Opals at Melbourne

How do you return from Australia and return without buying Opals - The National gemstone of Australia. 

Mesmerizing to see the various shapes, colors, and hues that the opal offers.

Penguins at St. Kilda's Beach, Melbourne

On an  extremely cold evening, we headed to the St. Kilda's Beach to spot the famed pygmy sized penguins. A crowed beach in summer, but on a cold evening it wore a deserted look.

The penguins-extremely shy venture out into the sea under the cover of darkness, and during the day nestle in among the rocks and are tough to find. Volunteer with blue torch in hand help the tourist to spot the hidden penguin and goad tourist to avoid flash photograph. This is what I could get without flash -thanks to Photoshop.

Scores of yacht anchored  along the pier

Canberra-Nara Peace Park

Put up in the Hyaat Hotel Canberra had its advantages- located just opposite the hotel was the Canberra-Nara Peace Park, what better place for the customary  morning jog. Now Nara used to be the ancient capital of Japan and is a sister city of Canberra.

Further reading tells that the people of Nara donated generously to establish this park in Canberra. 

Splendid meadows, beautiful wood..

A enchanting  water front, I probably had the most wonderful morning walks.

Canberra

Spending a couple of days here, I learn Canberra is entirely a planned city. That explains unusually large roads, huge vegetation.

This view from Mount Ainsle, shows the city  geometrically laid out by Walter Burley Griffin.

Could spot only cars and fewer people on the road. Life almost comes to standstill at 7 pm in the evening, with many of the shops closing, even in the heart of the city

The Governor Generals Residence

And the look out spot outside

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 Shine dome at the Australian National university 

Some shots enroute to Boondi

Never have mastered the art of keeping a notebook and jotting down the details of the places seen. The result, when the photos are processed, many a times  I have forgotten the location of these shots.

These are some which  were made en route to Boondi beach-Sydney, no idea about the location now.

Bondi Beach

My  friend advised me to enjoy  the  beaches at Australia and lo! we were at  Bondi Beach.

Crowded though, can't imagine, one has to stand in a long queue to buy a pint of beer.

Reminds of Goa, Right?

Saint Mary's Catherdral, Sydney

With a history of more than 200 years the St. Mary's Cathedral, was built and rebuilt over a period of time. This cathedral, built of yellow sand stone stands majestically in the town center. 

Staying in the vicinity of of the St. Mary's Cathedral, enabled me to have my customary early morning walk in the beautiful surroundings. This is early Morning shot 

The interiors are beautiful, but when I got back later in the day the Sunday mass was on, I could only join the mass and refrain from photography. Good at times, enables one to appreciate the grandeur with the naked eye rather than the lens.









A beautiful Statue  of Pope John Paul II in the precincts.






















The frontal view from the main entrance of the church

Jazz and Darling Harbour

The Darling harbour, must be the most happening place at Sydney. On a Sunday afternoon we were here on the Cockles Wharf bay - A place with many restaurant with some Indian too and  were lucky to catch the performance of Jazz on the stage with  the darling harbor in the back ground.

The festivities got even more wonderful, when the crowd joined the beautiful dancer to do their own Jazz steps. Alas ! I was not among them!

The Luna Park-Amusement park with the darling harbor in the background

Kangaroos

If in Australia and you do not get to see a mob (also troop, court) as group  of kangaroos are called, then whats the fun. Got to see a mob in Canberra in wild and what joy it was to observe the animal regarded as the national symbol. Some interesting facts: male Kangaroos are called bucks, boomers, jacks, or old men and females are does, flyers or jills and young ones are joeys.

Kangaroos have powerful hind legs, large feet and a long muscular tail for balance with a small head. female Kangaroos have a pouch called marsupium in which joeys complete postnatal development..



Kangaroos has been a source of food for indigenous Australians being high on protein and low in fat.

Opera House Sydney

Easily the most photographed monument alongside Taj Mahal, The Eiffile Tower, The Statue of Liberty etc.,  The Opera house stand out on the coast line of Sydney. A world Heritage site, designed by the Danish Arictect Jorn Utzon, as a performing arts center, the centre was opened in 1970.

View is from across the bank

A close view in the evening. Its probably the most happening place this time, given the proximity to the harbour and eateries alongside with multiple programs inside,

In the evening when one crosses over in the launch.

St. Angelo Fort Kannur

Facing the Arabian sea a little away from Kannur town is the St. Angelo Fort. Built by the Portuguese and later modified by the Dutch, the fort remains in good conditions today. What started off as a trading station with permission from the Raja of Kulathanadu, later became a  Fort under the Portuguese Viceroy Francisco d' Almeida, only to be captured by the Dutch and later by the British

Surrounded by moat on one side

The Barracks inside

The church within

The canons facing the sea

Tea Gardens of Wyanad

Wyanad-pristine, virgin landscape, unspoit-nature in all its splendor is what you get to see. On a short visit to this norther most part of the Gods Own Country-got to make these pictures and also see - a tea plant too flowers.

Road on to Tsomorori

Few other picture taken around the lake Tsomorori

We finally make to tho Korzok Village. My wife is still down, I sit besides her late into night, giving  spoon full of water every 10-15 minutes. the electricity is erratic and we have  torches and candles. She wakes up in the morning slightly better. We leave her and go around the Village.

Situated against a backdrop of High mountains on one side and Tsomoroiri on the other, Korzok situated at abort 15000 feet , is a settlement of few houses mostly of mud, where a decent bathroom-toilet is a luxury. The Changspa - Nomadic in nature and exposed to harsh winters hardly require a bath .

Life in Korzok revolves around the Monastery. Famous for the  Korzok Gustor festival, the building itself is badly in need of renovation.

But one gets to see the enchanting lake from within the precincts  of the monastery

After a early breakfast, we leave - retracing the route which have had splendid memories etched- though tough. After a journey of about 5 hours we reach Karu - here she take  a little of Curd rice , and for the first time in two days she seems normal - its a huge sigh of relief.

Road on to Tsomorori

The trip to  Tsomorori will be etched in the mind for ever. 200 kms from Leh and about 8- 10 hours journey by road, the final destination being at altitude  of about 15500 ft, we take  Diamox Tablet for High altitude sickness. Just a little while after  consuming these tablet, My wife  starts with severe hick ups withe nausea, we  reach  Upshi, and take a turn. The road now is  among stark mountains with the Indus flowing around. But her condition deteriorates and she is badly shivering and Vomiting.  We cover her with everything we have.

From the loose soil, the landscape changes on to huge rocky mountains, and fortunately  we chance upon a Army Camp. Immediately she is wheeled in and administered oxygen for an hour along with  Rantac and Avomin injections by two lady Doctors in a Army Hospital  in wilderness. I can never thank them enough.

We decide to carry forward, but not without trepidation, The journey gets on to us, for many a mile we are the only tourist travelling-many choose to skip this leg of Ladhak, Alas they don't know what they miss We now encounter some beautiful yellow patch vegetation in and around  and reach Chumanthag - the hot water spring,. She rests in the SUV , oblivious to the surrounding and  we have our lunch and proceed to Mahey bridge.

A turn here changes the land scape again, now its sandy and  dusty track withe loose grave all around. We are alone in wilderness and she starts vomiting severely and I am genuinely scared. I chance upon a ITBP camp. Here again we are welcomed with hot tea and administered  injection. Tsomorio is only miles ahead, 

And the  first glance at The lake is surreal, what I see ahead is some thing I can't imagine, She Is sick and I am not interested in photography,  We do not stop the vehicle, reluctantly I take  the camera and shoot some images.

This is the first image. Surreal and unbelievable spread. 

The Chautaqua Continues......

Likir

Located quite close to Basgo,  is the Likir Monastery. Like many of the monasteries  , this too is located high up in the hills overlooking Indus and the snow clad mountains in the background. The monastery complex- nearly 1000 years,  also houses a  school for children.

A repository of Paintings, vessels, coins swords etc. are housed withing the complex.

The latest addition- A 23 meter high glided gold statue of Maitreya