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Entering Melbourne

After 15 years leaving that country with a tons of regret that I didn't use my time to explore other city other than Perth. Guess melbourne is a start.

Locked in return ticket KL melb a year go for IDR 3 million, was pretty good deal during eid fitri, and KL jakarta for IDR 280,000 with traveloka error fare. Until this is written, JKT KL is still free waiting for result of dispute between Kiwi and visa/master international.

Started full time job 2 months prior didn't make any easier in making Australia visa as it is known as the "hardest" the get after USA for Indonesian, but successfully get 3 years multiple entry visa for IDR 1.8 million, price if logging in ourself in VFS will only cost IDR 1.6 million.

Drama didn't end on ticket only but the trip itself, leaving the country without itinerary is the first time in whole my trips, although we basically have searched what we would like to explore. Only with 2 first nights hotel bookings in Great Southern Hotel we flew to Melbourne via KL.


Gidday Oz, beautiful sunrise welcomed us in Melbourne with a longgggggg queue in immigration. Experience with immigration of Australia will be one of the unique one, most of people that have been visited oz will know this country didn't allow us to bring in any kind of non commercial packed food or food with natural ingredients, read carefully the declare form and better declare if not sure rather than being fined for wrongful assumptions. I actually didn't bring anything but powder milk and still taking declare lane so after almost an hour queue in immigration for passport scan and chop, another 20 mins queue on goods declaration late. Can be said the longest ever airport process I ever experience till today, taking aside 15 years ago process in the same country.

We directly approached the airport tourist center after all the tiring process, and made quite a deal which this is not recommended because after all we found some was better deal in the hotel, but between tiring and afraid of trapping into "no programs" days, I was unlike myself for this trip.

Total spent in the center:
- 3 full days tour package of Mt. Buller, Great Ocean Road, puffing billy for 335 AUD
- 4 nights in Miami Hotel and Space Hotel for 532 AUD for 2 persons. Since we use credit card for this, there was 2% surcharge, this is additional reason why buying in this tourist center is not recommended
- skybus to city for 19 USD
- vodaphone SIM card with 6G Data for 40 AUD, options with 2GB data for 30 AUD
- myki card for free, lend to us since if we buy new one that will be 6 AUD for this non refundable card 

Nevertheless...we are ready to explore the city 






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