Category: Holidays

2018 Run-Through: Reuniting & Travelling With Friends

Hey, you! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday with your families & friends. 2019 is just a few hours away. Another year will soon pass. Before we go into 2019, join me as I look back on how another year of travels went by.

2016 was all about going solo & exploring places by myself. 2017 was about exploring both known & relatively unknown places. 2018’s theme is about reuniting & travelling with friends. After months & years of travelling alone, I reunited & travelled with friends in all of my trips this year.

Let me share with you where my friends & I went to this year. It was a fun & memorable year exploring with friends!

sapporo🇯🇵

Last February, Shane & I went to Sapporo for a week. We flew in to Tokyo & took another domestic flight to Sapporo. We explored Sapporo city on our 2nd day – walked around historic buildings & structures plus tried the famous Genghis Khan meat for late lunch. We tried the world-famous Hokkaido king crab in Nijo Market on our 3rd day, then went to explore the port city of Otaru in the afternoon.

Shane & I went skiing on our 4th day. We took a beginner’s ski course in the morning & skied on a downhill slope in the afternoon. It was tiring but a fun experience. We enjoyed it & we plan to do it again on our next winter trip. We chose to relax on our 5th day & tried a traditional Japanese onsen on a snowy day. At first, it was weird walking around naked but hey, everyone’s naked so there’s nothing to worry. We flew to Tokyo on our 6th day & do some last minute pasalubong shopping before flying back to Manila on our last day.

Believe it or not, we only spent less than ₱45,000 each including airfare & hostel accommodations. It was a trip of many firsts (my first legit winter trip) & also an affordable one. Check out the Sapporo blog list below.

Blog List:
Hokkaido Winter Series: The Ultimate Japan Winter Experience Without Breaking The Bank (7 Days For Less Than ₱45,000 all-in)
Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO – A Winter Paradise City
Hokkaido Winter Series: OTARU – An Afternoon In The Nearby Historical Harbor City
Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO TEINE RESORT & HOHEIKYO ONSEN – Recommended Day Trips From Sapporo City
Hostel Of The Day: THE STAY SAPPORO – Budget Sapporo Accommodation With Top-Notch Amenities
Hostel Of The Day: OAK HOSTEL ZEN – My Favorite Tokyo Hostel
Tuesday Tip: 7 SAPPORO Eats You Shouldn’t Miss

Hong Kong🇭🇰

My high school friends & I went on a weekend trip to Hong Kong last March. We left for Hong Kong on a Friday late afternoon & arrived back in Manila Sunday night. It was a quick 48-hour trip but we managed to visit a number of interesting places. Jericho & I explored went to Victoria Peak, Quarry Bay Monster Building, Nan Lian Garden & Kowloon Pier while our friends went to Hong Kong Disneyland. We met them in Mong Kok for dinner & went shopping together.

The following day, the whole group went to mass at St Teresa’s Church in Kowloon Tong in the morning. We all went to Ngong Ping via the cable car in the afternoon & went last-minute shopping at Citygate Outlets. We headed back to our accommodation to pick up our bags & went straight to the airport for our flight back to Manila.

Blog: High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In HONG KONG

Nacpan Beach🇵🇭

Maanne, a friend who is now based in Vancouver, went home for a few weeks & asked us to join her visit Nacpan Beach in El Nido. I’ve been to El Nido & Nacpan Beach a number of times. It was Maanne’s 1st time in Nacpan. We spent a whole day at the beach area. The weather didn’t cooperate so we found ourselves having a good time (having lunch + free drinks / shots) at Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. Our stay in El Nido & Nacpan was mostly spent in our hostels, Mad Monkey & Outpost Beach Hostel due to rainy weather.

Blog List:
Hostel Of The Day: MAD MONKEY HOSTEL NACPAN BEACH – Beach & Party In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: OUTPOST BEACH HOSTEL – Social El Nido Hostel By The Beach

Port Barton 🇵🇭

After spending 2 days & 2 nights in El Nido, we headed down south to the small coastal village of Port Barton. I’ve been to this place in 2017 & had the best times so I decided to bring my friends to this paradise. We spent another 48 hours here, went island hopping, relaxed on the village beach & had great times with old & new friends.

Blog: PORT BARTON Revisited – 48 Hours In Palawan’s Next Popular Destination

Siargao 🇵🇭

My colleague & friend, Shiela, & I went to Siargao for 4 full days last July. We booked our tickets a few months back before I left for the airport for my Sapporo trip. Another friend in the name of Geof (from Siquijor 2017 trip) was also on the island with friends. We met up on our 1st day for dinner & decided to go together for crazy party nights & inland tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Rock Pool tour together & met a new set of friends. This marked the birth of the Siargao Squad. Half of the group left the island on our 3rd day while we took the Sohoton Cove & Tri Island Tour.

Shiela & I also had crazy nights with our roommates at Bravo Beach Resort & our ex-colleague Vanessa. This trip was all about exploring the island in the morning & drinking / partying at night – typical Siargao getaway. I look forward to flying back to Siargao to do the same time.

Blog List:
4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights
Hostel Resort Of The Day: BRAVO BEACH RESORT SIARGAO – Reasonably Priced Shared Luxury Accommodation in Paradise Island

Sydney 🇦🇺

Last August, I flew to Sydney with my N9 buddies, Shane (from Sapporo trip) & Leng. It was my first trip outside Asia (finally lol). We took the free walking tours & explored Sydney by foot. The weather was not too hot & not too cold (well for me) so it was perfect for walking. My friends & I also went to see Bondi Beach & Coogee Beach, 2 of the many suburban beaches of Sydney.

We took a wine-tasting day trip to the mountains of Hunter Valley. We went to 3 wineries, tried different kinds of wine & had lunch at a fancy country club. We drowned ourselves with free wine that same day. We took another day trip to Blue Mountains National Park in Katoomba. The place is about 2 hours by train from Sydney. We walked around the peaceful rainforest of Jamison Valley plus enjoyed the thrilling rides of Scenic World. It was a perfect day out with the nature. Check the N9 in Staya Series blog list below.

Blog List:
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours
N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute
N9 in Straya Series: HUNTER VALLEY Day Tour – Australian Wine Tasting At Its Finest
N9 in Straya Series: SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS – Nature & Adventure In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

Brisbane 🇦🇺

I left my friends in Sydney & flew to Brisbane to spend a weekend with my relatives & cousins. My uncle, aunt & cousins took me around the city. We went to the koala sanctuary, had lunch at Mount Coot-tha overlooking Brisbane CBD, walked around South Bank, rode the Brisbane Wheel & drove around the central business district. They also took me to Gold Coast to see the famous beach, to go up Gold Coast’s highest view deck & to have lunch in a revolving restaurant.

Blog: N9 In Straya Series: BRISBANE Weekend – Quality Family Time In QLD

Bohol 🇵🇭

My high school friends & I went on a quick weekend getaway to Bohol last September. We flew in Saturday morning, went straight to the countryside tour. We saw both the chocolate hills & the tarsiers on our first few hours on the island. We decided to skip the Loboc River Cruise & went to Bohol Bee Farm to have lunch. We passed by a few more places before heading to our booked accommodation near Alona Beach. On our 2nd day, we chased dolphins, swam with the turtles & snorkelled in Balicasag Island. We flew back to Manila the morning of the 3rd day. The trip was just right for a small island like Bohol.

Blog: High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Penang 🇲🇾

Both planned trips in November got cancelled so I booked a last-minute trip to Malaysia. My initial plan was to spend 3 days in Penang & another 3 days in Kuala Lumpur but I had to cut short my trip for another last-minute invite. This 36-hour Penang stopover was the only ‘trip’ of the year when I was alone.

I flew in to Penang via Kuala Lumpur on the 1st day, explored Kok Lek Si & Georgetown (plus the murals) on the 2nd day & left for Singapore on the 3rd day. I stayed in a very cool shop-turned-guesthouse property called The Frame Guesthouse. I haven’t posted about my Penang trip, but watch out for the article soon.

Blog List:
Penang Blog – To Follow
(Hostel) Guesthouse Of The Day: THE FRAME GUESTHOUSE PENANG – Beautifully Restored Heritage Property In The Heart Of Georgetown

Singapore 🇸🇬

As mentioned above, I had to cut my Malaysia trip for another trip in Singapore. I flew into Singapore a day before the event. I headed my hostel near Haji Ln & Arab St & met up with my friend Lord who is now based there. We first had late lunch in a Japanese restaurant at Bugis Junction Mall then headed to ATLAS Singapore to have afternoon drinks.

I sneaked in a quick trip to Marina Bay Sands & Gardens By The Bay before heading over to Zouk Singapore for the pre-sailing party of Its The Ship 2018. Check out how I managed to spend by 24 hours in Singapore. It was a quick one, but hey, I’ve been to a lot of places in such a short span of time.

Blog List:
SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City
Tuesday Tip: SINGAPORE Tipid Hits – 9 Ways to Explore On A Budget

Its The Ship 2018 🇸🇬🇹🇭

Its The Ship 2018 was the main reason why I had to cut short my Penang / Kuala Lumpur planned trip & why I flew to Singapore on the 3rd day. Lord, my friend based in Singapore, invited me to join him in this party cruise. Thank you, Lord! Double meaning, I know. LOL.

This yearly 4 days / 3 nights cruise trip to Phuket (from Singapore) & back is Asia’s largest festival at sea. This year, the cruise turned into a massive party boat with international DJs over 3 stages. The cruise also had scheduled fun activities with the artists, plus an international buffet (which runs almost 24/7). This was my 1st cruise experience & will definitely be not the last.

I haven’t posted anything yet about my Its The Ship 2018 experience. Make sure to wait for that post next month.

Blog: To Follow

Cancelled Trips 🇨🇳🇲🇳🇯🇵

I know I have a long list of trips that pushed through this year, but I also had 2 international trips that didn’t push through. First is the 10-day trip to Beijing, China & Mongolia. My friend & I booked tickets to Beijing for less than ₱1,800 each & planned to go to Ulanbaatar by land. Unfortunately, we had to forego of this trip due to visa restraints. Apparently, the Chinese consulate does not grant double entry visas to first time applicants. We need this type of visa because we planned to go back to Beijing to catch our flight back to Manila.

Another cancelled trip was another set of flights to Japan. I was supposed to fly to Tokyo & Nagoya with my high school friends (from Hong Kong & Bohol trips) but I had to cancel. I had to attend an important family event that falls in the middle of that supposed to be 11-day trip. These China, Mongolia & Japan trips might have been cancelled, but I know I’ll visit these places soon. I’m still thankful most of my planned trips pushed through.

This pretty much sums up my year full of travels with friends. It was a year of many firsts – first winter trip, first out-of-Asia trip, first cruise experience & the list goes on. It was a year full of unforgettable experiences & memorable laughs. I may not have a clear plan on what’s in store for 2019 but I am positive it will be another year full of travels. Thank you very much for joining me. Happy new year & cheers to more fun travels in 2019!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute

A trip to Sydney will never be complete without a visit to the famous suburban beaches. Sydney, or New South Wales in general, has a long list of beaches. The city is also home to one of the most famous beaches in the world – the Bondi Beach. My friends & I, together with our new found friend Hari, went to see this beach & Coogee Beach on our last afternoon in Sydney. We didn’t go swimming because the weather was a bit cold.

Bondi BeacH

Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most popular beach. The beach is located about 7 kilometers away from the Sydney central business district. Locals & foreign tourists go to this beach to relax & have a quick swim while surfers enjoy the big waves. People also go to the famous Bondi Icebergs tidal pool to have a good view of the beach. For those who don’t want to swim or surf, there are nice cafes, restaurants & pubs along Campbell Pde which you can visit.

In case you missed it, my friends & I went on a walkathon around Sydney. We walked around a number of heritage sites & modern city icons. Check out the individual posts here – part 1 & part 2.

The Kanzler… Aus Jus Burger with a glass of German beer for lunch 😋

[L-R] Hari, Shane, Leng & myself at The Bavarian having lunch 😎

My friends & I had our late lunch at The Bavarian Bondi Beach (menu here) as it is one of the only few ones open during that time. Some stores close during down time (after lunch) & open again for dinner. The area also has some shops where you can go shopping for food & goodies. Bondi Beach’s area is relatively commercialized that those of the other beaches. The beach has a common amenity & a changing area for those who enjoyed the beach.

How To Go To Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is very accessible to the public. From Central Station, one must take the local train to Bondi Junction. This train ride takes about 13 minutes. From Bondi Station, one should go to the Bus stands & take either Bus 333, 379 or 380 from Bus Stand A or B. Get off in front of Bondi Beach. The bus ride should take about 10-15 minutes.

Coogee Beach

My friends & I also went to Coogee Beach that day. Coogee Beach, compared to Bondi Beach, is relatively more relaxed & more laid back. This small beach is located in the eastern suburb Coogee, about 8 kilometers away from the Sydney central business district. This broad beach appeals to both local & foreigner swimmers & surfers. The beach also has a natural rock pool area which was closed to the public during our visit.

Coogee Beach has beach side pubs, bars, cafes & restaurants that offer alfresco dining. The place has lesser establishments & shops compared to that of Bondi Beach. The establishments in this beach area are closer to the beach. This beach also has a shower & changing facility for those who went swimming & surfing.

Coogee Beach’ rock pools 😍

Applying for an Australian tourist visa? I did the same thing a few months ago & got a 1 year multiple entry visa. Check out these 6 steps on how you can get yours.

How To Go To Coogee Beach

View of Coogee Beach from the start/end of the coastal walk

There best way to go to Coogee Beach from Sydney CBD is by bus. There is no train line / link servicing this area. The buses to take from the city area M50, 370, 372 & 374. The bus ride from the city should take about 30 minutes. This beach is also accessible by taking bus 313 or 314 from Bondi Junction Bus Stands K or F. This ride will take around 15-25 minutes.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

One of the most popular to-do at these beaches is the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This 6 kilometer cliff top coastal walk features awesome views of beaches, parks, rock formations & rock pools. One way walk takes about 2 hours to complete. They say the track is relatively easy with a few stairs. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach or vice versa. This is already in my to-do list when I fly to Sydney!

Did you know that I also spent a weekend with my families in Brisbane? Check out the places we visited in this post.

BOUNCE HOSTEL SYDNEY

I was about to write about my 2 night stay in one of Sydney’s highest-rated hostels – Bounce Hostel Sydney – for the Hostel Of The Day feature but I found out that it recently ceased operations. Apparently, the government bought the site early this year & they are planning to do something to enhance Sydney Central Station. Bounce Hostel Sydney’s building & the rest of the buildings along the street will be demolished early next year. It’s so sad to see nice hostel close. Thank you Bounce Hostel Sydney for the fun 2-night stay & for the memories. Let me share to you first some photos I took during my stay at Bounce.

So sad to know Bounce Sydney Hostel has closed 😭 

Beautiful Sydney skyline over Sydney Central Station from Bounce’s rooftop 😍

Back to the beaches.. That pretty much sums up our short trip to two of the many Sydney suburban beaches. I want to go back to these two to finally swim & also to try the coastal walk. Have you been to other suburban beaches in Sydney? Are there other beaches which are worth-visiting? Share your experiences & thoughts in the comments below.

Do you have any questions about Sydney or budget travel in general? Feel free to send them via email to to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Check out my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Watch out for our Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour & Scenic Blue Mountains Trip in the next N9 In Straya Series posts. Thanks for your time & have a good day! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: BRISBANE Weekend – Quality Family Time In QLD

After spending a few days exploring Sydney & the nearby regions, I flew to Brisbane in Queensland to spend a weekend with my relatives. I told my aunt (my dad’s sister) about my Sydney trip & she immediately invited me to spend a few days with them in Brisbane. I haven’t seen them for about 4 years now so it was a perfect time to catch up. I gave it a go without any hesitations. My friends decided to stay in Sydney during this part of the trip.

Plane Ticket

Domestic plane fares in Australia are expensive, especially when booked last minute. I booked my Sydney-Brisbane-Sydney tickets about a month before the trip. It cost me AUD 194.41 return or that’s ₱7,855.20 in local currency, about 2/3 of my Manila-Sydney-Manila ticket which cost me a little over ₱11,500 return.

Took Virgin Australia from Sydney to Brisbane

I flew with Virgin Australia to Brisbane. I took one of the early Saturday morning flights. The one way fare cost me AUD 120.55 or ₱4,878.50 in our currency – quite expensive because of the schedule. Virgin Australia is a full-service airline so the fare included 23 kilograms check-in baggage allowance, 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance, in-flight snack & wireless in-flight entertainment accessed through the airline mobile application. Seat was comfortable; legroom was just right. The flight arrived Brisbane on time.

Flew with Tiger Air Australia back to Sydney

I took Tiger Air Australia, one of Australia’s low cost carriers, back to Sydney. I paid AUD 73.86 one way – about ₱2,976.70. Airfares in Australia are really expensive. The fare only included 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance. In-flight meals & check-in baggage allowance were offered for a fee. I didn’t avail these add-ons because I was only travelling light. The flight went well & arrived back in Sydney ahead of schedule.

Welcome to Brisbane!!!~

Tip when flying around Australia – book your tickets early! Check out promotional fares offered by the airlines few months before the trip to score really affordable fares.

Planning to visit land down under soon? Find out how I got myself a 1 year multiple entry tourist visa to Australia here.

Accommodation & Transportation

My accommodation in & transportation around Brisbane were care of my aunt & her family. They picked me up from the airport & took me around the city. I also stayed in their house so I didn’t bother booking an accommodation for this leg of my Australia trip.

Just in case you’re wondering how the transportation system works in Brisbane, they also have Translink‘s top-up card called go card. This card can be used in local trains & buses around Queensland.

Around Brisbane

My relatives brought me to a few notable places in the city given I only had the weekend in the area. Check out the following places we visited in & around Brisbane.

Lone Park Koala Sanctuary

With my cousin – we played with some kangaroos!

We went to Lone Park Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland. It is the world’s oldest & largest koala sanctuary. It was only until my Brisbane visit when finally I saw koalas & kangaroos up close. The kangaroos here were tame unlike those I saw in Hunter Valley. I also got the chance to have a photo hugging a koala. The koalas are so cute!

Had the chance to carry & hug a koala. 🐨 Dream come true! 🐨

Click this link for information about park tickets & koala photo fees.

Mount Coot-tha Lookout

Brisbane CBD from Mount Coot-tha Lookout 👀

We headed to Mount Coot-tha Lookout, also known as Brisbane Lookout, & had lunch overlooking the Brisbane CBD. We ordered food from the famous Kuta Cafe. The viewpoint is a must-see when in Brisbane because it gives a beautiful panoramic view of Brisbane up to Moreton Bay. Mount Coot-tha also has walking & bicycle tracks for those who are up for some adventure under the sun.

South Bank Parklands

South Bank Parklands is a recreational, cultural & social precinct located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. Located in South Brisbane, this hub is home to different cultural institutions, restaurants, food boths & lively weekend markets. This parkland also gives a panoramic view of the Brisbane central business district.

The Wheel of Brisbane

The Wheel of Brisbane is an iconic Ferris wheel structure found in South Brisbane, within the South Bank Parklands. A ride to this Ferris wheel gives an 360-degree view of Brisbane. The ride takes about 10-15 minutes & includes an audio system which discusses some vital information about the city & its historical landmarks.

For information on tickets, head over to The Wheel of Brisbane official website.

Brisbane River

Brisbane River & 1 William Street skyscraper

Brisbane River is one of Queensland’s longest river which crosses various suburbs & cities & ends up on Moreton Bay. The river played a big role in Brisbane’s history in terms of transportation & navigation.

Brisbane CBD

View of Brisbane CBD from The Wheel of Brisbane

Brisbane central business district, commonly known as Brisbane City, is the center & capital of Queensland. Major financial, commercial, retail & business centers are found in this city. My relatives drove me around the city right before we had dinner. We also walked around one area of the CBD. The city was surprisingly laid back & quiet that weekend. My aunt told me that everyone in Brisbane or Queensland in general is relatively laid back & chill compared to other main cities like Sydney & Melbourne.

A random quiet Brisbane CBD street

Hanwoori Korean BBQ Buffet

Unlimited Korean BBQ for dinner! 😋

We capped off the day by having dinner in Hanwoori Korean Restaurant in the city. The restaurant offers unlimited Korean BBQ & side dishes. It was a good & satisfying dinner. I never thought I’ll have Korean barbecue while in Australia. Thanks to my relatives for the treat!

Korean BBQ buffet dinner with my relatives! ❤️

In case you missed it, my friends & I went on a walkathon around Sydney. Check out the list of heritage sites & city icons we visited.

Gold Coast Side Trip

Surfers Paradise from SkyPoint Gold Coast 😍

The other side of Gold Coast

My relatives took me to Gold Coast on my second day in Brisbane. We drove a little over an hour to the world famous surfers paradise. We drove around the city before going up to SkyPoint, Gold Coast’s highest attraction. This observation deck is located on Level 77 of Q1 Resort & Spa. The view deck is 230 meters above sea level & offers a 360-degree view of Gold Coast’s beaches, parkland & beyond. Tickets cost AUD 25 for adults & AUD 15 for kids & pensioners. They also offer a family plan of AUD 65 for 2 adults & 2 kids. Check out the SkyPoint website for more details.

Seafood lunch buffet! Yum~ 😋

View while having lunch in Australian’s only revolving restaurant 😍

We didn’t go for a swim on the beach because of limited time in Gold Coast plus the waves were strong. We then headed to Crown Plaza Surfers Paradise to have lunch. My uncle reserved a seafood buffet lunch (2nd buffet in less than 24 hours) for us in Four Winds 360° Revolving Restaurant – Australia’s only revolving restaurant. The buffet restaurant offered varieties of fresh seafood (crabs, prawns, mussels & oysters) & an excellent selection of hot dishes & desserts. My favorites, aside from all the seafood choices, were the following: roast turkey supreme, crispy pork belly with hoisin sauce & apple puree, ricotta & spinach tortellini & chicken tangerine. The view from the revolving restaurant was spectacular & breathtaking. Head over to the restaurant’s official website for more information on the menu & rates.

Family lunch.. Thank you for taking me around Brisbane & Gold Coast! ❤️

We headed back to Brisbane after lunch for some grocery errands. We had a simple Filipino dinner at my aunt’s house for my last night in Brisbane. I missed sinigang! I also had a few bottles of beer with my uncle after dinner to cap off my stay in Brisbane.

After spending the whole weekend with my relatives in Brisbane, I went to our local office for a quick visit then headed to Brisbane Airport for my flight back to Sydney. This basically ends my trip to Brisbane, Queensland. It was a short but a memorable visit. I got to spend some quality time with my relatives whom I haven’t seen for years. I would like to thank my aunt, uncle & cousins for accommodating me & taking me around Brisbane. Until next time!

This beautiful sunset welcomed me back in Sydney! 😍

My time in Brisbane was limited; I’d love to go back & explore more. Have you been to Brisbane? Any recommendations on where to go in my next visit? Share those places in the comments below! If you want to remain anonymous to other readers, feel free to send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Make sure to like my Facebook page too.

One last ‘roo shot before ending this post! 👀

Watch out for the posts about the side trips we took from Sydney – to be posted soon! Thanks for reading my latest post & see you next time! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours

Heya! Apologies for being relatively quiet the past month. My work & personal lives have been very busy. There are just so many things going on. Don’t worry, I am back & I will try to post as many articles as I can before I embark on another trip in November.

View of Sydney Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge from Circular Quay

Last month, I shared with you the list of heritage sites our Sydney walking tour went into. We’ve been to historical buildings such as the Sydney Town Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral, Customs House & a lot more. These buildings & places were big parts of Sydney’s history & heritage. I mentioned in my previous Exploring Sydney By Foot post that my friends & I took 2 walking tours with I’m Free Walking Tours. These free walking tours are conducted by the local guides to share Sydney’s history & heritage with the visitors. The tour runs by donation – no fixed fee required. Head over to their website for more information about the tours.

As mentioned in the title, this post will talk about Sydney’s city icons, alleys & harbours. From the heritage structures in the previous article, we will now jump to the modern & iconic places Sydney is more known for. Check out the featured places below!

Central Station

Central Station is an iconic place in Sydney, but isn’t really a modern one. This is the city’s main train station. All trains around Sydney & most of New South Wales either leave from, arrive to or stop by this iconic station. The station has a grand & beautiful concourse, especially at night. The structure may be old, but the train facilities are modern, clean & well-maintained.

Sydney Tower

Best photo of Sydney Tower in my files, view from Pitt Street Mall

Sydney Tower, officially known as the Sydney Tower Eye, is the city’s tallest structure. Built in 1981, this tower stands 309 meters above the Sydney Central Business District. It is located within the Pitt Street Mall premises. This tower also houses a buffet restaurant, a bar & dining area & an event space. The observation deck is located at the topmost level of the tower. For information about entry tickets & passes, head over to the tower’s official website.

Pitt Street Mall

Pitt Street Mall is Sydney’s biggest pedestrian shopping & retail center. A portion of Pitt Street has been closed to vehicles to accommodate this retail precinct. This block is home to hundreds & hundreds of specialty shops & flagship stores. According to our guide, it also has one of the highest retail leasing rates in Sydney & in the world. It is the perfect place to go shopping for branded products. Entry to the Sydney Tower can be found within the mall premises.

Angel Place

Angel Place is one of the more interesting alleys in Sydney. Empty bird cages are hung above Angel Place. As you stand underneath these bird cages, you can hear the sounds of birds that once lived in Sydney before the all the buildings & structures were built. The bird songs change during night time, giving way to the sounds of nocturnal birds.

One of the most beautiful alleys in Sydney – definitely my fave! 😍

This special artwork is called ‘Forgotten Songs‘ & was designed by Michael Thomas Hill. The best time to visit the alley is during the day. It can be a little busy at night because of the establishments around it.

Planning to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa soon? I got you covered! Check this post to know more about the application process.

Circular Quay

Circular Quay / Sydney Harbour from Sydney Opera House grounds

Circular Quay, also know as Sydney Harbour, is Sydney’s main harbour & ferry terminal. 2 city icons – Sydney Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge – can be seen from this harbour. This is also where most ferries arrive & depart. The best way to explore this area of the city is by foot. Make sure to go from one end to the other.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House is the city’s most iconic & distinctive structure. Sydney has been associated with this famous building since it was finished in 1973. The opera house is a multi-venue performing arts & function center. The structure occupies the whole of Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. This iconic building was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

A visit to Sydney will never be complete without seeing & having a photo with the Sydney Opera House. If you have time, make sure to check out what’s on the Opera House to complete the experience. The Sydney Opera House also conducts daily tours. However, these tours sell out pretty quick. Book the tour early if you plan to check it out during your visit.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sunny day in Sydney Harbour – view from the Opera House 😍

Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch bridge that divides the Sydney central business district & the predominantly residential area of North Shore (or north of Sydney). This city icon goes across Sydney Harbour & is the primary structure that carries vehicles, pedestrian & bicycle traffic between the 2 areas. If you want to cross the bridge by foot or by bicycle, make sure to look for the pedestrian-only way on the east side of the bridge or the cycle-only way on the west side of the bridge.

If you fancy crossing the bridge through the arch, check out the AUD 300 Sydney Harbour Bridge tours offered by various agencies & websites like Klook & Oz Experience.

Australia Square

Australia Square is a retail & commercial tower located at 264 George St, Sydney. Contrary to its name, this 50-storey tower is actually cylindrical in shape. The tower also has a 360-degree revolving bar & restaurant on Level 47. Check out O Bar & Dining for details. My friends & I were supposed to go to this bar & restaurant on our last night but plans changed.

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour at night 😍

Darling Harbour is another harbour located near the city center. This primarily functions as a recreational & pedestrian hub. Various attractions such as the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds & the Australian National Maritime Museum can be found here. The area also boasts a very scenic restaurant & bar area called Harbourside. The renowned exhibition center, International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), can also be found here.

The best view to cap off our last night in Sydney 🍻

In my opinion, the best time to visit Darling Harbour is during dinner time. The reflection of the buildings in the water & the vibe of the area gives a very relaxing feeling.

Kensington Street

Kensington Street is a restaurant & retail precinct located in Chippendale, just a few meters from the Central Station. This street is home to various specialty shops, cafes & restaurants owned by famous chefs in Sydney. I had dinner with my Sydney colleagues in a contemporary restaurant called Eastside Kitchen & Bar. The food was super good, but a bit pricey. Service was top notch.

Inside Spice Alley – Asian food everywhere! 😋

If you’re looking for Asian cuisine, head over to Spice Alley. This alley features 6 hawker-style eateries under glowing lanterns. This place is perfect for those who miss eating rice (like me!) when in Australia. We met up with some friends & had dinner here for our last night in Sydney. We then had dessert in KOI Dessert Bar after dinner.

Lanterns everywhere in Spice Alley 🏮

Kensington Street & Spice Alley are must-visit places for Asians having holidays in Sydney. Food, pricing & ambiance were good.

Places Missed

Just like the other post, I also missed a few good places, namely Paddy’s Market (closed every Monday & Tuesday – ugh we planned to go there on those days), Barangaroo (a new inner city suburb being developed), Chinese Garden of Friendship (just before Darling Harbour – no idea why I missed this) & the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. These places are not as major the heritage ones I missed, but I still look forward to going back to Sydney to explore ’em.

Central Station at night 😍

So far this post & the previous post sum up the sites & places we covered while walking around Sydney. I know we missed a few notable ones but I don’t mind going back for those. After exploring Sydney, my friends & I went on day trips to Hunter Valley & Scenic World Blue Mountains. Keep an eye on the posts about these day trips!

For the last time in this post – the Sydney Opera House! 🇦🇺

Have you been to Sydney? Are there places which are worth-visiting? Feel free to comment them below. Feeling shy? You can send it to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Feel free to connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

Thanks for reading! 👍 I hope to post the next article soon. Watch out!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Did you know that my Hong Kong trip with high school friends last March 2018 had a follow up trip? We (a group of 8 people) recently went on another weekend trip, but this time to a nearby domestic destination – Bohol. Yes, we only spent 48 hours in the beautiful island of Bohol. It may be too short, but I think we covered the places we wanted to visit. This barkada trip was more of a rest & relaxation one, so there was no pressure for us to explore everything the island has to offer. Let me share with you the details of this quick weekend trip.

Bohol squad with the Chocolate Hills! Photo credits to Mark 🙂

In case you missed it, I’ve been to 2 other 48-hour weekend trips this year – Hong Kong & Port Barton. Check out these stories to know more about these quick but super fun trips!

Airfare & Accommodation

We didn’t wait for any airline offer or promotion when we booked our tickets. We used Traveloka‘s discount codes instead. Our Tagbilaran return ticket cost us ₱3,264.12 each, after the discounts.

We were a big group of 8 so we had a hard time looking for a place to stay. Good thing we found this newly-opened accommodation called Casa Teofista. This accommodation is located a few meters off the main highway & about 8-10 minutes walk from Alona Beach.

We only stayed in Bohol for 48 hours but we fell in love with the place.

We got 2 spacious family rooms with 2 double beds each for ₱9,856 for 2 nights – that’s ₱1,232 per person already for 2 nights. We didn’t choose a beachfront & luxury accommodation because we were only there for a short time anyway. I forgot to take photos of our accommodation – I’m sorry. If you want to contact Casa Teofista, head over to their Facebook page & shoot them a message.

DIY Countryside Tour

My friends & I opted for a do-it-yourself countryside tour because we wanted to skip a few places (Loboc River, Blood Compact Shrine & Loboc Hanging Bridge) from the usual tour, plus we planned to go to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch (instead of the Loboc River Cruise). We hired a van with driver for ₱2,800 for a full 8 hours including gas & parking fees. We asked the driver to pick us up from the airport & we went straight to our countryside tour. We asked to be dropped off at Casa Teofista at the end of our tour.

This was a DIY tour so we paid the following entrance fees – ₱50 for Chocolate Hills, ₱60 for the Tarsier Conservation Area & ₱45 for the Butterfly Garden. Check out the countryside photos below.

Chocolate Hills

Tarsier Conservation Area

Man-made Forest

Butterfly Garden

Baclayon Church

Bohol Bee Farm Organic Lunch

We had mango pizza for appetizer? Lol so good!

Filipino food for lunch – everything organic!

That’s us having lunch at Bohol Bee Farm!

Also tried Bohol Bee Farm’s famous ice cream. Got Guyabano & liked it.

If you are travelling alone, you can always rent a motorbike & explore Bohol by yourself. You can also join countryside group tours. Rates vary from one agency to another.

Alona Beach Dinner & Night Out

Alona Beach at night

After a few hours of rest & sleep, we headed out to Alona Beach to explore the area. We had dinner at Pyramid Beach Resort & transferred to Outback Bar & Grill for drinks. I also met up with James, another friend of mine who was in Bohol, in Outback Bar & Grill.

Met up with James who was also in Bohol that weekend. Photo c/o James 🙂

Private Island Hopping Tour

We hired a boat for a private island hopping tour for our second & last full day in Bohol. The boat cost ₱2,500 for the whole day including gas & guides. We left Panglao Island at 7:00 am & went dolphin watching. We then went to Balicasag Island for snorkeling & swimming with the turtles. The last stop of the tour was Virgin Island, which is known for its long & beautiful sandbar. We were there during lunch time, so the sand bar was still submerged in water. We were back in Panglao at 1:00 pm.

Given ours was a private tour, we paid ₱650 each in Balicasag Island for entrance fee, environmental fee & snorkeling gear rental. Solo travelers can join group island hopping tours for a certain rate. Again, rates vary from one agency to the other.

View of Balicasag Island from our motor boat

I don’t have photos of the dolphins, turtles & the underwater creatures because I forgot my adventure camera. Let me share with you photos of Balicasag Island & Virgin Island’s (almost) sandbar.

Balicasag Island

A beautiful & sunny day in Balicasag Island 😍

Virgin Island Sandbar

Crowded Virgin Island Sandbar

Last Night In Bohol

Inside St. Augustine Church in Panglao

We started our last night in Bohol by attending Sunday mass in St. Augustine Church in Panglao. We went back to Alona area afterwards to have dinner at Irene’s Restaurant. Majority of the group went back to our hotel after dinner. Marc & I went to Aluna Bar & met up again with James for a few drinks.

Last dinner in Bohol with the whole gang

That sums up our 48 hours in Bohol. The place is very beautiful & relaxing. We may be there for only 2 full days but we surely enjoyed the place with great company. We made memories which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Have you been to Bohol? How many days did you spend there? How do you think of the place? Are there other places that are worth-visiting? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you want to keep your identity, feel free to send ’em to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thanks for the time & see you in the next 48-hour or maybe 24-hour trip?

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.