Sunday, December 16, 2012

My Business Trip To Australia - 9 to 15 Dec 2012

Day 1 - 9 December 2012

 



I took the night plane on Saturday night 11.45pm, can't really sleep on the plane as the air stewardess only finished serving food at 2am. Then had to wake up about 6am and get down the plane at Adelaide airport for transit. Then waited at airport for about 1 hour for the transit. Arrived at Melbourne hotel at about 4pm. The journey from the airport to town is really fast as the distance is short.



Went to Haigh's chocolate to buy some snacks and then to have lunch at Maxbrenner. Ordered the waffle recommended by my brother. Quite nice. However, I left the chocolates bought at Haigh's chocolate on the floor at Maxbrenner and it was stolen by someone. What an unlucky day!!! I lost AUD30.


Went to Woolsworth supermarket to buy some snacks.


After that just walked around Melbourne CBD.



Nihonbashi Zen
87 Little Bourke St   
Melbourne, VIC 3000
http://www.nihonbashizen.com.au/

Had dinner at this restaurant, price is ridiculously expensive and mediocre only, this set plus green tea cost about AUD45. Won't visit again.

Day 2 - 10 December 2012 (Monday)


Attended meeting for the whole day today, left office at about 6.45pm and went to Woolsworth to buy breakfast, as breakfast in Rydges is ridiculously expensive and nothing much to eat. After that went to Maxbrenner again for a cake. Then my boss called me to join him for dinner. 

I then took a taxi to Nobu for dinner. Finished dinner at about 10.15pm and went back to hotel.

Day 3 - 11 December 2012 (Tuesday)

It's the offsite event today, the event ended at 6.45pm and I went to dinner at a nearby restaurant.






Izakaya Den

This restaurant is extremely good, and serves very delicious food, must visit if I go to Melbourne again. It's quite difficult to find, it's in the basement, without any signs, the entrance is even covered by a black cloth.

Day 3 - 12 December 2012 (Wednesday)

Lots of meetings today, and have a welcome lunch with the leadership team at the below restaurant. Food was OK only.

Grossi Florentino
80 Bourke St   
Melbourne, VIC 3000
http://www.facebook.com/GrossiFlorentino?fref=ts

At the end of the day, we had a Christmas gathering dinner with leadership team at the below restaurant.

???

Food was ok, dessert chocolate cake is really nice.

Day 4 - 13 December 2012 (Thursday)

 





 

 Took the morning flight to Sydney today, woke up at 6am+. Stayed as Sheraton on the Park, this is such a nice hotel compared to Rydges. Went to office after check in and joined the BBQ Christmas party. Left office and went back to hotel to leave my bad after that. Took a taxi to Darling Harbour. After that I only realised I could actually walk there! Huh wasted AUD15.




Ate at Nick's restaurant, the scallops was really nice, prawn was mediocre and fish and cheap is too oily. Portion is too large too. After that I went to Woolsworth to buy some drinks. There are a lot of shops around the hotel and the location of the hotel is really good.

Day 5 - 14 December 2012 (Friday)


Ate lunch at Maxbrenner today again, very near the office and within walking distance.


Went back to hotel after work. Then walked to Circular Quay and Opera House to take pictures. Then walked to The Rocks. 



Then ate at Pancake at the Rock, the food is really horrible, should not visit again. The realised there is a CBD free shuttle bus and I took the bus back to the hotel.


There are a lots of shopping areas near my hotel, but it's all closed when I finish dinner.

Day 6 - 15 December 2012 (Saturday)


I was so tired the past week and slept till 11am today. Then I got ready for check out and left hotel at 1pm. Went to Westfield foodcourt for a quick lunch at a Malaysian restaurant, obviously it's horrible, but no choice as I was in a hurry.


I then went to go to Paddy's Market. I spent few hours till 4.15pm walking around and bought a few Koala for souvenirs and also bought 2 sheep skin carpet for my house.






I then went to take the ferry to Manly Island and get a good view of Opera House. After that I quickly went back to hotel and took a taxi to the airport. Upon arrival at the airport, almost all restaurants are closed, that's about 8.45pm, so I didn't manage to have proper dinner before the flight.