Sunset at Sunset Strip, Fiji

Originally uploaded by kelvinlls

Sunsets – one of nature’s best display of lights! It’s my favourite time of the day to take photos, and everywhere I go, I always try and find a great spot to take a sunset photo.

I took this photo on April 2009 on my last trip to Fiji. This is from the Coral Coast, by the Sunset Strip, as the locals called it. This place was the best spot on the main island of Viti Levu to view a sunset. Though the sun hid behind the clouds, I still love this photo. I love the hues of the sky and the water.

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Auckland – City Of Sails

Auckland

It’s the largest Polynesian city in the world, and it’s often called “City Of Sails”. Auckland is the biggest city of New Zealand, and holds one-third of this nation’s population. It has a very proud maritime history, having hosted 2 America’s Cup events and being the home base of the first America’s Cup team outside the US to win the championship and defend it. Most people who arrive into New Zealand would land in Auckland and explore a little bit of this harbour city before moving on to lush New Zealand countryside and the spectacular views that this great country has to offer.

Many people don’t spend enough time to explore this city to know it well enough. I haven’t lived in Auckland, but I had the good fortune of having visited this city a few times and seeing different parts of it. There’s definitely more to it than the Skytower and the harbour. Here’s my list of places to explore outside the CBD of Auckland:

1.) Devonport

Devonport

This seaside suburb is on the North Shore area, across the harbour from the Auckland CBD. It offers great views of the city over the harbour, and a nice seaside promenade to stroll on. There are also a few unique and quirky shops and cafes around its centre. You can have good coffee or high noon tea at one of its cafes, or just have a relaxing stroll through its main centre. There’s a great view of the harbour if you go up to the top of Victoria Road. The best way to get to Devonport is via ferry from Auckland CBD, near the Viaduct Basin on Quay St.

2.) Parnell

New Zealand’s oldest suburb, Parnell is just a stone’s throw away from Auckland CBD. The quaint Victorian-style houses along Parnell Road have been converted into boutique shops and cafes, and have become the creative quarters of Auckland. One place that I love visiting is The Chocolate Boutique. Being a choco-holic, I can’t resist stopping by this delectible shop. A number of boutique and upmarket shops offer great shopping to those who love to shop. Some of New Zealand’s top designers have a shop in Parnell. You can take a bus from Auckland CBD and in 10 minutes, you will reach this interesting suburb.

3.) Mission Bay

Mission Bay, Auckland

This seaside suburb of Mission Bay is only a 10-minute drive from Auckland CBD. It has great beaches that is close to the city centre and has lots of cafes and restaurants. Across the water, you have a view of Rangitoto Island. I always love coming to this suburb, especially on a nice sunny day. It’s possibly Auckland’s answer to Bondi Beach in Sydney in terms of proximity to the city and the lifestyle (though admittedly, it is not quite as good as Bondi). Regardless, it is one of the best places to explore while in Auckland.

4.) Ponsonby

Another one of the suburbs near Auckland CBD that has great options for restaurants and cafes. Ponsonby is one of the trendy suburbs in Auckland, and the young and hip love to be in Ponsonby. Nightclubs also abound, and the party continues here at night.. The arts scene is alive, and many upper-middle class people reside in this suburb. Ponsonby Road is the heart of all the activity in the suburb. Apart from the trendy and upmarket shops, Ponsonby has some historical heritage, as this has been one of the first areas to be settled in Auckland.

5.) Remuera and Mt. Hobson

Mt Hobson, Auckland

Remuera is another suburb that is close to the city, and can be accessed by bus or train. Over the years, many affluent Aucklanders have resided in this suburb and has become synonymous around the country for its wealthy population. A few well-known New Zealanders like Sir Edmund Hillary live in this area, and you can get the sense of the affluence from the big houses and manicured lawns around. On Remuera Road, you will find an entrance to Mt. Hobson, a park that offers great views of the city and out to the harbour and Rangitoto Island. On the other side of the hill, you will see the view towards One Tree Hill.

6.) One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill

Views from One Tree Hill are like no other in Auckland. It offer great views of Rangitoto Island, Auckland CBD, and all the way to the southern part of the city. This volcanic peak is an important place for Maori, as it used to hold a Maori pa (fort) when the European settlers arrived. There was a tree planted on this site, hence the name One Tree Hill. However, that tree became the subject of attack by Maori activists who protested on the injustices done to the Maori people, and the tree was eventually chainsawed by the activists. Today, an obelisk with a bronze statue of a Maori warrior stands on this site, and offering magnificent views of Auckland city.

Auckland has been named one of the top 10 most liveable places in the world by a survey conducted by Mercer in 2010. It’s definitely a charming harbour city that has a vibrant multicultural yet easygoing feel. If you’ve been to Auckland and moving to Auckland is something on your cards, you can check out this website for more info on migrating to New Zealand.

Visiting Auckland? Download Lonely Planet’s New Zealand – Auckland Region (Chapter)

Check Out Your Own Backyard

For most people, when thinking of a great holiday, they would almost always think of a place somewhere far, somewhere exotic, and somewhere that requires flying or taking a boat. Many people dream of that nice exotic island, or those vibrant cities far afield that they forget about what’s around them. If you’re one of those people, then you need to think again about your holiday plans.

I have been guilty of this myself. I’ve always looked for somewhere distant, somewhere different from what my usual is. The funny thing is that the places I have lived in are all dream destinations of other people from other parts of the world, and yet, I took it for granted. Now, here’s one term I have learned pretty much in the recent times. It’s called Staycation.

What Is Staycation

Staycation is a term that became popular in the last 2 years since the global financial crisis have made people become more conscious of their spending. It’s made of the combination of the words “stay” and “vacation”, and it effectively means taking a break just within your home town or a short drive from where you live. When I heard of this term, I thought, this is very appropriate for many people who take their own city/town/country for granted as I have. It’s only been in the recent years that I have come to realise what I’ve missed out!

My Staycation

When my friends ask me about the Philippines, the country I grew up in, I can tell them a few things about it. I’ve been to a few places around my home country, but still not enough for me to say I’ve travelled all over the Philippines. Especially not when I get to meet some adventurous young foreigner who would tell me they have been to Batanes (a remote island in the very northern part of the Philippines that is only accessible for 2-3 months in a year due to severe typhoons hitting the island), or dived in the Tubbataha Reef (one of the best diving spots in the world – according to many divers), or holidayed in Palawan and I have not been to any of those.. And this is considering I grew up in the Philippines and spent 22 years of my life there! I started to get embarrassed when I get asked about certain places in my home country.

I realised then on that I need to check out my own backyard. I started doing this when I was living in New Zealand. People have been telling me that I grew up in practically a tropical paradise, but I never appreciated it so much. Maybe partly because growing up, my parents never let me go to obscure but wonderful places in the Philippines, but that is another story.. So, when I was living in New Zealand, going anywhere outside of the country can be quite expensive due to the distance of New Zealand from anywhere else in the world. It was a perfect time for a Staycation.

I’ve since moved to Sydney, Australia, and I have taken any chance I get to explore the area and the country. Since then, I have been to Port Stephens, did the Grand Pacific Drive, and enjoyed what has been claimed to be the World’s whitest beach in Jervis Bay. Further afield, I’ve visited Melbourne a few times, and had a chance to visit Darwin, on the Top End of Australia. I’ve also been to the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Adelaide, but I have yet to write about them. With all these trips around Australia, it made me truly appreciate what a wonderful country I live in, and how fortunate I am to be living in this place.

So, if you think travelling is too expensive for you, think again! When was the last time you explored a town or a National Park 2 hours drive from your place? Or even somewhere 30 minutes away? Travelling doesn’t always mean you have to go very far to see the world. Start from your own backyard and do a Staycation. You will be glad to have stayed and vacationed in your nick of the woods..

Happy Staycations ahead!

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Calm Waters And White Sand Beaches

Australia is blessed with so much great beaches and clean waters that it is often hard to choose which beach to go to. One thing that is common with the beaches here in Australia is the huge waves that a lot of surfers enjoy. Having a calm, quiet swim is something of a novelty with Australian beaches (as are those beaches that don’t have jellyfish – or stingers, as they call it here in Australia – or crocodiles) .

In saying that, I’m sure there are still a number of nice bays and lagoons that have calm waters where people can swim in, and it is something I would endeavour to look for. One such area that offers that is Port Stephens in New South Wales. Port Stephens is only a 3 hour drive north of Sydney along the Pacific Highway, and is close to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley region. One interesting fact that got me confused with Port Stephens was that I thought Port Stephens was a town. I soon discovered that Port Stephens is an area or region with a few towns and villages in it, the biggest one being Nelson Bay!

The myriad of bays and beaches in Port Stephens itself makes for a difficult decision on which one to go for. After surveying the area, a few beaches stood out for me. One particular beach was Shoal Bay. Shoal Bay is a 10-minute drive from Nelson Bay, and is one of those beaches that have calm waters where people can swim in them. What’s great about Shoal Bay is that it has a few restaurants, pub, cafes and shops, yet it is not a crowded and as busy as Nelson Bay. The beach on Shoal Bay is also fantastic, and definitely worth checking out.

Another great beach to check out is Salamander Bay. It has white sand beach and the waters are also calm enough to have a relaxing swim in the sea. Next to Salamander Bay is Soldier’s Point, where you will find a marina full of awesome boats and yachts. On the marina is a restaurant that offers reasonable food and a good view of the sea.

Stockton Sand Dunes

Tin City - stockton sand dunes

One highlight for me when going to Port Stephens is the sand dunes that stretches from Stockton to Anna Bay. The Stockton Sand Dunes stretches to 32 kms along the coast, and goes as far inland as 9km in certain parts. The sand dunes offer a desert-like environment, and is quite unique to this part of Australia. There are sand hills where you can do sandboarding and slide down the slopes of the sand hills. The Stockton Sand Dunes is also one of the film locations for the 1980s movie “Mad Max” starring Mel Gibson. One of the scenes from the movie features the small settlement in the area called Tin City, which was built by a small group of labourers during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The settlement is unique in that no one is allowed to buy any of the properties there or develop anything in the area. All the existing structures have been passed down from generation to generation.

Australian Shark and Ray Centre

On our trip to Port Stephens, we were unfortunate enough to have caught the wet weather. Instead of spending a lot of time by the beach as we initially intended, we merely skimmed and had a look at the beaches and then had to find alternative activities in the area to amuse ourselves. One great place to go, especially if you have kids is the Australian Shark and Ray Centre. At the Australian Shark and Ray Centre, you can hand-feed the sharks and ray inside the huge tanks where they keep them. The sharks and rays have been tamed in that the barbs of the sting rays have been cut off, and the sharks don’t have the huge sharp teeth to bite anyone. If you’re one of those people who are afraid of sharks, this will definitely challenge your fears. It certainly challenged me, and I didn’t think I was up for it, but I did feed those so-called monsters of the sea!

The Pelicans

pelicans

You will notice while going around the beaches that there are a number of pelicans around. They are such cool birds! I love their huge beaks and calm disposition. I thought it is worth noting this, although you will notice along the East Coast of Australia, there are pelicans around in some of the beaches as well.

If the weather were nice to us, we could have enjoyed more of the beach and the calm waters in the area. I would definitely recommend checking out the area especially during the summer when it’s nice and warm.

Here’s to more Fabulous Journeys ahead!

Stockton Dunes Sand Boarding

World’s Whitest Beach?

World's Whitest Beach

If you thought you saw the whitest sand in the world somewhere in the Caribbean, Asia or the Pacific, perhaps you ought to read this. It’s not quite in any of the tropical paradise that most people would associate a nice white sand beach to. I never thought that a world record existed for the World’s Whitest Beach or World’s Whitest Sand, but it apparently is in the Guinness Book of World Records. I really wonder I recently came back from a short trip over Easter, and this is how I found out about the record. As you can tell, I love spending time on the beach. My dream is to own a house by the beach, where I can just walk out of my backyard and step into some fine white sand beach. Thus, I was extremely curious when someone told me about the world’s whitest beach!

The Road To Whitest Beach In The World

View from Stanwell Tops, Grand Pacific Drive

I visited the Jervis Bay area to check out what most people who visited the area have been raving about. Jervis Bay is in the South Coast of New South Wales, roughly a 3-hour drive from Sydney. The drive from Sydney to Jervis Bay along the Grand Pacific Drive is very scenic and definitely worth doing. This stretch of coastal road starts from Stanwell Tops in the Royal National Park and goes through the city of Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven. The views from Stanwell Tops are magnificent, and you can see the Seacliff Bridge clinging on to the craggy coast from a distance. A stop at Wollongong is also worth taking, with its nice beach, old lighthouse and a very relaxed town.

Driving further south from the Grand Pacific Drive is still quite scenic. A hour away from Wollongong is a nice quaint town called Berry. The town has a very colonial feel to it, with old buildings converted into shops, boutiques and cafes. It’s worth stopping for a coffee and just walk around the small town.

Where In The World Is The World’s Whitest Beach?

Now, back to the topic (well, I was leading up to it anyway). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s whitest beach (or the world’s whitest sand) can be found on Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Hyams Beach is one of the many beautiful white sand beaches in Jervis Bay. My friends and I didn’t get to stay at Hyams Beach, but we managed to get a place at Callala Beach. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Hyams Beach, and has white sand that is similar enough to Hyams Beach. The only problem with Callala Beach is that from time to time, they get a lot of seaweed that gets washed up on its shores, and the seaweed then starts to rot and turn the beach into black! My friends and I were unfortunate enough to have witnessed this, and thus made us feel disappointed with this beach. However, by the looks of the postcard photos and online photos of Callala Beach, it does look like a nice white sand beach. It’s just a shame that our timing was bad and we didn’t see it on its best day.

World's Whitest Beach - Hyams Beach

Because of our disappointment on Callala Beach, my friends and I decided to check out Hyams Beach, as one of our other friends have told us that it is an awesome beach. We arrived there on a gloomy day. The sky was overcast, but it wasn’t raining. Despite the dark clouds that covered the sky, the beach was so white that it was kind of glowing with its whiteness! The sand was very compact, and has this cornstarch or cornflour texture to it. It’s not the finest sand that I’ve felt, but it definitely looks like it is the whitest I’ve seen so far.

How they have measured the “whiteness” of the beach is something that still baffles me. There is no degree of measure for the whiteness of a beach, but having the title “World’s Whitest Beach” gives Hyams Beach its claim to fame. It’s not a widely known beach around the world, and being inside two National Parks, the Jervis Bay National Park and Booderee National Park, the beach has been spared from commercialisation. Hyams Beach is a long stretch of beach, and a small portion of it has some residential units and holiday homes. This is the great appeal of the beach, as there are not that many people around every time (unless if it is school holidays or during the summer). It’s very clean, and the waters are just crystal clear.

So if you are in search for the whitest beach in the world, perhaps check out Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, just 3 hours south of Sydney. With great travel deals around, you should book your next holiday to Jervis Bay NOW!

To more Fabulous Journeys!

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All In A Small Island

There are only very few places in the world where you get nice beaches, lush rainforests, exquisite waterfalls and a variety of hot and cold springs all in one island. Camiguin is one of them. Many people from outside the Philippines may not know where this island is, especially since this is not one of those at the top of the list for tourist brochures. Some who have been to the Philippines would have heard of this island, and to those who managed to visit, many have said it’s paradise rediscovered.

The first time I went to this island in 1996, the island was just starting to become recognised in the Philippines as the next tourist destination. The roads were still not very developed, and hardly any decent infrastructure were in place. I recently went back after nearly 15 years, and the island has now been improved to make it more tourist-friendly. The sealed road network now covers the entire island, and there are even smaller roads inland that can cut through to some of the villages in the interior. They now have more accommdations available, coverage for mobile phones, internet, and a more organised public transport.

Camiguin – Location And Getting There

Camiguin is situated in the southern part of the Philippines, between the main island of Mindanao and the island of Bohol in the Visayas. The island sits northeast of Cagayan de Oro City, the city where I grew up in the Philippines. It’s an easy 2-hour ferry ride from Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin. In my recent trip there, I found that they have reinstated the once-defunct service between Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin, and now travels at least once a day in each direction. It makes travelling to the island much easier, as Cagayan de Oro is a major hub and centre in the northern part of Mindanao, and it is where you can get flights to from Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

The Best Bits Of Camiguin

Camiguin is more than just your tropical island with a white sand beach. With so much to offer, here’s a list of the best places to see on the island:

White Island

Perhaps the most popular attraction of Camiguin, White Island is not actually an island. It’s a sandbar that lies just off the coast of Camiguin island. What makes it fascinating is its nice powder white sand that changes shape every single day depending on the tides. There are days that the sandbar is so tiny that you only have enough space to fit literally 10 people on it, and days that it looks reasonably sized that you can walk on it from end to end in 15 minutes. The waters are also crystal clear, making it very enticing to go for a dip.

Katibawasan Falls

This falls is one of the few around the island, but it is perhaps the grandest looking and most accessible of the waterfalls in Camiguin. It’s 76 meters high, and has a nice pool at the bottom of the falls where people can take a dip. The water can be a bit cool but it’s such a refreshing treat to the tropical heat of the island.

Guiob Church Ruins & Sunken Cemetery

Concrete cross - Sunken Cemetery

There are a few volcanos on Camiguin island, some being dormant and one other still considered an active volcano. Though there hasn’t been any eruptions for a while, Camiguin had suffered a devastating eruption from one of the now-dormant volcanos in 1871. This eruption had quite a huge impact that it destroyed much of the island and buried and sank some of its towns. One specific area that sank is the Sunken Cemetery. A huge cross has been erected as a reminder of the eruption that nearly wiped out the island. Nearby is the Guiob Church Ruins, another reminder of the devastation that occurred in 1871.

Ardent Hot Springs

This may not be a natural wonder, but it comes from a natural source. Having many volcanoes, Camiguin naturally has a lot of geothermal activity and resources. As a result, the Ardent hot springs came about to utilise the water from a natural hot spring in the area. Ardent is now a developed resort, and though it has somewhat become commercialised, it still offers a great place to soak up and enjoy the soothing hot spring waters.

Mantigue Island

This is another island just off Camiguin island and a proper island. It is a 20-minute boat ride from Camiguin on a motorised bangka (a local outrigger). It offers a nice white sand beach and has a marine sanctuary. The island is considered a nature park, and is home to some native birds and bats. It’s a great place to check out. Snorkelling on the marine sanctuary is very rewarding, with colourful fish of all shapes and sizes swimming around.

These are what I thought would be the best places to see in Camiguin. Of course there are more spots, but some of them are not as good as these ones. I hope you have enjoyed this post. Please spread this to your friends.

Melbourne’s Unique Charm

Melbourne

I recently spent a few days in Melbourne to watch the Melbourne Cup and also celebrate my birthday there. I’ve been to Melbourne a few times and the city never ceases to fascinate me! There is always something new to discover in Melbourne. From eclectic to artistic, Melbourne packs a lot of interesting sights, architecture and cultural activities in a small place. Its laneways, trams and parks give it a very European feel to the city. It’s distinctly different from the rest of the Australian capital cities. Despite not having iconic landmarks like Sydney has, Melbourne still offers a lot of things to be explored and enjoyed. Here’s my top ten list of things to see and do in Melbourne:

1.) Art and Cafe Culture

Brunetti's

One of the first things I noticed when I landed in Melbourne is the way the freeways and buildings are so stylishly designed and decorated. Certainly the road from Tullamarine airport into Melbourne CBD felt like a big modern art exhibit, with colourful, modern architecture and art structures along the highway, and the best part, hardly any vandals can be seen! When you walk around the city centre, it’s all funky buildings, sculptures and designs.

There is also a cafe culture in the city. Nearly every corner of the city has a small cafe, and because there is a big Italian community in Melbourne, you can almost guarantee that they take their coffees seriously! I have always had a great cup of coffee in those small cafes. After so many visits, I managed to find my favourite cafe there called Brunetti’s. They have a great range of pastries, cakes, and best of all, their hot dark Italian chocolate is really something not to be missed! The biggest cafe is near Lygon Street, but they also have a small outlet in the CBD on Swanston Street.

2.) Laneways

The myriad of laneways that dot the city centre are remnants of the original city planning of Melbourne, which dates back to the 1800s. This system of small alleyways used to be the lifeblood of the city and has now given the city its unique charm. The laneways have been spruced up and converted into nice shops, bars and restaurants. There certainly is that European character feel with these laneways, and definitely worth checking out.

3.) Museums and Art Galleries

NGV

Melbourne is considered to be the art capital of Australia, with a wide range of museums, art galleries and performance theatres dotting the city. You will never run out of things to look at and do if you love art and culture, as nearly each day, something new comes up in one of these galleries or a new theatrical production opens its curtains.

The Museum of Melbourne near the Carlton Gardens is a great place to check out. It has displays ranging from dinosaurs and the Australian bush to the Aboriginal life and culture. More importantly, it has an exhibit on the Melbourne story (how Melbourne evolved into the city it is now).

If you love art, another great museum to check out is the National Gallery of Victoria. This is where you find paintings and artwork from famous local and international artists such as Andy Warhol and Frank Gehry to name a few. It has moving exhibitions of different art forms and genres that are worth looking out for.

4.) Gardens and Parks

Conservatorium, Fitzroy Gardens

The one surprising thing with Melbourne is the fact that it is a compact city yet it is filled with a number of gardens and parks surrounding its CBD. One garden truly worth checking out is Fitzroy Gardens. This has the Conservatorium, which houses so many colourful flowering plants and tropical varieties. Next door to it is Cook’s Cottage, which is the original cottage where Captain Cook’s family lived in and was shipped from England as a gift to the people of Melbourne and reconstructed in the Fitzroy Gardens.

Another great park to check out is the Carlton Gardens. It has a nice pond in the middle, and a beautiful fountain at one end of the park. It is adjacent to the Melbourne Museum, so worth checking it out if you are on your way to the museum.

The Shrine of Remembrance is also another great place to check out. It is an ANZAC memorial built on top of a small hill, with great views of the city. The botanical garden is just next door and is definitely worth checking out.

5.) Eureka Skydeck and Rialto Melbourne 360 Observation Deck

Eureka Tower

Melbourne has some of Australia’s tallest buildings, and 2 of them offer great views of the city and the surrounding areas. The Rialto was the tallest building in Melbourne and was the first to offer a viewing platform called the Melbourne 360 Observation Deck. It offers a fantastic view of the city and across to Southbank, the Dandenong Ranges, and to St. Kilda and the Bass Strait. It seems that the Rialto has just announced that it will be closing its doors on 31st December 2009, so before it does, make sure you avail of their $7 closing entry deal and enjoy the great view!

The Eureka Tower’s Skydeck 88 is a more recent addition to the Melbourne skyline and is much taller than the Rialto. The Eureka Skydeck 88 is the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere and offers a  slightly different perspective to the Rialto. The Eureka Tower is on Southbank, which is on the other side of the Yarra River.

6.) Crossing the bridges over the Yarra

Princes Bridge

It may not sound like much, but the many bridges crossing the Yarra River each have a unique design to it. The Yarra River is a prominent feature of the city.  Walking and crossing the bridges by foot is a great way to explore Melbourne, and a great exercise as well. A couple of these bridges are pedestrian-only bridges, and each are designed differently from the other. One of the bridges has a list of countries where the settlers in Melbourne came from and some details on when and how they have arrived into Melbourne. The Princes Bridge is one of the oldest bridges crossing the Yarra and links Swanston Street to the Southbank area. The view of the city from the different bridges is great and worth exploring.

7.) St. Kilda and Port Melbourne

The seaside suburbs of St. Kilda and Port Melbourne has recently had a facelift and resurgence from being a rough area of Melbourne to one of the best place to live in the city. It has a great cafe culture, and a great lifestyle being close to the beach. In St. Kilda, there is a weekend market near the Pier and St. Kilda Baths which is worth checking out for works of local artists and businesses. Port Melbourne, on the other hand, has a good beach and is where you can take the ferry over to Tasmania.

8.) Day Trip to the Yarra Valley

Domaine Chandon - Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is a wine region just 45 minutes away from Melbourne CBD. This wine region produces one of the best wines in the country, and has over 70 wineries in the area. The makers of Moet & Chandon have a winery here called Domaine Chandon, and proves to be a popular one for many tourists. They make a sparkling red wine, which is quite an unusual one. Another great winery to check out is Yering Farm, which is one of the smaller boutique wineries in the region. It’s a family-owned vineyard and only sells its wines in a few restaurants and hotels in Victoria (apart from the winery itself). One of the more popular wineries is the Rochford winery. What makes this winery so popular are the numerous events and concerts that they hold on the grounds of their winery. They do make great wines as well!

9.) Shopping

Shops

Melbourne is known to be the shopping capital of Australia. It’s not that the rest of the capital cities of Australia don’t have much choices, but it is more of the number of quaint boutique stores that are available in the city. I’m not into shopping myself, but I can tell that there are so many cool boutique stores dotted around the city. The shopping malls have also started to crop up. Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) has the most branches in Melbourne than any other city in Australia. Melbourne has capitalised on this, and even has organised shopping tours where a tour guide will take you to the best bargains in the city!

10.) Docklands

The Docklands is one of the areas very near to the CBD that is being developed into a nice urban residential and entertainment complex. What used to have old warehouse and dockyards have now been demolished and transformed into nice brand new apartments and cafes and restaurants. A new shopping complex called Harbour Town has been built with a good range of outlet shops. This area being by the water has a nice waterfront walk where you can just relax and chill out.

Melbourne may not necessarily have the distinctive landmarks and the beautiful harbour that some other major cities can boast of, but it definitely has a unique charm that is worth exploring. If you find great deals on flights domestically or if you plan to visit Australia as an overseas holiday destination, I suggest you have a look at Melbourne.

Have a Fabulous Journey ahead!

The Grand Pacific Drive

Many people are familiar with the Great Ocean Road along Victoria’s southern coast. It’s a fantastic stretch of road that offers dramatic scenery and has a great history around the construction of the road. One thing not many people or tourists are familiar about is the Grand Pacific Drive along the eastern shores of New South Wales. This stretch of road starts from the Royal National Park just south of Sydney and goes through small villages and towns including Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and finishes in the inland town of Nowra. The Grand Pacific Drive doesn’t have the rock formations like the Twelve Apostles of the Great Ocean Road, but having a bridge built on the side of a cliff face and passing through some gorgeous beaches is a great sight to behold.

Reason # 1: Catch The Sunrise

Watching the sunrise is one of nature’s best light displays, along with a sunset. However, I’m not an early riser, and I always find it difficult to catch the sunrise, and only do I occasionally wake up to see it. Since moving to Australia 2 years ago, I’ve never seen the sunrise, and I thought it would be awesome to coincide it with a road trip to the southern parts of New South Wales. I managed to convince 2 of my friends to come with me and drive down from Sydney to Wollongong for the day along the Grand Pacific Drive and check out the sights along the way. Catching the sunrise at Stanwell Park and Coalcliff was one of the highlights of the trip, and seriously, one of the most underrated (or unmentioned) activities along this coastline. Catching the sunrise is not a tourist activity along this coastline, and only locals know of this. Before any tour groups start descending along this stretch of magnificent road, go and witness it yourself really soon!

Reason #2: No Tour Groups Around

There are so many organised tours to the Great Ocean Road, and while this is great for those who don’t have cars or only have a short time to get around, having busloads of people fighting for the view can be annoying. The great thing with the Grand Pacific Drive is that it is not as far from Sydney as the Great Ocean Road is from Melbourne, and the drive is not that long. It generally only takes over 2 hours and you will be able to cover the entire distance. If you take some time to enjoy each spot, it might take a little bit longer. However, it is definitely more manageable on a day trip than the Great Ocean Road.

Reason #3: Great Beaches and Views

The view along the Grand Pacific Drive is awesome! It’s either totally underrated, or underpromoted by the general public. It may not offer such dramatic scenery, but the numerous beaches and the sea views from Stanwell Tops are great! The city of Wollongong and the township of Kiama are also great attractions on this stretch of road. Wollongong has a nice beach and harbour, and an old lighthouse that adds to the character of the harbour. In the city itself is the largest buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere, the Nan Tien temple. It’s architecture is distinctly Chinese, and it was built by the members of the Chinese Fo Guang Shan community who have migrated to Australia. Which leads me to the next reason..

Reason #4: Interesting attractions in the area

Sunset at Kiama Lighthouse - Grand Pacific Drive

Before reaching Wollongong, I had the impression that there is totally nothing interesting to see in the town itself apart from the usual shops on the main town centre. I thought it was just another industrial town, with totally nothing to offer. Was I completely wrong! The harbour and beach is an attraction on its own, and the lighthouse adds character to the place as well. If you drive all the way down to the town of Kiama, you can find some blowholes along its coast. It’s a natural phenomenon wherein holes are formed from the erosion of rocks on the coastline. If you do a slight detour from the Grand Pacific Drive, you can check out the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk, which is about a 30-minute drive from Kiama. It offers a spectacular view of the Illawarra coastline, and the structure itself is quite a unique in its design. Its edges are suspended from the cantilever, making it bouncy and quite challenging to those afraid of heights.

Reason #5 : Relaxing, Laid Back Atmosphere

The Grand Pacific Drive is only 45 minutes away from the CBD, and yet, the pace of life is totally different from the buzz of the big city. If you are ever tired of being always on the go, squeezing in with other people and the long queues, this place can soothe those angst and worry aside. The towns along the Grand Pacific Drive are quite small, and people are just totally laid-back. The beautiful beaches along the way would have been a highlight of the trip, and something that you can look forward to, if you’re never been down the Grand Pacific Drive.

Enjoy a drive down the Grand Pacific Drive, from sunrise til sunset on a nice clear sunny day, and you won’t regret it!

Have a Fabulous Journey ahead!

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The Philippines – an archipelago of 7,107 beautiful islands in the warm tropics. It’s one of Asia’s best kept secrets, and one that has not been overrun by tourists who come to Asia from Europe and the Americas. The Philippines has been considered off the beaten track by most travellers to Asia, due to its geographical location being across the South China Sea from mainland Asia. Another factor that has caused the Philippines to be off the mainstream Southeast Asia circuit is the bad publicity that the country has gotten over the years. The negative publicity has been bad for tourism in the Philippines, however, it can be seen as good for those who want to experience a not-so-usual holiday in Asia.

Having 7,107 islands, there is no shortage of wonderful places and things to see in this tropical archipelago. I grew up in this country, and I have yet to finish exploring all the 7,107 islands. However, while I was living there, I had the opportunity to experience first hand some of the best that the country has to offer. Being a local, I had some advantages in getting around and experiencing some places that not many foreign tourists have managed to wander to. Here are some of the top ten things to see and do in the Philippines:

1.) The Islands and The Many White Sand Beaches

It is obvious that the number one attraction in the Philippines are its thousands of islands sprawled between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. There are so many white sand beaches around the country that it is easy to lose count. The most famous of all the white sand beaches in the Philippines is on the island of Boracay. Boracay has been known for its 3km powder-fine white sand beach and a great place to either relax or party on til the wee hours of the morning. Other great islands to experience for beaches are Bantayan Island (near Cebu), White Beach in Puerto Galera, Camiguin Island, El Nido in Palawan, and Bohol.

2.) Fiestas

The Spaniards colonised the Philippines for nearly 400 years and brought their festive traditions from Spain to these beautiful islands. Fiestas are abound in the Philippines, and each island or town/city would have its own unique celebrations, mainly in honour of a patron saint. It’s one of the biggest celebrations in each town’s events calendar and one not to be missed. The biggest and most popular fiesta in the Philippines would be the Sinulog in Cebu. This generally occurs on the 3rd week of January, and is celebrated to honour the patron saint Señor Santo Niño (the image of the Infant Jesus wearing a crown and holding a golden globe on one hand). People in Cebu would take to the streets to participate in the parade, and celebrations happen all over the island. Most locals would have parties and open their doors to any guests to have a feast. Another great fiesta is the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo on the province of Aklan. The locals paint themselves black to emulate their patron saint, the Señor Santo Niño. This generally happens around the same time as the Sinulog in Cebu, but it is worth checking out the colourful celebrations.

3.) Churches and Cathedrals

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, thanks to the Spanish who had subjected the natives to be baptized and take the Catholic faith onboard. As a result, the Spanish built several cathedrals and churches across the islands. The Baroque architecture is very evident in many of these cathedrals and churches. One of the best churches to visit would be the San Agustin Cathedral in Intramuros in Manila. Another great place in the Philippines to check out nice cathedrals in the Philippines would be in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the northern part of Luzon in the Philippines. Cebu is another place that has an abundance of these awesome Spanish churches, as Cebu is the first place that the Spaniards landed in the Philippines.

4.) Shopping Malls in Manila

It may come as a surprise to most people, but Filipinos are shopaholics, and they love to cool themselves in the shopping malls and escape the tropical heat that can be sometimes overwhelming. Some of the world’s biggest shopping malls are located in the Philippines. The SM Mall of Asia, built on the Manila Bay area, is the world’s third largest shopping mall, and is two times bigger than Edmonton Mall in Canada (which held the previous world record). Apart from the massive size of the shopping malls, there are a lot of great bargains to be had in the shops and markets around the country. When going to markets, it is advisable to negotiate the price with the vendors, as they are generally priced higher than what the item is worth.

5.) Tropical Rainforests

The tropical rainforests in the Philippines are fast diminishing. The poor farmers who are struggling in life and don’t own any land need for land to cultivate on, and the rainforests have been chopped down. On top of that, there are a lot of illegal loggers who chop down the trees for the lucrative logging industry. Conservation efforts have been in place, but because of the widespread poverty in certain areas, some people still cut the trees and burn the forests. There are many species of wildlife that are in danger of becoming extinct due to their habitats being destroyed. While there are still some rainforests left, it would be worth checking them out and exploring the lush jungles in the Philippines. The Philippine Eagle, the national bird, is one of the many endangered species living in these forests and they can be found predominantly in Mindanao, somewhere between Bukidnon and Davao.

6.) Exploring tribal culture

There are many different ethnic tribes in the Philippines. Many of them have settled in the islands long before the Spanish came to colonise these islands. The different ethnic tribes have very distinctive cultures and customs that have survived through the centuries. Most of the ethnic tribes in the Philippines live in the islands of Luzon, Palawan and Mindanao. The rest of the islands somehow have lost the indigenous population. Among the popular tribes are the Ifugao (in the Mountain Province in Luzon), the Badjao (in Sulu), the Tausug (in Mindanao), the Maranao (also in Mindanao) and the Aeta (in Luzon). There are many more to mention, but the first four tribes are well-known for their colourful costumes, dances, folklore and customs. The Aeta is unique in that they are widely regarded as the descendants of the very first inhabitants of the Philippines.

7.) Christmas celebrations

The Philippines is known to have one of the longest and most festive Christmas celebration in the world. You start noticing in October that Christmas carols are already being played occassionally in department stores and shops around the country. By the 1st of December, most Christmas decorations would be all out, and shops and houses would be decked out with very colourful Christmas regalia. The Belen (a diorama of the scene of the Nativity) is a very common sight during the holidays. The Catholic church starts its early morning vigil from the 16th of December all the way til Christmas, and the start of the early morning vigils is the actual start of the many feasts and parties that people go to in the leadup to Christmas Day.

8.) Holy Week/Easter Celebrations

Being a predominantly Catholic country, most of the festivities center around the church calendar. Lent (and/or Easter) is another celebration that Filipinos religiously celebrate (excuse the pun). The main highlight that would interest most tourists is the Good Friday penitence rites that some devotees perform in different parts of the country. In some cases, people devote themselves to be nailed on the cross (literally). Though this isn’t a sight for the faint-hearted, it is somehow an amazing fact that there are people who have vowed to do this ritual to cleanse their sins. Another ritual that has become a spectacle during Lent is the flaggelation. Devotees whip themselves on the back with bamboo-tipped burillos to reenact Christ’s suffering before he was crucified.

9.) Sampling Local Cuisine

Filipino food may not make it to mainstream cuisine like Thai, Indian, Chinese or Malaysian has, but it is an interesting mix of the various influences it has over the centuries. The best way to describe its nature is that it is a fusion of Spanish, Malay, Chinese and American cuisine. You get a range from grilled seafood and stews to paella, to pancit canton (stir-fried noodle, Canton style) and the Filipino spaghetti ( a variation of the American-style spaghetti). Each region in the Philippines would have its own local specialty, and it can vary vastly from town to town. Most of the dishes are not spicy, except for the Bicol Express, which is known to be the spiciest Filipino dish.

10.)  Listening to a live band

The Filipinos are very musically oriented people. They have been known to be great entertainers around the world, gracing the stage in many nightclubs and lounge bars across different parts of the world. If you travel around Asia and sit in a bar with some live music, there is a high chance that the band is from the Philippines. Thus, listening to some live music in the many bars and restaurants across the country offers you a glimpse of the musical talents that Filipinos generally have, and their passion for music. You will also find that singing Karaoke is a national pastime, and it doesn’t matter if you have what it takes to belt out those notes. Everyone is very encouraging and supportive, and it’s all for the fun of it.

I hope I have enlightened you of the wonderful things that you must experience while in the Philippines. It may not be the most common tourist things to experience, but hey, that’s what traveling is all about..

Til the next Fabulous Journeys!