SYDNEY AIRPORT

SYDNEY AIRPORT
8:00 a.m. Australian Time

It was cold but not as horribly anticipated. Cleanliness and discipline was felt all around.

It could have been a perfect trip had it not been for the 20 kilo box of curtain “paki padala” of Terry’s friend who once was good enough to carry with her Paul’s medicines when she herself went to Australia. For that box we experience the hassles of passing through a quarantine area..

Paul and Otan who just came from a whole night Stag Party offered to Paul by his friends, came to fetch us. Arriving at Paul’s new condominium unit we were welcomed by Beth and Mikee, Paul’s fiancé, together with Vanessa and their friends, some of them still sleeping on the carpeted floor of the receiving room. They held Mikee’s bridal shower there last night.

In the afternoon, after eating and sleeping for a while, we attended Mass at St. Michaels’s Parish at 6:00 p.m. From Lane Cove, where the Church was located we proceeded to join the dinner offered by the Policarpios at their residence.

June 25, 2001 – Monday

Otan, Beth, Terry and I didn’t plan to go anywhere today as we decided to help each other clean and put Paul’s condominium in order. Terry and I just took a walk around the area before buying some goodies from Gogas, a gasoline station that also sells many things. Early at night we all joined Paul shopping for household needs.

June 26, 2001 – Tuesday
Otan, Beth and I took a walk to St. Leonard train station where we took a ride up to the Town Hall. From there we proceeded to the Darling Harbour and enjoyed Sydney Aquarium before taking lunch at Queen Victoria Building, considered as the world’s most beautiful Mall. It was tiresome but enjoyable day.

June 27, 2001 – Wednesday

Today, I went with Beth and Otan to downtown Sydney by bus. We alighted at Queen Victoria Building, passed by St. Peter Julian’s Church at St.George Street then proceeded to the City Market to look for thermal underwear for Yeye and Erika. We entered China Town then went back to Queen Victoria Building where we took our quick lunch. We met several Filipinos who were already citizens living at Blacktown. Walking around downtown Sydney was an enjoyable experience because the city was very peaceful and very clean. There were no visible policemen, yet, everyone seems to be behaving so well. The city was very enticing.