Chapter 7 "Melbourne Museum"

13.08.2010

If you are superstitious, you could want to hide under your covers on Friday the 13th, but since I’m not one of those people, I started my day (relatively) early to get my laundry done (something safe to test my luck ;P). On the agenda for the day was the Melbourne Museum, a quite modern and architecturally impressive structure amidst the Carlton Gardens just outside the city centre. And while you pay (and not little) for most of the activities here in Melbourne, the Melbourne Museum has this great policy of letting students wander around in there for free. So student travelers out here, if you don’t want to spend a dime on a rainy Sunday afternoon (but not too late because this too, of course, closes at 5pm), this museum is highly recommended. You are greeted by an immense skeleton of a Blue Whale before taking a walk through the Earth’s history beginning with dinosaurs and ancient rocks. Everything is colorful, digital and interactive (which always makes ancient rocks more interesting).

In a large white room, animals (real, dead and stuffed) line the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Aside from being an impressive collection, one can read up on every single one by pointing a digital touch screen on the animal of your choice. These screens are located all over the room and swivel and turn for your browsing pleasure. The next section is all about the creepy crawlies – find out what scents bugs like (including animal dung and lavender), what you would look like through a fly’s eye, what spiders not to let bite you, hear amplified sounds of bumblebees and hissing cockroaches and take a look at many living examples of huge spiders, lots of ants, gigantic stick insects etc… Aside from the occasional shiver down the spine, I don’t think I’ve ever had that much fun with bugs.

In the middle of the museum, there is the Forest Gallery – an actual forest inside the museum, including a stream, birds and a comprehensive display of how forest fires affect the lives of Australians.

The next gallery is about Aboriginal history, art and their battle for rights.

On the top floor one can walk through the different historical eras of Melbourne, stand in front of its most famous race horse and a model of a 64kg gold nugget found during the gold rush. The Mind and Body gallery takes you on a journey through your insides – both physical and mental. Experiments on sleeping and dreaming, perception and emotions make the trip into your mind more educational than just reading about how your brain works.
All in all, the museum is a must-see in this city, if you enjoy natural history, art and pushing buttons, touching screens, turning dials and emerging yourself in the learning experience 

After lunch in a Chinese dumpling restaurant, the walk back to the hostel and resting up while watching Star Wars (Episode 4), I spent Friday night in the U-Bar downstairs in our hostel… Buy one take one coupons for Pints and a VERY colorful mix of people made it a fun(ny) night out that lasted just long enough for me not to feel like a zombie today.

Note: No matter how much I learn about spiders, I still don’t like them. The Albatross has a wingspan of up to 3.5m.