Melbourne Day 4

This was the last day of my trip!

Time had passed quickly, and I felt that while I did visit quite a number of places, I had barely scratched the surface of what Melbourne had to offer. I was sure I would be back someday.

This was an early morning for me again as I made my way to the famed Queen Victoria Market. It turned out to be a sprawling place full of flea-market stalls, street performers and great food. It took me about 3 hours to go through the entire place and I managed to get some great leather goods and more souvenirs. Food was fish and chips again with (allegedly) spicy chili in the food court. It was a great place to people-watch and enjoy fresh fish.

I next hopped upon the City Circle Tram within the Free Tram Zone and made my way to the State Library Victoria – famed for this gigantic observatory-like dome at its top. Yes, I am a sucker for gigantic libraries, and I discovered this was where most students came to study. The study areas were fully packed and some students gave me weird looks as I sat myself next to them to sort my pictures and stuff. (It was a tiring walk).

The dome was impressive from within as well as without and it towered over 7 levels of the library, which contained almost every sort of reference media you can dram and no less than 3 exhibitions to explore. (The history of books – over 3 eras).

So I was there, browsing through the reference shelves when 3 lads dressed in Fireman’s uniform charged into the study area with a huge radio and played loud music to the astonishment of all the students. They began to methodically strip to half-nakedness before the security guards (yes they looked like secret service agents) came in to stop them. They fled the scene within seconds, to the applause of all the students and the security guards chased them out into the streets.

As I boarded the tram to my next destination, I could still see the strippers playing hide and seek with the library’s security along the busy streets. Evidently, this was a marketing stunt by a nearby strip club (for girls or gays, I reckon).

My next stop, with a slightly wet evening around the corner, was Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Again, I spent time admiring the amazing architecture within and without. Someone was practicing on this humongous pipe organ inside as I entered the church’s interior, but they didn’t mind silly old me going about and taking pictures, so long as I did not make any noises to distract the player. With the organ music permeating through your consciousness under these graceful arches, it was not hard to imagine how people can lose themselves in spiritual faith here.

Night fell and after a short rain, I decided to make my way back to the Napier as it was the place that really called out to me. It was that kind of cheery, cozy, true-blue Irish/English pub that I would travel continents to visit and drink in. I could envision myself coming here everyday for a beer and a meal after work. I tried Kangaroo Steak for the first time this evening, and finished it with mixed feelings about the taste of the meat.

And this was the way I ended my final night in vibrant Melbourne. I would wake up early the next morning, and make my way to Tullamarine Airport for a 12.15pm flight back home. One thing for sure, I had fallen in love with this city and would definitely come back some day.