Wordless Wednesday No. 88 - Melbourne

St Kilda Beach Sunset

Melbourne CBD

Hoo roo for now...

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White Night Light - Melbourne

The weekend is near, and I can't wait!!! However, I am NOT doing what I should have been doing - driving to Manilla for a friend's daughters 1st birthday (born the same day as me)! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kloey!!!! Sorry I can not be there, but the 'ole' back just couldn't handle the 5 hour drive I'm afraid...

In following up on the recent trip to both Melbourne and then Hong Kong, we spent a night doing some night photography whilst in Melbourne. The plan was to meet some others in, or near, Fed Square, but when the tram pulled up short, it became evident this would be very difficult. The amount of people there for the event, was HUGE, and the following morning, the news wires were reporting in excess of 300,000 people!! there was a lot to see, too many people to get clear shots of things, but here is a sample of some of the local bits and pieces; enjoy!

Richmond Church Spire

Fed Square and the Eureka Building



Herald Sun Building (and passing traffic)



White Night Melbourne 'ART'

Yarra River and Melbourne CBD

So, what will I be doing over the weekend? Apart from resting the back, I am not really sure at this stage, but I am wanting to try a new 'style' of photography. This will be either tonight OR Saturday night, so stay tuned (if it works, and if it doesn't, forget this post...). Seriously, I will post a photo, even if it is a dismal failure!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 62 Melbourne and a Footy Grand Final

2012 AFL Grand FInal

2012 AFL Grand FInal

Movida Nextdoor (Hosier Lane)

Nuts and Bolts - Hosier Lane

Melb Flower Box

Melbourne Sporting Precinct

Hoo roo for now...

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My take on (Written Inc.: Thematic Photographic 215 - Shiny) Skydeck

This weeks TP, see carmi's link below, is 'Shiny'. I did have to think about what I could do for this, and I remembered that on this past weekend, whilst in Melbourne for the 2012 AFL Grand Final, we went to the top of the Eureka Skydeck, the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere! AND, I recalled taking a photo looking to the East of Melbourne of the War Memorial, and there was the reflection, shiny, of the glass (which is 24 carat Gold Plated as well, so its SHINY!!).

View of the War Memorial from the Eureka Skydeck

Written Inc.: Thematic Photographic 215 - Shiny

Hoo roo for now...

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Remembering - Bernie John P, aged 94

I've JUST received some very sad news of the passing of a dear old friend, Bernard John P Snr in Richmond Melbourne aged 94. I only met Bernie a year ago, but it was one of those friendships that was such an 'instant' hit with both him and his wife Jessie. Both Jessie and Bernie have been in my thoughts over the past year and a bit, and recently, Jessie was the one whom I had heard was ill with the flu. And, from the message I received this morning, it was the flu that has won with sub-zero temps in Melbourne today.

Bernie P, Dennis W, & the Late Bernie P Snr

Jessie, you are in my thoughts and prayers over the coming days/weeks. See you on Friday...

Hoo roo for now... ------

Life, and going to Melbourne for a couple of days...

Lately, life, in general, has been feeling a little like this...

Luna Park Roller Coaster

BUT, as I am now seeing somebody about my depression and 'anger management issues' I am beginning to see a light at the end of a very long tunnel! So on Monday, evening at that, I book a flight to get me out of town for a couple of days (just 35 hours to be exact!) to get away... I will post about exactly what the trip was about, tomorrow, but suffice to say, it was a moving time for me, and I had a great time.

Prior to 'The Event' though, I grabbed a tram and headed out to St Kilda to Acland St for lunch. There are a lot of cake and Patisserie shops in this street, but I was good, not a cake was eaten!

After lunch, I walked past Luna Park, which was closed, and the old Palis Theatre. These are below...

Luna Park Entrance

Palais Theatre

Hoo roo for now...

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Bikes: - A great way to get around, right?

Then WHY are these ones NOT being utilised like in Europe?

Melbourne Bikes

Because, unlike in Europe, it is LAW in Australia to wear a helmet! Ok, for something like $2.50 a DAY, why wouldn't you use it to get around town instead of driving? I mean, how easy is it (as a tourist) to pay a small fee, unlock your bike, and ride about and at the end of the day, you don't even have to return it as you simply lock it back in at any other bike stand around town!!!

Melbourne Bikes

Now I get the whole safety issue, don't get me wrong, but why is it so widely used in Europe yet not so here? Maybe by getting rid of cars in the city is the way to go, I don't know, but it is certainly a hot issue in Sydney at the moment!

In Europe, here are some of the bike stands that are widely used, and in a much more acceptable way...

Aalborg, Denmark Bikes

Parisian Bikes

Hoo roo for now...

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A short trip to Melbourne Pt 2 of 2

Melbourne, really is the city of food... It has so many wonderful little lanes and hidden nooks and cranny's where there are simply, the best Cafes! Here, we have Flinders Lane (one of many little lane ways) that have these little Bohemian style Cafes.

Flinders Lane Cafes

We had, naturally on a Sunday morning, no where to go with all of these wonderful little places all fully occupied, so we kept on walking down Collins St and came across a little place, L'incontro, where we had breakfast (Bacon, eggs, tomato, hash brown and toast (I gave away my Fungi...)!

L'incontro

Breakfast

As time was marching on, and I had two flights to catch to get me home (as when I booked), as there was no direct Melbourne to Sydney flights left so I started to plan via Brisbane, then Adelaide and finally I had to go via Canberra which had a 3.5 hour layover! So we walked back to towards Flinders St Station to catch the Tram back to Richmond. Along the way, there was some flower box's full of Spring Colour, the Royal Agricultural Society was promoting the Melbourne Show with the Farm Animals on display. I love these Kelpies with their 'Jockeys' on!!!

RAS Melbourne Kelpie Dog

Melb Building

Melb Purple Cinners

Melb Blue Cinners

Flinders St Station

The flight back was, well... lets say 'Interesting' to say the least! There was a family of mum, dad and three boys infront of my seat, and mum was next to me. The two boys infront sat down and were very well behaved in row 1 (yes, I was in Business Class). Anyway, we pushed back, and taxied to the hold point all good so far! We were given our ok to turn and depart Melbourne via a northerly departure and we were on our way to Canberra! Just as the flight attendants started the meal service, there was a bit (followed by a lot) of turbulence, suspending the service... This startled the young chap in front and resulted in him asking (in only the way a child can ask AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE, "Are we going to crash?" Well, this had the family in fits of laughter, as with most of us in the cabin as well mind you! It lasted a good 15 minutes or so, which meant that on the short trip to Canberra, service was well... QUICK! We landed and I headed into the Business Lounge to wait for my next flight to Sydney. This flight, was uneventful, and I got home at just a little bit after 8.30pm!

So, another flight down for the year, where WILL I go to next?

Hoo roo for now...

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A short trip to Melbourne Pt 1 of 2

Since my last post, I have now had stitches removed and a little more mobile... This allowed me to venture south, to Melbourne, for the Semi-final match for the Swans 'v' Western Bulldogs.

However, the weekend was a real let down for me, sports wise, due to multiple losses! Let me show you JUST how bad it was:

• AFL: - Swans v Western Bulldogs (10.12. 72 - 11.11 77)
• Rugby Union: - Australia 'v' New Zealand (22 - 23)
• Sydney Roosters 'v' West Tigers (19 - 15) which had a field goal scored in the dieing minutes to go to Golden Point time!!!

Aside from these poor results, after the flight down late Friday night (after seeing the GP) I headed straight for bed. Sydney airport has a very STRICT curfew of 11pm. Our flight was delayed after the mornings heave fog, and as our aircraft went to Perth, which meant we had our wheels up at 10.58pm!

On Saturday, whilst others slept in, I went into Richmond for breakfast at the 'Groove Train'. The breakfast was fast, service great, but more importantly, the food was excellent!

Groove Train Breakie

After this, we then headed into the Yarra Valley, a Wine District. Mr L has become very use to the 'bubbles' of the famous Chandon of Moet & Chandon fame!

Moet & Chandon

Chandon Cork

We also had a look around the Gardens, which were really special...

Chandon Vines

Chandon House Lawn

Chandon House

Chandon House Poppy Bed

After a trip around the Gardens, we then headed inside to have a look at the inner workings of such a winery, to the vats and barrels through to the 'Rittle Room' (which is where they turn the bottles every couple of days) and finally ending up in the shop where you could 'sample' the produce which is a must do of course!

Chandon Barrel Room

Master Rittler

Rittle Room

Chandon Tasters

Then it was to a lookout (War Memorial which doubles as the CFA Early Fire Lookout) to overlook some of the area and onto Melbourne in the distance, before heading back into Melbourne City and to the Game.

Melbourne in the distance...

MCG 11092010

I will post some more from the Sunday tomorrow, as this is already a long enough post... Hoo roo for now...

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