Dance with Melbourne – Altona
Perhaps many travelers would agree with me on this. When one explores a new destination, there is that inkling in the heart, a soft voice inside wondering: could I live here? The older that I get, the more it is that I look at the long-term possibility in the places that I visit. Traveling is no longer about living the moment for pleasure.
A few months ago, I visited Altona, a suburb in Melbourne, for the first time. The plan was to have an easy afternoon walking on the beach and the lake shore. What interested me about Altona was the existence of both an ocean and a lake, and with that came the forming of a wetland. As we drove away from the City, we left behind a hectic lifestyle. Along our way we saw the gloomy winter sky of Melbourne gradually opened up to a clear blue expanse.
The calmness of Altona enveloped my mind as soon as I stepped out of the car. We had lunch at Tina’s Dumpling House in town. The food and the hospitality certainly exceeded our expectations. The town gave a very good vibe. It was clean, relaxing and welcoming.
We then drove to the beach for a stroll. There was a long pier extending to the waters. Although there were just a few souls there, I could imagine this pier to be perfect for fishing during warmer days. The beach was tree-lined. We walked leisurely on the grass-covered esplanade, in our ears were the very pleasing rhythms of the ocean waves.
My Aunt told me that there were some interesting memorials to see in town. She took me to the Council Chamber, where a war tank brought forth the memories of war. An eternal flame commemorated the Anzac Day, “lest we forget.” We then visited the R.S.L. (returned and services league). It is now functioning as a gaming center and bar for grown-ups. However, commemorated on its walls were the servicemen in the wars in which Australia participated, including the two World Wars, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. A salute to the veterans, as they were “serving still.”
Finally, we drove a very short distance to reach the shore of the Cherry Lake. It is a fresh water lake with a wetland. As such, half was open to recreational use, and the other half reserved for wildlife. The lush life forms there were so in tune with humans that they came forward to greet us.
I had a wonderful time in Altona, a place in Melbourne into which few tourists would venture. Besides an inheritance of a beautiful environment, there was also a sense of history there, and that made the town all the more appealing to me. Having seen Altona, I started wondering if maybe I could end up here for a quiet and content retirement.
