Migrating from Singapore to Melbourne: I Miss Singapore

It's been 20 months since we moved to Melbourne and after the excitement of moving to a new city wore off, I've begun to miss some of the things I took for granted in Singapore.

1) Food

It's not a surprise that you can't find a decent chicken rice or char kway tiao here. In Singapore,  I just had to walk 15 minutes to the nearest hawker centre and I can have the greatest selection from Indian to Malay to Chinese cuisine. After that I can choose from a variety of desserts and a trip to the hawker centre usually doesn't add up to more than A$10 per person.  And I could do that anytime from 7am to 10pm.

Here in my suburb, the only food that's readily available is fast food. McDonald's has a franchise at every corner. If I want either Malaysian or Singaporean cuisine, I'll have to drive 20 mins to the nearest restaurant and spend A$10 for a bowl or last and A$3 for a drink. This is not the best comparison as they don't have hawker centres here so everytime we eat out its at a restaurant. If I compare restaurant prices in Singapore and Melbourne, then I think it's about the same. That's also largely because there isn't a compulsory 17% added to a bill.

However, because there are migrants from all over the world in Melbourne, the up side is you get a pretty good selection such as Greek, Italian and Vietnamese food.

Anyhow, I really miss the wan ton mee in Singapore. There isn't anything even close to it here.

2) Help

As a new mother, I can't begin to express how desperately I need a live in helper. Because it's illegal to get a live in maid here, I've relied on help from my parents and my in laws for the past few months after I gave birth. But we all know that it's not the same as a helper. As an extra careful first time mum, I wouldn't want someone else to care for my child. But I would love to have someone to cook, clean, do the laundry, iron the clothes etc.

There are cleaners you can hire on an hourly basis here for S$12-20 an hour usually for a minimum of 4 hours but they only do cleaning.

Although I didn't have a maid in Singapore, I also didn't have a baby and was working full time. Now that I'm home most of the time and have a little baby to take care of, my greatest dream is to have a live in maid.

3) Convenience

As mentioned, it takes a good 20 minutes to drive somewhere for a meal. It really doesn't matter where you live (in the suburbs) it will take you an hour of travel time to get somewhere simply because the land is huge. Although that's also why when I go to the mall, it's never really crowded even on weekends. Compare to the nightmare that is every shopping centre in Singapore (I recall going to clementi mall on a weekday and it was just jam packed with people).

So I take the bad with the good...

4) Family & friends

It gets lonely when you move thousands of miles away from your family and friends. It's something that never really goes away. I can't just decide to pop over my parents place for dinner or meet a friend for lunch. I have to meet and make new friends and make the effort to travel back to Singapore.

I've been blessed in that I've made a lot of friends, especially ladies who are also Mum's, in my short time here and so this aspect isn't that bad.

Migration is never easy. There are so many things that you'll have to give up. But then there are so many things you gain as well so it's not for the faint hearted and it's not for those who are not determined. I'll write more about the difficulties of migrating one day.

Planetshakers Conference 2013

Just some photos from the conference... the Holy Spirit moved in such a powerful way. His presence cannot be duplicated and when you sense it, it's like nothing you've ever experienced. It's not only about coming together for a huge praise and worship session, nor is it about the awesome word of God being preached (which I experienced in abundance during the conference btw). 

It's all about your spirit meeting with the eternal Spirit of God. The worship leaders and Pastors just create that atmosphere for you to meet God so that you will never be the same again. 

I felt so overwhelmed when God started to reveal things to me during the conference about the situations around me and what His will is for those situations. However, the climax was really on the last day, after Pastor Ben Prescott preached a powerful message "Under the influence" and the Holy Spirit fell on the congregation such that there were many people who were crying, laughing and some were slain. I was very curious and trying to observe what was going on (basically being a busybody) and then suddenly, I was just overwhelmed with a sense of His love for me and I just started crying and I couldn't stop (yes, I actually tried)! And He revealed to me that the past few days during the conference, He was revealing things and situations to me but at that moment, He wanted to reveal Himself to me. 

Check out Planetshakers Awakening 2014!

Planetshakers City Church

When we first arrived in Melbourne, we were so excited to hear that Hillsong was starting a church right in the city!! But since it didn't start until November 2012, we thought we should just check out Planetshakers City Church since my brother-in-love who was visiting us at that time highly recommended it. 

To be honest, I wasn't familiar with Planetshakers at all. Up till then, I had only heard some of their worship songs but I did not know the pastors or the denomination of the church (for lack of a better phrase... I really mean what the church believes in and preaches about). 

I was quite skeptical going in and the first time I was literally bombarded by their praise & worship. These guys rocked harder than some real "hard rockers". Haha!! Was totally not used to it since the worship at New Creation Church is a lot tamer by comparison (by that I mean normal). 

We went for a couple of weeks and in one of those Sundays, Pastor Sam Evans came out to preach an amazingly anointed and powerful message called "Get out of my house". I was so blown away that I still remember the message today. Because I've never heard of her or Pastor Russell Evans, I was completely unprepared for the sense of power they are releasing over their church. It was completely and utterly mesmerizing. 

When Hillsong Melbourne started sometime in Nov/Dec 2012, we attended the church for a couple of weeks but felt that it was not what we were looking for. Now, it's very difficult to explain this because it implies one is better than the other. It's not. It's just that different churches play different roles in the body of Christ. Just like every individual play a different role in the church. In any case, the important thing was my husband first spoke about being led to go back and plant ourselves in Planetshakers City Church and I agreed wholeheartedly. 

Now, let me try to explain why we decided to be a part of Planetshakers. We were so well established in the gospel of grace by Pastor Prince, it was easy for us to recognize that the same message was being preached at Planetshakers. However, there is also another dimension which is being revealed to us: the power of living by the Holy Spirit. This is a whole new level which we are very keen to explore. Having been in the church for close to 4 months now, I've learnt to communicate with the Holy Spirit and this just overwhelms me because..... the Holy Spirit..... He speaks to me!! He answers my questions!! He reveals things to me!! So I've started reading this book by Pastor David Yonggi Cho:

If you are looking to be part of a church in Melbourne, I highly encourage you to check out both churches and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you which church is most suitable for you. 

My Journey into Motherhood: Update on the costs of tests

So here's the breakdown of the total amount I spent after Medicare refunds.

1st Consultation: A$185 - A$72.75 = A$112.25

PAP Smear: A$35 (not covered by Medicare cos it's a more thorough check called Thinprep) 

Ultrasound: A$250 - A$83.30 = A$166.70

Follow up Consultation: A$85 - A$36.55 = A$48.45

Blood test: Bulk Billed (FREE)

Sperm test: Bulk Billed (FREE)

Total Paid for checks & consultation = A$362.40

So considering that in Singapore, the sperm test cost S$60 and each ultrasound at S$150 with normal follow up consultation costing S$60, it doesn't really seem like the Aussie system is any cheaper!!

However, I do think that the doctors I went to for the consultation as well as the ultrasound were very professional and thorough. They really tried to explain what is going on and what they are looking for in each check. 

Praise God that all my tests came back normal with the exception of my iron levels being a little low. I've been taking iron pills for about 3 weeks now so I'm feeling more energized. I'd probably stop once my supply runs out in a week and then go for another test to see if my iron levels have come up to normal since. I've also been trying to increase my intake of beef & spinach! 

At the follow up consultation, my gynae advised that I go through a laparoscopy to check for endometrosis or scar tissue, if any. I was really hesitant to undergo a surgery to check for something which may not even be there. So I went back to my GP to ask for a referral to another gynae for a 2nd opinion but his advice to me was that it is a common procedure and it is likely that the next doctor would also recommend the same procedure as the next step. And I would have unnecessarily paid for another consultation! 

The out of pocket expense (after Medicare refunds) will be around A$1100. So I'm pending my private health insurance company to get back to me as to whether they will be covering the A$1100 since it is a day surgery. But even if it's not covered, I've sort of decided to go ahead with it. Especially since my private health insurance only covers IVF procedures from November onwards so I still have a good 8 months to go before I go on to the next step. 

Of course I still believe that Jesus will come through and my babies are on their way!! I was meditating on this verse this morning:

Be strong and of good courage; 

do not fear nor be afraid of them, 

for the Lord your God, 

He is the One who goes with you, 

and He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

My Journey into Motherhood: 1st consultation with Aussie Gynaecologist

Just went for my very first appointment with a gynaecologist recommended by my friend. This gynae is an Aussie Asian and he's very different from my Singaporean gynae. He is totally cool and calm and talked a lot about Asian food (probably cos I'm new to Melbourne and he's worried that I don't know all the good restaurants here). He offers his advice and opinion in a straightforward and non-judgemental manner which is what I prefer.

Things work so differently here in Australia! To see him, I had to go and see a GP at my neighbourhood clinic to get a referral letter. The good thing is, with a Medicare card, my visit to the GP was free!

However, the consultation with the gynae was A$185 (paid upfront by cash/eftpos/cheque) and after that I went to Medicare to claim back A$72.75 which will be credited to my bank account in a few days. So I paid $112.25 out of pocket expense for the consultation.

Now compare this to my Singaporen gynae's consultation fee of S$65, it seems quite atrocious to be charged DOUBLE here in Australia. However, that's balanced by the fact that some of the tests (see below) are FREE so in the end, I would have paid more if in Singapore.

My Aussie gynae was mildly surprised that I've not been given a blood test (although from what he told me about why a blood test was so important, I was utterly shocked not to have been given one!) nor a PAP smear in the time I went to see my Singaporean gynae. So he immediately ordered for those as well as an ultrasound at another clinic. The doctor told me that the PAP smear costs about A$35 but it wasn't included in the bill when I paid so maybe I have to pay for it when the results come in. The blood test was indicated as "bulk billed" so I don't have to pay for that!

When I made my appointment for the ultrasound, I was informed that I'll have to pay A$250 upfront but can claim a part of it from Medicare. Will update how much out of pocket expense for the ultrasound.

I've a follow up appointment with my gynae at the end of this month, by then all the test results should be in, so hopefully he can make some recommendations! Even more than that, I hope that I'll be pregnant by then!!!

My hope is in my Lord Jesus!

Moving to Melbourne: Hello from the most liveable city in the world!

Around the time I wrote my last post, my husband received an unbelievable job offer in Australia and he was given the choice of moving to Sydney or Melbourne. Well, that was the easiest decision ever!

We lived in Melbourne about 10 years ago whilst in university; Melbourne was just voted the most liveable city IN THE WORLD and we've got a couple of friends in Melbourne who could help us settle in.

So about 2 months after the incredible offer came in, we found ourselves in Melbourne!!!

Moving countries is CRAZY. Within 6 weeks, I had to find a place to rent in Melbourne, negotiate with our then landlord about releasing us from our contract, quit my job, sell our car, cancel stuff, consolidate stuff, attend hundreds of farewell lunches/dinners and oh yeah... organize to ship all the stuff we've accumulated over 10 years!!!

It was madness. I hope to write a post about that someday so that if and when we move again, I can have a roadmap to follow.

After 5 months of absence from my blog, I came back and found that hundreds of people have dropped by to read about my journey into motherhood. My journey took a hiatus whilst we made the move to Melbourne but it's going to continue very soon. It was a good hiatus because it allowed me to live my life and not think about cycles, injections, clomid etc for a while.

I've just made an appointment to see a gynaecologist here and I've found out that fertility treatments here are heavily subsidised (much like all other treatments & medications) which is great especially since I'm offically a homemaker now. I'm excited to re-embark on my journey to motherhood!

Where would you like to live: Singapore or Australia?

Its a question I ask myself quite often nowadays, not just because I have a choice of living in these 2 countries, but because I've been feeling rather restless and tired of the fast paced life in Singapore.

I spent the majority of my life in Singapore and I only really lived in Australia for 4 years when I studied in Melbourne. But because my husband's family lives in Australia, I've spent almost all my holidays in the past 13 years there. I don't profess to know Australia like I know Singapore, but I know this much: I love the country and I can definitely see myself living there.

Every year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) publish their findings on the most liveable cities from a survey of 140 cities using a score of 1(intolerable) to 100 (ideal). The 5 main factors that they considered are: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Recently, they published their 2012 findings and the top ten cities are:

1. Melbourne, Australia (97.5)
2. Vienna, Austria (97.4)
3. Vancouver, Canada (97.3)
4. Toronto, Canada (97.2)
5. Calgary, Canada (96.6)
6. Sydney, Australia (96.1)
7. Helsinki, Finland (96.0)
8. Perth, Australia (95.9)
9. Adelaide, Australia (95.9)
10. Auckland, New Zealand (95.7)

Having witnessed for myself how great Australia is, I'm glad to see that 4 Australian cities made it to the top 10.

Here are some of my memories of Australia:

 

 

Love how beautiful God has made all things before He even made Adam. We were made to enjoy all these beauty!

Summer Holidays

I love these pine trees by the ocean - it makes the place so serene and majestic!!

My last day at Scarborough - 13th Feb morning... the waves were crashing in and the weather was so beautiful!!

Thanks to my MIL for the gorgeous apartment for our psuedo honeymoon(cos we're always on a honeymoon and we're always 'newlyweds') ... Naturally, we got a honeymoon suite..heh heh.

I had such a blast in Perth over the CNY holidays!!! It actually felt much longer than 9 days - in fact it felt like we spent a month there! As I said in my previous blog, time just slows its pace and all the stress just melt away... (could be the heat of course :p)

Was a great time of catching up with family and each other - we're definitely more patient and loving to each other when we have time and are not stressed out by work and colleagues!!

In fact, we had such a great time there that we're considering moving there much earlier than planned.

The best part is - we can!!!

Hahahahahaha!

I love these trees!!!!

Perth

A friend asked me today for a list of things to do in Perth as she was going there over the National Day weekend. Which got me all excited ( I know it's hard to imagine being excited over Perth).

But the truth is, I really really like Perth.

Sure, it's not exciting like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei etc.. and sort of pales in comparison to the more ' advanced' and 'cosmopolitan' eastern cities like Sydney and Melbourne... BUT, it's a really beautiful place! It's a place for a real holiday - a place to have some unhurried shopping, visit some of the wineries, relax by the famous beaches and connect with another person.

And that's what I like the most - that I'm not overwhelmed by the noise, the sights, the buildings, the shops... I can connect with someone and feel like time has slowed somewhat.

So here are some of the places I love to go when in Western Australia:

1. Cottesloe and coffee at The Blue Duck (my all time favourite)
2. King’s Park
3. Mathilda Bay (took our wedding pics there :)
4. Harbourtown for some shopping
5. Swan Valley
6. Kaili’s Fish Market then to Little Creatures (Fremantle)
7. Fremantle Markets
8. Carousel (as in the shopping mall)
9. Margaret River ( where we fell in love Summer of 1999)

And for the husband and I, the most beautiful thing about Perth is the family. We always have the best time because the people we love are there - and maybe that's why I love Perth this special way.

Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow

I had an absolutely great time at the Comedy Fest. I think it was the dinner at Brussel Sprouts (which was really good) that set the mood.

Although I didn't get a few of the "cheem" Aussie jokes, I did manage to get most of the jokes and I think it was a good mix of different types of humour.

Funny that we spent 4 years in Melbourne and didnt manage to go to the Melbourne Comedy Festival once. Well, we promised ourselves that when we go back, we'll do that and Australian Open (Tennis) and F1 and Moomba and the list goes on...

My favourite comedian of the night was:

Harley Breen from Queensland:

"known for his flare for making up comedy on the spot. With rapid energy and physicality, Harley delivers his bizarre and absurd takes on the world, captivating his audience with unmarked ideas and surreal images in a mission to unravel rigid beliefs and preset assumptions that mostly subside cunningly deep within institutions and establishments... what does that mean? Go to the show and find out!"

Top 10 Beaches

I was watching Discovery Travel and Living - Top Ten Beaches in the World. And I spent an hour of my precious Friday off time to see if my favourite beach made it to the top 10... and i was absolutely flaberghasted to discover that NOT ONE, as in NONE of the Australian beaches made it into the Top 10 Beaches in the WORLD!!!

Well, just in case you're just as pissed off as me, here you go:

http://www.westernaustralia.com/
If you're in WA, the Top 10 Beaches are:

1. Turquise Bay
2. Cable Beach
3. Esperance (been there :)
4. City Beach (was abit rough)
5. Cottesloe Beach (DUH)
6. Green's Pool
7. Scarborough (didnt really fancy it, dunno why)
8. Monkey Mia
9. Eighty Mile Beach
10. Shell Beach

And if you're anywhere else in Australia, the Top 10 Beaches are:

1. Esperance, Western Australia
2. Cable Beach, Broome
3. Surfers Point, Margaret River
4. Hawkes Nest, Mid-North Coast NSW
5. Shelly (Manly), Sydney
6. Ninety Mile Beach, Gippsland Located just over 250 kilometres from Melbourne,
7. Bells Beach, Great Ocean Road
8. Capricorn Coast, Queensland
9. Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island
10. Wineglass Bay, Freycinet NP Tasmania's Freycinet National Park
    

Oi! Oi! Oi!

We're contemplating taking a year off from work to study/bum in Perth.

Does that sound like a great idea or what? I think it's probably the greatest idea we've ever come up with. We're newly married, no kids, no liabilities (so Singaporean to say that!) and we're not entirely satisfied with our careers right now. I mean who are we kidding? Slogging at work, feeling underpaid, zero job satisfaction and dealing with terrible colleagues ain't exactly what was listed in the job scope!

So yes, Im taking time off work right now to dream about what life could be about... Cotts. Driving down south. Wine tours. Cotts. BBQs. Cotts??

And just so I know there's more to Perth than what everyone thinks.
Here's proof there's life in Perth. Only if you dare.

Festivals & Events in Perth

January
Perth Cup, Ascot Racecourse: Jan 1
Australia Day Skyworks: 26th Jan
Hopman Cup: Burswood Dome Jan 6
Symphony at Sandalford, Swan Valley

February
City Food & Wine Festival
Perth International Arts Festival: Various locations, 9 Feb-4 March
Rottnest Channel Swim: 17 Feb
Swan Valley Midsummer Feast Festival: 16-18th

March
Auto One Classic Car Show, Whiteman ParkAwesome International Children's Festival
Crabfest, Mandurah: 1 -18thFestival of Melville: 11 March
Musselfest, Rockingham Rottnest Open Water Classic
Festival: Minnawarra Park, 13 March-April 1
West Coast Blues'n'Roots Music Festival: Fremantle March 31-April 1

April
Fremantle Children's Fiesta: Samson Park, April 1
Fremantle Street Arts Festival: Various locations, 7-16thAnzac Day Parade: April 25
Rottnest Island Triathlon: April 28Taste of the Valley: Swan Valley, 1-29th

May
Fremantle Heritage Festival: Various locations, 27 May-14 June
Stretch Art Festival, Mandurah

June

Winter Arts Festival: 1 June-31 Aug

September

Perth Royal Show: 29 Sept-6 Oct

Kings Park & Botanic Gardens Wildflower Festival: 28 Sept-2 Oct

October
Mandurah Boat & Fishing Show: 12-14th
Rottnest Marathon
Spring in the Valley: Swan Valley, 13-14th

November
Armadale Highland Gathering & Cycle Classic
Awesome Festival: Various locations, 16-25th
Beach to Bush Festival, Wanneroo
Darlington Arts Festival
Fremantle Festival
Houghton Winery Jazz Wine Picnic
Rockingham Spring Festival

December
Christmas in the City
Classic & Wooden Boat Festival
Cockburn Sound Regatta
Rottnest Swim Thru’
Summer Racing Carnival

I Miss Cotts.

I miss the view, the soft soft sand, the sun, oh the sun!!! And I definitely miss the fresh air. Deliciously good.