DAY ONE
We rush like mad to the airport upon discovering that our flight is re-timed which means we will miss our connecting flight in Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne. After standing for almost an hour at the service counter, we are stuffed into an earlier flight.
DAY TWO
Seven hours in a tube floating in the air isn't really comfortable to sleep. Just glad once we get our feet back on the ground early in the morning. Armed with Internet and Skybus tickets, we make our way into Melbourne city. The bus stops at Southern Cross Station. We purchase another weapon, the Myki card usable for train, tram and bus at the PTV hub and we are ready to go into the battle. We also get a few maps there.
We take the metro to Fairfield Station as we will be staying in Fairfield. Then it happens again. Our first train and we miss our stop in the midst of conversation. It's alright, we usually spend the first day making silly mistakes and learning from them.
We take the metro to Fairfield Station as we will be staying in Fairfield. Then it happens again. Our first train and we miss our stop in the midst of conversation. It's alright, we usually spend the first day making silly mistakes and learning from them.
https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/
After dropping off our stuff at the flat, we take the metro to Flinders Street Station. It is a magnificent building which kind of reminds Lucyriver of the Dunedin Railway Station. Opposite the station is the Federation Square where it houses the Visitor Information Centre. From the station, we walk down Swanston Street. We book tours to Phillip Island and Great Ocean Road for the next two days from a tour agency.
After dropping off our stuff at the flat, we take the metro to Flinders Street Station. It is a magnificent building which kind of reminds Lucyriver of the Dunedin Railway Station. Opposite the station is the Federation Square where it houses the Visitor Information Centre. From the station, we walk down Swanston Street. We book tours to Phillip Island and Great Ocean Road for the next two days from a tour agency.
St Paul 's Cathedral in front of the Flinders Street. We pass the church many times but just do not really go near to see, should have done that though.
Our brunch, giant sushi at the Sushi Hub. These three cost $6.20 
More and more mouth salivating sushi. See if we have time to come back to try others. 
Our brunch, giant sushi at the Sushi Hub. These three cost $6.20 
More and more mouth salivating sushi. See if we have time to come back to try others. 
Melbourne Clock Tower
Some yellow flowers by the roadside.
Beauties on the beasts. As we walk further up there is a demonstration at the crossroad ahead. No wonder the police are all around. 
A flower shop along Swanston Street. 
Beauties on the beasts. As we walk further up there is a demonstration at the crossroad ahead. No wonder the police are all around. 
A flower shop along Swanston Street. 
The gate of Chinatown
State Library Victoria. It looks more like a museum to Lucyriver.
People playing giant chess at the lawn of the library.
Looking out from the entrance of the library. This is also the meeting point for the free city walking tour.
State Library Victoria. It looks more like a museum to Lucyriver.
People playing giant chess at the lawn of the library.
Looking out from the entrance of the library. This is also the meeting point for the free city walking tour.
http://www.imfree.com.au/melbourne/
Giant chess to the right, giant chess to the left. Charge, Light Brigade! 
Inside the library.
Later, walk back to Flinders St Station to go back to Fairfield. Only then we realise we have forgotten to turn into Chinatown lanes.
Our dinner tonight, cooked by Masterchef flown in from Kuching. We do some groceries from the supermarkets along the way back to our flat.
Giant chess to the right, giant chess to the left. Charge, Light Brigade! 
Inside the library.
Later, walk back to Flinders St Station to go back to Fairfield. Only then we realise we have forgotten to turn into Chinatown lanes.
Our dinner tonight, cooked by Masterchef flown in from Kuching. We do some groceries from the supermarkets along the way back to our flat.
DAY THREE
Breakfast is half or soft-boiled eggs, also by Masterchef, Beautiful Blue.
In front of our flat in Fairfield, ready for the battle of the day.
We take metro to to Flagstaff station and walk up William Street to Queen Victoria Market. We only have about an hour to kill before our tour to Phillip Island. The market is quite big with lots of things to see so definitely more time is needed to really see the stuff there.
We buy some souvenirs and stuffed animals here. Got Lucyriver a kangaroo, a koala and a boomerang too.
We take metro to to Flagstaff station and walk up William Street to Queen Victoria Market. We only have about an hour to kill before our tour to Phillip Island. The market is quite big with lots of things to see so definitely more time is needed to really see the stuff there.
We buy some souvenirs and stuffed animals here. Got Lucyriver a kangaroo, a koala and a boomerang too.
Beautiful Blue is cutting our chicken dim sum in half with Myki card.
After the market we walk over to our meeting point in Swanston Street.
The trams running along Swanston Street. This is one of the routes of the Free Tram Zone city loop.
After the market we walk over to our meeting point in Swanston Street.
The trams running along Swanston Street. This is one of the routes of the Free Tram Zone city loop. 
DAY FIVE
begins with singing in the rain. We go on a tour towards Dandenong.
https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/view/1112
Our first stop is Maru Koala & Animal Park. This is a Tasmanian Devil.
Our first stop is Maru Koala & Animal Park. This is a Tasmanian Devil. 
Mr. Wombat is taking an afternoon nap.
Kookaburras. Lucyriver read 'The Walkabout' by James Vance Marshall in a literature class. It depicts all the animals that we are seeing now. .
Feeding little wallaby. It is a small-sized species in Kangaroo family. 
Ding ding ding, here come the dingoes.
Ding ding ding, here come the dingoes.
Peeking up is the emu. This is not Chickaboo, though. Though both can fly and sitting on the thrones of giant birds. The latter the champion and the former, the runner up. 
Feeding My Little Pony
Alpacas
Lucyriver have no idea what this is. 'Kangaroo'.
Feeding the kangaroos, a container of mixed dried grass, stalks and corns sold for $2.00 
Photo taking with koala. Nope, we decide not to go for it as they do not allow hugging the koala. Lucyriver just want to hug a koala like Mary does in The Walkabout.
Our lunch, beef and chicken burgers bought at Queen Victoria Market $6.00 each. 
Demonstration of sheep shearing.
From Maru, we go over to Koala Conservation Centre.
What is Koala?
Koala 's food, the eucalyptus leaves. It has an 'axe oil' scent, but much stronger.
Koala 's food, the eucalyptus leaves. It has an 'axe oil' scent, but much stronger.
Chocolates made by koalas. Yummy!!!
Lucyriver: Somewhere up the tree there's a koala, no matter how hard I sing, it doesn't want to come down or look at me.
Lucyriver: Look at me, look at me, please.Koala: I'm shy. (Literal translation - I'm sleeping, you idiot.)
Lucyriver: Look at me, look at me, please.Koala: I'm shy. (Literal translation - I'm sleeping, you idiot.)
Koala: Go away. I don't feel like talking.
The eucalyptus leaves.
Well, if you can't bring the real ones home, these are the options.
The eucalyptus leaves.
Well, if you can't bring the real ones home, these are the options.
Strawberry and Blue Heaven milkshakes.
Our last and most awaiting stop is the penguin parade.
From the entrance, we walk along the boardwalk leading out to the observation platform at the beach.
The penguins receive around 1000 guests on normal days. During holidays or peak season the number can rise till 3000.
Here we are, sitting at the platform waiting for our hosts to emerge from the sea.
The penguins come home at dusk, once the sun sets. No photography is allowed from this point on as not to scare or harm the delicate penguins. After the penguins come ashore we follow them along their way back to their burrows.
Our last and most awaiting stop is the penguin parade.
From the entrance, we walk along the boardwalk leading out to the observation platform at the beach.
The penguins receive around 1000 guests on normal days. During holidays or peak season the number can rise till 3000.
Here we are, sitting at the platform waiting for our hosts to emerge from the sea.
The penguins come home at dusk, once the sun sets. No photography is allowed from this point on as not to scare or harm the delicate penguins. After the penguins come ashore we follow them along their way back to their burrows.
The cuties at the souvenir shop.
We got back to the flat after ten. This is our dinper (dinner + supper). Yes, the Masterchef prepares them.
We got back to the flat after ten. This is our dinper (dinner + supper). Yes, the Masterchef prepares them.
DAY FOUR
starts with little drizzle. It seems to be getting colder. The temperature were increasing before we came but it seems to be dropping day by day. It's getting more difficult to sit at the toilet bowl. Nevertheless, we are going to conquer the Great Ocean Road today.
Ignore the numbers of fingers shown. It's day four of our trip but day three in Melbourne. Here we are waiting for the train at Fairfield Station in the wee of the morning.
Welcome to the Great Ocean Road.
Our shared lunch $9.00 at Apollo Bay. We do not eat much as Lucyriver is still feeling groggy from the bus journey snaking along the road coming here. 
It is indeed a bright sunny day when we reach the 12 Apostles in the afternoon. The sky is blue and the water is blue too. It's summer in spring.
Welcome to the Great Ocean Road.
Our shared lunch $9.00 at Apollo Bay. We do not eat much as Lucyriver is still feeling groggy from the bus journey snaking along the road coming here. 
It is indeed a bright sunny day when we reach the 12 Apostles in the afternoon. The sky is blue and the water is blue too. It's summer in spring.
Dear, rocky, why do you stand so stiff there? There're only the waves to fight.
Our last stop is Loch Ard Gorge. 
Our tour guide has told us a fascinating story of the ship wreck, about Tom & Eva who survived the ordeal.
The Shepherd Walk 
The point of no return but this guy returns anyway after stepping over the barrier.
Told ya we gonna go back for more sushi. Anyway, we tell ourselves no more sushi after this.
DAY FIVE is raining the whole day. Thanks so much, September showers. We scrape the initial plan of going to tulip farm. Won't want to get muds on shoes, will we. Though Lucyriver really want to go. It's such a good timing as well but Mr. Rain is just so mean. So we visit Queen Victoria Market again to get to know the market better.
http://tulipfestival.com.au/
Lucyriver lunch, chicken bibimbap in QV. It's a shopping mall along Swanstan Street.
Melbourne Chinatown. Well, it's kind of meh. Or perhaps we do not know where the hidden gems are.
The veggie wrap bought at Victoria Market this morning. It has become dinner. It tastes nice when one is hungry.
Blood orange
DAY SIX
Just ignore the numbers of the fingers.
Our first stop is the Brighton Beach where the colourful bathing boxes are.
Next we visit William Ricketts Sanctuary where sculptures are carved into tree trunks mostly depicting the life of the native people, the Aborigines. It is a refreshing walk among the greens though it is wet. 
Then, we go up the sky high deck to see the view around Mount Dandenong. 
You can actually see the Melbourne city from here.
Our lunch is the Fisherman's Catch in a small town called Olinda. We missed the fish and chips in Apollo Bay so this sorts of make up for it. It is the moment that when we are waiting for our lunch to be served that it is raining tiny hailstones. Love the sound they make on the roof, kind of like the sound of beads falling to the floor. 
After lunch we go to Menzies Creek to catch the 2.00 p.m. train to Belgrave.
The journey takes about half an hour.
Puffing Billy is a steam train running on mountain track. The train starts from Belgrave and ends at Lakeside with stops at stations such as Menzies Creek and Gembrook along the way. It is said that the more scenic views are along the ends of the route. One can also opt to starts the journey at Lakeside.
The master stations are mostly 'good looking matured' men.
Here comes Puffing Billy.
The captain of the train.
This pack of giant strawberries is selling for $1.30. There are six of them, Lucyriver've eaten one.
Here comes Puffing Billy.
The captain of the train.
This pack of giant strawberries is selling for $1.30. There are six of them, Lucyriver've eaten one.
Sourish. A bit of sweetness. Still, sour. Oh, why is it so difficult to find sweet, sweet strawberries.
As it is our last night in Melbourne, we try to gobble up all the food that we have left.
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