Melbourne Dreams and a Giveaway!!!!

Are you a die hard Cricket fan planning a trip to Melbourne for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup or a Tennis fan, wanting to be there for Australian Open, and if you thought Australia was all about Cricket, Tennis and Kangaroos, here we are to prove you wrong. Have you checked Tanmay and Rohan's videos, who went on Melbourne Escapade, and came up with some amazing stats and facts on Melbourne.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne the capital city of the Victoria state of Australia, knows how to plan with its contemporary and modern buildings, while still preserving its history, heritage and art. While the Eureka Skydeck gives you the breathtaking bird's eye view of Melbourne city from its 88th Floor, the city also preserves the world's oldest remaining exhibition pavilions, the Royal Exhibition building, and Puffing Billy steam train operating since 1900.

The historic Puffing Billy and the Eureka Skydeck

While Queen Victoria Market with its 1000s of stalls, has everything for a foodie and shophalic, the Hosier Lane makes the city World's greatest street art capital with its amazing street art. 

Street Art and the Queen Victoria Market with a tram

While the yester year City Circle tram, takes you through the city covering its iconic places, the contrasting helicopter ride and hot air balloon, takes you through the tour of 12 Apostles and Vineyards.

Hot air Balloon over the Yarra Valley and Helicopter tour of 12 Apostles

While Melbourne has more than 850 wineries for wine lovers, Melbourne also is the coffee capital of Australia satisfying the taste buds of thousands of coffee lovers. Equally satisfying Strawberry lovers, with its acres of Strawberry farms and Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, with tons of chocolates going into creativity.

Strawberry Farm and Chocolate Village at Phillip Island Chocolate Factory

Love long drives, then drive the Great Ocean Road through the forest, mountains and ocean capes, with the view of 12 Apostles, else just watch seals, penguin parade or relax and rejuvenate at the Peninsula Hot Springs with massage, mud wraps, hot stone and steam treatment.

Hot Springs at Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road

Seals and Penguin Parade

This place is the proof for one of the legendary sea journey's of 1878, Loch Ard Gorge Beach, named after clipper ship Loch Ard, which ran aground at the Muttonbird island, finishing 3 months old journey from England to Melbourne.

And yes how could you forget Kangaroos, when being in Australia. Ballarat Wildlife Park, the best place where you get to encounter free roaming Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Tasmanian Devils and more.

Koalas and Kangaroos

So wouldn't you love to visit this wonderful place, a place for everyone!!! 

After treating your eyes with the wonderful virtual tour of Melbourne, its time to treat you with a New Year gift. So whats that, which amazed you the most in Melbourne, answer the question and win a gift voucher from Victoria Tourism.

How to Win?

All you have to do is watch the videos, Tanmay and Rohan's Melbourne Escapades and answer this simple question.

"Which of these places would you want to visit in Melbourne and why?".

You have to leave your answer on the comment section of this post. 

What you Win?
One best answer will win Rs. 500 gift voucher.

Till when?

The contest ends on 4th Jan 2015. So hurry, spread the word.
PS: The contest has been extended by a day, it ends on 5th Jan, hurry..
The Giveaway is closed and the winners will be announced soon..

Terms and condition: 

The decisions made by jury with respect to the winners shall be final and binding in all respects.

Wish you all the best for the contest and A Happy Year, ENJOY!!!

Thank you all for being part of the contest, the winner is, 

Ruby Singh

Congrats Ruby Singh!!!

PS: All images are sourced from Victoria Tourism website and the author doesn't own them.

Kutch Diaries - Rann of Kutch

Previous Post on Kutch Diaries, Kutch Diaries - Travel Plans
Our day 1 at Kutch was the tour of Kala Dungar and White Rann(Greater Rann of Kutch). Rann of Kutch(the Greater Rann/White Rann and the Little Rann) is a shallow wetland which submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons. The Rann of Kutch is famous for its marshy salt flats which become snow white after the water dries up each season before the monsoon rains.
We reached Bhuj by 9 in the morning, after freshening up, we left for Kala Dungar, the highest point in Kutch. Kala Dungar is 90km from Bhuj and the road is in very good condition. But you don't have any good restaurants on the way, till Toran resort which is also 85km from Bhuj, so better carry enough munchings for your drive. At Bhirandiara, which is around 53km from Bhuj, there are two routes, one to White Rann and other to Kala Dungar.
Permit to White Rann: At Bhirandiara village you get permit to enter the White Rann, as White Rann is at the India-Pakistan border. Our guide suggested us to take the permit, as the counter was not crowded(it could also be got while returning back from Kala Dungar). The permit can also be got at the Gujarat Police DSP office at Bhuj near Jubilee Grounds(closed on Sundays and 2nd and 4th Saturdays).
Permit charges: Rs. 100 per person and Rs. 50 per car. You need to produce id proof, better carry a photo copy of your(including family members) id as well.

Kala Dungar or Black Hill is the highest point in Kutch, and you get the view of the white desert from here. On the way to Kala Dungar, we drove through Khavda village. Being very close to Pakistan border, this village gives you a glimpse of any Pakistani village, men in Pathani suits. We drove ahead to Kala Dungar. As we near Kala Dungar, the road up hill is very narrow, and we were said, during peak vacation season, that route is mostly heavy in traffic.

There is a temple on the top, your vehicle reaches till the temple, then after you can take a camel ride or go by foot for another 100meters. Then there are stairs to reach the peak. The peak gives you an awesome view of the desert, a white stretch beyond boundaries. But with the misty weather, we could hardly make out the horizon.

View of Rann from Kala Dungar

View of Rann from Kala Dungar

On the way to Kala Dungar is Toran Resort, by Gujarat Tourism. While returning back from Kala Dungar, we had lunch at Toran and headed to White Rann.

We reached back to Bhirandiara and took the deviated route to White Rann. This route is full of ads by Resorts and Handicraft stores. Its another 35km drive from Bhirandiara which reaches you to White Rann.
First you get the Tent City, the temporary tents for the Rann Utsav. Then, you get the stalls selling Kutch handicrafts and food stalls(The Rann Utsav). The stores have the traditional handicrafts from across Kutch and India.

The Gateway to White Rann

After spending time here we drove to White Rann. You submit your permit at the final check post just before entering the salt flat. Vehicles are not allowed with in this, while you can take camel ride, to reach the end of the road(around half a km). While we were told, you can drive till the road end, during rest of the year(when Rann Utsav is not on). The crystal clear salt flat spread through the horizon leaves you mesmerized. The white salt stretches till your sight reaches.

The World's largest Salt Desert

The crystal shine salt

As part of Festival, they have adventure sports, and folk performance at the White Rann too. Also are camel rides and pony rides.

Performance at the white desert

  

After sun set, we drove back to Utsav stalls, had snacks, shopped Kutch souvenirs  and drove back to Bhuj by 9PM. Though the road is very lonely, its quite safe and as it was Utsav time, there was enough traffic.
Stay connected for more on Kutch Diaries.

Next Post on Kutch Diaries Kutch Diaries - Rann Utsav, A Photo Essay

MaxLife i-Genius Young Singing Star Grand Finale!!!

Date: 17 December, 2014

Venue: Taj Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai

Website: http://www.igenius.org

Every child is blessed with one or the other talent, an amazing vocal, theater skills, a hidden author or anything for that matter. Its we parents who need to recognize their hidden talent and nurture them to better their future. 

MaxLife Insurance has taken up such an initiative to recognize the hidden talents from across the country. i-Genius programme which was launched in 2010, has become a benchmark initiative in the country to recognize young talent. They have connected with over 20 lakh children across the country through their i-genius Scholarship, Young Authors Hunt programme and this year's Young Singing Stars. MaxLife Insurance along with leading music label Universal Music India, launched ‘i-genius Young Singing Stars’ programme, a nationwide search for young singing talent. This unique competition provided exciting platform for aspiring and talented young singing stars, giving children aged between 8- 15 years the opportunity to have their songs heard by industry professionals and a chance to have their own music album. Through a rigorous three phase selection process the panel of jury shortlisted many top performers. The video conferencing round resulted in the final short listing to top 10 who went through mentoring sessions with Salim Merchant and Shraddha Sharma. 

Few of we bloggers from Blogadda, were invited for the grand finale of the i-Genius Young Singing Star, which was held at Taj Lands End, in Mumbai. As always, I was there quite on time to the event, joined other bloggers. 

The event started off with mesmerizing performance by host for the evening Mansi Scott. Mr. Rajesh Sud CEO and Managing Director, Max Life Insurance and Ms Anisha Motwani, Director & Chief Marketing Officer, shared the journey of i-Genius YSS. How the platform was made available to all children who dream big and aspire to achieve greater heights. Out of 1.26 lakh entries, 9,000 plus entries were by under-privileged children as a result of a special inclusion drive conducted by Max Life in 7 cities. Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director - Universal Music Group and EMI South Asia said, it was the most amazing talent he had witnessed in his career. And those Young Singing Stars were truly the future of India and Universal & EMI were proud to be an integral part of the process of discovering and nurturing those future stars. He added, he was excited and eagerly waiting to start recording the albums and singles and introduce the Young Singing Stars to the world at large.

Salim Merchant and Shraddha Sharma performing for the evening

Then was the introduction and performances by the jury for the evening Shraddha Sharma, a Youtube superstar who has over million fans following her music on Youtube, and Salim Merchant, a leading composer and director who has directed over 40 movies.

The super talented i-Genius Stars

Panel of Jury Devraj Sanyal, MD - Universal Music Group and EMI South Asia, Salim Merchant, Music composer and director and Youtube SuperStar Shraddha Sharma

Followed by two rounds of performances by top 10 finalists who kept everyone engaged with their amazing vocal. To add to the melodies for the evening, were the performances by Kavitha Seth and Raga Trippin', a unique band of six, who perform non-instrumentally music, solely depending on the sounds and rhythm created by their voice. 

Mansi Scott and Kavitha Seth

Raga Trippin'

The Top 10 finalists

The event ended with the announcement of the two winners, Shrada Shreya amongst the seniors and Shivam Ahuja amongst the juniors who won an album contract, whilst the 8 finalists won 'single song' contract with Universal Music Group.