City Journey Week

Eureka Sky Deck

I craned my neck as I approached the extremely tall skyscraper. The sun bouncing off the glass windows, blinding me as I continued closer. In the waiting line, I read all about all the amazing memories people have made here in the past, seeing photos and videos of the unbelievable view. As I did this, my heart thumped and pounded; though not at all with fear, but with pure thrill and excitement.

As the elevator ascended, my ears blocked and my stomach churned, chewing on a minty fresh gum to relieve the silent pain. When the doors finally opened, I rushed over to the huge transparent window and inhaled the feeling. A feeling of motivation. A once in a lifetime feeling.

“The EDGE” I hear students murmur as they pass behind me. I’m going to do it. I climbed into the translucent glass box, not knowing what to expect. The rough sounds of clinking metal made me nervous. The tension in the tiny room felt intense. Very slowly the glass walls faded from a foggy texture to a clean and clear skylight as it gently pushed me out of the tower. I lay down, looking at the city of Melbourne below me; as if I am a floating cloud in the sky, watching over the cars driving and people walking.

Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market; packed with people from various cultures as always. I visited many stalls and found the strangely odd things people sell there. Some stalls sell things for kids, things that you can eat, things you can use to furnish your home, things you can wear and even things that are alive. I eventually stumbled across a large stall that sell really cool brand jumpers and shirts for a surprisingly cheap price, so I bought a few.

A soft cloud of bakery steam lured me to a doughnut van right across the street. The doughnuts are handmade; I saw them rolling the dough and piping the jam through the vans window. So hot and fresh and oh how delicious. I enjoyed my day at the Queen Victoria Market very much, (mainly thanks to the doughnuts)

Magistrates Court

Walking through the double doors of the Magistrates Court, I immediately got confronted by a security guard. She told me to take of my bag and anything I may own that is metal, and to put it through the baggage scan. “What if I left something metal in my bag?” I wondered to myself in panic as I cautiously made my way through the metal detector. She then used a body scanner to check for anything peculiar. I felt violated. I collected my things and moved as far away as I possibly could from that nosey guard.

It’s time for the trial and I’m ready to watch the action. I walked into the courtroom, bowed and took a seat. The judge began to speak and the lawyer told him what the case is about. I can’t hear all that well but it is still so fascinating to see what it is like to be in a courtroom, and what it is like to witness a real case, like in the movies. A police man opened a door and out came with him a under dressed man in hand cuffs. I automatically feel restricted. I don’t like the look of him. Even though I don’t understand the case all too well, he clearly did something wrong to end up here. When the trial ceased, the typist told the group to stand and to quietly exit. I bowed for the last time in honour of the judge and left.

The Old Treasury Building

The dirty white walls and chipped floor tiles of the Old Treasury Building remind me of an ancient medieval castle. It was built in 1862 for the Victorian Gold mines. It’s where they would store all the riches the miners had discovered. There is even an exact replica of the largest gold nugget ever discovered. It seemed heavy and expensive, glinting tiny specks of gold wherever the light hit it. The tour guide ushered us through a circular hallway and into a room with a huge screen playing a video telling the full story of the Gold Mines in Ballarat and other places around there. We then visited another room where he taught us the importance of women’s rights and how it first came about. Then another room on Aboriginals and White settlement and another on Ned Kelly. Sadly, this activity was cut short due to the tour guide losing track of time.

Urban Seed

The outside of the Collins Street Baptist Church reminds me of a Greek Parthenon. The inside is huge, with a giant pipe organ at the very front. The tour guide had told the group and me many stories on homelessness and tried to gain perspective. He asked us about stereotypes and stereo typing homelessness. After our little lesson was over, he then took us outside and told us about really expensive stores out the front of the church e.g. Dolce & Cabana, Ralph Lauren, Mont Blanc.

The first ally way he took us to is located right outside of a shopping mall. It felt really warm in there, with fairy lights strung upon the open ceiling. I were to be homeless, I would want to stay here for the night that is if I was allowed to. The tour guide told us that if homeless people were to come here they would be kicked out. Horrible isn’t it? The second ally way smelled strongly of urine as we made our through. I looked up and saw a pair of shoes hanging from a pipe sticking out of a wall. He says that this is where the homeless people would sell drugs; to meet "under the shoes". He then took us to another ally that leads up to a garage. As I walked, I cautiously stepped around broken needles and worn contraceptive devices that have been dumped on the dirty concrete floor. I automatically felt uncomfortable and a little grossed out to be completely honest.

After the day was over, the groups went their separate ways and I was personally glad that I didn’t have to walk into another ally way for the rest of the week.

Police Museum

As I entered the Police Museum, I took a seat and listened patiently to the Teacher of the day. She told us stories about Police men and women who sacrificed their lives to serving Melbournians. One story about a police women in particular I liked. Speaking of women, the main focus of the lesson was about women power and their rights, and how women are just as strong as men when it comes to “saving the day”.

After the lecture, she let us explore the Museum, take mugshots of ourselves and dress up like police men from the past. Overall, this activity was fun and definitely something to remember.

Etihad Stadium

Arriving in Docklands after taking the City Circle Tram, I passed the stunning docks, The Melbourne Star, Channel 7 Headquarters and of course, The Etihad Stadium. Ascending on the escalators, my mind flooded with elation and adventure. The group and I had to wait at the bar for the tour guide to find us, which was fun because I played with the foosball table (even though nobody wanted to join.) When the tour guide finally reached us, he took us down to the field. As I converged through the dark tunnel of which the players would present themselves, the sun shine revealed itself and made my eyes feel dizzy. Then I saw it. The field. Round and tall with seats sinking into the soft green oval shaped turf. Reaching up to 38 meters in height and 19,053 square meters in length, the stadium can fill in 53,359 people for any sport event or concert.

On the tour, I visited the athletes changing rooms, the underground carpark and even the corporate boxes of which the sponsors like Channel 7 and Coca Cola can catch a great view of the game.

Parliament House

The Parliament House of Melbourne. So beautiful, even on the outside. Before I was allowed in I had to be checked for any weapons, kind of like at the Magistrates Court although without all the new technology and machinery.

The first room took my breath away. It’s a giant hall with rather impressive paintings of past governors and governesses all hung up on the walls. The tour guide took us into the first chamber, called the "Legislative Council Chamber". My eyes immediately went to the eye catching carvings in the walls and ceilings, with legitimate gold lining surrounding the perfect sculptors. So much detail, meaning, purpose and history in them.

I learnt a lot that day, from how the government works to the history of the government.

Article written and designed by Aaliyah Carrel, Photograpghs taken by Aaliyah Carrel

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