Prohibited & Restricted Items Into Australia

Packing for the move means you need to be aware of the items that are restricted or outright prohibited from bringing into Australia. There's a high chance that your luggage will be opened up for inspection especially if you've indicated that you'll be staying for a period of time. (All friends who went to Australia to study had their luggage inspected.) You may be fined or prosecuted for not declaring or adhering to the limits. On a smaller scale, my friends complained about having difficulty stuffing their belongings back into their luggage after it was ransacked.

I've picked out some of the common items that are applicable to us. According to the list, pet items including my pet clipper, Ton's toys, his leash & harness, wooden items like my wedding albums/frames are not allowed. Oh yeah, you have to wash your shoes if they're not brand new or risk it getting thrown away if they discovered that the sole is soiled.

1. Up to 5 lighters. Permit is required for quantities above 5.

2. Cosmetics containing more than 250 mg per kg of lead except for products used in hair treatment. (This will be difficult. It's not like this information will be indicated on the packaging.)

3. Dog collars that puncture or bruise an animal's skin. (I'm not sure about this. Perhaps spiky collars? Or it could mean prong & choke chain. Neither of which I'll be bringing.)

4. Permit is required for knives. (So I guess I'll just have to buy my kitchen knives when I arrive & hubs has got to leave his swiss army blade behind.)

5. Permit is required for laser pointers with an accessible emission level of greater than 1mW. (Hubs is a laser pointer collector. So his stash will have to be left behind too.)

6. Pencils & paintbrushes containing excess amounts of toxic compounds such as lead, arsenic & barium. (How do we know if they contain all these anyway?)

7. Therapeutic drugs & substances require you to produce a prescription & you're only allowed to bring up to 3 months' supply.

8. The department will not permit the importation of the following items as personal effects:

• fresh fruit and vegetables
• live plants and bulbs
• prohibited and restricted seeds
• unidentified seeds, which can include some foods, including spices
• live animals (including pets) that require an import permit
• biological products including some plant based, herbal medications
• unprocessed goods of plant or animal origin
• soiled items, or items containing organic residues
• items knowingly infested with pests or a disease

9. Click here for some more household items. 

Ain't That Easy

Some of us come to an age where we no longer desire to be politically correct. Or at least some of the times. We were taught to be nice from young. Or at least, some of us. I admire those who are not afraid of shedding the mask. You'll know that they are true. Unlike so many of us, myself included.

For so long, I've faked my way across. I don't like you for the things you do. Yet I rein in my feelings just so not to ruin the cordial relationship, no matter how shallow it is. That is why I'm hypocritical & untrustworthy. Being fake will come back to bite you. Sooner or later, you'll reveal your fox's tail. That is why Eng & Mei Yan appeals to me so much. They're not afraid to let others know how they feel about them, straight in the face. Of course, they received a lot of backlash for their behaviour. How do you balance it? Be true yet diplomatic? How to be nice when the truth is ugly?

Unfortunately, I'm too bothered by what others think or say about me. I'm trying to quit, but it's like asking a chain smoker to quit smoking. It ain't that easy. In the writings of Nichiren Daishonin & Ikeda sensei, they encourage us to work on our inner self (human revolution) & engage in dialogue with others. To achieve world peace, you 1st start with yourself. Then like a candle, you illuminate the darkness around you. Other people, having being inspired by you, light their own candle & so forth it goes.

I've been trying to eliminate the negativity in me for years, squelching not so nice comments in my mind. We've come back in a circle. How to be kind when you see something really wrong? Do you sit on the fence, or do you take a stand? Worse still, how do I know I'm on the right side? A phrase in Dan Brown's Inferno stuck with me: The darkest place in hell is reserved for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crisis. Do you openly condemn a behaviour or action that is morally wrong or do you choose to keep quiet? What if they insist on wrong doing despite diplomatic dialogues with them?

I wonder what Ikeda sensei will do. I guess he'll ask me to send prayers to them. Lol. I've just answered my own question. Daimoku then, to change myself 1st.

Counting Down: 2 Weeks

2 am last night, I received a message from my pal of 17 years that he's back in SG. He moved to Oslo, Norway last year & this is his 1st visit back. I'm thrilled to have him back, having a chance to meet up with him. He's leaving 1 day after me on 3rd May. A meet up has been arranged for next Wednesday. Coincidently, Sam is having his off day on Wed. With 2 out of the 3 of us ditching, every chance to meet up becomes all the more precious. We know not when we'll have the chance to have all 3 of us gathered together.

Striking off another pre-migration agenda. Called Singtel to terminate my broadband & Mio TV on 28th April so I'll have time to return the TV box. Our mobile numbers will be terminated on 3rd May, when we've landed on Ozzie ground. I have to pay early termination penalty for 2 services though. I'm just retaining my home line for their usage.

Hubby is obsessed with the do-as-much-as-we-can-before-leaving now. He's been pestering me for days to call up Grace Court Vegetarian for their buffet which I finally did today. So yeah, we're going on Monday. In just the span of a few days, I've effectively filled up my weekdays with activities. We've changed Tuesday to movie day since the tickets for GV is cheaper with the Popcorn card on Tues. I have a Soka meeting on Tues evening. Meeting the guys on Wed. So I'm thinking of pushing USS to Thurs. Dolly & Sharon even proposed a meet up on 1st May. 

The next thing I need to do is to close my StandChart account & decide what I want to do with the money. Either transfer to my NAB or POSB account. Let's see how much is left after I've paid for Ton's relocation. I definitely need to finish packing my check in luggage & ensure they do not exceed the weight limit. I've also found a way to solve my problem of bringing all my AUD in cash. I'm gonna head to Singpost & get them to issue me with an international bank draft. This will be done after the 28th so I can complete 3 objectives in 1 shot. I can return my Mio box, close my StandChart account & go to Singpost all at Woodlands Civic Centre. Feelings wise, I still feel the same. Perhaps it'll really sink in & I'll get all emo as the date draws closer.

Choosing Telcos In Perth

Obviously they don't call them telcos coz my search returned companies that sells home phones. At the suggestion of yahoo search engine, I got a hit using the keywords "mobile network operator". I remember how we complained when we received a dramatic reduction from 12 GB to 2 GB of mobile data when we switch from 3G to 4G . Wait till you see the mobile data allowance that comes with the postpaid plan. 1 thing that is different is that you don't have to pay for the phone 1 shot. Instead, the price of the phone is tagged to the chosen plan over a 24 months contract. Which is about right coz for some reasons, phones always start giving problems at the 2 year mark. Of course, you can opt for a mobile plan without the phone or prepaid plan. Also, say goodbye to unlimited broadband data.

I'm currently using over 300 MB of data on my phone. I guess I can try to cut it down by switching to wifi. My broadband plan is on unlimited so I have no way of gauging how much data I use a month since Singtel doesn't keep track. This means I have no way of knowing if 30 GB of broadband data is sufficient for our usage. We'll have to be very vigilant if we don't want to incur additional charges. For mobile plans, Optus will be a safe bet since we've got 200 minutes to work with & unlimited sms.

The plans are many & confusing. So I'm going to compare the cheapest mobile & broadband plan on the various operators. S5 refers to Samsung Galaxy S5 & 5s refers to Apple iphone 5s.

Optus
Price: $35 + $29 (S5) or $30 (5s) per month
Talk Time: 200 mins
SMS/MMS to Australian mobiles: Unlimited
Included data: 200 MB
Broadband: $55 for 30 GB per month, 24 months contract


Vodafone
Price: $30 + $28 (S5) or $31 (5s) per month
Included data: 300 MB
Special: $300 worth of value. Calls at 98c per min with 40c flagfall. SMS at 30c each.
Mobile Broadband: $65 for 12 GB per month, plus pay between $2 - 3 for modem (they don't seem to have normal home broadband)

Telstra
Price: $81 (S5) or $76 (5s) per month
Included data: 500 MB
Special: $550 value for talk time & MMS. Calls at 99c per min with 40c flagfall. MMS at 50c each. Unlimited SMS.
Broadband: $73 for 50 GB per month, 24 months contract

18 Days To Go

I think the reality of the move is starting to sink in for hubs. All of a sudden, he wants to visit USS, Night Safari & even Haw Par Villa. He wants to try dishes that received good reviews at various hawker centres. I'm gonna indulge him for USS since he's never been there before. He's stopping work at the end of the week & has requested to go USS next Tuesday. Then he wants to watch multiple movies before we leave. I think we watched in a month the number of movies we usually watch in a year.

I've been meeting up with some of my closer friends & there'll be a few more to come. We met up with hub's friends for dinner at Pu Tien yesterday, winning 2 mugs from the scratch & win. He wants to bring them to Perth & I agree. It's a nice reminder of the happy times with his friends. My relatives want to meet us for dinner, we'll be heading to my MIL's for dinner coming Saturday, the list goes on.

I'm conflicted in my feelings. A new path is waiting for us, filled with trepidations yet full of hope for the future. But at the same time, I'm filled with sorrow leaving everyone behind. Sure, we'll meet again. Either on our visits back to SG or their vacations in Perth, though the earlier being more probable. It just won't be the same. No matter how much of an introvert I am, when I open up to someone, I take those relationships seriously. I still feel the pinch long after people "drop" me, leaving me to wonder was our friendship merely a farce. I know this is the rite of life, it happens all the time. Acceptance doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.

I'm mostly packed, though some stuff will have to wait till the last minute, like my laptop. I'm certain of the fact that we're going to utilise the entire 60 kg baggage allowance. At the present moment, we have 4 pieces of luggages & 1 backpack (for laptop & items that I don't feel safe to check in). Check in luggages are already at 42.5 kg, with more items to go. I have a feeling that by the time I'm done, my suitcase will be bursting at the seams.

Post Landing Agenda

This is me consolidating my agenda upon arrival in Australia. It'll be easier to refer to this list than to go through so many emails & websites. Some parts will be relevant for all migrants.

1. Tax File Number (TFN)
Webpage for application: http://www.iar.ato.gov.au/
Note: Must be in Australia to lodge an application.

2. Activate Bank Account (NAB)
Assigned Banker 1: Philip Le, philip.x.le@nab.com.au
Assigned Banker 2: Simon Tan, simon.c.tan@nab.com.au
Address: 129 James Street, Northbridge, Perth, WA 6003
Website for Internet Banking: http://www.nab.com.au/personal
Note: Contact banker at least 2 weeks prior to arrival to arrange for a meeting & activation of account.

3. Medicare & Centrelink
Website: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/
Note: Pick up Medicare application form at 1 of the Centrelink offices. Scroll all the way down on the website, select Find Us under General Information. There're several Centrelink & Medicare offices around Perth. For the application, you'll need a bank account number.

4. Convert To Australian Driving License
Website: http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/transferring-your-overseas-licence.asp
Note: Application form must be submitted in person with current overseas license, proof of identity, proof of WA residential address, document showing your signature & application fee. Photo to be taken at the licensing centre.

My Ton, My Soul Mate

How not to love him when he's got a face like this?

Not unlike many kids, I've always wanted a dog & like many parents, mine were against the idea. They knew gifting a child with a dog means the care will ultimately go to them. (I wish parents these days were as adamant about it as my parents. Pet abandonment is way too high, even among people I know.) But my love for dogs never waned. I felt that I could call the shots at age 23 despite the fact that I was still living with my parents. I had in mind a schnauzer but still, I did my research. I didn't want a dog that's too active (think Jack Russell) coz I was a couch potato. I didn't want a dog who sheds coz I was sure my mom wouldn't appreciate the invasion of fur balls in our home. I'm living in a HDB flat so the breed definitely has to be HDB approved. I concluded that a schnauzer fit my criteria. 

Before I even started hunting, I read up on house breaking, basic commands, basic grooming care, breed characteristics, what health issues the breed is prone to having, how to choose a puppy, etc. I really really did my homework. I knew for certain I wanted a male dog. I just prefer males. I wanted a salt & pepper schnauzer. At that time, I was crazy about Naruto, a Japanese anime. There was a character I liked so much. It was a female pig by the name of Ton Ton which I deduced to mean pork pork. (Tonkatsu anyone?) I already knew I would name my 1st dog Ton Ton. Then, the hunt began.

There's a pet shop at Bukit Panjang Plaza (it's still there) & it was my 1st stop since it's nearest to where I lived. Ton was in 1 of the viewing display, being bullied by his sister. The owner tried to convince me that a white schnauzer is more unique as at that point in time, there weren't many white schnauzers around. I think he just wanted to close the sale as he didn't have any salt & pepper puppies at that time. He brought Ton out & placed him in my arms for me to handle. I flipped him onto his back on my palm to test how dominant he is. That small 1.2 kg bundle of fur clung to me for dear life. Needless to say, I fell in love with him.

Born on 13th January 2006, Ton is very timid by nature. The 1st day he came home with me at 3 months old, he didn't even dare venture outside the boundary of the floor title I set him down on. Becoz he's timid, he's easy to train coz he's fearful of punishments. By the end of the 1st day, he learnt the sit command using solely reward based training. By 2 weeks, he was 90% pee tray reliable. I discipline when required but I am never stingy with my affections. Despite my harsh discipline, he's closest to me, getting all excited & whining away when I get home. My parents who were initially against having a dog was won over by him. They will spoil him, allowing him to get away with mistakes. I disciplined them along with him. For training to be successful, everyone in the household has to sing the same tune. 

He loves kisses but hates it when I lick him on his nose. Like humans, he's ticklish on his hind paw pads, the equivalent of human's soles. He's lazy & many times will choose not to respond when called. A puff into his ears or anus will get his attention. I love to disturb him for no reason just as he loves to plop down in my lap without warning. Words can't describe my love for him. Some days, we would sit in bed & he would stare into my eyes in silent communication. He can't speak but I feel the love he has for me. When I look into his eyes, I know I am the world to him. It is a devotion so strong, I can't help but return it.