As usual the unity in diversity could be seen. The ten people who were part of this amazing amusement park trip were:
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Arun (Haryana)
Luma (Rajasthan)
Gaurav Sunkar (Maharashtra)
Nitesh urf Naughty (Delhi)
Raghavendra (Karnataka)
Rahul (that’s me) and my friend Apoorv (representing Uttar Pradesh – two in number as we had to portray the high population density in our state!!!)
Shyam (Kerala)
Suresh (Andhra Pradesh)
Sougato (West Bengal)
We got up at 6 A.M. in the morning. Plans were to have our breakfast at 7 and reach IIT main gate at 8. After futile attempts to draw any other class member for the park, we dropped the idea of hiring a bus. We reached the park by public transport – government buses (From IIT to Guindy, Guindy to Poonamalle, Poonamalle to the Park) - which were no less comfortable than our own vehicle would have been.
We reached the park by 10 A.M. and purchased the entry ticket. Being a group of IIT students we were able to get Rs. 50 off on the entry ticket (Rs. 300 instead of 350). The day was hot and being a Sunday, there was a lot of rush in the park, which unfortunately made us, wait longer for some rides.
The first ride we went on was as shown in the pic below!!! (Oops, I forgot the name.) But it was like a giant wheel, though not exactly similar. It was for the first time in my 23 years of life that I was going to try something of this sort. RBI (who was also a first timer) had gone for the ride before most of us. And he came out vomiting!!! I found the ride good – giving a sensation as if you were flying vertically up in a rocket and then down. 
There after we went for simulator – I had experienced this one in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. But here, the effects were more predominant – with fans blowing at times. The best part of this ‘ride’ was that although this was a ‘mild’ one, RBI ended up vomiting again!!! 
After having neembu-paani and ganne ka juice, we went for go-karting. These people were offering only one round and I was told that the cars weren’t accelerating :-(. This was the first time that I was go-karting and I found it okay.
After some other rides and lunch, it was time for slides. Yes, the park had some water slides and the wave pool!!! We spent around two hours in water. By this time, the sun’s fury had also reduced. And so, we returned to the dry rides once again.
This second phase of dry rides was very very exciting and one full of anxiety. The only trouble was that some of us – RBI (still thinking of vomiting!), Naughty (who had slept for just 2 hours last night), Shyam & Luma (tired) were reluctant to go for rides. These people kept on sitting at a place where as the others went to explore. The first ride we went for was the Centrox. Centrox machine is available at only three places in the world – one of which was Queensland. It was for the first time that I saw the practical application of Centrifugal force where I was the subject matter concerned. Suresh and Arun had already enjoyed the ride. If one would look at it, one would tremble at the very thought of being vertical (83 degrees from horizontal). After much ado, Gaurav (Sunkar) and I went ahead to try it. It was real fun and we experienced not even a quarter of the fear we were anticipating. I would have loved to do it once more had it been allowed. Sougato went for this ride after the two of us. 
After Centrox we headed for the Free Fall Tower. This one was very deceptive – I would say the reverse of Centrox – which seemed more dreadful than it was. This one was terrific. We were seated on the lower bench where our feet were dangling in the air. Imagine yourself at a height of 75/150 feet with absolutely nothing below your feet. For the first round, we were taken 
to only half the height of the tower. I was reluctant to look above or below. The only thing that was running in my (and hopefully others’) mind was – Abe kitna upar leke ja raha hai? Kab rukega? And finally it stopped. And after 5 seconds or so, we were falling with acceleration due to gravity – ‘g’ – 9.81 metres per second square!!! Then was the grand finale – we were at 150 feet – eyes were having a visual treat but the heart was about to 
get an attack. And the machine made us feel twice like we were going to fall but kameene maja le rahe they humse. Sab chupp they. And finally it happened. Free fall from 150 feet to the ground – what a relief it was to place the feet on the ground. And all of us who were on this ride (Arun, Apoorv, Gaurav, Suresh and I) were of the same opinion – that each one was thrilled to the core.
After the free fall we went to take on another challenge – Columbus. Though it was a very common ride, I had never experienced it earlier. Sougato also caught up with us on this ride. This too was terrific, man. It was again a thrilling experience. My god. What a feeling in the stomach and the head – too much!!! And RBI missed an opportunity to vomit with this one!!! 
After Columbus, we went for the cable car. But since the queue was long we decided to skip it and go for roller coaster. Sunkar and I were in the same ‘car’. This ride was again deceptive. When the car would go up, it felt as if it would leave the rails and would take-off. With so many twists and turns, I was afraid that the car would leave the track. But finally we were on the ground once again – safe and secure. 
Queensland Amusement Park is more than an ordinary amusement park. It has some exclusive rides, which thrilled us to the core. Being just a day before our “group’s” people started leaving for their homes, it was our last trip as IIT students and I am sure it would have given lasting memories to all of us. 
