Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Is that us?
GASP is that us? An awful picture of us but a picture none the less. So now everyone knows what we look like. For anyone possibly reading this who isn't family or friend (doubtful), Jenny on the left, Laura on the right.
Less than 48 hours to go...
I'm so excited I don't think I'll sleep for the next two nights. I keep thinking how awesome it is going to be.
We have loads of random people (some of them who we've never met) giving us contact details for their friends and relatives in case we get stuck-so I hope that's an indication of how nice Australian people are. We have got in contact with some lovely people who house sat for us last summer, and who live not far from Perth, and they have assured us there is plenty of casual work at the moment (something about lots of people moving up north because of something...) which is nice. Casual work is just what we need.
We're much more organized than we seem (although our bedroom is a tip-stuff everywhere) and tomorrow is our dedicated packing day. Then Wednesday we'll have to be up early to get to the airport. Ahhh! It's completely insane. We have had a few sudden bouts of terror, but we will be okay. Have heard of people who have worked for their accommodation at the hostel we're staying at, so that's a good sign-we could do with that. And we are armed with recipes that will keep us going with food for several days at a time, and hopefully win over some of our fellow backpackers (like vegi-curry...mmmm-could eat it for a week, might actually do so).
Also, teeny tiny computer is brilliant!! I have got the hang of the keyboard now by using it to write for the last two days-my real laptop feels huge now though...we'll just have to find a wireless hotspot to use it and we're sorted.
Jenny
We have loads of random people (some of them who we've never met) giving us contact details for their friends and relatives in case we get stuck-so I hope that's an indication of how nice Australian people are. We have got in contact with some lovely people who house sat for us last summer, and who live not far from Perth, and they have assured us there is plenty of casual work at the moment (something about lots of people moving up north because of something...) which is nice. Casual work is just what we need.
We're much more organized than we seem (although our bedroom is a tip-stuff everywhere) and tomorrow is our dedicated packing day. Then Wednesday we'll have to be up early to get to the airport. Ahhh! It's completely insane. We have had a few sudden bouts of terror, but we will be okay. Have heard of people who have worked for their accommodation at the hostel we're staying at, so that's a good sign-we could do with that. And we are armed with recipes that will keep us going with food for several days at a time, and hopefully win over some of our fellow backpackers (like vegi-curry...mmmm-could eat it for a week, might actually do so).
Also, teeny tiny computer is brilliant!! I have got the hang of the keyboard now by using it to write for the last two days-my real laptop feels huge now though...we'll just have to find a wireless hotspot to use it and we're sorted.
Jenny
Friday, September 26, 2008
Aussie Dollars
HOW COOL ARE AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS??? With the teeny tiny transparent windows. I will never get tired of holding them up and looking through them. I'll be doing it every time I pay for something. I'll have to ask someone in Australia why they have that...
That's all I wanted to say...I'm unnaturally amused by the tiny windows in their currency.
Laura
P.S. I watched a video all about making Australian money, because I'm sad like that, and it's made of plastic. So it doesn't rip and you can even get it wet. Coolness.
That's all I wanted to say...I'm unnaturally amused by the tiny windows in their currency.
Laura
P.S. I watched a video all about making Australian money, because I'm sad like that, and it's made of plastic. So it doesn't rip and you can even get it wet. Coolness.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
One week to go
One week to go! OH EM GEE!!! Aussie dollars are ordered so we're ok for money when we get there and we have about £20 for Heathrow to get some lunch, so we just need to remember to get some Singaporean dollars at the airport. Still have to buy a couple of things (including a wallet or purse that isn't falling apart). We found it surprisingly hard to find plastic bowls and cutlery suitable for taking with us. We thought we'd better take our own in case the hostel isn't very well equipped in that sort of thing, and apparently you have to pay a deposit to borrow cutlery so it's easier if we have our own.
We practised packing our clothes and had looooaaads of room because our backpacks are pretty big, so that means we can take a bit extra with us and also have room to bring things back when we finally return. We're both very scared now, as well as very excited. I think I'm more excited than scared at the moment, quite looking forward to the journey even though I hate long haul flights (although I've only done two before, to and from Ecuador on the way to Peru). I think the closer we get the more our scarednessosity will outweigh our excitement.
There's internet in the hostel but it's expensive so we won't be using that for much more than emails. Jenny is taking a tiny laptop with her (it's literally about 30x15cm or something...I don't know, I can't measure things) so if we can find somewhere with free wireless (bound to be a cafe somewhere...hopefully) we'll update from there. There'll probably be one more post before we leave and then after that expect our next one to be from the other side of the world. Woohoo!
Edit: Changed time to Perth time...has been on some American time for ages and just thought to change it...was going to do Swiss but thought we'll be there next week so it's on Perth time. A bit confused though because it's GMT+8 and I thought it was GMT+7...perhaps it's because the UK are on British summer time?
We practised packing our clothes and had looooaaads of room because our backpacks are pretty big, so that means we can take a bit extra with us and also have room to bring things back when we finally return. We're both very scared now, as well as very excited. I think I'm more excited than scared at the moment, quite looking forward to the journey even though I hate long haul flights (although I've only done two before, to and from Ecuador on the way to Peru). I think the closer we get the more our scarednessosity will outweigh our excitement.
There's internet in the hostel but it's expensive so we won't be using that for much more than emails. Jenny is taking a tiny laptop with her (it's literally about 30x15cm or something...I don't know, I can't measure things) so if we can find somewhere with free wireless (bound to be a cafe somewhere...hopefully) we'll update from there. There'll probably be one more post before we leave and then after that expect our next one to be from the other side of the world. Woohoo!
Edit: Changed time to Perth time...has been on some American time for ages and just thought to change it...was going to do Swiss but thought we'll be there next week so it's on Perth time. A bit confused though because it's GMT+8 and I thought it was GMT+7...perhaps it's because the UK are on British summer time?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Ahhh!!!
Cannot believe that we will be going so soon.
Our big issues at the moment are getting Australian dollars in cash (although we will have emergency back ups and can access swiss bank account), and this stupid thing with Singapore airlines. If someone else made your booking you have to give in a letter authorising the payment (which is stupid logic-it's already been authorised, it went through on the credit card months ago) and Singapore airlines like to make things difficult for you by only having their offices open at inconvenient times. We've emailed them and hope they'll say we don't have to do it (it is pointless afterall) but if we do then I don't know how it'll get done.
Money is a little bit of an issue, a little more would be nice, but I think we've enough to survive on for a few months.
We've still got a few things on the shopping list, but the closer it gets the more organised we're becoming. We've got basically our first month sorted, and enough to last us another month, that's the main thing. So we can at least survive until Christmas.
Soooo excited!!!
Jenny
Our big issues at the moment are getting Australian dollars in cash (although we will have emergency back ups and can access swiss bank account), and this stupid thing with Singapore airlines. If someone else made your booking you have to give in a letter authorising the payment (which is stupid logic-it's already been authorised, it went through on the credit card months ago) and Singapore airlines like to make things difficult for you by only having their offices open at inconvenient times. We've emailed them and hope they'll say we don't have to do it (it is pointless afterall) but if we do then I don't know how it'll get done.
Money is a little bit of an issue, a little more would be nice, but I think we've enough to survive on for a few months.
We've still got a few things on the shopping list, but the closer it gets the more organised we're becoming. We've got basically our first month sorted, and enough to last us another month, that's the main thing. So we can at least survive until Christmas.
Soooo excited!!!
Jenny
Yay visas!
Firstly, thanks to the few people who commented a while ago. I haven't checked the blog for a couple of months so I didn't notice the comments before (which were quite reassuring). Jenny hasn't posted in ages but we'll hopefully be updating at least once a week once we get to Perth.
It was my 18th birthday yesterday so we applied for our visas and they were accepted within a few hours, which completely amazed us. I thought it would take a couple of days at least but it was so quick. All we really need to do now is the RSA course and we have to give this stupid letter to Singapore Airlines. We only have two and half weeks until we leave!!! We have a few last minute things we need to buy and we need to practice packing but other than that we're practically all set.
AHHH!!! It's really getting scary now. And yet it still doesn't seem real. Once we get there though we'll panic, big time. Must remember to find out about getting money exchanged, we need to order some Australian dollars, as well as a few Singaporean dollars for the airport, so we can get some food or whatever while we're transferring.
Not long now. And I know I keep saying this but we honestly will have a picture up soon. It will probably be one of us at the airport or something! It's just very hard to get Jenny in front of a camera. Off to make a list of things to pack for the millionth time (I think making lists calms me ^_^)
Laura
It was my 18th birthday yesterday so we applied for our visas and they were accepted within a few hours, which completely amazed us. I thought it would take a couple of days at least but it was so quick. All we really need to do now is the RSA course and we have to give this stupid letter to Singapore Airlines. We only have two and half weeks until we leave!!! We have a few last minute things we need to buy and we need to practice packing but other than that we're practically all set.
AHHH!!! It's really getting scary now. And yet it still doesn't seem real. Once we get there though we'll panic, big time. Must remember to find out about getting money exchanged, we need to order some Australian dollars, as well as a few Singaporean dollars for the airport, so we can get some food or whatever while we're transferring.
Not long now. And I know I keep saying this but we honestly will have a picture up soon. It will probably be one of us at the airport or something! It's just very hard to get Jenny in front of a camera. Off to make a list of things to pack for the millionth time (I think making lists calms me ^_^)
Laura
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