Australia – Pre-trip

2 days before the trip to Melbourne, I received an SMS from Jetstar stating that my flight had been canceled. Imagine receiving such a horrifying SMS the moment you wake up! While rushing to work, I was simultaneously scrambling for alternative flights to Australia. Luckily, the Jetstar representative managed to get me a replacement flight. Instead of the original direct 7.5 hours Jetstar flight from Singapore to Melbourne, I was being switched to a Qantas flight from Singapore to Brisbane (7.5 hours), and then a Jetstar flight from Brisbane to Melbourne (2.5 hours + 2 hours transit; total flight time inclusive of transit = 12 hours). While the extra hours spent traveling weren’t welcomed, I was still glad and appreciative that I managed to switch to a replacement flight to go for my short holiday.

 

 

Australia – Day 1

I embarked on my trip to Australia from Changi Airport (Singapore) at approximately 8 pm local time. This was my first time sitting on Qantas Airlines, so I wasn’t sure of what to expect. But boy, oh boy, did it not disappoint! I was genuinely pleased with my Qantas flight experience. Firstly, there was so much legroom (even in economy class) compared to other budget airlines like Jetstar! Secondly, they provided amenities such as blankets, pillows, headphones, and in-flight entertainment for passengers! There was a wide selection of movies and documentaries to binge-watch; I watched Crazy Rich Asians during my flight. I’ve learned two important life lessons from the movie (Refer to the original essay for reference). Thirdly, and most importantly, what amazed me during my Qantas flight experience were the flight attendants' service and the selection of food & drinks onboard.

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For dinner, we had the option of choosing either chicken breast, fusilli pasta, or beef brisket with potatoes. As a meat lover and heavy eater, I inevitably chose the beef brisket with potatoes. The beef brisket was easy to bite into, had minimal fat portions, and juices oozed out of the meat as I sank my teeth into the tender meat. One could choose between non-alcoholic drinks (e.g., soft drinks or juices) or alcoholic drinks (red/white wine, beers, etc). I decided to pair my beef brisket with white wine under the flight attendant’s recommendation (see photo). The white wine was light-tasting and refreshing, and as I bit into each mouthful of beef brisket, I washed it down with a sip of the white wine to cleanse my palette and fully appreciate the taste of each piece of succulent, tender, and juicy beef brisket. After dinner, I was also given an ice cream popsicle (see photo below) to satisfy my sweet tooth. Not long after, postprandial hyperglycemia kicked in, and I succumbed to the pressures of the ZZZ monster.

 

We were served a small bowl of mixed fruits and drinks, such as coffee or tea, for breakfast in the morning. As the flight attendants served the passengers, I noticed how polite each flight attendant was. The service at Qantas is one of the most memorable that I’ve recalled throughout my travel experiences so far (other than SIA - great service as well)! Please see the photos of my Qantas Flight Experience below!

 

Approximately 7.5 hours later, I landed at Brisbane International Airport. As it was only a short 2-hour transit, I did not have the opportunity to explore Brisbane. I lingered in the transit area but got bored soon after and decided to find an empty corner to draw.

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Day 1 was pretty bad, but it also had some exciting moments (see original document; I won't elaborate here).

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Anyway, I arrived at my Airbnb apartment at around 7:30 pm. I quickly showered, changed into a new set of clothes, and explored Melbourne's nightlife.

 

First impressions-wise – the nightlife of Melbourne is pretty quiet. I would call it dull, honestly. There weren’t many people on the streets, even at the busiest. Perhaps it could be because it would be Monday the next day, or this could be the usual state of Melbourne’s nightlife - I wouldn’t know since I’m only here for a short period (3d2n). Nonetheless, I continued roaming around and eventually stumbled across Flinders Station. When I saw the station in the afternoon, it looked grand and impressive. The station looked grand and mighty at night, combined with the dark nightscape and illuminated by bright yellow lights. Upon exit, I entered one of the station’s tunnels and was greeted by a seemingly familiar city landscape – Southbank. Why do I say it’s familiar? The tall buildings and an array of restaurants or pubs in Southbank are greatly similar to the CBD landscape of Singapore and the Victoria Harbour of Hong Kong. I toured around Southbank for around 2 hours (see photos below), and the most memorable highlight of the night was the number of freelance artists painting or drawing on the streets of Southbank (see photos).

 

When I saw the string of artists along the street of Southbank (there were 5 in total), I was curious and drawn towards them since I also draw occasionally. The key thing to note is this - every artist portrays their emotions and thoughts differently, despite using the same canvas, paints, or brushes/pencils.

 

The first artist I saw used a mixture of bold colors (e.g., red, black, yellow) to draw his piece – a female face surrounded by nature and animals. As I tried to decipher the meaning behind that piece (which I couldn’t, unfortunately), a female passerby (along with her boyfriend) approached the artist and asked where he got his inspiration for his artworks, to which his reply was “from the daily walks of life.” This comment struck me very hard as it was the same reason behind the inspiration for many of my drawings. At that moment, I truly felt what it is like to be understood for my artwork rather than being misunderstood by my peers with regards to my artwork.

 

The second artist I saw used a mixture of depressive and dark colors (e.g., blue and black) to paint his piece of a female crying, possibly after a devastating heartbreak. That art piece seemed to portray the artist’s impression of how traumatizing it can be for someone to fall in love and tragically have their heart broken, whoever may be at fault. I saw the art piece as a portrayal of the artist’s own personal love life – perhaps he was broken by a woman he truly loved, and since the relationship between him and her was severed, he can only portray his thoughts and emotions using the canvas - an artist's way of escaping the harsh realities and brutalism of the real world.

 

The third artist painted his version of the Mona Lisa. I couldn’t derive any meaning from his artwork, nor did I have the chance to speak to him, as he was already about to pack up when I arrived at his art stand.

 

The fourth artist specialized in drawing portraits and did one for a group of 4 friends (three girls and one guy) as I approached her. Her pencil strokes on the canvas were light and not forceful, and I noticed how she liked adding smears after her strokes to add shadows to her subjects, creating a more realistic effect. She was an expert in her field of drawing real-life portraits; every stroke had its intent, and she did not have to use an eraser throughout the drawing (many amateur artists, including myself, would know the pains of erasing a stroke, which was added by mistake). Her subjects were native Australians, judging from their looks/accents, and they seemed to be aged between 16 and 18. They exuded a sense of glow and innocence found in teenagers of those ages, something I miss as I transition into adulthood – a journey filled with responsibilities, bills, and never-ending ups and downs. So please, children out there, enjoy this carefree journey of having to study for good grades because once it’s gone, it will be gone for good. But then again, adulthood also has many perks as well :D! 

 

The fifth artist specialized in drawing caricatures for the price of AUD 15 (around SGD 15). A duo (both females) approached the artist, with one requesting her to be drawn. From their accents, they were from Taiwan. He did a caricature of his subject in about 5 minutes, which I applaud him for. To draw something that quick and having an uncanny resemblance to his subject is certainly no mean feat!

 

After purchasing a Subway dinner and groceries, I returned to my apartment later with my heart and belly filled. It was a very quiet night on the streets of Melbourne, but from the struggling dreams of those five artists I’ve met, it was an uncanny resemblance to many people's lives – a life filled with triumphs and struggles. Maybe that is why, at some point in our lives, we all need a partner – that soulmate whom we call our husband or wife, because, with that special someone anchored in our lives, life would be so much easier to get through together with. After all, no one's life will ever be perfect.

 

The end of Day 1

 

Australia Day 2

In summary, Day 2 involved me going on a self-directed tour of the beautiful landscapes of Melbourne. I woke up early in the morning on my Airbnb and was greeted with a majestic sunrise view of the CBD of Melbourne. The glistening rays of the sun shone brightly on the skyscrapers; I was captivated and stunned at the beauty that was presented to my eyes. Before exploring this wonderful city, I cooked my breakfast: ham, bread, and eggs.

 

My morning routine usually involves a good cup of joe (aka coffee). I prefer my coffee to be cold, black, and unsweetened (the basic Kopi-o-kosong in SG). Life may be challenging, so why do I still prefer unsweetened coffee? Well, it’s just a matter of preference. Firstly, unsweetened coffee can help reduce my sugar intake, and it’s almost 0 calories! Secondly, the beans' aroma, flavor, and acidity can be better tasted without the added sugar (trying to act as a coffee connoisseur). And lastly, seeping a cold beverage in the morning gives me energy and helps to perk me up to be ready to handle another day of school/work.

 

I went to a chain café in Melbourne – Glory Jean’s, and ordered one of the basic morning sets – a cup of latte decorated with latte art (heart shape) and a ham croissant. There was nothing spectacular about the coffee, to be honest; as a matter of fact, I have tasted better coffee in Singapore. However, the ham croissant was nicely toasted, airy, and had a nice ratio of ham and bread. The ambiance of the café was pretty chill. As I gazed over the window at the various salaried workers hectically rushing to their work, I felt very fortunate that I had this opportune moment to rest and chill.

 

After coffee, I headed to the famous Queen Victoria Market of Melbourne. Many stalls sold various merchandise – from perishables such as vegetables to retail items such as shirts, bags, and shoes. You can easily find any items you need to buy daily in the market here. As I went during the early opening hours of the market, there weren’t too many people (as seen in the photos). I bought some souvenirs for my family & friends. As the day progressed into late morning, crowds slowly streamed into the market. I highly advise people who come to Queen Victoria Market to purchase groceries here (comparable or cheaper prices than SG) and cook their meals at home. Eating out in Melbourne is crazily expensive (one meal of fried rice can cost $12!); hence, making your meals would be a much more affordable option should one come here on a budget! I bought various groceries from the market (e.g., eggs, vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits) as they were fresh and affordable.

 

It was tough lugging bags of souvenirs and groceries back to my Airbnb, but a man gotta do what he has to do. After putting all my purchased items at my Airbnb, I rested for a while before heading to my next destination – the Murals of Melbourne Alleys. One of the most famous alleys with street murals was the one at Hosier Lane, and indeed, there were many tourists, mostly taking selfies with the murals when I arrived. As I walked across the alley, I took moments to appreciate the wonderful art left behind by the various street artists of Melbourne and tried to draw inspiration from their artwork for my art pieces. Art is subjective – everyone has their interpretation; the only person who knows the true meaning of the piece is the artist himself/herself. Seeing so many brilliant pieces of artwork on the streets was fascinating. While some may find it a nuisance to see “graffiti” painted on the walls, hence tarnishing the clean & pristine city landscape of Melbourne, I instead argue otherwise. This brilliant exhibition of artwork (along with other street mural alleys of Melbourne) makes Melbourne a refreshing city compared to Singapore. Where can we find such amazing street murals in Singapore (other than the Ah Long O$P$ LOL!)? I hope to see more of this amalgamation of art and modern landscapes when I visit other Western countries.

 

A quick Google search, later on, prompted me to visit the following attractions – Federation square (nothing amazing, just a big square filled with people chilling there), St Paul Cathedral (A grand-looking church with grandeur-looking interior design – I drew it because I was so captivated by it!) and Victoria State Library (tons of university students doing their homework or discussing their project – makes me feel so old even though I just graduated from college D:).

 

As I left Victoria State Library, I stumbled across a free city tour organized by a company called I’m Free Walking Tours. This company operates both in Melbourne and Sydney. It is run by a group of university students or graduates passionate about sharing their country/city with tourists while simultaneously trying to earn a small income through the tips collected at the end of the tour (not compulsory). My tour guide – Lenny, was a 20+ year tall, bearded young male currently doing a Master's degree at RMIT University. He was very knowledgeable about Melbourne and had a very witty sense of humor. The tour brought us to various iconic landscapes of Melbourne, such as Old Melbourne Gaol (a prison converted into a museum), Melbourne Chinatown, Yarra River, and Princess Theatre (a fantastic building that shows Harry Potter – see photo!). Overall, it was a very enjoyable city tour, perfect for someone like me who was damn lazy to plan where to go, LOL! I enjoyed Lenny’s commentary on the various attractions along the way, and upon the end of the tour, I wished Lenny all the best in his Master's degree and proceeded to walk back to my Airbnb apartment. 

 

I later spent the night cooking – or instead experimenting with various nonsensical recipes/ideas I had in mind. I cooked two huge pots of vegetables (comprising cucumbers, tomatoes, yellow/green/red peppers), hams, and stir-fried eggs with vegetables. As grown adults, we must learn and master all these culinary skills. We will eventually have to move out of our parent's house and be unable to taste our parents' cooking that frequently anymore. After binge-watching several YouTube videos, showering, and wearing a facial mask – I slept and woke up at 6 am the next day.

 

Australia Day 3

The night before, I was heavily contemplating whether I should be going to the Brighton Bathing Boxes. It was located in the suburbs of Melbourne (the total journey will take around 1 hour), and my flight was at noon, so there wasn’t much time to explore that area. Nonetheless, I took the leap of faith and decided to venture into the suburbs of Melbourne.

 

The journey there (via tram and train) was pretty smooth; however, there wasn’t much to see on the journey there. When I alighted from the train, I was greeted with a breath of cold and fresh air. It was refreshing to soak into the cooling atmosphere of Brighton, and it hyped my innate desire to explore the area. A quick 5-minute walk later brought me to Brighton Beach, where one could chill by the white sandy beaches and listen to the calming sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. A middle-aged lady was walking her dog – and I vividly recalled how cute her dog was! It was running so carefreely onto the beach while playing fetch with its owner, and when it retrieved the stick and passed it to the owner, it exuded a warm, genuine smile, a moment that seemed as though it was in bliss.

 

The journey from Brighton Beach to the bathing boxes took around 15 minutes, and along the way, I took photos of exciting landscapes/structures. Upon arrival at the bathing boxes, I was stunned and captivated by the beauty presented to me. 80 bathing boxes, each with individually unique and creative artwork painted onto them, stood on the white sandy beach with the light blue sky as an alluring backdrop. Words cannot describe how charming the bathing boxes were – I highly recommend people to come here and soak in the atmosphere! No wonder this is a well-known tourist attraction in Melbourne!

 

There were some bathing boxes, and I was amazed at the artwork's quality (refer to photos below). However, as I had a flight back to Singapore soon, I had to part ways with the bathing boxes after a short 30-minute walk of the area. I won’t forget the mad, frantic rush back to my Airbnb to get my luggage, then rushing to the airport, and upon reaching – realizing that I was late for my check-in. Thankfully, the flight attendant was very understanding, and despite the late arrival, I still managed to check in before my flight to Singapore successfully.

 

On the flight, I met Sarah – who, coincidentally, was also on a short holiday in Australia (Brisbane and Adelaide). We had an enjoyable time conversing on the plane throughout the flight. We discussed various topics (from art to teaching to good food, which we loved to eat). Enlightening insights about Sarah's life as an English teacher in Japan under the JET program and how she decided to head back to her home country of Malaysia for a career in accounting/IT were shared during the flight. Sarah, if you ever see this, I hope for the best in your accounting/IT interview at Ernst & Young! 

 

A short trip it may have been, but I have seen and experienced so much, bringing back so many memories to tell my family and friends. Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, and savoring delicious food; what a great trip it sure has been! And that is why I always say this – travel is an experience that makes us richer! Thank you!

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