Monday, May 19, 2008

Stronger than yesterday

Fear is a powerful object. It makes you think that there's someone watching you in a hotel room. It makes you think that you're going to be robbed in the streets. It makes you think that you'll be left stranded, all alone in a foreign place. If we entertain fear, it will ultimately engulf us. And although it may be difficult, we sometimes need to replace our fears with a lil' positivity. Think: Our guardian angel is watching over us in our hotel room. The only thing that's being robbed when we walk down the streets is Oppression. And being stranded alone in a foreign place allows us to spend quality time alone - with God. Of course, talk is cheap. I know, becos I had a difficult time facing my fears when I was overseas. And then I remembered, the things that don't break me, will make me stronger.

___________________________________________________

Melbourne, 12 May, Day 1

The morning started with a hot cappuccino and honey-dipped french toast. Then at 10am, I met James - a young Nicholas Cage lookalike - my tour guide for the next three days. The plan was to take a slow and relaxing tour of the city and discover the secret pockets of shops hidden in the sidewalks and busy business district.

Breakfast at Lyall:

There's something very alluring about Melbourne. I love the juxtaposition of old buildings and modern boutiques. I love how people can jog around the city in the middle of the afternoon. I love that it's the business district and people are not rushing to get from one place to another. I love how they sit along the outdoor steps and eat their lunch leisurely. I love that cars don't honk at each other. I love the beautiful skyline peppered with white seagulls and cotton-candied clouds.

For lunch, James and I ate at Taxi, a Japanese-influenced contemporary restaurant which is located between the outskirt of the city and the Yarra river. I had a Campari with soda, which has a very bitter taste but according to the waiter, it's good to prepare the palate for the meal ahead. We then ordered a platter of sushi and sashimi to share, and I had a fillet of barramundi for my main course.

We continued our tour after lunch at an area called St Kilda's featuring white sandy beaches, lots of cafes and bars (it reminds me of holland v), and I must mention, a row of unbelievable cake shops. Just looking at the cakes is enough to make my nose bleed.

Dinner was at Nobu, a Jap fusion restaurant in the Crown hotel, co-owned by Robert De Niro. This is one of my best meals throughout the trip and my first time drinking Sake. I'll let the pictures do the talking for this one (unfortunately, the lighting wasn't ideal):