Great Ocean Road trip 5

Great Ocean Road trip 5  8/04/12

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This is my 5th time to Great ocean road and We wanted to make some thing better out of it . A night trip demanded a tiring journey and we opted to have an Audi this time.

GOD is so beautiful that I never gets bored driving through the curved roads with one side mountain ranges and other side ocean. This trip very well be the final trip to GOD if I don't get another chance to visit Australia. We have started from melbourne around 7 AM to get the rented car. Europcar was the choice this time because she only provides Audi cars.

Winter already started in Melbourne and it was too dark even at 7am.

This time we opted for a return trip via the great ocean road in the night.We first took the forest route to the Great Otway National park famous for the tree top walk. It took almost an hour to cover the 2km rainforest Treetop Walk. The most enjoyable moment was climbing the long and 30mt high steel structured treetop canopy walkway which took us right into the treetops. The Otway Fly Treetop Walk is considered as the longest and tallest walkway of its type in the world.

The best part of this park is that all the structures of the canopy walkway are designed to have minimal impact on the forest environment. The 600 metre long steel section is divided into lightweight trusses ranging from 24 metres to 40 metres which are supported by 12 towers. The spiral tower stands at an exhilarating height of 47 mt, and the cantilever sways gently in the tree canopy offer spectacular views. Climbing on to the top of spiral tower will really test your fear of heights.

The Great Ocean Road is 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers of World War 1, between 1919 and 1932. Great Ocean Road is considered as the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I. No wonder that It is the most important tourist attraction in Victoria. Astounding roads alongside the coast with several prominent landmarks; including the mesmerising Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations make great ocean road the most beautiful place in mother Earth I have seen.

Though I drove several times in Great Ocean Road, It was spectacular to drive in the night. It was risky, dangerous, but amazing. The view of the reflection of bright moon in the ocean was so much enchanting that we parked our car several times at several sea view points in the mountain roads.

After the greatest great ocean road trip, we reached home at around 11 PM. Wish I could go again !!!

Bye Bye Great Ocean Road !!!

Tasmania Trip

When you really know that this would be the final trip with your group of friends, then that trip is going to be nostalgic and the best, forever in your life. We had a similar trip to Tasmania, an Australian Island state, the 26th largest Island state in the world. Tasmania is not heavily populated, thanks to the Australian Govt. The feel of an unexploited land surely gave us a fresh feeling, a new life. The state is named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who made the first reported European sighting of the island on 24 November 1642.

We took a flight to Hobart, the state capital. We drove South of Hobart to visit some random places. The natural beauty was something mesmerising.

Our stay was arranged at Launceston, around 200 kms away from Hobart. On the way, we decided to visit Port Arthur Jail. Port Arthur was a convict jail which is now one of Australia's most significant heritage site. The scenic drive from Hobart, via the Tasman Highway to Sorell and the Arthur Highway to Port Arthur, took around 2 hours.

From 1852, Port Arthur jail had the hardest criminals from Britian and Ireland. The hardest criminals was in 1850's term, evan a pick pocketer was considered criminal with 14 years sentence. Port Arthur jail is now in ruins, but well maintained in Australian Standards.

Another scenic drive to Freycinet National park gave us a different view of Tasmania.

Freycinet National Park with its pink granite mountains and pure white beaches is famous for Wineglass Bay. The view of Wineglass Bay from the famous Wineglass Bay Lookout was an awesome treat.

Enough of scenic drives, time for something different - Cave Tours at Mole Creek Karst National Park. The park is best known for two richly decorated caves open to the general public.We took the guided tour of Marakoopa and King Solomons Caves. Though it was not the first time I had the cave tour experience, but this was quite different experience with Underground Rivers, Glow-worms and echoing dark areas. The magnificent cavern known as the 'Great Cathedral' was a highlight not to be missed.

It always great to have something for the first time in any trips. This time, for me, it was the cruise journey during day hours. 360 degree view of Sea, dance & music, people chatting, decks, movies - Spirit of Tasmania had everything for the perfect Cruise journey. It took around 8 hours to reach Melbourne.

Thanks Renjith, Shreechi, Arun and Swapna for making this journey one of the most wonderful trip in our life. We all left, wishing for another trip with the same group some time later in our life. 



Mornington Peninsula, Australia

My parents came to Australia for a one month holidays. I thought Mornington peninsula is the best place to start with their holidays. I took them along the coast lines of southern Australia.

Our first destination was Frankston waterfront. On the frankston waterfront, we took coastal broadwalk leading to famous frankston sea bridge.

Gold Coast, Australia

If there is any city built only for tourism, it is Gold coast, south of Queensland. If you take 100 people, 99 would be tourists. Gold coast is famous for beautiful beaches, Skyline, Theme parks, casinos and night life. Gold coast was once a favorite meeting place for Local aborigines for it's endless supplies of timber and also a famous meeting
place for tribes for fishing and camping.

We stayed in a service apartment near by the famous Gold coast casino. Whoever visits gold coast cannot or should not miss the theme parks.

The next day, we visited Movieworld theme park. Batwing space shot, Scooby Doo spooky coaster, Wild west falls adventure ride, Superman Escapae, oh ! you cannot miss it. Another best thing about Movieworld is the procession of famous Hollywood movie characters.

After a wonderful day at Movieworld, we decided to go to Gold coast city and take a ride on the Giant roller-coaster.

The next day we went for Jet Ski. The still waters of gold coast provided the best opportunity to go for a safer Jet ski.

Jet ski was an unforgettable experience for us. After half an hour ride, I could control the ski much better. Then we went to the famous gold coast beach.

After a long day in the CBD and beach, we decided to go to Infinity (http://www.infinitygc.com.au/). It was a magical maze world beyond description. The expedition didn't stop there, we further went to the ghost town - a ghost mansion.

The final day of the trip, we decided to go to Sea world. Dolphin show, Seal show were really enjoyable along with the water rides.

With great memories, we said good bye to Gold coast. I cannot forget the Movie world experience.

Phuket, Thailand

We planned our next trip to Phuket, an island off the south-west coast of Thailand. If anyone while traveling to Phuket has a stop over at Bangkok, need to make sure that you have enough time for obtaining the Visa on arrival before the connecting flight to Phuket. I reached Phuket on 10th Dec early morning and Ashi, joined me on the same day afternoon.
We checked in to the Mercure Hotel, near to the Phuket town.








The next day, 11th Dec, we went for a speed boat tours to Phi-Phi islands. Our first stop was Maya Bay. Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's sheltered by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides. It has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi since The Beach was filmed here in 1999.








The boat took us around the various cliffs in the phi-phi island. The color of Andaman sea nearby these cliffs is really magical.









We also saw the Monkey Bay, where several monkeys were waiting for the food which tourists bring for them.








The lunch for the day was organized at Laem Thong Beach on Phi Phi Don. Laem Tong Beach is a magical place in northern Phi Phi that is ideal for a relaxing and quiet holiday.








Snorkeling is not so easy as it looks like. I have never drunk this much salt water in near times. Though it was a big failure, i loved swimming in Koh Khai Nai beach.








The next day we opted big cruise for the tours. The view was magical and sitting in front of the cruise ship with my wife is simply awesome and relaxing.








Our first destination was James Bond Islands. James Bond Island, known originally and locally as Ko Tapu or Nail Island, found fame through the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". The film starred Roger Moore and Christopher Lee (as the three nippled arch-villain Scaramanga) but it was the scenic topography that helped make the film into a firm Bond favourite. It also turned the previously unknown Phang Nga Bay into a major tourist attraction.
The Koh Ping Gun is the major attraction in James Bond Island, along with the walk around the small caves formed in the cliffs.








The small market in the James Bond island is a good place to do shopping for handicrafts. The view of Koh Ping Gun from the caves is really beautiful.








Another great adventure was canoeing in the lagoons through the small caves in those unknown unnamed islands.










I have to say again and again that Phuket is the best place I visited in the recent years. This trip has already become a mesmerizing trip for us.












We left Phuket on Dec 13th and told Phuket "See you again !!"

Poovar Trip [ Kerala, India]

We went to Poovar with two of our friends and their fiancees. It was a day trip, which we planned for a long long time.

Poovar is a small coastal fishing island at the southern tip of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, India. The village is embraced by a beautiful beach on one side and the backwaters on the other. During high tides, an estuary links it to the sea, so we went to Estuary Islands Resort to spend the day :)

According to legends the port Ophir where King Solomon's trading ships landed is said to be Poovar. Another legend describes this as the place as where Maharaja Marthanda Varma was given protection from his enemies by the powerful merchant, Moosa Marikkar. It is said that the picturesque sight of red kovala flowers floating in the Neyyar River led the Maharaja to describe the river as pu (flower) ar (river) or the river of flowers.

The view of the so called "pozhi", is something I cannot forget. We all went to the beach in the evening and enjoyed a lot.

The end of all my trips gives me a heavy heart, as I am not sure when all go together for a similar trip.I loved taking pictures of ashima along the beachside playing with the waves. She loves beaches !!

Shimla Manali - A honeymoon trip

As our honeymoon trip, we decided to visit Shimla, kulu and Manali. We booked our trip through www.makemytrip.com to reach Shimla.A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills". In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.

After a day stay in the cold Shimla, we headed towards Kulu valley. Kullu Valley is the largest valley in the Kullu district, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Beas River runs through the middle of the valley. It is also called the "Valley of the Gods".

After spending a beautiful evening in kulu, we went to Manali. At first sight itself, every one would fall in love with this place. Manali (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft), in the Beas River valley, is an important hill station in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. The British introduced apple trees and trout, which were not native to Manali flora and fauna. The climate in Manali is predominantly cold dur

ing winters, and moderately cool during summers. It was too cold in Manali when we visited and having horse ride in those cold wind is simply astounding.

We also visited the famous shiva temple in Manali riding on horses. Another attraction is Rohtang pass, unfortunately due to heavy snow fall the road to Rohtang pass was closed.

After a stay of 3 days in Manali, enjoying our honeymoon, we left to Delhi. It was such a memorable trip. A trip worth cherishing forever !!