What had to start as a blog ended up becoming an Instagram mania - frankly it is more real time than a blog - during my recent trip on work *batting her eyelashes* to Australia, mate!
Friends, Families and Countrymen were jealous, outraged, tried to take down my post *sharing a screen grab of the request in this blog* and some also threatened to "unfriend me" looking at the sheer volley of photos *since I got WiFi quite frankly only twice or maybe thrice a day or sometimes walking on the street* that were being uploaded on my Instagram and Facebook feed... as I was "on work" during the ICC Cricket Tournament 2015, Australia and New Zealand *B-)*
The timing was just PERFECT!
I spent around a month - give or take 4 days due to travel - and I was amazed at pride, arrogance, love, the countrymen have for their nation. And this emotion manifested into highest form of Civic Sense, Order, Balance of Life, Pollution Free, Discipline *read: no overtaking, no road rage, no accidents* and everything was in its place *read: OCD*.
Poverty existed but even that was in order and had its own place in the scheme of things.
There was Freedom of Expression in its truest forms... Street Art, Music and Dance, Plays, Culinary Arts, Sport, Heritage and ofcourse our favourite - Religion.
Unfortunately they do not have a very colourful and glorious history but every memoir has been beautifully carved in stone!
This trip was also a rather interesting one... I got to know a little more about each of my team mates, found a fellow Instagram-lover, was asked out on a date by a stranger, met a "chaddi-buddy" after god-alone-knows-how-many years that too TWICE, watched India trash Pakistan and then South Africa LIVE and saw Australia being crowned as WORLD CHAMPIONS... what more can a sports enthusiast ask for!
This blog is an attempt to re-live those memories...
Melbourne Blog Post coming soon. Keep watching this space for more! :)
Friends, Families and Countrymen were jealous, outraged, tried to take down my post *sharing a screen grab of the request in this blog* and some also threatened to "unfriend me" looking at the sheer volley of photos *since I got WiFi quite frankly only twice or maybe thrice a day or sometimes walking on the street* that were being uploaded on my Instagram and Facebook feed... as I was "on work" during the ICC Cricket Tournament 2015, Australia and New Zealand *B-)*
The timing was just PERFECT!
I spent around a month - give or take 4 days due to travel - and I was amazed at pride, arrogance, love, the countrymen have for their nation. And this emotion manifested into highest form of Civic Sense, Order, Balance of Life, Pollution Free, Discipline *read: no overtaking, no road rage, no accidents* and everything was in its place *read: OCD*.
Poverty existed but even that was in order and had its own place in the scheme of things.
There was Freedom of Expression in its truest forms... Street Art, Music and Dance, Plays, Culinary Arts, Sport, Heritage and ofcourse our favourite - Religion.
Unfortunately they do not have a very colourful and glorious history but every memoir has been beautifully carved in stone!
This trip was also a rather interesting one... I got to know a little more about each of my team mates, found a fellow Instagram-lover, was asked out on a date by a stranger, met a "chaddi-buddy" after god-alone-knows-how-many years that too TWICE, watched India trash Pakistan and then South Africa LIVE and saw Australia being crowned as WORLD CHAMPIONS... what more can a sports enthusiast ask for!
This blog is an attempt to re-live those memories...
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| Day 1: 10.02.2015 (Mumbai International Airport) A Perfect Read! And the journey began... However, I spent most of the time staring outside the plane window like an 8-year old kid or watch back to back movies on the In-Flight Entertainment system or tucking myself into the blanket that was offered! ;) |
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Day 2: 11.02.2015 (Up in the skies)
Crossing Time-ZonesSaw this magnificent glow when I was peeping outside the window couple of hours before landing |
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Day 2: 11.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Coffee-landMy first cup of Cappuccino... My only scope of survival in absence of Chai! |
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Day 2: 11.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Kryptonite for Jet-LagsMy craving for this ice cream was finally fulfilled and day 2 ended beautifully! And it helped me survive through the horrible jet lag!! |
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Day 3: 12.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Accreditation. Check. The day I entered Adelaide Oval. That emotion is inexplicable when I stood opposite the Sir Donald Bradman stand. The pitch was being set for the big clash - India v/s Pakistan on 15th February 2015 |
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Day 3: 12.02.2015 (Adelaide)
The OvalView from the allocated seats to watch the match!! The picture says it all... |
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Day 3: 12.02.2015 (Adelaide)
The City of Churches
So was struggling with Google maps on low internet plan while making my way back to the hotel from the stadium, I ended up walking on the other side and landed at the steps of this beautiful structure - The St. Peters Cathedral. |
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Day 3: 12.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Guardians of China TownIt was an interesting walk down this area and found many many Chinese restaurants and other shops. It had an interesting look and feel with reds and yellows and with artefacts such as these. Struggled to find good Vegetarian food here! *Sigh!* |
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Day 3: 12.02.2015 (Adelaide)
When in China Town, eat like the Chinese
Or not... I struggled to eat the food that came with forks and knives, chopsticks would have been an impossible task. We swore to not return to this restaurant - Menu in Mandarin, spicy and weird looking food, expensive - Salted beans with noodles is all I had and the day ended with this not-so-memorable dinner! |
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
Team Day Out
So we had just one day before the hectic work life would start so the team took a drive down to the beautiful Barossa Valley - the land of wines in South Australia. Too many photo moments enroute to the valley - Picture Perfect. The road was spectacular and the discipline on the road was mind-boggling.
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
Click. Click. Click.
Like I said, every element - buildings, cars, trucks, fields, etc. on the road on route to the valley had a character to it. Saw the Priority to the Right rule of traffic at this junction! Man they follow their rules!! |
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
Yummy in my Tummy
Chocolate Milkshake in a Jar - Too much yumminess!! The name of the restaurant was quite funny - Monkey Nut Cafe. There was a souvenir and a wine shop attached to this cafe. Interestingly the most common item in the souvenir shop was tea cups! They were too fragile, else would have bought some and carried them to India.
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
Wine Casket with a Tap - Storage and more
Yup! We knew we were at the right place when we saw this casket... Our winery-hopping journey had just began!
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
The Fruit Winemaker
Our first stop was at a local fruit winery. The old winemaker had lovely fruit wines and jams! He had won many trophies for this wine brewing technique and flavours and was proud of the heritage! He was an excellent painter too.
This photo was clicked on his farm. |
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
The Road to Everywhere
People who know well know that I do not have any preferences in Wine. But here my eyes were opened and I fell in love with Jacob's Creek. The ambience of this wine centre was amazing. More pictures to follow.
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
To Infinity... and Beyond!
In this trip, the photographer in me reached newer levels! Of all the clicks taken during this trip this is my all time favourite. The camera could have been straightened but the tilt just gave it a little more character - No, I was not drunk :P!
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Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
Where do we come from where do we go...
Many such historic barrels stored age old wines in this centre. |
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| Day 4: 13.02.2015 (Barossa Valley)
In love with Pinot Noir
The joy on my face holding the bottle says it all. Jacob's Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir Wine - Yummm! |
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| Day 5: 14.02.2015 (Adelaide)
And the sun refuses to set!
It was a rather hectic day hence not many photos clicked on this day. How was the day you ask? This was clicked at 7 PM when I was walking from the guest hotel to my hotel - the time on the Bell Tower shows!! And the icing on the cake was the unbearable temperature - 42 Degrees Celsius! So you get the drift!! Super worried if the match day - which was the next day - would be this crazy! |
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| Day 6: 15.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Match Day - India v/s Pakistan
When I heard the bellowing of 'Jana-Gana-Mana' - the national anthem of India - by the fans in the stadium shudders went through my spine! Looking at the crowd react to a four, a six and a wicket, I felt like I was teleported back to India! And the chants - Jeetega bhai jeetega, India Jeetega felt unreal. The joy on our faces says it all! |
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| Day 6: 15.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Mad fan!
So the fan in me went crazy when I saw Virat Kohli at the boundary ropes. The whole stand next to me went crazy chanting his name and he turned back to give a smile *swoon*
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Day 6: 15.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Legen-(wait for it)-darrrry...
The best part of the day was up close and personal with THE GLENN McGRATH - Happy posers!!
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Day 6: 15.02.2015 (Adelaide)
Evening Skies
Rain and Wind Gods were kind to us! The skies opened the doors and it drizzled a little. A perfect setting to the perfect match!
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Day 6: 15.02.2015 (Adelaide)
India wins!
Yet another star struck moment when bowling star R. Ashwin comes to the boundary ropes! The stands go absolutely mental shouting out his name and he responds by waving a shy-'Hi' to the crowd!
The spectacular day comes to an end when India wins against Pakistan and the whole stadium goes into a celebration mode. It was time to pack our bags and set foot into the next city... Sydney! |
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Day 7: 16.02.2015 (Sydney)
Architectural Masterpiece
What's the first thing that comes to your mind when I say, Sydney?
The Sydney Opera House Such a beauty! Even Facebook uses this as a icon when I checked in 'travelling to Sydney'. This picture is taken while sailing on the Showboat Cruise. The evening was a perfect break from the hectic Adelaide schedule. And breeze, the nip in the air, and this beauty in front you... What more can I ask for? |
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Day 7: 16.02.2015 (Sydney)
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
It is such a fantastic structure! We even got to drive along the entire stretch of the bridge on the last day.
Serene, Calm, Beautiful. |
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Day 7: 16.02.2015 (Sydney)
The Sydney Showboat Cruise
The setting sun. Boat sailing on a silent river. Going under the magnanimous bridge. Ah! Perfect!
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Day 8: 17.02.2015 (Sydney)
Event Day
This was the morning view from the Event Venue - Cafe Sydney. Such a good picture to set up your easel and paint. The clouds. The bridge. The boat. The river. Such a picture perfect moment!
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Day 8: 17.02.2015 (Sydney)
Family Time
Since I got off early, I travelled by the train all the way to Glenfield to meet my cousin and his family. Had an amazing time with them. Finally I got TEA and a perfect South Indian meal.
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Day 8: 17.02.2015 (Sydney)
Family Time
It was such an amazing time especially with the kids! Had seen them when they were one and two years old. Now, they were all chatty and running around the house. Showing me their collectibles. I met the family after ages, but the time and distance just didn't matter. It was time to say goodbyes, return to the hotel, pack for the next day's travel.
It was a perfect close to the Sydney chapter. It was time to hop to the next city - Melbourne. |
Melbourne Blog Post coming soon. Keep watching this space for more! :)
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