Rizal Street in Silay City (main street going to and from Bacolod City)

Silay City is popularly known as the “Paris of Negros Occidental” because this was where the rich hacienderos and pillars of the sugarcane industry in Negros Occidental lived during the late 1800′s. Silay is also the bastion of arts and culture – thanks to Jose Pitong Ledesma, a pianist and conductor, the first one to bring the European operattas and zarzuelas in Silay. High Culture prevails in this area (if we are to look at this in the Western Marxist perspective). If you are into historical architectures, local arts and culture, this is the place you must visit. Silay City is just around 30 – 45 minutes away from Bacolod City. This is also where the new Bacolod Airport is located.

When we were in Bacolod last February during the Bacolaodiat Festival, we explored Silay City in a few hours. Thanks to Project7107′s Do It Your Self Map of Silay, we were able to navigate easily. The Locsin y Lacson house is not open for public viewing because there are commercial establishments there. You can just take a photo of it from the outside.

Since we came from Victorias City, our house-hopping tour started at the Bernardino Jalandoni Museum. Roaming the house would take you around 30 – 40 minutes, depending on you of course. There is a tour guide that will be with you while you go around the house. Photography is allowed in this museum.

Next stop is the Hofileña Ancestral House located in Cinco de Nobyembre Street. Please make sure that you book before going there. Don’t be like us who came there without an appointment. The reason for the appointment is that Mon Hofileña, one of the descendants of the Hofileñas gives a personalized tour of the house. For me, he’s one of the best guides because he really knows Silay right through its core. He’s a bit of a chatter so if you are in a hurry, please let him know.

In between the ancestral house hopping, we decided to eat at El Ideal. This restaurant is an “institution” in Silay and is famous for its Guapple Pie. They also sell delicacies for pasalubong for your loved ones. I suggest that you buy your delicacies here because it’s cheaper than buying at the airport. Silay is famous for the Angel Cookies. These are made of unused ostias or Communion Hosts.

Balay Negrense is just a few blocks away from the Hofileña Ancestral House. One can go around Balay Negrense without a tour guide but if you need one, just let the caretakers know. This is probably the biggest house among all the other ancestral houses we’ve been in Silay. It has a great view of Silay and the church.

All entrance fees to the ancestral houses / museums are PHP40 per person. Student rates are much lower  and of course, IDs should be presented if one wants to avail of the student rates. You can take photos inside the house, except do not use flash photography in some of the locations in each house. I suggest that you get to know the settings of your camera before going to these places . House-hopping in Silay can take you around 3 – 4 hours.

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Parish of San Joaquin

During Holy Week, many Filipinos do the “Visita Iglesia” ( or Church Visits in English), a tradition done every Holy Thursday during Lent. This is to commemorate the 14 stations of the cross. Traditionally, 7 churches are supposed to be visited, praying 2 stations of the cross per church. In the modern times, the person who does Visita Iglesia visits 14 churches instead of the 14.

Iloilo is one of the provinces in Western Visayas that was infiltrated by Roman Catholicism and is frequented by those who still practice Visita Iglesia. Whether you are a believer of Roman Catholicism or not, it is still worthwhile to see these churches — for the sake of historical and art appreciation purposes. Here are some suggestions and must visits when doing Visita Iglesia in Southern Iloilo:

San Joaquin Cemetery

1) Parish of San Joaquin (topmost photo)

Located at the town of San Joaquin, the Parish of San Joaquin was built around 1859 – 1860. This is almost at the South Eastern part of Iloilo. It would be good to start your itinerary from this point. The facade shows the Battle of Tetuan, the only church which shows this historic battle between Morocco and Spanish army. While you’re here, visit the San Joaquin cemetery, just a few minutes away from the church. The cemetery was built in 1892 and is made of coral stones. The top most structure is the chapel, where masses for the dead are being held.

2) Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva (or Miag-ao Church)

Miag-ao Church is one of the 4 Baroque churches here in the Philippines located in Miag-ao, Iloilo. The church is made of Carbonaceous Limestone which gives yellowish in color. This was built earlier than San Joaquin, in the year 1786.

Parish of St. Anne( Sta. Ana Church)

3) Parish of St. Anne (or Molo Church)

The Parish of St. Anne is located in Molo, Iloilo and is said to be a feminist church because of the images of female saints instead of male saints inside it. Of course, the patron saint of Molo, St. Anne (or Sta. Ana) is at the main altar together with the Virgin Mary. By the way, St. Anne is the patron saint of pregnant women, mothers and grandmothers.  It was constructed in 1831 and is said to be one of the most beautiful churches in Western Visayas. Its architecture is Gothic-Romanesque.

Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

4) Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (or Jaro Cathedral)

Jaro Cathedral (or its official name Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary) is said to have the miraculous statue of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (Lady of the Candles). The statue, which is made of limestone, is said to be growing through the years. And because the statue is “growing”, they had to put her outside because it cannot fit in its original location. The church was built in 1864 and was destroyed in an earthquake. The original style is Baroque however due to renovations made in 1948, the additional elements such as the belfry towers made it Gothic.

Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (Lady of the Candles)

Another interesting thing to know about Jaro Cathedral is its belfry. Usually, the belfry is located near the church however in Jaro Cathedral, it’s a block away. This belfry also served as a watchtower to protect the Spanish from its invaders.

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After a hearty dinner at Lau Pa Sat with my former officemates, we walked around Marina Bay. I never thought we’d walk from One Raffles Place to Fullerton Hotel. Some of you might think it’s silly to walk around that far but we really do not have a choice. The roads were closed since it’s F1 season there. It may be tiring but it was a fun experience.

Since my first visit to Singapore, a lot has changed. Marina Bay Sands is just one of them. It’s a luxury hotel and a casino. We weren’t able to go on top of Marina Bay Sands though since it’s already getting late and we have companions that will be going to work the following day. In order to go to the top, one must pay 20 SGD.

Buildings around Singapore

When we reached the corner of the Marina Bay, we stopped for a bit to take photos of the buildings around the city.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Our next pit stop is The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. It’s a mall with a lot of designer brands inside. If you have the money to splurge on shopping, you may go ahead and shop there.

Helix Bridge

Afterwards, we’re able to walk on the Helix Bridge. The Helix Bridge is a brilliantly designed one. When we were there (October 2010), only half of the bridge was open because of the on-going construction in Marina Bay Sands area.

Then, we passed by the Youth Olympic Park and then we literally walked on the F1 race tracks in order to get to Esplanade. The Esplanade is also known as The Durian because of the design of its roof. We stopped Makansutra Gluttons Bay so we could have some refreshments.

Then, we walked all the way to Fullerton Hotel since that’s the nearest place that we could get a cab. The good thing is we arrived there before 12mn since the taxi rates are higher after 12mn.

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One of the exciting things to do when in Puerto Princesa is island hopping. If you’re an adventurer, this is the one for you. This begins in Honda Bay, a 20 – 30 minute drive from the city proper. We booked a package at gopalawan.travel and paid $68 (for 2 people) via Paypal. Method of payment is very convenient, we didn’t have to go to the bank or pay cash. A van picked us up at Pads (our hotel) and also brought us back after the tour.

We arrived at the Honda Bay dock station at around 8:30 am. This is the time that it’s packed with tourists, ready to go island hopping. The pump boat can accommodate around 10 people. Our first stop was Pambato Island where we snorkeled and saw beautiful corals and fishes. This was actually my first time to snorkel and I really enjoyed it. Seeing the fishes and other sea creatures in their natural habitat was heavenly. As my body was floating while snorkeling, my mind was floating as well, just like in a state of grandeur which I can’t really explain. I am seeing another world within our world which I haven’t explored in my entire life.

Snake Island, Puerto Princesa

The next island that we visited was Snake Island. The reason it was called as such because of the shape of the island and not because it’s infested with snakes. This island has a sandbar which is very evident when it’s low tide. It also has mangroves in some parts areas. We spent around 2 hours in the island and we also had our lunch here (already included in our package). We also fed the fishes here with the bread that we bought before we began the island hopping.

Our next stop was Pandan Island. For me, this is my most favorite island. It’s very peaceful and it’s like you’re lost in the middle of nowhere. I enjoyed the moment by swimming in the clear, pristine waters and fishfeeding! I said to myself, “ahh, this is the life”.

This was where some of our tour companions had fun with jump shots. Here’s one Canadian lady we met who enjoyed the jump shots:

We left early because some of our companions have a flight back to Manila so we headed back to the base at around 4 pm. This was one of my most memorable experiences in the Philippines and I am looking forward to seeing more of like this in other provinces.

Actually, you can go there without a package. You can rent a boat for around Php 3000 – 4000 for a whole day. If you’re worried about food, you can either bring your own or buy fresh seafood in the island and pay the locals there to cook them for you (or called “paluto”). There are also other islands there that you can visit but according to our tour guide Gloria, the must visits are really Pandan, Snake and Pambato Islands. But if you are lazy to think of where to go for island hopping, I would suggest that you get a package. There are a lot of travel packages that you find when you step into the Puerto Princesa arrival area.

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Binondo, Manila’s third district, is also known as Manila’s Chinatown. We just had a photo walk here where our route began a couple or more meters away from the foot of Jones Bridge (just outside Original Savory). We were then welcomed by the picturesque Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch.

We then headed to New Po-Heng Lumpia House where we had fresh lumpia (spring roll). Then, we walked some more and upon reaching the corner of Ongpin and San Nicolas streets, we saw there a shrine of Santo Cristo de Longos. Garlands of sampaguita can be found around the cross. At the foot of the cross, you will see there a jar with incense sticks lit up by the devotees.

Santo Cristo de Longos

With this imagery, you will surely notice the fusion of both Catholicism and Buddhism. After a few snaps, we walked some more and then we passed by another arch. As we reached the corner of Salazar and Ongpin streets, we saw this interesting street sign. We were not just interested to take a photo of this one because the pole had dragons. We noticed that the N in Ongpin is flipped horizontally. I’m not sure if it was just a mistake.

Street signs with dragons

Then, we had dumplings at Wai Ying Fastfood since Dong Bei was closed (not operating on a Black Saturday). Then, we walked towards Tomas Pinpin St. to try out the Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice restaurant. On our way there, we passed by some interesting subjects to take photos of.

Calesa in the streets of Binondo

It would have been a nice idea to ride on a calesa (horse-drawn carriage) around Binondo. But since we’re quite a big group, we just chose to walk.

An old building in Binondo

The old buildings in Binondo are interesting subjects as well. Just by looking at the old buildings, you will easily notice the influence of Spanish and Chinese architecture.

Inside Binondo Church

A visit to the Binondo Church is also a must. Anyway, this was not included in our recently concluded photo walk.

Strolling around Binondo is like a time travel. Engaging in such activity will let you discover the beauty and charm of old Manila.

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I arrived in Melbourne Zoo at around 10:30 am. The sun was up and it was scorching hot that day. Good thing that I only wore shorts so that I’ll be comfortable. Entrance to the Melbourne Zoo costs AUD 24.90 for adults (around Php 1070 +). Children 4-15 years old costs AUD 12.10 (around Php 520+).

Because I was in Australia, I promised myself to see a real life Kangaroo and Koala that is why I decided to go to the Melbourne Zoo. The zoo houses more than 320 species and it is oldest zoo in Australia (opened in 1862). I enjoyed watching the animals. Everyone there felt that they’re a kid all over again because of the animals. The moment I saw where the kangaroos were, I was stunned. Since the sun was up, I think they were too lazy to get up and they’re quite thin. I was able to see one kangaroo hop its way to the other side and I was really amazed how cute it hopped!

There was one koala there hugging the bamboo tree. It was so cute!

The meerkat was a funny little thing. It was quite hard to take a photo of it because it kept on running around. Good thing I was able to catch him standing still.

Here’s another interesting animal I saw, the wombat. It’s actually a pig but it’s hairy. The keeper allowed the visitors to touch it. He was harmless and felt like I was caressing a dog.

I ate my quick lunch at the zoo. Just had a cheeseburger (a gigantic one!) and a bottle of Gatorade. I left Melbourne zoo at around 12:30 pm and headed to the tram station to go back to the city. The funny thing happened was I rode the wrong tram. I realized that I rode the tram going farther north of Melbourne because I couldn’t see it anymore in my map! I immediately jumped off the wrong tram and waited for the tram (again, tram 55)  going to back to the city. It’s confusing for me because their roads are meant for drivers on the right side when here in the Philippines, the drivers are at the left side . My next stop was the University of Melbourne.

Trinity College at the University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is one of the most prestigious university in the whole world. Founded in 1854, its Gothic inspired architecture is truly a beautiful sight to see. If only given a chance, I want to study there.

Horsfall Chapel near the Trinity College

I still can’t get enough of looking at different kinds of art and so I decided to drop by the National Gallery of Victoria at the Arts Centre. I rode the tram going to the Flinders Street Station.

There is no entrance fee to the National Gallery of Victoria. Everybody is free to roam around and even take pictures. At first, I was hesitant because usually galleries would not allow photography inside it but when I saw someone who took a photo and the marshall didn’t mind it, I took my own photos as well.

Roaming around the different galleries felt like I was in Rome. The paintings and sculptures were magnificent. I couldn’t help but be awed as I was looking at the beautiful pieces of art! I even saw a Monet painting there.

My last stop for the day was the Eureka Skydeck 88. This is also like the Melbourne 360 but this one offers something different aside from the full view of Melbourne. They have what they call “The Edge”.  This is a glass cube which projects out of the building itself and can be thrilling for many because the floor is also made of glass. By the way, if you look down, you will see that you are standing 300 meters high. The entrance fee to the Eureka Skydeck 88 is AUD 16.50 for adults (around Php 709+) and there is an additional fee of AUD 12.00 (around Php 516+)  if you want to experience “The Edge”.

I’d really go for anything as a tourist so I paid for my admission ticket for the edge. They gave me an alarm thing which will signal me to go to the entrance of The Edge. So I decided to look around the skydeck first and the I heard the alarm thing. I noticed that the alarm went louder as I approach the entrance of the Edge. They gave me plastic to put into my shoes (somewhat like a shower cap) then we were briefed on what to do when we’re inside the chamber. While we were inside the glass chamber, there were loud noises that would make you feel scared. I wasn’t really scared at all. No cameras were allowed inside the chamber because they have a camera there to take souvenir photos. Of course, I had mine. My group included a couple and a family and I was the only one who’s alone (sad ). Well, even though that’s the case, I’m the only one who has the cutest souvenir photo! Haha. After the experience, they gave us baller bands that says “I survived The Edge” for free and after that I headed to the souvenir photo area to get my own photo.

I headed to Swanston Street to have dinner. I enjoyed watching the animals and most especially the beautiful art in the gallery. I was already realizing that my days in Melbourne was nearing to its end. It saddening to know that I am now back here in Manila. I wish I could’ve stayed much longer but my work is here. But anyway, I was already lucky to have one weekend there to go around and experience the city.

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I was lucky to have stayed in a hotel that is very easy to find. As mentioned in my previous blog post, I stayed at the Seasons Botanical Gardens in St. Kilda Road. The hotel was opposite the tram station so it was very easy for me to go to anywhere I want to.

Tree at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Tree at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Sculpture at the Royal Botanic Gardens

At the Royal Botanic Gardens

My adventure started at the parks opposite my hotel. Since it’s spring time in Melbourne, it’s a good time to see colorful flowers and lots of green trees. I just needed to cross the street and voila, I am already at the Royal Botanic Gardens. This garden is really big (35.4 hectares). I can’t help but be amazed by the beautiful flowers. There were birds everywhere.

Flowers at the Shrine of Remembrance

Shrine of Remembrance

Then I visited the Shrine of Remembrance, which was just nearby. The shrine is actually a war memorial that was built from 1928-1934 to commemorate the thousands of great men and women who died during the Great War in 1914-1918. The structure itself was so enormous and can’t help be enamoured by its grandeur.

Stone of Remembrance

Trees at the Shrine of Remembrance

Opposite the Shrine of Remembrance is The Stone of Remembrance and the trees leading to Anzac Avenue.

Sculpture at the King’s Domain

Sculpture Near Sidney Myer Music Bowl at the King’s Domain

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

I continued to walk and eventually landed at the King’s Domain. I saw the Sidney Myer Music Bowl where concerts and big events are being held.

Fountain at the National Gallery of Victoria

The Arts Centre

After that, my feet eventualy led me to the National Gallery of Victoria and the Arts Centre which are part of the Arts Precinct. It was still very early then (around 9 am) and so I wasn’t able to go inside it. I just walked around it and then, the nearby structure of it is the Arts Centre. This is where theatrical plays and shows are held. One must pay the entrance fee depending on the kind of show that you’ll watch.

Melbourne City Free Tourist Shuttle

Now the reason I walked towards this area is because I wanted to see the Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle. This is free for all tourists who would like to visit the key tourist spots around Melbourne. The Arts Centre is their first stop. Below is the list of  the Tourist Shuttle Stops:

1. The Arts Precinct – Performing Arts Museum, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) , Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) , Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Recital Centre
2. Federation Square - Melbourne Visitor Centre, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame and the National Design Centre.
3. Sports Precinct - National Sports Museum, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Olympic Park, Fitzroy Gardens, Cooks’ Cottage, the Fairy Tree, model Tudor Vilage and Conservatory.
4. Chinatown Precinct & Theatres District – Her Majesty’s Princess and Comedy Theaters, Treasury Gardens, City Museum at Old Treasury, Chinatown
5. Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens – Melbourne Museum, IMAX Theatre, Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
6. Lygon Street Precinct (home of the Italian community)
7. University of Melbourne
8. Queen Victoria Market
9. Waterfront City, Docklands – Pearl River Road and Docklands Drive, Southern Star Observation Wheel, Harbour Twn, Waterfront City Marina
10. Docklands Stadium & Victoria Harbour- Harbour Esplanade, Victoria Harbour, Telstra Dome (Etihad), Docklands Park
11. William Street – Immigration Museum, Melbourne 360, Melbourne Aquarium, ANZ Gothic Bank
    
12. Southbank and Yarra River – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Crown Entertainment Complex, Eureka Skydeck 88
13. The Shrine and Royal Botanic Gardens – Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Gardens, King’s Domain, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Government House and La Trobe’s Cottage.

I based my whole itinerary from the list of the shuttle stops even though I didn’t really ride the tourist shuttle all throughout weekend. I felt like it’s much enjoyable when I’m walking than riding the bus and waiting for the next stop.

Flinders Street Train Station

Australians Heading to the Horse Races in Flinders Street Train Station

Federation Square

Anyway, to continue with my journey, after riding the shuttle bus I arrived at the Federation Square. It’s probably one of the busiest intersections because this is also where Flinders Street Train Station is. Lots of people travel to and from this station. When I was there, it was the season of the Melbourne Cup (horse races). It has been a tradition of men and women to dress up for the said event. Women have to accessorize with unique hats along with their dresses.

St. Paul’s Cathedral in Flinders Street

Across the Flinders Street Train Station was the St. Paul’s Cathedral. It looks very gothic and it’s in the middle of a very busy intersection.

Federation Square

Film Watching at the Federation Square

The photo above is the Federation Square which is just across the Flinders Street Train Station. This area is a public area where people can just sit down and chill out. When I was there, Harry Potter 5 was being shown in the big screen. It’s totally free and no one will bother you.

Australian Racing Museum

As mentioned earlier, Australians are very fond of the horse races. It’s rooted in their history and culture so I decided to drop by the Australian Racing Museum at the Federation Square. The entrance fee is AUD $9.00. The exhibit area is just one floor, just to give you a glimpse of horse racing history. The most interesting part of their horse races is the evolution of women’s dresses throughout the years. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a picture of the things inside the museum so to know the history of women’s fashion, you may refer to the article here.

History of Film, Television and Digital Culture at the Australian Center for the Moving Image

Old Film Projector in ACMI

Another interesting place to visit within the Federation Square is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). It is the home of independent cinemas in Melbourne. They hold international film festivals and they also have queer cinema festival (for the LGBTs) during March. At the second floor, they have an interactive exhibit of the history of film, television and digital culture. This was a fun place to visit because they have old projectors, televisions, family computers and many more. The best of it all is that you can actually use them, like the old Nintendo family computer .

Television During the 80′s at the ACMI

Star Wars Figures at the ACMI

So if you’re a someone who is a popular culture enthusiast, this is a place you should not miss. The entrance is free and you can take photos (for as long as you don’t use flash). They have a booth wherein you can be like Keanu Reeves in the Matrix. You can send it to yourself (which I did) and you can see the video here.

Street Performer at the Federation Square

After going around the museums, I saw this Aussie street performer near the Melbourne Tourist Information Centre. He did some tricks and even had people from the audience participate. There are lots of these in the city, all you have to do is just give a little amount to show your appreciation.

Deli Aisle in Queen Victoria Market

Cold Cuts at the Queen Victoria Market

Fruits in Queen Victoria Market

Fruits and Vegetables at the Queen Victoria Market

It’s already lunch time and I totally forgot to eat because I was still enjoying the city. I decided to go to Queen Victoria Market to have my lunch there. I wasn’t really hungry at all but I felt that I needed to eat something, so I just had a Borek.

The market is very popular not only to Australians but also to tourists because it’s a historic landmark, a tourist attraction and most of all, it’s the shopping mecca of Australians. You can find lots of things at the market from deli, fruits, vegetables, clothes, cafes, souvenirs and many more. The place is somewhat similar to our own Farmer’s Market in Cubao but this is much bigger and lots of choices to choose from. It’s about 7 hectare and was opened to the public on 20th March 1878. This is definitely a haven for foodies. They offer different kinds of tours such as:

1. Foodies Tour – schedules are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:00 am
2. Group Tours - special tours and concessions for more than 10 people
3. Heritage Market Tour - explores the colourful 125 year plus history of the Market and includes morning tea
4. Combination Tour – combination of popular foodies and historical tours with coffee break half way through which is ideal for seniors
5. Multi-cultural Food Tour - emphasizes the wonderful ethnic variety of Market produce
6. Breakfast with the Vegies – breakfast tour
7. Healthy Eating for Diabetics Shop and Cook - this is in conjunction with their cooking school
8. Special Christmas Shopping Tours

If you want to book or ask about these tours, you may email them at qvmtours@melbourne.vic.gov.au. I was hoping to join the Foodies tour but I wasn’t able to because I was still wandering around Federation Square at that time. Oh well, it’s ok. Anyway, their market trading hours are:

• Tuesday & Thursday 6 am – 2 pm
• Friday 6 am – 6 pm (General merchandise to 4 pm)
  
• Saturday 6 am – 3 pm (General merchandise from 8 am – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
  
• Sunday 9 am – 4 pm

To be able to go to Queen Victoria Market, I rode a tram from William Street that is heading north. Another way is to ride any north-heading tram from Elizabeth Street.

Melbourne 360 Sign

Sculptures at the Melbourne 360

After my quick lunch and shopping for my friends and relatives’ gifts, I went to the Melbourne 360 in Collins Street. From Queen Elizabeth Market, I rode a tram in Queen Street to Collins Street. Then I walked 2 blocks before I reached the Melbourne 360.

View at the Melbourne 360

The Melbourne 360 is located at the 55th floor of the Rialto. It only takes around 40 seconds to reach the deck. From there, you’ll see the full view of Melbourne. The photo above is West Melbourne. The nest-like shape thing you see there is the Etihad Stadium.

View at the Melbourne 360

This is East Melbourne. The tallest building in the photo is the Eureka Tower which is also has an observation deck.

ANZ Gothic Bank and Westpac Building

Now this is North Melbourne. The buildings above are 2 of the biggest banks in Australia, ANZ Bank and Westpac. The photo shows the ANZ Gothic Bank, where my former colleagues in ANZ Careers work.

Entrance fee for an adult in Melbourne 360 is at AUD $ 15.50 (approximately Php 660 +).

Hours of operations are:

• Monday – Friday: 10am – 9pm (last entry 8:30pm)
• Saturday: 10am – 10pm (last entry 9:30pm)
• Sunday: 10am – 6:30pm (last entry 6pm)

Melbourne Aquarium Sign

It was already around 4 pm. I was so tired from walking and still carrying plastics of shopping bags from the Queen Victoria Market but that didn’t hinder me from going to the Melbourne Aquarium.

Penguins

Penguin Swimming

I love the Melbourne Aquarium because of the cute penguins and other sea creatures. It was actually my first time to see penguins in person and they are really very adorable! I suddenly remembered the movie Happy Feet when I saw them walking in queue.

Pinocchio Fish at the Melbourne Aquarium

Tortoise at the Melbourne Aquarium

Shark at the Melbourne Aquarium

Smiling Stingray at the Melbourne Aquarium

I was like a kid stuck in a museum because of the wonderful sea creatures I saw all around the aquarium. The place is like Ocean Park in Hong Kong but this one is much smaller.

My day ended by having dinner at the Swanston Walk Cafe Bar along Swanston Street then, I rode a tram going back to my hotel. As much as I wanted to sleep early, I can’t because I have to plan my itinerary for the next day. I’m glad that my day was planned just right.

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