Melbourne

After spending Sunday and Monday in both the outer suburbs and the CBD of Melbourne, I've decided that this year is going to be the start of a new little project. As well as working on WALLS (which, admittedly, I haven't touched in a couple of weeks now), I want to make an effort to write some short stories set in Melbourne and the suburbs. I've had some people in the blogosphere give me the idea of incorporating elements of Australia into my writing. Whilst KATHERINE was set in Australia, I think that making Melbourne the setting will help incorporate more of it into my stories. 

Having said that, let me show you around. 

Flinders Street Station. Located on the corner of Flinders Street (duh) and Swanston Street in Melbourne. This is the most used railway station in all of Melbourne and is used by all of the Metropolitan train networks and is the second-last stop when traveling into the city on a V-line train from the eastern countryside. Flinders Street is my favourite place to get off the train when I'm coming in from the countryside. I love getting off here because the surrounding streets are the ones I know best, with the places I always shop. 

Federation Square. Located right across from Flinders Street Station on the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street/St Kilda Road. Whilst the building is often considered a bit of an eyesore, there have been many concerts and large get-togethers in the square. During a regular day, there are often awesome street performers and buskers putting on a show for the public. It's always fun to be walking by and check out what's happening over there. 

Breadtop. One of my favourite places to buy something to eat. This is a little Asian-style (not sure of which specific countries in Asia...) bakery, where everything I buy is always amazing. Like their red bean buns, or their bamboo charcoal bun, or their pork floss bun, or their chicken curry bun... There are several outlets around Australia, but my usual stop is on Elizabeth Street, not far from Flinders Street Station. 

Max Brenner. Do you like chocolate? What about hot chocolate? Well, it might be pricey, but heck, this place is amazing. Forget about Starbucks and Gloria Jeans. If you have some change to spare, find one of these place and spoil yourself. Usually, I stop by the one in Melbourne Central (our next stop in the tour). Outlets across Australia open between 8 and 10 in the morning, and sometimes stay open as late is midnight. 

Melbourne Central Shopping Centre. If you're looking for somewhere to buy stuff... you've come to the right place. Okay, so people in America or wherever have probably seen places much bigger than this, but for little country-bumpkin me, this place is HUGE! I get lost in this place so easily, and I'm not certain I've been everywhere inside it. It's filled with shoe shops, clothes shops, and plenty of places to sit down and grab a bite to eat or drink. There's a place in there that makes really nice crepes with ice cream... I THINK it's called Harajuku Crepes. 

Docklands. This is a cute little area in Melbourne which includes the Harbourtown outdoor shopping center (see picture), an ice skating rink and a glow-in the dark indoor mini-golf course. The whole place can only be described as cute by somebody like me. I don't know where it is exactly, but I DO know that if you catch the city-loop tram (it's free, last I checked), it does make a stop there. 

Southern Cross Station. Also known as Spencer Street Station, as it is located on Spencer Street, between Collins Street and La Trobe Street. This is the end of the line for all regional Vline trains, no matter which direction they're coming from. Of course, like Flinders Street, it is a commonly used station by all metropolitan trains. There is a huge DFO for shoppers who like bargains, attached to the station. This is also where buses to and from the airports start and terminate. 

Chinatown. The whole of Little Bourke Street is dedicated to the (very large) Asian population of the city. There are plenty of restaurants from all countries in Asia here. Anyone want to play Spot-The-Aussie? 

Of course, there are plenty of other places to go in Melbourne, but these are just a handful of my favourites where I'm likely to set a story. I also get the feeling that characters will be using a lot of trains and trams and buses... 

Hope you've all enjoyed this tour around Melbourne! There will probably be more to come :) 

- Bonnee.