Sue in Melbourne

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So, I've been on a hiatus... yet again. Seem to lose my oomph to blog. Can't wrap my head around that, too. There was a time where I was constantly blogging. Almost every single day. Waitaminute. It was every single day and sometimes, more than one posts a day!

Anyways, half a Sue came for a visit. She arrived last Tuesday and have gone back to the Motherland (Malaysia, not China).

I took the day off work, left my house about half past 7 in the morning for Tullamarine airport and encountered the below jam into Monash Freeway. Gosh. That was pretty much the case till half way through the journey.

Got a break for a bit and as I neared city, the jam picked up again. She should be SO grateful to me for my kindness. Lols.

Bleh. Here I thought, I left the insane jam back in Malaysia. The jam wasn't as bad though. At least, cars were still moving.

 

After what seemed like a forever ride to the airport, I finally arrived, picked up Miss Karate ('cos she always karate chop me and me alone which this trip of hers reminded me whenever she smacks me) and headed to the city to meet Josh, a fellow high school mate for brekkie (Aussie slang for breakfast).

Mr. C gave me clear and simple instructions the night before on how to make my way to the parking at Crown Casino 'cos it's free with his member card. However, the not-too-intelligent-me mucked it up, missed a turn and ended up at Docklands turning here and there and somehow, made my way back to Kings Way towards Crown Casino and designated parking. Awesome me!

It was a day of welcoming Sue to Melbourne and what better way than to show her Melbourne CBD.

We parked, walked out to South Bank (a verrry long walk from the car park) facing the Yarra River and walked towards CBD. Sue aka Miss Karate was the ever avid tourist snapping pictures after pictures. What makes it so unusually is that she usually doesn't take photos at all! 

In fact, she usually tells me and the other SueN back home off whenever we whip out our cameras to snap our food, picture after picture and from all angles. So for me to see her taking photos.. it was a rare sight. 

Am extremely rare sighting indeed. It's like seeing a wild kangaroo or a wild koala bear jumping and roaming free around Melbourne CBD.

~ SOUTHBANK (facing the Yarra River) ~

The building in blue and white on the opposite side is the Melbourne Aquarium

She became SUPER excited spotting PWC 
(only those of us in the Big Four get excited seeing one of the Big Fours.. that's how square and senile we are! Lols)

~ HARDWARE SOCIETE ~

First time served mocha this way; a coffee shot in my mug and frothy chococlate served separate

We finally made it to Hardware Societe after our forever walk (with her stopping to snap photos in between). Nice of Josh to patiently wait for us straight after his graveyard shift. 

This is one cafe that has been on my 'to eat' places for the longest time. Since 2011, I reckon. It was trending on Urbanspoon and it still is. I've come by twice on two Saturdays only to be put off by the crowd and headed elsewhere.

Baked eggs with chorizo

Deco was quaint but not your usual warehouse converted cafes. I had the Baked Eggs and mocha only to be disappointed. It wasn't as amazing as the reviews on Urbanspoon had led me to believe. 

My expectations were high and unfortunately, not met. Could be a personal preference 'cos I didn't fancy the nuts on my baked eggs.

Besides that, menu was limited on weekdays. Apparently their specials are only offered during the weekends. But HELLO! It's so frigging hard to get a spot then and because of this lackluster experience, I am not so keen to come back again. Especially when there are SO many other cafes teeming around Melbourne city, itself.

 

After breakkie and a nice catch up session with Josh, Sue and I walked towards Queen Vic Market (aka Queen Vic or Vic Market). Along the way, we found an amazing shop, Borek Bakehouse that sells deliciously fresh and beautiful tasting gozleme and borek! 

Slurp Slurp.

Silly Sue was cute. She initially exclaimed that the portion was small. I told her, just you wait, it looks small but because it's made of dough and cheese filling, it'll fill you up in no time. True enough, halfway through and she was already feeling that she's had enough.

Sue with her borek that she super duper loves

~ QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET ~

Famous doughnut van in Queen Victoria Market

See... she's taking photos again.. WHOA.. *faint* 

The part where they sell boreks, bratwurst, coffee etc

I reckon Queen Victoria Market isn't as amazing a place to visit as it used to be. It's riddled with man Asian (especially China Chinese) sellers and no offense meant but the things they sell are usually imitations, tacky looking clothes or tacky looking cheapo stuff.

And I find this downright saddening. Where are the Aussie sellers? Where is the Aussie culture? People, especially tourists come to this landmark to see just that, uniqueness. Uniqueness that's extinct. It just feels like another cheapo Pasar Malam (night market) back home in Malaysia.

Even Paddy's market (similarly filled with China Chinese vendors) in Sydney has better feel.

I would recommend people to visit Queen Vic Market side where they sell food. But for a more authentic Aussie feel, to head to South Melbourne Market. You can even do oyster shots there. Lols.

Next up, we walked along Swanston Street and brought her to another landmark, Melbourne Central. And headed across the road to the State Library. Ended our Melbourne CBD trip with hot chocolate with waffle balls and a chocolate soufflé at Max Brenner's in QV.

Snapping pictures of the dome

 

 

State Library

Chocolate souffle

 

 

 

And finally, we left the city and made a detour. I brought the crazy lady to Coffee Company in a suburb called Balaclava to purchase her beautiful aroma Irish coffee. This coffee place is reputed to sell beautiful coffee beans.

I wished we had more time so I could've brought her to St. Kilda for a walk or a cafe around Balaclava but alas, time did not permit.

Straight after purchasing her coffee, we dropped by Coles at Rowville on the way home. Sue is really funny. She loved grocery shopping! I don't blame her. Grocery shopping in Australia is fun especially if you are earning the money here.

We bought dips and crackers among other food and had a feast at home. So much for my plan to introduce her to the taste of crocodile and kangaroo meat. Dang!

This concludes the arrival of Sue.