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| City of Melbourne. Pic. courtesy VisitMelbourne.com |
Dear Santa,
Last year I had one of the best Christmases ever. My best friend had come over and brought in some much needed holiday cheer and you gave us all the best gifts. Thank you so much for visiting us, for giving us gifts and not forgetting to drink the milk and eat the cookies that the kids had saved for you.
Now that we are at the end of another year, it is time to remind you that I’ve been mostly good this year. I AM in the NICE -list, ain’t I?
This time, I am not asking you for anything material. All I want this holiday is to go on a holiday to Melbourne.
I’m dreaming of setting eyes on one of the most livable places on earth. I’m not saying I want to live there. I only want to look around, oggle at the charming buildings that give Melbourne a classic touch, down some Aussie coffee, try to decipher the graffiti in Hosier Lane, take in the sights and smells of Victoria Market and maybe even get to top of Eureka Skydeck for a an eagle’s-eye view of Melbourne.
I’m not asking for much, am I?
I’ve been good. I haven’t had a drop of wine in 2014 (and a good part of 2013 too, I swear). It’s been year the of baby no. 2. But I am almost ready to break the fast. Could I do that someplace in Yarra Valley? I would love to do it the right way — swirl, sniff and then sip. Gosh! it’s been ages since some good wine tasting.
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| Wine. Pic from VisitMelbourne.com |
Is that asking for a lot?
Or should I just get drunk on the sights along Great Ocean Road? I can’t get enough of scenic coastal drives, anyway. And 243 kilometers of coast sounds good. I could make do with that if it promises to show me The Apostles. I would have loved to see the caves and the arches that the sea carved out there, but it looks like it is a bit too late for that. I’ll be happy seeing the rocky stacks left back. I really do want to see them before they disappear too.
My fascination knows no end when it comes to land formations. So, I promise to make full use of that drive and stop to see the London Arch, Ginson Steps and the Grotto. And the Lock Ard Gorge — I’m sure I wouldn’t want to leave there. But then I have to take as many pictures as I can and show it to my readers. It will to be such a visual treat. Can I go, Santa? Please… I promise to share photographs and accounts of every little thing I see while I’m there.
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| Loch Ard beach. Pic — VisitMelbourne.com |
I’m dreaming of Surf Coast and Shipwreck Coast and Bay of Islands and the lookouts that guarantee stunning views of the Southern Ocean and the stone structures that stand tall from the waters. Can I just drive through this scenic route, if not anything else? I’d be totally tipsy from that trip.
I could take a ride in your sleigh you, know. I’ll brave all kinds of weather, play your navigator, I could even do Rudolf-sitting while you slip in through chimney and line out gifts for all the nice boys and girls.
With so much to see and do and most of all, being surrounded by scenic sights makes Melbourne seem all the more liveable, to me. But then again, I only want to look around, click some pictures and collect some lovely experiences. That’s not asking for a whole lot, is it?
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| The Apostles. Pic. courtesy – VisitMelbourne.com |
Can I remind you once again that I am not asking you for anything material. All I want this holiday is to go on a holiday to Melbourne. ( I’ll buy my own souvenirs.) Will you really take my request into serious consideration? I promise to be good next year also. Actually, I think I’ll be even better than that.
Please give my love to Mrs. Claus and a hug to Rudolf. And can you also tell the elves I said a big Thank you for all their hard work?
Ride safe around the world Santa. Take care.
With loads of love,
DN
PS. Santa don’t forget the milk and cookies. Happy Sleighing and Happy House-Hopping.
A note for my readers: I have good tidings for you — This holiday I have a contest for YOU. Go through the VistMelbourne website, look up the attractions and let me know one thing — What places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why? Answer this simple question for a chance to win a gift voucher. This contest ends on the 4th of January. What are you waiting for? Give it a try. You just might be the winner.
Added on Jan 14th.
Now that the contest has come to a close, I announce my winner:
Nikita Johri of NjKinny’s World of Books and Stuff
This was cute. Hope Santa fulfills your wish.
He hee!
I can wait until after Christmas. 😀
Thanks Rachna. 🙂
Merry Christmas Divya. May all your desires and wishes be ful filled in 2015 !
Thank you so much, Ram.
Sorry for the late response; I was travelling.
Thank you. You have a great 2015 too. 🙂
I am sure Santa is already on his way to deliver your gift, Divya! 🙂 Wish you a wonderful Christmas season and all the best!
Answer to the question: I would love to try my hand with a paint brush in one of those street art lanes in Melbourne – absolutely in love with the art there!
🙂
I hope so. Thank you so much, Arti. I hope you had a good one.
All the best! I really hope you get to go and contribute to that collection of street art. And when you do, don't forget to put up pictures on My Yatra Diary. I would love to see that.
Thank you for your answer. 🙂
Good luck with the contest. There's a lot I would like to do in Melbourne but I'm most enchanted by the hot air balloon rides. Imagine the floaty feeling and the photos.
Thank you Kalpanaa and welcome here.
Hot air balloon rides! I hope we get to do that someday. I hope 2015 makes your wish come true. Happy New Year.
Thanks a ton for the answer. 🙂
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.
therisingstarz.blogspot.in/2014/12/melbourne-selfie-capital-of-australia.html
http://goo.gl/ByJqvP
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All the best for the contests. Hemaa. Thank you for the answer
Here's wishing 2015 makes your Melbourne dreams come true.
I would like to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which is located in Yarra Park. Cricket has fancied me since childhood. I still remember those days when the elders in my neighbourhood used to start shouting and hunting for us the moment the cricket ball hit by me broke one of their window panes. Running away from them was even more exciting than playing cricket itself.
I used to follow every cricket match played by India religiously and used to analyse and discuss it with friends and siblings for days and months. Being such an enthusiastic fan of cricket, visiting one of the world’s largest cricket stadiums is one of my dreams.
The thought of being seated amongst 95,000 other fans of cricket and cheering the players itself sounds exciting to me. Such large cricket stadiums are one of the ways to explore how much the passion for cricket has penetrated among the people of the world. MCG is located in Yarra Park, which also has many other sporting fields. This would allow me to explore not just cricket, but also many other games.
– Ranjith (http://www.alightheartedtalk.com)
If you are a cricket person, then seriously there's nothing quite like being where the action is. I hope you .get to visit and get some cricket high at Yarra Park. Happy New Year Ranjit. All these best for the contest.
And thank you for letting me know what you would most like to see in Melbourne.
Nice post, you have penned the Melbourne beautifully…. Hope Santa will fulfill your wish…
After watching all the videos I would like to visit 'Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm'.
I'm fond of strawberries and I have a special liking towards farms cause I love the silence and the fresh air. The green scenery is also breathtaking. So I fall for that place.
Arpita- http://shinningappy.blogspot.in/
Thanks a ton, Arpita for your kind words.
Strawberry picking is a really sweet activity. My little boy loves strawberries and we've done strawberry picking in California and Washington. It was so much fun for him to learn where strawberries came from. Most of all, it was great to pick them up himself; makes it tastier 😉
I hope your strawberry wish comes true this year. Happy New year, Arpita.
Thank you, once again. 🙂
Given a chance to visit Melbourne, I would absolutely make a run for Eureka Skydeck 88..Imagine the view of the city from such a great height of over 300 metres and while you are suspended in air in a glass box!
This is an experience not to be missed and I hope I get a chance to visit Melbourne and go explore Eureka Skydeck 88 soon 🙂
-Nikita@Njkinny's World of Books & Stuff
I love great views too. so I totally understand!
I hope you get to do that.
Thank you Nikita.
Hey ,Superb post ,so all set to pack bags to have a thrill at Melbourne,Now being high on my wish list .U’ve very well covered the best of Melbourne and for the entry in contest ,there cannot ever be a single place for me.It has to be a bouquet of places to calm down my zest to explore it.So naming ,first comes the Great Ocean road not just to linger or have a decent walk but to amaze myself with Jetskiing ,Scuba diving and to try swim with Dolphins,seal Yay,these beautiful creatures would be lucky to share a swim with me.ha ha.Then it would be Eureka Sky deck, to have an awe inspiring experience to be closest to sky and get the sky deck view of this liveable city, MCG to watch and cheer the players on one of the worlds best cricket ground!
Wishing u Best of Luck & a great year ahead.
Visit my blog
http://jhilmilbhansali.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/a-date-for-life-timea-date-with-nature-wildlife-art-cuisine-ah-melbourne/
Here's wishing you get to go see Melbourne and do all that.
All the best Jhilmi,l for the contests.
And Thank you. 🙂
May your wish come true… Australia is in my wishlist too
Your's too.
Thank you and all the best, Shrinidhi. 🙂
Thank you so much..I am so happy to win. 🙂
Have messaged you my email id on FB
-Nikita @Njkinny's World of Books & Stuff