Melbourne

Melbourne from the Eureka Tower's Skydeck, home to the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere

During my trip to Korea last July I met Zoe, a Korean-Australian that shares my love for sarcasm and crude humor while maintaining a much more pleasant demeanor. So, even though I boarded my flight to Australia only a few weeks ago, my adventure down under started nearly a year and half prior. Without the friendship that Zoe and I formed over our brief two weeks in Korea– and sustained for months and months beyond– I doubt I would have made it to my fourth continent (same goes for that Sydneysider). Thanks for welcoming me into your home and being a wonderful friend.

Now, enough with the sappy stuff, onto the week that was Melbourne (I don’t remember the everyday details of my five-day stay, nor do I think writing it would be the most entertaining way to share it; fortunately, I took a lot of pictures. Enjoy!).

Off of Great Ocean Road.

Boys were eating french fries. I contemplated stealing and/or asking them for some. Wisely, I decided against both.

I arrived in Melbourne on Christmas Eve after approximately twenty hours of traveling (4 hours to Guangzhou, 5 hour layover, 10 hours to Melbourne). I’ve never flown by myself during the holidays and security was a nightmare. It took forever to clear customs but once I got through the summer sun cooled my frustrations. It was only midday so we headed southwest to Great Ocean Road and caught up.

They drive on the wrong side of the road!

St. Kilda on Christmas Eve

For Christmas I went on a run outside, shirtless. I told Zoe’s mom that it was “my Christmas present” because in Korea people a) don’t run outside b) don’t run outside shirtless and c) definitely don’t run outside shirtless in zero degree weather on Christmas. It was a quiet Christmas but an experience I definitely related to.

Healesville Sanctuary: Kangaroo

Healesville Sanctuary: I promise I'm not afraid of Kangaroos

Healesville Sanctuary: Chlamydia Carrier

Great, now I have Chlamydia.

After Healesville (and Melbourne’s temperamental weather started cooperating) we were off to ride bikes around Melbourne, tour the city on foot and hit the beach. All of my favorite things.

With the messenger bag over my shoulder I couldn't help but feel like I had something to deliver...

Eureka Tower over the Yarra River (...why's it so brown?)

hahaha and Melbourne's so hipster! (insert indie music posters everywhere)

The famous Flinder's Street Station with Zoe.

Unfortunately I don’t have any worthwhile pictures from Sorrento (the beach we stayed at for my last day in Melbourne). My best story from Sorrento is that my back got burnt so badly that I was pealing weeks later. Goddamn hole in the ozone layer!

I was scolded by a Sydneysider for not trying Melbourne coffee (because apparently it’s something they’re known for) but other than that minor oversight I’d say I really loved Melbourne. It was creatively modern. Bridges and architecture showed character despite clearly being new, unlike in Korea where new chrome, sterile building designs are repeated blueprints.

Thanks for showing me your city, Zoe, it certainly lived up to all the hype.