Last weekend, Lee and I made a short trip to Melbourne for the AWGIEs. As my first trip to this famous Sydney rival city, I've had much expectations of this city where I know more Malaysians have ever studied or lived in. Every one of my friends had said to me that I'd love the place for its artsy-fartsy attractions and culture. Since living in Sydney and coming face-to-face with the cities' rivalry, you couldn't expect more curiosity from me as to why most Malaysians choose Melbourne over Sydney (despite the obvious that the Melb universities have more ties to the Malaysian colleges, of course). So here's my verdict (written with no personal offence intended to fellow friends in Melbourne).

The city of trams and trains, while very well laid out, felt aberrant. Its insistence for modern and artistic expressions with its sculptures and architecture stands starkly overdone. I liken it to a painting where the painter has spent too much time 'perfecting' it. There seems to be nothing natural about the city. And maybe that's what a city is, man-made. But standing beside its older sister, Sydney, whose beauty belongs in the natural and how nature has created a wild city to suit its needs, Melbourne feels rather sterile.

For one, the fact that there are enormous sculptures everywhere baffled me. There are rarely any trees or flora which could've at least tamed the tram and train lines casting infinite streaks across the city sky from pedestrian view. Ironically, it did feel a bit too intense for me. Needless to say, getting on and off the tram was a chore than ease for a first timer.

The other stark difference between Sydney and Melbourne which I also did experience was the weather. Sun, rain and cloudy skies took their turns all day, and honestly made me miss and appreciate Sydney's weather more. Winter or not.

On the other hand, the one full day Lee and I manage to spend sight-seeing did allow me to experience a little bit of warmth of Melbourne's artistic soul. I enjoyed the Rose St Artist Market in Fitzroy, and admit it is better than my Sydney fave - the Glebe market. There were no mix of traders reselling wares from Indonesia, Thailand or South Africa, everything were beautifully hand crafted by Melbourne artists. I regret taking photos of the wares, but felt like it would be stealing the artists' works without permission. Some of the amazing things I saw was an artist cross-stitching a psychedelic anime art poster, kitchen utensils and plumbing bits made into jewellery and handmade hats made from imported Scottish felt. I couldn't resist buying myself these pair of gorgeous fused dichroic glass rings (right)!

After the market, we headed up to North Fitzroy to a gig where my bro's friend Kevin's band Broken Scar was playing. Good lil' cosy reminder of the days in KL when I used to go for gigs. Much too close to home! Hahaha... While an old collegemate, JK came up to meet us, I also finally got to meet the lovely Lynn Lim in person! Another one of those old faithful Malaysian blog readers I never got to meet until we all migrated to Australia. What gives?? =P

With not much time to sample Melbourne's food nooks and crannies, JK and Lynn took us up to the Greek precinct Lonsdale St to have dinner at Stalactites. And stuffed indeed were we with souvlakis! I so wished we had room for dessert!!

So while I concede that I now love Sydney better than Melbourne, I still wouldn't mind going back to experience more of the city's outlandish artwork and hidden attractions.

Plus, you can't get stranger than a train station named Batman. "Holy smoke Batman! It's an electric train!"