Phillip Island / Penguin Parade - Part 2

From there we proceeded towards phillip island. The island and the main land is connected by a bridge. IAN told us that originally there was a suspension bridge then later they replaced it with concrete one. It would have been good if there was a hanging bridge. The length is almost a kilometer. There were ferries on one side and the other side was just water and water. Inside Melbourne we have been to two beaches. Williamstown and St.Kilda. In both there were no waves and the water so still that it was looking like a lake. Beach means it has to have waves. IAN told us that he will be taking to a place called Cape Woolamai. He warned us not to go deep into the sea as the currents are strong and it might pull the person in. I was commenting to priya that nothing will happen if this is similar to the other beaches we have already been. I was
wrong. This beach satisfied my desire to watch a sea with huge waves. It was so good. So windy and chilly. Priya wanted to venture into the sea just to have the feel of it. I didnt took the chance as the legs will become salty and we dont have much time. And my weakness is once I am into a sea it will take long time to satisfy myself and get out of it. It is so lovely. Priya ventured and later told me that the water was ice cold. Her question was that the weather was a so chill and the water is also so chill why it didnt freeze. I couldnt answer. Any body has an answer.

Then we went to another beach called "Cowes". This is like our Besant Nagar Beach in Chennai. Where there are lots of shops near the beach. We were roaming in the sea and walked on a bridge which was built on the sea. There was a platform to which you climb down from the bridge and watch the ocean much closer. I dared to get down and wanted to touch the water. Exactly at that moment a seal popped his head out to sea which new animal is putting its hand inside. Because of Priya's request pulled my hand out and we came back to the beach. The wind was so chill that even after covering us with jerkin and cap we could feel the chill. We noticed that it was time to move to the next place and reluctantly we came to the bus. On the way we packed up a vegetarian burger(it was of good size, probably the size of my palm) and some potato wedges. People who
has any doubts, we cant get idlies, bajjis or bondas in Australia that easily. The next stop was in Nobbies. We used to buy a salted peanut packet from the super market which was from the brand name "Nobbys". I was under the impression that we are going to see this particular plant and a question was poping in my mind from the time i came to know that we are visiting this place is that what speciality is there to include it in a day tour. Alas! I was wrong. We went to a hill place where again the wind was heavy. It was so heavy that even the birds cant fly properly and even we felt that we will be thrown off. There was a foot bridge from the hill to the beach. Still I didnt understand what is nobbys?

Then IAN explained. Nobbies Center is a place from where we can watch seals, sharks and dolphins. There are cameras placed in the viewing area which you can use to watch these marine animals. Using the foot bridge you can walk down to the beach. But due to weather we didnt go down. There were two rocky islands just closer to the hill. IAN explained that the two rocky islands are called as Nobbies Nuts. One was similar to a peanut and the other to a doughnut. The tour operator provided a coffee or a tea free of cost there. After having it we moved to our final destination, Penguin Parade. We went through a rough hill road. We started wondering whether this is the right route. Then IAN announced over the mike that this route he is taking just to show us the sea and the kangaroos in the wild. And we were fortunate to see couple of kangaroos and a beautifull amazing scenaries of the sea which is around the island. The waves were rough and it was awesome. Then we went to the penguin parade. The name parade is because
of the nature of the penguins to form a line after they reach the shore to go to their burrows. The penguins live and move around in a group and all the penguins wait till the entire group comes out. We were seated on a stadium type of structure to watch the penguins. The height allowed us to watch the game a group of penguin was playing. There were around six of them which came to the shore. They will walk to the shore look up at the audience for few seconds and then went running into the ocean. It was similar to a baby walking his first step. The penguins were very small, the maximum is only 77cms as per a display board there. They continued this game till the entire group came to the shore. Since the penguins eat fishes fishing is banned around this area and the penguins go out to the ocean in the morning and come back home only after
the sunset.

IAN jokingly said that the penguins will be watching the sky whether it is dark to go back to their burrows. And then it happened. Almost twenty penguins came to the shore as a group and they formed a line one after the other and all of them went to their burrows. The stadium where we were sitting was connected to the visitor center or the entrance to the penguin parade via wooden foot path. It was a good thinking. Since the penguins are scared of bright light and a sudden flash might affect their vision, photographs and videos are banned. Even the lighting they have made around the area was dim. We had a good view of the penguins from the wooden foot path and were fortunate to see a group of penguins going to their burrows pretty close. Since rangers were there i didnt dare to touch any of them even though i liked to do it. The way the walk and run are still before my eyes. It was an awesome experience. People should never fail to visit this island incase they are travelling to Australia. We got a cap and fridge magnet as souvenir and came back to the bus with a heavy heart which was begging to stay there. On the way to bus we saw boards saying that look under your vehicle before you start as the penguins might be there. We all then bade good bye to the wonderfull Phillip Island and came back to Melbourne.

I still remember my childhood days when my father was posted in Tirunelveli and we used to visit kutralam every year whenever there is a relative visiting our house. I will be glad to take my friends and relatives visiting me, from India, to this wonderfull island. I wont forget this trip for a loooooooong time. The below is the link which has the photographs we clicked. There are few penguin photos which I downloaded from the net.

Photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/guruprgl/PhillipIsland?authkey=LKpDO7zzdQk#

Phillip Island / Penguin Parade - Part 1

There are two major day tours available in Meblourne. Day Tours are operated to those places which can be covered in a single day. One of them is Great Ocean Road and the other is Penguin Parade/Phillip Island. When I heard the name "Penguin Parade", I was thinking about my school days where during the sports day there will be a parade. And a funny thought crossed my mind, what if the penguins walk just like "Right","Left","Right". Ok, let me come to the tour.

We booked the tour in True Blue Tours, on thursday (06th Nov 2008). A tour operator who operates both the tours at a cheap rate. As my project manager is a person who always looks for the cheapest, we went ahead and booked the tour. The operator offered lots of places to view in the package and we were quite pleased with the rate. We have requested for pick ups in two places. Near one of the hotel, which is close by to our house. Our project manager and his family will board the bus from another hotel which is nearer to his house. The operator has taken his credit card number as a security. So if we fail to go to the tour or if we cancel after the tour departs the entire amount will be deducted from his credit card. So I dont want to take any risk. We both mentally got prepared and bought some snacks as we never knew where we can eat
something or whether we will get something to eat on the way.

On Saturday 08th Nov 2008, our pick up time was at 12:25. And the hotel was four stops away from the stop next to our home, in tram. We both got ready and went to the tram stop at 12pm. Just to confirm the place of boarding and the time called up the tour operator and enquired, then understood that we need to be present in front of the other hotel which is just across the road instead of the one before which we were standing. Then went to the correct hotel and we were waiting for the bus. The bus came at exactly 12:20 and since we were waiting in the footpath, as we were not staying in the hotel, he has to come out to pick us up. The guy who picked us up introduced himself as James. He is a nice guy and was speaking freely with us. He told us that he has to pick up two more people before proceeding and we were under the impression that we are
going to travel in the same bus. We went to the other two hotels and picked up a couple, who were from UK for a vacation, and a lady, who was also from UK on vacation. We were the odd man out as we have booked with one tour operator and they have tied up with this tour operator. Probably because our operator didnt have much bookings.


We then reached CBD and James told us that we need to get into another bus. We were waiting in front of the Rendezvous hotel. Atanu and his family were also waiting there. And within five minutes the other bus came and we hopped inside and the five of us(Me and my wife, Atanu, his wife and his kid) took the last few seats at the back. There were two gentlemen who were already sitting in the last seat. So we took the last but one and the one in front of it. It was a 2X1 seater and the bus was of the size of the Swaraj Mazda. It was a comfortable one. The new driver cum guide introduced himself as IAN. He gave a small welcome speech as to where all we will be going. Then he gave us all a mint. It was not like the regular mentos or something which is of soft in nature. It was rock hard and was slowly melting in our mouth. He started off the vehicle and
took us out of the city. He took us in a route which we have never seen before(as if we are roaming melbourne everyday). The road was too good and the speed should be around 80-100. The way the motorists drive here is also a good lesson to all those who drive in India. They follow a single lane policy as there are exits in the left and the right is for those vehicles which can be driven at a greater speed and there was no horn. The entire trip we didnt hear any horns.

After an hour of travel, may be less than that also, we reached our first stop Tooradin Village. This is a small village. It had a lake and some highway eateries. As we have had our lunch before leaving we didnt want to eat much so just had a coffee. There was a lake near the eatery and we were taking photos. There was a bridge across the lake and we were all taking photos there. It was a nice experience. Then we came to the bus paid the tour fare, till now they were having the credit card number as a security. We paid as cash as the credit card transactions incur a additional charge. In India now a days there are no additional charges for credit card usage but here for everything there is a additional charge. Then from tooradin we left to a nearby winery. This is mainly for those who want to sample and taste the wines made in the winery and incase you like it you can buy them. The winery had a nice garden. Those who dont drink, went to the garden and took photos while people were tasting the wine. We were there for 30 minutes. As the winery was on a small hill, the view from there was too good. The ocean was visible and the garden was full of roses. It was a pleasant surprise for us all when we saw a lavendar Rose.

From the winery we all left to the Maru Koala Park. Koalas are Australia's Tourist Icon. And the government of victoria has prohibited from patting a koala. So you are allowed to just stand near it and take photos, nothing more. For more information on a koala refer - http://www.australianfauna.com/koala.php and http://www.thekoala.com/koala/. The latter link has much details than the former one. In the park they took us a photo with the koala and we get it printed for a price of 15$. After seeing the preview we decided against getting a
printout. Then we went to the fauna park in the same Maru. First we met a goat which was very big and had its head alone outside its fence threatening to jump out anytime. Then we saw the Emus. Pretty similar to its cousin Osterich and the way the popped out and in to their fence was funny to see. Maru park allows the visitors to feed the animals. You need to pay $1 for one bowl of food. I did pay and got a bowl. But I was not ready to feed the Emu as the way they pecked the food from IAN's hand scared me :). Then we went to see the cute little wallabies. These are chotu or small kangaroos. Since they were kind and nice enough I decided to feed these cuties. It was a lovely experience. They didnt bite me but were licking my hand to eat the straws and the pieces of grass with corn pieces i had in my hand. After feeding them for may be 15
minutes we went meet the real kangaroos. My goodness was the statement came out of me after seeing them. They were so cute and the way these guys stood on the back legs was amazing. We saw a white kangaroo which is a rare one. One of these guys came hoping towards us. We got scared as the speed of it was so much, even if we run at our high speed, it will catch us within seconds. But it came near us and started looking at our hands and faces.

I felt really sorry for giving away my food tub to IAN as he was so much interested in feeding the kangaroos and I too wanted my hands free to take shots of them. I felt like that kangaroo is asking us you guys are earning in dollars cant you provide us food. What to do? But overall it was a good experience. As per the instruction of the park keeper we washed our hands properly and had another coffee in the visitor center. Oh yeah I forgot to tell you about another animal we saw there. The Wombat. She was two years old. And even the park keeper admitted that she is a bit show off. When we were all crowded around her fence she did cat walk and shaked her body as if dancing. The came close to the fence on her own to get a pat on her back. Her skin was like touching bits and pieces of wires. But the way she moved proved that she is showing off.
Then we also saw a fresh water crocodile. The sign outside its fence is worth mentioning. It has mentioned "You will get bored seeing me lying down without any moment, but come and get into my fence you can understand how fast I am and how wild I am". Do we need to venture. No we came out of the park. It was drizzling but still the weather was too good.

U R Lucky

This is a statement made by my australian colleague. One day Priya gave me Chapathi and aloo curry for lunch. I got it heated up by putting it in the microwave before lunch. The smell was good. I never knew another person was there in the cafeteria. When came back to my table with the dabbas she commented,

Colleague:"U R Lucky".
Me : Thanks
Coll : It smells good. Was this prepared by your wife.
Me : Yeah.
Coll : Then surely you are lucky. My husband will be jealous of you. I cook OK but not this delicious smelling kind. You are lucky. Enjoy.
Me : Thanks.

Thanks Priya.

St. Kilda Beach

After visiting Williamstown before Priya came decided to visit St. Kilda Beach. My friend was saying good things about this place and I thought since this is near to our house, lets go there. Again its a quite beach. No waves nothing. But atleast people were there. There were few people who have come to take sun bath. The travel to the beach was one of the worst I have faced all through this 3 months. There were three school kids shouting all sorts of foul language and disturbing. Nobody bothered to speak to them or even control them. All three are on their own. And they were creating all sorts of disturbance to the people.

They didnt even respect an australian old lady who told them that it is not necessary for the people in the tram to adjust to their behaviour. But still the kids were shouting. We got down near one of the stops which is closer to St. Kilda beach. Like our MGM and kishkintha there is a fun world named as "Luna Park" in St. Kilda. Since both of us thought we have outgrown all those rides we didnt venture there. Instead went directly to the beach. Assuming that St. Kilda will be similar to Willamstown, I never thought we can touch the ocean or even walk along the coast. But it was quite pleasant. Except for the waves it is similar to our beaches in chennai. No, no dont compare with Marina which is much bigger than this. But these guys are good in marketing. They have water rides here. Like you water scooter and other things. We are planning to venture into those next time.

Priya wanted to get into the water. Since I was wearing the sports shoe I was not interested. And was not comfortable leaving the bag and the shoe on the shore and get into the water. So, after a few debating session within myself. I decided to carry the bag on my shoulder and the shoes in one of my hand and ventured into the water. It was toooooo chill. But it was a good experience. People were swimming and enjoying the water. After an hour or so we started home with a resolution that next time we go to St. Kilda we are going to wear sandals and have backup dresses incase we venture into water scooter and other stuffs. Let us see what happens.

Photos - http://picasaweb.google.com/guruprgl/StKildaBeach?authkey=E3kpIPn-rY4#

Albert Park Lake

Near our house, in Union Street, there is a huge lake, "Albert Park Lake". I have never ventured there before. So decided to go there and have some fresh air to breath, yesterday. We both left home at around 5pm just to see what is there. The lake was just across the road. I loved it the moment I saw it. It has clear pathways to walk around or to jog around or to cycle around. We both took some photos and decided to go for a walk. Initially since there was a island blocking our view, we thought that the lake is small. Infact pretty small. But when we started walking enjoying the beauty of the lake and the birds in it we realised it has to be big.

So we kept on walking around. The weather was also good that it wasn't rainy or it wasn't sunny or it wasn't windy. So we enjoyed the breeze and just kept walking around. It was a fun. Lovely fun. Walking hand in hand with your partner in a place like that is really a fun. No doubt about it. Seriously. The lake wasn't of any particular shape. It zig zagged and we walked around. After an hour or so we realized it is more than we thought and then we took rest to walk further. Both of us felt we need something to drink and we ended up in a small restaurant. It serve coffee tea and various other snacks for people doing their regular chores. We both had a refreshing coffee and took a water bottle. Infact the opposite shore or the area from where we started was not at all visible. 

It is important to mention that all along the walking area there were various excercising equipments to do push-ups and other things. People who dont want to spend money to Gym but at the same time consious about their health did use those to excercise. Fortunately or unfortunately, the lake was toooooo huge. With all the remaining effort we started walking back to the place we started. And atlast after two hours of walking we reached the place where we started. In between there were places where you rest and have a picnic or even a barbeque party. When we reached the starting point i felt as if i have finished trekking a huge mountain. And the information board said the entire pathway is 4.7kms. Thank God I read it at the end else I am sure I would not have walked all along. It was tough for me.

We have now decided to go to this lake atleast once in a week to walk around. Let us see. 

To know about Albert Park - http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources05/05_0451.pdf

We took enough photos there and are happy to share.

http://picasaweb.google.com/guruswaminathan/AlbertParkLake?authkey=BebC-TUdlQw#

Diwali Celebrations

You dont love shades until you stand under the sun. The same way we miss out functions and all the extras we get during the festival season once we moved here. one major thing is the advertisements we used to get during the festival season in all the channels. And unfortunately we dont get any indian channels in melbourne and we feel like left alone. Thats when one of our friend here told us about the diwali celebrations in federation square. We thought of our regular diwali celebrations with sarams, busvanam and chakram. But unfortunately when we reached there nothing was there. The funniest part is they blasted a electric charam which will just make some sound and nothing else.

Because of all the safety measures and other stuffs, the fireworks happened in a secluded place away from the public. It was a good experience though. There were dance performance and also a performance by a stage group(sorry it didnt even sound like music to me). Dances were fantastic. One of the group from Shiamak Davar(am I spelling it right?) dance school. It was awesome. But as all good things has to end. The show ended with fireworks. But still it didnt fill up the void. Diwali means listening to the cracker blast from a week before and a week after the diwali function. Here it is complete SILENCE. Nothing else. Just to save and earn more money we need to miss more fun like this. Thats life. What to do?

Return to Melbourne

After the sashtiabthapoorthi function as a family we had few get-togethers and visited few temples (specially on Oct 14th , birthday of my father). Then on 15th we started from chennai to melbourne. As I have already experience for carrying excess baggage, i was very clear this time that i should take only few luggages. But even then after packing everything we were left with 13 kgs of excess baggage. Everything packed is important and we cant leave out anything as it is. So I made up my mind that I am ready to pay and we came to the airport.

Fortunately in the airport when we checked in our baggage the person in the check-in counter didnt ask about excess baggage and all the baggages were checked in safely. I was so relieved. Our parents have come in taking the visitors ticket to bid bye to us. In case if the guy in the counter tells us excess baggage I was thinking of sending few things with them. But nothing happened. So we bid them bye and went to immigration. Since the documents and the tickets were perfect we had no problems. We were waiting in the lounge for an hour. When I was travelling alone the same one hour was like one decade. But since this time I had a company and that too it was my wife we were chatting and chatting and chatting.

We boarded the flight at 09:45 and the flight took off at 10:00 exactly. We landed in KL at 0425am the next day. Since I had my laptop with me I was not ready to sleep. But my wife was feeling sleepy and she slept immediatly. I need to tell about my wife. Her name is Priya. We both are of the same age. We got married five years back and after three years of love. Now since this is Priya's first international journey she couldnt get adjusted immediatly. So she started sleeping the moment we got a seat to sit. And i was watching the crowd. After an hour or so we went to have a coffee. Then we relaxed again. This time she was a bit fresh and I could relax. Then when the time to security check was nearing we went to a italian restaurant, as the inflight food will be served two hours after the take-off. We had sandwich and pizza.

We finished of the security check and boarded the flight. For the first time in my internation trips, I slept almost 75% of the time. We landed in Melbourne at around 20:30. The climate was chill. We finished off our customs check(nothing major was found). Then we came out. Thats the time when Priya felt the real chillness of Melbourne. We hired a taxi and came home.