Melbourne Botanic Gardens and Chinatown : December 15 2023

Ladies were heading out shopping. My plan was quite different - cycle across the river to walk the Melbourne Botanic Gardens - not done that before

Southbank views from the bike path heading into Melbourne Olympic Park - set aside in 1956 for sport

Melbourne cricket ground - becoming a sports venue ride - no photos of the tennis stadia

AAMI Park - home of Melbourne Victory football club. Cross the river from here to access Bridge Gate to the garden

Walked the bike - no riding allowed - as I planned to exit at a gate on the city side. View across the lake to the city

Time for flowers - seen this spiky yellow one before - maybe hypericum

Brazilian walking lily - a different colour to the one growing at home

A few samples from the rose garden.

A few from China - never seen one like this - almost one D

The more traditional form - headed up to the US drylands section - cactus time

Flowers are the size of a 20 cent piece - say twice bigger than a quarter - lots of bee action

Action photo time - love this picture

This is also special - can see the pollonia on the bee's legs

A different lily also with bee action - swamp lily from FNQ

So much diversity to take in - the way to do this is walk several times with different targets in mind

As it happens I walked the whole loop. Could have locked the bike where I came in. There were no bike lock up spots

Merry Christmas signage from further down the river

Map shows the riding - turned the GPS off for the gardens walk - was a good choice for a mild day

Evening plans were to find a gin bar

Union Electirc was the first target- up a lane with these signs. Staff wear the t-shirts. Was a gin bar - music was too loud. I was happy to stay. Not to be. Bar is on Chinatown - found somewhere to buy roast duck

Time to find a quieter gin bar - behind this door

Was quite different - more like an old time theatre speakeasy

Stopped at a Chinese supermarket on the way back to source stuff for Peking Duck dinner.

Worked a treat and a good end to the week away

One last photo for the week - Christmas decorations in Bourke Street

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Cycling, Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking