Oz Trip Series: Market! Market!

I never fully understood what it was about ‘market day’ that gets Ate Shirley seemed so eager and looking forward to a trip in the market during Saturdays of the week. So when I joined her for a visit to Queen Victoria Market that day, ready with our reusable bags, I finally learned why.

Victoria Market IS a bargain heaven! You can never go wrong venturing out into its different sections and get the most out of your money’s worth on some of Australia’s finest (and freshest) produce. As for me, I instantly fell in love with the decadent pastries and cakes that are sold-out even before the clock strikes 10 in the morning. I bought the delicious custard thingy and Ate Shie went for a classic blueberry cheesecake. (Too bad I wasn’t able to take pictures of the yummy cakes!) Hmm, I’ve been down in Oz for five weeks the last time, and I realized now how sad it was that I never got to chance upon this place. That way I could have enjoyed so much more of their delicious sweet stuff sana. Oh, you know what they say – better late than never!

 The Saturday Market Scene

When we got all the stuff that we needed for a full week’s menu, Ate Shie and I decided to enjoy our cakes and coffee al fresco. The sun was up, and our itinerary for the day was far from over. So we rested a good deal in-between sips of hot coffee and bites of our cakes. 

  Coffee For Two

 Ate Shie in full winter fashion... :)

A few more shots of that part of the city, and we were back in her apartment to drop off the stuff we bought. She then took me on a tour to DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) in Southwarf where she ended up buying a pair of cool Sketchers flats, while I scored a winter jacket on sale. Good timing, because we joined the rest of the Aussie crowd along Federation Square that night in cheering for the Socceroos against Ghana in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The game turned out to be a draw, but nevertheless the Aussie passion for their home team was just as infectious as I remembered it the last time we were at the Australian Open 2010 on January. We didn’t mind the biting cold and the fact that we were still out on the street some time way past 12 midnight. It was a fun and memorable experience that didn’t disappoint!

So there. It was one of the busiest Saturdays I’ve ever had in my life, and so was the Sunday to follow. But that would have to wait until the next post. Dinner’s calling...  :)

To be continued...

Oz Trip Series: I'm Back!

(This is a long-overdue post.)

I remember the last time I was sent on a business trip to Melbourne – I only had a week to get everything I needed ready, from visa and travel documents to flight bookings and hotel arrangements. Fast forward five months later, and I was back for a 2-week business trip in Oz, only this time there was much time to prepare and to gear up for some major change in season as well. Literally.

Thanks to PAL’s direct flight, 6-7 hours of non-stop flight seemed more bearable than the last time I flew down under on a MNL-BKK-MEL route. The moment I stepped out of Melbourne Airport to hail a cab going to the hotel , the cold winter air greeted me as if to say, "Surprise, dear! Guess what, summer’s OUT and winter is way IN!!!" Oh-kay, enough said. I got to the hotel a little past 6:30 in the morning, and since I couldn’t get an early check-in because the room hasn’t been prepped yet, I decided to just explore the familiar city with my camera in tow and a few Aussie bucks exchanged at the airport. But before heading for the city, there was one spot near the hotel which I longed to take a good shot of. Thankfully I got the chance to go back, so I didn’t pass up the chance to take this one long-overdue shot:

There was just something about this view – seemed so relaxing even as I look at the picture now. And despite the change in season, the leaves have remained to be just as I remembered them back in summer –  of vivid greens. The neighbourhood seemed to be just waking up to an extended weekend (It was Queen’s Birthday that fell on a Monday), so I took advantage and just kept taking shots to my heart’s content. Thirty minutes later, I was back in dear old Flinders Street and my tummy was seriously screaming for breakfast! (Or better yet, since my eyes were locked on McCafe sign ahead of me, it was more likely that my tummy was screaming for pancakes, LOL!)

McBrunch :)

By this time, I noticed that the word “SALE” was plastered on every (and I mean ALL) shops. It turned out that it was their so-called End of Financial Year Sale – the equivalent of  our Mid-Year Sale here in Manila. (Cassey gurl, you were at the top of my head during this time because I knew this would have been the ultimate eye candy for a shopaholic like you!) After two hours of walking, window shopping, and taking pictures in-between, I decided to walk back to the apartment all the way from Flinders – a feat that might have gotten me sweating a great deal had it been summer. It was supposed to be a simple workout for me, but the cold winter air made it seemed like a leisurely 45-minute walk. Great. I was able to check-in to my room (finally!), and by late afternoon I got a call from Regie inviting me for tea and cake at Shirley’s unit.

More cityscape shots...

The next day, I woke up pretty early, just in time to take a shot of the winter dawn. Now, my favourite sunset has found its dawn…

The wild colors of sunset and the delicate ones of dawn... :)

To be continued...