Random City Walk (26th June 2008)

26th June 2008

Sometimes outside the holiday cycle, I do some random things. Like explore the city. That's the city circle map that higlights the tourist attractions. I explored the south east side (lower right hand side) I started at Melbourne Central station and walked to the Library. Didn't explore the library since they didn't allow big bags. They did have a fancy locker system though... This statue was in front of the library.
From there, I made my way through Chinatown...
There was quite Chinese Museum around here... but I had to pay Aus 7.50 to see things I probably have already seen all my life so I skipped. Plus there was a group of students (about primary school age) in there...
Hang around outside instead and took some photos.. The lamp has some chinese characters...
And with Pui Yee's help, she told me it just just 'Chinatown'. Hah, should have guessed as much. [lol]
Then there were your imperial guardian lion (I was about to just call them chinese lion dogs)... Though I presume the accurate term for them is Shishi (stone lions). Just did a wiki on them.. did a little fast reading. [grin]
Anyway, opposite this gateway was a food court and since it was about lunch time, I popped in and see what I could order...
I ordered Nasi Lemak since I haven't had it for a long while... Unfortunately it wasn't too good... [sigh] I'll just have to wait to get good Nasi Lemak when I get back home...
From Chinatown, I made my way to Exhibition Street and saw Her Majesty's Theatre (that's the name of the theatre)
Along the way, I spotted this sign "Little Malaysia", I was like woah... A street dedicated to Malaysia... That'll be odd... [lol] True enough, it was just a restaurant named that. Drat~!
From exhibition street, I made my way and saw the Parliament house...
the Windsor Hotel...
and the Gold Treasury Museum. I didn't explore the museum because it charged Aus 8.50 to see the treasury? I won't mind if I could take something... I assumed it'll be filled with old stone coins and stuff and I've seen enough of those (I've been to a lot of museums) so I skipped this museum as well..
Interesting to see a signboard that says you can't rollerblade or skateboard at 7am - 7pm... I've seen signboards that don't allow it period but not one with time... very fascinating. Good thing I was just walking then.
From there, I made my way to this little park where the statue of Adam Lindsay Gordon stands. Did a little wiki on him. He's an Australian poet, jockey & politician. His history is a little sad.. but not as sad as Stamford Raffles (I did a project on him in Secondary school)
There were quite a number of statues erected in the city area...
I liked the winter winds and the funny naked city trees. Decided to play with black and white with this one...
Walked to the Treasury Gardens (which was next to the Treasury Museum)
I think it's lovely to see a bit of gold leaves on a big tree like this one...
I think it would be been lovelier to come to the garden during the spring...

Which I will return again (if I can remember to...) [lol]
From the Treasury Gardens, I backtracked to the Gold Treasury Museum and headed to St Patrick's Cathedral.
From wiki, I saw that there were quite a number of St Patrick's Cathedral around the world...
"It is known internationally as a leading example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture."
I enjoyed the lovely flower garden in the front...
and there was even a lovely white bench that you can sit on and look at the gardens... which I would have done but it was chilly winter winds that I was enjoying so I kept moving...
Spotted a fossil decorative as I made my way to Fitzroy Gardens...
which meant heading across Treasury Gardens...
and going pass Cook's cottage. From wiki again, "It is a point of conjecture among historians whether James Cook, the famous navigator, ever lived in the house, but almost certainly he visited his parents at the house." Errr... Nice to know that he visited his parents? [lol]
Was heading back up to the city centre when the gloomy weather was turning to a lovely sunset...

Made my way again to St Patrick's Cathedral...
to take it in the sunset mode... or sorts...
but I didn't want to hang around until it got dark so I made a move.
And saw this mural on the side of a building...
A bit of close up on the upper part...

and the lower part...
It was such a lovely weather that I decided to walk back to Melbourne Central when I could have easily hopped on the train from Parliament station. Saw the Princess theatre from afar.
and pass Queen Victoria's Women Centre...
and back at the State Library... where I sat a while and enjoyed a bit more of the wind before making my way home
The whole walk took me about 4-5 hours (including the lunch break). I plotted out in the map (enlarged to the section I was exploring). Don't mind the zig zaggy line... was clicking the red dots by hand... I wasn't walking drunk or anything. Enjoyed myself (walking at my own pace and taking a lot of photographs, all 216 photos but all you see in this post is only about 40 photos) and had myself a good workout.

Until next time, Cheers~!