Tag: stories

Rediscovering Post-Pandemic HONG KONG: 4 Days & 4 Nights Around Asia’s Dynamic World City for Less Than 30,000 All-In [December 2023]

In December 2023, my friends and I flew to Hong Kong for 4 days after winning free base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific. We joined the Hong Kong International Airport Authority’s World of Winners campaign in the Philippines, and we each got one roundtrip free base fare ticket valid until December 2023. My friends and I chose December as our travel month to avoid the heat (which we did not), and to have better weather in general.

Today, I will share with you what happened in these 4 days and 4 nights around Hong Kong. My friends and I have all been to Hong Kong in the past, but we still went for the usual sightings. Read on below to learn which places we visited and how we managed to fit everything in for less than ₱30,000 per person all-in.

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. The autonomous territory has its own government, economy, and currency. This highly developed territory is one of Asia’s financial and economic hubs; it is the center or base of many multi-national companies and corporations.

Hong Kong is one of the Philippines’ biggest travel markets. Many Filipinos fly between Hong Kong and the Philippines daily. It is also one of the favorite and first-time go-to destinations of Filipino families and tourists. Hong Kong grants Philippine passport holders a 14-day visa-free entry to the territory.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I won complimentary return base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific from the Hong Kong International Airport Authority’s World of Winners campaign. The HKIAA gave out thousands of roundtrip plane tickets to Hong Kong to people from around the world to lure travelers back to and revive Hong Kong’s post-pandemic tourism industry.

I only paid US$66.30 (₱3,638.99 charged by my local bank) each for taxes and fees for the return Cathay Pacific flights. I wrote about these Cathay Pacific flights in my previous flight reports: CX 912 Manila to Hong Kong and CX 901 Hong Kong to Manila. I hope you can check out these reports.

Accommodation

My friends and I went around Hong Kong for 4 days and 4 nights and chose Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei as our accommodation. It is a no-frills hostel with Hong Kong-standard-sized private rooms and private toilets. We paid ₱4,988.64 each for 4 nights in 2 standard bunk rooms.

I wrote about the property and our 4-night stay in this affordable accommodation. I hope you can check out the hostel of the day feature on Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei here.

Going Around Hong Kong

Hong Kong has an efficient transportation system. Everything is accessible by trains, subways, buses, and trams. The country’s transportation system is also synced with Google. It is easy to search and navigate your way around the territory if you have a working internet connection.

 

My friends and I bought and used the country’s Octopus Card for all types of transportation during the trip. The Octopus Card is a reusable contactless smart stored value card widely used around Hong Kong. It is also a widely accepted alternative mode of payment in the territory. We bought Octopus Cards for HKD200 each with HKD150 stored value and HKD50 refundable card deposit.

Internet Sim Card

My friends and I bought this internet sim card from Klook, paid ₱400.60 after discounts, and plugged it into one of our spare phones. We accessed and shared the mobile data through the phone’s mobile hotspot.

The internet sim card came with 80 GB of LTE high-speed data and 1,000 local voice minutes. The four of us did not even use up 25% of the sim card’s data allocation.

Travel Insurance

One of my non-negotiables when going on a trip is getting travel insurance. This insurance protects me from any happenings, delays, cancellations, or unexpected circumstances during a trip.

For this Hong Kong trip, I bought my travel insurance from Standard Insurance. I paid ₱350 for the Asia Protect Peso 500K insurance plan.

Places Visited in Hong Kong

As mentioned above, my friends and I are not first-timers in Hong Kong. We carefully chose the places we visited and took our time going around these places. Here are the places we have been on this four-day trip.

YAU MA TEI

We walked around our hostel neighborhood, Yau Ma Tei, while waiting for check-in. We came across a small local café, had a nice lunch, and immediately had our egg tart fix.

K11 MUSEA

K11 Musea is a modern, artsy, and beautifully designed shopping mall near Victoria Harbour. This uniquely designed shopping mall has hundreds of retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment spaces for all its visitors.

VICTORIA HARBOUR & AVENUE OF THE STARS

We visited Victoria Harbour and Avenue of the Stars for the nightly “A Symphony of Lights” at 8:00 p.m. light show.

NGONG PING 360 CABLE CAR

My friends and I took the 25-minute Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to Ngong Ping Village. We took the glass cabin to the village and rode in the standard cabin on the way back. We got our tickets from Klook and paid ₱1,803.20 each.

NGONG PING VILLAGE, TIAN TAN BUDDHA & PO LIN MONASTERY

Upon arrival, we walked around Ngong Village and checked out the different shops. We also had our photos taken with the Tian Tan Buddha. We went up to the big Buddha structure and explored the museum inside. We also checked out the Po Lin Monastery before going back to Tung Chung.

CITYGATE OUTLETS

After Ngong Ping, we went to CityGate Outlets and had lunch. We spent the rest of the day shopping and finding the best footwear and wardrobe deals.

VICTORIA PEAK TRAM & SKY TERRACE 428

We took the iconic tram to Victoria Peak and enjoyed the beautiful panoramic Hong Kong skyline from Sky Terrace 428. We got our Sky Terrace 428 and return tram tickets from Klook and paid ₱725.55 each after discounts.

CENTRAL

We walked around Central, checked out some shops, and had lunch at Five Guys.

MONGKOK

We visited the bustling and busy area of Mongkok on our second to last night. We met a friend for dinner and spent the rest of the night around the busy Ladies Market and Mongkok shopping district.

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

My friends and I spent our last day at Hong Kong Disneyland. We got early entry tickets from Klook and paid ₱6,394.03 each. We got into the theme park an hour before the official opening time and enjoyed the new rides at the recently opened (at the time of our visit) World of Frozen. We rode multiple rides throughout the day and stayed until the iconic fireworks display and the theme park closed.

Also, we availed of Klook’s Hong Kong Disneyland Dining Voucher, which included a lunch meal and a dinner meal in selected restaurants. We also got free ice cream (or caramel popcorn) from this voucher. We paid ₱1,836.35 each after discounts.

Summary of Expenses

On top of all these expenses, I exchanged the Philippine Peso for Hong Kong Dollars prior to leaving Manila for this trip. I exchanged HKD940 for ₱6,956 in a money changer in Makati Central Square.

Here is a list of all my expenses for this 4-day and 4-night trip to Hong Kong in December 2023:

Disclaimer: The expenses above do not include personal shopping (from CityGate Outlets), chocolates, and other ‘pasalubongs’.

I spent ₱28,412.91 for a 4-day and 4-night trip to Hong Kong — plane tickets, accommodation, entry tickets, food, and pocket money included. Not bad, eh?

My friends and I got lucky by winning free base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific. If, by any chance, we get our tickets for ₱1 base fare, the whole trip will pretty much be in the same cost range.

This 2023 Hong Kong trip summary shows that traveling on a budget is still possible given the elevated prices of everything. One needs to carefully plan and choose the places to visit.

Have you been to Hong Kong recently? How was your trip? I hope you had fun! Which place do you want to visit again? I hope you can share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may send them to me via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s 2023 Hong Kong trip recap. I hope to visit more and more places on a budget and share how I did it with everyone. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City

Two weeks ago, I had a quick 24-hour in Singapore. I’ve been in this country a few times in the past, so there was no rush exploring a lot of places. The last time I was in Singapore was when our family welcomed the New Year in the Lion City. I already wrote about that trip & you can check it out again here.

This stopover was planned last minute. A Singapore-based friend, Lord from LordAroundTheWorld, invited me to once-in-a-lifetime trip so I had to be in the country at least a day before the big day. You’ll know about that trip in the coming weeks. I flew to Singapore from Penang last 3 November & arrived the country around lunch time. I went straight to my hostel to check in & leave my things. I went around the area right away & I managed to visit these places.

Flying to Singapore soon? Check out my tips on how you can travel cheap in such expensive country!

Haji Lane

Haji Lane’s famous mural

Haji Lane is the ‘hippie area’ of Singapore. This famous lane is characterized by colorful murals, specialty shops, cafes, restaurants & bars which youngsters enjoy visiting. The street is very quiet in the morning up until lunch time & transform into a busy area by late afternoon until midnight. It’s also one of the best places to have your ‘Instagram-worthy’ shot.

Colorful but very quiet Haji Lane

BUGIS

Bugis is probably my favorite shopping area in Singapore. I don’t know why, but I always end up in this area every time I’m in Singapore. You can find the famous Bugis Street Market, one of the best places to buy souvenirs in Singapore, here. Bugis Junction Shopping Mall is another place to buy clothes & all good stuff. This is one place which you should not miss when visiting & shopping in Singapore.

ARAB STREET

Arab Street in the morning

Located a few meters from my hostel, Arab St is Singapore’s historic Muslim center. Singapore’s national mosque, the Masjid Sultan Mosque, is located in this area. Aside from its rich history, Arab Street is also famous for its boutique cafes, restaurants & shops. This street transforms into a lively entertainment precinct every night. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to explore more of the neighborhood due to limited time.

Arab Street at night

ATLAS BAR SINGAPORE

Atlas Bar’s Gin & Champagne Collection 😍

The visit to Atlas Bar in Parkview Square was probably the highlight of my 24-hour stop in Singapore. This grand lobby & bar has become a go-to destination of visitors because of its beautiful interiors. Atlas Bar has one of Asia’s longest list of champagne collection (around 250+ champagnes). It also houses the world’s largest physical gin collection (with over 1,000 gins in all). The bar has a grand central structure where the bottles are stored & displayed.

Atlas Bar’s Classic Gin Tonic 🍸

My friends & I went here to see the place & also to have an afternoon drink. A normal drink costs about SGD 20 – SGD 30 + service charge, depending on the type of drink you get. I tried their classic gin tonic; it was the best gin tonic I had to date. They also have an extensive food menu which we were not able to try. Make sure to book your tables early because the place is always full. Take note that the place observes a strict dress code after 5:00 pm – so no shorts, slippers & active wear.

View from the Atlas Bar’s VIP area

Marina Bay Sands

The iconic Marina Bay Sands

A trip to Singapore will never be complete without a visit to Marina Bay Sands. I didn’t stay in the hotel, but I passed by this area again for the nth time. Marina Bay Sands is now one of the country’s landmarks. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel sports a unique boat-like structure on top of 3 tall buildings – this structure has the infinity pool & sky park. Marina Bay Sands also has a large shopping center called The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands where you can see all kinds of local & international brands.

Gardens By The Bay

Inside Gardens By The Bay’s Flower Dome

Gardens By The Bay is a 100+ hectare man-made nature park located at the back of Marina Bay Sands. The park itself has a lot of attractions to see & discover. I first went around the famous Supertree Grove that are lit up every night. I purchased a Klook entry ticket to both the Flower Dome & the Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome features various gardens with flowers found from all over the world. It also features a central flower display, which changes from time to time. The theme during my visit was Floral Christmas. On the other hand, the Cloud Forest features leaves & plants that grow in tropical mountain regions. This place is famous for the big man-made waterfall & the cloud mountain.

Man made waterfall inside the Cloud Forest

Beautiful tropical feature inside the Cloud Forest

I went to this place at night, about 1.5 hours before last admission, so everything was a bit rushed. I suggest going there for at least half a day to appreciate everything. Go to the Cloud Forest & Flower Dome while there’s still sunlight, then wait for the supetrees to light up at night.

Beautiful supertrees 😍

Zouk Singapore

Right before entering Zouk Singapore 🎉

This 24-hour stop in stopover was very hectic. After going around a few areas in the afternoon & night time, my friend Lord met up with me in Zouk Singapore for the pre-event party. Zouk Singapore is the country’s most famous & also one of the world’s best night clubs. The American electronic music group, Cash Cash, was there to play a set. It was a good night, an amazing preparatory party for the big event the following day. I also got to experience Singapore night life in the world-standard night club. Cool stuff.

Sam & Alex of Cash Cash played at the pre-event party 🙌

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Inside the church right after the Sunday mass 🙏

I woke up too early despite sleeping at 3:00 in the morning. I took the chance to go to the nearby Catholic Church – Our Lady of Lourdes Church – for the Sunday English mass. I attended the 7:30 am mass then had, breakfast after before going back to the hostel. I’ve been to this church in 2016 & was so happy to be there again.

Albert Street Hawker Centre

Local Singaporean food for breakfast 😋

There weren’t many restaurants open after the mass. I decided to have breakfast in the nearby hawker centre. I ordered rice with chicken, egg, noodles & side dishes for SGD 3.80. Albert Street Hawker Centre is in Albert St, right across Bugis Street Market. The food here is authentic & very affordable.

Changi Airport Terminal 4

Inside Changi Airport Terminal 4, after immigration & security check

The visit to Changi Airport Terminal 4 was not until after the trip, but I felt like I need to include it here. Changi Airport opened their newest terminal last year & I was lucky my flight home departs from this terminal. Everyone knows that Changi Airport has been the world’s best airport for a number of years now, but oh boy, the new Terminal 4 is out of this world. I was blown away by everything about this terminal. All facilities are still new (after a year of operation) & well-maintained. Everything is modern, efficient & well organized. I can’t wait to fly to Singapore again to see Terminal 4 again.

To the boarding gate – what a beautiful airport terminal 😍

This pretty much sums up my quick & very busy stopover in Singapore. I arrived there with only Gardens By The Bay on my plans. I love how spontaneous my itinerary was. Singapore is a country I’ll never get tired of going back. I’ve been there a few times in the past & I still look forward to visiting it again no matter how expensive the country is.

A close up photo of a supertree in Supertree Grove 😍

Have you been to Singapore? What were your favorite places to visit? How did you manage to explore such expensive country? Share your experiences in the comments below.   Got questions about Singapore or travel in general? Feel free to send them to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Check out my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thank you for reading! Until the next post. ✌️

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.