We will be going again with the camera.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Sun Set
It took us a few days to catch the sun set. It was well worth the wait. Although the picture's don't really look it due to being took on the mobile phone.
Kings Park
The day after we sorted all the boring stuff done, it was time to go see what Kings Park had to offer. We had both heard about the park and it would be a great start to seeing Perth.
We spent the afternoon walking around looking at all the sights. In Kings Park they have many war memorials. It also has the best views of the city and great views over the Swan River. Kings Park one of the largest inner city parks in the world.
After looking around the memorial reading the 1000s of names we decided to have a walk around the park. We found an information centre and asked them is they could direct us to the glass bridge. They pointed the way and off we went.
Kings park also has a botanical garden, which is free and plenty of fountains and chill out spots.
Great place for a picnic!
We spent the afternoon walking around looking at all the sights. In Kings Park they have many war memorials. It also has the best views of the city and great views over the Swan River. Kings Park one of the largest inner city parks in the world.
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| Craig is standing in a memorial for the people killed in the Bali bombings. |
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| Kings Park War Memorial One of the most beautiful memorials I have ever seen. |
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| Aimee on the Glass Bridge |
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| The walk up towards the Glass Bridge through the tree's |
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| This little fella greeted us with a nice little chirp |
Great place for a picnic!
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Perth...Day 1
Our first day in Australia and we had to start the fun and games by opening up a bank account with a superannuation fund and start to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN).
Opening a Bank Account
Opening a bank account couldn't be easier. We walked into the bank (we chose Westpac) we told the cashier or the "teller" as they call them here, and told them we was backpackers on a working holiday visa and that we needed a bank. The only information she asked for was an address we was staying at, our date of birth, a photocopy of our passport and if we had a tax file number.
Our teller was a girl called Jasmin, she talked more to us about her trip to Bali than our bank account itself. We had to put a deposit in there as soon as possible.
Superannuation
This is like the UK pension scheme. People with working holiday visa's can have a rebate when they leave the country. So for us it's more like a savings account but we only get a percentage back.
Tax File Number
Before we can start work we needed to apply for a tax file number. To apply for a TFN you can apply online like we did via this link "Apply for TFN" or you can call "13 2861" or you can apply in person by going to one of the office's.
You give you TFN to your bank so they can control your "superannuation" and how much tax you pay. This number is usually 8 figures or 9 figures.
Opening a Bank Account
Opening a bank account couldn't be easier. We walked into the bank (we chose Westpac) we told the cashier or the "teller" as they call them here, and told them we was backpackers on a working holiday visa and that we needed a bank. The only information she asked for was an address we was staying at, our date of birth, a photocopy of our passport and if we had a tax file number.
Our teller was a girl called Jasmin, she talked more to us about her trip to Bali than our bank account itself. We had to put a deposit in there as soon as possible.
Superannuation
This is like the UK pension scheme. People with working holiday visa's can have a rebate when they leave the country. So for us it's more like a savings account but we only get a percentage back.
Tax File Number
Before we can start work we needed to apply for a tax file number. To apply for a TFN you can apply online like we did via this link "Apply for TFN" or you can call "13 2861" or you can apply in person by going to one of the office's.
You give you TFN to your bank so they can control your "superannuation" and how much tax you pay. This number is usually 8 figures or 9 figures.
August 2nd 2010 - Hello Perth
We finally arrived in Perth, Western Australia on the 2nd August at 00.45am. Luckily for us, we did not have jet lag (as people kept asking us) as we was in Singapore and they are in the same time-zone.
After a brisk walk through the airport to pick up our bag's and getting another stamp in our passport we was free to leave the airport. We walked into the arrivals lounge to be greeted by Aimee's aunt and uncle Rachel and David.
We are going to stay with David's sister Annie and her family until we can find work, and a house to share or a small flat of our own.
We would love to do a bit more traveling but due to spending so much money on stupid things in South East Asia we have decided to stay put in Perth for a few months to build the funds back up.
After a brisk walk through the airport to pick up our bag's and getting another stamp in our passport we was free to leave the airport. We walked into the arrivals lounge to be greeted by Aimee's aunt and uncle Rachel and David.
We are going to stay with David's sister Annie and her family until we can find work, and a house to share or a small flat of our own.
We would love to do a bit more traveling but due to spending so much money on stupid things in South East Asia we have decided to stay put in Perth for a few months to build the funds back up.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
The Hype About Singapore Was A Very Big Let Down
When we told people was going to Singapore, everyone seemed to give the place loads of hype. And how it was clean and all that shit.
Yes it was clean well, there was no chewing gum (as this has been banned) but the place wasn't as good as people told us it would be.
Anyway as we had little money, we decided to go to a cheap hotel. We was told to go to Hotel 81 and they would look after us. So off we went in search of one of one the hotels. We found one i forget what the name of it was called. And they quoted us for 5days £375. Yes thats right £375. That would of been a big blow budget for Singapore.
The fella behind the desk asked us if this price was ok, we looked at each other and said we couldn't afford this not even one night. He told us not to worry and picked up the telephone. Thinking he was calling a customer we pick up our bags and began to walk out. The man was shouting for us to stop as he was actually on the phone to another Hotel 81. He said that there is room in their hollywood hotel.
Me being me thought there was a place called Hollywood, but I thought wrong. It was the name of the hotel and the rooms had themes to them like you could have a cave room or a space room ect. We had the basic room, which was right at the top of the hotel. This came to £130 for 5days. I guess we could of got it cheaper but we didn't book in advance as we kept changing the dates of when we was meant to get here.
We went out to search for something good. We found out that Tourist could get a cheaper rated transport card. This made travel a whole lot cheaper. (If you ever go to Singapore ask for a tourist card at city hall or the airport).
If Singapore wasn't expensive then I guess I would of enjoyed it a bit more, but the fact you had to pay for everything was a bit OTT. Here's a few photo's we took.
One of the things we wanted to do whilst we was here was to go on the night safari. Shame I didn't take my better camera with us on this round the planet trip as i would of come in handy on this safari.
We wasn't allowed to take photo's with the flashes on. We did try our best mind.
You might of noticed some photo's was in the day light and some was in the night time. We got on the tram just before dusk.
Yes it was clean well, there was no chewing gum (as this has been banned) but the place wasn't as good as people told us it would be.
Anyway as we had little money, we decided to go to a cheap hotel. We was told to go to Hotel 81 and they would look after us. So off we went in search of one of one the hotels. We found one i forget what the name of it was called. And they quoted us for 5days £375. Yes thats right £375. That would of been a big blow budget for Singapore.
The fella behind the desk asked us if this price was ok, we looked at each other and said we couldn't afford this not even one night. He told us not to worry and picked up the telephone. Thinking he was calling a customer we pick up our bags and began to walk out. The man was shouting for us to stop as he was actually on the phone to another Hotel 81. He said that there is room in their hollywood hotel.
Me being me thought there was a place called Hollywood, but I thought wrong. It was the name of the hotel and the rooms had themes to them like you could have a cave room or a space room ect. We had the basic room, which was right at the top of the hotel. This came to £130 for 5days. I guess we could of got it cheaper but we didn't book in advance as we kept changing the dates of when we was meant to get here.
We went out to search for something good. We found out that Tourist could get a cheaper rated transport card. This made travel a whole lot cheaper. (If you ever go to Singapore ask for a tourist card at city hall or the airport).
If Singapore wasn't expensive then I guess I would of enjoyed it a bit more, but the fact you had to pay for everything was a bit OTT. Here's a few photo's we took.
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| A War Memorial |
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| Hey Conrad We seen this and thought of you! Think you may need to click on the photo to see it Dan! |
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| The amazing subways. I did have a photo of some of the break dancers in here but gosh knows where its gone? |
We wasn't allowed to take photo's with the flashes on. We did try our best mind.
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| One of Aimee's fav kodak moments. |
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| Yet again Aimee pushed the kids off so she could have a go at mouting the Zebra. Zebra or Zeebra? How do you say it? |
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| 10 second timer |
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