On this day, we woke up early to meet up with Zindann and Wing to return our car at the Budget car rental. Then we told the cashier that we use the tollroad, Eastlink, and thought we can pay the toll at the cashier when we return the car. Turnout it wasn’t as easy as we thought. They asked us to pay the toll ourself online, or at the post office but first, we have to call Eastlink hotline to check how much we need to pay. Wasn’t so friendly la the cashier Angmo lady. Pretty but not so friendly, didn’t even offer any advise. So, if you are not sure which road you will be using, when you rent the car, tell them you need the Tag just in case. In Australia, tollroad doesn’t have the toll booth like ours in Malaysia, its a good thing that you don’t need to queue to pass the tollgate, they have the scanner on the road. If you use the tollroad, make sure you pay the toll within 24hours or 48 hours not sure, if not they will fine you on a daily basis. Don’t think you can runaway, they will charge your credit card ok!

So after we left Budget Car Rental, we made phonecalls to Eastlink Hotline, wasted like AUD3 still unable to ascertain how much tollfares we need to pay, then we walk to first Post Office, they didn’t help much still ask us to call the Eastlink to find out how much to pay, then we walk to the 2nd Post Office, the cashier there (Asian Guy) very friendly, he show us the map and ask us, how many times we cross the tunnel and teach us how to calculate the toll charges, and we settle the toll charges there.  Like this already wasted like 1 hour trying to figure out about the toll charges, calls and making payment.

Since we got nothing planned on that day, Zindann and Wing suggest to go to the Melbourne Aquarium and we walk all the way from Flinders Street to Kings Street about 15 minutes walk. The weather is cooling and it makes the walk all around Melbourne central do-able compare to walking in Malaysia, I swear I will cry out to my hubby and show my missy tantrums if I were ask to walk as far. When we reached the Aquarium, the ticket price were not the same as published in our guidebook, they’ve increased the price to AUD32.50 per adult. So hubby and I skip the aquarium and continue our leisure walk nearby.

Across the Queens Bridge Street, we pass by the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and then Opposite MEC is the Crown Plaza. Very Cold la

Then we walk to the new DFO Southwarf just next to the Hilton Hotel. If you want to buy cheap branded stuff, you can come here, but guess what? Even I didn’t get a thing here as I find it too expensive even after conversion compare to the branded sales I can get back here. We have our lunch at the food court, not many choices, but most people choose Subway. So we also choose Subway lor-ordered Footlong sandwich here.. Yummy

The Anglican St Paul Cathedral situated on the corner of Swanston Street & Flinders Street, renowned for its carved cedar woodwork, tessellated tiled floors, stonework and stained glass. In front of the St Paul Cathedral you can also catch the city’s free shuttle bus. Opposite of St Paul Cathedral is the Melbourne Central Information Centre and the Federation Square.

After we enquire about Dockland shopping at the Info Centre, we went to Young & Jackson Hotel to enjoy the beautiful painting, Chloe by Jules-Joseph Lefebvre. The Chloe painting is hung on the wall of the Chloe bar, and we ordered a mug of Young & Jackson beer specialled brewed for them while I’m obsessed with Marie’s beautiful leg.

Chloe is actually a nude figure painting of a young Parisian women, named Marie when she was around the age of 19. There are many tales about the young women Marie and it is believed that she  successfully suicide at the age of 21 years old after throwing a party for her friend.

The Story of the Chloe Painting (source from: chloe)

THE MODEL MARIE:Researched and written by s.zervos. copyright (c) 2007
The shy and tragic young French girl Marie who posed for Chloe is largely unknown and no one seems to have any interest in her. The thousands of connoisseurs  who study the painting of Chloe seem more concerned with the finer points of technique in Lefebvre’s faithful portrayal of her charms.

Marie was born in 1856 into a poor family living on the outskirts of Paris. She left home at an early age and went to the big city where she and her sister posed for artists to supplement their meagre income from the other  menial jobs they picked up. The leggy Marie’s striking beauty got her much modelling work among the many artists who infested Paris at that time. Lefebvre got to know the girls quite well (too well) and Marie became his favourite model — she posed for Chloe in 1875 when she was 19.

Marie seemed to have had a penchant for older men and before long she fell madly in love with the painter. He was 40 and she was 19 when they became lovers. But Marie’s genuine love was not as faithfully requited. During the time Lefebvre was enjoying her favours, probably between brush strokes, the rotter was also servicing her sister in a like manner. About a year after painting Chloe, Lefebvre unexpectedly dropped Marie and married her sister. Why he would spurn such a delicate nymph in favour of her relatively mediocre sibling truly boggles the mind (as you can see he was no oil painting himself). Marie was completely devastated when she heard the news.
Congreve’s maxim states “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned“.
But Marie, a loving and sensitive girl, was reluctant to upset the blissful  harmony of the two people she still loved.

The bottled-up anguish became too much for her. Two years after posing for Chloe she finally ‘flipped’. Marie put on a party for her friends. The party was in full swing when she quietly slipped into the kitchen and boiled up a toxic brew from some items she kept there. She drank the fatal mixture while her friends were still raging in another room … Marie was only 21 years young. So whenever any reader is admiring Chloe’s charms in Lefebvre’s painting may I ask them to please pause and spare a thought for the tragic young woman who quit so young  yet inspired Lefebvre’s, and possibly the 19th century’s, greatest masterpiece. After our afternoon beer at the Chloe’s bar, the crowd start coming in, it was only like 1.30pm.

So we continue walking and walking but of course at least some photos in front of the Flinders Street Station. Don’t be alarmed when you saw  terrifying electricity sparks when the trams crossed, everyone just ignored them, like its nothing.

More shoppings? We went to MYER- the Australian long long history of shopping mall. I couldn’t remember where was this photo with the Giant SEIKO clock was taken, all that I can remember alot of commuter pass by the building, inside a station/shopping centre.

We also went to 2 Starbucks outlet to find the  destination flask, the one near Collins Street don’t have any, so we went to another outlet at Bourke Street to get it, bought the flask at AUD12.90 (Mahal la!).  Then we walk summo, alot of walking in Melbourne, saw this lift inside Nicholas building.

At China Town

More walking – walking- walking- dragging our feet.. (hubby already complaining his toes already giving him problem) we decided to have dinner at 3.30pm? Kiasu right? We want to avoid the dinner crowd at this infamous Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant. Owner is a Hongkie, and who dine here before? Former President Bill Clinton! Jacky Chan! Samuel Hung! Mrshomely!

After dinner, we went to David Jones Shopping Mall, didn’t go in la, as expected it should be freaking expensive.. then we walk to more shopping boutiques just wander around everywhere, by maybe 6pm we were too exhausted, we went back to the hotel to rest, watch tv, freshen up before going out again to the nearby 7-eleven to get the famous Meat Pie (must try) 2 pcs for AUD5.

End of Day 5

On the 2nd half of the day, if we can make it to the Healesville Sanctuary  which is highly recommended by the Melbournians, I will be able to see Australian animal up close like

1. Goanna
2. Blue Tongued Lizard ( I hate lizard but blue tongue wor)
3. PLATYPUS!!!!
4. Gang Gang Cockatoos
5. Red Kangaroo
6. Orange Bellied Parrots
7. Emus (Emo Queen)
8. Edchina
9. Koalas
10. Dingoes
11. Kookaburras
12. Fruit Bats
13. Birds of Prey
14. Wetland birds
15. Lyrebirds
16. Parrot Flight
17. Animals of the night
18. Tasmanian Devil
19. Wombats
20. Wallabies
21. Helmeted Honeyeaters
22. Pelicans
23. Arid Birds
24. Rock Wallabies

See? So many animals? I missed all that and I need to make another trip back to Australia to see them for real! Agree right? But go somewhere else to see la.. other part of Australia la.. they are Australian Wildlife not Melbournian Wildlife ma Aiyo…lets move on. I need to move on.

All 4 of us later agreed to go to Yarra Valley the Victoria’s oldest wine region for some wonderful winery scenery, taste wine and I don’t know ah.. knock the Cellar Door I think. We are not a wine connoisseur mind you, but tasting wine? Definitely la.. come so far, pay for car, no wine meh?

So the first stop we went, is Yarra Yering Vineyard, located at Gruyere, Briarty Road. To get there you must need a car with the help of GPS, there’s no other way unless you join a winery tour which may cost you AUD135 – 160 per person.

We arrive at the Yarra Yering around 2.30pm, took a slow drive, enjoying the captivating view of the vineyard with mountaineous background, wah big piece of land,  and so.. so.. err dry? huh? Where’s the grapes? We later found out that the harvesting season is not going to happen until the next February. So what we saw now was dry ranting2 lor, they just planted the grapes.

As we arrive at Yarra Yering, there is no other customers except us. One angmo couple just left.

We also went to the Orange orchard too! Just Kidding, there’s a few orange trees planted next to the cellar door. I wanted to pick that orange and taste it but I dunwan to be branded as Rude Malaysian hmmz! I ada baca Moral tau. I don’t steal!

 Inside the Tasting Room

Not all wineries are open for public, always check that the wineries you are heading too has a Cellar Door open for tourist.  For wine tasting usually , if you are not buying any, you will be charged AUD5 per person.  Here’s the list of wines that we tasted, just hubby and me only.

Wines on Tasting for September 2010

 2004 Chardonnay (I like this the best)
2007 Pinot Noir
2008 Gruyere
2001 Underhill
2006 Dry Red Wine No. 2
2008 Dry Red Wine No.3
2005 Agincourt Cabernet Merlot
2003 Dry Red Wine No. 1
2000 Potsorts Vintage Fortified ( I cannot swallow potsorts.. not my type at all)

 Berpura-pura taste the wines. I actually want to get drunk oni, so I want to drink as much, but some of the wines is too bitter for me, so have to throw away into the barrel at the back wahahahah.

Next we head to Yarra Valley Dairy, located in a 100 year old milking shed, right beside the cheese factory at Yering. The Yarra Valley Dairy offers handmade farmhouse cheeses.

The farm nearby

The interior of the cheese shop, they have a wide selection of homemade products like spagetti sauce, vinegar, etc.

 Cheese tasting is available here, but the attendants are not very friendly.  We didn’t buy any cheese from the shhop as most of the cheese are fresh and fragile, and possibility of turning bad while transporting it back to our homecountry, or maybe problem with the customs/ immigration .. not very sure.

We went to Yering Station after that, which is located on the Melba Highway, and very near to Yarra Valley Dairy.

Yering Station is actualy Victoria’s first vineyard in the heart of Yarra Valley and you don’t want to miss this vineyard.  Next to Yering Station is Chateau Yering  Historic House Hotel, once a weekend party place for victorian,  and now offers  5 star luxury  accommodation and also Fine Dining at its Eleonore’s Restaurant which is close by the time we reached there about 3.30pm.

So we went to their Sweetwater Cafe which offers  a wide range of cakes and light meals throughout the day, wahahhaha dessert time!

Taking a short rest at the Lobby Lounge

We ordered Mixed Berry Cheesecake and Chocolate Blackforest Mousse (choice of 2 pastry for AUD8), Berry of the forest tea ( blackcurrants, strawberries, hibiscus, blossoms, rosehips, bilberries and elderberries @ AUD4.50) and Black Coffee (AUD 4).

Our Drunk face

After our luxurious tea break, we head back to Melbourne city and call it a night. Not after Dinner?!! Duh.. we head to Bourke street for dinner.

End of Day 4

Tweet

We didn’t confirm on any itinerary from Day 4-7 onwards, so after a brief discussion with our new make friends Zindann and Wing we decided to rent a car to the Dandenong ranges and Yarra Valley.

In the morning, we waited for the Information Centre to open at around 9.30am, so we take a short walk to the Shrine of Remembrance.

We walk to Franklin street to try our luck to get a car immediately because according to the Information  Centre in Flinders Street, the earliest we can get a car would be in the afternoon. So as suggested by them, we walk to Franklin Streets where all the rental car company has a branch there. As we walk past we saw many RMIT building around that area. Once we reach Franklin Streets, we just went to Budget Car Rental and rented a Comodore, which cost us AUD 87 including GPS.

After all the processing, we went to get our car at the parking space (same building) this is how our car look like.

At 10.30am we are so ready to start our journey now. Firstly we have to check the car conditions, hubby was the designated driver. Then start the car.. err.. why cannot start wan? While figuring out tis and tat about the car, to unlock the rest of the doors, to start the engine, to use the GPS we spend almost like 15 minutes here wahahahah so paiseh. Piece of advise: If you are unfamiliar with continental cars, better rent a Hyundai ke or Mitsubishi Lancer ok!

The drive to Dandenong Ranges was pretty easy, except we don’t know how to avoid the tolls, we ended up using the Eastlink Tunnel, and reached the Upper Ferntree Gully in a total of 40 minutes drive. We reached the Pufffing Billy Station at Belgrave around 11.20 am so we have to catch a later train another hour to wait. If you do not have a car, you can also use a public transport -from Mebourne city (Southern Cross Station) take the Metropolitan Train to Belgrave. Take a short walk  over to the Puffing Billy station which is just next to each other.  We park our car at the the Belgrave Metro Station too.

Ticket fare to and return  – Lakeside  stop cost us AUD38 per person.

 If you didn’t have much time to spare for the Puffing Billy Train ride, I recommend you to drive to mile away from the Belgrave Station and witness the Puffing Billy Train moving – very very slowly and take some photos. I’ll explain that later.

We head to a nearby quaintly decorated cafe to have our lunch before the next train arrive at 12.30pm. I had lasagne and hubby had chips only.

It time to board the Train.. toot toot toot – This is the infamous most picturesque site that the steam train will cross. That’s it!?! The train is so slow… I can smell the charcoal.. we sat next to a bunch of China punya Chinese, lucky we didn’t fight wahahahhahaha (joking)

This is why I said, you can travel abit further stop at the side of the road, and save your money! Just take photo lar! Children would love to ride the steam train but for adults.. hmmm I leave it for yourself to decide lor

To travel from Belgrave to Lakeside stop takes an hour ride.. I keep on telling myself just one hour.. come on just one hour .. couldn’t be that bad .. hubby just standing inside the train expressionless!

I want to KILL that girl!

Then!! Then!! The train make a brief stop at Menzies Creek! AUD 38 is now in jeopardy! All 4 of us couldn’t stand the slooooooowww train moving, and we have other places of interest, so we hop off at Menzies Creek. If you still want to experience taking the ride, you can actually board the train like from Menzies Creek to Emerald or Emerald to Lakeside, so you will have shorter journey and cheaper fare, for your information an hour ride can be reach by car in 15 minutes okay!

Forcing a smile here, while waiting for the next train back to Belgrave. $$$$ Kaching ;(

Hubby’s ANNOYED look (Body Language translated as: Baby- I am warning you stop taking my photos). Did you notice? This is the only time he wear his jacket cover until like dat. It was freezing cold!!

By the time we reached back Belgrave its already 1.45pm (see that clock behind). Really wasted alot of time here.. wasted the money. At last we didn’t manage to make it to Healesville Sanctuary, this is the only place in Melbourne that I can see Platypus alive!

See Next post for Yarra Valley

Looking for Accommodation in Melbourne City? On a Budget? If you are thinking of bunking in at the backpackers? Go for it! Hubby and I combed through the Melbourne city in 3 days by walking. So I’d like to recommend these backpackers which I think is very good leh.

King Street Backpackers!

Who stayed here: Joyce

They got Free Internet – so generous of them! Why I said that? Its because in Melbourne, there is nothing as Free – Wi fi! No FREE! You want internet, you pay Approx AUD 2.50 for 15 minutes.

Elephant Backpacker

Who stayed here: Zindann & Wing

Their rooms on the 3rd floor have just completed refurbishments means NEW lor. They are located right opposite of Flinders Street Station. Super Convenient Location.

Other backpacker :Yha

Located at the north of Melbourne city, nearer to Queen Victoria Market has good reviews from Tripadvisor but this area could be abit quiet at night.

We stayed in?

353 CAUSEWAY Hotel, Little Collins Street

353 Causeway which is a 4 star hotel, located in the central of  Melbourne’s fashionable street, at the backlane of Little Collins Street. Don’t be alarmed of the backlane, its just a short 15-20 steps walk. 353 Causeway Hotel was rated #13 most popular hotel by Tripadvisor and its ideal location with many boutiques shops and eateries available  right at the hotel doorsteps makes this hotel the most convenient place.

Here’s how the room looks like. Photos from room 879.

The Continental Buffet Breakfast included. I expect more than a few croissant, bread to toast, fried noodles, sausages, fried egg, boil egg lah, or Australian  Big Breakfast at least.. but look at the photos.. this is what I eat for 5 consecutive days.. OMG I wanted to order scramble eggs or fried eggs you know whats the price? AUD6.50 OMG!!!!!! Tahan la.. come back Malaysia oni masak sendiri RM0.50cents only!

Ciao…