Mum in Melbourne! - 14th Sep 2008 (Sun)

we woke up pretty late today, considering that we actually have to check-out of City Centre Budget Hotel at 10am!

i forgot about the time difference and set the alarm clock on my mobile.. and when it rang, i thought it was still early and went on to slack in bed for a long time! in the end, Mum woke up first and went to the shower while i prepared breakfast.. our breakfast for today can be seen on the left.. haha..

while i was in the shower after Mum got back, a guy came to knock on our door to remind us that the check-out time is well over! Geez.. i have never been late in checking out till now! oh well, there's always a first time in everything!

we were finally ready some time before 11am and went down to catch the tram to our hotel for tonight.. Kingsgate Hotel..

however, the check-in time was at 1pm and Mum suggested that we go round the city on the tram till it's closer to 1pm..

in the end, we made about 1 and half rounds before 'trying' to get off on King Street.. the bus driver didnt hear me shouting at him to open the door!

honestly, not many people (who were sitting near the driver) were helpful in telling him to open the door~ so we got off at Spencer Street and walked back towards King Street.. the hotel was much easier to find, considering that it's on the main street.. we got there at about 12.30pm and the room was ready for us!

it looks good externally and has got a lobby.. haha.. but honestly, i dont like the room that we were staying in.. i thought the light was too dim.. there was no TV, mini fridge and electric kettle like the previous one.. and we suddenly felt quite handicapped without these gadgets!

anyway, after dropping our bags in the hotel, we went out to explore the other side of the city.. we were staying just in front of the Southern Cross Station which linked us to the Telstra Dome and also to Victoria Harbour.. i purposely arranged for 2 accommodations and on different sides of the the city.. which was a lucky thing.. i'll come to that later on Day 4..

anyway, we didnt visit the Telstra Dome and Victoria Harbour today.. in fact, while on the City Circle Tram earlier in the day, Mum kept hearing 'Melbourne Central' and i guess shopping is calling her! hehez..

Melbourne Central

we went straight back on the tram again and went to Melbourne Central to look for lunch.. there was a food court in the basement and we shared a plate of 'Chinese' Combo Meal.. Rice/Noodles with 2 dishes for A$6.50.. i guess it's just 'Economical Rice' if i have to put it in Singaporean terms.. after lunch, we went to buy half a dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Mum tried a mouthful of each while i got myself a Irish Nut Creme from GJ's.. the usual~

we were walking around Melbourne Central and Myer for the whole day and bought some stuff.. we rushed to Coles to get some drinking water before rushing to the tram stop because the trams stop running at 6pm for Sundays.. but to no avail! 5mins before 6pm, most of the trams have already listed themselves as 'Not in Service'!

in the end, the decision was made for us that we have to walk back to the hotel! which i felt was a good thing because we get to see more of Melbourne City on foot instead of just seeing it from the tram..

just across Melbourne Central is the State Library of Victoria.. how interesting and how tempting! i would do some shopping for myself after a day of studying in the library? wahaha.. we began to walk down Swanston Street before turning right onto Bourke Street..

on the way, Mum saw another Vietnamese restaurant, Vietnamese Grill Bar, and went in.. this time round, we had the Double Cook Duck Noodle Soup (A$10.80) to share.. haha.. we had a good chat in there too.. and it was 'duck' by the time we got out of the restaurant.. hehez..

we continued on the way back to the hotel.. after dropping our stuff in the room, we went to the common area/TV/internet room just opposite the cafe to go through some of our bargains and to plan Day 3! Mum has also decided to leave Day Tours till the next trip.. she said she'll be going back to Melbourne! Geez!