It was that time of the year when a lot of challenges were coming my way both at a personal as well as at a Global front. I never imagined, as I’m sure all of us didn’t, that my 2020 would take such a drastic turn. While Covid-19 hit the whole world, I was hit by a person close to my heart, a person who occupied a large space in my life, perhaps even more space than myself. A truth so crushing and so heartbreaking was disclosed that it left me questioning everything around me.
In an attempt to not make any rash decisions, I decided I needed a spiritual break to rediscover myself. Despite having traveled a lot, I never traveled alone because I never felt the need, and perhaps, if I am being honest, I was a little scared. But with the virus crossing boarders like fire, I had to decide on this self-discovery trip quickly, and I wanted to go some place I never visited and where I did not have many friends. That's how I choose Melbourne to find my calm in a busy city.
I had a chat with my manager, explained her the situation and once my leave got approved, I opened my laptop to make a few quick bookings and within 16 hours I was in the air. I was alone, nervous and excited, all at the same time.
As soon as I landed, I found my way to the Skybus purchased a return ticket and reached my hotel by noon. The hotel wasn’t great, but it fit my budget and location and gave me bed and bath, so I can't complain. I unpacked, freshened up and stepped out to relish on Chicken Biryani at Dosa Hut. Good food for any mood is my mantra!
After lunch, I walked my way through shopping malls, the hipster streets and finally took a tram to the State Library. For the first time library never felt like a library. It was flooded with people some clicking pictures like me while the others working on their laptops and scribbling through a pile of books. Then I reached the center dome and voila! What an epic architecture, truly enchanting filled with a sense of awe and wonder. I wandered the library rows and discovered a wealth of information about the history of Melbourne, the infamous bush fires and much more. On my way back to my hotel, I choose to walk around the city so skipped the free tram. I stopped at some popular tourist spots: Melbourne central, Federation square and Flinders street.
I was back at my hotel by 6PM, for me, safety comes first, made a couple of phone calls, had my leftover Biryani for dinner and went to bed early for an exciting next day.
Wanting to make the most of my time in Melbourne, I booked a tour to Great Ocean Road the previous day with Autopia travels who picked me up from my hotel at 7:30AM. We began our long day journey stopping at Anglesea beach for a coffee break. I made sure to pick up some donuts from Coles the previous day.
By 9:45AM, we reached our first tourist spot on the Great Ocean Road, the Memorial Arch. Then we drove past the beautiful Lorne Village and stopped at Kennett river. Tucked into the base of huge bush-laden hills we were able to spot Koalas and some Lorikeets in the native trees. We stopped at Apollo Beach for lunch where I ate 2 slices of pizza at George’s restaurant and bought a souvenir.
Our next stop, the walk in Melba Gully State Park Rainforest was invigorating after which we finally reached the hero spots of our trip, Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles. The view of the limestone formations from Loch Ard Gorge was mesmerizing. I walked down to the beach and dipped my feet in the freezing cold seawater and felt the warmth of the white sand. I stood there for a while with the winds touching my face, the sound of water hitting the shore and the touch of silky sand on my feet. It all felt like a meditation and I was lost in my senses.
I went back to my hotel with these comforting and tranquilizing memories. That night, for the first time since things began to unravel, I slept well like a baby. After almost a month of heartbreak and many months of distress, I finally felt peace within myself.
I woke up early, packed my bags and decided to have a good breakfast before checking out of my hotel. After a hot shower and some pampering, I headed to Hardware Société where I tickled my taste buds to Green Tea and a delicious Fried Brioche. Back at my hotel, I did the final packing and stepped out into the city. Since trams were shut down for maintenance, I wandered my way through the streets to Crown Casino. After taking a stroll by the Yarra river, I bought myself a ticket and took an elevator to reach the 88th floor of Eureka Skydeck. Heights have always fascinated me, and I couldn’t have left without this aerial view of the city that had given me so much during the hour of need. I gazed at the streets below and the ocean across from the height for about 2 hours, filled with a sense of wonder and hope.
As I got down and began my quest to finding lunch, I stopped at the Immigration Museum on my way. I found a wealth of knowledge about various immigrant cultures and communities inside those walls. After a while, I continued my hunt for lunch and stumbled upon Betty’s Burgers. The place felt vibrant, so I stepped in and ordered a Crispy Chicken Burger with Cheese and Betty’s Special Sauce. As a side I went for Fries along with Sriracha Mayo Sauce. That was one hell of a burger, so yummy! I'm glad I found this place.
Before heading back to the hotel to pick up my bags, I visited the H&M located in an old GPO building. It is an interesting architectural setting with a heritage feel outside and a modern feel inside. I went back to my hotel, picked up my bags and headed to the Southern Cross Station to catch a Skybus back to the Airport.
On my way back home, I reflected on my overall experience and learning from this trip. Every booking I made, every place I visited and everything I did was unplanned and yet the whole experience turned out perfect. Sometimes, you don’t have to plan for perfection, things will fall in place when you’re determined. This trip helped me realize that I’m self-sufficient, independent and that I’m capable of putting my safety before anything else. It gave me confidence in who I am and a sense of knowing that I will be fine, regardless of what comes my way in life. A lot of times we forget who we are and what we are capable of by living in the shadows of our parents or partners or hiding behind our jobs. So, when the time calls, it’s good to listen and come out of our comfort zone. This allows us to reflect on our strengths and weaknesses and gives us an opportunity to just understand ourself better. Knowing who you are and backing yourself is the greatest gift you can get in life.