Three Days in Sydney, Australia

It began on one of those listless afternoons after a midnight shift. The kind where time feels elastic and the world, muted. I was idly scrolling through the internet when a message from my friend Jery appeared:

“Nievie and Hana are going to Australia this September. I’ll send you their itinerary. You in?”

Let's Talk About Perth

Perth is said to be the remotest capital city in the world. Well, I can attest to that! Our flight from Hong Kong showed us the blue skies above the West Philippine Sea, followed by the most beautiful sunset over Borneo Island. During the last three hours of our flight, small towns punctuated the inky dark landscape from my view as dusk turned to night. Even on our final approach, I couldn't discern a metropolis or cityscape as it was too dark outside. That's how remote Perth is. Several assumptions about Perth had been plaguing my mind at that time as I exited the airport terminal. But, as I embark on this solo trip, I'll see to it that whatever the outcome of this trip, I shall embrace it wholeheartedly.

Or so I thought. Join me as I explore Perth, Western Australia. 

Musings 01 from my solo birthday in Perth, Australia

“Excuse me, mate! Your coat looks amazing! You look good in it.”, said a local while walking back to my hotel at Hay Street in Perth. I had layered clothing because it was only 9 degrees in Perth. I wore a tan trench coat, wine-colored sweater, faded olive green pants, and low-cut brown corduroy Doc Martens shoes.

“Thank you, I appreciate it, mate! This is only from H&M, by the way. I bought this coat in 2016 in Bali because they were on sale!”

“No way! But we loved it! It looks good on you!”

“Thank you!” I replied with a smile. It’s not every day you get compliments from a stranger!

If there’s one important life lesson I learned from this solo trip to Perth is accepting compliments. Growing up, I was never confident, especially in my physical appearance. I was never the ‘crush ng bayan’ or the star player back then, not that I wished it, but when you’re in high school, being physically attractive has its advantage. I won’t dig deep as the list is very long, but you get my point. Being smart wasn’t enough, but at least I survived! I still have something to offer.

My 33rd #Perthday Celebration and some first impressions about this city

These are some of the snapshots of Perth’s Central Business District. Here are some of my observations and anecdotes:

1) I keep hearing many Bisaya conversations while walking around. While waiting to cross the street, I overheard two elderly couples conversing in Bisaya. As a maritess, I interrupted them briefly and asked, “Uhm, excuse me, taga asa mo?”. They got caught off guard. “Hala dong kabalo diay ka mag bisaya? Abi nako taga diri ka!”. Oh, puh-lease auntie, thanks for flattering me. It’s the Leo season. I feel good. Lmao

2) Growing up in the big cities in the Philippines, which are noisy and busy 24/7, Perth is the exact opposite. The stores close at 5 PM sharp (from retail shops to Woolies). Some restaurants, convenience stores, and fast food chains are open until late at night… but the lack of crowd AND the silence was truly deafening. If you’re looking for a city with a shit ton of nature, decent-sized, and some peace, then Perth is the place to be.

3) The CBD is relatively walkable and small, just like Sydney and Melbourne, albeit quieter. They say it’s livelier every Friday night, but I shall keep my expectations low.

4) Staying right at the heart of Perth CBD was my best decision for this trip. If I chose to stay at a lakehouse north of CBD, I’d be bummed.

I’m staying here for eight days. I already have my tours booked for the next couple of days. I’m just taking it slow.

PHOTO DIARY: Vivid Sydney 2019

Yesterday was supposed to be the first day of Vivid Sydney. Vivid Sydney is a festival of light, music, and ideas. It unites not just artists and music makers, but also tourists around the world. From 6pm each night mesmerizing art installations and 3D projections transform Sydney’s architecture and open spaces along the harbor foreshore including The Rocks, Circular Quay, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Darling Harbour, Luna Park, and Chatswood.

Unfortunately, this year's Vivid Sydney is canceled due to the ongoing global pandemic. Here are some of the photos that I took when I went here last year. It was a visual feast and a spectacular experience. Defo one of the highlights of my 2019!

Eight Glasses of Beer

My friend and I went on a road trip and explored the towns of Bendigo, Echuca, and Ararat in the state of Victoria. These towns are at least several hundred kilometers away from Melbourne. They're so far that only a few foreign tourists know about these places–including me. Before this trip, he told me that life in the Australian countryside is so different from the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Aside from having a more relaxed environment and a laidback lifestyle, the locals are friendlier and love engaging in small talks.

We made a quick stop at Bendigo for a quick lunch before driving further north to the town of Echuca. Located near the border of Victoria and New South Wales, Echuca is an idyllic town. Rustic cabins and old but restored buildings no taller than three floors line up the town's commercial district. The place reminded me of a scene straight from an American Midwest film from the 80s, albeit the cowboys, tumbleweed caught in the desert wind, and guns. The shops close as early as six in the evening, and the only shops open for the rest of the night are pubs and Maccas.

Vivid Sydney 2019

I hate to write this, but it's been a while since the last time I updated this blog. Apologies, but I was too preoccupied about a lot of things lately–my plans for next year, new work environment, and a whole lot more. I was feeling anxious that I've lost my writing mojo. So not me. But I just realized that I am too blessed to be stressed! Last May, my mom and I went to Sydney, Australia. My fourth time, her first time. Thus, I became her tour guide.

Singapore Airlines Economy Class Flight Review: Davao to Melbourne

For years, Singapore Airlines has always been on top of its game.

Months ago, it was named as 'World's Best Airline' in Skytrax's World Airline Awards. It also bagged three awards in other categories in the annual airline quality rankings namely World's Best First Class, Best Airline in Asia, and Best First Class Airline Seat.

With best services come at a hefty price. On average, a regular economy roundtrip ticket from Davao to Melbourne with a brief stopover in Singapore costs at least USD1,200. For a middle-class working millennial who loves to travel, that's too much! While Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have flights to Melbourne, Singapore Airlines is the most luxurious choice. That's why I immediately booked a flight with them when they had a seat sale last April. My roundtrip ticket to Melbourne only costs for USD550!

The last time I flew SIA was last February 2018. The services were great, although a shorter flight (MNL-SIN-KUL).

Read on as I experience flying with the World's Best Airline.

Spring in Sydney

On my fourth and probably the last visit to Australia for this year, I get the chance to experience their Spring season. Sydney enjoys a milder Spring weather than his hipster brother, Melbourne. It's not too hot, and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket!

I was a bit worried when I arrived in Sydney last Wednesday morning. It was gloomy and overcast the entire day. The weather forecast showed that it would be cloudy in the next four days. But, lo and behold. The sun showed up the following day, albeit the gale-force winds.

Good day, Melbourne!

Adulting is tough. You need to juggle a lot of responsibilities in life like bills, bills, and bills. I would often hear people complaining about this vicious cycle. Yes, it is tough to keep up with everything, but everything is possible. That's why my ATC batch mates who share the same passion for traveling would always make sure that we would have at least one or two trips abroad each year. This year, we chose Melbourne, Australia.

Traveling with these people was easy, except for a minor speed bump we encountered days before our trip (*ahem* visa application of one of our companions). But all is well. Here's how we conquered the second most livable city in the world.

Dear, Sydney

I just found out a perfect app on my fold to collect and share my stories and photographs online. Unfold is a beautiful app, and it's very easy to use. Sharing to you my first Unfold story. Let the photos speak for itself. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

A Travel Guide Around Sydney, Australia

Sydney rose to fame when it hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics, at least in my case. It went back to mainstream pop culture after the movie, Finding Nemo, mentioned the fictional address of Nemo in Sydney (who couldn't forget Dory's struggle to memorize Nemo's fictional address).

Today, Sydney is an emerging travel destination for Filipinos. With more options available, visiting the famed Land Down Under is finally within our reach. The city is not just about kangaroos and the famous Opera House! One can enjoy the stunning views of Byron Bay, bask in the heat of the sun at Bondi Beach, or even experience the Australian outback adventure - the choices are actually endless! Planning to visit Sydney soon? Here's my comprehensive travel guide, with a few sidenotes in between.

Buckle up, mates! 'Coz you and I are going to the most idyllic city of the Land Down Under!

Taronga Zoo: A Journey To Australia's Unique Fauna

During my first visit to Sydney last year, I never had the chance to visit their zoos due to limited time. It was so silly of me to spend only four days there. So, when I had the chance to revisit Sydney earlier this year, I took the chance.

I've been to several zoos like in Singapore, Indonesia, and in Taiwan before and honestly, I wasn't really expecting that much. The only thing I looked forward to this trip was to see koalas and kangaroos in person. I just kept my expectations low.

Melbourne This Way

Visiting Melbourne was a spontaneous decision as it wasn't part of my original itinerary. It could've been better if I booked a Manila-Melbourne-Sydney-Manila flight.

Still, no regrets.

The Extreme Ghost Tour Experience at Q Station, Sydney

Despite having a comfy flight from Manila to Sydney, I still felt tired. After passing through immigration, I immediately went to the arrival hall, loaded my Opal card, and rode a train to my mate's flat to Burwood. It was raining when I arrived in Sydney. At only 18 degrees, the warm shower and the bed were the only two things that I look forward to.

It was still raining when I woke up. The overcast weather made the day bleak and gloomy. Then, I just remembered the things I watched online a few days ago, and one of them was the ghost tours in Sydney. I asked my mate about it, and the next thing I knew, he already booked us an extreme ghost tour on a weekend, after my trip to Melbourne.

The Great Ocean Road Adventure

I have always considered solo traveling. I have done it once six years ago but failed miserably. To think it was just only a local trip up north. At 22, I wasn't ready to face the reality and the ugly truth about life. I was very much dependent on my support systems. I know it sucks, but maturity doesn't really come with age.

I fell in love with Australia after I traveled there late last year. For four days, I explored Sydney and the nearby towns of New South Wales. I know four days was too short, considering that Manila is 8 hours away from Sydney by air. Traveling there was already a huge deal for me, and I made a promise to spend more time in the land down under. Suddenly, Melbourne crossed my mind.

How To Apply for an Australian Tourist Visa in the Philippines

Australia is an emerging travel destination for Filipinos. With more options available, visiting the famed Land Down Under is finally within our reach. One can enjoy the stunning views of Byron Bay, bask under the heat of the sun at Bondi Beach, or even experience the Australian outback adventure - the choices are actually endless! But before entering Oz, one has to secure a valid tourist visa.

Here are the four easy steps on how to apply and successfully obtain an Australian tourist visa.

A Day in Manly Beach and Sydney Central Business District

The sun finally showed up its might and glory on my third day in Sydney. I really thought that it would still rain, and that would really suck if it really did.

I woke up at half past nine in the morning, which was kind of late. But since we weren't actually in a hurry, we left the flat at half past 10. The crisp, cold Spring morning was a perfect day to explore more of Sydney's suburb communities.

Blue Mountains in One Day: Hiking at New South Wales, Australia

Okay, here's the thing: I was never a fan of hiking. Back in college, we used to hike for our Ecology subjects, and it was stressful. I'd rather swim in an open ocean than climbing hills and mountains. After college, I climbed two mountains in the Philippines - Mount Pinatubo, and Osmeña Peak, but heck, these aren't one of the country's highest peaks. These two are just, you know, an easy-peasy climb.

Months before this trip, I originally planned to visit Canberra, the capital of Australia. I have read a lot of blogs about doing a day tour there, but government buildings and flower parks weren't really my thing. While searching for Plan B, I came across with Blue Mountains National Park. Since I was itching for a new adventure, I thought of giving it a try. Perhaps, it's about time to try new things while I'm still young.

First Day in Sydney, Australia

It was the longest flight I had experienced yet. Our flight to Sydney took off half past midnight (local time). Since it was a red-eye flight, almost everyone was sleeping soundly. I was lucky enough that no one was seated beside me; I had the entire row to myself! I carefully tucked my jacket to keep me warm and leaned on the cabin window. Then, I completely surrendered to a deep slumber.

I woke up to the sound of the trolley being pushed by the cabin crew. Groggy and feeling dry, I drank water with so much gusto and took a peek outside. The dawn was breaking - it was a symphony of pink, orange, and blue. We were still halfway to our destination. Then, it was starting to drive me nuts, frankly speaking. Five episodes of This Is Us didn't help. I became more anxious, well probably because of sleep deprivation.

Five minutes before eleven in the morning, the plane banked to the right. The deep blue waters of Botany Bay extends to infinity for quite some time until an unfamiliar landmass started to unfold. And there it was, Sydney. What used to be a settlement for prisoners in the early 18th century became one of the most livable cities in the world, and soon became my favorite city in the world.