Lost in the Land of Oz
December 12, 2001 | 12:00am
It was a dream of a telephone call.
On the other line was Steve Alfafara of Wings Travel, the Cebu specialist on tours to Australia, inviting me to join some travel agents in a seven-day educational trip to the Land of Oz, in cooperation with its flag carrier, Qantas Airlines. Caught off guard but without a moment’s hesitation, after he had mentioned the specific destinations we were to visit, I accepted the gracious offer.
"A detailed itinerary complete with other relevant information would be shared in due time as soon as everything is finalized," assures Steve. "Oh yes," he continues," my sister Janet would personally escort the group."
I immediately knew we were in good hands for after all Janet is Qantas representative in Cebu and boy does she know Australia.
A full week prior to departure, I met my would-be travel companions over cups of brewed coffee at an enlightening briefing of more than just a series of do’s and don’ts conducted by Steve and Janet. Simultaneously, I made an individual mental personality analysis of those present and wondered how accurate I would be by the end of our journey.
There was Rhea Reyes of Grand Central Travel, the youngest of us all, who came rushing in with excitement since this was going to be her first trip abroad, Jing Fadriga of Cattleya Tours, who impressed upon me as a sincere lady, while Leani Juntarciego of American Express Travel was undoubtedly her own person. Helen Carvajal of Grand Holidays was bubbly and she was surely, to say the least, to be highly contaminating.
Except for soft-spoken Suzette Gabutina of Destinations Specialist, who I met some years back, the other invitees were basically strangers – at best simply acquaintances. I soon learned that Dolly Palmares of Lopus Travel of Bacolod and a former Philippine National Beauty title holder would be joining us, together with Mitch Uy of Fortune Travel of Manila, who I had the pleasure of meeting during a previous Caribbean cruise, would complete the group. I knew then, without a doubt, the company would be great.
We flew into the city of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, at 4 a.m. after a 7-hour flight, which we hardly felt because of the quality of Qantas’ in-flight service – service that passengers only dream of and sincerely hope that the flights would not just end so soon. We were met by the gracious Dallas Free, a tourism project coordinator of Queensland, who was an excellent source of countless bits of information regarding the world’s island continent, who soon became a friend and confidant and a lot more in addition to being our driver and tour guide in the much anticipated days to come.
The end of an hour-and-a-half scenic drive brought us to one of the most famous stretches of beach in the world – the much written about Gold Coast. We wasted no time at all and proceeded to Surfers Paradise where we marveled at the 70 kilometer unspoiled coastline, stretching as far as the eye could see, and briefly waded in the water at the peak of winter.
We then drove on to Movie World where we shared a late "Breakfast with the Stars" – Bugs Bunny, Cat Woman, Marvin the Martian, Tweety and Daffy Duck. The adventure seekers and enthusiastic among us, namely Steve, Suzette, Mitch, Rhea, Jing and Leani, rushed to catch the Lethal Weapon, a looping roller coaster ride with suspended, inverted and roll-over sequences that had more dives and double-spins which had them continuously screaming for dear, dear life.
Meanwhile, the timid, the no-guts-no-glory and perhaps the smarter, the wiser (did I hear anyone say older?) ones in the group, such as Janet, Dolly, Helen and this writer, opted for a more feet-on-the-ground experience, such as watching the Police Academy stunt show done with precision, and at the end of the show, strolled along the souvenir shops, whose store attendants tried to catch the holiday makers’ attention.
Off to Sea World, we proceeded and enjoyed the skiing presentations, the antics of sea animals and polar bears. This enabled us to observe and learn more about these mammals from above ground and through underwater viewing windows.
After having our fill from touring several theme parks, experiencing the thrills and excitement of rides, amazing shows and attractions, we all looked forward to dining at the famous Palazzo Versace. Little did we know that it would prove to be a most unforgettable evening.
Palazzo Versace is a place, or shall I venture to say, it is a state of complete ease, sheer elegance and renaissance splendor. It has vaulted ceilings hand-painted in gold and an antique chandelier that lights the grand foyer. We quickly made note of the finest of marbles and exquisite mosaics ornamented with crystals and enamel. We ate off from a series of Versace plates, and we drank wine from a collection of Versace glasses, goblets and flukes. And please don’t get me started with their cutlery, table decor and other items that meets the eye or else you would never hear the end of it. At this point, we could have gone back to Cebu, since Australia had already captured our hearts.
Day 2 had us absolutely hands on, getting in touch with nature at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Nestled within 27 hectares of lush surroundings, we were welcomed by Australia’s endemic animals and indigenous birds. After "Breakfast with the Birds," we all gladly fed the famous Cheeky lorikeets, eagerly patted the kangaroos and took turns in cuddling the koalas. We lingered on in the park to hear the sounds of the wild, the call of a dingo, the snuffling wombats and the growling Tasmanian devils. I could not wait to e-mail my mom, who honestly thinks being in Noah’s ark is a dream beyond compare.
Another fun adventure was in store the following day. The award winning "Catch a Crab Tour" gave us a glimpse of genuine Australian lifestyle showcasing the natural scenic beauty of the tranquil Terranora Inlet on the Tweed River. We fed the pelicans and sea birds, pumped yabbies and went fishing where one actually caught fish. We were thrilled to pull up the crab pots, which were then cooked on board by the skipper, and enjoyed over lunch al fresco with fresh garden salads.
Paradise Country gave us the chance to experience a slice of outback adventure. We observed the Australian farm come to life starting with billy tee and damper, cow milking that had both Leani and Mitch drinking straight from the source, the sheep dog mustering the sheep, sheep shearing and boomerang throwing. The day ended with an Aussie barbecue complete with live entertainment, sing-along and bush dancing.
The next day, we were flying to the big metropolis that is Sydney and rendezvous with Honeybee Hubahib, the first Filipina Qantas country manager, on board a cruise of the famous harbor together with Gina Gaw, Philippine Asian Connection Tours sales manager. But all that and more are definitely another story. Tonight, I will dream of the parts of Australia I had never known before , the Australia that has captured my heart, enriched my life, nourished my soul.
On the other line was Steve Alfafara of Wings Travel, the Cebu specialist on tours to Australia, inviting me to join some travel agents in a seven-day educational trip to the Land of Oz, in cooperation with its flag carrier, Qantas Airlines. Caught off guard but without a moment’s hesitation, after he had mentioned the specific destinations we were to visit, I accepted the gracious offer.
"A detailed itinerary complete with other relevant information would be shared in due time as soon as everything is finalized," assures Steve. "Oh yes," he continues," my sister Janet would personally escort the group."
I immediately knew we were in good hands for after all Janet is Qantas representative in Cebu and boy does she know Australia.
A full week prior to departure, I met my would-be travel companions over cups of brewed coffee at an enlightening briefing of more than just a series of do’s and don’ts conducted by Steve and Janet. Simultaneously, I made an individual mental personality analysis of those present and wondered how accurate I would be by the end of our journey.
There was Rhea Reyes of Grand Central Travel, the youngest of us all, who came rushing in with excitement since this was going to be her first trip abroad, Jing Fadriga of Cattleya Tours, who impressed upon me as a sincere lady, while Leani Juntarciego of American Express Travel was undoubtedly her own person. Helen Carvajal of Grand Holidays was bubbly and she was surely, to say the least, to be highly contaminating.
Except for soft-spoken Suzette Gabutina of Destinations Specialist, who I met some years back, the other invitees were basically strangers – at best simply acquaintances. I soon learned that Dolly Palmares of Lopus Travel of Bacolod and a former Philippine National Beauty title holder would be joining us, together with Mitch Uy of Fortune Travel of Manila, who I had the pleasure of meeting during a previous Caribbean cruise, would complete the group. I knew then, without a doubt, the company would be great.
We flew into the city of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, at 4 a.m. after a 7-hour flight, which we hardly felt because of the quality of Qantas’ in-flight service – service that passengers only dream of and sincerely hope that the flights would not just end so soon. We were met by the gracious Dallas Free, a tourism project coordinator of Queensland, who was an excellent source of countless bits of information regarding the world’s island continent, who soon became a friend and confidant and a lot more in addition to being our driver and tour guide in the much anticipated days to come.
The end of an hour-and-a-half scenic drive brought us to one of the most famous stretches of beach in the world – the much written about Gold Coast. We wasted no time at all and proceeded to Surfers Paradise where we marveled at the 70 kilometer unspoiled coastline, stretching as far as the eye could see, and briefly waded in the water at the peak of winter.
We then drove on to Movie World where we shared a late "Breakfast with the Stars" – Bugs Bunny, Cat Woman, Marvin the Martian, Tweety and Daffy Duck. The adventure seekers and enthusiastic among us, namely Steve, Suzette, Mitch, Rhea, Jing and Leani, rushed to catch the Lethal Weapon, a looping roller coaster ride with suspended, inverted and roll-over sequences that had more dives and double-spins which had them continuously screaming for dear, dear life.
Meanwhile, the timid, the no-guts-no-glory and perhaps the smarter, the wiser (did I hear anyone say older?) ones in the group, such as Janet, Dolly, Helen and this writer, opted for a more feet-on-the-ground experience, such as watching the Police Academy stunt show done with precision, and at the end of the show, strolled along the souvenir shops, whose store attendants tried to catch the holiday makers’ attention.
Off to Sea World, we proceeded and enjoyed the skiing presentations, the antics of sea animals and polar bears. This enabled us to observe and learn more about these mammals from above ground and through underwater viewing windows.
After having our fill from touring several theme parks, experiencing the thrills and excitement of rides, amazing shows and attractions, we all looked forward to dining at the famous Palazzo Versace. Little did we know that it would prove to be a most unforgettable evening.
Palazzo Versace is a place, or shall I venture to say, it is a state of complete ease, sheer elegance and renaissance splendor. It has vaulted ceilings hand-painted in gold and an antique chandelier that lights the grand foyer. We quickly made note of the finest of marbles and exquisite mosaics ornamented with crystals and enamel. We ate off from a series of Versace plates, and we drank wine from a collection of Versace glasses, goblets and flukes. And please don’t get me started with their cutlery, table decor and other items that meets the eye or else you would never hear the end of it. At this point, we could have gone back to Cebu, since Australia had already captured our hearts.
Day 2 had us absolutely hands on, getting in touch with nature at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Nestled within 27 hectares of lush surroundings, we were welcomed by Australia’s endemic animals and indigenous birds. After "Breakfast with the Birds," we all gladly fed the famous Cheeky lorikeets, eagerly patted the kangaroos and took turns in cuddling the koalas. We lingered on in the park to hear the sounds of the wild, the call of a dingo, the snuffling wombats and the growling Tasmanian devils. I could not wait to e-mail my mom, who honestly thinks being in Noah’s ark is a dream beyond compare.
Another fun adventure was in store the following day. The award winning "Catch a Crab Tour" gave us a glimpse of genuine Australian lifestyle showcasing the natural scenic beauty of the tranquil Terranora Inlet on the Tweed River. We fed the pelicans and sea birds, pumped yabbies and went fishing where one actually caught fish. We were thrilled to pull up the crab pots, which were then cooked on board by the skipper, and enjoyed over lunch al fresco with fresh garden salads.
Paradise Country gave us the chance to experience a slice of outback adventure. We observed the Australian farm come to life starting with billy tee and damper, cow milking that had both Leani and Mitch drinking straight from the source, the sheep dog mustering the sheep, sheep shearing and boomerang throwing. The day ended with an Aussie barbecue complete with live entertainment, sing-along and bush dancing.
The next day, we were flying to the big metropolis that is Sydney and rendezvous with Honeybee Hubahib, the first Filipina Qantas country manager, on board a cruise of the famous harbor together with Gina Gaw, Philippine Asian Connection Tours sales manager. But all that and more are definitely another story. Tonight, I will dream of the parts of Australia I had never known before , the Australia that has captured my heart, enriched my life, nourished my soul.
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