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Wonder why I had stopped blogging, used to be great until sometime :)
This time around its our maiden foreign trip that has brought back the blogger in me. It all started with our son talking about Australia while he was 3yrs old, as if he has some link to that place. We heard him out and then the usual vicious circle of life, never got a chance to travel. Then it was my mother's wish, I knew I had to work this out but it was way beyond what we could comprehend.
The idea went into the burner. 2 years later, we realised, everything happens in due course and we are always running for something, not reaching anywhere :) This time around, we took the plunge! First step, renewed passports, then checking for budgeted tickets for travel. After researching a lot on the prices, we decided it gonna be 'Air Asia', did not realise it was a trap though.
Lesson learnt that Air Asia charges for every thing, check in luggage, meals, seats!! phew!! Its better to spend more and settle for a carrier that accommodates check in luggage in the flight charges.
Before travelling, we had our concerns on the foreign currency usage while in Australia and which would be the most economical one, we were fortunate to have figured out the 'Forex Card' :) As such HDFC guys said, use the chip based credit card, should be easy, they don't tell you about the markup charges and conversion charges ;)
Best part about Forex card, we load the currency that we wish and the amount. Now we have a limit and we will definitely work on those lines. whereas credit card, we do not know the exact amount that was used for a transaction and we will have a shock in store once we are back from our trip. This is the best travel tip that I wish everyone travelling abroad is aware of.
The D-day arrived! At the Immigration counter, we got our passports stamped for the first time :) What a feeling!!! Later we reached KL airport, transit for 3 hrs was well made of. We tried the Soup there from Noodle outlet, served by an Indian :) It tasted yummy. We hopped onto the next flight to Sydney, all excited :) Arrived Sydney Airport and then the Immigration counter, this time around, nervous hubby of mine, since he has heard so many agony stories of how people have been questioned about their luggage and all that trauma. I took control, walked first and the officer in charge was interested to know the address where we will be staying, saw that and we are all good. We step out, find my Uncle waiting!!! :) All of us are relived.
Oct 11th, 10pm we reach Uncle's home, cousins, aunt are all super happy seeing us. We are too excited to sleep, my uncle says we need rest otherwise it'll spoil the trip :)
Oct 12th: There's a cold wave there and we are feeling the pinch. Uncle takes us to Cataract Dam ( provides water to the Macarthur and Illawarra regions, the Wollondilly Shire, and metropolitan Sydney) The drive is beautiful and the place is good to start our trip with. Camera rolling, pictures taken, we head towards the sky diving centre, that was in my wishlist. They said climate is not favourable and we need to wait until next week.
Oct 13th: Uncle's bday, we take a break, prepare Indian food, visit to local store and Siju's craving for the Australian food started :)
Oct 14th: We head to Feather dale Park, see the Kangaroos, Koalas and we get to touch them, feed them! Ivan is so excited and happy, its great to see him :)
Oct 15th: Visit to Schogetten chapel and what a serene place :) Its beautiful. Then we head to BLUE MOUNTAINS, its great to see the 3 sisters, this place is named after the Aboriginal tribal women. Next we head to Katoomba Scenic World and finish Skyway, Cableway, Walkway and Railway. These are unlimited rides, we did not know this :D And the best way to try the steepest railway is going down than going up. We get to view the rain forests with all this and the view is breathtaking!!
Oct 16th:
Online offer for 5 places i.e. Sydney Sealife Aquarium, Sydney Tower, Sydney Skywalk, Manly Sea Adventure, Madame Tussauds, Wild Life Zoo for 70$ was a steal :) Best part we get 30 days to finish them, we need not rush. More details
OPAL cards: Load it, use it across the trains, ferry to travel around Sydney. Tap it and Tap out, simple.
Sydney Trains for the first time and we head to our first destination, Sea life! The sting rays, jelly fishes, sharks, dugongs, worth every penny :)
We head to the China Town from there, walking along the Darling Harbour and the CBD comes alive! Its a great atmosphere, just walking there.
Next we goto Sydney Tower, 3D movie about Australia then the view from the tower is splendid.
We had to finish the Skywalk too, but we skipped that. Next was Manly beach on our mind.
Took the ferry from Wharf 3 to Manly Beach, the journey to Manly Beach brings us to the Sydney Opera house, harbour bridge and Luna park. Click click....clicking again :)
Crystal clear water, not so crowded beach and lovely weather. Aah! Wish we stayed there for some more time. Exhausted we head back home.
Oct 17th:
Drive to Canberra, on the way we see Kangaroos on the highway. They are like the stray dogs in our country, lying dead. Not a great sight!
2 1/2 hrs and we reach Parliament House, we park the car at the basement of the parliament house!!! Wow, cant imagine something of tht sort. Step into the parliament, history retold in pictures, wall paintings, we are allowed to see the session too but we were hungry, skipped that.
On the way back we goto the Mary's Church
Kangaroos flocked around, this time hopping along with their joeys. Lovely :)
Thank God for helping us with this travel, spend time at the church and we head home.
Oct 18th:
Shopping at Minto mall for the gifts for the folks back home.
Oct 19th:
We explore Syndey on our own, without Uncle alongwith us. Use Opal app, plan the travel and 3 of us in the Sydney train and at CBD. Voila!! :) We did it. So proud. To figure out route to Sealife, walk through Queen Victoria Building after getting down at Town Hall Station.
Next with a pep talk with a New Zealander, we reach our destination, instead of GPS ;)
I prefer talking to people and it worked.
Have the exclusive Australian food at Cargo Bar, head to Madame Tussauds, it was wonderful. Especially the Master Blaster, Glen McGrath, Shane Warne together :)
Next the Wild life which is adjacent, after visiting Feather dale, this is not so interesting. This did not match our expectations.
We take the ferry, go to Circular Quay. Walk to Sydney Opera House and walk back through Botanical Garden :)
All of them at home were worried about us, new comers in Sydney but guess what, Adventure worked out :)
Oct 20th:
Chit chatting with family, old stories, boot hill visit, elaborate Lunch the Aussie way.
Oct 21st:
Shopping at Mccarthur Square and its tough to find stuff which is not made in China :P
Quality is great but folks back home would grumble. Our search continued.
Oct 22nd:
We end buying Chocolates at Aldi and sure that this will not bring up any complaints. Start packing and then our luggage has increased leaps and bounds :D
We still have plans to buy stuff from duty free!
This was the coldest day, Uncle sets up the fireplace at home, barbeque is on with the coals, its a great feeling! Food, conversation....did not realize the day ended.
Oct 23rd:
Day started with a prayer and blessing of the house. Much required for all the blessings that we had and the travel that we were to start.
Farewell, that's tough. Hugs and tears, we leave home.
We are privileged to see the Sydney Traffic the last day when we are heading to the Airport ;) Bangalore feeling already.
Duty free store in Sydney Airport and we add to our luggage. Ideally we should have bought in KL.
It was cheaper too, realized that after coming there.
That night we reach Bangalore, exhausted but the routine feeling sets in...
Next day, School, Office.......
This time around its our maiden foreign trip that has brought back the blogger in me. It all started with our son talking about Australia while he was 3yrs old, as if he has some link to that place. We heard him out and then the usual vicious circle of life, never got a chance to travel. Then it was my mother's wish, I knew I had to work this out but it was way beyond what we could comprehend.
The idea went into the burner. 2 years later, we realised, everything happens in due course and we are always running for something, not reaching anywhere :) This time around, we took the plunge! First step, renewed passports, then checking for budgeted tickets for travel. After researching a lot on the prices, we decided it gonna be 'Air Asia', did not realise it was a trap though.
Lesson learnt that Air Asia charges for every thing, check in luggage, meals, seats!! phew!! Its better to spend more and settle for a carrier that accommodates check in luggage in the flight charges.
Before travelling, we had our concerns on the foreign currency usage while in Australia and which would be the most economical one, we were fortunate to have figured out the 'Forex Card' :) As such HDFC guys said, use the chip based credit card, should be easy, they don't tell you about the markup charges and conversion charges ;)
Best part about Forex card, we load the currency that we wish and the amount. Now we have a limit and we will definitely work on those lines. whereas credit card, we do not know the exact amount that was used for a transaction and we will have a shock in store once we are back from our trip. This is the best travel tip that I wish everyone travelling abroad is aware of.
The D-day arrived! At the Immigration counter, we got our passports stamped for the first time :) What a feeling!!! Later we reached KL airport, transit for 3 hrs was well made of. We tried the Soup there from Noodle outlet, served by an Indian :) It tasted yummy. We hopped onto the next flight to Sydney, all excited :) Arrived Sydney Airport and then the Immigration counter, this time around, nervous hubby of mine, since he has heard so many agony stories of how people have been questioned about their luggage and all that trauma. I took control, walked first and the officer in charge was interested to know the address where we will be staying, saw that and we are all good. We step out, find my Uncle waiting!!! :) All of us are relived.
Oct 11th, 10pm we reach Uncle's home, cousins, aunt are all super happy seeing us. We are too excited to sleep, my uncle says we need rest otherwise it'll spoil the trip :)
Oct 12th: There's a cold wave there and we are feeling the pinch. Uncle takes us to Cataract Dam ( provides water to the Macarthur and Illawarra regions, the Wollondilly Shire, and metropolitan Sydney) The drive is beautiful and the place is good to start our trip with. Camera rolling, pictures taken, we head towards the sky diving centre, that was in my wishlist. They said climate is not favourable and we need to wait until next week.
Oct 13th: Uncle's bday, we take a break, prepare Indian food, visit to local store and Siju's craving for the Australian food started :)
Oct 14th: We head to Feather dale Park, see the Kangaroos, Koalas and we get to touch them, feed them! Ivan is so excited and happy, its great to see him :)
Oct 15th: Visit to Schogetten chapel and what a serene place :) Its beautiful. Then we head to BLUE MOUNTAINS, its great to see the 3 sisters, this place is named after the Aboriginal tribal women. Next we head to Katoomba Scenic World and finish Skyway, Cableway, Walkway and Railway. These are unlimited rides, we did not know this :D And the best way to try the steepest railway is going down than going up. We get to view the rain forests with all this and the view is breathtaking!!
Oct 16th:
Online offer for 5 places i.e. Sydney Sealife Aquarium, Sydney Tower, Sydney Skywalk, Manly Sea Adventure, Madame Tussauds, Wild Life Zoo for 70$ was a steal :) Best part we get 30 days to finish them, we need not rush. More details
OPAL cards: Load it, use it across the trains, ferry to travel around Sydney. Tap it and Tap out, simple.
Sydney Trains for the first time and we head to our first destination, Sea life! The sting rays, jelly fishes, sharks, dugongs, worth every penny :)
We head to the China Town from there, walking along the Darling Harbour and the CBD comes alive! Its a great atmosphere, just walking there.
Next we goto Sydney Tower, 3D movie about Australia then the view from the tower is splendid.
We had to finish the Skywalk too, but we skipped that. Next was Manly beach on our mind.
Took the ferry from Wharf 3 to Manly Beach, the journey to Manly Beach brings us to the Sydney Opera house, harbour bridge and Luna park. Click click....clicking again :)
Crystal clear water, not so crowded beach and lovely weather. Aah! Wish we stayed there for some more time. Exhausted we head back home.
Oct 17th:
Drive to Canberra, on the way we see Kangaroos on the highway. They are like the stray dogs in our country, lying dead. Not a great sight!
2 1/2 hrs and we reach Parliament House, we park the car at the basement of the parliament house!!! Wow, cant imagine something of tht sort. Step into the parliament, history retold in pictures, wall paintings, we are allowed to see the session too but we were hungry, skipped that.
On the way back we goto the Mary's Church
Kangaroos flocked around, this time hopping along with their joeys. Lovely :)
Thank God for helping us with this travel, spend time at the church and we head home.
Oct 18th:
Shopping at Minto mall for the gifts for the folks back home.
Oct 19th:
We explore Syndey on our own, without Uncle alongwith us. Use Opal app, plan the travel and 3 of us in the Sydney train and at CBD. Voila!! :) We did it. So proud. To figure out route to Sealife, walk through Queen Victoria Building after getting down at Town Hall Station.
Next with a pep talk with a New Zealander, we reach our destination, instead of GPS ;)
I prefer talking to people and it worked.
Have the exclusive Australian food at Cargo Bar, head to Madame Tussauds, it was wonderful. Especially the Master Blaster, Glen McGrath, Shane Warne together :)
Next the Wild life which is adjacent, after visiting Feather dale, this is not so interesting. This did not match our expectations.
We take the ferry, go to Circular Quay. Walk to Sydney Opera House and walk back through Botanical Garden :)
All of them at home were worried about us, new comers in Sydney but guess what, Adventure worked out :)
Oct 20th:
Chit chatting with family, old stories, boot hill visit, elaborate Lunch the Aussie way.
Oct 21st:
Shopping at Mccarthur Square and its tough to find stuff which is not made in China :P
Quality is great but folks back home would grumble. Our search continued.
Oct 22nd:
We end buying Chocolates at Aldi and sure that this will not bring up any complaints. Start packing and then our luggage has increased leaps and bounds :D
We still have plans to buy stuff from duty free!
This was the coldest day, Uncle sets up the fireplace at home, barbeque is on with the coals, its a great feeling! Food, conversation....did not realize the day ended.
Oct 23rd:
Day started with a prayer and blessing of the house. Much required for all the blessings that we had and the travel that we were to start.
Farewell, that's tough. Hugs and tears, we leave home.
We are privileged to see the Sydney Traffic the last day when we are heading to the Airport ;) Bangalore feeling already.
Duty free store in Sydney Airport and we add to our luggage. Ideally we should have bought in KL.
It was cheaper too, realized that after coming there.
That night we reach Bangalore, exhausted but the routine feeling sets in...
Next day, School, Office.......
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