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bookmaxicabmelbourne20 · 8 months

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Why Maxi Cabs getting More Popular in Past Decade

Book Maxi Cab Melbourne offers taxi services in the city of Melbourne. We have a range of small cars up to 11-seater minibus. The majority of drivers we work with have a 10-seater Toyota HiAce commuter minibus. We cover all of greater Melbourne. All our cabs are always super clean and we welcome guide dogs in our cabs too.

The popularity of maxi cabs can be gauged with fact such as the largest taxi company in the Southern Hemisphere, Taxi Combined Services of Sydney, chose Toyota HiAce maxi cabs to help cope with passenger numbers during the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.

Maxi cabs have been introduced in the taxi industry at the start of 1999. The then minister for road and ports announced a new depot for 100 new maxi cab's which was also called a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT). Maxi cabs Toyota HiAce is equipped with computer communications systems, air conditioning and one of three types of rear hydraulic lift with a 385kg capacity. This lift can be used for moving wheelchairs and also for loading and unloading luggage.

The normal taxi cabs accommodate up to four persons while the taxis which are SUVs can accommodate up to six persons. On the other hand, if you book maxi cab it has an accommodation capacity of eleven to twelve people. Melbourne Maxi cabs and wheelchair-accessible taxis can usually carry:

1 wheelchair and 8 other passengers at one time.

2 wheelchairs and 5 other passengers at one time.

The wheelchair is secured using various systems, commonly including some type of belt and clip combination, or wheel locks. You can pre-book these taxis and they offer discounts too. Book taxi online by visiting www.bookmaxicabmelbourne.com.au

Taxi cabs and Melbourne maxi cabs are regulated by Commercial Passenger Vehicle, Victoria. Drivers apply to the Taxi Services Commission to get a driver accreditation. To cater to the demands of People with pram and children or older people with disabilities or those who are travelling in a group for all such cases regular taxi cabs and wagon taxis were not able to fulfil the demand. As the travel industry started to boom in Victoria people started to look out for options where if they are a big group they can travel together. Not only this, if you are travelling heavy with the luggage then also maxi cab is a good option to look out for.

An alternate to taxi cab was promoting maxi cab for use as high occupancy vehicle for groups or people with luggage as at the airports or ferries. With maxi cabs, transfers have become easier than before. You don't have to stuff your luggage with you into a small car. With a maxi cab, you get ample space for your luggage and for your family members too. Each maxi cab is driven by top-class drivers who are safe and reliable, they pick you up on time and drop you at your destination, safely.

Sometimes people carry large surfboards and bikes when heading to the airport. We can easily fit your bikes and surfboards. Best way to get in touch with us is book taxi online and once we receive your email, we will always send you a confirmation email.

Maxi cabs in Melbourne are so versatile they are often hired to collect bulky items such as LCD TVs, washing machine, fridges, king/queen/double/single mattresses, bed frames, tyres or any type of parcel can be delivered in record time. Maxi cab can also be used for moving houses/shifting but the prices are different. For best prices and availability please ring on Maxi cab Melbourne phone 0456108581

Rather than paying a distance fee, Book Maxi cab Melbourne can tailor some packages so you have better control of how much you will spend on transport service for guests. We can arrange a sweep pick-up and drop-off for group taxi bookings in Melbourne. If you're planning an event and would like to book taxi online service for your guests, call our friendly team on Melbourne maxi cab phone 0456108581 and ask for hourly rates and availability. Paying a deposit may be required to secure the booking.

Travelling with children's can be quite stressful as you cannot carry a baby seat with you. When you book taxi online with Melbourne maxi cabs just let us know that you need a taxi with a baby seat and we can send you the right driver. We can provide all kinds of baby seats including front-facing, rear-facing and booster seats. But as per the VICROADS rules in Victoria, you don't need to have a baby seated in a baby seat if you are travelling in a taxi.

The rule is if the baby is less than 2 years old when he/she needs to be on the lap and put the belt across. If the kids are over 2 then they need to sit on the back seat and put the belt around them.

To conclude and summarise here are the benefits of maxi cab why it's getting so popular

Sheer Size when travelling with a group or carry heavy luggage

Convenience: 24*7 Availability. No issues with late-night airport trips. Maxi cab to Melbourne airport or Maxi cab to Avalon Airport

Accommodative: wheelchair friendly taxi

Cost: Easy on the pocket with no surge pricing

Accredited and fully trained drivers

#book maxi cab melbourne #taxi in melbourne #taxi booking #best taxi service melbourne

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lindsaystravelblogs3 · 1 year

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Days 71-72 – Thursday-Friday, 3-4 August To Sea again!

Thursday

We spent most of the day in our room again. We had just had two very long and tiring days and we needed to do some preparation for our cruise, starting tomorrow. We did a little washing and started our packing, but mostly just caught up on things we had been unable to do while on the road, including some research into the birds I had seen – my current count for Greece is 23 species.

Deanne and Rob were coming to Istanbul today and we had arranged to catch up with them when we discovered that we would all be in Istanbul on the same day – even before we left home. They have been travelling widely (and will continue to do so for another couple of months) and it was just a coincidence that we are all here on the same day. We were in touch with them as they drove into town to return their hire-car and when they arrived at their hotel. We suggested that they come to our hotel at 4.45pm, and we saw them from our window as they walked in, right on the dot of time.

We had a chat in our room and then retired to the rooftop bar for some drinks and a very animated review of our respective travels. It was really lovely to catch up and swap stories and ask questions – a really wonderful and unique opportunity, given that we were in Istanbul rather than Melbourne. In due course, we left the bar and went to the Indian Restaurant that Heather and I had been to a few nights ago, and had another great meal there. Of course, nothing slowed the conversation until the restaurant needed our table for other guests at around 9.30. Deanne and Rob went one way to fly out next day, and we went the other way to start our cruise too.

It was a wonderful time together and we certainly made the most of it.

Friday

We had booked a taxi to the Port for 1pm so we spent a leisurely morning in our room, completing our packing, writing a bit more and working on photos, but all pretty relaxed. Check-out time was 10am, but nobody bothered us until just on noon, so we stayed in the room until then, and then sat and read in the foyer until our taxi arrived.

Once we reached the port, the taxi driver argued his way past the first line of security and delivered us to the Ponant point of entry. We had to wait around for an hour to get to the next step of checking tickets, then Passports, then other travel documents, then a more comprehensive Security check, each step with a ‘go there and wait’ stage, but we finally reached the ship and went through yet another Passport/ticket/medical report/Covid vaccination check, before we finally reached our cabin with our big bags already delivered.

It was then time for our welcome drink and the surrender of our Passports, a compulsory briefing, and finally the pointless and superficial lifeboat drill.

By then, it was dinner time, so our unpacking had to wait until later. We ate in the main restaurant (not normally our preferred option as it is a bit more formal, and you have to choose from a menu that requires at least four courses, unless you decline against the urging of the wait-staff.)

And at last, it was bed with the ever-so-gentle rocking of the ship. How I love sea travel!

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maglab · 3 years

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Bali Tour And Travel Information

Bali is only one of over 17,000 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia and is definitely the most popular island destination for tourists. There is so much Bali travel information and advice available to help tourists, hopefully you will find all that you need to help you enjoy your stay in Bali as you read through this page and make your Bali experience as exciting and relaxing as possible.

Throughout the world, Bali is recognized as a fairy tale paradise island with sunny beaches, white sand, superb surfing, rural fishing villages, sculptured rice terraces and so much more. When you travel to Bali you are not only going to experience some of the most up market and luxurious hotels and villas available around the world, but in certain rural areas it will seem as though you are stepping back in time. Some of the Balinese people live the same way that they have done for centuries without changing with modern technology.

To most of the Balinese people religion is not only for Sundays but it is deeply ingrained and is a way of life. Hinduism is the main religion on the island and the beliefs and traditions have not been changed by the huge international tourist resorts, massive shopping malls and the many bars that are associated with many of the tourist resorts. Many of the smaller Balinese temples co-exist in between the Western influenced tourist areas. When travelling to Bali you will have to accept that sometimes the roads will be impassable due to religious ceremonies and instead of becoming impatient, enjoy the experience, after all there is nothing you can do to speed the process up. The streets are transformed into a maze of colours and costumes, with people dressed in beautiful traditional dresses and garments.Many things in Bali go a lot slower that in developed countries, so patience is one thing you will need to pack with you especially if you intend to do some travelling around Bali’s rural areas.

The people of Bali are extremely friendly and always return a smile. The politeness and courtesy you receive in any of the service industries is supreme and renowned worldwide. The services are cheap and you will always feel happy to give a tip even in the expensive restaurants and hotels due to the exceptional service and friendly attitude that greats you.

Tourism is a big source of income for the Balinese and they literally bend over backwards in order to make your stay as comfortable and happy as possible. Lot of locals take the advantages of the tourism business and work as hotels or villas employ and some of them open Bali car rental with driver service. The local currency used in Bali and all over Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah IDR. XE is a live currency converter that is updated as exactly as the rates change on the world market. This is great not only for planning your holiday money, but also if you need to exchange money when in Bali, you can know in advance what the actual rate is before going to the foreign money exchangers.

Balinese Etiquette

When traveling to other countries it is always a sign of respect to try and learn some of the different customs of the people. Balinese people are very accommodating and will show their appreciation that you try to follow their customs even if you don’t get it right all the time.

The following matters of etiquette, should be observed especially when travelling around Bali’s rural areas and attending special occasions and festivals.

Always take off your shoes before entering a house even if you are told not to.

Patting anyone on the head is considered very rude.

If your baby is less than six months old, don’t let it touch the ground.

Don’t use your foot to point.

Don’t hang your shirt or any clothing on a temple wall.

Don’t walk under a washing line that has underwear hanging on it if is then above your head.

When hanging up laundry put your underwear on the lowest rung.

When at ceremonies, weddings etc, sit lower than honored guests, priests and sacred objects.

Don’t step in front of someone if you can’t avoid it, adopt a submissive posture and ask forgiveness.

Never step over a sacred object or offering, be careful of this as some masks at ceremonies can be sacred. When at special events and in doubt, just don’t do it.

You can sit on cushions, but not on a pillow.

Sleep with your head pointed towards the east or north, pointed to the mountains.

When visiting temples or less casual places, wear long pants or a sarong with a selendang (scarf like cloth) tied around the waist.

It may seem sexist to many women, but it is considered extremely taboo to enter a temple while menstruating.

Getting to Bali

By Air

The main international airport is Bali’s Ngurah Rai and is a gateway to many Indonesian countries. The main airline operating here is Garuda Indonesia as well as 12 other international airlines. Ngurah Rai is situated in the south area of the island and traveling to the majority of the popular resorts will not take more that 30 minutes. If you are staying in one of the northern resorts like Ubud expect a drive of over an hour.

Daily direct flights are available from Singapore on Garuda Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines.MAS and Garuda operate direct flights from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and from Hong Kong with Garuda and Cathay Pacific. Direct flights are also available from Bangkok with Thai International and Qantas. UTA flies direct from Paris, KLM fly from Amsterdam via Medan, Garuda fly from Japan and Taiwan and Garuda and Qantas fly from the Australian cities of Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and Adelaide.

By Road or Rail from Java

Trains and buses from Java stop at Banyuwangi and a 24 hour ferry transports cars and passengers to Gilimanuk, where buses will take passengers to Denspasar.

By Sea

International cruise ships and yachts use the Bali seaports of Benoa and Padangbai. Padangbai is mostly used by the larger luxury cruise ships as Benoa is relatively small. From Lombok’s port of Lembar a ferry service is available twice daily to Padagbai and from Benoa harbor to Lembar you can catch a hydrofoil.

Bali is the departure point for cruises to Lombok, and the nearby island that people are beginning to discover are very remote an unspoiled by tourism. If you intend to visit here make sure that you consult your doctor as this is known as a high malaria area.

As with all countries, laws can change overnight and it is important to have the latest up to date information before travelling to a foreign country.

Bali Tourism Board (BTB)

BTB was established on the 1st of March 2000 formed by nine major Bali tourism associations. With the unstable business climate hamper the island, BTB is hoped to build and develop a better and more sustainable tourism industry in Bali. Considering the importance of the tourism industry and the capability of BTB in associating with government, community, and industry alike, the Governor of Bali officially recognized BTB on 10 May 2000 as the embodiment of a new partnership between the travel industry, the government, and the local community. Since then, BTB has earned the respect and support of all related government agencies, including the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Visit Indonesia

Visit Indonesia is an up to date Indonesian website offering anything from entry advice, dos and don’ts to banking hours events and activities.

National Portal Republic of Indonesia

The official Indonesian government website, National Portal Republic of Indonesia is for all things Indonesian/Bali related not only for tourist information and is worth looking over before leaving for your trip to Bali. If you only want to read on tourist related news and advice visit their official tourism website.

Smart traveller

This is the Australian Government’s travel advisory and consular assistance service website. Even though this site is targeted to the Australian population the advice is valuable to everyone wishing to get up to date advice on everything when you want to travel to Bali.

The Laws of Indonesia and Bali

Every major town has a police station called Resort Polisi. The Traffic Police Office is located in Denpasar, but its office hours are only 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, Monday to Saturday.

All narcotics are illegal in all Indonesian countries and using, selling or buying any drugs can result in huge fines, prison or even the death penalty. If you are caught even your own government will be unlikely to help you, so stay clear of this type of recreation.

If you lose your passport, report it immediately to the local Police station and ask for a letter with the report details. Trying to get a replacement passport can be difficult if you don’t produce this letter.

You can drive if you have an international license or one issued in one of the ASEAN countries; Brunei ,Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. If you want to get a motor bike or car license your application is made through the Komdak Lalulintas in Jalan Seruni. A driving test is theoretically compulsory, however you will find people who will be able to fast track your application for you, obviously for a fee.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Indonesia for the most up-to-date information.

You should ensure you have the correct, current visa at all times, otherwise you may be fined, jailed, deported or banned from re-entering Indonesia for a period of time.

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your date of arrival. Visitors may be granted a seven day visa on arrival for a fee of USD10 or a 30 day visa on arrival for a fee of USD25. Both visas are non-extend-able and non-transferable. The period of stay for visas is calculated from the day of arrival. For example, if a tourist with a seven day visa arrived on a Sunday, they must depart Indonesia the following Saturday. If the tourist departed on the following Sunday, they would be considered to have overstayed their visa. This principle also applies to 30 day visas. Fines are imposed for each additional day in Indonesia.

If you are staying in private accommodation, you are required to register with the local Rukun Tertangga (RT) Office and the local police when you arrive. If you plan to be in Indonesia for more than 90 days, you must register with the local immigration office and hold the correct visa.

Make sure your passport has at least six months’ validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Important Travel Precautions

When planning a trip to a tropical place like Bali, all types of thoughts will be conjured up in your head of the possible dangers that await you and how to deal with them. The major concerns that people face are the safety of the food and water, local violence crime rate, the transportation and any common or dangerous tropical diseases. Many expats live and travel around Bali on a daily basis without any problems, but as a first time visitor there are certain precautions that you can take to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Reduce health risks before traveling to Bali.

Before trips to Bali consult your doctor to find out what the current health situation is in the area you are going to stay in and find out if there are any vaccinations required before you leave. Bali is a tropical region and does have some nasty bugs floating or flying around so it is important to know exactly where you are going to be traveling to and let your doctor know. Once you have arrived in Bali it is important to stay in the areas that you have planned to as some of the islands have different health risks that you may not be aware or prepared for. For example Lombok is considered as a higher malaria risk area than the main island of Bali and if you have not been taking malaria tablets it is not advisable to go there.

The more common vaccinations that you would be given are polio, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A & B and malaria or whatever is prevalent at that specific time. If Bali is a regular holiday place for your vacations, it is important to visit your doctor every time you plan on going as new diseases can spring up very quickly.

Bali Travel insurance.

Traveling is risky, especially when you are going a long distance to a foreign country. Insurance won’t take the risk factor out but will help you if you do end up needing medical attention due to an accident or some disease. For short holidays, insurance is not that expensive compared to the peace of mind that it offers and you can then get on with enjoying your holiday without worrying.

Drinking Water in Bali.

Tap water is unsafe to drink in Bali. Although the quality of water throughout the island varies greatly, some coming piped, some from a well, one should always assume it is unsafe to drink without boiling. People living in Bali shower with the local water, brushing teeth etc. with no ill effects, still your drinking water should be bottled water. No matter where you stay, the tap water is unsafe for drinking, some of the luxury hotels have signs on the basins advising that their water is safe, but it is not worth the risk to drink it. Bottled water is freely available and is cheap. Even when brushing your teeth use the bottled water. When staying in tourist areas, all food is prepared with bottled water, so you are safe to eat everything including the delicious salads. Ice from these establishments is also made from bottled water and is safe, but when traveling outside tourist resorts avoid the ice and only buy drinks that are in refrigerators, not in cooler boxes covered with water and ice. All fruit and vegetables can be eaten without any worries as long as you use bottled water if you are going to make some of your own meals.

Bali Belly is not ordinary Diarrhea.

Bali is renowned for an acute gastroenteritis infection that should not be mistaken for mere holiday runs. You will know if you have caught this as you will have both diarrhea and vomiting at the same time and will feel like hell. The best thing to do is seek medical advice from a local doctor who will prescribe the needed medication to get you back up on your feet usually within 24 hours. If you do not get treatment then this can last for weeks and spoil your holiday and worst case scenario you will end up in hospital.

Small cuts & scrapes.

Small cuts can develop into serious infections due to the hot humid conditions very quickly. Wash out any cuts you get with clean bottled water and apply some Betadine. Allow the cut to air dry rather than putting a plaster on as this will make it “sweat” and take longer to heal.

Carry a first aid kit.

Learn how to use a first aid kit and take your own one with you, trying to find one locally is very difficult and those that are available are very limited. Don’t pack it in your hand luggage as it may be confiscated due to the sharp instruments.

Traveling for Medical help.

If you are staying in a villa out of town it can be difficult to get transport when most needed. When you first arrive, get a few phone numbers of reliable taxi services that operate 24 hours and store them in your phone.

Emergency Numbers in Bali. Police : 110 Fire Dept.: 113 Ambulance : 118 Search & rescue: 111,115 or 151 Operated Assisted Calls Within Indonesia : 100 International : 101

Directory Information Bali : 147 Indonesia : 106 Postal & Parcel Services.

Major hotels handle mail service, telegrams and telexes. The Central Post Office is located in Denpasar. Central Post Office Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar 80235. Tel: 23565. Open from Monday to Thursday : 08.00 a.m. – 02.00 p.m. Friday: 08.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon. Saturday: 08.00 a.m. – 01.00 p.m.

Poste Restante Poste Restante is an inexpensive service for overseas visitors in Bali so they can receive letters or parcels from family or friends while traveling around Bali. The services are available at the Central Post Office and at the following post offices:

Sanur Post Office: Banjar Taman, Sanur, Denpasar 80277 Kuta Post Office: Jl. Raya Tuban, Kuta, Denpasar 80361 Ubud Post Office: Banjar Taman, Ubud, Gianyar 80571. Singaraja Post Office: Jl. Gajah Mada, Singaraja 81100.

#bali travel information #bali travel #bali vacation #bali information

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lindoig7 · 4 years

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Monday-Wednesday 17-19 August

Monday

We set off to do some more of the walks around Wilson’s Prom but we were close to needing fuel so detoured via Traralgon – an extra 5 km but it saved us about $12 on the cost of fuel. Notably, the prices at the cheaper servos in Traralgon have increased considerably, but we still found one that was at least 5 c/l cheaper than anywhere else. With our long-range tank though, it still costs us at least $250 every time we refuel.

We have now clocked up more than 5000 clicks in the car since leaving home and at least 300 km walking. We don’t always wear our Fitbits when we are out, but with only a minimal addition to the actual recording, I figure it must be quite a bit more than 300. Fortunately, it was not all in a single walk or we would be quite buggered!

When we arrived at the Prom, there was a sign advising that it was closed. Bummer, but at least, there were alternatives just outside the National Park. We found a road off to the east that took us to Corner Inlet: a beautifully peaceful area, and calm as could be in the lee of the howling wind on the western side of the peninsula. We ate our lunch in the car and then walked the Duck Point Loop that wasn’t really a loop at all, although we made it into one. We walked out to the point along the beach, then around to the other side of the point, also on the beach, as far as we could before cutting across the mini-dunes and back along the last section of the first beach and thence to the car. We saw a few birds, including a cheeky little Red-capped Plover, but the most interesting part was probably the walk across the point. There were lots of interesting plants and fungi and ample evidence of large numbers of wallabies – thousands of their small footprints everywhere! The whole walk was only about 4 km but quite interesting and harder than we imagined walking on the sharply angled beach. I wasn’t wearing my walking shoes either so that added somewhat to the challenge. We really appreciated our hiking sticks though or we have had to walk with one leg longer than the other.

We decided to look at the Alberton West Forest so we drove almost all the way to Port Albert before cutting north into the forest. It was a quite open woodland with little groundcover or understorey, but I enjoyed the drive. Without my excellent navigator, I could easily have become lost in there with forestry tracks running in all directions, indistinguishable from the rough official road marked on the map. By the time we meandered through the forest and backtracked around the eastern side of the area, it was getting late so we elected to head for home and a delicious dinner.

Before we left Melbourne, Heather had ordered a number of items online – almost all of which had delayed deliveries. In fact, the last two have not been delivered yet although we now believe they will be within a day or two. One item that added to the weight of our mail package last Friday was a double-sided frying pan. It is a bit hard to describe but it is like two rectangular frying pans that fit together so you can use the enclosed space as a sealed baking dish. We marinated some Chicken Maryland pieces and cooked them in our new pan. The marinade caramelised wonderfully and became crispy and they were just superb. We just had savoury rice and green beans with them, but they made a really outstanding meal – absolutely delicious.

Tuesday

We started the day with a huge cleaning job. We took the carpets out of the van and washed and dried the floors and beat a lot of the red dust out of the carpets. We did quite a bit of other cleaning too – there always seems to be a list of minor jobs to do and they each take 4 times as long as estimated, but at least it keeps us away from a life of crime (and leisure/pleasure?).

We needed to swap the gas bottles over so we exchanged the empty one for a full one at Bunnings and then went for a walk in Brooker Park – the place we had a long walk a couple of weeks ago. We didn’t make such a big production of it this time. We drove to the northern end of the park and just walked a big loop around the lake – probably about 4-5 km at a guess. It was getting cold and threatening rain by the time we finished so we just came home again and had a shower before dinner.

Wednesday

Got more rain during the night and it is raining on and off today, but we have plenty to keep us busy. It is a very wintry day so we are staying inside as much as possible. We had been unable to find the key for the padlock on one of the gas cylinders so I had to use our bolt-cutters to cut the lock off. We have dozens of locks and heaps of keys, many of them duplicated, triplicated and more – both the locks and the keys. Some are for the car, some for the van, some for things at home, and we have quite a few spares. We reckoned a major review was required so we collected everything we had and checked what fitted each of our locks and compiled a couple of complete sets and labelled and listed everything. It took at least a couple of hours but at least we should now be able to find the right key in the right place whenever we need to do something in or around the car and van.

In the afternoon, we did a little more cooking, but finding a place to store the finished products until such time as we are able to consume them is limiting our culinary adventures.

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shazmastuff-blog · 7 years

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Carrera Car Wash

#hand car wash melbourne #south melbourne car detailing #car detailing port melbourne #car wash south melbourne #car wash port melbourne #car detailing south melbourne #hand car wash port melbourne

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kneewall49 · 5 years

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Life in Queensland

27th August, 2019

No one has asked what’s it’s like living in the sunshine state, but I’ll tell you anyway.

Life’s good here, it’s simpler, and as it should be.

Major difference is the ease of getting around by car/bike. No traffic lights keep traffic flowing and once your use to roundabout efficiencies no one gets held up except those that don’t understand the rules, the etiquette or are procrastinators.

No multi level car parks to lose your car in or get held up by a senior trying to work out how to back into a space, or big family with multi kids loading the once a month food shopping of fizzy drinks, pet food and cheese twisties.

Lots of marked motorcycle parking in prime spots is a bonus (for us).

No queues is another bonus, except for gelato on a weekend arvo. When you go to the motor registry, which we have had too on numerous occasions to sort licences and regos, the following happens. You walk into a near deserted customer area and head to the ticket machine. You’ll notice the 4-5 counter staff have eyes fixed on your hand. As you select your required service and the little paper ticket starts to emerge from the kiosk there is movement at the counters as the staff try to get your customer number to light up their counter before each other. It’s a bit like a quiz show. As your checking your number a loud speaker is already calling that number.

All shop staff (except cafes) greet you with ‘want you want luv’ and ‘thanks darl’ as a closer.

Heaps of cafes with good coffee and environs, craft brewers are also springing up everywhere with big budget establishments which are nice to dissect their architectural and detailed construction.

No aeroplanes in the sky, which I miss, but lots of noisy helicopters for some reason, maybe tourist joy flights.

Wed, Sat and Sunday markets are a nice outing for either a stroll, or provisioning. Eumundi markets are very busy and expensive, (even Manabu’s - x CiSRA QA engineer’s Açai) Noosa market is expensive but very high quality and mainly locals, while Yandina market is herbal, bit Scotland Is. like, but good cheap fresh vegetables and interesting second hand tools. Noosa market has apparently the world’s best Portuguese Custard Tarts, but as I’m yet to experience them to date.

We are slowerly getting use to water efficiency, being mindful our tank isn’t bottomless. A washing load uses 50 litres a cycle, 2x showers and there’s another 50 litres even when turning water off to soap up! We are now using the ‘grey’ water to water the new trees and shrubs we have planted rather than using the tank water. I’ll try to jerry rig some roofing to collect ‘free’ rain water but don’t want to over do the squatter development we are creating.

A day now consists of working in the morning till about 12/1 then to the beach on bike for a swim and picnic lunch, then back to work at 2:30/3 till dark. Bit hot in direct sun around lunchtime, but beautiful in the shade. Hope summer is not a killer, but probably will be. Might have to hang at at the freezer section at Woolies during the hot days.

I’ve also discovered 7eleven $1 coffee is on par with a good $4.50 cup, except for the crema. A trip to Bunnings in the morning or arvo includes a $1 coffee stop. I kid you not it’s acceptable (the quality). I buy ground coffee for home at Padres at Noosaville, settling on one blend after trying a few. It’s a cool place with nice but pretty coffee serious staff.

The best cake/bread shop is actually at a Shell garage at Noosaville too. You have to be told, you’d never discover it unless getting petrol. Just awesome French style stuff with lots of choices and they are constantly baking.

Paddler Andy Ross, another refugee from Sydney, has started a TT on the Noosa river on Sunday mornings so that’s now part of the weekly timetable, as is a training session on Friday mornings run by the local kayak shop. Nice bunch, glorious weather, champagne water.

The hinterland provides miles of great roads, cooler weather and cute little villages for stops. Too many craftie shops for my liking but that’s ok, old people have to have something to enjoy. A ride or drive up the hinterland is nice to have a break from digging.

Can’t find any boxing classes unless you pay $20 + for a session, Matt’s classes st North Ryde were a bargain, and hundreds of yoga classes if that’s your (not my) thing.

The beach. Noosa main beach is beautiful as you know. Minimal surf unless the swell is running which makes for a very pleasant cool off. Hastings Street is fabulous too. Just like being in some swish Melbourne Street but right on the ocean. If you holiday in Noosa I’d recommend paying a bit extra and staying on Hastings, it’s worth it by a mile. Forget the car just walk, eat and swim. Staying anywhere else in the area is hardly worth coming for.

Been very dry since we moved. The creek has stopped flowing over the little weir. Grass still nice and green except where I have driven the tractor over it infinite times, turning it to bull dust. Suppose to rain this week which will be interesting to see if we survive the camp out in a wet spell :).

Haven’t seen a snake yet, but I’m told it’s just a matter of time. I walk around like I’m in a mine field. We have jumping ants as we have mentioned which we are gradually eliminating. We also have a ‘cheese tree’ (look it up), which should be called a pumpkin tree, which has the unfortunate attribute of housing those seething balls of catapillars. Bit creepy, especially for Tokyo girls. We have BBQ’d two lots to date. Apparently coming into skin contact with them is not a recommended experience.

Anyway back to work. Digging the driveway at present. Want to get it done so the Port-a-loo lorry can get to down to our loo without having to go thru the neighbours. Everyone needs a goal :).

Btw we now have a lounge available in the annex for one overnight visitor. Who will be first?

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