Enjoying Summer of 2014 the Aussie Way!

Travelling has always been a personal passion. It somehow gives you a temporary respite from the demanding world you are into at the moment. I remember myself having experienced boarding on airplanes at a very young age (I was like 9 years old back then I think). Our family has developed an immense love for local travel, touring from north to south of the country. Meanwhile, I haven't had experienced travelling abroad until summer of 2014.

My Aunt who was residing in Australia for almost two decades now with her family gave me the most exciting gift one could ever receive- the chance of an international travel! It had given me goosebumps all over my body as soon as I found out about this one. However, the excitement turned into a pressing apprehension- The thought of me travelling alone in a foreign land. Worse, it was going to be a lot of firsts- First travel abroad, first travel alone, and definitely the first time ever of being away from the comforts of home and my family.

Securing an Australian visa was the first hurdle I braved. Surely, it wouldn't be served on you on a silver platter- with all the documents, stamps, certificates and all related stuff that you need to provide, I could have easily succumbed to giving up, knowing that I was also being bombarded with all the demands of medschool back then. But because I really wanted it to happen, everything went into place. Then voila, the visa to travel to Australia was granted last mid of April.

As soon as my (loving) aunt received the notice of the visa grant, she went straight to Flight Centre to book my flight. It was a direct flight from Manila to Melbourne, via PAL. I left Manila at 10 in the evening of April 29, and safely arrived in Melbourne International Airport at almost 8 (local time) in the morning of the following day (torturing 8 hours flight, 0 min sleep).

The very first picture I got as soon as I arrived in Australia

I stayed in the comforts of my aunt's residence in Melbourne, Australia for 20 days. With my aunt always on my side serving as my tour guide, we got to visit different wineries, see a Roo and a fluffy koala at their local zoo, dine in fancy restaurants, and get a glimpse of the busy streets of Melbourne City. 

with my loving tita Tessie pigging out at China Bar Asia Buffet

a very fluffy koala! 

This is the closest I could get to it. It might punch me.

My ever dependable cousin, Kate. My lakwatsa pal!

Panoramic view of Melbourne City

Bird's eye view of the City via the Eureka Skydeck

Striking a pose at the famous Flinders Street Station, Melbourne City

at Chateau Yering- a winery

at Vue on Halcyon winery, having eggs benedict for breakfast.

Dinner with Tita at Lindos

Lost at Flinders Street Station

Eureka Skydeck experience!

Steavensons Falls with Tita Tess and Uncle Jack

Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne City

Death by chocolate- at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

Vineyards at Chandon Greenpoint winery

At Healesville Sanctuary

Taken on the day of my departure at Melbourne International Airport, May 18, 2014

I couldn't thank my tita Tess enough for letting me experience such a luxury. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will surely be kept in my memory wherever I go. This experience sparked my interest even more for travelling, which was left lying idle for years now.  It will undeniably serve as an empowering motivation to better my studies so as to increase my chances of experiencing this luxury again in the near future. 

'til the next escapade! :p

Safe travels!

Day 2- What's love without tragedy?

Since yesterday, I always experience these acute attacks of apnea-like sensation every time I remember how me and my partner had ended up. It kind of feels like the mechanics of my own breathing now demanded conscious awareness and ceased from working involuntarily, making each cycle of ventilation a pain in the ass. These feelings seem to consume me, like gush of water bursting open into the dam. I was helplessly caught off guard. I honestly didn't see this coming. 

What really haunts me is the fact that I'm going to live my life now without him on it. We were too ambitious to plan on getting to places since we both love to travel, not knowing that our relationship was approaching its dusk already. What about the movies that we planned to watch? The family gatherings that we both vowed to attend together? The words of infinite love which were left unspoken? The promised obligation that we will be taking care of each other no matter what happens? Too late. 

Hey. Don't dream, it's over. 

I haven't heard from him since this morning. And it kills me.

DAY 1: How painful is painful?

I am sort of experiencing some kind of pain right now that no pain scale ever invented can actually gauge. Today, I was confronted by my partner that he did cheat on me behind my back.

I don't know what to feel at the moment. I  also have my own share of shortcomings when it comes to our relationship. I have committed mistakes in the past that I have regretted doing up until now. I broke his heart a couple of times before and made a vow to God that I will not do the same mistakes again. I tend to neglect him when I get too caught up with the demands of my studies and promised that I will make it up to him once I'm freed with all the academic requirements I have on my plate. These imperfections on my part had indeed made me question if I do have the right to feel frustrated when I found out that he was cheating on me.

I digress to what the famous Beyonce told Lady Gaga that 'trust is like a mirror, you can fix it if it's broke' while I nod in approval when the latter replied  "but you can still see that crack in that motherf*cker's reflection'. 

The man I trusted for nearly two years now proved to me that he was the person I thought he never was. That even his name that you once equate with purity could also be stained.  That everyone is bound to break their sacred promises. That everyone can't be trusted.

While I confess that I'm still in love with this person whom I trusted for years now, I seem to feel lost on how I can revert back our glory days. It's as if every piece of matter in the surface of the earth reminds me the fact that I once trusted somebody, but got busted in the end. How can I live the reality that I am indeed having difficulty in pressing on to whatever is left in our relationship? To rekindle the dying fire under unprecedented rains?

Time heals all wounds. I just have to be strong right now. I can make it through the rain.