True enough, there are a thousand thoughts lying within a woman that she does not know till he takes up a pen to write. So many thots are running through my head but I haven't got time to jot them them down lately, so you got me!
Top Model Down Under
Anyways, g'day mates, having a wonderful time Down Under. Been hopping about some parts of the Victoria country. Here's a short round up of my travel.
Spent Saturday and Sunday in Melbourne.
Had breakie with my host, Pete's sister's Rie's home and went to Vic Market for some shopping. Missed the footy on Saturday because I snoozed. Bummer! But no worries, that night we hopped on a tram to Chinatown to have some Asian dinner. Nothing like they make it home for sure.
After dinner Pete took me up the Rialto Towers to get an aerial city view of Melbourne, it was magnificent and breathtaking. Pete wouldn't go to the deck with me, he's afraid of heights. So I went to deck alone and stand there and did a Titatic thingy, it was exciting.
On Sunday, we walked up St Kilda Boardwalk. There's an amusement park called Luna Park and arts and crafts at St. Kilda Esplanade. Had a fish and chips picnic by the beach. Later we went to visit Pete's friend, Leanne who lives in Cheltenham. Her mom designs totes and dinner bags. I couldn't decide between three designs so I got all of them.
We got to Pete's family home in Pioneer Bay, about two hours from Melbourne, much later that day, where he lives with his four kids, Tarnya, 21, Paul, 17, Phillip, 16 and Ian, 15.
I appreciated Pete's effort in being the hospitable host for me, but being a perfectionist, I just couldn't help but reorganised the guest room he offered me just before I went to bed. It now looks more like a bedroom.
Monday, we went to Maru Park to spend some time with the kangaroos, wallabies and wombats and snacked on Devonshire tea, that is, scones with jam and cream, and tea or coffee. Seems to be a favorite here, and I can see why, mmmm, yummy! That night, we went for some shopping at Cranbourne and later Pete's good friend Zena, came over for a visit.
Tuesday, we went around Warook Cattle Farm, tried to milk the cows but they won't let me!
Warrook Cattle Farm
Later we went up to Cranbourne Park shopping mall in Cranbourne. I cooked chicken curry, beef ginger with baby bok choy, chap chye and lamb madagascar for dinner for my hosts. Had fun watching them kids try eat rice with fingers. His kids are well behaved and polite. Ian, the cutest, is charming even at 15 years old.
Wednesday morning we went to Carribean Gardens flea market where I bought a sheepskin rug for AUD50. They sell everything from buttons to computer chips. Met up with his brother Mark there. He's a biker, very rugged. Afternoon we went to an aromatherapy oils factory outlet in Hallam, and later watched seals at The Nobbies and Penguins Parade at sunset at the Phillip Island.
The Great Ocean Road: Waves down at The Grotto
Thursday, we drove along the coast on The Great Ocean Road to Sovereign Hill, Ballarat to dig some gold, no luck. Then we drove to Warrnambool, and put up a night at his mom's in Koirot, an Irish town where they grow potatoes. His mom is a wonderful 80 year-old woman who can still walk a mile to church every Sunday. She's really funny and very funky too, and she asked me, "Are you sleeping with Pete?" before deciding which room for me to sleep in - Omigod, I really blushed, and of course, I took the guest room. I can't imagine my mom asking that question! Well, not even if I'm having a relationship with Pete, which I'm not. He's my host and a friend.
At Koirot Bar, Pete Kelly sipped orange juice
That night we really dressed up for some fine dining in a restaurant called Portofino, in a seaside holiday and fishing town, Port Fairy. Pete looks good in the beige Shanghai shirt that I got him as a thank you present. He looks strikingly handsome that the waitress was flirting with him. I put on my favorite ankle length biased-cut lightly sequined turqoise skirt that I got from Salabianca, and wore it with a white lycra top. It was cold, so I draped a turqoise silk pashmina wrap around my shoulders. I felt beautiful :)
Friday, after breakie, we bade his Mrs. Kelly goodbye and drove along the Great Ocean Road.
Breathtaking view. Took dozens of pictures. Lunched on a homemade beef pie at Port Campbell, seaside holiday town and port. Met up with Mark and his girlfriend Jessie halfway along the the Great Ocean Road for drinks.
Went to Dandenong for Italian dinner with his friends, Dona, Sue and Debbie, and later went to visit his friends George and Sally who just moved to a new home, their dream house. Very nice and sprawling. Before we went home, Pete picked up Ian and Dean, who's Ian's half brother (and I found out later is Pete's ex-wife's illegitimate son). Long story there, but met his ex-wife who doesn't seem friendly, but oh well. Not like I'm marrying Pete, anyways.
This morning I packed my things and found my luggage not big enough to fit in everything. So Ray, his friend and neighbor traded his suitcase with me. Tonight we're having my friend Lynn (who also hosted me in Melbourne before her mom-in-law came to visit) over for a BBQ. Ray may join us too. Lynn and her hubby Faiz just moved to Melbourne in January, so she's thrilled to meet new friends.
Pete and I will have brunch with Leanne and her mom, Lorraine, the bag designer on Sunday morning before I go to the airport. Plane leaving at 3pm.
Ian just asked Pete if he can come along with me to the airport. Pete asked why, and he said "so that I can follow her home to Malaysia! See, he's adorable!
Well, I'll see you guys back home. Did you have that party when I'm away???
Cheers, Liza
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