Mornings with the Pandas in Chengdu

I have not blogged for a long time because me and Joel went for a 3 week holiday to Japan and China. After coming back to Australia, I spent a few weeks getting back to my daily grind and now that I have settled I will try and write about our amazing trip. I might not be able to write it in order of the itinerary but here we go..

On our last 2 days in China, we were in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. We arrived in Chengdu via the high speed train from Xi'an. I planned for us to go and see the pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding or Panda Base for short. It has been created to imitate the natural habitat of pandas for their rearing and breeding. This base takes care of other endangered animals such as black necked cranes, white storks and etc. There are other panda bases in Chengdu but I chose this because it is the nearest (because of its location, it is the most crowded!)

I've read a lot of blogs and one of them suggested not to go with the group tours as they leave the city late and when you arrive at the base, there will be tons of people and most probably the pandas are asleep already. It is said that giant pandas generally spend most of their time sleeping. Therefore, I did not bother to look for tours.

We woke up early and tried to get there by 9am. We asked the hotel staff's help to hail us a taxi. We paid about 60 RMB for the 10km journey and upon arriving, saw heaps of crowd already! Talk about trying to beat the crowd LOL. As with all tourist attractions in China, we had to line up to buy the tickets. Adult ticket is 58 RMB.

Upon entering, some people were lining up to ride the free shuttle that would take you directly to where most of the giant pandas are. We ignored that and just followed the general crowd. The map of the base makes it look huge but walking through the area is not that bad.

There were bamboos on the sides that kept the area cool and shady anyway. I even felt that I was back in Japan!

The first pandas we saw were the red pandas. They were so cute! We had the right timing when the carer came to their area and fed them. They were eating and getting food from the bucket while the carer cleaned their space.

We also saw pandas sleeping on top of the tree which was cute!

Also, a panda playing while his mum is sleeping. The young panda was so playful that it climbed up and down their tree house which made for a great crowd entertainment.

The crowd was becoming thick as the tour groups have arrived. We decided to do a bit of people watching by sitting on the benches that are on the sides. I saw people were selling panda headbands or accessories inside the base.

We would have stayed longer but we had to go back to our hotel to check out. Before we left, we didn't forget to check their gift shop for a souvenir.

Goal achieved for our last day in China! We then headed to the airport via the metro line for our flight bound for Australia. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

Budget Travel Sydney - Day 2

I started my second day in Sydney quite late. I had no itinerary for the day so I just decided to go wherever the map can lead me to. It was a Saturday and most of the free entry museums were closed. I decided to go to Paddy's market to get some brunch.

Just a 5 minute walk from the backpackers where I am staying is Sydney's Paddy's market. Much like the markets that I saw in Thailand, this place sells souvenirs of Australia from tshirts to keychains or ref magnets. I was happy to see a Filipino food stall and ordered my meal for 10 AUD. It also had a fruits and vegetables market wherein I bought some bananas for my snacks for the day's journey.

image courtesy of wikimedia.org

I hung out at the market for a bit and decided to look for something that was recommended by Jun - the emperor puff. Google says it is somewhere in Chinatown which is near the market. It was easy to look for as a lot of people were queuing to buy it. I did so too and decided to try. It is best to eat it while hot but I did not find it very appealing. Still it was a satisfying snack on my afternoon journey. 

I looked at my map again and found that one gallery I can go to which is free and open is the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It is said that it is the most important public gallery in Sydney and one of the largest in Australia, I walked for about 30 minutes to reach the gallery which was not that tedious because I am able to explore a part of Sydney, too. The place was huge and there were a lot of people appreciating the artworks.

Next on my list of free things to do in Sydney was  Mrs Macquarie's chair.  I walked about 30 minutes again and just followed the signs. This is actually a rock that was shaped into a bench. It was said to have been hand carved by convicts for the Governor's wife. She used to sit on the rock and watch for ships sailing into the harbour.

I explored other parts of Mrs Macquarie's Point and found an amazing view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. I saw a number of families and lovers having a lovely time talking and having picnic on these grounds. They were nice to look at which also reminded me that I am alone and almost threw me to a moment of self pity. I shrugged the thought off, enjoyed the moment and thanked the Lord that I was safe and successfully located the area. 

Just a few minutes walk was the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. With sprawling lawns full of greens, towering trees, benches and a few ducks, the place was full of people enjoying the lovely sunny afternoon. It was a perfect place to hang out. It seemed near yet kind of far from the city's bustling life. 

Since it was still early, I decided to retrace my steps and attend an anticipated mass. I found there was one scheduled at St. Mary's Cathedral. On the way to the church, I found this at the side of the street. This is Il Porcelino and he is a boar. Legend says that if one drops coins for donation and rubs the nose, you will be endowed with good fortune. Since I had a spare change, I did so. No harm in trying and I'm donating even if its just a little bit.

Found this on the ground too. 

I was amazed at the structure of St Mary's Cathedral. Old churches always mesmerize me. The place was huge. I went inside and waited for the service to start. For me, it was a very nice way to end the day.

I am proud to say I did not spend anything for transportation on this day. Tiring but I consider it as an exercise and a way to explore roads and corners of the city. My expense was only food. The places I went to did not have any fees, which was great! 

This ends my second day in Sydney. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

Sydney Getaway - Day 1

I had a planned Sydney trip with a friend who, at the last minute, cancelled on me. I was hesitant to have my ticket refunded because it was a good deal that I got from Qantas (I booked via a third party). It was supposed to be a reward for myself after the 9 week course I took. I wasn't so much excited about it but I had to suck it up and be a solo traveler.

My cousin had vouchers for a backpacker hotel in Sydney so she booked me at 790 on George Street which is located near Sydney Central. Perth to Sydney is a 4 hour flight but with Qantas, it didn't feel terrible. There was entertainment and food which was exactly the service I paid for. 

Upon arrival at Sydney, I bought an Opal Card and had it topped up. This was what I used to ride the train to Central and the cost was around 13.80 AUD. I arrived in the city at around 9 in the evening and got quite lost on where my backpacker hotel was. After dragging my luggage and calling the hotel, I finally found it and was asked for a 10 AUD deposit. 

The dorm room I was in is good for 6 girls. It was full and I was assigned to the top bunk which was kind of hard to climb. But with the exhaustion of travel and a bit of diarrhea (must be from all the food I ate lol), I slept good.

The next day, a friend of my sister (who later on became my friend) Yan and her husband: Jun, and I met. Despite of their busy schedule for their upcoming church wedding, they took me around to the farther Sydney sites which means the beaches. 

Our first stop was the famous Bondi Beach. 

It was a Friday morning and the beach wasn't as busy as expected yet. Though there are a few tourists and sunbathers around, it is amazing to see how wide the shoreline is with a little less crowd.

Had to have my photo taken where the lifeguards are stationed. Every year, lifeguards here rescue an average of 2,500 people. 

Our next stop was on the other side of the Sydney Harbor where views of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge can be seen. 

We were so happy that the weather was fine on that day. It was not too cold and just a bit cloudy. It was the first time I have caught a glimpse of the Opera House. 

Luna Park is one of the free things to do in Sydney. Yes, coming in was free but the rides were not. It was most entertaining for the kids so we just looked around and see what it can offer.

This is the amazing Sydney Harbor Bridge or the Coathanger (it's nicknamed as the coathanger because of how it is designed). This bridge together with the Opera House are the the iconic images of Sydney and of Australia. It is made of steel and connects the Sydney CBD to the Northshore. I have read about the Harbor Bridge Climb and was greatly recommended. I'm making sure to have this on my bucketlist when I come back to Sydney in the future. 

Our next stop was at Manly Beach. The photo is actually from the other side of the beach but it was fun to stop by, sit down, people watch while altogether taking in the view of Manly. 

The last and not the least stop was at another beach which I think was called Balmoral. It was a beach very close to a park and was perfect for chill afternoon for family and friends. 

We had different appointments for dinner so we had to separate ways afterwards. I really enjoyed my first day in Sydney with them, in addition to having new Filipino friends in a different country. I was worried to be on my own for the next few days but I guess I survived. Coming up soon, is day 2!

Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

Short Geraldton Holiday

A month ago, 29 April 2017, my friend whisked me away for a quick visit to Geraldton, Western Australia. It's a coastal city located north of Perth. We started the drive early because it was an estimated 5-6 hours trip. On the way, we did a couple of breaks, saw some dead animals on the road which probably were run over by big cars and trucks and also saw this Leaning Tree.

Before this, I saw a lot of trees that are leaning. My friends said that this is because Geraldton is a very windy city. But this tree stands out of all the leaning ones. 

I stayed in the city for about 3 days. It was a small town  which I liked very much. I stayed in a friend's couch which was not that bad because I had Netflix all to myself. He also had a cat who kept me company while he was working. Most of all, there was good dinner every night at his friend's houses.

I never really went out to the foreshore nor visited other places in Geraldton. The morning when I was about to go back to Perth City, he took me to the HMAS Memorial which is located at the Summit of Mount Scott. This represents the loss of the light cruiser in November 1941 with none of its crews surviving. It was a nice place to be in the early morning where sunlight is not that harsh and you can see people and their cars beginning to start the work day. 

This is the dome of souls. It is made up of 645 stainless steel seagulls and represents the souls of the lost sailors. 

We only stayed for 15 minutes in the area as I had to catch the bus back. The bus ticket was 66 AUD which was expensive but for the 6 hour drive it was reasonable. I long to be back to Geraldton to explore more of its beauty and possibly work if there are opportunities. 

Thank you for reading and 'til next blog :)

My Fremantle Doing Time Prison Tour

I really wanted to visit Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia. Me and my friends decided to go together but there was just not a common time for us. Therefore, I braved to go by myself. It was easy to get to Fremantle. I just hopped on the train on the Fremantle line and sat for almost 30 minute travel. From the Fremantle Train station, one can either ride a bus or enjoy walking thru the streets of the city towards the prison which is situated at 1 The Terrace, Fremantle.

Even with GPS, I still managed to get lost in locating the establishment but thankfully there was a utility man who pointed to where the entrance was (bless his kind soul). 

According to www.visitfremantle.com. au, Fremantle Prison is the largest and most intact convict built prison in Australia and is Western Australia's only World Heritage Listed Building. For almost 140 years, the place was used for incarceration and was only decommisisoned as a maximum security gaol in 1991. 

It was 15 minutes before the next tour started and the guard was kind to lead me to the gift shop where I can buy tour ticket and look at the merchandises. While waiting other guests can go to the Convict Cafe, the Prison Gallery and the Interactive Visitor Center. The gift shop sold key chains fashioned from old prison keys, shirts, prisoner dolls and other souvenirs.

There are 5 kinds of tours that can be availed. I chose the Doing Time tour and was glad that I was able to get the concession ticket since I was still a student. Normal fee for this tour is 20 AUD and it will run for 1 hour and minutes.

The bell rang and we all filed in 2 lines to have our tickets checked and be admitted into an old looking room. The guide introduced himself to us and we were told that this was the first room prisoners would enter, have their photos taken, be checked if they are hiding illegal things and given out uniforms before going into the jail itself.

Then we were led outside to see the vastness of the prison. It was first known as the Convict Establishment and was built by convicts between 1852 to 1859. 

We stood in the middle of this hall where we can see a metal net hanging above us. It was placed there to protect guards from things that may harm them which could be deliberately dropped by prisoners on the upper floors.

We were also able to see open spaces like these.

There was a huge space for the kitchen with big pots like these. There was a room where the knives were kept and if prisoner workers would borrow a knife, he will leave his identification hanged from where the knife was.

Walking along the corridors. It was not so creepy as it was around 4 in the afternoon when I went. 

They have their own chapel,too.

We were able to peek inside the prisoner's rooms and how it evolved from being a very tiny space to a bigger space like this that can accommodate at least 2 people.

Our fellow tourists were game to reenact, with instructions from our guide, on how the prisoners were flogged. Usually this was done in the presence of other prisoners so that they will know what they'd get should they break rules. There is a doctor on standby while this is being done to monitor the status of the inmate. We were also lead into the room wherein prisoners are hanged. 

We also saw isolation cells wherein no light could enter. It was also somehow sound proof that if prisoners shouted, they cannot be heard from the outside.

The one hour and fifteen minutes tour passed quickly. I was amazed at how the building was preserved and taken cared of for the next generation. It was very educational and I bet the other tours are exciting as well. If time permits, I wish to come back with friends and try another tour - possibly the Tunnels or Torchlight Tour.

Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

8 things to do in Phuket on a rainy day

For most people, going to Phuket means going to the beach. But what if due to the unpredictable weather, this activity is not possible? Well, there are still quite a lot of things to do in Phuket on a not so sunny day and some of these I have tried out myself. I know there are a lot but here is my list: 

1. Dine Out

This is the first on my list. Of course when travelling, it is not only about the beautiful sights and sounds of the place but also how it can please our palates. This is best because you are in Thailand and who does not love Thai food? It is better to go out and choose a restaurant of your liking and taste the dishes that are offered. One of my favorite restaurant is Tunk-ka Cafe which I wrote about here.

I even brought my mother and sister to this place to enjoy the food and ambiance. 

There are numerous places for dining in Phuket as well as other cuisines like Japanese and Vietnamese. Doing research on where to go and what to eat will definitely pay off. 

2. Shop

image taken from asiawebdirect.com

If its cloudy outside,it may be best to spend time on shopping. Stores and malls are all over Phuket and offers a wide variety of products such as dresses, souvenir shirts, keychains and whatnots. Great gift ideas too for loved ones who are back at home. 

3. Watch a movie

It was cloudy and we were afraid to be wet and sick so my sister and I decided to try out the cinema in Jungceylon Mall in Patong, Phuket. Here she is ready with her snacks. One tip for cinema goers in Thailand, you have to bring a jacket with you or you'll freeze inside. 

4. Strike a pose at the Upside Down House

It was actually my second visit to the upside down house and I still had fun this time with family. Striking a pose can be enjoyable especially when the staff helps out and takes your photo. You can read my about my first experience at this post.

5. Pose a lot more at Phuket Trick Eye Museum

Can't get enough of poses and photos? Try out the Trick Eye Museum located in Phuket Town. Funny and challenging positions ensuring memorable photos. How me and my friends had fun can be browsed here.

6. Attend a Cooking Class

Eating is good but I think learning and experiencing how to cook the dish is better. I tried this out in Bangkok but there is also a class being offered in Phuket. It is quite expensive but I am sure that it will not only fill the stomach but enhance the experience of eating Thai food. My cooking class adventure can be accessed here.

7.Karaoke

I remember we used to go out and celebrate birthdays in Karaoke bars. Its a fun time for us Filipinos to sing and a lot of these kind of places are already in Phuket. Go ahead and sing your heart out. It does not matter if you don't have a nice voice. What's important is your having fun!

8. Watch a local show like Siam Niramit

A showcase of Thailand's history and ancient heritage is a good idea to attend to. I was especially amazed at how the performers delivered the show. I thought it would be a boring one but the 1 hour seemed to run fast. My story here.

Phuket is great during sunny or cloudy weather and there are amazing options to choose from. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!