My original plan
to travel by train from Ayers Rock (Alice Springs) to Adelaide was changed due
to the unmatched train schedule. I flew to Melbourne instead.
Melbourne is smaller, quieter than Sydney.
The coastal water is colder, uncomfortable for swimming. The 2 National Gallery
of Victoria (NGV) are good. The Immigration Museum is interesting but the ACMI
is a little bit bored. Crown Casino - the largest in the south hemisphere is
located here.
There are many
fauna conservation parks around Australia, displaying unique animals only found
on this continental, like wallaby (the smaller type of kangaroo), kangaroo,
wombat, koala, dingo and Tasmanian devil. Admission fee is not cheap. Kangaroo
feeding cheered up the tourists gladly.
A trip to Phillip
Island is recommended, though it’s a boring 3 hr drive (one-way) from Melbourne.
The beaches are good but the wind was too chilly and strong. The extreme
southwestern tip of the island is the Nobbies, sceneries are unbeatable. Seal
Rocks is a short distance offshore, inhabited by Australia’s largest colony of
fur seals. Through the telescope thousands of seals were seen scattered on the
rocks, but too far for a detail look. The tour guide said boat trip is possible
to get close to the seals but tourists are not allowed to get on the
Rocks.
The Penguin
Parade was the highlight of the trip, was to see the world’s smallest penguin
drifted ashore after sunset waddling from the sea to their land based nests. No
photographing was permitted, said not to frighten the cuties. Tourists were
sitting on the benches in front of the beach, exclaimed excitingly when the
penguins appeared. Interestingly, when the 1st penguin was drifted
ashore, it would stand facing the beach, waited till rest of the penguins
gathered and queuing up in discipline before marching to their nests like an
army troop.
Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI).
Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI).
ACMI, complicated frames and supporting structures.
ACMI, interior.
Federation Square.
Federation Square.
A naked angel... had no idea what it is for?
An advertisement.
Security control... watch out.
"The Block" shopping arcade.
Inside "The Block", the flooring was intricately paved.
St.Paul's Cathedral.
St.Paul's Cathedral interior.
Train station.
1st visit to National Gallery of Victory (NGV) - some exhibits.
NGV - aboriginal arts.
Madame Recamier - James Quinn.
NGV
NGV - decorative arts.
Grafitti, hiding inside an alley.
Green facade with symmetrical design.
This shop was just next door to the above.
Grafitti, hiding inside an alley.
Inside a tram (it was free).
Waterfront city.
Waterfront city - had plenty of restaurants and pubs and shoppings...
Ferris wheel.
New Southern Cross train station.
Southern Cross train station.
Crown Casino - largest in the south hemisphere.
Immigration Museum.
Immigration Museum - the fact.
Australian beef in McD.
Centre Place, restaurants and cafes fill both sides of the pedestrian street.
Beautiful grafitti.
2 signboards.
Theatres building.
2nd visit to National Gallery of Victoria.
NGV - water curtain.
Centrefold Lounge - couldn't afford.
YHA Melbourne Metro, exterior.
YHA Melbourne Metro, interior.
Public toilet.
Wine tasting... every tourist acted (pretended) like a wine expert.
Wine bottles.
Feeding wallaby... one of the highlight of the tour.
Cute little joey in the pocket.
Anzacs beach, long strip of beach... strong wind, tall waves...
Our dinner - pizza.
The Nobbies, beautiful sceneries.
The Nobbies.
The Nobbies.
Seal Rock, thousands of fur seals were lying on this rock can be seen via telescope.
Our transport.
Our final destination - to see the penguin parade.
The cheapest food found in city centre.
3rd visit to NGV - Two old men disputing - Rembrandt.
NGV - biblical paintings section.
To St.Kilda pier.
Wind surfing at St.Kilda.
Plenty of yachts.
St.Kilde pier.
Salsa dancing at a club.
