My Melbourne Yatra... Begins NOW!

September 12, 2012 - Reference Post "Melbourne memories... in Monochrome":

Things moved on from where I left them that day;
From this young lady as seen in this picture doodle ...


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20th October, 2013, Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai:

I stood there... with my bag firmly held in one of my hands and a few spare butterflies hovering in my stomach. The other hand was also occupied, with an indigo colored passport; the words ‘India’ embossed in gold, my boarding pass neatly secured between the pages inside. A few coins clanked inside the bag, Australian cents and dollars, much costlier than an equivalent amount of the Indian National Rupee.

Australia currency - cents and dollars
Australian Currency - Dollars and cents

Also, inside the bag was a big fat edition of the Melbourne Lonely planet guidebook, (something that I could never get myself to read), a copy of the official invite by Tourism Victoria and a few of my planning pages including 'My Melbourne Memories in Monochrome' neatly stapled together in a bunch, a list of all those memories that I wished to bring back from Melbourne.

My Melbourne Planning - Things to do in Melbourne, Australia
My Melbourne Planning

I stood there, thus, waiting for the ladder to roll out of the flight; and all of a sudden, I sensed my eyes turning moist. A mixed emotion of pride and thrill pierced my senses as I gauged the entire situation once again -- an all expense paid trip to Melbourne hosted by Melbourne Victoria, your blessings and good wishes, my prize at IndiBlogger, the support of my family - It was a strange feeling, one that is difficult to explain and one that left me with goosebumps. I closed my eyes and said a silent heartfelt thank you to all for helping me be here.

AI Dreamliner - delhi to Melbourne
My Flight to Melbourne

The young lady stood there, now ready. Her Air India Dreamliner was ready too, bathed in gleaming sunlight, beckoning her on the airstrip; in a few minutes from now, she would fly ...fly to her next dream destination to be – Melbourne!

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Are you ready to fly along?

Post a Comment

32 Comments

  1. So wonderful, I can't think of a more deserving person. I'm so looking forward to sharing your Australian adventure.

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  2. I am so glad to see you back, I thought you were totally gone! Did YOU draw that sketch? It is wonderful, you are quite an artist! I would love to see more.

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  3. Waiting to hear more about your trip Arti. Have a fun filled trip. :)

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  4. Look forward to reading your exploits in Melbourne:)

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  5. Another wonderful journey awaits!

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  6. Eagerly awaiting the succeeding posts. Hope you trip was wonderful and memorable !

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  7. Always love to read your posts... Looking forward to read the coming parts :)

    Regards,
    Sindhu
    Tantu
    The Arts & Me

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  8. Wonderful let the Melbourne series begin... looking forward to read it..

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  9. Wow! Looking forward to the tales from Oz!

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  10. Arti, Nice to read your Melbourne Yatra post, Wonderful, waiting for more....
    ~ da

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  11. Can't wait to read your adventures, Arti!

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  12. Amazing news! I keep my fingers crossed for you. Good luck and have fun!

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  13. A very warm intro to your trip as indeed all your posts are.I am very happy for you and i see that you have taken to doodling in a big way,it is so evocative!

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  14. Good luck to the new adventure of your life. Australia is an amazing country with amazing people, you wouldn't notice one time you already have the accent and have absorbed everything Australian. Enjoy! :)

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  15. Wow ! Ready to fly ! Can't wait for this series to get rolling :)

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  16. Your second overseas travel in your life sounds so exciting, Arti. I like your sketch. Look forward to the details of your adventure though I might not be able to visit you each time, but I’ll scroll down when I have time to see you here. I like Boeing 787 for its name, Dreamliner. I wonder if your flight was before the battery problem was detected. I seem to have lost the sense of time. Have happy December ahead.

    Yoko

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  17. I cannot wait to read whats ahead.
    That is Air India Dreamliner one of the best Air Plane in the world.
    Can't wait for the next post :)

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  18. Love all your Yatras :)
    All of them are full of exploration and adventures.
    P.S.- I like the free hand doodles you make...so cute :)

    Wish you all the best Arti dear <3

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  19. And she's off!! Of course we're ready and eager to travel along.

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  20. wonderful
    waiting to read more

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  21. Did you draw all of it Arti? Lovely they are! Have an amazing trip and come back full of lovely memories and pictures!

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    1. Yes, Anu, these are mine. I try my hand at drawing and other such stuff whenever I can, I love doing it. I am so glad you like it, thank you so much! And, I am already back from my trip, only starting to document things now. Hope to see you along. :)

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  22. You bet, Arti!
    (Reply to- 'Are you ready to fly along'!)
    Waiting for the next in store! :)

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  23. Thank you, Everyone! So glad to see all of you here, can't wait to share all my Melbourne memories with all of you!

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  24. Great Arti ! Looking forward to hear from you all about Melbourne !!!

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  25. Waiting for the virtual tour to Melbourne through your writings and photos :)

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  26. All the best and keep us all posted about all the fun and frolic that you are having.

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  27. Replies
    1. Of course yes!! Virtually since I am already back now :)

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