WHERE STARS TAKE STOCK OF FOREIGN LOCALES, LOCALS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
From sunbathing on Fiji's Turtle islands to catching sunsets in Monaco, resort-hopping in Bali to walking through foggy London and buzzy New York City, Ileana D'Cruz and her Australian photographer-actor beau, Andrew Kneebone, have made every holiday together special. A self-proclaimed beach bum, the 28-year-old actress believes her home state, Goa, has the best beaches in the world but she's been hanging out on Melbourne's beaches more than usual these days since the love of her life is based there.
Capital of the Australian state of Victoria, Melbourne rates high in education, enter tainment, health care, tourism and sport. It was voted the world's most liveable city --for the fifth year in a row in 2015, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Melbourne is often referred to as Australia's "cultural capital" and the birth place of football and the Australian film and television industries.
I love Melbourne's sun-kissed, picture-perfect beaches, with sand between my toes and being drenched in seawater. Last year, I was there and left wonder-struck by the spectacular sunsets, the sky turning purple and orange. It was a Christmas in paradise! The cherry on the cake was bringing in the New Year with an Ed Sheeran concert.
My Australian adventures predominantly revolve around food.They really know their lamb ribs and grilled chicken (inset), their signature dishes. I enjoy home-cooked meals, fresh coffee and the sweets. I recently tried kawah, a cinnamon and saffron tea, it was delicious! I love going grocery-shopping, chatting up the old woman behind the counter who always has interesting things to share about her night shifts and the people she meets.
The locals are welcoming and I get to be the girl behind the actress. Andrew is only comfortable being clicked by me. I snapped him at a cosy lil' coffee shop in Fitzroy one afternoon. It was amazing how many wonderful memories that photo brings back.
I once went for a outdoor wedding of a close friend of Andrew's.It reminded me how vast and diverse the country is, a melting pot of differ ent influences. The wedding cake, beer, barbecue, aboriginal delicacies like deer and pork, and piggy back rides -a ritual where the groom and his friends run a race, car rying their better halves on their backs -were the highlight of the ceremony. It was lovely!
I never read the newspapers and don't follow the news when I am in Australia. I sit back, chill, interact with the locals every night by bonfires on the beach, occasionally read a book I like. Melbourne is my home away from home.
