The Royal Melbourne Show is a week long festival with rides, shows, animals and food. Held annually at the Flemington Race Grounds, it’s one of the events that makes Melbourne the great city that it is. The cultural experience is one of those one needs to have if they happen to be around.
I missed this event last year for whatever reason, therefore had no intention of missing it this time around. I so happened to be in city to collect our OCF’s Hell Kitchen booklets for the event the next day. I supposed to rush back for prayer.. but it was the only day I had to enjoy the festival. So the decision was obvious.
Me and my partner in crime (we intended to go for OCF late that Friday) took quite awhile to get to the showgrounds due to traffic. Ended up having to travel there by train and foot. After 5.30pm the ticket prices reduced from $17 to $10 bucks, so we waited for about 15 minutes before entering.
It was quite a festive atmosphere, with crowds of people lining up for rides and games, walking around with goodie bags full of decorative costumes from spiderman to spongebob. I wouldn’t mind playing them all, but I was short of cash and didn’t really have time to enjoy any rides. And I think I was a little too old for costumes.. no offence to the people who bought.
Indoors, there were carnivals of food, wine and other delicacies .. which were not free by the way, apart from some samples. We tried this baked potatoe (which I ate again during the Tulip Festival).. not bad. I wanna feature this strawberry shop which offers dipped chocolate strawberries and ice cream for a reasonable price. A must try! I dunno where they’re from, but it’s a safe bet you can find them every year at the show.
I guess what got my interested with the show was the animals. Last year, Dee Jun told me off flying pigs.. so I imagined there would be something like a pig getting shot out from a cannon or something. Unfortunately, after 5pm most of the performances like the flying pig and pig race has already ended. Even the pet exhibition ended. All that was left was the livestock and farm pets. Still, it was quite interesting.
You can feel the softness just by looking at it
I dunno whether to feel sorry or awed. Someone might get in trouble with PETA though.
Moo ~
We were allowed to mix around with farm animals roaming free at one of the buildings. They had small baby pigs, sheeps, goats (de-horned) and other animals. Quite an interesting way to promote the rural life. Has a distinctive western/Aussie culture to it too. I used to play with animals back home.. but this was way cleaner.
You’ll never get these scenes in Malaysia cause (1) we’re a Muslim country, such festivals with pigs running around is a dreams dream and (2) animals roaming around freely usually ended up on the dinner table as fast as your eyes can see.
Took some videos of what’s been going on.
Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the Royal Melbourne Show. Too bad there wont be a next time for me. I had fun hanging out with Yasmeen too. Super funny character to be around with.
