Every time i step off the plane and out of the airport into the fresh, chilly Melbourne air, i feel like i’ve been reunited with an old love; one that i’ve come to know so intimately and yet still holds such an air of mystery.
There’s so much to love about this city- the incredible food culture (I’ve had some of the best Thai and Chinese food i’ve ever had to date here), a transport system that takes you through the city, its surrounding suburbs and even up to the breathtakingly awe-inspiring Great Ocean Road, the rows of little bustling cafes just about everything you turn, practically begging you to chuck your afternoon plans and sit down for a cup of coffee and people watch, the historical and beautiful architecture that lines the vibrant city, little alleys hiding little unique fashion stores, hole-in-the-wall cafes and clubs just waiting to be explored – i really could go on all day.
The one thing i really love about Melbourne is how no matter how many cafes i’ve had coffees at, how many gourmet food stores and baking shops i’ve spent most parts of the afternoon leisurely browsing through, how many little fashion boutiques i’ve wandered into, not really looking for anything in particular (which doesn’t happen very often at all. As my mum would sadly tell you, i don’t quite have the stamina or enthusiasm for clothes shopping), there’s always something waiting to be discovered just right around the corner.
So here are some new places i’ve discovered, some old haunts i can’t get enough of and some random photos i’ve taken over the last couple of days.
Our lunch at Ikea. The meatballs, as always, were sooo good. Plus i scored myself a bar of dark chocolate for only a dollar.
I never ever travel without a book but this time i found myself torn between my two loves- economics and food- at the bookstore in the airport. If you’re looking for a good book about why globalization isn’t neccasarily a good thing, especially for developing countries, and what can- and should be- done about it, Joseph Stiglitz’s Making Globalization Work comes highly recommanded by me. He really goes in depth into issues like the pros and cons of globalization, how poverty can be reduced and what needs to be done to make globalization work for the poorer countries in a really clear, concise way you don’t need a degree in economics to understand.
The stash of food magazines i’ve been eagerly awaiting the last couple of months 
The Yarra River. Don’t be fooled by the sunny blue skies- it was cold. You would think after five years in Melbourne, i would have known better but noooo, i was dressed for spring while the rest of Melbourne- with the exception of my ever so effortless chic friend, S, of course whom i was meeting for lunch- looked like they were living right across the other side of the equator, ready to combat the wet, harsh winter.
One of my favourite alleys, Centre Place- there’s tons of good cafes and even a couple of tiny boutiques. This place is always burstling with life, even on the weekdays so you can pretty much forget about getting a seat during the weekend.
The very artistic graffiti just off Centre Place. I love the splash of colour and character it gives this quaint little place.
A rare quiet morning on Bourke Street, just before the crazy crowd, otherwise known the lunch crowd, comes in. This is the only street in Melbourne where trams are the only mode of transport allowed to run along it- i love the feel it gives the street, especially with the occasional buskers on the sidewalk.
The former Melbourne General Post Office. It’s now a very chic fashion hub.
A cosy Italian place i’ve always wanted to dine at right next to the GPO and a lovely florist right outside the GPO, otherwise known as the place GT bought the largest bouquet of flowers i’ve ever received. We had to go back to that florist, as well as a couple of other florists around the city, to inquire if they sold a vase large enough for it 
A tiny and quaint little arcade off Bourke Street. I love the little games store this place houses- they sell every board game imaginable and the Simpsons puzzles that fix up to form a little globe.
The Melbourne Town Hall. Other than paying your parking fines and settling other minor grievances here, you can also catch shows like the annual comedy fest here.
My favourite baking store in the city. This store might be tiny but it has everything you could possibly want. If you can’t find it here, chances are you would be hard pressed to find it anywhere else. ♥
The majestic Flinders Street train station. I always feel like royalty as i walk into it although that feeling completely disappears the second i step onto the platforms- i’m pretty sure royalty don’t have to jostle with a zillion other people to get on the trains.
A really cute costume street on Gertrude Street, just outside the city. Perfect for Halloween.
I absolutely fell in love with this little hole-in-the-wall Japanese place S brought me to the second i walked into it. It felt like in just a split second, we had been transported to Japan.
My really fresh and tasty sashimi salad and S’s chicken bento.
Now S doesn’t like chocolate so when she raved about this chocolate store, i knew it had to be damn bloody good. It was just out of this world- they make all their own chocolate bars, chocolate truffles and the pastries are all freshly baked in their little kitchen in the store. The French owner and his staff were sooo friendly. We had a good chat about how their chocolates are made, the differences between them and how i wanted to just buy the entire store. By the way, the chocolate truffles were incredible! I think i sampled just about all of them. My favourite was definitely the Mexican chili- talk about chocolate packing a punch!
We shared a berry custard pastry and a pear tart over cups of skinny flat whites. I’m not a pastry person at all- i don’t even like puff pastry- but these were sooo good!
My precious stash from the store. We had a little taste of the cocoa nibs at the store, courtesy of the store owner. He very kindly even taught us how to gently break open the whole cocoa beans and savour the tiny nibs in it. It was really bitter but so damned good. I scored myself a free mini chocolate bar. It’s so good- dark with fruity undertones and a slightly bitter aftertaste. I have been breaking off a tiny bit every day and savouring it- i’m sooo glad dark chocolate is the one thing GT doesn’t fancy
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As this post is already overflowing with pictures, i’m gonna do a couple of posts over the next couple of weeks. I don’t know what i’m gonna be featuring yet, it really depends on what i get up to but i have a rough idea. Stay tuned!
