Melbourne 30 December 2003

Melbourne trip Day 1: Tuesday 30th December 2003
(For more photos, go to the Melbourne photo gallery)

Taxi came at 5.30am. Went to the domestic airport. Very simple and fast check in process at that hour. Plane left Sydney at 6.30am. Had brekkie in the plane: Just Right cereal, banana, milk for cereal, Sara Lee mini muffin, OJ, and tea. Got to Melbourne around 7.30am.

We got the Skybus to the Spencer St Terminal for $13 each. Then there was a connecting bus from there which took us to the Medina Grand Melbourne at 189 Queen St, Melbourne. Found a deal on Hotelclub.com.au which didn't charge double the price for New Year's Eve. Checked in.

Went walking into the CBD. It was extremely hot and very humid. It was 35 degrees heat. Also there were so many flies buzzing around you that you spend all your time just shooing them away.

Had lunch at Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie at 306 Little Collins St (The Causeway) for lunch. The lane was lined with cafes which were all very busy. The bread rolls were huge. Couldn't finish it.

Then covered Little Bourke St which has a lot of designer clothing shops, and other streets in the CBD.

Had a rest then off to Brunswick St by tram at around 8pm. Had dinner at Blue Chillies at 182 Bruswick St, Fitzroy. Website blurb says: "Blue Chillies offers authentic malaysian hawker cuisine and innovative modern dishes using the freshest seasonal ingredients." The decor, atmosphere and food reminded me very much of Billy Kwong on Crown St in Sydney. Good value. Had 2 dishes, 2 curry puffs and 2 drinks for $43.

Then walked along both sides of Brunswick St. It was a pretty long street with heaps of cool designy and clothes shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars all the way along. Loved the Brunswick Street Bookstore at 305 Brunswick Street., Fitzroy. Got the Voiceworks DIY issue there $7. Then went to Volare for some T2 tea. Caught a tram back into the CBD at around 11.45pm. Feels really safe to travel around trams at night around Melbourne. Always seems really busy.

Went on the net at the City Convenience Store across the road from the hotel. Checked my email. Watched the Lizzie Maguire movie on TV back at the hotel. Got some shut eye around 3am.