AUSSIE WEEKENDER 27

Chinese all over the World synonymously means cheap! Even for travel, it was surprising to compare the Chinese company’s rates with the local rates. A normal site seeing trip costs 100 AU$ minimum for a full day trip and 50-60 for a half day trip. It will mostly have hidden prices again like the entry fees and food charges. It is almost same across Australia with a difference of + or – 10%.

There is a Chinese tour company who organises tours for less than half of the same rates! You have to pay 40 AU$ for a full day trip. Again, the conditions apply is there, but they spell it out clearly that these are the extra costs which you may opt for not paying. They even specify that 5$ tip to the driver in the leaflet. Then, why is it not so crowded? Why people still hesitate to take it? The answer lies where the Indians are ahead of Chinese, their English! The basic commentary and jokes provided by the driver during the trip will be in Chinese! He will only use English to inform you or summarise in between! He will talk 15 minutes non-stop in Chinese and it is a 1short sentence in English!!! It reminds me of my old roomie Avi’s English Drama teacher’s story (story at the bottom).

Anyway, I am an Indian (or let us make it I am still that old Venki) and still not comfortable with dollars. I have enough tolerance to listen to Chinese for a day if it saves me some 100 dollars!

They have this flat rate for many one-day trips. Those trips comfortably challenge the public transport itself including trains! For example, if you take a train to Canberra, it costs 25 $ per person one-way if you get hold of the apex ticket which you need to book early. Then it is a problem to go around in Canberra as you have to depend on the funny bus services which will again cost 5-10 $ per person. But the day-trip to Canberra which includes seeing the important places and sights there, will cost only 40 $ altogether!

We saw a different trip to places which we were something totally unknown of – dolphin cruises, and lavender gardens! That also includes a waterfall on the way. We booked the tickets two days ago, and the only worry was to go to Strathfield from where the trip starts. I went to whereis.com.au which tells us how to go given a source and destination. For me, I had to check from Strathfield station to Churchill Avenue, which was actually just outside the station. This funny site gave me a route to get out through the other side of the station and to walk 200 metres before taking a left to cross the bridge and walk back! I also trusted it thinking that there will be some block on this side of the station!

We just managed to reach there by 7:20 and we were the only pick-up from Strathfield (it starts from China Town) and so he started immediately. He warned us first itself that the commentary will be in Chinese and he will tell in English for us (Picture 1).

It was a 15 seater mini-bus. We were the last to get in; only the last seats were free! He got in to the freeway getting out of the suburbs. His short English said he was first heading towards the waterfall. It was around 9:00, when we took an exit to some hilly roads, and reached a forest area. Krithi who was silently sitting, ran out to give me the first unexpected! She started vomiting! I never even in dreams thought of her vomiting. We had travelled through the same hilly routes in a Countrylink bus some months ago, and even in India she was not vomiting during our hilly trips.

Anyway, we were not prepared for that. I still thought it was one time, but when she vomited again in the bus, I knew she is not going to enjoy the trip todayL !

The journey continues. By 10:30 we reached our next stop, Lavender farm. We walked through this small farm and took some snaps too (pictures). Then had a honey-lavender flavoured tea and to their plant to see the process of manufacturing lavender oil. The lady was telling like our road-side sellers – it will smell all day, it will relieve your tension if put on back-neck, it will relieve headache, it will cure even wounds! Good!

I bought the smallest bottle of lavender oil. We started again around 11:15 AM, our next destination was the Jervis bay for watching dolphins in the sea. We crossed through a castle like bridge on the way, the guide told that this is the oldest in Australia (Picture) ! It was another 90 minutes away and again all hilly routes. We could do nothing but just sit on the back seat and suffer.

By the time we reached Jervis bay by 12:40, Krithi was fully exhausted. If we could find a single railway route on the way, we would have stopped the van and gone back home. We spent our time trying to get fresh during the so-called ‘lunch break’. The cruise started by 1, which was a normal one which we have to pay separately. The ferryboat had an under water camera inside. So you can choose to sit inside and watch the TV taking your drink, or stand in the Sun waiting for the Dolphins! We were very excited to hear English around after hearing so much of Chinese, and ‘Chinglish’! We both were at the deck taking pictures of the Dolphins (Pictures), which went on for the first half an hour. The dolphins came around our boat jumping here and there like they are excited to see us! It travelled along the boat then disappeared. Slowly we left their area, and the boat went on in to the sea.

Krithi again got back to her ‘sickness’ and it is good that most of the ferries have got toilets inside. It was another 2 hours before we came back to the land, by 3:30.

We had done with the trip, and it is straight back to Sydney now covering some 200 kms. It was a sort- of non-stop journey. Krithi was too tired slept for the whole return trip. The return was a straight freeway route and we were back by 6:30. Back home, it was like in-heaven for Krithi. The trip was good by itself, but I am not sure whether we enjoyed it.

Cheers
Venki

Avinandan’s Story: It was their English drama class. It is Macbeth! The whole class is sitting with text book and the teacher will read one sentence and interpret it in simple English and the pupils note down the meaning on the side or available free space in the text. The font becomes smaller and illegible as it progresses, on each page. That is the normal case.
On this particular day, the scene was just after Macbeth has killed the King. The thoughts in his mind is been beautifully elaborated by William Shakespeare. The teacher, on the contrary to the normal habit of interpreting each sentence, is keeping on with the reading. Students look surprised and worried on how difficult it will be to note down the meaning for the whole page together!
Shakespeare finished his description of what went through Macbeth’s mind after killing his King in a page. The teacher finished reading it. Class is silent.
The teacher looks up from the book, looks at the class almost with a wry smile, looks back at the book and then again at the group of eagerly waiting adolescents. Then with a profound assurance in his voice, proclaims to the world - "Macbeth is afraid!"

AUSSIE WEEKENDER 26

Next day to Christmas is Boxing Day in Australia. I have no clue what Boxing day means. All it means for me is it is a public holiday for us. We planned to go to a temple which is heard to be big one in Sydney, but a little far away. It takes two long train journeys and a bus journey to reach there. Being a public holiday, the bus schedule to the temple area from the station was hopeless. They have a bus at 1:30 and 3:30 to the temple, and it will come back at 2:40 and 4:05; and that is the end of the bus services! We only looked at these aspects in the afternoon. Started by 12:50 got two trains well connected, reached Helensburgh station by 2:40. It was a small station surrounded by nothing but greenery. No car, no taxi, no shops, nothing! And we were the only people in the station apart from a guard. We came out of the station and walked in a direction we felt fine. We crossed a small bridge over a stream brimming through rocks. We continued on the road, climbing with it. We started seeing houses built in lavish compounds, resembled of the houses in Kerala once we move out of the city in Cochin and Malabar parts. The heat, the humidity and the sound of the stream made me feel that I am walking somewhere in Kerala.

But we realised that we are on the wrong side as the road was closing down, and we walked back and saw the map at the station which had no details of the temple. Again, there were no pointers at all, around the cut roads near the station. I was in a very helpless situation. We need to wait for another 35 minutes for a bus, but again, we won’t be able to get the bus back. I can’t see any taxis also around which again will be a problem to come back from the temple to the station. I would have blindly decided to take the next train back home, if I were to decide, in this situation. But, Krithi, who never demands for anything was giving a sad look with my suggestion to return.

It is around 4 kms to the temple and the summer Sun was doing its job well. Krithi’s troubles of pregnancy have not yet fully gone. We decided to walk slowly as waiting for the bus is only going to make things worse. We started climbing the road, and we would have almost walked 15 minutes. It was tiring for Krithi, but I also didn’t know what else I can do if she still wants to see the temple. We were so helpless. We were crossing the road here and there for shade. We were crossing at a point and found a red car stopped with an Aussie (named Andrew) looking at us with a smile! He was just being so kind that he stopped seeing us walking, and was asking, ‘I can give a lift if you likeJ’! It was unbelievable!

Aussie can never replace anyone in the World for his friendliness (the nearest I have seen is the Scottish)! We accepted his lift and were in the temple in 5 minutes. He knew the temple and actually his home was on the way to the temple. He drove another 2 kms to drop us to return home. Again, he was showing us the route in case we happen to walk back and explain how long it takes. He also suggested me to mention it to the temple people to have some pointers to show the way from the station!

I just looked at Krithi expecting a normal human response of giving the full credit to God (Saying God has sent him). She was so excited with what happened, but she was thankful to Andrew. While writing our names for pooja, she was asking me whether we can do pooja in Andrew’s nameJ !

Temple was big enough in peaceful greenery. It was as Indian as possible, even with the people. There were only two people (Iyengars, if you understand) with T-shirts and Dhothi. They were selling tickets at the counter and they were doing the poojas too. But with very few people in the temple, it was still peaceful life for them.

I tried to tell them that we had problems in finding way from the station. They took it cool, and asked me back, ‘How did you come?’ I told about the lift, and immediately came the reply, ‘try to get something like that to go back. We don’t think there is any bus today’. They also added, ‘people come here in cars, and they know how to come’ as the reason for having no pointers.
Excellent! So they were indirectly telling us that we are not expecting beggars like you J.

Krithi’s desire to have a masala dosai and we had a choice to try it, the temple canteen. I think all these people run away from India, come here and learn to make dosai! They know only one thing, cook only one side and they don’t learn to make it thin enough that one side cooking will do. So again we had to eat a half-cooked dosai! But I appreciate one fact, that temple was maintained well and neat.

We were optimistic that 4:05 bus will turn up despite the temple authorities says there is no bus todayJ. Our optimism paid off, we got the bus back home. The rest was easy, there was no hassle in getting the connection trains to Central and then to Parramatta. We were back home by 6.
It was a memorable day which I will remember forever! Being so helpless and suddenly getting some unexpected help and that too in another country, it was great! We went to temple and we met God too! But the only doubt is whether we met the God at the temple or on the way!

AUSSIE WEEKENDER 25

Continuing with the NYE day…

17h00: The crowd was focusing the part where we were sitting, and started packing up there. The ‘safe event‘volunteers were looking at us with a worry from the beginning itself and at last they asked us to leave that areas. The Sun was still giving an afternoon shine. We left our bags in the blanket booked on the meadow and went for a walk around for keep away from the Sun. That gave us a glimpse of the crowd, the long queues for drinks and toilets (remember the bucket toilets in South Africa in Soweto. I saw the same here with a petname ‘mobiloo’).

17h30: We went to the other side of the meadow, the best view portion at the top is been fulley occupied by photographers and it is full of tripods. I forgot to take my tripod from India, and I think I will have no big chance of getting good pictures of the fireworks.

The water part was getting filled as well. With a lot of boats, some anchored in the middle from the morning itself (Pictures).

19h30: Back to our blanket. It has become very dirty being on the soil. But all our bags and all are there safe. Crowd had increased and there were people in the place where we were evacuated earlier (anyway, they were chucked out later. So the system was fair).

20h00: Anish and Lakshmi also joined us, with some cheese spinach stuffed roti of turkey. They brought one for me too. We had had brought some rice for Krithi with us. We had the supper and waited… The sky was getting dark…(Picture)


21:00: The first set of fireworks begins- they call it family fireworks. This one was not involving the Harbour Bridge. It is synchronised at two points and will be triggered simultaneously. So for us, the same cracker goes up and blows at the same time behind and in front of us! It lasted around 18 minutes. A heart appeared in the middle of the Harbour Bridge at the end of the show! Suddenly most of the people started moving off. We thought we will have a cool time with not much rush for the grand finale! But later we found that they all went to stand in the queue and fill their glasses! None seems to leave, in our area, at least.

22:00: The heart in the Harbour Bridge is becoming concentric getting one layer after each hour (Picture).

23:00: The females sitting in front of us started changing clothes top-to-bottom to the shock of Krithi and Anish’s wife Lakshmi. Anish was commenting we should video this and take it back to India J. Ironically, the guys were taking their clothes to the shade for changing! What a wonderful World!

23:30: The gang in front completes their dress change and make-ups and with filled up glasses starts taking snaps. They requested us to take their snaps and then they joined us to take snaps( Picture).

24h00: The grant finale begins! Two light beams blink towards the centre of the bridge from either sides, and they collided and the bridge burst out in to fire! It was full light, and the fireworks also started from behind the Opera house and behind us. It was an event for lifetime!

The crowd cheering at the fireworks, as the earlier areas also start sending glitters to the sky. I was in a dream, trying to capture the whole in my 15 minute limit for the movie clips, in my digicam. I was trying to keep them in 30sec- 1min clipping. I tried to take some snaps, but all look good in thumbnail size, all got shakes due to my standing position and no tripod(Pictures).



00:30: It is all over, the crowd is walking back. Most of the drunk fully, but very harmless though they sometimes push among themselves or sometimes just dropping down, and you have to watch out for that.

01:00: We are at St.James station after a long walk. The rail stations were alerting all to be patient as a huge crowd is waiting for trains. They were also trying to tell that the frequencies of the trains are high to make sure all can travel comfortable and fast. We got a train to Central. It was, to our surprise, not packed, though crowded.

We changed at the Central, again it was not packed and every two minutes there was a train to our direction. We were standing at first, but an Indian family gave some space to us taking their kids sleeping on the seat, to their shoulders. But after two three stations, none was standing too!

02:00: We got down at Parramatta station. We were thinking that we will have a crowd to accompany us till home. But all vanished at the station itself! By the time, we entered our street we were alone. We came back home dirty being in the Sun the whole day! I had put the Sunscreen over the soiled legs to make it worse. We have no choice but take a bath at 2:30am before sleep.
It was one of the longest days for us, but it was worth the show at the end of the day !

AUSSIE WEEKENDER 24

The New Year Eve! I remember this was a day which was nothing for me till the TV came in around 1987. Even during the initial times of TV, the only excitement was Prannay Roy’s special ‘World this Week’. Then, it grew as a big event with all night programs in TV. But still, my New Year had nothing more than TV events! Mostly the next day’s news will have some of the New Year celebrations happening in some part of the World. I am not sure the fireworks were only there in Sydney during those days, some 15 years ago, but it was shown at first always! So I think, I had noticed it and the first thing I know about Sydney is this bridge and the lotus-like building lit in the fireworks. I had no clue of what this lotus-like building was until a few years ago when people in South Africa use to talk about Sydney and Opera house. I got some more clear idea when my junior Binish wrote about being in Sydney, a couple of years ago. So you can see that I will be boasting if I say it was a dream for me to be there for the fireworks! It was far beyond being thought of as a dream, thanks to my ‘geography and general Knowledge’!
But sometimes reality overtakes your dream, and some dreams never become reality! So I am here in Sydney, and now realise that these people also are still enthusiastic about it as much as I am! But as I had been telling you about the crowd and it was a tough day ahead for me.
The forecast: It was supposed to be a Sunny day with the Sun heating to 35 degree in C !
The Plan: As my initial going through the sites said that Macquarie’s Chair is been made a paid spot to see the fireworks, I was looking for Circular quay to enjoy the fireworks, which is the second best spot to watch the same.
The Morning: It was a busy morning for us. Anish in St.Leonard’s had invited us for lunch and was suggesting planning it together for the fireworks. He was here last year and knows the crowd better; this year is his first after marriage.
The packing: We packed with fruits, food for night, some dry fruits and nuts to keep Krithi’s energy level, some basic medicines, some bread and a bed sheet to reserve the place.
We started by around 10. Took a NYE ticket which was a special ticket enabling us to travel across the city unlimited in trains till 1st Jan noon. Whereas a normal return ticket costs 5.40, this one was just 5 $. We had some relaxed time at Anish’s place and after lunch, started by 2pm towards the city’s action spot for the day! My only worry then was that Anish was sure that they will have a public access area in Macquarie’s Chair as well, which I was not sure. I was a bit worried of not being able to get any place anywhere after wasting our time to go till Macquarie’s Chair and finding it inaccessible and then moving to another spot. Anyway, there is always a factor of risk to get the best !
14h30: Got down at Wynyard, and took a taxi to the Domains gate. I am not sure why Anish was insisting on taking a taxi while we could use the free ticket with us to take another train to the station near the Domains. Anyway, it was people everywhere! All walking to get the best possible view they can get, of the fireworks. We crossed the checking point where they check for any bottles or other prohibited items including liquor (!). Don’t guess it, you can’t bring liquor but you can buy it inside ;). Else I am sure I will not have even 10% of this crowd. But there is a condition. If you have to buy liquor, you should have proved your age is more than 18 and got it authorised. That was the first amazing thing we witnessed as we got in to the botanical garden compound: a long queue to get them verified for alcohol. Once they find the identity card authentic, they will be tied with a non-reusable red plastic band on their hands. That enables them to stand in another 'short'er queue to buy drinks (Picture 1). We walked around 10 minutes to reach the tip of the botanical garden, the most wanted part – Macquarie’s chair! It was full in sunlight and shades. There was a climb which has no proper way to sit, was free! We tried to get a spot there, but the volunteers were telling us that we may be told to leave later as these areas are not safe to sit! We just got a shady part there and sort-of settled down (Picture 2). In the meanwhile, Anish managed to acquire a bed-sheet space in the ‘valley’ below us but it was too hot to sit there. We still settled on the hilly part, waiting for the Sun to go down. It was around 3 by that time. Still 9 hours to go…! And the crowd was just pouring in…(Picture 3) I know I am trying to explain an event which is to me like having a lunch with Queen Elizabeth ! So it is taking its time to convert it in to words. Again, as you know, I am not such a picker of words. All I know is a handful of words to do a trial and error to see if it matches my feelings! So I will continue with the NYE next week.
Tailpiece : Hope you would have read of Kerry Packer’s demise. He is told to be the most influential man in Australia! We can remember him as a determined man who just went on to create one day cricket calling the best available cricketers all over the World just for the reason that he( his Channel 9) didn’t get the telecasting rights ! I also join the Aussies and cricket lovers all over the World to pay my tributes to this legend!

Happy New year

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006 !!!!