Geelong

Geelong is a city southwest of Melbourne, Australia. Lining its bay, The Waterfront esplanade has a 19th-century carousel, plus a curved art deco boardwalk and sea bath at Eastern Beach. Scattered along The Waterfront are the Baywalk Bollards, colourful sculptures chronicling city history. The Geelong Botanic Gardens lie at the eastern end of the bay. The central National Wool Museum hosts changing exhibitions.

Melbourne to Geelong for an hour and twenty minutes. We booked a room on Airbnb in advance. First drove to the landlord's home. The landlord is a couple. The wife is a Canadian and the husband is a Geelong native. They gave us a lot of advice from the surrounding area with great enthusiasm. They said that because we are going to the Great Ocean Road, we don't have to play at the seaside in Geelong. The road on the ocean is much better. After some discussion, we decided to go to Geelong's CBD (waterfront) to turn around and solve the lunch by the way.

Although Geelong is the second largest city in Victoria, it is more like a leisurely seaside town. After lunch at Waterfront Kitchen, the waiter was very enthusiastic about recommending their main dish, which was not too slow. Two people are about $35. Cheaper than Melbourne and full of weight.

Eat a good meal and use Tripadvisor to search for places to play nearby. Going to Cunningham Pier first, it is a boulevard that stretches out into the sea. From here you can look out at the playground at the eastern beach and the boats that are parked by the sea. Although it was at the end of December, Australia was also in the middle of the summer, but the sea breeze still shook people. I hurriedly admired the beautiful coastline of Geelong and went back to the shore.

Then head east to the Eastern beach, where you can admire Geelong's famous seaside wood man. The expression is especially cute.

Take a walk along the coastline. There is also a small park in front, and the children play in the small pool that is not real. The grown-ups looked at their children with satisfaction, or lazily lying on the lawn and basking in the sun.

Friends say that they prefer the rhythm of Geelong. In Melbourne we thought that life was leisurely enough. But here, the sea is closer, the road is more empty, the time seems to be parked, and the house prices are lower, but almost the same convenience as Melbourne.

There are a lot of cafes on the beach. When you are tired, you can find a home to stop and have a cup of coffee and a dessert (Panache Cafe & Creperie, $12.5).

After basically spending the whole afternoon at Eastern Beach, I went to the nearby shopping mall Westfield and went home.

Go back to where you live and continue chatting with the landlord. The landlord’s family has a big dog. It’s just one and a half years old. When it’s energetic, it’s not lively. I’m going to push you in your arms. The female landlord talked about her own experience. Because she was accustomed to the multicultural time in Canada, she now only has access to local people in Geelong. Therefore, Airbnb knows more people from all over the world and can listen to different stories.

The most interesting thing that makes us feel that even when she first came to Australia from Canada, she also felt that the language was unreasonable. It is simply a great comfort for those of us who speak English as a second language.

Unexpectedly, I found a Bar (Grovedale Hotel, $31) around the walk, and the beer there was really great.

Sit and enjoy the peace of Geelong evening and go back. Husband said that this is his life outside of China, relax and quiet.

Reference

Geelong Beach, Viewed in September 2018, <https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/parks/item/easternbeach.aspx>.

Panache Cafe & Creperie, viewed in sptember 2018, <https://www.reveler.com.au/project/portfolio-panache-cafe/>.