Melbourne 2021

After 2 years of COVID, we finally get to our much awaited year-end holiday!

We've been planning this for months, and we were elated when Ely's friend in Melbourne once again offered their house to us for the year end. Aside from us, the Luzons and the Madulis, we also invite the Carungays to join us in this week-long holiday full to driving, sight-seeing, eating, laughing, and whatnot. We also invited the Esguerra's, and while they will not stay in the house with us, will join us throughout our drives and travels.

We planned for our trip to start on Monday, Dec 27, after we fulfil our church duties, most especially our Yearend Thanksgiving. We planned to stay until the 2nd of January before we all go back to work the following day.

Here's how the trip went:

Dec 27, Monday

7:30am Left home and headed to McDonalds James Ruse Dr for breakfast and meet with Luzons and Madulis
8:30am Left Mcdo toward our first stop of the long day.
10am Bald Hill Lookout, met up with the Carungays. We also happened to meet the Chiongs and Arrellagas.
10:30am Sea Cliff Bridge, met up with the Esguerras
12pm Kiama blowhole, lunch picnic after buying food from the nearby fish and chips shop
2pm left Kiama for Jervis Bay
Got stuck in traffic so decided to go straight to our night accommodation at Sapphire Valley
8:30pm Arrived at our night stop - Sapphire Valley Caravan Park. At was already late so we started preparing dinner and had a few laughs to cap the night.

Dec 28, Tuesday

Morning at the accommodation. Kids went to playground, mini golf, bouncing pillow, and swimming.
11:30am Checked out and continued to our trip towards Melbourne
12pm Quick stop at the Merimbula Boardwalk
5pm Lake Entrance Beach for photos and bridge walk
10:30pm Arrived at our accommodation for the week

Dec 29, Wednesday

Late morning for everyone. Breakfast and lunch at the house
Luzon and Carungay visited family
Maduli was supposed to visit cousins as well but the cousins were on Covid isolation
4pm left house on the way to ka RJ and family
Arrived around 5pm at the shopping centre close to them to buy food. As we were about to go, they texted a photo that they were driving out. We quickly responded with a lie that there’s Uber coming and to wait for it. We had to scramble to get to their house immediately.
5:10pm arrived at Jaraza. Attended the worship service there
11pm back at the house

Dec 30, Thursday

7:30am departure towards Cherry Hills Orchards for cherry picking. Rachel and Benson stayed behind because Benny had fever.
After cherry picking, the Luzons headed home as well since Dulcine wasn't feeling well.
The rest of us headed to the Yarra Valley Chocolatarie about 30mins away. Chocolates and lunch.
3:30pm back at the house.
Benson and Dulcine had Rapid Antigen Tests, but only one of them came back positive. Unfortunately, this meant we all had to self-isolate. We decided it was best to end the holiday and drive back home tomorrow in case more of us starts getting sick.
However, we decided it wasn't going to dampen our fun, so agreed to have our early new year celebration (#31isthenewNewYear). We prepare sumptuous dinner and stayed up till late in the night.
At 12 midnight, we had our traditional New Year White Elephant which we have been planning for for months. The kids were all anticipating it so everyone had fun.