#framed Couldn't decide between the two pictures, so just putting both of them here. @swellsculpture @destinationgoldcoast #swellsculpturefestival #currumbinbeach #art #sculpture #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at SWELL Sculpture Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFIdFSwsr4N/?igshid=ygbz7wj26klq

So yesterday I, @ritika.navodayacreations and @gudwani_v went to the #swellsculpturefestival, and amid a variety of some really intriguing and some plain pretentious s*it was a curious piece. It was simply a labyrinth created on ground with these small rocks. So far, nothing special. But on each of those rocks were written such one-word messages by ordinary people in response to "the one thing you aspire to have right now". And the best part was the galore of positivity on display! You were surrounded by words like "joy", "peace", "love", "serenity" etc. As you went slowly trudging through that labyrinth looking at all those words, the feeling was overwhelming. And suddenly that seemingly banal piece of art turned into the most impressive and ingenious work of art there can be! PS: When I was asked what I wanted most, I could only think of the goal of my life, the ideal I try to live by #contentment @swellsculpture @destinationgoldcoast #art #sculpture #currumbinbeach #thisisqueensland #मैंठहरायायावर (at SWELL Sculpture Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFHduwpMaVE/?igshid=6dqwzddxxwce

In the shadow of giants What a wonderful day of #hiking in the very aptly named #mountglorious with our dear friend @renata_hade. Although it was overcast the whole time, it was beautiful and fun nonetheless. It started with a really good coffee at the quirky #mountgloriouscafe, then completing the #greenesfallstrack, then enjoying a scenic drive to the #wivenhoeoutlook, and topping it all of with lunch at the quaint #elmhauscafe. In between, lots of chats and catching up on all the topics under the sun, ranging from frivolous to deeply philosophical, and tons of #photoops. #daguilarnationalpark #hikinginaustralia #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia (at Mount Glorious) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEgxwloFDFG/?igshid=1vt40ztsuzedz

#हमराह Had to get a quintessential #outback photo with the baked #redearth Pic Credits: @johnpcauchi #हम #rockpool #outbackqueensland #experiencecharleville #outbacktrip #nature #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर #वोभीहैयायावर (at Rock Pool) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfSa6uMOyZ/?igshid=1rh2pzf1m95r4

Long Post Alert:📢 I had been meaning to write about this experience, the cornerstone of our whole trip to the #outbackqueensland and the major reason that we ventured 700+ km from #brissy into the desert. But as always, before I jump into the story let me lay a bit of a background. As a kid I was always fascinated with the sky, the space, the universe. I still distinctly remember running to my terrace any moment I got almost every night and just sitting there, simply staring at the moon and the stars, and coming up with various theories inter alia about contacting Aliens no less! When we first got internet, apart from all the stuff that teenaged boys do 😜, I used to visit #nasa #chandraobservatory website and ogle at all the otherworldly photos of the various exoplanets and star systems. However, thanks to all the #lightpollution in Indian cities and the struggles of growing up, gradually that fascination of mine with the sky became a distant memory. Thankfully, after coming to #australia, I was able to reignite that lost passion, and since stepping on these shores I had been on the lookout for an observatory where I can realise my childhood dreams. And that's when, scouring the internet, I landed on the website of #charlevillecosmoscentre. Thus, I gathered all my #nerds together, baiting them with visuals of an idyllic night under the carpet of stars with just them and a telescope to look at whatever heavenly body they want, and took them on this epic (in relative terms) journey into the #redcentre. And it all was going as per the plan. The #sunviewing was mesmerising. To see your own star, your own God (because I'm a Hindu), is an unparalleled experience. But then came the time to for the #nightskyview. The weather forecast hadn't been good, but I hoped that #nature would be kind to it's self-appointed favourite child and let me have my dreams fulfilled. It wasn't to be though. It started with all the pomp when the roof of the observatory opened to the thundering score from 2001:A Space Odyssey. But soon came the clouds to spoil the party, thankfully not before I got a chance to look at #jupiter and it's 4 moons though. Well, until next time then! (at Charleville Cosmos Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEc7ZSQseaq/?igshid=68h2wn9cy97k

#citylights #dawnpatrol #kangaroopoint #brisbanecity #brisbaneriver #brissylife #thisisbrisbane #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Kangaroo Point, Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEY-mZEsYMF/?igshid=mui33dilwww8

Really loving this initiative by our school of Civil and Environmental Engineering at #QUT. I'm sure it'll broaden our knowledge of the various cultures in our school. #culturaldiversity #cee #scholarlife #qutscieng #celebratingdiversity (at QUT (Queensland University of Technology)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CES7X89Msz4/?igshid=1sp02v320azv

वो आसमां झुक रहा है ज़मीं पर, ये मिलन हमने देखा यही पर। मेरी दुनिया, मेरे सपने, मिलेंगे शायद यहीं। Pic Credits: @johnpcauchi #सुकून #peaceandquiet #nature #landscape #fisherslookout #bunyamountains #bunyamountainsnationalpark #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #भरभरकरफ़िल्टर #मैंठहरायायावर (at Fishers Lookout) https://www.instagram.com/p/CERS2RYFYJ_/?igshid=1v373utbonk8o

And then if we do occasionally run out of poses, we just remember the age-old adage: "When in Australia, do as the Australians do", like, you know, flaunt your #brawn at every opportunity you get 😜 #straya #strayamate #stranglerfig #gianttree #rainforest #bunyamountainsnationalpark #bunyamountains #sceniccircuit #morningwalk #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Bunya Mountains National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEKvC-YsO9N/?igshid=bojxvq2cprrn

रेगिस्तान में भी कमाल है कि #bollywood और #रोमांस ख़त्म ही नहीं होता! Thanks to Bollywood, we seldom run out of poses for any scenario. #मटरगश्ती #outbacktrip #outbackqueensland #warregoriverwalk #experiencecharleville #मैंठहरायायावर (at Warrego River Walk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEKsH00MpI4/?igshid=1q1oostxj2807

चलो सब के सब heightwise खड़े हो जाओ। और सबसे मोटा वाला सबसे पीछे। #romaslargestbottletree #friends #shenanigans #मसखरी #outbacktrip #outbackqueensland #roma #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Roma's Largest Bottle Tree) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFxBFXs3Sf/?igshid=1ew38j5ujrugu

आफताब से चली थी धुंधली रोशनी, धधक उट्ठी वो तुम्हें छू कर। वो क्या है कि प्यार #उर्दू में ज़्यादा रूमानी लगता है 😊 #शायरी #प्रेम #wifeylove #sunsetdiaries #beautiful #मैंठहराशायर (at Mount Kiangarow) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFism-s_jI/?igshid=1x0mlyebkpkig

I just love how dramatic this photo has come to be! Pic Credits: @johnpcauchi #हम #chasingsunsets #sunsetdiaries #mountkiangarow #bunyamountains #bunyamountainsnationalpark #nature #landscapephotography #coloursofnature #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Mount Kiangarow) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEDOhbvsgsL/?igshid=i7x0aqr5gbkx

Now I know why they call #australia the land of #greenandgold. #outbackqueensland #nativebush #spinifexgrass #gumtree #bluesky #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Warrego Highway) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEBteqtMn1m/?igshid=ql4d1e31a3pm

#silhouette at #sunset #sunsetdiaries #mtkiangarow #bunyamountains #bunyamountainsnationalpark #coloursofnature #nature #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Mount Kiangarow) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_YYbpsIfB/?igshid=8kn7l1xbo95b

And if you've been on the road for a week like we did, the #greatartesianspa in #mitchellqld is the best antidote to sore muscles. The feeling of melting in the naturally-heated waters of the #grearartesianbasin, the underground river that's the lifeline of the #outbackqueensland, is truly a blessing. #outbacktrip #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Great Artesian Spa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_U1PUMJf2/?igshid=ua1vgewnz6bu

Just the vast expanse of #untamed #wild #landscape. #outback was not one of my childhood dreams, rather it was a cultivated interest after I grew more interested in world geography after highschool. I remember watching a doco that showcased Uluru way back, and since then i was fascinated by this vast, almost inhospitable territory smack dab in the middle of Australia. I was always fascinated by deserts anyway, and Outback is the perfect example of Nature at its most brutal, yet intriguingly beautiful. It's a surreal feeling getting to experience things and places that I once used to read about or watch on TV. #rockpool #charleville #experiencecharleville #outbackqueensland #outbacktrip #thisisqueensland #nature #naturephotography #landscapephotography #seeaustralia #मैंठहरायायावर (at Rock Pool) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_S7sOM16Q/?igshid=wmzeaijqgct4