Hot hot hot in Figueras. Almost two hours away from Barcelona by train but a comfortable ride. Having to line up in the hot sun to get into the Museum was a turn off but you'll find that everywhere, especially in summer with throngs of tourists. Teatre-Museu Dali was interesting albeit packed with tourists. I like taking my time looking at pieces but it was a bit hard being sandwiched right, left and centre. Still, Dali is an intriguing character and gives me the impression of doing things just to screw with the viewer´s head and I find that sickly funny. [View Full Entry]

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Okay, so July isn't the best month to be in Barcelona because it's hot and humid. I kept asking myself, "I left Kuala Lumpur for this weather??". Metro platforms are disgusting in July - like saunas but at least those let you take a shower after sweating like a dog! I guess the first thing I realised about Barcelona was that it's an old city. The buildings are old, the streets are old. I always heard it being called a 'cosmopolitan' city and maybe I was expecting a New-York-type-modern feel (though I've never been and I could be wrong about New [View Full Entry]

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This is an open-air museum about Victoria's Gold Rush in the 1850's, they've recreated the township during those times in this place of about 25 hectares. Staff and volunteers there are actually dressed in 1850's costumes and go about their daily routine as if they lived in those times. The stores are recreations of the 1850's, with real craftsmen at work in the 1850's trades. You can spend about 3 hours here, easy. Really interesting and staff and volunteers have so much knowledge about those times and the history. [View Full Entry]

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On the way to Sovereign Hill, we did a tour of the Wildlife Park. I still get excited seeing kangaroos! They're just so friendly and come up to you hoping you'll feed them. As we sat waiting for our tour guide, there must have been at least 6 kangaroos surrounding me. Got to see a lot of local wildlife up close here, we completed this tour in under an hour. A recommended stop if you're going to Sovereign Hill. [View Full Entry]

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I must admit I've never been into the Shrine of Rememberance though I've walked around that area before. It was built right after WW1, and is the largest war memorial in Victoria. This is the holy ground for Australians, where they remember all the troops who fought in various wars. Something about this place, the pictures, the medals, the quietness, really makes one ponder about the lives that were lost and what the whole point of war is. [View Full Entry]

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My third time to Great Ocean Road, but only the first time since one of the 'apostles' crumbled and fell and now left with 11. I'd recommended anyone doing this trip from Melbourne, to take at least two days as there is much to see and do on the road leading up to the 12 Apostles. We stopped at a couple of places, had breakfast on the way up to Apollo Bay, then stopped at the craft market there. We took a walk in the rainforest at Mait's Rest, then to the Tree Top Walk at the Otway Ranges. Admission is [View Full Entry]

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Dad loves tennis so we decided a tour of the home of the Australian Open would be interesting. We got to check out the press conference room - much smaller and more intimidating than I first thought! Interesting to check out the change rooms and find out that lesser-ranked players get smaller lockers! The day we went, a crew was setting up for a concert that night so we weren't allowed access to the arena - anyone thinking of going should check this before they go. We were still allowed to sit in one of the corporate booths and watch them [View Full Entry]

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Had tea on the way up to Belgrave, fed the birds. I'm not a big fan of birds so dad fed them while I took photos. Took the Puffing Billy from Belgrave to Menzies Creek. It was a relaxing ride, occasionally you get some dust in your face thanks to the wind blowing smoke from the front of the train. [View Full Entry]

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Dad's here on holiday so I've started doing the tourist-y things again. MCG tours were quite interesting, especially since it was done up for the Commonwealth Games. We got to climb up to the higher levels which was really steep - my legs were wobbling even when I sat at the seats! I don't know how people sit all the way up there and not feel like they're about to fall. [View Full Entry]

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Okay so I should probably have gone to the matches but I didn't. Watching it on tv was quite nice with the commentaries. Final day of the games, we headed to the city centre and took a walk to the spots with free big-screen tvs (they called it 'live areas') to watch the closing ceremony. Big 'fishes' on the water which changed colour every few minutes, huge Comm Games banners hanging from Flinders Street Station. My favourite part was walking along St Kilda Road - they closed it to traffic so everyone could basically walk in the middle of the road. [View Full Entry]

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