Trip To The City And The Beach - Monday 29th July 2013

So today I planned to head to Footscray campus to do a dummy run to work and see how long it takes. I was up early because first I was stopping off in the city to view an apartment in Southbank. Lets just say I will not be living there for a year - gross! It was only a 10 minute train and then 10 minute walk to Victoria University from the city and the campus looked nice, modern and new, with the Flemington Racecourse positioned behind it (where they host the Melbourne Cup). I then went a bit further into the depths of Footscray to Highpoint Shopping Centre for food and a stroll before heading back to the city to go to Albert Park and the beach!

Albert Park was huge and beautiful! There were a lot of people in the Park running around the track and enjoying the lovely weather we had today. I walked round the top bit of the park before heading east to the beach. I was very happy to see the beach and thought "now I'm in Australia" (especially as it was warm and sunny). I walked all the way down the beach to St Kilda which was also lovely. There were loads of little restaurants and cafés along the beach and I even found one called Donovans (so Bec if you'd like to get your arse out here and start running it so you can be out here with me, that would be much appreciated haha!). I also got some really good views of the city skyline from down the coast, along with some lovely pictures.

Albert Park

The Beach and St. Kilda

I continued to head down the beach, because I was viewing a house in Elwood. I was about an hour too early though and in a town, in the middle of nowhere with not a lot about, my student senses kicked in and I managed to find a bar to sit in, with the bonus of it being happy hour, 2 glasses of wine for $6!!! The apartment turned out to be nice and the girls seemed friendly too but I think it's too far away and the commute to work would be too long, guess I'll have to keep looking!

I was so tired when I got in from my long day which consisted of alot of walking. I don't think I'll be struggling with jet lag tonight because I think my head will hit the pillow and I'll be asleep!

For more pictures Trip To The City And The Beach

Lazy Melbourne Day - Sunday 28th July 2013

So I have been in Melbourne 5 days now and one word to describe it - cold! haha! We haven't got the nice weather you have back home, although it is the middle of winter and I still shouldn't complain as it is probably the equivalent to our Autumn or Spring! But still I am enjoying my time here and loved my trip to the city yesterday.

I didn't get up until about 12.30pm today, but my excuse is that I am still majorly struggling with jet lag, I'm still awake at 2.30am and still asleep at 12.30pm in the afternoon! Oh well I'll have to get into a routine on Thursday when I start work. When I did finally get up, me, Sue and Hannah went for breakfast, well brunch/lunch, which actually ended up being dinner for the day! I had poached eggs on bacon on muffins with a hollandaise sauce (just in case you was wondering), it was soooo good! A chilled afternoon and evening in store I think!

Hope you are all ok back home! xxx

First Trip To The City - Saturday 27th July 2013

So I haven't really been up to much the last few days, just settling in and trying to sort a few things out like a bank account, medicare, phone etc. Sue has got me into playing netball already within a day of arriving and on Thursday I played 2 games. The first was a morning game, what they call Nannaball (and I can see why), the second was an evening game which was much more enjoyable (even though we lost). I even had to use my expertise defending skills at GD for half a game and we all know how good they are! For the other quarters I played shooter or goaler as they call it out here. They are seriously crazy-mad for sport out here, if you really wanted you could probably play 3 times a day, 7 days a week, with even the option to play mixed netball which Sue told me is rather big out here! Even down to people running and cycling, there is about 10 times the amount of people out and about compared to back home!

Anyway today, Saturday, I took my first trip into the city - exciting and to do this I had my first tram experience! I spent the afternoon just having a good wander around Melbourne heading first to Federation Square and then heading along the Yarra river to the Melbourne and Olympic Park which is home to the Australian Open tennis, national tennis centre, MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), AFL (Aussie rules football) and many others.

Federation Square

Melbourne Skyline

Melbourne and Olympic Parks

I then walked back along the other side of the river to Southbank. It was lovely, with loads of restaurants and bars backing on to the Yarra river. There is a big shopping complex that runs along it called the Crown, which holds what I can only imagine to be a 10* hotel (Crown hotel) and a huge casino, running the whole length of the complex. I didn't go in but I'll save that and my money for another day!

Southbank

View from Southbank

Eureka Skydeck

I also continued my journey round the Yarra to Docklands harbour before heading back via Southbank again because it was all lit up in the dark and looked really pretty to Federation Square for some food. I found a little outside burger bar tucked away at the back of the square and sat under a heater, infront of a big screen showing some AFL with a burger and $9 glass of wine (at least it was good wine worthy of $9!). Time to jump back on the tram and head home!

Docklands

Southbank

View from Federation Square

For more pictures Melbourne - First Trip to the City

Melbourne Arrival Day - Wednesday 24th July 2013

So early this morning I arrived in shorts (typical English holiday go-er) to a cold Melbourne, Australia!!! I am finally here! Sue (the woman I am going to be staying with until I find a place) met me at the airport and took me back to her home in North Balywn. She straight away made me feel very welcome and as though I was at home.

After waking from a midday nap (or sleep), I was greeted by Hannah and a chocolate cake (she had finished school early and had the afternoon off). She was also very lovely and friendly and can tell she'll take the role of a little sister!

I didn't really get up to anything other than that today and would say I settled in fairly quickly. I am very thankful to Sue and Hannah for making me feel so welcome and for letting me stay with them at their home and I think it made mum feel so much better knowing there is someone here for me (so if either of you are reading, thank you very much!).

Kuala Lumpar Day 5 - Tuesday 23rd July 2013

So today I am flying to Australia! But seen as my flight is at 10 o'clock this evening there was a chance for one more trip, so I decided to head to Times Square shopping centre as there is a roller coaster inside it!

In reception after I had checked out, I met Emilio who had just arrived and he asked if he could tag along! Again this shopping centre was massive, well it had to be to fit a roller coaster in it! In fact it not only did it have a fairly big loop roller coaster, there was a small theme park (yes in a shopping mall). We weren't bothered about doing any shopping and had already had a wander to admire the size of the mall, so we paid to go in and go on the roller coaster a couple of times along with a few other spiny rides - one which made me feel sick and another which hurt so much I couldn't wait to get off!

Times Square shopping centre and theme park

I had 2 hours to chill at the hostel before I had to get a taxi to the airport! I messed my timings up really because I left at 5 thinking it gave me plenty of time to get to the airport, have something nice to eat before getting on the plane, seen as the airport is huge, so would have a lot of choice and saves me from eating disgusting plane food. However I was checked in by 6 and ended up in the small, shit departure lounge where there was 1 food place which did hardly anything I like. Brilliant! Now I have 3 hours to kill before I am due to take off and I haven't eaten anything so will have to eat plane food (vom!) because I will no doubt be hungry!

GET ME TO MELBOURNE AND THIS FLIGHT OVER WITH ALREADY! 11 hours and counting!

To see all of my Kuala Lumpar pictures CLICK HERE - Kuala Lumpar July 2013

Kuala Lumpar Day 4 - Monday 22nd July 2013

So this morning I had to say the first goodbyes to Amy, Andy and Sam as they were heading up to Cameron Highlands. It was a bit sad and I wished I was continuing with my travels with them, but I had an awesome few days and not to mention a great Saturday night with them and they definitely made the first bit of travelling a lot of fun and I couldn't think of a better way to have started my year.

So while they headed in one direction to the bus stop, I headed the opposite to Merdeka Square - the Malaysian National Square. The square hosts the annual Merdeka Parade (National Day Parade) and is where Malaysians celebrate Independence Day since the lowering of the Union flag and the rising of the Malaysian flag at the Sultan Abdul Samad building opposite in August 1957. I wasn't there long, just enough to take a few pictures, walk around the square and soak up another beautiful day in KL!

Merdeka Square

Sultan Abdul Samad building

After, I headed to the station and jumped on a train to KL city centre for a visit to the massive Suria shopping mall which was located underneath the Petronas towers. I couldn't believe the size of it, it was absolutely huge, about 2/3s the size of Lakeside (in terms of length) and 6 floors high, hosting not only a M&S and topshop, but just about every designer shop you could think of, each with doorman opening doors as you went in - you probably guessed I didn't buy anything considering my student budget!!!

Suria Shopping Centre

The Suria Shopping Centre come out and backed on to this lovely park just under the Petronas towers, which also had a lake with several water fountains doing a beautiful display. I spent the afternoon chilling at the lake in the sunshine and of course, taking pictures and also going for a stroll around the park, where you could get good views of the towers. It was a bit strange being on my own today because the men were quite pervy and creepy and without the boys around they felt the need to voice their opinions!

Anyway time for a chilled evening and to pack because tomorrow I am flying to AUSTRALIA!!!