tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45344073172243327852024-03-14T00:45:21.921+08:00LIFE IN SYDNEYmalaysia -- singapore -- sydneyDinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-82003918574110983292010-04-12T09:36:00.012+08:002010-04-12T11:18:31.430+08:00Lifestyle comparisonPublic Transport: Cost of going to CBD from about 13km away.<br />Sydney: About AUD5-6 round trip, connecting bus services without discount and paying full fare, charging by section. Train stations & bus stations as rundown as in Kuala Lumpur.<br />Singapore: About SGD2-3 round trip, connecting bus services at a discount with the same ezlink system. Everything is new or newly renovated.<br /><br />Car: Cost of owning a small/mid-sized sedan.<br />Sydney: AUD15k-25k driveaway. Octane 91 petrol is around AUD1.3/litre in Wednesday/Thursday. Garage parking at night is usually free at home. Roadtax around AUD500-600/annum. Toll is everywhere.<br />Singapore: SGD70-90k, and growing recently due to COE out-of-controlled. Season parking around SGD90/month in HDB covered carpark. Octane 95 petrol is around SGD1.8. Roadtax around SGD700/annum. ERP is everywhere.<br /><br />Driving: When a turning signal is switched on.<br />Sydney: The car behind will slow down and wait for your turn to enter the lane, speed limit is 110km/h max in freeway, generally driving between +-5km/h of speed limit. It's illegal to pass a bus with a turning signal on.<br />Singapore: The car behind will accelerate faster passing you, though speed limit is 90km/h max in highway. Bus driver is surprised if a driver behind is giving way to them. Generally driving at speed limit, but much more than 110km/h when a Singapore car driving in Malaysia highway.<br /><br />Housing:<br />Sydney: Apartment cost around AUD400-500k, with management cost of few hundreds per quarter paying to body corporate. House in decent suburbs are around AUD600-700k, about 50km away from CBD. Rental is around AUD400-500/week, usually unfurnished.<br />Singapore: HDB apartments cost around SGD300k-500k, where 70% of Singaporean stay, maintenance around SGD50-90/month. Condominums cost SGD600k-2million. Free-standing house is unaffordable to most. HDB rental is around SGD2000/month, condo rented at >SGD3000, usually fully furnished. Malaysian staying at terrace/detached house of RM200k-400k across the causeway.<br /><br />Safety:<br />Malaysia: Not safe.<br />Sydney: Not as safe as Singapore, but generally quite at night in residential suburbs.<br />Singapore: Safe, but people would not generally get to sleep until 12am in HDBs.<br /><br />Food:<br />Sydney: Boring but healthy. Cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, simple home-cooked for dinner. Best and fresh ingredients available. Pork & chicken, veges & fruits prices are comparable or lower to Singapore in Chinese shops. Seafood is expensive. Everyone knows how to cook as it's expensive eating outside. Takeway fried noodle cost AUD10/serve. Poor people with no time to cook eat instant noodle everyday.<br />Singapore. Interesting but unhealthy. 1000++ options for breakfast, 1000++ takeaways for lunch, 1000++ takeaways for dinner. No one cook at home except dedicated housewives. Takeway fried noodle cost SGD2-3/serve. Poor & busy people still get to enjoy the most delicious foodcourt food.<br /><br />Work:<br />Sydney: Work 8-9hours/day, including 1 hour of mealtime, most of the other time 6-7 hours are focus working hours. Quickly get back home for family time or cooking in the evening. Not surprised we won't know who is sitting across the other aisle.<br />Singapore: Work 12hours/day, including 1-2 hours of lunchtime, multiple 1/2 hour teabreaks, surfing net time, chatting time, around 5 hours of focus working hours, 2 hours in morning, 2 hours before knock-off, 1 hours midnight in teleconference. Good relationship between colleagues due to enhance social lifestyle during working hours.<br /><br />Weekend:<br />Sydney: Picnic & leisure time.<br />Singapore: Sleeping, watching TV, shopping, or getting back to work.<br /><br />Shop:<br />Sydney: Opening hours of around 10am-5pm, restaurants open late. Coles/Woolies open late in some suburbs.<br />Singapore: Opening hours of around 10am-10pm, not too worry dozens of foodcourts opening 24 hours.<br /><br />What to do in frustration:<br />Sydney: Swear.<br />Singapore: Complain.<br /><br />Personal finance & medicare:<br />Sydney: Government takes around 20-30% per annum tax. Medical cost around AUD30-50 after medicare, insurance, for prescriptions and misc charge, every visit to clinic.<br />Singapore: Tax around negligible percentage, 10%? Medical cost around SGD20-30 for clinic visit, including examination, prescriptions, etc. The government tax highly on car though to make up the balance-sheet.<br /><br />Government:<br />Sydney: Arguing between parties for decades and never get things done. In the event things are moving forward, will get voted down by local councils. Most policies are undergoing multiple politicking.<br />Singapore: Government will publicize the upcoming policies in newspapers & media, collecting feedbacks. Once it's decided, it's fully executed without delay. Local councils & oppositions are powerless. Most policies are direct & transparent.<br /><br />Education:<br />Sydney: 10-20 years ago no one is studying in the class except Asian. Nowadays everyone compete but still lots of universities that are easy to get a degree. Usually don't emphasis too much edu credentials in job, and continue lifelong learning. Doing badly in school with less Olympiad medalist but have Nobel winners and breakthrough research.<br />Singapore: Out of the system if you don't study or do well. Emphasis very much on certs & degrees. Get frustrated and stop learning after the normal school-university system. Doing well in school with dozens Olympiad medalist but no one want to pursue research after university.<br /><br />Education cost:<br />Sydney: Gone are the day of free education system, and summer jobs to earn more than enuf expenses for a year. University students, either they are very rich, 2nd generation taukeh-son driving porsche, or they doesn't get to meet both ends due to the tuition cost. A recent study found that a high percentage of sex-workers in Melbourne are full-time university foreign students, to bear the tuition fee cost and earn a living, yet a job that not affecting study.<br />Singapore: If ones studying well, can afford to get through the university system without much financial difficulty, university to arrange loan, which cover living expenses in college, interest-free before graduation. SGD6000-SGD10000/year, foreigner pay just slightly higher with 3 years MOE bond.<br /><br />Who are the cleaners?<br />Sydney: First generation migrants from 3rd world countries, professional & independent business owners, living in detached house, earning more than an engineer.<br />Singapore: School dropouts or elderly without a specialized skills, in the bottom of social hierarchy, barely enuf to survive the social system.<br /><br />What elderly are doing:<br />Sydney: Fishing, hanging around clinics, living out of retirement and social benefits.<br />Singapore: Becoming cleaners in foodcourts, or babysitting for the grandson/daughters.<br /><br />Everyone wants to know:<br />Sydney: How's life mate? How's your weekend picnic trip?<br />Singapore: How's your pay? Still not promoted manager ah? Married liao, got son? Your son scored well? Still stay in HDB ah, not moving condo? What car you drive?<br /><br />Conclusion:<br />Sydney: Good for career suicide, for retirement.<br />Singapore: Good for career, suicide for retirement.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-35369063321306971422008-10-26T20:11:00.012+08:002008-10-27T11:28:02.638+08:00Kiama no-blow-hole?<span style="font-style:italic;">Preface: Kiama is a city in the Illawarra region of NSW. It's about 2 hours drive towards south of Sydney, and about 30 minutes south of Wollongong. It's supposedly famous for one big one small blowhole near to each other.</span><br /><br />Kiama visitor guide 2008 describes it as the famous blow-hole, whilst the Grand Pacific Drive booklet describes it as "the <span style="font-style:italic;">infamous</span> Kiama Blowhole, discovered by George Bass on 6 December 1797."<br /><br />This is a curious pursuit, how can it be both famous and infamous in two official tourism guides? The latter guide provides a hint: "Most spectacular when the seas run from the south east." Hmmm... That probably means "most probably not spectacular when the seas run from any other direction other than south east." That makes it probably 7/8 times not spectacular.<br /><br />And this is why it's so infamous -> nothing blow out of it and it looks like an upside-down a**-hole!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SQRiqNYjDMI/AAAAAAAABxQ/iD8UxRW5MBc/s1600-h/blowhole.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SQRiqNYjDMI/AAAAAAAABxQ/iD8UxRW5MBc/s400/blowhole.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261438741962230978" /></a><br /><br />In sharp contrast to a web guide:<br />http://www.kiama.com.au/attractions/blowhole2.htm<br /><br />That means we exhausted 1 chance out of 8, and if we visited 7 more times. We will have a unit probability seeing the blowhole in action!<br /><br />btw, we are not the only unlucky one, there is a tour group coming all the way from Korea to visit this infamous blow-hole, wondering what is so *famous* with the no-blow-hole inaction (not in action).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SQRl0NWh-kI/AAAAAAAABxY/lqPe82vQ7nI/s1600-h/pelican.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SQRl0NWh-kI/AAAAAAAABxY/lqPe82vQ7nI/s400/pelican.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261442212287347266" /></a><br /><br />Luckily, these lovely creatures served as a bonus for the trip. The anglers are cleaning their fish and throwing the fishy innards, while the pelicans are busy catching their food. The pelican is the local birds with a plague set for it near the visitor center. Flipping through the local newspaper, a news talk about banning the plastic bag for this town, this really show the privilege of the iconic pelican here. So don't be surprised that you can't find a plastic bag in this town in the near future.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SQRnBG6K21I/AAAAAAAABxg/HT9QOK4fQJI/s1600-h/info.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SQRnBG6K21I/AAAAAAAABxg/HT9QOK4fQJI/s400/info.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261443533407705938" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-38474102107159594992008-10-20T19:04:00.017+08:002008-10-20T20:34:29.294+08:00Where the Giant Whale migrate!My first attempt of whale watching was in the States off the Oregon coast, where we climb up a cliff to try spotting whale. Nevertheless, whale not to be seen, just piece of rock shape where we argue hard whether it's whale or rocky island miles away in the Ocean. <br /><br />Our local friends have been telling us to try whale watching in Sydney, so we went to Dee Why, up to Narrabeen; down to cliff at Watson bay, further to Bondi and Congee to end with disappointments during the Winter-Spring seasons. What? Don't you know there are cruises bringing you off the coastline to search for whales, this comes the enlightenment moment. It's supposed to be even better experience in Port Stephens or Nelson bay probably 2+ hours drive from Sydney. Nevertheless, the evil side of me urge me to be lazy and choose the Cruise just in Sydney.<br /><br />The vessel first past by Watson bay, where we cross the Lady Bay beach, hmmm..., it's one of the legally naked beach in NSW. Of course that means you can stay naked for as long as you like on that beach. Hehehe... to disappoint you if you are thinking dirty, you will only see tonnes of loosely and fatty bellies, old penises hanging around on that beach. Don't expect more than that mate! A local guy is whispering and giggling with the girls pointing to that beach, a tourist besides me is obviously at lost in why we are so interested in this particular beach. :p<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxsWzogEZI/AAAAAAAABwQ/oxDUIRt1K8E/s1600-h/LadyBay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxsWzogEZI/AAAAAAAABwQ/oxDUIRt1K8E/s400/LadyBay.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259197603934900626" /></a><br /><br />And comes the boring moment of cruising for more than 1/2 hour until we reach about 5km off Bondi beach, Voila! a Humpback whale wagging tail 300 metres away.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxupC62CsI/AAAAAAAABwg/Ks652W-uYjI/s1600-h/WhaleTail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxupC62CsI/AAAAAAAABwg/Ks652W-uYjI/s400/WhaleTail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259200116299270850" /></a><br /><br />There are 1 pod with 3 whales, 1 adult and 2 calves. By regulation, the vessel cannot approach it from behind or block it in front, where it can only *accompanying* the whales 300 metres away from left or right. So we are cruising besides the pod from left all the way from Bondi to Congee. Here's some whale in action, blowing, flipping, etc. enjoying themselves very much!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxvt4eL2iI/AAAAAAAABwo/z0BgxdCI3y4/s1600-h/Whale.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxvt4eL2iI/AAAAAAAABwo/z0BgxdCI3y4/s400/Whale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259201298905684514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxwCASJ-ZI/AAAAAAAABww/QahTCztUIBU/s1600-h/WhaleBack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxwCASJ-ZI/AAAAAAAABww/QahTCztUIBU/s400/WhaleBack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259201644600097170" /></a><br /><br />All of us have been expecting the whale to jump out of water doing stunt act, but the whale are smarter than us than to perform the silly stunt just for us, knowing that it will consume more energy than it can absorb from slowly filtering out prawns as their main food source. Knowing that we are not satisfied (one of the tour member whispering for refund beside me), the guide took out a model humpback and start explaining.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxxRMShztI/AAAAAAAABw4/ZNA2h2EFsJg/s1600-h/WhaleDemo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxxRMShztI/AAAAAAAABw4/ZNA2h2EFsJg/s400/WhaleDemo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259203005032550098" /></a><br /><br />Yeah! You probably see dozens in San Francisco bay, but this is one really crazy and fun seal that can't resist its temptation to show-off its dancing besides our vessel. It's a real bonus to us!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxxqhuS4dI/AAAAAAAABxA/S-qJTdISOfc/s1600-h/Seal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxxqhuS4dI/AAAAAAAABxA/S-qJTdISOfc/s400/Seal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259203440282886610" /></a><br /><br />We have been drifting towards south following the whales, this is their migration season to the colder regions that last until probably November, oh, hardworking whales, probably they should invent some air conditioning for themselves to save the trouble of migrating around.<br /><br />And this is the famous Bondi beach view from 5km off coast. See the wide coastline? No wonder it's so famous!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxz3-rJCdI/AAAAAAAABxI/kZpjaGAzBe4/s1600-h/Bondi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxz3-rJCdI/AAAAAAAABxI/kZpjaGAzBe4/s400/Bondi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259205870415841746" /></a><br /><br />Want to go whale watching in Sydney, just book from any one of the operators, cost around AUD50-80 per person, it's a lifetime experience. Click my sponsor links besides on the operators if google is smart enuf to detect such advertisements, else just search for Sydney whale watching.<br /><br />On the way back, I was hanging around at the front of the vessel, following the waves up-and-down, just like our life. You have heard that our life is full of ups-and-downs, but do you know that whenever there is a major up-wave, it will normally follow by a major down-wave. And don't be disappointed with major down-trend, coz the next best up-trend is following right after this! Cheers mate!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-1039337748889186782008-10-20T18:04:00.008+08:002008-10-20T18:25:05.159+08:00Abalone abalone abalone...Read from some forums that decades ago, local Aussies feed their cat with abalone, wondering what they can do with this kind of sucking creatures. And heard from some older generation friends they used to buy dozens of live abalones home during a visit to Australia.<br /><br />Nowadays, it's the fengshui turning the other way round as Chinese started to penetrate the Aussie lifestyle. This is what it is now in the Sydney Fish market.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxYzc60urI/AAAAAAAABwA/a6-UyfhLY0o/s1600-h/abalone1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxYzc60urI/AAAAAAAABwA/a6-UyfhLY0o/s400/abalone1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259176105821387442" /></a><br /><br />Selling for AUD4.90 per piece is the Greenlip Abalone, and it's frozen, not a fresh lively products. Looks ugly? Yeah, grandma was surprised as well how come the treasured abalone has shell? errr... to spoil your appetite even further, it's similar to a snail in the sea, and the part that we consumed is always sucking to some rocks. It's pretty difficult to shuck-off the flesh from the shell. On the other side of the market, we have live abalone, selling probably AUD40-60 per kg.<br /><br />Hehe... Not interesting enuf. Here's some that you might have heard, but never got a chance to see, it's the huge live abalone (of coz a different species than the above), in a local Chinese restaurant, where I dare not ask for the price. Hmmm... Don't disturb me, I am summoning it while spelling "Accio abalone..." Yummy yummy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxY937_E6I/AAAAAAAABwI/bhqbkcI8PqM/s1600-h/abalone2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SPxY937_E6I/AAAAAAAABwI/bhqbkcI8PqM/s400/abalone2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259176284872709026" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-72380633732977332212008-10-20T08:31:00.005+08:002008-10-20T20:39:24.310+08:00Yum Cha = Chinese food?Yum Cha is such a big thing here, as demonstrate below:<br /><br />1. All the Chinese restaurants here will offer yum cha for lunch in the weekend, where the waiter will cater by pushing a cart around with dim-sum, when you order something from the cart, the waiter will stamp a small, medium, large, or special dish on a card. And we pay based on the items on the card, usually, medium is about 3-5 dollars, large is <10 dollars and special is >10 dollars per item, and we rarely get items categorized as small.<br /><br />2. In one of the annual parade (Chinese New Year) in one of the Aussie city, the Chinese demonstrate their culture by having yum-cha waitresses parading in their yum-cha customs. (Picture courtesy of a friend)<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(99, 99, 99); font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; "><a href="http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2250803680058734353IkElPH"><img src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/38814/2250803680058734353S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="DSCF6616" /></a></span><br /><br />3. In a carnival, overheard one of the local from Caucasian background asking another to take yum cha, and pointing to a chinese food stall that don't offer yum cha. What he means is he want chinese food, but he thought chinese food = yum cha.<br /><br />To make things clear, here's a glossary:<br />Yum cha - drink tea in Cantonese literally, but generally mean enjoying tea with plates of dimsum.<br />Dim sum - tidbits in cooked/hot version, it can be steamed, fried, stewed, etc. Some common dim sum are bbq pork bao, chicken feet in soya beans, prawn dumpling, siewmai, egg-tart, etc.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-1561587820402135042008-10-20T07:47:00.007+08:002008-10-20T17:36:59.782+08:003 kind of people, from 1 country, in Sydney.It is such a metropolitan city that it attract (or subtract?) people from around the world, that we can see distinctive behaviours of different ethnics groups all in one easy place called Sydney. But of special significance is the people from this country, 3 distinct kinds, diverted probably due to different socio-economic background. Please don't feel offended if you are from this group, and no discrimination here, just sharing what I encountered, so future migrant can be careful. And it's not just isolated cases, these were encountered every so often.<br /><br />1. This group of people think money is their life, and will swear over their dead-body over nicky-picky stuff. But we will only discover it once you have paid for your deposit and monies for stuff. This is how they do it. They gain your trust first, negotiate with you, and left out those details and saying it can be figure out later, and asking for a deposit. They promised lots of things, and never want to enter a written contract, claiming that trust is important. Once it's paid, they will dig out all the nicky-picky stuff and start charging extra for it. They even go to the extend of lying to gain additional monetary advantage. But since you already paid deposit (without contract), you are dealing at the losing end. It's easy to spot these group of people, a) they like to advertise starting with a low fee for services, but left a small (negligible) condition statement claiming extra can be charged due to *circumstances*, and never want to define *circumstances* properly if you ask them; b) if you challenge them, they will open their eyes widely staring at you, and even lying with wide-opened eye, remember one of their *country* ex-president practiced this artfully after being challenged of bribery?<br /><br />2. This group of people like to speak loudly and even take shouting as talking, with no respect for others. They are more artful than the first group, at least they won't take lying as the option. But they will sell/highlight all the advantages, and covering all the weaknesses. And if you touch on their weaknesses, instead of going into defensive mode, they will talk even louder offensively to cover up, sometimes threatening loud. They are the natural deal-maker in win-lose situation, of coz, they win, you lose; as you will only discover your disadvantage days later, when the deal is grave-solid. It's no surprise that they behave in such a manner as they came from the special business district, and dealmaking is in their blood. They are the majority here, and they dominate the yumcha businesses.<br /><br />3. Contrary to common believe that this group is untrustworthy, I find this group from the mainland more trustworthy than the above two. Probably the migrant from this group generally have professional background and being well brought-up (else they won't be here). They work hard, long hours, offering extra services at no additional charges, and humble. And they can really make good friends.<br /><br />Don't believe it? Nevermind, just come to Sydney and live for few months and you will learn these expensive lessons. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-2155433883351460262008-10-09T09:44:00.004+08:002008-10-09T10:14:39.174+08:00What is this? Hint: Egg-laying mammal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SO1iUedy60I/AAAAAAAABvI/ag-8xf0c-aA/s1600-h/platypus.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SO1iUedy60I/AAAAAAAABvI/ag-8xf0c-aA/s400/platypus.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254964444126178114" /></a><br /><br />Here is some guessing work to be done. What is this? It's the type of mammal that lay egg. And when they first sent the specimen of this species to London, the biologist thought that it's a hoax. The biologist thought that they are making fun of them by stitching a beak of a duck to a mammal. <br /><br />Yes, you guess right, it's the platypus, the Chinese call it 鸭嘴兽, the duck-beaked creature, which is self-explained. It's a native species in Australia. This is taken from the Sydney Aquarium, apparently, the flashlight is turned on accidentally and scared this animal to hell. It should be turned off.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-30810521101613141572008-10-09T09:15:00.004+08:002008-10-09T09:27:40.900+08:00Nighttime Harbour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SO1daJJKMxI/AAAAAAAABu4/lpjHztby_X0/s1600-h/harbour_bridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b-uJkcDJRCc/SO1daJJKMxI/AAAAAAAABu4/lpjHztby_X0/s400/harbour_bridge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254959043923555090" /></a><br /><br />Nothing to be fancy or guessing about, this is the popular Harbour Bridge, taken at a park near a jetty. In the background is the Sydney Opera House, and on the left just barely in the picture is Luna Park. There are two means of crossing from North Shore to Sydney CBD, one is the bridge, another is the tunnel, which flows underneath the sea somewhere between the bridge and opera house (can you feel that it's there?).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-84222322498201431462008-07-22T08:36:00.007+08:002008-07-25T08:30:27.629+08:00Rental in Sydney.As highlighted in previous post, the rental market here is squeezed so badly that I need an additional post to illustrate it. If you have friends migrated to Australia in the past, you might heard them planning for a week of find-home trip prior to their migration. Gone are the days for this, it's no longer possible to find a home in Sydney in a week. We can find tonnes of rental properties on realestate.com.au & domain.com.au, but believe it or not, there are probably 10 times more tenant looking for the tenancy than the available properties. On average, it will take a local probably 1 month to find a decent rental. However, for new migrant without past rental history, without a job (yet), and without good local references; the chance of securing a tenancy is very slim. It will probably take 2-3 months for new migrant to get a decent tenancy here.<br /><br />So what are the choices? Basically, there are 3; 1. shared accommodation, 2. unit/apartment, 3. house. The shared accommodation is probably the easiest, just google on the web, find a unit, contact the owner/subtenant, get some informal agreement, and that's it. But do ask for a tenancy record by means of reference or rental receipt, you will need that to find a proper tenancy later. This is the choice if you don't mind privacy and sharing with others.<br /><br />Secondly, for a decent rental of unit or house, it's good to suggest going through the proper channel. The agent will handle everything (for a fee), and your tenancy and bond are lodged with office of fair trading. You might be surprised how many investor with tonnes of extra cash (from some countries), that want to do it an informal means, but with that, you are risking your tenancy and might end up not getting a fair treatment from the landlord. I guess some of these are renting informally because they are actually declaring themselves as residential, so as to save the capital gain later when they decided to sell the properties.<br /><br />Anyway, to apply for rental, you will need these records; driving license, rental records/receipts, employment letter/payslip, bank statement, visa/passport, utilities bills, two local references, etc. Make sure you have all these in-place (so you see, it's almost impossible for a new migrant to have all of these). And it's a requirement that you must view the property first before applying. Go ahead with a viewing session and you will understand what I meant above, if you are not fainted yet after viewing.<br /><br />Comparison between unit/apartment and house:<br />- Usually, the tenant is not paying for the water bill in unit/apartment, house is different.<br />- The tenant pay for electrical/gas.<br />- The tenant never pay the strata, council, and additional fix costs.<br />- House is hardly maintainable, you have to handle the waste disposal, garden maintanence, etc.<br />- Look for secured unit and secured car park, this is essential in Sydney in view of the crime rate if you are coming from safe country like Singapore or Japan. House is generally unsecured.<br />- If you come from tropical country like Singapore/Malaysia, please avoid the brick house (especially old-style), you will be freezing like hell in winter, or wasting tonnes of energy in heating (it's costly).<br />- You will pay a bond of 4 weeks normally, and it's an offence if the agent/landlord is not submitting your bond to the office of fair-trading. So your hard-earned money is securely placed in a third party, and the landlord will need the proof for repair, etc. if they ever need to use the bond for repair work, after you move out. Make sure you sign a document for the bond to be placed in the fair trading office, with your tenancy.<br /><br />In the end of the day, you don't have much choice except to pray harder! See the latest news: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/housing-rents-surge-in-sydney/2008/07/23/1216492541148.html">http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/housing-rents-surge-in-sydney/2008/07/23/1216492541148.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rent-or-buy-families-hit-a-brick-wall/2008/07/24/1216492641610.html">http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rent-or-buy-families-hit-a-brick-wall/2008/07/24/1216492641610.html</a><br /><br />Post me a comment if you need more information.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-73635473803167002552008-07-19T22:18:00.002+08:002008-07-19T22:37:47.401+08:00How's life after 5 months in SydneyAll the earlier post in the blog are very positive and forward looking. We are clocking 5 months now in Sydney and both of us securing a stable job in Sydney, and working life is good and not as stressful in Singapore, even as we both working in the probably the more stressful company/industry. But how's life here?<br /><br />Of course there are good things downunder, especially in Sydney. But we can only use 3 words to summarize. It's "tough, tough, tough". How tough it is, to keep it short, I will just list it in point form.<br /><br />1. The rental market here is hell, imagine if you have encountered this, 20-30 groups of people viewing a same unit/apartment for 15-30 minutes. Then probably 10 groups of people applying to rent the same unit at or above the asking price. And the application form asking for all and including your most privacy information. Then to wait wait wait with no news by the agent. Sooner or later, you will get used to all the tricks to *entertain* the agent just to get a decent rental unit. Then start the rental hunting again after 6-12 months later. And forget about buying a property, the bank interest will kill you or you end-up in some far away places with stabbing incident every couple of days. And you spend the monies you save from properties into the petrol.<br /><br />2. It's a fair system, everyone will say that, only to be taken advantage by all the rich people, especially the rich, early investment migrant. It's a fair system? To hell with it. It's never fair and it's so complicated tweaking here and there to make it look fair, but it will never be.<br /><br />3. The redtape will kill you, regardless in private/public sector. Just try to apply for the residential phone line and you will know. If you encountered a problem, you will be diverted to here and there and never get the problem solved, for months, just wasting all your mobile phone all time to calling again and again.<br /><br />4. Don't try to get sick here. Isn't that medicare cover your medical? Hell no, it only cover some basics, and if you do get an accident without any private insurance, you better kill yourself than left suffering in the public hospital for days. Go search smh on Royal North Shore Hospital and you will know what I meant.<br /><br />5. Crime rate is high here, don't try exploring the great western sydney without a brave attitude, read the news more.<br /><br />6. If you don't ask anything, you don't get nothing or you get the worst thing you can ever imagine. Only after arguing for hell lots of argument, then you will get a barely *fair* treatment, this is call a *fair* system.<br /><br />7. Racist, don't tell me you don't know Ozzie is a racist country, try walking late night along some youngster area, you will invite some racist remarks from some local half-drunk youngster.<br /><br />All in all, still hanging on here, that's the fun part of experiencing life. Tell you more mate next time when I am free. :pUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-88238371642285996322008-01-01T22:13:00.002+08:002008-12-10T20:05:10.776+08:00Preparing to move - cleaning flat<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nzWmhqREqgM/R3pMeC3gQAI/AAAAAAAAApg/Psy1-R_1VrQ/s1600-h/veryoldstuff-tile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150513202901041154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nzWmhqREqgM/R3pMeC3gQAI/AAAAAAAAApg/Psy1-R_1VrQ/s400/veryoldstuff-tile.jpg" border="0" /></a>We started clearing our stuff. I found that we have had few boxes left unopened in store room since moving to this flat few years ago. I wonder how long will it take for me to clear all of them. But it is like treasures discovery when clearing the boxes one by one. Here is some of our memorable stuff and some to be reluctantly thrown away.<br /><br />In 'Z' sequence from top-left to bottom-right;<br />1. First pager about 9-10 years ago, now obsolete;<br />2. CD case from the NTU's alumni office;<br />3. NTU 2000 millennium celebration's key chain, the millennium means more than a celebration for us;<br />4. Uluru's geometrical tools (since secondary school?);<br />5. Dunno what? Another souvenir?<br />6 & 7. Some puzzles;<br />8. Ultra old spectacles;<br />9. Uluru trying out the ancient spectacles, still workable :p ;<br />10. Uluru's honours year timetable in NTU;<br />11. Uluru's society, membership, name, etc... cards, some from a decade ago.Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-48005260039461785242007-12-24T23:09:00.002+08:002008-04-30T08:40:58.504+08:00Tickets bookedWe googled cheap air tickets and did call several travel agencies. I asked for 1-way air ticket from singapore to sydney. The receptionist is pretty alerted with that and ask bunch of questions to validate if we're qualified to purchase for 1-way ticket. I wonder how serious is Oz treat illegal migrants? From the way the receptionist reacts, I guess Oz might be pretty strict on this.<br /><br />We finally booked 2 Qantas 1-way air-tickets online. Yeah, we're flying after Chinese New Year. Phew, it's time for packing!!Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-38394941069866231402007-12-20T11:17:00.003+08:002008-04-30T08:40:36.579+08:00We finally got it!We finally received the grant email on 18th December. I actually called LCU twice. The first call says U's meds was finalized and mine is still under assessment (10th December). The second call on Monday morning (17th December) tells us that mine has finalized too. I think this was the last piece of information the CO is waiting to make the final decision. Such a relief now! Well, it's a wonderful christmas gift for us. :)Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-70021731112003001252007-12-20T10:51:00.002+08:002008-12-10T20:05:10.985+08:00IELTS resultsI forgot to mention our IELTS journey:<br />15th November 2007 - We took IELTS listening, reading & writing tests.<br />19th November 2007 - We took IELTS listening test.<br />29th November 2007 - We received the IELTS results. My average was 6.5 while U's average was 8. I thought I was poor and prepared to take the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP). Well, it seems that I'm disqualified from taking then.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nzWmhqREqgM/R2nhH43tLzI/AAAAAAAAAS0/fbn4LTuqMxo/s1600-h/k_ielts.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145891574888869682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nzWmhqREqgM/R2nhH43tLzI/AAAAAAAAAS0/fbn4LTuqMxo/s320/k_ielts.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nzWmhqREqgM/R2nhWY3tL0I/AAAAAAAAAS8/fqWpVTEVjTE/s1600-h/d_ielts.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145891823996972866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nzWmhqREqgM/R2nhWY3tL0I/AAAAAAAAAS8/fqWpVTEVjTE/s320/d_ielts.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By the way, to establish an expectation on the listening test results, our Listening practice tests were scored around 26/40 to 38/40 on numerous practice tests, and didn't seem to improve by doing more tests. So if you are scoring the same range in practicing, you are most probably good.Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-29280847405416336932007-11-12T16:38:00.002+08:002008-04-30T08:39:55.550+08:00Medicals Check-upWe have had completed medical checkups on 29th October. It took the Clinics for 2 weeks to finally post it on last Friday, 9th November. Yeah, the reports has arrived safely to LCU today! Let's just cross fingers to see how long it takes to clear LCU.Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-58599318848662562632007-10-28T13:40:00.002+08:002008-04-30T08:39:30.150+08:00Case officer assignedFinally, our application has been assigned a CO @ 18/Oct/2007. We are required to furnish IELTS results, police clearance certificates and medical checkups. We spent a week to complete the p/c and m/c, now left the IELTS exam which is coming in two weeks. We are pretty excited and nervous because it is liked bringing us back to schooling days for exam preparation. While preparing for the IELTS exam, I'm just thinking why not I share our application experience and jot down the thoughts and findings for people who are like-minded and in the progress of the same? Perhaps you may find it useful and share yours to this blog. :)<br /><br /><strong>Important dates of our application</strong><br /><br />16th June 2006 - My ACS acknowledgement letter received (email).<br />18th July 2006 - My skills assessed by ACS - ASCO code: 2231-15 (letter). We found that U's occupation is in MODL list. We decided to have U's skill being assessed.<br />7th Nov 2006 - My ACS acknowledgement letter received (email).<br />10th January 2007 - M's skills assessed by ACS - ASCO code: 2231-79. However, the letter is lost. We received nothing after the online status has been updated as "Case finalized". We found it out only several weeks later until we faxed a letter to ACS for clarification. Poor thing.<br />mid/late Febrary 2007 - Received U's skills assessment letter.<br />8th March 2007 - Application received at ASPC (Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre)<br />30th April 2007 - ASPC Acknowledgement letter received (email)<br />18th October 2007 - ASPC Case Officer assigned (email) - Request for do m/c, p/c, ielts results.Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-85524493014256895722007-10-15T18:58:00.001+08:002008-04-30T08:39:02.080+08:00How to ship barang^2 to AustraliaThe information here is extracted from GMF:<br /><br /><br /><br />Redsin posted @ 14 July 2006::<br /><br /><br /><br />Referred good movers from Singapore:<br /><br />Bownti International Pte Ltd<br /><br />Contact: Vimalan. Sockalingam (Business Development Manager)<br /><br />Mobile: 93639168<br /><br /><br /><br />It costs about AUD$6000 for a 20ft container (excluding GST for declared value of goods, insurance, fumigation, quarantine, etc), shipped door to door. Price quoted includes all packing materials, assembly of furniture (excluding electrical components ie. your AV system), packing of your stuff for you. At delivery, they would reassemble the furniture as well as unpack for you. By the way, I am also shipping a piano. They charge an extra AUD150 for the piano.<br />If anyone has some experience with shipping from Singapore, would appreciate some advise as to whether we are being fleeced at that price. Meanwhile, take note of the following:<br /><br />a) One month free storage in Oz.<br />b) Additional storage time can be arranged @ S$84/week if you require so.<br />c) For goods stored more than the FOC one month, you would need to pay a handling fee of S$420.<br />d) You can have access to your goods while it is in storage, but make sure that those boxes you need are labeled as "Essential Items" so that they pack them at the front of the container for easy access.<br /><br /><br />Tips from GMF::<br /><br />#1: Be very careful when you bring over your furniture (bed frame, mattress, sofa, etc) and electrical products. Just make sure they are not new. I understand that if they stipulate that your items are new, they have the powers to levy a customs duty or tax (maybe 10-15%) on value of those items as shown in you invoice.<br /><br />#2: If can save the shipping cost by not shipping bukly eletrical applicances. You can choose to rent those items in Oz, and the rental cost is calculated weekly.<br /><br />#3: Secondhand clothes dryer and washing machine from a rental shop may cost about AU$300.00 for both. A freezer might cost about AU$179.00. For more information, pleae visit: <a href="http://www.rentalrus.com.au/" target="_blank">http://www.rentalrus.com.au/</a> and <a href="http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/" target="_blank">http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/</a> (<a href="http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/Resources/PDFs/Catalogue.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.radio-rentals.com.au/Resources/PDFs/Catalogue.pdf</a>)<br /><br />#4:Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-69319722484896513852007-10-03T16:47:00.001+08:002008-04-30T08:38:10.063+08:00Real estate in AustraliaAustralia has a booming real estate market in the past few years. According to <a href="http://www.reiaustralia.com.au/">Real Estate Institute of Australia</a>, property sales totalled $186.1 billion in the financial year 2005/2006 and there are 67% of Australians owned their own houses and 28% rented on the private market.<br /><br />Real estate agent must register himself to be REI member of the state. If you ever consider to be a resl estate agent, remember to surf the website of the <a href="http://www.reiaustralia.com.au/find/index.asp">local REI of the state</a>.<br /><br />Here are several real-estate websites in Australia:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/">realestate.com.au</a></li><li><a href="http://www.domain.com.au/">http://www.domain.com.au/</a></li><li><a href="http://www.homepriceguide.com.au/">http://www.homepriceguide.com.au/</a></li></ul><p>Below are the sites which utilized Google Map (<a href="http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/search/label/real%20estate">Google Maps Mania - real estate</a>):</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.homemap.com.au/">http://www.homemap.com.au/</a></li><li><a href="http://sellhouse.com.au/">sellhouse.com.au</a></li><li><a href="http://www.domain.com.au/">http://www.domain.com.au/</a></li><li><a href="http://www.realmap.com.au/">http://www.realmap.com.au/</a> (launching soon)</li></ul>Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534407317224332785.post-86620296715408255332007-10-02T15:48:00.001+08:002008-04-30T08:36:42.707+08:00Best place to migrate to?Mercer HR Consulting published <a href="http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.jhtml?idContent=1128060">Worldwide Quality of Living (QOL) Survey 2007</a> in April, 2007. According to the Survey, the top 10 cities are Switzerland (Zurich, Geneva, Bern), Canada (Vancouver), Austria (Vienna), New Zealand (Auckland), Germany (Dusseldorf, Frankfruit, Munich) and Australia (Sydney).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.imercer.com/uploads/common/pdfs/definingqualityofliving.pdf">QOL index</a> is calculated based on 39 key quality determinants which are defined to be neutral and unbias. It says that you'll receive better QOL in Zurich by having cleaner drinkable water, fresher air, safer environment, high accessibility of public transport and more entertainment facilities, as compared to New York, which is ranked #48 or Singapore, which is ranked #36 in the report. The above might not sound obvious because the difference of rates from the top city, Zurich (top position, rated 108.1) to New Yock (rank #48, rated 100) is only 8.1 score. Consider the Shanghai (ranked #134, rated 73.8) and Beijing (ranked #166, rated 60.3) where air pollution issues are severe, are both having at least 25 points lesser as compared to New York.<br /><br />To choose a country to migrate to, QOL index is not enough to justify. Young professionals whom aged between 25 to 35, may look at career opportunities, wealth accumulation opportunities, easier retirement, pro-family policies, better education system for children, possibility of moving back to origin country without much destruction to ones career and perhaps more out-door activities or natural parks, a.k.a. quality of live.<br /><br />1. Cost of living v.s. how much you can save<br /><br />Assumption: You and your spouse, no kids). Assuming you are a senior software engineer wich 4 to 5 years of experience and age under 35. Your spouse is a housewife without a permanent job.<br /><br /><strong>Singapore </strong><br /><em>Salary (Estimation)</em><br />>> Drawing SGD$60,000 per annum<br />>> Tax = SGD$2,600 per annum<br />>> CPF contribution @ 18% = SGD$10,800 per annum<br />>> Bring home income = SGD$970 per week.<br /><em>Cost of living</em> (Estimation)<br />>> Rental fee for a 4-room HDB flat is SGD$300 per week<br />>> Public transport per month is SGD$30 per week<br />>> Taxi transoirt for family events is SGD20 per week<br />>> Meals is SGD$250 per week<br />>> Dining at restaurant is SGD$50 per week<br />>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is SGD$50 per week<br />Total: SGD$700 per week for comfortably living in Singapore.<br />Saving: SGD$270 per week.<br /><em>Other consideration (Estimation)</em><br />>> 2nd-hand car price is about SGD$45,000 (4.5 years of saving)<br />>> 4-room HDB flat priced at about SGD$250,000.<br /><br /><strong>Australia</strong><br /><em>Salary (Estimation)</em><br />>> Drawing $75,000 per annum<br />>> Tax = $17,250 per annum<br />>> Superannuaty @ 9% = $6,750 per annum<br />>> Bring home income = $1050 per week.<br /><em>Cost of living (Estimation)</em><br />>> Rental fee for a apartment is $350 per week<br />>> Car running cost (Fuel @ $1.5 per litre, 0.2l/km, 300km) is $90 per week<br />>> Meals is $300 per week<br />>> Dining at restaurant is $60 per week<br />>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is $60 per week<br />Total: $860 per week for comfortably living in Australia - exclude car installment cost.<br />Saving: $290 per week.<br /><em>Other consideration (Estimation)</em><br />>> 2nd-hand car price is about $10,000 (1.0 years of saving)<br />>> Sydney suburb townhouse priced at about $300,000 (varies hugely based on location).<br /><br /><strong>Malaysia</strong><br /><em>Salary (Estimation)</em><br />>> Drawing MYR$40,000 per annum<br />>> Tax = MYR$3,500 per annum<br />>> EPF @ 11% = MYR$4,400 per annum<br />>> Bring home income = MYR$670 per week.<br /><em>Cost of living (Estimation)</em><br />>> Rental fee for a apartment is MYR$125 per week<br />>> Car running cost (Fuel @ MYR$1.7 per litre, 0.2l/km, 300km) is MYR$100 per week<br />>> Meals is MYR$200 per week<br />>> Dining at restaurant is MYR$30 per week<br />>> Others (Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) is MYR$40 per week<br />Total: MYR$500 per week - exclude car installment cost.<br />Saving: MYR$170 per week.<br /><em>Other consideration (Estimation)</em><br />>> 2nd-hand car price is about MYR$35,000 (4.5 years of saving)<br />>> KL suburb townhouse priced at about MYR$350,000 (varies hugely based on location).Dinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06596481782137122180noreply@blogger.com3