There is something that happens when you are lounging around the house. TV gets watched, and I made the most of it by watching Australian shows that we don’t get back in the states. One of these shows, as the title suggests, is Big Brother. Now, I am not a reality TV girl. I scoff at keeping up with anyone or who has more talent. So why, I ask myself, did I get roped into the fad that is Big Brother? On one front, I would watch and found the idea of spying on people in their day to day life a little creepy. Then somehow, I found myself watching it more as an anthropologist – what are the group dynamics. How do people interact when they don’t have technology to escape to? What has society developed?

Then I realized I was nearly too far gone, and decided just to watch it and root for my favorites.

With my time staying with my friend is nearing an end, I must wean myself from this luxury. I have started looking at hostels with work for stay programs, and find myself aiming for a new destination early next week. (stay tuned.) from this, I have a few recommendations.

– RSA

Get your RSA. this stands for “Responsible Service of Alcohol” and is required by every venue that would serve alcohol (e.g. restaurants, hostels, bottle shops). http://www.Onlinersa.com.au or http://www.bskilled.com.au offer online courses that will get you a certificate that can be printed out.

-Taxfile ID nuber

Once you have your working visa, you can apply for your taxfile ID number.  You only need to apply for it once, even if you are on a 2nd year visa (having reapplied for a visa and been granted staying for an additional year).

-Phone

I have found getting a phone to be very helpful in finding a job, or at least job connections. It also comes in handy when trying to plan your next move and would like to call hostels ahead of time to see if they hire, offer certain facilities, or trying to figure out transport. Prepaid plans are flexible depending on call style. I get by with $30 a month for a bit of internet and a lot of talk time.

I have been lucky with my connections, for the last week or so I have been lucky enough to be staying with a friend, who has given me multiple tips and tricks to get around the town cheaper, and more efficiently. First and foremost, there is the app TripGo.

TripGo;

Pros:

This app is all about the ease of getting around. Put in your location and destination and it will provide multiple options of routes and transport methods. Train, bike, bus, drive – it has it all. Even better, is it will give you duration, and price estimates for each route. (which when backpacking is a GREAT option, allowing you to budget time and money.)

Cons: needs wifi and GPS.

Another recommendation for transportation is called the Go Card. You can find them at 7 elevens and convenience stores. Once topped up, these cards can be scanned upon boarding and deboarding a bus/train in the brisbane/goldcoast region and will cost less than a regular fare.

An event to plan for is the night markets. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday vendors set up on the beachfront, selling trinkets, food and souvenirs for all tastes. The people watching is fun too!

 

Night on the beach walk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few of the things that wash ashore in Surfers Paradise.

Coastline

 

A quiet evening.

An average day.

Cockatoo invasion.

 

 

 

Night Markets on Surfers.