Image above: The rush of locals walking past a bar called “In A Rush” above. [Wednesday 16 September] / [View all photos]
Day 12 and taking my first full day in Melbourne to soak in the buzz and atmosphere of central Melbourne before giving an overdue hug to one of my best friends, Avi, whom I’ve not seen for ten years!
After a good night with Oscar, Lynn’s cat, keeping me warm I took the tram into the downtown area and just randomly wandered around and enjoyed exploring the different aspects of the city: the combination of architecture from decades gone by against the modern steel and glass of today which reminded me of being back in Chicago; how stylishly the locals were dressed; the sheer number of expresso bars for that caffeine fix; and the cool relaxed vibe on a crisp blue sky day.
In the evening, with Avi done with work, we finally got to meet up after a ten year gap and give each other an overdue hug. Though, it also seemed as it was only last week we were hanging out in Singapore together by the way we got back to chatting about everything and anything. Always love that about a strong friendship.
With Korean for dinner, she organised Wooga which specialises in dishes rather than the usual galbi I usually go for. Avi’s friends, Eve and Mervin, came along to and it was great meeting them. After a sumptuous meal together we somehow still had room for dessert so we headed to Chocolateria San Churro where I also got to meet another friend,Betty, too.
As always when you’re having a good time, the evening passes so quickly and before long it was approaching midnight. Whilst the others headed home, Avi and I decided to stay out and chat until the small hours of the morning before she kindly drove me back to Lynn’s.
Weirdly unable to get the garden gate open I didn’t want to call Lynn and potentially wake Qian-Yi up. So resorting back to my student days I vaulted over the fence, praying that a) I wouldn’t hurt myself and b) that no-one would think I was a burgler, and managed to get back in. Hurrah … what a way to end the evening. The next morning I realised all I had to do was the twist the gate handle rather than push/pull. Doh!!!
Next up … a cultural and chocolate walking tour through Melbourne, seeing Jason again from my India/Nepal trip in January, and an impromptu night skyline shoot.
Travel Stats:
- 12 days travelled of 29
- 5 places visited in 4 countries in 2 continents
- 30.5 hours spent in 8 planes
- 23,440 km travelled
- 14 time zones crossed
- RTW – Los Angeles – Part 1
- RTW – Los Angeles – Part 2
- RTW – Cook Islands – Part 1
- RTW – Cook Islands – Part 2
- RTW – Cook Islands – Part 3
- RTW – Wellington – Part 1
- RTW – Wellington – Part 2
- RTW – Wellington – Part 3
- RTW – Wellington – Part 4
- RTW – Wellington to Melbourne
- RTW – Melbourne – Part 1
- RTW – Melbourne – Part 2
- RTW – Melbourne – Part 3
- RTW – Melbourne to Perth
- RTW – Perth – Part 1
- RTW – Perth – Part 2
- RTW – Singapore
- RTW – Hong Kong
- RTW – Macau
- RTW – Siem Reap – Part 1
- RTW – Siem Reap – Part 2
- RTW – Siem Reap – Part 3
- RTW – Siem Reap – Part 4
- RTW – Siem Reap – Part 5
- RTW – Phnom Penh – Part 1
- RTW – Phnom Penh – Part 2
- RTW – Hong Kong
