Australia 2012: Mattina Orchards

Mattina Fresh Orchards at Cobram, Victoria, Australia

Note: I would just like to share with you guys my experience around one of the vast countryside areas of the state of Victoria. Their everyday life, the businesses in the area. I am not, in any way, connected with the business establishments nor promoting them.

Last year, 22 February 2012, my aunt, uncle and I went for a visit at the orchard of my one of my uncle's close friends. Knowing that I like farms, countryside and fresh air, they took me there for a visit.

Mattina Fresh Orchards, occupies hundreds of hectares of land. From what I remember, it is more than 500 hectares combined.

The orchard is planted to apples, plum and others (could no lot remember all). They supply them at various supermarkets. I was able to visit their packing line. I met a lot of Filipinos there. 

The orchard is owned by an Italian family. Very hardworking. They are a great team. Together, they were able to expand their business.

My uncle's friend, the owner, gave him more than a dozen boxes of white plum. My uncle likes making his own wine. They are both Italians. Wines are like lambanogs to Pinoys. Pinoys from the countryside are experts when it comes to lambanog, and so are making wines to Italians.

My aunt and I are neighbors at the game
Farmville. We were laughing on our way to
the farm while at the car. 
                                                                                   An adult, wild, kangaroo is playing around the vast                                                                                    line of Plum trees.

Below are more pictures taken around the farm.

 

 

 

Looking Back: Australia February 2012 - Changi Airport Singapore Stop-Over

It was February 2012 when I left Manila for Perth, WA, Australia for a month long vacation at my cousin's place. Oh how time flies.

I also made a short strip to Victoria state. I went to the countryside at Shepparton where my aunt lives with her husband and made a half day tour of Melbourne. Oh! 1 week was not enough at Victoria. And definitely half day is not enough for Melbourne!

Anyway, my first stop from Manila was Singapore. I boarded a Singapore Airlines flight to Perth with a stop-over to Changi Airport. 

I was so excited and looked forward to my stop over. Changi is so nice! I almost missed my flight walking around the airport. Hehe! It was so obvious that I came from a third world, icky airport (sorry NAIA).

I do hope they will do an impressive job at the NAIA overhaul. I do not expect it to be as good as Changi, but a big improvement is expected.

They have pocket gardens around the airport. See pics below:

                                           

Little Souls Convent at Tagaytay

Have you guys heard of Little Souls Convent at Mahogany, Tagaytay City? It's a cute convent similar to Pink sisters. Except for, Pink Sister's grounds are bigger.

And in this convent, the nuns wear the color of Peach. I though they should be called "The Peach Sisters".

What I like about Little Souls is that it is very solemn. The convent's workers make sure that people who go there to pray are not disturbed by uncalled for noises.

The chapel's pews are also very comfortable. The garden is cute and there is just enough parking space. Though the parking lot can really get full during weekends.

I visited the convent today because it is First Friday of the month. It was just a very short visit as it was not planned.

It is quite easy to find. If you see the Petron gasoline station at the Y-intersection, go straight, right side, to Mahogany. You will pass by Mahogany market, then a few more blocks you will see a school at your right side. Right after the school is the street leading to Little Souls.

Pardon me if I don't have pictures to post, or my directions are not that clear, but you may visit their website, http://www.littlesoulssisters.com. For more information.

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