Countless beautiful and spacious parks, green and truly places where one can relax and rest, even when just looking at them from inside a car on the way home. Returning to Melbourne City feels like meeting an old friend, with a mix of joy and sadness. Every street, house, and shop here brings back so many memories, both happy and sad. But for the past few months, many turbulent events, like the rushing currents of life, have left me no time or peace of mind to sit down and write. Even though I have the chance to travel and still get "professional blood" excited, taking photos and collecting materials passionately, I end up being too busy to do anything with them once I get home. It wasn't until today, a beautiful day, that I found myself free and inspired...

Melbourne is still the same - with unpredictable changes in weather, like a young, coquettish girl. People often say: Every day here experiences all four seasons: the morning is as clear and cool as spring; the noon is as bright and warm as summer; the afternoon, with its many gray clouds, resembles a gloomy autumn; and when night falls, it becomes as cold as winter. Because of these unpredictable changes in warmth and cold, people always carry a coat with them wherever they go.

Spring has arrived. The earth and sky are transforming, and it seems you can see the natural scenery changing every day. Just recently, the trees were bare, marked by winter, and now they suddenly surprise you with white blossoms, seemingly without any leaves!

The plump and healthy buds of spring are sprouting. I enjoy watching them endlessly, feeling as if the vibrant life within them is coursing through my veins. They remind me of youth, with its incredibly strong resilience, overcoming all difficulties to reach the warm, sunny sky of life.

The city of Melbourne is the capital of Victoria. Many years ago, when I first arrived in Australia, a friend here told me:

• Each state in Australia usually has a slogan on its license plates to highlight its uniqueness. For example, New South Wales in southeastern Australia, with its capital city of Sydney, was founded in 1788 and is the first state of Australia. Thus, its slogan is very simple yet full of pride: "First State." In Queensland - the northeastern region, known for its abundant sunshine and famous beaches - the slogan is "The Sunshine State." South Australia's slogan is "The Festival State," which already sounds festive and joyful, doesn’t it? This state, despite having some of the driest lands in Australia, is famous for its excellent wines and cultural festivals. In Canberra, the slogan is "Heart of the Nation" - the capital city truly being the heart of the country, very fitting! And what about Victoria? Can you guess its slogan?

Of course, I gave up. He winked and smiled mischievously:

• This state has the most slogans: "Victoria - The Place to Be," affirming it as a place worth living in; "Victoria on the Move," indicating a dynamic, ever-changing land. And then there's "Garden State..." I widened my eyes in surprise:
• Garden State? - Such a large and modern state as Victoria being proud of its unique beauty of "gardens" - meaning green, fresh, and pristine nature! He nodded and laughed heartily. That interesting name really impressed me. As I gradually got to know the city better, I found it very accurate.

Although not large (only bigger than the smallest state, Tasmania), Victoria is the most populous state in Australia, with over 70% of its population concentrated in Melbourne. And within this "Garden State," Melbourne feels like a huge park, a giant "garden" that is meticulously maintained.
Here, one can clearly feel the concept of a government that truly serves "for the people, by the people," ensuring that its citizens live peacefully and abundantly in a society that is orderly, stable, and surrounded by beautiful and pristine natural environments.
Countless beautiful, spacious, and green parks are places where people can truly relax and rest, even if only viewing them from inside a car on the way home. It’s easy to understand why, for many consecutive years, Melbourne has been voted the "Most Livable City in the World."

In recent years, the license plates in this city have featured the slogan "Stay Alert Stay Alive" - a witty play on words that reflects the reality of life: the city is becoming more crowded, with increasing traffic and more complex living conditions; thus, people remind themselves and each other to always stay vigilant to stay alive and safe. Very dynamic and always adapting to the circumstances, truly "on the move"! And then I kept seeing more slogans, such as "VIC - Education State" - also very fitting, as this place is an ideal destination for education and training, attracting many international students from all over the world. My friend was probably right, Victoria indeed has many slogans, but I still prefer the image of the "garden" that symbolizes this land.

Around me now, Melbourne's spring is gradually warming up. Many large trees are still bare, but right beside them are the cool green colors of other plants. On the roads, in parks, and in lovely home gardens, flowers are blooming in competition. Many trees display unusual colors: reddish-brown, yellow-green, purple-red... From a distance, it’s sometimes surprising not to know if it's the color of flowers or leaves!
Everywhere, there are parks with vast, green, quiet, and fresh spaces. On the lawns, families or young people play and frolic; or simply sit or lie down, chatting, reading, or sunbathing. Chubby, doll-like children lie in strollers while their parents leisurely stroll...
By the tranquil, clear lake, amid the lush greenery is a bustling world of birds. They boldly wander, search for food, play around, or flirt with each other without any fear of humans. As the evening falls, the birds call each other home, making the scene even more lively...
The image of such a peaceful life calms the soul. Then, a pang of sadness hits: what seems so simple is often a dream that many people spend their entire lives unable to achieve!

Author: Vu Thanh