Melbourne by night: all about the lights

Our nights in Melbourne were filled with an unprecedented amount of bright lights, and other bright and sparkly things. It started with the Australia day fireworks display, which was a FAIL on our behalf. We packed a lovely picnic complete with lamingtons, damper rolls and sparkling grape juice. We found a spot by the river and settled down to eat. I suggested that we would have a better view from the opposite bank, but my friends (who are Melbournians, and whom I trusted) were too lazy to move and assured me that we'd still be able to see. 

Of course, we had massive boat sheds completely blocking our view of the main fireworks, and could only see the small secondary sparks let off from the top of this building:

It was pretty funny - I have seen enough fireworks in my life (and will see many more I'm sure) not to worry about missing these.

On Saturday night, we were walking along Southbank marveling at the lovely lights and lanterns hung over some Asian markets set up for Chinese New Year, when we were treated to a spectacular fireworks display right in front of us. It put the Australia day ones to shame!

There was also dragon dancing, drumming and various other entertainment in addition to the usual street performers. This is the Asian garden roof display in the Crown Casino:

This display of giant fire balls is another Crown attraction:

Friday’s cool but there’s something about Saturday night
You can’t say what you won’t do cause you know you just might
Our lives this evening it was love at first sight
This Saturday and every Saturday for the rest of my life
...

And it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right
Bright lights bigger city belongs to us tonight, tonight

- Cee-Lo Green, Bright Lights Bigger City

Melbourne by day: shopping, street art and beaches

I had a very nice few days in Melbourne. We certainly got a lot of sun, my skin is feeling it now! The highlights were checking out the Fitzroy/Collingwood area, with it's interesting street art and boutiques, and spending a morning at Brighton Beach.

 Vintage stores galore in Fitzroy - such a cool area!

 You could easily kit out a whole house - it would be pricey though. I much prefer op shops and scoring real bargains.

There is a double story outlet store on Brunswick St in Fitzroy called 'Clear It'. Most notably it stocks Alannah Hill. I was shocked at how overpriced it was, and how much people are willing to pay for this brand name. A totally ripped dress that is missing 3/4 of its beads might be reduced to a "bargain" $50 in the faulty section. There is literally stock strewn all over the place, thousands of cardigans with missing beads, all crammed onto shelves in a disorderly fashion, befitting the mere pieces of material that they are. What will a cardigan set you back, if you can find an undamaged one? At least $100. Needless to say, I didn't find anything and left feeling somewhat disillusioned by the fashion industry, or at least Alannah Hill.

I had more success at Bridge Road, and photos of my purchases will be coming soon. I have really got to stop buying so many clothes, I have been super naughty with my physical and online shopping these past few months....

Who else watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid?

 Lovely old buildings on Smith St

 I plan to start a succulent garden in my collection of interesting pots, mugs and jars, much like this one. The collecting of suitable succulent / cacti holders has already begun.

Brighton Beach: It isn't the nicest beach but it has these funky beach huts, which are great for photos, and for providing shade!

I love this one!

Calling all Melbournites: Recommendations Please!

Morning all! I hope you're having a good week. It's hard not to be happy when tomorrow is a public holiday. I am taking Friday off work and spending 4 days catching up with friends in Melbourne, which should be excellent.

Can anyone recommend the best thing to do in Melbourne on Australia day? Are the fireworks worthwhile, and where should we watch them from?

Things I'd like to do/see this visit (I won't get through them all, but I'll tick some off):

#1 Brunswick St, Fitzoy - I didn't manage to get there on my last visit. I love the vibe in this area.

Source: Photos4Travel

#2 DFO or outlet shopping along Bridge Road. Can anyone recommend their favourite spot for outlet shopping, whether it be a DFO/Harbour Town or Richmond?

Source: Weekend Notes

#3 Go for a stroll and have brekkie in St Kilda. If it's sunny that is. Fish and chips in the sun sounds good too, especially since we don't get fresh seafood in Canberra!

Source: Walking Melbourne

#4 Check out Brighton Beach - I've never been and it looks super cute with it's colourful beach shacks.

Source: Fanpop

#5 Visit the Heide Museum of Modern Art. I love modern art, and pretty whimsical gardens. This place has both.

Source: Skiptown

#6 Enjoy some brunches in Melbourne's funky cafes. Last time I tried Auction Rooms, and loved it. This time, I'll tick off some other recommendations.

#7 Sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar. While Sydney might be famous for its hidden alleyway bars, Melbourne is famous for its rooftops. Bimbo Deluxe looks amazing, and I have always wanted to try Madame Brussels.

Source: Flikr

#8 Go op shopping. It's my favourite passtime and I love checking out new haunts, so it makes sense to do it in a new city. It might be difficult without a car... I was thinking Richmond has quite a few within walking distance of each other. Does anyone recommend a different area? Where are your favourites?

Source: WeHeartIt

I hope you all have a lovely day off tomorrow, and HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Melbourne Shopping Bargains

We started at DFO South Wharf, moved on to Spencer Street outlet shopping, shopped Melbourne CBD and Bridge Road... I was considerably restrained, my friend not so much. Here is my little haul:

Forever New skirt. Reduced to $19.95, then 40% off all sale stock = $12! [Hint: all Forever New stores currently have 40% off the already reduced price of sale stock - prepare to be trampled, but the bargains are huge! In store only - there is so much stuff in their sale section online that I would have bought if they had the stock at the stores I visited...]

 Forever New embroidered tote bag, reduced to $60 with a further 40% off = $36.

 Katherine skirt, $50 (from $120).

Imagination World bow flats $15, Sussan sunglasses $30 (I am not allowed to buy expensive sunglasses any more, until I stop breaking/loosing 3 pairs per year!)

More cute shoes from Imagination World, $15.

There's always a need for essentials: PJs from Cotton on Body $15 the set, Bendon bras $20 each.

Claude D'Alban silk/cotton mix cardigan, $10.

As you can see, I was quite restrained. If Review trousers fit me, I would not have been - they have the most gorgeous designs and a further 25% off already reduced items at the moment. 

To reward myself for not buying too much on my Melbourne getaway, I just placed an Asos order. {Yes, a reward for not buying too much is to buy more... it's not supposed to be logical}

Melbourne: Quirky Spots, Brunches & Flight Cancellations

You may remember this post, where I complained about Tiger Airways cancelling all Canberra routes and having to rebook my Melbourne girls weekend away flight tickets. Turns out I attract flight cancellations, because I re-booked with Qantas and of course was caught up in all the strike action, and the grounding of their entire fleet.

I don't know whether it's Qantas or the unions to blame, probably both... but I don't really like how Qantas dealt with the situation. On their website, via an sms from Qantas, via the media... I was told to phone customer service, that they would organise accommodation, meals, transfers and flights for passengers between flights. They didn't say that they'd reimburse us if we organised it ourselves, so I was hesitant to book another night at the city hotel I was at. This would have been fine if I could actually get through to customer service.

On Sunday morning, I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes on hold, before being disconnected. Luckily I have family in Melbourne, so I went out into the suburbs to stay with them. That night, I spent another 2 hours and 30 minutes on hold, before deciding I had wasted enough of my life listening to Qantas hold music. I logged onto the internet and booked an expensive flight home with Virgin (I was lucky to log on right after Virgin had released new seats), and am back in Canberra now, only 1.5 days late.

Source: ABC News

I can deal with the flight cancellations, the grounding etc... what really annoys me is that I wasted 5.25 hours on hold to Qantas because I was told to do so, and even then didn't get to talk to anyone or get any help. OK, *rant over*.

Despite the stress of trying to organise a new fight, and taking a bus out to the suburbs and back to the airport (which made me feel sick), I had a lovely weekend. Melbourne is such a vibrant, colourful city. It is SO alive, especially compared to Canberra.

My girlfriend and I spent the weekend eating and shopping mainly, with some cocktail drinking thrown in too. Here is a rundown of the weekend (excluding shopping purchases which warrants a separate post!):

(1) Friday AM - brunch at Sette Bello, Hardware Lane. Chilled atmosphere, great coffee [They use Genovese beans, which I love], simple but yummy food. I had the vegetarian breakfast pizza:

(2) Friday PM: Some Jennifer Hawkins spotting, and then dinner at an Italian restaurant on Lygon Street.

(3) Saturday morning - brunch at cafe (McIvers Coffee and Tea Merchants) outside Vic Markets. People watching and relaxation, followed by a stroll through the markets.

(4) PM - Lunch/arvo tea/coffee at Thousand Pound Bend, a quirky inner city spot with great decor if you like vintage:

(5) PMPM - Cheap and cheerful cocktails at the quirky and cosy Prudence Bar in North Melbourne:

(6) Sunday AM - brunch at the Auction Rooms, North Melbourne. Delicious food, great service, great prices... I found the coffee to be a bit weak.

Look at the perfectly poached egg, it makes my heart sing! Pity I had my mobile phone glued to my ear all through brunch on hold to Qantas...

(7) Shopping shopping shopping, to come in the next post. Isn't this inner city, inner mall free for all community herb garden a wonderful idea? (inside Melbourne Central):

I didn't get a chance to visit Brunswick St, or go op shopping... but there is always next time. Melbourne is my favourite city in Australia!