I woke up late in the hostel, feeling groggy and disoriented. Simone and Harry had already left, but I didn’t want to waste a moment in this beautiful city. The weather was simply gorgeous, and I knew I had to get to the beach. I quickly packed my bag with a towel, two cans of Coca Cola, a book and my sunglasses.
As I walked towards Coles Supermarket, I passed St Kilda’s Esplanade, a breathtakingly wide street that left me awestruck. I took out my camera and snapped a few pictures, completely lost in the moment.
Soaking up the Sun
The streets were incredibly wide, but the distance to the beach felt worth it as I made my way past the Lunapark, theater, and a parking lot to finally reach the beach.
The warmth of the sun on my skin was pure bliss as I lay there, sipping on a refreshing coke and listening to music on my phone. The temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius, without any wind. It felt like the first spring sun, with just the right temperature, and there were only a few people around me sunbathing. It was perfect.
After two hours of sunbathing, around 2 pm, I decided to head for a late lunch. I found a nearby Subway store and ordered a pizza sub, and as I sat in the park and ate it, I gazed up at the big palm trees and the view of the Luna Park. It was serene and peaceful, and I felt incredibly grateful to be here.
Later that afternoon, I headed back to the hostel to type some reports, and while I was there, I got in touch with Liam, a guy I had met in Langkawi. We had planned to meet that evening in the CBD.
Exploring Melbourne’s CBD with Liam
The hostel reception had given me a Myki, a public transport pass, and with 8 dollars of credit on it, I took the tram to the CBD. Liam texted me that he would meet me at Flinders station, and as I stepped out, the sight of Melbourne’s skyline at night was simply awe-inspiring.
Within five minutes I found Liam at Flinders station. Liam and I strolled through the CBD, waiting for Alex to join us. We had plans to head for a friend’s place for dinner, and I was more than happy to tag along. After a 15-minute walk, we arrived back at Flinders station and met up with Alex. Next, we hopped on the tram and a few moments later arrived at Veronika’s house, where another friend, Catriona, joined us. Veronika had cooked a delicious dish of rice with a red sauce that left me wanting more, and we all sipped on pimps, the Australian version of Sangria. The conversation flowed easily as we chatted about our travels, and Veronika and Catriona shared their incredible experiences of visiting so many places around the world.
A Night to Remember
Following dinner, the ladies dedicated an hour to preparations, allowing Liam and me to unwind and immerse ourselves in the ambiance, accompanied by copious amounts of fine alcohol. We recalled our night out in Kuah Town, Langkawi, and how we got a bit tipsy that evening, making repeated trips to the nearby 24/7 shop across the street to buy more alcohol. The owner greeted us with a laugh on our fourth visit. Our conversations were enjoyable and meaningful, adding to the experience.
We finally left around 11 pm, taking a cab from Veronika’s house in St Kilda to Richmond, one of the other suburbs of Melbourne located north of the CBD.
As we stepped into the dimly lit pub, where we met another girlfriend named Sophie. Sophie was brimming with excitement as she chatted away about her upcoming trip to Japan. I couldn’t help but feel envious of her adventures, but also grateful for my own journey. We had a quick drink before making our way to the club across the street, but Liam warned us that we wouldn’t get in without the girls. “Drinking with your mates in Melbourne is difficult,” he chuckled. The club was buzzing with energy, packed with people and pumping beats. The night was young, and drinks were flowing as time flew by. Eventually, we found ourselves at a stunning rooftop bar, where I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of Melbourne’s dazzling skyline.
We wasted no time taking in the sights and sounds around us. The drinks flowed freely as we laughed and joked with each other, cherishing every moment of this unforgettable experience in this vibrant city. Time flew by in a blur of excitement and pure joy, and I knew that this was a night I would never forget.
