Australia Thread 3

[marshie]

^sis, we arrived at lunch time since we were from Macquarie area (Wangi Wangi, NSW). We rode the cable car and the train twice (says world's steepest railway).

[rocky]

got back from australia, mostly sa canberra pa rin ako nag-stay dahil kay hubby. pero pumunta pa rin kami sa bairnsdale, victoria para bisitahin dad-in-law ko. then 2 nights kami sa sydney bago ako bumalik ng pinas. nag-mystery booking si hubby sa wotif.com, hehe swerte kasi ang nakuha naming hotel yong rydges world square. isa sa fave naming hotel ni hubby sa AU, rydges. since nakaikot na ako sa sydney nong unang punta ko, more on relax mode na lang kami this time. bili ng pasalubong sa paddy's market, manly beach & catch up sa pamangkin ni hubby

so far, itong spring talaga ang naenjoy ko. ang sarap ng weather, sakto lang sa tulad kong lamigin. hehe! maaraw pero malamig yong hangin at ang ganda ng paligid dahil sa mga flowers. highly recommended yong floriade festival sa canberra. ganda ng mga tulip & cherry blossoms sa paligid. free entrance & free double decker na shuttle din. unang punta ko, nakipag-meet ako sa mga pinay sis na naka-based don sobrang daming tao kasi sunday kaya bumalik ako ng thursday. may lumapit pa sa aking photographer ng magazine so ayun na-feature ako sa canberra weekly

abang uli ng promo next year. try ko naman last week ng august para ma-experience konti ang winter

[mama squeak!]

Trip Report:

Just got back from a wonderful weekend in Sydney, actually yung stay namin more sa Blue Mountains. We stayed overnight in Katoomba, a 2-hour train ride from Sydney. Hubby and I bought Opal cards to take care of our transport needs. It was a Sunday so our fare was only AUD2.50/one way. Ikot-ikot lang kami dun since medyo late in the afternoon kami dumating plus umulan pa. Ngek! Anlamig!

Next day we took the public bus #686 to Scenic World (fare: AUD2.10/one way). After a 10-minute ride, we arrived at SW. We were pleasantly surprised kasi wala masyado pang tao so all the rides (Skyway, Cableway, Railway) walang pila. Nakahike din kami ng konti sa valley floor/rain forest area. By the time we were done andami ng dumating na mga tour groups. We were done before noon. But we plan to go back next time para ma-hike namin the whole trailway.

Went back to Katoomba and hopped on the train for Leura (fare: AUD2.36). Walked around the small village and had late lunch here. Maganda some of their shops, it kinda reminded us of the small towns in Napa Valley.

By 2PM we were done and hopped back on the train to Sydney. Arrived at 4PM, konting pahinga then went out for our meat pie fix for dinner. Bitin-bitin, hopefully next time we can visit for longer. Need to apply for a visitor's visa for hubby since his crew visa pang-layover lang.

Oh, natuwa pa ako upon our departure sa immigrations kasi they already have the smart immigration system. Bale you scan your own passport then it opens a small gate that will take your picture. After that sa IO ka na where you present your passport and boarding pass for checking na lang. Since automated na na capture yung data earlier wala pang 2 minutes tapos na! Ang bilis!

[rocky]

^sana pala na-try ko rin yang smart immigration system, hehe next time. thanks sa info sis

[mama squeak!]

^you're welcome, sis! I just hope they'll have it at their arrival immigration kasi it really saves time. Meron yata sila but only for AU and select nationalities. Grabe ang haba ng pila when I arrived!

[belle_v2g]

Punta kami ng sydney first week of november. Nov. 6-9 inclusive.

[rocky]

^^oo sis lagi ngang blockbuster pila sa arrival. lalo na ngayon na lagi na ring puno yong plane, hehe hindi na tuloy ako nakahiga nakakatuwa yong immigration officer, nagulat ako nong nag-tagalog sya. kasi naman mukha syang chinese hehe pinay pala

[_Jasmin_]

^Is she the one nag aassist sa pila sa immigration upon arrival? Lumapit kase samin ng anak ko and asked why nakasimangot yung son ko (in tagalog). Sabi ko naku pasensya na po, naiinip na kase sa pila. Hahaha. Sabi samin, Naku buti nga ngayon medyo konti na, kanina kaya sobrang haba ng pila!

[rocky]

^hindi sis, sya mismo yong immigration officer. sabi nya "may kamag-anak ka ba dito?" hehe kaya napangiti ako & sabi ko kala ko chinese sya

[kirsten]

Hi mga sis! I have a question. I lodged my application online. After payment, I uploaded the required documents... But I don't see any submit button. Are they automatically submitted? Thanks!

[ataypool]

Just want to relate my katangahan when my bags were checked by customs in the departure area. Nagdala ako ng canned red salmon and corned beef (in case of emergency). Nasa akin red salmon, corned beef with my niece. Na-stuck ako for more than 15 minutes kasi they checked my bag after the xray, then xray again. They were both more than 300 grams and siyempre may liquid ang red salmon hindi ko man lang naisip. My niece was so angry with me, hanggang Manila pag may nakikita siyang corned beef, lagi sa akin pinapaalala. Binalik nila ang corned beef sa kanya, ang red salmon, confiscated.
May stewardess and pilots na kasama ko sa linya, naghintay din sila ng matagal kasi bags nila were checked and twice sa x-ray. One pilot was shouting at them kasi delayed na daw flight niya. May mga dala silang smoked salmon, cold cuts, cheese, etc.

[rocky]

^aaawww! hehe any metal sis need check-in. nagdala ako ng 1/2 kg na cheddar cheese, wala namang prob dahil nilagay ko sa checkin baggage. mahigpit nga sa customs kahit departure, idedeclare mo pa rin kung may liquid ka before x-ray. chineck yong lotion ko & perfume. pag more than 100ml confiscate talaga

[glacy_rein]

^always sis kahit saang airport dapat 100ml sakto lang nakasulat sa lalagyan kahit less pa ang laman. And yes no canned goods in-flight, lahat check in baggage..

Ako ultimo Tea dineclare ko nun! hahaha! takot din ako e

[rocky]

^mukhang need mo ngang declare yong tea sis kasi napanoood ko sa "border security show" may chinese na pinagbayad ng fine kasi hindi nya dineclare yong mga dala nyang herbal tea, dates & parang mga kahoy2x na iniinom. pasaway din yong chinese na yon eh kahit returning resident sya!

[kirsten]

Hi mga sis! I am having anxiety! i lodged my application online last October 19 and finished uploading the documents by Oct. 20 then pahabol yung flight itinerary on the 23rd. Until now "application received" pa din nakalagay sa status. We're looking to fly on the 12th of November pero ang nakalagay sa itinerary that I submitted was Nov. 8, 2015. Wasn't sure pa kasi at that time the exact date that my husband needs to be there.. So, biglaan din yung application. I'm hoping na sana umabot or is there a way na ma-ipa exdpedite ko yung processing? Can I call them or email them reg my application and why I need it ASAP?

Here's my profile:
30 years old
Have used and still valid US visa
Past Visas: Taiwan, Schengen, Japan, Ireland and UK
Traveled to: HK, Taiwan Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, US, UK, Ireland, France,
Married to Irish ctitizen
Business owner

Documents submitted:
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Driver's License
Husband's Passport
Passport size photograph
Copies of Passport pages of current and previous passport
Balance Sheet and Income Statement from ITR
Bank Certificate
2 Credit Card Statements
Scanned copy of Credit Card
Itinerary
Hotel Bookings
Flight Bookings
Cover Letter
DTI

[rocky]

^naku, matagal ngayon processing sis since ang dami ng turistang pumupunta don. napansin ko talaga kasi nong 1st time ko last year halos hindi puno yong plane pero this year, back & forth puno talaga yong plane. usually 1.5-2 months na ang processing plus peak season na rin, kaya swerte ka kung ma-release yan before your travel date. no choice ka kundi maghintay lang, hindi rin sila sumasagot sa email

[mama squeak!]

^oo nga punuan na talaga flights ng CebPac. Paano ba naman mayamaya ang sale! Good for the company but bad for us kasi di tayo maka-solo ng row. Lol! Going there wala talagang bakante but coming back buti naman solo ako. Sinabihan kasi ni hubby yung bisor sa check-in kung pwede i-block off yung vacant row.

^^I'll be applying for another visa since mine's expiring this November. Isasabay ko na rin si hubby sa application. I'll update kung gaano katagal yung magiging processing sa amin. I hope you get yours soon. Good luck!

[rocky]

^nalungkot nga ako sis kasi as in puno talaga yong plane hehe di na ako makahiga. tapos malas pa ako sa katabi, big guy na OZ katabi ko. panay laglag ng braso nya sa kin kaya hindi talaga ako nakatulog. sakit sa ulo pag ganon walang tulog

[ataypool]

^that's why we bought seats at the back of the plane, konti lang tao so less chance of encountering pasaway passengers and since 5 kami that time we wanted the 2 and 3 seats combo.

[belle_v2g]

So mga 1-2 months ba processing ng tourist visa? My parents will apply kase sometime next year mga first quarter para andito sila when i give birth.