This morning we had our final tour package tour which was the City Tour. (We still had 2 more tours that we book as an extra.) The city sight tours pick up was also at 7.55 am, very early and had to wake up so early (approximately 4.30 am in Singapore). It is Good Friday!
Happy Good Friday! It is a public holiday here in Australia.
Our tour guide cum driver was named Justin and he brought us sight seeing in the city. Going through all the major roads of Melbourne, he introduced the city slowly but surely. My mum and I took turns to fall asleep! We stopped at the Fitzroy Park which was very pretty. It was well kept and a perfect garden to walk in. With the cool weather it was a perfect lazy morning walking around.
Fitzroy Garden
Later on, our guide did a detour and went to St Kilda’s Acland street where he let us have about 20 mins there to shop around. It was a very cool, bohemian area (kind of like the hip and fashionable place). There were also numerous cake shops and the display at the window were all so mouthwatering. I ended up buying 4 different variety. Way too much cake (which were very sweet in Melbourne). I still have 1 left over for tomorrow.
Acland, St Kilda’s
Our last stop was at the War Shrine and the Botanical Gardens. It was almost midday and it was HOT.
War Shrine
City Scape
After our drop off at Swanston Street, we made our own way to Little Bourke Street, which was Chinatown for some good old chinese food, which my mum missed already. Dragon Boat Restaurant for Dim Sum. It was a Hong Kong restaurant and all the staff were from Hong Kong. My Cantonese was horrible and I barely understood what they were saying.
Little Bourke Street (Chinatown)
Dragon Boat Seafood Restaurant (Dim Sum)
Shopping down Chinatown, my mum bought Lanolin Cream, which is oil from the sheep. Supposed to be very good as a moisturizer. She also bought little gifts to bring home to give away.
Flinder’s Street Station (Opposite Federation Square)
Kept on shopping at Swanston Street till evening before making our way back to the Hotel on a Tram. I think we got cheated on a tram. We bought a City Saver full fare ticket on the tram and it was expired immediately when we tried to validate it. Whatever, it was, we got back to our hotel which was like 3 stops away. It cost us AUS$2.30 each. Very expensive transportation system they have here.
After a little rest, we went out to the DFO again and saw that it was closed. They were usually opened till 9 pm on Friday, but since it was Good Friday, it was all closed. Sighs!
Back down Spencer Street, towards the Crown Entertainment Centre. It was a HUGE Casino. The 4th largest in the world! When I walked in, the guards kept looking at me. I just kept walking. (They did not allow people below 18 years old in, but I figured I really couldn’t look that young!)
The Casino was HUGE! We had dinner first at the food court, as my mum had a sore throat and needed Asian Cuisine to have soup. I ended up getting McDonalds. See picture, “World’s Favourite Fries”. I absolutely agree. The chips used in Australia were mostly huge potato pieces that were deep fried but not crispy at all. =(
Starting bet for the Jackpot machine was 1 cent. So, $1 = 100 credits. My mum played very safe. 1 credit per bet, 1 line only. We played about an hour and we only used up about AUS$1. It was a slow process. They let you win some then you had to lose some. The process went on and I wonder how they earn enough from the jackpot machines to cover electricity cost. I’m sure they have to recuperate their cost from other people who did not play like my mother.
Back in the hotel. Tomorrow going to the Gramphians, so it’s going to be an early day again. So, good nights!