There are two seasons
in the Philippines. It is either a summer tropical or a rainy season with the
occasional typhoons at the end of the year. I normally visit family every 2 - 4
years but this year I was given the opportunity to travel to one of the islands
of Surigao, Basul Island.
We travelled by motor
boat boarded by 7 people including: 3 locals, 3 family members and myself. We
crossed the sea and within fifteen minutes we arrived at the beautiful island.
Above Image: Basul
Island, Surigao, Philippines
July is the beginning
of the rainy season, however on this day and in this location it seemed like
endless summer. Imagine clear water, coral reefs and exotic fish perfect
for snorkelling.
The cool humid breeze
was refreshing against the beating rays of the sun. It felt unreal like
something from a movie. I still look back to those moments wondering if it all
was just a dream.
Basul Island is just
one of 7,107 islands with 2,000 that are inhabitable and named around the
Philippines. Surigao is located south in the Visayas where the local language
is mainly spoken in different dialects such as Visayan and Surigaonon, and the
national Filipino language, Tagalog.
The population of the
Philippines exceeds 100 million and continues to grow every year. One of the
things that contributes to this growth is their cultural law against abortion
and contraception as it goes against their religious views. Their education
systems do not incorporate sex education or awareness which may also be one of
the reasons.
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Aside from the
statistical view of things, the Philippines is homed to the most welcoming and
humble people in the world. Their communities are tightly knit like their
families under one roof. Good food is cheap and authentic as the smiles that
made them.
What I loved most
about the Philippines is how young it made me feel all over again.
Japan, a beautiful country with countless sights to see and things to do. At at the heart of Tokyo you will notice yourself trying to keep up with the fast paced crowds in busy streets and public transits. The cultural etiquette is sure to surprise anyone, as you find yourself being greeted by staff and politely excused everywhere.
Harajuku Street is Japan's centre of fashion and shopping filled with patrons, students and tourists. At certain times of the day and week, people dressed in styled clothing with vibrant and dark colours, eccentric and trendy fashions can be found throughout the street.
Above image: Harajuku Street, Tokyo
| Sanjo Dori, Kyoto | |
Most of my days were spent in Kyoto during the student exchange trip. It was the main reason I was in Japan. And within two weeks of study, I explored a few places. July is the most humid month in the summer time, and some days were a struggle to leave the air conditioned apartment I lived in.
I attended Ritsumeikan University that was thankfully a single bus trip from my accommodation. It was possibly the biggest university campus I've ever been in.
| Nijo Castle, Kyoto | |
Here you will find a beautiful landscape with gardens and the Nijo Castle; that was historically built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns in the Edo period. There is, however, a fee upon entry.
You can enter the castle (with the restriction from taking photos inside) and explore the many rooms with authentic sliding doors, walls decorated with painting, and wood carvings.
| Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto | |
One of many of the shrines in Kyoto, Inari Shrine is prominent for its thousands of Tori Gates that date back to 711 A.D, and have been standing since. Each gate is well preserved and trails up towards the mountain. It take a little over an hour to reach the top.
As you make your way to the main entrance, you will find food stalls, numerous shrines and shops with souvenirs. I left having purchased a few charms a souvenirs for friends back at home.
| Gion Festival, Kyoto | |
In the month of August, Japan celebrates the Gion Matsuri Festival, and on July 17 is the Yamaboko Junko, the float parade. This festival was made to celebrate to appease the gods around the time of an epidemic in the year 869.
Hundreds of people come to this event to view this spectacular sight as people dressed in colourful robes walk down the main streets, closing off roads, diverting traffic and buses off route.
| Nara Deer Park | |
Located in Nara is the deer park where you will find doe and stags grazing in a heard. They are very friendly and have adapted to people, however you do get some who will bite and attempt to headbutt you.
Biscuits specifically for the deer can be bought and feed to these animals, and they will approach you at the sight of food (just like most animals do).
| Nijo Castle, Kyoto | |
My overall trip ended with sitting on my luggage to press down on the all the souvenirs and products I've bought. And I look through an album filled with photos of people and landscapes I've come across.
The few things I know I will miss is modesty and humbleness in the society of Japan, and of course the exquisite and authentic foods you can find at an affordable price.
Perfect weather, perfect timing, and perfect location. How could it get any better than that? My hotel had air conditioning, it was a 5 minute walk from town, and a bus stop nearby that takes us directly to theme parks.
I stayed at Paradise Island Resort with a stunning view from the 4th level balcony and a pool in my backyard. During a week of 28+ degrees of humidity, coming home to a relaxing dip in the pool was my haven.
I walked during the day and night to enjoy the town we temporarily lived in. In a far away place from those we know, and those that know of us, it felt like I had made a fresh start.
The people we encountered were humble and honest. It was a place of community, and somewhere you can rest down your heavy burdens and enjoy a life without them—just to forget them for a moment.
Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet'n'Wild and Sea World were theme parks I visited over the 7 day duration of my vacation. It felt like if I were a kid, I might have enjoyed them a lot more than I had, but still enjoyed it to an extent nevertheless.
Shopping malls were abundant, and some high end brands were at an incredible discounted price located at Harbour Town. Even within the Surfers Paradise town district, shops were opened from all directions from day to late in the evenings.
Everything you needed and wanted suited perfectly for a place renamed after a paradise. I plan to visit again in the near future and venture the rest of the coast.
Hidden in the Adelaide Hills is your very own secret garden. This is Camelot Castle, hired for various events such as weddings, gatherings and even business meetings. Shrouded in what seems to be a forest, Camelot is almost something pulled out from the very well known legend of King Arthur.
Weddings, in particular are often held in the yard in front of a small, quaint chapel. The stone bridge and pond is a perfect touch to the scenery. Imagine what this might look like with fairy lights and some music playing in the background. It would simply be magical.
The gardens are constantly maintained and presentable for the public. The air is much fresher and cooler in the hills and the environment takes you to another place. Spending any reasonable amount of time in this place will make you wonder where you are.
The castle itself is the very depiction of what you might think of something from medieval times. Unfortunately none of the photos I took were clear enough to use. It was two stories high and had rooms for functions, small and large. Attached to the castle was a building with rooms for accommodation.
I recommend this place to anyone, who envisions this as something they want to use for any occasion.
In all my life in Australia, I had never left the comfort of my quiet state. I lived in one of the most unrecognized cities around the coast of my sun-burnt country.
Melbourne is one of the most cultivated and ever evolving cities of Australia. My first impression of the foreign town was fast moving. Everyone walked with a sense of direction and purpose. The chance of meeting the same face in the street twice, was very unlikely.
I felt the people here were ambitious and money-orientated like the city itself. It was intimidating. I wondered if it was possible for someone like me, who grew up in a laid-back and passive environment, could survive living there. In terms of job and career opportunities, Melbourne was the place as opposed to Adelaide.
One of the things I loved most was the amount of coffee shops, heavily intoxicated with the smell of coffee beans, placed conveniently around the city. There was not a day during my stay when I went without something pleasantly bitter to start my morning. The aroma differed from each passing cafe. And those who walked by were lured in to fuel their caffeinated needs like it was their way of survival.
As much as I wanted to stay longer, my flight was already due. But the memorable experience was there. Living in Melbourne gave me the kind of determination that made you want keep the pace of everyone else. And the fear of falling behind was the driving force that kept you moving. I admired them.