Back to the daily grind

Yawn... so sleepy. Am back for work after a week relaxing in laid back Melbourne. Hmm... if only I could be there in Melbourne for long.

Kangaroo Spotting at Cardenia Resevoir

My mom got terribly facinated with these marsupials the other day when we were in Grampians. Our family friend whom migrated to Melbourne many years ago suggested we might find a lot of Kangaroo hopping around at Melbourne largest resevoir area.





True enough, at around 5pm all these cute lil animals started coming out from the bush for feeding time.



They are everywhere!!!

Mom was thrilled and ran towards them, almost!



Dad was rather bored, I think. Haha!!!

Our car

Oh well, it is nothing too fanciful. Just a V6 engine Mitsubishi Magna we rented from Thrifty while we were here.

Grampians National Park

Grampians National Park - From Barooka Lookout



So glad to be here, even though yesterday's look out at Mt. Williams was a disappointment. Not much there anyway, and with loads of uphill walk.



It's tough, and hot, walking on Mt. Williams

We stayed for night at this nice 3 stars RACV motel, with the Grampians as our neighbour behind our back.



Our Motel at Halls Gap



I can assure you that this is a very wild bird,
like your neighbourhood Sparrows

Get to look at two wild kangaroos on our drive to Baroka Look out. First time to see a wild kangaroo after seeing that "Kangaroo next 5km" sign for umpteen times.



A Wild Kangaroo

It nice to get away from the city, as the Grampians offer a different relaxing environment. The rocks here are from very very very old time. Dad think even the rock surface show signs of old age, cause of the wrinkles and liver spots on them. Haha... Even the trees here look like very old witches congregating around. I would guess this place is so spooky during the cold moody winter months.



Mini Grand Canyon

Driving back to Melbourne, we found ourselves at such great weather today. It is wonderful to be in Melbourne during Spring after all.



Victoria is a wild wild place



Haystacks all rolled up

Yarra Valley and Vineyards

The weather was extremely pleasant today. After our short drive from Belgrave, we arrive the famous Yarra Ranges, where all the Yarra Valley cool climate great wines are from.



We have no idea where the good wineries are, therefore we decided to just drive around. We first arrived at this place called Lilydale Estate, bought a Pinot Noir that is not produced by them. So, it was just so so...



Stopped by at a Lavender Farm

Arriving at Healesville Sanctuary, we found that entrace fee was like AUD$21.00 per person, so we decided to go and see the Koalas nor the Kangaroos since they were suppose to be in the wild at the first place.



We start driving off, then arriving at the Long Gully Estate. Thes estate is situated at such a beautiful place. The vineyard is accompanied by the majestic Yarra Ranges behind it. There were few horse grazing opposite the roads, while the sky were so so blue high above. This is like heaven undiscovered to me.

I wandered into the small factory shed to look for someone in charge, and found myself surrounded by wonderful smell of wine. And then, someone shouted for me from the other end.



At Long Gully Winery Estate

There came this young man, he brought us into his little shop. My mom and dad got themselves half drunk with all the good wines there, while brother went off to take come great pictures with his Olympus Camedia C-770.

I then start admiring the amount of prizes, certificates this winery won. So so many of them!!!

My dad decided to buy one of the Carbenet (AUD$15) and Vintage Chardonnay (3 for AUD$21). As I am typing this, I am having the Chardonnay, and I can tell you it is a very good white wine. No spicyness as it is a matured body one. *HIC*

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I once use to think that, even when I move to stay in Melbourne, I will still stick staying at where most of the Chinese are But now, this few days has changed my mind. After these few years of working, with new experiences, I find myself actually feeling very comfortable talking, being around the westerners. I enjoyed their wicked sense of humour, their friendliness. Sometime they are rude, but that is just because they speak their mind out, rather than talking bad behind one's back.

It is a whole new experience for me, in Melbourne this time.