The 'Magical Melbourne'

So it is already decided that you are going to visit Melbourne during your vacations this year. The tickets are booked and necessities like hotel stay and logistics are already planned. What remains still is how you get to know more about the city even before visiting it?  What are the tourist attractions to be seen?? What is the best tradeoff between time taken to visit a place, money spend on doing so and the final pleasure out of it??Most importantly what will make your trip memorable??

So the purpose of my writing this article is to make you fall in love with this magnificent city ‘Melbourne’ and once you are awe inspired, the magic of the city will be lots stronger on your senses. Feel the pulse of the city through my post and you will thank me for a being an enthusiastic blog ambassador of the city. By the way I have been to Australia 2 times and seen mostly Queensland and the marvel of the nature ‘The Great Barrier Reef’.  My memory of the country is a beautiful place with splendid scenic beauty, serenity, low population density, warm people and their obsession with the debate ‘Sir Don Bradman versus Sachin Tendulkar’.

According to the The Liveabililty Ranking and Overview August 2012 *** Melbourne, second year in a row remains the most liveable location of the 140 cities surveyed. The Liveability Ranking and Overview assesses living conditions in 140 cities around the world. A rating of relative comfort for 30 indicators is assigned across five broad categories: stability; healthcare; culture and environment; education; and infrastructure. The survey gives an overall rating of 0-100, where 1 is intolerable and 100 is ideal.

*** This ranking is done by the Economist Intelligence Unit and this is an independent business within ‘The Economist Group.’

So what makes this place to special and so adorable!!

Top 10 things international overnight visitors to Melbourne do on their trip

(Source: Tourism Research Australia – International Visitor Survey, year ending March 2012)

1.    Eat out (83%) 

2.    Shopping for pleasure (78%) 

3.    Sightseeing/looking around (73%) 

4.    Go to the beach (63%) 

5.    Go to markets (55%) 

6.    Visit national parks/state parks (51%) 

7.    Visit botanical or other public gardens (48%) 

8.    Visit museums or art galleries (43%) 

9.    Visit historical buildings/sites (41%) 

10.  Pubs/clubs/discos (40%)

So here is my list of To- Go Places in Melbourne based on the ‘Top 5 interests’ of the international travelers:

Eating Out (83%)

Bottega Restaurant

For delightful Italian cuisine, visit Bottega -Melbourne’s one of the finest restaurants.

Taxi Dining Room

For contemporary Australian and Japanese cuisine this is the place to go.

Cafe Italia Restaurant

For fine cuisine, quality beverages visit this 25 year old sophisticated eating joint.

Stokehouse Restaurant

Stokehouse can provide you with memorable dining experiences with impeccable food, and wine.

Shopping for pleasure (78%) 

For fashion  shopping look for Obüs, Scanlan and Theodore and for couture Melbourne's renowned couturiers Yeojin Bae, J'Aton and Gwendolynne are the names to keep in mind .

Sightseeing/looking around (73%) 

Federation Square

Federation Square is Melbourne’s meeting place and a unique cultural precinct. It hosts more than 2,000 events, activities and functions every year. Many of them are free.

Yarra  River Waterfront

The waterfront is full of life. Along its banks you will find the Arts Centre, Melbourne’s main arts, music and theatre precinct, Southgate Leisure Complex, Federation Square, Birrarung Marr park, Crown Entertainment Complex and harbourside Docklands.

  

Go to the beach (63%) 

St Kilda Beach 

One of the most popular of the Port Phillip Bay beaches, St Kilda is a wide, sandy beach that is suitable for swimming and a host of other activities. 

Brighton Beach

Set against the spectacular Melbourne city skyline, there is windsurfing, yachting and boating and a walking and cycling path.

Go to markets (55%)

Queen Victoria Market

The market is 125 years old and one of the liveliest spots in the city. There are more than 1000 stalls including the

dairy hall with 38 delicatessens, fish and meat market, fruit and vegetables and organic market.

Collins Street

Leafy Collins Street is famous for its grand historic buildings. It’s also the home of Melbourne’s most expensive

jewellery and fashion boutiques. Collins Street is Melbourne’s home to international designer boutiques and

jewellery such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Tiffany.

 ' It's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!!’

Check this out www.visitmelbourne.com/in.

**** Please note - The information and pictures in this post are taken from multiple websites on Melbourne. Since i have never personally visited the city, the information and my knowledge comes from secondary sources.

Married in Love

    This post is for the contest on Indiblogger " Love marriage ya arranged marriage"
    Also check out this link www.facebook.com/LoveYaArrange.

Asked my mother ,marry will you ?? 
To your single status when will you bid adieu??
Waiting for this day years flew,
Still what will you do , i have no clue.

I wish i had answers to give to,
New excuses my mind knew.
Love or arranged to rue,
Still debating between the two.

An arrangement will he come through,
Or barge in with roses fresh in dew.
Marriage for me is a world so new,
How do i choose my beau?

I sat down to figure how to,
Find my love worthy and true.
Or leave for my parents purview,
To make a breakthrough.

One day at a party venue,
He wore a  hat and a red shoe.
Brown hair with a tatoo,
Dressed in black and blue.

My eyes did a full review,
Came straight from the zoo.
Not sure why i felt the need to,
May be ogling him for a boo.

He came near me with a yahoo,
And asked me if he could woo.
I was stunned like a statue,
Silence between us as in curfew.

I ran away like a cuckoo,
Let's not make it an issue.
Risk i take are very few,
There are many in the queue.

Months later, reasons accrue
He comes home in a new hairdo.
With family closely stitched unto,
I can't fix both the images with a glue.

Suave with an intelligent view,
Interesting with an exceptional IQ.
Confused on my first proposal debut,
My calculations i must redo.

Over the next few months, he made it clear that i was the only one for him !!

Was it love to pursue,
Or call it arranged in lieu.
Answers only my heart knew,
Fondness for him grew.

Nothing was left to argue,
I made a decision on virtue.
If this be my misdo,
Let the lord come to my rescue.

Now after years when i construe,
A good life to me was due.
Call it arranged or love as you choose to,
Happy and blessed are we two !!

Ganesha - The Auspicious Deity

Picture taken by 'Deep Tea'

Boston Wedding by Surf Excel

Priya's flight to US was 2 days away and she had to be doubly prepared for this new sojourn of her life. Her mother was drawing long faces since the news of her job offer in US came by. On one side was a growing and vibrant India that she could be a part of or go ahead and live her American dream. All was hazy for a girl of 25 years, but one thing she badly wanted was to have a run by mill romance and finally wed in a church.
Not even she knew since when this iconoclast dream got seeded in her mind but all she wanted was this. People go to America for so many reasons but she only wanted a full fledged affair in the land of Obama and even get hooked up. There was no wrong intent on her part nor any wish to bring disrepute to her parents, but a crazy dream she lived with, all her adolescent life !!

Boston was the city she had chosen to work, for a multinational financial services company. It was Friday morning she landed and instantly dialed a local number. In her mind Priya had played her US trip and the stay several times.

'Can i speak to Sameer Aryan  ?' . 'Who is it ? ' inquired the operator. ' I am Shalini ,an old friend of Samir, was in Boston so thought of picking him up for the evening'. A confident lie.

'Well Sameer is on leave today, would you like to speak to his team mate Claudia and drop in a message?'

No its fine !! And Priya abruptly disconnected.

She checked in County Inn and had some information to dig and local calls to make. Things like Claudia and Sameer's residential address, local indian community group and references. After couple of hours she found a breakthrough in her search and that was an opening for sharing a room with an indian girl in the same apartment block as that of Claudia .Next few weeks passed off settling in the new place, new job and making new set of friends of which Claudia was the 'most important one'. Priya did everything to win her trust and get in her good books. Every evening they would meet  and discuss about their personal and professional life.  Claudia could never understand why Priya always seemed so interested knowing about Sameer .

It was a long weekend during the Memorial Day celebrations and Sameer along with his friends had planned a trip to multiple places that included Niagra Falls, Detroit Auto Show , Statue of Liberty and so on. While Sameer was immersed in enjoying the beauty of Niagra Falls some one passed by him very closely. All he could see was her side face and the sweet smell of her perfume. He was tantalized for a moment, went back in time but shrugged off the idea that it could be her. The same thing happened at Detroit, in Chicago and finally while he was standing opposite the Statue of Liberty he saw her coming in a hooded T Shirt with goggles on.

'Excuse Me !! If i am not wrong are you not Priya from South Ex, Delhi ?'. If his guess was right she was Kartik's younger sister whom he knew 7 years back. Kartik and Sameer were college mates and Priya was Kartik's younger sister in 12th grade. Many a time he went to Kartik's place  for studies and there is when he had seen her. Since then he was enamored by her but could never express.

'Yes !! I am !!.' ' Is it you Sameerrr Aryan ?' Priya behaved as a complete stranger, well controlled demeanor.

'Ya !! Hope you remember i use to come to your home for studying with Kartik'.

They both exchanged pleasantries , shared life in the last few years and instantly hit off . Priya's objective of the trip was met. She took no time in letting him know that she too was staying in Boston !!

Sameer could never believe that his first crush would meet him in a land so far. Priya never let him know that it was for him she had crossed seven seas. Their meetings increased with each passing day and no sooner they both realized that they were meant for each other. Love blossomed and within few months both were sure that  badly wanted to get married . They both communicated to their families, the decision to marry and over a period of time both the households agreed.

The marriage was fixed next week and both Sameer and Priya planned their vacations and trip to India. It was their 2nd last day before they flew back; Priya called him.

'Sameer , I need to take you to a very important place tomorrow morning. Why don't you come and pick me at 9 30 AM, and then we both leave together.'

 'Sure i will !! but where are we going??' asked Sameer.

'You will get to know that later, just be in the best of your appearances she naughtily said and disconnected'.

The last day

Sameer arrived, only to hear a serious fight going on between Claudia and Priya. Priya was calling her names and crying out simultaneously. On the table was a white wedding gown with ink stains and a black Tuxedo. Supposedly Claudia had spoiled the entire dress on learning that Priya had planned a church wedding with Sameer. All Claudia knew was she loved Sameer the most and was hell bent on marrying him inspite of him ignoring her and refusing  finally. Her jealousy cost Priya her Church wedding and broke her dream. Priya was inconsolable and heart broken. Sameer hugged her tightly , help her pack and after few hours they both left for the airport.

Back in India ,the marriage took place with lots of enthusiasm, happiness and festivities but somewhere Priya was sad.

On their wedding night Sameer gave Priya something packed in a glittering wrapper . She opened it excitingly, to only find her wedding gown all sparkling and white, as she had bought.

'What is this Sameer ? and why now ??'

' Sweetheart!! When i reached India the first thing i discussed with our parents is getting wedded twice. They all were shocked and then i explained them your desire for a Church wedding. I convinced them and they all agreed'.

Courtesy : Google Images

' But how come you managed to clean the gown as good as new'??

' There is a story behind it Priya !!'. When your fight with Claudia ended ,i left to pack my bags and took your wedding gown with me. I rummaged through all Superstores and luckily found New Surf Excel Matic in one of the Indian stores. The new Surf Excel Matic has the power of “Vibrating Molecules” to penetrate deeply embedded stains & remove them effectively,  so no soaking before washing with the new Surf Excel Matic!! Since the stains were fresh i immediately washed your dress with Surf Excel Matic and amazingly the new product worked quite well.'.

Priya's eyes were filled with tears and she didn't find words to express her happiness.

The next morning Sameer and Priya, in presence of their entire families wedded again in a Church.

Thanks Surf Excel !! Said Sameer in his mind , smiled and kissed his bride !!


This post is for the Indiblogger contest " Soak No More" powered by Surf Excel.

Singapore Trip

Picture taken by Deep Tea

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"I carry the weight of the wood,
The fire in them will douse the fire inside !!"

Mountain Trekking

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Good over Evil

Picture taken by 'Deep Tea'

The evil that today stands very tall,
Will one day have a big fall !!

- Deep Tea

The Woman and Water

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Blog Debut

I have been procrastinating the idea of starting my own blog for some time now. Today i gave it a good thought and decided in favour of penning my ideas as they come and go. Probably the readers will see posts in the fields of fashion, cooking , parenting , marriage , relationships ,  interests  and hobbies.

Keep glued to Dee's corner for my first scintillating post  :):)

- Dee