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Sunday, July 03, 2005
Qantas never crashed, said the Rain Man. His brother then asked him, "Qantas? Qantas?! Ray, Qantas doesn't fly to L.A. from Cincinnati. You've got to get to Melbourne, MEL-bourne Australia, in order to get the plane, that flies to L.A.!! Do you hear me?!?!"
(I had to do a Google to find the name of the street where I'm staying. And even then I got confused between Spencer Street and Swanston Street. The former is where my hotel and the thinking conference is located. The latter is one of the major roads in the city.)
Melbourne ('founded' by a guy called John Batman? DB, need your tutorial here) is one pretty site. Reminds me a little bit of Prague, especially with St. Paul's Cathedral towering beautifully along the Yarra which splits the city in two (when my colleague told me that the South Bank was the most happenin' place in Melbourne, I didn't immediately think river bank).
What do I plan to do here? (I mean, apart from putting on a serious face at the conference and pretending to take serious notes, *grin*) My colleague (who hates cold weather so much he wore three layers of clothing at 4pm!) and I (who's a freak with winter climates I don't mind charging at the wind with only a thin semi-silky shirt on!) have some plans.
Chapel Street (with the Jam Factory and mega-bookstore, Borders) is one. Chinatown (it's two streets away from Swanston, apparently; may be a good place for supper tonight), the Holocaust Museum (run by Holocaust survivors, so say the tour guide - thanks, Don! I took all notes I needed right after you left!), eating authentic Australian steak (a class above the chunks of meat you get in KL - somehow I don't doubt that), catching a movie, getting stuffed kangaroos and/or koalas.
But I'm still thinking: How can one 'reap' the most from a city one has never been to? What are one's 'objectives' when it comes to 'learning about a new city'? Learn/Feel the city's culture (e.g. taste the food, see the sights, experience the rush/serenity which everyone else feels). Take back something (don't we all?). Contribute to or be a part of the city (now this is a tough one but I had half a mind of joining a writer's club here and Melbourne does have popular Writer Festivals, etc.). Make some friends (I'll be dead before I say, "Build your network"! yuck!).
Being one of less than five Malaysians in a conference attended by almost a thousand Australians, this last is going to be exciting. Not to mention seeing Edward de Bono (of 6 Hats fame) in person. That's gotta take the cake. Best of all, I get to wake up later than 7.00. What more can a middle-aged guy ask for in the middle of 2005? I was right. There is a God (smile).
Posted at 04:48 pm by alwynlau
 | | | DB
July 6, 2005 12:15 PM PDT
we have a house in Beaunmaris which is south around the bay, close to Brighton and Sandringham, lovely spot, enjoy Chapel St and the weather | |
| | | Alwyn
July 5, 2005 03:31 PM PDT
I think I just passed the Teppenyaki place you were talking about, DB; I assume you were referring to Chinatown, eh?
Yeah I wish I had a few weekends. It seems I can't even visit the Holocaust Museum as the conference ends too late and the museum closes at 4.
Tomorrow I'll go to Chapel Street, now THAT should be something. So where do you stay in MLB? (Hey, I LIVE for this weather, man!!) (smile) | |
| | | DB
July 5, 2005 10:43 AM PDT
wahh you lucky guy, Melbourne is great if a little cool and grey this time of year. There is so much to see that unless you have a couple of weekends you won't fit it all in. If you can get into the inner suburbs a bit, Lygon St is also a great place to eat if you like Italian. St Kilda has a wealth of restaurants right next to the water. For a good pint try Bridie O Reillys in Little Collins St. If you can get to the Dandenongs that is marvelous full of craft shops and some good places to eat with fireplaces roaring. In Chinatown there are heaps of good places to eat but the best is the Flower Drum though a bit on the expensive side. Take a walk through the casino just for a look as it is an amazing building (also got some good restaurants) If you like it there is place called the Teppenyaki Inn (can't remember which st) that I had many good lunches in. To sit and be seen head to Church St Brighton also a lovely part of MLB.
*sigh* you made me homesick now | |
| | | Alwyn
July 4, 2005 01:22 PM PDT
'Friends', dude! Not 'connections'! Anyway, yeah if you could pass me Vivian or Karen's email that'll be nice.
Holocaust Museum MAY be a problem as I'm not sure it'll still be open after 5 (when the conferences end). Btw, Dee, lemme know if you want anything from here. | |
| | | Derek L.
July 4, 2005 09:26 AM PDT
You are NOT middle-aged. Go out there and "build your network" ha ha ha! And definitely enjoy your time there. Did you know that Irene and Karen (aka Vivian my cousin's sisters) are erm... somewhere in Aus? Let me know if you want contact info. | |
| | | fishtail
July 4, 2005 07:29 AM PDT
The Holocaust Museum is a must; one of the few in the world. | |
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