On one of my voyages to Melbourne city during my first week in Australia, I hit up the ever-popular Southbank aka Crown Entertainment Complex.

Heard so much about it prior to my arrival, and now, I'm right in the heart of its vicinity.

The sights are even prettier at night all lit up! 😀

I could still remember being like a little kid lost in the big city on my first day in Melbs.

But thankfully, a few awesome people showed me around…

Aunt Ket included! She brought me ALL around Melb city 

At Melbourne Central.

It had a Metro Train beneath the mall! Wait a sec — I shouldn't be surprised. There's an LRT Train underneath our famed KLCC Twin Towers too.

.

Shopping at FCUK. Gawd I love this brand. Nice play of the acronym too 😛

Always works for me! (Besides the gym, of course)

We kept walking and Aunt Ket wanted to bring me to a picturesque spot on top of Burke Street Mall (or was it still Melbourne Central? I don't recall) to take pretty photos of the city from an aerial view.

And so we went to this rooftop garden!

So pretty! 😀 😀

I also reckon it's a place where heat is conserved at an optimum temperature for the plants.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt so warm! Almost like in Malaysia hehe.

Part of the city on a Saturday afternoon

We just kept exploring the city until evening. 

Oh and, funny how the sun begins to set around 5.30pm in Australia!

And by the time it hits 6.30pm, it'll be dark already

Nawwww horses along the streets of Melbourne!

There were horse carriages around. Just like the olden days.

I didn't ride it for some reason; reckon it probably costs a bomb 

Liquor shop!

Oh sorry, I forgot to warn you about this PG-13 photo,

Too bad you've already seen it! 😛

Shotbuckets on sale! Perfect for parties.

Tried on a coat with busy motifs. Liked it. Didn't like it

Liked it again. Changed my mind. Liked it again. But didn't buy it

Stopped to grab a lunch break!

Continued walking till we reached Southbank.

So pretty, right? T'was a great idea to go just before sunset.

Breathtaking

By the time we crossed the bridge to the other side, we were greeted by lots of buskers!

Some were singing, dancing, painting, juggling and all sorts of different things

Impressive street art!

Sat down inside Crown Entertainment Complex to have dinner

Yes, if you're wondering, that's all I'm having for dinner

Can't help that the Australian currency is triple times that of mine. 

How sad! It sucks always feeling like a pauper overseas. I finally how it feels like to be poor. 

Artsy shot 😀

And before we realized it, it was nightfall

We were just in time for the fire flamethrower show!

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, Southbank boasts a display of flames every weekend at a specific time. I think I was there at 8pm? It lasts for about 10 minutes, tops.

Yeah, if you're ever in town, try to catch it with your very own eyes!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WWRLqEgil4

Here's a short snippet of it.

The heat was so intense at some points that you can feel a very mild burning sensation!

Everybody (especially tourists) stopped and watched it in awe

Just a nice silhouette 🙂

Southbank was buzzing with people even late at night!

Now that's what I'm talking about 😉

Lovely sights!

Stopped by the bridge to take picture but was constantly photobombed by drunk boys 

OMG leave me alone! They insisted a picture anyhow. Reminds me of what one of my readers once commented, "You always seem to attract weird men huh" LOL. That made me laugh!!! 

ZOMG! Trying not to ruin my smile.

Ok photo over. You can go now kthxbai

Gave up trying to take a solo picture as they wouldn't leave me alone unless I joined their nightly drunken crusades or left the spot.

Obviously, I politely declined their offer with an awkward smile and chose the latter. We adjourned home soon after. Phew.

Back at Flinders Street Station

So that was my 12 hour day out at the city.

Didn't feel so lost anymore when I went downtown again the following weekend!

Can't wait to go back. Countdown: 55 days! 

Yupyup, I haven't been updating for 3 days just because I've been too occupied!

But yeah, here's a recap on the stuff that I've been up to ever since my comeback.

1. Hennessy Artistry event at Sixty9ine Mansion @ Batu Fehringgi, Penang

Spent time with the homies and partied the skies down.

2. Being able to wear my summer clothes again after freezing myself silly during Australian winter

Just because it's ALWAYS SUMMER IN MALAYSIAAAAAAA!!! 😀 😀

No more being all wrapped up in thick jumpers, overcoats and woolly boots! 😀 

Spent time with thefockers at home & during mealtimes too!

3. Spent some girlytime and did heaps of catching up with the bestie Joyce

The BFFs reunites!  Best Friends since the beginning of college days and counting!

Chilling|Shopping|Starbucks|Hangin' out – Just like old times!

4. Spent time hangin' out with Konzylove

Being with each other all the time online; thank Science for technology! Countdown : 63 more days 

5. Ate so much local food you have no idea.

AND NOT HAVING TO PAY OVER 50 BUCKS IN MY CURRENCY FOR MY OWN LOCAL FOOD!

Nasi Lemak? Hell yeaaaaaaahh 

Feels great to be back; but still anticipating my return to Ozzie nonetheless 

Houmaigawd holy bejeebus it's freezing and the thick cashmere gloves that I'm wearing is not making it easy for me to type at all.

The heating system has just been turned on but the ice-cold wind wouldn't stop howling, and vapor fogged out from our mouths as we spoke to each other.

Throughout my stay in Melbourne so far, there was only 3 outta 11 days that had somewhat warm/sunny weather. The rest of the days was just blistering with gushes of cold wind and rain… you call this summer? 🙁

Anyway, I miss the city! Badly!

Driving past Melbourne city for the very 1st time

I spotted lotsa pretty sights and sounds all around me! The transport system is cool and buildings here look really colonial -a different architecture from Malaysia's altogether!
 

Take a look 🙂

People waiting for the tram – which arrives under 10 minutes flat!

Melbourne's General Post Office. It has restaurants and bars in it too! 😉
 

Funny/unique names!

Saw a railway track like, right across the middle of the road

Drove past the Flinders Street Station yay! Nice

Couldn't help taking a picture of this old man jaywalking the streets

It was so nice of Mr. and Mrs. Lee to take me for a drive into the city center just to lemme have my 1st sight of it on my 1st day in Melbourne. I lived with them for more than a week, they were so accommodating and made me feel so at home 🙂
 

So yeah, here I was for those 9 days of my stay. In a beautiful suburb, called Camberwell 🙂

Their humble abode, a very impressive double-storeyed brick house in my opinion!

I was pretty intrigued by their garage, hedges and gateless/fenceless neighbourhood.

In fact, almost every house has all of those.

Their neighbour, 2 Italian men! Hubba hubba!

And their suburbs are different from the one in Malaysia because the houses here are hardly terraced. It's like an entire house with a backyard and lawns which run throughout the sides. Back at my home country, those types would be considered a bungalow already.
 

But here, almost all landed properties are constructed as such.

My room! 🙂 Yes I know, the clothes, the mess and my huge red luggage

The view from my window when I wake up in the mornings 
 

When the Lee's ain't around at home, I pass my time blogging, jogging in Lynden Park (more of that soon!) and playing with Ruffey.

Who's Ruffey? As mentioned here , it is their pet dog, a Japanese Chin.
 

Ruffey here isn't a puppy anymore.
 

He's a 12 year old dog in human years, which makes him 84 years old in dog years!

Now, that's pretty old, ain't it?

I see him on the carpet every morning while eating my breakfast

We bond pretty well despite Mr. Lee telling me how grouchy and territorial it can get.

I honestly don't see Ruffey in that light at all. It's actually very friendly to me!

I've even taken Ruffey out for a walk at Lynden Park too.

Dinnertime was at Chadstone Shopping Center (fondly known as Chaddy) a popular mall in Malvern East.

I superloved that mall!  Totally reminded me of One Utama Shopping Center back at home.

Sorry, only took pictures of the food zone because I was too busy shopping to take pictures 😛

As a Malaysian, I couldn't help converting the prices I see here into Ringgit Malaysia (RM).

I multiply everything I see – according to the exchange rate – by 3 times.

The only way I reckon I can stop doing that is to get a part time job here… which I will. When I find one 😀
 

Omelette Sandwich | AUD$9.90

THAT'S 30 BUCKS IN RM FOR SOMETHING AS MEAGRE AS THIS! *faints*

Since it was my first meal out in Melbourne, I guess the figures hadn't really gotten to me yet.

So I bought some salad after that

Pumpkin Chick Pea Salad | AUD$5

THAT'S 15 RINGGIT FOR THIS TINY CONTAINER OF COLD BITES.

Good heavens, I can get some elaborate food in a swanky restaurant for RM45 back at home 🙁

Oh well. What am I to do? I only have 3 choices. Get a job, get used to this or get lost.

Mrs. Lee and I at Chaddy.
 

It was funny how after Sunday service (yes they brought me to church) at Clayton Church of Christ, my new mates and I decided to go to Chaddy. AGAIN, for me. LOL!

But hey, I didn't mind at all cos I actually fancy that place 😉

 Lunchtime/teatime woots! Heading towards Chaddy 😀

Camwhoring with Tim! 😉 We hopped into his car and he gave me a ride

As we had a BBQ early lunch already in church, Tim and I were still feeling quite full

But not Stuart! 😛 He ordered some huge Beef Steak

At Reactor in Chaddy 🙂

We got a complimentary basket of Garlic Bread wheee!

'Cos Stuart knew one of the staff who worked there

Tim and I munching on free Garlic Bread woohoo

After eating, Tim had to leave early. Stuart and I then walked around Chaddy and he showed me around!

This part of the mall reminded me of Pavillion/KLCC back at home.

Somehow lah! 😛 Gave me a feeling of home for a sec

Bought a couple of stuff and soon after, Stuart gave me a ride home

It was already 5pm! Didn't know we all spent so much time in the mall

Oh and did I mention that Stuart had this really awesome car? It's wicked! I like

Obsessive compulsive disorder and devil's code 666!

Nais

So that was my short adventure in the suburbs. The next day, Stuart took me to another suburb too, called Glen Waverly. More of that soon okie? Next post, I'll be heading downtown to Melbourne City alone! Exploring so many sights and sounds. 🙂

Join me, aight? See ya!