Is Australia heaven on earth?
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I don't think air trekking is a good idea. In a nutshell, you're saying for those interested in spending a week driving around Alice Springs area, visit Ayers Rock etc. a round trip ticket from Singapore to Queensland should suffice, before boarding a train to central and then renting a car if necessary.Originally posted by fymk:My suggestion : take a train instead of driving or do a combo. Cheaper.
http://www.gsr.com.au/
If you take a plane to Perth - rent a car for a few days - drive around to Port hedlands, Broome and return your car. Then you go by train to South Australia - you will ride across the longest straightest track in the world in Nullabour Plains ...from perth into South Australia.
At South Australia - have a gander into Barossa valley for wine and the germanish town in Adelaide Hills
Then return to the city , catch a country link train (Cheaper) , the GSR train (think got more views) or coach to Melbourne (free views but butt hurt). For your reference:
http://www.countrylink.info/travel_passes/travelpass_agencies
Melbourne - rent a car again - wander about the city , go to Grampians if it is not burning in summer as usual , Geelong , Ballarat , Bendigo . Return car
Take a coach to Albury Wodonga and then catch the train into Canberra or Sydney straight. Canberra - stay for 2 days enough to see the sights . Then proceed to Sydney. From Sydney , fly to Adelaide , bypassing Queensland and take the Ghan GSR train to Central Australia.
From Central Australia - go to alice springs , check out Ayer's rock and then at Darwin - catch a plane to either Cairns or Brisbane to see queensland.
You need about 1 month to do all these. -
That is a over generalisation and rather insulting.Originally posted by the.owl:Ha ha ha ha ha
if by heavan n earth u mean aplace inhabited by descendants of convicts then yeah.
australians have no manners,most ofthem areracist against Chinese. their ancestors were criminals and other forms of scum, the culture just got passed down.
Singapore had convicts as well. Those convicts also helped built Singapore.
So don't talk so much. -
Somehow I titter on the high wire of both ideas. The nastiest colleague I've had was australian but then again so was the best.Originally posted by the.owl:Ha ha ha ha ha
if by heavan n earth u mean aplace inhabited by descendants of convicts then yeah.
australians have no manners,most ofthem areracist against Chinese. their ancestors were criminals and other forms of scum, the culture just got passed down. -
No , you need to board the GSR from Adelaide or Sydney. If I were you, I opt for buying a round trip from Singapore to Sydney, assuming that it is your plan to bypass the other States and Territories.Originally posted by soleachip:I don't think air trekking is a good idea. In a nutshell, you're saying for those interested in spending a week driving around Alice Springs area, visit Ayers Rock etc. a round trip ticket from Singapore to Queensland should suffice, before boarding a train to central and then renting a car if necessary.
Sydney is more centralised in terms of the transport hub. Of course , you have to take a train from adelaide to enter into Central Australia
Brisbane is cut off from GSR line. Only countrylink trains go there. -
go tasmania lah.
lagi slow ah. -
That's useful information. Thanks dude.Originally posted by fymk:No , you need to board the GSR from Adelaide or Sydney. If I were you, I opt for buying a round trip from Singapore to Sydney, assuming that it is your plan to bypass the other States and Territories.
Sydney is more centralised in terms of the transport hub. Of course , you have to take a train from adelaide to enter into Central Australia
Brisbane is cut off from GSR line. Only countrylink trains go there. -
Check out GSR website anyways (www.gsr.com.au) if you still interested in the train trip. They are pretty good. They got some packages and car rentals stuff.Originally posted by soleachip:That's useful information. Thanks dude.
Just let me know if you want more info. -
Yep definitely, just one last question. When's the best time to visit central area?Originally posted by fymk:Check out GSR website anyways (www.gsr.com.au) if you still interested in the train trip. They are pretty good. They got some packages and car rentals stuff.
Just let me know if you want more info. -
If you are still working and earning a respectable salary, 42% tax will make you sorry you ever migrated there fast. If you are planning to retire there, Australia is an extremely boring place. Think before you migrate, look before jumping.
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ORLYOriginally posted by Stoat:If you are still working and earning a respectable salary, 42% tax will make you sorry you ever migrated there fast. If you are planning to retire there, Australia is an extremely boring place. Think before you migrate, look before jumping.
42% tax only applies to those who do not declare their tax file number or are foreign workers.
You work in Australia before? Because I never seen my taxes eating up 42% of my pay since I came into Australia.
Australia can be boring if you stay in the wrong places i.e. outback. -
Winter - June July August. It is cooler in those months and dry. Anything before May and after August - wet and very humid season although I cannot say the same for the desert , maybe in Darwin and the coastal areas of Northern Territories.Originally posted by soleachip:Yep definitely, just one last question. When's the best time to visit central area?
One way is to check out Alice Springs weather during that time since it is actually within the vicinity of Central Australia. -
Originally posted by fymk:
Did you add all the "extra" things in? GST/VAT, medicare levies, social security/welfare taxes, etc...
ORLY
[b]42% tax only applies to those who do not declare their tax file number or are foreign workers.
You work in Australia before? Because I never seen my taxes eating up 42% of my pay since I came into Australia.
Australia can be boring if you stay in the wrong places i.e. outback.
[/b]
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GST - 10% but not on fresh food or education or property.Originally posted by Stoat:Did you add all the "extra" things in? GST/VAT, medicare levies, social security/welfare taxes, etc...
Medicare levy - 1.5% of your total taxable income.
Income tax covers everything else. Property tax if you only have a 2nd house , principal residence no tax. Additional taxes which others might have is their education if they offset the cost to ATO but that is only taken if they hit a threshold (income >37k per annum) and again it is bracketed at how much they can take.
And usually I get to claim back some money from ATO. About 1-2k per financial year.
I don't mind medicare levy - I have to see the doctor and if he bulk bills - I don't need to pay a cent. If I end up in hospital - I still don't need to pay a cent. If I need blood tests and they bulk bill - I still don't need to pay a cent. And if I do need to fork up money upfront - I go and get it back from Medicare.
It's a fair system .
So anything else you would like to know?
Look Australia may not be for some people and it is definitely not perfect but until you actually work , live and pay the taxes here , then you will know how it is. Migration is not easy - not everyone can float into Australia and suddenly strike it rich. -
Hmm,,,does that mean you can't migrate to OZland without skills or family there to sponsor you?
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I want a society that place people above $$$..
How many of us can be Bill gates or LI ka shing?
How can a society that caters only to top 10% able to forge a civilised nation? -
All countries have that problem. Can't say that Australia or Singapore does not have that problem .Originally posted by Catknight:I want a society that place people above $$$..
How many of us can be Bill gates or LI ka shing?
How can a society that caters only to top 10% able to forge a civilised nation? -
I think America will be good for you bcos the exchange rate has drop. There are many interesting places to visit too. Just that you must be talented to be there.Originally posted by Catknight:I want a society that place people above $$$..
How many of us can be Bill gates or LI ka shing?
How can a society that caters only to top 10% able to forge a civilised nation?
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Such hostility. I've faced more racism in one month, in my own country no less, than in 3 years of living in Australia.Originally posted by the.owl:Ha ha ha ha ha
if by heavan n earth u mean aplace inhabited by descendants of convicts then yeah.
australians have no manners,most ofthem areracist against Chinese. their ancestors were criminals and other forms of scum, the culture just got passed down. -
actually... if u wan relax life.. u can just go m'sia what.. very relax.. cheap... just dunno safe or not nia..
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Any of you been to Noosa? One of my favourite places in aus.
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AUstralia is a racist country as well.
My finance agent's friend was spit at by a goddamned 8 year old while she was on tour there.
Bloody racist caucasian prisoners.
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Maybe the kid just didn't like your agent's friend's face?Originally posted by MingFreeman:AUstralia is a racist country as well.
My finance agent's friend was spit at by a goddamned 8 year old while she was on tour there.
Bloody racist caucasian prisoners. 
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Well then by your logic Singapore is a racist country as well, a local kid swore at my friend once.Originally posted by MingFreeman:AUstralia is a racist country as well.
My finance agent's friend was spit at by a goddamned 8 year old while she was on tour there.
Bloody racist caucasian prisoners.
Bloody racist Singaporeans -
even more soOriginally posted by jondizzle foshizzle:Well then by your logic Singapore is a racist country as well, a local kid swore at my friend once.
Bloody racist Singaporeans -
both countries are racist countries except that it is more apparent in australia than in spore.racism is hidden behind pleasantries in spore