trams – ALMOST ITALIAN

Hong Kong at Ground Level.

Most images of Hong Kong feature walls of skyscrapers marching up the hills from the shoreline. Meanwhile at ground level, Hong Kong is delightfully old-fashioned and quaint. During our recent visit, we took to the trams to get from Sheung Wan to Central before continuing on foot up staircases and escalators,stumbling across little back lanes, tea shops and temples along the way. The trams saved the day and our legs. All double deckered, narrow, and some quite ancient, they are one of the most environmentally friendly ways of travelling about, all for HK$2.30/AU.37 cents a ticket, an amazing bargain. You enter the tram from the rear and exit at the front, whilst depositing your coins in a little box near the driver. Some were covered in words and advertising, others were left plain and painted dark green.

Back Street Wanderlust

Melbourne’s secret lanes, inner suburban streets, Victorian historic precincts and 19th century abandoned factories and warehouses have turned from grunge to gentry. Colourful street art provides a changing landscape; painted facades give life to the severe modern apartment blocks tucked behind. Good graffiti is embraced. Railway bike paths open up a whole new world to the backstreet artist and walker.

The best way to enjoy Melbourne is to wander. The tram network services all inner suburban areas. Leave the car at home, take the tram then stroll. These images were taken recently along Rose Street, Fitzroy, close to the city. Catch the tram along Nicholson street and disembark at Rose Street. Start walking, and do not get distracted at the Brunswick Street intersection.

The following collage can be viewed as a media file. Open one picture below and the journey down Rose street will follow.

Rose Street, Fitroy

Melbourne for kids. A cheap day out on foot.

A day out in Melbourne for kids can be cheap, exciting and exhausting. Not only will they learn a lot, they will sleep well and have stories to tell. The itinerary we followed involved a lot of legwork as the best way to explore Melbourne is on foot. Now travel has become even cheaper as all trams in the centre of Melbourne are free and the cost of train fares into Melbourne have been reduced. Why would you take a car into the centre?

The images below focus on legs, in response to Ed’s Sunday Stills photographic theme this week.