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Tuesday 23 December 2014

Win Rs.500 shopping voucher

"Which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why?"
Answer in the comments section and you could win Rs.500 shopping voucher.
Contest ends on 04/01/2015

Australia is the country which has something for everyone. It is full of the most amazing sights. Melbourne is the crest jewel of Australia. I love Melbourne for various reasons. Let me discuss a few.

I am an environmentalist. Now you may ask what has that to do with Melbourne. Well there is a connection and that too a very close one. River Yarra flows through Melbourne. Its water is crystal clear. It is so clean that you can directly drink from it. It is hard to belive that it was once full of toxic sewage and industrial effluently which gave out such an obnoxious smell that Melbourne had acquired the nick name Smellbourne. However strong political will and community efforts converted the ugly river into clean, pristine waters. This is indeed quite an achievement. Hence I love Melbourne. I hope that my countrymen, the politicians included, derive some inspiration from the Yarra's success story and clean up all the rivers which flow through our lands.


Melbourne is the outcome of the marriage of Victorian grandeur with the avant garde glass and steel in umpteen geometric shapes. On one bank of the Yarra stands stately red brick Flinders Street Station along with the soaring neo Gothic spires of St. Paul's cathedral. On the opposite bank is the Eureka tower. It has the highest viewing deck in the southern hemisphere. There is more to it – it has glass facade which is emblazoned with a rectangle of 24 carat gold which is also slashed by a line of red, which is quite dramatic. It symbolizes the 1850's gold rush. It was that gold rush which made Melbourne rich.


As you walk through the back lanes of the city centre, there are many surprises for you. So you will come across the mural of an aboriginal girl representing the original residents of the city. Let me share a nugget with you. The land where Melbourne stands was bought by an early settler from aboriginals. The consideration for the deal was – bundle of blankets and knives.


Further you will absolutely fall in love with the elegant art deco buildings and colonial era tea rooms of Melbourne. Melbourne is one of the most multi-cultural cities of the world. So there is plethora of Greek, Vietnamese and Chinese eateries. Melbourne is renowned for its trendy restaurants which offer the world famous OzMod i.e. modern Australian cuisine.

For sports enthusiasts the trip to Melbourne will not be complete without a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It houses a portrait of Sachin Tendulkar prominently. However, it is football and not cricket which rules Australia. I love Melbourne for the support which it gives to football.


Melbourne is the city you will fall in love with again and again. Hope this eternal romance goes forever. 

The winner of the contest is studwriting81. Congratulations on winning Rs.500 shopping voucher. 

13 comments:

  1. I would like to visit MCG with my son and husband who are sports enthusiasts.

    MCG is home to Australian football, international and domestic cricket, concerts, special events such as international soccer and rugby matches. And that the 1956 Olympic Games, 2006 Commonwealth Games were hosted here and that it has the National Sports Museum too, the MCG truly is the epicentre of Australian sport.
    Seeing all this in reality (which we have been seeing on TV all these years) would be truly an enlightening, enriching and an exciting experience for us!

    Have heard that MCG Tour allows the visitors to see and know all about MCG along with access to areas including player change rooms, the Ron Casey Media Centre, member only areas of the Melbourne Cricket Club such as the Long Room and a walk on the hallowed arena. It would be like walking in the steps of great sporting legends. And wouldn't that take the sporting buffs like us on cloud 9!!

    MCG is No. 1 on our list when we visit Melbourne! :)

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  2. Hot air balloon it is for me. Experiencing the beauty of Melbourne from up there will be absolutely breathtaking.
    People these days are so busy that they dont get time to spend with their family. I would love to spend some quality time with my husband . Watching the beauty from above, the vinaries, the lush green meadows, the beautiful ocean . One would just not like to leave this place once they experience the scenic beauty . For me two eyes wouldn't be enough to admire the. Picturesque beauty from above.

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  3. I would like to visit The Twelve Apostles!
    With a touch of nature's divinity of colour-changing sand rocks, the far stretch of blue of the ocean touching the blue of skies, I would love to experience the nature's celebration there absolutely, completely and in totality!

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  4. Australia has the best to offer to the world through the city of Melbourne. The picturesque city located at the head of Port Phillip Bay, courtesy of its thriving cultural scene, is called the cultural capital of the country. Numerous destinations that can be visited in the capital are The Great Ocean Road, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne , National Gallery of Victoria , Sun Theatre Yarraville, National Sports Museum, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne Zoo etc. Out of all these, the famous tourist attraction that is perfect for sports lovers is The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), an epic in history of sports. Being the 11th-largest stadium in the world, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, the largest stadium for playing cricket with the highest light towers at any sporting venue, definitely gathers curiosity in the eyes of tourists.
    Internationally, the MCG is remembered as the centrepiece stadium of both the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 1992 Cricket World Cup. The statue of the god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar makes us feel proud as Indians. We as indians are proud and are crazy for cricket.So, this place is topping the list where we can have the lively experience of the craze and vigour that we see on television.

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  5. Wonderful post and interesting videos that make me feel that
    Melbourne invites the eternal romantic in me to hold hands with my beloved and go see the Twelve Apostles .Go on long drives on the great ocean road. In the middle of nowhere in a vineyard spread a table and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine with my dear one. Enjoy the sunsets holding hands and do lots of shopping at the Queen Victoria Market and see all the graffiti being created at the hosier lane.
    Great Post and interesting videos watching them I am sure to visit Sovereign Hill for spending some time in the era gone by. The lure of gold and panning for some nuggets is a temptation that is too much to resist. After I have found the gold I am bound to celebrate it with some wine so I will visit the vineyards and enjoy some great wine from the Yarra region .Visit the Pannys Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and have my fill with this yummy delight.
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  6. After watching the videos of Rohan and Tanmay enjoying Melbourne, I am really feeling jealous of them and I would definitely love to visit the lovely places which they visited atleast once in lifetime. I would definitely don’t want to miss 12 Apostles from the Sky . Wow! What a breath taking scenes and It was definitely one in a lifetime experience to visit that place and enjoy the nature to the fullest.

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  7. I would love to visit the MCG and witness the action of Boxing test match live from the stands. It is one of my dreams to watch an International Test match between India and Australia.
    Victoria Market is also one of the place I would love to explore. The markets are full of hustle and bustle and being an Indian I have that affinity for the Bazaar crowd and its sounds.

    Thanks for sharing the information about the place, would definitely plan to visit the place soon.

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  8. I think the attractions put together by you in Melbourne are distinctive in their own terms.
    I would like to plan a trip to Grampians as I did not know this place has eye catching sights to offer.
    Also,I am always fascinated by captivating and unified waterfalls and what better than visiting one of the state's largest waterfalls here.
    http://i-pari.blogspot.in/2014/12/reasons-to-see-melbourne-contest.html?m=1

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  9. Amazing Article.
    If I get a chance to visit Melbourne then
    I would like to spend my time in the Great Otway National Park, because I love watching animals. I would love to take a city tour by travelling on the Tram's of Melbourne. By travelling in tram's I want to explore every nook & corner of Melbourne. Besides this I would love to watch the amazing architectures of Melbourne like Eureka Tower, Royal Exhibition Building, etc. And without enjoying festivals, my journey would be incomplete so I will celebrate Australian Festivals.
    And how can I forget The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). As cricket is my favourite sport I would love to watch the Cricket world cup final which will take place at the largest stadium of Australia, that is, MCG.

    - Manu
    Harstuff Travel - http://goo.gl/6t4oZy

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  10. Great post.Just loved your blog post. I am in love with driving and road trips, The Great Ocean Road is the ideal place for the people like me. I will surely visit that place in Melbourne and enjoy the sea shore, sunrise and gorgeous mesmerizing view.

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  11. Being a person who loves to travel this place has struck my eye.
    And here, Eureka Skydeck 88 is going to be first on my list.. i can just imagine the view after reading about it and i feel its going to be awesome.
    Then the St. Kilda Beach,the long walk on the beach during the sunset will be just perfect.. And finding gold is also there.. :D
    why not get my pockets filled with some tresure hunt..Laneways and Arcades is going to be the place to explore my "Lara croft" skills.. :D :D
    Melbourne is going to be a great place to visit and enjoy a holiday..

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  12. Hi
    My email id is hemmma09@gmail.com
    in case you decide me as a winner

    ReplyDelete