I finally did it; I got over my anxiety and did something crazy in my life for once. I jumped on a plane all by myself to travel 10496 miles away from home. I’m all about that YOLO motto and wanted to get a feel of solo travelling. I try to go to at least one place I never travelled to each year.
So after work, I travelled to Heathrow airport waited for night flight boarded the plane to Hong Kong for my first leg of the plane for the layover ready to reach my final destination Melbourne in Australia. Throughout my 23-hour plane ride, the plane stewards from Cathay Pacific looked after me and made it at ease. Prior to booking my trip, I worried a lot about travelling on a plane by myself then I got my senses that I’ve always done solo travelling ever since I was young, that being on a plane by myself I just be fine.
My lovely cousin and husband picked me up at the airport, it was 8:30 in the morning and jet lag wasn’t settling in just yet. The very first thing I noticed when I got out the airport was how big the Chinese community existed in Melbourne, gigantic posters with Chinese words appeared along with English.
After brushing myself up we went out to Westfield to shop and had some desserts.
Resting up for a few hours, my cousin booked us in for Longrain for dinner for a catch-up meal in the city. Longrain is a stone away from Chinatown in Bourke Street; the menu brings together the South East Asian flavours with a fusion of Victoria’s touch.
With Longrain it is best to pick a bunch of dishes and just share it between you all like a banquet for the best experience. We had our freshly shucked oysters with red chilli nahm jam. Betal leaf wrapped with poached prawn, ginger and nuts.
Whole deep fried crisp fish with chilli, tamarind and lime, made a splash at the table.
Stand out dish from the meal had to be Coconut poached chicken, green papaya & Vietnamese mint. Chicken cooked until pillow tender texture, with the perfect balance of herbs to lift the dish.
If you ever make it until the end of the meal, dib into the desserts selection at Longrain. The pandan dessert is must.
40-44 Little Bourke St
Melbourne, VIC 3000
+61 3 9671 3151
After Longrain, we headed down to the Fitzroy area to Messina Gelato. Fitzroy is the hipster area with many independent shops, restaurants alike. Messina has proven to be popular with crowd many people turning up at 10 pm for piece of their freshly made gelato. They use only real, freshly prepared ingredients for their gelato. Resulting in full-bodied flavours and texture. Pandan makes an appearance here but the salted caramel had to be my favourite.
237 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
So the main purpose for my trip to Australia was a wedding I needed to attend. Held at the Luminere South Melbourne, provided the perfect backdrop for my niece’s wedding. The sky deck with live band played the Bee Gees and guest witness the happy couple exchange rings. We ate delicious food and danced the night away.
