Melbourne... Its not a place, it is a dream...

Everyone enjoys spending time with their loved ones. So do I. Visiting a place once and then revisiting that place in memories, for million times, is something I enjoy the most. Well, not to forget; clicking the pictures at the place and posting the pictures on Facebook, aiming for the maximum likes is another thing I enjoy. Who doesn't?

Lately, I was been discussing with my spouse, regarding our trip to celebrate our second anniversary. He gave me two days to choose a good place and let him know, so that he could research a bit about the place before our visit. There began my search for a perfect place for our second honeymoon. After a bit of research on internet and talking to a friend, I came to a conclusion, that there is no better place then Melbourne to visit. 

That evening, when he got back home, I told him, that I have decided a place to celebrate our anniversary, and it is Melbourne. He laughed and said, " Melbourne is a most livable city in the world and not a place to go for a holiday". His statement made me disheartened. But, I had already made my mind and had started dreaming of my visit to Melbourne. To make my this dream come true, I had to convince my husband. 

Next morning, when he left for his office, I started making plans to convince him somehow. I wanted to do this in an unique way. So, I took my laptop and typed a mail which was like below.

Dear Hubby, 

I know you must be surprised to see my mail at this hour of the day. Having a blogger wife for 2 years, must have made you understood by now, that we bloggers are good at expressing our feelings by writing, rather then expressing it face to face. Yesterday, when you told me that Melbourne is good a place to live and not to visit, I was confused about my decision. Then I remembered my Blog friend Shruti, who had posted her pictures of her visit to Melbourne. I immediately pinged her and asked her about her experience in Melbourne. As expected I got positive response. Now before you start thinking what is so special about the place. let me give you a brief.

Melbourne's historic architecture and modern lifestyle has given this place a complete new meaning. Its famous roof top restaurants, where we can enjoy a romantic dinner and watching a movie underneath the sky is one of my wish. Well, you can fulfill your long lasting wish of having a lager beer in Australia as well. And if this is not enough we can also visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground of which you can boost to your friends.

Our next visit to Federation Square would be one of the most amazing experience of our lifetime. There, we can not only see the mind blowing modern architecture but also the amalgamation of museums, galleries and also events along with some of the best restaurants and cafes. I have also heard that the live performance at the amphitheatre is one of the best thing that one can ever experience. Do you still think we have to miss this chance?

Just imagine how would you feel driving along the ocean 243 Kms long. Yes, that is the Great Ocean Road. I don't think we can ever get this chance in life. A drive through the Great Ocean Road is the one thing which can be imagined only in dreams. While on this amazing drive, we can also explore so many beautiful places like Torquay, Appolo Bay, Otway National Park and not to forget Anglesea, where we can see kangaroos resting under the trees. Visiting Australia and not seeing kangaroos is not fair, Isn't it?

After enjoying so many things of your choice, I think it wouldn't be wrong to think about my pleasure a little bit lastly. Yeah! your guess is right. I am talking about shopping!!! Queen Victoria Market, which is considered one of the largest market in the world, is what I wish to visit. That pretty red dress which I was not able to find in any malls in India, will definitely be available here. After that lets visit Chapel Street and shop some more. I know shopping doesn't excite you as much as it does to me, but you can do the window shopping as well. 

You may also watch Tanmay and Rohan enjoying Hot Air Baloon here. 

In short, sports lover, fashion freak or a foodie, Melbourne has something for everyone in stores. I hope my mail will help you to decide better. See you in the evening.

Love,

I was still not sure if my mail would change his mind. Now I had no other option but only to wait. He returned back to home at his usual time. But, there was nothing new in his behavior. I guessed that he must have not read my mail. After having his tea he as usual switched on the TV. Disappointed I went back to my room and started reading a book, Few minutes later my eyes feel on an envelop addressed with my name. I opened it carefully and found.....

Two tickets to Melbourne... :)




This post is written for Indiblogger Tourism Victoria Contest. Click here to know more.

Well, readers. I hope you have enjoyed my post on Melbourne and its beautiful places. So, now its your turn to win something. Do answer a simple question given below and you could win a shopping voucher worth Rs.500/-.

"Which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why?

This contest is closed on 05-01-2015. 

No more entries will be accepted

And soo..... The results are out. And the winner is?????
DEEPAK BANDEKAR


Congratulations Deepak, for winning the shopping voucher worth Rs.500/-..

Bitter truth cures every pain...

Finally, the day had come. It was the most important day of my life. I was meeting him for the first time. The boundaries of long distance relationship were no more in between us. All I knew was, Aniket, my love of life, had flew down all the way from London, just to meet me. There are no words in the dictionary which could explain my feelings. One moment, I was excited and the other, I was nervous. Though we spoke everyday on Skype, meeting for the first time, face to face, of course was completely different. I was waiting in a Coffee shop for him. The butterflies in my stomach knew no limits that day. My old habit of not wearing a wrist watch, made me check my cell phone for the 150th time, to check the time. I silently cursed myself for reaching the place half an hour before the decided time. It was still 15 minutes to go, and every passing second, seemed like an hour to me. 

And then, finally that moment arrived, when my heart literally forgot how to beat. There he was, walking towards me, in his charming smile. He was in white T-shirt and the blue jeans. He smiled and greeted me with a formal Hello and took his seat. His body language could make anyone guess, that his condition was no less then that of mine. His manly cologne, took my breath away. All I could do was to look at him and smile sheepishly. I observed his facial features for the first time and felt how much boyish he looked. "Skype is such a liar", I thought.

He drew a small box from his bag and handed it over to me. Only silence was talking in between us. I opened it carefully. It was a wrist watch. A beautiful one. I looked at him and he smiled once again, driving me crazy. This was his first gift. And the first sign of our love. After having a coffee he dropped me to my home. Though very less words were exchanged in between us, our entire life was curled in those two hours, we spent in a Coffee shop. 

As soon as I reached home, I got a call from him. We talked for 3 hours continuously. I told him how much I liked the gift and he told me his feelings of meeting me for the first time. At one moment, we realized how comfortable we were talking on phone, then face to face. "Ah! these long distance relationships" we both uttered at once and began laughing. We both promised to spend more time  the next day. He asked me to wear the watch on our next date.

I woke up early morning and wore a best dress of mine. My new watch increased the elegance of my dress. I left my house quickly to the same coffee-shop. While waiting in the coffee shop, I took out my cell phone to check the time, out of an old habit. I patted my head, remembering that I can check the time on my new watch now; only to see my watch was missing. Sudden panic gripped me. Even before I could react, Aniket was sitting next to me. Looking at my panicked face he inquired what was wrong. I lied to him saying that my health was not good and I have to get back home. After all, I had to go back home, and search for my missing watch. He was worried now. I told him I have medicine at home which will make me feel better. He dropped me to the house quickly.

I searched for the watch everywhere at home. But, could not find it. After that day, every time I met Aniket, he questioned me if I did not like the watch, as I never wore it. Thinking that my truth would break his heart, I created a new lie every time, and told him how I forgot to wear it. My lie was hurting me more and more, with the every passing day.

Aniket met my parents as well. They liked him. It was his last day in India as his vacations were over.
He promised me to be back the very next month. I was feeling like dying inside due to the lie I was carrying on my shoulders. I finally made my mind to tell him the truth. And with all the courage I finally told him, that I have lost his first gift. To my surprise he smiled and said there was nothing to worry about it and it is absolutely fine.

Speaking out the truth was so simple. I was feeling liberated. I took out my bag to get my house keys. I was not finding it. I searched my bag once again. To my surprise, I found a hole in my bag. The inner cloth of my bag was torn a bit. Shockingly, there were my keys in that torn hole along with the wrist watch.

Aniket laughed at the top of his voice...

Please do watch the video.

This post is written for Kinley Indiblogger Contest.

Face The Fear...

Every individual has one or the other kind of fear. Many people may pretend that they are fearless. But, deep down their heart, they know the fear they are dealing with. Fear may be of any kind. It might be the fear of height, fear of water or even the fear of loosing someone close. Yes, just like everyone else, even I had a fear. The first thing that came in my mind when I saw this happy hour campaign on Indiblogger, by Mountain Dew team, was the fear that I had been dealt with, for such a long time. Where else could I share my personal experience better then this place?  

Well, since I was a child I was fascinated about driving. I had always dreamed to learn driving a vehicle. Being born and brought up in a small town where only few cars and bikes ran on the roads, my dream felt so normal. Only if I knew, that just a few years down the lane, I would be dumped in a city where the roads were packed with infinite number of vehicles, screaming and screeching around me. And that made me discover a new unknown fear in me. The 'ROAD FEAR'.

Road fear engulfed me completely. I was left in such a state, that my mind began to create all weird scenes, on how I could meet with an accident. Learning to drive was a distant matter, as now I was even scared to cross a road by myself. The days passed into months and months into years but my fear was constant, as I never let anyone help me to come out of it. I had finally made my mind, that now there is no way of driving a vehicle someday on my own.

One day, there was a party at my home. Many people had come. While having a casual talk with the guests, the topic of driving was raised. To my surprise every lady around me were good at driving and I found only me who was being so coward. As if this sinking feeling was not enough, everyone started making fun of me when they got to know that I don't drive. This was insulting. Even after the party got over, the incident kept me awake whole night, thinking what was wrong with me? Once a strong independent girl is now made fun of her fear. I could not take this anymore. And finally, I made my mind to overcome my fear and learn driving, starting from the very next day.

My husband gave me some basic training on driving. Every time I got scared, I reminded myself that all this fear is just the game my mind is playing. The only way to overcome the fear is to face it and kill it forever. After few days of initial driving training by my husband, I joined driving classes, which not only helped me learn drive a vehicle, but also made me more confident on roads. I also learnt various rules and regulations to be followed while on road. This was a complete new experience for me. And most importantly I was feeling liberated.

"FIGHT YOUR FEARS AND YOU WILL BE IN BATTLE FOREVER,
FACE YOUR FEAR AND YOU WILL BE FREE FOREVER"    
                                                                                             - LUKAS JONKMAN