My "I Remember" posts take me back to my travels that happened more than a decade ago. It was a time when we didn't have digital cameras as easily available as now. Mobile phones were just becoming affordable for the common man and traveling was done without the number of gadgets we have nowadays. This time I remember my three week trip to Melbourne in 2001, which was also my first time entering the southern hemisphere.
I
remember my sister winning a return ticket to Sydney.
I remember the name on the unchangeable ticket being R.K. Modi and me traveling on it as our initials are the same.
I remember the rather long route I took; Delhi - Mumbai - Colombo - Sydney with a few hours at each airport.
I remember the flight from Colombo to Sydney being half empty which meant traveling in style occupying 4 seats.
I remember being heavily jet lagged on arrival in Sydney and taking a taxi to a nice little Bed & Breakfast away from the city center.
I remember not being able to sleep and renting films from them for the night and watching TV till the early hours.
I remember the excitement as I visited the nearby Fox Studios picking up a M*A*S*H Tee from there. In all honestly, I decided upon my residence based on its proximity to Fox Studios.
I remember the approximately 10 hour train ride to Melbourne and making the right decision of taking the sleeper car.
I remember my train companion who was a trained dancer and going to perform in Cats (or some similar musical) in Melbourne.
I
remember my cousin, who was supposed to pick me up at Melbourne station not
turning up... Family! what can you do?
I remember stepping into Monash University, where my cousin was staying and what would be my home for the next three weeks, and reminiscing about my college life that ended a year ago. I remember blending into the students, and walking around as if I was one of them. In fact, by the end of it, I was smiling and greeting people I would see on a regular basis.
I also remember meeting a school friend at the University unexpectedly. I remember the long route to the city I had to take which consisted of taking the bus and then the train, but one that was quite easily achieved.
I remember taking in the city of Melbourne, with the Central Business District reminding me of Canary Warf, London with its tall buildings. But the beauty of Melbourne is that, just like the people, even the architecture is a mixture of new with old comprising of both local and international designs.
I remember realizing that Melbourne is a great place to walk around. It's a city best discovered on foot.
I remember the people, who besides being laid back were very friendly and helpful.
I remember meeting my college friend in Melbourne and meeting and staying at his host families house. All of whom have stayed dear friends ever since.
I remember how all the malls and shopping centers are connected, so that if it rains you can actually travel from one to another without getting wet. I remember actually having Australian wine in Australia.
I remember my friend taking me to China Town and just being overwhelmed with the colours and sights and especially the smells. And I somewhat remember a wonderful lunch in a small eatery for which we had to climb a couple of floors.
I remember the lights at night that brighten up the city and make it all the more beautiful glittering and shimmering as people walk the streets merrily.
I remember the cultural diversity that is so abundant in the city. People from all walks of life and from all around the world living and working together adding to the charm of Melbourne.
I remember Melbourne being so welcoming that even today if I had to choose a city to live in, besides my own, it would be Melbourne.
I remember picking up a DVD of my favorite film Almost Famous even though at the time I did not have a DVD player at home that would play that region.
I don't remember seeing a Kangaroo, simply because I never came across one. Yes! I went to Australia and did not see a Kangaroo.
I
remember checking if Lady Luck was with me at the Crown Casino, which she was
momentarily, and then using the winnings to have a nice dinner at Planet Hollywood.
I remember the tram rides which were always fun and great way to travel short distances when I felt oh-so-lazy.
I remember being amazed by the story behind Flinders Street Station and how it might have been switched with Mumbai's Victoria Terminal (Now Chatrapati Shivaji Terminal).
I
remember going souvenir shopping picking up some Aboriginal art, which still
hangs in my home office, and a boomerang which still, after more than a decade,
is displayed in my home-theater.
I
remember the streets, the cafes, the markets, and the obligatory river cruise.
I remember meeting my friend and watching films in one of the many cinemas, although I can't remember what film we watched...Brooke any clue? Hannibal ... yeah Hannibal it was I think?
I
remember taking the Great Ocean Road bus tour and experiencing Australia's
natural beauty first hand. I remember witnessing the 12 Apostles as they all
stood tall and brave while the waves came crashing into them.
I also remember managing to view a Koala in its natural habitat on the The Great Ocean Road bus tour, so all hope was not lost.
I remember my friend Michael taking me to a place (Photo below, but I can't remember the name of the place) where we had the "world's best fish and chips". Was is St. Kilda maybe?
I
remember visiting the Coop's Shot Tower in the middle of the Melbourne Business
District in between Melbourne Central Mall where once, in the 1880s, lead
shot was made by dropping down molten lead from a height so that it took the
right "drop" shape on its way down.
I remember stumbling upon the the Melbourne Comedy Festival and experiencing Ozzie humor first hand as I attended a couple of shows.
I
remember making the mistake of non taking the sleeper car on the train back
from Melbourne to Sydney. It's a comfortable journey, but sitting down for
close to 10 hours can be torture.
I remember the 3 days spent in Sydney being hectic as I tried to cram as much of the city as I could in those three days. I remember taking the Hop On Hop Off Red bus on day one to visit the sites this metropolitan city had to offer. The next day it was the Hop On Hop Off Blue bus to take me to a few of the beaches including the world famous Bondi beach.
I remember the journey back, same as the one I took to Sydney via Colombo and Mumbai, only this time I decided to stay overnight in Mumbai before I reached Delhi.
Now, more than a decade after my trip Down Under I wonder what has become of the places I visited. I wonder about everything that I missed out on for one reason or another. I remember not being able to go see the penguins at Phillip Island. I remember not going to Melbourne Cricket Ground which in this day and age, for someone from the cricket loving nation of India, can be considered blasphemy. I remember how three weeks spent in Melbourne just whizzed past really fast. I remember the variety of food available, and my food cravings often make me want to return to Melbourne. I remember how culturally active the city of Melbourne is and I feel like experiencing that aspect once again.
...as I sit and dream about my past travels I often find myself thinking... Raghav, it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW! ... once again.
This post is also being submitted as the IndiBlogger It’s Your Time to Visit Melbourne Now! competition.
