OZ

TaraFoxglove · 06-05-2011 05:11PM

lima wrote: »

As I have been saying for years.. All the Clever ones have left...

Like yourself?

jester77 · 06-05-2011 05:22PM

lima wrote: »

Yeah well I was encouraged in the late 90's to do computers/engineering 'cos that was where all the jobs were at the time, now there's nothing in Ireland.

You must not be looking too hard. I'm not looking for jobs in Ireland at all and yet I've been approached a few times this year about positions there.

06-05-2011 06:12PM

GiftofGab wrote: »

Yay heading over to Oz on my own in late aug/early sept. Travelling the whole east coast then settling in Melbourne. Am 25 now and spent my whole life living with parents so this is going to be a major adventure, can't wait.

You're travellin the east coast before settling but you're skipping Asia... Do ya know how far money goes here? A great time and more to see for a fraction of the cost.

Sonnenblumen · 06-05-2011 06:13PM

GiftofGab wrote: »

Yay heading over to Oz on my own in late aug/early sept. Travelling the whole east coast then settling in Melbourne. Am 25 now and spent my whole life living with parents so this is going to be a major adventure, can't wait.

Hope you have a good trip, some very good spots along the East coast but mostly boring. Timing wise is that not late Winter/early Spring in OZ? You'll also need a sting suit to swim in most places (bloody jelly fish). Most places will be closed by 9.00/9.30pm, so you'll have lots of time to call your parents.

Things improve in Melbourne, a bit more of what you expect from a big city, but not much really.

Enjoy and make sure to spend time around the Whitsunday Islands and take lots of money, quite expensive generally.

GiftofGab · 06-05-2011 07:07PM

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

Hope you have a good trip, some very good spots along the East coast but mostly boring. Timing wise is that not late Winter/early Spring in OZ? You'll also need a sting suit to swim in most places (bloody jelly fish). Most places will be closed by 9.00/9.30pm, so you'll have lots of time to call your parents.

Things improve in Melbourne, a bit more of what you expect from a big city, but not much really.

Enjoy and make sure to spend time around the Whitsunday Islands and take lots of money, quite expensive generally.

Eh what do you mean most places will be closed st 9.30?? Like pubs and bars?? I'm a bit of a drinker tbh

ColeTrain · 06-05-2011 07:14PM

Pauleta wrote: »

Its Australia not "OZ"

Cheers for that. I always thought they were moving to the fictional prison, couldn't get my head around it.

Sonnenblumen · 06-05-2011 08:31PM

GiftofGab wrote: »

Eh what do you mean most places will be closed st 9.30?? Like pubs and bars?? I'm a bit of a drinker tbh

You better believe it, most of the East Coast is how will I put it, lacks nightlife and all that goes with it. Couldn't believe it myself, going into a very large Irish bar & restaurant at 8.45pm, with a hunger and a thirst after a day's travelling to be told, sorry mate, food stops at 9 and last orders for bar at 9.30pm. Closed by 10.00pm. Many places close before 9.00pm. This was summertime (Jan/Feb).

That was Harvey Bay, a busy seaside resort town.

I kid you not. Drink what drink, where?

lima · 06-05-2011 08:36PM

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

You better believe it, most of the East Coast is how will I put it, lacks nightlife and all that goes with it. Couldn't believe it myself, going into a very large Irish bar & restaurant at 8.45pm, with a hunger and a thirst after a day's travelling to be told, sorry mate, food stops at 9 and last orders for bar at 9.30pm. Closed by 10.00pm. Many places close before 9.00pm. This was summertime (Jan/Feb).

That was Harvey Bay, a busy seaside resort town.

I kid you not. Drink what drink, where?

thats a bit mad, I agree with Hervey Bay, that place was empty (August '08) but I just thought it was low season..
Airlie Beach was a total party town though, open well past 10pm?!
Sure Gold Coast and Cairns are full of clubs too that stay open late

Sonnenblumen · 06-05-2011 08:46PM

lima wrote: »

thats a bit mad, I agree with Hervey Bay, that place was empty (August '08) but I just thought it was low season..
Airlie Beach was a total party town though, open well past 10pm?!
Sure Gold Coast and Cairns are full of clubs too that stay open late

You mean the Sailing clubs? I know there popular for the budget beer and food with the few locals that go out. A bit like going to a GAA club? Nothing wrong with GAA clubs, but who goes to such a place on hols?

Airlie has lots of backpackers, mostly broke, getting by on low budgets. It has a bit more life, but the few pubs are poor, don't remember it being very busy at nightime. Cairns was (not much) different, didn't go near any clubs in Cairns.

Overall the pub scene in QL in comparison to Europe is closer to non-existent and largely CRAP.

mandrake04 · 07-05-2011 04:02AM

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

Timing wise is that not late Winter/early Spring in OZ? You'll also need a sting suit to swim in most places (bloody jelly fish)

Stinger Season is November --> May/June

1stimpressions · 07-05-2011 04:54AM

Deleted User wrote: »

You're travellin the east coast before settling but you're skipping Asia... Do ya know how far money goes here? A great time and more to see for a fraction of the cost.

Yep I'll second that. By the sounds of costs in Australia you could spend twice the time here in SE Asia and the place is amazing. I'm living in Bangkok over a year.

mandrake04 · 07-05-2011 09:13AM

You can live in SE Asia like a king, I was there for 3 months on my own Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos it was awesome. Also did Malaysia & Singapore which was a bit boring, wouldn't bother with India as I have went there with work a few times and the people & country literary gives me the sh*ts ....I will never go back.

Australia is expensive if you keep doing the euro conversion, but if you are making good coin there then its alright. If you are working at something useful you could easily pull in €1200-1500 a week, if you d*cking around like the majority of backpackers then I can understand how the whole idea can lose its shine after a while.

I came to Australia on a WHV 6 years ago on my jack not knowing anyone, without doubt the best thing I ever did.

Sonnenblumen · 07-05-2011 09:34AM

mandrake04 wrote: »

Stinger Season is November --> May/June

Thanks for that, was there in Jan & Feb, hadn't realised there was a season. Doubt I'll be back.

Would agree with other Posters, would recommend more focus on Asia, eg was in Thailand in Jan doing Island hopping. Amazing country and found it difficult to spend money.

A wonderful time and a much better experience than in QL.

KilOit · 07-05-2011 09:46AM

Another notch for se Asia, people that skip it are missing out big big time, to be honest going to Australia was s huge anti climax after 2 months travelling se Asia, stunning scenery, lovely people, fantastic nightlife, cheaper than you can imagine, don't miss it for the world.

Balmed Out · 07-05-2011 10:38AM

Australia, the only country in the world that ive been and really never want to go back to.

sunflower27 · 07-05-2011 10:44AM

Balmed Out wrote: »

Australia, the only country in the world that ive been and really never want to go back to.

You live in Cork City. I can see why

GiftofGab · 07-05-2011 11:53AM

KilOit wrote: »

Another notch for se Asia, people that skip it are missing out big big time, to be honest going to Australia was s huge anti climax after 2 months travelling se Asia, stunning scenery, lovely people, fantastic nightlife, cheaper than you can imagine, don't miss it for the world.

Yeah but I'll be going on my own, I'll wait SE Asia out till I find a few people to go with me

watna · 07-05-2011 12:15PM

I'm in NZ and desperate to come home. We're planning on coming back next year. I ahve a good job here and don't think I'll get that at home. I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do, to be honest. I want to settle in Ireland, don't know if it's worth staying here for a good job (I don't think the lifestyle is particularly that much better, nor are we better off in general, apart from the job thing)

I emigrated just before the recession, am marrying a kiwi and am legally entitled to stay here forever, with the same rights as a citizen but I still want to come home. It's weird to be torn between two places.

mandrake04 · 07-05-2011 01:27PM

GiftofGab wrote: »

Yeah but I'll be going on my own, I'll wait SE Asia out till I find a few people to go with me

Do what I did and go on your own, only way to travel.

just think of it as character building

dpe · 07-05-2011 01:43PM

mandrake04 wrote: »

Do what I did and go on your own, only way to travel.

just think of it as character building

I agree. I did a rtw trip for a year on my own about 5 years ago. Awesome.

sarahjph · 08-05-2011 04:29PM

dpe wrote: »

I agree. I did a rtw trip for a year on my own about 5 years ago. Awesome.

Hi, have finally realised that the urge to travel is not going to go away, unlike most, I'm a little older and will be going on my own? ANy advice, words of wisdom? I think I could only do the backpacker thing for a couple of months sanely, I would love to get a decent job and "live"....melbourne is appealing at the moment.....

GerM · 08-05-2011 05:26PM

GiftofGab wrote: »

Yeah but I'll be going on my own, I'll wait SE Asia out till I find a few people to go with me

Nah, travel on your own. It's by far the best way to do it. You follow your own plan and make it up as you go along. There's no trouble meeting people along the way if you want. Also, Asia probably has the maddest experiences and most fun to be had. If you're travelling with others you're more likely to be inhibited and not completely cut loose. Translation: travelling alone is a guaranteed what goes on tour, stays on tour.

BraziliaNZ · 08-05-2011 05:29PM

watna wrote: »

I'm in NZ and desperate to come home. We're planning on coming back next year. I ahve a good job here and don't think I'll get that at home. I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do, to be honest. I want to settle in Ireland, don't know if it's worth staying here for a good job (I don't think the lifestyle is particularly that much better, nor are we better off in general, apart from the job thing)

I emigrated just before the recession, am marrying a kiwi and am legally entitled to stay here forever, with the same rights as a citizen but I still want to come home. It's weird to be torn between two places.

Why do you want to leave? I found it a bit boring there, a lovely place though, but isolated and not that much going on. I have Kiwi friends in London that have tried going home, but not lasted very long, as it's too boring for them.
What does Mr Kiwi think of leaving Aotearoa? I was offered sponsorship there but still wanted to leave, as lovely as the place is I found it a bit dull. Great if you're into outdoors stuff though.

08-05-2011 05:35PM

GiftofGab wrote: »

Yeah but I'll be going on my own, I'll wait SE Asia out till I find a few people to go with me

If you do that, it will take you about 3 days in Asia till you start to regret it... 70% of people here are solo travelers and have the craic with each other.
The other 30% hang around each other and don't get to mix so easy.. Just earlier I heard friends arguing about where to go next. Fuk that for noise.

Riamfada · 08-05-2011 05:57PM

Dpe is this you?

melekalikimaka · 08-05-2011 06:01PM

I Was VB wrote: »

Well another mate is leaving on a plane today bound for OZ, ever get the feeling that the best of our country is leaving? Have to say fair play to 'em and all that jazz, bit jelous to be honest.

no the best arent leaving, the best can get jobs here.

fat__tony · 08-05-2011 09:03PM

melekalikimaka wrote: »

no the best arent leaving, the best can get jobs here.

That is utter nonsense.

The best are the ones with 10 yrs plus experience, people who aren't getting a look-in are the recent graduates and folk with 3-5 years post grad experience.

I'm extremely competent at what I do (building services designer and now energy consultant). I could get a job in Ireland if I tried but it would be a ****e salary and it wouldn't be permanent. (Thats the construction industry for you)

Why the hell would I stay around for that?

I have a well-paid, secure, permanent job in Toronto and I have no regrets whatsoever moving here.

watna · 09-05-2011 06:08AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Why do you want to leave? I found it a bit boring there, a lovely place though, but isolated and not that much going on. I have Kiwi friends in London that have tried going home, but not lasted very long, as it's too boring for them.
What does Mr Kiwi think of leaving Aotearoa? I was offered sponsorship there but still wanted to leave, as lovely as the place is I found it a bit dull. Great if you're into outdoors stuff though.

Mr Kiwi is happy to leave and go back to Dublin - thank god. I agree with the outdoors part, if you like all that stuff then NZ is the place to be. I, however, am a lazy so and so and not very active so I don't get the most of all that.

My main problem is that it's just too far away from everywhere. You're right about it being isolated. I don't want to have a family so far away from home and Mr Kiwi doesn't have any family left here either so there's nothing here for us.

I don't find it boring, per se but it is very small sometimes and it's so hard to get everywhere - even a flight to Australia is expensive. Getting home for a visit drains all your leave and money. Plus we find the cost of living quite high and we're doing ok for ourselves, compared to a large number of the population.

I like it well enough, we're pretty comfortable but I just don't see myself here forever.

Doc · 09-05-2011 07:25AM

God some awful bitter people on here. It's not the best or the worst that have moved over here to Australia its just ordinary people who have decided that they would like to try and make a go of living over here. A mix of good and bad.

Personally I don't know that many Irish over here at all most of my friends here are Australian. I'm living in Melbourne for the last 2 years and the Australians don't hate the Irish at all if anything it's the opposite and I always get complements on my accent or friendly banter about it. never heard one Australian talk about the amount of Irish coming over here at all, when any do talk of immigration it is generally about the number of Asian people coming to Australia not European.

They don't even notice us much to be honest. If you go to St..Kilda or Bondi then yes you will notice the Irish but that's only because you are so used to hearing the Irish accent yourself you will pick up on it Australians don't think twice about it. Its not just Irish living there but backpackers / travelers from all over the world.

I love Melbourne it's a great city with lots to do in and around it. I chose not to just hang around with Irish people over here but that has a lot to do with the fact I was lucky enough to have lived with some Australians in London and have some good contacts here when I arrived first but I can certainly understand why some people do end up hanging out just with fellow Irish. Its difficult coming to a place so far away from everything and one you know. Dispute the huge negativity people on here can often have toward all things Irish we are a friendly nation particularly towards our own and it is very easy to approach fellow Irish people here.

Its all well and good making fun of people who go to Irish bars here but if you don't know anyone and are looking for friendly people for company and to have a laugh you could do a lot worse.

Australia is a great country but like anywhere you go to its you do that will make it fun or not. No one is going to hand you a great life on a plate so don't expect it.

I am a home body and love Ireland and will probably return at some point because of that but I'm very happy to be living here in Australia for the moment.

busyliving · 09-05-2011 07:57AM

Well,

I'm now in Australia 3 months and I must say it has been a total anti-climax. I did a nice bit of research before deciding my move here; I’m on a whv by the way. But not enough it would seem, I’ve been finding it very hard to get work, with a lot of people not even taking a second look at you because they want some more long term (no whv need apply kind of thing).

I worked one job doing door to door sales for charity but had to leave, because the people working with me were complete and utter racists, compulsive liars and would do anything to get a sale in the name of charity...no thanks

I have since had to change my resume and cover letter to include a lot lies because that seems to be the only way to get work here unless you’re in the construction sector it would seem. I myself have a BA in Business, and nearly 5 years of retail experience and I can't even get a night pack job over here.

If I’m being honest I my not have been as energetic in my job hunt as others, but it gets dishearten after a while.

I think I’ll take one positive from my Australia debacle and that to go with my gut, my gut was telling me not to do this when I could have held out for Canada or London

OZ

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