There's No Place In The World Like Sydney (July 13-27, 2008)

Finally, I've got the time and will to write about my World Youth Day 2008 trip to Sydney Australia! It was a very long two-week escapade out of the comforts of my own home, but by the generosity and the hospitality of our hosts Tita Minda and Tito Bay, and Kuya Mel and Ate Evelyn, being far away from home became much easier for us.



The WYD-Belair group consisted of the following:

1. Meldy
2. Lynn
3. Jam
4. Chet
5. Vicky
6. Arlene
7. Mel
8. Joy
9. Shey
10. Jeane
11. Tere
12. Dette

I mostly tagged along with Ate Chet, who introduced me to the Opus Dei Center in Belair. Ate Chet had been the one who guided me all throughout. I'm thankful for all the patience she's been giving me, especially since I am a pretty much non-practicing Catholic.

The first week of the trip was mostly devoted to the WYD activities lined up for us. The Sydney government did a marvelous job in making sure everything works fine, from the free train rides to the security in the area. All in all, the registration fee was well worth it.

July 13, 2008 - Departure from Manila

We took the plane via connecting flight from Manila to Singapore and Singapore to Sydney. We rode the Singapore Airlines and I had a nice time watching movies and listening to audio tracks :) The food was great too. :)

July 14, 2008 - Arrival at Sydney

The weather was unexpected as we arrived at Sydney as we anticipated a colder winter morning. We stayed at Tita Minda's and Tito Bay's lovely home at Voyager Point. That day was also Lynn's niece, Rachel's birthday so we joined in her birthday party at Tita Minda's house.

July 15, 2008 - Barangaroo

We went to St. Mary's Cathedral then proceeded to the opening mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell and the Bishops of the world at Barangaroo (east Darling Harbour).

July 16, 2008 - Catechesis at Sydney Convention Center

After catechesis in the morning, we roamed around the Darling Harbour area where some of us visited the Sydney Wildlife Center.

July 17, 2008 - Papal Arrival

Welcome and arrival of Pope Benedict XVI on Sydney Harbour, followed by a Papal welcome at Barangaroo. Pope then travelled through the streets of Sydney via motorcade in the Pope Mobile.
We also attended a youth orchestra concert at the Sydney Opera House.

July 18, 2008 - Pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop's Church

After catechesis at the Sydney Convention Center, we rode the ferry to Mary MacKillop's Church. This day was also Joy's birthday and we had a small gathering when we came back at Tita Minda's.

July 19, 2008 - Evening Vigil at Randwick

The Evening Vigil with the Pope at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse & Centennial Park), was a joyful and moving event, including a ceremony of candlelight and a representation of the ten WYD08 patrons.

July 20, 2008 - Final Mass

Today was World Youth Day! Pope Benedict presided over this high point of celebration in the largest gathering of people in the history of Australia at Southern Cross Precinct. The Pope will fly over the precinct in a helicopter from 9am and then drive through the precinct in the Pope-mobile.

July 21, 2008 - Blue Mountains

Tita Minda and Tito Bay accompanied us to see the world-famous view of the Blue Mountains. We then went to mass at a Jesus Youth International gathering.



After a week-long stay at Tita Minda's, we (Ate Chet, Jam, Dette and I (Jam and Dette for one day)) transferred to a nice suburban area at Budgewoi where Ate Evelyn and Kuya Mel (Ate Chet's previous housemate) lives. It was nice to see their shop, and the overwhelming hospitality they showed us. We had red wine every day 'to keep us warm'. And the couple's sense of humour certainly entertained us. The view to Budgewoi was so beautiful that it made me cry :'( The place itself was too good to be true, fresh air and nice cold weather ^^. So towards the end of the trip, we travelled to and fro Budgewoi to the city and roamed around Sydney to Taronga Zoo, Minitrains, Sydney Tower, Aquatic Center, and Chinatown for some shopping.

I had a fun time during my stay at Sydney. Stressful, but fun. To be honest, I wasn't at all prepared with the emotional and physical stress the World Youth Day experience gave me but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would never forget. After all, there's no place in the world like Sydney. If only I had my friends and loved ones there, the trip would have been perfect! :)

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References: http://www.wyd2008.org

Uniquely Singapore! (March 6-9, 2008)

After 12 years of waiting, I got to travel out of the country again! I love touring a new place, it gives you a new perspective on things. And it's quite different from sitting on your couch and watching "Travel & Living" or reading a book about how things there are. It's one thing to know about it, and another to experience it. It's such a fun and relaxing break from my routine.^^

Singapore is practically heaven if you're used to the traffic-busy streets, smoke, and all the pollution in Manila. As Marien would say, "the water from the pipes here is potable"! Imagine drinking water directly from the faucet! Haha.. isn't that just too weird?!? LOL.

And when I mean heaven, I do mean heaven. Prices of commodities in Singapore are sky-high. My sister lives in an HDB apartment room and pays $300++ while my brother pays $500++ a month also for a single room. That's around Php 15,000 a room, excluding the electricity bills et al. An average McDonald's meal would cost around $6.00, around 2 to 3 times higher than what they charge here in Manila. You literally have to suffer from the high demands in education and work as much as this rich society dictates its citizens to be. For me, it lost that "country vibe" I like in a place like Baguio because of its rapid technology advancement.

But the good thing in Singapore is that everybody seems to be middle class. Well at least the Singaporeans I think all are. For someone who is accustomed to seeing beggars on the streets everyday, and like those public servants, is just as clueless on how to eradicate poverty in the country, this ignorance can certainly be a bliss.

After 4 days of touring Singapore, I got a pretty good taste of what it's like not to worry about going home late, accumulating dirt on my shoes after a long day of travel, having to see actual pigeons around not caged in a zoo, and not having people mention about my height (because they won't bother you at all unless you're buying something from a store or asking for directions). Yeah, life is pretty clean and organized in Singapore. GAH! Couldn't be more inappropriate for me to live there (though I get to be mistaken for a Singaporean most of the time)!