I love eating out and just 2 years ago, I fell inlove with Japanese food, why just recently? because i thought japanese food consist of only "raw fish or meat", silly me i know....I eat out at least twice a week for the last 3 years now and my favorite is trying out small but great restos around town...
Last saturday night, after a week of overtime and deadlines, i decided to treat some of my "teenage girls" (daughters of my cellgroup friends). I wanted to take them to town but didn't want to drive 30 minutes in a bad weather, so decided to try out one of the local japanese resto, Yaruki...it's a small restaurant next to National Bank, along Great North Road in Henderson center....I parked my car in the off-street parking outside it (30 min. free) then moved it at the back of the building.
We enter the restaurant and greeted by charming staff, its small and already packed at 6:00pm, they suggested we take the table upstairs, we are a party of 5...Upstairs, its decorated with assortment of japanese dolls, umbrellas etc...We ordered briefly and decided to get different foods to sample...One katsu ($16.00) dinner box for Abigayle, Chicken Karaage&Tempura ($20.50) for Shamaine, Sushi assorted ($13.00) for Claudine, Octopus balls x2 ($13.00) for Diane and I ordered Sukiyaki ($20.00) (hot pot). Our food arrived after 15 minutes, i find it quick and just delighted to start eating as we were hungry.
After our dinner, we all agree that the food was great, quick service, charming staff and the cost is reasonable. The only downside was the rice included in the Chicken Karaage/Teriyaki was too small for one person.
But overall, it was a good restaurant, my personal rating will be " 4 stars" (1-poor, 5- excellent)...
I decided to apply for my visa 2 months before my flight, that's the most important tip in getting a visa anywhere, if you can get it ahead of time, better.
Next, google, yahoo search is the best tool in preparing for the requirements.
http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration/ check all required documents.
http://www.australia.com.ph/mnla/home.html (for applications made in the philippines)
There are two types of tourist visa in OZ, one is called "e-visa" and the paper type application.
Unfortunately, Philippine passport holder can't apply for an e-visa. So, I have to the manual application.
Checklist : http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/_pdf/676-visa-checklist.pdf , just complete the required documents and getting a stamp is as easy as eating ice cream.
Copy of air ticket, accomodation booking, bank statement and letter from employer are the most important document for them to check, also don't forget to get a copy of your travel insurance.
After completing all the documents, I went to the conuslate in Auckland @
Australian Consulate - General Level 7, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Tower
186 - 194 Quay Street.
Its inside the big building across Westfield, I arrive before 9:00 am, so that I will be first in qeue, but there are at least 10 people already there. No problem as the "guard" told me its not a busy day, "Wednesday". After waiting for an hour, I was called by the guy behind the desk and started the lodgement of my application. It only took less than 10 minutes and he told me If i want to wait for the visa or just come back the next day and pick it up. I opted for the option of picking it up the next day as I want to go to Westfield and "windowshop"(LOL).
The next day 9:30 am, I was in the Consulate and picking up my visa, easy and cheap...there's only one thing left, "experience and enjoy OZ"...
