Venturing Victoria 2: Sovereign Hills & Ballarat

Another tourist attraction in Victoria is in Ballarat's Sovereign Hill. It brings back the history from 1850s, the gold rush era! Is all about the buildings, the structures and the life of those tough days...

The entrance...

This place has restructured of the olden days..... Is not only about the artifacts, but there there is also people dressing in that period costumes wandering around and carrying out their daily routine of those days. P/s the old guy in the suite and crosier is actually the doctor. 

The rich's house, top right is the men's room and the right bottom is the ladies' room. Today, we called  both living room! XD

Other buildings and architectures: Bowling, church, coach ticket counter

Pub, candle making, blacksmith

Garment store, media printing, photo taking, and off course... accounting ledger bank recording.

A life as a miner (above showing the life as Chinese miner)... Living in such a small and compact space... It made me appreciate more on my current life in the modern era and have avoided the suffering in the past (well, I might have suffered in the previous life... who knows? Haha) The guide mentioned that the Chinese have suffered a lot in the early days, being discriminated and edged out by the white community. But given the support by the families and determination, they able to survive and eventually having a slightly better life compared to other miners. 

There is also the "mining" activities available for us to experience! Well, if you can see the 2 thin pieces of gold flakes on the top left.... It took me more than an hour to get those... T.T The guy on the bottom left is the guide explaining about the miners' life. Didnt manage to experience the underground guided mining tour... Blame the clumsy me... who lost the ticket to enter to the mining tour experience...end up going in the self-guided one... That one might not be as detailed as the guided tour, but at least I have a rough idea on how is it like. ;) (p/s the tunnel is really narrow! Is pretty scary to be honest...I knew it is narrow based on what has shown in TV but going through in really life, the phobia arise...*scared*)

How to solidify the pure gold chunk! Smelting of gold

There are also a few cafes, bakeries, and sweet shops! Well, a budget traveler only affords for a small piece of apple strudel as lunch cum tea break. Cant afford for a New York style tea, although is quite famous there (according to the guide...) So, here I come, the HOPE BAKERY! When you are starving, any piece that can fill your stomach is a HOPE for you XD

The job ad board for those days... Haha... Interesting job ad :)

Redcoats Parade

Standing from the peak of the hill, Ballarat lies within your view :)

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Out of Sovereign Hill, Ballarat town is also quite a significant view in Vic. All the architecture here is so vintage, typically Victorian style, a fusion of the past and present. If I got the chance to visit again, this is one of the destination that I would like to head to. Is a different experience and a lifestyle that I will not be able to experience being a Gen Y. Btw, is spring when I am visited Ballarat. Another view that I will not able to see back in a tropical country is the blossom of roses, cotton white, campaign pink, royal yellow, ruby red... Is not in the botanic garden, is just merely in the front yard of the houses and along the road.