Tropical Queensland!

How time flies.

It’s been more than a month since I came back from my vacation in Cairns but I’m still hung-over the trip. Going to Queensland was like going back to my native Philippines. No kidding when they call it Tropical Queensland. Sun, sand, surf, palm trees, rain forest – it’s all there. I must say I was surprised to see how different Queensland is from Melbourne and Sydney.

Queensland is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. And these two were what brought me to this state.

At first glance you wouldn’t think that Queensland has that much to offer. It’s rural pretty much in every sense of the word. Unlike Melbourne or Sydney, this place does not have skyscrapers and busy city streets. However, that simplicity serves as a prelude to the adventures that Queensland holds.

About 2 hours away from Cairns by boat awaits the Great Barrier Reef. This place has legendary status in my mind. People talk about it in very high regards that’s why I had to be there myself. And it didn’t disappoint. The only other place I’ve ever gone diving to was our very own El Nino in Palawan. It was breath-taking so I had a very high expectations with the Great Barrier Reef. And boy it didn’t disappoint.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0046.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0049.

The slow descent to the bottom of the ocean was the build up to what awaits. Slowly as you get closer and closer to the ocean floor, your vision becomes clearer. It’s so surreal to be under water. To be almost weightless and floating with schools of fish and surrounded by colourful corals and anemones that sway with the ocean current is an experience that compares with nothing else. It was amazing to see that the Great Barrier Reef still pulses with so much life.

The dive was short but it was sweet. I didn’t get to see a shark which is an experience that I was really looking forward to but what the hell, I was in one of the most bio-diverse places in the world. So yeah, shark or no shark, it was an experience that I will never forget.

The next place that we visited was Cape Tribulation. Don’t be fooled by the name. I know tribulation means hardship and shit, but the place is such a stark contrast to the name. It’s all about balanced relaxation and adventure in Cape Tribulation. You can either while your day away in the beach and just soak up the sun or go jungle surfing for a bit of adrenaline rush. It all depends on what you want. In my case, I wanted both.

It’s not easy getting to Cape Tribulation. It’s about a 4-hour bus ride from Cairns but trust me, it’s all worth it.

Cape Tribulation is home to the Daintree Rainforest. It’s the largest rainforest in Australia. And by that I mean you will feel tiny once you step into the forest.

We had the chance to do a night walk in the rainforest and the experience was exhilarating. Imagine the darkness of the forest swallowing you with no light except for your torch. You’re in the mercy of the forest and at any point in time you’re at risk of being attacked by drop bears. Don’t know what drop bears are? Google them. They’re scary. :p

Kidding aside, walking tin he forest at night was an awesome experience. You get to see what actually happens when the sun comes down, in the cover of the night. Plants glow in their own light and the forest is still abuzz with the sound of nocturnal animals. Our guide was very specific in telling us to keep the noise down so that we don’t drive the animals away. Nocturnal animals are not very visual but they have very, very sharp hearing. Something that they develop by being in the dark much of the time. I was amazed at how much the forest was still so alive even at night. Point your torch light in the right spot and you’ll be surprised at the things you’ll discover – reptiles, insects, glowing mushrooms. Take your pick. Nature truly is amazing. 🙂

The next day we got our harness on and glided our way through the rainforest. They call it jungle surfing and basically it’s a series of short zip lines that course through the Daintree. This gives you a chance to be so high up in the trees and have a different point of view of the forest. From up high, you see mountain and ocean views. And you realise that this makes the Daintree so special because it actually spills out to the ocean. It’s enormous. It’s beautiful.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0390.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0398.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0351.

On our way back to Cairns we stopped by Mossman Gorge. This was my first time to visit a gorge of any kind and I’m now so glad that Mossman was the first I visited. Towering tress, giant boulders, and raging rapids give the gorge a life of it’s own. And to be in the middle of it all is a privilege like no other.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0573.

This trip has reinforced my respect for nature. It’s beautiful and magnificent but also fragile. And it is our duty as humans to take care of it. 🙂

Cats: The Meow-sical in Melbourne

One of the longest-running musicals. One of the classics. I wasn’t going to miss it.

I’ve always wanted to see this musical ever since I heard that they were visiting Melbourne last year. Unfortunately, I was in Sydney for most of December so *almost* missed out seeing this. But the feline gods were on my side and I finally got to attend the Jellicle Ball on its final night in Melbourne on the 24th of January 2015.

And oh what a ball it was. There was dancing and singing and fight scenes and magic and more!

I must admit I struggled a bit in understanding what the story was because I thought it wasn’t that fluid. I’m used to seeing musicals with clear storylines where I know what was going to happen next and each scene progressed to the next, and Cats was not anything like that. I knew it was about the Jellicle Tribe coming together to select the one cat who deserves to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn to a new life, but I somehow didn’t see that in the beginning. What I saw was the introduction of one cat after the other with their own unique characteristics.

And then it hit me. I finally understood. That’s what it was. The selection process of the one cat told through the introduction of the different cats! I must say I was disappointed at myself for not catching this sooner. But there it was before me, the different Jellicle cats very distinct from each other, all with their endearing-annoying-fascinating facets vying to be the one that Old Deuteronomy will choose to be sent to the Heaviside Layer. Ultimately, it was Grizabella The Glamour Cat who was selected (although I must say I liked Victoria the White Cat and Skimbleshanks better :p).

I can easily why this is one of the most-loved musicals there is. This debuted decades ago and I can only imagine how it wowed the audience as it still does now. Glad I got to know the Jellicle Cats!

Now who wants some caviar? ^_^

 

Looking Forward and Looking Back

First off, Happy 2016! =)

I’ve already started taking the year head-on but I think 2015 deserves a proper look-back simply because it was awesome. As excited as I am for things to come, there were some pretty amazing things that happened last year that I want to remember and go back to.

2015 has been very good to me. As many of my fans know, I am now in Australia – Melbourne to be specific. In a very unexpected twist of events, I found myself packing my luggage and moving here in the final quarter of last year. But before that, a lot of things have happened that I am very happy about.

As far as I can remember, I think 2015 was the year where I traveled most. 3 countries and 2 continents. That’s not much for the hard-core travel junkie but for me, that breaks my personal best.

I spent most of my year in the Philippines. Before I left for Australia, my first official wandering mission was off to Palaui Island in the northern region of the Philippines. For those who are not familiar with the place, this is Palaui Island:

Palaui Island in Sta. Ana, Cagayan

She’s a beauty, isn’t she?

What made the trip special for me was that, it kind of was a pilgrimage back to my roots. I was raised in Cagayan, albeit not in Palaui, but going back to the region was like going back home. There was a certain feeling of familiarity that made the travel more relaxing, so to speak. People were friendly and the food was great, what more can you ask for? And oh, I saw the very last kilometre post in the north of the Philippines:

The last one standing

Awesomeness overload!

Next stop was the surfing haven Baler in Aurora. It was also my first time going to Baler so I didn’t know what to expect but the place didn’t disappoint.

The town was quaint and that’s where it keeps its charm. It gets busy on some days when tourists flock to it, but in general, it was a quiet little town that offers respite for the weary city dwellers.

And it turns out Baler has a lot more to offer than just surfing 🙂

Clockwise from the top left: Baler shoreline, rock pool, Dicasalarin Cove, Mother Falls

Also in Baler is this awesome Balete Tree that is the largest that I’ve ever seen!

Dwarfed by a Balete tree

Baler surprised me and it was great. Sometimes a place is known for one thing but when you take a closer look, you get new experiences that are beyond the usual.

After Baler, I headed due south to one of my favourite destinations in the Philippines – Boracay Island.

Ah Boracay. This place never ceases to surprise me. Despite having visited it multiple times, it always has something new to offer each time I come back.

I am never, ever getting tired of going back to this place. =)

After this, it was time to go international. Destination: Melbourne.

Ok, this was a job assignment. However, it’s never just work when I get sent on business trips like these. All work and no play? Where’s the fun in that?

Being new to Melbourne, everything was exciting. Every street, every building, every park, the coffee shop around the corner, the train stations – everything! It’s like a whole new dimension was unlocked and it’s just waiting for me to explore it.

Clockwise from top left; Rod Laver Arena, Flinders Station, Tulip Farm, Royal Botanic Gardens, Twelve Apostles

I feel like I still have a lot to discover in Melbourne and I couldn’t be more excited.

From Melbourne I flew back to Asia for my next destination: Singapore.

This was my third time going to this country but with different people every time so the experience is never the same.

Despite being relatively small in terms of land area compared to others, there is always tonnes of things to do in Singapore.

I finally got to try the Battlestar Galactica ride where you sit down and your legs are dangling and you get catapulted at breakneck speed. I was seated right out front, too. It was scary as hell and awesome at the same time. Exhilarating, I think, is the proper term. Will I do it again? Most definitely.

When I got back to Australia, it was almost time for the holidays. There was a 2-week shutdown at work which meant 14 days of vacation for me. 14 glorious days! What to do? I headed down to Sydney.

At this point I have to pause and give a shout-out to my good friend Kath of kathmadula.com who inspired me to go out and travel, and who so graciously welcomed me to their home in Sydney. It was one of the best vacations I’ve had in a long time.

If Melbourne is exciting, Sydney, on the other hand, is lively. There’s so much to do within the city itself and you don’t really feel the need to go anywhere else. And if you ever venture outside the city, there are heaps of interesting places to visit like the Blue Mountains, Kiama, Manly and Bondi beaches.

Sydney was also where I spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve and I am so thankful to all the then-strangers-now-friends who welcomed me and made me feel so much like I was back in the Philippines.

Boodle fight dinner =)

For New Year’s Eve, it was off to Cockatoo Island for some camping and to watch the firework displays in the harbour area. This bit surprised me because people actually camped-out to watch the fireworks. Apparently, the harbour area was the only place in Sydney where fireworks are allowed so people gather in nearby areas and islands to watch.

New Year’s Eve 2016

There was food and drinks and dancing in the island so there was plenty of things to do while waiting for midnight. And, yeah, we danced to the DJ’s mix. That was an absolutely fantastic way to welcome the new year =)

So there you have it. My action-packed 2015 in a nutshell.

My key take-away? My selfie game is now on-point. Oh yeah! You can’t argue with the photos, right? Teehee. :p

But really, more than anything else, 2015 has taught me not to stand still. To keep moving, keep exploring, keep learning. That there is so much waiting for me and all I need to do is make a move. I’m really looking forward to making 2016 great.

It’s More Fun In The Philippines

Trending.  When something gets called this, it’s sure to be something that people from the world over are talking about.  News-maker.  Buzz-worthy.  Trending.

When the new tourism ad campaign of the Philippines was launched a few days ago, the Internet was abuzz with conflicting stands about the brand.  Some were quick to accuse the Department Of Tourism of copying the brand from a news article from the 1950s headlined “It’s more fun in Switzerland”, but a majority of Pinoy Netizens were enthusiastic about the new brand.  It’s a hit.  At least that’s what I’ve observed so far.  To the skeptics, “it’s more fun” is a very common statement so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it was used in an article. 😀

Here’s the international brand:

And here’s the local version meant to urge every Pinoy to make the Philippines #1 for fun:

And here’s what I submitted to the More Fun Meme Maker site (of course, I had to participate!):

It was taken from our trip to Polilio, Quezon last 2009. 😀

Personally, I’m pleased with this new ad.  It’s simple, honest, colorful, and, well, fun.  And as a Filipino, no matter where I am and no matter what I’m doing, I’m a true believer that it is, and will always be, more fun in the Philippines.

Later. ^____^

And oh, Manigong Bagong Taon! 😀

==================================================

Visit the official website of It’s More Fun In The Philippines at itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

The Ox Goes Travelling!

Forgive the title.  I still have a Chinese New Year hang-over and since I’m a Wood Ox, I figured it would make a catchy title.  But this post is all about my travel plans for this year.

I haven’t gone to any trips this year and my feet are just itching to step out and explore the WWW (wide, wide world heehee)!

So here are my plans this year.  I wrote them here so I’ll have a checklist of some sort where I could cross-out the items that I’ve already completed.  Helps me visualize the things that I need to accomplish. 😀

1. March – You know how they say love is sweeter the second time around?  That’s how I see my Boracay experience.  I had a blast there last year and I can’t wait for a repeat!  This trip’s just a few weeks away and I’m just excited.  It was October when I first set foot in this world-renowned beach, meaning it was off-season.  This time, it’ll be the peak of summer and there’ll be huge crowds from all over the world flocking to this white sand haven.  Boracay here I come! 😀

2. April – Surfing in La Union.  It was also last year that I got my first experience in surfing.  La Union Surf Resort was where it all happened.  Stoked?  You bet.  My body’s yearning for the waves.  I miss the bruises and the aches and the thrill of riding the waves.

3. May/June – Nagsasa Cove.  I was in Anawangin last 2008 with some friends and it was awesome.  No resort, no comfortable bed, no electricity, no cellphone signal.  Just us and Mother Nature.  We had to set up our own tents and cook our own food.  But I won’t be going back there.  I intend to visit Nagsasa Cove this time.  The sister cove of Anawangin, this one offers the same experience sans the multitude of tourists that visit the now famous Anawangin.  And oh, this will be my second solo trip since Vigan in 2008.  I need to do this more often.

4. July to September – It’s monsoon season here in the tropics so I don’t have any plans for these months.  It’s pretty hard to travel when it’s raining so I’ll try to go somewhere that isn’t the beach or doesn’t require sea travel.  LOL.  But beach on a rainy day is something I haven’t done before.  Enticing.  Hmmm.. :p

5.  October to December – My bestfriend’s coming home from the US but we’re not sure on the exact date yet.  Last time she was here, we went camping in Anawangin and I plan to top that experience so she’ll have plenty of great experiences to take back with her when she goes back to the States.  Palawan’s a pretty good contender for the perfect travel destination.  I better start planning. :p

So there.  That’s my travel calendar for 2011.  These are all tentative except for the Boracay trip.  I still have my work to consider so I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that I’ll be able to accomplish all these.

The world is just too awesome and I can’t stay put.  (^_^)