Lakad Pilipinas

Skyjet has recently launched its own quarterly inflight magazine, Dash. I was able to contribute on its first two issues but hasn’t been able to grab copies just yet. Their third issue, luckily, came in the mail the other day.

Its main feature is Calamnianes—focusing on Busuanga and Coron—and has a bit on the sides about waterfalls in the Philiipines. Along with one of travel blogging pillars Ferdz Decena, I contributed a few liners and photos for three on the list, namely Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor, the Seven Falls of Mambukal in Negros Oriental, and Pulangbato Falls, still in Negros Oriental.

Dash is available on National Bookstore branches for PHP150.00 and is distributed on selected cafes, restaurants, and of course, Skyjet flights.

Finding nothing that really interests us at Surfers Paradise, we decided on booking a day trip to the nearby city of Brisbane. It was just an hour away and booking a tour was easy and affordable enough via Klook. We simply fired up the app on our phone, checked out the available tours, decided on the Grand Brisbane Tour, and was whisked off to Brisbane with no fuss.

A van was supposed to pick us up right in front of our hotel, but the tour company affiliated with Klook requested that we rendezvous on another hotel about five minutes by foot from where we were. It was no biggie so off we went to the hotel on the morning of our second to the last day in Australia.

What to do with five days at Gold Coasts’ Surfers Paradise? A lot, if you’re into surfing, shopping, and theme parks. But we’re totally not into surfing, shopping, and theme parks. So, I was wondering myself why I booked a total of five long days here instead of stretching our stay for a day or more at Byron Bay—a town which we feel a deeper connection with.

SURFERS PARADISE FROM OUR BALCONY AT RHAPSODY HOTEL

Our first and second day at Surfers Paradise was spent on a forced staycation at the Rhapsody Hotel. Incessant rain kept us in, but I’m not complaining. With friends in tow, a cache of grocery food to cook, and plenty of alcohol, we were more than happy to stay cooped up.

It was way past midnight when we arrived at Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast. A few hours ago, we’re baby sitting at G’s crib in Ballina, trying extremely hard to put L to sleep at their living room sofa, and now we’re on a totally different kind of living room, one seventeen stories up from the street, with a full view of the raging pacific from a floor to ceiling window. It was swanky as heck, but we miss L.

Similar to our previous lodging, Byron Bay Hotel and Apartments, we had to check ourselves in by following the email instructions given by Rhapsody Hotel—input a code on a deposit box outside the lobby, take our key, access the lobby, then our room. Problem was we had a hard time finding the said box. It turned out we were at the wrong entrance, lol.

It was almost dusk when our car navigated the ascent towards Byron Bay’s famed lighthouse. We just flew in from Sydney that same day, visiting the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary right after touching down—our backpacks still at the back of G’s car.

THE GANG AT CAPE BYRON LIGHTHOUSE

She dropped us off a hundred meters or so from the lighthouse, Tallows Beach was in full view on our right, while she went back down to park her car. She doesn’t want us to miss the sunset, she said. She’s sweet like that.

Many people believe that traveling means only comfort, even they are wearing ugly baggy clothes and footwear that has lost its shape long ago. However, traveling is where you show yourself, make an impression on other people and, who knows, maybe make new friends and business contacts. Hence, an ugly or careless look is unacceptable.

Yes, you may not believe it, but comfortable clothes and stylish clothes may mean the same. Don’t you believe that high heels that cause problems by walking are stylish? The same applies to traveling clothes, and custom essay writing service knows that. You may be both stylish and dressed comfortably, just pay attention to these “don’t do things”, and you will be okay:

Following our quick tour of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, where we got to see koalas and kangaroos, we drove—or rather, our friend G, drove us to her hometown of Byron Bay. We’re planning on staying here for a night before moving to Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast.

BYRON BAY HOTEL & APARTMENT

It was past sundown when we arrived in our lodging, Byron Bay Hotel & Apartments, checking out the historic Byron Bay Lighthouse first, which sits on a majestic promontory overlooking Tallows Beach, before finally settling down.

“It looks like a plush toy,” I told C as we stood transfixed staring at an actual real live koala inside a pen. Clinging on a vertical tree branch and slowly gnawing on eucalyptus leaves, the furry little creature unhurriedly moved to a more comfortable position. Being nocturnal animals, most of its neighbors were asleep, also clinging to tree branches as they do. It’s the first time I’ve actually seen a koala in real life and it’s as cute and cuddly as a, well, a plush koala toy.

FLYING IN FROM SYDNEY TO GOLD COAST

Coming from a one-hour flight from Sydney, we arrived at the Gold Coast International Airport at around noon. The heat was unbearable as we navigated its almost empty roadways. We’re here to see Byron Bay, but before that, we took a quick detour to Currumbin—G of Pinay Travel Junkie apparently booked us to see them kangaroos and koalas.

► Book a discounted GoldCoast Zoo Tour Online

CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

VISITING THE CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY BEFORE HEADING TO BYRON BAY

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary started out as a bird sanctuary of sort in 1947. Alex Griffith, a New Zealander whose parents migrated to Australia and retired in Queensland started feeding wild rainbow lorikeets as a way to keep them off his flower plantations and honey farm.

THE MINI TRAIN INSIDE THE ZOO STARTED OPERATING DURING ***

Soon, the daily flock of birds in his farm started attracting people, eventually making it as one of the local sights in the area. In due course, it evolved into a bird sanctuary, then the zoo that it is now. It’s one of the oldest animal sanctuaries in Queensland and is listed as part of the Queensland Heritage Register.

A SLEEPING KOALA INSIDE A PEN

As unhurried as koalas, we sauntered across the park’s paved pathways, dodging a mini-train that circles the park, visiting the koala pens, and actually having our picture taken with one of the koalas while it clung to J of Lakwatserong Tsinelas’ torso for a few Australian dollars. Yeah, we’re touristy like that. Lol.

FIERCE EMUS

We then headed to the kangaroo enclosure, passing a couple of huge emus resting right by the fence. These birds look fiercer than their relative, the ostrich. Their eyes are especially daunting, but I guess they’re friendly enough since they’re freely roaming around the Currumbin’s kangaroo area.

LAZY ADULT KANGAROOS

We found a mob of kangaroos lazily lounging around the dry landscape of the enclosure. A few were being fed by visitors—you can buy food to hand-feed them if you want to get up close and personal with these creatures, but it’s really not our thing. Most were just lying down, having their afternoon siestas and we actually saw one with a baby up its pouch.

To be honest, I actually find kangaroos to be weird-looking animals, they look like a brawny horse-like, not-so-adorable rabbits with weirdly jointed legs. But that’s just me, most of the people at the park we’re just crazy about them.

THE YOUNGER KANGAROOS LOOK MUCH CUTER

A few meters away from the fenced enclosure is grassy hill where a few young kangaroos—I don’t know if they still count as joeys or baby kangaroos—were roaming through. They seem to be more popular than the adults at the pen since they’re about a thousand times cuter. Still, they don’t stand a chance to win a cuteness contest with the koalas.

CHECKING OUT THE LOST VALLEY SECTION OF THE SANCTUARY

A RED PANDA AND A LEMUR

Before going, we entered Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Lost World, a five-hectare enclosure that houses lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, tree kangaroos, capybaras, a host of colorful free-flying birds, reptiles and red pandas. The last time I saw a red panda was at Singapore’s River Safari, and they’re really adorable.

ELEVATED WALKWAYS ALONG THE LOST WORLD

An elevated walkway, similar to those we treaded on at the valley floor of Scenic World Blue Mountains, wounds around the area, making it quite easy for visitors to peek through the animal enclosures. I like that some of the animals weren’t caged at all and can comfortably roam around the area.

CURRUMBIN BEACH

THE ELEPHANT ROCK AT CURRUMBIN BEACH

Having had our kangaroo and koala fix, G drove us to Currumbin Beach for a late lunch. We parked near the Elephant Rock, a boulder-sized outcrop the size of more than a hundred elephants, where the Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club or simply Currumbin Surf Club sits comfortably on.

GOLD COAST’S SKYLINE ON THE HORIZON

This is a member-only restaurant but guests can apparently dine here too, provided there are free seats available. We’re lucky there were a few open tables when we visited, and they’re even premium ones at the open balcony overlooking the Coral Sea too!

AFTERNOON SURFERS

Against the backdrop of Gold Coast’s skyline on the far horizon, a small number of surfers were out on the water, trying to get the most out of the afternoon swells, while a few people were taking a relaxing walk along Currumbin Beach. Us we busied ourselves taking photos along the rocky part of the beach just in front of the restaurant.

A SEAFOOD FEAST AT CURRUMBIN VIKINGS CLUB

Soon enough, our lunch was served and we were pigging out on a feast of, not one but two, Seafood Platters (AUD75.00) filled with fresh shrimps, natural oysters, balmain bugs, smoked salmon, garlic green lip mussels, chili salt and pepper calamari, and maine lobsters! As if these aren’t enough, we paired with a plate of crispy potato wedges. Quite a way to start off our Gold Coast adventure!

SCOOT HAS DAILY PROMO FARES FROM MANILA TO AUSTRALIA

SCOOT, KLOOK, AND ONE VINE MIGRATION MADE OUR TRIP TO AUSTRALIA POSSIBLE. VIEWS AND OPINION ALL MINE.