Popular Post gordonza Posted July 28, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Hi All,My wife and I had a completely hectic and very emotional last month in RSA and sobbed our hearts out at the airport saying goodbye to family (just my wifes parents and they just dropped us which made is a heck of a lot easier)!We had been really carefull weighing out bags and found one was slightly over and another slightly under weight but the chap at OR Tambo was not concerned about it, only thing he was concerned with was that we did not have visas in our passports but once I showed him the visa grant letter he was satisfied. I think the airlines get fined if they let people on without visas?We got through customs and quarantine in Perth without being stopped and searched, just declared all medicines and a sealed packet of sweets that no one was concerned about. The only thing they seemed worried about in general was a quarintine chap asking everyone if they had any biltong... a simple no was fine for him and off we went!Spent 12 days in Perth... what an amazing city! Perth is clearly booming big time from their offshore oil and gas!!My wife was there a few years ago and she was stunned at how it has changed.Then on the 15th we hopped back on the plane and flew across to Brisbane. Spent the 4 hours chatting to a grandfather on his way to visit his family, got some really interesting recipes to make bread from him.One thing you notice, for those that have not been here yet, is that Aussies are incredibly friendly and approachable. There is no aggression at all, people just smile and go about their business. It is so weird to think that this is what 'normal' is!So far we are loving it here! Everything just works and is efficient! We applied to swap our drivers licenses on the 17th (took about 15 minutes) and got them today, in the mail! Our Medicare registration took about 30 minutes. Bank accounts were also really quick to get! We had pre-organised and they sent our cards out to the branch nearest to where we are living.For those still on their way, open a bank account from South Africa, and once you arrive, go and activate it first and make sure you have a statement printed out with their letterhead as you will need this for the drivers license. For Medicare you will need your bank account and for the drivers license they need your passport, south african drivers license and your local bank statement to prove your address.Food.... hummmmm... fresh fruit and vegetables are really expensive, and I mean really expensive... A$3 for one leak.... now before you all have heart attacks I found out why the fresh stuff is so costly at the moment.. my brothers Australian girlfriend is a farmer from a little further north of Brisbane. She told us that the floods of 2013 pretty much wiped out entire crops and that's what has pushed the prices so high, but they are recovering now and we should start to see prices dropping again soon.We have also just discovered Aussie Farmers Direct and their prices look pretty reasonable!Just a comment on South Africa and this is merely a personal observation, I used to think South Africa was bad, now I understand it is not bad, it is an utterly failed state and a catastrophic tradgedy. So sad.Well, that's our little story so far.... for those of you still making up your minds, what can I say, just come as you won't regret it. You just need to get here to see.PS for those tech junkies out there, there is free council WiFi everywhere, even in the local parks and playgrounds... you get 300minutes per day and get a download speed of 4MB/s... )Cheers,Gordon and Sarah 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel-B Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Thanks for sharing!!! HAVE FUN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossedover Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Hi Gordonza, Time to change your suffex?!?It is really reasuring to read your post... We are 5 months behind you and we are getting more anxious by the day.I hope things continue to go well for you and that you settle quickly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
189inprocess Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Great news Gordonza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepFriedMatt Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Sounds like you're having an awesome time! Makes me even more keen to just get there already! Keep posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaL Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 Lovely post, so glad to hear you are liking Australia..............Learn to shop for seasonal vegetables and look for specials, I got 2 leeks for $2 at Coles last week.Just an observation......the identity we needed to do the various things, was slightly different to yours, i suppose much depends on who you end up getting over the counter.....lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanTonderFamily Posted July 28, 2014 Report Share Posted July 28, 2014 I love the post...We landed 3 months ago... and yes, I totally agree with you. You don't realize how crappy South Africa is until you live a life hereGood luck to you guys.... keep us posted 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozellem Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Looking forward to seeing the pictures you are going to take of the native birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordonza Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Thanks all!just changed location and landed date... For those still to go through leaving... it IS tough but stick through it, it's most definitely worth it!!Galah: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) So funny... I bought the leeks 3 weeks ago at $2.98 each, moaning like hell, and then got them last week on the $1 each special. They are back up again but now pumpkin is $1 per kg.It's best not to go to the shops with a fixed idea, rather just buy what's marked down and cook that Edited July 29, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordonza Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Yep, in the time we've been here we've seen them going for $3, $2.50, and the special of 2 for $2... it pays to keep an eye out and shop around for those specials... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I watched the cyclones over east and saw bananas go from 2.99 a kilo to 21.99 a kilo, and then back down again. As per above, shop smart, and save. We go north to the little farm stalls and home markets, man the bargains are worth the epic 30-40km run out there. (LOL) We love the drive into the countryside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggle Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Thanks for the post @gordonza - I'm pressurising my partner at the moment to set a date (in stone) as to when we will move next year (after the Australian law conversion exams are all done and dusted).Your positive news is a motivator to make that date sooner rather than later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I watched the cyclones over east and saw bananas go from 2.99 a kilo to 21.99 a kilo, and then back down again. As per above, shop smart, and save. We go north to the little farm stalls and home markets, man the bargains are worth the epic 30-40km run out there. (LOL) We love the drive into the countryside. Surely nobody loves bananas that much. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunnyskies Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Slightly off topic - I did travel huge distance for free plants when I started to fix up my garden. Probably could have bought them locally for the amount of fuel I used! On fruit & veg I agree buy what is in season and on special - I always know when my DH wants something exotic - my green grocer bill immediately climbs like Mount Everest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parks Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hi Gordonza,It is so inspirational to read a positive post, especially for those of us making the move shortly. I can not wait to land in Brisbane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordonza Posted July 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Hi Parks and others,I think a lot is to do with your own mindset?We just really wanted to come and have chosen to look for the positives rather than the negatives, not that I've seen many since we got here... only one bogan/hoon so far... some youngster skidding his tyres in a shopping centre parking lot...Cheers,Gordon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alida Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Surely nobody loves bananas that much.We do. We buy kg's of bananas per week, my whole family would believe it's famine if there's no bananas !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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