Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

131 King Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Situated along King Street on the western edge of the Central Business District of Melbourne, Ibis Styles Kingsgate (3*) enjoys a convenient location just a short walk from Southern Cross railway station. Housed within a historic building dating back to 1926, the property originally operated under All Seasons Hotel brand before being rebranded in 2011 as part of the Accor portfolio.

SYD-MEL (1h 35m) Boeing 737-800 ETD:  12.30pm  (GMT + 10) ETA: 2.05pm (GMT + 10) After a rather eventful journey with its fair share of travel hiccups, I was glad to have finally made it to Australia. There was a quiet sense of relief knowing that I had one last flight to catch before reaching Melbourne. It marked my first time flying Qantas, the country’s flag carrier and largest airline.

MNL-SYD (8h 20m) Airbus 330-300 ETD:  10.25pm  (GMT + 8) ETA: 8.45am (GMT + 10) After enjoying some quiet time at the flagship  Mabuhay Lounge , it was finally time to board the flight to Sydney, Australia. It'd be my first time in the country, but strangely enough, I have to admit that I didn't quite feel the usual surge of excitement that comes with discovering a new destination compared to some of my previous travels.

Andrews Avenue, Ninoy Aquino International Airport  Terminal 1,  Manila, Philippines Daily: 24 hours Philippine Airlines operates its flagship Mabuhay Lounge at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Stepping into the lounge was a much-needed break from the rather chaotic scene at the terminal. I really appreciated having a quiet space to grab a bite, recharge and gather my thoughts before the next flight to Sydney, Australia.

SIN-MNL (4h) Boeing 777-300ER ETD:  2.15pm  (GMT + 8) ETA: 6.15pm (GMT + 8) “What? You’ve never been to Australia?” was something I’d grown used to hearing up to the age of 35. Indeed, this travel series marks my very first Down Under experience. While Melbourne can be reached directly from Singapore, I set off in the opposite direction first, heading to Manila, the Philippines with the oldest commercial airline in Asia.

SGN-SIN (2h) Airbus 350-900 ETD:  12.30pm  (GMT + 7) ETA: 3.30pm (GMT + 8) For the final entry to wrap up this travel series, let’s take a look at the flight back home in Business Class onboard Singapore Airlines SQ177 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Operated by Airbus 350-900, the flight offered a reassuring sense of familiarity and comfort even if it was a brief one.