Melbourne 'Pasar Malam'

Melbourne - Today is the 2nd day of Cisco Live Melbourne 2015, after it closes at 7:30pm. We took the tram back to the Hotel, changed to go to The Queen Victoria Market.  We have to catch before it closes tonight at 10pm.   Every Summer, they call it 'Summer Night Market' attract more than 25,000 people every Wednesday  from November till March.   The Night Market showcases some of Melbourne's finest artisans, as well as Hawker style global food and some of Melbourne's best live entertainment acts.

The Queen Victoria Market was officially opened on 20 March 1878 and is located at the north-western edge of Melbourne's central business district.  This market has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for more than a century.  A historic, vibrant and bustling landmark spread over two city block and is easily access via the city trams.

It was very crowded but the market is huge.   We walked around the whole market to catch the festivities.   There were many hawker stalls offering dishes from various countries but did not try as some queue was too long.

But I manage to buy Lechon - Cebu famous BBQ pork.   This stall sell it at A$12 per small box - very expensive.

Roasting the pig over the fire

Escape Room Melbourne

Melbourne -  As we were walking back to our hotel, we decided to test our minds to escape from the latest craze Escape Room.   This is a Malaysian franchise brought over to Australia and the person managing the shop is a lady from Penang.

The laughable 'Winners'

It was our first time but in fact we took too long and could not escape within the allocated time.   Had great fun for 45 minutes - need a good night rest.

I did a google search in Singapore and found out that there are more than 15 of such operators there.  Wow! scary and crazy people...

Williamstown - Port and first city of Victoria

Melbourne -  Lesley and myself took a taxi from our hotel to Williamtowns which is a 15 minutes drive to catch the 2:15pm free Heritage Walking Tour.   We arrived at the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre and registered ourselves.   This small city still has the character of early British grand old houses.   The first streets started off as William's Town and were laid out in 1837, making it Melbourne's earliest settlement.

Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre

John was our guide for the heritage tour and he was very friendly and gave a good understanding of this town.

Rev Wilkinson drinking fountain

Reverend Wilkinson commission the building of this drinking fountain for seafarers to quench their thirst with water instead of beers at the pubs to reduce the number of drunk sailors. Crossing the road and walking down was came across the Custom Wharf.

Custom Wharf

Directly across was one of Williamstown oldest hotel unfortunately it is no longer a hotel but a male only public housing.

Old Hotel built in 1852

The most interesting was the Williamstown morgue which we went around and the guide open the door to show the inside of this defunct morgue.

Willaimstown Morgue

The morgue was built entirely of blue stone by convict labourers.   Walking into the morgue was surreal with dummy dead bodies hung from the ceiling to prevent rats from eating at the corpses.  The city also runs a night ghost trail leading to this Williamstown Morgue...so scary!

Walking down the street there is a bit of American history of this battleship Shenandoah.   This was the Confederates battleship that came to Williamstown for ship repair and return to US to sink more Northern ships.   It seems Australia was pulled into the conspiracy that they helped the South in the American Civil War.

Telegraph Hotel

The Salvation  Army House

Unique design of this corner restaurant

South Melbourne Market

Melbourne - since the exhibition starts at around 12 noon, we ventured to South Melbourne Market took the tram 96 just outside our Hotel and took around 30 mins to reach.

With the myki pass travel within Melbourne is very convenient.  My 2 other trips was via taxi and having to endure traffic, high price and taxi drivers that seems to take you round numerous blocks. The trams are so clean, efficient and on time.

We stopped at station # 127 just outside South Melbourne Market and a short walk to the market.  This market opens only on Wed to Sat.

This is one of the many entrances to this vast market.  The stalls are various from butchers, poultry, fresh vegetables and fruits, deli and cafe.  There are also many boutique selling soaps, bags, clothing and shoes - mostly handmade and from Melbourne.

Boutique coffee

rows of shops

We had lunch at a Spanish restaurant since they are opened for lunch.

The restaurant called 'simply Spanish' serves as the namesake Spanish dishes.  We had the meal of the day 'flathead fish'.

delicious flathead fish

Surprising my first time eating the flathead fish which is found in most parts of Australia.  The meat is tender and sweet, and was nicely cooked.

steaming paella

Wow! the paella is delicious and we finished the plate clean....

Walking around Elsternwick

Elsternwick - After visiting the Jewish Holocaust Centre, we walked down the street under fine weather of temperature about 14deg c.   A very nice stroll and a quaint city with rows of shops.   We dropped by a fruit shop to buy some fruits - very expensive as compared to Singapore.

unique fruits - Ox Heart Tomatoes

There was another fruit shop which was much cheaper....we had our lunch at a charcoal chicken restaurant.

charcoal grilled chicken

1 charcoal grilled chicken with medium vegetables and medium fries cost A$23 add the 2 drinks it cost totally A$30.

huge tray of french fries

Jewish Holocaust Centre

Melbourne - I have planned to visit this Jewish Holocaust Centre and found the time to do so today and it was worth the time.  It was 15km out of Melbourne and we took a taxi to this location but decided to take the tram back to the city.

The Jewish Holocaust Centre was locarted at 15, Selwyn Street, Elsternwick and closes at 4pm every day.

The flames that burns for forever in remembrance for the 6 millions Jews that lost their lives during the Nazi occupation between 1933 and 1945.   It was a sad chapter in human existence - we must always treasure peace.

number of Jews murdered

entrance to the museum

The Block Arcade

Melbourne - this very quaint shopping arcade is modeled in the style of the Galleria Vittoria in Milan, built in 1892 and was refurbished in 1988.   There are many fascinating shops and is Australia National Trust Treasure.   Within there is a famous Hopetown Tea rooms - a long queue gathered outside this tea house.

entrance to the Block Arcade

The famous Hopetoun Tea Rooms

Ancient weighting machine

famous Melbourne chocolates

miniaturist shop 

cute miniatures

Free Melbourne City Tour

Melbourne - There are 13 stops on this scenic Melbourne city tour - you and drop off anytime and alight at designated City Shuttle Bus stops.

From Federation Square which is the home of the Melbourne Visitor Centre, the bus ply through busy streets and arrive at Stop 3 of the Sport Precint.  Looking out of the bus, you are able to see the Melbourne Cricket Ground (affectionately called MCG).   Moving down Exhibitioto Street and stop around Little Collins Street which is a short walk to Chinatown Precint.   Lots of chinese restaurant can be found around Little Brouke Steet.  From there is pass through Lygon Street Princint which is the historic heartland of the Melbourne's Italian community.

This free city shuttle ends at 4:30pm daily and we are on the bus with 10 minutes past their closing time.  We decided to alight at Stop 13 and took a short walk to The Shrine of Remembrance.

Our free city shuttle bus from a distance.

Shrine of Remembrance

Melbourne Visitor Shutter & St Paul's Cathedral

Melbourne - The weather today was hot and sunny but it was worth the walk down from Elizabeth street to the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Flinders station.   It was a friendly environment and we waited for our number to be called and was greeted by a guest relations officer.

There were many restaurants around the Melbourne Visitor Centre and pop into one for our lunch.

This is a boutique drink in Australia under the company called Redrock.   This was my drink a refreshing grapefruit carbonated - nice but too sweet. 

Lemonade drink

Lesley's lunch

It does not look apetitising on photo - in fact; it was worst when they sent it the first time.  I rejected because the breaded pork cutlet was burnt in black. 

Since we had the afternoon open, we were advised to take their free Melbourne Visitor Shuttle which is a red bus that travels around the perimeter of Melbourne City - takes about 1 and half hours.  Waited outside the St Paul's Cathedral and already a small queue was forming.   Lesley waited whilst I took a peek inside St Paul's Cathedral - an Anglican Church.