Posts in the category "Once in a Lifetime" and its subcategories.

Tickets – check

I just bought the tickets! They should arrive in the mail in about a week.

I’m going to go via Frankfurt (both to and from). And what they didn’t tell me on the site, also Singapore, apparently. I guess it’s just a intermediate landing.

  • Helsinki – Frankfurt: 2.5 h
  • 4.5-hour wait in Frankfurt
  • Frankfurt – Singapore: 12 h
  • 1.5-hour wait in Singapore
  • Singapore – Sydney: 7.5 h

I’ll stay in Sydney for 18 days.

  • Sydney – Singapore: 8 h
  • 1.5-hour wait in Singapore
  • Singapore – Frankfurt: 13 h
  • 5.5-hour wait in Frankfurt
  • Frankfurt – Singapore: 2.5 h

In total: 28 h + 30.5 h. They better let me have a book in my hand luggage!

When I was paying the tickets I noticed that my balance was a bit tight… after the wad of money (or should I say a whole lotta ones and zeros, binarily speaking) had been removed from my account I was left with 12,66 €. Whoopsie. :mrgreen: Payday isn’t until October 10th so I had to take some money from my saving’s account (especially as I’ve been planning to buy the phone next week).

This’ll be my longest holiday in a looong time. I don’t think I’ll go to work right the next day even though I’ll arrive in Finland early afternoon (which can change of course).

Next step: ETA/Visa

For the whole story, see category Tourist of Oz.

Officially invited

This arrived yesterday:

Invitation

I wanted to scan it for keeps because I’m RSVPing (although I cannot use the envelope that was provided — I bet they wouldn’t accept an Australian stamp in a Finnish post office, them crooks :laugh: ).

For the whole story, see category Tourist of Oz.

Passport – check

On Tuesday morning I went to pick up my passport. Luckily this time I didn’t have to queue at all (I went to the police station at 8:30 am). The lady asked me for my current passport that needed to be cancelled. I stared at her a bit and said I didn’t have a passport (I did have a 1-year passport in 1997). She still insisted, “it expires in January”. I said again I didn’t have a passport. Then she noticed that the paper that was attached to my passport had a wrong, but very similar, name. She apologised and said “I’m glad I didn’t rough you up more.” :D

My photo is still bad but it isn’t as noticeable under the plastic. This time I don’t look like I’ve escaped from prison as I did on my first passport.

Next step: ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) and plane tickets…

For the whole story, see category Tourist of Oz.

One step closer to kangaroos

Today I went to the police station to apply for a passport; it took a bit over half an hour to queue! I guess it’s not much, but I kept glancing at the clock because the office was closing at 4:15. I wonder if they would’ve kicked everyone out at 4:15…

I had to ask what to fill in the field “church or population register”. Was I supposed to answer either “church” or “register”, was I supposed to specify my religious affiliation (Evangelical Lutheran — it’s by birth and I haven’t bothered to leave/resign/whatever) or write down the specific church area I belong to. The clerk wrote down the church area.

When it was time to pay, the clerk swiped my card in the machine — nothing. Swiped again and again and again — nothing. My heart was racing by now and I chuckled nervously. When they ‘ho-hummed’ I was afraid there was something seriously wrong but luckily it eventually worked. Phew. I laughed and said “I wonder how that card will work abroad…” I’ll have to look into that. Darn chip cards.

The passport will be ready in about two weeks (exciting!). I hope my picture won’t be as bad as it was on the actual photo. And I hope I won’t have an extra mole on my face! (There’s a black dot in my student ID photo.)

Next step is a Visa (or ETA) I guess… (Jeez, Tourist Visa costs a lot! ETA it is.) Why does everything have to be so ambiguous? “The ETAs available on this site are not for: (…) students.” I am a student but I’m not going there to study so I hope I’m eligible. Or maybe it’s not available for students because students are unreliable and broke? :razz:

For the whole story, see category Tourist of Oz.

What makes a home?

True to my nature I get overly excited about something even though it’s not going to happen in the near future. Recently I’ve started seriously thinking about moving out. This coming December I’ve saved for 2 years which is the minimum, but I definitely don’t have the planned 12 000€ saved yet. On Monday I’m going to the bank to change my monthly deposit but I’m afraid I’m stuck here for quite a while. On Wednesday I told my boss that I want a raise, but we’ll see…

I already know that I won’t live in a studio; I want separate bedroom and living-room. The other night I couldn’t sleep, instead I started thinking what I need for my own place.

  • bed
    (Even though I have a bed I’m going to buy a proper one and leave my current bed here for visitors.)
  • bookshelf
  • couch (sofa bed?)
  • armchair
  • TV (and sidekicks)
  • subscription to some sort of TV guide (I’m a program circler)
  • stereos
  • desk (I hope I don’t need a separate desk because I already have a computer desk)
  • computer
  • Internet connection
  • phone (i.e. cell phone)
  • kitchen table + chairs
  • fridge-freezer
    (Ticked off on Sep 23. I don’t have to buy a fridge-freezer. It’s already there!)
  • coffee maker
    (Ticked off on Sep 23. We have 3 coffee makers. Mum says I can take one of them :) )
  • microwave oven
  • wall clock
  • washing machine
  • vacuum cleaner
  • iron + ironing board
  • 1 mug, 1 plate, 1 fork, 1 spoon, 1 knife, 1 cereal bowl :D OK, maybe something to make food in, too
    (Comment on Sep 23) Mum bought me a set of utensils for my nameday (in July). It has 6 forks, 6 knives, 6 big spoons, and 6 coffee spoons. Plus a cake cutter (?) and salad servers.
    My mug collection is huge and I have 4 or 6 cereal bowls (which double as soup plates). And mum has apparently bought me 4 soup plates.
    (Comment on Dec 8) Grandpa bought me 6 dinner plates and oven pan (for lasagne etc.) for early Xmas present.
  • a nice big plant (something looking like this)
  • sheets, towels, carpets of course

Hmm… What else?

I’ve decided I want to find a nice couch first. After that it’s easy to find curtains and such things. Wow, I can’t imagine a toilet without an orange sink. Don’t believe I have one?

Sink

I don’t undestand what the previous occupants where thinking! A very good reason for wanting to get out of here, don’t you think? :laugh:

Land down under

This time next year I will be in Australia.

It’s weird to know that already but not be able to do much about it really. There are no flight schedules available yet and I have to double check how much information I’ll need for a visa application (possibly flight details). Hopefully I’m eligible for an ETA because I don’t want to mail (!!!) my precious passport to Berlin! I do have to get a new one — and photos for it, uhh — so there’s something to keep me occupied.

Yesterday I was browsing a little, checking the prices (ouch), flight times (gosh), and places where I’d need to change planes (yikes). It’s going to be wonderful, though, no matter the cost. I’ll be in Sydney for about 3 weeks. First for a friend’s wedding, then a week dog-sitting while the happy couple is on a honeymoon, and then a week doing touristy things.

I haven’t travelled abroad properly before. I was 4 days in Berlin with a school group (teacher + 4 students including myself) and “of course” I’ve been to Stockholm, Sweden quite a few times thanks to a childhood (onwards) friend and her mother’s job. Now, in addition to going very far I’ll be going by myself which is going to be stressful but I hope I’ll get back home in one piece (and I hope my luggage will, too).

For the whole story, see category Tourist of Oz.