All aboard a trip abroad

Day 8 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 03:04:00 GMT

Day 8 Today we learnt a big lesson. We had breakfast and headed off to book a ticket to London to start to look for a place to live and work. We went to price a train ticket and were told it would cost 389 euro. Ohmi god. We spent the next 3 hours in an internet cafe looking for the cheapest way to get to London from Munich. We ended up booking a train ride to Salzburg for 25 euro for the 3 of us and then a cheap flight with Ryanair from Salzburg to London Stansted Airport for 315 euro in total. it was the cheapest way we could find unless we left days later. We decided because it would be our last night in Munich we would go out with a bang. So we headed out for dinner for some of the local food. We celebrated with a couple of beers and some really good food.

Day 7 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 02:56:00 GMT

Day 7 Today we decided to take in some more history and head to Dachau where one of Hitler's first concentration camps were built. Instead of taking a tour we decided to get there ourselves which saved us round 50 euros. We went to the information centre next to Hauptbahnhof train station and asked for directions in english on how to get there. We headed off and for only 11 euro we had a return ticket for 3 of us. It took around 15 mins to get there and then a free bus dropped us off out the front. You can purchase audio guides from out the front for only 3 euro and then be on your way. The camp was a full on eye opener and it was so interesting and shocking at the same time, to see how these people were treated only 63 years ago. Most of the images shown are truly shocking and confronting. The tour at our own pace took a little over four hours and cost 15 euro for the 3 of us as opposed to 63 euro with a tour guide. Once we got home we decided to go to bed early as we were still catching up on sleep.

Day 6 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 02:50:00 GMT

Day 6 I was woken round 6am by girls having showers and decided it was time to get up. Today was check out, thank god and we had to find more accommodation. We walked the whole city before check out at 10am but mostly everything was booked, until we stumbled upon some arabic apartments named Arabest Apartment Hotel. Once we had a look we were so impressed with the room, and it was only 100 euro which was cheaper then the dam hostel we had stayed at!!!! We checked our bags in and decided to go for a walk through town. We had some lunch, which is always good.. the food here is amazing and then we headed back to our apartment. We decided to retire early with a home cooked meal and ice-creams for desert, and to catch up on some much needed sleep..

Day 5 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Sun, 5 Oct 2008 02:37:00 GMT

Day 5 So hung over yet the excitment motivated us to rise early and head for the tents. Today was slightly quiter then yesterday as we knew what we were in for, another liver slashing. We waited outside the Hoffanbrau tent which is known as the rowdyist. It features the pig pen, where undies and bras are thrown up to hang on a blown up pig hanging from the ceiling. The day started slow but was no doubt as messy. The doors opened again on 9am and we had beers in our hands soon after. I met up with a friend visiting from Wales and we went walkabout and hit the rollercoasters. The tents werent as busy today so we were able to come and go as we pleased. I ate a 1/2 a roast chicken which was so juicy and tasty and after a couple more hours enjoyed another half. The day was a lot calmer then yesterday and I think a few people were struggling. We called it a day around 5pm and headed back to the hostel, got a couple of hours sleep before the train came roaring in. I decided to sleep in a bench in the bathroom as it was alot quieter in there.

Day 4 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 02:30:00 GMT

Day 4 Today we were up and at em! There was no time to worry about the lack of sleep, it was 6.30am and we had to leave early to get a good seat. We had some free toast with a quick coffe and then took off to the beer halls round 7am. We waited outside the Lowenbrau tent with our yellow fanatics shirts on and at 9am (on the dot) the doors opened and the people poured in through them like water through the flood gates. It was first in, best dressed and we headed straight for the middle seating, below the stage. We got great seats and still managed to stay with the rest of the Fanatics. We met everyone at our table who were all mostly Australian and then the drinking begain. A good solid 9hrs of it. everyone was drinking fast due to the overall excitment and at around 11am everyone was feeling the effects of the steins. The food was wonderful and we shared a big pork knuckle for 25 euro. We eventually ended our binge drinkathon and stumbled home in directions unknown. We were lucky Ronald Mcdonald satisfield our greasy craving and we hit the hay about 6pm, but yet again were woken by the sounds of chainsaw snoring, hardly any sleep!

Day 3 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 02:19:00 GMT

day 3

Today was a public holiday for the people of Germany so we were woken early by loud chants and kids as young as 14 swigging bottles of beers whilst marching towards the beer-halls. We knew today would be packed at Ocktoberfest and when we arrived there, it was to be. We had to check out of our room today and check in with our group leader named Ryan from the Fanatics back at the Jaegers hostel. I made it clear to him that it was not what i expected. sharing a room with 40 other people seemed like a nightmare to me and thats what it turned out to be. He gave us preference in which beds we would like so i picked the ones furtherest away from the entrance to the dorm. We thankfully had lockers to put our stuff in and purchased our own locks for 5 euro each. Once we had checked in with Fanatics we headed back to the beer-halls only to find every beer tent packed out and lines 50 meters long to enter. We decided to test some of the local pubs instead and stop off to several along the way. We tried to head in the direction of Ned Kelly's for round 2, but got lost along the way. Luckily they sold beer and Jagermaster at the petrol station so we weren't worried in the slightest. Finally our surroundings looked familiar and we were back at Killians Irish Pub. We exercised our right arms and snacked on garlic pizza with cheese so good! Our night ended round midnight but no sleep what so ever was had back at the hostel. We were sleeping next to a freight train and some silly moles that would not stop laughing!!!!! the nightmare begins.....

Day 2 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Thu, 2 Oct 2008 02:10:00 GMT

Day 2

today we woke up and decided to take part in the famous free bike tour. we met our english speaking guide at Marienplatz and watched the famous clock the Glockenspielwhich takes a whole 15 mins its split into 3 parts and finishes when the fat bird sings. the bike tour was entertaining and shows some of Munich's history including the old town and english garden. we got to stop along the way in a beer garden known as the famous chinese tower. we got back to our room around 3 pm and decided to check out an australian pub and see if the VB taste the same. we wandered through local stores on the way along Neuhauserstr St. till we got to the ned kelly bar and Killians irish pub on Frauenplatz St. it served fosters on tap and VB stubbies, we even got a bundyburg rum for a whooping 9 euro. we almost felt at home so we enjoyed a good old fashion drink off until it got dark and stumbled home along the cobbled stone paths. in bed by 11 pm.

Day 1 - Ocktoberfest

juliedrewe — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 20:52:00 GMT

We had arranged a pre booking with the Fanatics which offered a weekend hostel package. We booked an extra 2 nights before the weekend had commenced just to get prepared for the bender. We arrived at Hauptbahnhof train station and our designated hostel was Jaegers in Senefelderstrabe St. Just a 2 min walk from the train station and less then 10 mins to the beer-halls, so it was quite conveniently located. We checked in and showed our room which was a shared, 40 bed dorm. This was not what I had expected, I thought we would be in a 4 bedroom dorm, so i was pretty pissed off. The reception staff spoke english and were pretty helpful. They also owned a 2nd pension hotel/apartment that was available for our two extra night so we paid a little extra and booked in to the Alpina hotel pension on Landwehrstr st. It was a reasonable sized room with three beds and a shower and a little hot-plate and fridge. We were really happy with it and relieved to get a decent nights sleep as we were pretty tired. Once we dropped our gear off we went for a walk to the beer halls to check out what we were in for. It took a 6 min walk and once there we found one beer tent after the other mixed amongst a festive carnival atmosphere. We decided to taste the local lager and entered the Lowenbrau tent which turned out to be my favorite. The crowd was quite rowdy and there was plenty of singing. Once you found yourself a table one of the many barmaids approaches you for your order. Three beers thanks and 30 euro later, we were hooking in. The whole atmosphere is a once in a life time experience. After a few more rounds we became confident enough to mix with the locals and even ride the 5 loop roller-coaster. We bought a bratwurst which was a 1/2 meter fried sausage for the walk home and we retired to our room round 7pm.

Gallery: The 3 Contestants

juliedrewe — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:38:00 GMT

Applying fo a UK VISA.

juliedrewe — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:44:00 GMT

Applying for a UK working Visa has probably been the most frustrating element of my travel planning. I wasn't fully aware of the procedures and processing times the visa actually took so our booked flights had to be cancelled and re-booked to a later date. It was in fact my own fault and I just wished I had been better prepared. So here’s a 4 step easy guide for you in laymen’s terms.

DON”T BOOK YOUR TRIP UNTIL YOU GET YOUR VISA APPROVED!

APPLY FOR YOUR VISA 4 MONTHS BEFORE YOU INTEND TO BE THERE. (YOU THEN HAVE TO BE IN THE UK WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF RECEIVING YOUR VISA)

1. Have at least $5000 cash in your nominated bank account and get a statement with at least 3 months worth of past transactions. If you have borrowed the $$$ and deposited it, just explain where it came from. E.g. sold your car.

2. Go to your local photo shop and get 2 passport photos for a UK visa. Make sure you specify this.

3. Go online

http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/

And fill out an online application and follow all prompts. Be as honest as possible and add any extra information if need be. As far as the criminal convictions question, you can go to your local police station and ask them if you have any criminal convictions? They will check your record and tell you without it costing you anything. Once you have completed the application you then need to

4. Make an appointment at one of the consulates, (going to Canberra, cuts out the delivery time of your application, which you should only do if your desperate) Once confirmed a date, take your printed and signed application form, your appointment receipt and your passport to have your biometric data taken also take your, bank statement that show your funds, and all other supporting documents including the " href="http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/3400748/whq" target="_blank">working holiday maker questionnaire.(which is available on website)

3. Then you Pay Visa Fee of $462 (Working Holiday Maker Visa) or check other fees http://ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk/en/visas/fees

Ask the teller anything you like there and then otherwise you will have to pay for your general visa information at a rate of $2.75 cents per minute, which will be charged to your telephone bill. 1902 941 555

4. Then Send Everything together to

Locked Bag 5010
Visa Section
Piccadilly House
39 Brindabella Circuit
Canberra Airport
ACT 2609

Allow for 30 working days min, after this they will contact you directly via email.

Follow up.

It took over 40 working days to receive our visa, and once we called the 1900 number which turns out to be a call centre in Sydney. We were told that our Visa's had been there since last thursday, which meant we had wasted 5 days because we were not notified by email. We went to collect them from Canberra and I wanted to make a complaint, the lady told me that sometimes the emails don't send properly and bounce back. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Why don\t they tell you that to begin with....I was so angry at just how pathetic this government agency was, get your act together!