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.