I like Melbourne

Melbourne
February 20, 2009 10:43 AM
Melbourne is an extremely beautiful and lively city. Its in south of Victoria State, which is in South East Australia. What a marvellous place! It is known as the cultural and Sports Capital of Australia. Melbourne is consistently ranked among the most live-able cities in the world.
I am here just for a month but I could absorb the essence of this place. I stay in Central Business district which is the business hub of Melbourne. It’s the main market place bustling with people all day long. Walking from here are many tourist attractions in the vicinity such as Federation square, Rod Laver’s Arena, Flinders’s Street Station, Yaara River, Melbourne Aquarium, Queen’s Victoria Market etc. Besides that the beautiful beaches of Melbourne are worth seeing.
Federation square is a huge open place with a large screen and various big and small restaurants and Pubs. It’s just next to Flinders’s Station and generally during the weekends and evening some thing or the others keeps going on like live performances, magic tricks or juggling. People keep sitting idle on large staircase in front of the screen sipping their coke and relaxing.
Queens Victoria Market is like our Azadpur Sabji mandi of Delhi. During summers they host a Suzuki market from 5:30PM to 10:30PM every Wednesday. A nice patri bazaar like our Dilli Haat. With various stalls selling all kinds of stuff. There were food counters of all countries – India, Mauritius, Mexico, Thai, African etc. I tried African and Mexican. It was good. And a live band was performing in open. This market is close to Victoria Univ and was crowded by college goers, in all their whacky dresses, which do not even justify their purpose for some.
Melbourne has lot of Indians and you will surely find some one walking behind you or inside the tram who is a desi. I mean to an extent that the Indian shopkeepers don’t even get excited to see a desi. Its usual stuff for them. Man! It’s so much better than Switzerland, which was totally a different world and I felt so out of place and uncomfortable. There are lot if Indian stores here (Pic attached) which are exactly like our kirana shop, and not very expensive. The public transport system is quite sufficient with Trams, trains, taxi and ferry and common ticket for all of them.

I just happened to talk to a Sardarji taxi driver (most of the cab drivers are Punjabi) who told me that he studies here, some mechanical diploma and drives taxi during evenings and weekends and makes about 800$ a week. Thatz good money in every respect looking that I make few dollars more as a consultant. Besides this, the petrol and taxi maintenance is provided by the owner of the taxi and the Profits are split half-half between him and the driver. I am seriously consider this option during these bad times of recession.

Melbourne zoo is good enough if you want to spned a couple of hours in a different way. Lots of animal and it requires a lot of walking, but its good. For my freinds who want to know how come the zoo authorities let me come out of the zoo: May be they got fooled by my appearance and mistook me for a human being.

There is so much more to Melbourne which I want to share, but I am bored of typing. All in all, you must see Melbourne if you ever get an opportunity. My verdict is that Melbourne is a kind of place where one may want to settle :-)