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| Penguins at Phillip Islands, Victoria, Australia |
MELBOURNE, Australia - My first trip to Australia was one of the memorable trips I had. I was so excited to come to the country as there were a lot of positive feedbacks I heard about the country.
But let me tell my experience first when I applied for the visa. I started my job on July 6, 2009 and I needed to travel to India on July 12 to 31. My next business trip to Australia was August 9. There will be no sufficient time if I apply for the Australian visa when I come back from India so I applied before I went to India.
The visa officer questioned me how come I just join the company and needed to travel to Australia. She called her Supervisor and said "this young guy just join his company and need to apply for visa". I explained to the supervisor that it is part of my job to travel to Asia Pacific to do audit of my company. The Australian supervisor accepted my explaination and my application documents. I went back to the embassy after my business trip in India to have my passport stamped for the visa. They gave me one year multiple entry visa.
The visa officer questioned me how come I just join the company and needed to travel to Australia. She called her Supervisor and said "this young guy just join his company and need to apply for visa". I explained to the supervisor that it is part of my job to travel to Asia Pacific to do audit of my company. The Australian supervisor accepted my explaination and my application documents. I went back to the embassy after my business trip in India to have my passport stamped for the visa. They gave me one year multiple entry visa.
It was in Australia where I drove on the right hand. It was very confusing to me because I am used to left hand traffic and left hand driving. Thank God, the car was automatic.
My 2 colleagues and I decided to go to Ballarat on the first weekend. It was about 3 to 4-hour drive from Melbourne. My colleague drove the car on the way going to Ballarat and I drove on the way bawck. I found it difficult because aside from me not used to driving on the right side, I am also not used to the directions in Australia. Thank God again that I survived. Ballarat is city that used to have gold mining. We even went down the old mining site to see the place. I was so scared that I am thinking risks when we go down. We then went out and watch some parades and shows.
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| Museum inside Ballarat |
My 2 colleagues and I decided to go to Ballarat on the first weekend. It was about 3 to 4-hour drive from Melbourne. My colleague drove the car on the way going to Ballarat and I drove on the way bawck. I found it difficult because aside from me not used to driving on the right side, I am also not used to the directions in Australia. Thank God again that I survived. Ballarat is city that used to have gold mining. We even went down the old mining site to see the place. I was so scared that I am thinking risks when we go down. We then went out and watch some parades and shows.
We also went to nearby zoo where I saw and touched the Kangaroos in real life. I also was able to see Koala Bear, Tasmanian devil and other animals I haven't seen before.The second weekend was also fun. My colleague and I went to Phillip Island, the island famous for penguins. The penguins are really superstar in their own because people need to wait for them to come to shore after spending the whole day in the sea. It was so cold and windy at the sea when we were there, but still we waited for penguins to come. They were cute walking from the water to the shore in groups.
After my audit assignment, I went to my brother in Brisbane for few days before going back to Singapore. I will be writing a post regarding my Brisbane and Gold Coast experience as well.
Keep on following my travel blogs. Also, for all your travel needs (airfare, hotel, cruise package, holiday packages, car rental and more), please visit wow amazing holiday website.
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