New Year

I am not hype about new year's party, but certainly would like to see how Australian's celebrate new year's. Imagine if you have a pub or a bottle-o shop, how much profit would you be earning here, most of them drink every single day (well at least the person whom I've been around). 

I'm thinking of heading to Mount Ainslie to have a look at some fireworks from the top but I'm not quite sure. The last time I went over there it was super dark after around 8.30pm. By dark I mean like Malaysian dark, not Singaporean dark. We have street lights nearly every 3 metres, well-lit and don't have any wild animals appearing out of nowhere. In Australia, a wild kangaroo might be jumping right in front of you while driving or at your front lawn chilling doesn't matter what time. So just be extra careful.

Speaking about wild, I am still unsure about spiders, birds, snakes etc. So beware of them and get some research before coming over. I've encountered with some huntsmen, redback, white tail due to the nature of my work. I wish I will not meet any snakes but this is summer, its their most active time.

Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas to anyone reading this and a happy new year,

For those who are working on Christmas and boxing day (the day after christmas), good for you..hustling to make more money!

Everyone is on holidays, going all over Australia..Most of the companies have shut down or all the employees block leave till the 7th or 14th of Jan till they get back to work. Isn't it amazing over here?

But hey, doesn't matter as I am paying rent for a room but got the whole 4 bedder house to myself.

For those muslim traveller in Canberra who are looking to cook up some halal meal or miss the normal asian noodles that you are used to. Take a drive to Asian Provision in Phillip ACT, I took a drive over and boy was I glad, I've found Maggi asam laksa, tom yam & curry. Best thing is the normal sweet soy sauce that I've been searching for in Coles or Woolies.

Well I can definitely tell you that it ain't cheap like Singapore, NO cheap mamak stall, hawker centre, $2 chicken rice. I miss the food and the ease of getting good food whenever I want.

Bought a car in Oz cheaper than a wrecking bike in Singapore

Lemme try to use some of the slangs that have been passed down to me by some locals.

So I bought a 1999 Honda HR-V petrol Car a few days ago which I don't know much about. It was listed at 2.8 Gorrilas/Grand (AUD$2800) at a dealership but I negotiated to $2300. Comes with a towbar which can cost about 4 Hunjees/Grey ghost (AUD$400) and Rego till 6/9/2019, passed pink slip & Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance which cost roughly about 7 Hunjee. Not to forget I paid about a Hunjee and a pineapple (AUD$150)  for transfer of ownership at RMA.

I have yet to get a comprehensive or third party insurance which covers more than a CTP. The cost of a cheapest comprehensive insurance per year here in Queanbeyan is about 4 Hunjees and a road side assist per year is a Hunjee. So that is technically half of a Gorilla.

All in, I would just be buying a car with about 10 months rego for under 3 Gorilla with all the comprehensive insurance and road side assist.

For this kinda price, I would get a beat up 1988 Yamaha Rxz and 1.5 years COE in Singapore when I was 18, for roughly about the same price with an unexperience insurance of just third party. 

But hey, I turned it into a wonderful machine after that which cost me a bomb

I think this machine will serve me well as there is towbar and if I got no room, I can sleep at the back of the car when I travel. Save me some money. Plus this will be great for my current job, as I can put lawn mower, whipper snipper (grass cutter),  hedger etc at the back since the seats can be fold down.

I don't know much about cars or about the Australian laws of selling/buying cars but I will put up a post of what I know soon 

Rent in Canberra/Queanbeyan

I first landed with an accommodation that I purchase 8 nights stay in YHA Canberra at about AUD$35 per night sharing with 7 other people in the room.

24th Oct 2018 - 31 Oct 2018 (AUD $280 in total). 

Then I got to make a move to the outskirts of Canberra ACT which is just Queanbeyan NSW as I am starting my job on the 1 Nov 2018. I rented Airbnb in Donald Road, Karabar for 12 nights starting from 31 Oct 2018 to 12 Nov 2018, total was AUD$408 but I saved AUD$55 as I used a referral link. I lost 1 night stay in YHA, but I got to make a move as I will be working the next day. So a total sum of AUD$353 or AUD$29 per night I have a room entirely to myself but there's no free internet.

For Airbnb let someone invite you first and you will get $55 off your first rent, click my link and you'll save $55 off your first rent.

I go on looking for rooms/apartment in flatmates, gumtree etc but to no avail. So what I did next was to just message a host in Airbnb and casually ask them if they are willing to rent at a different rate from Airbnb inclusive of utilities and wifi. It was renting out a ensuite room at AUD$60 per night on Airbnb  but I manage to close at AUD250 per week or AUD$35 per night with 2 weeks bond and 1 week advance. The landlord is a young female and drives a bloody new Audi. Rents the other 3 rooms at i think AUD$180 per week each. Young property investor I guess. Just so you know I didn't even sign any contracts or paperwork as I believe in mutual trust.

But wait, I got another offer of fully furnished 1 bedroom apartment at AUD$200 per week, no bonds what so ever (as the landlord is a mate of my employer) but it's non inclusive of utilities and wifi. So now I'm thinking of moving out but unsure what the utilities might cost me.

Sharing information like this to me is crucial for the next person who might want to know the rates or experience

Halal in Canberra

Coming to Australia, I've not been too fussy with those halal logos that you can easily spot on most of the items in Singapore or even the hawker centers or food court.

Just have a $1 woolworths/coles bread and get a spread. Their Maggi is a little different but you can have Indomie which is an Indonesian brand and its halal. There's some asian stall near Canberra Centre which sell the Maggi that Singaporeans are used to, but there's only Maggi Curry/Kari. Please do your due diligence and watchout for some sale item and inspect the expiry date. I've bought a 3 for $5 nescafe and turned out to be few months expired. But still, these types of sale will help you save some bucks, especially if you are a backpacker.

There's only 5 stores that I've eaten at so far, Papparich  , Turkish halal pide , Mr Zee and Kingsley Chicken which have their halal logo either on website or on site. There's one more Taste a curry, in Queanbeyan. The stall serve halal meat, at first I went in and the owner said he was muslim but on the next visit, I ask where's the nearest mosque and he couldn't answer...So its a little dodgy. 

Just trust your guts, but I decided not to go the places which I'm not comfortable with anymore. Most of the items/brands that you see in Singapore that have halal logos, does not over here. So do your own checks...

1 month in Australia

Nearly a month in Australia (Queanbeyan, NSW) on a working holiday visa 462 from Singapore

Truth be told,

Its not as easy as it seems when you read other people's blog, Facebook post or even a Youtube videos which they are saving AUD $15,000 - $20,000 (10 - 20 Gorillas) for a period of 3,5 or 6 months.

Food, drinks, accommodation etc are not as cheap. When you think that you got a minimum wage of AUD $19/hour will get you through. Think again. 

Let's break it down for you. 

Eating out will cost you roughly about $15-$20 per plate. If you choose fast food probably will cost you lesser estimated about $11-$15.

Renting a bedroom will cost you about $180-250 per week all inclusive, electricity/internet etc (if you are lucky to get all in cost, if not you will have to recalculate your finances)

Cigarettes or roll your own tabacco will cost you at least $20 per box of 20s or 15g. 

Bus, from Canberra ACT to Queanbeyan NSW cost $4.90 each way.

I'm considered lucky to land a job without interviews or skills/experience way before I landed in Australia. YHA hostel was my first 8 days of accommodation then to Airbnb for a 13 days as it was not easy to find a accommodation straight away then moved again to an ensuite which I made a deal through an Airbnb host for all in cost and just 2 weeks bond.

Even though I am earning quite alright at 46 hrs per week, just put it at 950 per week after taxes of 15%. But soon after deduction of rental at $250, I'm left with just $700. I need to either pick up more work or move to a cheaper accommodation. I've bought my own rice cooker and cooking needs to save more. But unless I can just live off Coles/Woolies bread at $1 every half a week, I guess it quite difficult to achieve that amount in that short time period with just 1 job. 

Some tips and advise, don't buy a bus card if you are moving states unless you fully utilize it before your move. Talk to anyone and everyone if you've got the chance. You don't know unless you've tried.

Working Holiday Visa 462 Australia from Singapore

ELIGIBILITY

You may be eligible for a Work and Holiday visa if you:

• Are aged 18 to 30 years (inclusive) on the date you apply; and
• Hold a valid Singapore passport; and
• have not previously held a Working Holiday (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa; and
• have functional English; and
• hold a tertiary qualification (Doctoral degree, Masters degree, Graduate diploma, Graduate certificate, Bachelor degree, Associate degree, Advanced diploma, Diploma level qualifications), or have successfully completed at least two years of undergraduate university study.
• Have sufficient funds (Generally AUD5000)

More info please visit VFSGlobal & Homeaffairs Australia

*Under the Singapore/Australia Work and Holiday agreement an annual limit of 500 Work and Holiday visas are available each year. Once all visas have been allocated, there will be no more new visa grants until the following programme year.

Good luck!

If you have met the eligibility requirements, then you look at the fees. When I applied in June 2018

Visa Fee                                                                    - SGD 490 (Cash)

Application lodgement & biometric collection Fee - SGD 55   (Cash)

SATA CommHealth Chai Chee med check up Fee  - SGD 177 (Nets) 

If you are eligible and ready financially, mentally, physically prepared.

1. Book a slot at VFSGlobal , download and fill up and bring all the required documents and head over on your booked date & don't forget the Visa & application fees (It might change)
2. Wait for an email for your health check at their panel of doctors, I chose SATA Chai Chee as I rang up and they got the dates which I'm available.
3. Wait for your approval email.

My whole process from booking VFS to medical to approval email is about 2-3 weeks.

After which you will have 1 year to arrive in Australia from date of approval. So for Men, which are still required to serve reservist, do apply for exit permit. You can apply 3 months before you fly off, its just for 1 year, so in the case that you need to re-apply if you get a 2nd year WHV 462, you need to re-apply.

Stay tune....