The Menu (2022)

♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a foodie obsessed with celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), invites his date Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) to his exclusive restaurant on the private island of Hawthorne after getting his hands on a rare ticket to meet his idol. They are whisked away by yacht and are welcomed coldly by Elsa (Hong Chau), the monotonous but firm maître d. Among the other invited guests are movie stars, food critics as well as a mafia trio, among others. Margot’s presence irks Slowik because she is not Tyler’s designated plus one. Soon enough, the guests are served not just their meals, but also an entire performative routine that everyone starts to find baffling after a while. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that what they have been invited to is not a mere fancy dinner for the rich and famous, but rather an agenda-filled revenge plot that might just serve as their last meal.

The Whale (2022)

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Morbidly obese and nearing the end of his life, English teacher Charlie (Brendan Fraser) stays at home with a laptop in one hand and a sandwich in the other. The limited mobility brought about by his condition requires constant help which Liz (Hong Chau), a nurse who is also his only friend, unconditionally provides. Their relationship is not smooth-sailing, though, especially after he constantly refuses her prodding to go to the hospital to seek medical help. What she doesn’t know is that he is in constant communication with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink) lately, promising he would give her his lifetime savings if she spends time with and writes essays for him. Their already complicated dynamics are further shaken up by the arrival of Thomas (Ty Simpkins), a Christian missionary who firmly believes that he can provide the spiritual guidance that Charlie is in dire need of, despite Liz’s objection.

[CANTERBURY] Budget and Itinerary

THURSDAY: 23 February 2023

Air New Zealand (Queenstown - Christchurch) - 226.80

JUCY Snooze (2 Nights) - 103.95

Countdown (Groceries) - 8.46

Subway (6" Italian BMT w/ Coke & Cookie) - 12.80

NZD352.01

[OTAGO] Budget and Itinerary

MONDAY: 20 February 2023

Air New Zealand (Wellington - Queenstown) - 220.80

Cedric's Tahuna Pods (3 Nights) - 179.70

1 (Airport - Stanley Street Bus Hub) - 5.00

Skyline (Gondola Return + Luge x2) - 71.00

KFC (Quarter Pack) - 13.99

4 Square (Groceries) - 5.28

NZD495.77

[WELLINGTON] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 18 February 2023

Air New Zealand (Melbourne - Wellington) - 417.00

Cambridge Hotel (2 Nights) - 77.95

Shuttle (Airport -Te Aro) - 18.00

NZD512.95

[WELLINGTON] Welly Welly Why So Windy

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, replacing Auckland in 1865 after barely two decades of playing that role. Having visited both cities now, I enjoyed Auckland more. It is bigger and more chaotic, which is exactly what I crave. Wellington is sleepy and windy AF, more or less comparable to other capital cities custom built for such a purpose. Since this has been a mere pitstop to cross out another Nomadmania region on my list, I only allocated one day, and I believe that’s enough considering this windy weather.

[VICTORIA] Budget and Itinerary (2)

WEDNESDAY: 15 February 2023

Jetstar (Hobart - Melbourne) - 122.25

Selina Melbourne (3 Nights) - 233.40

Skybus (Return Ticket) - 34.00

Shujinko (Tonkatsu w/ Rice) - 23.00

AUD412.65

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) life has changed a lot for the better since the Blip. He has since written a book and is now just busy giving public readings and signing people’s copies. Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) is not doing bad either, what with heading her own company and advocating for sustainable living through Pym Particles. If anything, it is his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) who seems to be getting a lot of jail time for protesting on behalf of people displaced by the Blip. However, she is well-loved by her adoptive grandparents, especially Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who helps her explore the Quantum Realm remotely. When she demonstrates a beacon that serves as a map of the Quantum Realm, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) suddenly gets irate and it doesn’t take long before they are all sucked into the Quantum Realm where they face a man called Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), a multiversal executioner of timelines exiled there for a good reason, now threatening to break free.

[TASMANIA] Budget and Itinerary

SATURDAY: 11 February 2023

Jetstar (Sydney - Launceston) - 173.75

Shuttle (Airport - Downtown) - 21.00

Pod Inn (2 Nights) - 119.00

Gatsu Gatsu (Katsudon w/Rice + Coke) - 21.40

Woolworths (Groceries) - 14.14

AUD349.29

[HOBART] Kunanyi Half-Day Tour

Visiting either Hobart or Launceston should have sufficed for Tasmania, but since the island is split into two regions by Nomadmania, I decided to just visit both. The two cities might be located on opposite ends of the island but both can be reached via the Red Line bus in just three hours. If Cradle Mountain was the sole itinerary for my Launceston stop in the north, Kunanyi or Mt. Wellington is defo the highlight of this stop of mine in the south. Both are mountains, so what’s the difference?

[CRADLE MOUNTAIN] So Not Summer at Dove Lake

Knowing that it will be summer during my time down under, the only reason I packed a thick winter sweater is because I already booked a Cradle Mountain day tour even before leaving. Today is the day. I wake up late and rush to the pick up point. I forgot the damn sweater, hooray. Nah, it’s summer. How bad can it be, right? And then we arrive at the damn mountain two hours later and it’s effing 6 degrees Celsius with wind-chill. Oh well, as the late Nida Blanca once told Dina Bonnevie: “SUFFER!” And I did, but just for a few hours. I lived to tell the tale, so no drama.

[NEW SOUTH WALES] Budget and Itinerary (2)

SUNDAY: 5 February 2023

Philippine Airlines (Manila - Sydney - Manila) - 1,420.00

McDonalds (Hash Brown x2 + Hot Choco) - 9.50

AUD1,429.50

[KATOOMBA] Three Sisters and a Plateau

In big cities like Sydney I usually don’t have an itinerary because I prefer to just walk around and stumble upon attractions here and there. I do remember, though, that I specifically went to Taronga Zoo the first time I was here. For this stop, nada. But why waste a New South Wales stopover by doing nothing, right? The Blue Mountains are just there farther inland. There’s an attraction there called Three Sisters referring to three peaks next to a plateau. Might be worth the day trip? Vacation leave filed, I went.

[CANBERRA] Budget and Itinerary

MONDAY: 6 February 2023

Murrays (Sydney - Canberra) - 47.00

The Village Hostels (3 Nights) - 150.00

Kinn Thai (Chicken Fried Rice + Coke) - 25.00

Buddy's Convenience Store (Groceries) - 15.35

AUD237.35

[KAAFU] Budget and Itinerary

SUNDAY: 29 January 2023

Air Asia (Kuala Lumpur - Male) - 1,444.00

iCom (Airport - Male - Maafushi) - 384.00

Pelican Beach Maafushi (3 Nights) - 3,520.00

MVR5,348.00