Manchester Press, Melbourne

Down this dreary little alley named Rankins Lane (in the middle of the CBD) lies the very cool cafe Manchester Press. A little internet sleuthing tells me that the space previously belonged to a proper printing press business and the current owners decided to continue using the name. There's even an old wall painting of the name! Before I found this little nugget of information I thought the "press" meant the coffee press! Homage to the old but yet perfectly describing the new!

We got there just before 11am for brunch and the cafe was filled to the brim, on a weekday! It amazes me how laid back the lifestyle is in Australia. I wish we could take a couple more steps to slow down here.

We got down to the serious business of ordering our coffees and our food. I really like the diy menus with the dymo tape and plastic acrylic. It's cost effective and the menu can be fixed if there are new items added or old items removed. My bagel with cream cheese was delicious, I need to have breakfasts like these more often.

Oh yes, and the best "no smoking, please" sign I have ever seen.

Rainy Afternoon

I really liked my Australian vacation. It was such a slow and unhurried time but yet we still managed to visit so many places. After the Camberwell Sunday Market, we took the tram back to the city and headed up to the Melbourne Museum (with a quick detour to the Royal Exhibition Building). If you are hunting for free wi-fi in Melboure, the Museum is a great spot for it! We spent probably more time tapping on our phones rather than viewing the museum, I think. After the museum, we headed towards Lygon Street and we saw all these lovely Victorian terraces. I like how it's a mix of residential, business and commercial properties.

Wednesday Links

A little bit about this photograph: It's not everyday you are rushing for the connecting train when you see someone carrying a bunch of balloons. It's definitely an eyebrow raising sight but it's also happy happy!

> The Thirteen Most Useless Majors: FYI, my major is 13th. What's yours?

> Need some photographic inspiration? Go here, here and here.

> It's so interesting to see places that you have visited through the eyes of others. Like Sydney and Turkey.

> Fashion-wise, I have been drawn to the splashes of red in outfits. I didn't even realise until I went through the posts that I have been bookmarking, here, here, and here.

> Coffee facts. Grab a cuppa after you are done reading this and this.

Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens

I think it's fair to say that collecting UNESCO Heritage Sites is my travel hobby. In fact, I am working on a list that collates all the sites that I have visited. But the Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens wasn't part of the plan, in fact, I stumbled upon it on the way to the Melbourne Museum. Only until I read the plaque did I realise I added one more Heritage Site to my list!

Camberwell Sunday Market

I was really excited to be at the Camberwell Sunday Market. What an amazing place. I couldn't stop turning my head every which way to take in all the action. I came away with some handmade soap that is making my bureau smell very nice.

Federation Square, Melbourne

Federation Square was easily our favourite place in Melbourne. It's beautiful, energetic, full of sunshine, comfortable and has free wi-fi. What's not to love?

St Kilda Pier

Walking along St Kilda Pier. Watching the St Kilda Pavilion coming closer and closer. Loving the mint green paint of the kiosk.

Watching the fishermen, one with a rod, the other with his bare hands. Amazing.

And the views from the pier. Gorgeous.

(Typing in spits and spouts because I have no time but I dearly want to blog.)

St Kilda Snaps

Some snapshots around St Kilda. The weather was amazingly hot and it's not just the film that making's the sky so blue. It really was that gorgeous.