There are lots of gardens, parks, and grassy areas in Melbourne where you can just sit/lie down and do some drawing, read a book, or just take a nap.
I guess I could do this in Albert Park (Auckland) too, but the atmosphere is just much more pleasant in Melbourne. (Plus, I don't know many people, so I can just sleep flat on the ground without worrying about who might see me).
It is also a nice way to meet people. I have met two very interesting people so far.
-Noteworthy Person No.1
I was just staring into space, thinking about stuff when he approached me and asked if I was going to draw something (I had my visual diary and pens on my lap). He had to ask me three times because I was really in a deep trail of thoughts and didn't realize he was talking to me. Then, I said "oh me? yeah, maybe". So he sat down next to me and started drawing stuff. He then analysed my drawing and handwriting for me and told me lots of interesting things. A very interesting person indeed. An Aussie who can speak Japanese and understands some Korean. He talked about wanting to give away all his worldly possessions. But hypocritically, later on when a beggar approached us for some spare change, he immediately said "no" in a very sharp tone, without even looking at him.
-Noteworthy Person No.2
This time, I had just woken up from a 1 hour nap in the Treasury Gardens when Person No. 2 approached me. He was carrying a massive branch and asked if I could take a photo of him sweeping the grass with the branch...it was a funny request. Then he asked if I wanted a photo too. I said it's okay haha. After talking a bit, I found out that he is a Software Engineering student from Switzerland, travelling around Australia! So I took the opportunity to say the only three sentences I know how to speak confidently in German: "Guten Tag. Ich bin Kyu. Wie heißen Sie?" I think he was pretty impressed. Or maybe this encounter was just part of my dream. Maybe I hadn't properly woken up from my nap. It was pretty real though.
