Australia travelogue. March
5th -19th 2015
from the writers ’desk
from the writers ’desk
Vatsala Jambunathan,
Mumbai 400054
Dear All,
We had a great weekend going out together, and today, Monday we went to see the city by ourselves. Mallika Ganesan, my niece dropped us at the Gordon station. After 11.00 A.M, we were all by ourselves till we returned home by 4-30 pm.
Taking the morning train we reached Sydney central Queen Victoria Building (QVB) that had many similarities with NY Penn station and Boston Central. So managed to find the bus terminal, to get into the Free shuttle service, that gives a ride for 40 Minutes and stops near the Quay ( Sydney Harbour).
Stopped at three important land marks
The Sydney Museum, New South wales Central Library (with a walking tour for 45 Minutes) and the Royal Botanical Gardens.(Details follows)
Good walk, sat at convenient resting places, thanksto good planning, we carried our lunch and returned home enjoying every bit.
So that was the way day three was spent.
The week-end and temple visits:
Dear All,
We had a great weekend going out together, and today, Monday we went to see the city by ourselves. Mallika Ganesan, my niece dropped us at the Gordon station. After 11.00 A.M, we were all by ourselves till we returned home by 4-30 pm.
Taking the morning train we reached Sydney central Queen Victoria Building (QVB) that had many similarities with NY Penn station and Boston Central. So managed to find the bus terminal, to get into the Free shuttle service, that gives a ride for 40 Minutes and stops near the Quay ( Sydney Harbour).
Stopped at three important land marks
The Sydney Museum, New South wales Central Library (with a walking tour for 45 Minutes) and the Royal Botanical Gardens.(Details follows)
Good walk, sat at convenient resting places, thanksto good planning, we carried our lunch and returned home enjoying every bit.
So that was the way day three was spent.
The week-end and temple visits:
Friday, Sat Sunday went to see the Chinese and Hindu temples ,
driving a distance of 200+ miles round trip, and a first exposure to the city
by train on Monday.
This helped us return home safely. .Our friends ( children settled down here) came on sat eve to spend time with us. With jet lag setting we had to take leave for the day, only to wake up in the wee hours..
Watching the SriLanka- Australia match at Sydney was great, of course on T V .
This helped us return home safely. .Our friends ( children settled down here) came on sat eve to spend time with us. With jet lag setting we had to take leave for the day, only to wake up in the wee hours..
Watching the SriLanka- Australia match at Sydney was great, of course on T V .
We went for morning walk to
the near by garden trail along with few friends of Mallika and Ganesan. They
give a pen picture of what is in store
for our Cairns visit in the coming
weeks.
Sydney Travelogue
series continued
Visit to Hindu Temple in Sydney, Australia. On 7th March,2015.
Almighty exists every where, and binds people settled beyond the shores of India and "the Down Under" continent is no exception! .
Lord Venkateswara Temple in Helens Burgh, New South Wales, Sydney Australia. It is the only Temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is at a distance of 70 Kms from Sydney and stands at a height of400 ' above sea lea level, close to, the ocean, and built on virgin land surrounded by tropical forests .
As one drives closer to the temple, the Gopuram looks grand and inviting. We were told that the architecture for constructing the Gopuram was done by a sthapathi from India (one Mr Janakiraman from Kumbakonam, India Tamil Nadu).
The temple has four praharams (encircling Corridors ) where the devotees take pradakshinam after offering their prayers at each shrine. We heard that , the Foundation stone was laid in 1983 , with just a Ganesa idol , Lord Balaji and Mahalakshmi and Andal. Kumbabhishekam was performed with Vedic rituals in June 1985, and was attended by all Indians (Hindus) residing in the vicinity and close neighborhood.
My husband and myself visiting this Temple complex , (I had visited it almost 25 years ago) and were amazed, to notice the changes in the complex.
New idols were added --Murugan with Valli and Devasena , 63 Alwars, and 4 Nayanmars,and the Navagrahams .
The layout is well planned with lot of space to move about, a cultural Hall (Multi purpose) and a special enclosure , where in women volunteers gather on week ends to make garlands for the deities.
I would like to share an interesting anecdote told by my relation(my sisters daughter and son in law Mallika and Ganesan, who live in Sydney.
"During one of his visit to Chennai, another devotee had been to Kanchipuram to seek the blessings of his Holiness paramacharyas. He requested Mr .Ganesan(my sisters son in law) to carry the granite bricks to be placed for making the Peetam for Balaji .
Thus a beginning was made then and later other sannidhis came up.
At the Sydney airport, the customs officials made enquiries at the jute sack bag containing the granites initially they were concerned about such a bricks, block being carried all the way by Air. . My son in law explained, that it was only granite stones being carried for placing the Balaji idol , the proposed Hindu Temple that is coming up , and that it was brought with the blessings of Sage of Kanchi, to build the first temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
Hearing to the hour long talk, the authorities after hours of consultation with their seniors, conceded to, their request, handing over the stones , removing it from the gunny bags, which had hay strands tied .
Seeing the stones with full grandeur, the priests performed the sacred ritual, where the local Hindu population gathered since morning to see their Lord come to bless them all".
Today the temple complex looks grand , having multitude of activities , to encourage youngsters in participating in free Gita classes, sanskrit sloka classes and to listen to discourses by several learned Vedic pundits and scholars at regular intervals, on special occasions.
A canteen is run by volunteers especially during week ends and special days.
The priests are given accommodation within the. Complex, who devote their time and energy in the service of the temple.
The city of Helensburgh is blessed to have this temple and we were happy to have visited the temple.
-------------------------------------------------------
Visit to Sydney Cricket Stadium ---12thMarch 2015,
Visit to Hindu Temple in Sydney, Australia. On 7th March,2015.
Almighty exists every where, and binds people settled beyond the shores of India and "the Down Under" continent is no exception! .
Lord Venkateswara Temple in Helens Burgh, New South Wales, Sydney Australia. It is the only Temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is at a distance of 70 Kms from Sydney and stands at a height of400 ' above sea lea level, close to, the ocean, and built on virgin land surrounded by tropical forests .
As one drives closer to the temple, the Gopuram looks grand and inviting. We were told that the architecture for constructing the Gopuram was done by a sthapathi from India (one Mr Janakiraman from Kumbakonam, India Tamil Nadu).
The temple has four praharams (encircling Corridors ) where the devotees take pradakshinam after offering their prayers at each shrine. We heard that , the Foundation stone was laid in 1983 , with just a Ganesa idol , Lord Balaji and Mahalakshmi and Andal. Kumbabhishekam was performed with Vedic rituals in June 1985, and was attended by all Indians (Hindus) residing in the vicinity and close neighborhood.
My husband and myself visiting this Temple complex , (I had visited it almost 25 years ago) and were amazed, to notice the changes in the complex.
New idols were added --Murugan with Valli and Devasena , 63 Alwars, and 4 Nayanmars,and the Navagrahams .
The layout is well planned with lot of space to move about, a cultural Hall (Multi purpose) and a special enclosure , where in women volunteers gather on week ends to make garlands for the deities.
I would like to share an interesting anecdote told by my relation(my sisters daughter and son in law Mallika and Ganesan, who live in Sydney.
"During one of his visit to Chennai, another devotee had been to Kanchipuram to seek the blessings of his Holiness paramacharyas. He requested Mr .Ganesan(my sisters son in law) to carry the granite bricks to be placed for making the Peetam for Balaji .
Thus a beginning was made then and later other sannidhis came up.
At the Sydney airport, the customs officials made enquiries at the jute sack bag containing the granites initially they were concerned about such a bricks, block being carried all the way by Air. . My son in law explained, that it was only granite stones being carried for placing the Balaji idol , the proposed Hindu Temple that is coming up , and that it was brought with the blessings of Sage of Kanchi, to build the first temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
Hearing to the hour long talk, the authorities after hours of consultation with their seniors, conceded to, their request, handing over the stones , removing it from the gunny bags, which had hay strands tied .
Seeing the stones with full grandeur, the priests performed the sacred ritual, where the local Hindu population gathered since morning to see their Lord come to bless them all".
Today the temple complex looks grand , having multitude of activities , to encourage youngsters in participating in free Gita classes, sanskrit sloka classes and to listen to discourses by several learned Vedic pundits and scholars at regular intervals, on special occasions.
A canteen is run by volunteers especially during week ends and special days.
The priests are given accommodation within the. Complex, who devote their time and energy in the service of the temple.
The city of Helensburgh is blessed to have this temple and we were happy to have visited the temple.
-------------------------------------------------------
Visit to Sydney Cricket Stadium ---12thMarch 2015,
Dear all,
We had yet another lovely day to visit the Cricket stadium complex. Went around to see the practice session pitch
AFAGANISTAN DUE TO PLAY tomorrow against England.
later walked into the stands and had a view of the magnificent stadium.
Could imagine how it would be when watching a match between India and the prospective semi- finalist.! Wish this happens this month end.
We had yet another lovely day to visit the Cricket stadium complex. Went around to see the practice session pitch
AFAGANISTAN DUE TO PLAY tomorrow against England.
later walked into the stands and had a view of the magnificent stadium.
Could imagine how it would be when watching a match between India and the prospective semi- finalist.! Wish this happens this month end.
(By the time we reached
home (Mumbai) all hopes were shattered , kudos tot eh home team who played so
well to go up tot eh finals.
Shopping for the much awaited precious
stone OPAL
Australia is home of the
semi precious mined OPAL stones /boulders.
Its fascinating that this
small continent holds the worlds largest reserves of Opal . They are mined,
made into precious jewelry, that every women wish to own a piece of this metal,
valued more than that of diamonds.
Explaining the difference between open cut and man- made, we
were shown different types, colors, shapes and sizes, comparing with the 4 c’s
of diamond selection. --Clarity, cut, cost and cents…
Made our way to the much awaited jewelry shop. OPAL AND PINK PEARLS. Varieties were so many , price range, quality, design, color, man-made Vs open mine settings etc.
the tussle between the design and cost was going on took several minutes to decide
Finally (Mr.J )decided in favor of quality and liking.
It was all packed in small gift boxes, that were sealed and could be opened only after custom cleared at Brisbane Intl airport terminal. However, we took pictures in our camera to share with all.
Made our way to the much awaited jewelry shop. OPAL AND PINK PEARLS. Varieties were so many , price range, quality, design, color, man-made Vs open mine settings etc.
the tussle between the design and cost was going on took several minutes to decide
Finally (Mr.J )decided in favor of quality and liking.
It was all packed in small gift boxes, that were sealed and could be opened only after custom cleared at Brisbane Intl airport terminal. However, we took pictures in our camera to share with all.
After performing the
Karadayar Nonbu, we left for the much awaited trip to Cairns ,Northern
Queensland.
The geographical marvel of
two of the contrating Eco system side by side, one on land and other on the
oceans.
The cairns tour was enjoyed
as a tourist paradise and well preserved in this part of the world. Wait to read in part 2 series of the
Australian travelogue!
Vatsala Jambunathan,
Mumbai
31 st March 2015
The visit to yet anothertemple on the penultimate day of our stay in Sydney was enjoyable. Cool wind, pleasant weather , bit cloudy and few drizzles at the end of our visit and drive back home in time for a hot and mouthwatering
Dosa for lunch was welcomed by all of us.
The temple looked grand and the Abhishekam for Lord Siva was going on.
It was interesting to note, in spite of a working day, devotees were present with families to take part in the morning prayers. Other shrines included the Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devasena, Ganesa and the Navagrahams.
An interesting feature was the the beautiful granite sculptors of the Six abodes of Mumrugan (Aaru Padai Veedu), and the other Murugan temple depicted was the one in Srilanka KATHIRKAMAM Murugan temple.
I was so happy to sing all the Songs I learnt in in my music class, thanks to Radha for making us sing so.os.
Did a bit of last minute tour of the city and got to packing to for the much awaited trip to Cairns .
From the writers' desk.
Vatsala Jambunathan
visit to Cairns
to see two of the most astonishing Natural wonders side by side!
·
Port
Douglas
·
Mossman
Gorge
·
Cape
Tribulation Beach
·
Daintree
River Wildlife Cruise
·
Chef
prepared lunch at Daintree resort.
Witnessed two
Tropical North QLD wonders on a single, great value tour to explore the
stunning Cape Tribulation and visit iconic Mossman Gorge! We were picked up
from our hotel sharp at 8.00 am
You'll be
picked up from your accommodation for a journey to venture into the lush,
ancient heart of this region, heading north along the scenic Queensland
coastline and past Port Douglas, taking in all the incredible reef views along
the way.
Travel further
along the Cook Highway to Cape Tribulation, soaking in the golden beach views
before hopping aboard a comfortable, purpose-built rainforest cruise boat for
an adventure down the heart of the Daintree River.
Kick back and take in
the informative commentary while viewing all the wildlife of the rainforest -
including huge crocodiles which call the Daintree River their home! - before
disembarking and heading on an entertaining, enchanting walk through the
Mossman Gorge National Park before reaching the famed gorge itself. Spend time
at the Gorge before returning to your hotel with some great memories in tow!
For a comprehensive and great value rainforest tour adventure, book this Cape
Tribulation and Daintree National Park Day tour online today.
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