The Amazing City of Sydney

          Last December 25, 26 and 27, we had a great time visiting the wonderful city of Sydney. Being known for its vibrant and amazing environment, Sydney is known for so many things such as arts and culture, events, nature and parks, family holidays, shopping, food and wine, and many more. Hence for our short stay in that wonderful city,  we have covered not that much but the feeling of satisfaction and awesome due to the delightful experiences that we have will always be remembered. 

          And we are also very much thankful to our hosts, our two great buddies, Josh and Erwin, for spending time with me and my wife, Yanyan so that we will really have a memorable stay in Sydney. Thus, we were so lucky to have the chance to visit the following sites of the city: Sydney City itself (Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay), Sydney East (Bondi Beach), and Sydney North (Manly). We fell short of time to visit other fabulous places such as Sydney South and West.

          Our visit to Circular Quay was highlighted by the Opera House pictorial. We took photos of this enormously popular and historical site. Not far away, we also took photos of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Then we proceeded to catch the Hop On Hop Off- Sydney's tourist bus service. Due to time constraint we were limited in visiting wonderful places in Sydney and some of those we were fortunate to see by our eyes were the Saint Mary's Cathedral, Cook and Philip Parks, King's Cross and El Alamein Fountain.

          Then we changed bus and proceeded to the world famous Bondi Beach and took magnificent photos there. The following day, we had the chance to visit and enjoy the ever friendly environment of Manly Beach. Indeed, this Sydney holiday was a great opportunity for me and my wife to enjoy the historical city of Sydney.

                        

Anglesea: A Famous Seaside Town in Victoria

          Anglesea town is one among the famous towns along the Great Ocean Road stretch same alongside Torquay and the Aireys Inlet of Victoria, Australia. What makes it a famous one is the surrounding forest and the coastal scenery which greatly offers any visitor a sigh of wonderment on how nature unfolds on this exotic town. 

          All throughout the year, many tourists, both international and local, come and visit the place for they constantly enjoy and being refreshed by the ambiance of the place.  To host this number of visitors each year, there are accommodations that can be explored within the town and and the neighbouring areas. To mention some of them, these are  Anglesea Beachfront Family Caravan Park, Anglesea Cabin, Anglesea Heights, Anglesea Overboard Seaside Cottage, and Cosy Anglesea Retreat. 

imagecredit:http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=17193&picture=straw-in-the-field

          When in Anglesea, some of the interesting activities that one can venture into are the following: golf, cycling, fishing, horse riding, four wheel driving, swimming, boating, sailing etc.. If one enjoys exploring the taste of the town, he can visit any of these famous places: Uber Mama, Ocean Corner Cafe, Sea Eyes, Anglesea Golf Club, and Mc Gain's Nursery, Cafe and Food Store. 

          Hence, if you wish to explore the scenic beauty of Victoria in particular Anglesea town, book your trip now and spend sometime on any of these named wonderful places. 

Source: http://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au


                                    

The Wonders of Wilsons Promontory

          Considered as one of Victoria's most loved places, Wilsons Prom displays itself as one elegant place to visit and explore.  " The place on itself offers a wide variety of choices for one to enjoy. From walking opportunities that caters all ages up to the exploration of different scenic places, the Prom prided itself as a very significant part of Victoria's tourism industry.

          The whole Wilsons Promontory has a total area of 49049 hectares and that includes beaches and mountains.  Some popular beaches to visit in the Prom are the following:

at Squeaky Beach

1.  Darby Beach- a sandy track follows Darby River as it winds its way to the sea. The small exposed beach is embraced at each end by rocky headlands.

2. Whisky Beach- the track passes through a  moist gully and the follows Whisky Creek before passing over sand dunes to a small sheltered beach with rock formations at each end.

3. Norman Beach- Tidal River's playground, Norman Beach offers stunning views of Mount Oberon. Access from 2nd ramp at Norman Beach car park, from 3rd, 4th or 5th ramp on 34th avenue (no parking on 34th Avenue) or use one of the Tidal River access points behind 6th Avenue and follow the river on the beach. Surfing is only permitted south of the 5th ramp.

4.  Squeaky Beach- one of the Prom's iconic locations, it has rounded quarts sand that squeaks when you walk on it. Rock formations at the north end of the beach create a maze of passages for explorations. 

@ Squeaky Beach

5.  Picnic Bay- a steep track with some steps leads down to Picnic Bay. One can try to explore intertidal rock formation at both ends of this beautiful beach. " Source- www.parks,vic.gov.au

          Indeed, it was still worth watching although it was our second time to visit the Prom. I for myself could still wonder at the magnificent and artistic sceneries that the Prom offers to all its visitors. Thus, if one wants an amazing adventure upon visiting Victoria, this is one place that he should never miss to explore. 





                                             

How To Apply for Student Visa In Australia?

          One of the favourite destinations for international studies nowadays is Australia. Aspiring international students from all over the world desire to come to this wonderful place to enjoy the rich culture, friendliness of the local folks, the advanced educational system and other positive qualities when it comes to educational foundations.

          With this as a background, let me share with you inputs on how to proceed as an international student here in Australia. As you start your journey, you need to decide first and for all what is it that you want to pursue in Australia be it in the medical field, accounting side or the Information Technology field. One essential consideration here is that your desired field in Australia must be related to your background back home like your previous studies and work experiences. 

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          Afterwards, you need to research what is the best institution for you and where is the best state according to your list of preferences such as budget, connections, way of life etc. Then when you have opted for your institution, one important thing that you need to do is to establish communication with that institution and this could be made possible by making use of the online resources. From one institution to the other, they would surely differ in terms of requirements like the English exams, university costs, proof of funds, etc.

          Upon contacting your chosen institution, it is beneficial for you to solicit from them a checklist of their requirements. Then the school will provide you with a letter of offer and upon receiving it, you need to check if what then is laid down especially the cost of the first semester of studies is viable to you. On the other hand, while undergoing and waiting for the progress of this step, you need to collect pertinent documents like English exams, financial capacity, other forms as provided for by the institution and by the government of Australia. 

          When you receive already the certificate of enrolment from the school after payment made then you are now ready to lodge your student visa application. And medical processes will oftentimes go after the visa lodgement. When everything turns positive, expect a result from the Australian embassy of your country of origin. 

          For more information on the list of documents and procedures on the visa application kindly check on this link: https://www.border.gov.au

                                      

Celebrating Winter In Melbourne

          Melbourne, voted as the world's most liveable city in not just once but more than that, is homed to spectacular activities and sights on winter time. These features make it a warm city all throughout this freezing winter time. One, visitor and non-visitor alike, can enjoy the various activities the city can offer to you. 

Captivating activities during this season are the following:

a. David Bowie Exhibition- one of the hottest stars that landed in the world of music, he stars in this exhibition which is held at ACMI, Federation Square from the 16th of July up to the 1st of November, 2015. 

b. WW1  Centenary Exhibition- this runs until the 4th of October 2015. This is a showcase of one of the most dramatic conflicts in history. Displays here are direct from London's Imperial Museum.

c. Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF)- this runs from the 30th of July up to the 16th of August 2015. This is a gathering of the world's most talented people on the world of art. Moreover, what is being shared here is not just the showcase of Australia's rich theatre industry but that of the world as well. 

Aside from these events (more are lined up to the delight of the audience), there are several food outlets that will surely make your winter experience in Melbourne a warm and an exciting one. Noteworthy food places are:

Magic Mountain Saloon- 62 Little Collins Street- what makes it more interesting to visit is that at night, this place turns into a pumping restaurant as well as a bar with their very experienced live DJ at the scene

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San Telmo- 14 Meyers Pl- spectacular on this  cozy place is the offered Argentinian delicacies like their Argentinian roasts served at 45$ per person. If one enjoys and loves beef, then this is the perfect place for you.

C Shed Sunday Markets- Queen Victoria Market- enjoy your Sundays on winter time by visiting the famous Queen Victoria Market and on these days, they offer recycled and craft markets. Aside from this, many interesting items such as screen-printed fabrics, fleece products etc are also offered.

          Thus, from these enumerated activities and wonderful places to spend one's winter day and night in Melbourne, anybody can surely treasure exciting, memorable and fun-filled memories in this world's famous city. 

source: melbourne.vic.gov.au/winter


                                      

The Beautiful Country of Thailand

          Thailand- a country boasting itself with various wonderful places should be one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. Throughout the years, it has prided itself as one of the most sought after places and they have maintained plus improved such social status. 

" Thailand officially the Kingdom of Thailand is formerly known as Siam. It is a country at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. This country is governed by military junta that took power in the May 2014 coup d'etat. Its monarchy is headed by King Bhumidol Adulyadej, Rama IX, who is the ninth of the House of Chakri, and has reigned since 1946 as the world's longest serving current head of state and the country's longest-reigning monarch. - Source: Wikipedia- the free encyclopedia

   

          In spite of the multiple military takeover attempts that the country has experienced in the past, yet it continued to survive and to prosper.  Some of the interesting places to visit in this country are the following:

1. Muay Thai Live Show at Asiatique- this is a 90 minutes presentation which will showcase the famous martial form in Thailand which is Muay Thai plus combining it with the superb display of theatre skills of the characters, one could be treated with an informative display of act about its culture and heritage;

2.  5 Islands near Bangkok- these are a few of the most famous beaches that the country is ever proud of. Enjoy the white sand beaches and stroll the bays of these islands trying to mesmerise yourself with the breathtaking view of the surroundings.

imagecourtesy: Photo by foto76. Published on 10 July 2013
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3. Chatuchak Weekend Market- this is a 35- hectare place which showcases 8,000 plus stalls. This is a must for every traveler to Thailand to check and visit this ever popular shopping destination places. Although navigating throughout this huge marketplace is somewhat challenging yet there are available resources which could guide one when visiting the place. One of those given methods is by remembering that each alleyway in Chatuchak is labeled as Soi 1, or Soi2 and so on and so forth. Enjoy feasting your eyes with bountiful display of colourful designs and art of the Thai people. 

4. Some Phuket Thailand accommodations for you to choose on- Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, The Shore at Kathatani, Avista Hideaway Resort and Spa, Amari Phuket, Centara Kharon Resort Phuket, Merlin Beach Resort etc. Enjoy the facilities and the lavish food presentations of these areas and be pampered by the excellent service the staff of these places can offer to you.

           Thus, these are just a few of those interesting places that one should never miss when visiting Thailand. Come and enjoy this ever growing place and reminisce every moment of your stay here.

                               

Visiting Melbourne

           Considered as one of the world's most loved cities, Melbourne boosts of so many interesting places to visit especially if one is on his first time to visit the place. Home to multi- cultural groups and diverse ethnicities, it is the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia.

Some of the interesting places to consider when visiting Melbourne are the following:

1. Luna Park- considered as Melbourne's wonderful destination for fun, one can enjoy the various and fun-filled rides here. This spectacular place has been entertaining locals and visitors alike for more than 100 years already.

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2. Royal Botanic Gardens- entrance fee here is free and it prides itself as a home of fun and enjoyment plus a vast display of amazing plants will entertain the eyes of the guests and locals alike. Aside from these facts, one can also immerse himself and educate on the diversity and uniqueness of the Aboriginal Heritage influence.

3. Medibank Icehouse- installed as the biggest ice skating activity area in this part of Australia, it is consists of two Olympic sized rinks, music and it also offers free skating lessons to those enthusiasts both young and old alike.

4. Cook's cottage- through to the traditions and contributions of Captain James Cook, it is a must see place to visit in the famous heritage-listed Fitzroy Gardens. Thus, when one come and visit Melbourne, make it sure that you will allow yourself to visit these enumerated exciting places so that you will savour the joy and memories on them.


Source: www.visitvictoria.com



                                              

Ballarat: A Place of Amazing SItes!

          One of the many places one needs to visit when in Victoria is Ballarat. " Ballarat is a city located on the Yarrowee River and lower western plains of the Great Dividing Range in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately 105 kilometres west-north-west of the state capital, Melbourne. It is the third most populous urban area in the state, with a population of 90,940. It is the state's most populated inland settlement, and the fifth most populated inland settlement in Australia. 

          The  City of Ballarat local government area encompasses both the Greater Ballarat urban area and outlying towns with an area of 740 square kilometres and has an urban area 0f 93,501. It was named by Scottish squatter Archibald Yuille who established the first settlement - his sheep run called Ballaarat in 1837." source- Wikipedia- the free encyclopedia

Some of the interesting places to look into in Ballarat are the following:

1. Ballarat birdworld- this famous place is situated near the South part of the Sovereign Hill and been considered to be such an exciting place. It runs a one kilometre walk on timber pathways through bushland and some native trees.  Within the place are interesting matters such as waterfalls, rainforest, parrots, cockatoos etc. 

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2. The Gold Museum- they said this is a wonderful place before moving further to Soveiriegn Hill across the road. One of ita interestig places is the gift shop where one can purchase gold nuggets and coins. And when it comes to exhibit, one will stay in awe and he will discover that this place offers is the oub and theatre culture of the Ballarat Goldfields. 

3. The Eureka Centre-this is situated in the corner between Eureka and Rodier Streets. This Centre is termed as a gallery-style centre, demonstrating the Eureka Stockade in a very interesting presentation.   The entrance fee here is free with a Eureka Pass and you can even spend an hour venturing the place's in and out. 

          Aside from these wonderful places, there are still others worthy to mention but they would be left to your curiosities to explore them. Seek and you shall relish the charm of Ballarat. 

                                     

Being Far From Loved Ones

          All over the world, there are so many people who work and live away from home. And we all know that it is not easy to do that. Some serve their countries through being members of their armed forces and at times, they are assigned on faraway places.  There are also those who are participating as members of missionary groups and usually they go from one place to the other. 

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           Meanwhile, another group of migrants are those who are looking for opportunities to earn more. Sacrificing everything even to the point of being far away from their loved ones- and they are willing to do that so as to make true to their dreams as well as for their families.  Anxiety, pain, discomfort and stress are just some of the most common problems of these people. 

          Hence, it is a constant relief when parties far from each other spend time to communicate with one another and by so doing, it eases the pain and anxiety as a result of the separation. After all, there is no greater love than to lay down one's sacrifices and life for those loved ones. 

                                                

        

Great Ocean Road- What A Wonderful Place

          Just a week ago, me and my friends had a good time visiting one of the famous tourist destinations here in Melbourne, Australia. What I would like to share with you today is the ever popular Great Ocean Road. 

          And so as to give you a short background of this pre-eminent place, " Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometres stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial. Winding through varying terrain along the coast and providing access to several  prominent landmarks, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations, the road is an important tourist attraction in the region." - Source- The Wikipedia- the free encyclopedia

          We departed Saturday, February 21, 2015 from Melbourne and we started trekking the road at 5 in the morning. After an hour and a half travelling, we reached our first destination which was the famous Triplet Waterfalls, Everyone of us in the group was mesmerised by the awesome and splendid display of nature on its best. The ever gigantic trees and the rest of the natural habitat of the place enabled us to appreciate further the wonders of creation. 

          Then we proceeded our trip and finally reached our destination, Apollo Bay and spent the rest of our trip there. Indeed, we experienced a great time savouring the richness of the place. The next day, we had an awesome time appreciating the beauty of the equally popular Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. 

          Indeed, if ever one has the chance to visit Victoria then don't forget to include in your trip a visit to the splendid Great Ocean Road.

                                 

The Joy of Travel

         Traveling has been a pastime I have ever since my younger days. Upon discovering new places, I come to terms with my understanding of certain practices and expectations. Of course, there are accompanying sacrifices such as finances, time, people, and many more. Yet the joy and satisfaction offered by those opportunties are much treasured and to some extent, they go beyond any material return. 

          Much to my delight, travels allow me to deepen my understanding of certain places' cultures and pactices. Being born as human beings, we are aware that accompanying biases and limited judgments are felt by us even after the experience of traveling a certain place.

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          On the other hand, it is but natural to us to have preconditioned items on our minds. We are at times hesitant to venture into other places due to their ill advised recommendations and assessment. However, if we will only allow ourselves to look deeper into a place's intrinsic wealth, we therefore would feel deeply amazed and overwhelmed to realize that certain new horizons can be divulged to us. 

          Thus, let us all open ourselves to the experience of travelling since this would enable us to widen our horizon, enrich our culture and open our hearts to the beauty and wonder of other places in this beautiful world we live in.