Didn’t take long for me to get to Queen Victoria Market from the zoo, just one tram ride and a few minutes of walking.
I kind of reap the rewards of research ahead of time when I plot my own itineraries. After all the traveling I’ve done over the years, one thing I kept in mind is that I am ultimately a tourist. All the responsibility of knowing where I go and what I should use to go is on me. And just saying, it’s fun. Riding taxis, no thanks, unless it’s a ride to the airport or I saw that my last option is my only option. Last time I was pressed to ride a taxi, it was in Kuala Lumpur because I was way short for time to go to a certain place. But the next time I went back there, I successfully just used public transport.
So far, all of the places I’ve been to have adequate public transportation options – buses, trains, trams, tuktuks. And it’s a pleasure to see how the locals view and use their public transportation, like a good insight into how well their country treats their citizens. It’s because in my home country, our trains are piss poor options. Not only they had dismally planned stops and routes – many of the train stops are not even worth the foot traffic they get, some train stops get way too much riders and some train stops were in inconvenient places – they took way too long to construct, way too many administrations got their hands wet with it, and by the time they operate, they end up being at least a decade behind the technology used by developed nations.
OK, off rant. Back to QVM. The place looked kind of pretty in the light of daytime. Yesterday was dark and full of smoke and noise, in the daytime the sellers were setting up shop and had their wares on full. At first to treat my eyes, I walked at the produce section. Lots of bright vegetables, nice fruits and other kinds of produce I rarely get to see in SG markets. Soon I got hungry and reached a stall called “The Mussel Pot”, and they sell a short menu. That’s confidence right there.
There was a 20-plus person line but I braved it – I had time to kill. I got their steamed chili coconut mussels – steamed mussels, swimming in a coconut milk broth with chili mixed in, then two slices of bread, I presumed sourdough. I bought one Bundaberg ginger ale to round it up. I found a table with a seat for me, and ate my meal. Delicious and warm, and afterwards gave me a warm feeling that made the chill a lot more tolerable.
However, I wanted another meal. So I went to the area in the market with other stalls selling unique meals. I saw “Oz Tibet Kitchen” and I was intrigued. Tibetan food and I don’t have to go to Tibet? Why not. I got their pork momo, 6 pieces sitting on a bed of greens. These were big dumplings anyway, 6 of them filled me up. I drizzled their chili sauce on top, but what I did not anticipate is that the stall wasn’t fucking around with their chili heat. It was properly spicy. I just chalked it to locals wanting hotter chili sauces to combat the chill.
After that, I just went to the souvenir section of the market. I bought a nice pendant with an excellently-shaped crystal quartz, four shirts for my relatives and brother-in-law, a few magnets and keychains, and afterwards some snacks – candied pawpaw, wasabi peas, and chocolate covered nuts. After that, I went to the other sections and parts of the market to see if there’s maybe something else to see, and by the time I was done, it was 2pm. Time to go back to the hotel to offload my purchases, and fortunately again, it’s just a short walk away from the market. Great planning decision there.
I took a quick shower and lied down at the bed while my phone charged, and just watched some more anime and cycling documentaries. No rush, so I just chilled. Well, I did want to finalize my baggage, so I just spent an hour in bed until I had to get up and do the final stuff I had to get. I tried Woolworths and Coles a few days ago, and now to complete the trifecta, Aldi’s it was. I did plan Aldi’s as I had to buy some more Australian snacks and buy dinner. There was an Aldi’s store a few meters away from my hotel – the one in Swanson Street – so I just had to walk a bit. Exercise, it became.
After an hour of enjoying the grocery, I walked back to the hotel with an Aldi-branded blue cooler bag – should come in handy someday – with two drinks and some ready-to-eat meals. On the other arm was a bag full of snacks I plan to hand in the office as souvenir food for the pantries. For the meals, I got one each of their cold creamy pesto pasta – I’m such a whore for pesto – and potato salad (the 800g one). Very delicious, filling, and doesn’t land badly in your gut. And before I went back up the hotel, I bought a sandwich and a banana for breakfast.
By the end of Day 7, I was not that tired, but I assessed it as a necessary down slope of activity. I didn’t want to go to Bali tired as shit. But two full days in Melbourne led me to want more. The place’s unique charm made me want to save money so I can revisit in early winter time again. And maybe, spend four full days there and go to more far attractions and tourist spots. Maybe next time, two full days in Sydney then four in Melbourne. Maybe not next year, but the year after that.
I slept early and soundly that day. Fever and nasal problems have gone away for good, had a good meal, in a fluffy bed and a warm room. It was a good feeling for me that there was nothing to rush tomorrow, flight was at the afternoon anyway.
Briathrail // Albert 2MNG 
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