Teach English Online with yoli Chat

Have you heard of Uber for language learning? Yoli Chat is a platform where you can teach and earn (or learn) from your smartphone. Here’s my review.

When It’s Time to Travel

I've spent a relaxing day at home, enjoying the Sydney sun as it shines through the windows. The howling wind outside is nothing to me but a soundtrack--and a no-frills way to speed up the laundry drying process. I've got the rest of the clothes that need to go in my bag out on the…

My Amateur MMA Journey, Part 18: Why I Box

Recently, in my journey of exploring mixed-martial arts, I've switched from doing a bit of everything to going back to where I started and focusing on boxing. I've done so for a few reasons. For one, because I'm still jet-setting and haven't yet put down roots anywhere, I don't want to buy gear that won't…

Kangaroo Picnic in Morisset

When a friend I met through Couchsurfing invited me to join in on a day trip and see these quintessential Australian creatures, I knew the moment had come.

Things to Know About Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Sydney

An interview with Mario Yokoyama of myBJJ in Camperdown

Hunter Valley Wine Tour

The first sighting of European settlers in the Hunter Valley was in 1798 when a lieutenant drifted into the Hunter River in search of escaped convicts. While it is said that the region was named after Captain John Hunter, I'd say there's a good chance the colonists chose the name for how well it reflected…

My Amateur MMA Journey, Part 17: A Trial Class at myBJJ

And we're rolling! I've been back in Sydney for a few weeks now and earlier this month I took a trial class at myBJJ, an international Brazilian jiu-jitsu school founded by Mario Yokoyama and headquartered in Camperdown. I had been referred here by Petros Menelaou, a fellow patron of Darkside Gym and an instructor in…

A Brisk Day at Burgers’ Zoo

Standing on a riverbank inside Burgers' Zoo, it feels as though you've stepped right up to the edge of an African safari. Not long along, the zoo announced the birth of a baby rhino and from here we watched the stout little creature chase giraffes ten times its size: quite a spectacle for a random…

Things to Know About Couchsurfing

An Interview with my First Host Couchsurfing. Sure, I’ve heard the word before and known such a thing existed, but it wasn’t until about a month ago that I took a serious look at it. Although I no longer have a permanent home in the Philippines, I have been returning to the islands frequently and…

Sydney through its Locals

With a little over two weeks remaining in Sydney, I've decided that I'd like to pick the brains of a couple of interesting locals for the inside scoop of everything from live music and the martial arts scene to permaculture and proactivism before I leave. For one, I've gathered lots of interesting snippets about pro and amateur…