The River

A disappointing river somehow this afternoon six years on. Five dollars for the crossing; weekends a government subsidy halved the price, the skipper reported. The length and breadth of the water was flat somehow and failed to shimmer. Grey skies possibly a factor, there was no glint of light on any side. New gangways had been built and the fishermen on the Port Melbourne side stood on what appeared a neatly fashioned shore-line. A small container ship, child up on the seat of the Punt encouraged to search for fish, the old salt at the wheel, none of it added up to much. On the other side the bike paths had been up-graded and there was re-vegetation of native plantings over the grounds.
         Fitzroy Street was surprisingly down-at-heel; then later on Bay Street a great number of bejewelled shops along that strip catering to the new apartments thronging the quarter.
         Lunch was at the Grocery Bar up from the George.
         From Zero to Naked in 1.2  Bottles of Wine. Alcohol May Not Solve All Problems But Neither Will Water or Milk. Trust Me You Can Dance. Wine How Classy People Get Wasted. Wine Me Up and Turn Me On. I Am an Official Wine Taster Just Buy Me Up and I'll Taste It. This Wine is Making Me AWESOME. Good Wine Good Friends Good Times with graphics on the three pillars either side of the entrance and window looking out onto the street. Once Bitter Pots 3.50/Jugs 12.00 All Day Every Day.
         Reminded one of Marko's daughter Alice puzzled in Jogja when she was taken to Semesta, the coolest young student hang-out in the town.
         - They just drink teas and Cokes....
         The dark sides of the moon respectively.
         Tattoos and dogs again and even more noticeable the work-out physiques like Roman gallery items. Many of the younger could do both wine and gym in tandem and of course the other too in the mix.
         Was there a single body-builder in Malaysia or Indonesia in almost six years? Falling to one's knees five times a day, or at least living in the midst of the prevailing practice, discounted that. No doubt in corners of KL, Jakarta and Bali the same could be found.
         It may have been the vacancy and placidity of the suburban streets brought down onto the river-side and carried across the water, then through Westgate Park with its plantings and iridescent pools that had appeared on ABC  while in Singapore, drawing reassurances from Parks and Gardens. A different placidity to Singapore of course, where the colour and ethnicity of the people always acted to draw one out from the Western zone.