Cuddling the kangaroo: A dream waiting to be fulfilled

Rome has history, Paris has romance, Thailand has culture and Africa has wildlife! But if I were to go to a place, it would be Australia.

“Mom, look, it’s so cute! It’s still a baby, though” I gushed.

“Don’t go too close to it,” my mom chided me.

“No mom, I want to cuddle it,” I ran towards the baby kangaroo and lifted it in my arms. It flapped its arms and leapt out of my hands and hopped away towards its mother.

I opened my eyes. (Ah, it was such a sweet dream; one that has been haunting me since I first heard about Australia being the land of the kangaroos.). Will the dream ever come true? Will I ever make it to Australia in my next remaining life or will they be as Australia-free as my last 26 years have been?

So, I was thinking of heading to this dream destination in the southern part of the planet (I remember once a classmate from my old school had gloatingly explained how Australia celebrates its Christmas in summer because of its southern geographical location). But, alas, I don’t have that much money right now to make my fantasy come true. So, I had planned to make weekly investments in lottery tickets (yes, given the vast number of permutations & combinations, the probability of my winning the 1^st prize is as low as the batting average of Glenn McGrath). But, I think I should seriously consider this option!

And then comes the news that IndiBlogger (my favorite thing in the world) has organized a competition which will take me to Melbourne, if I win (But OMG, the competition is getting scarier with every passing day)!

Now, they have put forth a difficult question in the contest! I mean, what do they mean by ‘what would you like to bring back from Melbourne’? I mean I would want to bring back the whole of Melbourne (and given our geographical area, I am sure that it will easily fit into our country) but well, since I can’t do that (the Australian public would kill me), there are some fond memories that I am sure I can afford to carry back.

I haven’t been to Melbourne (not yet), but I have heard a lot (from that boastful classmate of mine) and have read a lot (in lots of places). So, I know what to expect from this place! Let’s first put our attention to MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) which is a must-visit for a cricket-greedy persons like me. And this website http://www.visitmelbourne.com/in tells me that there is an enchanting National Sports Museum which must not be missed (not unless, you wish to commit sporting blasphemy). Skiing is another thing I am looking forward to. It has always interested me (I mean it looks so inviting when we watch it on films). But will I be able to ski? Nevertheless, even if I fall off recurrently, I will happily lap up the euphoria that this snow-crested Victoria is promising me!

I don’t want to waste away my time inside the hotels (even though these Melbourne hotels are going to be a thoroughly luxuriously pampering experience). Like any average tourist, I am thirstily hungry to do some Melbourne sightseeing. The esteemed and friendly-looking website (which I linked above) further informs me that there are countless attractions in the city. Apart from MCG (I had read a few years back that it’s one of the two favorite venues of Sachin Tendulkar, now don’t ask me which is the second one), there is the Healesville Sanctuary (where I plan to cuddle koalas and kangaroo babies, no matter how much my mom chides), National Gallery of Victoria (Aw, I love paintings and art works, even though I can hardly draw anything of my own), Melbourne Aquarium (finally, I can look at what goes around under the sea), Werribee Open Range Zoo (wild animals roaming freely in the open) and Scienceworks (one can virtually travel through space here). There are plenty of other attractions (yes, plenty) but I am feeling too lazy to write the names of all of them (that actually makes my craving level reach astronomical heights). 

I’m not a big foodie (though occasionally I do allow my belly the occasional euphoria). But Melbourne is so much full of these tempting cuisines, rich wine and delicious-looking restaurants, that even a not-so-foodie like me will spend half his holiday munching and chewing!

Speaking of shopping (and this is specially written for the women), Melbourne presents countless markets, malls and shops- all flaunting international brands and Victorian designer apparels. My wallet is all agog with excitement, waiting to be ripped open (I guess I will be much poorer by the time my trip is complete). Both my mind and my heart are screaming ‘…it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!’ But will I or will I not, that is the question!

So, will my dream come true? Will I be able to cuddle that baby kangaroo that has made a permanent place in my dreams ever since I was a pre-teenager? (And, I have heard that there are penguins as well, waiting to be cuddled)! Will IndiBlogger give me a chance to live my dreams? Or will all my dreams get trampled by the hoard of competitors, all eyeing this Melbourne trip with a smack on their lips? If I win, I shall be ecstatic, euphoric and jumping up and down (Ah)! And if I lose, maybe I shall go back to my original idea of investing in weekly lottery draws (Oh)!

But…..I am sure one day, somewhere during the journey of my life, I shall make it to Australia and cuddle that baby kangaroo! Till then, it will have to wait…….

Rome has history, Paris has romance, Thailand has culture and Africa has wildlife! But if I were to go to a place, it would be Australia. And now you know why……….

[This post has been penned for IndiBlogger's 'it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW' contest in association with http://www.visitmelbourne.com/in.]