I arrived on Horn Island on this Monday, and I start working at Wongai Hotel in Horn Island today.
This island is very remote, I do not have GSM mobile connection here. Right now I'm sharing a flat with 3 of my co-workers, and in the house we have a land-line phone. The number is 07-40903459. If you call, please just ask for Sen.
I don't have much time now, so I'll finish here.
Wish everyone a very wonderful new year. See you.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Destination - Horn Island
I'll leave Cairns for Horn Island for a work at a hotel there on next Monday. Horn Island is next to Thursday Island in Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea. There are many indeginous people living there.
You can find relevant information on the webpages through the hyperlinks above. It will be a special experience I hope. I think there have not been many Taiwanese people there.
It is now the beginning of the rain season there, but they say at this time of the year the place looks most lush and green.
The place I'm going to work at will be Wongai Hotel. Their address is 2 Wees Street, Horn Island, QLD. Their toll-free phone number is 1800804422. Hopefully I will work there until mid-April of next year, and then return to Cairns and take a tour to Whitsunday Islands before I leave Australia.
It is so remote, I'm afraid that I won't have mibile phone connection there. So maybe I can only keep in touch with my friends by email if there is internet there.
A tropical, remote island, that is my next destination.
You can find relevant information on the webpages through the hyperlinks above. It will be a special experience I hope. I think there have not been many Taiwanese people there.
It is now the beginning of the rain season there, but they say at this time of the year the place looks most lush and green.
The place I'm going to work at will be Wongai Hotel. Their address is 2 Wees Street, Horn Island, QLD. Their toll-free phone number is 1800804422. Hopefully I will work there until mid-April of next year, and then return to Cairns and take a tour to Whitsunday Islands before I leave Australia.
It is so remote, I'm afraid that I won't have mibile phone connection there. So maybe I can only keep in touch with my friends by email if there is internet there.
A tropical, remote island, that is my next destination.
Cairns, continued
I have been in Cairns for 5 days. Actually I like this place. The weather is not as hot as I thought before I came here. It could be hot around noon, but in the nighttime it's very comfortable. Although it should be rain season here, but so far it has rained only once last night.
This is a tourist's city, especially Japanese tourists. There on the streets are a lot of Japanese tourists. You can see Japanese signs everywhere, even in the Woolworths supermarket. When I went to find a job at a hotel, they asked me if I can speak Japanese; when I handed in my resume at the Grunt job agency, they asked if I can speak Japanese as well. There are 3 cities in Japan namely Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya with direct flights to Cairns, no wonder there are so many of them here.
This is also the first place in Australia I find there is a night market like that kind I found in Singapore. The scale is smaller that that of Singapore of course, but you can find souvenir shops, clothes and decoration shops as well as more than 10 food shops in the night market. There is a good thing about having dinner in the night market, everynight evening after 8:30 the 4 cafeterias offer meals originally priced at around AUD$12 at a great AUD$5. They will give you a plastic plate and you can put on as much food as you can. That is really a bargain. I tried twice with different cafeterias, and they were both not too bad.
Cairns city place is not very big, but it has a big shopping mall with more than 100 shops, a main street from the shopping mall to the esplanade where you can find a man-made lagoon to swim in, a lot of tour shops you can book tours to the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests, a lot of pubs, backpacker hostels, restaurants, souvenir shops, boutiques, and 2 Global Gossip internet places where you can use the internet for AUD$1 for the first hour, etc. Generally you won't soon get bored with this place.
I met 3 Taiwanese friends here. One of them I have known since in Darwin, she has left for Osaka yesterday, and will return to Taiwan next week. The other twon are a girl coming here just for holidays and has left for Brisbane; the other is a boy who's been in Australia for 2 months only but has been to many cities already, he has left for Mareeba, a twon about 60KM out of Cairns, for work. I think there are not many Taiwanese people here, I'm also leaving soon, but I'll return months later.
This is a tourist's city, especially Japanese tourists. There on the streets are a lot of Japanese tourists. You can see Japanese signs everywhere, even in the Woolworths supermarket. When I went to find a job at a hotel, they asked me if I can speak Japanese; when I handed in my resume at the Grunt job agency, they asked if I can speak Japanese as well. There are 3 cities in Japan namely Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya with direct flights to Cairns, no wonder there are so many of them here.
This is also the first place in Australia I find there is a night market like that kind I found in Singapore. The scale is smaller that that of Singapore of course, but you can find souvenir shops, clothes and decoration shops as well as more than 10 food shops in the night market. There is a good thing about having dinner in the night market, everynight evening after 8:30 the 4 cafeterias offer meals originally priced at around AUD$12 at a great AUD$5. They will give you a plastic plate and you can put on as much food as you can. That is really a bargain. I tried twice with different cafeterias, and they were both not too bad.
Cairns city place is not very big, but it has a big shopping mall with more than 100 shops, a main street from the shopping mall to the esplanade where you can find a man-made lagoon to swim in, a lot of tour shops you can book tours to the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests, a lot of pubs, backpacker hostels, restaurants, souvenir shops, boutiques, and 2 Global Gossip internet places where you can use the internet for AUD$1 for the first hour, etc. Generally you won't soon get bored with this place.
I met 3 Taiwanese friends here. One of them I have known since in Darwin, she has left for Osaka yesterday, and will return to Taiwan next week. The other twon are a girl coming here just for holidays and has left for Brisbane; the other is a boy who's been in Australia for 2 months only but has been to many cities already, he has left for Mareeba, a twon about 60KM out of Cairns, for work. I think there are not many Taiwanese people here, I'm also leaving soon, but I'll return months later.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Cairns
I left Carnarvon yesterday, took a ride of the uncomfortable greyhound for 13 hours back to Perth, then take the flight at 11:15PM from Perth to Cairns, and after about 5 hours I arrived in this tropical tourist city.
Cairns is so popular that in the high summer now there are still a lot of tourists and backpackers here, and I was kind of surprised when I was looking for a hostel to stay here I found that there are almost 30 backpacker hostels in such a city with only 100,000 of population. This place is HOT and rowdy. The streets here look even more crowded than Perth.
Later I'm going to get more familiar with this place for I'll say here until mid-April, and later on will write more abouth this place. I'm now too tired and can not think of what I could write...
Cairns is so popular that in the high summer now there are still a lot of tourists and backpackers here, and I was kind of surprised when I was looking for a hostel to stay here I found that there are almost 30 backpacker hostels in such a city with only 100,000 of population. This place is HOT and rowdy. The streets here look even more crowded than Perth.
Later I'm going to get more familiar with this place for I'll say here until mid-April, and later on will write more abouth this place. I'm now too tired and can not think of what I could write...
Friday, November 16, 2007
Carnarvon
We are now staying at Port Hotel in Carnarvon. We will begin grape picking from next Monday. I need to commit 3 months of seasonal work to apply for a second WHV.
There are several works to do in this agricultural center in north WA, but it's easier to get one through the hostels here. There are two backpacker hostels here. People say that Port Hotel is better because it has more job offers.
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I left Carnarvon on 16 December. Totally I stayed about 6 weeks there. In the first week I had no work to do. My first work there was picking table grapes, it lasted for only one day, and on the next day I changed to work at a vegs and fruits packing shed. The pay was only 15.30 before tax, and my tax rate was over 20%. After working there for 5 weeks I could save up less than $1000 after spending the hostel rents and living costs. My work in the packing shed was mainly stacking the packed rockmelons, each of the carton could weigh around 20KG, and sometimes I had to stack more than 600 cartons in one day. The work was tough, but not lucrative, and that's why I decided to leave.
Other than working, the only things you can do in Carnarvon is sometimes you can rent a car to go to Coral Bay, Exmouth or Monkey Mia. Unfortunately I didn't have enough money to do that, but I don't think that's a loss because now I think everywhere in Australia looks similar, and I'll not apply for the second visa for the reason that now I reckon one year is enough.
There are several works to do in this agricultural center in north WA, but it's easier to get one through the hostels here. There are two backpacker hostels here. People say that Port Hotel is better because it has more job offers.
-----------
I left Carnarvon on 16 December. Totally I stayed about 6 weeks there. In the first week I had no work to do. My first work there was picking table grapes, it lasted for only one day, and on the next day I changed to work at a vegs and fruits packing shed. The pay was only 15.30 before tax, and my tax rate was over 20%. After working there for 5 weeks I could save up less than $1000 after spending the hostel rents and living costs. My work in the packing shed was mainly stacking the packed rockmelons, each of the carton could weigh around 20KG, and sometimes I had to stack more than 600 cartons in one day. The work was tough, but not lucrative, and that's why I decided to leave.
Other than working, the only things you can do in Carnarvon is sometimes you can rent a car to go to Coral Bay, Exmouth or Monkey Mia. Unfortunately I didn't have enough money to do that, but I don't think that's a loss because now I think everywhere in Australia looks similar, and I'll not apply for the second visa for the reason that now I reckon one year is enough.
Geraldton
After our 2-night stay in Perth at the extremely rowdy and uncomfortable Globe Backpackers, we, me and the German girl Claudia, went to Geraldton and stayed for one week at Foreshore Backpackers.
At first we went to Geraldton because of that after calling the crayfish factory, they told us to go there and hand in application forms directly to the factory. But we felt that we were cheated by them, when we went to the factory, they instead told us they needed no new workers, and maybe we could go back there everyday, after one or two weeks, to ask if they need some, and maybe some day they will. The foreman of the factory seemed very arrogant and ignorant indeed, and we hated him. Unfortunately there is only one crayfish company left in Geraldton, because it had bought all the other ones. Hence, we had no any other chance to get a seasonal work there.
We spent the rest of the week doing nothing, but stayed at the hostel eating, watching TV and sleeping. The weather in Geraldton in that period of time was not too bad, it's been very hot at 39C for only one day during our stay. Normally it's very sunny but cool with comfy breezes day and night. I don't really like the hostel we stayed, but it's better than the other one beside the information center.
In the room I stayed there were some disgusting bedbugs, I got bit many times, and hell the bites itched a lot, and also swelled a lot. I spent almost 30 dollars bought some medicine to use externally and internally as well. Most of the medicine did not work well, the only thing useful is 100% tea tree oil. The oil is expensive, 10ml for about 5 dollars, but it reduces the itch well, and soothe the swells.
Geraldton has severay beaches. The hostel I stayed is just next to a beach, you can walk through the back door to get to the beach behind. The most beautiful one I think is Tarcoolar beach out of the town center, it's long and there are not many people there, and it's a good place to view the sunset during summer, in winter the sunset can be seen on the beach behind our backpackers.
There was also one day, I rent a car with Claudia to go to Kalbarri National Park which is more than 200KM in the north. We spent around 200 dollars in total for the rental and fuel. It's a big and beautiful park, the seashre is amazing. The most famous spot in the park is the Nature's Window which is a hole between layers of rock, and you can look through it to see the scenery behind. The bad part about the park is that there are a hugh amount of flys everywhere, and the roads lead to Nature's Window and some other lookouts are like rubbish. Nevertheless it is good that we went there.
At first we went to Geraldton because of that after calling the crayfish factory, they told us to go there and hand in application forms directly to the factory. But we felt that we were cheated by them, when we went to the factory, they instead told us they needed no new workers, and maybe we could go back there everyday, after one or two weeks, to ask if they need some, and maybe some day they will. The foreman of the factory seemed very arrogant and ignorant indeed, and we hated him. Unfortunately there is only one crayfish company left in Geraldton, because it had bought all the other ones. Hence, we had no any other chance to get a seasonal work there.
We spent the rest of the week doing nothing, but stayed at the hostel eating, watching TV and sleeping. The weather in Geraldton in that period of time was not too bad, it's been very hot at 39C for only one day during our stay. Normally it's very sunny but cool with comfy breezes day and night. I don't really like the hostel we stayed, but it's better than the other one beside the information center.
In the room I stayed there were some disgusting bedbugs, I got bit many times, and hell the bites itched a lot, and also swelled a lot. I spent almost 30 dollars bought some medicine to use externally and internally as well. Most of the medicine did not work well, the only thing useful is 100% tea tree oil. The oil is expensive, 10ml for about 5 dollars, but it reduces the itch well, and soothe the swells.
Geraldton has severay beaches. The hostel I stayed is just next to a beach, you can walk through the back door to get to the beach behind. The most beautiful one I think is Tarcoolar beach out of the town center, it's long and there are not many people there, and it's a good place to view the sunset during summer, in winter the sunset can be seen on the beach behind our backpackers.
There was also one day, I rent a car with Claudia to go to Kalbarri National Park which is more than 200KM in the north. We spent around 200 dollars in total for the rental and fuel. It's a big and beautiful park, the seashre is amazing. The most famous spot in the park is the Nature's Window which is a hole between layers of rock, and you can look through it to see the scenery behind. The bad part about the park is that there are a hugh amount of flys everywhere, and the roads lead to Nature's Window and some other lookouts are like rubbish. Nevertheless it is good that we went there.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Leaving Farm
After 2 weeks of stay, I'm leaving this farm with a German girl tomorrow. Will be going back to Perth, stay there for 2 nights, and then go to Geraldton on next Tuesday.
The reason we're leaving is that strawberry picking is too tough, and the cherry season is still about 3 weeks away. When picking the berries, we have to keep kneeing or bending down, and then our knees and back hurt a lot after the work. Also the weather is another cause of our leaving, this is really a beautiful place, but the weather is terrible, it almost rains everyday, the sky is always gray and cloudy, and most of the time it's also cold, sometimes even freezing. We're long for warm and shiny days, and therefore we decide to travel north.
After looking for on the Internet, we found that there might be some work at crayfish factories in Geraldton. We contacted them several times by email, but got no reply. We then called them, and they told us to go to Geraldton and hand in the application forms directly to the factory. We're not sure if we can really get a work there, but anyway we're trying, and we really have enough of working on the farm.
We have learned that packing is always better than picking, and pay by hour is far more superior than by contract. We know there are certain harvest works with pay higher by contract, but anyway we hate picking.
The reason we're leaving is that strawberry picking is too tough, and the cherry season is still about 3 weeks away. When picking the berries, we have to keep kneeing or bending down, and then our knees and back hurt a lot after the work. Also the weather is another cause of our leaving, this is really a beautiful place, but the weather is terrible, it almost rains everyday, the sky is always gray and cloudy, and most of the time it's also cold, sometimes even freezing. We're long for warm and shiny days, and therefore we decide to travel north.
After looking for on the Internet, we found that there might be some work at crayfish factories in Geraldton. We contacted them several times by email, but got no reply. We then called them, and they told us to go to Geraldton and hand in the application forms directly to the factory. We're not sure if we can really get a work there, but anyway we're trying, and we really have enough of working on the farm.
We have learned that packing is always better than picking, and pay by hour is far more superior than by contract. We know there are certain harvest works with pay higher by contract, but anyway we hate picking.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
the Farm
I'm on the farm for more than one week already.
The working conditions currently are not very good due to the bad rainy and cold weather. The owners of the farm are a very nice couple, you will find them friendly and easy to get along with, but they do ask you to perform well on the fields.
At the moment, we normally work only around 5 hours a day and 4 days a week. In the morning we pick strawberries for about 3 hours, and in the afternoon we spend about 1.5 hours packing them. They say that there will be a lot more produce when the weather gets hot, and that would be after mid November. So in fact we earn only a little right now, and chances are that we might earn more later, but I'm not that sure because when it's due the pay is made by contract for picking and by hour for packing, just opposite to now.
Picking strawberries can be very tiring, even exhausting, because that you have to keep bending down and after a while your back as well as your legs might will hurt a lot.
Currently they do not need any more worker, but they will after mid Nov. If any of you would like to pick strawberries, you could contact them on the email and fixed line number listed on their website, or simply leave a message through their website.
They also say that the cherry season will begin on month later, and then you can work both on cherries and berries.
The accommodation the farm provides is a bit shabby, it can be very cold all day at this moment. I'm not sure how long the cold weather would last, but I think that it will be better if you could bring a good sleeping bag along.
Besides, in this area there are several beautiful national parks, if you've a car, you might be able to go visit them, but still the farm owners say that if could be very busy during the high season, so I'm not sure if you could get much free time then though.
The working conditions currently are not very good due to the bad rainy and cold weather. The owners of the farm are a very nice couple, you will find them friendly and easy to get along with, but they do ask you to perform well on the fields.
At the moment, we normally work only around 5 hours a day and 4 days a week. In the morning we pick strawberries for about 3 hours, and in the afternoon we spend about 1.5 hours packing them. They say that there will be a lot more produce when the weather gets hot, and that would be after mid November. So in fact we earn only a little right now, and chances are that we might earn more later, but I'm not that sure because when it's due the pay is made by contract for picking and by hour for packing, just opposite to now.
Picking strawberries can be very tiring, even exhausting, because that you have to keep bending down and after a while your back as well as your legs might will hurt a lot.
Currently they do not need any more worker, but they will after mid Nov. If any of you would like to pick strawberries, you could contact them on the email and fixed line number listed on their website, or simply leave a message through their website.
They also say that the cherry season will begin on month later, and then you can work both on cherries and berries.
The accommodation the farm provides is a bit shabby, it can be very cold all day at this moment. I'm not sure how long the cold weather would last, but I think that it will be better if you could bring a good sleeping bag along.
Besides, in this area there are several beautiful national parks, if you've a car, you might be able to go visit them, but still the farm owners say that if could be very busy during the high season, so I'm not sure if you could get much free time then though.
Friday, October 26, 2007
a Strawberry Farmer's Life
I came to Amuri Creek Fruits farm in Mount Barker on 17th of October after a 5-hour ride of TransWA bus from Perth. On the day I arrived it was cold and raining hard. Actually it's the typical weather here in this season, and it will be the same until November.
Mount Barker region is beautiful with hills full of lush trees, orchards, vineyards, and grasslands for raising sheeps. The scene here is rather different than the other rural places I've been to in Australia. The rain is abundant here, so there is not a single sign of the severe drought other parts of Australia are suffering from.
The Amuri Creek farm locates 30mins of drive out of the little Mount Barker town. The farm has strawberry fields and cherry orchards, and they also keep more than 3000 wool sheeps. On the farm currently there are 9 backpackers including me staying at the farm's simple accommodation, of which are 4 Taiwanese, 4 Korean and a German girl, the lovely and very friendly Claudia, but soon will be there a lot more coming due to the large amount of produces in summer. The owners of the farm are a friendly couple. They told us that in last year there were more than 50 workers working on the farm.
The weather here is still not very good most of the time. In the past week, there are more than 5 rainy days. Like today, it rains quite hard and is very cold. The strawberries grow better when the weather is hot. Therefore we do not work a lot right now. Normally we work 2 days and then take one or two days off, and on our working days we work only like 5~6 hours. We start picking strawberries at 8AM, then take a 30-minute rest at around 10AM, and then work until around noon, then we have lunch, and then start packing after lunch for about 1 or 2 hours. The pay currently is 16 dollars per hour for picking, and 1.30 dollars per tray for packing, but it will be the opposite when there are a lot of produce. Picking strawberries is a very demanding and exhausting job, because you have to keep bending down and that will make your back hurts alot, and you have to pay attention to the berries, you don't want to miss any single one, if not the farm owner will keep telling you that you have to be careful when picking, and you have to pick in the way they teach you.
The cherries are still flowering, and although there are already some fruits, but they're still green. They say the cherry season will begin about a month later. I do hope that I can switch to cherry team, I hate picking strawberries.
Mount Barker region is beautiful with hills full of lush trees, orchards, vineyards, and grasslands for raising sheeps. The scene here is rather different than the other rural places I've been to in Australia. The rain is abundant here, so there is not a single sign of the severe drought other parts of Australia are suffering from.
The Amuri Creek farm locates 30mins of drive out of the little Mount Barker town. The farm has strawberry fields and cherry orchards, and they also keep more than 3000 wool sheeps. On the farm currently there are 9 backpackers including me staying at the farm's simple accommodation, of which are 4 Taiwanese, 4 Korean and a German girl, the lovely and very friendly Claudia, but soon will be there a lot more coming due to the large amount of produces in summer. The owners of the farm are a friendly couple. They told us that in last year there were more than 50 workers working on the farm.
The weather here is still not very good most of the time. In the past week, there are more than 5 rainy days. Like today, it rains quite hard and is very cold. The strawberries grow better when the weather is hot. Therefore we do not work a lot right now. Normally we work 2 days and then take one or two days off, and on our working days we work only like 5~6 hours. We start picking strawberries at 8AM, then take a 30-minute rest at around 10AM, and then work until around noon, then we have lunch, and then start packing after lunch for about 1 or 2 hours. The pay currently is 16 dollars per hour for picking, and 1.30 dollars per tray for packing, but it will be the opposite when there are a lot of produce. Picking strawberries is a very demanding and exhausting job, because you have to keep bending down and that will make your back hurts alot, and you have to pay attention to the berries, you don't want to miss any single one, if not the farm owner will keep telling you that you have to be careful when picking, and you have to pick in the way they teach you.
The cherries are still flowering, and although there are already some fruits, but they're still green. They say the cherry season will begin about a month later. I do hope that I can switch to cherry team, I hate picking strawberries.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Perth
I flew to Perth from Sydney on 16/Oct/2007. The plane was delayed due to the late arrival of certain large cargoes, so we took off one hour later at around 7:00 Sydney time. After a 5-hours flight, we arrived in Perth at about 10:00 Perth time.
Me and my friend took a shuttle bus from the airport to the city. At the first sight of the area around the airport, I felt that the place is quite similar to Darwin. That felt familiar, and that was good. The shuttle bus drove to many stops, and after more than one hour we were finally dropped off last on Hay Street.
We booked on night at a hostel named 12:01 East Backpackers. The hostel is not far from where we were dropped. The daytime female staff were very friendly. The hostel seems to be not rather new, but anyway it has all we need and is not too dirty, and we just would stay for one night only. After checking in, we went out to have lunch and buy the ticket for the next day's bus to our really destination, Mount Barker.
Perth City is not very big. The CBD seems to be just 3 times bigger then Darwin. But there were a lot of people on the streets. We spent some time walking around the bustling area, had some food, and went shopping at a Woolworths there. And then, we took the free city buses to several places.
Perth has 3 lines of free bus working in its city area. They are named Red Cat, Blue Cat, and Yellow Cat. They are especially good to us budget travellers. We went to buy TransWA bus ticket, and then went to see Swan River, took some pictures, and then went back to the hostel.
We met a lot Taiwanese friends at the hostel. Most of them are female backpackers like us. But we also met two young men who are Ph.D. students at NSYSU, and were in Perth for conferences at Western Australia University, and would then travel to Melbourne; they were both very friendly, they cooked dinner for us. I also talked to one of the female Taiwanese backpackers, and she's also very friendly.
On the next day, we left Perth very early at 9 o'clock.
I don't think I like Perth much. After a few months, I'll have to return there, but I won't stay too long.
Me and my friend took a shuttle bus from the airport to the city. At the first sight of the area around the airport, I felt that the place is quite similar to Darwin. That felt familiar, and that was good. The shuttle bus drove to many stops, and after more than one hour we were finally dropped off last on Hay Street.
We booked on night at a hostel named 12:01 East Backpackers. The hostel is not far from where we were dropped. The daytime female staff were very friendly. The hostel seems to be not rather new, but anyway it has all we need and is not too dirty, and we just would stay for one night only. After checking in, we went out to have lunch and buy the ticket for the next day's bus to our really destination, Mount Barker.
Perth City is not very big. The CBD seems to be just 3 times bigger then Darwin. But there were a lot of people on the streets. We spent some time walking around the bustling area, had some food, and went shopping at a Woolworths there. And then, we took the free city buses to several places.
Perth has 3 lines of free bus working in its city area. They are named Red Cat, Blue Cat, and Yellow Cat. They are especially good to us budget travellers. We went to buy TransWA bus ticket, and then went to see Swan River, took some pictures, and then went back to the hostel.
We met a lot Taiwanese friends at the hostel. Most of them are female backpackers like us. But we also met two young men who are Ph.D. students at NSYSU, and were in Perth for conferences at Western Australia University, and would then travel to Melbourne; they were both very friendly, they cooked dinner for us. I also talked to one of the female Taiwanese backpackers, and she's also very friendly.
On the next day, we left Perth very early at 9 o'clock.
I don't think I like Perth much. After a few months, I'll have to return there, but I won't stay too long.
Monday, October 15, 2007
the 24 Hours Later
再過10幾個小時我就將到西澳了
今天是我在Sydney的最後一晚
這半年來在澳洲四處旅行
雪梨市我覺得跟台灣感覺最接近的地方
這裡有很多很多的亞洲人
街上到處都看得到中文招牌
很多地方都可以講中文
平常熙來攘往的街道
除了建築風格不同
走在路上就像在台灣的城市裡逛街
上次離開Sydney到Moree
好幾個晚上我想念著Sydney
或許我真正想念的是Sydney那絲跟台灣的環境近似的家的感覺
兩週前我回到Sydney
這兩週遇到了幾位以前在Darwin認識的台灣女生
與在台灣就認識也來打工度假的同學相聚
還新認識了幾位台灣朋友
除了陪新朋友舊地重遊
去了Manly
還去了Blue Mountains
兩週很快地過了
明天我又將展開新的旅程
西澳是個怎麼樣的地方呢?
明天我就能知道了
不過現在的心情跟感覺還是又有點孤單
人要離開熟悉的朋友跟環境時
應該都有這樣的感覺吧
今天是我在Sydney的最後一晚
這半年來在澳洲四處旅行
雪梨市我覺得跟台灣感覺最接近的地方
這裡有很多很多的亞洲人
街上到處都看得到中文招牌
很多地方都可以講中文
平常熙來攘往的街道
除了建築風格不同
走在路上就像在台灣的城市裡逛街
上次離開Sydney到Moree
好幾個晚上我想念著Sydney
或許我真正想念的是Sydney那絲跟台灣的環境近似的家的感覺
兩週前我回到Sydney
這兩週遇到了幾位以前在Darwin認識的台灣女生
與在台灣就認識也來打工度假的同學相聚
還新認識了幾位台灣朋友
除了陪新朋友舊地重遊
去了Manly
還去了Blue Mountains
兩週很快地過了
明天我又將展開新的旅程
西澳是個怎麼樣的地方呢?
明天我就能知道了
不過現在的心情跟感覺還是又有點孤單
人要離開熟悉的朋友跟環境時
應該都有這樣的感覺吧
the Fish and Chips
While you stay in Australia, chances are that you at least will try once the national food of most Anglosphere countries, the fish and chips.
I remember that on time while I was working at the McDonald's in Moree, one of the coworkers asked me if I like Australian foods or not. I really could not think of any particular food that can be considered as Australian, so I asked what's the real Australian food. She told me "fish and chips, mashed potato...". Oh, well, if those are what representative, I can say that I'm disappointed. But most people in the world already know that in the origin of the Anglosphere, England, foods are well known for tastelessness. So I'm not really surprised of the answers.
Anyway, Australia is the smallest continent, but also the biggest island in the world. Seafood is common in most places close to the seashore, and especially fish and chips are not rare even in inland places.
Actually I like fish and chips. Typically I do not like eating fish while I was in Taiwan, but what really attracts me is that is a kind of battered fried food. It's needless to mention that I generally like potato chips or fries, but battered fish is also tasty to me.
In Australia, I've tried dozens of times of fish and chips in Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and even Moree. There is a good fish and chips shop in Darwin which is close to Chili's Backpackers on Mitchell Street. Me and my friends had once bought 2 fisherman's basket, containing battered fish filets, chips, calamari rings, seafood csticks, prawns, all are fried of course, and some beers and went to sit on the outdoor platform in Darwin Wharf in the evenin, and it was a great memory.
There are some good fish and chips stores in South Bank of Brisbane as well. I was alone when travelling in Brisbane, and one day I had fish and chips alone at noon in South Bank. It was good nontheless in spite of that, unlike everyone around me, I was eating alone.
The one I tried in Moree is located opposite to the McDOnald's where I worked at. Theirs are among the worse ones I ever tried.
In Sydney, the most popular place, at least to tourists, to eat seafoods is the Sydney Fish Market. Most of the vendors there are, surprisingly to me, Asians. But I have to let you know that it is NOT the best place to find good fish and chips as well as other tasty cooked seafoods, and things there are mostly overpriced. Most of the food stalls there sell fried seafood. Imagine a full plate of fries, fried fish, fried calamari, fried prawn, fried crab, fried scallop...simply oily. According to my limited experience, seafoods are basically much more well cooked in Taiwan than in Australia, and are much much cheaper. The fried seafoods look delicious at first, but after eating for a while, most people would feel sick of the oily and unpalatable, usually cold already, batter crust. Sometimes you can find that if you rescue the shrimps, fish or calamari from the batter, they'll simply taste better.
I have to recommend a store for fish and chips lovers. The Fish on Fire restaurant is located at 217A Glebe Pt. Rd. Glebe, their telephone no. is 02-96604212. It's right at the corner opposite to the hostel I stay twice in Sydney, Rooftop Travellers Lodge. They provide not only fish and chips, but also grilled seafoods, burgers, salads and desserts. Their chips are among the best I've tasted; they can stay crispy even after being cold. Their grilled seafoods are very delicious. Fish, prawns, mussels, and calamari all are tasty. Their freshly made burgers are outstanding as well. And I like their creamy rice pudding. ANd the prices of their good foods are quite reasonable.
I remember that on time while I was working at the McDonald's in Moree, one of the coworkers asked me if I like Australian foods or not. I really could not think of any particular food that can be considered as Australian, so I asked what's the real Australian food. She told me "fish and chips, mashed potato...". Oh, well, if those are what representative, I can say that I'm disappointed. But most people in the world already know that in the origin of the Anglosphere, England, foods are well known for tastelessness. So I'm not really surprised of the answers.
Anyway, Australia is the smallest continent, but also the biggest island in the world. Seafood is common in most places close to the seashore, and especially fish and chips are not rare even in inland places.
Actually I like fish and chips. Typically I do not like eating fish while I was in Taiwan, but what really attracts me is that is a kind of battered fried food. It's needless to mention that I generally like potato chips or fries, but battered fish is also tasty to me.
In Australia, I've tried dozens of times of fish and chips in Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and even Moree. There is a good fish and chips shop in Darwin which is close to Chili's Backpackers on Mitchell Street. Me and my friends had once bought 2 fisherman's basket, containing battered fish filets, chips, calamari rings, seafood csticks, prawns, all are fried of course, and some beers and went to sit on the outdoor platform in Darwin Wharf in the evenin, and it was a great memory.
There are some good fish and chips stores in South Bank of Brisbane as well. I was alone when travelling in Brisbane, and one day I had fish and chips alone at noon in South Bank. It was good nontheless in spite of that, unlike everyone around me, I was eating alone.
The one I tried in Moree is located opposite to the McDOnald's where I worked at. Theirs are among the worse ones I ever tried.
In Sydney, the most popular place, at least to tourists, to eat seafoods is the Sydney Fish Market. Most of the vendors there are, surprisingly to me, Asians. But I have to let you know that it is NOT the best place to find good fish and chips as well as other tasty cooked seafoods, and things there are mostly overpriced. Most of the food stalls there sell fried seafood. Imagine a full plate of fries, fried fish, fried calamari, fried prawn, fried crab, fried scallop...simply oily. According to my limited experience, seafoods are basically much more well cooked in Taiwan than in Australia, and are much much cheaper. The fried seafoods look delicious at first, but after eating for a while, most people would feel sick of the oily and unpalatable, usually cold already, batter crust. Sometimes you can find that if you rescue the shrimps, fish or calamari from the batter, they'll simply taste better.
I have to recommend a store for fish and chips lovers. The Fish on Fire restaurant is located at 217A Glebe Pt. Rd. Glebe, their telephone no. is 02-96604212. It's right at the corner opposite to the hostel I stay twice in Sydney, Rooftop Travellers Lodge. They provide not only fish and chips, but also grilled seafoods, burgers, salads and desserts. Their chips are among the best I've tasted; they can stay crispy even after being cold. Their grilled seafoods are very delicious. Fish, prawns, mussels, and calamari all are tasty. Their freshly made burgers are outstanding as well. And I like their creamy rice pudding. ANd the prices of their good foods are quite reasonable.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
the OEM Industry
我在台灣的線上論壇PCDVD
跟人家的討論
capitalm說
而我的回應是:
所以這點更令人感到憂心
但更精確的說
真正會造成代工業死光的不會是物價
而是勞工的薪資
(且台灣的物價不可能不升高)
因為逐漸的
台灣的競爭對象已經不是南韓,新加坡,香港
或是值得仿效,追趕的日本,美國
而是淪落到必須跟擁有低廉勞力的中國,印度和其他東南亞國家競爭
這樣的產業結構就是所謂的向下沉淪,不進則退
有沒有想過為何以前的高科技產業
現在已經變成了所謂的代工業
而以前在相對高科技的時代
台灣勞工不必害怕失業
因為我們擁有別人沒有的技術
但是現在這些技術已是大家都有
台灣勞工的優勢因為產業結構未提升而頓失
資方在面對擁有相同技術條件的勞工時
有多少會本於愛台灣的情結而選擇留在台灣雇用較貴的台灣勞工?
代工業最需要的廉價,大量,低技術勞力
台灣絕對拼不過中國
所以台灣的產業才會外移嚴重
國外廠商也不會設廠在台灣
因而造成台灣眾多勞工失業
在台灣維持代工業絕對是一條死胡同
在這指的是對勞工而言
而非對資方
資方大可將在台的生產線外移到大陸,越南等地
他們仍然可以大賺其錢,甚至賺更多
對於薪資相對較高的台灣勞工
他們別無選擇,只能被迫離職
接著如果找不到工作就失業了
然而台灣人民要的真的是不斷的維持
甚至是已經不罕見的降低自己的薪資
以保有工作機會嗎?
這樣的在全球勞力市場上的削價競爭
面對幾乎能無窮盡供應廉價勞力的鄰近國家
台灣人民能夠維持多久?
台灣人民又真的希望,願意,且能滿足於在薪資方面的中國化,越南化,印度化?
我們應該做的是提升產業位階
建立自有品牌提升產品的附加價值
或是更長遠的發展不能被取代的產業
不再是以代工為主
我總覺得在台灣很多人似乎忘記自己不能自外於全球競爭
而有些人或許更已經提升到了安貧樂道的境界
天真的以為自己仍然很幸福
或認為自己仍然可以維持安穩快樂的生活
未體認到別人失業的命運可能有一天會降臨到自己頭上
直到你的公司真的要外移了
你和你的同事真的失業了
才突然覺醒
跟人家的討論
capitalm說
如果台灣的物價升高的話
一堆代工業都會死光
而我的回應是:
所以這點更令人感到憂心
但更精確的說
真正會造成代工業死光的不會是物價
而是勞工的薪資
(且台灣的物價不可能不升高)
因為逐漸的
台灣的競爭對象已經不是南韓,新加坡,香港
或是值得仿效,追趕的日本,美國
而是淪落到必須跟擁有低廉勞力的中國,印度和其他東南亞國家競爭
這樣的產業結構就是所謂的向下沉淪,不進則退
有沒有想過為何以前的高科技產業
現在已經變成了所謂的代工業
而以前在相對高科技的時代
台灣勞工不必害怕失業
因為我們擁有別人沒有的技術
但是現在這些技術已是大家都有
台灣勞工的優勢因為產業結構未提升而頓失
資方在面對擁有相同技術條件的勞工時
有多少會本於愛台灣的情結而選擇留在台灣雇用較貴的台灣勞工?
代工業最需要的廉價,大量,低技術勞力
台灣絕對拼不過中國
所以台灣的產業才會外移嚴重
國外廠商也不會設廠在台灣
因而造成台灣眾多勞工失業
在台灣維持代工業絕對是一條死胡同
在這指的是對勞工而言
而非對資方
資方大可將在台的生產線外移到大陸,越南等地
他們仍然可以大賺其錢,甚至賺更多
對於薪資相對較高的台灣勞工
他們別無選擇,只能被迫離職
接著如果找不到工作就失業了
然而台灣人民要的真的是不斷的維持
甚至是已經不罕見的降低自己的薪資
以保有工作機會嗎?
這樣的在全球勞力市場上的削價競爭
面對幾乎能無窮盡供應廉價勞力的鄰近國家
台灣人民能夠維持多久?
台灣人民又真的希望,願意,且能滿足於在薪資方面的中國化,越南化,印度化?
我們應該做的是提升產業位階
建立自有品牌提升產品的附加價值
或是更長遠的發展不能被取代的產業
不再是以代工為主
我總覺得在台灣很多人似乎忘記自己不能自外於全球競爭
而有些人或許更已經提升到了安貧樂道的境界
天真的以為自己仍然很幸福
或認為自己仍然可以維持安穩快樂的生活
未體認到別人失業的命運可能有一天會降臨到自己頭上
直到你的公司真的要外移了
你和你的同事真的失業了
才突然覺醒
the Comparison
出國半年多了
目前為止沒看到什麼有關台灣的正面消息
在新加坡的時候
只看過報紙上的一則報導
標題是台灣的大學生陷在低薪資的泥沼裡
內容敘述台灣大學畢業生的薪資平均只有新加坡畢業生的一半
在澳洲
國際新聞幾乎沒看過有關台灣的
唯一看過的只有前不久華航班機在那霸機場的爆炸畫面
還被當作新聞的結尾畫面
前不久在雪梨舉行的APEC
台灣根本不是新聞重點
人家報導的重點是美國總統,中國國家主席,俄羅斯總統...
台灣的代表,大概比菲律賓總統Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo受到的關注更低吧
看到台灣還常常在拿南韓跟自己做比較
台灣年輕人應該沒人沒聽過南韓吧
但是在澳洲遇到的韓國年輕人
卻有許多沒聽過台灣
是韓國資訊不流通嗎?
我想並非如此
當台灣人沾沾自喜的說南韓的GDP per capita nominal雖然比我們高幾千美元但是PPP比台灣低上一截
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita
我認為能拿在國際上比較的並非PPP
PPP只能代表該國人民在該國內生活的富裕程度
當台灣人一出國就會感受到自己的收入在國際上的實際處境
光看實質收入
台灣跟一些台灣人以為會比自己落後很多的國家差距並不大
連一些東歐國家發展十幾年也已經差不多要追上台灣
鄰近的香港,澳門高台灣近1萬美元
日本更不用說
新加坡也比台灣高1萬美元以上
而遠一點的連前南斯拉夫加盟國Slovenia都比台灣高上幾千美元
而PPP簡直是拿來發展駝鳥心態用的
不然難道紐西蘭,西班牙,希臘,列支敦斯登,葡萄牙甚至歐盟平均
他們的PPP都比台灣低
就代表他們的生活水準都比台灣差嗎?
一般台灣人的收入真的很低
只是台灣的物價相對低
所以台灣人對貧困感受不深
但是目前國際上許多物資因為BRIC四國等國家市場需求大增而價格節節攀高
資源缺乏,連耕地面積也不大的台灣眾多物資仰賴進口
未來絕對難以維持相對低廉的物價
如果實質收入不能增加
未來人民的生活一定會很困苦
台灣近來物價已經普遍有所增漲
相信一般人民已有體會
我目前待的澳洲物價比台灣高上非常多
然而這裡的收入也很高
我之前在這裡的麥當勞打工
時薪稅前澳幣16.752元
扣稅後還有14塊多,約台幣420元
而這裡一份麥當勞的全餐約7澳幣
所以我工作一小時可吃兩份全餐
台灣的麥當勞工讀生呢?
時薪台幣90幾元
但是一份餐點要工作約1個半小時才能買得起
所以誰說物價低生活就一定比較好?
收入還是決定一切
目前為止沒看到什麼有關台灣的正面消息
在新加坡的時候
只看過報紙上的一則報導
標題是台灣的大學生陷在低薪資的泥沼裡
內容敘述台灣大學畢業生的薪資平均只有新加坡畢業生的一半
在澳洲
國際新聞幾乎沒看過有關台灣的
唯一看過的只有前不久華航班機在那霸機場的爆炸畫面
還被當作新聞的結尾畫面
前不久在雪梨舉行的APEC
台灣根本不是新聞重點
人家報導的重點是美國總統,中國國家主席,俄羅斯總統...
台灣的代表,大概比菲律賓總統Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo受到的關注更低吧
看到台灣還常常在拿南韓跟自己做比較
台灣年輕人應該沒人沒聽過南韓吧
但是在澳洲遇到的韓國年輕人
卻有許多沒聽過台灣
是韓國資訊不流通嗎?
我想並非如此
當台灣人沾沾自喜的說南韓的GDP per capita nominal雖然比我們高幾千美元但是PPP比台灣低上一截
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita
我認為能拿在國際上比較的並非PPP
PPP只能代表該國人民在該國內生活的富裕程度
當台灣人一出國就會感受到自己的收入在國際上的實際處境
光看實質收入
台灣跟一些台灣人以為會比自己落後很多的國家差距並不大
連一些東歐國家發展十幾年也已經差不多要追上台灣
鄰近的香港,澳門高台灣近1萬美元
日本更不用說
新加坡也比台灣高1萬美元以上
而遠一點的連前南斯拉夫加盟國Slovenia都比台灣高上幾千美元
而PPP簡直是拿來發展駝鳥心態用的
不然難道紐西蘭,西班牙,希臘,列支敦斯登,葡萄牙甚至歐盟平均
他們的PPP都比台灣低
就代表他們的生活水準都比台灣差嗎?
一般台灣人的收入真的很低
只是台灣的物價相對低
所以台灣人對貧困感受不深
但是目前國際上許多物資因為BRIC四國等國家市場需求大增而價格節節攀高
資源缺乏,連耕地面積也不大的台灣眾多物資仰賴進口
未來絕對難以維持相對低廉的物價
如果實質收入不能增加
未來人民的生活一定會很困苦
台灣近來物價已經普遍有所增漲
相信一般人民已有體會
我目前待的澳洲物價比台灣高上非常多
然而這裡的收入也很高
我之前在這裡的麥當勞打工
時薪稅前澳幣16.752元
扣稅後還有14塊多,約台幣420元
而這裡一份麥當勞的全餐約7澳幣
所以我工作一小時可吃兩份全餐
台灣的麥當勞工讀生呢?
時薪台幣90幾元
但是一份餐點要工作約1個半小時才能買得起
所以誰說物價低生活就一定比較好?
收入還是決定一切
Friday, October 12, 2007
the Trip to Blue Mountains
I made a trip to the Blue Mountains the past 2 days with 2 of my friends, Yili and Justin. The last time I was in Sydney, I didn't think about going there, all the things in my mind then were jobs and income. This time I've saved a little money and so I have the opportunity to make a trip there. The Blue Mountains is a world heritage area with amazing views.
We took the train from Central Station to Blacktown on Thursday morning, and changed to, due to railway works, another train to travel to Katoomba, the major town in the Blue Mountains National Park area. We booked one night at the YHA there. It was not a pleasant experience dealing with the staff. They're all not very professional and friendly. We made there in the morning but had to check-in in the afternoon. We paid our rent on our arrival, but obviously the staff didn't make a record on the computer, and when we checked in in the evening the staff on duty couldn't find our payment record. They kept doubting that we hadn't paid. I didn't fell happy about that. I learnt that the next time I pay any rent I have to remember to get a receipt.
Anyway, after our arrival, we stored our luggages at the YHA, and then went out to walk aroung the area. I have to admit that it is a very beautiful town with so many trees and lovely houses with adorable yards. The YHA is not far away from the Queen Elizabeth lookout in Echo Point, but we didn't know that. We went to the Scenic World on foot, and took all the three of Railway, Cableway and Skyway. The ticket we bought was Scenic Pass for adults which cost AU$28. It was expensive, but I think it's worthwhile. The view was excellent. It was also great to walk the tracks in the dense forest you can get to by riding the Railway or through other paths. The forest there is consisted of a lot of tall trees and ferns. There are also some exhibitions along the tracks regarding the coal mining history in that area many decades ago.
We then walked a long way down the hills to the mid section of Katoomba Fall. It is so beautiful and comfortable at the place. The water of the fall is not abundant due to the lasting drought, but it looks still good when you get close to it. The water drops splashed by wind onto to your face, the great scene of the valley, the birds' chirps, and the quiet surroundings all made us calm and even slumberous.
Later we walked to Echo Point and we walked down the very steep stairs down to the Three Sisters. It was scary walking down the stairs, but it's worth it. The views was great. There are many lookouts along the tracks in the whole area. But I have to say the Queen Elizabeth Lookout beside the information center truely have the most stunning scenery, and it's also the easiest one to get to.
The next day, today, we took a tour to Jenolan Caves at AU$60 for YHA members including couch transportation to and back from Katoomba and the ticket of the guided tour to Lucas Cave. The caves are maintained by a reserve trust. It took more then 1 hour to get to Jenolan Caves from Katoomba, we dozed off on the way.
You definitely have to go to Jenolan Caves if you go to the Blue Mountains. We don't know how it looks like in the other caves there, but it is absolutely breathtaking in Lucas Cave. I can't describe it well. You can find it out by going there yourself or looking at the photos I took through the link to my photos on the left.
We came back to Sydney in the evening at about 8:30PM. We should have come back earlier, but we missed the previous train by 1 minute, and had to wait until 6:24 when there was another train from Katoomba to Central Station. The train ride usually takes only 2 hours between Central Station and Katoomba on a single way ticket for adults at AU$11.60. Check the City Rail website for train fare details.
I spent about 200 dollars on this trip including train fares, YHA accommodation of 8 persons dorm, tour couch fares, Scenic World ticket, Lucas Cave ticket, and food. You can spend a lot less then that because I spend too much money on foods and drinks. By the way, do never attempt to try the Thai restaurant closest to Blue Mountains YHA on the street before the YHA. There are 2 Thai restaurants on this street, and we picked that one and definately regretted. Their foods were certainly the worst Thai foods we'd ever tasted, and were expensively over-priced at that kind of low quality.
We took the train from Central Station to Blacktown on Thursday morning, and changed to, due to railway works, another train to travel to Katoomba, the major town in the Blue Mountains National Park area. We booked one night at the YHA there. It was not a pleasant experience dealing with the staff. They're all not very professional and friendly. We made there in the morning but had to check-in in the afternoon. We paid our rent on our arrival, but obviously the staff didn't make a record on the computer, and when we checked in in the evening the staff on duty couldn't find our payment record. They kept doubting that we hadn't paid. I didn't fell happy about that. I learnt that the next time I pay any rent I have to remember to get a receipt.
Anyway, after our arrival, we stored our luggages at the YHA, and then went out to walk aroung the area. I have to admit that it is a very beautiful town with so many trees and lovely houses with adorable yards. The YHA is not far away from the Queen Elizabeth lookout in Echo Point, but we didn't know that. We went to the Scenic World on foot, and took all the three of Railway, Cableway and Skyway. The ticket we bought was Scenic Pass for adults which cost AU$28. It was expensive, but I think it's worthwhile. The view was excellent. It was also great to walk the tracks in the dense forest you can get to by riding the Railway or through other paths. The forest there is consisted of a lot of tall trees and ferns. There are also some exhibitions along the tracks regarding the coal mining history in that area many decades ago.
We then walked a long way down the hills to the mid section of Katoomba Fall. It is so beautiful and comfortable at the place. The water of the fall is not abundant due to the lasting drought, but it looks still good when you get close to it. The water drops splashed by wind onto to your face, the great scene of the valley, the birds' chirps, and the quiet surroundings all made us calm and even slumberous.
Later we walked to Echo Point and we walked down the very steep stairs down to the Three Sisters. It was scary walking down the stairs, but it's worth it. The views was great. There are many lookouts along the tracks in the whole area. But I have to say the Queen Elizabeth Lookout beside the information center truely have the most stunning scenery, and it's also the easiest one to get to.
The next day, today, we took a tour to Jenolan Caves at AU$60 for YHA members including couch transportation to and back from Katoomba and the ticket of the guided tour to Lucas Cave. The caves are maintained by a reserve trust. It took more then 1 hour to get to Jenolan Caves from Katoomba, we dozed off on the way.
You definitely have to go to Jenolan Caves if you go to the Blue Mountains. We don't know how it looks like in the other caves there, but it is absolutely breathtaking in Lucas Cave. I can't describe it well. You can find it out by going there yourself or looking at the photos I took through the link to my photos on the left.
We came back to Sydney in the evening at about 8:30PM. We should have come back earlier, but we missed the previous train by 1 minute, and had to wait until 6:24 when there was another train from Katoomba to Central Station. The train ride usually takes only 2 hours between Central Station and Katoomba on a single way ticket for adults at AU$11.60. Check the City Rail website for train fare details.
I spent about 200 dollars on this trip including train fares, YHA accommodation of 8 persons dorm, tour couch fares, Scenic World ticket, Lucas Cave ticket, and food. You can spend a lot less then that because I spend too much money on foods and drinks. By the way, do never attempt to try the Thai restaurant closest to Blue Mountains YHA on the street before the YHA. There are 2 Thai restaurants on this street, and we picked that one and definately regretted. Their foods were certainly the worst Thai foods we'd ever tasted, and were expensively over-priced at that kind of low quality.
the Next Stop, WA
It has become clear that my next stop in Australia will be at a cherry and strawberry farm in Western Australia. I'll fly to Perth on 16/Oct with Qantas(AU$285).
So far I've almost been to all the major cities in Australia. This time I'll stay in Perth for only one night, and will go to the town, Mount Barker, near the farm on the next day. However, I'll stay for more days when I finish my work at the farm 3 months later.
I've not done any farm work yet. I believe that it'll be tough to work outdoors, but I have to hang on for at least 3 months for that I'm now considering apply for a 2nd WHV, and so doing seasonal works for 3 months is essential.
I will not stay for another whole year. The reason I might apply for another year is merely due to that I might will not have time to go to certain destinations if I work for another few months straightly. I need money to assist my journey, and so works are a must. After the works I'll have to go to Broome, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef region, and maybe Tasmania. I think I won't have enough time to complete the list if I stay for only one year. So I'll might need another one or two months.
I truely hope that I can save some more bucks and have a not-too-bad time in Mount Barker.
So far I've almost been to all the major cities in Australia. This time I'll stay in Perth for only one night, and will go to the town, Mount Barker, near the farm on the next day. However, I'll stay for more days when I finish my work at the farm 3 months later.
I've not done any farm work yet. I believe that it'll be tough to work outdoors, but I have to hang on for at least 3 months for that I'm now considering apply for a 2nd WHV, and so doing seasonal works for 3 months is essential.
I will not stay for another whole year. The reason I might apply for another year is merely due to that I might will not have time to go to certain destinations if I work for another few months straightly. I need money to assist my journey, and so works are a must. After the works I'll have to go to Broome, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef region, and maybe Tasmania. I think I won't have enough time to complete the list if I stay for only one year. So I'll might need another one or two months.
I truely hope that I can save some more bucks and have a not-too-bad time in Mount Barker.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
the Australians
像再過兩週我在澳洲就待了半年了
時間過得非常快
就這幾個月來的感覺
我認為澳洲白人真的很怪
我覺得很不喜歡
我和許多台灣來的朋友都覺得
澳洲人又懶又笨卻又相當自以為是
我們在hostels裡
也最不喜歡跟澳洲人共處一室
他們通常生活習慣都很差
對於衛生很不重視
有他們在的房間通常會變亂
而且他們也不太願意跟我們聊天
像我現在住的房間裡就有兩個澳洲人
其中一個還好
另一個根本不理人
不過我也不在乎
在工作上
澳洲年輕人懶到了極點
我在麥當勞打工期間
每天都覺得很受不了
我總覺得為什麼我們領一樣的錢
我每次上班都忙得要死
事情一大堆
但是那些澳洲人卻是時常聚在一起聊天聊得昏天暗地
所有的事情都慢吞吞
廚房裡一團亂也不會打掃
我覺得對比上台灣人實在勤奮太多了
甚至大部分的台灣人根本就都是工作狂
可悲的是就算如此
一般台灣人賺的錢還是比澳洲人的平均值低上太多了
時間過得非常快
就這幾個月來的感覺
我認為澳洲白人真的很怪
我覺得很不喜歡
我和許多台灣來的朋友都覺得
澳洲人又懶又笨卻又相當自以為是
我們在hostels裡
也最不喜歡跟澳洲人共處一室
他們通常生活習慣都很差
對於衛生很不重視
有他們在的房間通常會變亂
而且他們也不太願意跟我們聊天
像我現在住的房間裡就有兩個澳洲人
其中一個還好
另一個根本不理人
不過我也不在乎
在工作上
澳洲年輕人懶到了極點
我在麥當勞打工期間
每天都覺得很受不了
我總覺得為什麼我們領一樣的錢
我每次上班都忙得要死
事情一大堆
但是那些澳洲人卻是時常聚在一起聊天聊得昏天暗地
所有的事情都慢吞吞
廚房裡一團亂也不會打掃
我覺得對比上台灣人實在勤奮太多了
甚至大部分的台灣人根本就都是工作狂
可悲的是就算如此
一般台灣人賺的錢還是比澳洲人的平均值低上太多了
Friday, October 5, 2007
the Routine of My Life
Regarding the word 'routine', I do not mean eating, sleeping or other everyday chores. What I mean is work and income. My life has been always constrained by money. I can not spent too long a time doing no works. In fact, I reckon most people can't. And it's even worse when you're living in a place where things are expensive, or when you have desire, lust for materials.
On this day, 05 Oct 2007, a new stage of my life begins. That is not something exciting nor that I would feel happy about. That is the beginning of my 30s. What a rapid speed our lives, or the time of our lives, moving forward. I remember when I turned 20 I was still studying in college, and at that night I wondered when I will be and what I will do ten years later. Voila, here's what it is, backpacking in Australia with not much money left. Sounds invigorating? I cannot concur with that.
From this point of time, I am a middle-aged man to most youngsters. Though I can still pretend to be a college student due to the fact that I do not look too aged, but I my mind I know something's got to be different. I feel more responsibilities to my own life. I can no longer care not about my career. The current backpacking thing is temporary. There might be only 6 months left. After this, I have to return to my homeland and be really serious about my future. For I'm not wealthy, I need constant and steady income to support my old life. And I have to endeavor to bring my hope to reality.
What will I do and where will I be ten years later? I ask myself again. I do hope at that time I won't feel like the previous ten years are lost in vain. But what will ensure that? I believe a heap of money and the success in career will do. So that is really nothing special. They're just routine to the majority of people.
On this day, 05 Oct 2007, a new stage of my life begins. That is not something exciting nor that I would feel happy about. That is the beginning of my 30s. What a rapid speed our lives, or the time of our lives, moving forward. I remember when I turned 20 I was still studying in college, and at that night I wondered when I will be and what I will do ten years later. Voila, here's what it is, backpacking in Australia with not much money left. Sounds invigorating? I cannot concur with that.
From this point of time, I am a middle-aged man to most youngsters. Though I can still pretend to be a college student due to the fact that I do not look too aged, but I my mind I know something's got to be different. I feel more responsibilities to my own life. I can no longer care not about my career. The current backpacking thing is temporary. There might be only 6 months left. After this, I have to return to my homeland and be really serious about my future. For I'm not wealthy, I need constant and steady income to support my old life. And I have to endeavor to bring my hope to reality.
What will I do and where will I be ten years later? I ask myself again. I do hope at that time I won't feel like the previous ten years are lost in vain. But what will ensure that? I believe a heap of money and the success in career will do. So that is really nothing special. They're just routine to the majority of people.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
the Return to Civilization
昨天深夜我終於離開了Moree
搭了1個半小時的飛機回到Sydney
飛機延誤了半小時
所以我到了10點多才到Sydney機場
上次到Sydney是從Mildura搭Greyhound到Central Station下車
這次從機場還要搭train到Central Station
跟Brisbane的機場線一樣貴
短短三個站的距離就要13.20元
我想我是絕不會再回Moree了
關於那裡工作的一切
我想全部忘掉
那裡我會想起的將只是每天一片廣闊蔚藍的天空還有晚上滿天的星辰
(所以他們county的網站自稱The Big Sky Country, 意思就是除了天空之外什麼也沒有的地方)
那裡的人算是挺和善
不過就跟澳洲其他地方一樣
偶爾也會遇到讓你覺得是racist的人
澳洲目前的旱災真的很嚴重
Moree那個地方在我住的2個月內
只有兩天下了短短一、兩個鐘頭的虛弱細雨
野外都是一片枯黃的草原跟乾裂的土地
樹林也是一片缺水的樣子
因為氣候非常乾燥
所以我的皮膚整天都非常不舒服
尤其是雙手因為每天工作的緣故
常常要洗手跟吹乾
所以甚至有很多小裂隙跟紅疹
希望回到海岸邊能夠好一點
我這次在雪梨不會待很久
應該兩週之後就會離開了
目前的當務之急還是要趕快找下份工作
搭了1個半小時的飛機回到Sydney
飛機延誤了半小時
所以我到了10點多才到Sydney機場
上次到Sydney是從Mildura搭Greyhound到Central Station下車
這次從機場還要搭train到Central Station
跟Brisbane的機場線一樣貴
短短三個站的距離就要13.20元
我想我是絕不會再回Moree了
關於那裡工作的一切
我想全部忘掉
那裡我會想起的將只是每天一片廣闊蔚藍的天空還有晚上滿天的星辰
(所以他們county的網站自稱The Big Sky Country, 意思就是除了天空之外什麼也沒有的地方)
那裡的人算是挺和善
不過就跟澳洲其他地方一樣
偶爾也會遇到讓你覺得是racist的人
澳洲目前的旱災真的很嚴重
Moree那個地方在我住的2個月內
只有兩天下了短短一、兩個鐘頭的虛弱細雨
野外都是一片枯黃的草原跟乾裂的土地
樹林也是一片缺水的樣子
因為氣候非常乾燥
所以我的皮膚整天都非常不舒服
尤其是雙手因為每天工作的緣故
常常要洗手跟吹乾
所以甚至有很多小裂隙跟紅疹
希望回到海岸邊能夠好一點
我這次在雪梨不會待很久
應該兩週之後就會離開了
目前的當務之急還是要趕快找下份工作
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Moree, the Extreme Boredom
I left Sydney for Moree by Country Link train, AU$58, on the 7th of August. This is a very small and rural town in the north east plain of New South Wales. This place is closer to Brisbane than Sydney.
It has a population of less than 3000 people. The downtown, if there's such a thing, is very small and nothing special. Actually the whole town is full of nothingness and boredom. If I was not working here, I don't want to stay here for any single day.
I'm currently working at the McDonald's here, and I'm living at one of the managers', Ben's, house for 80 bucks a week. The Macca's about 15 minutes of walking from where I live.
I found this work through a post by Sharon, an agent at Bligh job agency, on Travellers at Work. She told me that I can work for as many as 60 hours or more a week, and the pay would be at least 17.5 bucks per hour. But in the first week I earned only 200 bucks, because I did not have many working hours. Same condition in the 2nd week, only because they called me to work on last Sunday, on which the pay is much more at about 25 bucks per hour, so I can earn 500 bucks.
I was already worried last week about my lack of working hour. Someday last week Sharon called me concerning my current condition. I had told her that I did not work enough, but she seemed to did not call my manager. She just told me that should I have any problem just call her. When I saw my next week's roster a few days ago I found that I still would have very few hours, I felt very depressed and disturbed. Moree is a place so boring. If you're not workinh you've got nothing else to do except for sleeping or watching TV. And since I came to such a place from the biggest city I especially felt that I was wasting my time in Australia.
So I called Sharon a few days ago to tell her that I still would not get enough hours next week and my concerns. She latter finally called my manager, and then my manager promised me that he will give me more. I then already get more hours in these 2 days. Like today I started working at 6AM, and then got a rest at 4PM, and then will go to work again from 9PM to 11:30PM. I feel really exhausted now, but I finally get what I want that is the chance to save some money for my latter travels.
I currently live with a Dutch guy, Haije. But he's been working here for more than 2 months, and he's leaving tomorrow. He's saved more than 5 grands in these 2 months. I would like to work like he does, but that would be really tough to me. I feel really very tired.
In these few weeks, the things I had done were merely working, sleeping and watching TV. I didn't even have an opportunity to access the internet. Just today I used my manager's computer to check my emails and hop on here to make a record of my dull life here.
I don't like most of the coworkers at the Macca's. So far I havn't yet found any single Australian that I like. They're simply arrogant and making me feel unpleasant. I will have to endure and tolerate everything in the coming months of working here. And I do not know when will I have another chance to get online...
It has a population of less than 3000 people. The downtown, if there's such a thing, is very small and nothing special. Actually the whole town is full of nothingness and boredom. If I was not working here, I don't want to stay here for any single day.
I'm currently working at the McDonald's here, and I'm living at one of the managers', Ben's, house for 80 bucks a week. The Macca's about 15 minutes of walking from where I live.
I found this work through a post by Sharon, an agent at Bligh job agency, on Travellers at Work. She told me that I can work for as many as 60 hours or more a week, and the pay would be at least 17.5 bucks per hour. But in the first week I earned only 200 bucks, because I did not have many working hours. Same condition in the 2nd week, only because they called me to work on last Sunday, on which the pay is much more at about 25 bucks per hour, so I can earn 500 bucks.
I was already worried last week about my lack of working hour. Someday last week Sharon called me concerning my current condition. I had told her that I did not work enough, but she seemed to did not call my manager. She just told me that should I have any problem just call her. When I saw my next week's roster a few days ago I found that I still would have very few hours, I felt very depressed and disturbed. Moree is a place so boring. If you're not workinh you've got nothing else to do except for sleeping or watching TV. And since I came to such a place from the biggest city I especially felt that I was wasting my time in Australia.
So I called Sharon a few days ago to tell her that I still would not get enough hours next week and my concerns. She latter finally called my manager, and then my manager promised me that he will give me more. I then already get more hours in these 2 days. Like today I started working at 6AM, and then got a rest at 4PM, and then will go to work again from 9PM to 11:30PM. I feel really exhausted now, but I finally get what I want that is the chance to save some money for my latter travels.
I currently live with a Dutch guy, Haije. But he's been working here for more than 2 months, and he's leaving tomorrow. He's saved more than 5 grands in these 2 months. I would like to work like he does, but that would be really tough to me. I feel really very tired.
In these few weeks, the things I had done were merely working, sleeping and watching TV. I didn't even have an opportunity to access the internet. Just today I used my manager's computer to check my emails and hop on here to make a record of my dull life here.
I don't like most of the coworkers at the Macca's. So far I havn't yet found any single Australian that I like. They're simply arrogant and making me feel unpleasant. I will have to endure and tolerate everything in the coming months of working here. And I do not know when will I have another chance to get online...
Sunday, August 5, 2007
2 Nights Left for Me in Sydney
當初滿懷著希望從幾近千里之外的小鎮來到這全澳第一大城
期待能在這裡待到看到跨年煙火
這是我來澳洲最期待的事情之一
雪梨沒讓我失望，除了工作以外
我很高興能來這裡
這裡是我目前在澳洲待過最喜歡的地方
在溫和的冬季氣溫裡，不論晴雨
這裡總是有很多的地方可以去，也有很多的事情可以做
我覺得雪梨人一點也沒有傳說中的不友善
墨爾本人跟愚蠢的米丟啦人才真的令人厭惡
看到歌劇院和港灣大橋時的感動
待在Glebe週六市集裡的愜意
在Glebe的Sappho Books and Cafe裡喝一杯cappuccino, cafe mocha和巧克力甜點
走在人潮洶湧的街道上
望著美麗的達令港和擁有天然美景的Bondi Beach
在中國城裡吃便宜又美味的中式料理
雪梨有著太多令人喜愛的地方
如果有機會移民澳洲
我只想住在這裡
明天晚上我將到歌劇院欣賞來自Argentina的Camerata Portena樂團演出
剛到雪梨，我第二次到歌劇院時就買了票(AU$79)
希望會是美好的回憶
回來以後我就要開始打包了
後天早上10點將從Central Station搭Country Link火車前往數百公里外的Moree
展開新的一段旅程和工作
不知道何時會再回到雪梨
或許不會再回來
不過在這裡生活過的這一個月
我不會忘記
-----
附記:
雪梨中國城人來人往
還有好幾個food court
在food court裡吃飯要隨時注意自身財物安全
我在Chatswood郵件工廠裡第一天工作時認識的
來自France也是backpacker的Gills
在當天晚上到Dixon Street Food Court裡吃那家生意最好的鐵板菜時
他的背包放在桌底下的腳邊
在沒注意到的很短時間裡就遭竊了
雖然我跟他一起去警局報案
food court也有錄影監視
不過當然找不回來了
期待能在這裡待到看到跨年煙火
這是我來澳洲最期待的事情之一
雪梨沒讓我失望，除了工作以外
我很高興能來這裡
這裡是我目前在澳洲待過最喜歡的地方
在溫和的冬季氣溫裡，不論晴雨
這裡總是有很多的地方可以去，也有很多的事情可以做
我覺得雪梨人一點也沒有傳說中的不友善
墨爾本人跟愚蠢的米丟啦人才真的令人厭惡
看到歌劇院和港灣大橋時的感動
待在Glebe週六市集裡的愜意
在Glebe的Sappho Books and Cafe裡喝一杯cappuccino, cafe mocha和巧克力甜點
走在人潮洶湧的街道上
望著美麗的達令港和擁有天然美景的Bondi Beach
在中國城裡吃便宜又美味的中式料理
雪梨有著太多令人喜愛的地方
如果有機會移民澳洲
我只想住在這裡
明天晚上我將到歌劇院欣賞來自Argentina的Camerata Portena樂團演出
剛到雪梨，我第二次到歌劇院時就買了票(AU$79)
希望會是美好的回憶
回來以後我就要開始打包了
後天早上10點將從Central Station搭Country Link火車前往數百公里外的Moree
展開新的一段旅程和工作
不知道何時會再回到雪梨
或許不會再回來
不過在這裡生活過的這一個月
我不會忘記
-----
附記:
雪梨中國城人來人往
還有好幾個food court
在food court裡吃飯要隨時注意自身財物安全
我在Chatswood郵件工廠裡第一天工作時認識的
來自France也是backpacker的Gills
在當天晚上到Dixon Street Food Court裡吃那家生意最好的鐵板菜時
他的背包放在桌底下的腳邊
在沒注意到的很短時間裡就遭竊了
雖然我跟他一起去警局報案
food court也有錄影監視
不過當然找不回來了
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Jobs
I've been doing packing at a mail processing plant in Chatswood for a few days. That is a temporary and casual job which indicates that we don't work on a consistent routine but are asked to go to work and go back home according to the plant's needs. When we get to work we can earn like 100 dollars for a day of 7.5 hours of working. That is okay to maintain a life not too bad in Sydney, if you live economically you might also save some little money. But I don't know, I want to get more, a lot more, money.
I wanted to stay in this beautiful and lovable city until next January. I wanted to see the new year fireworks on Harbour Bridge. I wanted to experience more of living in a big city. I wanted more from this city. But after all, I need money. I think I need to save a lot to bring back home for some of my future plans. I forgot the reason why I came here. I thought I can live here like the other backpackers. But I can't. I currently have 3 job offers, none of them in Sydney. I eventually have to leave Sydney on next Tuesday.
I got another job offer today. It's a housekeeping work at a very exquisite resort on Bedarra Island. They would pay me 15 dollars per hour to work for 38 hours per week, and they charge 125 dollars per week for accommodation and food. It is so amazingly beautiful there. The island is in the Great Barrier Reef region. I always dream to live in a tropical paradise like that. I've never been to any place so sumptuous like that. Although as a housekeeper, I can still experience the grandeur of it. And the nature there, it's totally amazing. But I can't save enough money there.
The other job in north western Queensland, in Cloncurry, to spread seeds in the outback is attracting to me a lot as well. I love the outback, I love the nature. Camping under the millions of stars sounds so great. Riding motorbikes in the outback sounds wonderful as well. And I can save some money there, 120 per week totally will be saved. But the work will last only till mid December before the wet season begins. Somehow I also am afraid that I cannot endure that kind of wild life for too long.
Finally I decided to to to Moree to work for a McDonald's restaurant. The owner, Ben, sounds friendly on the phone. He will let me live in his home for 80 dollars per week. The pay will be 16 dollars per hour, and there will be more than 38 working hours per week. Sounds temptng. I found on the internet that Moree is a place famous for its hot springs. I hope it will be a good experience being there. I've booked a Country Link train ticket to go to Moree on next Tuesday at 10 o'clock. It costs 58 dollars for a seat of the economic class. It will take me 9 hours to get there.
I'm sad that I'm always in deep need of money. I feel unhappy. But I have to face the reality after all.
I wanted to stay in this beautiful and lovable city until next January. I wanted to see the new year fireworks on Harbour Bridge. I wanted to experience more of living in a big city. I wanted more from this city. But after all, I need money. I think I need to save a lot to bring back home for some of my future plans. I forgot the reason why I came here. I thought I can live here like the other backpackers. But I can't. I currently have 3 job offers, none of them in Sydney. I eventually have to leave Sydney on next Tuesday.
I got another job offer today. It's a housekeeping work at a very exquisite resort on Bedarra Island. They would pay me 15 dollars per hour to work for 38 hours per week, and they charge 125 dollars per week for accommodation and food. It is so amazingly beautiful there. The island is in the Great Barrier Reef region. I always dream to live in a tropical paradise like that. I've never been to any place so sumptuous like that. Although as a housekeeper, I can still experience the grandeur of it. And the nature there, it's totally amazing. But I can't save enough money there.
The other job in north western Queensland, in Cloncurry, to spread seeds in the outback is attracting to me a lot as well. I love the outback, I love the nature. Camping under the millions of stars sounds so great. Riding motorbikes in the outback sounds wonderful as well. And I can save some money there, 120 per week totally will be saved. But the work will last only till mid December before the wet season begins. Somehow I also am afraid that I cannot endure that kind of wild life for too long.
Finally I decided to to to Moree to work for a McDonald's restaurant. The owner, Ben, sounds friendly on the phone. He will let me live in his home for 80 dollars per week. The pay will be 16 dollars per hour, and there will be more than 38 working hours per week. Sounds temptng. I found on the internet that Moree is a place famous for its hot springs. I hope it will be a good experience being there. I've booked a Country Link train ticket to go to Moree on next Tuesday at 10 o'clock. It costs 58 dollars for a seat of the economic class. It will take me 9 hours to get there.
I'm sad that I'm always in deep need of money. I feel unhappy. But I have to face the reality after all.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Me Alone in Sydney
在雪梨的生活很快的就過了3週
第一週還能悠閒的四處逛逛拍拍照
偶爾才上網投一下履歷
天真的以為大城市應該很容易就能找到工作
在四處閒逛的情形之下
也喜歡上這個美麗但忙碌的城市
雪梨充滿了各色人種
尤其亞洲人非常多
往往迎面走來一群都是東亞人
滿街到處都是中文招牌
有種不是身在國外的感覺
我去找過兩間每週90元的公寓
屋主都是韓國人
可是這兩間房子的感覺都不是很好
可能印證了一分錢一分貨這句話吧
第二週開始急著工作
上網投了上百封履歷
找過10幾個求職網站
買過好幾份中英文報紙
就是找不到工作
不然就是時薪低到只有7元的餐廳
因為剩下的錢非常少
所以心急如焚
每天都覺得壓力很大
很不快樂
有人說東岸城市找工作不容易
我體會到了
我覺得尤其是對亞洲人而言更難
好像我們只能窩在鄉下採水果似的
還遇過兩個仲介
一個說會幫你介紹食品工廠週薪600的工作
但是仲介費300元
另一個更誇張
那是我在背包客棧看到他的留言
沒想到介紹一個清潔工的工作要收費1400元
簡直是獅子大開口
拜託
清潔工的時薪也才15元左右
要工作幾個禮拜才能賺得回來
以為每個背包客都是家財萬貫嗎?
我不得已去了他們介紹的在Auburn的另一家仲介面試
其實我是去跟他們說我付不出1400元的commission
所以我不能接這份工作
當然我這樣也惹惱了原先的仲介
不過沒差
我也不需要他們的幫忙
另外
Auburn離市區有不短的距離
但是一出那裡的火車站真令我驚訝
所車站前後的商店幾乎都是中文招牌
路上走的白人沒多少
大都是亞洲人、印度人、黑人甚至中亞人等人種
到了上週四我在Travellers at Work網站刷卡註冊
投了履歷才有一些回音
有一個是做景觀園藝工人的
我對興趣就投了履歷
接到回信問我有沒有green card跟相關經驗
green card是要在NSW的工地工作的人都需要的一份證件
我又上網刷了100元參加認證課程
上週六去上了6個小時的課
內容是工地的安全講習
經過簡單又隨便的測驗就可以取得一張certificate
感覺真是浪費錢跟時間
後來我回信說我取得green card了
但是也沒再接到回信
真是令人生氣又失望
我找的工作一般都是office support
這幾十封的email不是石沉大海就是被回絕
找kitchenhand的幾乎也是相同情形
連cleaner的工作都找不到
簡直心情蕩到谷底
好不容易到了這星期一接到一通電話
是在北岸Chatswood區的一家公司打來的
那家公司是承接信件業務的
我們的工作是把廣告傳單和手冊等等裝進信封
工作很簡單
時薪不錯有17元
可惜工作只是臨時的
有時會被提早要求下班或是晚點去上班
我也很擔心什麼時候會沒工作
另外那裡離我住的地方非常遠
為了省錢
我早上6點半要起床
趕七點之前出門
走約50分鐘到York Street去搭207號公車
公車還要搭40分鐘以上才會到
每天來回7.8元的車資也是負擔沉重
這週我去上了2天半的班
其他兩天都分別再去參加面試
我很喜歡雪梨
希望能在這裡找一份安定的工作過到明年一月
不過感覺好像希望渺茫
能不能撐到我已經買票去雪梨歌劇院欣賞表演的8月6日我都很懷疑
我也好想在這看到新年的煙火
前天本來要去Central Station附近Pitt Street上知名的武藏Musashi日本料理店面試kitchenhand的工作
我記得週一時他們跟我電話上約的時間是10點半
沒想到一到他們還跟我說我應該守時
面試時間是10點
我感覺很錯愕
同一時間我本來有一家在Bondi Junction叫Integral Marketing的公司業務的面試也推掉了
在回Glebe路上我餓得很
路過Broadway上的KFC忍不住進去又刷卡吃了一餐(天啊、我好擔心我能不能賺到錢轉回台灣付賬)
還沒點餐前接到另一家仲介的電話
那是Bligh Appointments的Sharon打來的
他們接了很多澳洲McDonald's的人力尋找工作
她要我下午2點去面試
我就沒有回Glebe
直接去Dymocks Building, 7th Floor, 428 George Stree 的附近
找地方等到2點去赴約
我在Dymocks Building後方行人徒步區的Pitt Street上的椅子作了很久
這個地方人潮洶湧
很多上班族、年輕人、觀光客
其中有一位亞洲人的老太太在翻找著我旁邊的垃圾桶
對照光鮮的人群、高的樓群
真是令人心酸
我去赴約以後其實也只是填資料、作一份問卷
然後就等到今天
Sharon說對方會打電話給我
可是到今天都沒有
明天又是週末了
真令人擔心
那是一個在Moree(一個在雪梨以北數百公里、接近跟Queensland邊界的小鎮)
的一家麥當勞的工作
時薪至少有有17塊多
還提供每週80元的住宿
最好的是聽說工作時數可以有很多
我很想要這份工作
希望能成功
今天我又去一家叫做Sierra Marketing的公司應徵sales的工作
他們的辦公室你走進去會感到像是台灣的傳銷公司的
很大的辦公室、門口的公司名稱是用一張紙列印貼著的
裡面只有三個人
跟我面試的是負責人、年紀比我還小一些
他說他們是承接一家保險、老人年金計畫公司的工作
sales的工作是到住宅區挨家挨戶拜訪
跟人家約時間去那家公司聽計畫
每約成一個appointment
sales就可以賺90元
我下午被通知錄取、下週一開始工作
可是我很不知道到底能不能做得下去
我今天另外有聯繫了一份在QLD西北角偏遠的Cloncurry小鎮的一份工作
要到那裡我要花300多塊的機票跟車資
從Sydney飛到Townsville
再從Townsville搭Greyhound約10個小時才到Cloncurry
工作是在outback四處灑樹木種子連續14天然後休息2、3天
工作會持續到雨季開始的12月中
每天給工資120元、提供食物、晚上在野外搭帳棚
我覺得會是很特別的經驗
很想去做
可能明天會打電話跟他們說我要去
現在的我很缺錢
又想到如果能到McDonald's工作好像可以存到很多錢
帶回台灣也很好
所以很希望得到那份工作
但是又覺得sales的工作如果順利
也可以學到很多有助將來回台就業的技巧
而野外灑種子又是一種很特別的體驗、所以我也很想要
現在我還得再想想
第一週還能悠閒的四處逛逛拍拍照
偶爾才上網投一下履歷
天真的以為大城市應該很容易就能找到工作
在四處閒逛的情形之下
也喜歡上這個美麗但忙碌的城市
雪梨充滿了各色人種
尤其亞洲人非常多
往往迎面走來一群都是東亞人
滿街到處都是中文招牌
有種不是身在國外的感覺
我去找過兩間每週90元的公寓
屋主都是韓國人
可是這兩間房子的感覺都不是很好
可能印證了一分錢一分貨這句話吧
第二週開始急著工作
上網投了上百封履歷
找過10幾個求職網站
買過好幾份中英文報紙
就是找不到工作
不然就是時薪低到只有7元的餐廳
因為剩下的錢非常少
所以心急如焚
每天都覺得壓力很大
很不快樂
有人說東岸城市找工作不容易
我體會到了
我覺得尤其是對亞洲人而言更難
好像我們只能窩在鄉下採水果似的
還遇過兩個仲介
一個說會幫你介紹食品工廠週薪600的工作
但是仲介費300元
另一個更誇張
那是我在背包客棧看到他的留言
沒想到介紹一個清潔工的工作要收費1400元
簡直是獅子大開口
拜託
清潔工的時薪也才15元左右
要工作幾個禮拜才能賺得回來
以為每個背包客都是家財萬貫嗎?
我不得已去了他們介紹的在Auburn的另一家仲介面試
其實我是去跟他們說我付不出1400元的commission
所以我不能接這份工作
當然我這樣也惹惱了原先的仲介
不過沒差
我也不需要他們的幫忙
另外
Auburn離市區有不短的距離
但是一出那裡的火車站真令我驚訝
所車站前後的商店幾乎都是中文招牌
路上走的白人沒多少
大都是亞洲人、印度人、黑人甚至中亞人等人種
到了上週四我在Travellers at Work網站刷卡註冊
投了履歷才有一些回音
有一個是做景觀園藝工人的
我對興趣就投了履歷
接到回信問我有沒有green card跟相關經驗
green card是要在NSW的工地工作的人都需要的一份證件
我又上網刷了100元參加認證課程
上週六去上了6個小時的課
內容是工地的安全講習
經過簡單又隨便的測驗就可以取得一張certificate
感覺真是浪費錢跟時間
後來我回信說我取得green card了
但是也沒再接到回信
真是令人生氣又失望
我找的工作一般都是office support
這幾十封的email不是石沉大海就是被回絕
找kitchenhand的幾乎也是相同情形
連cleaner的工作都找不到
簡直心情蕩到谷底
好不容易到了這星期一接到一通電話
是在北岸Chatswood區的一家公司打來的
那家公司是承接信件業務的
我們的工作是把廣告傳單和手冊等等裝進信封
工作很簡單
時薪不錯有17元
可惜工作只是臨時的
有時會被提早要求下班或是晚點去上班
我也很擔心什麼時候會沒工作
另外那裡離我住的地方非常遠
為了省錢
我早上6點半要起床
趕七點之前出門
走約50分鐘到York Street去搭207號公車
公車還要搭40分鐘以上才會到
每天來回7.8元的車資也是負擔沉重
這週我去上了2天半的班
其他兩天都分別再去參加面試
我很喜歡雪梨
希望能在這裡找一份安定的工作過到明年一月
不過感覺好像希望渺茫
能不能撐到我已經買票去雪梨歌劇院欣賞表演的8月6日我都很懷疑
我也好想在這看到新年的煙火
前天本來要去Central Station附近Pitt Street上知名的武藏Musashi日本料理店面試kitchenhand的工作
我記得週一時他們跟我電話上約的時間是10點半
沒想到一到他們還跟我說我應該守時
面試時間是10點
我感覺很錯愕
同一時間我本來有一家在Bondi Junction叫Integral Marketing的公司業務的面試也推掉了
在回Glebe路上我餓得很
路過Broadway上的KFC忍不住進去又刷卡吃了一餐(天啊、我好擔心我能不能賺到錢轉回台灣付賬)
還沒點餐前接到另一家仲介的電話
那是Bligh Appointments的Sharon打來的
他們接了很多澳洲McDonald's的人力尋找工作
她要我下午2點去面試
我就沒有回Glebe
直接去Dymocks Building, 7th Floor, 428 George Stree 的附近
找地方等到2點去赴約
我在Dymocks Building後方行人徒步區的Pitt Street上的椅子作了很久
這個地方人潮洶湧
很多上班族、年輕人、觀光客
其中有一位亞洲人的老太太在翻找著我旁邊的垃圾桶
對照光鮮的人群、高的樓群
真是令人心酸
我去赴約以後其實也只是填資料、作一份問卷
然後就等到今天
Sharon說對方會打電話給我
可是到今天都沒有
明天又是週末了
真令人擔心
那是一個在Moree(一個在雪梨以北數百公里、接近跟Queensland邊界的小鎮)
的一家麥當勞的工作
時薪至少有有17塊多
還提供每週80元的住宿
最好的是聽說工作時數可以有很多
我很想要這份工作
希望能成功
今天我又去一家叫做Sierra Marketing的公司應徵sales的工作
他們的辦公室你走進去會感到像是台灣的傳銷公司的
很大的辦公室、門口的公司名稱是用一張紙列印貼著的
裡面只有三個人
跟我面試的是負責人、年紀比我還小一些
他說他們是承接一家保險、老人年金計畫公司的工作
sales的工作是到住宅區挨家挨戶拜訪
跟人家約時間去那家公司聽計畫
每約成一個appointment
sales就可以賺90元
我下午被通知錄取、下週一開始工作
可是我很不知道到底能不能做得下去
我今天另外有聯繫了一份在QLD西北角偏遠的Cloncurry小鎮的一份工作
要到那裡我要花300多塊的機票跟車資
從Sydney飛到Townsville
再從Townsville搭Greyhound約10個小時才到Cloncurry
工作是在outback四處灑樹木種子連續14天然後休息2、3天
工作會持續到雨季開始的12月中
每天給工資120元、提供食物、晚上在野外搭帳棚
我覺得會是很特別的經驗
很想去做
可能明天會打電話跟他們說我要去
現在的我很缺錢
又想到如果能到McDonald's工作好像可以存到很多錢
帶回台灣也很好
所以很希望得到那份工作
但是又覺得sales的工作如果順利
也可以學到很多有助將來回台就業的技巧
而野外灑種子又是一種很特別的體驗、所以我也很想要
現在我還得再想想
Friday, July 13, 2007
These Days in Sydney
我現在住的Glebe區離市中心不遠
但是是很有異國情調的一區
從Central Station往Broadway走10幾分鐘就會遇到Glebe Point Road
右轉進來就到了Glebe
Glebe這裡沒有擁擠嘈雜的車陣與人群
但是有很多的小餐館,書店,商店,咖啡廳,教堂和漂亮的建築
你可以整天悠閒的在這裡閒逛
或是坐在咖啡廳裡點杯咖啡,唸書
這幾天在Sydney市區走來走去
還是覺得Glebe最好
昨天我又去了Sydney Opera House一次
上次去是到雪梨來的隔天
那次天氣很差
昨天天氣就很好,晴朗且溫暖
我沿著Sussex Street往the Rocks區走去
Sussex Street街底的Miller's Point那裡是另一處安靜且美麗的街區
我在那裡一間郵局外面的椅子休息了一下
拍了幾張照
對面有一間號稱是Sydney最古老的旅館
然後我往the Rocks區走去
沿途可以看見不遠的Harbour Bridge高高聳立
The Rocks這裡也是一處受歡迎的美麗街區
有很多商店和餐廳
來這裡的人很多
因為這裡離Circular Quay, Harbour Bridge都很近
而且可以隔著海灣看見美麗的雪梨歌劇院
我在岸邊待了一會
拍了一些照就往Opera House走去
經過人群洶湧的Circular Quay
再走不遠就到了Opera House
晴天的SOH遠看真的蠻美的
前面的廣場上充滿來自世界各國的遊客
我請一位講華語的遊客幫我與SOH拍了張合照
上次去SOH的時候我也遇到兩位講華語的馬來西亞女孩
並且請她們幫我拍照
SOH近看覺得其實不大
它雪白的外表是由一塊塊的瓷磚組成
感覺有點像是廁所...
不過整個造型仍然給人很優美的感覺
Harbour Bridge就在海灣的對面
旁邊還有青翠的Royal Botanic Gardens
加上寬闊的海灣以及對面的住家建築
這裡的景色確實很棒
回程我發現其實沿著Central Station旁的Pitt Street
就可以走到Circular Quay
不必像我這兩次都在市區裡繞來繞去
在回到Central Station附近Pitt Street和broadway交接處附近
我發現一家中文招牌的燒烤店
我就在那裡吃晚餐
點了麻辣烤雞翅,羊肉串
還好奇點了沒聽過的板筋,是牛的一部分,還蠻有嚼勁的
老闆娘是嫁給澳洲人的中國移民
我跟她和店裡另外的一對也是中國移民的母女聊了一會
在澳洲這一陣子,我覺得Sydney和Brisbane最美
之前我聽很多來過Sydney的人都說不喜歡這裡
我實在想不出是為了什麼
我希望我仍然可以在這裡再待上幾個月
等Tasmania天氣回暖一些再到那裡去
接著去參加Whitsunday Islands的tour
然後就可以回台灣了
但是是很有異國情調的一區
從Central Station往Broadway走10幾分鐘就會遇到Glebe Point Road
右轉進來就到了Glebe
Glebe這裡沒有擁擠嘈雜的車陣與人群
但是有很多的小餐館,書店,商店,咖啡廳,教堂和漂亮的建築
你可以整天悠閒的在這裡閒逛
或是坐在咖啡廳裡點杯咖啡,唸書
這幾天在Sydney市區走來走去
還是覺得Glebe最好
昨天我又去了Sydney Opera House一次
上次去是到雪梨來的隔天
那次天氣很差
昨天天氣就很好,晴朗且溫暖
我沿著Sussex Street往the Rocks區走去
Sussex Street街底的Miller's Point那裡是另一處安靜且美麗的街區
我在那裡一間郵局外面的椅子休息了一下
拍了幾張照
對面有一間號稱是Sydney最古老的旅館
然後我往the Rocks區走去
沿途可以看見不遠的Harbour Bridge高高聳立
The Rocks這裡也是一處受歡迎的美麗街區
有很多商店和餐廳
來這裡的人很多
因為這裡離Circular Quay, Harbour Bridge都很近
而且可以隔著海灣看見美麗的雪梨歌劇院
我在岸邊待了一會
拍了一些照就往Opera House走去
經過人群洶湧的Circular Quay
再走不遠就到了Opera House
晴天的SOH遠看真的蠻美的
前面的廣場上充滿來自世界各國的遊客
我請一位講華語的遊客幫我與SOH拍了張合照
上次去SOH的時候我也遇到兩位講華語的馬來西亞女孩
並且請她們幫我拍照
SOH近看覺得其實不大
它雪白的外表是由一塊塊的瓷磚組成
感覺有點像是廁所...
不過整個造型仍然給人很優美的感覺
Harbour Bridge就在海灣的對面
旁邊還有青翠的Royal Botanic Gardens
加上寬闊的海灣以及對面的住家建築
這裡的景色確實很棒
回程我發現其實沿著Central Station旁的Pitt Street
就可以走到Circular Quay
不必像我這兩次都在市區裡繞來繞去
在回到Central Station附近Pitt Street和broadway交接處附近
我發現一家中文招牌的燒烤店
我就在那裡吃晚餐
點了麻辣烤雞翅,羊肉串
還好奇點了沒聽過的板筋,是牛的一部分,還蠻有嚼勁的
老闆娘是嫁給澳洲人的中國移民
我跟她和店裡另外的一對也是中國移民的母女聊了一會
在澳洲這一陣子,我覺得Sydney和Brisbane最美
之前我聽很多來過Sydney的人都說不喜歡這裡
我實在想不出是為了什麼
我希望我仍然可以在這裡再待上幾個月
等Tasmania天氣回暖一些再到那裡去
接著去參加Whitsunday Islands的tour
然後就可以回台灣了
Monday, July 9, 2007
Sydney
I'm now in Sydney. The biggest city in Australia. The city that's named one of the most beautiful ones in the world. The one with the world know OPERA HOUSE. The one where the fireworks at the new year's day's midnight are said to be a must see. The one with a bridge that many people would spend a lot money to climb. I'm here on last Saturday at 10:30AM after a 18-hour long bus ride.
After I arrived at the Central Station, I felt liking the city immediately. Yes, I like the place where there are a lot of people. I feel more relieved. There is an information office right there in the same building, and I took a city map from it. I was not familiar with the city at all, and with my excessive luggage, I was not able to explore where my hostel would be on foot. I decided to take taxi, and it took me 14 dollars, and only around 5 minute's ride.
The hostel, Rooftop Travellers Lodge, is in Glebe. A suburb not far away from the Central Station. The check-in time is 2:00PM, so I had to store my luggage there and went out to fool around for a few hours.
The weather that day was so good. The beautiful blue sky and the comfy breeze all made it even more enjoyable. I was tired because of the earlier long bus ride, so I didn't want to walk too far. I was merely strolling along the adjacent streets. I walked to the Glebe tram stop, and then back to Glebe Point Road. I then found there was a market at a school on that road. There were stalls selling decorations, clothes, foods, artworks and other things. And there was a live band performing there singing some beautiful songs. It was fun visiting the market. I bought a kind of Turkish pancake and a cup of lemonade, finished them. Then I sat opposite to the band across a meadow, listened to their songs and looked at the people and the surroundings around me. I quite liked it. Then on the way back to the hostel, I had a $7 Thai meal which was not too bad.
There was still some time left before I could check in. I sat on the bench across the road in front of the hostel. When the time was ready, I checked in. i was amazed of what we got in the room. With 20 dollars per night, we got a 4-people dorm with ensuite bathroom and toilet, computer with free internet, 2 fridges, big closets, free washing machines and dryers, and a good view of the CBD on the rooftop. It was good, so far the best one I ever lived in Australia.
In these few days I've been to Darling Harbour, Maritime Museum, Chinatown, Paddy's Markets, Fish Market, and of course the Opera house with the Harbour bridge in the background. Only that it is raining today and yesterday. But I still like it here.
I hope I can find a job and a house to rent A.S.A.P. If could, I would stay in Sydney for the following 6 months until next January.
After I arrived at the Central Station, I felt liking the city immediately. Yes, I like the place where there are a lot of people. I feel more relieved. There is an information office right there in the same building, and I took a city map from it. I was not familiar with the city at all, and with my excessive luggage, I was not able to explore where my hostel would be on foot. I decided to take taxi, and it took me 14 dollars, and only around 5 minute's ride.
The hostel, Rooftop Travellers Lodge, is in Glebe. A suburb not far away from the Central Station. The check-in time is 2:00PM, so I had to store my luggage there and went out to fool around for a few hours.
The weather that day was so good. The beautiful blue sky and the comfy breeze all made it even more enjoyable. I was tired because of the earlier long bus ride, so I didn't want to walk too far. I was merely strolling along the adjacent streets. I walked to the Glebe tram stop, and then back to Glebe Point Road. I then found there was a market at a school on that road. There were stalls selling decorations, clothes, foods, artworks and other things. And there was a live band performing there singing some beautiful songs. It was fun visiting the market. I bought a kind of Turkish pancake and a cup of lemonade, finished them. Then I sat opposite to the band across a meadow, listened to their songs and looked at the people and the surroundings around me. I quite liked it. Then on the way back to the hostel, I had a $7 Thai meal which was not too bad.
There was still some time left before I could check in. I sat on the bench across the road in front of the hostel. When the time was ready, I checked in. i was amazed of what we got in the room. With 20 dollars per night, we got a 4-people dorm with ensuite bathroom and toilet, computer with free internet, 2 fridges, big closets, free washing machines and dryers, and a good view of the CBD on the rooftop. It was good, so far the best one I ever lived in Australia.
In these few days I've been to Darling Harbour, Maritime Museum, Chinatown, Paddy's Markets, Fish Market, and of course the Opera house with the Harbour bridge in the background. Only that it is raining today and yesterday. But I still like it here.
I hope I can find a job and a house to rent A.S.A.P. If could, I would stay in Sydney for the following 6 months until next January.
Away from Mildura, to Sydney
I left Mildura for Sydney last Saturday in the disappointment of having no works to do there, at least at the hostel. Also the weather those few days in Mildura was so cold, rainy and windy. Most backpackers at the hostel doing outdoor jobs had to take a rest because of the weather, and hence had no income. Not to mention that I was fed up of the hostile atmosphere there towards us. I couldn't wat fleeing to another place.
At first I was not planning on coming to Sydney on my travel this year. In the past I thought I might will come to Sydney anyway in the future. But after these few months in OZ, I think I've seen enough of this continent, and I don't expect myself to come back in any forseeable future. OZ is not a bad place, but I don't feel liking some of the experiences I have here, either on the natural environment, landscape or people. In the future I'd rather go to Europe, Japan or anywhere else. Overall I don't feel that OZ is that exotic to us people from Taiwan. They earn much much more here, but I prefer the living we have back home, the way of living with relatively low income, but with much more convenience on most anything you would need in everyday life, and the most important, the friendliness, hospitality most Taiwanese have. They do have beautiful beaches, fresh air, vast land and many good things here, but after all I like my homeland.
At first I was not planning on coming to Sydney on my travel this year. In the past I thought I might will come to Sydney anyway in the future. But after these few months in OZ, I think I've seen enough of this continent, and I don't expect myself to come back in any forseeable future. OZ is not a bad place, but I don't feel liking some of the experiences I have here, either on the natural environment, landscape or people. In the future I'd rather go to Europe, Japan or anywhere else. Overall I don't feel that OZ is that exotic to us people from Taiwan. They earn much much more here, but I prefer the living we have back home, the way of living with relatively low income, but with much more convenience on most anything you would need in everyday life, and the most important, the friendliness, hospitality most Taiwanese have. They do have beautiful beaches, fresh air, vast land and many good things here, but after all I like my homeland.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Leaving Melbourne for Mildura in Murray River valley
六月二十二日，我離開了無聊至極的醜陋城市Melbourne。花了三十七塊多在Southern Cross車站買了往Mildura的票。先從Southern Cross搭V Line火車到Bendigo，再從Bendigo換V Line Coach到Mildura。從早上十點十五分出發，到晚上六點出頭才到。
Mildura沒有想像中的鄉下，這是一個人口六萬多的小鎮。Coles、Woolworths都有，還有一個不小的shopping mall。我住在一個叫做Oasis的backpackers裡，這是我在Urban Central時看一本雜誌發現的。它在雜誌裡廣告徵farm workers，說每天可賺150元。事實上它只是一間不怎麼樣的旅社，老闆跟附近的一些農夫或工廠承攬工作，然後再安排住在那裏的backpakers去上班。
剛來的隔天我就被安排到一間蒜頭工廠做晚班，時間從下午四點到晚上十二點半。在蒜頭工廠我們負責的是在輸送帶旁從永無止盡的蒜頭裡挑出壞的。有些壞蒜頭的味道實在臭得很，我們每天就在惡臭以及滿地黏答答的蒜頭裡奮戰。每個小時稅前有16.5元，所以一天大概可賺一百元。可是期間我覺得有個澳洲女生對我們的態度非常差，還拿蒜頭丟我們的臉。所以上周三我們就跟旅社的老闆說我們周五要check out，結果他隔天一早竟然就怒氣沖沖的來敲我們的房門，說我們必須至少住兩周，還說他給我們很好的工作，如果我們隔天要離開就要賠他85元，不然他就要扣我們的薪水。我覺得非常生氣，就跟他一路吵到他的辦公室，後來他的態度不知道為什麼突然軟化，說可以給我免費住一周，只是跟我同行的兩個台灣女生也要一起留下並且到他安排的橘子包裝廠去工作。我跟另外兩個女生討論後決定只好再待一周，可是我的免費房租要跟她們share，於是我這週就付了120元再留下來。那個橘子包裝場也有種族歧視，他們不雇用亞洲男性。
可是到了星期四晚上，蒜頭工廠的晚班突然提早結束，並且將不再有晚班。周五我就被安排去剪一種藤類枝條，可是我搭錯車就又回到蒜頭工廠做早班，只是當天連早班也暫時結束了。周六我們到一處葡萄園修剪葡萄藤。忙碌的工作了七個小時，手都起了水泡，結果我竟然只賺了28元，這還算是比較多的，有些然還只賺了14元。上星期天我休息了一天，周一我就去剪藤條了。藤條糾纏在地上，我們必須把它們剪斷拉出來，然後選擇適當粗細的依照芽的位置剪成固定長度，剪好的每支稅前我們可以賺8 cents，每天你得剪至少1400支以上，才能賺到100元。結果我第一天只剪到985支，感覺很糟，也很累。昨天早上我實在累得不想起來，就待在房裡跟室友借電腦看了一整天影集Prison Break。今天我想我跟明天也都不要再去剪藤條。我早上跟老闆的兒子說我周五要check out，結果他臉又變臭，不知道我週五能否順利check out。我實在只能建議想做農作的人別來Mildura，要就去Western Australia，聽說那裏的人比較老實，你做農作至少都會給你稅後還有法律規定的13.6元。如果你不幸來了Mildura，也千萬別住到Oasis，除非你打算在那待上好幾個月。
現在我只能希望周五可以順利check out，我感覺我們很像老闆的奴工，連想離開也只能碰運氣。如果我能check out，我會搬到附近的另一家旅社，聽說那裏可能會有採柑橘的工作。如果連在那裏的工作也不好我就想搬去Sydney，反正我並不想申請第二年，做任何工作都可以，並不是非做農作不可，反正也已經體驗過了。
澳洲人有很多都很仇外，還有移民到這裡的越南人也很看不起其他亞洲人。所以，哼，以後在台灣看到澳洲人跟越南人，或許你可以考慮對他們丟水球。如果你到澳洲的鄉下，也要小心他們向美國所謂的rednecks一樣，用惡劣的態度對待你。我想，終究還是待在大都市比較好。
Mildura沒有想像中的鄉下，這是一個人口六萬多的小鎮。Coles、Woolworths都有，還有一個不小的shopping mall。我住在一個叫做Oasis的backpackers裡，這是我在Urban Central時看一本雜誌發現的。它在雜誌裡廣告徵farm workers，說每天可賺150元。事實上它只是一間不怎麼樣的旅社，老闆跟附近的一些農夫或工廠承攬工作，然後再安排住在那裏的backpakers去上班。
剛來的隔天我就被安排到一間蒜頭工廠做晚班，時間從下午四點到晚上十二點半。在蒜頭工廠我們負責的是在輸送帶旁從永無止盡的蒜頭裡挑出壞的。有些壞蒜頭的味道實在臭得很，我們每天就在惡臭以及滿地黏答答的蒜頭裡奮戰。每個小時稅前有16.5元，所以一天大概可賺一百元。可是期間我覺得有個澳洲女生對我們的態度非常差，還拿蒜頭丟我們的臉。所以上周三我們就跟旅社的老闆說我們周五要check out，結果他隔天一早竟然就怒氣沖沖的來敲我們的房門，說我們必須至少住兩周，還說他給我們很好的工作，如果我們隔天要離開就要賠他85元，不然他就要扣我們的薪水。我覺得非常生氣，就跟他一路吵到他的辦公室，後來他的態度不知道為什麼突然軟化，說可以給我免費住一周，只是跟我同行的兩個台灣女生也要一起留下並且到他安排的橘子包裝廠去工作。我跟另外兩個女生討論後決定只好再待一周，可是我的免費房租要跟她們share，於是我這週就付了120元再留下來。那個橘子包裝場也有種族歧視，他們不雇用亞洲男性。
可是到了星期四晚上，蒜頭工廠的晚班突然提早結束，並且將不再有晚班。周五我就被安排去剪一種藤類枝條，可是我搭錯車就又回到蒜頭工廠做早班，只是當天連早班也暫時結束了。周六我們到一處葡萄園修剪葡萄藤。忙碌的工作了七個小時，手都起了水泡，結果我竟然只賺了28元，這還算是比較多的，有些然還只賺了14元。上星期天我休息了一天，周一我就去剪藤條了。藤條糾纏在地上，我們必須把它們剪斷拉出來，然後選擇適當粗細的依照芽的位置剪成固定長度，剪好的每支稅前我們可以賺8 cents，每天你得剪至少1400支以上，才能賺到100元。結果我第一天只剪到985支，感覺很糟，也很累。昨天早上我實在累得不想起來，就待在房裡跟室友借電腦看了一整天影集Prison Break。今天我想我跟明天也都不要再去剪藤條。我早上跟老闆的兒子說我周五要check out，結果他臉又變臭，不知道我週五能否順利check out。我實在只能建議想做農作的人別來Mildura，要就去Western Australia，聽說那裏的人比較老實，你做農作至少都會給你稅後還有法律規定的13.6元。如果你不幸來了Mildura，也千萬別住到Oasis，除非你打算在那待上好幾個月。
現在我只能希望周五可以順利check out，我感覺我們很像老闆的奴工，連想離開也只能碰運氣。如果我能check out，我會搬到附近的另一家旅社，聽說那裏可能會有採柑橘的工作。如果連在那裏的工作也不好我就想搬去Sydney，反正我並不想申請第二年，做任何工作都可以，並不是非做農作不可，反正也已經體驗過了。
澳洲人有很多都很仇外，還有移民到這裡的越南人也很看不起其他亞洲人。所以，哼，以後在台灣看到澳洲人跟越南人，或許你可以考慮對他們丟水球。如果你到澳洲的鄉下，也要小心他們向美國所謂的rednecks一樣，用惡劣的態度對待你。我想，終究還是待在大都市比較好。
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Melbourne the bad weather and the great art galleries
Actually Melbourne is quite below my expectations. I used to thing that his should be a very beautiful and full of cultural atmosphere. Maybe it's due to the season, nows the chilling winter, so that the city is boring and ugly. But walking around the CBD is really not enjoyable to me. Even the walk from my hostel on City Road in Southbank to the famous St. Kilda surburb is a boring long way to me. I like walking, and I've been walking quite frequently along my journey in the past 2 months. Even in Darwin a walk can be fun, but here it's just making you feel that you had better stay in the hostel and watch the TV all day.
The weather here these days is so terrible. It rains and be windy almost everyday. The sky is usually gloomy. This makes the already not beautiful even uglier. The tram system is another of my dislikes to Melbourne. They simply make the city a noisy place. And they're so slow and expensive. The public transportation here is so worse than that of Brisbane. And the city is as a whole also worse than Brisbane. Staying here makes me miss Brisbane. The beautiful Brisbane River is far superior than the smelly Yarra River. And the streets of Brisbane is simply more beautiful and full of the cultural atmosphere that I look for.
The only thing by far I like about Melbourne is only the National Gallery of Victoria. It's a huge museum of fine arts. I'm amazed that I see genuine works of some very famous artists exhisbited there. And their exhibitions of ancient Egyptian, Chinese and European objects are simply fabulous. I'll go there again on Thursday. I have to say that I totally love the gallery.
The weather here these days is so terrible. It rains and be windy almost everyday. The sky is usually gloomy. This makes the already not beautiful even uglier. The tram system is another of my dislikes to Melbourne. They simply make the city a noisy place. And they're so slow and expensive. The public transportation here is so worse than that of Brisbane. And the city is as a whole also worse than Brisbane. Staying here makes me miss Brisbane. The beautiful Brisbane River is far superior than the smelly Yarra River. And the streets of Brisbane is simply more beautiful and full of the cultural atmosphere that I look for.
The only thing by far I like about Melbourne is only the National Gallery of Victoria. It's a huge museum of fine arts. I'm amazed that I see genuine works of some very famous artists exhisbited there. And their exhibitions of ancient Egyptian, Chinese and European objects are simply fabulous. I'll go there again on Thursday. I have to say that I totally love the gallery.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Day 2 in Melbourne
Long time no see friends. It's been more than 3 weeks since my last post.
In the past weeks I'd been working as a receptionist at Alatai Holiday Apartments in Darwin for more than 2 weeks. It was a challenging job. I needed to learn a lot to do the job well, and it was not easy, especially that I didn't get to understand all the English accents quite well. The pay was about average at 18 per hour. My boss's family was from East Timor, their family name is Tchia. They are Chinese descendants which means that they are just like typically Chinese boss that will treat the employees not too well. My work sometimes was in the nighttime from 10PM to 06AM, and sometimes in the other hours, but the pay was all the same. It is a job I could learn much from, and I liked it, just that one of my colleagues was quite bitchy.
I'd been to Litchfield NP for 3 times when I was in Darwin. The first time I took the tour made by Kakadu Dreams, and the 2nd and 3rd time I hired cars with some Taiwanese friends. It was a tragedy at the 3rd time. When we were on the way to Termite Mounds, before going to a right turn we met a car close to our lane and I as the driver tried to drive the car, a Ford Fairlane, a bit to the left side to avoid the car, our car ran over sands and we lost control and bombared into a tree. The frond side of the car was severely damaged, and both of the airbags popped put. Fortunately no one was hurt at all. But we waited for more than 4 hours until the car rental company sent another car to us, and then we could continue our journey. But it was almost dark, so we could only go to Tolmer Fall and Wangi Falls to take some photos before we set on the way back to Darwin. When we waited at the place where our car crashed, many people stopped and tried to help us. There was an old couple from Perth gave me a ride to the nearest caravan park to make a call to the car rental company. I'm very grateful for their help. And we found out that there are many Australian people very thoughtful and considerate and keen to give help. We paid AU $440 for the crash, thankfully we had bought an insurance policy at AU $36 per day.
I had also been to Kakadu NP twice. On the 2nd time, I rent a car with Hendrik, a german friend, and Red and Renee, both are Taiwanese girls. We'd been to Fogg Dam, a funny name I know. There were thousands of different kinds of birds in the swanmps there. The scene was quite amazing. I liked it very much. After that we went to do jumping cricodile cruise. The host was different from the first time I did it. It was run by a couple who live in Victoria most of the year, and only runthe business for a few months in the dry season. It was not bad.
I got bored much by the life in Darwin. So I decided that I have to move again. This time I came to the place that I had long thinked of, Melbourne. The flights depart from Darwin Airport are normally in the very early morning. My flight was at 2:35 AM. Before taking the shuttle bus from YHA to the airport, me and Paula, Lilian, Red, Renee and Jerry went to see Shrek the Third at the cinema. Red found some of her cards including the Master Debit card were lost right before the show began, she was quite unsettled, she phoned the bank to suspend her card, and some one found her cards excluding the debit card and gave back to her after the movie. And the movie was below my expectation. It's in fact quite boring and lacks of new ideas in my opinion.
I arrived in Melbourne yesterday morning at around 7:00 AM. The weather in Melbourne was rainy yesterday. And the temperature was very low. The highest temperature these 2 days is only about 14C. I stay at a hostel called Urban Central at 334 City Road, Southbank. Because I checked in early, the staff gave me a room she thought was clean, but it was in fact full of litters due to the previous tennants had a party in it on last weekend. I told the staff, she wanted to give me another room, but I told her thant I can stay in the same one, and I would go out and get back after 2:00 PM when the shousekeeping was done. So when I returned it was clean.
The city of Melbourne disapointed me infact. It's also below me expectation like Shrek the 3rd. The city is not as beautiful and interesting as Brisbane. It's in fact ugly, small and also boring like Darwin. The Yarra River is ugly, too. The southbank, where my hostel is, is far more interior than that of Brisbane. The Chinatown is small and most of the Chinese people there are from mainland China. The gardens here are not as big and as beautiful as the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. All in all, I cannot believe why this can be the 2nd largest city in Australia, and there are quite some people think this is a good place to live and to go to.
Yesterday I walked around in the central business area. And today it's almost the same. Just today I've been to the Fitzroy Gardens and a big cathedral. I think the only things beautiful here are the cathedrals. There are 2 of them quite big, including St. Paul's and another.
I don't know if I will stay here or go to Hobart. Currently I'm waiting for 2 of my Taiwanese friends, Elsa and Tai. They took the Ghan from Darwin to Alice Springs and did a tour to Ayers Rock, and they're on the way to Adelaide right now, and they'll be here in a few days. I will guide them to walk around the city here, and maybe we'll go tp Philip Island to see the penguins together.
In the past weeks I'd been working as a receptionist at Alatai Holiday Apartments in Darwin for more than 2 weeks. It was a challenging job. I needed to learn a lot to do the job well, and it was not easy, especially that I didn't get to understand all the English accents quite well. The pay was about average at 18 per hour. My boss's family was from East Timor, their family name is Tchia. They are Chinese descendants which means that they are just like typically Chinese boss that will treat the employees not too well. My work sometimes was in the nighttime from 10PM to 06AM, and sometimes in the other hours, but the pay was all the same. It is a job I could learn much from, and I liked it, just that one of my colleagues was quite bitchy.
I'd been to Litchfield NP for 3 times when I was in Darwin. The first time I took the tour made by Kakadu Dreams, and the 2nd and 3rd time I hired cars with some Taiwanese friends. It was a tragedy at the 3rd time. When we were on the way to Termite Mounds, before going to a right turn we met a car close to our lane and I as the driver tried to drive the car, a Ford Fairlane, a bit to the left side to avoid the car, our car ran over sands and we lost control and bombared into a tree. The frond side of the car was severely damaged, and both of the airbags popped put. Fortunately no one was hurt at all. But we waited for more than 4 hours until the car rental company sent another car to us, and then we could continue our journey. But it was almost dark, so we could only go to Tolmer Fall and Wangi Falls to take some photos before we set on the way back to Darwin. When we waited at the place where our car crashed, many people stopped and tried to help us. There was an old couple from Perth gave me a ride to the nearest caravan park to make a call to the car rental company. I'm very grateful for their help. And we found out that there are many Australian people very thoughtful and considerate and keen to give help. We paid AU $440 for the crash, thankfully we had bought an insurance policy at AU $36 per day.
I had also been to Kakadu NP twice. On the 2nd time, I rent a car with Hendrik, a german friend, and Red and Renee, both are Taiwanese girls. We'd been to Fogg Dam, a funny name I know. There were thousands of different kinds of birds in the swanmps there. The scene was quite amazing. I liked it very much. After that we went to do jumping cricodile cruise. The host was different from the first time I did it. It was run by a couple who live in Victoria most of the year, and only runthe business for a few months in the dry season. It was not bad.
I got bored much by the life in Darwin. So I decided that I have to move again. This time I came to the place that I had long thinked of, Melbourne. The flights depart from Darwin Airport are normally in the very early morning. My flight was at 2:35 AM. Before taking the shuttle bus from YHA to the airport, me and Paula, Lilian, Red, Renee and Jerry went to see Shrek the Third at the cinema. Red found some of her cards including the Master Debit card were lost right before the show began, she was quite unsettled, she phoned the bank to suspend her card, and some one found her cards excluding the debit card and gave back to her after the movie. And the movie was below my expectation. It's in fact quite boring and lacks of new ideas in my opinion.
I arrived in Melbourne yesterday morning at around 7:00 AM. The weather in Melbourne was rainy yesterday. And the temperature was very low. The highest temperature these 2 days is only about 14C. I stay at a hostel called Urban Central at 334 City Road, Southbank. Because I checked in early, the staff gave me a room she thought was clean, but it was in fact full of litters due to the previous tennants had a party in it on last weekend. I told the staff, she wanted to give me another room, but I told her thant I can stay in the same one, and I would go out and get back after 2:00 PM when the shousekeeping was done. So when I returned it was clean.
The city of Melbourne disapointed me infact. It's also below me expectation like Shrek the 3rd. The city is not as beautiful and interesting as Brisbane. It's in fact ugly, small and also boring like Darwin. The Yarra River is ugly, too. The southbank, where my hostel is, is far more interior than that of Brisbane. The Chinatown is small and most of the Chinese people there are from mainland China. The gardens here are not as big and as beautiful as the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. All in all, I cannot believe why this can be the 2nd largest city in Australia, and there are quite some people think this is a good place to live and to go to.
Yesterday I walked around in the central business area. And today it's almost the same. Just today I've been to the Fitzroy Gardens and a big cathedral. I think the only things beautiful here are the cathedrals. There are 2 of them quite big, including St. Paul's and another.
I don't know if I will stay here or go to Hobart. Currently I'm waiting for 2 of my Taiwanese friends, Elsa and Tai. They took the Ghan from Darwin to Alice Springs and did a tour to Ayers Rock, and they're on the way to Adelaide right now, and they'll be here in a few days. I will guide them to walk around the city here, and maybe we'll go tp Philip Island to see the penguins together.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Return to Darwin, First Post in Traditional Chinese
上週四回到Darwin
天氣仍然很熱
只有比1個月前好上一點點
這整個禮拜都在找工作
目前只有在一家講廣東話的移民開的holiday apartments
找到一份nighttime receptionist的工作
昨天才剛開始
昨天去進行訓練約2小時
今天早上6點也去到大約11點
薪水應該比一班的打掃工作好上一些
可惜不是每天都能上班
是真的非常casual的工作
而且將來的上班時間是晚上9點到早上6點
我想我會一邊再找另外比較固定的工作
我的一些朋友在這裡當cleaner雖然只有$17 hour pay
可是一周工作六天的收入就比我多多了
真希望趕快找到穩定的工作
然後我會在達爾文待上6~7個月才去別的地方旅行
秋子今天出發去比利時和奧地利旅行2周
祝福她順利平安 ^^
天氣仍然很熱
只有比1個月前好上一點點
這整個禮拜都在找工作
目前只有在一家講廣東話的移民開的holiday apartments
找到一份nighttime receptionist的工作
昨天才剛開始
昨天去進行訓練約2小時
今天早上6點也去到大約11點
薪水應該比一班的打掃工作好上一些
可惜不是每天都能上班
是真的非常casual的工作
而且將來的上班時間是晚上9點到早上6點
我想我會一邊再找另外比較固定的工作
我的一些朋友在這裡當cleaner雖然只有$17 hour pay
可是一周工作六天的收入就比我多多了
真希望趕快找到穩定的工作
然後我會在達爾文待上6~7個月才去別的地方旅行
秋子今天出發去比利時和奧地利旅行2周
祝福她順利平安 ^^
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Noosa
I've been in Noosa for 5 days already. This is a place rich people come for the beautiful beaches and boutique shops. It is not big at all. The shops are all on the Hastings Street.
The YHA hostel here is called the Halse Lodge. It's an old wooden building built in 1880. It has also a bar and a bistro which sells breakfast and dinner. The foods are not very delicious but compared to the restaurants here, they're a bit cheaper.
I stayed at room 6. There were a German girl, Tanya, who was a nurse in a town in Germany near Luxembourg border, and a Singapore girl, Jesse Wee, who worked in the TV industry for several years and had traveled to many places already, who were quite friendly. And there was an English boy whose name I didn't know, and he's been a bartender for 11 years. He had been to many many places around the world.
In the days I spent here, most of the time I was at the verandahs resting and reading book and looking the scenery nearby. And I'd been wlking the tracks in Noosa National Park. Track 4 which is along the seashore had the most extraordinary views. I walked along tracks 2 and 5 to Sunshine Beach. And I had lunch there at a life savors' club. The beach there is serene and very beautiful. The main beach here behind Hastings Street is beautuful as well, but usually full of people.
Originally I was planning on finding a job here. But unfortunately this place is too small, there are not many job offers here except for chefs and bartenders. And I miss some friends in Darwin, so I'm flying back to Darwin this evening. It's like returning to the start, the origin, of my journey. I think that temporarily I've been traveling for long enough. And I really need to settle down and get a job for a few months.
Traveling alone is free as a bird, but it's lonely sometimes.
The YHA hostel here is called the Halse Lodge. It's an old wooden building built in 1880. It has also a bar and a bistro which sells breakfast and dinner. The foods are not very delicious but compared to the restaurants here, they're a bit cheaper.
I stayed at room 6. There were a German girl, Tanya, who was a nurse in a town in Germany near Luxembourg border, and a Singapore girl, Jesse Wee, who worked in the TV industry for several years and had traveled to many places already, who were quite friendly. And there was an English boy whose name I didn't know, and he's been a bartender for 11 years. He had been to many many places around the world.
In the days I spent here, most of the time I was at the verandahs resting and reading book and looking the scenery nearby. And I'd been wlking the tracks in Noosa National Park. Track 4 which is along the seashore had the most extraordinary views. I walked along tracks 2 and 5 to Sunshine Beach. And I had lunch there at a life savors' club. The beach there is serene and very beautiful. The main beach here behind Hastings Street is beautuful as well, but usually full of people.
Originally I was planning on finding a job here. But unfortunately this place is too small, there are not many job offers here except for chefs and bartenders. And I miss some friends in Darwin, so I'm flying back to Darwin this evening. It's like returning to the start, the origin, of my journey. I think that temporarily I've been traveling for long enough. And I really need to settle down and get a job for a few months.
Traveling alone is free as a bird, but it's lonely sometimes.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
These few days in Brisbane
I came to Brisbane last Saturday. The first impression is the ridiculously expensive, slow and dirty train I rid from the airport to Roma Street Station. The distance between the airport and the station is not very long, and it cost me friggin' 12 dollars.
I'm now staying at a backpackers hostel named TinBilly right in front of Roma Street Station. At first I booked the 10~13 people dorm for 7 nights, but it was so badly disgusting and always noisy at nighttime. So I changed to a 4~5 people dorm shared with 4 Irish people who are friends traveling together. I shortened my stay for 1 night and I still had to pay 20 dollars more.
In the past days, I've been to many places in Brisbane. The casino where I lost almost 50 dollars to the machines, the Queen Street malls, movie theatre where I saw Spider-Man 3, city countil building up to the clock tower, the south bank, New Farm and several parks and churches.
The building of the city council is really beautiful. And the chime of the clock is great as well. You can hear it even from a far distance. The church right next to the council is beautiful as well. And I met a man, maybe a fater, and he was so kind and friendly to me, he talked to me about God for a while.
The place I liked most in Brisbane is the Botanical Gardens along Queensland University of Technology and the Brisbane River. The garden is big and full of plants and birds. The best site in the garden is along the river where you can see yachts and the beautuful Story Bridge. I enjoy sitting along the river and studying books.
Generally I feel that people here are not as friendly as those in Darwin. But I still got to talk to some locals who were friendly nevertheless.
On this Saturday I'll be moving to Noosa Heads. I heard that it's abeautiful town. It's close to beautiful beaches. I'll be staying at the YHA there, and I'll be looking for a job there. I'm really looking forward to it. I hope it will be a great experience and memory to me.
I also met a colleague, Joyce, back in Nantou Elementary School. My best friend Grace informed her that I'm in Brisbane. She is currently studying at Queensland University of Technology. She accompanied me to ride the city CAT ferry to both of the ends of the route. And we took some pictures at the New Farm garden. She also took me to her home, and let her husband cooked steak for our dinner. Their house is tidy and lovely. I really appreciate their kindness.
All in all, I think Brisbane is a beautiful and comfortable place. The temperature here is much more comfy than in Darwin. But I still miss my friends and families in Taiwan and Darwin of course.
I'm now staying at a backpackers hostel named TinBilly right in front of Roma Street Station. At first I booked the 10~13 people dorm for 7 nights, but it was so badly disgusting and always noisy at nighttime. So I changed to a 4~5 people dorm shared with 4 Irish people who are friends traveling together. I shortened my stay for 1 night and I still had to pay 20 dollars more.
In the past days, I've been to many places in Brisbane. The casino where I lost almost 50 dollars to the machines, the Queen Street malls, movie theatre where I saw Spider-Man 3, city countil building up to the clock tower, the south bank, New Farm and several parks and churches.
The building of the city council is really beautiful. And the chime of the clock is great as well. You can hear it even from a far distance. The church right next to the council is beautiful as well. And I met a man, maybe a fater, and he was so kind and friendly to me, he talked to me about God for a while.
The place I liked most in Brisbane is the Botanical Gardens along Queensland University of Technology and the Brisbane River. The garden is big and full of plants and birds. The best site in the garden is along the river where you can see yachts and the beautuful Story Bridge. I enjoy sitting along the river and studying books.
Generally I feel that people here are not as friendly as those in Darwin. But I still got to talk to some locals who were friendly nevertheless.
On this Saturday I'll be moving to Noosa Heads. I heard that it's abeautiful town. It's close to beautiful beaches. I'll be staying at the YHA there, and I'll be looking for a job there. I'm really looking forward to it. I hope it will be a great experience and memory to me.
I also met a colleague, Joyce, back in Nantou Elementary School. My best friend Grace informed her that I'm in Brisbane. She is currently studying at Queensland University of Technology. She accompanied me to ride the city CAT ferry to both of the ends of the route. And we took some pictures at the New Farm garden. She also took me to her home, and let her husband cooked steak for our dinner. Their house is tidy and lovely. I really appreciate their kindness.
All in all, I think Brisbane is a beautiful and comfortable place. The temperature here is much more comfy than in Darwin. But I still miss my friends and families in Taiwan and Darwin of course.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
I love Brisbane
I flew from Darwin to Brisbane this morning. Brisbane's CBD is not very big, but there are many things to see, especially when compare to Darwin.
There are many buildings built in the 19th century here, and they're all very beautiful. The city hall is quite beautiful as well. I'll go see its bell tower tomorrow.
The weather in Brisbane now is much more comfortable than that of Darwin. Coll all day, and a bit chilling in the evening. There are many gardens in Brisbane. Along the south bank of Brisbane river is a long band of pedestrian area with many shops, markets and even a man-made beach. It's really beautiful there.
I'm currently staying at Tinbilly backpackers. I booked the cheapest dorm with 10 beds for 7 nights. In the next week I'll have to find a job, and see if I can move to Noosa.
I went to a church with more than 180 year's history this evening. One of the staff was very friendly. There will be a concert there tomorrow at 13:00. I'll be there.
There are many buildings built in the 19th century here, and they're all very beautiful. The city hall is quite beautiful as well. I'll go see its bell tower tomorrow.
The weather in Brisbane now is much more comfortable than that of Darwin. Coll all day, and a bit chilling in the evening. There are many gardens in Brisbane. Along the south bank of Brisbane river is a long band of pedestrian area with many shops, markets and even a man-made beach. It's really beautiful there.
I'm currently staying at Tinbilly backpackers. I booked the cheapest dorm with 10 beds for 7 nights. In the next week I'll have to find a job, and see if I can move to Noosa.
I went to a church with more than 180 year's history this evening. One of the staff was very friendly. There will be a concert there tomorrow at 13:00. I'll be there.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Things to do in Darwin
The internet access here at hostels are very expensive at $1 per 15 minutes. So I typically go to the libraries to use the free internet. There are 2 libraries here, one's in the Parliament building, it opens between 10:00 to 17:30 during weekdays, and also opens on the weekends for less hours. The other is the city Council Library, it opens between 9:00 and 17:00 on weekdays, and 9:00~12:00 on Saturdays.
The toilets of the parliament building are quite clean, and the toilet paper is better than that in hostels. So it's a good place to go if you don't like the toilets of the hostel.
At Cullen Bay, onday I took the ferry to Mandorah. The return ticket costs $20. On the way to Mandorah I saw many box jellyfishes in the water. They're as lethal as mines. It was good to sail in the sea, very beautiful, but was pitiful that I didn't carry me camera with me. Mandorah is a penninsula at the opposite side of Darwin. The ferry sailed for around 20 minutes to get there. There's nothing much to do there. Just a bar you can have some drinks and listen to the music and watch the sea. But it was comfortable there. And in a tree beside the bar are many noisy parrots. There is also a woman selling some hand-made necklaces, ear rings and other jewelry at the bar. I saw a beautiful necklace with glass chilipeppers from Brazil and a pendent from Africa. But it was expensive at $40.
The restaurants at Cullen Bay are all very expensive. After return from Mandorah, I was thinking about having lunch at a bar where most people are, but after seeing the menu I can only order a bottle of Fiji mineral water at $8. The other foods cost around $25 and more.
The toilets of the parliament building are quite clean, and the toilet paper is better than that in hostels. So it's a good place to go if you don't like the toilets of the hostel.
At Cullen Bay, onday I took the ferry to Mandorah. The return ticket costs $20. On the way to Mandorah I saw many box jellyfishes in the water. They're as lethal as mines. It was good to sail in the sea, very beautiful, but was pitiful that I didn't carry me camera with me. Mandorah is a penninsula at the opposite side of Darwin. The ferry sailed for around 20 minutes to get there. There's nothing much to do there. Just a bar you can have some drinks and listen to the music and watch the sea. But it was comfortable there. And in a tree beside the bar are many noisy parrots. There is also a woman selling some hand-made necklaces, ear rings and other jewelry at the bar. I saw a beautiful necklace with glass chilipeppers from Brazil and a pendent from Africa. But it was expensive at $40.
The restaurants at Cullen Bay are all very expensive. After return from Mandorah, I was thinking about having lunch at a bar where most people are, but after seeing the menu I can only order a bottle of Fiji mineral water at $8. The other foods cost around $25 and more.
Will leave for Briabane on Saturday at 1:20 AM
I've been in Darwin since 19, May. The city is lovable but to hot to me. I feel that I'd have to move to some place cooler. So, I already bought a flight ticket to Brisbane on the very early morning of this Saturday. Will be arriving there at around 5:00.
On this Tuesday I moved from YHA to Youth Shack. It's much closer to the city center. The rent is $20 per night for 4-bed dorms. But at the first night I couldn;t sleep at all. One of the other roommates closed the air conditioner, and it was so hot in the room. And the worst thing was there seemed to be some kind of bug kept biting my feet. I got dozens of bites. They were very itchy, until now the bites still are very itchy. Last night I moved to another room, it was better there. I regret my moving out of the YHA. But the staff of YHA really sucks. There're arrogant and extremely unfriendly. And the air conditioning is not available whole day at YHA, but I slept better there. The bed was more comfortable. And I got friends there. Currently my roommates at room 524 of Youth Shack include an Australian from Perth, he's been traveling around Australia for 4 years. He's friendly.
The hostel rent in Brisbane is a few dollars than in Darwin. But there are also more jobs there. And the weather in Brisbane I heard is comfortable. Not too cold nor hot.
But the city area of Brisbane is much bigger than Darwin. So it'll take me more time to get to know that place well.
Darwin's city center is rather small. But the suburbs are big. There is a hugh shopping mall in Casuarina. There are near 100 shops in the mall. I like it there. I went there by bus with a 47-year-old Japanese man. He's a great person. We lived in the same room at Darwin YHA. He says he likes Australia better than Japan. And he's been to Australia for many times. He also spent 4 years in Sunny Bank Brisbane. We had fish and chips together last night. I'll miss him in the future.
On this Tuesday I moved from YHA to Youth Shack. It's much closer to the city center. The rent is $20 per night for 4-bed dorms. But at the first night I couldn;t sleep at all. One of the other roommates closed the air conditioner, and it was so hot in the room. And the worst thing was there seemed to be some kind of bug kept biting my feet. I got dozens of bites. They were very itchy, until now the bites still are very itchy. Last night I moved to another room, it was better there. I regret my moving out of the YHA. But the staff of YHA really sucks. There're arrogant and extremely unfriendly. And the air conditioning is not available whole day at YHA, but I slept better there. The bed was more comfortable. And I got friends there. Currently my roommates at room 524 of Youth Shack include an Australian from Perth, he's been traveling around Australia for 4 years. He's friendly.
The hostel rent in Brisbane is a few dollars than in Darwin. But there are also more jobs there. And the weather in Brisbane I heard is comfortable. Not too cold nor hot.
But the city area of Brisbane is much bigger than Darwin. So it'll take me more time to get to know that place well.
Darwin's city center is rather small. But the suburbs are big. There is a hugh shopping mall in Casuarina. There are near 100 shops in the mall. I like it there. I went there by bus with a 47-year-old Japanese man. He's a great person. We lived in the same room at Darwin YHA. He says he likes Australia better than Japan. And he's been to Australia for many times. He also spent 4 years in Sunny Bank Brisbane. We had fish and chips together last night. I'll miss him in the future.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tour to Litchfield National Park and Kakadu National Park
I booked a 4-day combined tour to both Litchfield NP and Kakadu NP for a total pf AU$500 at Chili's Backpackers. The tour was conducted by Kakadu Dreams travel agency.
I went to Litchfield at 7:00 on 23, Apr. It took us, a group of 9, almost 2 hours to get there. There are many beautiful waterfalls in the park. We walked to 3 of them, and swam in the ponds under 2 of the waterfalls. Generally it was a very beautiful place. We came back to Darwin around 7:00 PM. The tour guide gave each of us a voucher to a bar for a free meal. I went to have the dinner with one of my German roommate, Thomas. He's only 20 years old, and he's been in OZ for 8 months. He's left for Broom and latter Perth already.
Next day at the same time, and again 9 members, we got on the 4WD truck to Kakadu. Our driver and guide was Dean. He's a nice guy, he knows a lot about the parks and he's kind of a natural guy, he walked with bare feet quite often, and he's big beard, and dirty jeans.
Kakadu is a even more beautiful place and huge place then Litchfield. A stay for 3 days may better lead you know it better. But unfortunately in the daytime, there are many flies disturbing you everywhere. There are many indigenous art heritages in the park. The indigenous people painted on many big rocks. The paintings were unique and interesting. Dean led us to 2 lookouts. On the lookouts we saw the most beautiful and hugely vast views of Kakadu. It was simply beautiful on the lookouts.
In the evening we went to a campsite and prepared dinner there. The nighttime was very bad with countless mosquitoes everywhere and at every minute attacking you. The insect repellents we have were all useless. The mosquitos were not scared of them at all.
Dean cooked some hot salad, buffalo sausages and kangaroo meat for our dinner. That's the first time I had buffalo and kangaroo. They were both not bad. Kangaroo tasted quite similar to beef to me.
After taking a shower, I went into the tent to sleep. I shared a tent with an English middle-aged man. I think he's arrogant, ignorant and unfriendly. He thoug that it's too hot in the tent, so he simply opened the doord of the tent. But of course the mosquitoes all swarmed into the tent. I really hated that and I also hated him. I took all my stuffs out of the tent, and sat between the tents thinking I might be able to listen to some music with my media player until the dawn. But I was attacked by more mosquitoes. I thought maybe it wouldbe better in the truck, but it was not as well. I didn't sleep all night. The only thing good at that night was that there were so many stars in the sky, and I saw several shotting stars. I never saw so many stars in Taiwan, it was simply beautiful.
On the next day, when my anticipating daytime arrived finally, we went to several waterfalls and swam in some of them just like in Litchfield. However, I think that the waterfalls in Litchfield were more beautiful. And I was so tired because I didn't get any sleep. In the afternoon, I dicided I have to return to Darwin with the other 2-day participants. So I came back to Darwin one day earlier.
There were some nice Dannish and Swiss in our group to Kakadu. I enjoyed a lot talking with them. The 2 Dannish girls were very beautiful and funny. On the way back to Darwin, we learned some of both of our languages. It was fun on the way.
I went to Litchfield at 7:00 on 23, Apr. It took us, a group of 9, almost 2 hours to get there. There are many beautiful waterfalls in the park. We walked to 3 of them, and swam in the ponds under 2 of the waterfalls. Generally it was a very beautiful place. We came back to Darwin around 7:00 PM. The tour guide gave each of us a voucher to a bar for a free meal. I went to have the dinner with one of my German roommate, Thomas. He's only 20 years old, and he's been in OZ for 8 months. He's left for Broom and latter Perth already.
Next day at the same time, and again 9 members, we got on the 4WD truck to Kakadu. Our driver and guide was Dean. He's a nice guy, he knows a lot about the parks and he's kind of a natural guy, he walked with bare feet quite often, and he's big beard, and dirty jeans.
Kakadu is a even more beautiful place and huge place then Litchfield. A stay for 3 days may better lead you know it better. But unfortunately in the daytime, there are many flies disturbing you everywhere. There are many indigenous art heritages in the park. The indigenous people painted on many big rocks. The paintings were unique and interesting. Dean led us to 2 lookouts. On the lookouts we saw the most beautiful and hugely vast views of Kakadu. It was simply beautiful on the lookouts.
In the evening we went to a campsite and prepared dinner there. The nighttime was very bad with countless mosquitoes everywhere and at every minute attacking you. The insect repellents we have were all useless. The mosquitos were not scared of them at all.
Dean cooked some hot salad, buffalo sausages and kangaroo meat for our dinner. That's the first time I had buffalo and kangaroo. They were both not bad. Kangaroo tasted quite similar to beef to me.
After taking a shower, I went into the tent to sleep. I shared a tent with an English middle-aged man. I think he's arrogant, ignorant and unfriendly. He thoug that it's too hot in the tent, so he simply opened the doord of the tent. But of course the mosquitoes all swarmed into the tent. I really hated that and I also hated him. I took all my stuffs out of the tent, and sat between the tents thinking I might be able to listen to some music with my media player until the dawn. But I was attacked by more mosquitoes. I thought maybe it wouldbe better in the truck, but it was not as well. I didn't sleep all night. The only thing good at that night was that there were so many stars in the sky, and I saw several shotting stars. I never saw so many stars in Taiwan, it was simply beautiful.
On the next day, when my anticipating daytime arrived finally, we went to several waterfalls and swam in some of them just like in Litchfield. However, I think that the waterfalls in Litchfield were more beautiful. And I was so tired because I didn't get any sleep. In the afternoon, I dicided I have to return to Darwin with the other 2-day participants. So I came back to Darwin one day earlier.
There were some nice Dannish and Swiss in our group to Kakadu. I enjoyed a lot talking with them. The 2 Dannish girls were very beautiful and funny. On the way back to Darwin, we learned some of both of our languages. It was fun on the way.
Life in Darwin
I've been in Darwin since last Thursday. The weather is always very very good here. We have a cloudless blue sky and strong sunlight everyday.
Darwin is not a big city, it has a population of only about 100,000. Most of the hostels and hotels are in the city center area. This area is not very large either. It's mainly composed of the blocks between Mitchell St., Smith St., Cavenagh St., and the Esplanade. You can easily take a walk around the whole area in an hour.
There are 2 aupermarkets in the city center. They are Coles and Woolworth. Generally I go to Coles, 'cause I think it's cleaner, to buy water and some food each day. Most shops in Darwin close at around 5:30, except the restaurant and bars. But Coles open until the midnight, so it's convenient to me.
I stay in the Darwin YHA here. There are 8 beds in a room, and a bathroom. My roommates are always composed of people from different countries. There are many Japanese and Europeans. But I don;t meet many Taiwanese here. In my room, there are one German and one Japnaese who have stayed there since my arrival. They're quite friendly. The German is a cook, and he just gets a job at a restaurant of the casino Sky City. The Japanese man is a bit older, he's been in Australia for years, and he had stayed in Briabane for 4 years. During the past week, I have met people from Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Slovenia, and France in my room. I like to talk to them. The most special one I met was from Swiss. He's been traveling for 30 years, and have been to more than 100 countries. He left our room yeaterday to go to New Zealand, and the South America latter.
Life in Darwin is generally not bad., except that the price of food is much more expensive than in Taiwan. I walked around often, the farthest place I walked to is Fannie Bay. It's a walk of an hour away from my hostel. There are beautiful beaches along the way to Fannie Bay, and green and lush plant gardens and museums. I got caught in a museum there, because I didn't know it was tp be closed soon, so suddenly when I was still sitting on the sofa at a gallery in the museum, the lights were turned off and the shutter was pulled down. I was afraid that I might have to spend a night there, but luckily I met the securities, they helped me get out.
One day after I walked to Cullen Bay and strolled on the beach and the bay area, and bought a map at a bookstore, I met a great person who's a Fijian living in Melbourne for more than 7 years already. He then gave me a ride to East Point, and latter latter treated me beer and baramundi and chips at a yacht club's restaurant. The beer and fish were excellent. He told me that the Victoria Bitter beer was the best. We talked a lot during that afternoon. He's a mechanist, and he has been to Taiwan and China for equipment maintenance several times. We really had a great time there. Hope I can meet him when I go to Melbourne.
Darwin is not a big city, it has a population of only about 100,000. Most of the hostels and hotels are in the city center area. This area is not very large either. It's mainly composed of the blocks between Mitchell St., Smith St., Cavenagh St., and the Esplanade. You can easily take a walk around the whole area in an hour.
There are 2 aupermarkets in the city center. They are Coles and Woolworth. Generally I go to Coles, 'cause I think it's cleaner, to buy water and some food each day. Most shops in Darwin close at around 5:30, except the restaurant and bars. But Coles open until the midnight, so it's convenient to me.
I stay in the Darwin YHA here. There are 8 beds in a room, and a bathroom. My roommates are always composed of people from different countries. There are many Japanese and Europeans. But I don;t meet many Taiwanese here. In my room, there are one German and one Japnaese who have stayed there since my arrival. They're quite friendly. The German is a cook, and he just gets a job at a restaurant of the casino Sky City. The Japanese man is a bit older, he's been in Australia for years, and he had stayed in Briabane for 4 years. During the past week, I have met people from Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Slovenia, and France in my room. I like to talk to them. The most special one I met was from Swiss. He's been traveling for 30 years, and have been to more than 100 countries. He left our room yeaterday to go to New Zealand, and the South America latter.
Life in Darwin is generally not bad., except that the price of food is much more expensive than in Taiwan. I walked around often, the farthest place I walked to is Fannie Bay. It's a walk of an hour away from my hostel. There are beautiful beaches along the way to Fannie Bay, and green and lush plant gardens and museums. I got caught in a museum there, because I didn't know it was tp be closed soon, so suddenly when I was still sitting on the sofa at a gallery in the museum, the lights were turned off and the shutter was pulled down. I was afraid that I might have to spend a night there, but luckily I met the securities, they helped me get out.
One day after I walked to Cullen Bay and strolled on the beach and the bay area, and bought a map at a bookstore, I met a great person who's a Fijian living in Melbourne for more than 7 years already. He then gave me a ride to East Point, and latter latter treated me beer and baramundi and chips at a yacht club's restaurant. The beer and fish were excellent. He told me that the Victoria Bitter beer was the best. We talked a lot during that afternoon. He's a mechanist, and he has been to Taiwan and China for equipment maintenance several times. We really had a great time there. Hope I can meet him when I go to Melbourne.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
First 2 days in Darwin, Australia
I took the plane at 20:20 of 18, Apr. 2007 at Changi Airport to Darwin. The fight of Tiger Airways locates at the Budget Terminal of Changi Airport. You have to take the shuttle bus running between the 1st, 2nd and the budget terminal, or you can ride the taxi. I took a taxi there, just like the night when I arrived. The taxi driver I took when I arrived at Changi was an Indian. I really cannot not understand the accent of the Indian people, I could not understand almost any word he's saying, so I had to tell him that I cannot speak English.
During the way to Darwin, our plane met several turbulences. When we arrived at Darwin Airport, it was almost 2 hours earlier than 2:30 which was scheduled to be our arrival time. So I thought we're having an emergency landing. But it was actually due to the fact that Darwin has a time 1 hour and 30 minutes earlier than in Taiwan and Singapore. I didn't notice that and was so ridiculously worried.
There is always a shuttle bus to the city center from the airport you can take after the arrival of a plane. The fee of the bus is AU$6, you can get a refund from the hostel if stay for more than 2 nights.
I met a Taiwanese girl on the plane. She's also holding a WHV. On the first day of our arrival, we went together to open bank accounts at Westpac, and walked around the city to get familiar with the area. On the 2nd day, we went to buy sim card, and we both chose Boost. And then we went to the office of the Department of Immigration to get our visa stickers which can be attached on our passports. Since then we parted and never meet, maybe will not meet in the future either.
During the way to Darwin, our plane met several turbulences. When we arrived at Darwin Airport, it was almost 2 hours earlier than 2:30 which was scheduled to be our arrival time. So I thought we're having an emergency landing. But it was actually due to the fact that Darwin has a time 1 hour and 30 minutes earlier than in Taiwan and Singapore. I didn't notice that and was so ridiculously worried.
There is always a shuttle bus to the city center from the airport you can take after the arrival of a plane. The fee of the bus is AU$6, you can get a refund from the hostel if stay for more than 2 nights.
I met a Taiwanese girl on the plane. She's also holding a WHV. On the first day of our arrival, we went together to open bank accounts at Westpac, and walked around the city to get familiar with the area. On the 2nd day, we went to buy sim card, and we both chose Boost. And then we went to the office of the Department of Immigration to get our visa stickers which can be attached on our passports. Since then we parted and never meet, maybe will not meet in the future either.
And the rest days in Singapore
Sorry that I cannot get online often. I'm now in Darwin, the internet is as expensive as it is in Singapore. It costs AUD $1 for only 15 minutes.
The stay in Singapore was actually great. I took the very convenient MRT system to many places, namely Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Birdpark, Orchard Road, Clark Quay, Chinatown, Little India, and Sentosa etc.
Among those places, I like Sentosa the most. I learned from the Backpackers.tw forum that if you want to go to Sentosa you have to take the MRT to Marina Bay station. Well, that is absolutely not true. The area around Marina Bay was like an industry area, I took the MRT train there and see not many people there, so I wondered why does the popular Sentosa attract so few people. I walked around the station, and at a bus stop I asked so nice guys who seemed like from Malaysia or other South East Asian countries. They didn't speak English well either, but they were very friendly and were kind to tell me that I have to get back to the MRT, take the train to Raffle's Place and switch to the East West Line and get off train at Outram Park station.
After I arrived Outram Park station, I found that there are many tall buildings around there. The World Trade Center was there and so do a big shopping mall. There were many road sings indicating you to the entrance of the cable car station to Sentosa, and the bridge you might be able to walk to Sentosa. I decided to take the cable car. At the ticket booth of the cable car, they also sold several tour packages, I now think none of them is worthy the price. Unfortunately I bought package #1 for more than S$55, and it proved to be really not worthy at all.
On the cable car to Sentosa, you can see the magnificent view of the harbour and both the islands of Singapore and Sentosa. That was a great experience. When I arrived at Sentosa I took a rest at a Subway sandwich store nearby and then went to a butterfly and insect museum which was in cluded in the tour package I bought. It was near the Subway, oh and the toilets were around the corner as well. The museum exhibits some man-made models of insects and a lot of information concerning insects. The best part of it is a big greenhouse containing many trees and other plants, and many many living butterflys. If you're a butterfly lover, you certainly will like the place.
Then I played a utility named the Luge and something I forgot. I have to pay for theticket, basically you have to pay for everything on Sentosa. You have to put on a helmet, and then you ride a little tricycle down the hill. It was fun. Down the hill was a man-made but really great beach. The sand was white and soft, and the coconut trees , the bright sunshine, the blue sky all made it look like a tropical paradise. I hopped into the sea, but due to the fact that I havn't been swimming for years already, so I inhaled some bitter and salty seawater. Then I laid on the beach near some coconut trees. It was totally excellent there.
The buses on Sentosa were free, you can take them to any place in Sentosa. The red line was the best. Buses of the red line had two stories of deck, you can sit on the upper deck to enjoy the sunshine and breeze. I took it to the Underwater World which is a museum just like our marine museum in Pingtong, but much smaller and very corwded with tourists from all over the globe. The only thing worth to see there was the "Sea Angels", a kind of transparent little creature living in cold 2 degrees Celsius ocens like that of the north of Hokkaido, Japan. they're really really cute and beautiful.
Then I went to see the pink dolphin show. The show starts at 3:30 and 4:30. I saw the one at 4:30. I got there at 4:00 and had to wait for more than 30 minutes. I have to say that the show was disappointing. It's short for only like 15 minutes or so, and nothing special at all. The pink-skined dolphins looked weird.
After that I paid S$8 to get on the Merlion tower, it's worth it. The view form the top of the Merlion was magnificent. You see a lot of big boats sailing around the island, the adjacent isles, and the whole city center tall buildings on Singapore island.
In the evening I went to see the "Voice of the Sea" water and light show. On it was so great, that you'll never forget I think. The light and sound effects of the show was so excellent. It's so worth the S$6 ticket.
Besides Sentosa, I like the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari the most. The zoo is much better than Taipei zoo. And the Night Safari was very special. You better not spend extra money to take the tram in Night Safari. Walking in the 4 routes of Night Safari in the dark evening can meke you feel really special.
All in all, Singapore was a great place to me. I liked it very much. There are lots of things to see and taste there. You can see people of meny races walking along you. You hear many kinds of language, and you can eat so many different cuisines there, and bisically the food is not too pricey. I feel that the Indian people there are all very friendly, much more friendly than the Chinese people there. You'll enjoy talking to them.
And the streets are not always in Singapore. There are places where you can see lots of litters in the street, namely Little India and Geylang, etc. But basically it's a safe and clean place there in Singapore.
The stay in Singapore was actually great. I took the very convenient MRT system to many places, namely Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Birdpark, Orchard Road, Clark Quay, Chinatown, Little India, and Sentosa etc.
Among those places, I like Sentosa the most. I learned from the Backpackers.tw forum that if you want to go to Sentosa you have to take the MRT to Marina Bay station. Well, that is absolutely not true. The area around Marina Bay was like an industry area, I took the MRT train there and see not many people there, so I wondered why does the popular Sentosa attract so few people. I walked around the station, and at a bus stop I asked so nice guys who seemed like from Malaysia or other South East Asian countries. They didn't speak English well either, but they were very friendly and were kind to tell me that I have to get back to the MRT, take the train to Raffle's Place and switch to the East West Line and get off train at Outram Park station.
After I arrived Outram Park station, I found that there are many tall buildings around there. The World Trade Center was there and so do a big shopping mall. There were many road sings indicating you to the entrance of the cable car station to Sentosa, and the bridge you might be able to walk to Sentosa. I decided to take the cable car. At the ticket booth of the cable car, they also sold several tour packages, I now think none of them is worthy the price. Unfortunately I bought package #1 for more than S$55, and it proved to be really not worthy at all.
On the cable car to Sentosa, you can see the magnificent view of the harbour and both the islands of Singapore and Sentosa. That was a great experience. When I arrived at Sentosa I took a rest at a Subway sandwich store nearby and then went to a butterfly and insect museum which was in cluded in the tour package I bought. It was near the Subway, oh and the toilets were around the corner as well. The museum exhibits some man-made models of insects and a lot of information concerning insects. The best part of it is a big greenhouse containing many trees and other plants, and many many living butterflys. If you're a butterfly lover, you certainly will like the place.
Then I played a utility named the Luge and something I forgot. I have to pay for theticket, basically you have to pay for everything on Sentosa. You have to put on a helmet, and then you ride a little tricycle down the hill. It was fun. Down the hill was a man-made but really great beach. The sand was white and soft, and the coconut trees , the bright sunshine, the blue sky all made it look like a tropical paradise. I hopped into the sea, but due to the fact that I havn't been swimming for years already, so I inhaled some bitter and salty seawater. Then I laid on the beach near some coconut trees. It was totally excellent there.
The buses on Sentosa were free, you can take them to any place in Sentosa. The red line was the best. Buses of the red line had two stories of deck, you can sit on the upper deck to enjoy the sunshine and breeze. I took it to the Underwater World which is a museum just like our marine museum in Pingtong, but much smaller and very corwded with tourists from all over the globe. The only thing worth to see there was the "Sea Angels", a kind of transparent little creature living in cold 2 degrees Celsius ocens like that of the north of Hokkaido, Japan. they're really really cute and beautiful.
Then I went to see the pink dolphin show. The show starts at 3:30 and 4:30. I saw the one at 4:30. I got there at 4:00 and had to wait for more than 30 minutes. I have to say that the show was disappointing. It's short for only like 15 minutes or so, and nothing special at all. The pink-skined dolphins looked weird.
After that I paid S$8 to get on the Merlion tower, it's worth it. The view form the top of the Merlion was magnificent. You see a lot of big boats sailing around the island, the adjacent isles, and the whole city center tall buildings on Singapore island.
In the evening I went to see the "Voice of the Sea" water and light show. On it was so great, that you'll never forget I think. The light and sound effects of the show was so excellent. It's so worth the S$6 ticket.
Besides Sentosa, I like the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari the most. The zoo is much better than Taipei zoo. And the Night Safari was very special. You better not spend extra money to take the tram in Night Safari. Walking in the 4 routes of Night Safari in the dark evening can meke you feel really special.
All in all, Singapore was a great place to me. I liked it very much. There are lots of things to see and taste there. You can see people of meny races walking along you. You hear many kinds of language, and you can eat so many different cuisines there, and bisically the food is not too pricey. I feel that the Indian people there are all very friendly, much more friendly than the Chinese people there. You'll enjoy talking to them.
And the streets are not always in Singapore. There are places where you can see lots of litters in the street, namely Little India and Geylang, etc. But basically it's a safe and clean place there in Singapore.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Day 1 in Singapore
I'm staying at a hostel named Betel Box right now. I arrived at Singapore late last night, I was beat and didn't want to stay at the airport, the bus and the MRT were of cource out of the work hour, so I took a taxi here. It was almost 2 AM, the hostel has no 24hr check-in, but they let me in and stay in a dorm still. I met one of the staff named Din this morning, he's very friendly. I'll have to transfer to another room latter today.
One thing strange is that I seemed not had gone through the Singapore custom before I leave Terminal 1. I got my passport checked, and then I got my check-in baggage, and I saw a gate with the sign "nothing to declare", I went through it directly without my baggage being checked by anyone, I don't know if this is alright. Hope I won't get into any trouble due to this.
One thing strange is that I seemed not had gone through the Singapore custom before I leave Terminal 1. I got my passport checked, and then I got my check-in baggage, and I saw a gate with the sign "nothing to declare", I went through it directly without my baggage being checked by anyone, I don't know if this is alright. Hope I won't get into any trouble due to this.
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