So in my flight I see everybody in skimpy singlets or shorts etc and I thought, hmm, probably not very cold in Melbourne. Then after plane touched down before the doors open, the whole world was pulling  on jackets etc. 

The doors opened and the guy sitting at the front row went, "gee, it's freezing!" and the air stewardess was like "yes, it's Melbourne!" Uh oh.

Stepped out of the plane, a tad windy but I actually thought it was bearable and cooling even. Uh not so fast. Slow reaction maybe? It started getting colder, so halfway walking towards the terminal building I reached inside my backpack and pull out the only windbreaker I had. Then I started shivering and chattering even though I had the windbreaker on.

Grrr totally underestimated the coldness. Thought it was just me not used to the weather but apparently according to XL and Alice it is indeed cold that night. Hah!

Reached the saddest looking terminal building ever, probably refitted from an abandoned hangar, as it only had a couple of containers acting as toilets and one single conveyor belt, and you can actually see the guy behind loading luggage up to the conveyor belt. Apparently the only tenant for this terminal is Tiger Air. 

By then body has sort of adjusted to the cold, no longer shivering but still can feel it. Collected my luggage and walked, outdoors, to Terminal 3 (or was it 2). Got a return SkyBus ticket for AUD28, which will drop me off at Southern Cross station. I was supposed to stay over at XL and Alice's, but I told them I will stay somewhere else for the first night coz I was supposed to arrive late, so idea was didn't want to trouble them much. Alice told me it wasn't a problem but I already booked my room =.=

Anyway once again fell prey to google maps coz from the map, my City Centre Budget Hotel (the name can't be any more literal) seemed pretty walkable. Turns out it's another half an hour walk, upslope in the cold no less fml. By the end of the walk i was on the verge of sweating even hahahah but still didn't manage to. 

When I booked the room the staff had already emailed me to remind me to call them the day before I reach for after check in hours instructions. So I called them earlier in the day, the guy told me which room I am allocated and said he will leave the room unlocked, with the keys inside the room. Actually come to think of it I shouldn't even have booked a room and just camp out at the airport lor, though not sure if it is that traveller friendly. I was only in the hotel for less than 12 hours zzz.

Was supposed to check out at 10 the next morning after which XL will pick me up, though at first I intended to run some errands (like popping by Melbourne Park first) but oh well. Wasn't too cold, I survived with just a long sleeved tee without a jacket, and XL appeared within 5min as I was trying to get a touristy shot of a street name board lol. About 5 years since I last saw this JC buddy of mine, hasn't changed much except for an adopted Australian accent hahahaha. Took a tram to their place to drop off my luggage first.

Rested a bit as the two of them got ready then head out to Queen Victoria Market! They are closed by 2 or was it 3pm and on Wednesdays so this was the only time we can visit it really since I was to leave Melbourne on Thursday morning. I must say I wasn't really expecting much from Melbourne since I visited it before in 2008, though back then we seldom ventured into the city centre itself so the aim this time round is to see more of the city plus visit the two of them which I something I always told them I will do some day. Queen Vic Market was one of the paces I have visited before and I remember being very impressed by the fresh produce hahaha. Not that I was planning to cook or anything but nice to be back at the place..we bought some fruits, I grabbed my fridge magnet souvenirs etc, then we had a quick lunch of bratwurst and other random food items there. 

Still had some time to kill before XL heads over to his uni for a meeting with his prof, and Alice heading to her tutee's place, so we popped by Melbourne Central for a bit. Then thought we would head over to the State Library of Victoria which was one of the landmarks to visit..not too much to see, just went in to see see look look only. Saw this guy in bright green shirt saying "I am free" outside the library, went up to check it out and turns out he's from the I'm Free walking tours - as the name implies they bring tourists on walking tours around Melbourne daily FOC (though they welcome tips obviously). Sounds interesting and fits what I wanted to do for the afternoon anyway so why not. Lolol the look on XL and Alice's face when they manage to leave me in capable hands while they settled their business heh. 

(Side note, wanted to hyperlink to their website then found out that they have updated their website and a photo from the day I went on the tour, with me in the photo, was on their main page hahahaha. And another photo from that day with me inside too was used as their fb cover photo. Totally made my day for some reason hahahaha).

Will just post some snippets here la. All photos can be found via my FB.

Walked for almost 3.5 hours but weather was so so good so wasn't sweating or what not. Love the cool weather. Such a productive afternoon and such a satisfying tour too. Tour guide knows his stuff. Seen things and landmarks I wanted to see. Highly recommended!

XL and I decided to go back to rest before dinner, where he had made reservations, with Alice meeting us there directly. Went to this Thai restaurant called Samanee. Think they made reservations online on some website such that we can get 50% off the final bill wheee. Food was good too! The rice with fragrant coconut taste was the bomb, love their tom yam too. And the ambience was great. Thanks to XL too who paid for it in the end :)

Nothing else on the agenda for the night after dinner too...good to slow down a bit after a few very eventful days. That concludes Day 5 of the trip!