Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

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.