1-Day Tour around Phillip Island

A few weeks ago, and a few weeks after Nicole left, my other dear friend Kimberley came down under to visit me! :) I was really excited about her visit because not only would it mean I get to be a tour guide once more, but it also meant that I'd finally get to meet her after two solid years!!! Kim studied in the UK, and as such, given the conflicting times in our University holidays always found it hard to schedule a time to meet when we were both back in Singapore.

Kim stayed for a total of one week. Unlike Nicole's visit, our itinerary didn't involve as much food as it did sightseeing hahaha :') Well, food was definitely in the agenda but I didn't feel as bloated as I did when I was with Nic. Or maybe it's because I learnt my mistake the previous round and therefore controlled my meals better.

Today I wanted to share my experience with Bunyip Tours. Also as a disclaimer, this post isn't sponsored at all so whatever's shared hereon are genuine and true to what I feel :)

Kim wanted to touch some Kangaroos and Koalas. I mean after all, when you're in Australia, you have to touch a Koala and Kangaroo right? Right. So out of all the available Zoos in Melbourne, Healesville Sanctuary and the Moonlit Sanctuary are the only two places that allows you to do this. However, getting there from the city by public transport would take 6 hours altogether to and fro, plus Kim wasn't keen on being the sole driver there so we decided at looking at other options.

I'd heard of Bunyip Tours since I arrived Melbourne to study. It was part of the package by the University whilst they were advertising travelling around the state of Victoria. I'd never gotten around to signing up for any of their tours since because there never was a reason to, but I did this time!

Kim and I registered for the 1-Day Phillip Island Eco Tour. We chose to travel with Bunyip because it was the cheapest one we could find and it covered quite a few places too. Altogether, we covered five things:

1) The Moonlit Sanctuary

Quite possibly the highlight of the trip for us both. Here we managed to feed some Kangaroos and Wallabies that roamed around the park freely! We also managed to take a photo with their Koala, and Kim signed up to take a photo with their Dingoes as well. We had to pay a fee of $12 for the photo taking session with the Koala, and Kim paid an additional $20 for the photo with the Dingo.

The photo taking session was managed well in my opinion. Those with the tour group were given a different coloured lanyard for priority since we had to return to the Coach by a specific time. We were also provided with ample time to take as many photos with the Koala as we wanted. Well, so long as you don't take longer than usual such that you're hogging the queue :P Kim and I arrived there early to queue up too, so we were third in the line (Singaporean spirit through and through).

The only issue I had was with the enthusiasm levels of their Koalas hahaha! You will see here that they the one we took a picture with looked pretty grumpy. The keeper said it was his nap time and that he was feeling slightly sleepy. Well, considering how they do sleep 22/24 hours in a day it should be normal behaviour...

This photo cracks me up :') Mr Grumps was apparently getting really sleepy. Still many others in the queue Mr Grumps!!

Feeding a Kangaroo!! :)

It was pretty difficult to get the Kangaroos to come up to you to feed. Visitors were only allowed to walk through a certain path, so you were only allowed to feed the Wallabies and Kangaroos that came up to you. The Wallabies were situated pretty much all over the face but the Kangaroos on the other hand were bumming around within the trees. Something like this...

#BOSS!
Image Credits: Pinterest

A cute lil Wallaby :)

This tiny baby was so precious.

Kim and her dingoes.

An inside joke between myself, Kim and Nic when they were here was that I was going to feed them to the dingoes when they came. I failed in getting Nic to meet a Dingo, but Kim did and unfortunately was too happy to be around them for my plan to have been successful hahahahaha.

We spent about two and a half hours at the Sanctuary. Lunch (a small BBQ) was provided for us before we made our way to our next destination.

2) Churchill Island

Churchill Island was an Island off the coast of Phillip Island in Victoria and holds an important value in terms of marking the Europeans first settlement in the state. Here we were able to watch sheep shearing live, touch some farm animals as well as enjoy the beautiful view the island had to offer. To be completely honest with you, I spent most of my time just admiring the view in front of me and wishing how beautiful a life it must be to live amongst mother nature.

Such a breathtaking view :)

We took too many selfies here :P

Really do love horses :)

Gobble Gobble

Look Ma! I milked a cow hahaha.

Some light refreshments were provided here. We stayed here for close to two hours if my memory doesn't fail me. Time really flew by!!

3) Koala Conservatory

We then drove down to Phillip Island itself! We made a quick stop over to the Conservatory to spot some Koalas :) This was a very quick stop that took about 45 minutes. 

Told you all they did was sleep!!!

Fun fact! Have you heard of the drop bear?

YIKES!!

Well, I only heard about it come this year when my friend shared a post on Facebook. I thought it sounded like candy, but when I googled it was in for quite a rude shock. 

Firstly, it looks like a photoshopped Koala. Second, even the Tasmanian devil doesn't look as deadly. And finally, the facts about who it attacks just seems like a troll. But, I am not one to not believe that there's a slight chance it may be true. 

Anyway, I asked our tour guide and he told me that it was a fake fact made up by some Aussie blokes who just wanted to scare some tourists. Phew!  Or at least, I'd like to think it's made up. A small part of me still thinks its true hahaha. 

4) The Nobbies

Before heading down for the Penguin Parade (the main star and attraction of Phillip Island), we headed to the Nobbies to view the scenery. I don't quite remember what the significance and highlight was at the Nobbies, but I'm aware that here you can see spot some penguins if you're lucky. It was pretty interesting as well because Phillip Island was declared a natural park by the Australian Government seeing as how it was the home to so many penguins. They built some man made boxes in the hills to attract penguins to build their burrows and homes there. It was quite a sight to see :) The tiny penguins we saw during the parade later on were making their way back home to these burrows after having spent the entire day hunting for food.

Our tour guide spotted a Penguin under the boardwalk and managed to snap this picture with my phone!

Peaceful :)

5) Penguin Parade

The last stop for the day was the much anticipated Penguin Parade :) We weren't allowed to take pictures during the parade because the flashes would affect the eyesight of the penguins and this would ultimately prevent them from feeding their young when they returned home. I was so frustrated by the tourists who simply refused to heed to these rules. Seriously, idiots who don't understand rules should cease to exist.

I wish I could have taken photos or at least begin to describe what an experience it was to have seen the penguins come up in groups and waddle their way up the path to return home. Some were like drunk little things, falling down every once in a while or just seeming lost. I really enjoyed the parade despite it being my second time there. I think I learnt a lot more this time round.

After the parade, we headed back to the Coach and then drove back to the city. It was a good day :)

***

Overall, my experience with Bunyip was definitely extraordinary. I enjoyed myself immensely, and here are the reasons why:

1) We had a GREAT tour guide.

They say you can't choose your tour guides, but at the same time I don't think your tour guides can choose who's in their tours too. Our tour guide Jeremy was from Tasmania, and I really enjoyed his knowledge on the places we visited. Not only was he friendly, but he was clear in his instructions on the times we had to assemble back and gave us a comprehensive background on the places we were visiting. We never took a photo with him, it was quite a shame it slipped our minds! :(

2) Duration of time at each site was allotted well.

I was quite hesitant originally because they promised quite a few places within a short period of time. We assembled at the meet up point at about 10am that morning and arrived the city by 9pm at night. Coupled with the traveling time to Phillip Island, I didn't think we'd be able to fully explore the places that they promised to bring us to.

Surprisingly (or maybe not), I thought they allocated the duration at each scenic spot really well. There was ample time to roam around and go to the ladies as well. I didn't think it was too rushed or too slow, everything was done very well :)

3) Booking online was hassle-free.

Kim and I only decided on the tour two days beforehand. It was a Friday when we decided to go for the tour, and all I had to do was go to their website and make my reservations for our specific tour. It was done in a few minutes. If you have dietary requirements (I did - vegetarian) you included it during your booking and they'll settle it for you on the day itself. As long as there are still slots available, they'll put you in their tour :)

I definitely enjoyed my time with Bunyip Tours. I think, for the first time since Kim and Nicole's visit, I was finally able to relax and behave like a tourist too! I think a large part of it had to do with me not needing to worry about catching the right train and getting off at the right stop. All I had to do was leave everything to Jeremy and we'd arrive at our destination. All I needed to worry about was reaching the Coach on time.

I'm definitely going to consider Bunyip Tours once more if I ever decide on going for a tour again in the future! I see a trip to the Wilson's Prom coming up soon (hopefully) :)

Have any of you been on a tour with Bunyip Tours before? Or have you ever visited Phillip Island? I'd love to know! xx

Friday Musings

Image taken and edited by me.

I've had the privilege of living a life that gives me the freedom of speech. However, let's not get too technical with the term "freedom of speech" here.

Most of us don't seem to realise how fortunate we are to be able to grow up in a society that allows us to speak as we think. Am I unhappy with the way something is run in the country? Sure. I'm allowed to voice my opinion. Am I unhappy with something my parents have done? Sure. I'm allowed to share my sentiments to them as well.

Most importantly, I am allowed to voice my opinions and be heard. Whilst not all of these things are necessarily followed up, however I do have a voice and thus a say in things. My decision matters and I have the opportunity to take charge of my life and decisions.

I've been a member of Toastmasters International for a year now and boy, what an incredible year it has been. I don't think I've ever openly spoken about Toastmasters and how much it's saved my life, but today I will share a little something that I've learnt.

At Toastmasters, it's not all about leadership skills and public speaking. It's so much more than that. I can't say I've fully grasped all the wonderful benefits Toastmasters can bring to an individual, but a few things would include meeting a myriad of individuals with different stories, building your confidence to speak in front of a large group of people as well as pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to truly test your limits.

I attended a club contest held by another club in my district last night, and during one of the filler sessions had the great opportunity to hear from a member who had competed in the semi-finals in Las Vegas.

Now before I continue, I'd just like to share how wonderful I think globalisation can be. Conglomerating individuals with one shared interest together is bound to bring an abundance of anecdotes and learning points to take home. I've never fully grasped how beautiful it is to be able to share your culture and ideas with others. It's always rewarding to be able to hear experiences of others from their own mouths as opposed to what you see in the media. And for this particular case, it was a humbling experience that made me realise the power of speech.

Upon socialising with other fellow Toastmasters from around the world, he found out that for some people, Toastmasters was the only platform in which they were able to speak and share their mind. They weren't allowed to do this at home due to societal norms in their country, and so Toastmasters was the only outlet for them to speak freely without facing dire consequences. Others saw it as an outlet to share their stories and views with people without having to face discrimination for the content shared. Toastmasters - I believe - does not judge you so much based on the content (unless very highly controversial, I should state now that there are such things as "inappropriate topics" that could disqualify someone during a competition). Rather, evaluations on the speeches are made with the intention to strengthen the quality of someone's speech. These evaluations are always very helpful, because there are only so many things you yourself notice from your speech. Having someone evaluate you opens your eyes to what you're lacking in. Finally of course I should say that everyone in Toastmasters is there to improve, and as such there is no hostility amongst members. We're all there to help one another out and it's always a splendid feeling to be in a very supportive environment.

Either ways, my main takeaway was how important it is to have the power of speech. The ability to voice out your opinions is something people like myself take for granted. I was humbled by the story shared, and it made me realise how powerful one is with this. That said, expressing one's views properly and respectfully also strengthens the power of the speech, and is something we should all strive to achieve. I'd like to believe and feel that if everyone practises the power of "freedom of speech" appropriately, there is no issue that we'd be unable to discuss critically and constructively.

So take charge of the ability to voice your opinions. Be mindful of what you say, approach the topics considering the emotions of the person on the other end, and always know that we are allowed to agree to disagree.

Till then, xx.

Online Shopping with: POMELO

It's that time of the year where I start getting fidgety due to the lack of clothes available in the wardrobe for me to wear. However, whilst I would usually admit to having enough clothes to choose from and this scenario is a result of my finding a reason to go shopping, I actually hate to admit that my reason for being fidgety this time round is a result of my inability to fit into my old clothes.

Yep that's right, your girl's gained a few pounds and I'm not embarrassed to admit it.

So, whilst I work on losing those extra pounds to go back to my usual size, I decided to go online to pacify myself by finding clothes that would fit me.

I've heard of Pomelo for a very long time. I've seen it on various social media sites as well as being advertised by some of my favourite youtubers and fashion bloggers. I've never really ventured with the site before because the company originates from Thailand and from my experience with the sizes and the cutting with clothes from that region, it usually never fits me. Which sucks really, because the clothes are all of pretty good quality and are reasonably priced as well.

Oh well, I was feeling adventurous that day. Plus, they have a 365 day return policy which is great!! No need to feel pressured at having to return the clothes if they didn't fit by the next day. I always look out for return policies when I order stuff online, it's always really important that I know how long I'm given to return unwanted pieces of clothing.

Aesthetically, delivery was to my fancy. I'm spoilt by TheIconic's packaging, but otherwise, despite the use of the plastic I still very much was grateful it wasn't too thin. It was also delivered in a sweet baby pink, a personal favourite colour of mine. What I actually liked (despite the waste of resources as some may argue) was how they used an envelope to place the invoice. It felt so personal to open the envelope! I felt as if I was receiving a letter from a close friend, and it made me all fuzzy and happy inside.

Moving on to what I actually purchased...

Quality wise, I'd have to say the clothes were made out of durable and pretty good material. The cotton was soft and I can see it lasting for a pretty long time. I was really happy when I unfolded them one by one and realised that the quality was a lot better than I had expected.

HOWEVER

The cutting, as I had expected, was not to my favour.

*goes to a corner and cries silently*

I was honestly really disappointed that the cutting didn't fit me. I should mention now that the sizes on Pomelo were all "One Size", so I actually took out my measuring tape to compare my size to the ones shown online. Yet, I was disappointed. I will be keeping the dark blue shirt because it looks fine oversized and I kind of prefer it baggy anyway. I'm really sad at having to return the other two :'(

Overall, I would recommend people to give Pomelo a try. Delivery was efficient and quality of the products were good too. Plus I'm not as adventurous in my fashion sense, but I know the inner chic in me would want to rock the styles they have up on their site.

Meanwhile, it's time for me to head on to another site. Boohooofficial anyone? :P Will update this space once more after my package arrives :)

Till then, xx.

"Crikey" to the future!

Image Credits: Pinterest.

Internship applications, future job prospectives (which company is actually going to want me??), financial expenditures and getting excited about new electrical appliances. Yep, you know you're an adult when these things start bothering you and shit starts getting real.

No one's ever prepared to become an adult. Life just decides to throw you in that situation one day and you're gonna have to deal with it, whether you like it or not.

I can deal with having to carry out adult duties. What I can't deal with is my own attitude. I don't think I'll survive adulthood with the current attitude I have at the moment. For starters, procrastinating on an assignment I should otherwise be working on (talk about priorities) and getting my grind on those cover letters I should be furiously sending out to companies and agencies I wish to apply to for an internship.

On a serious note though, for someone who's always been a firm believer of "There's a job out there for everyone!", I'm definitely not feeding myself enough positivity when it comes to believing in getting employed. That's something I definitely need to work on. It's strange how the mind can bring you down as instantly as it can bringing you up.

Whatever it is, reality's hitting me real hard now that I'm less than a year away from being ripped of my "student" status.

Where I am now is definitely not where I saw myself a few years ago. Will I ever see myself there?

xx.

A tourist for a week in Melbourne City.

Last week my friend Nicole came from Singapore to visit me here in Melbourne! She was on her summer break and somehow managed to find tickets (return, inc taxes) to Mel at ~SGD470 (such a steal!!) and therefore decided to visit me! It was so tiring to be out for hours, it made me realise how much of an old soul I am physically. Nonetheless I enjoyed myself tremendously bringing her around and exploring parts of Melbourne I had always put behind on my to-do list :) It was so much fun taking the train and acting like a tourist with one of my bestest friends even though I was already two weeks into school! 

Nic was here for a week and I can safely say that we mostly spent our time indulging in food. Lots and lots of food... Too much food that I wasn't able to capture it all in my camera.

I only met up with Nic on her second day because she spent the first with another friend who also studies in Mel. Considering how we were both still children at heart, we decided to go to the Werribee Open Range Zoo on the second day! :D Ive always wanted to go there because I've heard such good reviews from friends who've visited the zoo before. Overall, I'd say the experience was different from others I've had due to the open range concept. It was so cool because at one point we were right next to the giraffes!! That was also the first time I'd seen a giraffe run and it was such a hilarious sight hahaha.

Wild Dogs. Not related to Hyenas at all.

Favourite animal of all time.

After that, we made our way to North Melbourne to have some hot chocolate from Mörk Chocolate Brew House. I've heard so many positive reviews about this store, but I've never actually tried it. I'd like to say right now that it was ABSOLUTELY DIVINE. The chocolate wasn't too thick or creamy, but was just about the right consistency and creaminess. I absolutely loved it, I drank a whole cup of it and didn't feel sick in the stomach as I would have if I had purchased a hot chocolate from San Churros. 

Sweet staff from Mörk Chocolate.

The next day, we headed out to South Melbourne to eat brunch at the most lovely Chez Dre. Chez Dre remains one of my most favourite brunch places of all time. Plus, they now have a separate store purely for desserts called Bibelot. Bibelot is situated just next door to Chez Dre and the amount of desserts they have there is simply amazing!!! It was such a feast for both the eyes and the palette. From cakes to macarons to ice cream, there's something inside there for everyone! You don't have to be a fan of desserts to enjoy something from Bibelot. 

Yummy desserts from Bibelot.

After brunch and dessert, we strolled about the South Melbourne Markets. If there's something an Asian like me loves about markets like these in places like Australia, it's that the products available are so fresh and natural! Plus, there's a certain energy that radiates from these places that I enjoy and love so much :)

After strolling around South Melbourne, we rushed over to the Queen Victoria Markets because Nic wanted to try the infamous Market Lane Coffee. I love coffee, but I can't declare myself a true lover of coffee because all I ever drink is Mocha and that's 90% chocolate so... :P Nic however is an ardent lover of caffeine and she loved the bitterness of the flat white that she purchased. I've tried Market Lane Coffee before but found it too bitter for my liking. I do think fans of coffee will enjoy what they have to serve in this store very much because the coffee they sell sure is strong!

Us in the onesies we purchased from Queen Victoria Markets.

If you're looking at purchasing souvenirs for friends and family back home whilst in Melbourne, I'd reckon you can get some fancy stuff from QVM! Apart from selling fresh fruits and vegetables, they sell crafts and clothes too! Nic and I purchased these onesies from one of the stalls there because they were rather cheap and of good quality. I've used it everyday since the purchase, I'd wear it outside everyday if I could get away with it. 

The following Wednesday saw us travelling out all the way to Dandenong for scones, waffles and some good ol' hot chocolate at Miss Marple's Tearooms! It was an absolute delight and worth the hour journey out to the suburbs. Quite possibly one of the best hot chocolates I'd ever had, the fluffiest scones whose texture and fluff was akin to sponge cake and belgian waffles that were super crunchy and complemented with the vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce. I'm drooling right now...

Whilst waiting for the bus to take us to Miss Marple's, we visited the Puffing Billy to take a few pictures :) 

Decadent scones and Belgian Waffles from Miss Marple's Tearooms.

Can you spot Miss Marple?

Such cozy interior makes a good and satisfying experience :)

I had school on Thursday, so I wasn't able to bring Nic around as much as I would have loved to. We did make time for some good ol' brunch at Krimper before my lessons began :) Once lessons ended and after we had our dinner, we made our way to Crown and walked along the Yarra River.

French Toast from Krimper :)

On Nic's final full day in Mel, we started the day by going for breakfast at The Breakfast Thieves. Nic treated us to breakfast that morning :') What have I done to deserve such friends in my life.

When friends are busy editing photos for Instagram, you take photos of the restaurant instead.

After breakfast Nic and I visited Hosier Lane before boarding our train to visit the Brighton Bath Houses. I was so disappointed with myself for not having realised that Hosier Lane and Union Lane are both not the same thing. I was also disappointed with how, in the two times that I've been to Mel as a tourist and in the three years I've been here as a student, have not once stepped into Hosier Lane.

Don't get why I was so disappointed? Here's why.

The graffiti and street art was so incredibly beautiful!!! I think graffiti, if done for the right reasons is such an amazing way to express yourself. It's not an easy skill to master and the ones that were present at Hosier Lane was definitely high in calibre and not done by any amateur. What's incredible is that the art changes frequently whenever another artist draws over the walls. The story never ends!!! So glad I finally finally realised where Hosier Lane really was.

Colourful bath houses.

The bathing houses were the last stop on our agenda before Nic headed off to Southwharf for some last minute shopping. I've always wanted to visit Brighton, but had always put it off because there was always "some other time". Despite it being winter and ridiculously cold that day, I wanted so badly to jump into the water and swim. It must be such a treat to be there during summer!

All in all, I enjoyed myself tremendously when my favourite boob was around and I'm missing her presence here so much. So glad she was able to make it despite it only being a week, and even more grateful I managed to do some touristy things in one of my favourite cities in the world with one of my bestest friends :)

Now, it's back to reality and back to work. No surprise that I've got lots of catching up to do :P

Till then,
xx

Photos for all (with the exception of the one at the Puffing Billy) were taken and edited by me.