While I’ve been aware of the Southbank for quite some time, I’ve constantly resided in the CBD and had the notion that the Southbank was quite a distance from my apartment.
Furthermore, I was hesitant to use public transportation, such as trams, due to the crowd, which deterred me from visiting. However, last week, I discovered that a Chinese conductor whom I’ve long admired is scheduled to perform in Melbourne. This prompted me to make a spontaneous decision to attend the concert with a friend after our Friday class.
As we journeyed there, we quickly realized that it wasn’t as distant as I had initially thought. The area was bustling with pedestrians making their way home from work on a Friday evening. I couldn’t help but catch the infectious, joyful atmosphere that permeated the surroundings. This was particularly uplifting because it followed a demanding workweek, yet it was only Friday night, and the weekend had barely begun. Friday nights truly bring about a sense of happiness and relaxation.
In reality, we all have a preference for Chinese cuisine and seldom opt for Western restaurants when dining out. However, my friend informed me that Southbank is renowned for its diverse selection of Italian restaurants and bars. So, we decided to pick a restaurant at random to try it out.
The Prawn, Clam, and Mussel Linguine had a well-seasoned flavor profile, while the Mini Wagyu Beef Sliders turned out to be rather average in taste.
The restaurant truly shines in its prime location, offering a breathtaking view of the sunset over the Yarra River.
Scenes like this one easily stir my emotions, as they embody my stereotypical image of Melbourne’s landscape. It’s a stark contrast to the noisy CBD streets, the presence of homeless individuals, blaring motorcycle sirens, and bustling crowds. In that moment, it felt as though time had momentarily frozen, and the people on the bridge paused to capture the scene with their cameras. This created a beautiful sense of connection among everyone present at that instant.
This leads me to a well-established notion that has been a topic of discussion for quite some time. As an international student who arrived here just three months ago, I’ve already encountered numerous instances of feeling like a foreigner in a new land.
It might be a slang word from the cashier that I couldn’t comprehend while waiting in the pharmacy’s checkout line, the awkwardness of not being able to decipher the menu with a long line of people behind me while ordering coffee, or perhaps the disappointment of not receiving the high grade I had hoped for on a report I had dedicated a lot of time to crafting.
Every time I think back to these moments, I inevitably feel lonely and frustrated, as if no one in this land cares and understands my moods and stories, that we care about the fate of countless human beings in far, far away places, but don’t understand everything about the people around us.
Yet, in many instances, loneliness also offers a sense of security, especially for someone like me. The narrative of my past is laden with such excruciating pain that my heart aches whenever I reflect upon it. I am immensely grateful that, thankfully, no one here is aware of my past self. I’ve been able to start anew with an entirely different social facade. While there may come a point when I must return to my true self, these present experiences and emotions will serve as the sturdy pillars that will support me through countless challenging days and nights.
These unforgettable experiences, being immersed in the concert hall surrounded by fellow orchestra enthusiasts, are truly remarkable.
After spending so much time connected to the digital world, dedicating two hours to simply sit and immerse myself in the sheer auditory delight feels incredibly meaningful to me.
I deeply appreciate the performance of Smetana’s “Má vlast” (Vltava, Blaník, and Šárka). It felt as if I could reach out and touch every theme within these symphonic poems—Vyšehrad, Vltava, Šárka, and Tábor. Those two hours passed by so quickly, a testament to the captivating power of the music.
The Yarra Riverside is even more enchanting at night than it is during the daytime.