Got up early to head to the airport for our flight to Melbourne, not knowing what to expect at the airport. Turns out Sydney airport is relatively quiet on Sunday mornings, and security there is much more laid back. You still have to take your laptop out and your shoes off, but people are either more skilled at getting through security, or security isn’t trying to make a point. Either way, we had an hour and a half to burn, so I picked up Gladwell’s new book and enjoyed myself.

The flight was simple and easy (Qantas has the most efficient flight attendants I have ever seen. Snack and drinks given out to a packed 767 in under 15 minutes) and then a cab ride into Melbourne, which looks nothing like I remember. The skyline has been built up significantly and much of the open scrub areas that surrounded the city a decade ago are nicely manicured suburbs.

The Westin didn’t have our room ready (we were early), so we dropped off our bags and headed to Degraves Street for lunch. Back to the hotel, which upgraded us because they didn’t have our room ready when we first came in, and then out to see a bit of Flinders street before dinner.

Flinders street has an interesting juxtaposition of architecture. St. Paul’s Cathedral, from the mid 1800s, and Flinders Street Station from slightly later, and then Federation Square by Don Bates and Peter Davidson, which is best described as “Gehry-esque”. Jae and I decided to go into the Cathedral, which has some stunning artifacts inside.

Dinner was at the Flower Drum in Mebourne’s China Town. Aside from the street sign, you wouldn’t know there was a top end (#39 according to Gourmet Magazine) restaurant. You knock on the red door, and a Chinese gentleman greets you. If you don’t have a booking, you’re turned away. If so, you are ushered into an elevator and upstairs to the luxurious dining room. Service is excellent, with the waiters plating and building all of the dishes at the table - you don’t even have to roll your own Peking duck. The food was excellent (on par with Mary Chung’s in Cambridge). Finally a great meal.

    Food

  • Lunch - Linguine with with bacon, chilies, onions and garlic at La Citta. With a cold beer, this was excellent
  • Snack - Had a quick snack at “Lord of the Fries” which claimed to be “The best fries you will ever eat”. Again, a lack of truth in advertising
  • Dinner - the Spring menu at Flower Drum. Shanghai dumplings, Lamb spring rolls, Quail Sung Choi Bao, Peking Duck, and Szechuan style beef filet. As said, an excellent meal