather at the suburbs, with the absence of buildings and with the presence of loads of sea breezes was cold. Jacket was barely enough to withstand the wind, but me who wanted to look pretty in photos, refused to put on another thick jacket. Shawl and gloves did help a little though.
The Great Ocean Road tour is the only one that we went on our trip. Have always hated going on tours, but I have enjoyed this one. Australia day tours are much different from Asian tours. As stated earlier, there is only one driver and one tour guide who are the same person. The humorous driver could speak non-stop throughout the journey there and he did appear to have that little sense of passion in his job, unlike other Asian tour guides who treat it ‘just but a job’. The local movie played on our way back did help in avoiding vomits with the non-stop journey, hah.
Shopping was great. We managed to find quite a number of hot spots for factory outlets and bargain buys: fashion and sportswear, shoes and accessories, bags and stuff. Real suitable place for shopping as I could easily find sizes especially for shoes which I could hardly find in Singapore. Accessories are real pretty too. Mainly got my bargains from Smith Street and Bridge Road, and also Queen Victoria Market and the shops around the market. Expensive designer brands are plenty on Collins Street but we could hardly afford anything there. There are also 2 major shopping centres – Myers and David Jones which allows a taste of standard pricing in the CBD area.
Blew up all my money there; spent money like nobody’s business that I am now having phobia of shopping and spending money, imagine.
Really love their lifestyle there though their cost of living is rather high. Their pace of life is a little slower than Spore but the key point is that most of them end work at 5 or 6. (At least most shops close at 5) Cant quite figure out the reason behind the happy locals though their taxes are quite high. But probably the government really takes care of them.
Caught PwC and EY buildings in Melbourne.
When can I ever get my Australia CPA?