From High Above to Down Under

I am not sure why I came about with the title of this post except maybe because it sounded so Australian which is connected to this recent Winter holiday in Melbourne.  Or more accurately, I realised that I have focused on East Asian and Southeast Asian countries (those countries on top or above Australia) since I started travelling.  This is due to their nearness to Singapore (where I am currently based) and visiting these countries first is the easiest way for me to gain travel experience. 🙂

I have been looking at my world map recently (every aspiring travel photographer and blogger should have one) and saw that I have visited most of the Asian cities I have longed to see since I was still young.  For a change, I also travelled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for its wonderful architecture, unique climate and landscape.  And just last year because of an Australian client, I challenged myself financially by visiting Sydney.  I never had enough of Australia since then and with my Australian Visa still valid, I decided to go to Melbourne this time. 🙂

Melbourne felt strangely familiar.  For one reason, there was no language barrier (well, at least for me).  I just realised that this is the only generally English-speaking country I have visited since I started to travel.  And everyone knows that travelling to these countries will painfully cost you a bomb.  Much like Singapore where I am based, Melbourne feels like a city where immigrants thrive and become successful.  Locals and tourists alike are very accommodating, engaging and even funny.  While Sydney has more of the famous landmarks that is Instagram-worthy, Melbourne has a unique character and vibe centred on arts, food, history and culture.  During this trip, winter was already at its peak which gave the city its dreamy and melancholic mood; a stark contrast to all my previous tropical ramblings.  This made travel and night photography for me a very pleasant experience.  Not surprisingly, I have managed to bring home a more decent set of photos as compared to my previous trips. 🙂

A thousand words paints a beautiful picture and a beautiful picture speaks a thousand words.  Words however are not enough to describe this beautiful city.  So a set of pictures and a list of places and things you can see and do here might give justice to the beauty and wonder of this place.  Indeed, Melbourne is lovely and I will surely miss this place.  I seldom visit a certain place twice.  But in this case, I might make another exception.  While I love food and art (which best describes Melbourne for me), my natural bias has always been towards photographing the city and its architecture.  So I share them here:  my personal postcards and an unofficial guide to places to see and enjoy in this new-found love and beautiful city.

Federation Square and Flinders Street Station:  It’s hard to imagine Melbourne without Federation Square and Flinders Street Station.  Federation Square is the city’s heartbeat and iconic centre that holds major cultural attractions, world-class events and tourism experiences.  Flinders Street Station is the city’s most iconic historical building and the gateway to other explorations and experiences outside of Melbourne.  The spot underneath “the clocks” at the entrance to this beautiful railway station is a famous meeting place for locals and tourists alike.

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Yarra River, Southbank Promenade and Melbourne Docklands:  A walk along the banks of the Yarra River in winter is always a pleasant experience especially with a camera in hand.  The promenade is the vantage point of all the classic postcard shots of Melbourne.  Beautiful bridges ranging from Victorian-Heritage to modern styles dot the stretch of the river.  Princes Bridge is the most iconic and connects the Southbank to Swanston Street on the north.  Evan Walker Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge that provides a link between Southbank and Flinders Street Station.  Seafarer’s Bridge is a beautiful cable-stayed bridge that serves as a gateway to Melbourne Docklands and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.  Melbourne Docklands opens up panoramic waterfront views of the city and Melbourne Marina.  The best way to experience these parts of the city is to take a walk along the promenade in the evening on a weekday when most of the building lights romantically illuminate the city and the waters of the Yarra.

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Lanes and Alleyways:  City Lanes and Alleyways are so quintessentially Melbourne.  There is always something new to see here; especially the ever-changing gallery of street art, graffiti, paste-ups, stencils, and murals.  There are a number of graffiti lanes in Melbourne but the most popular and most accessible is Hosier Lane which is just across Federation Square.  Food and restaurant-hopping is always an unforgettable Melbourne experience.  Degraves Street has a number of restaurants and cafes that also provide atmospheric outdoor seating.  Dropping by Walker’s Doughnuts (corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets) for a hot cup of chocolate is a perfect way to end a busy winter day. 🙂

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Eureka Tower and Eureka Skydeck 88:  I always bring home photos of every new city taken from the city’s highest vantage point.  Eureka Tower is Australia’s second tallest skyscraper located in Southbank, Melbourne.  Eureka Skydeck 88 is the Southern Hemisphere’s highest observation platform located at the 88th Floor of Eureka Tower.  Change the way you look at the city with panoramic and awe-inspiring views of Southbank, the Central Business District, Melbourne Cricket Grounds, The Royal Botanical Gardens, and Arts Precinct.  (Admission Price:  AUD 25.00)

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Shrines, Memorials, and Historical Landmarks:  Beautiful architecture commemorates and echoes Melbourne’s soul which is centred on art and history.  The Shrine of Remembrance is one of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks.  The Shrine is the Victorian state’s memorial to Australians who served in global conflicts throughout Australia’s history.  It was inspired by classical architecture and built by veterans of the First World War.  Underneath the Inner Sanctum, there is a gallery of over 800 artworks, historical artefacts, and personal paraphernalia of Australian soldiers.  (Admission:  Free)  St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic Revival Church located on Eastern Hill in Melbourne.  While the building is not so popular for some tourists, it has however the distinction of being the tallest and largest church building in Australia.  Like most churches of its type and design, it has a magnificent interior and sanctuary that should not be missed.  (Admission:  Free)

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Melbourne’s Streets and Shopping Malls:  Even if you don’t plan to shop in Melbourne’s high-end streets and shopping malls, an exploration of the city will provide opportunities for people-watching, tram rides, and discovery of unique shops and places where you could eat, dine or simply feel the city’s vibe.  Collins Street and Elizabeth Street in winter are moody, melancholic, and atmospheric and provides opportunities for unique and beautiful street photography.  Melbourne Central and Royal Arcade Mall are best known for their beautifully restored and grand interiors.

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As always, long holidays are short and will never be enough.  There were still neighbourhoods in Melbourne that I have missed and that can be best explored only outside the winter season.  Like what I always say, I seldom visit a certain place twice unless it’s to find something I missed or lost.  In this case, I did miss out a few places so I have a reason for coming back. 🙂

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed the images as much as I do.  See you in my next post.  Cheers!!! 🙂