Selling Sydney

Ok, I don't own Sydney - not even one bit of it. However, I am trying to sell Sydney as a travel destination. So, my first client (who is a big fan of Sydney ever since- is my dad) is visiting Sydney in two weeks. I am coming up with different ideas, activities, etc for us to do on weekends and weekdays when the little girl is in school. Here are a few things I have listed so far: (will add on as I go)

Park Feast @ Bella Vista Farm - 25 and 26 February, 2017 
We haven't been to the Park Feast celebration last year, but hoping to make it this time around. They have at least 30 food trucks available to choose from, lots of amusements and stalls. The celebration goes from 11AM to 10PM on both days. Not sure if there are fireworks, but I am guessing there would be! The venue is very pretty with heritage buildings, lots of greens, and some shade too - if it gets too hot!

Shark Island Picnic
One school day, we might go to Shark Island for a little picnic. I have been there only once and have enjoyed it so much. It is very easy to go around the island in about half an hour. The harbour view is super and surely with dad and the little one, it will be a nice day out. Hopefully on a good sunny day!

Photo from Google

Rozelle Market

The market is only open on weekends..... But I just read now that they have terminated operation at the Rozelle usual spot!!! So I am now on the hunt for another market we can go to on the weekend!!!

Sad :( Mom really loved Rozelle Market - and dad too!

Photo from Timeout.com.au

Sydney Fish Market

My parents love seafood and love visiting the Fish Market. So, almost each time they visit Sydney - we head to the exciting Sydney Fish Market for lunch, together with the seagulls, and many other tourists. This is a must visit for us in two weeks!

Peninsula Paris - Celebration in the making

The Peninsula Paris preview (paris.peninsula.com)

I am giddy and excited about Peninsula Paris opening in August 2014! I have always believed in the brand and I am sure there are fans out there waiting for this grand opening - which is the first Peninsula hotel in Europe. For many years the Peninsula has managed to preserve the luxury brand and keep that high level of quality in each of their hotels. Growing up in Manila, where Peninsula maintains one hotel, I am always transported to another world every time I enter their grand lobby to attend a wedding or another celebration.

I have read that for the BIG inauguration, other Peninsula properties are celebrating it French style. The luxurious Peninsula Hong Kong will be having a "Moet & Spa" package which includes a heavenly spa treatment. While the Peninsula New York will be showing some classic French films on the hotel rooftop.

The magnificent Rolls Royce at the Peninsula Hong Kong (hongkong.peninsula.com)

If Peninsula can make our four legged furry friends feel special, what more US !! (Yes, they have special packages to cater to our pets at the NYC Peninsula).

Peninsula New York grand staircase (newyork.peninsula.com)

Intercontinental Asia Hotel Super Sale is On Again!

Okay, times are tough when the big name companies come up with sales every few months or so. The last Intercontinental sale was in February. Okay, maybe the sale really was so great they had to bring it back again! Well, so they have!

Intercontinental Hotel sale starts on 15 April, 2009 wednesday and will go on for 3 full days!!

So Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Intercontinental in Asia will be available at such good rates, and if I only I could travel endlessly I would billet myself and hubby every month..

Anyway, if you are planning a trip, have planned a trip in and around Asia, but still need some great place to stay then I suggest turning your alarm on to remind yourself of the Great Asia sale!

Where is Wally??

A few weeks ago hubby and I stayed for a few nights at a beach front property. That was one weekend that we enjoyed. The weather was perfect, was warm enough to enjoy the beach, cool enough to spend a few minutes on a picnic mat, etc. We did not have any tours planned, no itinerary whatsoever just plain and simple weekend of hanging out and enjoying each other's company. It was perfect! How I wish we could get on another getaway soon!

Should we go see South Coast?

Most of hubby and mine's travels are to the northern part of NSW. For some reason we are usually heading north. So this Easter Break, I am thinking if we should maybe head South. The last time we were down was last year when we went to Bulli (see photos from our weekend in Bulli). Tourism NSW comes up with really nice adverts such as the photo, and I am now inclined to go maybe to Jervis Bay or something. It would have been nice to go to the PaperBark Camp, very pretty nestled in the woods sort of thing (I blogged about it here) however 1. It is quite on the expensive end 2. We will need to have a car if and when we visit. (Hubby is intending to get his license soon! Yipee!). So, anyway, we may just settle for beach front again, which really cannot be 'that' bad! I still have 2 months to think of a place where we could relax and ponder about the true meaning of Easter.

The heat is on!

For the past couple of weeks we've been having really warm to hot weather. As in hot spell. Last week we went to the beach for a few nights and on both days it was so packed. We did not sunbathe, but stayed under our new beach umbrella. We still got burnt tho. Especially me! Hubby just turned reddish brown, to think he already has man-ly dark skin he still got burnt! It was nice that we had our umbrella. We were discussing that we cannot imagine our previous beach lives without this. Now, obviously it will be a staple in our beach hopping days! See the photo below of Coogee beach with hundreds of people!!

Mauritian dreams

I have been wanting to travel back to Mauritius ever since the minute I got back to Australia. Having been to the gorgeous country last year, I have fond memories of the island which simply draws me back every time I hear about the pretty resorts such as Le Saint Geran, and Le Touessrok. Mauritius is known to be a hideaway for celebrities, millionaires and the like. The unspoilt island’s charm is unreal, and the hospitality of the people just truly amazing. Whoever wants to get pampered, and yet still have enough breathing space to appreciate the scenery and the solitude, must visit this Indian ocean sanctuary. The only thing I could probably wish is that it is not a thirteen hour flight just to visit this paradise. But then again, maybe one knows the whole journey is worth it, just to be able to have a piece of Mauritian life.

There are so much luxury holiday options out there, but only a few destinations which can live up to the exclusive hype. What are the main ingredients for a truly special, memorable holiday? They are Sun, culture, food, great resorts that deliver personal service. Truly Mauritius can offer all this and more. I wish I could hie off to this place right now!

Reading glass or Sunnies?

In some parts of the world, winter is in full bloom, while for us in the Southern hemisphere, we are just about in summer. As much as the weather has been going quite crazy like today was pretty chilly, we are meant to feel warmer days next week. Watching the news the other day, I think some parts of the country already is experiencing massive fire blazes in the mountains and open fields. Pretty scary stuff.

Towards the end of the month, myself together with hubby, would be staying a couple of nights somewhere on the beach south of Sydney. A place we haven’t been to together. I am hoping for beautiful sunshine on this weekend, as well as perhaps a new pair of sunnies to match! Or, maybe since I am looking at studying soon, I should just check out for a pair of glasses. I have come across a website which offers heaps of different Holiday frames, ranging in size, design, colour and price. I have chosen my favorite pair (as seen above), and I might try to see if my local store has something similar. Otherwise, I would just need to have it shipped to me in time for classes. Or, should I just buy a pair of sunnies instead?

Need a Break

As usual! I am just wanting one again. Well, I think the last real break I had was.....

I think in May! So that was six months ago. No wonder I have 3 weeks annual leave left for this year!

Actually I am taking four days off in a few weeks time. Still have nothing planned for that. When you plan trips left and right during the day, at work.. it can be tiresome to plan my own. That's just the way it is. Did you know that many travel agents leave booking their own holidays at the very last minute?! haha.

I am dreaming Fraser Island now... See picture. It's just so magical! Ohh I want to go back!!

Wishing I can get a good deal soon

Ever since I can remember, I have loved hotel bargains (Who wouldn’t). I always get this excited rush whenever I visit last minute accommodation websites where I could possibly snag some last minute hotels great deal either for myself or for my family member back home. Once in a while the rates for the weekend drop considerably. Enough for me to consider packing my overnight bag and head of to some posh hotel somewhere.

What’s even better is that they have last minute flights on jetstar or Qantas. Last year I went to the Fraser Coast with my boyfriend. We were able to secure cheap flights on virgin blue and stayed at Kingfisher Bay Resort for three nights. I am keeping a watch now to see if there’s anything available sometime during the summer.

Wanting another trip

In the paper today hubby and I saw a deal on Fraser Island. We’ve been talking about going back to that amazing island for quite some time now. Ever since we visited Fraser last year, we always talk about wanting to go back. If you know or have been to the island you’d know how we feel. We now have better cameras and we’d love to try capturing the beauty of Lake Mckenzie again. However hubby goes on telling me that he’d need pair of shorts that will allow him to put his small camera stuff. So when I saw 511 Tactical Shorts on the internet I showed him. He told me to remind him about this pair of shorts when we have a definite Fraser trip planned.

What's your thoughts on Camping?

Every been on a camping trip? My family and I were meant to go camping while they are here on vacation. I was actually already looking at campsites, and have found Glenworth Valley to be quite a good one. With activities such as: kayaking, abseiling, horsebackriding, quad bike tours, bushwalking, and even laser skirmish!
As much as I am a girly girl, I have recently been wanting to try to camp outdoors one day. I am probably not ready for the full on camping with no highway in sight or even no toilet within walking distance. I would love to experience though sleeping under the stars, hearing the cricket sounds to lull me to sleep, and wake up with sunshine streaking through the tent window. I am not prepared to see spiders and snakes though and everyone knows that Australia is spider country (and snakes too!)So, Glenworth Valley would've been perfect. If only the people I was going with were game about it. But they're not! So, we have opt to stay at a motel in the closest town, Gosford, and just head to Glenworth Valley for the day! That will do for now! We are planning to do the skirmish, quad bike and possibly kayak and bushwalk! I am quite excited. I've never done skirmish before and I haven't been to any of the places above.

This is what Glenworth Valley's aerial view looks like: