Bris-Vegas

Saturday, September 15, Part 2

Jumping off the boat from my Koala / Kanga adventure, I strolled into GoMA, the museum of modern art. The Motel sign shown is placed just outside the museum's entrance. On the other side it does indeed say "Bris-Vegas."

The text on the sign reads:

You don't understand. Not at all, not at all. Pleasure overules pain, if you can catch that drift. When it's barrelling, it's magic. You're like compressed inside - it gives you a high, you expect to see angels!
LOCAL. NATIONAL. INTERNATIONAL.
Where there is no vision the people suffer.

The only other sign in town of Bris-Vegas was across from the library, where the old state treasuring has been turned into a casino. There's a bar there called "Kitty." Cute.

 



Inverted crystal, Colleen reflected.

On my next trip to Brisbane, if there is one, I promise to do one of the coasts and tell you about it.



The GoMA is on the South Bank of Brisbane, which is one happening place. From the curving, trellised walkway to the fake beach and barbecues, on sunny days it seems to be where families go. The pool/beach area is surrounded by palm trees. In the park land next to the pools are gas-power barbecues, free for anyone to use.

 

There are two pools, one that goes up to two meters in depth, another that is barely half a meter in depth, designed for toddlers. A tracing of the Brisbane river spills water when walked upon. A seal squirts water when a little one sits on it. A big bucket hanging high in the sky turns over and spills water on the little one who pushes a button.

 

The deeper pool is... well, like a beach. The white sand slopes into the water, just like a beach. Big difference with this beach, though: no stinging jellyfish or rip tides. It also doesn't hurt that close by, just beyond the trellised walkway, are shops and cafes, perfect for grabbing a cup of coffee or having dinner before heading home.

 

The yearly Brisbane festival was on, which meant arts events all over the city. There was also a nightly laser light show called GLNG. For this show, they have placed laser lights on the tops of the biggest buildings in the city. Water and smoke spray from a barge in the middle of the river that also holds more lights. Music booms, the lights spin, twirl and create impossible shapes.

 

My photo does not do this show justice. But if you follow the GLNG link there is a video that gives you a good sense of what the show is like.