I have been a world traveler most of my lifetime. My dad was heavily involved in the Peace Corp and he often allowed me to accompany him on his trips to offer human aid services. As an adult, I became a travel writer because I loved studying the cultures and attractions throughout different areas of the world. Recently, a freelance writing assignment landed me in Australia. I had been instructed to travel through a list of cities in search of the best place to visit on an Australian vacation. I knew my search had ended the minute I arrived in Melbourne.
This city is like nowhere else on earth. People are everywhere, cramming onto trams and commuting back and forth 24 hours a day. There is a different atmosphere in Melbourne than in other crowded cities. The people are friendlier, happier, and seem more at ease in their daily routines. I was surprised to see that life moved a little slower in Melbourne than in other cities in Victoria. What was it that kept these people so happy and mellow? There had to be a secret.
I had been in the city for only fifteen minutes when I figured it out. Melbourne’s music makes all the difference! This place is captivated by music and it encompasses every area of their lives. Almost every business in Melbourne is connected with the music industry in some way. It isn’t like Nashville though. It’s not about signing record labels or hitting it big. In Melbourne, it is about celebrating music as an art form. People are interested in the details of composition, sound, and the mechanics of it all.
Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for concert tickets, the people have access to music everywhere they go. From the trams to the community squares, there are indie artists performing everywhere you look. They offer their time for free and the people adore them, supporting their work and helping them in their musical endeavors. There are musical festivals all through the year where people hit the streets and socialize while listening to new beats and genres.
Of every area of Australia, Melbourne is my favorite. I love the passionate creativity that charges like an energy wave through the city. The music makes it a bright, happy place to live. In fact, I plan to visit Melbourne again very soon.