Mebourne Open House 2011

It was a spur of the moment decision. Gaz asked what I would like to do yesterday and I said, 'Let's go to the city for Melbourne Open House'.

Melbourne Open House is an annual event which started 3 years ago. This year, it unlocks 75 buildings around the city and surroundings for the public to view and explore. Some of the buildings are private houses and offices, while others are public buildings. Free guided tours are conducted every half hour.

Gaz and I visited the Origin Rooftop Garden, Melbourne Town Hall, Myer Mural Hall, Collins St Baptist Church and RMIT Story Hall, not bad for an ad hoc activity huh?

The Origin Rooftop Garden was designed by Jamie Durie to be a place for Origin Energy contact centre employees to relax and commune (and do they need it! Contact Centre consultants would be among the most stressed people in the workforce). The ground was covered with synthetic green grass and dark wooden cubes acted as stools and tables. A tin covered area acted as a BBQ place on the right. Besides synthethic grass, drought tolerant natives framed the area.

The garden provided a good view of the city, though in some places the view was blocked by a couple of tall, large buildings. While we were there, it started drizzling so we quickly left and visited the next venue. This one was a last minute selection after the lady in front of us at the line getting into the Garden mentioned it was worthwhile checking it out.

The Melbourne Town Hall happened to be just the kind of building I love. Old architecture and solid dark Tasmanian wood abounds. We sat in the council chambers while a knowledgeable volunteer provided information on the building. The council chambers are used once a month for council meetings. During other times, it can be hired out for weddings (at which the Lord Mayor Robert Doyle are able to officiate), Comedy Festival one acts, and seminars etc.


She showed us the coat of arms for the City of Melbourne during the 1840's pre Gold Rush, which had the cross of St Johns and the British crown. In each segment of the cross there was a different symbol which gave an insight into the economy then - Sheep, Whale, Cow and Sailing Ship. Melbourne then was exporting wool and beef (even back then!), whale's oil (thank goodness that's not done anymore), and the sailing ship to signify its importance in transporting the commodities around the countries.

After a pit stop for lunch, we went to the Myer Mural Hall. It was truly a fantastic place! Imagine the 60's, people were going for high tea's and dancing, socialites flitting around like butterflies, and you have the Mural Hall. It was refurbished recently, and are open during Sundays for high tea at $70 a pop.

Last stop was the RMIT Storey Hall. Personally I think that it's very boldly designed, and is not my cuppa. There were many green tints in and outside the building, paying homage to the building's Irish roots. It reminded me of The Hulk. Green pentagons laced together in contemporary geometric designs stood out everywhere.

The Storey Hall acts as a lecture hall, and exhibition area for RMIT students. The building underwent a major refurbishment in 1994, after which it received several awards.

Just as we left, we saw a large group of people congregating outside the building with a guide explaining the architecture to them. Many of these people are just ordinary Melburnians, but nevertheless proud of the unique buildings in the city and very glad for the opportunity to appreciate them in this way.

AOBA, Malvern

Some people have the iphone application that randomly selects a restaurant for them at times when ideas of where to eat run short. I have something even better. Gaz gets on to the Net, shortlists two or three restaurants based on cuisine and location. I pick one which appeals to us the most and off we go!

Last Thursday night, we went to AOBA at Glenferrie Road, Malvern. This tiny Japanese cafe / eatery sits only about 17 people. The chef was extremely friendly and popped his head from his kitchen to greet customers whenever they come in or pays to leave. Even though there was a wait for tables and food, his customers were happy to wait or simply to take away.

We sat right at the bar and spent the first twenty minutes salivating over the chunks of raw tuna, salmon and king fish awaiting the sharp blade to be cut into size and re-arranged to be atop bite sized sushi rice. I was really hungry by the time we were served, but the food was good. We also got a complimentary bowl of steamed endamame with salt sprinkled on top to tide us while we waited.


I ordered the AOBA box which consisted of a sampler of almost everything. One spring roll, one gyoza, seaweed salad, chicken katsu, potato croquette with rice and miso soup. I really liked the potato croquette which looked home made, but the chicken katsu was a little dry. Perhaps if it was pork katsu it would have been better.


Gaz ordered the Deluxe box - tuna, salmon and king fish sashimi, rolled sushi with salmon, teriyaki chicken, vegetable and prawn tempura with rice and miso soup. The teriyaki chicken was tasted really good, and needless to say I enjoyed the tempura very much.

I told Gaz earlier that I wanted to eat lots and lots, and many different varieties before we entered the restaurant. The two bento boxes definitely fulfilled what I wanted. The servings were reasonable and left both of us full. No eating KFC or McDonalds after that. AOBA is a nice restaurant and we would definitely go back again!

A New Life

I just finished a very mesmerising book called Shanghai Girls by author Lisa See. The book is set in the 1900's when China was under attack by the Japanese and mass migration to other countries such as America occured.

The two sisters in the book were married off to Chinese Americans and were told to expect a big house, servants and lots of money waiting for them. Instead, life in the new world is not all a bed of roses. Chinese people in the America during that time were racially discriminated. Immigrants were firstly herded into a detention centre (I suppose similar to the Villawood in Australia for refugees). They were then examined, questioned and integorated until their stories fell apart.

Those who successfully survived the detention centre were allowed into the country however due to discrimination, were only able to work in very few places that would accept them such as in Chinatown. They were unable to marry outside of their race, work freely, own assets or live safely.

I was deeply touched by the hardships the two sisters had to go through fleeing war in their own country, hardships in the detention centre at San Francisco and then a tough life in America. From a leisure filled life in Shanghai, they sank to the lowest of workers in Chinatown, San Francisco.

Perhaps I had been wondering if my grandparents had migrated to America instead of Malaya, my parents and subsequently my life would have followed a different path too. Although I never met my paternal grandparents, their lives in Malaya were not easy but the elders made no mention of racial discrimination. It is disheartening that only now racism should rear its ugly head to threaten the harmony of the country.

Lost Items

I nearly lost something that holds great sentimental value to me tonight. In the last 10 years since I received it as a gift, it has rarely been away from me. Actually, I can't believe that it has been 10 years since I received it because it always looks so new!

The gift was specially picked by my mother, hand crafted and presented to me. I remembered being so proud to receive a 'grown up' gift because she has one just like it too.

Over the years, I have lost a number of items. A pair of hoop earrings which mom liked me to wear but I thought they made me look like a tribal woman. My mathematics exercise book which I lost during kindergarten days - I spent the rest of the semester pretending I still had it but was actually writing onto the table. That's why my maths is so bad even till today!

I often ponder about those lost things, about where they now are. Are they lying in a gutter or a dump somewhere? But they are inconsequential. It is the loss of things which are precious to oneself that hurts. Regrets, what - if questions, bitterness pops up and lingers. The whole house searches, retracing steps and actions till the item is found. Those who have cherished and lost will know.

The Bible even talks about this in Luke 15 via the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd will leave his flock of 99 sheep in a helper's hand to find his one lost sheep. 'And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

The last line of this paragraph means more to me now after this latest scare episode. 'I say to you likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance'. I am glad that I am not inconsequential, but am precious in the eyes of God.