Autumn in Melbourne

It is an absolutely gorgeous “autumn” day in Melbourne. There isn’t a cloud in the sky and it is about 80-85 degrees. We’re nearing the end of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and it has been really good for our city. In case you didn’t know, Melbourne was the host of the Games this year.

I think that Melbourne is one of the world’s most underrated cities. First off, it is filled with stunning scenery. The skyline is quite colorful at night – it’s not as chock-a-block with sky rises as Chicago or New York, but its subtlety gives it character. There is a massive spire (similar to the Eiffel Tower but still unique) in the Arts Centre that lights up and changes colors at night. Southbank, the area of shops and restaurants along the Yarra River, looks gorgeous day or night. And as I have previously mentioned, Melbourne has heaps of breathtaking parks and reserves. She is also not lacking in fantastic beaches.

You may not be a fan of graffiti, but Melbourne hosts some of the most talented graffiti artists in the world! The creative spray-paint stencils provide an interesting diversion while traveling on the trains, as any wall located along the train lines is fair game.

“Café Society” is a reasonable way to describe much of Melbourne. Although they do not serve normal coffee, cafes are everywhere and they provide the quintessential Aussie laid-back atmosphere. Get yourself a flat white and a trio of dips and you’ll fit right in, mate.

Although there are plenty of couch potatoes in Australia, you’ll find that Melbourne is a very active and sports-minded city. Aussie Rules Football started in Melbourne, and used to be called the Victorian Football League. This sport has expanded to other Australian States, but it remains a very “Melbourne” institution. The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s Kentucky Derby and it’s so big that it is a State Holiday. Melbourne also hosts the Australian Open (that’s the big tennis tournament) and the Grand Prix (think Nascar). Finally, the Commonwealth Games have not only showcased Australia’s excellence in athletics, but also Melbourne’s worldwide appeal.

Shopaholics need not despair in Melbourne. There are shopping strips in virtually every inner city suburb of Melbourne, and the Central Business District is a shopper’s paradise. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s shoppers will feel right at home in Myer and David Jones. Melbournites seem to have their own unique fashion-sense and style. They are not afraid to be bold and trendy – blending in is not recommended!

Getting around is a breeze. If there isn’t a train station within a couple blocks, you can hop on a tram (like the San Francisco trolleys). As a final resort, there are plenty of bus lines! Traveling by car is another option, but you can avoid a lot of traffic and parking hassles if you take advantage of public transport. But don't try to ride for free. The ticket inspectors can be mean and unforgiving and you're bound to wind up with a $150 ticket.

If food is your fancy, then Melbourne will not disappoint. You can find every remote type of ethnic cuisine here. If it’s Sri Lankan food you’re hankering for, you can get it. Even though there are virtually no Mexicans here, there are plenty of Mexican Restaurants. The most common types of food are Italian and Asian varieties and the “fish and chips” shops. Yum-Yum!

All this blogging is making me hungry. I’m going to walk down to Glenferrie Road and get some sushi and a chili hot chocolate. I know I still haven’t done enough justice to Melbourne, but perhaps I have peaked your curiosity enough to check it out for yourself. You’ll have a place to stay along with your own tour guides – so where the bloody hell are you? ☺

2006 Oscars

I love watching the Oscars. A guilty pleasure it may be, but to me it's even better than the Superbowl (unless the Packers are playing). I think the Oscars are so endearing to me because I really appreciate excellence in film and acting. Plus it's fun to see everyone attempting to look more gorgeous than the next person. More on this later.

As some of you know, Melbourne is currently 17 hours ahead of Milwaukee/Chicago/Dallas time. They did not broadcast the Oscars "live" because it would have shown at about 12:00 noon on Monday. So they waited a few hours and broadcast the show at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night. By then, the reports started flooding in as to who won and the "breaking news" reports kept blowing the suspense. I had to keep changing the channel because they would show clips of the winners getting up to accept their awards - it was ruining my Oscar experience! By the time the Oscars began, I already knew that Philip Seymour Hoffman won Best Actor, Reese took Best Actress and Crash stole Best Picture! I was very annoyed.

But that didn't stop me from watching the show. Jon Stewart was fantastic and hilarious as the host. My favorite joke was the one about Bjork unable to attend because Dick Cheney shot her. (Those of you who are confused or dismayed, a few years ago Bjork sang an Oscar-nominated song in a "goose" dress.) George Clooney made a great acceptance speech after winning Best Supporting Actor for Syriana. He was terrific in the film, which was hard to follow at times but a harsh eye-opener to our dependence on oil.

Dolly showed that she's still got it, but she is looking a little bit too plastic these days. My hat goes off to the women in Hollywood (and elsewhere) who are brave enough to be themselves and age naturally. I loved the haunting song from Crash - to me it was the best one of the lot. The "pimp" song was ok, but worthy of an Oscar? In my opinion, no. Finally, what was up with the muzac during the acceptance speeches? Very tacky.

I'd like to congratulate the presenters who made some of the less "flashy" categories very funny; specifically Ben Stiller for Special Effects and Will Ferrell and the 40-Year Old Virgin guy for Makeup. Well done!

There were a lot of film montages this year, which were nicely put together but almost went too far in the "sappy" department. After the montage featuring films about human rights, Jon Stewart aptly quipped, "And none of those issues were ever a problem again." Bloody oath!

I couldn't fail to mention how happy I was to see Itzhak Perlman performing the themes from the nominated scores! What an icon. As usual, he was brilliant.

The "In Memoriam" tribute is always beautiful and a bit creepy. They should clap for everyone or not clap at all. I didn't know that Mr. Miyagi died! How sad. And I had just watched West Side Story for the 9th time about a week before the Oscars and found out that Robert Wise (director) had also died. Another good thing about movies is that they immortalize all your favorite actors. Whether it's Chris Farley or Marlon Brando, you can bring them back to life anytime you want by watching them on film.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was so very, very deserving of the Best Actor Award. Nothing against his stiff competition, but he was absolute perfection in Capote. This is a must-see film. It is so intense, it kept me on the edge of my seat. And it made me want to read In Cold Blood. Reese Witherspoon was very sweet and gracious when she accepted her Oscar. I haven't seen Walk the Line yet so I can't give a fair opinion. I've liked Reese in all the movies I have seen her in, but I have never considered her an Oscar-calibre actress. Dame Judy Dench is simply the best. Felicity Huffman apparently gave an amazing performance as a transexual. I'd like to see Keira Knightly's performance as well. And I get choked up every time I see a preview of North Country with Charlize Theron. So how did Reese rise above all these other women?

The biggest surprise of the night was when Crash won Best Picture. I actually watched that movie on the plane from Los Angeles to Melbourne! It was a great movie that really pushed the envelope on racial bigotry and intolerance. In this respect, I'm glad that it won the Oscar, and I hope that those who didn't see it in the theater will now rent it. This is the first time (I think) that I have actually seen all five of the nominated films! Most people thought that Brokeback Mountain was a shoe-in. It was a beautiful, heart-wrenching film. But I'm not sure if I'd want to see it again. However I would like to see Capote and Crash again. To me, a movie that wins "Best Picture" should be one that people want to see more than once.

Finally, going back to my comment on the gorgeous wannabes, I think everyone is trying too hard. Most of the dresses were downright ugly! Michelle Williams looked she should have been spread on a hotdog! Just say no to strapless gowns: they just look like they are falling down most of the time and they are not at all flattering. Naomi Watts' gown was downright fugly. Charlize looked like she was wearing a black silk toga. And why was Jessica Alba even invited to the Oscars? My pick for best dressed is Uma Thurman. She looked absolutely regal.

And that sums up my thoughts on the 78th Annual Academy Awards! All-in-all it was a great evening and I am already looking forward to next year's show.