My flights from India to Singapore to Australia (and back) were all by Singapore Airlines. The double Decker airplane was a new concept at that time. I promptly booked myself on the upper deck for all my flights.
And, trust me, it was quite a fun & novel experience!
After flying from Singapore for about 7.5 hours, I touched down on Australian soil. Coming from the monsoon season of India and an always – tropical Singapore, Australia was COLD.
Of course, I was aware it was going to be cold. After all, it was winter in the Southern Hemisphere. And Melbourne, being close to the South Pole, gets really cold. And I had landed in the early morning hours!
When the pilot announced five degrees Celsius, a thrill ran down my spine! Anyhow, moving on, everyone knows the strict Australian Customs procedures. Luckily, I face no problem either at Customs or at Immigration.
Soon, I was at my hotel – Victoria All Seasons. It is located, quite conveniently, in the heart of the city. Many attractions are very close by. Town Hall is next door. Flinders’ Street Station is just six minutes away. Federation Square is a six-minute walk. Rod Laver Arena is five minutes away and Crown Casino is a twelve-minute drive.
The old world goodness of Melbourne!
Even shopping areas like Bourke Street Mall and Chinatown are minutes away from Victoria All Seasons. I had a small but utilitarian room. After a quick bath, I hung my camera around my neck. I grabbed a city map from the hotel concierge. Then I stepped out to explore Melbourne.
In the late morning hours, the Melbourne streets were busy. The trees wore a bare look having shed their leaves for winter. This aridity was contrasted with the colourful trams that crisscrossed every here and there.
Trams add a splash of colour to the the bleak winter!
Despite being a business district, central Melbourne has tremendous old – world charm and goodness. The main avenue was lined with sculptures of various kinds & materials, colourful elephants and iron lampposts.
Melbourne is based along the River Yarra. I kept walking and soon reached its banks. There is something organized and beautiful about riverside cities – be it London, Singapore, Melbourne or Delhi!
The muddy Yarra
But, being winter, the sky was gloomy and the Yarra brown. I stood on the bridge to watch ferries cross underneath me. This river is Melbourne’s most valuable natural asset.
One third of Victoria’s animal species are found in the catchment of River Yarra. Developments around it have transformed the riverfront. There are several parks too along its banks like Birrarung Marr.
The Yarra, like rivers all over the world, faces challenges. Communities patrol it regularly, check its health, test waters, run tours, publicize etc.
I had my fill of River Yarra. Then, I made my way to the Eureka Skydeck. There, my dream of touching the sky was realized. Zooming up using the elevator, I was soon on the 88th floor.
Up above the world so high!
From the Skydeck, the city expanse came alive. I also saw the Southern Ocean. The Ocean and the overcast sky seemed to merge, both an angry grey colour. On a bright day, I am sure this view would be even better. Imagine a blue sky merging into an azure ocean!
From the Eureka Skydeck, I also got a view of how bridges crisscrossed River Yarra. Watching boats navigate the river was a calming feeling. I spotted the Melbourne Cricket Ground and memories of classy matches came to life.
Coming to the exciting part now. The glass cover is removed at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. Your barrier is only a wire mesh. At an altitude of 830 feet, the cold wind knocks you off your feet!
A grey sky meets a grey ocean!
I then proceeded to experience the Edge. I was put in a cube which has opaque glass on all sides. This cube is then projected out of the building. On the 88th floor. When the cube is fully extended, the glass becomes transparent!
The experience was scary yet surreal. Hell yeah! I survived the Edge. This is not for the fainthearted and certainly not for those with acrophobia. One has to be crazy to try something like this.
At one point of time, Eureka Tower was the world’s tallest residential tower. The Skydeck is the highest public vantage point in a building in the southern hemisphere. It features binoculars and viewfinders that visitors can use to pinpoint many significant landmarks.
I was soon back on terra firma. Making my way to the Flinders Street Station, I saw fearless and spotlessly white seagulls on the way. The Station has the fourth longest railway platform in the world.
A fearless seagull
The Flinders Street Station reminded me of Victoria Terminus in Mumbai…
Day one was drawing to a close. I ended it with a dinner with my friend G. She had flown in from Sydney. We took the tram to Café Corretto. Over a hearty dinner, we exchanged news and more…
Ready for dinner with G!
Let’s eat… Pizza!
