Seeing lots of seafood!

This is our third Saturday in Melbourne and we decided to check out the Melbourne Aquarium. We left home at 9am, took the #733 bus to the Box Hill train station and then got on the train to Flinders St.

While walking from the Flinders St station to the Aquarium, we got a glimpse of the Anzac Day parade about to start. The admission fee to the aquarium is pretty steep. $31.50 per adult and $18 per child. We managed to use 20% discount coupons (obtained from the many tourist brochures) and Nana got in for $19.50 (as a senior citizen) so the total came to $84.30.
It's pretty worth the money since they've got a new Antartica exhibition - supposedly the only King Penguins in Australia. The kids enjoyed looking at the penguins swim gracefully and then waddle around in the ice enclosure.

no flash photography allowed

After the Antartica exhibit, we made our way to the Weird and Wonderful exhibit. But we got stuck for a while because Joy-Anne didn't want to let go of the ski machine on display.

Lots of really weird sea creatures....some which I was seeing for the first time.

that's a seahorse?

Then it was downstairs to the Oceanarium where the sharks and giant stingrays are kept.

Joy-Anne was thrilled. She kept saying "wahh....." and "catch!"

We watched the live feed at 11.30am. Two divers got into the tank and hand-fed the sharks and stingrays.

don't do this at home!

Then we took a break for lunch at the cafe and after that went upstairs to the rockpool for a Touch and Feel Presentation.

Joe didn't want to touch the shark egg.

Yup...that's the empty egg shell from a Port Jackson Shark.


But he became brave to hold a seastar.

Today I learnt that it should be called seastars and not starfish because these creatures are not fishes and are in fact nothing at all like fishes. They have no bones, no eyes, not even blood.

This is a billabong. I always thought it was a brand name of clothing.

While Joe had fun 'fishing' at the play area after looking at all that sea stuff....

Nana and I walked to Spencer Street to check out the DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) which a friend recommended. It was nothing great. Plenty of brand names which I've never heard of. And I found nothing worth spending my money on.

We then took the tram to Smith St which is known for factory outlets too. We walked from one end to the other....Adidas, Nike, Timberland, Fila....still nothing to buy. Finally I found Pumpkin Patch....full of kids stuff. Bought 2 pairs of shoes (for Joe and Joy), a sweater and a hat for a total of $48.

While we were busy shopping, Edwin took Joe for a walk down the Yarra River towards Birrarung Marr (a really cool playground). Joe fell asleep in the stroller but he soon woke up at the playground.

Refreshed and recharged by the power nap, he was very happy to climb and play!

I wasn't there but Edwin says Joe had a blast!

What did I say....happiness is finding a playground!

We met up on the train to Camberwell.... to Sofia's again!

This time we had the Cookies 'n Cream Cheesecake.


And then Pasta Mista for 2 again. We picked Spaghetti Carbonara (because Joe likes it), Tagliatelle Sofia and Spaghetti Marinara.

Mmmm.....plenty of succulent scallops and huge prawns. Lots of cholesterol too!


Joe fed himself the cake and also the pasta.

He now knows we have to get off at Camberwell to eat yummy pasta.


Joy-Anne pretended to eat. And then she made a very huge unladylike mess!

I forgot to take an 'after' photo but there was still about half left which we 'tar pau' of course. So there will still be yummy pasta for tomorrow.