Australia Archives - Page 2 of 2

A guided tour of the Shrine of Remembrance

Australia, Melbourne / October 4, 2018 December 17, 2018

Don’t forget to remember.

If you appreciate the good things in life (food, nature, relationships, etc.) chances are you appreciate history.

The endless events and range of subjective experience we can learn about make history one of the most interesting areas to spend time with.

Josh, our dear friend, knows a lot about Australian history. He used to be a guide at the Shrine of Remembrance too–a beautiful museum dedicated to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Today, he was our personal guide through the Shrine which took us through all of the major conflicts ANZAC has been involved in.

It got me thinking about something that I do often ponder which is all of the different ways a life can be lived. The incredible variety of experience that’s possible and how different and complex each of ours is. The beliefs, the struggles, and the breakthroughs when viewed across people and time are immensely profound we can’t hardly wrap our head around it. We too have our own lives to think about.

My appreciation for the ANZAC was discovered today. If ever in Melbourne, or any place for that matter, take the time to visit a history museum or memorial. Let yourself be absorbed by the men and women who lived before you. There is wisdom and meaning to be found and applied into your life.

Thanks Joshy!

Anthony

The return of Josh and the importance of planning ahead

Australia, Melbourne / October 2, 2018 November 9, 2018

Josh is back! Our dear friend Josh returned to Melbourne last night. That makes two years of not seeing other–which was of course spent catching up, eating and drinking and having a laugh. We are in your country now, Aussie friend! So many good times had and to be had. The hunt for an apartment appears to be finalized with one of two options still on the table. Both relatively secure. In either case we will have a roof over our heads and a place to work productively when need be. We talked this morning with Josh and Marion about traveling through northern and western Australia. They plan to make a trip sometime in 2019 near the Gibb River Road. Agathe and I would also like to make a trip to the outback. As is always the case, the importance of planning time could not be understated since we will be here for only six months before heading to New Zealand. It already feels like it’s flying by! Catch ya!

A stroll through St. Kilda and the most beautiful man [1/2]

Australia, Australia Article, Melbourne / October 1, 2018 February 10, 2019

Jogging along the beach yesterday in St. Kilda and we saw a penguin.

There’s a bridge leading from the beach into the harbor where sailboats are scattered. Looming in the background is a panorama of the Central Business District (CBD) aka downtown. I’ve never had such an uninterrupted view of an urban landscape spontaneously arising and disappears again as the water meets the city then meets the open land from left to right.

The penguin was perched alone on a rock jetting out from the bridge. He looked relaxed.

On our way home we passed through an indigenous art store. Paintings of “Dreamtime” captured my attention unlike any other style of painting I’ve seen in recent memory. Dots bring to life animals and colors with a “time out of time” profundity of landscape that you can feel surrounded by when staring away. Generations of raw experience, emotion and stories expressed on a simple piece of canvas. Despite all of the art I’ve seen in my life, I’ve never quite seen it in the way I did today.

After leaving the shop we walked through quiet streets of Victorian style houses on our way home and saw a man sitting on a ledge wearing a long wool coat. Giving a little chit chat to each person that passed it seemed. I was ready for a little back and forth, “Hi how are? Fine thanks.”

Instead he turned to me, looked me straight in the eye and said, “I’m the most beautiful man you’ll ever meet.”

That’s one of the last things I expected hear to truth be told. I know the average guy talking to himself and others as they walk by with no real agenda can be capable of saying some strange things, but this was different. It was funny. Serious. Convincing. It stuck with me. The most beautiful man I’ll ever meet?

How we spent the 2018 Australian Football Final

Australia, Melbourne / September 29, 2018 December 4, 2018

Morning of the Australian Football League Grand Final. Last night was our first and very successful outing in Melbourne. The crowds and dance reminded me very much of time spent in England — women dressed to impress, guys snazzy in their own right — all stumbling by 11:30. Jolly good fun lads! We went out with Marion to the Richmond Club Hotel which is a historic, large venue with scattered floors and rooftops capable of delivering every stage of a proper night out in one beautiful building. After a pint there we strolled along to a nightclub where we danced to classic rap and hip hop from the likes of, among others, my hometown legend Nelly. Infrastructure is clean, the city doesn’t feel crowded, and I can really imagine spending the next six months here. Good times ahead! Anthony

Anthony and Agathe - Berlin to Melbourne

From Berlin to Melbourne: An Adventure Begins

Australia, Berlin, Melbourne / September 28, 2018 February 21, 2019

After leaving our fifth floor apartment in a trendy neighborhood of Berlin in June, getting married, and leaving for an eight month backpacking trip–we arrived at our first destination three days ago: Melbourne!

And what an arrival it’s been. People are really what make a place and we couldn’t ask for any better than our dear friends Marion and Josh. Welcoming us to their city and their home with open arms as we get on our feet and prepare to spend the next six months as practically neighbors. Many good times ahead for old friends who haven’t seen much of each other over the last four years.

We found an apartment already (way to go, Agathe!) that I think we will be quite well off in. In a nice area known as Port Melbourne. Not too far from the water nor the city. There are a few breweries a rocks throw from our place too. I’d like to learn more about brewing beer so perhaps there’ll be a match.

It is a funny feeling being a foreigner in a country where you speak the same language. You are more alike than you probably know, but a sense of unpredictability or separation is still present. Maybe it will fade with time but for now it is quite unique and pretty cool!

Keep you “posted” 😉

Anthony