Overseas: A Moonlight Movie

SHIP'S LOG: B goes dancing in the dark in Sydney's Moonlight Cinema.

Now, I'm not very geeky about a lot of things but I love me some good teenage musicals. Grease, West Side Story, Crybaby, Hairspray and even, yes, High School Musical. During low points in my life my ringtone would (unashamedly) be 'Get Your Head in the Game'. See, I don't blame you if you now feel the need to close this window and never visit this blog again.

So when my sister mentioned the outdoor moonlight cinema in Sydney I had no qualms about blowing money on that experience. And it just so happened that Grease was playing the only night we could watch. At first I balked at the fact that it was a sing-a-long version. Oh no. Cheesy karaoke style lyrics bouncing along the bottom of the screen? Butchering the coolness that is John Travolta in a pompadour and leather jacket? No, thanks. But hoping for the best, we went anyway.

Since this was as close as I will ever get to an outdoor music festival, I wanted to dress as if I was going to one. It was kind of appropriate since the crowds had to drag their own beanbags and blankets to sit on in the big empty field and wait for the show to start.

For those who don't have their own gear they rent $9 beanbags. And if you didn't think to save money by bringing your own snacks or booze, there were two silver trailers selling chips, onion rings, hotdogs, wine and beer for your convenience. The sponsors also kindly spray bug repellant all over you to keep pesky mosquitos away!

Everyone got there early to position themselves near the screen so we had to wait quite a bit for the film to start. We had so much time that I was able stuff my face with hotdogs, onion rings, chips and then take a 45 minute nap. The crowd at the moonlight cinema is pretty diverse. Mothers with their bouncy little daughters, yuppies on a double date, noisy girlfriends and even adorable old couples.

If you ever decide to go DON'T forget to bring a jacket or blanket of some kind. The old man sitting beside us was so chilly he put spare plastic bags around his feet and hands until my sister gave him our blanket.

Once the show started the crowd got pretty riled up. A cute moment was when everyone burst into a cheer when Sandy mentioned she was from Australia. :) Then when the first few words of 'Summer Lovin'' popped out everyone started singing. Even if you think singing-a-long is lame you kind of can't help but get caught up in it. And whoever made the sing-a-long version really put effort into making the graphics fun. The words kept popping up in really random ways. The hand jive even had a small instructional video in the corner.It cracked my sister and I up.

And, seriously, John Travolta. Hands down.

By the last number everyone was so into it that a bunch of people ran to the open space in front of the projector and started dancing. Until more and more people joined and you could just see this mass of figures dancing in the dark. It was pretty magical and I'm sure everyone was grinning when the lights came back on.

My brother heard two little girls talking on the way out. Keep in mind they've probably never seen Grease before.

Little Girl 1: "Oh my gosh, that movie was awesome!"

Little Girl 2: "It wasn't awesome...it was the BEST!"

My sisters poor boyfriend (who laughed at us for even watching the thing) had to suffer through us shouting songs at him all the way home. It was so much fun and if you're in Sydney you must check it out. I was just bummed out that I couldn't catch the next few shows which included Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ferris Beuller (God, I would jump to dance to the Twist and Shout number in that movie) and Top Gun. Argh!

B wears Element white top, Topshop denim shorts, thrifted boots

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.