White Night

Princes Bridge

Princes Bridge

Melbourne is certainly not a poor city, last weekend Melbourne demonstrated this by holding its very first White Night.  Now Melbourne's White Night was nothing to do with Australia's previous controversial immigration policy, but instead a celebration of free art, music and dance that turned the CBD into a "winter" wonderland for 12 hours.  James, our friend from Cambodia had been staying with us and it was his last night in Melbourne, going to Melbournes White Night seemed like a perfect way for him to see just what Melbourne has to offer.  Barnadi was working that night, so after dinner at Narai Thai we got the tram into the city.  The night did not get off to a good start as James was petrified by the drunken bogans that continued to board the tram at each consecutive stop.  As the tram got fuller and fuller the discomfort switched from auditory to a more olfactory origin, as more and more sweaty bodys crammed in.  It was therefore with a big sigh of relief when the tram turned into Bourke street and we could get out into the fresh night air.



The Forum, Flinders Street

We started our exploration down Flinders street, as my friends Sam and Athina sent me a message stating that was where they currently were.  But as we headed down Russel street and got our first glimpse of the crowds we realised that meeting up with anyone was going to be a struggle.  The buildings along Flinders street, opposite Federation square had been turned into a large projected light show similar to that which was used on the town hall just before Christmas.  Each building from the Forum to St Pauls Cathedral were lit up in brilliant colour one minute and old Gothic stone the next.  Flinders street station itself was not only lit up in a similar manor, but the main steps had been converted into a stage from which a live band performed.  Federation square was one giant dance floor with hundreds of mirror balls suspended above and a different musical theme every hour.  Our initial plans to get to the Birrarung Marr by cutting across Federation square was thwarted by the thousand strong Bollywood dance routine, and so we instead went around the edge joining the masses gathered along Princes bridge.  Rather than cross the bridge at this stage we decided to head down the side towards the Yarra and along to the laser and water show, where we finally caught up with Sam and Athina.  It was also while we were here that Barnadi phoned to say he had finished work and was on his way down.

Lights and water at Birrarung Marr

Once Barnadi joined us we crossed Princes bridge and entered the National Gallery of Victoria which was displaying an exhibit which can only be described as a foam fountain, there is not really any more I can say about it, only that words can not do it justice.  As pieces of the foam broke off and driffted into the audience the foam dissolved on contact leaving a slightly sticky residue.  It was really not what I was expecting.   On leaving the gallery we took a walk along Southbank where three large inflatable balls stood in the Yarra and messages could be text in to be projected onto the balls.  For awhile nothing happened, but as we hung around we witnessed a very public proposal and a huge cheer when the reply of "Yes" appeared several minutes later across the balls.

By now it was nearing 2 in the morning and although the nights festivities were still young, with events continuing until 7am, we were getting tired.  After all it had been a very long day as we had been up early to take James on a drive up to Hanging rock, with a stop at the Organ Pipes National park.  We were very thankful when walking back along Flinders street  towards where Barnadi had parked the car that he had driven in as the trams home all looked just as packed as the one we caught coming into the city.  All in all it was a magical night and we can only hope that it will not be the last.