down under: DIY Australia for less than PHP 50k!

So, you got yourself a good seat sale?

Kidding! But really, don't you just love seat sales? I do! It's quite funny because every month, there seems to be a trend on Filipino's vacation destinations - a pattern that I’m sure comes from the availability of seats on sale in Cebu Pacific. From March to May this year, people flocked the land of the Rising Sun time for spring and well, cherry blossoms! Since a month ago, the place to be was Sydney. I know of at least 5 friends who was just there this past month and will be going there in a couple of weeks. I know right? Well, I was there too, thanks to the constant prodding of my beloved friend Yam.

To be really honest, Australia was not really on my horizon until I booked the ticket. I had this feeling that I couldn't afford it. Would it be possible to travel Australia on a shoestring budget considering all the beautiful places and things to do there? After all, it would be sayang not to go all out since it's such a beautiful place and going there is not that easy. You'd need a Tourist Visa and well, the application itself would actually cost you a few thousands. All that changed when I risked my P 8,000 for a roundtrip ticket to Sydney via Cebu Pacific.

I was supposed to go with a friend but unfortunately she didn’t push through because of visa problems. That friend was supposed to be the one with all the plans and I’ll just be the one trailing around. Sad as it was, there’s nothing I could do to change the verdict on her visa and I had to go out there on my own. 

You see, it was actually my first time to go on a trip alone. Overseas. With no legit plans. Though I made fixed plans to visit both Sydney and Melbourne (and all the spots I'd want to go to), I didn't prepare any fixed itinerary. I had no clue on how to go from point A to B or whether it would be cheaper to take the bus than the train and the list goes on. These things actually matter if you're short on time and money and dear reader, I totally understand how it feels! I hope the stuff I'll share can help you out with your planning. Here's for those of you who want it quick and fast.

How much will it cost for a seven day stay? You will roughly spend around AUD 100 per day of stay in Australia, that’s loosely around PHP 3,400 and that already includes the accommodations, transportation, food, entrance fees and other miscellaneous fees.

Accommodations	AUD 40	Hostel; Sharing room for 4 (Female)
Food	AUD 30	Budget of AUD 10 per meal
Transportation	AUD 20	Train/Bus card
Miscellaneous	AUD 10	For emergencies and random finds
TOTAL	AUD 100

Of course, the costs will re-adjust depending on your activities as well. For example, if you plan to go to Taronga Zoo or join a day trip, that would be topped up to your total expenses as well. The key here is about knowing tips and shortcuts that could actually keep you from spending money in turista traps.

Here’s a few that could help you:

You can skip the travel books. I made the (expensive!) mistake of buying travel books before the trip and actually not having enough time to finish reading them. You’d have to browse though dozen of pages to get what you’re looking for  - and actually, sometimes you don’t! Also, not only are they bulky (especially if you’re lugging around your stuff with you as you go around), the information you need is readily available online. The internet is a goldmine and if you find what you’re looking for, you’ll be blessed with maps, tips and itineraries like this one! What could also help is gathering city maps, guides and brochures in the airport or in train/bus stops.

Yes, I keep a travel journal too!

Utilize your gadgets. In conjunction with Tip#1, you can download all the information you need in your phones/tablets for easier reference when you’re there. Note that if you don’t get a SIM there or subscribe to roaming, you wouldn’t be using your phone as much – aside from pictures and the occasional social media shout outs if there are free WiFi spots. In between all the selfies and mandatory Facebook posts, you can check your itinerary and maps conveniently loaded in your phone or tablet.

And on SIM cards – You don’t need one. If you’re traveling for a week only and not having anything urgent to attend to, save yourself a couple of bucks. Wifi is readily available (for free).

Unless you travel overseas often, do not buy their transformers. Plugs and sockets look quite different depending on which country you go to and well, for Australia it looks like this:

Source: stockarch.com

Your standard Pinoy plugs won’t cut it. You’d need a transformer for you to charge your gadgets. I was inclined to buy a transformer (usually around AUD 15 ~ PHP 510) but I asked our hostel’s reception and they actually rent out some! It’s actually more of borrowing – you pay AUD 20 at the time you get and once you return it in one piece, they give you the money back. I’m sure some hostels also have this feature. No need to spend!

But then again, if you frequent other countries too, I suggest you buy a multi-purpose transformer (costs around PHP 1500).

Know thy Opal/Myki Card and their daily caps. You’d need a pre-loaded card to access the transport facilities in the cities. In Sydney, that’s the Opal Card and in Melbourne, the Myki. You just need to purchase the card from the train stations or any convenient store with the card sign/logo. It wouldn’t be too hard to find, really. 

Sure, you can still purchase your tickets at the train station and pay cash but then these pre-loaded cards have great perks that are actually good for travelers! For example, the Opal Card (Sydney) has a daily maximum cap of AUD 15 so regardless of how many times you hop on a train, board a bus or use their ferry services – it’s just gonna be AUD 15, baby! And for weekends, the cap is actually just at AUD 2.6! Not bad at all.

Also, make sure you tap out each time because from what I know, they’ll charge you the full fare if you don’t tap out before tapping into another service.

If you say you’re scrooging up big time, WALK the talk. I mean, seriously. Toughen up your leg muscles and walk.        

In the Philippines, we are pretty apprehensive when it comes to walking to our destination even it is just a few blocks away. Admit it, it’s a culture. Maybe it’s the unpredictable weather, the pollution or probably the availability of short-range modes of transport like the pedicabs and tricycles – there are a plethora of reasons and I’m sure you could add up a few.

To be totally honest, I was surprised that I was able to cover most of the attractions in one afternoon in Sydney. I started out at Town Hall and went all the way from there. Don’t worry, I am 100% sure that you wouldn’t be burdened by heat or pollution. Well, just make sure you’ll apply sunscreen cause it might not be hot and humid but the UV rays would definitely hit you and leave you three tones darker. Trust me and well, you’re welcome!

What you need is a map and a good sense of direction.  Most of the attractions are just nearby and there are lots of signboards to show you the way. If you’ve got poor sense of direction, you could always ask. The officers on the street and at bus and trains stations are all warm and accommodating.

On top of it all, there’s something different in exploring the city by foot and on your own. You get to feel the local beat and see how locals spend their day. In Sydney, people are all hustling and bustling on the streets of CBD around noon and by sunset, you see all the young and young-at-hearts hitting the restaurants and bars. The city is alive and you should be, too! And the best way to make this happen is to explore the sights by foot!

In traveling between cities, take an overnight bus. I’m sure some of you who took long-haul trips like Europe could relate. Instead of paying for a flight and a night in a hotel/hostel, you could save up by getting an overnight bus to take you to your next destination. Also aside from the savings, doing an overnight bus trip would save you time in the day. Going to Melbourne form Canberra could take you 9 – 10 hours via bus. Instead of paying around AUD 130 for an overnight stay in hostel and the bus tickets, I was able to save the AUD 40 which I could use up for something else.

Also, while you're at it... make sure you're seated in front so you get a full view of the scenic landscape between cities.

And finally, in true DIY fashion – as much as you can, do not get an organized tour.  There are some perks in joining a tour. You’ll be with tour guides which are knowledgeable about the place, its history and other quirks. You’ll be skipping all the grunge because they’ll be taking you to the best and hot spots – just like how holidays should be spent!

Again, this comes with a price and a certain level of risk. The good ones usually have the “good rates” too. Sure, you might have found the operator with the lowest rates but they tours might not be as good as advertised. It helps if you get some feedback from people who joined it and take it from there. I took an organized tour for my Great Ocean Road trip - primarily because it was logistically impossible for me to travel cheap. There aren't any passenger buses plying the route and it would be very expensive if I get myself a car and drive around myself. That was our plan, though. I mean, traveling alone gives you the flexibility in terms of time and places you want to see. Organized tours have a pre-set itinerary and since you're traveling with a bunch of people, it would be really inconsiderate to lag behind to get that perfect selfie.

However, it all depends on what you’re there for. The whole point of this is for you to have the time of your life and if it would take you a few hundred bucks to do that, go and splurge love! I was there for a holiday-slash-soul-searching so I decided to wing it and see how it pans out for me. I chose explore the city on my own and got more than what I hoped for. All those hours spent walking and just immersing myself in the scene allowed me to get a new perspective of how things are and how they should be.

I digress! If you’re up for it, go and get lost in the streets of Sydney! Gallivant all over Canberra and Melbourne! Eitherway, I’m sure you’ll have a blast… without spending a lot!

UNLESS IT’S FREE: I saw this ad on one of the brochures I got from the hostel but the overwhelming desire to conquer had me exploring on my own.

It's under I'm Free Tours and you can check them out here. I saw the ratings and they’re pretty good! If you find yourself in one of these free tours, hope you can share how it was.

Now, that wasn't quite quick and fast. There you have it, my two cents on how to get the most bang of your hard earned bucks on your much-deserved Australia vacation! Will be posting my day to day IT (and some of my thoughts and rambles) in a couple of days. Let’s go!

PS. Here’s the link for my downloadable IT with costs. Enjoy!

down under: Of Whirlwinds and #MisAdventures

I first found out that my Australian visa was approved exactly 21 days before my flight to Sydney. I was in the middle of the conference and quite unsure about how I felt. Yes, I was extremely happy that I just got the "keys" to a great overseas adventure but I was waiting for my friend Yam's visa to be approved.

You see, she was the one who literally forced me to get the tickets and push through with the visa application. Yam was the poster girl for going out and travelling the world. This trip wasn't on my horizon, really. But due to her consistent reminders and encouragement, I made sure that I'll AT LEAST TRY to submit the requirements, see if it gets approved and take it from there.

Two days before the flight she told me she had some problems with her visa and could not go. I panicked because I didn't really prepare anything for the trip. Sure, I was able to buy some travel books about Australia but I didn't read them because I was sure Yam was going and that we'll be alright. Hours before I left, I was in deluge of emotions. Will I be okay? What will happen to me when I get there? What if I get lost and someone steals my stuff? Is my money enough, do I need to bring more?

I had NO PLANS at all and for people who know me, this is scary. All my life, I always had a plan. I always came prepared. I was always on top. I always had a mission. I live and breathe checklists and it pisses me off if I don't have one (even for just simple daily tasks like picking up the laundry and stuff like that). This, however, was something new for me. It was a first! I was going to be on my own and clueless as to what to do and where to go. Hours before the flight, I was seriously panicking, stressed out which led me to eat three dinners (yes, shamefully). This was my way to pacifying my troubled mind and racing heart as I boarded my eight hour flight to the land down under.

On hindsight, I cannot remember the reason why I was that scared. Maybe it comes from the fact that my self-confidence was just partially intact at that time. I was partially intact at that time. I've been slowly losing bits and pieces of myself due to dozens of personal and career whirlwinds.

These whirlwinds were too much to handle and sometimes out of my control. For my 25 years of existence and with the education I was blessed to have, I had already built some pillars of my identity. I had a pretty good sense of who I was, what qualities I stand for and what I want to do with my life. I guess knowing my "whats and whys" was the reason why I used to be so brave and unapologetic. I overcame every challenge and was determined to fight for what I believe in. The whirlwinds came, took me out for a wild spin and knocked down my pillars. Dazed and disoriented, I was left to watch as my pillars go crumbling down. I just stood there and stared at the ruins. The ruins haunted me because I was helpless. At that time, I believed that it was impossible to start building the pillars all over again. I wallowed in a deep pool of pity that seemed impossible to get out of and the ruins keep on haunting me every day.

That feeling was aggravated when Yam told me she couldn't go. I was afraid that if I go alone, another whirlwind will come my way and totally ruin what was supposed to be the perfect week. I was afraid to waste my days in Australia because I might not be able to make the most out of it. I felt defeated before the fight even started and I'm sure you'll agree that it was a very bad place to start.

Sometimes, life throws you into situations you can't get out of. That was how I felt when I boarded the flight to Sydney. I was on the phone with my boyfriend Vince the whole time before the flight and he did a pretty good job in calming me down. He helped me gather what little was left of my self-confidence and just go on. His best piece of advice?

"It's too late to go back. You're already there, eight hours away from Australia. You paid for those tickets, went through the hassle of getting all the needed documents for the visa and hey, you also spent a couple of thousands for your connecting flights to Manila and within Australia. Don't tell me you're backing out now!"

It was true though. I've already invested a lot for this trip and I would be stupid not to go! What he said was pretty basic (and it was just out there, really) but sometimes that is what we really need. We become too consumed with our own issues and concerns that we tend to lose sight of the basics. Just what I needed.

I wasn't able to sleep well during that trip because I was seated beside a lady with a baby and well, you know how it goes. We arrived at Sydney a little past 9am and by 10:30am, I was out there to conquer the city on my own. Still a little agitated, I was very uneasy during my quick train trip to Circular Quay until I saw what I came there to see.

That's my giddy first picture with the Opera House (I know, you feel it too!)

I was trying to contain my excitement as I hurried down the train plaform on to the quay. It was very beautiful. The weather was also perfect - the sun was up and the air was just the right kind of cool. The Opera House looked immaculate - just like how I imagined it since I was a little girl. I stood there for a couple of seconds to take in the view and I continued moving along, finding my way to the hostel. I passed by the Museum of Contemporary Art and saw a bunch of people sitting and lying on the grass in front of it. All of them looked happy as some were taking their lunch, some where happily chatting and some were just enjoying the quay. The walkway was also bustling with people, heading out to different directions, just doing their own thing. Some would even cheerfully greet each other and the mood felt really light and jovial.

It was something I never seen or experienced before and I thought, "What a wonderful place to be in!" It indeed was. It was the perfect reminder for me to stop worrying. To just let go. To just go with the flow of the wind and allow it to take me wherever it leads. To actually forget my fear and set aside because there was nothing to fear.

Standing there, I came to the conclusion that there is more to life than whirlwinds and that you should not allow yourself to be defeated by them. Whirlwinds have the capacity to shake and break you but there is enough reason to continue. Sure, it might have knocked down my pillars but it was for a couple of reasons. Maybe my pillars did not have the best foundations or are leaning a certain way and that's why they were easily broken. The road to recovery starts from the ruins - we shall take whatever is left of the pillars and rebuild them using our learnings as to why the previous ones gave in and what should be done to make them stronger.

The trip (for me) is the unconventional story of rebuilding - of rising beyond the ruins and finding oneself. Oh don’t worry, the next few posts won’t be some sentimental chronicle about how lovely Sydney was, or how ideal Canberra is or how life in Melbourne is a hipster dream. My trip was filled with wrong turns, bruised shoulders and elbows, shipwrecks and a whole lot of funny moments. Yes, it worked for me and this is, by far, the best trip of my life!

Excited to share the my #MisAdventures*!!!! Let's go!


*Proper syntax is supposed to be Mi's Adventures but yes, we live in the world of virtual connectivity and collectivity. You know what I mean!