[OZ] GLOOMY MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE

Last city to end up my Aussie trip. Super slow life, pretty, gloomy, winter Melbourne. I expect so much from this city, since i make so many places to visit, but i was ended up just staying all my 4 days just in downtown and walked from one market to another. So here it is my doing-nothing-trip guide HAHA

TRANSPORTATION

You can go everywhere using Myki card. BUT BUT BUT like lazy me just walk down main streets, Melbourne provides FREE TRAM AREA :3 you can see the map below. But out of that area, you can use bus, and also tram by Myki starting around AUD 4/trip. 

ACCOMODATION

NOVA STARGATE APART & HOTEL SERVICE

I just randomly chose this hotel, but super lovely great location. Just minute away from Queen Victoria Market, free tram area, southern cross station and main street. I super recommanded this place because of their LOCATION, service and also security. You can't even pass the main entrance without our access card. 

MUST VISIT & EAT

#1 FLINDERS SHOPPING AREA

Long big street behind Flinders Station. Full of shops and huge brand such H&M with this 3 floor-building, Coles mart, and many more. Here you can also visit DEGRAVE STREET one small alley full with cafes and brunch places. But i went there and tried one hype donut called DOUGHNUT TIME pretty small shop that sell so many cute kind of donut, i bought one red velvet donut for my "own" bday, it's more into fulling side compared to fluffy one.

And not far from flinders st., you can find Melbourne city town, where you do bobba hunter or just tried some local chinese taste :)

#2 ROSE STREET

Move on if before flinders more into shopping district with international chain stuffs but here you can enjoy local brand markets 90% all just open on weekend ( sat &sun) , like  the ROSE STREET MARKET, THE FITROYZ MILLS MARKET They sell some handmade things, soap, postcards, even local raw honey and dairy products.

And other than markets, the one that highlight my trip all the way here is LUNE CROISSANTERIE, The most famous like cray croissant in Melbourne even in OZ maybe haha i just curious with it so me and my mom gave it a shot, well i love croissant with strong milky fragrance and crispy on the outside BUT soft and fluffy inside. It took me 30 mins waiting until i got these babies, i ordered Butter AUD 8 and Almond croissant AUD 11. For me it's good just good HAHA just too pricey and not meet my expectation. you know when i got inside the whole space was superrrrrrrr buttery yummy fragrance but after you bited, well it is not as good as you imagine. just okey HAHA for me? 7/10 is the highest point.

After market, pastry, and coffee yessss. This area has so many lovely coffeeshop, big or just a small local shop, Industry beans, campus, and the one across Fitroyz mill that i forgetted the name.

#3 SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET

Compared to AUD11-almond-croissant, here is where i left my heart for a piece of croissant, AGATHE. This croissant shop, located inside South Melbourne market. i always ordered Chocolate croissant ( psss! i came back here more than 5 times during my stay in Mel) HAHA it just super milky, cant even describe!! it's flaky milky yummy :'') even after a day when i bought this and ate this as my last dinner at the airport 10/10 point from me! must try!

After croisant, well south melbourne has so many famous stalls to try, PADRE COFFEE, Local sashimi, Vietnamese banhmi in their foodcourt, French bacon and cheese. and even fresh seafood. Dont skip morning coffee at padre!

#4 QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET 

The main and biggest market in Melbourne. You can litterally find everything here compared to other market. and even they have winter night market for around 2weeks during july where you can enjoy street food and local made stalls. 

If in Southern Melbourne has PADRE, here you have to try MARKET LANE. and not far from there, you can try super tasty pork sausage, that will burst your mouth with juice and fresh blackpepper taste. and last but not least, AMERICAN DOUGHNUT. Old style doughnut that sell in a cute van, that you can easily find in the main street of the market. Super yeasty taste and soursweet refreshing strawberry filling,warm, and soft, will be your great breakfast choice. 

#5 BRIGHTON BATH BOXES BEACH

For last, this is the most instagramable tourist spot in Melboune. Cute colorful houseboxes on the beach. Well it is quite far from downtown, me and my mom took bus and walked more that 2km away from the last bus stop to the beach. But it is super pretty and here, i found INDONESIAN the most HAHA so make sure to walk till the last house because it much easier to take pictures since not so many people there

So finally here is the end of my OZ diary #jioehanaoz. Aussie is super lovely with its culture that full of coffee and brunch things and so many beautiful places to visit and it more than just beaches and summer paradise, even on winter, Australia offers so many things to do. 

In melbourne, i felt so healed with just gloomy weather and nothing-to-do thing. But if you feel not productive, you can do dayski at Mt buller or penguin watching at Phillip island. 

Hope this post will give you new references for your aussie trip!

ciao,

hj <3 

[OZ] SUNNY SYDNEY!

SYDNEY

I believed not only me that was thinking that Sydney is Australia's capital city HAHA no body doesn't know Sydney opera house lol and after i experienced it myself, well, It is one of the best living city i've ever visited so far, except too many Indonesians everywhere on the street :p So let's break it down!

TRANSPORTATION

You can go everywhere using Opalcard, bus.train, tram and even ferry. You can get it in every minimart, or station. They will charged you not more than AUD 16/day, AUD50/week, and AUD 2.80 on weekend. So let's say, you take ferry AUD 6, plus bus, plus tram plus plus plus even more than 10times a day they have maximum daily charge ( or weekly or special weekend charge). it's super helpful since transportation fee in Sydney is zuper expensive.

ACCOMODATION

SYDNEY 88 CITY HOTEL

If you are not a budget traveller, you can stay at Circular Quay area with full 5star-hotel with beautiful view of Opera house, but for me, i love stay in China town area, it is close to everywhere, Paddy's market, and also Queen victoria building.

MUST VISIT & EAT!

#1 SYDNEY FISH MARKET

Best place to enjoy the freshest Australia sea products. So many choices inside the market, from sashimi, grill seafood, till fish n chips, Price around AUD 10- infinity HAHA You better coming in the morning around 8 or 9am. But unfortunately, this market can be said quite pricey.

#2 PADDYS MARKET

Looking for souvernir? here is your heaaaaven, cheap keychains, all "australia" things, jackets and even some fake stuffs sold here. Compare to all souvernir places in Australia, nowhere they can beat here price. AUD 10/ a dozen koalas, AUD 10/ australia t-shirt. But pay attention, they only open WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY, 10AM TO 6PM

And this market is located in the heart of Chinatown, so don't surprise with all asians that make you feel like not in aussie. I felt like home HAHA you can find boba shops ( i recommended The alley ), homey food when you fed up with all fish n chips like me and craving for rice, i suggest you to try CHO DUMPLING KING ( just search it on google map) it just walk distance from Paddys, this taiwanese resto is die must try!! lao rou fan or taiwanese pork rice OMG this AUD 8 ricebowl just brought back my happiness after all western foods. And there is also indonesian food that i tried, BAKMI BABI DONG you can find super BABI bakmi medan :'') named ENJOY MIE or ENJOY CAFE located in Sussex st. they sell lunch package pork noodle pake Teh Botol cray :'')

#3 DARLING HARBOUR

Just walk away from China town area, passing by a bridge, you will arrive to this fancy area, full with hotels and iconic Hardrock cafe Sydney, here also you can enjoy famous Pancake on the rock or Hurricane ribs. Beautiful city of lights at night.

#4 CIRCULAR QUAY

Main ferry area that connects main sydney to outer area and some touristm objects, like Taronga Zoo Sydney and beaches area. And also main Australia iconic building, Sydney opera house. So here i spent my time taking much much uncountable pictures with Opera house, i prefer here than from Mrs. Macquarie's chair, more lively yet crowded at the same time, but if you want more calm and private side, you can go there.

Btw so many wharfs here, i thought of random ferry trip to one of beach, beside Bondi because it just too famous HAHA so i took Ferry to Manly beach from wharf 2. It cost around AUD 19.5/oneway? if i am not wrong. quite pricey but hey guys for 30 mins ride, i thought it's worth it. Move on to next must visit >>

#5 MANLY BEACH

And yeeeeee after 30mins ferry ride, we arrive at Manly beach. Suprisingly, it gave my holiday another vibe! i just thought of Sydney city life, but you can feel other exciting like summer paradise when you arrive here. Manly is quite big but all is walk distance, i dont suggest take bus because it can waste your time even more.

From the wharf to the beach, it takes around 20mins or 15? well my mami walked quite slow, so yeah HAHA but dont worry along the way, so many shops and beautiful trees, so you won't focus with the distance. 

After you arrive at the beach, it is huge and much much warmer than Sydney city center, so many people swims or sun bathing even on winter, or just chill at starbucks on the beach road or having lunch. BUT i found this one BEAUTIFULLLLLLLLLL lil restaurant at private beach, named THE BOAT HOUSE SHELLY BEACH omg. . It made me walk 1 hour away but the view and the food was super worth it! even though, around AUD 18-40? You pay for the view and great food. I love their smoked salmon salad, super fulling and pretty instaworth HAHA come here with your girls for teatime must be awesomee!

#6 THE ROCK AREA

Come back from beach or after long day at Opera house, don't forget to walk by the rock area which full with beautiful cafes and brick buildings, Imagining white christmas here, in this area must be lovely but remember, Christmas time is summer time in OZ HAHA

#7 LUNA PARK

Australia style of carnaval. Super famous insta place. And NO ENTRANCE FEE guys for free!! they have one also in Melbourne, but in Sydney much bigger and prettier. You can buy a day pass for the rides for AUD 20-50, depends on peak hour/adult/kids/or night pass. And my fav is we can also enjoy Opera house and Harbour bridge from here at the same time. Open around 11am- noon (weekday) / 10pm (weekend)

#8 QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING (QVB) SHOPPING STREET

One of historical building that use as Fancy shopping building, it's old and classy at the same time. Also under ground shopping and in this business district area, hmm if i can compare like pedestrian shopping street in the middle, bose, zara, h&m like Nanjing road in Shanghai but fancier HAHA and also you can go up to Sydney eye tower, for city sky seeing (AUD 20) or having 360 degree buffet dinner with the view (starts from AUD 75)

#9 CAFE HOPPING

Well coffee culture and pastry brunch kinda thing is super australian thing HAHA so you can put this activity as MUST DO while you in every city in Oz, and as big city, Sydney offers you tons of choices. and here some that i've tried with my local friend SUPER HYPEEEE PLACES.

i suggest only some because i still prefer rice offer these pretty things but yeah HAHA first is WATERMELON CAKE BY BLACK STAR PASTRY

It is super hype hype hype hype like fvck'n crayyyyy for a AUD9-slice-cake, it is super pricey tho but it worth to try maybe once? HAHA i prefer my cake fluffy and full of like japanese cream cake, it is not too creamy not to heavy yet VERY FRESH now i understand why people love this. my likey 8/10 great! ( btw love their soy latte :B)

Second, my other friend took me to newly opened coffeshop, INDUSTRY BEANS YORK ST.

not far from QVB shopping street. Pretty clean decoration, great french toast, worth to try!

Other you can CAMPOS (Australian starbucks HAHA) or Laneway, or Starbucks if you crave for strong coffee, because i felt like Aussie coffee is quite light for my tastebud.

#10 BONDI BEACH

last but not least

Most touristy yet my super fav preference that why i put it last HAHA Bondi is reachable by bus. It huge huge, BLUE sky BLUE water just refresh my eyes. Compared to other beaches. yess it is grand. i can't imagine it on Summer time must be very very damn crowded. You can swim at Bondi iceberg for AUD 7 or just at the beach for free. Me hate swimming, and for you who are foody, you can try great Gelato or yogurt by ANITA( aroun AUD 8>)it totally different with ben&jerry's it is so pure and sticky good HAHA can't even describe how it tasted,  or just cafe-ing along the beach road i had Hurricane ribs and steak for my lunch, great. 

Personal thankies for my oldfriend, CI LANYYYYYY who became my private guide for 2 days, she is my oldfriend from travel agent, live with her husband in Chinatown area yet a student yet a weekend-barista <3 

Never imagine sydney has so so so so much to offer just so lively compared to other cities. Hope can comeback here soon and visit my un-done check list, PALM BEACHyou can check out this place, super beautiful but very very far away from downtown sydney if you visit sydney like more than 3 days like me, put this hiking itinerary and you won't be disappointed.

Hope this post will help you guys and add new references for your itinerary! SEE YOU ON LAST OZ POST!