Microcosm Macrocosm

I found getting lost among Melbourne's back-streets and alleys was the best way to explore the city center and find the most interesting little boutiques and cafes. Wandering down what seemed like a service access and rounding a corner I caught sight of some cafe tables at the end of a particularly graffiti-ed alley. Curious I walked down there and, passing an eclectic montage of framed paintings on the brick wall, I found a charming little cafe that made the best chai I've found so far in Melbourne.



Tonight I decided to step out of the microcosm of the city and see the big picture up in the observation deck, 55 floors above street level. To give you a sense of the height I'll just say that my ears popped about half a dozen times before the lift doors opened at the top. What really took my breath away when I looked out over the city though, wasn't the height we were at but the vastness of the twinkling lights spread out as far as the eye could see below. I went at sunset and the lights of the city made beautiful moving patterns that continued unbroken all the way to the horizon. The city was more huge than I could have imagined and I suddenly felt insignificantly small. I spend a good three quarters of an hour marveling at the sight and something I over heard a lady beside me say really caught the atmosphere up there, she remarked that the roar of the city below sounded just like the crash of waves at the beach. It was a constant rush below us and the lights of cars moved about the highways like cells rushing through a living organism. A sight worth seeing I thought.


-- H in Oz