Advertisement
Published: December 5th 2017
Edit Blog Post
Melbourne 1
Rainbow colors on a historic night It is quite unfortunate that I finally get to the first country on my list of places to go to since I was a kid, and they no longer stamp your passport. I wanted that stamp, I wanted to go back to the immigration guy and tell him please give me a stamp, but then I also wanted to be pretend that I am seasoned traveler, which I am unfortunately not.
Well I was at Australia for work. Arrived on a Sunday in Melbourne, immediately rushed out of the city to the suburbs, went to the supermarket, Coles, which I believed should be on all tourism materials of this country, since I immensely enjoyed all my visits there. Then I checked in to my apartment hotel, and by apartment I mean, a detached, stand alone room in sprawling property surrounded by trees, chirping birds, strange bugs, a pond, a gazebo, wow so much space, sure am not in Japan anymore.
I was on a 5 day work training, primarily to observe our partner organization in Victoria. I was told that I have to start working at 10:00 and end my shift at 5:00. I usually get picked up past
Brisbane 1
nice casino building 10:00 am and sent home at 4:30. Which gets earlier as the days gone by, and on my last day was told to just enjoy the nearby fair around 3:30 and then go to the office party in the evening. Oh Australia, laid back attitude, amazing work ethic, very open society, after the first two days I already wanted to move there.
On the week that I was there, the Australian people took a poll on marriage equality. The Australian people with a huge astounding majority of 61 % ensured that this will become a law before the year ends. Such openness speaks highly of the accepting Australian culture. The big cities such as Melbourne was definitely in festive mood. On the night when the vote was announced I was lucky to get into the city to meet a colleague when I was working in the Philippines, I caught a glimpse of the beautiful city hall in rainbow lights.
I finished work on Friday, so that means I only have the evening until Monday to enjoy the sights, since I have to fly back to Japan on Tuesday. But then I have to attend an office party in
GC 3
Surfer's Paradise the evening which I was not happy about, until I saw how grand the venue was. The party was held at Melbourne's Cricket Stadium. It was a dance party with an amazing view of an empty hundred thousand seat stadium, awesome is an understatement.
Dragging my huge suitcase, drunk and happy as I checked in late in the evening at my Melbourne hotel, which I will only be staying for a few hours. My auntie who is now an Australian citizen insisted that I visit Brisbane and even paid for my flight there, just two days ahead. Not wanting to miss the sights of Melbourne I have to drag my drunk self at 6 in the morning to see the city and catch my afternoon flight to Brisbane. Melbourne was such a charming city, filled with beautiful Victorian architecture, modern street arts and quaint English gardens. Never been to Europe, but it seems a lot of people say it look and feels like it. They also say it's like New York, which to some extent I would have to agree. I was such on a high when the last song the DJ played at the party was New York,
New York.
Arrived on a rainy day in Brisbane and met by my lovely aunt and her son. Went to Mt Cootah to view the city, which was not a bright idea, as all we saw were rain clouds. Went on an evening tour of the city, enjoyed the view of the skyline and went to a food park, and celebrated my arrival the best way we Filipinos know how, with food, excessive amounts of it.
The next morning we drove to the Gold Coast. It was a nice feeling being driven by one of my favorite aunties, like I was a kid again back in Manila. I was beyond ecstatic to see the famous Surfer's Paradise beach which I never even planned on going nor expected to see on this trip. Coming from the tropics, I thought I have seen nice beaches, but then this one is by far the most beautiful I have seen. We had a lovely cruise which included a buffet and eat all you can prawns. Sinful indulgence at its finest. Was able to enjoy some Australian meat pies and heavenly pavlova on our trip back to Brisbane.
The next day I
had a full day to see the city of Brisbane before my flight back to Melbourne. Then again, I reached my hotel past midnight, slept a bit then off the bus station to meet a university friend of mine, who is now doing some good civic deeds as solicitor in Melbourne. Then head back to the airport for my flight back home.
I had such a lovely time in Australia. The chocolates taste better. The laid back attitude is contagious. The sights are amazing and I didn't even get to scratch the surface. The people, as I only knew them before in pop culture, such as Crocodile Dundee, Steve Irwin, Hugh Jackman, are indeed awesome!!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.117s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 19; qc: 75; dbt: 0.0683s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Dancing Dave
David Hooper
Awesome Australia
Ah...the serenity. I sit in Sydney in my home next to the bush and smile...I love living in Australia...and you have a taste of what I am talking about. Delighted you had a good time.