St Valentines Australia (Melbourne)

We're here!! It took us some time but finally we've arrived in Australia, it's cool but not the temperatures which are soaring 36-38 degrees. The first thing we noticed about the place is how similar it seems to so many different places, England, America, South of France etc.. There are tall skyscrapers, not perhaps with the architectural splendor of Chicago but pleasant enough, weaved into these tall buildings are lots of older style ones, pubs, clubs and shops. Women dress pretty skimpily which is, but not quite the same as Thailand, more of a British style. And of course the closest beaches are 10 minutes away :)

Bollywood

We luckily got on the plane with Jane one of our "Old" friends from KL who just happened to be coming on a business trip and offered to put us up in her studio appartment (what luck). Met up with another pal Edmund who took us visiting some pretty well hidden bars, one especially where you walk down a stinky avenue (basically it's the bin emptying place for china town) and end up at "Crofts" made up to look like a mental asylum.

Chinese New Year MEL

Melbourne doesn't have loads of stuff to visit in town, it's pretty small and you can walk to the closest districts (precincts) which all have their own style, chill in the parks or drink coffees. It's a really laid back place, we noticed everybody leaving work at dead on 17h00 which means there is plenty of sunning time for them. There are loads of alleyways (here known as laneways) in town where you discover the quirky side of the place. We've been told that some of them are even better in winter with different clubs opening only in this season.

The weekend is brunch time, all the cafes and restaurants are doing english breakfast, it's basically a familly time. Fortunately for us we were put up in style and made our own breakfast everyday with coffee. Caught some Indian bollywood dancing as part of chinese new year (it is australia!) it was not too bad but the Indian girls definitely have the moves better than the aussie lasses (sorry).

Contrasts of Melbourne

Met up with another of Simon's old colleagues - Gary - who after driving us around in Melbourne's suburbs left us in Vietnam town where the markets are really asian style and the dragons were dancing to wish luck for the new year. The drives are long and empty, rather American style with the buildings being more british - the train back goes through a lot of stations and it feels like going through London suburbs.

Crofts

Famous Nights out

Federation Square MEL

Ice cream under the bridge MEL

Lemon Gum Tree

Melbourne Skyline

Nice Housing

Night life Melbourne

Overgrown Church

Pub time

Queen Vic Park MEL

River MEL

Si in Beach wear

St Kilda House

St Kilda House 2