Melbourne Memories... In Monochrome

For a few days now, I've been dreaming of going to Melbourne.  Thanks to IndiBlogger and Tourism Victoria (www.visitmelbourne.com/in) who have come up with a contest – ...it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!  Having returned from a successful trip of Japan, my first international tour also courtesy IndiBlogger (and Expedia)... I fancied the tagline to be speaking to me and after some deliberations, decided to give it a shot.

"What memories would you like to bring back from Melbourne..."

With this question to answer, I sat down with my pen, pencil, diary and google. The beauty in the things and the pictures that I came across made my jaw drop and ignited a new love, a new desire to visit the city and explore it on my own. Here they go, check them out -

1. Places of Peace: St Patricks and St. Pauls Cathedrals -

St. Patricks Cathedral - A place of prayer

In the busy chaotic hustle bustle of a city as major as Melbourne, these two cathedrals stand as significant landmarks of calm, tranquility and worship. This is definitely the place where I would love to kneel down and light a candle, the place from where I would love to start my trip... with a prayer of peace, love and humanity.

2. Art Culture: Lanes and Alleyways -

Block Arcade

I would love to set out and step in the lanes, alleyways and streets of Melbourne and get lost in them. Very few cities in the world can boast of their streets and alleyways to feature as an entity in their country’s list of top cultural attractions! Yes, Melbourne is one of them. So you can imagine why I would want to do what I said initially. Its here, in these small little lanes and arcades, that the city comes alive with its inspiring creative works of art and graffiti culture. With so much written about it, there’s no way I can miss this one and then, who knows I might get to try a bit of my hand as well!

3. Mode of transport: Tram Rides -

Tram - An integrated mode of transport

Melbourne has the largest integrated tram network in the world and the city does an excellent job of managing it by providing free rides to tourists as well as locals at regular intervals. Both iconic and useful, I would surely love to hop onto one of these and get my dose of some free tour around the city. To see the city through the tram windows should be some fun!

4. Shopping: Queen Victoria’s Market –

Queens Victoria Market - Some souvenir shopping!

One of my much loved things to do when travelling to any land is to visit a local market.  In view of this, the Queen Victoria’s Market fits the bill perfectly. The largest open air market in the southern hemisphere, this historic market offers everything that you can think of when shopping in Melbourne – most importantly at reasonable prices and good bargains! Thus, it's no wonder that I would want to go there, take a good stroll, examine, explore and come back all bags full!

5. Eureka Sky Deck 88 -

Eureka Skydeck 88 - Awe inspiring views of Melbourne

A 'must see' attraction, Melbourne's Eureka Tower offers breathtaking panoramas from a level as high as 88 floors from the base. The thing that I will be watching out for however is that glass cube sliding out from the building - with me inside! They say that it’s not for the faint-hearted. I say, bring it on!

6. Captain Cooks Cottage -

Captain Cook's Cottage - Stepping back in time

Being a history buff and a lover of all things history, this is something that I look forward to – to discover Melbourne’s rich history and step back in time. Set in the 18th century, it will be fascinating to meander in the life of Captain Cook and his family and to learn more about them in an entertaining way!

7. Flinders Street Station –

Flinders Street Station - A popular meeting place

Dint I tell you I love everything old and ancient. And it only makes it better when it’s filled with people. This is why Flinders street station catches my interest! I would love to stand under its very famous domed clock tower, a popular meeting place for Melburnians, and explore the sights and sounds of Australia’s oldest railway station and also the most crowded on any given day!

8. Shrine of Remembrance -

Shrine of Remembrance - A place for contemplative reflection

It’s a place of memorial dedicated in the honor of all those who laid down their lives to make the country of Australia what it is today. The place doles out a simple message in the form of an inscription engraved on its remembrance stone - ‘Greater Love hath no man’ - a message of peace, love, unity and belonging. Being a great lover of all things peace and all things past, this one has to make it to my list. There is one more wish that I associate with this place however. I want to be present here at 11 am on the 11th of November. Why? So that I can see the word ‘Love’ from the inscription illuminated, naturally by the sun rays.

9. Yarra River -

Yarra River - The iconic river defining Melbourne

This is how I would want to end my day – besides the iconic river, in the glow of the shimmering city lights, amid the lightening flash of the fireworks on display, enveloped by the hush of the night... Pure bliss!

10. A Cup of Coffee -

 A Cup of Coffee - The rich aroma and its distinct flavor

Not a huge coffee person but if I am in a coffee capital tomorrow then I have to have a cup of it! I want to sit in some old world charm café, on a wooden chair and smell the rich creamy aroma. And then try and figure out the divinity around it. After all, no city gets a tag just like that!

11. Melbourne Cricket Ground or The MCG -

The MCG is the largest, oldest and the most prominent sporting arena - a place that Australians proudly associate with some of the greatest moments in their sporting history. The open-air stadium is also one of the world's most famous cricketing venues, with the most eagerly awaited Boxing Day Test match commencing on Boxing Day (26 December) each year. Hailing from a cricket crazy nation like India and a huge fan of the sport myself, there is no way I would want to miss this mecca of all cricketing spots and if possible be lucky and catch some live action as well!

12. Culture: Moomba Festival -

I have heard that the Moomba festival brings the entire city of Melbourne together with novel eye-catching events on its city streets and riverside areas along the Yarra river. I would love to be a part of this colorful carnival.

13. People: Friendliness and Helpfulness -

I would like to be an idiot in Melbourne. What this simply means is that I wont care asking the silliest of questions. For me, these serve as nice ice breakers and give me a wonderful chance of mingling with the locals whenever I want to. My favorite way of getting to know them better!

14. Federation Square -

Simply because Federation square is a big box – It’s got everything: shopping, culture, food, sightseeing, people, and events. Sounds like a great space to loiter around and spend an evening.

15. Cuisine -

Finding pure vegetarian food in a foreign land can be quite an adventure but I just heard Australia promising me against it. With its wide array of Indian restaurants and local eateries to choose from, I look forward to see if it does keep its word.

This is definitely not all. There are a whole lot of other things that I found during my research that I absolutely wanted to do – beaches, gardens, balloons, forests, some more shopping, a little more of this and a lot more of that - the listings were endless. But then, that is what adds up to the real joy of travel - to add and delete things from your wish list and come back far richer from a wonderful experience... And that is exactly what I want to do...

I want to fall in love with Melbourne and come back with a heart and mind still beating for it. I want to come back inspired and inspire you as well by saying – ...It’s your time to visit Melbourne NOW!

Yes... I want to see all my monochrome sketches live,

...and paint them here...
in their real colors someday.

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