I can't begin to list all the reasons that make you so wonderful. I do know your location, along the banks of a grand river, certainly help. So does your architecture, which is full of sleek and modern high rises. There are the cultural gems that dot your expanse, such as the Queensland Museum and the numerous art galleries that line your streets. Your shopping is wonderful. There are enough malls and boutiques in Brisbane to keep a Paris Hilton style socialite content for months. Even some of your more famous suburbs are equally gorgeous, with million dollar homes rising up on lush green hilltops that overlook the grand view below.
I had quite a love affair with you while I was visiting Australia. And no wonder -- you're the country's fastest growing city. It seems everyone has the same opinion of you as I do!
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My introduction to Brisbane began my second night in Australia. I happened to stay one night in an incredible luxury hotel, The Emporium. Located in a once seedy neighborhood (Fortitude Valley), the area has now gentrified in to an area of Maserati dealers and upscale shopping. A wonderfully decorated and sporty spot, The Emporium was a great way to get introduced to the decidedly casual-but-wealthy Brisbane lifestyle.
The hotel alone was an awesome experience, but my god! Brisbane herself!
My formal introduction to Brisbane began on the South Bank, the city's beating heart of culture. This is the area in which the performing arts center, State Library of Queensland, Queensland Museum of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum and the famous landmark the Brisbane Wheel are all located. Other must-see sites include the South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach.
The Queensland Museum is home to a wonderful (and touchable!) assortment of exhibits, all focusing in on Queensland history and her native fauna. Kids will especially get a kick out of the place, which was evidenced by the fact that hordes of well mannered children were swarming several of the more hands-on exhibits. Wonderful old dinosaur bones, an Aboriginal exhibit, and the chance to crawl around inside a native Queensland tree are all to be found here. The free admission charge makes it quite a deal, and the museum is funded by the State of Queensland. I had a blast here, taking photos, fondling the exhibits, and taking photos of myself fondling the exhibits. I also learned quite a bit.
The Queensland Art Gallery is virtually next door to the Queensland Museum, and also boasts a free admission fee. There are some truly lovely works here, and heavily showcases Australian artists. I especially enjoyed the Aboriginal Art section. The Aboriginal pieces were intricately made with thousands of dots painted on to canvasses of all sizes, in designs that held symbolic and religious meaning. There are some lovely sculptures as well, and an interesting pool that is often part of an ever-changing art installment.
The Whale Mall is a little walk-way that showcases life-sized models of whales hanging from the ceiling. Recordings of whale calls play in the background. Benches are arranged for those who want to sit, listen and watch the startled faces of people walking past. Of course, I loved it.
While I did not actually enter the State Library of Queensland, I found it was a nice spot to grab some lunch. Although pricey (like everything is on the South Bank), it's a nice place to sit, relax and enjoy surprisingly tasty sandwiches. There's a decidedly intellectual and upscale feel to the folks who patronize the restaurant there, which I liked.
The South Bank Parklands are a lovely spot. A big, glorified park in the middle of a bustling city, the South Bank Parklands is a wonderful spot for to grab dinner, have a leisurely stroll, or get one of the best views of Brisbane on the massive Wheel of Brisbane. Perhaps most striking is the South Bank Arbor, which extends for much of the park lands. A steel support curved in a soothing design is draped with beautiful purple bougainvillea. It's absolutely stunning, especially when one stops, smells the flowers, and takes a moment to absorb the scene. It is truly lovely.
My favorite part of the park lands was the amazing Streets Beach. It is a mix of a pool and a lagoon, artfully surrounded by palm trees, a gazebo, rocks and beautiful plantings of trees and flowers. You can actually swim in the lagoon, and it feels exactly like swimming at the beach, minus the pesky waves and sharks.
According to wikipedia.org, the Streets beach " comprises a lagoon with enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools, with sand beaches, palm trees, rocky creeks and subtropical trees and exotic plantings. The beach is patrolled seven days a week by lifeguards."
Another spot I loved was the Nepal Peace Pagoda, a gift from the Nepalese government. It's an intricately carved wooden pagoda that visitors are welcome to sit and meditate in. It has an aura of peace and love to it, and reminded me of Nepal and my visits in the East. Naturally, I loved it.
There is a lovely Boardwalk as well, which runs along the river. It's a nice place to stroll, and frequented by a wide assortment of Brisbanites and tourists alike. There are spots on the boardwalk that have great views of downtown Brisbane across the river. It's close to the city but still removed from all the heavy action.
The Great Wheel of Brisbane is exactly as the name states -- a giant wheel that takes riders in little enclosed capsules to great heights and lets them take in one of the best views the city has to offer. You get a 360 degree view, and it is very high at the top.
Although I'm afraid of heights, I was determined to take a ride on the great wheel. It's only there for a few years, and I didn't want to miss a chance while I had one. A very nice Maori woman got me situated in my capsule, assuring me it wasn't scary and that hey, it was even climate controlled. She then showed me how to work the air conditioning, which was a nice touch. And then, bam! I was off, up, up, up in to the clouds. The capsule would shake precariously anytime I moved, so I tried to keep as still as possible, rotating my head around with a stiff neck and taut torso. However, my fear soon dissipated, and I was filled with the heady rush of seeing an incredible sight: Brisbane, at sunset, in all her glittering glory.
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