Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts

June 28, 2024

Day 2 in Sydney Australia: Museum Train Station Walking Tour

Our first day was spent traveling; travel time from Manila to Sydney was more than 8 hours and we arrived earlier than expected. We passed Immigration, got our luggage and we went to Customs. We did not bring food only vitamins and medicines, the usual first aid kit so we answered “Yes” on the “Passenger Information Card”. I put our first aid kit on our hand-carry for easy inspection. 


Before our trip, I asked our hotel for directions and they gave us 3 options. 

1. Ride a train from the airport to Museum Station and walk to the hotel. The fare is around 17.50AUD per person. 
2. Ride Airport Shuttle Bus called Airport Connect (pre-booked). The fare is 16AUD per person.
3. Taxi ride, cost ranges from 50AUD - 65AUD for 25 - 35 minutes. 

Sydney Airport Train Station 


Among the 3 options, we chose the train for convenience so after Customs, we walked to the International Airport Train Station. You can easily find your way because there are signs. We bought an Opal Card at the counter, 40AUD for adults and 30AUD for my 15-year-old son. Opal card is a smartcard ticket that you use to pay for public transport in Sydney such as trains, buses, ferries, and light rail.


Airport Train Fare is so expensive because you need to pay for Gate Pass + Train Fare. As of this writing the Adult Gate Pass is 17AUD and Child Gate Pass is 15AUD. Adult Metro and Train Fares range from 4AUD to 9.84AUD (peak fare) and 2.80AUD to 6.88AUD (off-peak fare). 

Hyde Park Inn


Travel time from Sydney International Airport to Museum Station is less than 20 minutes and Hyde Park Inn is just across the train station so commuting was easy. My husband paid the full amount for our stay and since the check-in time was 1PM we just left our luggage and explored the area. You can read my Hyde Park Inn review here

Lunch at David’s Kitchen 

We walked until we reached the Pitt Street Mall but we still went back to David’s Kitchen because rice is life. David’s Kitchen offers Malaysian & Asian Cuisine and they serve different dishes so maraming choices. You can dine at the restaurant or you can order for take-out. The price is also budget-friendly compared to other restaurants so we kept coming back for our take-out food. 


After lunch, we went back to the hotel and waited for the check-in time. We were able to check in before 1PM. It was a long day for us so we took a rest first before going out. 

Museum Train Station Walking Tour 

We were supposed to go to China Town and Paddy’s Market but I changed my itinerary when I learned that there are few tourist spots that we can visit near Hyde Park Inn. We can visit the Hyde Park, Hyde Park Barracks, Anzac Memorial, Australian Museum, and St Mary’s Cathedral. No entrance fee for these tourist spots. 

The Anzac Memorial is open daily from 9AM to 5PM but we were not able to visit this museum because during our trip, I needed to book a schedule so no walk-in. The Hyde Park Barracks is open daily from 10AM to 6PM but we also needed to pre-book the ticket. So we just took a picture outside and visited the Australian Museum, Hyde Park, and St. Mary’s Cathedral. 

Anzac Memorial


Anzac Memorial is a war memorial and a place of commemoration, remembrance, education and reflection. 

Hyde Park 


Hyde Park is Australia’s oldest park with 16 hectares of open space located in the heart of Central Sydney. 

Sydney Tower Eye 



Sydney Tower is the tallest structure in Sydney which stands at 309 meters. 

Australian Museum 


Australian Museum is open every day, except Christmas Day from 10am - 5pm. It is the oldest museum in Australia and a heritage-listed museum. 

“Here, in a public museum, the remains of the arts, etc., as existing among them, may be preserved as lasting memorials of the former races inhabiting the lands, when they have ceased to exist." -  George Bennett 


St. Mary’s Cathedral 

According to their website, ‘’St Mary’s Cathedral stands on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia. Constructed in local sandstone, the Gothic Revival style of its architecture is reminiscent of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe.” 



After our walking tour, my son and I went back to the hotel while my husband went to Pitt Street Mall to buy dinner and groceries. 

May 25, 2022

Walking Tour in Trondheim Norway

We’ve been to Trondheim several times already because this is the second nearest airport to my mom’s place. Unfortunately, we usually just passed by so we haven’t really explored the city. Though there are already a few times when we visited some tourist attractions in Trondheim. 

The first one is when I was still in High School, my mom’s cousin lives in Trondheim so she invited us to stay in their house and she toured us around Trondheim pero sa sobrang tagal, the only thing that I can remember is Royal Residence and Tyholttårnet. Tyholt Tower is a 126-meter tall radio tower and it is currently the tallest building in Norway that was built in 1985. It has an observation deck and a revolving restaurant at an altitude of 81 meters. A complete revolution is every hour. 

The second one is when my husband is flying back to the Philippines so before he rode the bus to the airport, we had a quick tour of Trondheim city. You can check my Day Trip in Trondheim blog post to see the different tourist attractions that we have visited even for a limited time. 

For the past several weeks, I’ve been contemplating revisiting Kristiansund, Oslo, or Trondheim but the weather is not cooperating because, since the last week of April, the weather is either cloudy with flurries or rainy so even we wanted to travel to different places we can’t go out. I was already losing hope so I gave up on planning but God is good because out of the blue, my mom received a message that she has a doctor’s appointment in Trondheim so we had reason to go to Trondheim. Yey!

Walking Tour in Trondheim Norway 


We left the house around 7AM to catch the 7:30AM Ferry Boat Trip from Brekstad Hurtigbåtterminal to Trondheim Hurtigbåtterminal (Ferry Boat Terminal). Travel time is more than an hour because of the two stopovers at Hasselvika and Lensvik. The ticket price is Adult NOK277 and Student 129NOK. 


We started our walking tour at Trondheim Ferry Boat Terminal and we went straight to Nidaros Cathedral. Five years ago, we visited this cathedral but we were not able to enter because it was already closed, check the opening hours below so you can plan your trip. 

Monday to Friday - 9:00 to 14:00 
Saturday - 9:00 to 13:00 
Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00 


Nidaros Cathedral 

You can purchase the ticket at the Visitor Center, which is also a gift shop and cafe. There are three attractions that you can visit within the area, Nidaros Cathedral, The Crown Regalia,  and The Archbishop’s Palace Museum. You can purchase a single ticket or a combined ticket. It was past 9AM so we only purchased the Nidaros Cathedral because the two attractions are still closed, and the opening time is 11:00AM. The staff informed us that if we go back and plan to visit the two other attractions, she will just upgrade our ticket to a combined ticket. 

Ticket Prices 

Single Ticket 
Adult 120NOK 
Child/Student 60NOK 
Family 300NOK 

Combined Ticket 
Adult 240NOK 
Child/Student 120NOK 
Family 600NOK 

Note: Family Ticket is good for 2 adults and 3 children under the age of 16. 

The staff gave us a map with tasks that we can solve to find the place where St. Olav was buried in 1030. Guided tours are available from June to August, you can choose from 4 languages; Norwegian, English, German or French. Since it was an impromptu visit, I have no idea that we need to book a guided tour in advance since our trip is outside the main season. Also, we were not able to climb the tower because it is not summer season yet. 


Anyway, we are still happy to be able to visit Nidaros Cathedral. It is the biggest church in Norway and the world’s northernmost gothic cathedral. This is an important pilgrimage site too. Do you know that this cathedral started as a wooden chapel that was built on the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking King who became the patron saint of Norway? 


Note: You can get a Trondheim City Map at the Visitor Center. 

NTNU Vitenskapmuseet or Trondheim Museum of Natural History 


Our next stop is NTNU Vitenskapmuseet or Trondheim Museum of Natural History, this museum exhibits archaeology, natural history, and cultural history. It is located in the Gunnerushuset building.

Ticket Price 

Adult 120NOK 
Children 6-16/Students/Seniors (67+) 70NOK 
Family (a group with children and adults (max of 5 people) 325NOK 
Groups (10 people or more) when purchased together 110/60NOK 
Children under 6, students with teachers, individuals assisting people with disabilities, and ICOM, ECSITE, Norges Museumforbund - FREE 

Opening Hours 

Monday: Closed 
Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 16:00 
Saturday to Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00 

The staff gave us a paper to give us an idea of what we can see inside the museum. They have exhibits for Mid-Norway’s Prehistory, Science on the edge of the word, Nature and Environment, The Man in the Well, The Amazing Forest, Wolf, The Ark, and Comb Jellies. 



Middelalder i Trondheim or Trondheim Medieval Museum 

The staff also informed us that we can visit the Trondheim Medieval Museum located in Suhmhuset, a few minutes walk from the Trondheim Museum of Natural History. We just showed our receipt when we entered the building. 

This museum will give you an idea of how Norwegians lived in Trondheim way back 800 years ago. You can see their house, buildings, vessels, shopping street, archeological objects, and Viking age objects.

Trondheim Torg 

It was time for lunch so we went to Trondheim Torg, the largest shopping center in Trondheim. We are Asians so we had lunch at Thai Thai restaurant. It is an all-day buffet restaurant that offers Asian meals. They have different branches in Norway and so far we ate at Orkanger and Trondheim branches, I will blog about this in a separate post. 



Olav Tryggvason Statue 


After lunch, we continue our walking tour, and just outside the Trondheim Torg, at the center of the city square, you will see the 18meter statue of Olav Tryggvason, it was a sculpture to honor him as the king and founder of the city. It also serves as a gigantic sundial which is calibrated to UTC +1. It is so high that it is hard to take a picture. 

Stiftsgården or Royal Residence 


From the statue, you can already see the Stiftsgården or Royal Residence in Trondheim. It was built in 1774 and has 140 rooms that houses royalty and their guests since 1800. This is considered the largest wooden building in Scandinavia. 

Ranvnkloa 


From the Royal Residence, you can walk until you reach the end of Munkegata. It is where you can find Ravnkloa, this is Trondheim’s center for trading fish and shellfish. At the square, you can find an amphitheater, Nils Aas sculpture “The Last Viking” and a copy of the old Ravnklo clock. This is also the port if you want to visit Munkholmen. 

Munkholmen 


Munkholmen is a historic island in the Trondheimsfjord which is popular for excursions in summer. This has been used as a courthouse, fortress, defense facility, monastery, and prison. Unfortunately, it was still closed during our visit so hanggang tingin na lang ako. Hehehe! 

Bryggerekke 


This is a spot where you can see the Bakke Bridge, Gamle Bybro, and the colorful wharves, warehouses, and boathouses lined on both sides of the Nidelva River. The most photogenic area in Trondheim.

Vitensenteret or Trondheim Science Center 


Within the area, you can find Vitensenteret or Trondheim Science Center. It is the place for learning Science and Technology. You can experiment with many exciting models and visit Norway’s first and only 3D planetarium. We did not enter this museum anymore and just went to Byhaven Mall. 

Byhaven Mall 

Another shopping center in Trondheim, this is where we kill our time while waiting for our next boat trip. Actually, we can explore Trondheim City until evening because the last boat trip is at 21:00 but my son has online classes at midnight so we need to go home before 6PM. We need to rest and sleep. 

Despite the limited time again, we're thankful for blessing us with good weather during our trip. 

April 18, 2022

4 Days in Oslo Norway with Kid

Over five years ago whenever I asked my Mom when are we going to Røros, Norway, she always says “sa Easter” so in my mind we will leave on Easter Sunday. But I was wrong, ang dami pala Easter dito sa Norway, from Saturday until Monday, Easter ang tawag nila. 

Thurs = Maundy Thursday 
Fri = Good Friday 
Sat = Easter Saturday 
Sun = Easter Sunday 
Mon = Easter Monday 


Easter in Norway is almost a week-long holiday so many people are taking advantage of this opportunity to take off from their work and spend their entire Holy Week with their friends and family by visiting their mountain cabins or traveling abroad. This means that shopping malls and restaurants’ offers are limited, half of the restaurants in Oslo will be closed and the majority of the shops are closed. So when I was planning for our Oslo Norway trip, I made sure that we will be in Oslo before Maundy Thursday. 

Day 1 in Oslo Norway 

Our 5 Days in Stockholm Sweden have finally come to an end. On our fifth day in Stockholm, we woke up early for our morning train ride. There are so many ways to travel from Stockholm to Oslo, you can choose bus, train, airplane or drive your own car. We chose the SJ train because the central station is already in the city so less travel time. In fact, we just walk from Generator Stockholm to Stockholm Central Station, it is a long walk but doable if you want to save on transportation. 

Walking to the train station with luggage is not a problem because it was early morning so there were no people and the road was not busy yet. We had breakfast at McDonalds and went to our boarding gate. There are limited chairs so no need to be really early. Travel time is more or less 6 hours so we had our lunch on the train too. 



We took a taxi from Oslo Central Station to Cochs Pensjonat since it is 1.7km away. This was our accommodation for 4 days and 3 nights. Even though this hotel is already old, I like this accommodation because of the strategic location, it is near the train station, tourist spots, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, and even supermarkets. 


Since we have our own kitchenette, kitchenware, and fridge, we were able to save money on food. After check-in, we dashed to REMA to buy our food, drinks, and some pasalubong since my husband will be going back to the Philippines already after our Oslo Trip. Keep in mind that stores in Norway are closed on Sundays and holidays. After grocery, we prepared for dinner and rested so we have energy for our DIY Walking Tour in Oslo. 


Day 2 in Oslo Norway 

When I was planning this Scandinavian Trip, I planned to purchase Oslo Pass so we can save money but after our experience with Stockholm Pass and when I learned that not all attractions and museums will be open on Easter, I decided not to avail of the Oslo Pass. But this doesn’t mean that we did not enjoy our trip because there are still tourist spots that we can visit and we chose the FREE tourist spots. Hehehe! I mentioned before that our accommodation is near Royal Palace so that was our first stop for our walking tour. 


Day 2 Itinerary 

The Royal Palace Park 
The Royal Palace 
Karl Johans Gate 
University of Oslo Building 
National Theater 
Stortinget 
Oslo Cathedral 
Oslo Central Station 
Tiger 
Oslo Opera House 
Akershus Castle 
Akershus Fortress 



Day 3 in Norway 

Our third day is another walking tour, we just planned to visit Vigeland Sculpture Park but since we still have the energy to walk, we visited other tourist spots. We had late lunch at Asian Box


Day 3 Itinerary 

Frogner Park 
Vigeland Sculpture Park 
Oslo City Hall 
Nobel Peace Center 
Aker Brygge Wharf 



Day 4 Oslo Central Station to Trondheim Central Station 

Last day in Oslo and vacation is already over, my husband will travel back to the Philippines while my son and I will stay in my mom’s place. You can travel to Trondheim from Oslo via air, sea, land, and rail. We usually travel by plane but for a change, we chose the train so we don’t need to ride different transportations. If we chose an airplane, we still need to ride a train, plane, and bus just to reach the Ferry Boat Terminal. 


Travel time is 7 hours but I have no regrets because if you travel by train, no check-in is needed, and no luggage allowance. The train ride is more comfortable and relaxing because you have more legroom and you can enjoy the scenery. Our train ride is like a feast in the eyes, Oslo to Trondheim is indeed a scenic journey. So if you are not in a hurry, try riding a train too so you will enjoy Norway’s nature. 


Our Scandinavian Trip has finally come to an end and I was glad that we were able to pursue this trip. This was our first time traveling to 3 countries in one trip and our longest family vacation so far. I am thankful for the experience because I don’t know when we can do it again. 


April 19, 2020

Day Trip to Caleruega Church

We’re on Day 35 of Community Quarantine and for the past few weeks, I tried to keep myself busy. Even though I’m preoccupied with other things, I can’t deny the fact that I’m missing the old times. I love sharing about our travel trips and food trips but I’m not sure if it is okay to post it during the quarantine. But after contemplating, I guess it is the right time to reminisce and relive my past travel and food trips to reduce my travel depression.


And because it is Sunday, let us start with our Caleruega trip last December. Caleruega has been part of our annual trips because it is my husband’s tradition or should I say “panata”, so we always visit this every Holy Week. Though there are a few times that we were not able to visit this during Holy Week because we were in Norway. We’re visiting Caleruega since 2008 and during that time, my son was still inside my uterus and now he is already tween.

2008
How time flies, I can still remember that we did not celebrate our second wedding anniversary because I’ve been on bed rest since the first week of February. I was really bored at home so my husband decided to visit Caleruega. Though I am not Catholic I’ve been meaning to visit this place since I was in high school because I know that the place is really beautiful and relaxing. This was my first travel after bed rest so I was really excited.

2019
It’s quite traffic because it was Holy Thursday so it took us more than two hours just to get there. Good thing that we brought some food so we’re eating on our way to Caleruega church. There were a lot of people so parking was really difficult and mahabang lakaran papunta sa church. After our first visit, I understand why people always visit this church.


You can never get tired of this place; it is very relaxing and refreshing so it is not surprising anymore if couples want this as their wedding venue, schools choose this for their retreat and people love to visit this during holy week. We’ve attended a wedding here, my husband’s had their retreat when he was in High School and we are one of those people who visit Caleruega every Holy Week.




For the past 12 years, we’ve visited this place as a family or together with my in-laws and friends. Unfortunately, because of community quarantine, we failed to visit this last Holy Week. Good thing, we went here last December after our buffet breakfast at Balay Dako. We did not stay long sa church kasi may ikakasal so busy sila sa pag-aayos. There were few changes na rin, nalipat na nila yung station of the cross. Ang hindi lang nabago is, may entrance fee pa rin sila, hehehe! This is the only church na pinupuntahan namin na may bayad. Nakailang flyers na rin ako and sharing with you some information about Caleruega. (from flyer)


About Caleruega 

Caleruega was named after the birthplace of St. Dominic de Guzman, father of Order of Preachers. Wishing to honor and remember the legacy of their founder, he Filipino Dominicans established Caleruega with the hopes that it will, like the town of Caleruega in Spain, be a birthplace - a genesis for people speaking to and for the Divine Creator.


Silence, solitude, harmony, the majesty of creation, the freedom of Light and the passion to share God's word - this is Caleruega: the seedbed of preachers, the cornerstone of spiritual inspiration. Come, walk in His presence.


Caleruega celebrates the priceless gift of life and its Giver. Here, the lost soul finds direction; the weary traveler is shown the Way. every tree, flower, and brick is a testament to God's splendor and power.


Caleruega speaks through signs and symbols. It is a haven, a home, a sanctuary amidst the beauty of nature where pilgrims are open to prayer, to creative transformation, and to Gospel values.


Caleruega is really huge, you can stay here all day if you want to explore the place.

Relaxing and Refreshing Spots  

Plaza de Aza’s open space and roof deck
Tuktok and its charming gazebos
Garden Cafe’s refreshing delights
The plant nursery’s seedlings for sale
Lettuce greenhouse’s freshest greens
Shop of Delight for Caleruega mementos
Japanese Garden Cenaculum (refectory)
Kampo Restrooms




Must-see sights  

Transfiguration Chapel
Tent chapel of transfiguration
Fountain compass
The Dominicum’s grand stairway
St. Dominic’s Point
Manaoag Drive via Crusis
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Thy will be Done Sculpture
Koi Pond and its walkways
Hanging Bridge and Kampo Arriba
Kampo Terraces and Ampitheater
Worm Farm/Compost production


There are halls and accommodations for those people who wanted to stay and have retreats and recollection, team buildings, renewal workshops, wedding, and reception.

How to get to Caleruega:  

It is not difficult to reach Caleruega if you have your own vehicle.  You can follow this direction or just use a mobile app for your guide.

- from Tagaytay Rotonda turn right and take the National road going to Nasugbu, Batangas
- you will pass Taal Vista hotel, Royal Tagaytay and Petron Station.
- turn left in Evercrest Golf Club.
- then follow the signs going to Caleruega.

For commuters, you need to ride a bus going to Nasugbu and ride a tricycle to reach the Caleruega. Get the number of the trike so he can pick you up sa uwian. (narinig ko lang ito sa group of teenagers nung pauwi na kami, itext na daw nila yung trike driver para sunduin na sila).

If you are strong, you can walk from Evercrest Golf Club up to Caleruega, but it is really a long walk.

Caleruega Fees

Parking fee: P40
Entrance fee: P30
7 Years old below: Free of Charge
Senior and PWD: 20% discount

Though may free parking but slots are very limited, never pa kami nakapagpark sa free.

Caleruega
House of St. Mary Magdalene
Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas
caleruega_philippines@yahoo.com
092127098990/09218304226
Klook.com