Wednesday 17 December 2014

Melbourne Memories

I still remember how I came to know about Melbourne. It was two decades ago when I was still a child learning to read. It was when Hariharan sang and Kamal Hassan enacted the lyrics of Vairamuthu in the movie Indian – Melbourne Malarpoal Melliya Magalaa”.

Since then, my association with the place is further strengthened by more and more Indian movies. Being a movie buff myself, this is no wonder. Thanks to the innumerous movies shot in Melbourne. I could recall those exotic places where the hero and heroine would romantically sway to melodious tunes…

When Preity Zinda chirpily announced, “Good Morning, Melbourne”, in Salaam Namaste (she played the role of part-time RJ), I heard her. When the Chak De India girls jogged along the roads of Melbourne, I tailed them too.

In fact, most of the places in Melbourne bring the strongest feelings of déjà vu. When I think about it, I realize that I know so much about the city.

So, let’s see how much I know about the city…

Melbourne cricket ground - A ground which brings Indians together and make them bite fingers in anxiety! The ground has seen Indian cricket team win! It has seen them cheer with glee… It has also seen those times when they lost… I want to go to that ground. I want to feel the gush of patriotism flow within me… I want to feel the air which has smelled both success and failure… A stark reality of life... That nothing could be permanent; ups and downs are a part and parcel of life. Oh… How I wish that I could watch a live match there. Such an enthralling experience that would be - an experience that I can share with generations that follow.



A splendid long walk with bare feet on the Great Ocean walk and Mt Martha would be amazing. It would be more enchanting if a loved one is there to hold hands. The waves and colors of ocean… The blend of sky with the Ocean would be delight to eyes… Sweet breeze would hit us and adds to the romantic aura… And… A few snaps of me with the picture perfect place as the background would be a possession that I can carry back to home… A possession that I can hold with pride!

I am not very fond of going to zoos. I keep saying that tiger and peacock looks the same everywhere. I have visited so many zoos that the thought of going to on such place again bores me. But, Penguins!! I have never seen them… There is something so charming about them… The way they walk… I wish to see the way little penguins waddle across the beach to their sand dune borrows. And Philip Island is the right place for that!

Being a coffee addict Melbourne would be a perfect stop - The coffee capital of Australia! So an evening at Federation Square…. Sipping a cup of coffee… Drinking not just the coffee, but also the scenic beauty of Victoria… People belonging to varied culture…  Under the orange shades…. And saffron Sun… Crimson sky and yellow light… Oh! A palate of color that would never fail to cast a spell…

Queen Victoria Market!!! I can’t wait more to go there… The shopaholic in me is whining…  A lengthy window shopping coupled with some serious shopping… And a few souvenirs for family and friends…

No… I certainly don’t have fear of heights… And the height of divinity can be felt by reaching the heights…Literally! I want to go to Eureka Sky Deck 88… I wish to enclose myself in that glass cube… I want to see the panoramic view… The skies… The landscape… The miniature version of the majestic World... That would be so overwhelming… I am eager to treat my eyes!


The best way to get the essence of any place is to travel by way of their public conveyance… And Tram is the best available option… I would buy a ticket from the start station to the designati0n station… I wish to sit back and catch the local air of the place… That would be an experience that I can hold to myself… A gift to me; I don’t want to share that with anyone... Come on, I don’t have to be generous, do I? Wink!

Melbourne is indeed a colorful place…
With so many places to visits… So many moments to cherish…

Now my dear readers, tell me..
"Which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why?"
(The best answer chosen by me on every valid entry will win a gift voucher. The contest on my blog ends by 4th Jan 2015)


Written as a part of a contest hosted by IndiBlogger in association with Tourism Victoria

26 comments:

  1. I know pretty much nothing about Melbourne. I had to google some of the places you mentioned. I want to go to the Eureka Sky deck and view the city from high above on a clear day. I dislike zoos. I hate to see animals out of their habitat and put into enclosures.

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    1. I think Eureka Sky Deck would be great idea :)

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  2. A descriptive post on Melbourne.Best wishes in the context.

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  3. The Penguin Parade seems to be an interesting place worth visiting. At the least, they are not caging penguins in tiny cages like zoos, and allow them to roam in their natural surroundings, which I like.

    Destination Infinity

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  4. Liked the way you reminded the connection of our Indian movies & Melbourne...

    That was a nice post really.informative too...;-)

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  5. Hello, very interesting and educative post. Surely you must visit this fantastic place one day. I could gather so much information about Melbourne from your post. Best wishes

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  6. I would like to visit The Twelve Apostles!
    With a touch of nature's divinity of colour-changing sand rocks, the far stretch of blue of the ocean touching the blue of skies, I would love to experience the nature's celebration there absolutely, completely and in totality!

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  7. It is a beautiful city. Anywhere and everywhere is just perfect, though more conservative than Sydney! Great prose Locomente!

    Hank

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  8. The city seems amazing!!! :)

    ps- AIB video rox...:D:D:D

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  9. I would love to visit the Panny's famous chocolate factory. That is because he is an Indian. Panny is actually Kodandpani Lakhmanan. He arrived in Melbourne via Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, where he had worked on cocoa and coconut plantations before immigrating Down Under. He is now legend in Australia. He has made we Indians proud. Besides his chocolates are mouthwatering.

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    1. I didnt know about this chocolate factory at all... Thanks for the information. I bet that it would be an unforgettable experience... to loiter around when chocolate lingers in air... melting our hearts!!!!

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  10. Wonderful post and interesting videos that make me feel that
    Melbourne invites the eternal romantic in me to hold hands with my beloved and go see the Twelve Apostles .Go on long drives on the great ocean road. In the middle of nowhere in a vineyard spread a table and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine with my dear one. Enjoy the sunsets holding hands and do lots of shopping at the Queen Victoria Market and see all the graffiti being created at the hosier lane.
    Great Post and interesting videos watching them I am sure to visit Sovereign Hill for spending some time in the era gone by. The lure of gold and panning for some nuggets is a temptation that is too much to resist. After I have found the gold I am bound to celebrate it with some wine so I will visit the vineyards and enjoy some great wine from the Yarra region .Visit the Pannys Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and have my fill with this yummy delight.
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    1. Thanks for the wonderful descriptions Hemaaa...

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  11. MCG, the Australian mecca for cricket lovers. I would definitely like to be in Australia when either Indian team or the English team happens to be on tour, the nest time. Will be a memorable experience to watch the rivalry unfold right in front of my eyes, sitting right in the middle of MCG.

    - Ranjith (http://www.alightheartedtalk.com)

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    1. Yea... Every cricket fan's (Indian's) dream...
      Thanks Ranjith :)

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  12. Well expressed, Loco!
    Even I loved Melbourne in the Bollywood movies I have seen viz. Salaam Namaste! I had decided that like the heroine of the movie, even I want Ben&Jerry's ice-cream on a cold night in Melbourne!

    The adventure-lover and explorer in me wishes to visit all the places of attraction there.
    I'd love to visit the 12 Apostles and take the scenic ride there. (like in the movie Soldier)
    A hot-air-balloon trip will be lovely too (like in the movie Shaadi ke Side Effects)
    The Eureka Tower's observation-deck beckons! I'll feel high & on top of the world on the world's 14th tallest residential building! I plan to take lots of pics & videos!
    Ye dil maange more!
    What amazing sights Melbourne has in store!

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    1. Ah! Thanks for the beautiful comments Anita...
      May all you wishes come true!

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  13. Hi
    My email id is hemmma09@gmail.com
    in case you decide me as a winner

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