| Submitted by: Gopal Venkat United States |
| Submission Date: 14 February 2005 |
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Though I was Initially interested in buying Opals, the Pricing (I felt) was quite Steep.
After walking around a bit more, returned to the Hotel around 6 PM, picked up my luggage and took a train to the Main Station for my Overnight Journey to Melbourne. After depositing my luggage in a locker room, I had dinner before returning to the Station and boarding my train.
Being a Vegetarian, I had no Problems in Sydney. There are a Number of Vegetarian Restaurants and the food is cheap. Of Course, the places where the food is cheap lack Ambiance. Frankly, I preferred Food to Ambiance.
My Biggest disappointment came when I found out that I had Paid A$125 for a Chair-Car. I had been assured by my friend that the First Class would be a Sleeper berth. I was left to realize that it wasn't. To top it all, the Car was full, thereby preventing any Stretching of the Limbs. If I had known this, I could have saved some money by travelling Second-Class. A Rather Sour Note to end my Sydney Visit.
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After a BAD Night's Sleep, arrived in Melbourne at 6:40 AM. Took a Cab to the Miami Motor Inn (Miami Motor Inn, 13 Hawke Street, West Melbourne 3003, Phone: 61-3-9329 8499) Even though I had booked a Single room from the US, I settled for an Ensuite room for A$62 (US $ 50). Breakfast was Included in the Price of the room. The Staff here appeared friendly in Comparison to those at Springfield Hotel in Sydney. After breakfast, headed to the City Centre.
Melbourne City Centre is a rectangular Piece of area of Approximately 1 x 1.5 Miles. This is the CBD of Melbourne. My Hotel was located just off the North-Western Part of this Rectangle. Walked through the Queen Victoria Market enroute to the City Centre. Unlike the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, this is a more down-to-earth flea Market. Great Place to Shop around. Made a note of revisiting the place the following Saturday.
Walked along the CBD to the Victoria Arts Centre which is just across the Yarra River. Spent an hour at the place and took a tour of their theatres and Concert Halls. Their theatres though quite small are quite Impressive. The rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne is Intense. People here take a lot of Pride in the VAC (Victoria Arts Centre) as much as People in Sydney love their Opera House.
Melbourne has a nice Tram System that connects well. It also has a Small Underground Railway network. After visiting the Victoria Arts Centre, I took a Tram to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Yet another Place that can be appreciated only by a lover of the Game of Cricket. I took a Guided tour of the MCG. The Tour Guide was quite Informative and took us all over the place. The Visit was worth the time Spent. Apparently they had just concluded a function in honor of the Australian Cricketing Legend Donald Bradman by Issuing a First-Day Cover. The event, I assume, was closed to the General Public.
Moved from the MCG to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Being Summer there was not much in the Garden that was Spectacular. I decided to cut short my tour of the Garden. Call up a friend and agreed to meet her around 7 PM. Took a tram to the City, had Lunch and walked back to the Hotel.
Left the hotel a little before the Appointed time, took a tram to Flinders Street Station. Pat was waiting there. We chatted while taking a walk along the Yarra River. Pat took us on a Cruise on the Yarra River. Apart from the Crew (2), we were the only tourists on board ! With Business being this way, One wonders how long these Cruise Boats can continue to Operate. Chatted along with Megan (Pat's Daughter). Talking to a 15 Year Old is like talking to a totally different Generation (I'm 32). An extremely nice Kid with lots of extra-curricular Activities. (Pony Riding, Clarinet Playing, Ballet as well as Indian Classical Dancing and Interests in Acting to name a Few !)
After the Cruise, we had a snack and headed to the Rialto Towers. The Observation Deck here is similar to CentrePoint in Sydney. This is the tallest building in Melbourne. And the Deck is Open (unlike the CentrePoint which is Glass Enclosed). The View of Melbourne by Night was Pretty Good and I took a Couple of Photographs. Although Pat & Megan were eager to show me around (In Spite of the Late Hour - Past 10 PM), I decided to let them go as they had to drive 60 miles to get home.
For a Person who has known me for around 10 Days (we met while I was visiting Egypt 2 Years Ago) she was really great. The same goes for my friends in Sydney. Most of my friends in Australia are Acquaintances from the Trip to Egypt. It is great to have friends like these. Took a tram back to my Hotel. The Tram services are Pretty Good. They run late into the Night.
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After a really Good Night's Sleep (In contrast to the Previous Night !), I was Up and ready to go on a tour of the Great Ocean Road. (I Booked my tickets for this tour in Sydney. You can even book it from the United States) This is an all day tour. We leave around 8 AM and return around 9 PM. A Mini-Bus picked me up at my Hotel and dropped me Off at the Main Office of the Tour Company where I transferred to a Bigger (and More Comfortable) Bus run by Australia Pacific Tours. A lot of these tour Companies have Sharing Agreements. If either of them is Underbooked, they try to combine their Customers into a Single Coach, if Possible. Seems a sensible way of doing Business. (Unlike the Yarra Cruise Boat)
We left Melbourne around 8:45 AM. Drove southwest to Geelong. Geelong is the second Largest City in Victoria State after Melbourne. Ford has a Huge Plant here. The Trip continued on the Princess Highway to the Town of Torquay where we stopped for Breakfast. Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner are Not Included in the Tour Price. Since I had already had Breakfast at my Hotel, I walked through the town to the Beach. It was quite Peaceful. Took some Pictures. Call up Trish (Yet another of my Australian Acquaintances !) and spoke with her for around 10 Minutes. We decided to Catch up later in the Evening after my return from the Trip.
Continued the tour and drove through Angelsea before Stopping at Point Road-Knight for a Photo Opportunity. After a 5 Minute Stop, continued our Journey through Lorne before Stopping for Lunch at Apollo Bay. After Lunch we headed Inland (Up Until this Point the road was Skirting the Ocean) through the Dense Otway Forest before reaching the Port Campbell National Park. The 12 Apostles which are Rock Formations (Eroded by Sea and Sand Over the Years to form Spectacular Shapes) are truly Grand. Would have liked to Spend more than the 30 Minutes we were allowed to Spend there. (A Drawback of these Day Trips) These rock formations rise more than 100 feet into the Air.
Proceeded to Loch Ard Gorge for a Photo-Op and onto Port Campbell for Tea. (Quite English !!) Continued to London Bridge for a Photo-Op before turning Inland to Colac for Dinner. London Bridge was Connected to the Main Land until 10 Years Ago. One fine Day, the Bridge Collapsed leaving a Couple of Individuals on the Free Standing Rock !! (They were later rescued by Helicopter) You can buy Photographs of the London Bridge before and after the Collapse. (On a Single Sheet)
The Drive back from Colac to Geelong was Beautiful. Wide Open farmlands with lots of Sheep and Cattle. The Setting Sun shedding its last rays over the plains really enhanced the Beauty. Good Place to Retire !!!
Reached the Hotel around 9:30 PM. Trish had left a Message. Was also Pleased to know that the Australian Open Ladies Singles Final (for which I had Tickets) was between the Teen Sensation Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce.
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After Breakfast, headed to the Queen Victoria Market and Shopped around. Bought a Couple of Aboriginal Art Works on Canvas. Was not quite sure about the quality of the Boomerangs there and did not buy any. Got back to the Hotel, took my Photo Gear and took a Tram to Flinders Park. (The Site of the Australian Open Tennis Championships)
I had booked these tickets from the US and had requested BASS [www.ticketmaster.com.au (or) Phone: 61-3-11500 (or) 61-3-11522)] to hold the tickets for me. Picked up the Ticket at the Will Call Window. Was around 40 Minutes early for the Ladies Singles Match. Watched the Woodies (Tood Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde) Practice. The Womens Singles Final started at 1:40 PM. From the Outset Hingis Played quite well. She won easily in Straight Sets. The Youngest Ladies Singles Champion in the Australian Open History. (And I was There !!! Yessss!!!)
Walked around the Stadium before the Start of the Mens Doubles Final. Had Lunch and bought some souvenirs. The Woodies were facing 2 American No-Names (O'Brien / Hareau) in the Mens Doubles Final. Although the Woodies started Shakily (losing the first Set) they won in 4 Sets. The Match / Award Ceremonies ended around 7 PM. Initially I was Planning to book myself on a trip to Philip Island for the Nocturnal Penguin Parade. Good that I did not do it. I would have had to leave around 5 PM to catch the tour Bus at 5:30 PM. The Tennis Matches really made up for Penguin Watching.
[At Philip Island, Hundreds of Penguins return from the Sea just after sunset and waddle along the beach to their nests. The Presence of People (Tourists) or the Bright Lights (put there for the Viewing by the Tourists) apparently does not affect them. This is a Must on almost every Tourist's Itinerary. The Tour Buses leave around 5 PM and return around 11 PM.]
Took a tram to Flinders Street Station. Went to the Hare Krishna restaurant here. Since the Menu was good, had my dinner there. The Dinner here was Cheaper (A$9) compared to the Hare Krishna Restaurant in Sydney (A$16). Got back to the Hotel around 8:30 PM. Packed up all my Belongings (as I had an AM flight back to New York the next day). Trish Called around 9:30 PM and I spoke to her and Chris for around 20 Minutes. We Promised to keep in touch.
Overall the trip has been Pretty Good.
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India's Republic Day. Left the hotel around 9 AM. Took a Cab to Spencer Street Station. From there a SkyBus Service Operates to & from the Airport (TullaMarine). The Fare for the Trip is A$9. (Definitely Cheaper than a Cab Ride)
Reached the Airport around 10 AM. I was told that the flight was delayed by 45 Minutes. (12:30 PM rather than 11:45 AM). In addition to being India Republic Day, it also happened to be the wedding anniversary of my Parents. Called Up India from the Airport and Spoke to them for a Couple of Minutes.
Went in to one of the Craft Shops there and Bought a Boomerang for A$45. |
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