CGK-SIN: 20:00 March 17, 2019 TR2xx
SIN-SYD: 02:30 March 18, 2019 SQ81xx
So that's my itinerary. The beginning of my journey. Felt so lucky because I booked the cheapest flight from Jakarta to Sydney (via Singapore) with Scoot, but due to some operational reason, they changed my flight (Singapore to Sydney) with Singapore Airline. So from economy flight to full service flight. So yes, I could say that I was super lucky.
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| boarding pass |
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15 kg of my luggage + 5 kg hand carry
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Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Jakarta
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After saying good bye to my parents, brother and his wife, and also some friends from the church, I entered the boarding gate. How did I feel? I could say.. so excited and also super nervous. Like I told you before, this was my first time going abroad by myself and for a long term. I can speak English but I wasn't really use it in my daily life, so I wasn't that confident about my English.
The flight from Jakarta to Singapore took around 2 hours and from Singapore to Sydney around 7 hours 30 minutes with 3.5 hours transit in Singapore. Such a long flight (for me).
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| In-flight Scoot |
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Changi Airport Singapore
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In-flight Singapore Airlines (1) |
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| In-flight Singapore Airlines (2) |
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| In-flight Singapore Airlines (3) |
Tara! Welcome to Australia!
Finally, I arrived in Sydney. Immigration gate. Done. Luggage claim. Done. Custom clearance. Done. My heart was beating so fast. What should I do next?
Since I did my research before, I knew what to do:
1. Buy Australian SIM Card
The most important thing to do! At that time I chose Optus (but if I can suggest you know, you'd better to choose the provider with Telstra network - I am using Boost now). It's really important especially if you like traveling and go somewhere out of the city. Telstra network is the most reliable one. Don't worry, you can find some counters with different provider once you arrive in the terminal building.
2. Buy an Opal Card
Opal is the card for paying all kind of public transportation in Sydney (train, tram, boat, bus). So this thing is another important thing to buy once you arrive in Sydney. The public transportation in this city is convenient. I bought this card at the counter in Sydney International Airport Station. If you wanna take a train to the city, you can directly tap your card to the gate and choose the right platform to the city (cost around 16 AUD). But if you want to choose the cheapest way, you have to look to another point below.
3. Take a bus from Sydney International Airport, and change to train in Mascott.
If the train cost around 16 AUD (special fare from/to the airport), by using this way, you can spend less than 3 AUD (when it's not in peak hours). This way will definitely take more time, but if you are tight with the budget, this way is gonna be work. And also mind your luggage, if you have plenty things with you, maybe this way gonna be a little bit hard for you. Basically Mascott bus stop is the first stop after the bus left the airport area (make sure you take 420 to East Garden or 400 to Bondi Junction (thanks for the correction, Benz). You need to walk around 200 meter to the station. And take the train from there. Save money!
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Sydney International Airport Bus Stop
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Bus in Sydney (1)
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Mascott Station
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Sydney's train
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| Sydney Central Station |
4. Go to the local bank
Before I came here, I already opened my Australian bank account from Indonesia - I choose CommBank. The registration was super easy. And on the registration process, they will ask you about which branch that I will collect my debit card. I chose the branch in the city, because sooner or later I need to go to the city to see around. Make sure that you've already have you new address with you because you need to complete some data.
About my address? I planned to stay in Sydney because I need to do some saving first because I only brought 1500 AUD with me. I heard that it's not that hard to find a job in a big city for those don't have any Australian work experience as long as not picky.
So that, I searched the accommodation either in flatmates(dot)com(dot)au or in Facebook group couple days before my departure. I hadn't found anything until when I was in transit in Singapore, I found one accommodation in the city and made a deal straight away.
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Shared apartment in Sydney (1)
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| Shared apartment in Sydney (2) |
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| Shared apartment in Sydney (3) |
5. Make Tax File Number (TFN)
This number is very important for the tax purposes. If you don't have this number, the government will charge you with the highest rate of the tax. You can make TFN online and free. But make sure the website is ato.gov.au because so many fake website that want you to pay them to make this TFN. Be careful! The TFN will be sent to your address (maybe around 1-2 weeks process). Keep this number (you can take a photo or keep the document with you) because you will need whenever you start a job.
After finish with those thing on my first day in Sydney, I started to stroll around the city to get familiar with everything and of course visiting the Sydney Opera House.
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| Welcome to Sydney! |
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