Melbourne April 2016

[GarrettM]

Saturday!
Yum cha!

The wife wanted to check out the Emporium to look for baby stuff. I of course was all too happy to be dragged along kicking and screaming. Especially as we were hitting Chinatown afterwards.
In the end she found some little baby shoes and maybe something else. My job is just to remind her of the credit card PINs if she forgets.
I told her to pick any of the restaurants she liked the look of as we walked through Chinatown, and somehow she found what I presume was the most crowded - a place called Juicy Bao on Little Bourke Street. No website but Google will give some results and reviews.
Once we had squeezed in with bub and pram, she went through the menu and ordered. I leave this to her at dumpling places. She's experienced and knows what she wants. One thing we didn't prepare for though was the size of the dishes. Much bigger than in Perth, so we ended up with a lot of food! Not that babyGM was fussed.


This was not all of it. I'd already got through a bit before these dishes arrived. We decided since we couldn't get through it all to pack it up and then we gave it to a homeless bloke on Elizabeth Street. Didn't check to see if they had utensils to assist them with eating it, but I am sure he managed.
After lunch I raised the possibility of going to the footy that night, and incredibly she said yes. Four games in one week. I tell you I have one hell of a wife.

Western Bulldogs and Brisbane at Docklands. Not much of a match, and I actually left at 3/4 time. But I'd definitely made the most of the opportunity to watch some games. Having enjoyed the Ten Miles Chinese offerings last night I went back for more, and again in front of the tv with a cold cider it was very pleasing.

Stats: 17,539 steps for 13.31km

 

[GarrettM]

Sunday. When everything good must come to an end.
A relaxing morning walking up to Hardware Lane, where we settled on breakfast at the oddly named Grill Steak Seafood.

The most important meal of the day should be taken seriously.
After breakfast it was back to pack up and do a little tidy of the apartment, before heading to the airport.
No lounge this time, flying on QF Y. A tricky flight too as unlike the flight in, bub chose not to sleep at all. And while she never really fussed or made a scene, she was certainly a handful to keep occupied.

Now seems as good a spot as any for a quick comparison of the two flights, VA to MEL, and QF to PER.
I think VA wins hands down on hard product. Seat seemed wider and definitely with more leg room. Also the IFE was superior, with the inbuilt screen as opposed to QF's ipads, which were useful only in keeping BabyGM occupied.
QF maybe just ahead on soft product. The lamb tortilla offering was pretty good. Compared to VA's butter chicken which was ok, or their pasta which was very average.
And the FAs on Qantas were a lot more attentive of bub and mum, offering pillows and opening up a seat across from us so I could move and create a little extra space.
For short haul flights in Y I'd happily go with either, but since I am now with Velocity I will stick to VA whenever it's easier to do so.

So that was our holiday. Four games of footy, heaps of food, plenty of pictures, and a lot of walking. All up 125,547 steps, or 95.3 kilometres. A reasonable effort I reckon.

Thanks for following this little TR if you did. Still working on a writing style, so ANY feedback will be welcome.
GM