City of Melbourne with Evangeline!

Today was quite a spectacular day!
So to begin with, I've had a pen-pal called Annika for 7 or so years. We knew each other as wee babies- alongside her sister Evangeline. I'm in the middle between these two sisters age wise- Evangeline 1 year older and Annika 1 year younger. I sent a letter from Sydney to Annika to say that I was in Melbourne and I'd love to catch up! She texted me when she got my letter!! Evangeline was off of university today and so we decided to spend the day together in the city! We drove into the city and we visited the Shrine of Remembrance
we climbed to the top and it was so very windy we almost got blown off!!

but the view was magnificient of the city! We could even see the ocean from there!
We also went for lunch at a little expensive place- but the food was absolutely delicious! I had a pizza and Evangeline fish n chips. We shared- it was absolutely yum yum!! 

So then after walking through the botanical gardens, we made our way down past Flinder's street station and down to Bourke Street Mall again and through some super cute laneways!

Evangeline took me to Hoiser Laneway which is full of graffiti and they were actually quite beautiful looking!










The laneways are pretty much I think leased out to graffiti artists so that they're mural painting can be viewed and pretty much leased so that no one else can come and graffiti over it! Great idea I think. Calgary should invest- I keep saying!!

We got along really well I think the two of us!! I'm very glad- I was worrying about it being a littl awkward and us having nothing to talk about- but we did talk easily and we're quite similar I think :) YAY!! I'm no longer worried about the dinner on Sunday- I'm going over to their place and I'm glad now it won't be like walking into a house of strangers ;)
hehe I'm very glad! yay!

Tonight, with Jenny and Nicole we're watching Brother Bear and eating fish n chips!! So excited!

Victoria Markets

This morning I really didn't want to get up out of bed because it was warm under my douna and cold outside. But I managed.

Okay, last night, my friend Jade texted me and said she hoped I saw a huge house spider so I could pet it on the head for her. She knows I am petrified of spiders. And sure enough- right when I was crawling into bed, what do I see? A FRREAKING SPIDER RIGHT NEXT TO MY BEDSIDE TABLE. Luckily, Rich was there and took care of it. But honestly, of course that would happen. hahah lol okay it was quite funny but still.  i don't like spiders.

At Victoria Markets

Anyway- so today Jenny and I went into the city via train. We found the markets easily enough and they were really cute- just as I remembered. Although less lively, but I think that has something to do with the fact it's a Tuesday and we probably went on a Sunday which is more busy obviously. But there were so many cute adorable little things for tourists and even some cute and adorable things for non-tourists! I was looking out for a hat that I will definitely need on my tour (unsuccessful) but I did buy a thick red circle scarf and a present for my lil bro. (Gee, aren't I a wonderful sister!!) We ate fish and chips for lunch which was delicious and then visited Bourke Street Mall via tram. Super cute little area.

A library we passed by- Bourke Street

We then went into a cafe and I had hot chocolate and (guess..) cake! Well, most specifically it was a danish pastry I had, but still a sweetie...!!
 
And all I have left to show you a photo of is a photo of yesterday's high wind and rain storm!

Rain! Rain!

No idea what's on the agenda for tomorrow- but I'm sure it'll be relaxing whatever it is! I might get the train into the botanical gardens or just stay home and maybe go for a walk to my old house on Holland road about a 30 minute walk away. Or not. :P

5 seasons in a span of 1 hour!

So I thought I'd go out today, but then I woke up...and looked outside...and the wind was howling and the rain was crashing down and I said to myself, "It's a wonderful day. To sit inside and watch movies."

Last night, I watched 101 Dalmations ehehehe it was more awesome than I ever remember. But before that, I had gone over with the whole family over to Jenny's mum's house for dinner, it was so nice! So very, very nice! I love family gatherings :) and for me to be there too, it was like a whiff of home!! It was very, very nice and loving atmosphere. Lovely <3

I've been sleeping a lot. Oh, and apparently I got a letter this morning- it arrived in Sydney so they're forwarding it to Melbourne. Hopefully it'll get here before i leave next week. But it is Monday so it should arrive :)

Mum and Dad arrived in Nakusp and sent me a photo which makes me a little bit jealous. Especially because they were in shorts and t-shirts in Canada, and I'm in Australia and in long pants. haha funny.

I just thought of something- how it's amazing that I actually sleep through everyone leaving in the morning for school and work..plus the fact that everything is on the same floor. But in calgary, we're living on two floors, and in the morning ,Harrison always manages to wake everyone up going to school. Here there's 3-4 of them leaving in the morning, I don't hear a sound, 1 floor. Calgary: 1 person leaving, 2 floors and I get woken up. I think it's quite hilarious.

This evening I went out for dinner with Jenny! ( Still shucks, I'm getting spoiled aren't I..!) We went to a dumpling place and had spring rolls, dumplins and a beef satay yum yum! For dessert we had toffee banana with ice cream. Absolutely delish. Gosh!!

Tomorrow- weather permitting- we're going out to the Queen victoria markets! I'm quite excited- that should be really good to go and visit again! :) I'll probably have some photos from that :) 

Dead Symphony

Yesterday was quite a lovely day! Jenny and I caught the tram and went out into the city. I saw Flinders Street Station and we walked around the Arts Centre

and went exploring in the ACMI (Australian C_____ of the Moving Image). We did the interactive side first which was pretty fun- and then the rest of it was pretty much boring museum type displays. But still pretty cool :)
We then explored some laneways around the area including the Block Arcade and Degraves Street.

That was pretty sweet. I think Calgary should invest in these. They are cozy and full of little cafes and they're adorable. There was even a Tea Room which had a gigantic long line-up, and when Jenny and I got around to see the displays- it made perfect sense. They were absolutely delicious! YUM

We had a lunch of sushi and then at around 4 ish, we made our way to the arts centre to see the Dead Symphony which started at 5pm. Okay so we were really early and decided we should go and eat cake. So finding a place that had cheaper than $9 per slice cake was harder than it sounds. We were in the Southbank area so all the shops were along the river front and so it kind of made sense about the expensive pricing. We finally found a little shop and I got some baklava which was alright. I had definitely had better but it satisfied.

So the Dead Symphony was pretty darn sweet. They brought us down, down, down into the dungeons of the rehearsal room. (Jenny and I were thinking, if they're going to kill us- no one will even hear us scream..!) It was a tiny room and dim-lit. The seats were staged in a circle around the 5 performers which included the vocalist, harpist, cellist, pianist and a chimes/bell person. It was just a two ringed circle so there would have maybe been about at most 90 people in the room. There were a few long flickering lights around the musicians but that's it for lighting. We were in there for maybe 2 minutes all seated and ready before they started. It was very filling music. It left my mind blank and it was quite loud and just filled you up, making your ears ring a little on their own. But it was pretty cool- about 40-50 minutes of changing music that people have heard from near-death experiences. Afterwards, we got to have a Q&A session with Saskia Moore- the artist who composed and researched this piece. We had pretty much listened to music from people who've had near death experience from gun shot, skull fracture, giving birth, coma, falling, suicide, heart failure, things like that. It was very cool!
It was pretty silencing. Generally after I see a performance I talk about it non-stop afterwards, but this one- I didn't have much to say- it was neat.

Today- not sure what I'm doing. I still haven't decided yet. I probably won't do much, but tomorrow I'll be planning something for sure. I kind of want to be able to alternate days- so one day out, one day doing nothing- but I don't know that's probably not going to happen because I have quite a few things I want to see!

Oh yes, and the day before yesterday, the evening of the day Nicole and I went out, four of Jenny's friends came over for a craft night. We all ate fish and chips together and then made cards which were pretty neat to do! And then, one of those friends is a pastry chef and it was her birthday so she brought some delicious red velvet cupcakes for everyone. They were yummy.

Day With Nicole :D

Today was a rainy day! And yesterday, Nicole and I were planning on wandering the laneways of the city but it was rainy today and so cold and miserable that we changed our plans! (For the better!) So, next week when it's sunny- that's one of my days! Anyway, so today we went to the shopping centre that's a 15 minute or so drive away and saw a movie! The Wolverine. It was pretty good considering I've only seen parts of some of the other movies. But it was good :) Very enjoyable! Then we went for lunch, went into a shop to get a bus pass for me, and then went into the grocery store to see if they had tea for me, a headband for Nicole and then I saw Brother Bear and Nicole hadn't seen it so we picked that up as well! And I rode the bus for the first time- which was a piece of cake with the miki, and after all- it's not such a bad thing however someone just needs to tell you about it- if I didn't know anyone in Melbourne I would have no idea--and it doesn't really give a good description on the website of it either, but now it's all sorted and I can ride as much as I want (with the $30 I put on..) So that should be plenty with what I have planned on my day trips into Melbourne!

It was a wonderful day! I really enjoyed myself!!! XD Yay!

What I've been doing...

Today has been full of planning! I've been looking for things to see and do in Melbourne and I've also been working on my trip itinerary after my tour to Darwin.
So in Melbourne, I've planned 6 or so days of full adventure style things- and they're all generally in the same location each day which I planned on purpose...wow lol
Okay and then all that I need to do now is figure out transport to and from these places- there all in the city so pretty much I just need a map and I'll be good..I hope..
I'll go outside the city on the other end of my adventure.
Okay, so I've also been working on after Darwin to Cairns...and it looks like I'm going to have 10 days or so in Cairns excluding the 3 day tour. So I pretty much just need to identify what I need to do and how to get there and I'm all set to explore.
So if I end up staying I'll be back in Melbourne after my week in Sorrento for 6 days to explore the Dandenong Ranges and places like that. Woot woot! SO exciting!

Okay so back to present time; I've chosen a few places which I would like to see while in Melbourne- and depending on public transport we'll see if I get to actually get there.
Queen Victoria Markets, Lygon St. (Dad told me that's where I get gelato), Botanical Gardens, Shrine of Remembrance, Bourke St. Mall, Laneways of Melbourne (I think it's a tour from the visitors centre), Block Arcade, Chinatown, St. Kilda Beach and Pier, Flinders St. Station and Federation Square... I might skip a few if Jenny says they're not worth it, or I might add a few if Jenny has any suggestions :) Yay! Dad also says that there is a restaurant that he and mum used to go to every week- it's Indian and I've never been to an Indian Restaurant before so I want to go there and eat- it's not too far away either- I can walk there! Hmm, what else?
I've bought more books for my kobo so I won't run out anytime soon.

OH MY GOSH! I remember! Okay, I used to have these sylvanian families animal doll things to play with as a wee girlie and I've seen them everywhere here!! I am going to get a small family because I cannot find them for the life of me anywhere in Canada (and if you can, they're quite expensive)! So that's exciting as well...!!

So that's what I've been up to!!
Oh yes, and after I leave Melbourne for my tour- I'll only be able to write on my blog via my iPhone and so I won't be uploading any photos either, so you'll see them all when I get back to Melbourne to upload some. Or just wait until you see me back in Canada and you'll get a whole slideshow :P

Eventful Roadtrip and Arrival in Melbourne

Well, hai there.
So I arrived at the bus terminal bright and early at 10 minutes after eight am, ready for the bus to depart at 9 am. Laurie and Margaret have been absolutely amazing hosts and I thank them for everything one last time :) Especially since I won't see them until end of October on the other end of my trip around Australia. So then the bus arrived at around 9:30 to Melbourne. I was ready for my 14 hour drive and I had prepared my bum for all sorts of numbness I was going to feel. So pretty much, as I handed over my luggage to the bus driver to load up- he noticed something coming from underneath the bus and sure enough after 1/2 an hour he discovered we had a fuel tank leakage or something- so we were delayed for an entire hour and a half. Meaning I wouldn't be getting into Melbourne until after midnight! We ended up getting onto another bus that they had prepared and for compensation they gave us.....bottled water. wow, nice going thanks greyhound. Those were my thoughts. Thanks. But that still doesn't make up for that 1 1/2 hour lost. Not that it was greyhounds fault but still. During the trip-the bus driver insisted on a 1/2 hour dinner break. I had packed food and wanted to get to my destination, I didn't want to stop to accommodate those you were stupid enough not to pack for the max 14 hour journey. But regardless of what I thought or said, we had to stop anyway. It was nice to stretch the legs but still. A whole 1/2 an hour to eat. Why not the 15 minutes take away and go! ...Anyway, we ended up arriving in Melbourne at 12:30 am or so, and lucky for me, Jenny was there to pick me up!! Yay! Thank you Jenny!!!! xxxx

So this morning I awoke at around 9:30 am-a good time I thought. Not too early and not too late. Excellent! Today, Jenny took me along with her to meet her mum for lunch which was quite nice! Again, thank you :) Then we just did some errands, and picked up Scott and Nicole from their day's events and now I'm at home relaxing after dinner :) Yay!!

For the rest of the evening- my plan is to figure out how to public transit works so that I may be able to use it soon to get into the city ;)