Just got back from Melbourne for our short break to attend the INC Inter-district Unity Games between the Districts of Australia East and Australia West.
Lovely to see many of our friends from Melbourne as well as those who came from Singapore and migrated over. It was a short break, but fun nevertheless.
We book this trip many months back, as soon as we heard that there was going to be a Unity Games. We were together with our friends the Serranos, the Sanchez/Ilao, and Abingunas when this was announced so we all agreed to book the same flights and share the same Airbnb house. After a few weeks, a few others decided to join us - the Sicangcos and Orosco. So we had 24 people in total and we booked a big 7-room house at Point Cook, just 15mins away from the venue Eagle Stadium.
Here's how the trip went.
Jun 10, Sunday
- Flight was at 8am so we were all early at the airport.
- Parked the cars in Blu Emu park-and-ride near the airport and took the shuttle bus to the terminal
- After check-in and baggage checks, we all met everyone else at the Airport departure food court.
- As it was a church activity, there were several other INC members from different locals at the airport going on the same flight with us. We were around 50 brethren if I counted right.
- Landed just around 10am at Avalon airport, a tiny but beautiful airport in the middle of acres and acres of fields.
- We were picked up by Bro RJ Jaraza and Bro Andrew Valdez, while the rest of the gang rented cars at the airport.
- We drove to Andrew's house to meet Em and the kids who are family to us.
- The Jarazas popped by to for a lunch.
- Andrew and Em lent us their 7-seater car as our service throughout our stay.
- Around 2pm, we left towards the city to meet the Madulis, Dalauidaos, Durans, and Araullos at the Met Art World Gallery.
- Met Art was fun - specially the mirror maze and light shows - reminiscent of Teamlabs in Japan. There were also wonderful scrap-metal sculptures all around.
- 5pm, we left the city and headed to Point Cook to our home for the next 2 nights.
- Around 6pm, everyone decided they wanted to do Karaoke, so Lani and I drove to the Umalis house to borrow their karaoke, and of course to catch up with our friends over coffee. We then headed back to the accomodation
- At past 9pm, Lani and I headed out to the Madulis rented accomodation to meet their group (the 4 families we met at MetArt). With bro Aris and sis Connie, we then headed 10mis to prepare the accommodation and dinner for ka Dan and his family, who were driving from Sydney.
- Around 11pm, we headed back, droped the Madulis off, then went home to rest.
Jun 10, Monday
- Early start of the day at the Eagle Stadium for the Unity Games
- I wasn't meant to play, but the 2nd Buklod needed subs, so I was happy to oblige.
- Met many of our friends from Singapore who migrated to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and New Zealand.
- Around 4pm, we left to go to the city for our booked schedule for Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience. Now this one is a treat. Upon arriving at the venue, we were already greeted by a wonderfully-designed food court area serving HP-themed delicacies. Then we headed in for the "experience" and truly it was a delight. We walked through a dark bush area dimly-illuminated with spotlights and projections, coupled with sounds from Harry Potter, including Voldemort's whispers. There were unicorns and owls and eyes in the darkness. And the kids got to do their patronus spells. It was very cold to walk in the bushes, but it was fun and we had a big groups so the kids were happy.
- Got back to our accommodation past 11pm.
Jun 11, Tuesday
- Left the accommodation at 10am and headed to the city for a quick tour.
- Visited the graffiti walls, the atrium, Flinders Street and Federation Square.
- We bought our take-home croissants from the famous Lune, which I though was really pricey. But Lani and the kids loved them.
- We then broke off the group so we can head to the Jaraza's residence to meet them again and leave Andrew's car there. Ka RJ drove us to the airport on his way to his bible mission.
- Arrived at the airport around 2pm for our 4pm flight back to Sydney
- We landed around 6pm and after being shuttled back to Blu Emu parking, we drove back to the west.
- We had a quick dinner at Eastern Creek Quarter with bro Aaron Dela Paz before driving him home and then heading home ourselves,
It was short and our first time visiting other states by plane. We usually drive but the holiday was too short to waste 2 days on the road.
0 Comments