Home!

After the disappointment of the weekend, we decided we'd look around the area some more, and look at the other houses we had liked, and other options. We're praying hard that we'll find the right home soon!

We just walked past the agents on Playne Street - picking up brochures, and walked into Dawes First National. The agent gave us brochures of some houses, and then mentioned that a new home had come up for sale in the same neighbourhood of the other two houses we had put offers in on!

We drove up to the new house and absolutely loved it!

It's smaller than the other homes, but it has an absolutely gorgeous Australian bush garden out back, and we fell in love with it the moment we saw it.

So much so that the negotiations were short and sharp. To cut a long story short, we put in an offer on the house today, and just found out that the offer had been accepted!

We bought a house today! Can't wait to get it set up and have everyone visit!

The only bummer was that we would have to wait an extra month for the settlement - the lady selling the house needs to find alternate accommodation - but it means we have a little more time to sort out the finances!

 

House-hunting

We spent the last week looking around the suburbs for houses.

Went over to Upwey on Monday to look at some hill homes. The people are indeed very friendly and the place is beautiful, but owning a hill home seems to be a lot of work - lots of risk of bush-fires in the summer, and the yards are quite hard to maintain with all the falling leaves!

In the meanwhile, the temporary accomodation on Lonsdale Street was turning out to be too expensive, so we've been looking at other short-term rental options. Decided on a place in Brunswick which isn't cheap, but very convenient.

While Smitha went over to Brunswick to sort out the rental, I headed down to Frankston on Tuesday. We've been talking to some agents by email about interesting houses here - and we had an appointment with one of the agents. This place is quite beautiful and I think this is the better option compared to Upwey.

Came back to Frankston all this week - looked at over a dozen homes! The agents are quite friendly and the market is a buyer's market but not really desperate to sell. We were able to find a few homes we liked and we took time every evening to stack-rank the houses we had seen.

Here's a rainbow we caught from the car of one of the real-estate agents as they ferried us around the houses.

On Saturday, Marcus came along with us to Frankston to check out some of the open houses. We put an offer in on one of the houses we liked most.

This morning we found out that the house we had put an offer on had counter-signed the offer. Before negotiating, we decided we'd put an offer in on another house in the same neighbourhood. Called up the agent and put in the offer.

We just found out that the offer on the second home was bested by someone else - by a sliver. I guess this means we aren't going to get either of these houses. We really liked the second home...

Goodbye Lonsdale, Hello Brunswick

The view from the Lonsdale Street place was awesome - here's a sunrise taken from the balcony!

We moved into the Brunswick Road apartment today. Thanks to Christine for giving us the link to this place!

14 June 08 - The Travels (and travails) of Marcus

Bought a weekly Zone 1+2 pass to do the house-hunt next week. Decided that we should go over some of the suburbs to check them out again.

Called Marcus at 11:00 AM and woke him up! Told him we should head out to the outer suburbs before sundown.

Went over to the Library and started compiling lists of real-estate agents to call. Came back to the apartment after the library and ate lunch - sandwiches, leftover casserole and fruit. By now it was 1:00 PM, and we were still waiting for Marcus. He finally arrived - and still hadn't had anything to eat.

Walked over to Flinders Street Station, and popped into Flora's - an Indian restaurant which reinforced every experience I've had of Indian food outside India - for Marcus' lunch. When we finally left Flora's at 2:00 PM and walked across the street to the station, where we found out that the next Belgrave train was at 2:30 - barely 3 hours before dark. I was quite frustrated that the whole day was more-or-less gone before we even started.

The Saturday schedule on the Belgrave line consists of a Lilydale service, with a synchronized spur service off Ringwood to Belgrave, and it took about 15 minutes longer than the usual hour.

We got off at Upwey and walked up the street, taking in the cool air, the fresh smell of the trees, the sound of sulphur-crested cockatoos and king parrots as they flew in formation around the trees. Definitely breathtaking in more ways than one!

The property we wanted to look at was a sharp uphill walk from the station. The place itself was not attractive looking but the view around the area was phenomenal. Both Smitha and Marcus were apprehensive about the region though - given its distance from the city and the remote, hill-country feel. Personally, though, it takes me back to a happier time - back to the wooded hills of New Hampshire and Vermont, and the simple wisdom and charm of the people who live there.

Stopped off at a real-estate agent's office on the way back to Upwey station, just to get a feel for the people and the available houses. He took us to see a beautiful house - too big and expensive for us - and we decided to head back home. It was already dark even though it was only around 5:30 PM.

We got off at Spencer Street, headed over to the Crown Casino Food Court for a doner kebab, parted ways with Marcus and headed for home.

As we walked back home from Parliament Station, we called Tabitha and sang her a Happy Birthday - she was thrilled - and then called and talked to the families at home in India.

Then we sat down and took stock of the day...

We'll go over the same checklist of things we're looking for in a home for any of the houses we'll consider - distance from the city, distance from the railway station to the home, distance to church, grocery stores, hospitals, the cost factor, the construction quality, the size of the home, the general value for money and other factors which aren't so tangible like safety, security and the attractiveness of the area.

That in mind, next week should be interesting - we've lined up at least a dozen agents in the Upwey, Frankston and Berwick areas, and hopefully we'll be able to get a nice home soon!

13 June 08 - Friday the Thirteenth

Slept in till 9:30 this morning. Decided to have brunch before heading out to the city - famous Aussie lamb sausages. While I cooked up the sausages, Smitha packed our bags and tidied the place up, because we may have to move to a place in St. Kilda tomorrow morning.

Yet another day hunting for Internet access. Walked over to "Australia on Collins" - a massive mall on Collins Street - where there's free access for everyone but no power points. Checked mail and sent off a bunch of messages.

Left around half-past-three for St. Kilda - tram 96 from Bourke Street. It took an awfully long time to finally reach Hotel Esplanade, by which time we had received three increasingly agitated calls from the agent exclaiming she'd been waiting for us! When we finally met her, she exuded such a thorny demeanour that I'd decided that there was no way we were dealing with this woman! Despite her protestations that she was a "precise" woman, she hadn't any details about whether we had to pay bills, and generally speaking, spoke extremely rudely! Called her up from the tram on the way back to decline her graceless offer!

Met Marcus at our apartment. Went over to the Elephant and Wheelbarrow for a pint of Guinness. It was nice to savour the bitter taste and take in the noise and bustle of an English pub on football night. Walked up and down the streets looking for a place to eat. Finally wandered into the local Greek Restaurant and had a wonderful meal of grilled lamb and chicken, those famous Greek dips - tzatziki, taramasalata, hummus and babaghanouj - with pita bread.

Wonderful evening!

12 June 08 - Part 1 : Roaming Around The Countryside

Woke up early today. Walked over to the State Library and tried to get in with the laptop bag. The library staff are capricious about letting in that bag - the last time they let me go in, and today they asked me to check it into a locker because it didn't fit the silly frame.

Had a coffee at Starbucks and thought I'd get wireless access there - but found out that you need a Telstra connection to get that. Gave up on checking mail today.

Bought a Zone 1+2 day pass and decided to do some scouting around the area.

First off towards Belgrave - we'd seen a couple of places out in Upper Fern Tree Gully and Upwey and we wanted to see how long it would take to travel there and back. As the train made its way towards the outer suburbs, we were struck by how quiet the suburbs are. Melbourne itself isn't a bustling city - not like New York or London or even Sydney - but the 'burbs are right quiet!

Starting at Boronia, we got views of the mountains and the forests that make up the Dandenongs. The train was mostly empty by now - our carriage had a couple of high-school kids listening to music and making out.

Boronia - Ferntree Gully - Upper Ferntree Gully - Upwey - Tecoma - Belgrave

The views are amazing! The train runs along the flank of a mountain with the tops of trees below it on one side, and more trees towering up on the other. It would be amazing to live here - if only it wasn't an hour outside the city!

Belgrave Station Street is a short stretch of little curio shops and restaurants and real-estate agent offices. We have a Fish 'n Chips lunch sold by a friendly but miserly Greek vendor at one of the restaurants on the street. Walked back down to the station after lunch and took the train back to Richmond.

From Richmond we took the Frankston Line to see that side of the country. It's now around 3:00 and some of the schools seem to be letting out. The train goes on towards Aspendale and the suburbs we think we might to live in.

Aspendale - Edithvale - Chelsea - Bonbeach - Carrum - Seaford - Kannanook

The train runs along the Nepean Highway - we get glimpses of the turquoise ocean and the beach. Again - it would be lovely to live here. There are even a few "For Sale" signs up - we need to call Dan, the real-estate agent we've been in touch with from when we were in India.

The school kids on the train are lively and noisy, and they all seem to live within a few stops of school. There seem to be a lot more people living in these suburbs than on the Belgrave line, I think.

We reach Frankston and it starts to rain. This area has a rugged maritime beauty to it - sand and sea and gray sky pouring with rain.

It's only a 20 minute bus-ride to Dandenong City from here and we take the bus from just outside the station. Acres of quiet green farmland go by and the bus weaves in and out of bus-stops marking out the little streets crossing the highway. We reach Dandenong and get in to the station to get to Berwick.

The 4:20 to Berwick was cancelled - the next one is about 30 minutes later but lands up being delayed a quarter of an hour more. When it arrives it's crowded. Everyone is quite upset with the delays and two school girls on the train are confused about the station they want to get off. The display on the train says that the next station was the one that went by six stations ago! When they finally realize that they needed to get off where we got on, they're hysterical...

We finally arrive at Berwick and wait at the station for our friend to pick us up...

11 June 08 - Wandering around Melbourne

Woke up around 7:30 AM. Smitha made scrambled eggs and tea for breakfast.

Walked down to Bourke Street and took the tram to South Melbourne to get to York Street. Went to the Centrelink building but was told there was no need for me to register at all! Silly Marcus. Walked back and took the tram to Parliament. Went to the ATO and signed up for the TFN. Walked down to the apartment and had lunch - ham and cheese and fruit. Opened the bank account.

Since we had a few hours to kill and a Zone 1 day-pass in our hands, we decided to take a train out of Southern Cross as far as we could on the Frankston line - all the way to Bentleigh. The sun was setting by the time we reached, and we walked up and down the main street, looking at all the closed shops and the lighted, but empty, real-estate offices. It sure gets sleepy outside the city.

We came back to Southern Cross and took the tram over to Crown Casino to meet Marcus for dinner there. The buffet has a great spread and we were stuffed by the time we left - it was nice to have carved ham slices again. Walked around and down the bank of the Yarra river and waited for the tram back. Walked back to Lonsdale at 11:00 pm but we felt quite safe.

It was a long day and we had a blast!

10 June 08 - First Day In Melbourne

Woke up at 11:00 AM - needed all that sleep, and besides, that's 5:30 AM Indian time! - the rest was most welcome though.

Walked up to the DIMIA office at the corner of Spring and Lonsdale - got directions to the closest Centrelink Office (York Street or Footscray). Walked back down to Commonwealth Bank and found out details about getting a bank account. Then off to Safeway to do a proper grocery run and get something for lunch.

Found some wonderful Washington cherries and a couple of apples, rocket lettuce, swiss cheese and ham, crusty sesame rolls and some egg-salad from the deli. Came back to the apartment and made ham & cheese sandwiches for lunch.

Walked to the State Library after lunch. It's such a pleasure to go back to a proper library and be surrounded by books and music and people reading and studying - I'd quite forgotten the feeling after my college days and I must say I was very happy to be back.

Stopped off in the QV building and managed to get a post-paid connection with a phone for Smitha and a pre-paid SIM for myself. Now we are no longer incommunicado! Called Marcus who was waiting for us by that time at the apartment. Hung out with Marcus for a while, and then cooked dinner (green-pepper and sausage casserole) and ate. Tasmanian Butter is yummy.

Hello From Melbourne

Arrived in Tullamarine after a couple hours to change planes in Bangkok.

Thai Airways air service was average in every way - below-average in terms of food - but ok otherwise. The lack of fluency in English really shows in the way the air service staff interact with the passengers. Watched "Horton Hears A Who" and a few episodes of "Prison Break" and got to sleep on the BKK-MEL sector with an extra free seat between us. The good thing I could say was that we landed roughly on time in both Bangkok and Melbourne.

Melbourne immigration staff was friendly and efficient. Customs and immigration were a breeze, and we stepped out into the cool Melbourne air an hour or so before I thought we would.

Took a taxi from the airport to Lonsdale Street - cost us 55 bucks but I didn't have a choice! Had to wait on the street with all the baggage for Marcus and the manager of the little studio apartment we're renting. Marcus arrived to meet us after we waited for 20 minutes on the street and the manager soon after. The apartment is on the 12th floor, and is cute and surprisingly comfortable. The view out onto Lonsdale Street and the edge of China Town is beautiful.

Marcus walked with us to get some basic supplies - eggs, milk and cereal - for tomorrow's breakfast. It's quite cool outside - around 12 degrees C - and Smitha and I were very happy to have a warm bed for the night.

We'll get to see Melbourne in daylight tomorrow...

Leaving From Bangalore

We're leaving today for Melbourne via Bangkok.

Got to fly out from the "spanking new" BIAL airport. The drive up here from home was pretty peaceful, since we live on the outside of the Ring Road and don't have to deal with any traffic to get to the airport.

Goodbyes are always hard, and today was no different. The whole family turned up to send us off (and given the number of times we've said goodbye, to make sure we would finally leave!)

The airport is nice - not great, but nice. The staff who work here, though, think no end of themselves.

We had weight issues with at baggage counter, and the Thai Airways manager - an constipated-looking twerp with the face of a squashed beetle - was the most arrogant of all, and was not even courteous enough to look at me when we were trying to point out that the variation was under 10% (a reasonable expectation given the rough and tumble that the scales go though). He walked away when I asked him to escalate the issue, and it turned out that he was the senior-most cretin working the night. Asking them for a feedback form was met with "we have no customer-feedback form". I was seething by the time I was done with him and we took off the bags, removed about 7 kilos of stuff into a bag which we gave to our folks who were still waiting outside, and were put through the whole rigmarole of standing in line again! And when we finally reached the head of the line, we were asked to even weigh the carry-on baggage!

This is the last time I'll be dealing with Thai Airways. I'm sorry they're part of Star Alliance - I should've taken the Qantas ticket and taken the miles on my frequent-flyer account there!

The rest of the check-in procedure was a breeze. The emigration staff were courteous and efficient and very cooperative (I've only two free pages in my passport and I generally ask them to stamp their stuff on an otherwise occupied page. The security check was over before it began, and the lounge is nice and spacious. Free Internet Access (for only an hour, natch!) means that you get to see this post fresh off the presses.

They've just called for boarding and I'm going to rush. This will be the last post from Bangalore for a while now! See you from the other side of the equator!