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Manly Bunkhouse EARNS 2016 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE!!

Manly, NSW Australia – 25^th May 2016 – Manly Bunkhouse today announces that it has received another TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence.

The achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. Certificate of Excellence recipients include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience.

“With the Certificate of Excellence, TripAdvisor honours hospitality businesses that have consistently received strong praise and ratings from travellers,” said Heather Leisman, Vice President of Industry Marketing, TripAdvisor. “This recognition helps travellers identify and book properties that regularly deliver great service. TripAdvisor is proud to play this integral role in helping travellers feel more confident in their booking decisions.”

The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

An awesome event in Manly is coming soon!

Saturday 28 May – Sunday 29 May, 2016

11.30am – 5.00pm daily

If sipping wonderful wines and local beers in the sunshine, nibbling on delicious foods while listening to great music sounds like the perfect way to spend a weekend, where better to do it than right next to one of Australia’s favourite beaches?

Now in its 30th year, Taste of Manly is part of Aussie Wine Month and a longstanding destination for visitors and locals alike on the Australian festival calendar. Held in the heart of Manly along the pedestrian Corso and picturesque Manly Beach, up to 30,000 food and wine enthusiasts from across Sydney, Australia and the world flock to Manly each day to experience this exciting Festival.

source: Manly council. For more information click on the link below:

https://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/whatson/taste-of-manly/

It’s the holiday season!  So many parties all over the world, so many different customs! It is widely known the fact that in Australia New Year officially begins on January 1^st.  But did you know that in many countries people celebrate the spiritual New Year at many different times?  All these celebrations are about cleaning out the past and preparing for the New Year, a bright future.

For example, the Jewish New Year “Rosh Hashanah” takes place in September and contains the custom of “ Tashlikh” or “casting off” the mistakes of the past year.  Needless to say, the Chinese New Year is known as the “Spring Festival” even though it takes place in late winter.  Moreover, on New Year’s Eve, all the Chinese families gather for a celebration meal.  Everyone will be with their family members, close friends, even if it means travelling long distances.

When it comes to the Hindu New Year, it begins in late Autumn with Diwali – the Festival of Light.  The entire country is lit up with lamps and fireworks, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.  This festival is celebrated in many countries where there is a significant population of Indian immigrants.

In Ethiopia, New Year is called Enkutatash and begins in September, after the rains have finished.  The images are spectacular: children hand out bunches of flowers and everyone celebrates the beneficial effects of the vital rain.

Book accommodation at a Manly hostel and have your own Aussie New Year’s celebration on the night of 31^st December and 1^st January.  The good news is that Manly is only 30 minutes away from Sydney by ferry.  Everyone knows that one of the most famous parties is held in Sydney.  The good news is that the HarbourBridge is spectacularly lit up by an amazing display of fireworks.

Do not forget the fact that Australia is one of the first countries that embraces the New Year.  This is the main reason the Aussie fireworks are often seen by people around the world as a precursor to their own parties.

Book budget accommodation Sydney and you will have the chance to experience a New Year without snow.  On the contrary, it is going to be a sunny celebration on the beach.  Do not forget also to bring your picnic blanket!

Do you want to experience something new this year on New Year’s Eve?  What about spending the New Year’s Eve near the ocean?  You will definitely not regret it.

Luckily, you have great opportunities when it comes to celebrating the last day of 2015 in Manly.  You can even spend some hours in Sydney, but do not forget that staying at a Manly hostel will be more affordable for you!  It is true, there is no better place to be on New Year’s Eve than on Sydney Harbour!

You can opt for a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party or for a New Year’s Eve 2015 at Q Station.  Do not forget about the Governor Bourke Ballroom or about the Traditional Australian New Year’s party seafood buffet!

Do you want to spend a more romantic New Year’s Eve?  Bring a picnic or book a table at one of Dee Why’s restaurants and see the fantastic fireworks display, set off from a barge directly opposite Dee Why Beach!

There are also amazing restaurants in Manly where you can spend a cosmopolite New Year’s Eve like De Vita Tratoria, Hugo’s, Bavarian Bier Café, 4 Pines Brewing Co, Manly Wharf Bar.

Keep in mind that all the hostels in Manly provide an amazing holiday atmosphere.  You will meet new people all over the world, make new friends and internationally celebrate 2016!

Understanding Australian culture and Australian English will help you enjoy even more your staying.  It is important to understand that Australian English is unique; it has its own distinctive accent and vocabulary.  If you stay at a Manly hostel, you will have the chance to explore the local customs and the Australian slangs.  Here are some of them:

May your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down – a way of wishing someone bad luck.

Full as a centipede’s sock drawer – very full.

Go troppo – go crazy.

Have a root – have sex

He needs that like a third armpit – he doesn’t need it at all.

Kangaroos loose in the top paddock – eccentric or not very bright.

May your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny door down – a way of wishing someone bad luck

Mouth like the bottom of a cocky’s cage – a dry mouth, often as a result of heavy drinking and or smoking.

Nurse the baby – look after a baby.

Siphon the python – go to the toilet (for males)

Stone the crows – expression of amazement.

Stoked – excited.

Tucker – food.

Two-pot screamer – someone who can’t hold their drink.

Woop woop – isolated place.

Happy Hanukkah!

In Australia, many Jewish families observe the first day of Hanukkah on December, 6^th.  The last day of this special holiday is on Monday, December, 14^th.  Hanukkah is also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights.  It is important to know that Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people’s struggle for religious freedom.  This holiday commemorates the victory of the ancient Israelites over the Syrian Greek army and the miracle of restoring the menorah in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

How do local communities in Australia celebrate Hanukkah?

If you book accommodation at a Manly hostel, you will have the chance to discover the symbols of this holiday.  Keep in mind the fact that the first day of Hanukkah is not a nationwide public holiday in Australia.  There are some amazing Hanukkah foods like latkes, potato pancakes, jelly doughnuts, bimuelos, etc.  What is special about these foods?  They are deep-fried in oil, symbolizing the oil from the menorah used in the Temple.

Hanukkah involves also socializing.  Many local communities meet and play games in venues such as parks and beaches.  Gift-giving is also part of Hanukkah’s traditions.  This is the main reason some people order gift baskets to give to others.  For example, in Australia people buy Hanukkah card games, board games and books in order to make gifts.  Needless to say, a toy known as the dreidel is widely popular among both children and adults during Hanukkah.  The dreidel is a spinning top with a different Hebrew letter inscribed in each of its four sides – the four letters form an acronym meaning “a great miracle happened here”.

The most important symbol of Hanukkah is the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah).  It is a type of candelabrum that holds eight candles to commemorate the eight days that the oil burned and a ninth candle that sits apart, known as the shamash, or servant candle that lights the others. One candle is lit on the first night, another on the second, and so forth until all candles are lit on the last night.

The diversity of people who live in Australia is charming.  There are so many special events to celebrate.  Book budget accommodation Sydney and you will have the chance to meet international students, backpackers, international travelers.  The cultural changes are so important!

Christmas is almost here!  How do you feel about spending a different Christmas, this time without snow, in Australia?  You will love it!  If you decide to come to Manly next week, you will have the chance to feel the holidays’ spirit at a special Christmas Concert.

Book accommodation at a Manly hostel and attend the Christmas Choral Concert!  You will have the chance to meet the local community.  Manly Council invites families, friends and neighbours to join together in a musical celebration of Christmas at the annual Christmas Choral Concert.  The concert starts at 6.30 PM at The Corso, Manly Beachfront.  All the backpackers, international students, travelers are invited to come along to sing all the popular Christmas Carols accompanied by the Northern Beaches Orchestra, Sydney Vocal Arts Centre and Manly Community Choir. There will be so many surprises.  Book budget accommodation Sydney and come to meet Santa!  There will be also a spectacular fireworks finale to conclude the night.

There will be an evening of entertainment.  Do not forget also to spend some time at the popular markets from Manly!   They offer an array of Christmas cookies, gifts and crafts.

If you decide to spend a few days in Sydney, you definitely cannot miss Sydney’s markets.  Book budget accommodation at a Manly hostel and start the tour!  Do not forget that Manly is only 30 minutes away from Sydney by ferry!

Here are the most popular 4 markets!

1.The Rocks Markets

During the weekend more than 200 stalls wait for you with homewares, jewellery, leather products, local prints, arts and craft.  When it comes to The Rocks Food Markets, you can buy delicious products like Turkish gozleme, barbequed salmon, gourmet sausages, mini cupcakes. Etc.

2.Paddy’s Markets at Haymarket (Wednesday – Sunday) and Flemington (Friday – Sunday)

Keep in mind that these markets are Sydney’s original and biggest markets.  Approximately 1000 stalls wait for their costumers between the two venues.  You can find almost everything here from toys, CDs, novelty items, plants, clothing, accessories and souvenirs at hard-to-beat prices.

3.Rozelle Marketswait for their customers on weekends.  You can purchase so many itmes from clothing, food to homewares, handmade jewellery. It is great to know that Rozelle Markets often have a larger share of vintage furniture, old homewares, second-hand books and vinyl records.  If you adore vintage items, you definitely have to come here!

4. All the students, backpackers and young international students can visit the Glebe Markets on Saturdays.  The good news is that the University of Sydney is just down the road.  You will find here T-shirts, jeans, CDs and different items related to music.