LezGo to Queen Victoria Market

I’ve been to Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne CBD for about 3 or 4 times. I can’t remember how many times exactly but I love going there. The fresh fruit stalls, the organic produce, the deli shops, and the outdoor souvenir and dry goods market makes you want to spend a whole day there.

Compared to Footscray Market, Queen Victoria Market is more accessible as it is situated in the CBD, so you can easily catch a tram or train to get there. You can easily catch the tram on Elizabeth St. from Flinders Station to get there.

It’s also nice that Queen Victoria Market has an organic produce section that allows you buy anything from the basic herbs such as basil to whole wheat flour. And if you know what produce are in season, you will easily find a good range of them being sold in the organic section at a competitive price. For one, I bought an organic rock melon for $4 apiece when non-organic melons are sold at $3 each.

The variety of deli shops is also mesmerizing. By mesmerizing I mean I’ve seen cheese being sold whose name I can’t even pronounce, and the cuts of preserved meat hanging on the stall windows, I don’t think I’ve encountered most of them. And then there are stalls that offer fresh baked bread, hand-made butter, and the now infamous borek. Fresh butter, how can anyone pass that up?

Fruits too can go for a real bargain with pomegranate sold for $2 apiece, strawberries for $3 for 2 large punnets, and figs for $6 a punnet. The supply and demand can be different on days so you really have to go and see what bargains you can take advantage of.

Basically, what you need is in Queen Victoria Market. However, if you want to easily buy chili leaves, green mangoes, plantains, and other goods that you would usually find in an Asian market, then I highly suggest that you go to Footscray market. Oh, the treasures I find there are truly one of a kind.

For now, here are some items I grabbed during my grocery shopping.

Different shades of red. Roses $6 for two bouquets, Truss tomatoes at $1.99/kg, and Strawberries at a bargain for $3 for two large punnets

All organic produce. Potatoes at $2.95/kg, Lettuce at $2.95 apiece, Red Onions at $3.99/kg, and Basil at $2.95 each

All organic fruits. Golden Nectarines at $5.99/kg, Seedless Grapes at $3.99/kg, Rockmelon $4 apiece, and Bananas at $2.50/kg

Non-organic but still fabulous produce. Figs at $6 per punnet, Coriander at $2 per bundle, Avocado is $3 per piece, Lemongrass is 60 cents, and Broccoli Leaves is $2 per bundle.

Seafood fare! Ahoy mates! Prawns at $15/kg, Barramundi at $10.50/kg, and Live Mussels at $6/kg. Also Garlic at $1.50, Butter is $2.10 for $10 per kg, $3 Grated Parmesan, and Lemongrass at 60 cents apiece.

Disclaimer: LezGoMelbourne is not paid by nor affiliated with any of the companies, shops, or brands mentioned above (if any). These are LezGoMelbourne’s personal opinions with no intention to cause or do any harm. These tips/guides are not to be taken as fact or absolute. Please consult with a professional for your own counsel.

© LezGoMelbourne/Lezgomelbourne.wordpress.com 2013 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, including photos if any, without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lezgomelbourne/Lezgomelbourne.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Footscray Market

Food is one of the things that I love. It is truly interesting how much joy it can bring, how creative you can get with it, and how each spoonful can be quite simple or complex, and both fantastic. Cooking, baking, and doing the grocery – I can just get lost doing them for hours on end.

So one day, I decided to go on an adventure and go to Footscray Market. It was just wonderful. Shopping for fresh produce, discovering new ingredients, and finding such great bargains, all of it just makes the trip more appealing.

Footscray Market is smaller compared to Queen Victoria’s Market, but it is packed with a great array of produce. You will find a lot of Asian greens, spices, and other items here.

Shopping in markets can be far cheaper than heading out to the nearest grocery store. It gives you a better idea of what fruits or vegetables are in season and gives you a far better range when it comes to variety. Also, you can get some real bargains, especially when you are keen on getting your money’s worth. For less than $80, I was able to haul all these goodies home from my trip to Footscray Market.

Strawberries $1/punnet, Cherries $8.00/kg, Watermelon ₵79/kg, Seedless Grapes $2.99/kg, and a Melon priced at $2/kg

Eggplants $1/kg, Squash ₵99, Bittergourd $2.95/kg and Okra is $8.99/kg

Roughly a kilo of Green Mung Beans $1, Chayote $2.99/kg, a bunch of Bittergourd leaves $1.48, and Chili leaves $1.48

A jar of spicy sardines I had found at an Asian grocery was marked at $4.50. I had bought two but was charged only $3. Why? As it turns out, it was $3 for two bottles. See? I told you I was getting some real good bargains. Anyway, moving on.

Mama Sita’s Sinigang sa Bayabas Mix $1.20/pc, Pandan leaves $2, Broccoli ₵99/kg, Carrots $1.49/kg, Coriander $1.00, and Mongo Sprouts or Mung Bean Sprouts for roughly ₵78. I also bought a cucumber for $1 but forgot to take a photo of it.

Vegans need to look away at this post and anyone who is squeamish about seeing a whole fish. If you get upset, it’s not my fault. You have been warned.

Anyway, the only upsetting thing that I had bought at Footscray Market was the frozen mussels. They were somewhat dirty but I didn’t mind. At the time, I had thought that frozen mussels was commonplace. But it was a bad idea, bad. They turned out really rubbery. We couldn’t eat a single one at all.

As for pork, I bought some but I don’t think it is essential to post the pictures. The price at the time for Pork Shoulder was $12/kg and Pork Liver at roughly $5/kg.

Frozen mussels $4.99/kg, Tilapia $4.99/kg, and Taiwan Bangus (Yup, that’s what it said) $6.99/kg.

So there you have it. More than a week’s worth of fresh meat, fruits and vegetables for less than $100. I hope to venture out into other markets and buy more great items. And by then, I would probably have more time to capture pictures of the place.

Disclaimer: LezGoMelbourne is not paid by nor affiliated with any of the companies, shops, or brands mentioned above (if any). These are LezGoMelbourne’s personal opinions with no intention to cause or do any harm. These tips/guides are not to be taken as fact or absolute. Please consult with a professional for your own counsel.

© LezGoMelbourne/Lezgomelbourne.wordpress.com 2013 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, including photos if any, without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lezgomelbourne/Lezgomelbourne.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Hello Melbourne! And the First 10 Things that Happened or I Did When I Got Here

Hello Melbourne!

Walking about town on my first day in Melbourne

This city makes breathing wonderful and difficult at the same time. Lols. The latter is quite true if you’re a smoker. As of date, I have been smoking an average of 1-2 sticks of cigarettes per day ever since I got here, which is somewhere around a couple of weeks. I am quite amazed at myself as to how I was able to do that. I usually smoke around 10 cigarettes a day and maybe even more. I hadn’t really put much effort into quitting or stopping, nor did I plan to drastically change my habits. I guess when you can’t smoke inside the house or anywhere within the compound; you’ll be more than forced to cut down on smoking.

As much as I would want to casually light up here or there, I’m basically afraid of getting caught not smoking where I shouldn’t be. And if I wanted to go out, sometimes I’d want coffee too, and a cup of joe can cost me anywhere between $3-$5, which is a bit heavy on the pocket if I do that at least twice a week. It may be chump change for some, but let’s do the math; Australia sells the most expensive cigarettes I know. For $16-18 dollars a pack, I could buy one, even two whole reams of cigarettes back home. And so, smokes and coffee can easily reach to $100 expenditure a month. Yikes! The government can really dissuade a lot of smokers if they keep adding up the numbers. Anyway, enough about my vices.

I am glad to be in Melbourne. I am loving our apartment, the neighborhood, the weather, the parks, the buildings, and the food. Oh, there is so much more to see and explore I can’t wait to tell you what I managed to find, to read and to do.

Even though I haven’t updated this blog with more recent post as much as I want to, (and even though that’s bound to happen one way or another either because I am living my life or other stuff kept getting in the way) I’ll be sharing my experiences however mundane they are so you could learn too and manage your expectations. Here’s a short summary of what I have encountered, and some tips too along the way:

1. I got the flu. The first week I arrived, I was shot down with the colds and fever. Boo (my partner) told me that almost everyone she knows who gets here becomes sick. I guess you just have to get used to the weather fast or else. But then again, if you have lived where there are 4 seasons in a year, or in Tagaytay, or in Baguio, I don’t think you’ll have any problems.

2. Know how to use your keys, which opens what gates, and which button buzzes in your partner, or your friend, or the courier delivering your package and other goods you ordered online.

3. Boo got me a prepaid sim card and I tried to talk to a machine with as much accent as I could muster so I could activate it. Tip: If you have the same telecommunications provider, SMS or text messages are free. Yes, just like back in the day when Globe or Smart didn’t charge you for anything.

4. You need to save your $1 and $2 coins if you live in an apartment with communal laundry. There are instructions left in place, either in the room itself or on the machines, so people like you and me who has never seen or used a coin-operated washing machine/ dryer can get these things to work and clean our undies.

5. Get to know the neighborhood so you know where you could do your errands or simply ride the nearest tram or train. And for that matter, get a Myki card. Boo got me one so I didn’t have to deal with that one.

6. I shopped at Coles and checked-out and bagged my own grocery without any hitch (I don’t live in a cave, but it’s kind of a novelty to me because we don’t have or do them back in the Philippines).

7. Always have a couple of tools handy like a screw driver and a hammer, especially when you have an unfurnished apartment. You know you need to assembly those pieces of furniture you bought from Ikea.

8. Know how to operate the oven. Actually, I’m still having a difficulty with this one as I can’t find any manual on the internet about Gorenje Pacific freestanding cooker/oven. All that the knob indicates are the numbers from 0 – 60. I am guessing that this is the timer, but I still can’t figure out how to properly manipulate the heat.

9. I tried doing all the simple things like getting a bottle of Coke from the vending machine. But stupid me, I wasn’t familiar with the denominations that when I dropped in a big coin that says 20, I had initially thought that I had already sufficiently paid for my drink. My Boo was kind enough not to laugh at me and said I dropped in 20 cents and not 20 dollars. Argh. The humiliation!

10. Collected the mail and saw how many catalogues and unsolicited posts are jammed in it. Yes, you will regularly get this. Even though others don’t want it, I kind of like it. It makes me feel like I have important shopping to do. Must not let those discounted items go to waste!

Disclaimer: LezGoMelbourne is not paid by nor affiliated with any of the companies, shops, or brands mentioned above (if any). These are LezGoMelbourne’s personal opinions with no intention to cause or do any harm. These tips/guides are not to be taken as fact or absolute. Please consult with a professional for your own counsel.

© LezGoMelbourne/Lezgomelbourne.wordpress.com 2013 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, including photos if any, without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lezgomelbourne/Lezgomelbourne.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Counting the Days till Oz

I am counting the days until I take my first flight to the land of Oz. It makes me feel more anxious and excited at the same time.

It’ll be a new chapter in our lives. The surroundings, the culture, the weather, the food, the people, the lesbian community, the possibilities, the future – all of it makes my heart go giddy.

It’ll definitely be an exciting journey for us.