3 months later at Dixon Advisory...
I've realised that I quite like the working environment here at Dixon Advisory Canberra. The people are nice and friendly, the work is interesting and can be quite hectic during the peak season but we have our non-peak periods as well, breakfast is provided and overall, I quite like it there.
I'm halfway through my current probation period of 6 months and am still learning something new everyday. I still need to be very proactive and unassuming in my tasks in order to achieve greater and more efficient performance when doing things. I've also started my Diploma in Financial Planning Services 2 weeks back and would be taking 4 subjects for this diploma. It is a self study course where you have access to a physical textbook and some online course material. In order to pass each subject/unit, I will have to pass an assignment and score greater than 85% (I think) for my exam, all this within a time frame of 3 months.
Apart from work, I've been trying to increase my stamina bit by bit to get myself back in shape. I downloaded a running app for my Blackberry and I find it really useful in tracking my performance. In the past 3 weeks alone, I've managed to clock up to 42km in total running distance as well as up to 13km in total rowing distance. My aunt bought a rowing machine 2 weeks back and I find it really helpful in building up my lung capacity as well as my lower back muscle. My best time so far for a 5km run is 23 minutes while my best time on a 5km row is 19 minutes and 30 seconds. I'm hoping to bring this time down my running time to 20 minutes and my rowing time to 18 minutes within the next 2-3 months.
I'll try to snap a couple of pictures over the coming days/weeks/months to make my blog look a little bit livelier. For now, I'm going to head back to my assignment. Got to try and complete as much as I can as soon as I can.
Take care!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
San Francisco Vacation Rentals
Ever wanted to travel to San Francisco but lack the budget for the expensive accommodation price tag that comes along with it? Now here's your chance to do so. San Francisco Vacation Rentals is part of Airbnb which is the latest traveling trend by backpackers all around the world. San Francisco Vacation Rentals lets you list (if you're a home owner/renter going for a holiday) or book (if you are a traveler looking for a place to stay) a place within San Francisco.
You get to view pictures of the place you're interested in staying, view feedback by previous travelers, and post your own feedback after your stay. Airbnb facilitates the payment and holds the payment from the tenant for 24 hours after you have checked-in and are satisfied with the place.
Here's a short video clip on how San Francisco Vacation Rentals works:
San Francisco Vacation Rentals currently has over a thousand places to choose from. Ranging from 1 bedroom apartments in the city to huge 5 bedroom houses by the seaside. The whole concept is pretty neat and I would most certainly want to give this a go when I pay my friend a visit in the United States one day.
So if you're planning a trip to San Francisco anytime soon, check out San Francisco Vacation Rentals first before googling for hotels to stay in. You might save yourself quite a bit of cash which you can use to fund other things during your trip.
You get to view pictures of the place you're interested in staying, view feedback by previous travelers, and post your own feedback after your stay. Airbnb facilitates the payment and holds the payment from the tenant for 24 hours after you have checked-in and are satisfied with the place.
Here's a short video clip on how San Francisco Vacation Rentals works:
San Francisco Vacation Rentals currently has over a thousand places to choose from. Ranging from 1 bedroom apartments in the city to huge 5 bedroom houses by the seaside. The whole concept is pretty neat and I would most certainly want to give this a go when I pay my friend a visit in the United States one day.
So if you're planning a trip to San Francisco anytime soon, check out San Francisco Vacation Rentals first before googling for hotels to stay in. You might save yourself quite a bit of cash which you can use to fund other things during your trip.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Renting in Canberra
I've actually moved out of my uncle's place a few weeks ago now. Since I've got a full time job, it was high time that I started being more independent. I'm currently renting a room in a fully furnished house with an Aussie family. The rent is AUD $200/week or around RM640/week (or RM33,280/year) which is inclusive of all bills; water, electricity, gas and internet. The price is average but you can probably find cheaper rents elsewhere. The main reason why I chose this place was because the house itself is clean and tidy unlike some of the other places I've checked out which were horrible.
My landlord is a pretty nice guy. He and his wife are really friendly and easy to get along with. And because the house is fully furnished, I didn't have to buy too much when I initially moved in here (apart from all the Asian pantry staples such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, wan ton noodles, mee suah, etc. and a rice cooker that is). And fortunately for me, my landlord doesn't mind me cooking up the typical Asian stir fry.
I've been cooking the usual stuff the past few weeks. Nothing really interesting. Had stir fry snow peas with prawns with lots of garlic, eggplant with minced beef, fried mee hoon, wan ton mee, fried egg with french beans, stir fried broccoli with beef slices, stir fried ginger beef and so on. I even cooked a steak one day on my landlord's bbq. Just did the basic salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, oil and red wine marinate and chuck it on the fire. Nothing too fancy.
Anyway, here are some pictures of my room:
My current place now is also pretty convenient as it is located quite close to the town centre where all the shops, supermarkets, banks, restaurants and fast food joints are located. It is also where I catch the bus every morning to get to work.
This place where I'm currently renting is also very near a lake (or a pond). The distance round the lake is roughly 4km. So what I normally do is I go for a jog either on Saturday or Sunday around the lake just to keep fit. I hardly have any time to jog during the weekdays because I normally get home late after work. But I'll be looking to jog more regularly during the Christmas break.
My landlord is a pretty nice guy. He and his wife are really friendly and easy to get along with. And because the house is fully furnished, I didn't have to buy too much when I initially moved in here (apart from all the Asian pantry staples such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, wan ton noodles, mee suah, etc. and a rice cooker that is). And fortunately for me, my landlord doesn't mind me cooking up the typical Asian stir fry.
I've been cooking the usual stuff the past few weeks. Nothing really interesting. Had stir fry snow peas with prawns with lots of garlic, eggplant with minced beef, fried mee hoon, wan ton mee, fried egg with french beans, stir fried broccoli with beef slices, stir fried ginger beef and so on. I even cooked a steak one day on my landlord's bbq. Just did the basic salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, oil and red wine marinate and chuck it on the fire. Nothing too fancy.
Anyway, here are some pictures of my room:
My current place now is also pretty convenient as it is located quite close to the town centre where all the shops, supermarkets, banks, restaurants and fast food joints are located. It is also where I catch the bus every morning to get to work.
The yellow line is the route I normally take to get to the bus stop. It's about 850m or a 10 minute walk. The bus takes about half an hour from there to the city centre where my workplace is.
This place where I'm currently renting is also very near a lake (or a pond). The distance round the lake is roughly 4km. So what I normally do is I go for a jog either on Saturday or Sunday around the lake just to keep fit. I hardly have any time to jog during the weekdays because I normally get home late after work. But I'll be looking to jog more regularly during the Christmas break.
The red line is the path I take when I go for my once-a-week jog. I think the total distance is around 4.5 to about 5km which isn't too bad.
Here are some pictures of my 'neighbourhood':
The Town Centre is all the way down this road where the building with the little 'chimney' is.
The path on the way to the lake
The jogging path at the lake
It's very green with lots of trees and plants all around
The usual ducks and ducklings at the lake. You can see some black swans there sometimes. Some people also go there to fish. Not sure if they ever caught anything though.
That's all for now. Will update again next time. Am going to be busy with work over the next two weeks running up to the Christmas break. Take care!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
New Phone: Blackberry Bold 9700
Just a short update.
I was actually just about to confirm my order for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc when another rival phone company had a promotion for a Blackberry Bold 9700. It's a pretty old phone, but I get a lot more credit for calls if I sign up with those guys. For the BB plan, I only have to pay $29/month for 1 year (which is good as I can would be able to sign on to a new contract next year and get another new phone) and I will have enough credit to make a phone call to a mobile number in Cuba for around 3 whole hours (assuming my phone's battery doesn't die on me by then). With the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, I had to pay $29/month for 2 whole years and only get enough credit to call my friend in Cuba for 2 hours on her mobile phone.
And because the main reason for getting a new phone was not because of the phone but because of the credit to call my friend, I decided to apply for the Blackberry model instead. This particular 9700 model was released in October 2009. So it's about 2 years old as it is. The specs aren't great, with a 624Mhz processor (which is still faster than my current Nokia N97 mini's 434Mhz), 256mb of RAM (double my current 128mb), a slightly faster bluetooth connection with supporting up to v2.1 (unlike my current v2.0) as well as a longer battery life with the BB having a 1500mAh Li-Ion battery (compared to my miserable 1200mAh). The BB also boasts a slightly higher pixel density although it only has a 3.2mp camera compared to my Nokia's 5mp camera. However, I'm not really in it for the camera, so that doesn't really bother me.
Also, my current $29/month plan includes a 1.5gb of data for video streaming and unlimited Blackberry Email Internet Browsing. It should be more than sufficient as I hardly use too much of my mobile internet.
I was actually just about to confirm my order for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc when another rival phone company had a promotion for a Blackberry Bold 9700. It's a pretty old phone, but I get a lot more credit for calls if I sign up with those guys. For the BB plan, I only have to pay $29/month for 1 year (which is good as I can would be able to sign on to a new contract next year and get another new phone) and I will have enough credit to make a phone call to a mobile number in Cuba for around 3 whole hours (assuming my phone's battery doesn't die on me by then). With the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, I had to pay $29/month for 2 whole years and only get enough credit to call my friend in Cuba for 2 hours on her mobile phone.
And because the main reason for getting a new phone was not because of the phone but because of the credit to call my friend, I decided to apply for the Blackberry model instead. This particular 9700 model was released in October 2009. So it's about 2 years old as it is. The specs aren't great, with a 624Mhz processor (which is still faster than my current Nokia N97 mini's 434Mhz), 256mb of RAM (double my current 128mb), a slightly faster bluetooth connection with supporting up to v2.1 (unlike my current v2.0) as well as a longer battery life with the BB having a 1500mAh Li-Ion battery (compared to my miserable 1200mAh). The BB also boasts a slightly higher pixel density although it only has a 3.2mp camera compared to my Nokia's 5mp camera. However, I'm not really in it for the camera, so that doesn't really bother me.
Also, my current $29/month plan includes a 1.5gb of data for video streaming and unlimited Blackberry Email Internet Browsing. It should be more than sufficient as I hardly use too much of my mobile internet.
I've already put in my order for the phone. So hopefully my credit check is successful and I would be able to receive it by the end of this week if all goes well.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
So now that I've started working full time, I thought I might treat myself and buy me-self a new phone. My current Nokia N97 mini is still working fine albeit a little (maybe very) laggy. It hangs ever so often and the battery doesn't seem to be able to last the whole day as well. I was also in the midst of looking for an extra phone line so that I can have extra credit each month to call a good friend of mine who is currently studying in Cuba. So since I was going to get a phone line anyway, why not sign up for a 24 month contract and get a new phone whilst I'm at it?
So after much browsing (of the various telco websites), I decided to get the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. This phone was released less than a year ago in March. It is sort of a mid-ranged phone and is no where as powerful as the Iphone 4 or the Galaxy SII. However, the newly launced SE Xperia Arc S (which is one model after the Arc and was just released last month) which boasts of a 1.4Ghz processor might be able to compete with those two phones.
The SE Xperia Arc has a 4.2" LCD screen which has the same panel that Sony uses in their Bravia TV range. This phone also has an 8.1-megapixel camera sensor which borrows the Exmor-R back-side illuminated image sensor from the Sony's Cybershot camera range. Apart from it's 1Ghz processor and Android OS platform, this phone is also one of the lighter phones on the market, weighing just 117g.
I might be getting this phone in the coming week or so. It should provide me with something to do over the Christmas holidays. Also, I'll be paying $29 per month for 24 months once I sign up with this plan. Hopefully I'll like the phone and won't have too many things to complain about.
So after much browsing (of the various telco websites), I decided to get the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc. This phone was released less than a year ago in March. It is sort of a mid-ranged phone and is no where as powerful as the Iphone 4 or the Galaxy SII. However, the newly launced SE Xperia Arc S (which is one model after the Arc and was just released last month) which boasts of a 1.4Ghz processor might be able to compete with those two phones.
The SE Xperia Arc has a 4.2" LCD screen which has the same panel that Sony uses in their Bravia TV range. This phone also has an 8.1-megapixel camera sensor which borrows the Exmor-R back-side illuminated image sensor from the Sony's Cybershot camera range. Apart from it's 1Ghz processor and Android OS platform, this phone is also one of the lighter phones on the market, weighing just 117g.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
ACT Road Rules Knowledge Assessment Test
In order for me to get an Australian drivers license, I had to re-take both the theory and practical exams again despite holding a Malaysian drivers license. It's just so unfair that we Malaysians have to re-take our driving exams again while our fellow neighbours, the Singaporeans, get to convert their drivers license without having to sit for any further test.
So anyway, I went to one of the two testing centres that Canberra has to do my Road Rules test or more commonly known as 'Undang' in Malaysia. There are 35 questions in the test and you are allowed to make 4 mistakes in the general section and none in the intersection, drugs and alcohol and seat belts section. If you do make a mistake in one of the three sections stated, you'll automatically fail the test and have to resit.
The test itself costs AUD $35 per sitting (maximum of 2 sittings per day) and you would be required to bring along:
1. your foreign drivers license,
2. an NAATI approved translation of your drivers license if it's not in English,
3. 3 forms of ID (Passport, Medicare card, ATO tax assessment, etc.),
4. 2 passport sized photos ($5 payable for picture to be taken on that day), and
5. $35 (both cash and Eftpos accepted).
Some practice questions can be found on the ACT Government's website. It is advised that you have a go at the practice questions prior to sitting for the Road Rules test. Some of the questions are actually similar in the actual test itself.
There are two testing centres:
North Canberra Office
Canberra Technology Park, Block D
49 Phillip Avenue, WATSON ACT 2602
Ph: 02 6162 5152
Fax: 02 6162 5153
E: roadreadynorth@freebott.com.au
South Canberra Office
72 Townshend Street,
PHILLIP 2606
Ph: 02 6282 8990
Fax: 02 6281 7432
E: roadreadysouth@freebott.com.au
Their opening hours are:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 12noon
It's fortunate that they open on Saturdays as Saturdays are the only time when I'm actually free to do all this kind of funny things now that I'm working full time. As for my test, it went alright. Managed to score 34/35. After I passed the test, they printed out a confirmation letter to be presented when I book my practical exam.
More on the driving test when I actually attempt it in the next few months or so.
So anyway, I went to one of the two testing centres that Canberra has to do my Road Rules test or more commonly known as 'Undang' in Malaysia. There are 35 questions in the test and you are allowed to make 4 mistakes in the general section and none in the intersection, drugs and alcohol and seat belts section. If you do make a mistake in one of the three sections stated, you'll automatically fail the test and have to resit.
The test itself costs AUD $35 per sitting (maximum of 2 sittings per day) and you would be required to bring along:
1. your foreign drivers license,
2. an NAATI approved translation of your drivers license if it's not in English,
3. 3 forms of ID (Passport, Medicare card, ATO tax assessment, etc.),
4. 2 passport sized photos ($5 payable for picture to be taken on that day), and
5. $35 (both cash and Eftpos accepted).
Some practice questions can be found on the ACT Government's website. It is advised that you have a go at the practice questions prior to sitting for the Road Rules test. Some of the questions are actually similar in the actual test itself.
There are two testing centres:
North Canberra Office
Canberra Technology Park, Block D
49 Phillip Avenue, WATSON ACT 2602
Ph: 02 6162 5152
Fax: 02 6162 5153
E: roadreadynorth@freebott.com.au
South Canberra Office
72 Townshend Street,
PHILLIP 2606
Ph: 02 6282 8990
Fax: 02 6281 7432
E: roadreadysouth@freebott.com.au
Their opening hours are:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 12noon
It's fortunate that they open on Saturdays as Saturdays are the only time when I'm actually free to do all this kind of funny things now that I'm working full time. As for my test, it went alright. Managed to score 34/35. After I passed the test, they printed out a confirmation letter to be presented when I book my practical exam.
More on the driving test when I actually attempt it in the next few months or so.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Permanent Residency (PR) Application Approved
My Australian Permanent Residency (PR) Application has been approved. I got an email a couple of days ago informing me that my Skilled - Independent (VB 885) visa has been granted. It took the Department of Immigration and Citizenship approximately 20 weeks to process my PR application.
In the notification email, it is also stated that I will have to wait 2 years before I can receive most Centrelink income support payments. Centrelink is the government organisation that makes social security payments. "Income support" is government welfare assistance that is enough to live on. The payments with a waiting period include unemployment and sickness benefits, income support payments for students and a number of other payments.
But I'm glad that's all well and done for now. Next thing to do is to get my Australian Drivers License. That's going to cost me another $300+. Will update again soon on that.
And maybe in 4 years time...
Back to PR Application Checklist
In the notification email, it is also stated that I will have to wait 2 years before I can receive most Centrelink income support payments. Centrelink is the government organisation that makes social security payments. "Income support" is government welfare assistance that is enough to live on. The payments with a waiting period include unemployment and sickness benefits, income support payments for students and a number of other payments.
But I'm glad that's all well and done for now. Next thing to do is to get my Australian Drivers License. That's going to cost me another $300+. Will update again soon on that.
And maybe in 4 years time...
Back to PR Application Checklist
Saturday, October 29, 2011
A Job and Moving Out
I'm glad to say (or write) that I've finally gotten myself a job at a company called Dixon Advisory. I am indeed very thankful that I have been given an opportunity to work in one of Australia's leading independently owned financial advisory firms.
A short excerpt from their website:
I guess Dixon is a pretty good place to start as a fresh graduate. I am expected to work late during the peak season (April-August) but the working lifestyle has been pretty good so far. I'm currently a financial analyst in the firm. Basically what I do there is to assist the Financial Advisors by taking notes during meeting with clients and drafting up Statements of Advice which are basically documents containing all of the recommendations made by the advisors during the meeting.
I will also be moving out from my uncle's place pretty soon. Am going to be renting a room with an Aussie family in a nearby suburb. The main thing that I was looking for when I was looking around for my own place was that my place had to be close to a bus stop. I do not plan to get my own car just yet although I might reconsider in a couple of months when I get a pay rise. I'm going to be paying AUD $200 per week for this place that I'm going to be moving into. I'll be getting a room, furnished with my own bed, a small work desk and a wadrobe. Apart from that, the whole house is also fully furnished so I do not have to buy much stuff when I move in.
My rent also includes all bills; water, electricity, gas and internet, which is pretty good. The place I'm staying in is pretty convenient because it is located around 800m from the bus stop, 2 major supermarkets, major banks, a dry cleaners, a post office and a couple of restaurants. Hopefully everything will work out well.
I'll also be on leave for around 2 weeks plus for the Christmas/New Year period as the firm will be closed then. Therefore, I'll be taking leave without pay during that period as I have not accumulated any annual leave just yet. I might think of something to do then. Maybe pop by Sydney or something.
I guess that's probably all for now. Will update again with pictures of my new place. Take care!
A short excerpt from their website:
Dixon Advisory is one of Australia’s leading independently owned financial advisory firms. We help more than 15,000 families with their superannuation and financial affairs including over 4,000 with self managed super funds (SMSFs) with a combined asset base in excess of $4 billion.
Dixon Advisory offers the following services:
- Financial advice
- SMSF set up and administration
- Investment advice
- Property and mortgage advice, including Australia’s leading property investment inside SMSF service.
- Estate planning and other legal services
- Insurance advice.
We provide a comprehensive suite of financial services and we are the only major advisory firm that helps clients with detailed expert advice on self managed super, retail, industry and government super funds.
- Learn about the benefits of choosing Dixon Advisory.
- Read Testimonials from a selection of our clients.
I guess Dixon is a pretty good place to start as a fresh graduate. I am expected to work late during the peak season (April-August) but the working lifestyle has been pretty good so far. I'm currently a financial analyst in the firm. Basically what I do there is to assist the Financial Advisors by taking notes during meeting with clients and drafting up Statements of Advice which are basically documents containing all of the recommendations made by the advisors during the meeting.
I will also be moving out from my uncle's place pretty soon. Am going to be renting a room with an Aussie family in a nearby suburb. The main thing that I was looking for when I was looking around for my own place was that my place had to be close to a bus stop. I do not plan to get my own car just yet although I might reconsider in a couple of months when I get a pay rise. I'm going to be paying AUD $200 per week for this place that I'm going to be moving into. I'll be getting a room, furnished with my own bed, a small work desk and a wadrobe. Apart from that, the whole house is also fully furnished so I do not have to buy much stuff when I move in.
My rent also includes all bills; water, electricity, gas and internet, which is pretty good. The place I'm staying in is pretty convenient because it is located around 800m from the bus stop, 2 major supermarkets, major banks, a dry cleaners, a post office and a couple of restaurants. Hopefully everything will work out well.
I'll also be on leave for around 2 weeks plus for the Christmas/New Year period as the firm will be closed then. Therefore, I'll be taking leave without pay during that period as I have not accumulated any annual leave just yet. I might think of something to do then. Maybe pop by Sydney or something.
I guess that's probably all for now. Will update again with pictures of my new place. Take care!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Processing Time, Permanent Residency (PR), Australia
It's been close to four months and I still haven't heard from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) regarding my permanent residency application. Apparently, they haven't even touched my application form yet according to their website.
Finding out when your application will be processed or whether or not it has been allocated a case officer:
If you clicked on the link above, and scroll down, you will find a table showing the various visa subclasses as well as their respective dates. Applicants who have lodged their applications before those dates have been contacted by a case officer and should only take a matter of weeks before their final visa is granted. The table is updated fortnightly.
I actually lodged my application online towards the end of June. So it shouldn't take too long before a case officer is allocated to me. I'm estimating a time of around 3 weeks before this actually happens. Hopefully once I get allocated a case officer, everything will be processed really quickly and I will be able to get my Permanent Residency Visa approved before the end of next month.
Back to PR Application Checklist
Finding out when your application will be processed or whether or not it has been allocated a case officer:
If you clicked on the link above, and scroll down, you will find a table showing the various visa subclasses as well as their respective dates. Applicants who have lodged their applications before those dates have been contacted by a case officer and should only take a matter of weeks before their final visa is granted. The table is updated fortnightly.
Processing dates for General Skilled Migration applicants. Updated on the 7th of October 2011.
I actually lodged my application online towards the end of June. So it shouldn't take too long before a case officer is allocated to me. I'm estimating a time of around 3 weeks before this actually happens. Hopefully once I get allocated a case officer, everything will be processed really quickly and I will be able to get my Permanent Residency Visa approved before the end of next month.
Back to PR Application Checklist
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Family Holiday
My parents flew over into Melbourne from Malaysia last month. They were here for my graduation ceremony which was held in September. They landed in the morning and we took the Starbus shuttle to our budget accommodation called the Space Hotel. The hotel is located on 380 Russell Street in the CBD itself.
The hotel itself was pretty impressive. I paid a total of AUD $139 per night for a queen bed and 2 single bunk beds with my own ensuite bathroom. The so called 'hotel' also has quite a number of facilities such as their own theater room, lounge area, mini arcade room, gym area as well as quite a number of computers for guests to go online with. The 'hotel' also had a pretty big kitchen area for guests to cook stuff. But the downside to this place is that half the facilities don't actually work. The whole mini arcade room had game machines that are all spoilt. Their gym area was appalling with non-functional equipment that might pose a serious safety hazard to guests. The lounge area was pretty bare. And the worst part was that the hotel rooms only had heaters and not air-conditioners. Fortunately for me, I was staying during the start of Spring. So it was still pretty cooling when I was there.
I took my parents to Port Melbourne for fish and chips on the first day and then down to the Crown Casino at night to watch the fire display along the river bank. The Casino actually built a number a 'chimneys' along the bank that emits a huge flame at night. If I'm not mistaken, this fire display starts at 9pm and lasts for around 5 minutes every night and is displayed every hour until midnight.
The following day, we went to the Carlton Brewery in Abbotsford for a brewery tour and some beer tasting. It was a pretty informative session and we got a chance to sample four different types of beer each. Entrance was AUD $12 per person as I bought a coupon from a group buying website prior to their arrival.
In the afternoon, we headed to the Prahran markets just a couple of streets down from where we were for lunch. It's no where as big as the Queen Victoria market but I guess it's still somewhere to have a look around. After that, we headed to the Queen Victoria market and walked around the city's CBD.
We caught the early morning Greyhound bus to Canberra early the next morning at 7am. The journey was a killer. It took us about 9 hours plus just to reach Canberra because the bus had to make various stops along the various towns along the way. Over the next two days, we stayed in Canberra and didn't really do much.
I also went to Jervis Bay for two nights at Hyamms beach. Apparently this beach has the whitest sand in the world as certified by the Guinness Book of Records. I guess they were right. The sand was indeed really white. Only managed to take a short dip in the sea once because the water was freezingly cold. The weather during the trip wasn't exactly ideal either.
We came back to Canberra the day before my graduation. And my graduation ceremony took up the whole afternoon the following day. My parents managed to sneak in a short drive around Canberra's northern and southern suburbs in the morning before my ceremony itself.
The following day, we headed up to Sydney via Greyhound again. The only reason why I chose Greyhound was because all my flights that I booked via Tiger Airlines were cancelled when the airlines got grounded. Subsequently, they then decided to stop servicing the Canberra route as they deem the route as unprofitable. What a shame.
We stayed in another budget accommodation in Sydney; the Formula 1 Hotel which was located in Kings Cross. This hotel was slightly cheaper for the same type of room but way crappier. The F1 Hotel in Kings Cross was a really old one and they didn't really have any other facilities apart from a tiny kitchen. The next time I head up to Sydney, I'll definitely be booking a different place to stay.
At Sydney, we did all sorts of touristy things. We took pictures at the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, popped by the Sydney Fish Market to take some photos and had brunch there, caught the train and a ferry to Manly beach, shopped around Paddy's Market in Chinatown and walked along George Street to experience the culture.
After Sydney, it was back to Canberra for another night and then back to Melbourne to catch their flight.
Overall, I think I might have crammed a little bit too much within the two weeks that they were here. The next time they come over, I'm just going to leave them in Canberra to do nothing for two whole weeks.
That's pretty much it for now.
Take care!
The hotel itself was pretty impressive. I paid a total of AUD $139 per night for a queen bed and 2 single bunk beds with my own ensuite bathroom. The so called 'hotel' also has quite a number of facilities such as their own theater room, lounge area, mini arcade room, gym area as well as quite a number of computers for guests to go online with. The 'hotel' also had a pretty big kitchen area for guests to cook stuff. But the downside to this place is that half the facilities don't actually work. The whole mini arcade room had game machines that are all spoilt. Their gym area was appalling with non-functional equipment that might pose a serious safety hazard to guests. The lounge area was pretty bare. And the worst part was that the hotel rooms only had heaters and not air-conditioners. Fortunately for me, I was staying during the start of Spring. So it was still pretty cooling when I was there.
I took my parents to Port Melbourne for fish and chips on the first day and then down to the Crown Casino at night to watch the fire display along the river bank. The Casino actually built a number a 'chimneys' along the bank that emits a huge flame at night. If I'm not mistaken, this fire display starts at 9pm and lasts for around 5 minutes every night and is displayed every hour until midnight.
OZ Doner & Chicken Kebab or also known as Flemington Kebab
18 Racecourse Road, Flemington, Melbourne
A friend of mine recommended this kebab when I was in Melbourne. It's situated quite a bit out of town but it's easily accessible by tram (15-20 minutes ride). The kebab was pretty good although it is just a little bit pricier than the food you can get in the city. You do get quite a big kebab for the price you pay. This place opens from 6pm until the wee hours in the morning (hardly anyone is open at those hours) and is quite popular among uni students.
The following day, we went to the Carlton Brewery in Abbotsford for a brewery tour and some beer tasting. It was a pretty informative session and we got a chance to sample four different types of beer each. Entrance was AUD $12 per person as I bought a coupon from a group buying website prior to their arrival.
In the afternoon, we headed to the Prahran markets just a couple of streets down from where we were for lunch. It's no where as big as the Queen Victoria market but I guess it's still somewhere to have a look around. After that, we headed to the Queen Victoria market and walked around the city's CBD.
Lunch at Prahran. Had some fancy stuff. Crispy skin fish with grilled vegetables.
The usual steak
Seafood Risotto
We caught the early morning Greyhound bus to Canberra early the next morning at 7am. The journey was a killer. It took us about 9 hours plus just to reach Canberra because the bus had to make various stops along the various towns along the way. Over the next two days, we stayed in Canberra and didn't really do much.
Floriade, the flower festival in Canberra. Photo was taken from a ferris wheel. Lots of different combination of flowers of various colours/designs at the festival itself.
I also went to Jervis Bay for two nights at Hyamms beach. Apparently this beach has the whitest sand in the world as certified by the Guinness Book of Records. I guess they were right. The sand was indeed really white. Only managed to take a short dip in the sea once because the water was freezingly cold. The weather during the trip wasn't exactly ideal either.
The whitest sand in the world.
We came back to Canberra the day before my graduation. And my graduation ceremony took up the whole afternoon the following day. My parents managed to sneak in a short drive around Canberra's northern and southern suburbs in the morning before my ceremony itself.
I was also nominated as a Student Representative and had to go on stage to deliver a speech.
The following day, we headed up to Sydney via Greyhound again. The only reason why I chose Greyhound was because all my flights that I booked via Tiger Airlines were cancelled when the airlines got grounded. Subsequently, they then decided to stop servicing the Canberra route as they deem the route as unprofitable. What a shame.
We stayed in another budget accommodation in Sydney; the Formula 1 Hotel which was located in Kings Cross. This hotel was slightly cheaper for the same type of room but way crappier. The F1 Hotel in Kings Cross was a really old one and they didn't really have any other facilities apart from a tiny kitchen. The next time I head up to Sydney, I'll definitely be booking a different place to stay.
The iconic Coca-Cola signboard synonymous with Kings Cross.
The Opera House (above) and Harbour Bridge (below)
Half a lobster, some chips, calamari rings and oysters.
We took the scenic Pacific Drive route back to Canberra on the way back from Sydney.
We also stopped over at the Kiama blowhole to have a look and take some pictures.
Blowhole <-- click for definition
That's pretty much it for now.
Take care!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A Fresh Graduate
I truly apologize to anyone who still frequents my blog just to see if I've updated. I was actually back in Malaysia for the whole month of August and only got back just recently. Overall, it was a good trip. I managed to catch up with family and friends while I was back and ate most of the things that I wanted to eat. I also managed to buy a few articles of clothing while I was back during Malaysia's Mega Sale which is normally held from June to September.
Some of you might be wondering how did I manage to go back after applying for my Permanent Residency (PR) onshore. I managed to go back to Malaysia and return to Australia because I'm actually still on my student visa. My student visa expires at the end of September and therefore, I am still able to leave the country and return on that visa. Once my student visa expires, Bridging Visa A will come into effect and I will then be required to remain in Australia until a decision on my PR application is reached.
But if you're currently on Bridging Visa A, you can actually still make a trip back to your home country by applying for a Bridging Visa B. This could be done by downloading the required form here and then submitting it at your nearest Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) office together with a payment of AUD $105. You will also need to provide the DIAC with a valid reason on why you need to travel back home. I am not sure how lenient they are regarding the approval of these visas as I have not tried this before. And once you get back after your trip overseas, I think that you might need to check back in with the DIAC to let them know that you're back.
And now that I am back in Canberra, I'm currently looking for a job. Apparently it is pretty hard to land a job these days as a non-resident/citizen. I've tried applying to the big four accounting firms and some of the mid-tier ones and all my applications were turned down. I have even tried submitting my resume with various recruitment agencies here in Canberra and got called up for one interview. But up till today, I've yet to receive a job offer.
I will be taking a break from job hunting the next 3 weeks as my parents will be coming over for a holiday. But I will definitely resume my job hunting once I'm free. Hopefully, I'll be able to land myself a job soon or else my funds will be depleted and I might have to go back to Malaysia for good.
I promise to put up some pictures the next time I update.
Take care!
Some of you might be wondering how did I manage to go back after applying for my Permanent Residency (PR) onshore. I managed to go back to Malaysia and return to Australia because I'm actually still on my student visa. My student visa expires at the end of September and therefore, I am still able to leave the country and return on that visa. Once my student visa expires, Bridging Visa A will come into effect and I will then be required to remain in Australia until a decision on my PR application is reached.
But if you're currently on Bridging Visa A, you can actually still make a trip back to your home country by applying for a Bridging Visa B. This could be done by downloading the required form here and then submitting it at your nearest Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) office together with a payment of AUD $105. You will also need to provide the DIAC with a valid reason on why you need to travel back home. I am not sure how lenient they are regarding the approval of these visas as I have not tried this before. And once you get back after your trip overseas, I think that you might need to check back in with the DIAC to let them know that you're back.
And now that I am back in Canberra, I'm currently looking for a job. Apparently it is pretty hard to land a job these days as a non-resident/citizen. I've tried applying to the big four accounting firms and some of the mid-tier ones and all my applications were turned down. I have even tried submitting my resume with various recruitment agencies here in Canberra and got called up for one interview. But up till today, I've yet to receive a job offer.
I will be taking a break from job hunting the next 3 weeks as my parents will be coming over for a holiday. But I will definitely resume my job hunting once I'm free. Hopefully, I'll be able to land myself a job soon or else my funds will be depleted and I might have to go back to Malaysia for good.
I promise to put up some pictures the next time I update.
Take care!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
My Permanent Residency (PR) Application Checklist
This post will be set to remain on top of my blog for quite some time. To see if I've posted anything new, please scroll down to the next post
I will keep updating this post and adding links to it when I find out more stuff. Click on the hyperlinked numbers of each criteria to find out more.
I will be applying for the Skilled Independent (Residence) Visa (subclass 885) in Australia. I'm hoping to lodge my application by the 30th of June before the new point system takes effect.Required: 120 points
Application Fee: $2575
For that, I will need to meet/have the following criteria/documents:
1. Age (30 points)
- 18-29 years old as of date of application
- Cost $172
- Required:
--->Translated Birth Certificate and
--->Passport
2. English Language Ability (25 Points)
- Band 7 in the International English Language Testing System
- Cost $317.15
- Required: IELTS test report form
3. Nominated Skilled Occupation (60 points)
- ANZSCO Code: 221111
- ANZSCO Occupation: Accountant (general)
- Assessing Authority: CPA/ICAA/NIA
- Cost $409.80
- Required: Skills Assessment Form from assessing authority
4. Eligible Visa
- I hold an eligible student visa
5. Two years study in Australia
- Required: Completion letter from the university
6. Location
- Must be in Australia when I lodge my visa application
7. Health
- Undergo medical check with Medibank Health Solutions
- Cost $321.80
- Test results will be submitted directly to the Department of Immigration
8. Character
- Cost $64.40
- Required:
--->Australian Federal Police check and
--->Malaysian police check
9. Australian Qualification (5 points)
- Required:
--->Academic Transcript
--->Completion Letter
10. Form 80 & Form 1221
Total points : 120 points
Total costs: $3,860.15
Permanent Residency (PR) Application Lodgement
Right after I received my CA Skill Assessment in the post on the 28th of June, I started my PR Application process online and successfully lodged my application that night itself. It wasn't too hard. It's just a pretty lengthy procedure where I had to fill in lots of stuff. At the end of the application, I had to pay the application fee which is non-refundable (even if my application got rejected) of AUD $2575.
I was then given a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) for all future transactional purposes. Once I got that, I had to start uploading all my scanned documents.
The list of documents I had uploaded to the Department of Immigration's website is as follow:
- Original Birth Certificate
- Officially Translated Birth Certificate by a NAATI translator
- Old Passport (because I lodged my Police Check application with the old passport number and got my new passport just recently)
- New Passport
- IELTS Test Report Form
- University of Canberra Completion Letter
- University of Canberra Academic Transcripts
- ICAA Accounting Skill Assessment Notification
- Australian Federal Police Check
- Malaysian Police Check
- Passport Photo (which I scanned from the additional copy I bought for my passport renewal the other day)
- Form 80
- Form 1221
An email was sent to me the following day confirming the receipt of my application for permanent residency by me. A few minutes later, another email was sent to me notifying me of Bridging Visa approval. This bridging visa only comes into effect once my student visa expires sometime in September. With this visa, I am allowed to remain in Australia lawfully with permission to work an unlimited amount of hours. But the only downside to this visa is that I am now allowed to depart from Australia until my PR application is either approved or rejected. So until then, I'm pretty much stuck here. But I can apply for an exemption to leave the country provided I have substantial reasons for my travel.
Therefore, I have made the decision to travel back to Malaysia this coming August for a whole month and come back in September before my student visa expires.
That's pretty much it for my PR Application Process. I now have to wait for the good news or the bad news. This PR application process can take from a few months to up to 2 years for them to make a decision on your application. But the average waiting time is around 1 year. Hopefully I'll get mine approved way before that.
I was then given a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) for all future transactional purposes. Once I got that, I had to start uploading all my scanned documents.
The list of documents I had uploaded to the Department of Immigration's website is as follow:
- Original Birth Certificate
- Officially Translated Birth Certificate by a NAATI translator
- Old Passport (because I lodged my Police Check application with the old passport number and got my new passport just recently)
- New Passport
- IELTS Test Report Form
- University of Canberra Completion Letter
- University of Canberra Academic Transcripts
- ICAA Accounting Skill Assessment Notification
- Australian Federal Police Check
- Malaysian Police Check
- Passport Photo (which I scanned from the additional copy I bought for my passport renewal the other day)
- Form 80
- Form 1221
An email was sent to me the following day confirming the receipt of my application for permanent residency by me. A few minutes later, another email was sent to me notifying me of Bridging Visa approval. This bridging visa only comes into effect once my student visa expires sometime in September. With this visa, I am allowed to remain in Australia lawfully with permission to work an unlimited amount of hours. But the only downside to this visa is that I am now allowed to depart from Australia until my PR application is either approved or rejected. So until then, I'm pretty much stuck here. But I can apply for an exemption to leave the country provided I have substantial reasons for my travel.
Therefore, I have made the decision to travel back to Malaysia this coming August for a whole month and come back in September before my student visa expires.
That's pretty much it for my PR Application Process. I now have to wait for the good news or the bad news. This PR application process can take from a few months to up to 2 years for them to make a decision on your application. But the average waiting time is around 1 year. Hopefully I'll get mine approved way before that.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Health: Medical Check Up
For my Medical Check Up, I had to find the nearest Medibank Health Solutions Clinic via their website as the Department of Immigration stated specifically that all health examinations for onshore applicants has to be done through them.
And because I am doing my medical check up after the 30th of June, I am going to have to pay $317 instead of the $303 if I did it in June.
What I had to do was:
1. ring up the nearest Medibank Health Solutions Clinic
2. make an appointment and get a reference number
3. bring along form 26 and form 160 together with my passport and $317
Cost: Health examination fee $317 + Postage $4.80
Total: $321.80
12th and 15th July update:
At my first appointment, I had my picture taken, paid my check up fee of $317 and waited 10 minutes for my turn. The nurse called me in, had an eye-test where I had to read the alphabets of the chart, got my weight and height measured and had my blood taken.I was then directed to another building to get my chest X-ray done. The whole appointment took just over an hour.
At my second appointment, I had a consultation with a doctor who asked me to perform a few basic physical movements such as touching my toes, walking on my toes, squatting down and so on. The doctor then checked my eyes and asked me a series of questions. I was in the consultation room for only under 15 minutes and I was done. I had to wait for a further 30 minutes while the report was finalised and had to pick up my test results in a sealed envelope to be posted to the Department of Immigration. I'm not sure why they can't do it for me.
Back to PR Application Checklist
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