Re-visiting Hervey Bay is more of a trip to memory lane for us. Ahhhhhh, Nostalgia is a bliss ! Standing in front of our very first humble abode once again flashed a flood of cherished memories making us feel all warm and fuzzy. I’m ecstatic that the apartment where Jamie and I first lived in when we both left home is still left standing amidst of progress and new development creeping up in the town of Hervey Bay. I imagined that it might have already been demolished to make way for skyscrapers and world class resorts to accommodate the influx of tourists and wealthy retirees. I am very pleased to see that the town council has prevented the establishments of any monolithic forms of accommodations in the area. I am also happy to see more trees, ... read more

1st of March - Summer in Ozland is now officially over. The chilling wind of Autumn has arrived and the warm waters of Queensland are now freezing cold. My skin immediately broke out in goosebumps as I dipped my toes into the freezing water. I will normally run back to the shore and wrap myself up with a towel...but not this time. I’ve got my new swimming togs on and adamant to catch whatever last remaining summer waves out there. Luckily, it's easy to get acclimatized to the cold weather. I will miss going to the beach every weekend. I will miss the calm waves bobbing me like a weightless cork. And I will also surely miss battling with the crashing waves as the ocean casts its wrath upon the beachlovers frolicking in its domain. My ... read more

After 12 hours of driving from Queensland with few stopovers along the east coast of NSW for lunch and coffee break, we finally crossed the famous “Sydney Harbour Bridge”…. something we would have missed if we caught the plane to Sydney. It has been 13 years since the last time we visited Sydney. A lot of things have changed since then. We traversed back to the places we’ve been and everything looked different. The smell of air, the feel and look of the surroundings all seemed different. I clearly remember being sick the whole time I was in Sydney. It was the winter of 1994 . The cold made me hibernate in the comfort of our hotel room rather than enjoy Sydney's wonderful sights. Spring of 2007, we’re back in Sydney. This time, I must admit ... read more

Just got back from a week Easter Break in the Outback and have new stories to tell. We didn’t get bogged this time on the way to Wyandra. We made it there safe and sound in just over 10hours drive from Brisbane. We stayed at the century old cottage across the Wyandra pub. We always enjoyed having breakfast, lunch and dinner at the veranda and watch the sun go down late in the afternoon as the sky turns into different shade of blue, orange, red and purple. Wyandra is a very small sleepy town. All you can see are red earth, native wildlife, the town pub and few rustic houses. Nonetheless, it’s a nice countryside retreat to unwind and escape life in the city. Visit to McDonald’s Farm - We’ve been once again invited to the ... read more

Of all the places I’ve seen, Palawan won my heart. The pristine beaches, impressive landscapes and diverse marine life never cease to amaze me. I was astonished how clean and unspoiled are the surroundings. The atmosphere is very laid back and somewhat serene. It is the ultimate eco-tourist’s paradise. Palawan is home to a number of indigenous groups with a strong sense of community. The locals are quite happy living a simple life. They are good-natured, very friendly, hospitable and dedicated in protecting and conserving the environment. If only mainstream filipinos follow the lead of the people of Palawan when it comes to conserving and protecting mother-nature, then eco-tourism has a great potental to flourish in the Philippines. Finding Nemo We landed in Puerto Princesa (capital city of Palawan) after an hour flight from Manila. We ... read more