Cute Koala Pic

On a less depressing level, here is a cute picture of a Koala from when Melbourne was experiencing over 100 degree weather during the Australian Open. Click here.

Victoria Bushfires

From the moment that we stepped off of the airplane, we could smell the stale scent of smoke lingering in the air. During our stay in Melbourne, the sky had a filmy haze blanketing the horizon. We have not experienced the aftermath of the bushfires in New South Wales (where we reside), but while in Melbourne, the bushfires became real. The effects are tragic. Click here for a video of a koala bear after the bushfires.

My Melbourne Trip

Melbourne is an amazing city bursting with art and culture. The city utilizes every inch of space for self-expression and entertainment. Its alleyways (known as Laneways) are populated by little cafes and shops, and the walls are riddled with graffiti and art installments. One particular art installment that I found intriguing was a breathing brick wall. The artist created what looks like a brick wall, but slowly the wall pulsates outward into a bubble then equally as slowly deflates. When I first saw the wall, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, until other people confirmed that the wall was indeed pulsating. All artists (including graffiti artists) are required to obtain a license for these magnificent public displays.

The shops, cafes, and bars are equally as artistic and intriguing as the artwork. Shops and bars, especially, are very subtle. It is rare to find one with a big sign advertising the entrance. Many of the popular bars are hidden in the Laneways, amongst the graffiti and dumpsters; and most are extremely hard to find unless brought by someone who knows how to get there. My professor has always wanted to check out a popular bar called Murmur, but it is so difficult to find that in all of his years travelling to Melbourne, he found it just last year! Similarly, one night my friends and I were looking for New Golden Mountain Bar. We asked many Melbourians, but they did not know how to direct us. We walked up and down the street where the bar was supposed to be located three times, until finally a person on the street pointed behind us into a small laneway and said, “It’s right there.” While this experience was frustrating, I admire Melbourne for its subtleties because it makes Melbourne a city of surprises and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

Because we were in the city for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night, the nightlife was very slow and somewhat non-existent, meaning there were no lines or crowds. My friends and I used this to our benefit, however, and visited as many highlighted bars as possible. One bar, The Croft Institute, had a 1950s Mad Scientist theme. It was very creepy. There were lab tables with sinks and stools, beakers and test tubes will fluorescent liquids in them. Upstairs was haunting and slightly disturbing. There was a wheelchair stuck to the ceiling and the bathroom was a hospital room. Creeped out, we left that bar very quickly. Another really cool bar was Section 8. It is an outdoor venue that looks like a junkyard. Packing crates and barrels are used for tables and chairs.

While the bars were uniquely amusing, the highlight of my trip was The Great Ocean Road Tour. From 7:30am to 10:30pm, I climbed aboard a bus that drove down The Great Ocean Road, stopping at specific destinations. We saw beautiful coastlines with glistening waters whose crashing waves sang a relaxing hushing song that I could listen to all day. We walked down a street where the surrounding trees inhabited sleeping koala bears! We hiked through a transitional rainforest, home to the largest ferns I have ever seen! The splendor of the rainforest cannot be illustrated by my words. My favorite stop on the tour was at The Twelve Apostles—an array of natural limestone jutting out of the ocean on the shore of Port Campbell National Park. These breathtaking pillars embraced by the sparkling water remain as one of the most celestial sites I have ever seen. We stopped at other beautiful and enchanting sites, as well as two small towns for lunch and dinner breaks. It was a wonderful day!

One of my academic tours that I took was a photography tour. On this tour we met a famous Melbourian photographer, Matt Irwin. He spoke to us about his work, which was brilliant.

I loved Melbourne so much that four days was simply not enough for me to enjoy all of its splendors. I tried to change my flight to allow me to stay behind for a couple extra days; however, the airline could not change my flight.

Check out my Melbourne Trip photos, click here!

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