Dear Melbourne, I got a lil crush on you.

I have been meaning to tell this to you for a long time now … And though, it’s taken me over an entire year – excuse this sluggish dud, but I needed this interval to reveal my true feelings for you – I thought, with a new prompt on IndiBlogger in association with your guardian Tourism Victoria, this was the perfect time to get my act together and finally let the secret out of my heart.

Dear Melbourne, I got a lil crush on you.

I wonder why, but I can’t stop thinking about you. Perhaps because you are so unique in your character. Flamboyant. Creative. Childlike. Weird. All at the same time. Such a big contrast to the first impressions I had about you: Imposing, daunting, sticking a larger-than-life picture in the ordinary eyes of this unknowing Indian girl.

Ah, how naïve I was!

Innocent and raw. Too trite to understand simple facts that true relationships are never about first-impression-affairs. But about growing your way in and getting won over with time.

I learnt that from you, Melbourne. Thank you!

You beguile at first and then, ever so slowly, charm your way in. Frankly, I am mesmerized by your dazzling persona and besotted with your unruffled attitude. You seem to carry this blithe vibe around you that echoes: I care-a-damn-of-what-you-think-about-me. Not trying to be anything else. Not trying to be anyone else. To just be effervescently happy and unabashedly confident with your quirky sense of attitude, divine coffee and peculiar arts - wow. How cool is that. You are different, Melbourne. You do know that, don’t you? You are not one of those superfluous chatterboxes who believe in blowing their own trumpet. And, why would you? That would belie your enigmatic individuality. An individuality you wholeheartedly embrace. An individuality that you are clearly in love with. An individuality that speaks for itself - a voice so real; the world sits up and listens.

Dear Melbourne, please; don’t mistake this for a love letter.

Because it’s not – I know only little of you. But yep, this is true… I am a bit love struck and I fear I might just be falling for you. And here are the reasons, why:

Abstract creativity in city laneways: Here, there … EVERYWHERE!

You hate to be pinned and mapped so you splatter your art and culture all around for the world to discover it for themselves. Your imagination runs wild and creativity is your skin – you wear your art on your sleeve and you are not afraid to show it. But, this you do, in your own way and style!

So that one day, you hold my hand and lead me to the most idiosyncratic aspect of your personality: Evocative street art in narrow hidden lanes and alleyways. And the other day, you bowl me over by your colorfully decorated trams, literally moving around the busy streets as moving art-boxes on wheels.

Why, am I not surprised!

With your dreary skies one moment and brilliant sunshine the next, you come across as a bit moody but I like you anyhow. You know how to convey things in the most interesting manner and in the most unusual of places. You sweep me off with the things you say and the way you say them. (A rhino for a tram? Ah, I love your sense of humor!).

On your marks, get set, SHOP!

Your creativity reflects not just on the streets but in the way you dress up as well! With you, shopping is not just shopping but a way of adventure. Under soaring glass cnopies and mosaic floors (Royal Arcade and the Block Arcade) and in renovated heritage buildings (Melbourne GPO and Nicholas building), as pedestrian-only pathways (Bourke Street Mall and Degraves Street) and in subterranean subways (Campbell Arcade) – you delight every visiting traveler, shopaholic or not, with a twist that speaks for your eccentric and well reputed fashion and style.

For all your boutique shops and luxurious malls, there is a corner of your heart that beats for the locals through the 1878 set Queen Victoria Market, it’s souvenirs may be a tad overpriced but its fruits and veggies fresh from the farm produce is something that tickles the taste buds of every visitor with glee.

High your COFFEE and drink it too!

The Cup of Truth, in the underground subway just next to the luxurious Citigate hotel, is where I am squeezed to meet the ‘busy, important and truthful’ cup that is as fabulous and charming as the aroma wafting out from the freshly extracted coffee beans. I am an Indian - more of a tea person but you are right Melbourne - your coffee tastes divine.

The best part is that you don’t need experts to taste and declare that for you – you are already high on quality and take nothing less than superb for an opinion. You just know what a weary traveler would want after a hard day’s exploration – from The Little Mule to Patricia and Brother Baba Budan - your coffee trail never ends.

As FOOD as it gets!

Melbourne, there was one thing I was skeptical about you but I am so glad – you proved me wrong. You seem to show no difficulties in embracing cuisines from others and seamlessly integrating them with your own. You promise to dish and serve pure veggie treats while I am there and then lead my nose to affordable restaurants where I can treat my taste buds without testing my credit limit (see Om's Vegetarian - unlimited full course meal for $ 6.50 and Gopals of the Hare Krishna Movement). I can’t name many other siblings of yours that take care of travelers like you do.

… What next?

At the MCG, I am star struck, gaping in awe at the number of renowned personalities and media persons from world over coming over to meet you!

Melbourne, darling… aren't you a global rockstar?

You are chic. To the point of modern but what really laps my heart is how you proudly flaunt your diverse heritage and distinctive traditions for all to behold. Wandering down the carefully numbered streets and peeping through the rain glazed windows of the wiry city circle trams; I gaze up and marvel at your historical buildings you have so carefully preserved down the ages.

The dynamic Flinders street station still remains a living icon of your very existence, the diagonally opposite St. Pauls Cathedral never fails to peacefully conveys its message of humanity and empathy.

To the ordinary, you seem to be in some sort of chaotic hurry but to those who care to scratch a little, you are a lover of joy and peace. And, a keeper too. Wrapping myself up in your warm embrace of the meandering Fitzroy (a classic Victorian landscaped garden) is one of my favorite things to do because there is something very dreamy and quixotic I find in this combination...

...me, nothing-ness and you.

This is a point where I am already impressed but what can I do? I am still a blogger by heart, rather unromantic, curious and crude. So I casually pop: What next? Subconsciously implying: Umm… guess it’s time to move on, looks like I have seen it all. Only to see my foot, tumbling in my mouth, rollicking soon after.

I find myself pushed to The Edge, where looking out over the edging, I realize how much I have missed while wandering my time in the center. ‘Living Life on the Edge’ is your mantra. And, you encourage me to do the same: to live on the edge of everything that bounds. All that is restricting. All that is ordinary. Which is why you bring me to one of your most happening places: Federation square. It could well have been a regular meeting adda but nah! That is boring for you. So, you throw in some amazing artists and live performances and allow them to feed their talent to the general public. You also put me atop the legendary Puffing Billy train for an exciting day down through the country side…

… and you do this and you do that ...

With you, there is never a full stop. There never was. There never will be. Because the surprises you hold never seem to end!

No wonder then, a bunch of awesome bloggers in India are going gaga over you and competing for a chance to meet you. Soon, someone will fly over to have a nice long rendezvous with you. Someone, who will remind me of all the wonderful times I had spent with you, I wonder if that someone will remind you of me too?

I am probably never going to see you again and I have grown to be as content with that fact as I can. However, no matter how far we are apart or whether we ever speak again, I won’t ever forget you. I can only hope that for all the times I remember you, you will think of me once in a while too…

Dear Melbourne, I 've got a lil crush on you…

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#Contest! Show your love for Melbourne and get loved in return!

Comment on 'which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why?'

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Contest Ends 5th January! HURRY!