Travel Tips =)

Just some humble opinions and experiences from da 2 of US~~~

* for those 4-eyed people like Angie =P, would advise to wear spectacles instead of contact lenses when taking the air flight. A: my eyes gets so tired and dry due to air conditioning especially the night or early flights, and after taking a nap, i could hardly open my eyes! *the contact lens got stuck in my eyes* Arrgh!

you could always have yr lenses in yr bag, so u could wear it right away at the airport's toilet, becoming pretty again.. keke


* we encounter some RAINY days during travels in Seoul, which is a real problem for photographers. Got ourselves raincoats which protects us well but not the camera. The ultimate savior would be an UMBRELLA and a PLASTIC BAG for the camera which works like waterproof bags.

recently we bought a waterproof casing for DSLR (brand: Dicapac), which we thought will be very useful in rainy days, underwater photography, watersports, sandboarding, winter.


* we always bring along RECYCLE BAGS, its good to use when going to supermarkets or even shopping. when you have not enough baggage space! just hand carry it.. also, GO GREEN =)


* bring an ANALOGUE ALARM CLOCK. very useful when yr mobile phone is out of battery and yr hotel fails you on the morning call. also, u can adjust the time according to time zone, no false alarm then!

this also can avoid others steal your valuable mobile phone when you're sleeping if you stay in a 6 beds dorm.

Australia Work and Holiday Visa - Subclass 462

It all started with a small plan, a plan to backpack around Oz for 2months. Our ambition grew bigger, when the hope to apply for a working holiday in Oz turns brighter. because the Oz immigration only grants 100 Malaysians each yr for this visa, and the application opens on 1 July 2011 (might change each year, check the OZ website for details). It all coincides very well, since we have bought our air ticket departing September. So we just thought we should try applying, which will give us ONE year in OZ working legally and travelling around! sounds perfect ~ ~

before submitting the visa application at the Australia High Commission, Malaysia . . .

we have looked through the Oz immi website maybe a 100 times, to:

   - print and fill up application form

   - applying a letter of good conduct from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

     You have to submit the application online, then print out the application form. The form together with 2 passport photos & 2 copies of I/C have to be certified by Commissioner of Oath. After certified, proceed to the Foreign Affair office @ Putrajaya to get the certificate

   - maintain at least AUD 5000 (in RM) in your bank account. Printing account statement / fixed deposits then certified by the bank. just show the latest month statement

   - certified copy of your degree certificate. We also got ourselves a letter from college to clarify that our degree courses were conducted in English language

   - certified copy of your birth certificate, if your birth certificate is in Bahasa Malaysia, you have to translate it to English for a fee at Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka. Angie did not get her birth cert translated, luckily the immigration still accept her application as the officer in charge is a Malaysian

   - certified copy of your passport

   - show your air tickets (if have), if not just show in the bank statement the sufficient money to purchase the air ticket

 

   - passport sized photographs

   - make sure passport is renewed or has enough time validity till you're back from a one yr trip in Australia. Because the visa follows your passport number.

*** the QUESTIONS we have in our minds before submitting the application on 1 july is: ***

1) should we get a travel insurance first? Answer : NO.

2) if we have to do a health screen first? Answer : NO. After submitting the application, you will be advised to do a chest X-ray at the panel medical center, and also go to the VFS Global office to have your bio metrics collected.

3) can we get the degree cert, passport & birth cert certified at the high commission? Answer : YES. You can get it done during application.

For those who would like to apply for the work and holiday visa, do it before you reach age of 30 and get married and most important is before you REGRET! And be very very early on the opening date of application. This is the queue you want to be in, among the first 100! Well, we reach around 6.30 am that very day, we are already applicant number 40++.. Guess next year, people have to camp there =.=

Visa fee for this year is RM902. We paid using credit card, must be yr own name credit card. Other method would be cash. Banker cheque is not advisable since the OZ immi revise their visa fees as at 1 July each year.

Well after payment on the day of application, be patient to wait around 4 weeks time for the processing.

Crossed fingers~!

Well, the good news of course P&A visa APPROVED. We are officially on track to backpack around OZzz....

Information for : Australia Backpackers Tax Refund $$$