Melbourne, Victoria 2016

Monday, April 04, 2016

Finally visited a different city in Australia - Melbourne! Spent 7 days 6 nights there during my Easter break aka mid-sem break. I would say this is a semi-solo trip because I spent most of my time exploring the City alone. Brought my DSLR along and took quite a few shots of this beautiful city. Now I shall let the photos do the talking ;)

While on the train to the airport

Stayed overnight at the airport because there wasn't any public transport early enough to go to the airport for my morning flight.

Spent my Easter Vigil at St Francis' Church, the oldest Catholic church building in Victoria.

Alleluia Christ is risen! Solemn mass with awesome choir and organ recital. Classical is my thing.

Woke up super early the next day for a long coach tour along Great Ocean Road. Stretching as far a 243km, GOR is one of the most beautiful coastal road in the world. Some of the famous attractions along this drive include The Twelve Apostles (pictured here), Loch Ard Gorge etc.

The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks formed by erosion. Crossed off one of my bucket list :)

A short stop-by at Apollo Bay

The Loch Ard Gorge. Loch Ard was the name of a ship sailing from England to Melbourne in 1878.

We took the steps down to the shore. Feels so little standing in front of these two gigantic rock pillars.

The colourful bathing boxes at Brighton Beach! No bikinis on this beach because it's way tooooo cold!! Another bucket list crossed off :)

Straya!

Blue + stripes = love!

shades of blueeeee

The Shrine of Remembrance was built as a memorial to the men and women of Victoria who served in WW1 and is now a memorial to all Australians who served in the war. It is the site of the annual observance of ANZAC Day (April 25th) and one of the largest war memorials in Australia.

The view from the top stairs of the Shrine

Did you see a face on one of the building facing directly to the Shrine? It's world's first to have a face of a person to be put on a building. The face you see here is the face of William Barak. He was an elder of Melbourne's Wurundjeri tribe and was instrumental in bridging the gulf between black and white cultures. The Shrine is about honouring a great set of Australians who made a sacrifice to Australia, and this is also honouring a great set of Australians who made a sacrifice FOR Australia. It as though he was looking over Melbourne, looking over his people.

The La Trobe Reading Room at the State Library of Victoria!! Finally seeing this magnificent building!

Tiny humans

Great place to chill outside the library too.

Tram moving outside Melbourne's GPO. I went there expecting to visit the General Post Office but turned out the building no longer serves at the GPO. Guess what then?

H&M's Melbourne Flagship Store! LOL!

St Patrick's Cathedral (Catholic). At the time of completion, it was the largest church building in Australia.

This neo-gothic architecture is amazing.

St Paul's Cathedral (Anglican)

Met up with my childhood friend, Jane for lunch and a quick tour around the University of Melbourne, Australia's top university.

Jane said this place would be good for a pic! Haha ;)

Shot Tower, Melbourne Central.

The Royal Exhibition Building. I've seen so many photos about the interior of this building but sadly it was closed for a function when I visited :(

The Royal Arcade

Block Arcade

Melbourne is also known for its laneways. Coffee, fashion, art cultures, you name it. This graffiti filled laneway, Hosier Lane is one of the most famous of its kind.

"Always was, always till be, Aboriginal land." #FirstPeoplesOfAustralia

The National Gallery of Victoria. I was very fortunate to be in Melbourne for Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei's exhibition this trip. These two are artists whose names I've only heard about but have seen their exhibitions. Presenting the work of both artists, the exhibition explores modern and contemporary art, life and cultural politics through the activities of two exemplary figures - one of whom represents 20th century modernity and the 'American century'; and the other contemporary life in the 21st century and what has been heralded as the 'Chinese century' to come.

Ai Weiwei's Forever Bicycle, 2015

Andy Warhol's famous Campbell tin can paintings

I was also extremely lucky to see Redhongyi's first ever still mural painting, at FivePlusSmoothie.

Known as an artist who never paints with a paintbrush, guess what tool did she use this time? Celery sticks!

Discovering the laneway cafes at Centre Place

Hardware Lane

Even though I'm not a coffee person, when you're at a place with such a strong coffee culture, you just have to blend in!

Another must-do in Melbourne: visit the Queen Victoria Market! I was (again) extremely lucky to be here for the last Wednesday night markets of the summer months before it resumes in November. Woohoo!