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! 

With my usual weekends spent in the city of Melbourne, I am usually nomadic and tend to succumb to aimless shopping and gallivanting.

Either that or just hangin' out with my citymates over a cuppa…. and hitting the pubs for a drink or two at night.

Shoppingtime at Queen Victoria street market

Yes, stop staring at my feet. I fell prey to the trend of UGG boots.

I know I once condemned its hideousness but then again, that's what everyone once said about Crocs in the beginning too.

Once you find something that suits you, you'll eventually end up strutting down the street with your favorite pair. And they keep my feet warm from this chilly weather of averagely 15°C

Sales. Sales… oh the music of sales.

Bells are ringing, I swear. Whenever I walk past a display window, the new arrivals and lovelies beckon me to come closer. Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin to the rats and children.

Retail therapy. Say no no no no before your bank dries up, Jess.

Also, when you're in the city, remember to eat your heart out.

Try things that are not available in your home country. In my case, would be Malaysia. So when in Melbourne, get to Subway's Chicken and Bacon Ranch, McDonalds' Angus Beef Burger, Hungry Jack's Bacon Deluxe and the list goes on.

OMM NOM NOM NOM

FORGIVE ME, IF YOU'RE ON A DIET.

this is mild food porn.

Anyway!

There's more than just fast food, obviously. Deli restaurants, international cuisines from every part of the world you can imagine (I will share my Greek escapade pretty damn soon 😉 ) and yes, chocolate lounges are a must-go.

Again, I'm sorry if you're lactose intolerant!

Because these are pretty fine bites of cocoa

Now, excuse me while I devour the entire shop and tip the weighing scales 😛

Holla me if you ever come down to Melbourne!

Okay this post was actually scheduled to be up 3 weeks ago!

But for some reason, it decided to go bonkers. So just imagine you are reading this like waaaayyyy before today.

You know how advertisements about universities always try to depict some form of "excellence" or "condusive study environment" and the like?

The usual pin-ups of students posing all-so-serious in the library, in the science lab or on the grass?

Looks like they weren't kidding.

Because here in Australia, it really is a real-life scenario

In Malaysia, to be honest, no one sits on the grass to study or even hang out.

Probably there will be a handful of white people doing so occasionally. But apart from that, people usually keep off our grass.

Not that there's anything wrong with our grass or that it is layered with pesticide or something.

It's just not our culture to sit on the grass – I presume. Most of us would just hang out at the uni cafe, uni lounge or even the library.

May the people who never had their asses on university grass before,

come sit and pose for an obligatory photo

Look ma, I'm sitting on the grass!

The university grass!

I gotta admit, we find it pretty queer to do that when there are plenty of vacant seats around.

But as they say – when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Australia, in this case.

During orientation break. Meet my new friend, Anne from Germany.

I can't pronounce her last name so just 'Anne' will do for now 🙂

Fellow Malaysians on exchange!

We were treated to a hot pancake breakfast, giant muffins and hot chocolate/coffee.

Hmm.. anything to make us feel welcome I guess? 🙂

At night, we all headed to the glorious Queen Victoria Market.

We were pretty lucky as it was summer when we arrived.

I hear that there was a night festival of food, culture and music ONLY during the summer nights.

It reminded of our 'pasar malam' back in Malaysia.

Our night markets often comprise food and cheap shopping

Here we are inside the night market!

Fellow exchange students from Malaysia, Canada, Germany and local Ozzies

I loved what I saw.

There were international food all over the place and so many things to buy!

Some form of Mediterranean food

A rather icky pig head on display.

If I didn't love meat so much, I'd turn vegan the moment I saw this photo

Okay here's a cute picture to erase any recollection of the pig head.

MUPPETS ON SALE!!! AWWWWWWWWW

Apart from eating and shopping, we even sampled Yellow Tail wine!

Yup, there was a free tasting session. And I must say, it's pretty damn good.

There were many flavours, but I loved 3 of it only.

They are Moscato, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir

ommmnomnom wine.

The very next day!!

A short city tour – of which I have already explored in this post. Remember? 🙂

Excited exchange students from all over the world

Made some new friends, Lisa and Adam

Went to Federation Square and walked down some steps which I never knew existed beforehand!

Down down down to a scenic riverside bar.

Yarra River!

And the off to Chinatown for dinner!

Was pretty strange that I came all the way to Australia – to eat Asian food.

But hey, there were heaps!!

In most parts of the city or even suburbs like Glen Waverly or Boxhill, there are Asian food aplenty.

But when I'm here, I tend to avoid Asian food like the plague because it would feel so silly to eat something which I can easily have back home in Malaysia for a huge fraction of the price!! Like, one plate of noodles here would cost me 15 $AUD = 45 Ringgit Malaysia when I could pay 5 Ringgit Malaysia for the exact same thing.

YOU TELL ME. MY WALLET PAIN… OR NOT?

After dinner, we chilled out at Emerald Peacock

It's a really pretty rooftop bar! 🙂

Now, if only the view wasn't blocked by so many high-rise buildings, it would be perfect.

With Lina. She bought me this drink! Ommnomnom

On my way back home. I bought a pie from PieFace for supper because I thought the waiter was cute as! And also because I was hungry duh

So! Orientation Week in Monash Clayton campus went pretty swell for the international students.

They made sure we are well-informed of the culture and how to get around town before we all seperated into our campuses.

Oh and… I'M SITTING ON THE GRASS!

(which reminds me, the last time I sat on the grass was when this photograph was taken)