Conference @ Melbourne

Landed home from Melbourne last night at 2230hrs. Sis S came and pick me up and drove her to Bala then I head home to un-pack and rest. Still gotta work the next day.

Anyway, here's what happened since the day I flew to Melbourne.

25th Feb
Took the night Qantas flight to Melbourne at terminal 1, a 6 hours flight. I took naps inbetween and listened to my Nano. Good thing I brought my Nano along, if not I would be bored to death. The in flight entertainment wasn't that fantastic and I would rather catch some sleep cos once I reach Melbourne, there won't be much time to rest till the conference starts during lunch time.

26th Feb
Reach Melbourne at 0630hrs, and we took a cab to the hotel, Sofitel Melbourne. A gorgeous hotel with touch screen controls for the room! Went for breakfast in the hotel and took a rest till 1030hrs, went to Grand Hyatt to register. The conference consist of 4 different brands, OPSM, Lauman & Pank, Budget Eyewear and Sunglass Hut. Total of 750 attendees. HUGE!!

Melbourne arrival hall


Sofitel Melbourne


Trees outside Sofitel. Dunno if they're painted blue or they are blue by itself


Touch screen controls for the room! Neat!


The bed is really comfortable! But I find it's abit soft as compared to my bed, but it's still comfortable!


Pillow sure looks big and hard, but it's very very soft... Kindof difficult to sleep in and I've to stuff them higher. Maybe I'm used to hard pillows.


Study table and flat screen TV. Internet connection, but it charges 55cent per minute! That's crazy!


One of the nicest toilet I've seen. And they use branded lotions! I forgot what's the brand already....


Another toilet I like is Ritz Carlton at KL. Talk about RItz @ KL, there's a story that comes with it. Till now my friends still teased me on this.


Along the way from Sofitel to Grand Hyatt, where the conference hall is, came upon this flower shop and saw some beautiful sunflowers. I like sunflowers and does anyone else knows of any other guys that like flowers? ;)


My Regional Manager(riight) and fellow Store Manager(left)


After the conference, came the welcome dinner which is held at Melbourne Aquarium. They've arranged for the cathering and bartenders to be there and also a mobile disco.

Melbourne Aquarium


The mix of oriental and western food was good! Best is the Martinis! :P


Rose, another RM in Australia and my RM


We partied the night away and I drank quite a lot. Bought a big pack of milk and drank it all before I went to bed. And the pack of milk helped. And I managed to wake up early to catch the sunrise! Simply gorgeous!

27th Feb
Sunrise from Sofitel


Hot air ballons were in the air and I caught this


This is what I like most of the day. A beautiful sunrise never fails to make my day! Which is the reason why I like the sunflower. ;)

Conference starts from 0830hrs till 1730hrs with lunch and tea breaks inbetween. Weather in Melbourne is cooling and I like it. Not too hot, but with enough sunshine and rather windy with a bit of chill. I don't like the weather in Singapore. Too humid!

Tonight is the gala dinner. It was held at the event hall of the race course. I forgot what was it called. Everyone is dressed up in suits and gowns.









The dinner was rather boring and we decided to head back to the hotel to rest early since we haven't had enough sleep when we first reached Melbourne.

28th Feb
Last day of conference! Before the end of conference, took some pictures of my fellow Store Managers in Australia whom I had met before whenm we had our last conference.

Beautiful Amber


Chirpy Karrie


Lovely Belinda


I forgot her name... So sorry...


Conference finally ended at 1500hrs and we all bidded goodbyes and well wishes to people we know. I headed back to the hotel to take a nap while my other 2 colleagues went out for a stroll. They're keen on going out while I'm not cos I'm not really one who likes to shop. Prefer walking around and take pictures. So I woke up awhile later after my nap and went out alone to take pictures. And here are what I've taken.

Melbourne's tram lines


Melbourne's tram


Man using mobile


Lord of the fries


Melbourne's parking ticket machine


Crown Casino


Love boat


Teamwork


Dove looking for direction


Dove tidying feathers


Woman having fun in the fountain


Came upon hotel Holiday Inn and decided to take a break, after all the walking which I think I've covered like 2km. Ordered some snacks and called the rest to meet them for dinner in the hotel.

Snacks while going through the photos I've taken


Went back to the hotel to have dinner and caught the sunset from the restaurant!

Beautiful!


After dinner, they continue their window shopping while I stayed in my hotel room to transfer the photos I've taken onto my iBook. Anyway there won't be much shops opened cos Australia's stores usually are closed after 1700hrs. Except for some tourists spots, which I'm not keen cos there won't be much to see. Went to bed after the photos are transfered and the next day we'll be heading home, so better get more sleep and wake up early to walk around the city till we leave for the airport at 1500hrs.

1st March
Only got half a day and less to spend in Melbourne. Woke up early for breakfast, and left for the streets. One of them wanted to visit the Target store, which is like the Gaint supermarket in Singapore and I find it abit boring to visit it cos I've been to Target stores before and there ain't much stuff there. Suggested to them the Great Factory Outlet (GFO) which is in Bridge road at Richmond, where there are plenty of stores to shop and at good prices. Anyway, they choose not to heed my advice, so let it be, since I've no particular stores to visit.

As we walked, came by a few stores and we finally decided to walk on our own, and meet back the same place for lunch, before heading back to the hotel and then to the airport. Least this way we can go on our own way and have more time to search for what we want. Well, for me it doesn't matter much, so I just wander around. And this wander cost me AUD200.

Walked into Foot Locker and saw a pair of Nike shoes which I quite fancy, or rather, 2 pairs. Only 1 pair has the size I wanted (size 13) but I prefer the other pair, which they only have size 12 and the last pair. Since it's the limited edition and it's for the year of the dog design, I decided to go for it although it's a bit tight. And since it will widen a bit after some time, it should be fine. So instead of buying 2 pairs, bought the size 12, some socks and a can of spray to protect the shoes.

This is what I've paid AUD169 for




Bumped into one of my colleague and the both of us dunno where else to go cos the mall we're in haven't got much stores and we've covered almost the whole mall already. As we sat on the bench and ponder, I suggest we go to Richmond ourselves and meet the rest later at the hotel instead of the place we set on eariler. This way we'll have more time to shop at Richmond.

And this is one decision we didn't regret! Richmond is definately a better place to shop and the place is so huge they we didn't have enough time to cover the whole street. Had lunch there and head back to the hotel, when the rest knew we went to Richmond, they nagged at us for not telling them and going there together! Hahahahaha... :P

Lunch at one of the restaurant. Very big bowl of WanTon Noddle soup!


Took a cab to the hotel and since we're early by 2 hours, we did some shopping. Bought a few packs of nougats, and also bought a pair of Billabong slippers cos the shoe I'm in is killing me after walking in it for the last few hours. Moreover in the flight, I like to take off my shoes and if I do it then, I bet all the passengers will suffocate from smell! Hahahaha... :P

Paid AUD19.90 for this pair of slipper


And here are some photos I took in the airport.

Check-in bodies?


Buy 3 Guys, get 1 Lian free?


Burger King, Hungry Jacks


The inflight menu is pretty good and had a few wines to make myself sleepy, also watched Chicken Little, Walk the Line and Brokeback Mountain on flight.

In-flight dishes


Took some shoots while the plane is in the air!










Finally it's home sweet home, 2230hrs. Bought a few bottles of red wines and liqours from duty free. Sis S came to pick me up with my car, and I send her to Bala before heading home. Tiring day it has been and buying the pair of slippers is a wise choice!