Day 19: Melbourne City Day

We bailed out on snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. 😔 Sad trombone...

In the past day it has rained over five inches, more rain is expected (3+ tomorrow alone), waves are at a meter, and visibility in the boat was close to zero. (Let me just say that 20 feet visibility due to rain is a LOT of rain.) Just not worth it -- we could eat more avocado toast if we stay here in Melbourne!!

Due to very late arrival last night we get a late start. 

Our neighborhood as we start the day. Most buildings are more interesting than your standard glass box. Good on ya, Melbourne! 

In the morning we go with Robbin and Dan to re-visit NGV (National Gallery of Victoria). Wonderful! 

Federation Plaza set up for an outdoor movie, plus umbrellas with greenery and lounge chairs. So nice! 

Aboriginal style funerary totems, carved then coated in ochre, then painted to represent person's family and other symbology. 

(Side note -- the fire stick, spear throwing stick, weaving, making string, hafting points all are common to North American peoples. They could have been invented twice. More likely they were carried to Australia and to the Americas as essential technology after being invented earlier. So 50,000+ years ago.)

From the notes: Grace Cossington Smith is today recognised as one of the greatest Australian artists of the first half of the twentieth century. Yet, as was the case with many women artists, her work was largely unacknowledged in her lifetime. Smith's paintings of the Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrate the structure as a powerful symbol of modernity. By painting the building process, rather than the completed bridge. Cossington Smith focuses attention on the work and commitment required to build it.

Headdress using feathers that are cut to give new shape (like a fish?). Elliott could cut feathers like this, like making window snowflakes, and use them in some art.

Shields, both ceremonial and for warfare. 

R&D leave to pick up their bags at the train station and take a bus to the airport, next destination Cairns & the reef. We stop at nearby eatery in Federation Plaza, thinking it's for a coffee. Oh wait, this is the First Peoples eatery featuring native ingredients. Yes please!!

The restaurant is Mabu Mabu. This dish is a cucumber salad with shaved fennel, slightly hot oil, creamy dressing, yummmm. This could be made at home :-)

Fried hearts of palm in a yogurt sauce. I'm thinking air-fried in the oven. Also might be made at home. 

The full menu in case we need detailed inspiration later. Mabu Mabu gets five stars from both of us!

After lunch and a coffee we figure to walk thru Chinatown, perhaps see the State Library, then head to a Chinese restaurant for Peking Duck. 

On the way. Melbourne has a conscience. 

On the way we must stop at the post office. Oh they still encourage stamp collecting! Here's a first day of issue cover.

Chinatown has the gates, plus Chinese shops, but it's not very active. Of course today is the Chinese New Year's Eve, so some closures could be expected. 

We wander some alleys in the CBD (the business district, not the cannabinoid) where they have lots of cafes and foodie delights. 

Ahh, Kathy has a gelato shop in mind and we both enjoy! 

Chinatown gate. 

We at least visit the Chinese Museum and see dragon heads from past years' parades. We learn that Chinese dragons are not fierce, rather positive totems. Soon it will be Year of the Snake.

Original old dragon.

New Millenium Dragon. This year's parade is next Sunday after we leave. 

In the video we learn that Melbourne's Chinese went to China in the 70's asking for someone to make a replacement dragon head (the original one from 1950's was wearing out). Mao's cultural revolution had eliminated all knowledge of how to make the dragon head for parades in that city, they required Melbourne's group to send photos and other details so the item could be made. The diaspora keeps the culture alive -- do we need to take a lesson from that here? 

Next stop the State Library Victoria. We've heard the reading room is spectacular. Also, a woman on the tram the first day told us of her great grandfather who has a statue there.

The reading room is better than advertised. We also take the lift to the 6th floor for dome viewing.

On the way down we find the main exhibit hall including 1500s wood block printing page, Audubon books, and other priceless items.

Artist sketch books with the image and notes. Reminds me of Jane Goodall's notebooks. I wonder if Elliott will make these soon? 

The library was way better than expected, but now it is time for dinner. At the Peking Duck restaurant we discover that all tables are booked for Chinese New Year's Eve. Of course!! Rookie mistake. Also New Year's Day dinners are booked, so we reserve Thursday night. Then we get dinner at a Thai restaurant down the street.

Then more walking and tram home. We are happy to rest and recharge. Perhaps some biking tomorrow?