Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Monday, July 03, 2017

Melbourne 2017: Myki Card

10:57 AM Australia , blog 2 Comments


Before my trip to Melbourne a few weeks ago, I did a lot of research about their transport system and how to use the Myki card. Aside from checking their official site (https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki), I've checked out a lot of blog posts too as it can get really confusing on how to use the card.

I spent 3 days in Melbourne and below are some of the basic things you need to know about using the Myki card:

Where to buy?





I bought mine at the PTV Hub area as soon as I arrived at the Southern Cross station. Once you get off the Skybus & enter the station, you will see a ticket office on your right. Note that this is only for Myki top ups & they don't sell the card itself. You'd have to walk to the far end of the station until you see the PTV Hub kiosk to buy & top up your Myki card.
Update as of November 2018: You can now buy your Myki Card at the ticket office on your right, after you enter the Southern Cross Station from the SkyBus arrival area. They accept cash and card for payment.
Aside from the PTV hub station, you can also purchase the card from other premium train/tram stations & 711 stores.


How much is the card?


The card cost $6 AUD after which you can top up with either Myki money or Myki pass. 

 For tourists, they recommend the Myki Explorer package ($15 AUD) which includes the following:
  • Myki Card
  • Myki Money $9 AUD
  • Maps 
  • Souvenir Wallet
I bought the Myki Explorer as I only have a day to spend outside the free tram zone, and the $9 AUD is just enough for a days travel using the Myki card.

Topping up your Myki Card


 A Myki card can be topped up with either Myki Money or Myki Pass (see which one is for you in detail here). For travelers, Myki Money is the choice here and the amount of how much 'money' to load will depend on your itinerary. 

 You can top up you card on Myki machines located in tram/train stations & 711 stores.

How much Myki money should I top up?



 They have a 2-hour fare ($4.10 AUD) & a daily cap fare ($8.20 AUD). Maximize your Myki money by planning your itinerary wisely - identify which Zones the places you want to visit are located at & place them on the same day. This way, you can travel all day anywhere within Zones 1 and 2 for a fixed amount. Take advantage of the free trams around the area, and should you need to use your Myki, it would be more economical & convenient to use the daily cap instead of the 2-hour fare.

When to tap on and off?



 If you are only traveling within the free tram zone area, no need to use your Myki and tap on or off. However, when your journey includes any station from Zones 1 & 2, you need to tap on & off.

Sample Scenario: 

 From CBD area -coming from D2 Central Pier station, you'd like to go to St Kilda Beach and the nearest tram station is Stop 136 The Esplanade (St Kilda).

 1. From D2 Central Pier station, take Tram 35 (City Circle) and get off at Stop 1 Spencer St/Flinders St. As this is still within the Free Tram Zone area, NO NEED to tap on or off.
2. From Stop 1, walk towards Stop 124 Batman Park/Spencer St.
3. Take Tram 96 (St Kilda Beach) and tap ON your Myki Card. 
4. Tap OFF your Myki card before getting off at Stop 136 Esplanade.

Note though that even if you forgot to tap on or off on stations you should have, the maximum amount it will deduct your Myki card is almost the same as the daily cap fare. So for me, as a traveler, it would be less confusing if you just take the daily fare & visit the places outside the free tram area on the same day.












 
 
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Monday, May 15, 2017

Reminders when Applying for an Australian Tourist Visa 2017

6:25 AM 2017 travel , Australia 0 Comments

I have plans to visit the land down under so we went to VFS at Ecoplaza Building in Makati to submit our documents to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa (Subclass 600).

 Aside from checking directly on their site the documents required for this application: http://www.vfsglobal.com/australia/philippines/, there are also a ton of blog posts where you can read about the requirements. I've listed below what I recently submitted & what to take note of:

Required Documents

➥Form 1419 

1. Make sure to use black pen or if you are not keen on writing anymore, you can just edit the PDF file & print like what a normal, lazy and millennial person would do.
2. Paste 1 passport-size photo
3. No need to enter N/A for blank fields

➥Subclass 600 Checklist form

Same with Form 1419 except no need to paste or attach a passport-size photo


➥Xerox copy of my NSO-certified Birth Certificate

See my post about the different ways of getting your NSO-certified birth certificate.

➥Manager's Check

1. Most preferably from either BPI or BDO but you can get it from any bank as long as its a commercial & not a rural bank. You need to have an existing/active account with the bank before you can request one.
2. As of this writing, payable amount should be Php 5,300. Note that amount indicated on the check must be in PHP
3. The Pay to the order of value should be addressed to Australian Embassy. They will not accept your check if it states otherwise.
4. Depends on the bank, but BDO charges Php 50 per check. You have the option to either pay it in cash or debit it from your account.

➥Xerox copy of my Passport pages

1. Make sure to xerox the front, back and all pages with stamps and visas on it.
2. If you have an older passport with stamps and visa, xerox copy that as well even if it's already expired. 

➥Xerox copy of ITR

➥Xerox/Printed copy of Payslip (1 month)

➥Bank Certificate

There is no recommended amount but remember that they ask for this information so they can be assured you can sustain yourself financially while you are traveling to their country. So depends on how long your stay will be, make sure your bank account - at least for the visa application - is enough for your day to day activity in Australia.

➥Latest copy of my credit card statement 

Make sure it indicates the current credit limit

➥Invitation letter & other supporting documents from your contact in Australia

1. My friend provided us with a Statutory Declaration (which serves as an Invitation letter) stating that she will be responsible for our stay/accommodation in Australia. 
2. Statutory Declaration form can be downloaded here. 
3. Additional documents provided was a xerox copy of passport, copy of visa grant, school IDs, receipts, etc. 

 Basically for Visa Application, you just need to prove that 1. you have the financial capacity to visit their country during your travel dates and 2. you have no intention of overstaying & will definitely be back to your home country. So any other documents you can provide to help you on this will help.

Submitting Documents

Note: We applied & submitted via the VFS office and not directly to the Australian Embassy. It usually speeds up the process but you still have the option to apply directly or to the AU Embassy.

 1. You can have the option of either scheduling an appointment via their site or go there directly and queue as walk-in. 
2. Upon entering the VFS office, there are specific lanes for each country of visa application, for Australia, it's the first lane on the left after the entrance.
3. After logging in and taking a queue number, you will be asked to enter another room (just beside the first counter) and wait for your number to be called. If you scheduled an appointment, you can go directly to counter 1 or 2.
4. Aside from the xerox copies that you will submit, its best to bring the original documents as well just in case they have questions. For us, they didn't even bother to check our original documents or passport.
5. On the manager's check, they will ask you to write down your name & passport number at the back. 
6. You need to pay a  processing fee of Php 637.00 (additional cost if you opt to subscribe to their SMS update).
7. Wait for the receipt & make sure to check if the name & email address to where they can send the VISA is correct.

 The actual result is expected to arrive in a month but there instances when it can only take 3 days or 2 weeks to receive the result. Mine took 2 weeks and happy to say that it was approved :) Australia issues a label-free visa so you'd have to constantly check your email with the visa grant notice attachment. Make sure to print the visa grant or have a soft copy on your phone as you will need to show this at immigration.
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