Down under delight

Visiting Australia is a lifetime experience to discover its wildlife and bounties

As our aircraft hovered over Sydney's Kingsford Smith airport, my wife and I were more than anxious to discover a continent full of wildlife and scenic beauty. Besides seeing Kangaroos and koalas, I was looking forward to explore the white sandy beaches of Sydney and the Central Coast that stretched all the way from Sydney to Melbourne. It was a dream come true for me to visit Down Under, as I am literally mesmerised with its geography, people, culture and last but not the least, cricket. Australia, a continent in itself, makes you wonder how distantly located it is in the Pacific, as you keep flying down for more than five hours across its territorial breadth before it lands on one of its southern metropolitans. It was a déjà vu for me as I had been on a flight from New York to San Francisco, for more than six hours, bypassing four different American time zones. Visiting Australia is a lifetime experience, and the pleasantness and conformity that reigns supreme makes it a preferred destination for business and leisure.         
I'm indebted to my nephew, a radiologist at a Sydney hospital, whose personal invitation made me plan a trip to Australia, as well as the warm hospitality extended by his wife. The hassle-free immigration, literally a walk away by virtue of biometrics at Sydney airport, made me realise how the world has changed digitally. Australia boasts one of the most sophisticated information technology and database systems, and is among the first to introduce paper-free visas. The country is proud of its history and has a special place in its heart for the indigenous, the Aboriginals. That was manifested during a visit to the capital, Canberra, where the Parliament has put up special monuments and paintings that gratefully pronounce thanks and reconciliation to the Aboriginals, and display statutes and declarations wherein the Prime Ministers and Cabinets have extended their official apology to the wrongdoings that Aboriginals met in the nation's era of transformation.
The thrill and buzz of Australia is in its countryside and major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and last but not the least, Tasmania. Though there is much to explore and trek in Australia, especially in the north such as Darwin and elsewhere, the leisure is, however, much profound as one drives on the sidelines of the coastal highway. A 1,000-kilometre approximate drive from Sydney to Melbourne, and then deep into the 12 Apostles (now only seven are left - also counted among the Wonders of the World) is a magnificent sight to explore. While we were there in winter season, it was a memorable experience to feel the chilly winds coming in from Antarctica. The coastal lane (Great Ocean Road), built by soldiers returning from the World War 1 expedition, is a monument in itself. It reflects not only the nation building process of Australia, but also the concern that the former leadership had to rehabilitate the army men. 
The Kiama Blowhole in Sydney, where water from the Pacific Ocean gushes upwards from a cave, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong pastures, the rain forests, Three Sisters' mountainous apertures (an Aboriginal place), and the Stuart Chalmers Park are worth the visit. 
Sydney is not only exciting, but is also one of the most vibrant cities. Food is passionately served, and one can find all kinds of gourmet in a perfect ambience of their own. A walk across the ANZ Bridge (Harbour Bridge) in the downtown, and the Sydney Opera, Cockatoo Island (in the middle of harbour), as well as a ferry ride to Manly, and Bondi Beach exhilarates your Sydney sojourn. There are a number of mountain peaks across Sydney where one can relish after a ramp drive, and have a bird's eye view of the sprawling city and its fanfare. 

On the Central Coast lane, Melbourne
The transport network in Australia is awesome. Trains, ferries and boats have a cobweb nexus of their own, and people here are happy to hop on the public transport, leaving their cars behind. This helps a lot in not only keeping the cities less congested during peak hours, but also adds to eco-consciousness. The drive to the Snowy Mountains, past Canberra, and wildlife on to the highway of Victoria state from New South Wales are breathtaking. It is no less than a treat to see hundreds of kangaroos and the cattle farms, unscathed from human intervention. What made me feel the greatness of Aussies is a public signboard that said: "Australia belongs to the wild animals, it is they who had inhabited it for centuries. As we are new to their world, we should let them live their own life and not disturb their habitat". Truly, Australia belongs to the kangaroos, koalas, and hundreds of other species that make it so wonderful. 
Melbourne is undoubtedly the world capital for sports. Stadiums and race tracks are all around, and I made it a point to visit the Melbourne Cricket Stadium. It was nostalgic to recall Pakistan cricket team's 1992 World Cup triumph. A fortnight visit is not enough to discover the bounties of Australia, spread all around with its perfect beauty and aura from Perth to Hobart and from Sydney to Darwin, supposedly the origin of human civilisation. 
- mehkri@khaleejtimes.com