Life’s firsts are
always cherished whether the eagerly
awaited first pay, the nonchalant first
love or the saccharine first kiss! Not only are these memories dear, but
are recalled fondly with every meandering change in life. Undoubtedly these
trinkets of reminiscences in the delicate yarn of life though fragile are
invaluable.
Among many firsts,
discovering new places is definitely among the top few in life’s ‘firsts list’! In 2009, a naïve young
girl flew alone to Australia, a
country which was once called ‘Terra
Australis Incognita’—an "unknown land of the South". And there
began her love affair with a magical place guarded by the majestic azures - Indian
and Pacific oceans.
There are so many
first’s associated with Australia in my life! My very first project in the
software industry was with an Australian account. My first international trip
was to Australia. My first onsite assignment in my career was in Australia. The
first visa stamp on my passport was also for Australia when in the IT industry
people usually flock to the US or UK. Who knows I might have been a Kangaroo or
a Wallaby in my last life!
So a few years
back it ensued, my first visit to the beautiful country down under! But as luck would have it, I was there
for work with hardly any respite to even venture out, let alone explore the
beautiful country. Ofcourse, added to that I was too ‘love sick’ being away from my then boyfriend (now husband); that at
most times I just wanted to catch the return flight back. Well love does make
you do stupid things. There, I can clearly see you nod! On one hand I had the
chance to stay longer and dissolve in the aura of Australia while on the other I had him. And as crazy as it sounds I ended up brooding over being away
from him instead of picking up my knapsack and soaking in the Aussie culture,
cuisine and paraphernalia! Well truth be told I completely left aside the discovery
part on that trip expect the unearthing of long working hours!
I remained in
Sydney for a long time though. While it is in itself an unforgettable city, I
really wish that I had taken time out of my fixation aping a star crossed lover to experience that
great country right from Tasmania to
Uluru! How I wish I had seen the great outback too! But then there’s always
a next time, isn’t there? And that’s what we have vacations for!
I remember reading
an article in the newspaper a couple of months back that Indian’s are the most
‘holiday deprived’ people in the
world. Trust me; I know that it’s true! As a nation, we are, let’s just say, callous
when it comes to the basic obligation of a human being which is ‘to live’. But I don’t want to be added
as a statistic in that report, so if it’s a vacation I need; it’s a vacation
I’d take and this time down
under to Australia. Yes, if I was ever gifted a vacation then I’d hope it
would be to no other place than Australia itself!
There are so many
places to visit in Australia that it’s very difficult to decide where to start
from. But if I had to put my hand on one, I’d say Tasmania. The unblemished
natural environment, the reserves and several World Heritage Sites, I wish to see them all and more. From what
I’ve heard and read, it’s a picturesque island, a photographer’s delight and a
nature lover’s paradise! Well the first definitely makes it a perfect
destination for my photography enthusiast sister! So I’d definitely begin my trip with this Island of Inspiration, who knows I might
even get inspired in ways I would never be otherwise! And I’ve also heard of
great cruises that set sail from Australia’s mainland to the island. Well
wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake?
The next on the
list would definitely be the Gold Coast
with its amazing surf beaches. Though I don’t even know how to swim, a vacation
with a beach and the deep blue seas is what I always yearn for. Then there are
attractions like Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Water World and Warner Bros
Movie World that I could take my family to. My parents would probably not enjoy
it as much as my sister and my husband but then there would be other places
perfect for them too. The choices there I hear are vast!
Ofcourse I can’t
forget the Great Barrier Reef, after
all it is one of those things synonymous with Australia. Then the breathtaking Uluru, there’s no way I’d come back
without seeing it this time. And this would be something my parents would
definitely enjoy. Ofcourse, I’d visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground or else my
husband and father would surely frown. And to soak in the panoramic beauty of
coastal Australia, we’d all drive down the Great
Ocean Road and savor the fresh produce along the road!
But finally I’d go
back to Sydney and enjoy it just as I should have four years back. The Bondi
beach, QVB, Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park,
Darling Harbour, Sydney Tower and more; I’d relive those places again but this
time happily without a puckered brow! Ofcourse before I forget to mention, throughout
my trip I’d gorge on atleast a few dozen Oporto Burgers; trust me you can never
get enough of them!
Now that I think
about it being alone was perhaps one of the reasons why I couldn’t enjoy Australia
when I visited it for the first time. It might sound clichéd but it’s true when
they say that everything becomes better with family and loved ones around. Just
being with them, even getting bored with them in a new place, is one of the
best experiences of life. Sounds strange I agree but it’s true! And when the
place is as beautiful and full of surprises as Australia, dull moments are
highly unlikely! It’s certainly a trip down under that I’d wish for, whether or
not it’s sponsored for! Yes it’s definitely Australia that I’d visit, if and
when I have the chance or when this mundane life turns slightly sore!