Melbourne City Tour

It is quite common that we do not visit the tourist sites of the city we live in.

I've never visited KL's Museum, or the War Memorial, or the Botanical Garden, or anything like that.

I've decided to make a change in Melbourne.

I've decided to visit these places here ^_^.
We left Clayton at around 1030 in the morning of 14 November 2007 and started our city tour journey, which our first stop is to get brunch at Lygon street, at this thai place which i believe most ppl knows abt it, Ying Thai 2.

Us @ Ying Thai 2

After a nice brunch, we head to our first destination; The Melbourne Museum.

As it is only two streets away, we decided to walk there. As we approach the place, bunch and bunch and bunch of students are emerging from one of the buildings beside the museum, only we remmebered that, Melbourne Uni is still having their exams in the Royal Exhibition Building (haha suckers!)

The Royal Exhibition Building

The Royal Exhibition Building

The museum, which is located right next to it, is a modern looking building which takes up 3 floors. Entry for us student? FREE. =) Just show ur student cards and a ticket will be printed for u. =)

Shuo Mei, Aaron, Jia

Concession Ticket: $0.00

Quite an interesting place. The usual impression of "Musuems are boring!" did not occur, instead, we did not have enough time to finish seeing everything as we need to rush to the parliament for the free guided tour. However, hopefully there is another chance for us to visit that place again =).

Skeletal of the Big Blue Whale

Me & Aaron, In front of the First Computer in Australia

Some Skeletal of Some Dinosours

Destination 2: Parliament of Victoria

We arrived just in time to join the 3:00pm free guided tour through the Parliament, which, is actually just to show us the Gold Room (where the upper members have meetings) and to tell us some history about the politics of Victoria. Still, we spent more than an hour in it, which is not totally boring and somehow informative.

The Parliament of Victoria

The Hall of the Parliament

The Gold Room

The Ceiling, made of 24k Gold

One of the Twelve Angels Surrounding the Room

One of the Two Eagles Overlooking the Room

The Parliament

Destination 3: The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

As we arrived, we are left with 15 minutes to browse through the exhibition in there. Still, it is obvious that it has various kinds of displays from arts to ancient antique items that date back to thousands of years ago. Some place worth going definately, especially that it is also free ^_^

The National Gallery of Victoria

Shuo Mei, Aaron, Me @ the Entrance of NGV

Destination 4: The Shrine of Rememberance

We headed to the Shrine of Rememberance using the tram after NGV kicked us out at 5:05pm. Shrine of Rememberance, the place where warriors and soldiers who died during the wars, is another beginning of the terror of flies. I strongly suggest u either go during winter, or bring a bug repellent. Or else, there is a big chance that a swarm of flies will just have a picnic trip on ur back -_-.

Map showing location of Shrine of Rememberance, some parks, and the Botanical Garden

Shrine of Rememberance Pillar

Shrine of Rememberance Center

Surroundings of the Shrine

Surroundings of the Shrine

The Man And The Donkey

Shadows

Destination 5: Botanical Garden

We walked to the Botanical Garden beside the Shrine of Remembrance to check it out. And as usual, flies are attacking, we are waving like mad, bla bla bla...anywayz, without the flies, i would say that it is a nice park to walk around =)

Flowers

"I see...i see...i see...wha..?!"

Flower

Black Mama Swan

Black Baby Swan

Destination 6: Dinner @ Footscray

As we finally abandoned the swarming flies and got into the train, we headed to Footscray to check out a place where Aaron had tried before. I will dedicate a separate post for that place, so check out the next post for it ;).

Destination 7: The Finale, Skydeck

Yes, the tallest building in Melbourne CBD



88 Floors Residential Apartment, where the top is a restaurant and below it a skydeck where we can see the whole city and some suburb.

Its pretty expensive though, as it is 11 dollars per person for Concession rate.

However, once u get to see the view from up there (especially at night), the view is amazing. Its definately worth going

The Finale Photo

Though its extremely tiring, i would say its pretty worth it. So those who havent visited those places, i do recommend you to do so before you leave this place =).