Beautiful Melbourne

My housemates and I decided to spend a couple of our days off work being tourists and discovering more of Melbourne. Exploring places can often be skimmed over when setting up home in a new city. It's very easy to just work, save money and forget the main reason why I decided to come to Austrailia: to see new things!

We visited a few laneways in the city, one of Melbournes most popular 'attractions'. Hidden within lots of different parts of the city, these lanes are covered in amazing artwork and graffiti and make for some wicked photos.

Having only been here for just over a month, I am already feeling like I could live here for a long time to come. Melbourne is so different to Ho Chi Minh City, and I love that. Not because I hated Saigon at all, just because I am getting such a wide range of experiences. Flying over to Melbourne, a man sat next to me on the plane said that I couldn't have picked two more different cities to set up new lives in. And he was so right. 

We also took a little visit to Melbourne State Library. It's an amazing building and it made Billy, Connor and I all weirdly miss Uni and writing essays. Well, all for about a good 2 minutes. 

As I've said previously, the food in this city has left me in coeliac heaven. I can walk into any restaurant and be greated with an abundance of gluten free options. I no longer have to decide on what I want by what I can't have on the menu. Because of this I've just had to spend $85 (makwar) on a months gym membership. 

Living in Melbourne I've also been able to meet up with people I haven't seen in years. So many people that I've lost touch with in England and living in Vietnam, have moved here! I've seen my friend Emily who I lived with in second year a few times, which has been so lovely.

How to set up a new life in Australia

As mentioned in a previous post, moving to Australia I had next to nothing set up for my arrival bar my flight, visa and my stash of cheap Vietnamese medicines and toiletries (I could have probably started up a pharmacy). In my first week I could have really done with a to do list of everything I needed to sort. 

So here it is. A list of how to start up a new life in Australia for those considering a move down under. Having now been here three weeks, everything is now starting to fall into place, and though the thought of organising everything seems a little daunting, I'm here to tell you it really really isn't. 

SIM card

Get one of these ASAP, just so when you're making friends it's easier! And also so potential employers can give you a ring. 

Bank account

Make sure to set up a bank account in your first few days too. This takes two minutes and all you need to do is go into a branch with your passport. I'm no bank expert, but I'm with Commonwealth Bank and they seem pretty alright. It's worth having doing a little research before you get out here.

Housing

Book into a hostel for your first week or so. It's the best way to meet new people and it's a lot of fun. Though it can be a little more expensive, and most nights you will have to drink through the hangover from the previous night, you'll meet so many like-minded people. And you could end up finding people that you want to rent somewhere cheaper with. For me, having stayed in way too many hostels over the past months, I was craving unpacking and a living room where I could sloth in front of a TV. Ten days and I was all moved in. 

Gumtree was the best way to find somewhere, and we have definitely struck lucky with our two bed flat. So much so, we even bartered down the price and almost feel a little bad at how cheap we got it. One thing is that most of my friends have bills included, however we don't. So it depends on what you want.

Tax file number

Apply for this in your first few days in Australia. It's simple and takes 5 minutes and enables you to work here. You can however have up to 28 days before an employer needs it, but it's always good to get it done sooner rather than later.

Job

Again gumtree is fab. Unlike England where I always thought gumtree was about selling random shit, there are so many jobs advertised. Most of them you just need to upload a CV rather than a cover letter as well, which I feel are so time wasting. I have no passion for waitressing...just gimme the dollar. 

Hospitality seems to be where all the jobs are at now it's coming into the summer season. Though, I was adamant I never wanted to be a waitress after my £3.60 an hour village pub days, the wages are great. I'm working Melbourne Cup on the public holiday for $50 an hour! Take that village pubs. 

Medicare 

Having a Medicare card means you can see a doctor for free. All you need to do is to go to a Medicare office with your Australian bank details and passport, and then it's all set up. 

Friends

Be prepared to drink a lot, sacrifice your me time and, especially if you're in Melbourne, bump into people from home you haven't seen in years.  A bit weird but quite cool. 

Library

I'd got my library card before I'd found a house or a job! It's definitely worth getting one. Unlike in Asia, a lot of places you have to pay for wifi here (madness) so the library is a good place to get internet access for applying for jobs and flat hunting.  

Hard rubbish

When kitting out a flat that isn't fully furnished, roam the streets. So far, we've found a couple of bed side tables, some chairs and a shoe rack. I got told Thursday was the day in Melbourne that people put out there unwanted stuff. Gumtree again is a saviour. We got the worlds biggest TV from here for free, and though it was the size of a baby elephant, we somehow managed to get it home in a taxi. 

After a few weeks, everything does fall into place. Though it seems like a bit of a stress, setting everything up is all part of the fun. So just go with it. It will all work out in the end. 

Back in the Western World: The 9 hardest adjustments

Living in Vietnam for eight months meant I pretty much turned Asian. Now back in a western culture, there's a few things I'm struggling to adjust to. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll be fine, but in the meantime, let me rant. I love a good list, so here's my top 9:

1. Resisting the 'OOOOO MAKWAR!' urge 

My first trip to a supermarket was a really great but really shit experience. Seeing a whole aisle dedicated to gluten free treats, I genuinely couldn't believe it. Looking closer at the prices however, put me off the grocery experience altogether. I need to remember I cannot barter the prices down, nor will anyone understand if I say 'oooo that's a bit makwar' (Vietnamese for 'too expensive'). I paid $4 for a Snickers the other day. I was just so desperate for that nutty goodness. 

2. Crossing roads

Walking out in front of bikes got too normal for me when walking to my local supermarket in Saigon. So when I got here and found you could get fined if the red man was flashing and you were crossing, I was a bit outraged. To be fair, it's obviously a safer road crossing system, but I have places to be.

3. The weather

I thought Australia was supposed to be warm? I genuinely thought the plane had taken a wrong turn and ended up in England. Gimme that Asian sunshine. 

4. Taking I.D on a night out

I forgot this was actually a thing.

5. No one wears pyjamas out

I need to remember it's really not ok to go out to breakfast in my pyjamas.

6. No more manicures

Long gone are the days I can get manicures for a dollar. OH LIFE. 

7. A phone like this not being acceptable

It's pretty normal for expats in Saigon to have a shite phone like this. This doesn't seem to apply to Australia though. A lot of people have laughed at it, but I'm proud to say I am the owner of this phone. Nokia 3410: a classic. I even accidentally left it on a wall the other day. Someone found it, called my contacts to let me know and I picked it up the next day. Too rubbish to steal. Perfect.

8. The language

I've said thank you in Vietnamese a few times now, resulting in some confused looks. I need to remember I'm not in Vietnam anymore, and actually in Australia. Though I've definitely met more northern people than I have Australians. 

9. Laws

Seeing as Vietnam was very lawless at times, it's good to be back in a country where laws are, on the whole, followed. However, putting alcohol in a brown bag when you're outside. Why? 

My first two weeks in AUSTRALIA!

The last two weeks have probably been the busiest of my life! Reunions, hellos and goodbyes. Job searching, house searching and friend searching. All mixed in with adjusting back to a western culture. Oh and wine. A lot of wine.

It's all been a bit of a blur really, and it doesn't seem like two weeks since I said my goodbyes to my parents again for another year. Now I've got time to reflect, I really have done a lot in a short space time!

Ive moved in to a beautiful little flat with two guys I met in the hostel, with the rent not actually being too scary. I wanted to move out of the hostel ASAP. One week was enough for me and I was craving unpacking and putting my pants in a drawer, not having to share a room with 7 other people and not having to make the risky dart from the bathroom if I forgot to take my towel in for a shower. 

I've also managed to get a job working for a hospitality company working at the Melbourne race course. With the potential to earn up to $50 an hour on some shifts, it's definitely helping with the shock of how expensive everything is compared to Vietnam. One shift here could potentially account to three weeks teaching in Saigon. Ridiculous. 

I'm definitely still looking for work more related to communications and PR, and now being more settled with somewhere to live and an income for the time being, I'm going to get my search properly on!

Amongst sorting a house and a job, it's been a little strange adjusting back to a western culture (see next post). I'm really missing Asia, but I think that's all to do with change. When I moved to Vietnam, I really missed England. So I guess it's just normal. There are a ton of Vietnamese restaurants here, though I'll probably never go in them. Paying $15 for a bowl of pho rather than 50 cent back in Saigon would make me want to cry.  

Moving over to Australia was definitely a lot less stressful for me compared with my move to Saigon. My two best friends were already in Melbourne (Sophie has now gone more north to do her farm work for her second year visa), and I knew a few other people here too. I was also going back to an English speaking country, so if i had any dramas it would be easier to get things sorted.

However moving to Vietnam, I had everything pretty much set up for me. A house, a job, a social group. Coming to Melbourne, I had none of the that - just three nights booked in a hostel and my flight and visa to get over here. But it's been good for me; a challenging new experience. Which is something I wanted. Look out for a checklist type blog post I'll put up for those wanting to set up a new life in Australia too.

So far, Melbourne seems like a pretty cool city, and I'm close to both the city centre and the beach. Everything seems so chilled, and the food is unreal too! Australia is proving to be amazing for gluten-free meals, both in restaurants and supermarkets, making England look very behind the coeliac times. And obviously coming from Asia, where all I ate was pork, egg and rice/ egg, rice and pork, I've definitely died and gone to coeliac heaven! I've had a lot of take away gluten free pizzas, so the next task is to join a gym, so fat Liz doesn't make an unwanted return. 

The two week conclusion is that I think I'll be in Melbourne for a good while to come. Though, now I'm having a bit of a struggle to what my blog name should be called. Suggestions are very much welcome... 

See ya later Vietnam

The past eight months have been amazing, emotional, hilarious, challenging and a bit weird too. It has without any doubt been the best eight months of my life and I really can't believe that it was all the way back in January that I was that terrified girl at Heathrow airport flying to Asia and living abroad, both for the first time. I have definitely learnt a lot about who I am, what I can do and what I want to do in life (as cheesy as that all sounds).

I've learnt that I'm the worlds slowest motorbike driver, that wearing make up is severely overrated and that eating pork, egg and rice for breakfast isn't actually all that bad. 

But on a more serious note, I've definitely learnt a lot more than just that. I've lived amongst the Vietnamese and learnt so much about a culture I knew nothing about. I've been so lucky to do this, as often backpacking and travelling in short periods of time, you can easily miss what a country is all about. Vietnam is a beautiful country with the most welcoming of people, and I'm going to miss it. A lot. Where else would open their shop at 2am in the rural countryside just so the drunk white girl could buy some vodka? Nowhere.

I've also learnt how easy and ok it is to start talking to random people! My confidence between this time last year and now is pretty different. I'd always considered myself a bit of a reserved person, and talking to strangers wouldn't really be something I'd do. Now, I feel it normal to start talking to anyone I meet! As my friend Lucy said in a previous post, the experiences in your life can often be determined by the people you meet. And I love that. 

With travelling, teaching and living in SE Asia, I've made some life-long friends all over the world, and we've shared some pretty hilarious times. Sunday morning cave times at Heathers with Rach, that weird weird Owl weekend (I won't go into that) and Phoebe Jean walking down Bui Vien in a swimming hat and kimono. 

With these beautiful people, they've also been there when times have been pretty shitty. Being mugged with a knife, hit by a taxi and sent to hospital all within the space of just over a week back in April, you could say, took it's toll. But having the most unreal and positive people around me, it wasn't long before I got back to my normal self. 

Though, I've had a few 'I hate Vietnam' days, I'm going to miss it so much and I know 100% I will be back at some point in my life. Soooo, I thought I'd compile a few reasons on why I'll miss it so much. Here are my top 6:

1. Seeing weird things happen on a regular basis

Definitely my number one. Badminton courts in the middle of the road at 5.30am, chicken fights, fridge freezers/cows on motorbikes. You see a lot of weird shit in Vietnam, and it always brightened up my day.

2. How friendly the Vietnamese are

The Vietnamese are so friendly and welcoming, which was definitely needed when I was so nervous moving here. I needn't have been nervous. They're great.

3. Yoga

I found a new love for yoga when living in Saigon, at the most beautiful studio 'Yoga Living' in District 3. Getting a membership in Australia will no doubt be four times the price. 

4. Bartering

It's going to be a struggle to not try barter down the prices in Australian supermarkets. I'll be walking out in the hope shop assistants will follow me and agree to a cheaper price. I need to realise that this won't be happening.

5. Poo talk being acceptable

Talking about poo problems to near enough strangers. If you don't get issues in Asia, then there's probably something not quite right. Though, speaking of poo, I'm definitely not going to miss how acceptable it is for dogs to take a shite in front of me when I'm trying to eat my pork, egg and rice for breakfast. 

6. My beautiful friends  

I love you Vietnam. It feels like we're splitting up, but it's just a temporary break. I'll be back soon. I promise. X

Hoi An > Hue > Ha Noi > Ha Long Bay

After the highly anticipated reunion of my parents and I, it was time to leave Saigon and take a flight half way up the country to Hoi An. This was the second time I'd visited here, after spending a few days back at the beginning of Febuary as a very clueless Westerner. 

We spent a week here, chilling out at the beach and pool. I think after my parents visit to Saigon, they wanted this. They found it pretty crazy and my mum even admits that she was glad I was leaving, as I think she found it a bit much and a bit too different to rural Norfolk life! My dad kept filming my mum trying to cross the road. Classic.  Hoi An on the other hand was definitely more suited to them.

Over the week, we ordered the most ridiculous amount of custom-made clothing. I had a few pairs of shoes made, a couple of dresses and a bag. My mums list was much bigger. Massive divas. They even had to buy two new suitcases. The amount of things my mum and dad bought together was maybe a bit of an error however, which will be explained later on.

Me and mum also took a cooking class, where we learnt to cook spring rolls, grilled mackerel in banana leaf and sweet and sour chicken. The chef also attempted to teach us how to make a few edible decorations for the plates, to which my mum announced "it's amazing what you can do with a cucumber".

Having spent a fair amount of time in Hoi An, it was time for our next stop, Hue. Both into their 60s I genuinely didn't think my parents would ever agree to this - but we motorbiked the 100 miles between the two places! Well...my mum got a car, and my dad was on the back of a bike whilst I had my own. At one stage my mum actually got on her first ever bike and rode on the back for 10 miles! I was so proud of her. She's shown that life is all about new experiences no matter what your age. 

The views were incredible and I definitely recommend anyone doing this! 

We got there just about safe and sound (7 hours later) though there wasn't really much going on in Hue. And by not much I mean nothing at all. We only spent a day here, and this was where my mum realised how soon I was moving to Australia and how soon they would be saying goodbye to me again. So the tears then started. 

Like I said, the amount of things my parents bought in Hoi An caused a bit of a transportation issue. It meant we wouldn't really be allowed to take that much stuff on an internal flight. So a 14 hour train ride it was! 

I've been on a lot of buses and trains in SE Asia, and it's safe to say this was one of the worst. Which made for a fab experience for the parents. It was an experience which I think they will never want to repeat again, but one they definitely won't forget. My dad made a new 75 year old Vietnamese mate too, and ended up showing him the first iPad he had ever seen. It was a pretty cute bromance.

I love how much my parents are embracing the travelling life. Tony and Lou are a prime example of how you are never too old to travel! They've been sending emails back home to friends, who are under the impression mum and dad are on a gap year rather than an OAP trip abroad. 

After the 14 hour ordeal, we arrived at a beautiful hotel in Ha Noi, where I was looking forward to seeing how the capital compared to Saigon.

Back in December, I was in two minds on whether to accept a teaching job in Ha Noi or Saigon, however I think I made the right choice. Saigon seems to have a lot more going on and is definitely more westernised. Though, I do like how quaint Ha Noi seems with less hectic traffic. We are booked into the hotel in Ha Noi for a week and within that have taken a little over night boat trip to Ha Long Bay, where I am writing this blog from (with this view!)

Ha Long Bay was definitely my most anticipated place to visit. Having met so many people who have raved about it, including my brother, it definitely lived up to my expectations and more. It's stunning, and surely one of the most breathtaking places on the planet.

Travelling with my parents means that I have travelled a bit classier than I normally would! And the boat we have stayed on is beautiful. 

We took a canoe ride to a beach this afternoon, where again my mum had another first experience doing this. We've been treated to so much delicious seafood and Vietnamese cooking, and drinks on the top deck at sunset was amazing too. A 6.30am Tai Chi class is on the schedule for tomorrow, which I'm really looking forward to! 

If I was holidaying in Vietnam in the future and could only pick one place to visit, Ha Long Bay would definitely be it. It's made me feel so lucky about the experiences I'm having, and it has rounded off my time in Vietnam absolutely perfectly.

Though I'm trying not to think how I'll be saying bye to mum and dad for another year (my current life plan) it is a really really sad thought. I've had the best time showing them the beautiful country where I've been living, and it's sad it is so quickly coming to an end. The three weeks with them have been amazing and I am so lucky to have their love and support. 

THE BEST BITS

The past eight months have given me some pretty memorable experiences which I'm definitely going to remember when I'm an old granny. I've tried to pick the best photos from each month, but there have been so many it was a very tough decision!

January: My leaving meal in London with the Uni girls. What was suppose to be a civilised Pizza Express lunch turned out to be pretty messy. I missed the last train back to Norfolk, somehow ended up in Kent, lost a lot of shit and inevitably had to take my first ever sick day on the Monday. A great send off.

February: My first ever threesies experience to go get some fuel. It was pretty cosy.

March: The girls and I had only known each other for just over a month, so this meant it was perfectly acceptable to chose each others outfits for a night out. This was the outcome. Definitely the funniest night I've had in Saigon. 

I couldn't quite decide on just one photo for March, so here's number two. This was when I got flowers from my school for Women's Day! The class had also written me a poem about how much they loved me. I felt like a celebrity and it was so bloody cute. 

April: The first time it had rained in months and we were at a party in the middle of a Vietnamese forest. The sun was just rising too so it was pretty magical. This photo captures it perfectly.

May: My brother Richard came to stay towards the end of the month, and it was so so good to see someone from home. He spoilt me so much and we had a great week up the coast in Nha Trang. He also took a brief ride on my bike. Looking comfortable there Rich.

June: I visited Phu Quoc Island for a few days and it was genuinely the most beautiful place I've ever visited! Some people from my hostel and I took a motorbike trip to a little beach to see the sunset. Beautiful. 

July: This was taken at the Full Moon Party - the funnest night ever! Breege and I met some pretty wicked people here and it rounded off my travels in Thailand perfectly.

August: My time on Koh Rong, a Cambodian island, was so relaxed. It was the most chilled out, idyllic place I've been so far. It was also full of hippies.

September: The emotional reunion of my parents and I! I took them to see all the sights in Saigon, and we also took a little trip to the Mekong Delta. Cuties.