[pics] Melbourne ;)

[xiaoli]

[original source] (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/06/1075854028808.html)

Melbourne's 'world top city'

February 6, 2004

Melbourne has retained its position as the best city in the world to call home.

Often derided as Bleak City by Sydneysiders, Melbourne topped a survey of 130 cities, narrowly beating out the other four Australian capitals surveyed - because its weather rated the best.

Sydney lost ground because its crime rate was rated on a par with New York and London.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey ranked Melbourne, Vancouver and Vienna as the best cities for expatriates to live, with Perth fourth and Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney equal sixth.

Geneva was ranked fifth, while Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby kept the title it took in the last survey in October 2002 as the worst.

"Melbourne pretty much top scored in everything," said survey co-editor Jon Copestake.

"But the difference between all the Australian cities is minimal. One thing Sydney had different to the other cities was a higher crime rate, and its climate. Its level of humidity was worse than Melbourne's."

Victorian Tourism Minister John Pandazopoulos said the award was based on a survey of a city's infrastructure, access, education levels, crime rate, focus on the environment, culture and events, its diversity and how connected it was with the rest of the world.

Mr Pandazopoulos said even Melbourne's weather rated better than Sydney's.

"It's a brilliant pat on the back for Melbourne, particularly for two years in a row," he said.

"We already promote ourselves as the world's most liveable city, we can continue doing that."

Mr Pandazopoulos said the award backed Victoria's record as the only Australian state in which international visitor rates grew for the past two years.

He said Melbourne was also a very affordable city, where people got value for money for great products, including top fashion and restaurants.

He said the government would continue to work hard to meet the balance of stimulating a vibrant economy and social standards to ensure Melbourne remained one of the world's best cities.

The London-based EIU assessed the level of hardship for expatriates in the 130 cities, using 12 factors including housing, education, recreational activities, health, climate and terrorism.

Cities were rated one to five in the 12 categories, with one meaning there was no hardship and five indicating extreme hardship.

Melbourne received the perfect one in each category, including its unpredictable weather, to give it an overall score of one.

The other Australian cities were all given a two for climate, while Adelaide also received two for housing, Brisbane and Perth scored two for transport and Sydney for its crime. Port Moresby received five for crime and an overall score of 80.

While Perth was given an overall mark of 1.1, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney scored 1.2.

The heightened terrorist threat only had a minimal impact on western cities, even those in the United States, largely because of newly developed security measures.

The highest ranked US city was Honolulu in 19th on eight points, while New York was 51st with 16 and Washington was the lowest of 16 American cities in the survey at 57th, mainly due to a higher risk of terrorism giving it an overall score of 19.

London was equal 45th, along with Los Angeles, Madrid and San Francisco.

Kuwait fell the most places, dropping from 87 to 97 because of the war in neighbouring Iraq, while Harare suffered the greatest actual drop in living standards as a result of ongoing unrest and slid eight places to 118.

The Iraqi capital Baghdad was not included in the survey.

Err I'm not gonna launch into a Melbourne pride speech, cuz I don't love the plac


e THAT much, haha. But rather than leaving this as a boring news article, I'm gonna take you on a virtual tour of Melbourne! These are some snaps of some of Melbourne's tourist attractions, nice scenery, and everyday life. My friend posted this on another forum, so I'm just gonna copy and paste everything.. :oops: So if you've never been here, and you're wondering what it's like, check it out! Planning to come down and visit? ^_^

Come away with me...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1071337009970_2003/12/17/1512mm1,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1071337009968_2003/12/17/1512mm2,0.jpg
... London bridge + Schumacher flying around Albert Park at the 2003 Melbourne F1 Grand Prix ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1071125697153_2003/12/13/1312mm2,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1070351633494_2003/12/03/212mm5,0.jpg
... The Shrine + Great Ocean Road ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1070351640580_2003/12/03/212mm6,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069826031229_2003/11/29/2811mm4,0.jpg
... Buncan Caves + Water sculptures at Southbank ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069522663365_2003/11/26/2511mm1,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069522663381_2003/11/26/2511mm7,0.jpg
.. Yachts heading back to Middle Brighton harbour, after a beautiful day's sailing + Sunset in Donvale ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069522663385_2003/11/26/2511mm9,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069027099976_2003/11/18/1811mm3,0.jpg
... The University of Melbourne (my uni :D) + Aussie Rules by the Bolte Bridge ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069027101266_2003/11/18/1811mm8,1.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069027099981_2003/11/18/1811mm12,0.jpg
... Aerial shot + Westgate bridge ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069027099985_2003/11/18/1811mm5,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1069027100042_2003/11/18/1811mm7,0.jpg
... Footscray park + South Gippsland [Autumn] ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068329544115_2003/11/11/1111mm1,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068329544123_2003/11/11/1111mm5,0.jpg
... Heaven on Earth + Morning training on the Yarra ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013311870_2003/11/06/611mm2,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013311868_2003/11/06/611mm1,0.jpg
... The unspoilt waters of Refuge Cove, Wilsons Promontory + Looking down St Kilda Road from a second-storey building on the edge of Federation Square ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013311874_2003/11/06/611mm4,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013311872_2003/11/06/611mm3,0.jpg
... Chinatown (yes, a tiny street) + Brighton Baths ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013311876_2003/11/06/611mm5,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013312019_2003/11/06/611mm8,0.jpg
... Sunset over St Kilda Beach + Part of CBD from the Docklands just before sunset ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1067233298757_2003/10/30/2810mm3,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1067233155888_2003/10/28/2810mm1,0.jpg
... Sunrise at Marengo Beach, near Apollo Bay + As good a beach as you'll find anywhere - Sandy Point, South Gippsland ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1066631404801_2003/10/21/2110mm1,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1066631404805_2003/10/21/2110mm3,0.jpg
... Cliffs of Blue Lake in Yellow Gum Pa


rk, Plenty + A traffic jam on Lakeside Drive, Albert Park ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1066631404825_2003/10/21/2110mm7,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1066631404823_2003/10/21/2110mm6.jpg
... The Bolte Bridge, by night from the Docklands + Platform five at Flinders Street Station, peak hour (holy crap.. I've never seen it so packed :wacko:)...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1066631404821_2003/10/21/2110mm5,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1065917394823_2003/10/14/1410mm14,0.jpg
... Early morning fog and snow-capped mountains over Mt Beauty + The gorgeous Tesselaar Bulbs & Flowers in Silvan ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1065917394821_2003/10/14/1410mm13,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1065917394827_2003/10/14/1410mm3,0.jpg
... The new pedestrian bridge on the Frankston foreshore + This picture was taken after the Bali Bombing in 2002 - of the floral tributes placed on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1065917394825_2003/10/14/1410mm2,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1065917394835_2003/10/14/1410mm6,0.jpg
... The Gas Towers at the Crown Casino, Southbank (very nice on a freezing winter night..) + Having lunch on a summer's day in Melbourne zoo ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064083108465_2003/09/25/2409mm2,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064083108473_2003/09/25/2409mm6,0.jpg
... A yellow sea of canolas - springtime in Rutherglen + Spring is finally back in a park in Essendon ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819974182_2003/10/01/stkpier,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819974184_2003/10/01/tulip_festival,0.jpg
... Beautiful morning view of the St Kilda Pier + Tulip festival 2003 at the Tesselaar Tulip Farm ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819974176_2003/10/01/piesfans,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819974178_2003/10/01/rialto,0.jpg
... Magpie faithfuls at the final training session before the 2003 AFL Grand Final + Melbourne's Rialto ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068013312017_2003/11/06/611mm7,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068329544129_2003/11/11/1111mm9,0.jpg
... Bourke St Mall + Field of wildflowers on the Bellarine Peninsula ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1068329544117_2003/11/11/1111mm2,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1067233298745_2003/10/30/2810mm10,0.jpg
... Bolte Bridge at night + A more colourful part of Federation Square ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819977353_2003/10/01/stkilda,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819977355_2003/10/01/MelbShow_SwingRide2,0.jpg
... A sunny Sunday in St Kilda + 2003 Melbourne Show ride ...

http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064819974174_2003/10/01/Old_exhibitionbuild,0.jpg
http://theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1065917394841_2003/10/14/1410mm9,0.jpg
... Old Melbourne Exhibition Building + Webb Bridge ...

Credits: theage.com for the pics, the various photographers for taking them, is2hyolee for collecting them

[ker_ai_teresa]

:wacko: no wonder the pages are so slow to load! what with all those pics you posted, which of course had the tourist in mind when taken.... :shifty:
perhaps the "surveyers" were all from melbourne? :bleh:

but anywayz, i'm not surprised that sydney didn't top the list, what with our bond of friendship with the USA, and sydney being seen as the icon of australia, hence more prone to terrorism :dry:

but go vancouver!!!! i don't need a survey to tell me how great a city it is! :D

[Pey-ru]

Wah... Realli..I didn't know that...kekeke ..good for Victoria...hahaha..maybe Jay might come to Melbourne Instead of Sydney for his world tour...

Yes the weather here is very starting, one minute it's hot the next minute it's cold. Today it's raning the whole day and the rest of the week there is no rain...Melborune is one weird weather world..kekeke

[loko]

lol, those are some great pics of melbourne, but i'm sure sydney has as many if not more, picturesque scenes :)

congrats to melbourne, i guess....
although UMelbourne looks pretty similar to Usydney, with the old bulidings, they were probably built in the same time period.

[sagara0510]

wow those are really nice pics xiaoli :happy:

so anyway i was wondering...whats it like working for the tourism department of victoria?? hehehe j/ks! :P

[xiaoli]

loko >> yeah, I'm sure Sydney does. (I'm not being sarcastic by the way lol) I hope I can visit Syd some time this year. :happy:

sagara >> oh, don't get me started! non-existent pay.. dead-end job.. I'd rather steal yours.. must be so exciting to be BoA's publicist ;D

[sagara0510]

xiaoli - ooooo well u noe...being BoA's publicist isn't all that easy...lots of hostile anti BoA ppl out there...and then there's the long hours...the bad coffee...and bad smelling toilets... :dry: ...u have to be ultra dedicated

but the rewards make it well worth it i suppose...u get to talk about BoA...think about BoA...read about BoA....listen to her...look at her...dream...erm...ok mayb im taking it abit far now...

so....melbourne looks nice.... :happy:

[vashdestampede]

xiaoli - ooooo well u noe...being BoA's publicist isn't all that easy...lots of hostile anti BoA ppl out there...and then there's the long hours...the bad coffee...and bad smelling toilets... :dry: ...u have to be ultra dedicated

>.<

so YOU'RE the one who got the job!!!!!

*cries*
i tried soooooooooo hard...

well...at least i get to be her *cough* bodyguard *cough*

yes...melbourne is nice
melbourne uni is MY uni too! :happy:

[sagara0510]

body guard???

so you're the stalker hanging around the office!!! get lost before i tell the cops alrite... and stop trying to break into the toilets...its the guys toilet for crying out loud!!

[vashdestampede]

what's BoA doing in the men's toilets¿

hmmm...cos nobody will look there...hmm..smart...but now i know!

muahahah...

whoops...

gotta put something in about melbourne...

... The Gas Towers at the Crown Casino, Southbank (very nice on a freezing winter night..) + Having lunch on a summer's day in Melbourne zoo ...

i always wondered how the pidgeons that sit on top know when it's going to erupt...

[loko]

man u melbourne ppl are WEIRD..... :crazy:
all this talk of asian superstars hiding away in smelly, male melbourne toilets, with publicists also hanging out at the smelly toilets drinking bad coffee......

so glad i'm in sydney.
jk,jk, hehe

[sagara0510]

well i derno abt the smelly male melbourne toilets...i'm pretty sure its true tho...with vash visiting them and all :glug:

as for me...i'm from perth!! and i dun hang arnd smelly melbourne toilets...:happy:

however...the coffee is bad tho... but isn't it always? :rolleyes:

[vashdestampede]

yes...unless it's good coffee

but i won't try it out unless i KNOW it's good coffee

but first...i have to like drinking coffee

and then....i can argue that melbourne has good coffee...

*sigh* lygon street so expensive

[sagara0510]

how do you know its good coffee unless you've tried it?? and how do you know if u like drinking coffee or not unless you've drank some :?

....so weird :glug:

[vashdestampede]

because...

when i was small

i though coffee beans was like hot chocolate powder

and i put a tablespoon (the big ones!)
of coffee into my mouth

tears rush to the eyes faster than cutting 20000000 onions!

[sagara0510]

whoa! you put a whole tablespoon into your mouth?!? thats crazy!!

what did it taste like?? isn't it immensly bitter or something??...man...you sure had a strange childhood...

the only thing i did crazy was eat a bunch of chilly...now that was HOT! i drank so much water my stomach was bloated...worst thing is no1 told me that drinking water only makes it worse!! i was dying man...not to mention the chilly was making my stomach very very uncomfortable...to say the least

[vashdestampede]

yeah...i thought it was like chocolate...

hmmm...it's weird
i can't eat anything chilli, not even pepper

but my parents and brother LOVE hot stuff!!

just like i don't like seafood
and everyone else in my family loves it

[xiaoli]

Your experiences remind me of the time I tried wasabi. That stuff is GROSS! and hot! The first time I ate it, I ate this tiny TINY pinch, and my eyes filled with tears and I recoiled in disgust! I had to run to the counter to buy a drink to wash the sickening taste outta my mouth.. sushi is so yummy.. but sushi + wasabi = :bigyuck:

[cinsin]

hmmm...it's weird
i can't eat anything chilli, not even pepper

but my parents and brother LOVE hot stuff!!

just like i don't like seafood
and everyone else in my family loves it
Maybe you're adopted vash...lol

How can you not like sushi + wasabi xiaoli, it's beautiful if you mix the soy sauce and wasabi together.

I remember putting a big chunk of vegitmite on my taost thinking it was really nice because it makes your cheeks rosy...stupid vegimite ads *shakes fist* and I ended up throwing up and have been anti-vegemite for years now.

[sagara0510]

yeahhh i'm anti vegimte too..i always liked promite better...or crunchy peanut butter

as for the wasabi..we once dared a fren to eat a tablespoon of wasabi...a TABLESPOON...and he did it....he put it in his mouth...then he started crying and had to spit it out :laughing:

[xiaoli]

Vegemite, promite, marmite.. meh! what's the difference? they all taste the same to me :? (they all taste bad)

[vashdestampede]

Maybe you're adopted vash...lol

*reads quote*










i was half expecting sagara to say that...

ohhhhhhhhhh...eating weird stuff...that's my specialty!
a friend and i had some boiled eggs for some reason...
and we decided to eat it whole and spit out the shell later

so i shoved it in my mouth
and then my friend looks at me and goes, "i can't do it"
and i ate it all!!!
the shell pieces are soooooo small it wasn't worth spitting them out...

and i ate an onion once....covered in tomato sauce....
with another friend...just for fun :yeah:

sad huh¿

[sagara0510]

you expected me to say that?!?!

i'm hurt :cry:

i'd never say something like that.... well not to ur face anyway ;)

as for the egg shells...erm...doesn't it hurt your mouth when ur crunching down on them :glug:

[vashdestampede]

uh...can't remember...i was too angry at my friend for not going through with it....

[Dan-Siu]

Thats alot of pics
Melbourne?
No way. Sydney is at least as a good place to live or visist . Esp for the beaches and nightlife.
THe crime here is pretty isolated and the weathers fine.

[vashdestampede]

MELBOURNE!!!!!!!!!!!

not...mel-BORN (americans...=_=")
it's more mel-BURN

anyways...
i've only been to sydney once
the rest on my way to other far more distant countries

some of the beaches in victoria are great
and not too crowded ^_^

[fiionahsz__]

wow, didn't realise melbourne look so good !

[tomato_0]

i heard that melbourne has SOFT water, i mean, in adelaide the water is fine, but my friends said that the melbourne water is much softer and i'm like what the heck =.=

but i'm going to visit soon so i'm real excited !!

[shellz]

i live in melbourne it has some pretty nice places and theres lots to do here. It's a great city!