How I fell in love with Melbourne in 7 days

I often get asked this question: “You’re traveling alone? Why?”

Well, why not?

I just came back from a week-long trip to Melbourne. The trip marked my first visit to the land Down Under.

Perhaps due to my experiences in roaming about in foreign cities when I was on work assignments, I was not intimidated at the thought of exploring a new city on my own.

I was initially torn between Sydney or Melbourne for my virgin travel experience to Australia. The reputation of Melbourne as an art and culturally rich city won me over. And boy, have I made the right choice!

I can see why Melbourne is awarded the world’s most liveable city for the sixth year running by The Economist.

Here’s a story of a city girl who believes that one can only truly experience a foreign city by immersing herself like a local would. If you have read it this far, you may want to stay on.

The preparation

My trip was pleasant, thanks to the wonderful inventions made possible by the technology infrastructure and the Internet, like Google Maps, Airbnb and the informative Visit Victoria official tourism website.

Gosh, there are just too many things to see and do in Melbourne!

It didn't take me long to decide where I wanted to stay — a cozy high rise apartment in the city. From my Airbnb apartment, I roughly mapped out where I wanted to go on Google Maps and outlined an itinerary prior to my visit.

G’day, Melbourne!

I am at the core, very much a city girl.

I would say I was spoilt from the moment I landed in Melbourne until the day of my departure back to homeland. Simply because the Melbournian built the city in a way that is easily accessible and convenient to first time visitors.

The one thing that sets the right tone for my trip from the start was this: being picked up at the Melbourne Airport by an Aussie gentleman in a Tesla. Being a techie at heart, this is a big deal for me. I could hardly contain my excitement! It was a nice feeling to cruise on the highway towards the city in a silent, electric car - a Tesla!

As the cityscape loomed nearer, I made a mental note that I was ready for my 1-week stay.

Coffee, the scent and warmth one craves for!

During my visit, the Melbournian is experiencing the tail-end of winter, and so did I. For someone from a tropical country, the cold needed a bit of getting used to. A creature of habit, I would hunt for the nearest cafe for my first sip of coffee to warm up my day.

Melbourne is famed for its vibrant café culture and indeed it is!

A hot coffee and a set of hearty avocado toasts later, I was ready to roam the city with a rucksack in tow (packed with a light-weight tripod and a book).

Living through history

Melbourne is a magnificent city. The cityscape is so beautiful that I could not resist braving the cold to uncover every corner of Melbourne.

With the assistance of Google Maps, it didn’t take me long to map out the city layout in my mind’s eye. I am amazed how easy it is to navigate through the streets and laneways. While there are free tram rides, I took advantage of the well-designed city and do my sightseeing mostly on foot.

A walk in the city is kind of like a walk through time. Amid the modern skyscrapers, I find it exciting to ‘discover’ breathtaking Victorian buildings or arcades that were erected in the 19th century. Through the iconic historical buildings and monuments I get to witness the city’s rich history and heritage.

The people and the Melbournian lifestyle

Bright smiles and a warm demeanour, that is how I perceive the Melbournians.

The Melbournians are a health-conscious bunch — they proved that a balanced lifestyle is very much achievable and closer to reality than we think: a quick jog through the city streets to the nearest gardens or parks; a stop by the city library in between breaks; a myriad of lunch options within walking distance; scenic weekend getaway within a few hours drive — the Melbournians are living an enviable lifestyle!

The wait in exchange for a hot meal and drinks

If something is good, it is worth waiting (and queuing) for.

Back in Kuala Lumpur, I am often put off by the idea of having to wait for up to 20 minutes for a hot meal and drinks. A trip to Melbourne later, I learned to appreciate the fact that good food and drinks are worth the wait.

But of course, the wait seems less of a pain when you are in good company!

The wineries and glorious coastal view

Just an hour drive up north or down south, there are plentiful of breathtaking wineries, townships, beautiful coastal view and hidden gems await.

My suggestion, book a tour or two but if you are feeling adventurous, rent a car and get on a weeklong road trip across the townships along the Great Ocean Road and down the Mornington Peninsular.

I went for two day tours and a road trip — every single trip took my breath away.

It’s just the beginning

The best part about the trip, is realising that one can fall in love with more than one city - Kuala Lumpur is my home, as it always will be; Melbourne, on the other hand, is a city I have started to fall for.

In my week-long stay, I have never felt more at home. Melbourne is a city I wouldn’t mind going back to.

Will I take on more ‘adventures’? Oh yes, definitely. Next stop, South of France or Santorini, maybe?