itinerary – Page 10 – The Wknd Travel

N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 2 – Hipster Laneways, Communal Spaces & Modern Areas

Last month, I revived the N9 In Straya Series & started talking about our 8 days & 7 nights adventure in Melbourne last April. First, I shared with you the list of parks, gardens & heritage places we visited during the trip. I also gave you some details about Flinders Backpackers, our cheap but super cool hostel in downtown Melbourne. I still have a lot about Melbourne to share & allow me to share some with you today. Let me talk about the laneways, communal spaces & modern areas we visited during the trip.

Note: As mentioned in the previous blog, tram rides within Melbourne CBD are free of charge. Also, the city is very accessible by foot.

Melbourne is known for its hipster laneways, coffee shops & everything artsy. I may not be a coffee-drinker but this city is full of small artsy shops offering special coffee, avocado toasts & pastries. My friends didn’t go to many coffee shops (we went to milk tea shops instead lol) but surely went to some of these laneways & alleys. Let me share with you some of these places below.

DEGREAVES STREET

Degreaves Street is a short pedestrian street that connects Flinders St & Flinders Lane. It is a famous place to eat a hearty brunch, get your morning coffee, avail your afternoon snack or buy your evening dessert. This vibrant street has become a famous go-to places for both locals & tourists. You’ll often see shops / stalls having random queues for something cheap, hippie or artsy.

HOSIER LANE

Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s famous graffiti street. This short lane is full of random & sophisticated street arts. International & local artists put on graffiti in the walls about anything & everything about the world. There are some iconic arts, some controversial while most of them are just random ones. These street arts or murals are not as organized as that of Penang‘s but they give a different experience whilst walking along the paved way.

FEDERATION SQUARE

Federation Square is a one-of-a-kind cultural precinct located opposite Flinders Station. This communal space is a venue for cultural events, arts & world-class activities. It also has bars & restaurants, making it a perfect place to just hang out & chill.

CHINATOWN

Just like any other city around the world, Melbourne has its own local Chinatown. It is in this place where you will have your rice fix (I know – very Asian). It’s also the place to have cheap food & souvenirs. We had our 1st lunch in the famous Shanghai Street Chinese Restaurant – cheap & good Chinese food.

COLLINS PLACE

Melbourne has a lot of modern & intricately-designed retail & commercial buildings. One of these buildings is Collins Place. This commercial complex was designed & built way back in the 1970’s & up to now, still embodies the true Melbourne character. The structures are unique & are well-maintained. It’s also a good place to meet with friends for random eats & drinks.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL

Melbourne Central is a massive commercial, retail & transport hub in the city. It has hundreds of specialty stores, bars & restaurants which makes it the best place to go out with friends. You can find both local & international clothing, footwear & accessories brands here. It’s also the best place to shop in Melbourne. This complex is located in the heart of the city in the corner of La Trobe & Swanston Streets.

YARRA RIVER

Yarra River is a body of water that originates from the Yarra Ranges & runs through the Melbourne Business District. This river played a very important role in the daily lives of the early city inhabitants. It made the lives of those living in the upper areas easier to transport everything to & from the city. Now, the city-part of the river serves a tourist destination, giving the visitors a perfect view of the Melbourne skyline. A walk by the banks of the Yarra River is a perfect way to start or end your day in the city.

SOUTHBANK

Southbank is a booming urban neighborhood located in the south of the Yarra River. It now an area of tall commercial & residential buildings. Southbank currently has Melbourne’s tallest observation deck in Eureka Tower. A 100-storey building in Southbank is currently under construction & will be Australia’s tallest building by roof height in a few years. The area of Southbank by the Yarra River is also a great place to have a morning or night stroll. It’s also the perfect place to have a pint of beer with friends overlooking the city skyline.

VICTORIA HARBOUR

Victoria Harbour is the Docklands precinct where Collins & Bourke Streets meet. This picturesque harbour has a stunning & relaxing view of Docklands, Marvel Stadium, Newquay & some parts of West Melbourne. Please do not compare this with Sydney Harbour because this place is way behind the famous New South Wales harbour.

SOUTHERN CROSS RAILWAY STATION

Southern Cross Railway Station in Docklands is Victoria’s major transport hub that links Melbourne to regional Victorian cities & even other Australian states like New South Wales & South Australia. This station is the main hub of Skybus – the only bus transport service that operates between the city & Melbourne Tullamarine & Avalon Airports. The station also serves as the departure & arrival points of interstate buses. The station is also connected to the city loop making it easier to transfer to Melbourne’s other railway hub – Flinders Street Railway Station.

This pretty much sums up all the interesting places we’ve been to within the City of Melbourne. However, the adventure didn’t stop there. My friends & I booked 3 well-recommended day trips to the countryside which you will know more about in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

View from the 66th Floor of Light House Melbourne – a beautiful skyscaper in Melbourne CBD

Have you walked around the Melbourne central business district in the past? How was your experience? What was your favorite spot in the city? Share some details in the comments section below. If you have anything to ask or share to me, feel free to send an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll respond as soon as I can. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for your time & see you in the next Melbourne post. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 1 – Parks, Gardens & Heritage Sites

Last August 2018, I went to Australia for a week-long trip with my N9 friends, Shane & Leng. We spent days around Sydney’s heritage sites & country icons, tried the extreme rides in Scenic World Blue Mountains, toured Hunter Valley & had a taste of the best wines in the region & walked along the beautiful Bondi & Coogee Beaches. I also had the chance to spend a few days with my relatives in Brisbane. It was the perfect dry winter trip, away from the humid & rainy Manila.

We all got multiple entry visas on our 1st application (find out here how we did it) & we agreed to fly to Australia again before our visas expire. Fast forward to April 2019, we all flew back to Australia for another week of adventure.. But this time, in Melbourne! Yes, we went around Melbourne & Victoria in general for 8 days & oh boy, we had a great time. I cannot wait to share everything in this platform. This trip to Melbourne also means I’ll be reviving the N9 In Straya Series which started last year.

We were joined by my good friend, Lord of LordAroundTheWorld, for the first 4 days in Melbourne. Lord was the one who invited me to go to Its The Ship 2018 last November. We had the best party nights on board a cruise ship – good times. Anyway, I will be dividing the trip write-ups into 6 or 7 sections & I’ll try to remember as much details as I can.

FLIGHTS

Last year, I paid around ₱11,500 all-in for a return ticket to Australia. Yes, that cheap! We flew with Cebu Pacific Air, a low-cost carrier, for 8-hour trips to & from Sydney. The experience was alright, though nothing beats flying with a full-service airline. Given our planned dates fall on the high (Holy Week) season, we decided to fly with the same airline in their Melbourne route.

This time, I paid around ₱15,000 for a round-trip ticket to Melbourne, Australia. The ticket only included shared baggage with my friends, no in-flight entertainment or food. Both flights were on time which were good. However, the experience was terrible. The flight was full, we had no space to change seats & have a row of seats to ourselves. The cabin was noisy in general & the service was a bit slow. The crew were fantastic, there were just around 400+ passengers on board.

This Melbourne ticket is amazingly cheap considering higher fuel prices & taxes. I’d still take the same flights but not during peak seasons.

ACCOMMODATION

My friends & I stayed in Flinders Backpackers in the center of Melbourne. We got a 3-bed dormitory room (perfect for us 3 – Lord got his own bed in another dormitory room) for 8 days & 7 nights. I will talk more about the hostel, its location & our experience in my upcoming hostel of the day feature. Watch out for that.

WALKING AROUND MELBOURNE

Last year, my friends & I joined the I’m Free Tours in Sydney & we had a nice experience. We opted not to take the I’m Free Tours Melbourne because we already know about the history of Australia. It would’ve been nice to know more about Melbourne in that walking tour but my friends didn’t want to take it again. Instead, we explored the city on our own. Trams are free within the central business district plus everything in the area can be reached by foot. Today, allow me to share with you the list of heritage & historical sites, parks & gardens we went to in the city.

Flinders Street Station

Flinders Street Station is Melbourne’s main train station. It was built in the 1850s & then transform into what it is now in the early 1900s. It is Australia’s first railway station. The station serves the whole Victorian metropolitan network. Flinders Street Station also has one of the world’s longest train platform at 708 m long.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Located opposite Flinders Station & Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral is another heritage structure built in the late 1800’s. It is an Anglican cathedral in Melbourne, the cathedral church of the Diocese of Melbourne & the seat of the Anglican Primate of Australia.

Royal Exhibition Building

Royal Exhibition Building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Carlton Gardens, Victoria. It was built in the late 1800’s & has been used for events & exhibitions in the city. Up to now, the place is used for those types of functions. Note that this building is undergoing a multi-million renovation & is expected to be completed by 2020.

Carlton Gardens

Carlton Gardens is a 26-hectare site located a few streets from the main city. This massive open space has the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum & IMAX Cinema in it. Just like the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is a war memorial that is dedicated to all Victorians who served in the war, particularly during the World War 1. The shrine is located outside the Central Business District, but is only a few tram stops from Flinders Street Station.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is a 36-hectare botanic garden located at the south of the Yarra River. This botanic garden is home to thousands of plant species located along slopes, garden beds, lakes & lawns. This botanic garden serves as a breakout space & a bonding place for people who wanted to take a break from the busy city life. Entry to the garden is free of charge.

Fitzroy Gardens

Fitzroy Gardens is another 26-hectare block of greens at the back of the Parliament Square. This massive parkland is another park that is located within the Melbourne CBD. The Cook’s Cottage can also be found in this park.

Parliament House of Victoria

The Parliament House of Victoria is the house or meeting building of the Victorian Parliament. This historical & heritage landmark is located along Spring Street, beside the Old Treasury Building. The building was under renovation during our visit last April.

Old Treasury Building

From the name itself, the Old Treasury Building used to house the Treasury Department of the Government of Victoria. This old but beautiful building has then been transformed into a museum of Melbourne History.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

St Patrick’s Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Melbourne. The church was built in the 1850s but took a while to be completed. The cathedral is located in Cathedral Place, right at the back of the Parliament Building.

Old Melbourne Gaol

The Old Melbourne Gaol used to be a prison that held the country’s notorious criminals. It also had records of people being executed & hanged. It stopped operating as a prison after the world war & has then become a museum. Entrance fee to the museum is at AUD 28 per person, quite expensive to be honest. My friends & I decided not to go inside because it was out of our budget.

Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market, locally known as the QVM, is one of Victoria’s famous landmarks. It is an open air market that serves as the main trading hall for Victorians & for visitors. We visited the QVM on a Wednesday night & it was also the 2nd night of the Europa Night Market. This night market showcased different food, delicacies & drinks from selected European countries.

State Library of Victoria

The State Library of Victoria is the state’s central library. Built in the 1850s, it is Australia’s oldest public library & at the same time world’s first free libraries in the world. The library has various reading & collections room where locals & visitors can have a look. I’ve been to this library twice last April, 1st one with Lord & the 2nd time with my N9 friends. This is by far one of my favorite places in Melbourne. The view from the topmost floor of The Dome is just stunning.

This ends the list of parks, gardens & heritage sites we’ve been to in Melbourne. I’m sure we’ve been to more but I can’t remember the other ones. Melbourne is such a nice city. Its buildings are combinations of heritage listed brick ones & modern & contemporary ones. Its one of those cities where you won’t get tired of walking around.

Have you been to Melbourne in the past? What is the most interesting building you’ve been to? How was your visit? Feel free to send your thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the matters above? You can also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for more Melbourne content in the future! Thank you for reading.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: MATSUMOTO & FUKUOKA Stopovers

Now, I’ve shared much detail about my recent Japan trip – from spending 36 hours in Tokyo, exploring Nagano in 48 hours to going around Kyoto for a day, riding thrill rides at Universal Studios Japan & playing with the sacred deer of Nara Deer Park. I’ve also talked about the hostels I’ve stayed with – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Dot Hostel Nagano, New World Inn Osaka & Fukuoka Hana Hostel.

It was a beautiful, clear & sunny day in Fukuoka during my 22-hour stopover last February 2019.

There’s one more part I’d like to share with you to complete the details of this Japan 2019 trip. In between the places & hostels I mentioned above are 2 cities where I stopped for a few hours – Matsumoto & Fukuoka. Allow me to share with you the details of my stopovers in these cities.

Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a mountain city in central Japan; it is the second largest city in Nagano Prefecture. This very small & simple city is known for its beautiful castle & the view of the Japan Alps. I had about 3 hours of stopover in between trips from Nagano to Osaka.

I took about an hour trip from Nagano to Matsumoto via the local JR line. We passed by the snowy mountains & smaller towns of central Japan. Upon arrival at the station, I was welcomed by the beautiful view of the alps. I had a 3-hour stopover so I decided to walk around the city.

Matsumoto Castle

The city’s landmark is the country-famous Matsumoto Castle. Know locally as Matsumotojo, this is one of country’s original & most beautiful castles. It is a castle that is built on a flat ground rather than a hill or a mountain. This castle dates back to the ancient 1600’s & still has the majority of the original structure. Entrance to the castle grounds is free while a fee of ¥600 needs to be paid if guests want to go inside the castle buildings. I didn’t have enough time to inside the buildings; I explored the nearby streets instead.

One of the streets near the castle is Nakamachi Street. This street is full of ancient & preserved wooden houses that have been converted into commercial spaces & souvenir shops. There wasn’t much going on when I walked along the street.

Matsumoto Station

The city’s main hub is Matsumoto Station. Everyone that travels to the city by land drops by this station. This station is also an inevitable place to see when visiting the city because of its modern & clean facilities.

Japan Alps

One of the most beautiful views that welcomed me in Matsumoto is the view of the Japan Alps. I’ve seen the same alps in 2017 from Mount Fuji’s 4th Station but seeing them a bit closer was different. These alps run along the mountains of Central Japan, mostly in Nagano Prefecture. Most of the areas in Matsumoto provide a nice sight of the alps.

After walking around Matsumoto for a few hours, I headed to the Alpico Bus Terminal in front of Matsumoto Station & took the afternoon bus to Osaka where I met with my sisters.

Fukuoka

The second stopover I made & the last city I visited on my recent Japan trip is Fukuoka. As mentioned in my previous posts, I had to go to Fukuoka because it was from this city where I got my cheap flight back to Manila. Believe it or not, my Fukuoka to Manila ticket cost me less than ₱700 not including check in baggage. Cheap right? I got this on way ticket from one of GetGo‘s points sale last August 2018.

I’ve been to Fukuoka in 2016 so I decided to just walk around the city in this 22-hour stopover. I booked a night stay in Fukuoka Hana Hostel (again) & explored the nearby area by foot right before my flight. I went around the following areas.

Kawabata Shopping Arcade

My hostel was located along Kawabata Shopping Arcade. I took this chance to check on the local shops, restaurants & cafes in the arcade. The area is tourist-friendly though I find it catering more to the local crowd than the tourists. I still had a nice stroll anyway.

Tenjin

Tenjin is Fukuoka’s downtown area. Located about 15 minutes walk from my hostel, this area is full of shops, fancy restaurants & night clubs & bars. It is also where you will find most of the locals & tourists; also the place to see a lot of Hakata ramen places.

Canal City Hakata

Canal City Hakata is Fukuoka’s largest & most unique shopping complex. This 5-storey commercial complex has about 200 shops & restaurants & 2 hotels with canals running through the building.

One of the unique areas you’ll see in this shopping mall is the Ramen Stadium in the fifth floor. It is an area of 8 restaurants serving different flavors of ramen from various Japan cities & areas.

Kushida Shrine

Kushida Shrine is the Shinto shrine a few meters away from my hostel in Hakata. The famous local festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa is being held in this shrine every July. I was there on a weekend so there were a lot of people in the shrine.

I only decided to walk around the area near my hostel because I was a bit tired. It was the last of 9 days in Japan & I’ve been out & about for the past days. That laid back last day was the one I wished for before flying back to Manila the same night.

So there you go.. This post sums up my stopovers in Matsumoto & Fukuoka & my February 2019 Japan trip in general. Thank you for taking time in reading my posts & sharing them in the online world. I appreciate all the comments, emails & messages I receive. They keep me going!

Do you have any question about Matsumoto, Fukuoka or the whole trip in general? Feel free to post them in the comments below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Can you do me a favor? I hope you can help me promote my social media pages to your friends & families – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The end of a trip series means a start of another series. That’s right – watch out for my upcoming posts about my recently-concluded Melbourne trip with my N9 friends.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: NAGANO – 48 Hours In The Inland Prefecture Of The Snow Monkeys

Last February, I spent 48 hours away from my family & went around the beautiful city of Nagano. After spending 36 hours in Tokyo, I took the overnight Willer Express bus from JR Tokyo Station to JR Nagano Station. I arrived in the morning & started exploring Nagano.

Nagano is a prefecture in the mountainous region of Central Japan. This area is known for its ski resorts & various nature sights. This is the perfect holiday destination for people who are up for anything snow-related during winter & for hiking & nature trails during summer season. In fact, Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics way back in 1998. Nagano is also known as the place to see the snow monkeys which are pretty much everywhere in the mountains during winter. Nagano City is the capital. It is a small & laid back city; it is the city that connects Nagano to the rest of Japan.

Applying for a Japan tourist visa soon? Let me help you. Check out these 4 easy steps on how to get your Japan tourist visa.

Access To Nagano

Took the overnight Willer Express Bus from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station – the cheapest option.

People can easily go to Nagano by shinkansen or bullet train, JR local trains & by bus. JR Nagano Station is connected to major shinkansen stations like Tokyo & Kanazawa. It’s also connected to local JR stations like Matsumoto & Nagoya. The most affordable way to reach Nagano is by bus. Willer Express & Alpico Bus Lines connect Nagano to major & small Japan cities. I took the overnight Willer Express Bus from Tokyo Station. The 6-hour bus ride cost me ¥2,500 one way.

Accommodation

There isn’t many cheap & shared accommodations in Nagano at the time of writing. Luckily I came across this traditional house turned hostel called Dot Hostel Nagano. It is a hostel that can accommodate up to 15 people in private & mixed dormitory rooms. Know more about this simple yet affordable hostel in this separate post I made. I stayed 2 nights in this hostel & made some fun memories with the other guests.

Nagaden Railway

The Nagaden Railway, also known as the Nagano Electric Railway or Nagano Dentetsu, is an old & a private electric railway that connects Nagano Station to Suzaka, Shinshu-Nakano & Yudanaka. This railway opened way back in 1926 & remains functional up to the present. This old train operates with modern train cars along the old & preserved train stations.

Nagaden Railway uses the manual ticketing & ticket collection method up until the present times.

The railway operates using the traditional system – that means, no electronic gates or whatsoever. You purchase tickets from the booths at your station of boarding & surrender the ticket in your final station. The railway runs local & limited express trips between town & cities within the Nagano Prefecture.

Zenkoji Station platform of the Nagaden Railway – one of the old train stations of this old train line.

A train ride from Nagano Station to Shinshu-Nakano, Yudanaka or even just the nearest Zenkoji Station should be part of one’s Nagano experience. Luckily, I tried this line a lot of times during my stay. The experience buying tickets through the gates & going through the very old train stations was one of a kind.

Snow Monkey Pass

I availed the Snow Monkey Pass while I was in Nagano. This tourist pass allowed me to have an unlimited use of the Nagaden Railway, Nagaden express & local buses for 2 consecutive days. The pass also included a one-time free admission to the Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen-Koen). The pass cost ¥3,500. Note that the pass can’t be bought online. It is only available in the following Nagaden Railway Stations – Nagano Station, Gondo, Suzaka & Obuse.

Based from this page, the whole return trip to the Snow Monkey Park (entrance fee included) cost around ¥4,000. It doesn’t include the small trips you need to take in between stations. The Snow Monkey Pass saved me tons of yens. It even allowed me to take an afternoon trip to the nearby town of Suzaka. I was able to maximize the pass for 2 days.

Nagano Station

The first place you see when you get off Nagano is its main station, the Nagano Station. This modern train station serves as the main hub of the city. As mentioned above, this station connects Nagano to the rest of Japan.

Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple is one of Japan’s most famous & important Buddhist temples. It has housed the 1st ever Buddhist statue that was brought to Japan when the religion was introduced in the 6th century. The original statue is kept safe by the authorities while a replica is available for viewing (no cameras & videos allowed) in the temple’s main hall.

Suzaka SIDE Trip

Suzaka’s quiet neighborhood – I was the only visitor walking around the streets full of old houses.

The Snow Monkey Pass allowed me to go to the nearby city of Suzaka. This peaceful city is about 12 kilometers away from Nagano City. There isn’t much happening in the city when I visited. I just walked along streets full of old houses. I also walked to Garyu Park, which happens to have a frozen lake. I was told by 1 of the locals that this park transforms into a sakura park during spring season.

Gondo Shopping Street

Gondo Shopping Street is a long covered shopping arcade which has shops, service stores, cafes & restaurants, bars & pachinko outlets. The shopping street is a long quiet alley in the day but transforms into a busy area at night.

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

The main purpose of this Nagano leg is to see the snow monkeys in person. As mentioned above, I used the Snow Monkey Pass to board the Nagaden Railway & bus to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.

The snow monkey hot spring area is about 20 minutes hike up to the mountains. I was there during the winter season so the whole park was covered with snow & ice. The snow monkeys freely move around the park. They are also fed by the staff a few times a day. These monkeys are generally nice; just don’t show them a plastic bag or anything they can get from you.

The visit to the snow monkeys was the highlight of my Nagano trip. I used to only see them in blog posts & internet photos. Glad I was able to see them in real life & up close. The long hike up to the snow park was worth it & I won’t trade it to any other day trip in Nagano.

Note: The Snow Monkey Park charges an entrance fee of ¥800 per person. This fee is already included if you use a valid snow monkey pass during your visit.

Kamenoyu

One of the most unique experiences I had during my visit in Nagano was to try a local onsen or public bathhouse. The Dot Hostel Nagano staff recommended that I should try Kamenoyu, a public bathhouse in the city. This facility is owned & maintained by the City of Nagano.

I went there on my last night in Nagano & enjoyed a relaxing hot bath. Luckily, there were only a few people during my visit. The men & women have separate bathing facilities. This wasn’t my 1st time in an onsen. I’ve been to onsens in my previous Japan trips; the last one was in Hokkaido when I went to an outdoor onsen called Hoheikyo Onsen.

Missed Places

2 days isn’t enough to go around Nagano. Too bad I missed a few places during my visit. 1st place I wish I went to was the Togakushi Shrine. This shrine is located on the top of the mountain & requires at least a day to finish. Winter isn’t the perfect time to visit this shrine due to thick snow & slippery ice in the walkway & stairs.

I didn’t have time to visit a ski resort & to go skiing again. Nagano has a lot of ski resorts & is one of the main reasons why people go to this place. I’ll definitely check out these 2 places when I go back. I will also find time to visit the nearby towns of Shinsu-Nakano, Obuse & explore the town of Yudanaka more.

I only had 48 hours in Nagano & I’m happy I made use of the time well exploring the city. The visit to the snow monkey park was definitely the highlight of this trip. I’d love to see them again in the future. I’ll probably check out Nagano during spring or summer next time.

Have you been to Nagano? Have you been to nice places which I can include to my list of places to visit when I go back? Were you able to see the snow monkeys? Share your trip highlights & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any question about anything written or mentioned above? Feel free to email me at contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll respond as soon as I can. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Thank you for your time today. Until next time.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

IT’S THE SHIP 2018 – 4 Days & 3 Nights Of Non-Stop Parties On Board Genting Dream Cruise

Last November, my good friend, Lord of Lord Around The World invited me to join him on It’s The Ship 2018. Known as Asia’s Largest Festival At Sea, It’s The Ship sailed to Phuket, Thailand on board Dream Cruises‘ Genting Dream for their 5th Anniversary. Its sail started in Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore then docked in Phuket, Thailand for a few hours then back to Singapore. Let me share with you how my first cruise experience went.

Pre-Cruise Stops

Prior to It’s The Ship 2018, I went on a 36-hour Penang side trip (to see Georgetown’s murals) & a 24-hour Singapore stop. My initial plan was to explore Penang & Kuala Lumpur for a few days until Lord invited me to join him on the cruise trip. I cut short my Penang stay, cancelled my Kuala Lumpur leg & flew to Singapore a day before the sail. I met with Lord upon arrival in Singapore, then walked around the city & finished the day with the pre-sail party in Zouk Singapore.

Day 1 – Sail To Phuket & On board Parties Begin

Check-in & Boarding

The cruise trip & EDM festival started in Marina Bay Cruise Centre. All guests, crew & artists checked-in for the trip, boarded by batch & passed through immigration. Everyone was given their respective room key cards, festival booklets & cruise schedule / information. Passports were surrendered to the crew upon entering the ship. The entire cruise had a safety briefing at 5:00 pm right before it started its sail to Phuket.

Room Tour

Lord & I stayed in Room 10556, a Balcony Stateroom on Deck 10. It features a queen bed, private bathroom & toilet, a sofa bed, a large television (with our names in it), a small refrigerator & a private balcony. The room also had 2 packs of snacks from The Golden Duck, the festival’s official party snack. The room was just right for 2 people. It was again my first time (in years) to stay in a luxury room like this. I enjoyed every detail of the room!

First Dinner On Board

While everyone was busy lining up for the gala dinner tickets (which we decided to skip), Lord & I had dinner at Dream Dining Room Restaurant. The restaurant featured a Chinese set menu. The dishes featured unlimited servings of sauteed frog legs, steamed large shrimps, roast duck & a lot more. What a sumptuous dinner!

Crown Stage Welcome Party

Parties started as soon as the cruise left Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore. Right after dinner, Lord & I went to the Crown Stage Welcome Party at Deck 16. It is also the cruise’ main party venue. We stayed for a few hours & enjoyed the sets of DJs like Helena Legend & Chocolate Puma. We went back to our room after a while & called it a night.

Day 2 – EDM Festival Continues & Phuket Stopover

Sunrise Party with Maddix

We started Day 2 really early with a sunrise party at Zouk Stage at the rear part of the cruise. We woke up before 5 am & made it to Maddix’s set. Maddix is one of Revealed Recording’s rising stars & is one of my current favorites. I’ve been listening to his songs & mixes for quite some time, so it was really nice to see him perform live. I even got a chance to have a photo with him after his set.

Lido International Buffet Meal

Lord & I had most of our meals in Lido International Buffet Restaurant. It is one of the two restaurants (the other is Dream Dining Restaurant) which are included in the fee. The other specialty restaurants are not for free & had very expensive food. Basically, we go to Lido for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, midnight snack & pre-sleep snack. Good thing this buffet offers an international spread. The food / dishes also change from time to time.

Around The Cruise

I took time to walk around the cruise while Lord hit the gym (know as Crystal Lift Fitness). I went to the main lobby, casino (known as Resorts World At Sea), Bridge Viewing Room (where the ship captain & officers can be seen + replica of the cruise) & the Dream Boutiques.

Zouk Stage Foam Party

Lord & I attended the crazy foam party at Zouk Stage. It was my first foam party & it was a mad on. Everyone partied really hard & the crowd was awesome. We were able to make it to Mira Mira & DJ Helena Legend‘s sets. Helena was joined by Jjay De Melo. Oh, I found out that Jjay De Melo drowned & died last month. I’d like to pay tribute to this cool man & I’m actually dedicating this post to him. Rest in peace, sir.

Phuket Stopover

The cruised docked at Patong Beach, Phuket at around 5:00 pm. Lord & I disembarked at 6:30 at one end of Patong Beach & walked around the streets of Phuket. We had authentic Thai food for dinner at Baan Laimai Beach Resort‘s on site restaurant. We also spent some time reconnecting with friends & loved ones through social media. Wi-Fi on board the cruise was very slow. We walked up to the other end of the area then back. We skipped the Genting Dream’s Gala Night for this stopover in Phuket. We went back to the ship a few minutes before 10 pm.

Party ‘Til Dawn

Lord passed for the 2nd night’s party while I partied my heart out. I met some cool Indonesian people on the dance floor & I joined their party until dawn. If I remembered it right, I slept around 5:00 am on the 3rd day. We enjoyed the sets of Hook N Sling & Darude. Cash Cash gave the best set of that night. The crowd was wild; the people didn’t run out of energy. It’s been a while since I danced until dawn; I enjoyed it a lot.

Day 3 – All-Day Chill & Party

Lunch at Dream Dining Restaurant

After eating most of our meals in Lido, Lord & I decided to have lunch at Dream Dining Restaurant for a change. We had unlimited Chinese set dishes plus rice & soup. The food this time was so-so; it consisted of sauteed eggplant, cabbage, some fish & meat. Our 1st meal in the same restaurant was a lot better.

Chill All Day

Day 3 aboard Genting Dream was more about chilling rather than partying. I wasn’t able to join Lord when he interviewed Maddix so I decided to just walk around the cruise (again), sunbathe & have some carbonated drink. Good thing the sun was out & the sky was super clear. Lord joined me after his interview & we went for a swim in the pool near the Crown Stage.

Hip-Hop Afternoon with Big Shaq

I dropped by the Zouk Stage while Lord was having some down time in the room. The one & only non-EDM related hip hop party was happening with the It’s The Ship 2018 Captain, Big Shaq. People came in their 90’s hip hop outfits. It was another crazy afternoon party! I didn’t stay long in that stage; I immediately went back inside the room & had some rest.

Dinner & Crazy Trance Final Night Party

Lord & I went out of the room to have our final dinner on the cruise. We went, of course, to Lido International Buffet. After dinner, we headed over to the crown stage again to have drinks & enjoy the trance-themed final night party. We also went to the Zouk Stage for another party & watched Cash Cash play beer pong with the other guests. Notable names that played that night were David Gravell, Estiva, Cosmic Gate, Paul Van Dyk (who was on the same plane as I am to Kuala Lumpur) & Vini Vici. The crowd went super wild during the sets of Cosmic Gate & Vini Vici. We stayed until around 1:00 am & we decided to go to bed afterwards.

Day 4 – Back In Singapore & Flight Back To Manila

Last Meal at Lido

Lord & I had our final brunch meal at Lido on our way back to Singapore. I know I’ve eaten a number of buffet meals on this trip, but I think this last one was special. I can very well remember the potato wedges & slices of turkey ham served in that spread.

Check-out & Disembarkation

After our meal, we went to reception to settle our bills & to check for possible last minute purchases. We headed back to our room, took a shower & packed our things. The cruise staff gave us back our passports.

The cruise ship arrived Singapore around lunch time, but we disembarked around 2:00 pm. We cleared Singapore immigration & found ourselves back at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. Our It’s The Ship 2018 experience officially ended here.

Flight Back To Manila

Lord & I immediately went to the nearest subway station. Lord took the train back to his place while I took the train to Changi Airport. A few hours later, I flew out of Singapore & landed back in Manila.

5 Reasons That Make It’s The Ship Is A Unique EDM Festival

You might wonder what makes It’s The Ship unique & why people go to this festival. Check out these reasons I thought of based on my experience.

It is on board a cruise ship.

Yes, it happens on board a cruise ship! You also go & disembark on a specific place in another country. How cool is that?

It has pop-up / themed parties.

The festival has pop-up / themed parties where guests can choose where to go to. It ranges from hip-hop parties, onesie parties, birthday bashes, foam party to pajama parties. People go to these parties in costumes, which makes the activity more fun.

It hosts side activities with DJs.

*Sam of Cash Cash played few rounds of beer pong with the shipmates. Happened on the 3rd night!*

It’s The Ship hosts several activities where the guests get to spend time with their favorite DJ’s. These activities include beer pong, yoga class, Singapore Sling class, games, etc. These give the guests the chance to meet their favorite DJ’s in flesh & also to have fun with them. It’s one of a kind.

It features the best local & international DJs.

The festival features the best local & international DJs in the scene. The 2018 sail gave the guests a chance to enjoy the music of legends like Paul Van Dyk, Vini Vici & Cosmic Gate. It also gave a platform for local DJs to showcase their talents & style in a bigger crowd.

It’s an experience of a lifetime.

Going to an EDM festival on board a cruise is definitely an experience of a lifetime. You get to enjoy the music of your favorite DJs while in the middle of the sea, plus you get to meet people from the other parts of the world who share the same passion for dance music. It was a fun trip, I’ll definitely attend it again in the future.

So.. There you go! It’s The Ship 2018 was a trip of many firsts & of a lifetime. I will never forget everything that happened in those 4 days & 3 nights on board Genting Dream. Massive thanks to my friend, Lord of Lord Around The World, for tagging me along!

It’s The Ship Singapore 2019 will be back for their 6th Anniversary this November 13-15. Check out the event website for cabin prices, lineup & more details. You can also start booking your cabins for this year’s party! Guess what? It’s The Ship will also sail from China & Japan this year. It’s The Ship China 2019 will depart Shanghai & go to Shimonoseki, Japan from June 13 to 17. Details are yet to be announced for the It’s The Ship Japan 2019. Make sure to follow It’s The Ship on Instagram & Facebook to get updated on the event details. You can also find everything about the ship on ItsTheShip.com. ✌️