All my reasons

Cheeze maytes! ( read as cheers mates as they say Down Under )

It is called the Golden Mile - the walk alongside the Yarra river. If you are walking from Southbank towards Federation Square especially on a cold evening ,you are alongside the serene river facing the lit Melbourne skyline at a distance.The still reflections of the lit skyline on the river doubles the joy. On your right , the varied scents from each of the myriad of cafes & multi cuisine restaurant try to arrest your attention. Their aromas will captivate only if you are in my league - The people who walk that mile ALONE. Others walk down the river holding hands & whipsering 'I dont know what' for long hours.The aromas dont arrest their attention , they are completely captivated by the ambience and the company. They are everywhere on Southbank. Southbank promises them a candle-lit , a 'long wait before meals' dinner...some will also play the violin.

If you are totally out of luck, you would have to cross that way ALONE everyday on your way back from office. (Yup, Thats me!).It will be tragic to know , I go there only for the FOOD. More tragic , I complain...completely failing to understand the logic behind the slow service and the lack of bright light. Extreme tragedy , I wished the guy was playing 'Linkin Park' on the electric guitar instead of the (do you think I knew what he played) on the violin. Period.

(Nowadays, I take the longer route completely bypassing the Golden Mile.)

You get postcards/souvenirs of the sight from the Golden Mile & even friends who exclaim 'You went to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground)!!(I have a friend who was convinced that the MCG is the place where the famous Mac Grill burger was invented & everyone in Melbourne just eats the Mac Grill).

I rather be in Pune with friends and family. (Chicago aint bad either).To Melboure/Southbank - No offence intended.I promise to be back with the creteria to make sense out of the long wait before dinners & the dim lighting. Off course , the violin guy and his song too.Recently a friend who has traveled to the likes of LosAngeles , Miami & Vegas said his favourite destination was Pune. I wouldn't agree more. For us , when it comes to the destination , It is the stories that matter , a lot more than the souvenirs.