There is a few things that you have to know about Melbourne and its people. First, when you say Melbourne there is no "r." I don't know where the '"r" went but it is nowhere near the name when you speak it. It is is Melbon. Also, don't mention Sydney, they have an unhealthy obsession with their sister city. It is one big chip on their shoulder. Just tell them that you like "Melbon" better and everything will be easier for everyone.
The Arts are Alive in Melbourne
Melbourne has a great cultural scene. Their museums are fantastic and I spent two days going through the National Gallery , the Immigration Museum and Melbourne Museum . I saw a great exhibit on aboriginal art and it got me thinking. The British really screwed things up for a lot of people in the world. Their settlements in Australia, New Zealand and the United States devastated and displaced the indigenous people. The country lines they have drawn over the years in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent still lead to conflict and warfare years later. In the immortal words of Ricky Ricardo "I think they have some splaining to do!" I am not sure the intent for the exhibit was a political one but it sure left me contemplating global issues after I went through it.
An Everest Base Camp Reunion
Pictured: Sam Singh, John Cornell, Kate McCarthy, Paul Le Page.
While I was in Melbourne, I caught up with a few friends that I had hiked Everest Base Camp with a few months earlier. I wasn't sure that they would be able to meet me out on the weekend before Christmas but they came out and showed me a good time. And since you are thinking it, yes they were embarrassed by the fact that I was sporting the Christmas tree on the noggin.
Getting into the Holiday Spirit
I was in Melbourne the week before Christmas and everyone was getting in the spirit. The stores were finalizing their pre-Christmas sales. Christmas music was being played in every store and restaurant that I walked by. It was a little strange for me to see all the Christmas decorations and still be wearing shorts during the day. I was waiting to hear the lyrics, " I am Dreaming of A White Christmas" but understandably the song is not very popular here. I had to take a picture of the two teenagers raising money for the Salvation Army in front of the popular Australian department store, Myer. The Myer department store is famous for its elaborate Christmas displays. Though the displays were cool, I kept thinking that the Salvation Army greeters at another store in the US with same sounding name but with a different spelling were wearing slightly different clothes when they were raising money!
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