Playing tourist.

We had over an hour to kill until our next class at VCA, so spontaneously decided to visit the NGV.

It'd been quite a while since my last visit with school. The foyer was as I remembered it to be - of course, the deco had changed. There used to be a children's cubby house you could explore. It looked as though they were in the progress of change.

Inspiration hides in nooks and crannies. I should not always expect to find parcels on my doorstep. How many times had I traversed St. Kilda Road over the past 7 years? Countless. Every day of high school, and now weekly for my class at VCA. I could have easily diverged paths earlier for a short visit, but as it is, humans are creatures of habit, and I am no exception.

Not today though.

With plentiful time and weather-induced carefree attitude, this fine Autumn day turned out to be quite different after all.

It's very different, looking at Melbourne from a tourist's perspective. Drawn to the visitor's centre and souvenirs shop, I fell naturally into exploration mode, and in the heart of this bustling city, I found what I was looking for. What I missed. That ability to leisurely sidle my way through albeit small shops and discover all that other's have to offer: their ideas and thoughts. Wasn't that what I was after?

I left with half-formed ideas for future projects and a lingering feeling from the unique combination of freedom from routine, ample time and patience.

I should do this more often. Stray from routine and find inspiration from everything else I encounter. It's not that Melbourne has nothing to offer, it's that I haven't been looking. My arms are not wide open. Inspiration was on my doorstep all along, but I failed to recognise it. I have sorely neglected this beautiful city I now call mine.

"Do something daring every day," I used to say.
Well now, perhaps it's now time to take the road less travelled. After all, "not all who wander are lost."