The Melby Rush

Silence. The kind which surrounds you after 3 weeks of being constantly around your noisy, nosy family. Just like the wind, they came, they annoyed, they left. And now I am missing the annoyance, sigh.

During the past 3 weeks they were here, I must admit that it was a helluva roller coaster ride - up/down, right/left, puke-inducing, etc. I was scratching my head thinking of where to bring them, googled crazy looking for directions and good restaurants, almost lost my sanity being tour guide, being frustrated then jolly and then frustrated then jolly for most of the time, screamed for fun and for real making sure everyone was happy . . . . . and totally lost my exercise and healthy eating discipline.

I am just reassembling my life again right now - back to normalcy, order and reality. Sei mou?

Despite all that, it was a trip I will always look back with a smile and silly sigh.

Our very first family portrait in a long time. Taken in front of my house before our first outing into the city. This was during SUMMER. Really. Everyone was most impressed with the tree with the purple flowers instead of the cleanliness and tidiness of the interior of the house (wasted all my sweat and time cher). Maybe it is because we have the only purple tree along the street, geng mou!

The first 3 days we spent around the city, hence PUBLIC TRANSPORT time! It must have been ages since my parents and sis have been on any buses or trains back in Malaysia while I think my cousin Ivy has never been on any of them. Now let us not forget trams (!!), impressive tour I organized eh?

Just wanted to let them have a taste of how my life is over here. E.g. freezing your butt off standing on the platform after missing a train and knowing the next one will be delayed. Everyone was curious and excited the first 2 times I think, after that, it just became a napping/stoning place for all :-)

One thing I love about the city are the street performers. They add colours and creativity to the streets.

Went to Eureka Tower for a skyhigh view of the city. Notice the picture doesn't depict anything skyhigh/cityview/etc? Well, I initially organized a healthy trip - 2 main meals being lunch and dinner and a small snack time in between for each day - but it was more than scraped when everyone complained that they were too hungry. TOO HUNGRY.

Reason? 1 - Walked too much. 2 - The day was too cold. 3 - Should try new food in new countries.

De-reason-fication. 1 - Walked only less than 2 hours with most time spent shopping. 2 - Wrapped up like a dumpling ady! 3 - Magnum ice-cream sticks are considered some kinda new food in a new country?????????

Anyway, due to this, the remaining of the trip (Reminder: 3 weeks minus day 1) spelt food, more food, more and more food.

The next day, I brought them to the bus loop to take a bus! Isn't this like a field trip? Loved seeing them kinda-panicky when validating their MetCards and nervous glances from my Mum wondering which stop to get down at. Little happiness-es in life :-)

This is the Christmas decoration in Crown Casino. Love candy-sticks, love crazy-lights, love jolly songs, love gigantic-fake presents.

Everyone really enjoyed Victoria Market. The colourful plants, crops and food of all kinds. One of my favourites - the colourful cactus plants.

The fruits and vegetables looking so healthy they shine!

The following day, we went to the Melbourne Zoo (answering my sis, Ivy and Wenji's brother, Felix's wishes but not so for my parents). But it was fun! See the picture above? It is the Thinker pose! How rare?

And the best picture of the day? Have to be this close-up shot of the Tiger. ROAR.

I love animals.

'Are You Game?' Sure yeah! I love animals even more now :-)

I loveeee this picture! It is like the poster of Infernal Affairs - the jolly, round and short version! Ho ho ho.

After days in the city and my graduation (both extremely taxing!), we went back to nature ~ Orchards, farms and wineries!

Pak Ramli suka berkebun di kebun raspberry-nya.

This is the Warratina Lavender Farm and the air really smells of perfume, girlish-ness, sisterhood - or to the less sentimental, it smells like toilet. Well, obviously toilets smell of lavender only because we put lavender-infused everythings into our toilets!

See, sisterly love xoxo. We look so very much alike, right?

Pak Ramli juga suka berkebun di kebun nectarine-nya.

Heading to BlueHills for Cherry Picking - see the horrified look. I was foreseeing the amount my Dad would gobble up while picking.

Doesn't this look like a mistletoe? 'Mistletoe'. . .

I was trying to emulate a serene Greek Goddess. And I succeeded. Yes oh I so did.

The picture explains all :-)

The next day, we were in for the BIG one - Great Ocean Road - my mum's favourite motion sickness journey. The picture above was taken during one of our pit stops in Geelong. A pit stop which became a huge breakfast fest of pancakes, big Aussie breakfasts and chocolate mudcakes. Don't you just love the ruby blue glistening water?

Another family shot under the blue skies, in front of the blue sea.

Creative Pak Raymond decided we should take another picture similar to our first ever picture together which was taken around Great Ocean Road as well. Two and a half years on, ooops, sorry in case there are some of you who processes time in round numbers, lemme rephrase - two years on:

I look slimmer, poses less cheesily and am still similar in height.

He looks chunkier, poses more cheesily and 'looks' taller.

I love going to Great Ocean Road. The drive, the sceneries, the walking around, the sound of the waves, the surfers in action, the stories behind.

One of my favourite stops is definitely the Loch Arc Gorge - like a hidden paradise.

Following my sis's suggestion to give the smouldering look. Before and After. Not much difference also, ceh.

A bonus for that day? Seeing wild koalas and they were not sleeping!!! . . . . but eating.

If only I were a koala - to be considered uber-cute when I continue sleeping and eating while I am chubby.

Next stop - BRISBANE!