Marilyn in Bendigo

Bendigo's profile has been vastly magnified by the transient arrival of Marilyn, seen here standing posed balanced on a park railing.

Bendigo is an enjoyable place in autumn. We made our overnight way via Heathcote, where we paused to sample some of the local and not so local wines. In fact the outlet of M.Chapoutier led us to taste and buy his shiraz offerings  from the Victorian Pyrenees (Shay's Flat) and the Rhône (Crozes-Hermitage). He does have a Bendigo vineyard at Jasper Hill but those farflung items, knowledgeably displayed and discussed, attracted us most. We did also buy some local provenance bottles from a hub outlet for Wild Duck Estate, Downing Estate, and Hennings.

Our overnight stay was spent at Langley Hall,  the residence of the first bishop of Bendigo, a stately home which has also been a sometime orphanage.

  The "chapel room" was very large and comfortable and breakfast was traditional and generous.

Our dinner was taken at Masons of Bendigo, setting a fine food standard.






The Marilyn exhibition at the Art Gallery was much more than a collation of her film wardrobe and film clips: it was a 3D biography of a talented thespian who was both overvalued for the obvious and undervalued for her potential. A couple of her books showed an unexpected taste in reading about serious life matters. It gave us sympathy for the person, a wish to learn more about her, and regret that she did not grow old. The curator does not exaggerate in saying "This comprehensive exhibition brings together authentic artefacts, clothing and other objects belonging to, or worn by Marilyn. More than 20 original film costumes from some of Marilyn’s greatest films such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire and Love Nest feature alongside numerous dresses and accessories from Marilyn’s personal wardrobe."

 We took the back roads home through some scorched and parched country and down the Burke & Wills Track to Granite Hills estate in the Macedon Ranges. A lengthy sojourn with the self-effacing and produce boosting winemaker Gordon Knight, a favourite source of ours we rarely visit, caused our home wine stock to be declared full for quite some time to come.

Alexandra Fountain, named for Alexandra, Princess of Wales whose sons, Princes Albert and George, attended the opening ceremony on 5 July 1881

Turandot on the Habour and a handful other pleasant delights

Handa Opera on the harbour was the main purpose of a few days in Sydney. Appropriately for a story set in Peking, the director and choreographer is, according to the official blurb, "a child of the Cultural Revolution, Chen Shi-Zheng grew up in a China where cruelty and beauty coexisted. Taken in by a Chinese opera troupe, he grew up surrounded by music, but witnessed great suffering. It’s a duality he finds utterly compelling, and a juxtaposition that ties in perfectly with the ice-hearted, impossibly beautiful princess at the heart of Puccini's Turandot."  A more engaging voice than Princess Turandot was the slave girl Liù, sung by Hyeseoung Kwon, who "has been a soloist for Carmina Burana with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Missa Solemnis with Sydney Philharmonia, Opera in the Vineyards, Stanthorpe, and Mozart’s Requiem".

But there's really only one big number in the opera, sung competently on our night by Ricardo 
Massi, Calàf's Nessan Dorma, who has also sung this role in Stockholm 2013 and Bregenz Austria 2015. Fireworks ad lib...

       

The open air set is magnificent, with a fire breathing dragon the flames from whose mouth can certainly be felt by us halfway up the seating rows

 We spent the day before the evening with our co-travellers on the board walk from Bronte Beach to Coogee. Always rewarding.



 We discovered a four good places to eat during our stay:

For late dinner on arrival, Postales
 Spanish Restaurant in the GPO








Authentic salaryman Japanese in the Westfield Market St food hall, unlike anything in Melbourne:

IPPUDO-  founded in 1985 in Japan’s ramen capital of Hakata. With over 80 stores in Japan, IPPUDO is now spreading throughout the world its authentic ramen. After opening its first international outlet in New York in 2008, IPPUDO is now present in Australia, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.   

On the recommendation of our hotel concierge we walked down Castlereagh St for breakfast to bustling (their website says "hustle") and efficient Pablo & Rustys. Excellent filter coffee and a generous serving of hearty delicious food.
 "'A range of single origins and filter coffee are always available, alongside outstanding fare focussing on local and seasonal produce. No table reservations"  Take away coffee too,  but mind the queue.








We also took further advantage of our hard won and compulsorily temporary Seniors OPAL Gold card to use the bus to travel to Birkenhead Point to catch up with old friends for lunch. A friendly suburban place where the food, service, and view and company was  all that could be asked.