After before we spent my boyfriend birthday night with take away Mexican food, a week after coming home from her holiday at Queensland, my boyfriend's daughter invite us to have belated birthday dinner. Apparently, at the same night, my boyfriend's son had his 18th birthday at his ex-wife's house (which where his daughter stay and not invited).

Also read: First Time Trying Mexican Food

So, since she didn't invited at her brother's party and she didn't have place to keep quite, she and her boyfriend invited us to have dinner at the Mexican restaurant near our house. The restaurant name is Taco Bill. Actually, the restaurant is not that close. Our house at Cranbourne North, while the restaurant is at Cranbourne West. She said she will treat four of us because it is a dinner party for her father. 

From 7.30pm appointment, become 8pm appointment, and when we were there, all the parking lots near the restaurant was full. So we have to parked our car a little bit far from the restaurant, and it also dark. We met with his daughter and her boyfriend in front of the restaurant. Luckily we booked first, because when we arrives, the restaurant was really full. Seems somebody also celebrate her/his birthday too inside the restaurant.

My boyfriend's daughter then asked about her booked, and it turns they giving our table to somebody else. Since we already there, they are trying to make a table for us. Finally we get our table after 10 minutes waiting.

Luckily our table wasn't at the middle. We sat at the place with the partition there. So we wouldn't know what the other customer says, drinks, and eats. Which is good. LOL.

Since this restaurant is places at the shop, it makes this restaurant not too big. If you read my post about "trying mexican food for the first time", it is so different from it. This restaurant have a tiny bit Mexican atmosphere inside, not look like Mexican Cantina. When you entered the Mexican Cantina restaurant, your eyes will be delighted with Mexican interior, from the door until all the tiny wall ornaments. In this Taco Bill, even they try to make the atmosphere feels like Mexican, like the wall paint, and the a.la Mexican kitchen, this Taco Bill have less Mexican interior. Even at the entrance the Mexican atmosphere been feel, but when you walked inside, the interior is just enough with Sombrero hats hanging. But I can understand it since this restaurant have lots of branches.

Because it's my boyfriend's daughter's treat, all of us followed what she want to order. LOL. At the end, we decided to order Fiestas. This is a banquet menu that minimum two person can order it. Since it was the four of us, so this menu is perfect. And in this menu, we can get Nacos Supremos, it is a super huge portion of Naco with lots of toppings. And each of us can get a portion of Taquitos, and Burrito with Mexican Rice. And you can choose the meat, beef or chicken. I choose chicken, like always.

I ordered Fruit Margaritas for my drink. And this is not dissapoint! Because the drink was super fresh and delicious. This drink is made from mixed lemon, strawberry, manggo and pinapple fruit. 

The first meal that came out from this Fiesta menu is Taquitos. It apparently is a long naco chip that filled with meat (beef/ chicken). The chips is so crunchy and thick, plus the corn taste is so tasty. The meat combination, corn chips, and the tomato sauce was really perfect. Since the sauce was not spicy, they offer you jalapeno chiles, which looks like a jalapenos pickle, and I think it was not really spicy. 

The second one that came out is Nacos Supremos. It was a huge chips with lots of sauces, and super hot. Like the Taquitos the chips was super crunchy, and corny. The three a.la Mexico sauces, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa fresca also perfect. Looks like the mozzarella has been put at the stack of the chips, and they heat it until it melt, and at the end they topped it with the sauce. This is super duper delicious.

After that, then our main meal came out, it was burrito. Apparently chicken burrito and beef burrito have different presentation. For my chicken burrito, they topped it with melted cheese. The spice for cooking the chicken is not spicy at all. This chicken burrito one now really have chicken taste (read my post again about take away Mexican food), because when I munched it, I can taste the chicken meat inside my mouth. The burrito wrap also not too thick, so when I ate it, the burrito and the chicken mix to be one delicious taste inside my mouth.

The rice actually a little bit different from Indonesian rice. It dryer and the grain bigger too. Maybe since the grain is bigger and dryer it doesn't took a lots spoons to make me full enough.

At Fiestas menu, they also have dessert. We can choose between Mexican Chocolate Mouse or Flan de Queso. Since we were full, we can take our dessert home. My boyfriend choose Flan de Queso for his dessert, and when I taste it, it so sweet. Really sweet for my taste. Unfortunately, the Chocolate Mouse taste was not too chocolate, and luckily is not as sweet as the Flan de Queso. 

Anyway,
This Taco Bill restaurant was a long time established at Australia. Its first owner is Mexican called Bill Chilcote. He came from the Mexican and California border, and came to Australia at 1967. His first restaurant was at Queensland, before move to the south. Before they established Melbourne restaurant, he already have this restaurant at Bondi and Sidney. And now, in Victoria, he already have 35 branches.

This restaurant also offer vegetarian and gluten free menu, have a wheelchair access, and also kids friendly. If you are looking for semi-formal restaurant, or good Mexican restaurant, this place is recommended. It also have a good ratings in some website. It got 4 out of 5 stars at Google Review, 3.5 out of 5 point at Tripadvisor Australia, and 7 out of 10 point at menulog. Most of it praising their quick, good, and friendly service.

If you visit Melbourne, you can find this restaurant around Collin Street and Russel Street, Melbourne, or to the South Melbourne. If you are going around Cranbourne, you can find it atShop /1-3 Universal Way, Cranbourne West, Victoria, 3977.

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Actually, after going to Marysville, we didn't go directly to Steavenson fall first, but went to Ski Resort above Marysville, named Lake Mountain. We went there because the winter pieces still there. Yes, this resort still have snow.

To get in there, we have to pay around AUD5. That price is for one car. So if you have one person or six persons inside the car, you will pay the same. To the entry gate to the resort took us around 10-15 minutes. From here the weather changed to be really cold from the breeze cold.

Arrived at the resort made me so happy. This was my first time saw lots of snows. I became really shivered when we get out from the car, even tough I wore my sweater, so yes, you need a really really thick jacket at the snow area. Since I don't have winter jacket, so I wore two jackets in one. Not until we stepped inside the resort, the rain welcomed us.

So, before I rolled at the snow, we getting wet first. Since there were no snow at the parking lot, so we have to get inside to see the snow.

We went inside the playing ground right after the rain stop. Here, before we went to the playing ground, we came at one building where we can rent all the snow things we need. From jacket until tobbogan. They rented the jacket and shoes from all sizes, from kids to adult. From Asian to westerner.

Ready to slide with my tobbogan

Maybe some of you thinking why I so excited to see snow, does Melbourne have four seasons? Yes, right, Melbourne have four seasons, just like European countries. But for winter, not all places in Melbourne have snow. Just some places with some high level can have snow, Lake Mountain is one of it. So when it winter, we can't have snow at the city. Last time snow came to the city was around 2005, and not last long.

The only thing we have at winter is hail. Several times I saw this hail. Not that bad but just a couple seconds.

Since this is my winter and spring time at Melbourne, so I was excited to see snow, even we have to go around and hour long (because we have to stop at Marysville first).

So, at Lake Mountain, I really want to play tobbogan. And only with AUD 12, you can rent the tobbogan board. Oh, and they need your license or another ID, plus your car number. After you return their things, you will get your license back.

For those who didn't have shoes, jacket, any other winter clothes, you can rent here. It's quit complete. This is the price if you want to rent from this place.

Source

Since this was my first time playing tobbogan, my exciting level is up high. Oh well, since this is the first time, I can understand it.

the down end of the tobbogan slide, I have to climb up again

Playing tobbogan is fun and tiring. Because this actually sliding down at the snow hill with the board. Slidding down is fine, going up is hell. Since in Indonesia we don't have snow, and getting used with warm weather, so it is difficult to inhale a cold weather like winter weather. Sometimes I loose my breathe just for going up to the snow hill, and took a couple seconds for able to breathe. This made my chest cold and made me easily to get tired, since I have to adjust the weather. But it didn't stop me enjoying my tobbogan ride.I played it several times until I had enough.

I had enough because I am not able to take another breathe and also climbed the snow hill is not that easy. I had to fall down several times.

tired to climbed the snow

Luckily after finished my tobbogan ride, and warmed ourselves inside the cafe, the rain came again. This time was harder than before. So we waited inside their cafe. Beside huge, their cafe also sells a winter souvenir too, from the gloves, beanie, etc.

rain start pouring down again, so we hide our selves at their cafe

This cafe also have a kids corner. So If we bring kids in this resort, we don't have to worried that our kid will get bored, because they can play inside this cafe too. Since lots of people said the food and drink price in this cafe is ridiculously expensive, better bring your own warm drink.

the cafe is really kids friendly

After the rain stopped, we started to have a snow walk. This time we walked to the south of the hill. This resort is provide some tracks for walk too. In here we can enjoy the white and green scenery around. And if you lucky, you will see the wild possum too. The most important thing is that stay at the track.

Or you can also play with the snow, making a snowman, or the other thing. Luckily when we were there, no one at our track, some of them enjoying themselves at the tobbogan ride area or going higher.

walk around the resort at their walking track

another place to play tobbogan, too bad not much snow left

This resort also have flying fox. Too bad when we were there, the flying fox ride is close. Maybe because at the end there was no more snow. Or maybe you can try the tube run with your friend. Once again I didn't play the tube run too, even that was free in that time (in the snowy season you have to pay). My boyfriend said it is not fun when there was no snow.

Even if you want to learn skiing, you can do it in here too. They have a skiing class too. Once again, maybe because the snow season is almost gone, I couldn't see any skiing class that day.

found this totoro snowman in the middle of the snow field

Maybe next time I have to come at the winter, so I can see this resort cover by snow. Overall I looove playing at the snow (and my boyfriend agree). Of course I willing to come again.

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Winter is passed, and the beginning of September is spring time in Australia. In our home, sun shine really bright. Actually I really want to go to alpine resort, playing with the snow. Last year all I did was grabbed the snow only, didn't feel how it feel to lay down at the snow.

So this weekend schedule is going to see snow. Even it's already spring, but in the beginning of spring we still can see snow at their mountains. But, before seeing the snow, my boyfriend took me to a small town near the resort that we want to go. The town named Marysville.

Marysville

It just only took an hour to go around this city. If you planning to go to Healsville, this town is near Healsville. If you don't know what is Healsville, you can check at my blog post about Healsville HERE. So, if you planning to go to Healsville, please visit this town too, it will be worth it.

This small town was burned down at Black Saturday happened at February 2009, a huge bush fire burned down this little town. Only remain of the building was left. All of this town has been stated as a dangerous town and closed for public. When they closed it all Victoria and Federal polices started looking for dead body and the cause of the fire. This town then re-opened at March at the same year.

bushfire at marysvile. Source

My boyfriend returned to this town two months after the Black Saturday. He said this town was so eerie, more like a death town. All he could saw was an empty and eerie place, most like a ghost town.
An these are the photos he took when he went there two weeks after the Black Saturday (please make a good note that these pictures are came from my boyfriend personal files)

part of marysville two months after the black saturday Source: Mas Bojo personal file

part of marysville two months after the black saturday Source: Mas Bojo personal file

part of marysville two months after the black saturday Source: Mas Bojo personal file

part of marysville two months after the black saturday Source: Mas Bojo personal file

this old police office chimney was still standing after the black saturday, unfortunately we can't find it nowadays Source: Mas Bojo personal file

the main road of marysville two months after the black saturday Source: Mas Bojo personal file

the only building that still stand completely after the black saturday is this bakery, and it still stand until today Source: Mas Bojo personal file

 
Black Saturday is a big and worst bush fire disaster that happened in Victoria, Australia around February 2009. This bush fire happened because of that time Australia have their summer time and dry big wind. This bush fire caused 12 territories burned down, two of it is the worst, Kinglake and Marysville, 173 people died (including 2 tourists from Indonesia), 414 people injured, and caused 7,562 people loosing their home.

But now, Marysville change to be a really beautiful town. Of course some of the buildings are new. because Black Saturday made this town buildings falls down, and they have to rebuild it again from the beginning. The result, now this town become really beautiful town.

This colorful bench is in front of their primary school

First time came into this town, we welcomed by a hotel building which the architecture is sooo beautiful, and I really like it. It called Vibe Hotel. Its front exterior dominated by wood with really dark brown color, and of course this hotel is new.

Vibe Hotel at Marysville, I'm in love with its architecture

What makes this town so unique is the buildings. Even most of the buildings are new buildings, but we still can feel the classic feeling inside this town. And their park really beautiful. And it's spring when I came, so there are lots of leave becoming green, and flowers start blooming.

A tree start to bloom at spring

Bridge at Marysville Park

A beautiful corner that you can find almost in every corner of Marysville Park

We can waste our time just by admiring its park, or just stay at the park and enjoying the weather or having a BBQ. In one of the corner of this park, they have BBQ place. All you going to do just bring your favorite meat or anything you want to. Everything is set up. Beside, the park also kids friendly. They have lots of things to play with, so the kids will never bored. Or, you can go for fishing in the lake at the middle of this park. They have trouts and salmons.

Steavenson Fall

4 kilometers to the south of Marysville we can visit one of the highest waterfall in Victoria, named Steavenson Fall. Steavenson name taken from the founder of the Marysville town, John Steavenson. While Marysville it self taken from his wife name, Mary Steavenson.

This waterfall is 84 meters high, and became the favorite waterfall since 1860ish. Just need 700 meters walk from the entrance, we can enjoying this waterfall right in front of our eyes. All you need is paying the ticket for only AUD 3.

a great view welcoming us

Just need around 15-30 minutes to get to the waterfall. And the track is not that difficult, because it tend to be flat. If I compared with some waterfalls that I've been visited, some of the tracks is amazingly difficult for me. I had to walk down faaar away. Walk down is not a problem, walk up is a huge problem. In this waterfall, you can choose to not doing it. Because the main track is so easy and not too far. You are really have to walk around 15 minutes to get to the bridge.

Since this waterfall is still part of the Marysville, when the Black Saturday happened, this waterfall also one of the place that impacted. Because the way to this waterfall have lots of trees, it surely burn when Black Saturday happened.  For weeks after Marysville opened for public, but this waterfall still forbade to be visited.

this is the sign right where the steavenson fall is two weeks latter after the black saturday Source: Mas Bojo personal file

Steavenson Fall after the black saturday Source

Now we can enjoy this Steavenson waterfall. You just not only enjoying the waterfall, but also the view around this waterfall. Yes, the view is really adorable. Since it still at Yarra Range, so we still can find a beautiful green trees around. Green and clean.

this is the view from the up of the hill when we want to go to the top of the waterfall

this is the view you can find when you have been walked 10 minutes to the waterfall

this is the closest look you can find in the bottom of the waterfall

this bridge connecting two different place for seeing the waterfall, and you can also enjoying the waterfall from this bridge

everywhere you can catch the beauty of this waterfall

This waterfall also provide the hard track too. This track is provide if you want to climb to the top view of this waterfall. So we have to walk up around 84 meters. The track is really steep and since I never been moved my body that much, so I have to stopped several times, because it really made me tired.

this is the first step of the difficult track to go to the upper of the waterfall

Overall, this waterfall is so amazing. You can enjoy this waterfall from every side. Right, left, at the middle, at the top, at the bottom, near, far.

the view from the top of the waterfall

So, if you are having itinerary to Melbourne, and deciding to visit Healsville, don't forget to visit Marysville and Steavenson fall too.

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