Day 142 of international places giving smiles – Remembering the long drive from Bathurst to Wogga Wogga in Australia
20th Dec.09 We are ready to go on a long drive along the Great Diving Range of Australia. Our first stop for a coffee break is at this place is called Bathurst. We can see the famous Mount Panorama racing circuit from here. There were some vintage cars and carriages on display too.
Barren countryside for miles and miles continued to be with us on our long drive. Some of the villages were really small…I saw a signboard with announced the name of a small village with a population of 125…Imagind only 125 residents in the whole village…we have more than that living in our apartment complex in Mumbai!
Our next stop was at this village is called Kootamundra. Its claim to fame is the connection to the legendary Australian cricketer Don Bradman. We soon found ourselves standing in front of the house where he was born!
Finally we reached our destination for the day a city with a funny name called Wogga Wogga. At a building that overlooks the Murrinbidgee river at Wogga Wogga.we visited an 81 year old friend who has 9 children, 26 granchildren and 15 great grandchildren and lives alone doing all her work independently!
Understood the true meaning of having a proper English High Tea with another Australion aged couple. They served us tea and carrot cake in formal table settings with centuries old silverware and wafer thin chinaware crockery!
Our Indian friend took us for dinner with her Australian friends at the only Indian restaurant at Wogga Wogga called Tandoori
21st dec.09 We were lucky to have a local Australian friend who showed us around Wagga Wagga. We had a great view of the town from its highest point on the Willins Hill.
Then we went to the City Civic Centre of Wogga Wogga which has a numbers of art galleries, theatre, meeting rooms, etc. We appreciated the architecture of the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery & National Art Glass Gallery. Son pointed out to me the number of acute angles used in this structure, designed like breakaway shreds of glass
On one end was the Wollundry Lagoon and on the other side was the Victoria Memorial Gardens. At the victory Memorial park that was built as a tribute to the soldiers who took part in the First world war, we just spent time amongst nature.
I was surprised that we were allowed to enter the town council chambers. Any member of the public can even walk into their Meeting room where the Town Councillors take important decisions. Just couldn’t imagine this happening in Mumbai!
On the drive further away from Wogga Wogga, we passed a small village called Gundagai. There is a small statue to depict the legend of a dog who sat for 5 days on the tucker box waiting for his dead master to return.
Marveled at how anything can be turned into a tourist attraction in this new country…as compared to centuries old cultural attractions which still have not fully realized their tourist potential in our great ancient country of India.
So which place made you smile today?
Be grateful for the places that make you smile!
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