Melbourne! Day 3, Part 1: Campervan, Naturipe

Day 3 was the start of our campervan journey. For the next 5 days, we would be in a campervan. This is our 3rd campervan experience. Daddy Lim was tempted to rent a car but still stay in a campervan park. However, the kids are still excited over a campervan holiday and it would also be an experience for the other Lim Family. Thus, campervan it shall be. 

I woke up early to use the gym. This time, at least there was a fellow gym-er. 

The morning was cold. I was just thinking to myself "what if my card didn't work and I get stuck out in the cold?". The next moment, it happened. Zzzz. I had to run back to the hotel to get the key sorted out but all good. I didn't die in the cold. 

We had arranged to meet and set off at 8.15am. The campervan collection was at 9am. We had bfast on our own and I finally remembered to take pictures. Yay! It was simple bread, ham and cheese but happiness on a cold morning. Hoho.

Then, it was to rush everybody, stuff the last bit of things into the bag and leave. 

We googled and needed to walk 10 mins to the bus stop for bus 220. 大包小包 . 

Along the way, we saw more graffiti, or put nicely, street art. 

So many artists in Australia meh?

It took us about 10 mins to get to the bus stop. For a while, I wonder if bus 220 would really turned up. Until now, we barely figured out the public transport system and were so glad that we were going to have our own transport for the rest of the holidays. 

We had just enough $$ on our Myki card for the bus ride and still not sure what to do with the balance. 

The bus was empty, maybe bcos we were traveling away from the city and it was a work day. At one point, we were the only passengers. 

We finally got to our destination without hiccup. Britz was just opposite the bus stop.

Yes, we are renting from Britz again. We googled and read and there are generally moasly bad reviews on campervan (any brand/ kind/ company) than good reviews. We chose to stick with Britz, where I can at least find some good reviews. This time, we opted for the 4 berth with no toilet. I hope it would be easier to drive, not that I would be driving. 

Unlike the last experience where we had to wait for over an hour for our campervan, the center was almost empty. Collected!

All ready to go. I originally didn't want to pick this model of campervan bcos the passengers had to be seated at the end of the campervan but it is the only 4 berth model available and of course, the teenagers were all plugged in on any car rides. No need to worry at all.

The next stop was Naturipe for fruits picking. We drove for about 30 mins. The kids were happy to be left alone. I was happy to be co-pilot, enjoying the scenery and enjoying the drive. The vast greenery, nothingness was zen and peacefulness. I think I can live with this for a good while. 

Welcome to Naturipe!

Strawberry and cherry picking are in season. 

While Zaky is not a fan of strawberry, he likes the picking. 

Zaky was so funny. While he was picking, there were bees flying around and he went "beeee careful... hahahaha" to himself. 

We had to pay for what we picked, at AUD13 per kg. The strawberries were OK sweet (my POV). Daddy Lim and Nana said that they were quite sweet. While there is no entry fees to pick strawberries, a fee is payable for the cherries. Maybe bcos cherries are more delicate and the farm wanted to restrict to serious pickers? Only Daddy Lim and Nana did the honor while I got the role to clean up Zaky's shoes. He stepped (and sunk!) into mud. Oh, the shoes stink so much. These were already the semi-cleaned state.

I have never eaten fresh cherries. I hated those preserved cherries and thought all cherries tasted like that, like cough syrup. Daddy Lim and Nana came back with a box of cherries. I didn't know cherries grow on trees and in bunches. The dark ones are the really sweet ones but unfortunately grow together with the not so sweet ones. 

I finally got to eat my very 1st cherry and realised that they taste like grapes! Yum! Not at all any inkling to cough syrup.

While waiting for Daddy Lim and Nana, Zaky needed to use the toilet urgently. How?

菊花茶 Zzzzz... regardless of how old he is. 

Mummy Lim

Melbourne! Day 2, Part 2: St Kilda's Beach

St Kilda's Beach was originally in the itinerary but removed for other things. Now that we had a free slot in the calendar, we thought maybe it would be a good idea. 

Google map says that tram 3/3a/16 would bring us right from our hotel to the St Kilda's beach. Then, the same thing happened. These tram numbers were missing from the station's electronic board. I get a sense of deju vu. We waited for a good 5 mins and realised that we needed to check and ask. 

We were told that there was some tram maintenance work and a number of trams were replaced by buses for x period of time. Then came the unclear instructions, take any tram into the city (duno where) and change to a bus. What bus? 

We walked into the free tram area, thinking that it was where to get the bus. Tram 67 came and we asked again. This time, the tram driver told us to board and to get off subsequently to change for The Bus. He told us that he would tell us when it was time to alight for The Bus. 

At The Stop, everybody needed to alight for The Bus. Apparently, what happened is that a section of the road was closed to some of the trams, thus we had to take the tram, bus, tram combination. At a particular stop, we were told to get off The Bus and now to finally take the tram 3a for our last leg to St Kilda's beach. 

Then, right when we alighted, came the passing shower. Zzzzz. The wind was howling and it was so super cold. Only the boys brought their swim gear, thinking that they would be brave enuff to swim.

Obviously, we thought wrongly. The kids simply had their feet in the sea and were shrieking. Freaking cold! Zaky said that his feet were numb in minutes. 

We barely survive on the beach. With the sea wind, it was freaking cold that we had to do the coconut tree dance. Hoho.

We decided to walk to the other part, away from the sea. We saw a playground and the kids decided to play, old or not, never mind.

On the way, we saw Optimus Prime. So fierce. 

Then, the Luna Park. This is one of Victoria's oldest theme parks. I didn't want to pay bcos the rides are more catered for the younger kids. 

It was too cold to do anything much. In our familty, we had the 2 males without jackets and the 2 females in shorts. Nana was whinning so much about the cold that she earned herself a new sweat pants. We ended up in search of dinner and found fish & chips. 

Then it was the same tram, bus, tram combination back to the hotel. Daddy Lim was hoping to do some shopping after sending the kids back (to the hotel), only to realise that the shops close early on Sunday. Nana still got to eat her crepe though. 

She said that she had been craving for it. 

It was our 1st laundry day. We luckily got a washer but had to wait a little for the dryer but all sorted out. On the way and in the laundry room, there were many single sock. Lol. So funny. Just back in the room, Auntie S sent us picture of Nana's single sock in her pile. 

In our pile, we found another single sock only to realise that it probably belong to somebody who used the washer/ dryer before us. Yikes!

End of day 2! Time, pls move slowly!

Mummy Lim

Melbourne! Day 2, Part 1: Melborne Museum

The temperature on Day 1 was comfortable and nice. It was warm when the sun was out and felt like we were in Singapore. Otherwise, a light jacket is tolerable. 

This morning, the sun was out when my alarm rang at 6.30am. I tried to be quiet; Daddy Lim always say that I am an elephant even when I insist that I am very quiet. Yes, I am up to use the gym in the apartment, which happened to be in the next building. Thus, here I am, out in the open at 6ish in the morning. Yes, it was very bright and the street was not as deserted as I thought it would be and it was very cold.

We checked out the laundry room, swimming pool and gym the evening before. I am not very sure if anyone would be swimming in this weather though. 

The door that leads to the gym and car park looks very suspicious. 

I was the only one in the gym.

I chose the elliptical and it felt very different from the one back home. I shall not complain but be thankful for the availability of the gym. This is the machine that made me sweat my ass. It does look evil, like some villain in a super hero movie. Hoho.

It was another quick jog back to the hotel bcos it was cooollddd. The weather forecast did mention that it would be colder today but weather forecast can be trusted? 

I came back, still to a room of sleeping people, and had to slowly wake one by one. That was a tall order. We needed to be ready by 9am as the other Lim family was coming over for bfast, bringing and sharing some of the bread, ham, cheese and jam that we bought the new before. 

It was 9.45am before we finally set off to the Melbourne Museum. Nana must be very happy that I didn't drag her off the bed at 6pm on a Sunday morning. Hoho. It was a 12 mins walk to the Melbourne Museum. We came across a very Halloween looking traffic light. Hello, Halloween over le.

The spider must have worked very hard. 

Also nice bicycle lanes. We only have these at TMCR.

There is a big nice park and a grand looking building beside the museum. No idea what that building is.

There was plenty of big open space. The kids would be running crazy on the grass if they had been much younger. #thosewerethedays

They still entertained my request for jump shots though. 

Not that old afterall. :)

The tickets to the Melbourne Mesuem were pre-purchased from Klook and I like that kids enter for free. I like even more that kids = under 16. Hoho. 

More funny shots.

Nana kindly offered to help her parents take pictures. I thought it was so nice of her, until we saw the end results, after exiting the museum. 

是谁？

Compared to the pictures that we took for her. 

美美的.

I always say that she doesn't take good pictures and she will roll eye and call me a boomer. Obviously in denial. Lol. 

We didn't stay that long, about 2 hours before the legs protested. I duno why, but museum walking is damn tiring. The kids started complaining about being hungry too. More crazy-ing outside the museum. 

The kids found dandelion. 

So puffy, like the one back home. 

Lunch at the museum was expensive and we decided to walk back to the hotel for better variety. We ended up at this expensive foodcourt (probably normal Melbourne foodcourt price), but with a good variety of cuisine. Nana had green curry, which she very much enjoyed. 

Daddy Lim has pizza, while Zaky and I had udon and sushi. Literally, all over the world. 

Every time we visit Australia, we are reminded about how expensive everything here is. It is OK, we are on a holiday. Hoho. 

Nana then saw this shop beside the foodcourt and bought a pair of jeans at about AUD30. I tot it was a tad short but she insisted that it was fine. I am going to bite her if she complains that it is too short in the future. 

Mummy Lim