HEYA!

I can't explain that. I mean, the title. It bored me to hell if I was about to put "Oh Melbourne - Part XXX", don't you feel the same way too? Anyways, Christmas is around the corner, bet most of you are ready for the party before 2012! Frankly speaking, I am not as excited as last year for Christmas, Mumble is gone and I am not in the mood to celebrate Christmas. However, am still thinking up the Christmas menu for my furkids! Kids love Christmas, don't they?

No, it was another day with strong cold wind.

So, this is another post on the Melbourne trip. My only transportation during my stays in Melbourne was the tram. Unlike my tram traveling within the city, I paid for this. It took a longer traveling time before we reached St, Kilda, ticketing officers may turn up anytime, so might as well I buy the tram ticket. Take a peak outside!
 

This was how I celebrated the second day of Hari Raya Puasa in Melbourne. We went to



The Winter Market - St. Kilda!

There were stalls along the roadside. Mostly were selling handcrafted items such as organic soaps, photo frames, postcards, scarfs and etc. I must forget to emphasize that no photos are allowed. The things are so beautiful and unique that I want to show them to my mom! And of course, to you, my dearest readers. So as in return, I bought a few things from them, a photo frame, decorative items such as a small square painting, purse, postcards and fridge magnets. Since I wasn't intending to buy all that for myself, might as well I give it all to my friends as souvenirs.

So, all the photos taken as below are expensive like hell! (sort of paid for all these)


I think I can make this on my own. #justsaying







It's St. Kilda Park! Unexpectedly small. Frankly speaking, I was expecting an amusement park as big as Genting Theme Park! Pawned by the entrance.


The management were upgrading the facilities, thus some of the rides were closed due to the park renovation.





Spending one month in Melbourne was never a plan nor intention. Perhaps you didn't notice, but I usually travel with either my boyfriend, or my friends. This time, I was alone. Luckily, the sister decided to tag along. I was trying to find a new direction in life, I was lost and I wasn't happy. It seems to me that happiness is temporary and nothing lasts longer than the depression that I was having inside me.

So, I decided to fly to Melbourne. Meet up with my BFF, talk to him, express my feelings. He has been effortlessly making me a happier person and helped me in finding my own way. He always tells me that I should have confidence in myself and when I have such confidence, I can achieve in my life.

I've spent quite a big amount of Australian Dollars in Arcade, and yet I didn't win anything from any of the games. I was upset. At the same time, I felt like a loser. Mind you, I WAS unhappy. So, I walked out from the Arcade. Saw a bunch of kids standing in front of a dart kiosk, and I decided to check it out.

The game rules were at a rather amateur level. By paying 5 dollars, you will be given 3 darts. The catch was: if you hit a star during your first try, that will be your only try, which means the other 2 darts are considered forfeit. The game is just a piece of cake! Only that the possibility of winning is small! I have no idea how many RED STARS there were among the stars but in order to win the biggest soft toys, you must hit the RED STAR!

I told the BFF that I want to bring home the big soft toy. I wanted to try my luck but I have no confidence! He encouraged me to try, nothing could be worse if I don't give it a try, either you win something or not. Keeping the 5 dollars or not.

I paid and got my three darts. The sister and BFF were cheering for me. I was super nervous, can! The dart I was holding in hand, it was like my entire hope! I desperately need to hit the RED STAR to prove that I really can achieve whatever I want! You know, the mentality of a person who is under depression is FRAGILE unpredictable.

BULLSEYE!

I was screaming out of joy! Kids were staring at me awkwardly. I don't really care, I was feeling content and happy for winning the big soft toys! There were few to choose from but I chose the soft toys I'm hugging in the photo above instead, the rest were meh-what-the-hell.



One thing that makes me adore about living overseas is, you can bring your dogs almost everywhere. Things that make me fucking hate my own country because of the system, nevertheless we can't bring our dogs to the park!



Since it was the second day of Hari Raya Puasa, I forgotten who suggested this but we agreed to visit Malaysia Hall. I assumed that they should have a Raya Celebration going on, on top of that, I miss Malaysian food so much and I must visit Malaysia Hall for the sake of the food!




I approached a teenage boy and asked : " tumpang tanya... Malaysia Hall ada buat kenduri untuk raya?"

He answered: " Ada, tapi dah habis. "

What the hell the celebration had ended! Anyone please tell me why they HAVE to separate both males and females to different side of the building during the celebration? Does it make any sense to you? Apparently it doesn't make any sense to me. That is why I ask you.

I stunned :"Bukan malam ini ke, adik?"

He then answered: " bukan. pagi ini. Kenduri ini untuk Malaysian sahaja, miss."

I'm a Malaysian la, you idiot! If I'm not one of your nation, you think I care to come? If I'm not a Malaysian, you think I can speak fluent national language, with our very unique slang? If I'm not a Malaysian, you think I'm so thick face and eat all your food?

I ranted too much I know. Better still I go to the post office and mail some postcards to my loved one.





No prizes for those who got the answer correctly. #coldjokes

So alright, that's all for now, gonna get few golden roasters from Ayamas, just for my furkids! Merry Christmas everyone!

I just rejected a new camera.

My camera still as awesome as it is.

One of the things to do when you're in Melbourne is hop on to the City Tram! I'm not sure about their operation hours but it may not operating after 6pm.

The Tram.

You can ride the City Tram multiple times and it's free! City Trams heading to different directions but using the same route, check the map before taking one. You can take them from Flinders Street or Elizabeth Street.

I want one of this so that I can walk my dogs without running with them.

This morning, I decided to take St Kilda route. It's impossible to go on foot, taking tram is my only choice.

These houses are unexpectedly small.

There are so many interesting places in Melbourne that worth to pay a visit to and one of those places is Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne.


Take the St Kilda Road tram and disembark at Stop 18 or 19. I hopped off at the wrong stop thus we walked quite a long road before we saw this signage board.

Shrine of Remembrance

The Western Wall

"LET ALL MEN KNOW THAT THIS IS HOLY GROUND. THIS SHRINE ESTABLISHED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN AS ON THE SOLID EARTH COMMEMORATES A PEOPLES FORTITUDE AND SACRIFICE. YE THEREFORE THAT COME AFTER GIVE REMEMBRANCE."

The Eternal Flame

The Eternal Flame was lid by Her Majestic Queen Elizabeth II during the 1954 dedication ceremony. The flame is always burning, symbolizing the eternal life for those who have died.

The Cenotaph - those who served during Second World War

The Driver and Wipers

The Driver

Wipers

"After the landing at Gallipoli, Simpson and his little donkey worked alone day and night taking water to the front line and carrying the wounded back to the dressing stations. He and his donkey were killed by a shrapnel shell on 19.5.15. "

The entrance.

The Gallery of Medals



The Uniform Collections and Personal Items



Hall of Columns

Changi Flag

"The flag flew over the Sultan’s palace in Johore, the southernmost state of Malaya until in 1941 it was removed by Captain Ken Parsons of the 2/3rd Motor Ambulance Convoy to prevent it falling into enemy hands. After the fall of Singapore the flag was held by the captured Australians in Changi Prison , where it was kept safe until liberation in 1945. Throughout the prisoners’ captivity, the flag was brought out on ceremonial occasions, including the burial of prisoners, then secured again. It became a symbol of the courage of the prisoners of war.

Between 1942 and 1945, over one hundred signatures were placed on the flag. Of these, 91 are Australians, including 33 Victorians, 36 New South Welshmen, 16 Queenslanders and 2 Western Australians. The remaining signatures are attributed to members of the liberating force in 1945 and foreign patients of Australian medical units." - Shrine of Remembrance

Visit Shrine of Remembrance on 11 November, 11am. Precisely on this particular date and time, the Ray of Light ceremony will take place where a natural ray of sunlight will pass through an aperture in the ceiling of the Sanctuary and falls onto the Stone of Remembrance over the word “love” (as shown above). I bet it would be a magical view to be seen.



View from the Promenades






Shrine of Remembrance closed at 5PM daily. The admission is free, however, donation box is placed at certain corner and you are always welcome to make your donation. If you require a guided tour, you may contact them for further details. Truly speaking, I had a pleasant experience at Shrine of Remembrance, love the ambiance and somehow it touched me when looking at all the signatures and medals, not forgetting to mention the 200 Memorial Trees planted in the garden, each dedicated to units that fought during the First World War. 


Previous post on Melbourne, click here.


Well, Christmas is around the corner, it's my first Christmas without Mumble, I miss you.