Today I decided to do a dry run through to the exam venue (which by the way is Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre in Albert park not at RMIT). I decided to do this test run to know how long it takes for me to get to the venue and where it is. And parking there is not cheap as I found out last time when I helped the Student Union with their exam support stall out there. I also wanted to know if there were any nearby shops and cafes around. I don't want to eat at the Aquatics Centre, because the food there tastes really bad and like a dogs breakfast. When I was there last time I had a disgusting egg sandwich. Besides they don't stock any healthy foods. And even if they do it would be expensive.
Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre
It took me around 20-25 mins to get there by tram number 96 from the city. On the way I passed South Melbourne Market. The exam venue is located in zone 1. I got off at Wright st station and it was right in front of the station.
South Melbourne Market
On the way to Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre last time I passed the South Melbourne Market and some of the South Melbourne cafes. I went in a car with Student Union.
This time I was eager to see what the South Melbourne Market had and how much meals were there. South Melbourne Market is about 5-10 mins by tram or by car from the exam venue and is in zone 1. There is free two hour parking there. But the only problem is that they are only open from 8am-4pm Wednesday through to Sunday. The people there are really lovely. I got one of South Melbourne's famous Dim Sims (or Dimmies as they call them) for $1.60. They were really good, not like the ones at the local takeaway shops. They were really flavoursome and juicy, not dry like the ones that you get in the takeaway shops.
There are also $5 Vietnamese Bread rolls and loads of good salads. There's also a few coffee shops that brew their own coffee beans. The coffees there are always really freshly made. I didn't get the chance to try these as I was full from my Dim Sim. There's two or three organic places there that sell fresh food and groceries. There lots of cheap grocery places as well as lots of fresh food. I got two juicy mandarins for $0.50 altogether.
I got to try out one of the cheese there and found it to be really creamy.
The old paper shop deli
After South Melbourne Market I then ventured out on to Claredon st to see what good places I can find for coffee and lunch. There are heaps of them. There is even a Coles there. Claredon st is about 15-20 mins by tram 112 from Collins st in the city. And it is also about 5-10 mins from Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre by car or by the 112 tram going to the city. The Max Brenners there looked really quiet. Maybe they were just really bad or maybe closed?
The place that really interested me the most is the Old paper shop deli. I loved the name of the shop. It reminded me of the good old times and it also implied that the food is fresh and homecooked. I was not wrong. I read that they have been around for 20 years. I thought that this is a proper bakery, but it is a cake shop that serves lunch and breakfast. Many students hang out here because it is affordable.
Here I had a huge hot chocolate ($3.80) and a vegetable sandwich with a mushroom salad ($15). The serves here are big. This is big enough to feed two people with small appetites. Although they used fresh vegetables I was not a fan of the salad. They have used waay too much chilli sauce and I could not taste the flavours of the vegetables. A bottom half of my sandwich was soaked in the dressing. I did like the sandwich though. It was really nice, but I think that they could have put a little less cheese in it.
All in all it was a great experience and I would love to visit there again. Students if you are going to Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre to do your exams, I suggest coming to South Melbourne for lunch. It is much cheaper and healthier and your body will thank you for it!
Students what are some of your experiences of the exam venue? Please outline your experiences below.
Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre
It took me around 20-25 mins to get there by tram number 96 from the city. On the way I passed South Melbourne Market. The exam venue is located in zone 1. I got off at Wright st station and it was right in front of the station.
South Melbourne Market
On the way to Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre last time I passed the South Melbourne Market and some of the South Melbourne cafes. I went in a car with Student Union.
This time I was eager to see what the South Melbourne Market had and how much meals were there. South Melbourne Market is about 5-10 mins by tram or by car from the exam venue and is in zone 1. There is free two hour parking there. But the only problem is that they are only open from 8am-4pm Wednesday through to Sunday. The people there are really lovely. I got one of South Melbourne's famous Dim Sims (or Dimmies as they call them) for $1.60. They were really good, not like the ones at the local takeaway shops. They were really flavoursome and juicy, not dry like the ones that you get in the takeaway shops.
The flower shop
The fruit stalls
There are also $5 Vietnamese Bread rolls and loads of good salads. There's also a few coffee shops that brew their own coffee beans. The coffees there are always really freshly made. I didn't get the chance to try these as I was full from my Dim Sim. There's two or three organic places there that sell fresh food and groceries. There lots of cheap grocery places as well as lots of fresh food. I got two juicy mandarins for $0.50 altogether.
I got to try out one of the cheese there and found it to be really creamy.
The old paper shop deli
After South Melbourne Market I then ventured out on to Claredon st to see what good places I can find for coffee and lunch. There are heaps of them. There is even a Coles there. Claredon st is about 15-20 mins by tram 112 from Collins st in the city. And it is also about 5-10 mins from Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre by car or by the 112 tram going to the city. The Max Brenners there looked really quiet. Maybe they were just really bad or maybe closed?
The place that really interested me the most is the Old paper shop deli. I loved the name of the shop. It reminded me of the good old times and it also implied that the food is fresh and homecooked. I was not wrong. I read that they have been around for 20 years. I thought that this is a proper bakery, but it is a cake shop that serves lunch and breakfast. Many students hang out here because it is affordable.
Here I had a huge hot chocolate ($3.80) and a vegetable sandwich with a mushroom salad ($15). The serves here are big. This is big enough to feed two people with small appetites. Although they used fresh vegetables I was not a fan of the salad. They have used waay too much chilli sauce and I could not taste the flavours of the vegetables. A bottom half of my sandwich was soaked in the dressing. I did like the sandwich though. It was really nice, but I think that they could have put a little less cheese in it.
What I had for lunch
All in all it was a great experience and I would love to visit there again. Students if you are going to Melbourne Sports and Aquatics centre to do your exams, I suggest coming to South Melbourne for lunch. It is much cheaper and healthier and your body will thank you for it!
Students what are some of your experiences of the exam venue? Please outline your experiences below.
No comments:
Post a Comment