16 Strangers, 1 Bus, 30 Wines... Makes a difference!!!

Food!!! Yes, that is what we'd always start with. Is it not. Its what gives us a really good push in life. One that can never be ignored. Its a beautiful aspect of life that many have no clue about. We never want to explore what other dishes and cuisines have. The taste and smells of these wonderful or even weird looking food. Why is it such a difficulty to understand?

I have made one definite decision on this trip to Australia. No INDIAN FOOD. I get enough and more of it when i'm there in India. With the spices and curries and the what nots... I'm in for BREAD and pasta and delicacies that are unknown to my pallet.

Unfortunately, i'm yet to taste something that is going to make my mouth water with delight more than a hot chicken curry. I hear you have subtle tastes and hard spicy tastes too.

But lets put all the eating out of the way, we have more delightful and more interesting business to get to.

The bus ride, Yay.. This is a ride where I really thought to myself, what in the world am I doing. I'm in a bus going to this destination and I know 1 person. yes, exactly one person. No one else. AAAAHHH... I remember thinking to myself. Have I lost it.

My mamma told me not to talk to strangers... Where did all that go?

Jokes apart, Yes, I did feel like the out of place creep sitting in the bus. It was a remarkable experience. Well, Antonella was the first to break the silence, because I was really really unsure of how to kickstart a conversation. Yes, I really was. It was like a mental block just occurred. Where did all those years of meeting new people and talking and  breaking the silence go? Well, I guess, it was somewhere there in the background because after Antonella, It was Cassandra, Emma, Michael, Sophie, Rowan, Jo, Kate etc etc. I cannot even keep track of the names after a point of time. Everyone just warmed up and we all had a great time chatting with each other on this trip.

The bunch of strangers

It sure was a rainy day. We made the best of it though!

McLaren Vale, Here we come... This was the beginning of the trip.

First stop; Paxton winery. :) Yes, it was definitely a wine tasting trip.

Description of what we're having being given

Look at this... Fruits to take away!!!

Give me one good reason its called a Kaffir Lime. Really "Kaffir" ???

After dowsing about 10 different types of wines' both red and white, I realised mixing them was not a good idea. I was drinking a LOT of water and it did help I guess. I was just praying I don't pass out or something. I'm just not the drinker... (just listen to me whine).

Next Stop: Tapestry; Yes, it was gorgeous to step outside. It was one of the few places that having a glass of wine and standing in the sun felt brilliant!

The the second round begin!

Awaiting round 2!!! ;)

This is what the outside was beginning to look like. Its got to have been the best view out.

Any way, All we did was drink more and more. But the last place was a place that had a surprise that was unlike any I had had. Olives. Lovely tasty Olives. It was the Lloyds.

Waiting to be filled just to get emptied.

Line em up people...

Probably the most gorgeous fireplace i've seen

The olives are gone... Loved em

The conversations just kept on pouring

After about 2 drinks in Lloyd and all the extra food, I realised that I was feeling really down and outright bored so I decided to stop the alcohol intake and start with the camera. I tried to take pictures as well as a camera phone would allow of the area around the winery.

The Lake

Patterns by the edge

Olive Trees

Another view

I think that is grass. Not sure though

Steps into the water

Simply gorgeous

Loved the water

Ironically, I got Jo's D90 and started shooting as much as I could. Sadly, I don't have any of those pictures. I wish I did though. I took some really interesting shots.

To give you a summary of the kind of diversity that we are talking about, the various countries that we used to come from are as follows, in no particular order:
1. Australia

2. Italy

3. Germany

4. Korea

5. China

6. Indonesia

7. India

Not bad considering we were 17 of us in the bus. Probably one of the most diverse crowds i've got around to. I have to mention my special thanks to Rachel for inviting me along for this trip and Jemma for being the best tour guide/operator/organiser you can imagine.

All in all, I had a brilliant time.