Oz Day 4: Because of Mandochef by Tupperware...

~9th November 2015~

The hubby enjoys watching short videos of sorts while I don't enjoy watching or reading forwarded messages unless they were really interesting. Hubby was delighted with Mandochef by Tupperware. It wasn't in Malaysia yet at that point of time so I said I would Google and see whether I could get a hold of it in Melbourne. I searched and started sending e-mails but only one replied and I got what I wanted.

The only thing was getting to that place which was really out of the way. Don't mention about the conversion rate yet. I don't think I want to talk about the price. It only shows craziness to own something because he's my hubby but I ended up using it more often and him. In the end, both of us have no time to cook and mi madre has her own kitchen tools to play with.

We took two trains and two buses. It was actually wrong. There should only be one bus. We got down at the shopping mall and then we were suppose to walk but it looked like ridiculous to walk. I stopped one of the passers-by and she was really helpful. We walked back to the bus stop and another bus came up and after the driver dropped everybody else left with us and another passenger, the other passenger helped Google up the place so that the bus driver would know where to drop us.

The bus driver made a de-tour out of his route to show us where to take the bus back and so that we didn't have to walk a long distant, he dropped us at the nearest junction the bus would go. I was really touched by his kindness. A big whole bus doing all sorts of de-tour. I couldn't thank him enough and I thanked God for the favour and blessings poured on us.

We waited for the bus to get back to the train station. Before we got back, we decided to stop by and have brunch. Our breakfast was brought back by Mr. Ma, an assortment of handmade sushi. 

So, yeah... the Mandochef in my house cost more than what money can buy.

Oz Day 3: Let's BAB~!

~8th November 2015~

Pinky took us to the row of shophouses facing the main road. I kinda like the area. There's everything there except for wet market. Pinky's favourite eating place is called Let's Bab... she loves Korean food but we both prefer Japanese food if given a choice. 

We tapao-ed our dinner home. Too tired from all the driving and I've shifted my bio-clock to Melbourne time. I am adaptable everywhere, time change is not an issue. Next door was a mini market operated by a Chinese. The post office at the end of the row was also operated by Chinese. This area was almost half Chinese populated. We're Chinese, so it feels like home.

Oz Day 3: Lebanese Sweets - Abla's Patisserie...

~8th November 2015~

The drive back to Melbourne from Warrnambool was a horrible one. I was driving behind an old car which was moving at tortoise pace. There was no way to overtake because I was one proper driver in a foreign land. I did not want the travel buddy to get a speeding ticket or reckless driving. I was jet lagged and between the blue sky and white clouds, I thought I saw the sea and waves. I tried to keep my eyes wide open but the more I see, I could only see raging sea. I couldn't go on like that but the travel buddy was snoring away next to me. It was just our third day and I didn't want to put all our lives in danger, so in the end I poked the snoring pig awake and told her I couldn't drive anymore. She would have to drive for another 3 hours and I could not help her navigate as well. I just wanted to sleep. I knocked off immediately we changed seats. 

When I woke up, the piggy was trying to look for this favourite new found love of hers. She loves very sweet stuff which I don't really fancy but since she insisted, I relented. I actually like those with groundnuts. I like everything with nuts but just not in cooking. Any nuts ON a cake, surrounding the cake or pounded in cookies were good but not swimming in a pot of soup!

And I love everything with chocolate~! Tried some on the spot and Pinky bought a box home so she could have them whenever she had craving for sugar.

Oz Day 3: Von Geurard Lookout...

~8th November 2015~

This was a rather interesting stop. I was just driving back, heading towards Melbourne when we saw this stop. Pinky said we should just stop and take a look. I stopped by the road side and then we crossed the road and the view was just simply breathtaking.

So, who was this Von Geurard? This scenic lookout place failed to make it on Google map. It was never in our list of places to go to. Just spent a few minutes and and enjoy the view. For such a view like this, you will life up your hands high up to heaven and praise the Lord for being such a creative artist. Google up Von Geurard and you would be able to read a little about the artist himself.

After spending enough time gasping at the beautiful place, we crossed over to the car but I ventured off track a bit and spent some time admiring the green of the field. The sheep were resting after grazing at the fresh grass. 

Oz Day 3: Simon's Waterfront, Warrnambool...

~8th November 2015~

The information counter was at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum so we asked for the best place in Warrnambool to have lunch. The lady at the counter suggested Simon's Waterfront. We have no care about pricing, we just wanted something good. We seemed to be skipping meals again, this is something that we should rectify. We have been skipping meals in all our holidays.

We wanted heavy lunch. So, to Simon's Waterfront we went. The place was really comfortable and the staff was friendly. If I ever step foot in Warrnambool, I will be dining at Simon's Waterfront everyday if time permit. 

I had the best Angus prepared medium-rare. I was one happy person *shedding tears of joy*. Even the fries was a gadzillion times better than that of McD's. I could just eat those fries and be happy throughout the day. 

The weather was great and there were so many people at the beach. I still don't like stepping on sand.

Oz Day 3: Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum...

~8th November 2015~

I picked this place because of the dogs. Nothing else but the dogs but we received more than what we wanted. The whole place was a really wonderful place to walk in. 

When I was on holiday I spent my time taking photos. The tripod came in handy. We were stopping at every corner to take photos.

Then, finally it's time to hear about the work of maremma sheepdog. The dogs would be on duty at the Middle Island, working as security guards to guard the little penguins from being eaten by wolves. The dogs were huge. If only I have the chance to catch the movie Oddball. It was only aired around Warrnambool cinemas. Should have the movie aired in Melbourne. 

I don't know what to say about this place. It's worth going to. Worth spending time there. We went up the lighthouse to have a good view. The travel buddy never bother to look out. 

Oz Day 2: Pickering Trail and Thunder Point...

~7th November 2015~

I have no regrets making the decision to visit Warrnambool. In fact, it was the highlight of our entire trip no doubt it was just our second day, could consider as the first day in Australia as the previous day was spent in airports.

After coming back from Port Fairy, we decided not to go up to the hotel but instead we chose to continue with our journey by going on foot. This was the case of the blind leading the blind. It was meant to be a morning walk for the next day but we had nothing much to do, so we shifted our morning walk to become evening walk. I saw the Thunder Point signage and we just marched along the sidewalk passing by big and beautiful houses, dreaming of owning one in future. 

The walk was terribly long. Anyway, when I studied the map, it wasn't suppose to be this way but instead of trusting Google, I decided to trust the road sign. In the end we had no regrets but it was such an uphill and downhill walk. When we finally reached Pickering Trail, we had no energy left.

I was immediately energized when I stepped onto the viewing platform. IT WAS JUST AWESOME LOOKING AT THOSE ROCK FORMATION. The cliff, no doubt unstable, as the warning sign was written, was just mesmerizing-ly beautiful. You will have to be there to absorb everything with your own eyes. I believe that my photos are not doing great justice to the place.

We walked from Pickering Trail up to Thunder Point and ended outside our hotel. We should have started from there but then we would have to use the same way back. Thus, I felt that even though I have started from Edward's Bridge on the other side and walked all the way passing through housing area, I have no regrets. I would not want to walk the same path twice. It would kill the joy and the excitement of exploring a place. The first time was always the best, the second time along the same path, you would start noticing the flaws and by the third time, the beauty wasn't there anymore.

Those two islands were meant to be for penguins. It's like a reserve for penguins to breed in Merri Island and Middle Island. I will tell you more about those two islands next. 

The travel buddy was hungry while mi madre and I were tired and sleepy. We went to Lady Bay Resort as the restaurant looked kinda classy and we just felt like spending some money. The Vietnamese spring roll was a disaster. Any Vietnamese would laugh out loud looking at the spring roll but on the other hand, the pork belly was perfectly done. 

Warm bubble bath to call it a day...