Michi Photostory

After my therapy we went straight to Alabang Town Center to check the LazerXtreme. My husband learned about it from his officemate and when we google it, my son got excited. 

We were so early and ATC was still closed, so we waited for 20 minutes only to find out that the LazerXtreme was already closed. Waah! They no longer operating in ATC. They only have Market Market branch which is far from our place. My son was really disappointed and he wanted to go to Market Market but of course, we can’t do that because I have to attend a webinar at 2PM. 



I remember that Mrs. Fields have one day anniversary treat, August 29, 2015. I alway see their kiosk in ATC but haven’t tried anything. Since it was my first time to try their products, I only bought 1 dozen of cookie nibblers at P76. I tried it and it was good, it taste like Triple Chocolate Cookie of Ghirardelli that we love. It is a perfect match with a glass of milk.  



My son like it too, how I wish I bought a lot so I could take advantage of the P38 promo (half dozen) because I don’t think I will buy these cookie nibblers at a regular price of P150 (1 dozen). The cookie is small, isang kagat lang talaga so I find it expensive. I would rather buy a Mrs. Fields cookie mix and bake it on my own,

Two weeks ago my friend told me that we can claim our gift certificate from McDonald’s, it is free for those who enrolled in McDonald’s Kiddie Crew. So after our hearty lunch in Vikings we went to McDonald’s to claim our GC.

We received McDonald’s Kiddie Crew Club Card and P500 Gift Certificate that we can use when we book McDonald’s party packages. 


The first time I had this card was 6 years ago and I was able to use it in my son’s 1st birthday party. At that time I got 10% discount in our birthday party food bill but now they only give P500 discount. 

What are the Benefits of Mcdonald’s Kiddie Crew Club? 

1.A kid (with guardian) should present the KCC to the cashier upon purchase of a McDonald’s Happy Meal to get the freebie of the month. 
2.Freebie of the month will be handed out with the receipt of the date and point of purchase only.
3.A “No KCCC, No Freebies” policy will be strictly implemented across all stores.
4.In case any of the featured products (e.g. Happy Meal) are not available, the kid may substitute it with any of the remaining featured products.
5.Kid must meet the required purchase requirements for each category to qualify for the redemption of featured freebies. 
6.Valid only in participating McDonald’s restaurants in the Philippines. 
7.Not valid for Large Food ORders (G.O.L.D) and McDelivery. 
8.Not valid with any other promos. 
9.Transactions with senior citizen, PDS and Vat exemption are disqualified for this promo. 
10.Valid from July 1, 2015 - April 30, 2016 

This card entitles the club member of the following: 

-McDonald’s Treat of the month 
-Kiddie Crew Member Birthday Treat 
-Kiddie Crew Member will get a Free Sundae Cone for a minimum food purchase of P150 
-Quarterly Club activities 

So if you enrolled you kids in Mcdo Summer Kiddie Crew and haven’t received your Kiddie Crew Club Card yet, claim it as soon as possible so you can enjoy the benefits.

After so much contemplating on where to celebrate my birthday, I finally decided to have a simple celebration. No staycation this time because I’m still undergoing phototherapy and I know that I will not really enjoy my staycation if I’m in pain after my therapy. 

I’ve just recently tried Vikings so I decided to try the new hotpot restaurant in the metro which is Four Seasons Hotpot City in SM Mall of Asia. I asked my hubby to make a reservation last Friday but unfortunately, the reservation was full, and was advised to make a reservation on that day. Walk-in reservation starts at 9AM. 


So last Sunday, we went early to SM MOA just to make reservations, we were there as early as 9:15AM and 11AM is the start of the lunch buffet. The first time that I tried shabu shabu was four years ago, it was also my birthday celebration at King One Rotary Hotpot. 

It’s been years already so I was really excited about my farm-to-table experience and simmer different meat and veggies in my hot pot which is perfect for rainy weather.

Read: King One Rotary Hotpot


Upon seated, I immediately checked the 7 stations such as Meat, Seafood, Vegetable, Appetizers, Desserts, Japanese and Bar. 





There are ready-to-eat meals too, of course, I got ebi tempura, our favorite in any buffet restaurant. 

When I went back to our table, the staff already poured the broth into our hot pot. My husband chose chicken soup and pork soup + sate mix. Other options for soup are fish, vegetables and sinigang. Other choices for the mix are tomato paste, Chinese herb, and Szechuan mala.


This is it! Time to go to the market and get our ingredients. My husband ordered sliced meat and it was delivered to our table. 

There is Premium Station where you can order sliced meat too but there is an additional fee. 

Likes 

1. The place is clean and very spacious so you have enough space to move around the restaurant. I like the interiors too.
2. You can make reservations online, by phone or email. 
3. The buffet rate includes unlimited drinks. 
4. They have a birthday promo so I have a free lunch buffet at that time. 


Dislikes 

1. I made research prior to going to Four Seasons Hotpot City and I’ve read that birthday celebrants receive complimentary cake but I did not receive anything on my birthday. They just gave me the birthday promo but no complimentary cake. #disappointed. 

2. My husband went to the meat section to place an order again but the meat was not delivered to our table. We did not make any follow-up anymore and we just went to dessert stations to cap off our lunch buffet. 

Four Seasons Hotpot City Buffet Rate 

Adult Rate 

Adult Weekday Lunch: 588
Adult Weekday Dinner: 788
Adult Weekends/Holiday Lunch & Dinner = 788 

Kid Rate 

Kids below 3 ft: FREE 

Kids 3 ft - 4 ft Weekday Lunch: 188
Kids 3 ft - 4 ft Weekday Dinner: 288
Kids 3 ft - 4 ft Weekends/Holiday Lunch & Dinner: 288 

Kids 4 ft - 4 ft 6" Weekday Lunch: 288
Kids 4 ft - 4 ft 6" Weekday Dinner: 388
Kids 4 ft - 4 ft 6" Weekends/Holiday Lunch & Dinner: 388 

*Prices are subject to a 5% service charge.

Birthday Promo 

A birthday celebrant may eat for free at Four Seasons Hotpot City for ONE WHOLE MONTH only when he/she meets the following conditions:

1. Birthday celebrants of all ages can avail of the birthday promo on the day itself and on their birthday month.

2. Each celebrant can eat for free on the day of their birthday on both lunch and dinner, as long as accompanied by ONE FULL PAYING ADULT. 

3. Each celebrant can eat for free for one month on both lunch and dinner per day, as long as it is within the month of his/her birthday and accompanied by FOUR FULL PAYING ADULT. 

4. One full-paying adult is adult guests who will be paying the full rate without any discounts. 

5. Requirements for Celebrants: Celebrant must bring an ORIGINAL and VALID government issued picture I.D. with the birth date imprinted on it, both local and foreign I.D.s are accepted, for proof (such as S.S.S., N.B.I., Driver’s License, Pag-Ibig, P.R.C., Barangay, Unified, Police Clearance I.D. and Passport) In the case that the celebrant doesn’t have a government-issued picture I.D., he/she may bring his/her birth certificate supported by any picture I.D. (school I.D., parent’s I.D., company I.D.). 

6. Gift certificates to avail of this promo are not honored. 

7. This promo is available in Four Seasons Hotpot City Mall of Asia and other Vikings Luxury Buffet branches.

Four Seasons Hotpot City 
SM Mall of Asia Bldg E., 
By the Bay, SM Mall of Asia Complex, 
Pasay City
831-7777, 835-7777 
fourseasonsmoa@yahoo.com.ph 

Operating Hours

Monday — Sunday
Lunch: 11:00 - 2:30 
Dinner: 5:30 - 10:00

Four Seasons Hotpot City Branches:

Araneta Center, SM Sta. Mesa 
SM Southmall

Read: Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot City SM Southmall

From the moment you fly away from the nurturing nest belonging to Ma and Pa, you’re forced to contend with the dizzying and daunting world of property. Whether you’re a young professional taking on the world, a student heading out to university, or a late bloomer looking for a fresh start, leaving home requires having to learn a little bit about the housing market in order to get by.

Moving into your first home is always a big step in your life. Whilst it may be intimidating to go solo, searching for a property as one half of a couple is even more stressful. True, people in a relationship do have one another to lean on and turn to for support. But when it comes to property hunting, a whole host of issues and problems can unpredictably bubble up to the surface.

Here are some of the main issues that couples face when searching for a property together. 



Money Secrets

Chances are, your partner might have been feeding you a few white lies when you’ve had discussions about your respective financial situations. A few credit purchases here, a little loan there – they’re all perfectly innocent until the time comes for both of you to purchase a property together. Property is a big investment and could lead to some big arguments in terms of finances. 

Rose-Tinted Glasses

Getting your first property together is a fantastically exciting time. So exciting in fact, that it can actually lead to signing on the dotted line for a property that was never right for the both of you in the first place. So many couples are eager to move in together that they wander around a handful of potential properties wearing rose-tinted glasses – not realizing how inappropriate or unaffordable these houses/flats are until it's way too late.

It is best for couples to read feedback and comments on certain properties before they seal the deal. Philippine property matching platform, Zipmatch, is a service that allows you to compare properties based on amenities, ratings, and location to name a few. Using such platforms allows you to find the ideal property that both of you will be proud to call home. 

Daring To Dream

On the other hand, some couples can be way too picky when it comes to choosing their shared property. Both of them have conjured up some idea of an impossibly idyllic dream home over time, and as a result, no property within their price range is likely to please them. If it’s your first place together, you need to be realistic. Unfortunately, a lot of couples aren’t. 

Clashing Idea 

No matter how perfect couples may seem on paper, or in person for that matter, there will always be quarrels when a property is in the frame. Everyone has different tastes, and as a result, will have different ideas of what looks good and what doesn’t. One of the biggest obstacles couples has to overcome when they purchase their first property is one another.

My birthday is fast approaching and another year will be added to my age. Fortunately, my birthday falls on a long weekend so we can have an out-of-town trip or staycation. But I cannot decide yet because I have so many concerns about the schedule of my phototherapy and budget.

I’ve been checking all the promos of different hotels in the metro or nearby provinces and mas lalo ko nahirapan magdecide. Hehehe! Anyway, I’ll be sharing with you the hotels that we have tried in Alabang.

Acacia Hotel 

Acacia Hotel is the first hotel that we have tried in Alabang. I celebrated my birthday in Acaci restaurant last 2012. We enjoyed our lunch buffet so the following year, I booked a room to celebrate my birthday again at this hotel. The service is good and you can feel the hospitality. There are nearby groceries, fastfoods, and restaurants outside the hotel if you don’t want to eat in their restaurant.

Read: Acacia Hotel 

The Bellevue Manila 

We celebrated my husband’s birthday in Bellevue last year, huling hirit before the school starts. The hotel has two pools that you can choose from and they have different restaurants where you can eat or buy food. I bought a mini cake and ensaymada in Pastry Corner. I love their ensaymada and cheese roll. Like Acacia Hotel, if you want to save on food, there are fastfoods and restaurant in the area. I hope I can stay in their branch in Bohol.

Read: Bellevue Manila 

Crimson Hotel 

This hotel is the newest hotel in Alabang and this is the memorable birthday celebration we ever had so far. It was my birthday celebration and Crimson gave me a free cake and free dinner buffet. We also experienced Afternoon Tea Time for the very first time. The swimming pool is big. The room is nice but unfortunately, there is no bathtub in the room. They also have a branch in Cebu, their Cebu branch is much bigger and there are more activities so you will not get bored.

Read: Crimson Hotel 
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan

Vivere Hotel and Resort

The first luxury hotel in Alabang which has 200 different types of room. We went here last Black Saturday and stayed till Easter Egg Hunt event. The room has a living room and kitchen, so if you want to save money just bring your food and reheat it. They have two pools, one on the 4th floor and one on the 31st floor beside the "The Nest Dining in the Sky" restaurant. They have a branch in Anilao, Batangas where we celebrated our wedding anniversary.

Read: Vivere Hotel
Vivere Azure

There are still two hotels in Alabang that is on my list, Somerset Alabang, and Azumi Boutique Hotel. How about you, do you also enjoy staycation?

Read: Staycation in Batangas
Staycation in Tagaytay 
Staycation in Cebu

Vikings is one of the popular buffet restaurants in the metro but it was only last Friday, I was able to try this restaurant. The only branch I knew is in SM MOA so I was glad when my friend told me that there is Vikings at SM BF. Malapit- lapit na sa amin. 



I have a friend who is migrating to USA so we decided to have get together. The reunion was almost cancelled because the reason why we are having a get together suddenly booked a flight to province. Anyway, we decided to push through our get together because it’s been a while since we ate at buffet restaurant. 

We left early para mahaba haba ang chikahan, we were in SM BF as early as 9:30AM and I was surprised na pwede na pumasok or is it because they have weekend sale. We went to Vikings but they will accept walk-in reservations at 10AM so we had to wait.

We went back at 10AM to make reservations and waited there until 11AM. I asked the staff about the birthday promo because we are two August celebrants and they told me that only celebrant will be free. I said ok. At 11AM, they started to call reserved guests then the walk-in guests.



Upon seated, since we are a group of 5, the staff just get one ID of birthday celebrant. Then we immediately checked the food stations. Forgive me for the limited photos because it is hard to take pictures if the stations were crowded. I was also busy eating and chatting with my friends. #eatlikeaviking



There are Japanese station, Appetizer and Salad station, Veggies Station, Asian and International station, Italian station, Grilled station, Bread station, Carving Station, Dessert Station and Drink Bar. 



Of course, I’m a meat eater so I went straight to the carving station. What I love in the carving station is they have different sauces that you can try. Steak is ok but I love the lechon belly. 





Then I went to Japanese station for ebi tempura and miso soup. The miso soup is inside this cute teapot. Then I went back again for another round of ebi tempura. Hehehe! 



I checked the grilled station and the only thing I liked was the salmon. 



I wanted to try other dishes but I want to have room for dessert, so I ate fruits, crepe, ice cream and creme brulee. Winner ang crepe nila, yummy! Mapapasecond round ka. :)



At 1PM, I got our bill and I told the staff that we will just avail the Citibank promo instead of the Birthday promo since it is cheaper. We’re all set to go and just waiting for our friend who went to the restroom when the staff went to our table. Oh di ba, akala namin on the day celebrant lang ang may sing and dance. So naihabol pa bago kami umalis. 

My friend wore the viking hat, the staff place the happy birthday banner at her back and started to sing and dance. It was a very entertaining performance.


This is the cake. 




Likes 

1. I like the interiors. 
2. The service is good. The staff is happy to refill our hot tea and water. If you need anything, they will gladly serve it to you. 
3. I like the birthday greetings for the birthday celebrants. 
4. I love the gadget for the feedback. It is better compared to forms na nakakatamad magsulat. lol 



5. The buffet rate includes unlimited drinks too. 

Dislikes

1. I mentioned that we’re two August celebrants but they only greet one celebrant. I know that there will be only one free buffet, so one din lang ba ang may free cake. #bitterlangpeg hehehe! 
2. Few food selections for grilled stations. 
3. I hope there are ready sliced of meat in carving stations so I don’t have to call the attention of their staff, because no one is manning the carving station.

Overall, we enjoyed our get together and buffet experience. I would love to try the Niu by Vikings next time.

Read: Birthday at Vikings 2017

Buffet Rates for SM BF 

Weekdays 

Adults P688 (lunch) P888 (dinner) 
Kids 4ft - 4ft 6’ P388 (lunch) P588 (dinner) 
Kids 3ft - 4t P188 (lunch) P288 (dinner) 
Kids 3ft below FREE 
75 years old and above (50% discount) 

Weekends and Holidays 

Adults - P888 
Kids 4ft - 4ft 6’ - P588 
Kids 3ft - 4t - P288 
Kids 3ft below FREE 
75 years old and above (50% discount) 

Birthday Promo 

A birthday celebrant may eat for free at Vikings for ONE WHOLE MONTH only when he/she meets the following conditions: 

1. Birthday celebrant of all ages can avail the birthday promo on the day itself and on their birthday month. Each celebrant can eat for free on the day of their birthday on both lunch and dinner, as long as accompanied by ONE FULL PAYING ADULT. 

2. Each celebrant can eat for free for one month on both lunch and dinner per day, as long as it is within the month of his/her birthday and accompanied by FOUR FULL PAYING ADULT. One full paying adult is adult guests who will be paying the full rate without any discounts. 

3. Requirements for Celebrants: Celebrant must bring an ORIGINAL and VALID government issued picture I.D. with the birthdate imprinted on it, both local and foreign I.D.s are accepted, for proof (such as S.S.S., N.B.I., Driver’s License, Pag-Ibig, P.R.C., Barangay, Unified, Police Clearance I.D. and Passport) In the case that the celebrant doesn’t have a government issued picture I.D., he/she may bring his/her birth certificate supported by any picture I.D. (school I.D., parent’s I.D., company I.D.). 

4. This promo can’t be used in conjunction with our current promotions or discounts (including senior citizen discounts). Gift certificates to avail this promo is not honored. This promo is available across all Vikings branches only (except NIU by Vikings). 

Vikings SM BF
Dr A. Santos Ave, 
Parañaque, Metro Manila 
Hours: 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
           5:30 pm –10:00 pm

I’ve learned about custaroons last year during my blog hopping but I haven’t tried it yet because of the location. If I remember it right, the blogger bought it at Robinson’s Magnolia. I don’t even know where is Robinson’s Magnolia. Hehehe!

Last Saturday after eating our early lunch in California Pizza Kitchen, I told my husband that I will buy Eng Bee Tin Hopia. There are tables in the center of Alabang Town Center where they sell different products and I always buy hopia there because it is our family favorite. After buying our hopia I passed by this table and I saw custaroons.

I stopped and tried the free taste pero di ko malasahan sa konti ng free taste so I decided to buy a box, 6 pieces for P210 (P35 each). I love their packaging.



When we got home, I just placed it inside the fridge, it was only last Sunday when I tried it and I was so surprised because the custaroons are so yummy. Custard + Macaroons = nom nom nom. 



According to website, custaroons is deliciously unique combination of smooth and creamy flan topped with a chewy, buttery crust. I love and if I did not practice self control, I can finish it in one sitting. 



The following day I told my husband to try the custaroons and asked him about the taste, sabi niya ok lang, matamis. My son had a bite but he didn’t like it. I wonder why because he likes leche flan and macaroons that I made three years ago. 

Anyway, at least I can have the custaroons all by myself but it did not last long. How I wish I bought at least 12 pieces. Hahaha! I checked the website to see if they have store here in south and I’m so delighted to know that they have branch in South Supermarket but I hope they will always sell in ATC too. 

South Supermarket - Filinvest Ave
2nd Floor (beside the Customer Service Booth)
Monday - Sunday, 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

California Pizza Kitchen celebrated its 18th anniversary last August 14 and 15 and they had a National Pizza Day promo so after our grocery we immediately went to Alabang Town Center. 

I love puto but I seldom cook this at home because the recipe that I have yielded 26 pcs of puto. That is too much for two people since my son is not really fond of kakanin. Last week, I decided to make puto with cheese using Maya pancake mix. Since there is no recipe at the box, I just followed the recipe of pancake. 

Ingredients

1 medium size egg 
2 tbsp oil (I used melted butter) 
3/4 cup water 
1/4 cup sugar
1 250g Maya Hotcake Mix
Cheese 



Procedure 

1. Beat the egg. Add oil (butter), water, sugar and hotcake mix.
2. Mix the ingredients and put the batter in puto molder, I use silicone molder.
3. Add cheese on top of the batter. 
4. Place the molder in the steamer. Steam for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of your molder. 


I love the result of puto with cheese and I will definitely use hotcake mix again. Next time, I’ll add salted egg. 

Read: Leche Flan Puto
White King Puto

June 28, 2012

After my therapy last Saturday we went to Alabang Town Center to buy a gift for my goddaughter and then we took advantage of the SG50 promo of Wee Nam Kee. 


Singapore was celebrating their 50th Independence Day last weekend and Wee Nam Kee offers “Buy 1 personal set for P175 and get another set for P50”. Extra rice is P50. Great deal! 


The personal set includes roasted or steamed chicken, chicken rice, and soup. Three sauces are available on the table such as pounded ginger, chili, and dark soy sauce. You can mix and match according to your preference.

This is the fourth year that my son is going to school but for the first two years, I did not hire any school service because the school is just one tricycle away. In addition, my son is too young and I’m afraid to let him ride the school service without me. 



Since he was still in Preschool, I accompany him in school and wait till his dismissal time. But when we transferred him to traditional school, my husband and I decided to hire a school service. Honestly, I was scared to leave him in school service because my son is only Kinder and for me, he’s still my baby.

There are advantages and disadvantages of having a school service.

Advantages 

1. It is economical. Yes, I can save more if I avail the school service because commuting is more expensive.
2. It is safe. If we will commute, we have to ride two tricycles to reach the school. We have to cross the highway before riding the other tricycle and there is no stop light in that area so it is really scary.
3. It is comfortable than riding tricycle. It is not easy to commute during the rainy season.
4. I can do more chores because I don’t have to go to school anymore.
5. If there are a suspension of classes, the school service is just there to pick up your kids.
6. My son will learn to be independent and understand that I can’t be with him 24/7. I can’t always wait for him at school.
7. My son meets new people and has new friends.

Disadvantages 

1. I have to wake up my son early because he needs to be ready before the school service arrives. Our house is the first stop so I don’t want him to be the cause of the delay.
2. There are times that school service is late so your son is also late in school. It happened to us because the school service is really late or because the school service was stuck in traffic.
3. You cannot deny that your son will meet other kids that are not nice. Spell bully.
4. You just have to trust the driver and assistant that they will take care of your kids. I’m a paranoid mom, so it is hard to trust especially what happened to my son last month. Read the story here. All I can do is pray for his safety.
5. There are times that my son stayed in the lobby for more than an hour before the service will pick him up and it takes another an hour before my son arrived. It happened to us and I was paranoid because my son's dismissal time is 3:55PM so I was expecting that he will be home at 5PM but he arrived at 6:10PM. I was not happy about it, kawawa ang bata, dinner time at pagod na tapos need pa mag-aral.

I have mozzarella cheese in our fridge, I wanted to make pizza but I don’t have pizza sauce so I just made a pizza without sauce. Hehehe! I sauted the bacon, onion and mushroom. 



Every time I want to have a snack, I just put cooked toppings +mozzarella cheese on the bread and toast it in the oven toaster for few minutes until the cheese melts.



Voila! I have a yummy bread. I can eat two slices in one sitting. My family loves this snack, they enjoyed it even without the pizza sauce. It so addicting that I eat it every day until I ran out of toppings.

Australia, more than ever before, is a magnet for both tourists and prospective immigrants. Every year, the idea of emigrating to New Zealand or Australia and starting a new life becomes irresistible to many Brits. But why exactly might this be? 


Let’s consider Australia. It’s a country comprised of six distinct states. The largest of these is the westernmost one, which is called, imaginatively enough, Western Australia. While much of the province consists of arid, uninhabited desert, the border regions have proven a tremendous draw for settlers throughout history. In this article, we’ll provide a brief introduction to Western Australia and discuss what the region has to offer.

History 

The province was first visited by Europeans as long ago as 1616 when a Dutchman named Dirk Hartog charted the island’s west coast. The first Europeans to make landfall would do so just six years later – though not, it must be said, of their own volition. 

The East Indiaman Tryall of the British Navy was en route to Bantam, a sultanate on the Pacific Island we now call Java. A navigational error took the ship a few hundred miles off course, toward the Montebello Islands, an archipelago near the north coast of Western Australia, comprising 174 small islands. There the ship collided with some underwater rocks. The surviving crew would salvage a skiff and a longboat from the doomed vessel and they made their way to Bantam. Of the 143 who had set out from Portsmouth, just 44 made it to their final destination – and few of them were keen on the idea of returning to Australia. The guilty rocks, as it happens, went on to be named the Tyrall rocks, after being identified in 1969. 

It wasn’t for several centuries after the Tyrall’s unplanned mooring that the British finally colonized Western Australia – for the understandable reason that they suspected that the French might beat them to it. The Swan River Colony was the first colony, established in 1829 on the Swan River by James Stirling, a British naval officer who went on to become Western Australia's first governor. This colony contained two separate towns, one of which went on to become the modern capital of the province, Perth. 

From those humble beginnings, the colony expanded to cover most of the western coastline, with sheep farmers enjoying particular success during the 19th century – but this success was nothing next to that sparked by the discovery of gold in the 1880s, which sparked an enormous wave of immigration. 

Geography

Western Australia covers a vast distance, and only a small fraction of it is inhabited. While the coasts are teeming with human activity, the interior is a vibrant wilderness where few settlers have ventured. 

You might deduce from this that Western Australia's climate is not particularly welcoming – and you’d be mostly right. But that’s only true of the center of the state. In sharp contrast, the south coast enjoys a more Mediterranean climate, while the north is almost tropical – in fact, Kimberly, the state's northernmost region, enjoys monsoonal weather over the hot winter months between November and April. 

Much of the natural beauty on offer in Western Australia is contained within the borders of more than a thousand specially protected areas, and more than ninety-eight national parks – which between them total more than fifty square kilometers – more than 2% of the state’s entire area. The Kalbarri National Park, for example, features a fifty-mile gorge that runs along the end of the Murchison River, with spectacular rock formations on display all around, along with thousands of different species of wildflower and abundant animal life – including the famous kangaroo. 

Those looking for something a little more mountainous might consider the Stirling Range National Park, named after James Stirling himself. This park contains the state’s tallest mountain range, as well as an enormous variety of plant life. The WA tourist board’s website proudly boasts that the park is ‘home to more plant species than you'll find in the entire British Isles’. Those looking for an invitation to move to Australia will struggle to find a more direct one!

Much of the culture in Western Australia is centered within the major cities, of which Perth is by far the largest. The attractions on offer there include King’s Park, a thousand-acre park complete with botanical gardens. It is among the largest inner-city parks in existence and millions of people flock to visit every year. Alternatively, if you’re after a closer look at some of the wildlife, then you might also consider Perth Zoo or the Aquarium of Western Australia, both of which are located in the heart of the city.