Two weeks ago, Anelle and I went to Melbourne for the weekend. It was a trip that we had planned for a few months. It was planned so that we could meet up with our favorite Aussie Steve. Well, maybe not our favorite but pretty darn close and he is right up there with Steve Irwin and Paul Hogan. Steve was back in Australia for his sister's wedding and we had an opportunity to catch up with him in Melbourne. It was also an opportunity to get to know Melbourne a little better. Our first time there, we did touristy stuff and felt rushed. This time would prove to be different as we planned absolutely nothing other than hanging out with Steve, his girlfriend Huyen, our friend Lara and some of Steve's mates. |
I flew out Friday earlier than Anelle as I had an interview with the University of Melbourne. More on this in a separate post. I'll just say that I have been offered a position due to start in July/August but I need to figure out some VISA options while also finding out if the university will work with me on that front in order for Anelle and I to stay longer. If not, then it's on to plan B and seeing as much of Australia as possible before coming home. My goal was always to gain sponsorship with a University and it would be massive to accomplish it. I am really hoping for a positive outcome but we will see what happens and go from there.
After my interview, Lara picked me up from my hotel and showed me around some of her favorite areas. We had a great lunch and coffee on Brunswick street and then enjoyed a drink on a rooftop bar with a view to Melbourne's skyscrapers. After a while, I started to crash. I had been up since 4:30 am in order to catch a 6 am flight in time to land for my interview at noon. Lara dropped me off at my hotel so that I could get a nap in before Anelle arrived. We got ready and went out to meet Steve and some of his mates at a bar. At the bar we met Steve's girlfriend, Huyen. It would be the first time we met her but it felt like we already knew her as we had all secretly worked on a b-day video for Steve that Huyen set up. Anyhow, at the bar we also met Steve's mates Aaron and Scott. All great guys and they really went out of their way to show us all a good time. Sometime during our drinks and dinner, someone brought up dancing so we ended up at a club. We jumped into a cab and ended up on the other side of the city where we hit another bar before walking into a club. We had a few more drinks, danced a lot and before we knew it, it was 4am. After a late night kebab, we called it a night. The next day would start and end in a very similar fashion. As you can see in the pictures below, the night was some what of a blur but it looks like we all had fun.
After my interview, Lara picked me up from my hotel and showed me around some of her favorite areas. We had a great lunch and coffee on Brunswick street and then enjoyed a drink on a rooftop bar with a view to Melbourne's skyscrapers. After a while, I started to crash. I had been up since 4:30 am in order to catch a 6 am flight in time to land for my interview at noon. Lara dropped me off at my hotel so that I could get a nap in before Anelle arrived. We got ready and went out to meet Steve and some of his mates at a bar. At the bar we met Steve's girlfriend, Huyen. It would be the first time we met her but it felt like we already knew her as we had all secretly worked on a b-day video for Steve that Huyen set up. Anyhow, at the bar we also met Steve's mates Aaron and Scott. All great guys and they really went out of their way to show us all a good time. Sometime during our drinks and dinner, someone brought up dancing so we ended up at a club. We jumped into a cab and ended up on the other side of the city where we hit another bar before walking into a club. We had a few more drinks, danced a lot and before we knew it, it was 4am. After a late night kebab, we called it a night. The next day would start and end in a very similar fashion. As you can see in the pictures below, the night was some what of a blur but it looks like we all had fun.
Saturday. Anelle and I slept in and ordered room service for brekkie. We got a late start to the day but when we did get started, we started off strong with a late lunch at Chin Chin with Lara. Such. An. Incredible. Meal. It was probably the best food we had eaten so far. Eating is such an experience in Australia or at least in the cities we've been too. Australians really seem to enjoy their food and the experience of it all. It really is a treat and I've learned to slow down and enjoy each bite and moment. After a great experience at Chin Chin, we met up with Steve, Huyen and Aaron for a coffee. We caught up on how each of our previous nights ended and planned out what our Saturday night would consist of...it was basically going to be bar hopping. We all met up a couple of hours later at a bar. I remember looking at my watch a few hours in and thinking to myself, "it's still early." The next time I looked at my watch, it was nearly 4am and we had visited three or four bars. I was starting to hit a wall around that time. We all walked out and said our goodbyes. Aaron was an absolute legend all weekend long. He offered us his extra bedroom in his house if we made a move to Melbourne. Great bloke!
Sunday, would prove to be a lot more mellow. Pizza in the Italian suburb for dinner before heading home was excellent and some of the best pizza we've had. I definitely have to apologize to Lara for being basically expressionless during dinner while not being very chatty. By that point, the weekend festivities really started to hit me and I was feeling wrecked. Before dinner Anelle, Lara and I watched Avengers: Age of Ultron on the third largest IMAX screen in the world. It was brilliant!
The weekend proved to Anelle and I that we could still hang when it came to partying. I guess all those Vegas trips prepared us for weekends like this. The plan was to not have any plans and just go along with whatever the locals suggested. No stress about having to see this or do that. We simply enjoyed the company of old and new friends. It also convinced us that we could definitely enjoy living in Melbourne. We loved how different each suburb was and all the great food and drink options there were. I guess that's part of the reason it consistently ranks at the top of most livable cities in the world. Thank you Steve, Lara and Aaron for showing us around and taking such great care of us. We had a blast!
Sunday, would prove to be a lot more mellow. Pizza in the Italian suburb for dinner before heading home was excellent and some of the best pizza we've had. I definitely have to apologize to Lara for being basically expressionless during dinner while not being very chatty. By that point, the weekend festivities really started to hit me and I was feeling wrecked. Before dinner Anelle, Lara and I watched Avengers: Age of Ultron on the third largest IMAX screen in the world. It was brilliant!
The weekend proved to Anelle and I that we could still hang when it came to partying. I guess all those Vegas trips prepared us for weekends like this. The plan was to not have any plans and just go along with whatever the locals suggested. No stress about having to see this or do that. We simply enjoyed the company of old and new friends. It also convinced us that we could definitely enjoy living in Melbourne. We loved how different each suburb was and all the great food and drink options there were. I guess that's part of the reason it consistently ranks at the top of most livable cities in the world. Thank you Steve, Lara and Aaron for showing us around and taking such great care of us. We had a blast!