Oz Trip Week 1: Loong Flight, Booze And Tennis

If there was one thing the long MNL-BKK-MEL (Manila-Bangkok-Melbourne) flight taught me, it’s that I was sorely in need of an mp3 player. Seriously. With 13 hours on-board the plane, switching between time zones, a 30-minute stopover, and seemingly unending immigration protocols at every airport – an mp3 player could very well become a traveler’s best friend. Unluckily for me, the idea hadn’t struck me yet that time, so I was pretty much stuck with my mobile phone and some 30 songs which I was able to download. Airline food was so-so, and while I was one seat apart from an Aussie cutie, he spent much of his travel time sleeping and curled up in a blanket, so not much hope in striking up a convo there. Although, in-between sneak peeks, I can only admire his toned biceps and attractive Aussie tan. LOL!

Immigration protocols were a breeze when I got to Melbourne International Airport, and in a couple of minutes I was on-board a taxi for another 20-minute drive going to Seasons Heritage in St. Kilda, where I’ll be staying for 2 nights and then I’ll be checking-in at a nearby Parkview Hotel for another 2 nights, and then it’s back to Seasons for the rest of the duration of my supposedly 2-week business trip. (Blame it on last-minute reservations during the 2010 Australian Open season for a crazy accommodation setup.) Anyways, I was homesick already because of the long solo flight and I haven’t gotten in-touch with the other CTOM peeps that were also on respective business trips in Melbourne. In short, I was bored to death. AS IN REALLY REALLY REALLY BORED TO DEATH. Good thing, I was able to hang with the other peeps the next day, and was lucky enough to score tickets to the upcoming Australian Open games that coming weekend. (Thanks to Regi Tan for the tickets, by the way.) My first Friday night was spent drinking booze at Belgian Beer Café, and since then I’ve been a fan of Stella Artois and anything Belgian booze.

My first Melbourne sunset... ^_^

Saturday came, and although there were slight hints of light drizzle and gray skies during the morning, it turned out to be hot and sunshiny all throughout the rest of the day. I’ve never watched a live tennis match in my life before, nor was I a tennis enthusiast, for that matter. But somehow, I got into the tennis fever that hit Melbourne, especially when you’re around people who seemed to be akin to the whole tennis craze. We didn’t have tickets to watch the bigger games (Think: Serena Williams and Roger Federer) in the Rod Laver Arena, but the outside matches were just as exciting and the Aussie crowd were just as crazy. And yes, I’ve got pics of my own on my camera thanks much to Kelvin (Go and buy that friggin’ camera in Taiwan, dude! LOL!)

CTOM crew at the 2010 Australian Open

Little chinita goes to Melbourne... ^_^

Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, oi oi oi!!!