Melbourne | Where Nature, Animals, and Life Blend Together, Free and Unrestrained

📍 Melbourne · 👁 1502 reads

I thought for a long time about how to describe Melbourne, what makes it different from other cities I've visited?

Probably it’s the way nature, animals, and life all blend together, free and wildly growing.

Wild growth, unrestrained, and so many species! That was my biggest takeaway from Melbourne’s plant ecology. From the moment the plane was about to land to the road after entry, there were repeated reminders about prohibited items, and the flight attendants kept repeating them. At first I didn’t understand—no other country or city had such strict restrictions. But when I found myself in the Royal Botanic Gardens, on the various viewing platforms of the Great Ocean Road, and by the roadside, seeing large expanses of lush greenery growing freely, different species, no artificial pruning, no limits, only the awe of people experiencing this natural integration—I understood. And this became a defining memory of Australia compared to many other cities I’ve visited.

The animals in Melbourne live freer than me! First, there are many types of animals in Melbourne: koalas, kangaroos, parrots, snakes, echidnas, seagulls, etc. Usually, people go to zoos to see animals, but in Melbourne, animals are everywhere—at the very least, you can spot a seagull every few steps. And these animals, whether due to the environment or ecology, are not only big and plump, but most importantly, they are not afraid of people at all. They can even 'snatch food from your hands'—for example, my coffee was pecked away by a parrot! This might be an atmosphere created by the ecology, environment, and people together—'even animals feel free and relaxed'.

How to describe life? Probably Melbourne’s city, transportation, and the coffee shops that weave through the streets and alleys.

Melbourne’s city center is very small, so small that you can actually walk everywhere. By 'city center,' I mean the old, bustling heart of the city. But South Melbourne also has its own city center. Basically, the busy shopping malls and core brand stores are concentrated in the city center. And the streets are mostly narrow lanes, which makes it easier to create a bustling, vibrant atmosphere. Shopping malls, bars, cafes, restaurants, and concept stores are all integrated into these alleys, similar yet colorful and different—whether through graffiti or people. People sit at the door, stand at the door, waiting for a table or just holding a drink, exuding an extroverted vibe, maximizing the emotional value, enjoying each day.

Before I went, my friend said to me, 'In Melbourne, half the people are happy NPCs, half are madmen.' I think he was right. Most people live very relaxed lives, smiling and unhurried. Even when eating a croissant, I wolfed it down in two bites, while they slowly cut it and eat it with coffee. And then there are those who are acting crazy—people on trams who drop the F-bomb in every sentence, people walking down the street confidently in just a bright pair of underwear.

But that doesn’t stop Melbourne from having comfortable sunshine, weather that’s neither hot nor cold, and most importantly, the lovely nature, animals, and life that make me relax without even realizing it.

Next time, I want to explore more of Melbourne’s differences and stay for a short period.

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