Manchester, United Kingdom 04'13'2014

This was the kind of trip that I really didn't have a plan for. Given that I had been in Manchester before, I was satisfied to just go to the city and eat the traditional full English Breakfast for lunch as it is the only thing I crave for whenever I am in the UK.

But as things often happen unplanned. I took a trip to some places I had already been to and some places new.

~~`~~

Late in the morning at brunch, almost lunch, we made our way to the city to eat.

Miss Cheese

In the train cabin.

Let me take a selfie.

Arriving in Piccadilly Station there was only one thing in my mind: the full English Breakfast. Unfortunately most restaurants stop serving it after noon, and we arrived past twelve, just in time for lunch. We walked and walked along Piccadilly until we finally settled in a restaurant, disappointed that I wouldn't be able to eat the full English Breakfast, I was surprised to see in the menu that they served "All-Day-Breakfast"

The restaurant: Wetherspoons Piccadilly

Menu on the table side.

My craving, the full English Breakfast. Well, not so full. :/

I was a bit disappointed when my "full" English Breakfast didn't turn out to be so full. It didn't have black sausages or bacon but nonetheless I enjoyed what I ate and moved on. Next time I will go to the city early to catch the true full English Breakfast.

After lunch we didn't know what to do anymore, but since Piccadilly street lead to Arndale Market, We decided to head there to do whatever, maybe shop a bit.

Arndale Market

Inside Arndale Market

Pound World. Everything for One Great Britain Pound.

The Pound World was amazing. There were so many quality looking stuff there to buy, and if you convert it to various other currencies, it is actually much cheaper than other stores in other countries of the same type.

After Arndale Market, which is actually a mall, we headed to a place that I wasn't able to go in before because it was undergoing renovations, it is still undergoing renovations now but at least it is open to the public again. Manchester Cathedral.

Manchester Cathedral Surrounded by Cherry Blossoms. 

Manchester Cathedral.

Going up to the Cathedral.

Pathway going inside the Cathedral.

I was surprised to see Cherry Blossoms surrounding the cathedral because I wasn't expecting it. It was a great sight, too bad it I rushed inside the Cathedral because it was too cold outside brrr.

Upon entering, view on the right.

Upon entering, view on the left.

Main hall of the Cathedral.

Upon entering, I remember that this isn't a Catholic Church, It is the Church of England, the UK defected from the Catholic Church many years ago because of a disagreement between the King and the Pope back then. Please watch HBO's The Tudors for more info or, just read some book about it, or just google hahaha.

Walking further around the church, I realize that it practically doesn't have much difference from a regular Catholic Church, it looks the same. Both religions are the same, with maybe a few key differences. Watch Tudors haha. History is fascinating.

I do not know what flags are these.

Humphrey Chetham

Painting of Jesus in the Cross.

Elizabeth Trafford

The inside was really beautiful, add to that the fact that the choir was practicing for a mass while we were taking pictures and I really got a feel for the place. I didn't take a picture of the choir though because I felt like it would be too much for them and I felt shy too. haha

After the cathedral we really didn't know where else to go so we just passed by the Manchester Town Hall to sit down and rest a bit.

Cherry Blossoms again when we got out of the cathedral.

Manchester Town Hall.

Albert Memorial featuring Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg, and Gotha.

After Albert Square we decided that instead of backtracking to Piccadilly Station, we would take another way hoping to find some cool buildings and stuff, it is a tad longer but not many foreigners go through that path so it's a nice place to go through.

Midland Hotel, Manchester.

Palace Hotel, Manchester.

India House, Manchester.

We passed through some Grade II listed buildings on our way to Piccadilly Station. These Buildings have historical significance and can not be demolished. In comparison, the Manchester Cathedral and Manchester Town Hall are Grade I listed buildings.

First we passed through the Midland Hotel, then the Palace Hotel otherwise known as the Refuge Assurance Building, then lastly, the India House which I think was the most beautiful and striking of all, I mean I really didn't know what it was but I found it really nice so I took a picture.

Sackville Park.

Near the Station I saw Sackville Park. The whole day was quite gloomy and seeing the garden with its patches of light and beautiful greens and pink, plus the contrasting orange of the buildings and the sky turning blue. It was the perfect place and the perfect moment, I had to take a picture although I must say I don't think I did the place justice :/

My whole trip was quite short but it was one of the most I have ever walked in any city considering that is was literally still freezing cold, for me at least.

Still didn't go to Trafford Stadium or Etihad Stadium for football/soccer fans out there. Maybe in summer :P

Until my next trip, Goodbye!

Melbourne, Australia 03'28'2014

Busy busy bee. I went through a lot in work plus a long vacation. Needless to day I didn't have time to edit and write. However I always make time until I finish. Watch out for more!

~~`~~ 

Melbourne. It was a very hot summer day. The sky was completely cloudless and the sun's light felt like someone kept slapping my face. So I put my trustee sunblock on to keep the various damaging effects of the sun away hoho.

The only sunblock I use.

I had used various sunblocks before, but after breaking out like a prepubescent kid in high school after using a very bad yet popular sunblock, I am glad I found this. I have been using it since I started working back in 2010 I think. Safe to use on face and body and it really protects you like a concrete wall over the sun.

It was a long trip to where we were going and we really didn't know how to get there so we asked around a gas station.

Visitor Information Center. Where asking questions and all the maps are free.

Fruits!

The nice lady giving us direction.

On our way to the great ocean road.

The information center was very helpful and we were glad to know that talking to them, the map, and the brochures they gave us were free.

Looking at the map it didn't seem far at first but then she gave us timeframes in going there and we really got an idea of how far it was.

We drove for a few hours after the information center and it was high noon when we reached just before the entrance of The Great Ocean Road.

We stopped to explore a nice cove with a lighthouse called Split Point Lighthouse in Anglesea.

Split Point Lighthouse on the top left.

The beach right below the lighthouse

It was high noon. The sun was scorching, the sand burned as we walked barefoot towards the beach and yet the closer we got to the shore, the colder and stronger the wind blew through our bodies. Hot sand but cold air, it was a strange feeling.

A couple and their family on the beach.

Friends waiting for me to finish taking pictures :P

Pants folded up, feet on the sand.

Nice view of the beach and the lighthouse.

The sands of the beach, of course, can not compare to the fineness and whiteness of the sands of Boracay. But the beach was absolutely pristine, the waves were raging, the shore extended as far as the eye could see even beyond the cliffs far into the horizon. And the smell of the air coming from the sea was cool and fresh, reminiscent of the beach my family and I used to go to when I was a kid.

After all the admiring and reminiscing, we proceeded to climb to the lighthouse as all the other tourists did. It looked so near but it was father and higher than it looked...

A great view of the Anglesea river delta and the town.

View of the sea and just a fraction of The Great Ocean Road's full extent.

A friend climbing to the lighthouse.

Detour to the Loutit-Bay lookout.

And then I admired some more...

Going up towards the lighthouse there were amazing views. You could see the town of Anglesea, its river, plus the sea, and where both the sea and river meets - the river delta. Climbing under the blazing sun without an umbrella or hat was totally worth it with those views!

We then took a short detour from climbing to see what was in Loutit-Bay Lookout.

The rocky shore viewed from the lookout.

The beautiful turquoise sea and its strong waves.

At this time I was already really really in awe with all the beauty I saw. I felt very grateful for the moment and was amazed at how beautiful the place was.

After the detour we proceeded to climbing up again towards the lighthouse...

Getting ever closer towards the lighthouse. 

Sign pointing towards the lighthouse.

Wouldn't you just want to go through this path?

Reached the lighthouse!

View from the lighthouse looking down towards the shore.

When we reached the lighthouse I just took a picture of it looking from directly below it and then took a picture of what was below it and then we found another path leading towards another lookout...

Going down towards another lookout. already an amazing view.

A bunch of people also admiring the views.

A lady taking pictures just like me.

Going down and back to the car.

After the second lookout we were really hungry already and went back to the car. Still even going back the views did not get old. The place was just gorgeous.

From the car we headed farther into The Great Ocean Road but not before taking a picture of this...

Nice

The sign of The Great Ocean Road was full of tourists, very full. We practically had to wait in line just to take a picture of the sign. Was it worth it? Yes! haha

After the sign we went to a town called Lorne and ate at a restaurant called The Bottle of Milk.

The Bottle of Milk Menu.

Took a bite then a picture.

By the time we got to the restaurant I was hungry enough to forget to take a picture of the food! haha hence the bite on the burger.

It was a very good and famous burger restaurant never running out of customers. They even have their own website. We had to wait for people to finish eating before we could actually get a table to sit down and enjoy our meal!

After Lorne we couldn't get any farther into The Great Ocean Road because we were running out of daylight. So we decided to head back to the city.

We stopped for gas and some refreshments because it was a very long trip,  but then I was introduced to this ice cream...

The Golden Gaytime

Expensive? It's cheap compared to all the other ice cream on the shop!

The Golden Gaytime. It was very delicious. Nothing like I have ever tasted before. It had a vanilla ice cream as a core, covered in toffee ice cream, covered in chocolate, covered in cookies! damn!

Overall, the trip was the most amazing I have ever had. Looking back, thinking of all that I saw going to and being in just a small part of The Great Ocean Road, I thought of how many more truly beautiful places there are in the world and in Australia and how I would love to see and experience them all.

It was a challenge taking pictures in a place where the sun was the brightest I have ever seen but it was a learning experience especially with such a beautiful place.

There are many places in the world that advertise themselves as being the best or the "creme de la creme" but for a road trip adventure, The Great Ocean Road is truly one of the true best. It renewed my love of the world. It completely fed the wanderlust that consumes me.

An unforgettable and beautiful experience I will never forget.

Until my next trip, Goodbye!

~~`~~

A very special thank you to Tricia Nicolas Kapunan and Maybelline de Guzman without whom this trip would not have been possible.