The flight touch down as scheduled @ 1005hrs (Melbourne time), despite all the
turbelences through out the flight. I was seated in the middle of the plane, therefore getting out was a pretty long wait. 2 of my NUS exchange counter parts are on the flight as me, but I couldn't locate them through out the flight.
It was a long walk to the belt to collect my luggage, I was the first few @ the belt. As there are limited trolley in the airport, there are
alot of
ppl who were behind me didn't manage to get 1. It was also a long wait for my luggage, I waited about 25-30
mins before seeing them on the belt. During my wait I saw many interesting boxes, there are
alot of Chinese nationals packed their stuff in boxes. But due to the fact that it was raining in Melbourne, the boxes are wet.
Hmm... So guess as much what happen next? The boxes are almost torn and the gals had to carefully move the heavy boxes out of the
conveyer belt. It was really a tough thing to do. Something interesting also to find those luggage straps on the belt, which have came off the
luggage. Also at this time I saw my exchange counterparts,
Shuyun and Fen
Niu, both of them are from Science.
After collecting our luggage, we head to a counter to have our things inspect. I have declared that I have food with me. Guess what I've got? My dear Tam Tam gave me a pack chocolates nicely
wrapped (which was my
breakfast for the next 4 days). But the custom officer were very kind as I proudly showed him my gift, he cleared me as soon as he had a close look of it.
Next stop was to locate "
Togoto", its a free transport
service that Uni Mel have arrange for us. As
Shuyun was out earlier, she found it and directed us to it. As there are some
ppl not out yet, we had to wait for the rest. I grab this chance and went to the information to grab a map of Mel and about the interesting spots that we can do.
Becos I was staying at Miami Hotel which the school had arranged for those who didn't manage to find accommodation, I was the first to board the bus and the last to get off.
Haiz... But I was not alone, there's another guy (Victor) with me.
At Miami Hotel, as the rooms were full. They requested us to stay together in a 2-bedded room, which was at a cheaper rate @ $27 instead of $45 for a single bedroom. The room is really tiny, there's no space for me to open up my luggage and there's no wardrobes for me to organise my stuff.
Here's are pics of my room:
During our journey on the bus, I've made arrangement with Shuyun and Fen Niu to meet 1pm @ the Commonwealth Bank in Uni Mel. But by the time I've checked in was 12.30. What was worst was to carry all my stuff up to my room. My room number is 219, I was thinking its only 1 floor up, not too bad. But I was WRONG! Over here, they regard lvl 1 as ground floor. When I carry my first luggage up, the room number I saw starts with 1. Oh man... my heart sunk. Carrying 20 over KG up 2 floor was tough, as I was from Air Defense during my NS days. I still could manage.
After leaving my luggage in my room, it was 12.45 already. I rush down to the reception, asked for directions to Uni. According to the map, its not a long walk. But guess what. It took me abt 25-30 mins to school and I'm not a slow walker. I also took a couple of wrong turns before reaching the bank.
I open my bank account and got a pre-paid SIM card at the post office on the other side of the bank. At least I've became contactable. It was a sigh of relieve. The next thing on my mind to do was to find perm accommodation.
The rest of the day, I was roaming around the city. Also went chinatown to buy an international calling card to call home and some of my friends. U know who u are ...
State Library of Victoria
State Library of Victoria
Right pic-->Choon Kiat & me outside St. Pauls Cathedral
(Just got the pics from my brother, so for the delay)
