R D Mathur's Blog

Melbourne has many parks but there is none like Royal Albert Park, right in the heart of CBD Melbourne about 4 kms away. It covers an area of 181 hectares and is one of my   favourite places in Melbourne. Walking here is a divine experience.  The beautiful Albert Park In addition to many sporting facilities here such as North Park Tennis Club , Royal Park Golf Course , football & soccer ovals, baseball & cricket pitches , State Netball & Hockey Centre, cycling & walking paths, the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit also passes through this park. The grassy hill between the Royal Children's Hospital and the Native Garden is ideal for kite flying during the day. In summers Astronomical Society of Victoria sets up telescopes and conduct evening talks and tours of the night sky from this vantage point.  Apart from wide grassland and lightly timbered areas, there are many trees such as eucalypts , C asuarina and A acacias .   In 2005 a wetlands wa...

T oday had a chance to enjoy Boxing Day Sales in Melbourne. In most Commonwealth countries such as Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, December 26 is celebrated as Boxing Day and is a holiday.  Traffic on the road leading to High Point Shopping Centre This custom originated in the middle of 19 th century under Queen Victoria in England. Traditionally this day is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, friendship and love. On that day it was the custom for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. The traditional celebration of Boxing Day included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and people in service jobs. It may have begun with the lords and ladies of England, who presented Christmas gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26.  Crowds @Food Courts  Inside the Shopping Mall  Dis...

Of the little I have seen in the world, Melbourne is one of my favourite cities. Something or the other is always happening here.  Apart from musical programmes, comedy shows, plays etc it is also known as the Street Art capital of the World. You just can’t seem to get enough of it in Hosier Lane, Union Lane, Yarra Place, ACDC lane and Little lane off Duke Street in Melbourne. A large number of people hate Graffiti as it known - writing or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface, often in a public place. At the same time some people try and find character and soul in these drawings. I am not trying to step on the foot of Municipal Authorities, but personally my view is that authorities in each city can and should find places where young people can express themselves as Graffiti may also express underlying social and political messages and a whole genre of artistic expressi...

Continuing from my travel in Cairns.... From Kuranda we drove down to Mossman Gorge which lies 77 kms north of Cairns and 20 kms away from Port Douglas.    It is an interesting journey into the lush rainforest to experience the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest with pristine waterfalls, mountains and vivid flora. Here you get connected to the lives, culture and beliefs of local Kuku Yalanji community which has lived here for thousands of years till Europeans came in 1870. The first mention of this place is in Captain James Cook’s records of his exploration of Australian coast line in 1770. He was the one who thought of the name of Cape Tribulation because it was here that his troubles began when his Endeavour stuck a reef, about 40 kms north east of the cape. Eventually he climbed to the top and saw the Great Barrier Reef for the first time. In 1877, Port Douglas was formed by gold miners who discovered a passage from the inland fields to the Islan...