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