Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
An Awesome Day at Taronga Zoo
Today was an awesome day!!!!!!
We were blessed to get free passes to Taronga Zoo today so Chris and I grabbed the opportunity (and took an emergency day-off) as something like this is a once in a lifetime chance to spend a day in Taronga Zoo for free (thanks to our family friend who gave us passes).
Taronga Zoo is the biggest zoo in Sydney and also the most expensive (AUD$41.00 per adult). Chris and I have never been to this zoo before. We really waited for my parents to visit and decided that it would be best to explore Taronga Zoo with them. Then came the surprise yesterday when a family friend told us that he got us passes for today.
Located in the north side of the harbour (hence, the very nice view of the Sydney cityscape), Taronga Zoo is home to more than 2,660 animals.
The zoo is segregated in different areas:
(1) Wild Australia where you can find your Aussie favorites: Kangaroos, Koalas and Emus.
(2) Australian Nightlife where you can find Bats and Rats. This was a scary area for me. It was so dark inside this cave-like rooms, then they have this sound effects that you usually hear when you watch a horror movie.
(3) Great Southern Oceans where you can the Penguins, Pelicans and...
...Seals!!!
We watched the Seal Show at 11:00AM and it was very entertaining. It was so fun watching them, they're so smart and funny.
Near the Great Southern Oceans area is where you can find the Gorillas. They weren't particularly a member of any area, but they are placed in the middle of the zoo.
(4) Wild Asia is where you can find the Elephants!!!!
This photo was taken during the Elephant show at 1:00PM. This was also an entertaining show.
(5) African Waterhole was our last stop as we wanted to save the best for last---this is where you can find the Zebras...
and the high-and-mighty Giraffes!!! I love them...I was soooo in awe of their cuteness.
I want to bring one home!!! hehe.
Some animals (like the Tigers and Bears) were asleep during lunchtime, probably because they just had lunch and were too full, hence, it made them sleepy (parang tao rin hehe). So we didn't have decent pictures of those sleepyheads.
We spent a good five hours in Taronga Zoo and I felt like a kid the whole time we were there, especially that we're with my parents. It reminded me of our trips to Manila Zoo when I was a kid. I vaguely remember the animals and the place but I remember the feeling of hanging out with my parents and being a kid in awe of the spectacle of nature infront of me.
This is a very memorable experience for me as for the past two years, I've dreamt of sharing my love for the zoo with my parents. Chris and I have been to zoos in other countries but this one tops them all, simply because we shared this awesome experience with my parents.
Photos of animals courtesy of my Husband Chris.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Magnificently Melbourne
In celebration of our 2nd anniversary and my 32nd birthday, we decided to take a quick break from Sydney and spend it in MELBOURNE!!!
Melbourne is such a refreshing and welcoming place, so let me share with you the things I love most about it.
I love their quaint alleyways that entices you to follow your senses: you'll smell heavenly food offered by eccentric little cafes and see dainty boutiques that sell fashionable clothes, bags and accessories.
I love their different modes of transportation: the colorful trams, old and new buses and their cute cute trains.
I love that this place is the coffee and chocolate capital of Australia. Every nook and cranny, you'll find cafes that serve delicious chocolate and coffee.
I love that this is the fashion and shopping capital of Australia. Need I say more?
I love that everywhere I look, I find something artsy like sculptures in the middle of the sidewalk, graffitis that doesn't seem offending, and some of their buildings' architecture here are more innovative-looking that can rival structures in Dubai and Hongkong.
I love it that they have the better Casino place here that boosts of a great hotel (where Roger Federer stays so I'm told hehe), a beautiful view of the Yarra River, posh restaurants and designer boutiques.
I love that they have Nobu Restaurant and TGI Friday's here.
I love that this is the home of the Australian Open. This was an event that we weren't keen on participating on the onset, but we're glad we spent one day watching games at the Australian Open. It was such a marvelous experience.
I love their night market: numerous stalls of clothes, bags, house decors, lamps, food and even massages!
I love that they have an avenue full of photography shops where we even found a cafe called "Zoom Cafe" (how cool is that!)
I love that this is the maiden home of "Wicked" The Musical. It is because of this musical that made my birthday doubly special...and one of the main reasons why we chose Melbourne to spend our 2nd anniversary and my birthday in.
Our anniversary and my birthday were significantly more special because we spent it there, all the more making our trip to Melbourne magnificently memorable.
We were in Melbourne for only four days, but it felt like home...and we would gladly go back there with or without a special reason.
For a more detailed account of our Melbourne experience, please click on the following links:
Anniversary Dinner at Nobu (Crown Entertainment Plaza)
The Australian Open 2009 Experience
A "Wicked" Birthday Celebration in Melbourne
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wine Tasting Adventure at the Hunter Valley
Last Saturday (27/11/08), we saw endless hectares of vineyards!!!! It was so beautiful and mesmerizing.
Hunter Valley is the most well-known wine regions in Australia, about two hours drive from Sydney. Other than being abundant in vineyards and wines, their produce also includes cheese, olives and olive oil.
Other than enjoy the beautiful sceneries that Hunter Valley can offer, people often come here for Wine and Cheese Tastings, have long lunches in one of the many restaurants, explore the Hunter Valley Gardens, enjoy Horse Drawn Carriage Tours, ride on Hot Air Balloons, and visit Historic Villages and Museums to name a few.
On our first visit to Hunter Valley, we went there solely for three wine tastings (not one, not two, but three!).
Our first stop was at the McGuigan Winery. Twas our first experience at wine tasting and the best of all the three wine tastings we attended last Saturday. Here's why:
When we arrived there, we were ushered in to a private area and all of us were sitted as if we were in a bar. On the table, we were welcomed with a small wine glass each, a piece of paper that has a list of the wines they offer, a pencil so you can take down notes, biscuits and a bottle of water. Very organized, aye?
All we had to do is just sit, listen to the winery host, drink the wines they pour on our glasses, jot down what wines we like and just enjoy! And did I mention that this wine tasting was free??? So yay!
After I taste each wine, I jot down how my tastebuds reacted to the wine. In McGuigan's, we tasted about 3 whites, 3 reds, 2 dessert wines and the last one was their Tawny Port (that according to Chris tasted like Kiamoy hehehe).
After our wine tasting, we bought about 7 bottles of wine. They gave 10% discount for every bottle and for those who bought 12 bottles, they got another bottle for free. Very very nice. Session was free but you still get a 10% discount.
Our next wine tasting session was at the Tyrrell's Winery. Now, this was where we got really tipsy. 
The session started with a short history of Tyrrell's Wines and we were shown where the wine was created and stored.
They had these big barrels worth AUD$15,000 each (barrel palang yun, wala pang laman) where they store their red wines.
After that we were ushered in to their bar, standing room only this time. No chairs, no pencils, no paper. We just stood near the bar and waited for the wines to be poured into our glasses.
Now what made us really really tipsy was that they poured the wines too quick. The wines kept coming one after another. Good thing they served cheese and biscuits.
Before I knew it, I was becoming "happier", laughing like crazy with Faith (family friend)--in short, makulit na kami bigla. May tama na kami! :) And you know, the thing with me when I get tipsy, I never turn red...I turn the opposite--I become pale. So this is me, tipsy and happy...
We never bought anything at Tyrrell's. For one, we cannot remember the wine we liked and two, we paid $5.00 for the wine tasting and we weren't even given a chair to sit. Although they do have wines that was good, I just jotted down the name on my notebook (yes, I brought one) and will just buy it in the liquor stores.
So what did we do to get rid of our "amats" (tipsiness)? We explored Tyrrell's vineyard and took photos under the shining sun.
After session number two, we had lunch outside the Hunter Valley Gardens. That gave us a chance to sober up. At 2:00pm, we went back to McGuigan's for Cheese Tasting. Wasn't really interested so we just hang outside and waited for our group to finish.
Last stop was at Rosemount Winery. Paid $4.00 for this session but they had chairs to sit and we were given a wine list so we can at least take note of the wine the host was introducing.
The photo above seemed like I was a drunkard with a wine glass in each hand but no, I'm also holding husband's glass while he takes photographs. And I really avoided getting tipsy this time by passing off on some of the wines offered to us.
We bought two bottles of "O" at Rosemount. One of the best wines I've tasted so far.
We loved the vineyards at Rosemount, they're taller compared to others. Before we left, we had one last photograph near their vineyard.
It was such a beautiful day to be at the Hunter Valley...and to get drunk hehe. Husband and I really enjoyed it a lot. We hope to visit again next year.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Litratong Pinoy: Liwaliw at Mithi
Ito ang aking lahok sa Litratong Pinoy para sa dalawang Huwebes na may temang:
Liwaliw (14 Agosto) at Mithi (21 Agosto)
Liwaliw sa Dubai:
Ito ang liwaliw na pinaka-paborito ko sa lahat dahil sa sobrang ganda ng lugar na ito at mga kaibigan na aking nakilala. Sa unang litrato makikita ang 7-star hotel ng Dubai na tinatawag na Burj Al Arab. Ang pangalawang litrato naman ay ipinapakita ang Abra Boat na sasakyang gamit ng mga lokal para makatawid sa Dubai Creek. At ang huling larawan ay kuha sa Gold Souq kung saan maninilaw ang iyong mga mata sa sobrang dami ng alahas na makikita mo.
Para sa mga iba pang litrato, heto ang links sa aking Dubai Itinerary (click click click on the links below please):
Chris' Despedida with Bafco Friends at Deira City Centre
Dubai Creek, Spice Souq and Gold Souq
Bastakia Quarter and Bastakia Quarter in Lomo
Jumeirah Beach and Dhow Cruise
Belladonna at Burjuman and Second Cup at City Centre
Al Safa Park and Mall of the Emirates
Wafi City and Dinner at Seville's
Big Bus Tour and Festival City and Reunion with EastWestBankers
Madinat Jumeirah - The Arabian Resort
Vu's Bar (Emirates Tower) and Bahri Bar (Madinat Jumeirah)
Ang aking Mithi:
Na sana ay makapunta akong muli sa Dubai at makapag-liwaliw pa ng mas mahabang panahon.
Maligayang Huwebes!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Snowy Mountains - Epilogue
An entry I made on my Ibyang Doodles site:
Monday, August 11, 2008
After The Snowy Adventure
The trip was one of the most perfect travels I've had. A shared travel with my husband and friends, it was planned but we managed to make it spontaneous, it was full of laughter (a pure celebration of good times), the weather was beautiful (sunny and windy during the roadtrip...then snowfalls all throughout our stay in the Snowy Mountains), safe and sound travel, spur-of-the-moment stopovers...it was sooo much fun. I dreaded going back home to our normal lives.
It was beautiful while it lasted.
. This is my 3rd winter as a migrant in Australia and I've been putting off going to Snowy Mountains for the past two years, just because I want to experience it with the husband. Just like any other shared experience with him, it was all worth the wait.
- During roadtrips, you will see endless landscapes of Australia. This is such a beautiful country, it's so mesmerizing. And expect animals crossing the street!!!--and kangaroos skipping infront of your vehicle (gasp!)
.
That when snowflakes fall on you, it is indeed star-shapped! I thought it was only true on TV/movies that I see...but it looked like star crystals. If only it won't melt, I could've kept it.
