Blogs from MCG, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Oceania - page 3

We arrived into Melbourne shortly after sunrise off the back of a 22hr combined flight (including a 6hr stop over at Singapore airport). After successfully navigating the strict sniffer dogs and custom offices at Melbourne International, we jumped aboard the bus heading for the city centre and checked into the Elephant Hostel based across the road from Flinders Street Station. After a 5hr wait we eventually checked into our dorm rooms and headed out to tackle the Lonely Planets 2hr walking tour, which takes you through numerous gardens, past historical statues and around famous buildings, including the Iain Turner Art gallery and the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). One of the things we really wanted to do in Melbourne was to watch an Aussie Rules footy game and luckily for us we were able to get tickets ... read more

Our last hop to Melbourne After we left the beach we had a long travel to Wilson's Promotry, where we arrived in the dark! Nothing better could happen, as we saw so much wildlife as never before: a lot of kangoroos, wombats, rabbits and unidentified birds. During the night we were woken up by a something rubbing at the campervan (see the jungle book - the bear necessities!) and in the morning parrots were all over our car! It was amazing! After a little walk to squeaky beach we left for Phillip Island. We arrived just in time to see the Penguin Parade (the smallest penguin on earth - 35 cm). Next morning we could enjoy the sunrise as surfers woke us up to inspect the waves. Go kangaroos go!!! Finally in Melbourne, the first ... read more

Thurs 13th Dec: Got up to do my cycle tour but by 1000 Laz still not up so went it alone. Got my bike and a map and headed off. Cycled out east then into the city. Needed to get to the Philip Island office as my sunnies had fallen out in the bus and I had to collect them. It was great fun zigzagging in and out of the traffic (but don't tell Mum!) Then went down to the Yarra River and sat by the river for lunch. Onto the great MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground for a tour. This took 2 hrs and was really interesting, even if you're not interested in cricket! After this, headed back to bike shop via Albert Park Lake. Got the bike back at 1730 and then jogged back to ... read more

On Monday of this week I worked in the Cricket Victoria office again. Outside the Snow Patrol gig, I had passed a girl that I thought I knew her from somewhere, but was too far away to say hi. Turns out it was the receptionist I was covering in the Cricket office and she thought the same about me!! Small world. Throughout that week I was in the City and getting pretty desperate for work so I came up with the bright idea of joining a hospitality agency. I had previously noticed one on Collins Street so thought I would pop in and see what they had available. It was 5.30pm and there were only 2 guys in the office and the receptionist was gone, so they invited me in and got me to fill out ... read more

Hello again and welcome to another edition of Australian life. I started my weekend on Saturday morning. I didn't have any real plans except just walk around the city. The weather was nice and there was still a lot I had yet to see. I did want to see some art as Melbourne is famous for 3 things. Food, Sports, and art. It's true that this city really has it all. I didn't know where to go so I googled art and Melbourne and found a contemporary art centre just a couple blocks from where I'm staying so off I went. I found the building but could not figure out how to get in. It was all rusty and I couldn't find a front door. I finally asked someone who was working at a writer's convention ... read more