Asia News - Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent » Kritika Seksaria

Australia: The saga of the trams

Kritika Seksaria — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:22:59 +0000

By Kritika Seksaria

Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Melbourne has stirred up quite the excitement in the Australian media. The newspapers have been publishing regularly, the nation’s sprucing plans, the Queen’s itinerary and her plans for each city.

Arriving in Melbourne on the 26^th of October, Her Majesty will be walking by the Federation Square, taking a tram ride around the CBD and visiting the National Gallery of Victoria. Here is the first of three posts discussing the significance and history of the touristy activities the Queen has listed on her agenda.

Melbourne Trams

One of the largest tram networks in the world, Melbourne trams are a major form of public transport in the city. The era of the tram started in 1848 when cable trams were used for commuting. The electric tram started operating only after 1906. Since then, trams have become an icon symbolising Melbourne lifestyle.

Over the years, tram routes have expanded and trams too have been developed with the advent of technology. Melbourne is proud of the decision to retain its trams especially since it is a very convenient mode of conveyance with the increasing traffic and occasional chock-a-block of cars in the city. In a way it can be looked upon as a melting pot where people from all walks of life share a common space in the few moments of transition as they get on with their daily lives. Depending on the time of the day, you can expect to see school children, suit wearing corporate officials, partygoers, old people and even the punky-looking, drugged random person who hasn’t decided which stop to get off at.

Also, trams stop at more frequent intervals compared to a bus or a train, thus becoming accessible for more people and also providing the opportunity to enjoy the city. I have loved riding around suburbs and appreciating the picturesque view that would glance by in a blink while travelling on a high-speed train or bus. Living and working in a metropolitan is hectic and often frenzied. Even though a lot of fellow commuters choose to glare into their I pad, I often spot romantics like me who gaze out of the window and admire the hustle and bustle of different activities on the same route every day.

The tram’s cultural significance has been skilfully described in an article in The Age published 10 years ago:

“In cool Melbourne, trams serve up a warm, comic version of real life. We can view works of art on trams, eat on tram restaurants, watch plays staged on trams and read tram poetry. They turn a group of individuals into fellow travellers, a bunch of strangers into an audience”

We can still spot on certain routes a replica of the vintage green and yellow trams. The free city circle ride on the old maroon trams take passengers to the landmarks of the city thus offering in the true sense, the opportunity to entirely experience the soul of Melbourne. As Melburnians we have both good and bad days with the tram, however, in an ever-changing world, there are some things worth preserving.

Macau: Past meets present in the Vegas of the East

Kritika Seksaria — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:48:13 +0000

By Kritika Seksaria

Macau’s reputation as a tourist destination has been rapidly increasing over the past few years. A fusion of Portuguese and Chinese cultures, the city offers experiences ranging from an insight into cultural heritage to abundant opportunities for partying, gambling, drinking and shopping. As the Macau Peninsula preserves its culture, the developing Cotai Strip is following the footsteps of Las Vegas with casinos and a tremendous nightlife.

Macau deserves a good 5-6 days to enjoy and appreciate everything the city has to offer. However, often many of us don’t have that opportunity. Here is a list of things to do, I consider as a priority on a short trip to Macau in order to experience the fusion of heritage and nightlife.

Senado Square: Known as Lagos De Senado in Portuguese, this paved area is located in the city centre of Macau Peninsula. Consisting of neo-classical buildings in pastel shades such as pink and yellow, this part of the city manifests the Portuguese cultural heritage. Many of the buildings have a uniform pattern of narrow archways that form the shaded sidewalk and entrances to shops and cafes. The square is paved with unique wave patterns with a montage of coloured mosaic stones. It leads up to the one of the most iconic monuments of Macau — the Ruins of St. Paul. Being one of the most significant churches of Macau, the ruins reflect the importance of Christianity in the region. Unfortunately, its stone façade and enormous staircase is all that has survived. If you are lucky to escape the scorching summer heat, I definitely recommend every tourist to climb up the stairs and enjoy the intrinsic architecture.

The Senado also leads up to the St. Dominic’s Church. The splendid green and yellow church is an example of Filipino architecture. For believers, it is a place of extreme serenity and comfort and for others it is without a doubt, a construction worth admiring. The Square is surrounded by narrow lanes consisting of various shops. Some of them sell locally made fabrics and garments whereas others specialise in curios, furniture and decorative items. The furniture and curios generally reflect the Macanese and Chinese heritage. There are a number of items worth picking up, but I personally loved the tiny boxes and vases in porcelain with Chinese motifs.

The lanes also have food shops selling the famous Portuguese egg tarts with decadent flaky pastries and a creamy custard flavour. The pork-chop bun in Macau is a famous snack as well. I recall stopping at a wine store selling authentic Portuguese wines. Besides Portugal itself, Macau would probably be the second best place to go wine tasting for Portuguese wines.

Macau Tower: 338 metres tall, this tower is the 10^th highest free standing building in the world. According to some sources, the Macau Tower is designed like a lotus, which is the symbol of modern Macau. A centre for shopping, restaurants and cafes, the tower also has an observation deck with a spectacular view of the city. For adrenaline junkies, it is a great opportunity to be adventurous and take a shot at bungee jumping or do a thrilling walk around the outer rim. On December 17, 2006, the father of contemporary bungee jumping, A J Hackett, broke his own Guinness World Record of “The Highest Bungee Jump from a Building” at the Macau Tower. His previous record was made at the Eiffel Tower in 1987.

The 360 Café, on the 60^th floor is popular for being a revolving restaurant offering a buffet of Macanese, Indian and Asian delicacies with scrumptious desserts. Enjoying a delectable meal whilst appreciating the panoramic skyline is a luxurious and classy experience. I strongly recommend any prospective customer to make a reservation in advance since the café is heavily booked, even on a weekday.

Pic: AP.

City of Dreams: A mixture of Hyatt, Crown and Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos, the City of Dreams does justice to its name. The interiors have a modern look with the huge bubble fountain, a Vquarium, hues of white and gold, refreshing fragrance and high-end label showrooms, lit up even at night. In my opinion, there isn’t much point shopping in the City of Dreams as the variety of stores and labels at The Venetian across the street is much wider.

One of the highlights of COD was the Madonna exhibition displaying memorabilia from the trajectory of her career and life. It included the raspberry dress she wore in her 1985 Material Girl music video, the satin cone-bra bustier she donned in her 1986 “Open Your Heart” video, and dresses she wore playing Argentina’s Eva Peron in the 1996 musical “Evita.” Also, it displayed personal documents such as a cancellation of a post marital agreement between Madonna and her ex-husband, actor Sean Penn. The exhibitions may be temporary; however, most of their displays are admirable.

The other attraction would be the Vquarium or a video aquarium on the wall, with water cascading down it thus adding the realistic effect to the swimming mermaids. Performance art lovers must make it a point to watch the Dragon’s Treasure media show featured in the City of Dreams’ Bubble Theater with a 360 degree dome screen and the acrobatic show, House of Dancing Water performed in a theatre containing one of the largest commercial pools in the world incorporating performances with various design elements such as fire, water and atmospheric effects.

Even though I would not have a negative word to say about the Hyatt and Crown Casino, my favourite experience was at the Hard Rock gaming area. Now, most of the casinos have their usual range of games, machines and bars, but since I do not gamble, it is the theme of the Hard Rock casino that enticed me to spend hours there. Starting my night at the R Bar, I enjoyed drinks and music ranging from modern hits to all-time classics. I then moved base to the bar in the Hard Rock casino admiring memorabilia from timeless musicians, watching people enthral in victory, sook at their loss and later feel comforted by the sight of waitresses serving them in red furry bikinis.

The Venetian: The Venetian is not just a hotel, casino or a place to shop. It is an experience, one that left me rather awestruck. Needless to say, the lobby and casino exhibited immense grandeur and a majestic and traditional feel. The bars in the casino are classy and elite and the enormous gaming area is thronged with people trying to be millionaires or just earning back enough money to survive the rest of their trip. Also, it is the venue featuring the famous Cirque de Soleil shows. However, every time I think of The Venetian the first vision that comes to mind is of the ceiling.

As I explored into the unexposed shopping and dining area (well after sunset), I was suddenly struck with natural daylight, pavements, canals, gondolas and I found myself walking in what felt like Venice in the middle of the day. The Venetian is one of the most unique works of architecture and interiors in creating a make-believe world. The light-blue and partly cloudy ceiling elicits a daytime lighting. While walking on the paved flooring, amongst lamp posts, bridges and railings protecting the canal, it is worth admiring the huge range of shops on both sides and the architecture that resembles the houses and buildings in Venice with rows of flowers at the window sill.

I spent my day just enjoying the atmosphere, shopping and experimenting with Macanese curry. In the end, I relaxed with a gondola ride across the canal appreciating the sapphire blue water and the mellifluous, high pitched voice of my Italian gondolier as she sang her favourite opera song and I sank into tranquillity.

Besides the above mentioned activities, Macau has a lot more to offer as well such as the gorgeous and spiritual A-Ma Temple, Red Market and the beaches and hiking trails at Coloane. On another visit to Macau, I would be more curious to explore the historical, natural, religious and local life in the city.

One day in Bangkok

Kritika Seksaria — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:43:05 +0000

By Kritika Seksaria

Every city boasts of culture and more often than not they are right. Similarly Bangkok can speak of its exquisite Buddhist temples, unique night markets, picturesque Lumphini Park and the majestic Grand Palace. However, my last couple of visits to Bangkok have not involved any activities associated with the above landmarks.

Besides culture, the city also offers the opportunity to soak up an experience of luxury. Some might consider such a holiday to be frivolous; nevertheless I have never regretted it for even a moment.

My mornings in Bangkok start with quick dip in the hotel swimming pool. The warm weather makes it possible to enjoy the coolness of the water in the comforting sunshine. The appetite worked up after a swim generally leads me straight to a café for breakfast.

Bangkok city has quaint little lanes in most major areas with massage parlours and restaurants. I particularly love strolling down the lane behind Hotel Rembrandt. There are shacks and restaurants serving authentic Thai food as well as cafes with continental breakfast.

Generally I would go for a quick croissant, pastry and eggs with coffee, however, there are times when I have been daring enough to enter a shack, have an entire plate of chicken Pad Thai with a Singapore sling or a Mai tai! Drinking before noon may be frowned upon, but on a relaxing vacation the boundaries start getting blurred.

A delectable meal in the morning gives just enough energy to hail a taxi and spend the rest of the day in the mall. The massive shopping centre Emporium is in the heart of the city and browsing through it can take a toll on your feet. However, the July sales and mid-year discounts make it worth the effort.

A paradise for shopping, Emporium has brands ranging from Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo to more affordable labels such as MNG, Espirit, and Armani Exchange. The colossal departmental store has plenty of other brands and unique designs. Also, the mall boasts of a huge variety of electronics and household items such as linens, decorative items, incense, crockery and bizarre kitchen appliances.

Now, some may say that the same brands are available everywhere, then why go Bangkok? Well, besides the fact that I simply love the city and consider it as a perfect getaway, the prices in Bangkok are considerably cheaper, especially during sales. In comparison to Hong Kong, Macau or Australia shopping is cheaper. Moreover, they have a unique and wide range of variety as well.

Even though I skim through the high-end labels, I spend a lot of time in the departmental store and the affordable brands. Half way through the day my arms ache of carrying bags and the heel of my foot is almost numb. It is the perfect moment to take a break and head to the food court. In spite of the huge variety of American food chains, I tend to stick to local cake shops and have a sponge roll or a locally made cupcake with decadent butter cream frosting. To add to the sinfulness, I would also pick up a milk-iced tea to go with my cake. It is cool, light and sweet with strange mix of tea and milk.

The refreshment boost helps me shop till I drop and then limp across the mall till I am starved all over again. Unfortunately, the frustrating Bangkok traffic makes it harder to reach the restaurants on time. The streets are cluttered with cars and my yellow/pink/red vehicle is one amongst many stagnant cars, so I catch a quick power nap and hopefully I am at the hotel by the time I wake up.

The rest of the night is spent in my favourite restaurant/massage parlour Lean on Tree, located right behind my hotel. I place an order for Thai Green Curry, Stir-fried Cashew Chicken and copious amounts of Margaritas and head for a Thai massage to relax all the muscles knotted up after carrying heavy shopping bags and walking around for 7-8 hours.

The serenity of the massage room and the smell of aroma oils instantly de-stress the mind. Not to mention the magical techniques by the masseuse relieve the reminiscence of body ache and instil a sense of tranquillity. The Thai dinner infused with flavours of basil, lemongrass, chilli and coconut satisfy the lingering starvation.

As I lie in bed I can faintly smell the aroma oils and feel a balmy essence on my feet and all I think of is how I loved my day in Bangkok.