Perth.
I know this place is definitely not your first choice of country to travel to nor will it be on your bucket list. But. It should. It really should.
Well, when we first chose Perth it was because it was the cheapest compared to Melbourne or Sydney but we wanted to go to Australia (well, more like I wanted to show le bf, Eve and TY on how beautiful is Australia)
We decided right from the front that this will be a budget trip because we stingy like that lol and I think RM3500 is totally workable!
If you're there to soak in the culture and open your mind plus feast on the magnificent view, Perth is totally for you.
We all agreed that this trip has really been an eye opener for us and our perspective in life changed.

Our Itinerary goes like this:
Day 1 Perth
Day 2 Perth
Day 3 Perth- Yancep Lagoon- Lancelin- Geraldton
Day 4 Geraldton- Monkey Mia
Day 5 Monkey Mia- Kalbarri
Day 6 Kalbarri- Pinnacles- Perth
Day 7 Fremantle
Day 8 Rottnest Island
Day 9 Perth

Total mileage used? 1832km
WOW. Details on the trip will be in another post okay. As it will be pretty lengthy.

I'll admit that it was kind of packed and tiring but we only had 9 days and wanted to go to Monkey Mia to feed dolphins! A once-in-a-lifetime experience so why not?
So average drive per day is around 450km which is around 4 hours drive?
But totally worth it.

Details on the expenses for this trip as below:

Australia Visa
Don't forget to get your Visa to Australia!
https://www.easyeta.com.au/
This link has the cheapest visa, which is RM30 per pax? Dirt cheap if you compare to others which are like double or more.
Checked it's authenticity and seeing that I'm alive and well, totally legit.

Flights
We bought our flight tickets during AirAsia's RM0 air fare at RM600 to and fro (Could have been RM550 only but we wanted to fly on Saturday, minus an extra day of leave we had to take)
Plus luggage 20kg to and 30kg fro for 2 pax
Total flight cost RM725 per pax


We chose to be there during Autumn because we love a good chilly weather
Pros: Sweather weather!
Cons: Not much of a view during our road trip as the trees and flowers were all asleep. Best time for a roadtrip in WA is Sept- December when all the wild flowers are blooming!

Stays
We choose Airnb as our accommodation choice as we wanted to be more private and to cook in.
I know some of you are probably not a fan of Airbnbs but you totally should! Just go through all the comments on the house/room profile. If all good comments, most probably because it is!

Our stay:
Day 1 & 2- Subiaco
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/19086884
Total costs: RM270 per pax
Pros: This area is really quiet and the place itself is amazing
The others talked about how this place is the best among all of the places we stayed
Cons: 10 minute walk to the nearest CAT bus stop (which I will talk about later at transportation)


Day 3- Geraldton
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16805468
Total cost: RM154 per pax
Pros: Lovely outdoor porch where we had our meals
Cons: Slightly out of Geraldton town and quite dark at night

Day 4- Monkey Mia
RAC Monkey Mia Resort
If you're in Monkey Mia, I highly recommend you to stay here as you get to really soak in Monkey Mia. We took the two bunk beds room with sharing toilets but everything is so clean you need not worry
Total cost: RM67 per pax
Pros: The sunset view is awesome and early morning you need not rush for the dolphin feeding as it is just 2 minutes away
Cons: The food expenses here will be higher as there is no grocery store here unless you buy bread and eat in? But we splurged and had a couple of nice meals here while soaking in Monkey Mia

Day 5- Kalbarri
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17912332
This place is so underrated if you just see the pictures on Airbnb
It was the most surprising stay as our expectations were quite low but we were shocked when we reached and the host was so nice and provided us milk and frozen croissants
Total costs: RM132 per pax
Pros: Free milk and croissants and the location is great
Cons: You'd have to entertain the dogs next door! lol they love playing catch

Day 6- Day 8- East Perth
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1798549
Total cost: RM265 per pax
Pros: The location to the CAT stop is 2 minutes away
Cons: The place itself is not really clean compared to all the others

Transportation:
We basically just spent on the car rental for our roadtrip
Total rental for 4 days + insurance is RM307 per pax
Plus petrol RM300 per pax (because le bf was speeding, speeding means more petrol)

Other days in Perth is by using the free CAT (Central Area Transit) bus service
There are a total of four different colors of CAT bus servicing different area
The first two days we took the red CAT while the remaining days in Perth we took the yellow CAT so it's good to find stays nearby a CAT stop for convenience




Transportation from the airport we took the airbus 380 to Williams street then red CAT to our Airbnb
This bus stop is just outside the Perth airport (Terminal 1) so it's really cheap and convenient
Costing: AUD4.70 per pax


There's no grab here so you will have to download the Uber app here, just in case it's too late and there are no more CAT buses services available.
Per trip will cost around AUD7 if in the CBD area.

Wifi router
We chose TravelRecommend as I had always used them and their connection in Melbourne was great
Perth, not so. haha
But alternatively you can also get a SIM card with data for just AUD10 from Optus
If I'd known it earlier, maybe we won't get the wifi router
Costing: RM65 per pax

Expenses
Our expenses is mostly for meals- cooked in and dine in plus snacks/ midnight snacks
Woolworths and Coles is your best friend, but they close quite early at 5/6pm so sometimes we had to get our groceries from Good Grocer and 7Eleven, slightly more pricier but still.
Oh, the luxury we have here in Malaysia to have stores open until 10pm
And guys being guys, they eat, A lot. And non stop.
And we kind of splurge after Monkey Mia so *shrugs
So if it's just girls, I think the expenses will be much lower.
Food expenses: RM1000 (if converted doesn't sound that much AUD330)

Tickets
On the second day we took the Perth city Hop On Hop Off bus to explore the city
Costing: RM105 (AUD35)

Kalbarri National Park
Costing: RM39 per car (AUD13)

Lancelin San Dunes Board Rental
Costing: RM30 for one board, we had two so it's RM60 (AUD10 for one)

Rottnest Island Ferry
Costing: RM157 per pax (AUD52 after a 15% discount if you have a "Hello Perth" visitor booklet)

Rottnest Island Bike Rental
Costing: RM48 per pax (AUD16 for afternoon rentals 12pm-3pm)

train tickets
Costing: RM14.10 per trip (AUD4.70)

So, with a budget of RM3500 to a western country? Totally worth it.
Try it sometime?

Undeniably, Bangkok is the place for you if you are a shopaholic like me.
Or, on a strict budget but still in need for a short vacay.
Bangkok is a bustling city that screams busy and is as fast paced as it could.
Honks, traffic jams and lights everywhere
How to enjoy this city then? Other than shopping of course.

Dining at a sky bar.

Who ever says that dining in the sky requires you to spend until you drop.
Of course, the most overrated sky bars when asked is the Sky Bar Rooftop at Lebua.
On the list is also Sirocco, Red Sky Bar etc. where drinks alone is three digits.
Nope, not kidding.



Nope, best to be left alone especially on a budget.
However, refusing to let my budget get a hold on me. I did my research and found this sky bar that is not only affordable but is super cool as well.

Long Table, Bangkok

From it's name, you can imagine that there is a long table for guests in a big group or who just likes companionship. However, if you are not up to sharing your personal space and is allergic to people, like me *cough* they do have private table at the side though.

Feeling interesting and curiosity is scratching its way up?
Scroll along!

There is basically the bar area and the dining area.
Bar looks like this and starts from 5.30pm for you to enjoy the sunset.
Overseeing the bustling city, it is perfect to unwind and kick back your shoes.



We made a reservation for 5.30pm and went there sharp in order to not miss the sunset.
We even got to choose where we want to sit! Double win
My dear friend, Google says that the crowd starts coming in around 8pm so there wasn't a huge crowd when we arrived. But best the make a reservation to avoid disappointments though!

There was a promotion on that time whereby you buy 3 canapes for 500 baht only.
What a steal! You can roughly give a guess on the meal costing from here
The view


Afterwards, we moved to the dining area for our dinner.
Now, this is the long table that I was talking about, for outgoing, fun, bubbly people who likes beibng around well, life. Sounds you? Good for you.



So not me and us. So, here we are at the the side with our private table.
With cushioned sofas with pillows, a mix of luxury and comfort.


Wondering what kind of cuisine they offer?
Well, Thai and western fusion of course! What better way to endorse in the culture through food?
It's basically like a chinese restaurant where you order dishes with plates on rice
But with Thai flavored dishes. An experience as you normally just go for your pad thai and pork skewers no?


Verdict: We will come again. Need I say more?
Instead of barely affording the drink in your hand at overrated sky bars packed with people, why not head over to Long Table and relax, enjoy the bustling lights with company of your loved ones. No people crowds I promise, only a night of good time and laughter.

The question you've been dying to ask. The bill
It came along to about 2900 baht for four? If not mistaken.
Including cocktail drinks, canapes and the main dish, I'd say it is too good to be true

Before we left we took some time at the bar area with all the city lights on
Together with my favorite people in the world! What more can a girl ask for?


*This is not a sponsored post.

Long Table
25th Floor, 48 Column Bangkok,
Sukhumvit Soi 16

Located nearby Terminal 21 Mall, which we saw from our bar area and is walking distance
Afterwards you can always take the train back to town.

Will be blogging more about the cheapest barbeque at Bangkok soon too!
Love more deals and budget trips like this?
Press the follow button below =)

Signing off,
xo

HAPPY NEW YEAR PEOPLE!

Blue skies, acres of greenery, animals in their natural state, this place is so underrated!
Our day 6 was basically well spent at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, which is 30 minutes away from Melbourne city. The name itself got me as I always wanted to see how animals are in their most natural state, not in cages and behind bars as what we get here in Malaysia. This is the natural-est state they can be in a zoo, unless I go to South Afrika (another bucket list).

From Melbourne CBD, we took the trains at Flinder's station to Werribee station then you need to get on bus 439 to get to the entrance of the zoo (as mentioned in previous posts, to and fro within the zone is AUD7.20 per day)


The theme of the zoo is slightly African, seeing that well, Afrika is the wildest natural-est state an animal can be in. With the clear blue skies as background, who is to say this isn't Afrika?



I got to see my very first gorilla in real life! I've been fascinated with gorrilas even since I saw Caesar in Planet of The Apes and I finally got a dose of real life gorrilas (well, two actually).
It is obvious who is the leader here. Poor thing at the back have to run for it's life when this fellow comes charging by.


And many more other animals that is not found in Malaysia like the hyenas, the spotted dog and more though the most impressive one will belong to the gorilla

The real highlight of this zoo is the safari where we will get to get super close with the animals.
The whole safari will take 40 minutes throughout the whole open range zoo and the you will get detailed explanations on board.


The safari bus looks like a long trailer bus. I was slightly disappointed as I though we'll be in a jeep like in the movies in South Afrika!
But the trip makes up for it though I never saw animals as happy as this bunch
Sure shows how animals should never be in cages and bars


And and and! I was touching distance with them all!
The most memorable one will be the giraffes as they can just stroll gracefully beside the safari bus. Awesome much?
Of course there were rhinos and zebras and camels and Mongolian horses and many more other animals but the giraffes were the best for me


We went for the tour twice until it was closing. It closes at 4.30pm so be early to get more of the zoo! The safari really were an amazing experience for me

Day 6: Puffing Billy with Grayline tour
This here is the Dandenong Ranges Park with long stretch Eucalypts trees all over which we passed by before reaching Belgrave, which is where the puffing Billy is!
Basically it was all the way scenic with nature at its best. I really am impressed on how they maintain all their parks as natural as possible


Next train at 10.30am!


Tickets checked- Belgrave to Menzies creek
The Pufing Billy was said to be theonly transport for the locals to get to the other side for work. So basically they have to board this old train and passed by steep hills and wooden bridges with their legs dangling on the outside because too many people that wants to get to their work at the other side.
But now it is open to tourists that wants a taste of how it was in the old days


Dangling legs on the outside! We do it for fun now but back then they were forced to because of the packed train you see


Passing by the forest on route to Menzies creek
Because we sat on the left side of Puffing Billy we couldn't get the view on the right side, which oversees villages and mountains and lakes *puffed cheeks
So remember to get your seats at the right!


Reached our destination where our tour bus is waiting, a glimpse on how the Puffing Billy looks like


Will be uploading a video on our Melbourne tour so stay tuned!

Day 4 in Melbourne deserves a full post because its the Great Ocean Road, need I say more?
We were super excited for this tour as *duh THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WHOLE TRIP!!!
This first picture is the walkway to the twelve apostles. It felt like nature's welcoming red carpet to the greatest moment of your life.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE BEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE. THERE IS NO TURNING BACK.
I am. I am ready. Show me.

A bit of a background on Great Ocean Road. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial.
It stretches 664km long and will take a full day to actually complete it all.


First stop in the GOR journey- the GOR memorial arch at eastern view
Cars were going to and fro this highway thus me looking like I'm going to duck anytime.
But it ain't stopping us taking this shot!


Just right beside the memorial arch is a beach that boast of rolling mountains and fierce waves.
Natures way to prepare us for the spectacular coastlines of the GOR


Just me and my bae, travelling across the GOR. They say it doesn't matter where you go as long as it is with the right person. Boy are they right! It wouldn't be as memorable as it is without you #baegoals Missing those days when it was just me and you. You and me.


Along the coastal lines, how nice to be staying in one of these houses!



Just before going down to the Twelve Apostles. I need to remember this moment forever.
The beating of my heart, the adrenaline rush, the anticipation for the feast for my eyes, the sea breeze already in my hair. I can do it. Be calm, oh beating heart.



Okay. Maybe it does not look as mesmerizing in just pictures. BUT. Come see it for your own then you'll know what the fuss is all about.


SO SURREAL. I CANNOT.



One bucket list down.
Situation above the cliffs. Awesome in their own way.


At the other side of the Twelve Apostles is the Loch Ard George. It was said that the in 1878 the was a shipwith 52 passengers on board heading to England, however, due to the tiny opening, the ship crashed and only two survivors made it and was washed on shore.
Now, thousands of people flock to it to view its magnificent landscape.



Like what I said, there is no turning back on all this spectacular nature.


After such magnificent view, my heart needs some calming. A stroll into the quiet peaceful village of Port Campbell is just what I needed. Like I said, every single angle is picturesque.


Ending our day with one salted caramel ice cream please!