Spreading wings in Melbourne – A summer in Aussie!

Spreading wings in Melbourne – A summer in Aussie!

• A date with fizzy waves, serene scenery, succulent chocolates and world of books

<<One summer, there I am… within the sea… a mad fish, spinning round and round.

One summer, there I am… tumbling down… inside a rich chocolate cascade.

One summer, there I am… in a hot-air-balloon… flying like a kite, all around.

One summer, there I am… within the pages… waking and walking in a new world.

One summer, there I am… free as a bird, spreading wings from morning until night.

One summer, there I am… enjoying all the bountiful wonders, heart lit with delight.>>

 

The cottage was aloof on the side of a seamless shore. The low thrum of the night breeze and the distant roar of the sea was like a lullaby, hushing one to fall asleep without any worries. It had been a dream to visit Australia for so long; a passion that constantly buzzed beneath my fingertips and now, here I was, finally. The melody of the mixed sea breeze and wave was soothing than any other music I have ever heard. Tonight, I will just enjoy the salty breeze and sleep, I thought to myself and fell asleep.

Image credit: visitmelbourne.com

 

The next morning came early for me, full of newfound surprises. The dull orange poked and prodded the heavily settled gray, trying to overcome the gloom with the distilled warmth. The remnants of night slowly started to fade as dawn conquered the black shroud of the night with persistence. I sat there in the unspoiled cream-colored sand, looking down at the crystal-clear water, a nonentity in a new city. For a nature-lover like me, this was the best gift anyone could ever bestow.

My eyes were focussed on the sky, marvelling about the magic of the sunrise. I could feel the chilly wind crawling over my skin, mating with the warmth of the sun. The sunrise was magical. There was something refreshing about how the light fought the power of darkness. Riveting. Hopeful. How the sun rose from the bottom of the sea, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

The beach sand was soothing as they seeped through my finger gaps; caressing me like a mother. Sea had always been my second mother; the place I would visit whenever I wanted to find peace. Even amidst the chaos, beaches gave me tranquility I so needed. If I can dig a hole, and hibernate, away from the crazy world, I will choose this place!

Getting up and dusting the sand, I got ready to explore Melbourne.

My first stop was the Yarra Valley. The place made me feel like I was inside the magical pages of a fairytale. Dotted with lush green trees and low lying grapes closer to hand, I felt that this was the place I had always been wanting to visit. The beauty of the place… its radiance… I was pulled in from the first second.

Image Credit: visitmelbourne.com

Taking a ride on hot-air-balloon, I enjoyed the world spread beneath me. When I landed on the green-carpeted ground, I was offered with fresh veggies and fruits and I soothed my grumbling stomach with mouth-watering products from Yarra Valley, including buttery cheese, forgetting to count the calories. I’d said no thanks to sparkling wines, though. I couldn’t drink!

Next, I was teleported to Panny’s amazing world of chocolate in Phillip Island. I was a self-confessed chocoholic and a bookworm, who could live a peaceful life with only chocolates and books. I felt like Charlie in the Chocolate factory as soon as I entered the chocolate haven. My mouth watered, my fingers itched and my eyes went wide from seeing so many of my babies – chocolates – at one place. The aroma of rich chocolates enticed me in and filled me with lusty thoughts. This day became more promising at that moment. This was the place I had dreamed of, a place that could make me delirious just by looking; a place filled with decadent pledges to corrupt me.

Image Credit: visitvictoria.com

The chocolate waterfall, spilling 400 kg of chocolates every three minute… if I could have jumped in, I would’ve. Too bad there was a glass wall separating me and the cascade raining with brown, velvety liquid-chocolate. Even behind the glass, I could taste the smooth texture of the chocolate.

There were educational tour on how the chocolates were made from Cocoa, enlightening me about how my babies are made. At that moment, I decided to try for the job there. I wouldn’t need a pay to work there; I would just, willingly, give-up all to work in the chocolate factory. And then there were fun quizzes and a play area for children, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Image Credit: phillipislandexperience.com.au

 

There was a model made of chocolate – a town in chocolate. I wished I were there… indulging my greed with every bite of chocolates from wherever and whenever I pleased.  They handed out free samples of chocolates. The taste of melting drinking chocolate in my tongue – its magic triggering every one of my senses, including my tear glands. I LOVE CHOCOLATES! I love the feeling of happiness in my bone, when I eat chocolates.

It took me time to say goodbye to this place. This place where all my dreams finally became true. Buying a sack-full of chocolates, I said farewell to Panny’s chocolate factory, munching on a milk-chocolate bar. I will never forget this place!

As I continued to stare, the chocolate factory morphed into a big library, closeted with glass walls, glittering tiles. There were shelves boasting rows and rows of books, each containing a whole new world within. The City Library smelled like words; of paper; of new world; of love and passion. Forgetting chocolates, I walked forwards towards my love – books. They were all there, within reaching distance. I could touch them and feel them and smell them. This is the world, which belongs to me. This is the world where I belong without looking like an odd-one-out!

Image Credit: thatsmelbourne.com.au

 

The library had amazing collections of books, including historical books, novels and non-fictions. Grabbing a novel from the shelf, I found a secluded spot and sat there, completely immersed in the book, reading about characters from another world, when someone shook me. Hard.

“What? Don’t you see I am reading?” I looked up with an angry glare to see my hubby hovering over me.

“What? Have you been dreaming? It is time to get up from the bed.” He grabbed my comfy blanket away from me.

“Melbourne… Australia… cheese… where is my chocolate bag? I have thousands of chocolates. Where’s my…?” I looked around, disoriented.

“Uff. That is all a dream. Now, wake up.” Should he do that? Destroying all my fantasy with one word?!

I did wake up and got ready to continue the usual, boring stretch of events.

God, it is all a dream! But, what a dream, it is!! How I wish it will come true, one day or the other!!!

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[Important: Which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why?”. (Answer in the comment and win a gift voucher worth Rs. 500. Go. Go. Go.) ]

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 Ps. I have never visited Melbourne, or Australia, but the silver beaches of Australia and the chocolate factory are the two things that always pull me in like a magnet. If I ever visit Aussie, these place will be my most desired choices.

Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate

Fun in the waves: Loch Ard Gorge beach

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This post was written for the contest: What’s your reason for falling in love with Melbourne, the most livable city in the world? conducted by  Tourism Victoria website with indiblogger.