Spent the last week in Brisbane on yet another project with an Australian bank. However the highlight was my weekend trip to Melbourne, in the southern part of Australia. Ever since I was a kid (about six years old), my aunt had invited me to Melbourne, and I had promised her I would visit her some day. I would have gone there last September, if not for unexpected changes in my career that forced me to cancel my travel plans. So, the trip was very personal to me, as it is one of my lifelong wishes that I have finally managed to fulfill after twenty years.
I reached Melbourne on Friday evening, and was pretty worn out, so I had an early night in my aunt's house. On Saturday, I went to visit my cousin, and took the opportunity to check out his house. Later in the day, I checked out Melbourne city, with its mixture of old and new buildings. The Crown Casino, I am told, is the main attraction of Melbourne. Particularly the spurt of flames that light up the night sky. Going into the Crown Casino, I see more Asians than whites, just like the Treasury Casino in Brisbane and the casino in Sydney (cannot remember the name).
Sunday morning comes, and I crawl out of my bed. The morning temperatures in the living room is exceedingly cold, so I went back to snuggle in the warm bed for a little while more. The temperature is probably below 10 degrees, as even the tap water feels like ice water! After a while has passed, my aunt and I would walk her dog at the park. It is cold and windy, but I really enjoy the cool air brushing against my face. The air of suburban Melbourne is clean and free of pollution. Inhaling the cool morning air is refreshing and revitalizing.
Around the neighborhood that my aunt lives in are many very quaint-looking continental-style brick houses. One house that I particularly liked was a red-bricked house with a well-tended garden, and lots of plants and flowers planted around the house. Near the house is a large parkland, with lots of lush green grass and trees whose leaves have withered with the onset of winter. Now, that is the kind of house I like!
I think I have fallen in love with Melbourne, and it is thus with great regret that I had to leave the place. Suddenly migrating to Australia does not seem like such a bad idea after all.
