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Exploring Melbourne
Melbourne is one of the most culturally diversed cities of Australia. The city has a rich history of immigration that is pictured in the thriving population today.
We visited Melbourne in January 2020, summertime. We stayed in a serviced apartment priced at around $150 per night, located right in the heart of the city. The apartment had two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. What I really liked about it was its proximity to the heart of the city, two streets behind us was the famous Flinders St Railway Station and Federation Square, and three blocks infront of us are the shopping centres and Chinatown.
Flinders St Railway Station
One thing about visiting other cities or countries is the WALKING, so you should use a really comfy shoes.
Break in between walking One landmark that should not be missed is the Queen Victoria Market. It covers over seven hectares and considered the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
Some of the goods that you can buy in the market And not to be missed is the very famous Patricia Coffee Brewers, standing room only. They have a really complicated menu of 3 choices, Black, White and Filter.
We had to walk four blocks to get there but it was worth it.
Waiting for my coffee We also did Imax, watched 1917.
The culprit who made us watch 1917 A few steps from the cinema is the Carlton Gardens.
Carlton Gardens Shopping is good in DFO South Wharf
https://www.south-wharf.dfo.com.au/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0_fF3Ln19gIVmX8rCh3g0AAqEAAYASAAEgLOAfD_BwE
Have you ever heard that “Melbourne has four seasons in one day? ” – the weather could be a blazing hot sunny day to raining and hailing at night. It is true! We entered the DFO shopping centre on a scorching 38 degC, and after two hours, it was raining with thunderstorms.
So yes we took the Big Bus again, but because of the weather, we were not able to hop on and hop off as much as we would have loved too.
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Exploring Sydney
Sydney is synonymous to The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge. So if you live in Australia everyone assumes that you have been to this iconic places. They just wouldn’t tell you but they are actually secretly looking for your photos with either the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge in the background. I remember my friend telling me to come visit her in Sydney. At that time, I have been in Australia for six years and haven’t been to Sydney.
And so off we went in January 2020 before Covid hit
What’s the best way of exploring Sydney? If you have relatives and friends who have so much free time to show you around, well and good.
Or, you can do it yourself, use the train, use the map, use google and do all the hard work and research.
The Big Bus (photo credits to owner call4tours.com The easiest way for me is to use the hop-on hop-off bus. It is a double decker bus and has two routes. One is the City route also known as the Red Route and the other one is the Bondi and Bays also known as the Blue Route.
The city route takes you the landmarks like Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, Hyde Park, Botanical Garden etc., while the Blue Route takes you to Bondi Beach (yes, from my favorite tv show Bondi Rescue), Rose Bay, Centenial Parklands. Here’s the link for further informationnon on routes.
https://www.bigbustours.com/en/sydney/service-information/
Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge We also visited Madame Tussauds where we had a good time having our photos with the royal family before Harry and Meagan’s fallout.
Fun moments with the Royal Family and other famous celebrities 
Walking at the Circular Quay 
Hyde Park 
The Rocks 
Dinner at Chinatown 
Onboard the Sydney Harbour Hop On Hop Off Ferry.. This ferry ride passes through all the iconic sites such as the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, South Manly Cove and more.
The ferry is also a double decker. We initially stayed at the top deck for better view but before we reached the bumpy part we were advised by the crew to move to the lower deck.
And before I forget, Bondi Beach.
Bondi Beach There is a lot to see in Sydney and lots of things to do as well. Lots of walking. Tiring but fulfilling.
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Cruising for First Timers
Cruising is not entirely new to my family, to my husband, at least. He worked at a luxury cruise ship travelling the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and many more places whose names I can no longer remember. I never had the chance to travel with him in those cruises so it became quite an obsession for us to cruise together.
So in January 2020 we went on this trip to Sydney, then cruise from Sydney to Melbourne.
We used Carnival Cruise Lines. We went onboard the Carnival Spirit for a three day two night trip, it was intentionally short just to test the waters if cruising is for me.
The iconic red hull which is a trademark feature of Carnival Cruise ships We had a short trip and it was all sea day. So when it’s sea day, no shore excursions etc. What do you do? You’ll never run out of things to do.
Dining, Outdoor Activities, Entertainment, Events, Bars, Bingo, Casino and many more.
A fishbowl at the Redfrog Pub 
Menu Dining at the Empire Restaurant. 
Fastfood Area 
Balcony view from our room 
A nice view of The Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Sydney Opera House Most of the food and activities are free. Alcoholic drinks are not so you have to factor your alcoholic drinks in your budget or you can buy a drinks package in advance. Bingo cards you have to purchase and you also have to pay for specialty coffees. Some restaurants like Bonsai Sushi and Nouveau are not free.
This is just a bird’s eyeview of what you can expect when you cruise. Unfortunately because of Covid, cruising has stopped temporarily but in Australia, the cruising ban will be lifted after the 17th of April.
Link to carnival below
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Mommy Sunrise Food and Travel 