200 Reasons to Visit St Kilda

It was in 2003 when Mama first visited the market at the Esplanade of St Kilda beach. Then, there were 222 stalls selling all sorts of handicraft that she had blisters on her feet as she visited all of them - from #1 to #222!

I wasn't even born yet then. So, as part of my Australiana lessons, Mama took me there so that I'd appreciate home-grown art. You see, the organiser of the market is very strict in making sure that the products sold at the Sunday event is truly Australian - they'll even visit the home or factory where the products are claimed to be made.

And am I glad they do that. At least, I'm assured that we won't be buying some clunky products that are imported from some dubious manufacturers that employ child labour or prisoners! The downside is, however, as is typical of any Made in Australia product, the offerings at this market are pricy. But doesn't stop us from dishing out the moolah....as some of the products are just so exquisite and unique. It's as if they know my weakness for the finer things in life....Wish I were a millionaire like my namesake!!!

We took the tram from QVM to Flinders St, then changed to another one that took us direct to the Esplanade on St Kilda Rd.

The tram we took from QVM to Flinders St.

In the tram...gets more crowded as it picked up more passengers at every station.

Best burger in St Kilda? We didn't check it out though as that would mean getting off the tram too early and then walk far to the market.

As Mama had learned a very good lesson seven years ago, we didn't start from stall number 1. Instead, we started from the middle. That was where the tram stopped anyway. Then Brad and I tossed a coin to see which direction we should take (head = left, tail = right). It was the tail and so we headed to the right. I think we did good although we didn't get to see all 200 stalls.

At stalls where we actually made a purchase, the owners didn't seem to mind us taking photos. At the rest, we usually asked their permission first. Some put up notices that no photos are allowed. We had to respect that, don't we?

The first stall we visited at the Esplanade. Lovely bells, eh?

I love playing with puppets...the good Uncle allowed me to play with his.

That smiling fat white cat is now ours!!!!

Mama bought me a couple of these lovely silver bracelets....plus some other jewellery pieces.

The beach at St Kilda is always busy and crowded.

Interesting handicraft....Brad likes that alphabet thingy.

Wouldn't you want to take home one of these beautifully crafted time keepers?

Yeay! A new retail therapy "piggy bank" for me!

Aah...Mama's favourite - unique fridge magnets.

We saw many canines accompanying their masters....they must be envying us, two felines with a slave...har har har!

Errr....do we look like these? Definitely not....

I love pet-friendly stall owners.

Bold and beautiful...amazing talent...

Ice cream parlour @ St Kilda... Brad was happy enough to lick them scoops after all that walking along the Esplanade.

We spent quite a long time at St Kilda, at least three hours. My feet felt like lead by the time we took the tram back to the city. Mama said we can all take a nap as soon as we checked in at the hotel. Which hotel? Shhhh....it's a secret!

This tram goes round and round the city....for free!

Catch the pigeon! Stop the pigeon! Feed the pigeon! Ooohhh...can't decide what to do with these pigeons. Too many of them...aaaarrrgh!!!

Mama was checking out the train station. She'd have to take one to her meeting place the next day.

Hmmm...my sister-in-law Nicole seems to be well-known here. Must tell Tom about this.

We returned to Sydney on Monday. Oh, Virgin Blue had a computer glitch starting 9am on Sunday. Phew! Lucky our flight was earlier. Then, we thought our flight on Monday evening would be delayed or cancelled. It wasn't! Boarding was late by 30 minutes but the flight still arrived on schedule. Hmmm....was the pilot speeding up in the sky? purrr....meow!

RT with Angelina

Guess where I was last weekend?

Have I told you that my Mama is an impulse traveller? OK, so she had this meeting scheduled on a Monday in Melbourne. A whole day of meetings, she said, so she may have to stay overnight. Except that she wasn't sure if she should travel earlier and come back on the day, or travel on the day and come back the next. tsk tsk tsk...

She spent hours in front of the lappy, checking flight schedules and accommodation. Then she said the magic words: "Kids, you're coming with me." Woohooo!!!!

Then the "woohoo" turned to "what?" when she said we'd have to wake up super duper early on a Sunday morning to catch a 6am flight. There goes my beauty sleep.....

Anyway, there was actually no sleeping Saturday night as everyone was so excited. Especially at the prospect of visiting Australia's most livable city. As well as the city's famous Queen Victoria Market. "I haven't been there for, like, four years," Mama said. That's about my age, Mama, and I surely haven't been there at all.

As it was too early for taxis, Mama decided to book the Sydney Airport's long term parking facility and left home around 4.30am. The flight was punctual and by 7.30am, we were already at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport. We took the Skybus to the Southern Cross Station, then we took the tram to QVM.

The Queen Victoria Market, better known as QVM, is Melbourne's must-visit spot that was established in 1878. However, it's only open from Wednesdays to Sundays. Guess that's why Mama decided to go on Sunday. Retail therapy is her thing...you know....

The first stall we saw was this. Y'all know I can't resist poffertjes, right? What a great way to fuel up for the day....burp...lovely lovely breakfast...

Then we started visiting the sheds. There were so many to look, see and touch. Oh, not forgetting, to buy too. No worries, plenty of ATMs around.

Mama threatened to buy a dress for Brad if he doesn't behave...teeheehee...

Toys and toys for us....

Aren't those teddy bears cute? Mama bought a pink one for me....

I'd love to be immortalised like Monalisa...but it was hard for a feline to sit still....sigh....

Aahh...princess stuffs. Nope, I won't even be seen dead in them. Not for me.

Hmmm...Physics lessons at the market. The stall sells dragonflies made from bamboo that can balance on your nose.

If I don't behave, Mama said she'd buy those gowns for me. Eeeuuuwwww!!!!

My favourite....artwork and musical instruments of the First Australians. Where can a cat enrol for didgeridoo class?

Brad loves this stall. He's still googoo-gaga over soccer. The World Cup's over, mate!

Or maybe he wanted some shirts with naughty messages too?

Mama, I want that purple wig....to match the gowns? teeheehee...

I learnt soap carving from this lady. Surely they're too pretty to use in the bathroom?

Oh boy! Another stall catering for the soccer crazy! OK, we bought an Arsenal one for Dad...

Oh, we bought that embroidery piece of Melbourne's tram. The one that goes round the city for free....

Ooh...we love this musical group. Wish I had castanets so I could dance the flamenco gypsy style...breathtaking music by four hunks...drool....

They were celebrating the mooncake festival at the market on that day. So, we get to meet a couple of dancing lions too.

Brad gets to practise his soccer skills at this stall.

I felt "rich" when we paid that petshop a visit.

Say "Aum"....hmmm...familiarised ourselves with Indian stuffs, after all the Commonwealth Games is just round the corner.

Mama was in coffee wonderland...she ends up with kilos of the "black gold."

Turkish bread, anyone?

Oodles of dips to go with the bread...oo la la...

Mama wants to start on the Mediterranean diet...plenty of olives and sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese and capers...

Brad and I would rather stick to seafood diet, thank you.

After all that walking and ogling....a good cuppa....slurrrrpp!!!

Aaahhh....I have fallen in love...

What's the damage to Mama's purse? Hmmm...actually not much as we were only looking for stuffs that we can't get in Sydney.

The QVM wasn't the only market we visited that day. But that story deserves an entry of its own, OK? There's only so much photographs blogger can help upload in a day. purrr....meow!

The Big Cat Has Landed

What big cat? The Lion King? New tiger at the Taronga Zoo?

No, we're talking about the two legged one. That very handsome, tall and super rich Tiger Woods. Everytime we switched on the telly there'll be visions of him playing at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in southeast Melbourne.

The Australian Masters officially start today but the hype about Tigger (that's my personal pet name for him) started way back in December last year. By coming here, he's added another US$3 million (AUD$4.5 million) to his ever growing bank account. That's his standard appearance fee outside the USA, apparently. The last time he soiled his shoes with Aussie dust was in 1997 when he played in the Presidents Cup.

Tigger about to pounce on the fairway. (pix by Getty Images)

The Aussie media reports that Woods’ appearance is expected to generate close to $20 million dollars in economic benefits to the state of Victoria through tourism and worldwide exposure via international TV coverage. His appearance has also been publicly backed by some of Australia’s biggest golfing names with many excited at the prospect of the huge galleries that always accompany an appearance by the world number one.

So if you see visions of a very sleek, properly behaved furry feline shadowing Tigger on his golf rounds, that will be yours truly. Aaah....Tigger...how I dream about you.

"Angelina, stop day dreaming. You can only go to the golf club if you're willing to wear the checked pants and caps I bought you for Halloween," Mama suddenly came into the picture and continued, "Can't have you prancing naked for all the world to see."

Aaw...Mama...you're raining on my parade. You know I'm not an exhibitionist.

By the way, just checked ticket prices, Tiger Airways offering only $28 one-way Sydney to Melbourne. hmmm...I'm drooling at the prospect. meow!