After trips to Sydney and Tasmania, I decided I wanted to see more of Australia. My next stop, Melbourne.
I arrived in Melbourne via plane, courtesy of Jetstar. I took the Skybus Melbourne City Express to the city. The bus takes you to their city terminal, in which you have to transfer to a second bus that takes you directly to your hotel. The tickets cost $19.75 one way and $36.50 for a return.
The hotel of choice was the DoubleTree Melbourne by Hilton. A majority of the staff are ex-pats, which will give great advice on things to do in the city as they too are interested in learning. I spent a few hours a day at the bar just speaking to my Nepalese bartender on what it was like growing up in Nepal and things to do once I visit.
Melbourne has no shortage of places to eat. There is this one particular alley(Degraves Street) that was full of restaurants. Inside every window was the sign, now hiring and backpackers welcome. The Australian work visa is pretty easy to get, even after being inside of the country.
From there, I ventured into another famous alley, this one known for its street art. Croft Alley street is known for its bold and brightly colored street art.
Day two started with a trip to Federation Square. After touring the insider of the building and seeing some of the artwork in the surrounding area, I went to Alexandra Gardens. I then visited the National Gallery of Victoria. The last two stops were the Flinders Street station and Queen Victoria Market.
Flinders Street station is your connection to towns outside of Victoria. Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in Melbourne and a great place to buy souvenirs and learn about the cities culture. Although I only spent two days, Melbourne is hands down my favorite place in Australia.
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