{"id":8723,"date":"2023-04-01T21:15:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T13:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/?p=8723"},"modified":"2023-09-18T11:55:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T03:55:40","slug":"down-under","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/down-under\/","title":{"rendered":"Down Under"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The year end school holiday has now been shifted from December year end to March the following year. Our last overseas trip was in 2019 to JAPAN , just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck . This year after 3 years plus of pandemic border shutdown etc. went Down Under for a break before school reopens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8734\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"Intercontinental Melbourne\" class=\"wp-image-8734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Hotel-Lounge-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Intercontinental Melbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8735\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"State Library Victoria\" class=\"wp-image-8735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Library-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Library Victoria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"YARRA Promenade\" class=\"wp-image-8736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Melbourne-Esplanade-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">YARRA Promenade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Melbourne has been consistently ranked as the most livable city in the world. What makes it so livable? Let&#8217;s take a sneak peek. We landed in Melbourne and it was easy to grab a cab to our hotel after a long 7 hour very early morning flight. By the time we reached Melbourne , it was already late evening and we just had dinner at the hotel. There is a 3- hour difference between Singapore and Melbourne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Melbourne when you are staying within the Central Business District (CBD) you get free tram rides and free Victoria WIFI. Therefore we spent most of the time in Melbourne &#8211; free, easy and relaxing. We really like Melbourne moderate pace of lifestyle &#8211; al-fresco breakfast and taking a stroll along YARRA Promenade, historical architecture evident from Intercontinental Melbourne and the INSTAGRAM-famous State Library Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We took the XPT Regional Trains from Melbourne to Sydney &#8211; an 11-hour night ride. We boarded the train at around 8pm from Southern Cross Station near our hotel and reached Sydney early morning at ~7+am with about half an hour delay. We didn&#8217;t have a good sleep in the train although we got a First-Class seat. We had wanted to get the sleeper car, however it was sold out early as we were travelling on a Friday evening. <strong>So a tip for those who are adventurous to try out a night on the train, book your tickets early. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything is rainbow in Sydney as we were smack in the middle of Sydney WORLPRIDE 2023 from 17th February to 5th March 2023.  When in Sydney you cant miss the Opera House and the Darling Bridge. We had wanted to take a behind -the-scene tour at the Opera house, however tickets are all sold out until March, by then we would be back home. <strong>So a tip for those interested to go behind the curtains at Opera House to book your tickets early online.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8742\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"123 Pitt Street\" class=\"wp-image-8742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-Office-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">123 Pitt Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"Rainbow at Circular Quay\" class=\"wp-image-8740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Circular-Quay-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rainbow at Circular Quay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8741\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"Speak no Evil, See No Evil and Hear No Evil\" class=\"wp-image-8741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Rainbow-at-Pub-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Speak no Evil, See No Evil and Hear No Evil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing we need to visit in Sydney is the WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo as we did not manage to catch a glimpse of KOALA bear and KANGAROO at Melbourne Zoo. Because the weather in Feb is hot , they probably are taking a rest in the sheds. But you will definitely be able to see them at WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo as here is more enclosed. There are many animals that are unique to Australia where you cannot find elsewhere. So a visit here is worth it to catch a glimpse of KOALA Bear, KANGAROO, DINGO, WALLABY, WOMBAT, TASMANIAN DEVIL just to name a few. Not forgetting PLATYPUS &#8211; the only egg-laying mammal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Asian, we all love our food and here in Melbourne and Sydney , there is no shortage of Asian food and Asian culture in Chinatowns. So true to the theme of this blog when it first started out &#8211; JALAN JALAN CARI MAKAN &#8230;via rail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"525\" data-id=\"8743\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-700x525.jpg\" alt=\"New South Wales XPT\" class=\"wp-image-8743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-700x525.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/XPT-Train-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New South Wales XPT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"525\" data-id=\"8738\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-700x525.jpg\" alt=\"Punggol, Tiong Bahru, Changi Village all in Melbourne\" class=\"wp-image-8738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-700x525.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Singapore-Local-Food-in-Melbourne-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Punggol, Tiong Bahru, Changi Village all in Melbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" data-id=\"8737\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mymanggis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-700x933.jpg\" alt=\"Pappa Rich in Melbourne\" class=\"wp-image-8737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-700x933.jpg 700w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PAPA-Rich-Outlet-at-Southern-Cross-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pappa Rich in Melbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The year end school holiday has now been shifted from December year end to March the following year. Our last overseas trip was in 2019 to JAPAN , just before&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[389,390],"class_list":["post-8723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jom-explore","tag-melbourne","tag-sydney"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8723"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8745,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8723\/revisions\/8745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imperialprogram.xyz\/mg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}