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!

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.

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.

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.

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.