GPO, Melbourne

GPO's always the one place in Melbourne CBD I enjoy walking into whenever I have some free time. The designs and props they use always amaze me and it's probably also because it has such a cool history to it. It's nice how it's still so well-maintained and its class still upheld over all these years. 

It's definitely a place to bring your friends visiting Melbourne. Located on Bourke Street which is usually buzzing with people (outside and instores), GPO is a small 3-level cosy building with higher end labels and pretty good restaurants and cafes at the side alleys. 

An Assortment

Today was another good day - I am again being reminded of my Lord's goodness in blessing me with friendships and a life in Melbourne. I spent the day with a friend I went to primary school with. We spent hours reminiscing the ol' silly days over a good cuppa, hot chocolate and some good savoury bagels from Manchester Press. 

I came home & looked through my photo albums and thought, why not just upload photos of some good looking food?! I don't know about you but I am usually attracted to the physical outlooks for my food haha

 (This is my mum's homemade custard egg tarts in celebration of the beginning of Spring!)

My Mexican Cousin by St Ali, South Melbourne $21

 (Yet another gorgeous dessert put up by my mother - Lemon Meringue Wedding Cupcakes) 

Chasing the Sun, Barwon Heads, Melbourne

Who would've guessed that a winter weekend away chasing the sunrise could be so much fun! We were so thankful that the weather turned out really clear and sunny! Some friends & I spent the weekend away chilling and photographing the sunrise. It was an amazing weekend - just being reminded of the greatness and goodness of God. We are constantly surrounded by God's creation and being reminded of his existence and bigness through his wonderful creation! 

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? I go up to the heavens, you are there;if I make my bed in the depths, you are there, If I rise on wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-12

The long and winding road to Apollo Bay...

The Green Refectory, Brunswick, Melbourne

One of the many reasons why I love Melbourne is the amazing brunch food this city offers. After a superbly long week of work and classes, I just walk ten minutes to the nearest tram stop, hop on the 109 and after 40 minutes, I arrive at Melbourne's famous indie-hangouts, Brunswick. Brunswick is such an amazing place to be - especially on Saturday mornings, around 11ish. Along the street are flea markets, cafes, florists, retro CD shops, vintage boutiques, pubs or even pub-turned-flea-markets! What makes the place even more attractive is its creative graffiti splashed over the walls and its quirky ornaments along Brunswick Street. 

If you are ever up for an authentic affordable Melbourne brunch, hop on to Sydney Rd (which is probably a 7km drive away from Brunswick Street, Fitzroy North) and look for The Green Refectory! This cosy cafe is usually packed on weekends, so make sure you head there early in the morning to save you and you friend a table! It's so packed with people, my sister and I were squished next to a faux fireplace and had insufficient space to whip our cameras out to take more photos! BUT, you know when a place is good - when it's fully packed inside and there's a long queue outside! 

I ordered the Breakfast Stack from the Green Refectory, $11. Best brunch meal ever! Compared to St. Ali's (which I also absolutely adore), this place is so much more worth it for its value. The Breakfast Stack is, a combination of solid seasoned mash potatoes stacked with lightly sauteed spinach, grilled tomatoes, crispy bacon, generous slices of haloumi and finally, crowned with a perfectly poached egg! To balance and finish off the dish, fresh tangy tomato relish is drizzled around the stack.  If that ain't enough for you, you can always add sides like, chorizos and mushrooms. But seriously, $11 for all of that is AMAZING! 

wholla! Breakfast Stack, I heart you! 

St. Ali, Melbourne

When I got back from Asia beginning of the year, a very old friend of mine visited Melbourne and we decided to go coffee hunting together over her 6-day holiday here - over the 6 days, she had more than 10 cups of coffee - this is definitely one thing expected of Melbourne's famous coffee culture! 

A really famous "indie"/unconventional/hidden cafe that's been really famous among the locals these 2 years is St. Ali's. Hidden in an alleyway at South Melbourne, no one really knows its existence unless you know you're looking for ;) So far, it's said to brew the best coffee in Melbourne! 

Hopetoun Tea Rooms, Melbourne

There was a massive hype about Hopetoun for the past year and a bit but I think the craze has died down this year when Asian/Taiwanese dessert parlours invaded the streets of Melbourne. Anyhow, a couple of friends and I rocked up at Hopetoun hoping to taste delicious cakes and tarts but I think we left pretty disappointed because the quality of their desserts didn't match their looks. No doubt Hopetoun's desserts looked fantastic with all the vibrant colours especially accompanied by colourful freshly cut fruits but unfortunately their Black Forest cake was crumbly and the layers of their Vanilla Slice were tough as rock - we couldn't even cut it neatly and it was just so messy. However, their Lemington which looked beautiful also tasted pretty good.

Rose Street Artist Market, Brunswick, Melbourne

Brunswick Street - one of the best places to be on a Saturday afternoon. Take the 112 tram from the heart of Melbourne CBD towards Brunswick and get off when you start seeing quaint-looking cafes and boutiques. Saturday mornings on Brunswick Street reminds me of the photos I've seen of Europe - filled with random-cool-hidden garage sales, vintage flee markets in a hidden shed or in pubs and the street's filled with indie acoustic buskers and good brunch/tea food! oh! just SO MUCH CULTURE! 

Rose Street Artist Market is open every Saturday from 11AM to 5PM. There you find plenty of handmade stuff - accessories, chinaware, clothes, bags, paintings, etc etc.. the only downside of it is things are usually a little more overpriced but I guess it's justifiable because they're all handmade :) Definitely a good spot to bring a friend visiting Melbourne to show them what Melbourne is all about!

More about Rose Street Artist Market here

South Melbourne Market, Melbourne

The past two weeks have been the busiest week within the last two months and I foresee September being a pain as well with all my assignments due then. Today was a good day; finally done with my clerkship applications + tutorial work (with lots more to go of course..) and spent the morning discovering South Melbourne. Weather didn't start out too well - poured for a couple of hours but it cleared midway through lunch and while we shopped around South Melbourne Market. 

South Melbourne Market differs from Victoria Market in many ways: 1. Less Tourist 2. Less made-in-China stuff: the Market is mainly made up of quaint handmade products and food stalls 3. More pricey 4. Cleaner  5. Less crowded.