Final Countdown

Time to go folks.  I've had those jeans on for about 8 days straight and they're about to walk.

Hope people have found it interesting or amusing or a bit of both.  Next blog: Doug's Diet.

Doug's Final Words

It's of the 'morrow the odyssey is over.  Before leaving the page, however I must just point out that 'the cameraman' who has taken great joy in picturing his father in various 'gourmandising' moments does so in full knowledge that it is only my technical ineptitude which allows him the liberty.  He has enjoyed his share of the pies and other delights.

We are now in Singapore which has an atmosphere not unlike a steam oven!  Orchard Road, Raffles and the Marine Bay have been walked and with an entertaining night on our arrival (Chinese New Year), it has been so far so good in the Year of the Rabbit.  Those of you who enjoy shopping, this place is nirvana or whatever you like to call it.

Hope you enjoyed the blog updates as we have enjoyed doing it.

Doug.

Cheers!

Day Fourteen - Singapore

Not a lot of time to spend in Singapore which can be for the good.  It is a strange old place teeming with people and new super-structure buildings, dwarfing the more attractive colonial architecture on all sides.  The strip that runs along the river including the Raffles landing area, Fullerton Hotel, 19th Century buildings and galleries remain attractive and worth a look. 

Orchard Road is a retail behemoth stretching out into the distance and completely overwhelming.  That a city centre can dedicate an entire 50-stall shopping mall to cameras somewhat sums up the city / country.

The good news is that the heat has remained under control and for much of the day a pleasant, cooling breeze has kept the air temp and humidity level down.  Makes life easier when walking.

At the waterfront across from the statue of the Merlion is a new structure called the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.  Possibly the oddest looking building I've seen in a while.  Three very tall towers rise from a bank across the bay, atop which sits what appears to be a giant boat with accompanying trees. 

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Singapore city and cricket club

Frangipani - lovely

Doug at Raffles

Locals

Surreal fishpond on Orchard Road

Day Fourteen - Chinatown, Singapore

Arrived at Singapore City in time for a spot of dinner in Chinatown, right after they'd just finished celebrating Chinese New Year with fireworks and a parade.  Still a lot of people around.  One of the streets in Chinatown is called Smith Road which seemed like a good spot for some chilli crab.

Farewell Australia

Returned to St Kilda on Saturday morning with very different weather as finally Melbourne showed us the sun!  Made a massive difference.

That was Australia.  Couple of thoughts on the matter before we head onto Singapore.

Day Thirteen - Melbourne in the sun

Melbourne in my (Nick) favourite city in Australia.  Due to somewhat inclement weather we haven't been able to do the place any justice as we've spent a fair portion of the time dodging the showers and storms.  As luck would have it, on our final day the sun came out and we got a glimpse of Melbourne at her best.

Day Thirteen - St Kilda, part two

When you get a sunny day you can see why St Kilda is so popular.  A short 15 minute tram ride through the beautiful districts around Albert Park and you're on the Esplanade.  It's fair to say that the beach at this point doesn't amount to much, in some parts grubby, and there are a fair number of quality community tramps and vagrants that add a bit of colour and a distraction from a few too many lively young posers.

There are a number of cafes, bars an galleries on the strip just back from the waterfront and of course the famous Luna Park and Palais Theatre.  It has to be said it has a slight English feel to it for me.  Maybe it's the slightly unkempt-ness?

Put a photo on here of me because Mum's concerned.

Pier at St Kilda

View of Melbourne

Returning from the MCG

Returning from tonight's Twenty20 defeat at the hands of the mighty Australia, we stopped for a snack in Melbourne...

Day Twelve Afternoon - Fitzroy

Afternoon of our penultimate day in Melbourne we visited the suburb of Fitzroy.  Described as bohemian in the various guides, turned out to be just that.  The centre sits along Brunswick Street - a 10 minute tram ride from the Flinders Station.  The street was full of cafes, bars, restaurants, vintage clothes shops and other stores that people rush into, buy something and 30 minutes later have no idea why they wanted it.  We're talking expensive stationery, etchings of colourful parrots, extra virgin oil and mugs with cats on.  Sign me up.

Away from the main drag there are some interesting late nineteenth, early twentieth century housing typical of Australia: generally single or two-storey with iron lattice-work at the front.

Fitzroy houses

Workers cottage

The Sandman, Brunswick Street

Bohemian man

Brunswick St

A word on the Melbourne tram system too.  Dad and I got day passes for $6.70 each and were able to travel all the way to St Kilda, up to Fitzroy, the Docklands and later tonight the MCG on the one ticket.  Bargain.

Day Twelve - St Kilda RAIN

This is our penultimate day in Australia and we were keen to see a suburb of Melbourne so opted to take the #112 tram out to sunny St Kilda, Melbourne's beach scene centre.  As we headed to board the tram the heavens opened and by the time we arrived in St Kilda things were looking ominous.  You couldn't see the beach or waterfront and the esplanade resembled something out of an English seaside resort in February.

St Skegness

Having attempted to walk through the storm for ten minutes we copped out and returned to the tram stop completely drenched.  Tropical rain is still better than the domestic  variety, but it can have the same debilitating effect on mind and body.  But the best was yet to come...

Trundling through South Melbourne, we reached a junction below the casino and Southbank complex.  Off to the right, people were wading across the street and cars had been abandoned.  As we stopped at the lights, the tram driver appeared from his cab and ordered us off.  Abandon ship; the tram was going no further due to track flooding. 

Tram derailed

Excess water

There was a surprisingly resigned aspect to the crowd on board as we climbed out of the carriage and into floodwater.  Dad and I had to yomp a few hundred metres into the food hall of the casino complex.  Doug went for a tea and washed it down with an ice cream.  What a great morning.

Comfort food

Raining

We like Melbourne

Docklands, Melbourne

One of the newest parts of Melbourne is the development of the docks area.  This has been going on for the last 10 years and is now being pushed as a 'lifestyle' area for Melbourne residents and visitors alike to enjoy.  Not sure I buy into that having looked at it this afternoon.  Admittedly it was raining but there was a paucity of people around, the restaurants were empty and the retail arcade full of pointless stores and wandering locals.

View of Melbourne from Docklands

Docklands.  Wild times.

The new(ish) Etihad Stadium is the focal point away from the docks.  It's a massive arena and yet another example of how sport dominates the landscape in this particular city.  They've got a new rugby union Super 15 side, two 'soccer' teams, an NRL franchise and the million-odd Aussie Rules teams.  Plenty to watch.

The one good thing about the docklands was the presence of a quality ice-cream vendor who makes his gelato on the premises at Limonetto and I can confirm, it was delicious.

Limonetto ice cream shop

Chocolate with caramel and honeycomb

Day Eleven - Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

Rain all day today in Melbourne with high temps and even higher humidity.  Not a lot you can do but pick a place, get on the tram and get soaked so with that we headed out to the Botanic Gardens via the #55 (without paying - bonus) from outside the hotel.

The verdict from the expert in these matters (Doug) is that Melbourne is infinitely better than Sydney and Canberra isn't even a player.  From my amateur perspective, I'd have to agree.  Melbourne is larger and more varied.  It's got a lot of different sections with a lawn which gives the impression of a series of gardens rather than just the one.  It's also got the King's Domain parkland area which makes it feel even larger.

We walked along the Southbank of the Yarra to an entrance on the riverside of the gardens.  This gave us a view of the city and the sports precinct with the Rod Laver tennis arena - the Australian Open starts next week - new AAMI Stadium and the imposing MCG in the background.  All nicely kept in one simple area, a 15 minute walk from the city.

As the rain finally became unbearable, we visited the Observatory Visitor Centre for a break before taking the #55 back into town.  It's still raining.

Day Ten - Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

Arrived in Melbourne around midday.  Able to take an enforced stroll about town as the rooms in the hotel weren't ready.  Managed to get down to the ornate mainline station before returning to the hotel opposite the Flagstaff Gardens, about 20 minutes from the main centre of downtown Melbourne.

The weather isn't that great.  We've got a lot of overcast skies and regular, heavy downpours, meanwhile temperature and humidity are both high.  In a word, sticky.

In the evening Dad and I walked round the corner to the Queen Victoria Markets, nominally a functioning fruit and veg affair weekdays, at weekends and on a Wednesday, the locals turn it into a food and retail emporium with 20 or more food stalls selling meals and treats from all over the world.  In addition there are many stalls selling trinkets, clothing, crafts and jars of locally-made produce.  All in all a great experience for the visitor.  The market remains open late into the evening and was packed with Melbournians and tourists alike.  They even had a couple of bands playing on small stages inside and outside the market.