Curly Joe's Express

Other than Lygon Street, Curly Joe's Express is quite a good Italian restaurant franchise chain. It provide delivery service as well. I had it in Curly Joe's Express in Maribyrnong with some pictures taken as below. Moreover, it save the hasle for me to look for parking in busy street at night in the city to enjoy a dinner meal.

Address:
27 Wests Road, Maribyrnong, Vic 3032

Coming summer holiday - cherry picking in Silvan, Melbourne

This cherry picking farm not only provide cherry picking, but also strawberries, raspberries picking as well. There is a lemon tree farm next to the cherry farm as well.

Usually the season start from November until March. I tried it last summer, and the entry ticket just AUD8 per person. Cherry season may be only available from mid of Nov until mid of Dec.

Below is some photo taken during last year cherry picking togather with the map.

Address:
27 Parker Road, Crn Graham Road, Silvan, Victoria 3795.

International student: Where am I now and my future?

Knowing well that effective 1 July 2010, there is overhaul of the immigration law where previous skill migration occupation list (SOL) had cut down from 400 occupations to 160 occupations.

I am not migration expert, however, looking at the current changes, the chances for student to migrate will be hard hit and bring them on the cross road.

1. Current student who is undertaking the course on schedule 2 (old list 112i) but not listed in schedule 3

At first, those student who is undertaking the courses and not yet a holder or lodged the application of visa 485 by 8 Feb 2010 will be entitle to lodge a visa 485 before 21 Dec 2012. However, if the student are not able to find an Employer Nomination Scheme, it will be the issue if getting the permanent visa.

Many student has spend thousand of dollars to further their studies in Australia and putting themself into the cross road in this situation.

For further detail of all the schedule list, please refer to the link as below:

SOL schedule 1
SOL schedule 2
SOL schedule 3
SOL schedule 4

Personally speaking, as a young student not may not know the country well and understand the complexity of inmmigration law. Using education as a pathway to migrate is a big and huge investment. Sometimes, it may putting themself into huge debt due to loan back to their own country.

However, migrate is not a one off process. No doubt, Australia is a country that famous for its good enviroment and work life balance lifestyle. There are many others option are opening for Australia migration such as skill independent visa, business migration etc in future. Since, Australia immigration is in favour of employer sponsor. Go ahead and get a skill professional job back to our original country and equip ourself with valuable skill and working experience that is needed in Australia.

Good luck to those who intend to live downunder.

Usaver still remain the top online saving account

As Australia federal election will fall on 21 August 2010. Coalition has come out a new manifesto on Australia interest rate. Opposition has promised that will keep Australia interest lower than the current moment. Well, this may be good news for those who under the pressure of morgage but is bad news for people who intend to save money and treat saving account as a investment.

Increase interest or lower interest ? All will be known after the federal election.

Up to todate. Usaver still remain as top online saving account as below:

Usaver - 6.51%
Robo Direct, High interest rate savings account - 6.40%
Citibank, online saver - 6.35%
ING saving maximiser - 6.25%
Westpac, reward saver - 6.20%

Usaver account

Usaver account now offering up to 5.85%p.a saving interest rate. That is a very great deal.

A big Australia

While there is less than 1 year for ahead of federal election, population growth rate has become the hottest issue ever. Here, I reference a study conducted by one of researcher from Swinburne University of Technology regarding the survey of Australian's reaction towards a growing population.

http://www.swinburne.edu.au/chancellery/mediacentre/publications/Betts[Final].pdf

Living cost in Melbourne

Some years ago, I find it very difficult for me to check for information of the living cost in Australia when I was looking for more detail information about Australia. Very few website available but seem is outdated if you are trying to Google it online.

Here I would like to share some of the living cost information in Melbourne so that someone who is keen to know about living standard in Australia would find it useful.

Asian grocery cost (just as guideline as up to date):

Usually, Melbourne city, Footscray, and Boxhill are few area that you can easily get cheaper Asian groceries.
$=AUD

1. Thailand imported rice, $24/10kg
2. Spring onions, $1.20
3. Lettuce, $1.70/each (During Spring sales is abt $0.99)
4. Soya sauce 500ml(Kikoman or LeeKimKee brand) AUD6
5. Chili, $9.99/kg
6. Tomyam paste/bottle, $2.50
7. Choysum, $1.40/stack
8. Kangkung, $1.40/stack
9. Mackerel fish, $24
10. Grapes, $6/kg
11. Chicken whole, $8
12. Salmon, $6.50/piece
13. Skinless prawn, $13/kg
14. 1L olive oil, $8
15. Onion 1 pack ( abt 1kg),$1
16. Garlic 1 pack (abt 6 pcs),$1
17. English spinach, $2.98/stack
18. Mushroom cup, $7.98/kg
19. Chinese mushroom (500g), $9
20. Japanese toufu, $1/each
21. Peanut butter 500g, $3
22. Whole meal bread loaf 800g, $2.50 (sometimes can find discounted price at $1.20 from Coles/Safeway)
23. Cucumber, $1.48/kg
24. Yogurt, $4/kg
25. Ginger, $13/kg
26. Tomato, $1.75/kg
27. Msia Kampung Koh chilli souce, $1.60/bottle
28. Farm egg XL size, $4/dozen

Transportation cost:
1. Cost of owning a car can be varies according to age of the car and type of a car. You can go to http://www.carsales.com.au/ to check for price of second hand car.
2. At the rate of USD80/barrel world petrol price, Ron-95 petrol in Australia is selling at about $1.25/liter. You can get 4 cents discount if you purchase $30 more receipt from Coles or Safeway.
3. Car insurance cost abt $900-100o/yr including coverage for windscreen damage
4. Car service about $250 each time for changing engine oil and oil filter
5. Cost of public transport depending where you going and where your are staying. Go to http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ to look for public transport fare

Housing:
A decent housing at inner suburb for 3-rooms house near the city is about 500k-600k. A 3-rooms house at outer suburb at west of Melbourne will be about 300k-350k.
Rental varies and depending which suburb you are staying. Go for http://www.realestate.com.au/ for more information.

Utilities cost:
1. Electricity - 18- 19 cent per kw/hr
2. Gas bill about $25/mth without ducted heating system
3. Water rate (Based on City West Water as per date)
<440 day =" $1.26"
>440<880 day ="$1.4785"
>800 litres/day =$2.1844
Sewerage $1.4545/kilo litres

Water service charge abt $35/ 3 mths
Sewerage service charge abt $40/ 3 mths

Hope these information are helpful to those who intend to move to Melbourne to live.