Over the new year we stayed at the Leo Pacific Hotel located at 378 Little Bourke St in Melbourne. Two nights minimum booked on Wotif.com was simply too easy. Situated in the heart of the CBD between Queen St and Elizabeth St it provides easy access to shopping, restaurants, entertainment venues and transport. Over the new year celebrations we paid $199 for the first night and $120 for the second. The normal price for our studio apartment with queen bed and kitchnette was just over $115 in non-holiday periods. Parking is ridiculous if you stay in a tower with it being around $45 a day, if you find a spot on the street make sure you feed the meter religiously! Inside was spotless, clean and quality fittings. Key card entry, no frivolous accessories just cheap quality accommodation in the city. We booked it on Wotif the night before New Years so it must not be too well known at the moment. Their loss and my gain. I recommend Leo Pacific to anyone needing to stay in the city in affordable quality accommodation.
- Author: johnnymestizo
- Filed under: Australiana
- Date: Jan 2,2008
This is my vent post. I had a slight clash with Melbourne CBD parking inspectors this morning. I’ve cashed up the meter, sipped down a coffee quickly posted a blog. Yes I admit I let time off its leash a little returning to the meter half an hour over. I was greeted small fluttering slip of paper neatly held under my windscreen wiper blade. On the 2nd of January 2008 at 08:23 my pleasant morning was devastated. I have not had much experience parking in Melbourne but to pay $52.00 in a parking tower over New Years and then to pay a $55 infringement (plus golds I actually did stuff in the meter) is a little bit steep. I am guilty of Offence No: 702E - Parked - Fail to pay fee and obey instructions on sign/meter/ticket etc. Road Rule 207 (2) (Meter Expired). By putting right hook turns and possessed parking inspectors across inner city Melbourne I will certainly be cautious next time I venture out to these streets of bedlam. Anyone else had experiences with nasty parking/traffic episodes in Melbourne CBD post your comments please!
Another inspector spotted shortly after the first incident patrolling down Chapel Street - his infringement gun poised firmly to his hip.
Having sushi in Melbs for New Years day and we have run into Mark Philippoussis. This siting has cast my attentions to his tennis career ambitions. His game has been put on the back burner due to a recent knee injury putting him out of contesting the 2008 Australian Open. Albeit fixable there is talk he will pursue non-tennis activities. Is it time? Pete Sampras retired at 32 and Mark is now 31. Anyways, to Mark I wish him luck in 2008!
Read more at the following articles:
Philippoussis to undergo knee surgery, misses Open, Guardian Unlimited, 18th December 2007
Scud facing up to life without tennis, The Australian, 19th December 2007
- Author: johnnymestizo
- Filed under: Australiana
- Date: Jan 1,2008
A hectic buzz filled the air as a sea of bobbing heads filled St Kilda Road bridge and Flinders Street Melbourne. People came from all over, across the Yarra, down from Elizabeth, Queen and Swanston Street all vying for a central spot to watch the fireworks show due at the stroke of midnight - the birth of 2008!
My friends and I pushed through this crowd which seem to flow all the way to Federation Square - an excellent viewing spot for the festivities. Also anywhere along the Yarra riverbanks from Batman to Spencer would also be an advantage. Read the rest of this entry »
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is aimed to motivate readers to increase their financial literacy. This first book in the successful Rich Dad series first published in 1997 and Kiyosaki hopes to impart financial wisdom through simply worded dialogues with ‘his real dad’ and ‘his rich dad’.
Robert Kiyosaki background before writing the Rich Dad series spans from joining the Marines as a pilot, to selling Xerox machines and to starting his own Velcro wallet company. No doubt his story is famous enough now for me not to bore you with specifics. Read the rest of this entry »
Sydney-Hobart Line Honours Winners and Times
2007 - Wild Oats XI - 1d 21h 24m 32s
2006 - Wild Oats XI - 2d 8h 52m 33s
2005 - Wild Oats XI - 1d 18h 40m 10s
Watch Channel 7’s Race Update No. 3 for winning video footage
Read post win writeup “Oates may return for fourth attempt” by Adrian Warren
Today is a special day. It is the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart - the great Australian yacht race.
This is the 63rd Sydney to Hobart yacht race to be held with a total of 82 participants. The race starts from Sydney Harbour, journey through the Tasman Sea to Tasmania, Storm Bay and the culminates 12 miles into the Derwent River. The fastest race record is 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes and ten seconds (01:18:40:10) and set by Wild Oates XI in 2005.
See official start article ‘Wild Oats XI leads Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet out of the harbour‘ from the official Rolex Sydney to Hobart website. Also available, an up to date tracking system to track your favourite yacht’s progress in the race, a complete yacht list of entrants, and up-to-date standings (current ranking of the yacht). Download Official Poster. For more information visit the official sites of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Christmas was excellent. I have been privileged to spend time with family this year. My best wishes go out to all of the men and women who have to be away from family and friends for work reasons.
Chickens, Cheezels and cheesecakes have been devoured in outstanding numbers but this morning is a new day. I hit the road with my Xmas pressie, my new Asics runners. A simple 25 minute Long Slow Distance run in Adelaide’s North Eastern suburbia. Getting back into fitness, the tequila shots stop now! Nothing cures a hangover better than an enduring sweat-fest jog.
Nothing beats seeing family for Christmas! Wishing you all a safe fun filled Christmas season!
Ingatz
- Author: johnnymestizo
- Filed under: Australiana
- Date: Dec 23,2007
Packing some light fruit and sandwichs is a habit for me for long drives. A good 6 litres of water also helps me power on only stopping to fill the tank. However, when crossing the South Australian border just before Pinaroo watch out for the quarantine station. They raid your car and take your delicious carefully sliced fruit and drop it into a bin. I was distraught and grunted at the service attendant at the next SA gas station to make passage to Adelaide. Read the rest of this entry »
Having a pleasureable time in a top end restaurant on Dean Street in Albury, New South Wales. The Border Wine Room places you in a relaxed setting - polished floor boards surrounded by walls of wine racks and ambient jazzonova. The comprehensive wine list provides recommendations to my eye fillet cooked to medium rare perfection. A succulent joy to eat and drink here at the Border Wine Room. Located upstairs at 492 Dean Street, opening times are from 4pm til Midnight from Tuesday to Saturday. In-house private luncheons and functions can be catered for. Phone: (02) 6021 0900
