We flew from Auckland to Melbourne / Naarm on Saturday April 4th. The state of Victoria had made mass transit free (due to high gas prices) so many folks decided to enjoy the city for the school holidays (the first 2 weeks of April). 🚊
We enjoyed a lovely lunch along the Yarra River on Easter Sunday. ⛱️
Funny story from the table next to us:
Friend 1 - I brought you a bunny (plunked it on the table) Friend 2 - I bought you one too! 🐰
The Aussie pronunciation. 🤙
So many beautiful historic arcades still in use in the CBD. 📸
So much to see. 📸
The view from our small apartment. 🌃
So many people. 😮
The State Library was the home of the Melbourne art museum for 60 years and still had beautiful exhibits. 🖼️
Bundit Puangthong, a contemporary Thai artist based in Melbourne. His art fused his training in traditional Thai temple painting with the influence of Melbourne’s graffiti to celebrate the ‘in-betweenness’ of living amid two cultures.
This was a 9 foot mural by Barry William Hale, who worked across media, including painting, drawing, tattoo, installation, performance, video, sound, and VR.
Video still which showed the artist working on the large mural above (video link). ✒️
We took a tour of the Exhibition dome which had been closed for 100 years. 🏰
Steve noticed the first floor wood was in great shape and not many knots while the second floor was another story. 🤔
Nice views from the outside the dome. 🔭
We stopped at the Caretakers Cottage and met the server who was the model for their menu cover. Steve was intrigued by the speakers and found out they were made in Hobart Tasmania. Another trip? 🔊
Steve looked at watches while I looked at the tram. 👀
We enjoyed tea and scones at the oldest tea room in Australia, The Tea Rooms 1892. 🫖
