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| Saturday, July 04, 2009, 08.00 AM | |||||
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Home » FeatureStory
It’s one event that most Australians religiously stop to watch at 3pm. It’s so revered that it’s a public holiday in the State of Victoria and in the federal capital of Canberra, with politicians deciding that the race is more important than matters of State, at least during the running of the race. Noted American writer Mark Twain enjoyed a Melbourne Cup when he visited the city and remarked: “Nowhere in my travels have I encountered a festival of the people that has such a magnetic appeal to a whole nation. The Cup astonishes me!” Twain got it right in so many ways as the Cup manages to capture the interest of the nation and even internationally as the two-mile race (its original length but now metrified to 3,200m) is considered the best horse race in the world, attracting the best horses. It’s truly a race of the people too and not just the rich and famous as it captures the interest of most Australians. Live Telecast In KL Too While the race manages to attract in the vicinity of 130,000 punters to the Flemington Racetrack, the whole of Australia is watching as are tens of thousands of expatriate Aussies throughout the world. They are joined by some 700 million viewers in 120 countries who take the live television feed from Melbourne. Hundreds of race fans will gather today at The Westin Kuala Lumpur for a live telecast and all the partying that accompanies the race. In the best traditions of the racing spectacle at Flemington, The Westin will serve fine food, champagne and offer prizes for the best dressed. More Than A Race While many Australians will bet on two flies crawling up a wall, it’s hard to comprehend that some 20 million Australians will be gripped by the race today. Horses, trainers and jockeys have become household names in the country over the duration of the race. There has been emotion, suspense, drama and intrigue surrounding the race since it was first run in 1861. It’s hard to explain why people of all ages throughout the country down tools, stop work and gather to watch the event. Parties are held throughout the nation and anyone who visits Australia on the first Tuesday of November needs to understand that very little work will be done anywhere on the day. Make the most of it; join in the festivities. Melbourne’s Lure You’ll often hear Australians argue over which is the country’s best city – Sydney or Melbourne. The truth is, they are both great destinations but they are very different in so many ways that it’s difficult to compare. Sydney is arguably the more scenic of the two and possibly the most picturesque city in the world. With a harbour like Sydney, it’s only cities such as Seattle and San Francisco that rival it for beauty. For style though, Melbourne wins hands down. So for fashion and style victims, Melbourne is the place to visit and, now that budget airlines fly there, it’s even more accessible. Restaurants, Food and Wines Visitors to Melbourne quickly discover why it’s considered Australia’s cultural capital. Things are done a little differently here and to many observers it may have a lot to do with the erratic weather. As such, residents are forced indoors more often than others in a country best known for its great outdoors. Coffee, conversation and culinary creativity are things best done indoors and they are all done well in Melbourne. Melbourne is synonymous with great food and creative restaurants. Indeed, it’s one of the world’s great food cities and its residents are passionate about every facet of eating and preparing food. The best time to experience and be part of this is during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival to be next held from March 7 to 23, 2009. With some 200 food events over 16 days, there’s an event just waiting to be “tasted”. The World’s Longest Lunch along St Kilda Road is one of the many highlights. For almost a kilometre, the tables stretch along the sealed-off road to provide a venue for the long, slow and themed lunch. At other times, dine in some of the city’s best restaurants. Melbourne is a city of migrants and with over 3,000 restaurants and cafés, the variety is without equal anywhere in the world. For traditional Italian fare, you can’t go past Grossi Florentino (www.grossiflorentino.com.au). Sink your teeth into a chargrilled Black Angus beef to appreciate the importance of cooking with premium ingredients. Chef Shannon Bennett has created a sensation at his French-inspired Vue de Monde on Little Collins Street (www.vuedemonde.com.au). Try dishes that could include mushroom risotto with truffles, bouillabaisse, carpaccio of foie gras, venison loin and, pistachio soufflé. Fifteen Melbourne (www.fifteenmelbourne.com.au) in downtown Collins Street is celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s franchised outing in the city that helps disadvantaged kids get back on the rails. You’ll get a good feeling eating here but so will your stomach as diners are not at a disadvantage as the food is creative, innovative and excellent. The trendy and pulsating environment of Southgate features many restaurants, cafés and bars, 40 unique retailers and an innovative Food Wharf. Nearby and opening onto the Yarra riverside promenade of Crown Casino is the Parisienne-styled Number 8 Restaurant (www.number8atcrown.com.au). City Sights The skyline of the Southbank side of the Yarra River is dominated by the towers of the Crown Casino and its entertainment complex and the Crown Promenade Hotel. Melbourne’s cultural and entertainment centrepiece is the Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct on the southern bank of the Yarra River. Just a 10-minute stroll from the Melbourne CBD ensures that the riverside bars, restaurants, shops and pathways are normally packed, lively and entertaining. Within easy reach of Southgate are the Victorian Arts Centre, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, The Botanic Garden, National Tennis Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park. A tree-lined river promenade links Southgate to the National Gallery and Victorian Arts Centre. Just beyond, the Botanical Gardens, Observatory and Queen Victoria Gardens are one of the most relaxing places in the city. Have a rest by the river and watch rowers practising along the river or one of several sightseeing ferryboats. There’s always something happening along the Yarra River promenade. A chalk artist sketching on the pavement, a juggler entertaining lunchtime strollers or a travelling minstrel earning some hard-earned busking money from appreciative audiences. One appealing feature is that watching and listening costs absolutely nothing. Getting around doesn’t cost much either as Melbourne is a good walking city or there’s always a free ride to be had on the burgundy-coloured City Circle Tram. Party In KL The Westin Melbourne Cup Party: You’ll need to be quick, but it’s not too late to join in the festivities and watch the Melbourne Cup live today at The Westin Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 03-2731 8333) from 11am to 3pm. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch, free flow of champagne, and in line with Melbourne traditions, prizes for the best hat and the best dress. Contact: For general travel information, check out Tourism Victoria and Melbourne (www.visitvictoria.com or www.melbourne.com) and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (www.melbournefoodandwine.com.my).
 
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