Overseas: Collaroy Cinema

SHIP'S LOG: Even if movies in Australia are ridiculously expensive B just had to experience watching one in ye old cinema house.

My parents gave my brother and I the best Christmas/New Year's gift ever by sending us to Australia to celebrate the holidays with my sister. Australia-despite it's shops and restaurants that close at 5pm- is one of my favorite places in the world. There's just something so mellow, happy and friendly about Australia. Everyone is endlessly chatty and helpful. I mean, I was just reading by the beach when a woman stops in the middle of her workout to ask me how I was liking the book! I was so amused.

My sister's awesome pad is right in front of the beach and one block away from this art deco cinema. I just researched now and it was built in the 1930s. Now she warned me that movies cost too much but I had to see what it looked like inside. It was a bonus that Melancholia was showing. I had already downloaded and seen it but heard it was a completely different experience on the big screen.

They were right the sound effects used in Melancholia were twice as powerful. When the movie ended (no spoilers but Charlotte Gainsbourg is amazing) the audience was sitting in silence for like five minutes. I was joking my brother that we should have broken the silence with a very loud, very trashy 'Dayummmmm!' but we didn't :P

The inside of the theatre (for those with vivid imaginations) is plush red carpets and red velvety seats with wooden arm rests. There were miniature chandeliers hanging from the ceiling too. It definitely had an old cinema feel. Like I should have been wearing a cocktail dress or something.

I also have to say one of the best things about Australia is that the people couldn't give less of a crap if you show a little skin. Girls are walking around in bikini tops, guys in boardshorts and dozens of people stalking the burning pavement barefoot. I loved it. I was originally whining about leaving Manila's 'fall' weather behind but ended up embracing bare midriffs and legs for two weeks. Still apparently a bit hung over since I'm typing this lying on my green furry rug (an impractical purchase from Ikea just because it looked like grass) in a floral cropped top even if it's pouring rain outside.

B wears thrifted denim shirt, Sportsgirl cropped top, Topshop high-waisted shorts and Vans.