Australia 2008 : A visit to Adelaide, South Australia

Itinerary summary:
Day 1
Jacob's Creek Vineyard - Lyndoch Lavendar Farm and Cafe - Barossa Dam - Stroll around the city

Day 2 
Chinatown - Glenelg Beach

Day 3 
Lunch at Mount Lofty

It was an impromptu trip to visit a friend who moved to Adelaide recently from Canberra. So, after my exams, we booked a ticket to fly slightly west to visit Adelaide. It's actually my second visit, the first was when I visited my cousin the year before.

Upon arrival, our lovely 'tour guides' who just met each other that morning brought us out to brunch at this place called the branch. The food was yummy - could be because we were also famished with the early flight and all. I wonder if this place is still there. 

Thereafter, it's my first visit to the vineyard! I know, I've been Down Under for a while but it never occurred to me that vineyard is worth visiting since I don't drink. Going to Jacob's Creek was quite an experience because a lot happened along the way, and being able to reach there finally was like a sense a triumph to all of us. 

The next stop was Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe. They also offer lavender-flavoured ice-cream, which is delicious. The weather in Adelaide was really hot and dry, the lavenders aren't blooming and the ice-cream was melting fast when we were there. Nevertheless it was good fun with great company.

Our lovely friends drove us to the Barossa Dam next. It's humongous! I've been this close to a dam before. There was this sign that says that we are able to whisper something across to our friend on the other end of the dam clearly. So, we gave it a try and it worked!

It's also a National Engineering Landmark. So, if you're close by, do pay it a visit :)

Then, it's time to go around the city. This is a picture of my travel mate and I at the outside of Star City, a casino in Adelaide.

All around Adelaide city centre, the sights of these gigantic metal balls are not uncommon.

The city of Adelaide is pretty, with a beautiful lake and the backdrop of the university covering the skyline of this park.

We also visited Chinatown the next day. There were this arches to signify the resemblance to China, I suppose. As usual, loads of Asian pack this place for groceries and food!

I've been to Glenelg beach before and it feels good to be back, to catch the sunset this time. The good thing about Adelaide is to have a beach close by where one can go and sit and relax by the sound of the sea with a steady sea breeze blowing through on a hot summer day. 

It gets a little chilly at night so we headed to Bracegirdles for a cuppa hot chocolate! Best way to sum the day. Of course, while we were there in Adelaide, we have also visited the outlet store since Canberra doesn't have any back then.

This trip was a brief weekend trip but the great part of it is to meet many whom I've not met in years - like my cousin who brought me for a nice lunch at Mount Lofty, and some schoolmates whom I've not met since I left high school. It's a small community in Adelaide, just like Canberra. So, it's good to bump into people who happen to know a mutual friend too.