Melbourne Revisited
May 2, 2007
Yesterday, after two weeks in Sydney I found myself on board a plane to Melbourne. I was returning to my old ‘hood, and suddenly wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Today it’s been decided that I do really like Melbourne. It’s the Montreal to Sydney’s Toronto. The artsy, laid back answer to the corporate, conservative, commercial capital. Melbourne is all of those things that a Second City should be. It’s full of young people, more relaxed, less expensive and has a thriving cultural scene. Something else that I like about Melbourne is how little it’s changed in the two years since I left. While Boulevard St-Laurent in Montreal seems to have a six-month rotation in certain spots, the cafes, restuarants and bars on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (my old hangout), are all as I left them. Peeling paint, and colourful clientele abound. The food’s still great (I gorged myself at the aptly named “Gluttony” this morning) and as far as I can tell, drinking is still cheaper than it was in Sydney. When I lived here last time I didn’t have enough money to truly enjoy this city for all it’s worth. This time, I only have a week, but I’m going to try my very best.
Don’t get me wrong; I do like Sydney too. I like it for the same reasons why I will always defend Toronto against frequent bashing (especially from Montrealers). First, and foremost, I have family in Sydney. Very important. There is also a whole lot to do there provided you have the cash and are willing to take the time to get out to the interesting spots. There are so many people and so much space that it does take a lot longer to get from point A to point B, especially if, like me, you end up staying in the ‘burbs with the family. But once you get off your ass and on a bus, you can go to the stunning beaches in Newport or Mona Vale, the Botanical Gardens, the harbour, go hiking…lots to do. Sydney is also spectacular visually. The contrast of the white beaches against the bluest of blue skies and sea is something that Australia does especially well. On a sunny day everything is dazzlingly bright (perhaps accountable to the lack of ozone in the region?), and the Aussies also have a tendency to paint their buildings in bright technicolour. They also wear a lot of neon yellow. Not sure what that’s all about.
Right now I am sitting in a little undergound office at Melbourne University, waiting for my friend Mark (another one) to get out of a tutorial. He’s a fellow Montrealer I met within a week of arriving here in ‘05 who tracked me down when noticing that in a group email from a potential landlord, my email address was @mcgill.ca. We hung out. I tried to teach him how to cook. We went to the amazing and enormous Victoria Market together each week (which was often followed by my cooking for him). Apparently he lasted about two weeks after I left before he went back to his diet of instant noodles and Kraft Dinner. (I did try though.) He’s the perfect Montrealer. Laid back, actually interested in things, and shares the love of Montreal diners, poutine and the wonderfully eclectic mix of personalities that find themselves there. This afternoon we’re going rock climbing after which we will have a few drinks and watch some anime. I am very excited.
Soon I will be embarking on a proper adventure into unknown territories. I fly to Singapore next Tuesday and will be spending about 10 days in Malaysia before touring around Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. More notes with attached pictures to follow, I’m sure.
To everyone in Canada, I hope that the Spring is treating you well, and you’re thawing out nicely. Be in touch. I do like hearing about what’s going on around and about (even if it makes me sad that I’m missing out).
