Perth Train Station is the heart of the city, literally, the way to connect with people, to wait for people, to buy your newspaper, to have a coffee, to go to the a doctor, and, I forgot!, to catch a train.
There is something special about this station, truly. It is the mix of old and new, the easiness and functionality of the design, the cosiness of the atmosphere, and the good vibe of the space in general. This was one of the first things that caught my attention when I moved to Perth, as most train stations elsewhere are too crowded, too complicated, too ugly, too smelly, to big, too noisy, too "trainy", if you know what I mean. The place is very safe all day around, even at night, a thing you can't say of other train stations in Perth.
The fact that there are a few coffee shops, a newsagent, doctor and physiotherapy practices, a dental practice, a hairdresser, and a few other business and resting places around, makes the place a lively spot, accentuated by the fact that the train station upper level is a pass way between the Cultural Centre and the Shopping area in the CBD.
The trains depart on time almost every time, and the service is terrific even on Sundays. If there are delays or disruptions, you are properly informed and guided to replacement buses.
The are a few ticket machines for individual tickets in front of the entrance area, but better use a multi-rider if you are going to be in Perth for a few days (if you are a visitor), which you can purchase and recharge at the newsagent on the same floor. Do buy your ticket because the security guards at the entrance and exit will stop you, and, if you don't have one, they won't have any pity, no matter you had it and lost it.
The only down in the Station is the size of the information office, which needs to be enlarged, as it is always crowded, especially now that the TransWA office has closed its door and the Transperth information office has taken over the booking and sale of those tickets.
The place is being refurbished at the moment, and it wont be long that we have a completely different space, unfortunately.
This is the final instalment of the Millennium Trilogy, and the one in which we finally see Lisbeth Salander confronting those people who unjustly abused her since her childhood. The movie focus on her recovery in hospital, and in the investigation of the Millenium team and the Police to uncover and capture those people who formed The Section, a team of secret agents involved in dark operations and directly responsible for Lisbeth's abuses and jailing.
Like the 2nd movie, this one feels like a TV film not a proper movie. However, this lifts up a bit, mostly because the investigation is very intriguing, and the performance of some of the the actors is very good. We hate some of them with gusto, especially the evil psychiatrist and paedophile Dr. Peter Teleborian who is very well played by Anders Ahlbom. However, the actors playing evil Zalachenko (Georgi Staykov) and his son Dragan (Michalis Koutsogiannakis), overact and underact respectively, and, like in the 2nd movie, they are a caricature of a character. Michale Nyquist and Lena Hendre are still good in their respective performances, especially the latter, but Annika Hallin outshines them with her fresh and down to earth performance as Lisbeth's lawyer Annika Giannini.
Noomi Rapace shines once more, although her character is played down in this movie. Despite the fact the viewer cares about Lisbeth and wants her free and her abusers jailed, there is a lack of empathy with her, mostly because the way the character is portrayed in this movie. The fact that the movie shows not much about her, leads the viewer to feel emotionally detached from her, who appears cold and calculator, lacking of emotion and of any type of kindness, and stripped of the soft core she showed in the 1st movie. The focus of the movie is not Lisbeth's past, but her abusers, and the investigation.
The relationship unfolding between Mikael and Erika is badly explored and explained, especially because Mikael still seems to have a crush on Lisbeth. We do not know what happens to Lisbeth to pass from almost falling in love with Mikael in the first movie to completely ignoring him in this one. Most of the viewers have not read the books, and they will barely understand some of the unfolding events in this last instalment of the series. The court trial is very entertaining and well performed, although hurriedly developed. The end of the trilogy is deflated and has no closure. It feels and looks like the end of a TV episode that is to be continued. The director and scriptwriter had already chopped up and hidden many facts that were in the novel, so why not taking a further risk to give the trilogy a good ending? They could have used what we know about Stieg Larsson's unfinished 4th book to do so. Stieg Larsson's unofficial website, summarises a bit what we could have expected from the 4th book:
"Aftonbladet has earlier published the news that the fourth book would take place in Canada, about 75 miles (120km) north of Sauchs Harbour on Banks Island. It is also told that the fourth script would mainly focus on Lisbet Salander, and how her personality changes when she starts to deal with her conflicts from the past. Her tattoos are explained and you are told that each and everyone represent a person who has hurt her throughout her life, both mentally and physically." Instead, we are left with that sweet & sour taste of not knowing enough about Lisbeth and watching a movie that has no ending. On the other hand, the viewer is happy that there is no continuation, because the enthusiasm, freshness and rawness of the first movie are completely gone in this film. The cinematography of Stockholm and rural Sweden is gorgeous. The series really makes you want to visit Sweden!
Walking on a Dream is the first Album by the duo Empire of the Sound (Luke Steele & Nick Littlemore), published in year 2008.
Pop electronic music is
rarely a hit with critics, who always feel guilty giving more than
three stars to pop albums that are successful at the Radio. This is
especially evident in the case of Walking on a Dream, which although
well-received, received a meagre three-star rating in most
reviews. However, the album ended winning seven out of the eleven ARIA awards to which was nominated, including the Best Album of the Year.
Walking on a Dream is not only a good album title, it is a good album that has proven to stand the pass of time and age with grace. The album still sounds fresh and fashionable - a rare quality in contemporary pop albums, which have a couple of good songs, are aggressively promoted through Radio stations, and, once the hype wanes, the album doesn't speak to the listener any more. The music is not only upbeat and danceable, but the lyrics are excellent, and the energy and sound of the whole album very good and unique. One of the things I like the most is how smooth and kinetic the transition between the songs is, so the whole thing flows. The Pacing of the album is also excellent, with the songs combined and organised in a very organic way. This is one of the reasons why the album has become one of my favourite companions for walking and exercising.
150 Newcastle St Northbridge Western Australia 6000 (08) 9427 8900 http://www.coles.com.au Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 - 21:00 Sat 8:00 - 17:00 Sun 11:00 - 17:00
SupaIGA Northbridge is a small-sized supermarket located in the outer border of the CBD, perfectly positioned for people living in the northern suburbs on their return home or for tourists staying in the city. It is replacing the former Coles Supermarket, with a few variations in the internal layout, but basically the same structure.
You won't find all the stuff you find in a big supermarket, still their aisles have the basics, plus decent vegetables and meat areas, and a considerable area devoted to packed sandwiches and take-away meals. It is a big convenience store and not a suburban supermarket, but it is one of the cleanest supermarkets I have been lately, and has the bonus of opening every day and having average prices and great specials.
I think the place was planned for certain sort of shoppers, which explains why certain aisles and sections are prioritised over others. In fact, is a popular shopping spot amongst backpackers, students and after-work young professionals, and perfect for emergency shopping on your way home.
The Latest addition to Perth Cultural Centre, Nature Play Space, is a funky music playground designed by celebrity gardener Josh Byrne, and located in the Museum Plaza, a few metres away from the State Library of WA and in front of Polly's Café. The playground is placed on an artificial mound elevated over the ground level, and with an Outback sort of design, with percussion and wind instruments scattered over it for anybody to play them.
The Nature Play Space has a terrible name, but it is a creative place spot on at every level regarding visual and conceptual design, location, and originality. It is not only fun, it is beautifully design, and the floor painting faking a river with little animals is just stupendous. There are many little details, artistic, funny and so very joyful. The earthiness of the seating benches has to be praised; they are truly awesome.
This magic garden
become very popular right after its opening, and it is attracting an
increasing number of parents with their children and school excursions, especially in the
mornings. The sounds coming from the playground, both from the instruments and the laughter of the players, have already become part of the ambience of the Museum Plaza.
It is not just the kids who are drawn into this music garden, and that is a lot to say for a playground. Kudos to the designers and to the Cultural Centre for such an awesome space.
Photo Courtesy of the Perth Cultural Centre Website.
The Urban Orchard is a green area developed after refurbishing the fringe space beside the Art Gallery and Perth Train Station, of which only the sculpture "Before 1978-1980" remains.
I have a mix of feelings about the Orchard. On one hand, it is great having a public edible garden in the heart of the city used as an educational area, with seedbeds containing a mix of seasonal vegetables and herbs, and scheduled free activities for school children and adults to learn and improve their gardening skills. The harvest & planting days, organised at the start of the summer and winter seasons, are perfect for that. It is also great having a wide green space with a seating area in Northbridge for your lunch, ciggie or coffee breaks, to use as a meeting point, or for the Fringe Festival to set their colourful caravans and vans.
So much thought put into the concept and so little into the design, which is not creative at all. The orchard doesn't feel as an orchard, not even earthy, but more like a lawn and concrete seating area similar to the one in Forrest Chase (now being redeveloped). Besides, and practically speaking, the shading is very limited and the place not good for seating during hot or rainy days - it is perfect for the lettuces and the herbs to look at the sky and enjoy the natural elements.
The Wetland [sic] is a fresh water pond located in the Cultural Centre, in the space connecting James St Amphitheatre and the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and created by redeveloping the previous water fountain but still including Stuart Green's beautiful sculpture.
The place recreates one of the swamps that were part of Perth natural environment at the arrival of the first European settlers. The area is very small but it is beautifully done. It has a great layout and a terrific mix of native greenery and wooden and metallic elements, a large colourful seating area, and a wooden deck stage. A bunch of happy frogs, native fish, and insects consider the pond home, as well as many seagulls, which come here to perform their bath rituals or have a swim. The fact that the central focal viewpoint of the Wetland has no human movement, but a stone façade as a background really helps to immerse yourself in this little artificial micro-cosmos. The world is left at your back, and it feels far away from the hectic urban surroundings.
The place is a favourite with quiet lunchers and coffee sippers, small children wanting to spot frogs, school groups, loners, and people attending some of the environmental talks and performances that take place at the central stage.
The Wetland is a beautiful special spot, perfect to relax in the middle of the city.
