Comments for The Good Oil: Living in Australia as an Expat http://tgo.elated.com Expat adventures Down Under Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:34:57 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Cheap eats: Eating out in Australia by Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/05/cheap-eats-eating-out-in-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-2074 Matt Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:34:57 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/05/cheap-eats-eating-out-in-australia/#comment-2074 @Jennie: Another fellow Reading-dweller makes the move! Excellent! :) Never went to the Everest (Tilehurst I believe?) - I lived in East Reading where there were quite a few good options. Can't remember all the names now! There was a great takeaway at Cemetery Junction. We used to have a fantastic Indian at the end of our road in Sydney's Northern Beaches (Dee Why Indian) though it's not as good now as it used to be. Zaaffran in Darling Harbour (Sydney again) is excellent, though a tad expensive: http://www.zaaffran.com.au/ If you're ever in the Blue Mountains then the Arjuna is very good quality, although the food isn't spicy enough for my liking (like a lot of Aussie curry houses in fact!): http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/arjuna-indian-restaurant/ Hadn't heard of cakeage, but I have now! Ridiculous... @Jennie: Another fellow Reading-dweller makes the move! Excellent! :)

Never went to the Everest (Tilehurst I believe?) – I lived in East Reading where there were quite a few good options. Can’t remember all the names now! There was a great takeaway at Cemetery Junction.

We used to have a fantastic Indian at the end of our road in Sydney’s Northern Beaches (Dee Why Indian) though it’s not as good now as it used to be.

Zaaffran in Darling Harbour (Sydney again) is excellent, though a tad expensive: http://www.zaaffran.com.au/

If you’re ever in the Blue Mountains then the Arjuna is very good quality, although the food isn’t spicy enough for my liking (like a lot of Aussie curry houses in fact!): http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/arjuna-indian-restaurant/

Hadn’t heard of cakeage, but I have now! Ridiculous…

]]> Comment on Australia: A tough country for vegetarians by Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/17/australia-a-tough-country-for-vegetarians/comment-page-1/#comment-2073 Matt Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:28:00 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/17/australia-a-tough-country-for-vegetarians/#comment-2073 @stephanie: Welcome to Australia, and thanks for posting all your experiences. Good luck with the whole veggie thing over here. It's certainly a culture shock isn't it! My wife says it's better now than it was a few years ago. But it still surprises me. On the weekend we went to a chip shop in Ulladulla, which used to at least do veggie burgers. This time when I asked for something vegetarian they were quite taken aback! (New management I think.) I got offered Greek salad, chips, or... chicken. No kidding! @Jennie: Best of luck with your vegan adventures! I have a couple of vegan mates in the UK and they find it hard enough over there. Must be... challenging... in Australia. ;) @stephanie: Welcome to Australia, and thanks for posting all your experiences. Good luck with the whole veggie thing over here. It’s certainly a culture shock isn’t it! My wife says it’s better now than it was a few years ago. But it still surprises me. On the weekend we went to a chip shop in Ulladulla, which used to at least do veggie burgers. This time when I asked for something vegetarian they were quite taken aback! (New management I think.) I got offered Greek salad, chips, or… chicken. No kidding!

@Jennie: Best of luck with your vegan adventures! I have a couple of vegan mates in the UK and they find it hard enough over there. Must be… challenging… in Australia. ;)

]]> Comment on Where to live: Bellingen? by Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/24/where-to-live-bellingen/comment-page-1/#comment-2072 Matt Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:34:50 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/24/where-to-live-bellingen/#comment-2072 @Leah: Sounds like quite an adventure! I hope you find somewhere suitable. There are lots of beautiful spots up and down the east coast. Do let me know how you got on with your trip. @Denise: Thanks for relating your Bellingen experience. It's great to hear from someone who moved there and stuck around. Funnily enough we moved to somewhere not far away from Wollongong in the end! (http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/) But maybe one day we'll move to Bello. It's so beautiful up there. @Leah: Sounds like quite an adventure! I hope you find somewhere suitable. There are lots of beautiful spots up and down the east coast. Do let me know how you got on with your trip.

@Denise: Thanks for relating your Bellingen experience. It’s great to hear from someone who moved there and stuck around. Funnily enough we moved to somewhere not far away from Wollongong in the end! (http://tgo.elated.com/2008/07/16/were-moving-to-robertson/) But maybe one day we’ll move to Bello. It’s so beautiful up there.

]]> Comment on Cheap eats: Eating out in Australia by Jennie http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/05/cheap-eats-eating-out-in-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-2070 Jennie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:45:14 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/05/cheap-eats-eating-out-in-australia/#comment-2070 One last: I also hate "Cakeage" fees. Encountered these yet? One last: I also hate “Cakeage” fees. Encountered these yet?

]]> Comment on Cheap eats: Eating out in Australia by Jennie http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/05/cheap-eats-eating-out-in-australia/comment-page-1/#comment-2069 Jennie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:44:19 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/05/cheap-eats-eating-out-in-australia/#comment-2069 I didn't realise you were from Reading! Snap! Did you ever try The Everest Tandoori? Best.Curry.Ever. And it was never that expensive. I am forever trying to find a half decent Indian restaurant over here (Hills district area... although I am 100 per cent willing to trek out to North Sydney/Victoria/Hobart/Wherever to get a proper vindaloo). Suggestions? I didn’t realise you were from Reading! Snap!
Did you ever try The Everest Tandoori? Best.Curry.Ever. And it was never that expensive. I am forever trying to find a half decent Indian restaurant over here (Hills district area… although I am 100 per cent willing to trek out to North Sydney/Victoria/Hobart/Wherever to get a proper vindaloo).
Suggestions?

]]> Comment on Australia: A tough country for vegetarians by Jennie http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/17/australia-a-tough-country-for-vegetarians/comment-page-1/#comment-2068 Jennie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:06:53 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/05/17/australia-a-tough-country-for-vegetarians/#comment-2068 Thank goodness someone else has also noticed this! I emigrated about five years ago from the UK (I'm a Berkshire lass), and was completely shocked at the lack of vego food on offer. About two years ago I took the plunge to veganism- and pretty much I live on veggies now and perhaps the occasional sanitarium tin of nutolene. I make pretty much all my food from scratch. Nightmare. Thank goodness someone else has also noticed this!
I emigrated about five years ago from the UK (I’m a Berkshire lass), and was completely shocked at the lack of vego food on offer.
About two years ago I took the plunge to veganism- and pretty much I live on veggies now and perhaps the occasional sanitarium tin of nutolene.
I make pretty much all my food from scratch. Nightmare.

]]> Comment on Where to live: Bellingen? by Denise http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/24/where-to-live-bellingen/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Denise Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:32:45 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/24/where-to-live-bellingen/#comment-2067 Hi, I have lived in Bellingen for the past 21 years, coming from Wollongong with my husband and two young boys. Our boys have since grown and yes, they have moved away, but they love to come home to the community that welcomed us back them. They often comment on their idealic childhood in this wonderful town, which I'm sure contributed to their creative talents and 'realness' as human beings. We have lived out of town and in town at various times, and have not ever been bothered by the floods - actually it's a very social time and a time where we think of how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful environment where water is plentiful. I'm sure that no matter where you live in this point in time there will be drug issues. I am a local teacher, and I am so proud to say I have taught countless intelligent, loving and talented children in our town. We are privileged to live in such a supportive and vibrant community. You'll love it - hope it doesn't grow too big though! Hi,
I have lived in Bellingen for the past 21 years, coming from Wollongong with my husband and two young boys. Our boys have since grown and yes, they have moved away, but they love to come home to the community that welcomed us back them. They often comment on their idealic childhood in this wonderful town, which I’m sure contributed to their creative talents and ‘realness’ as human beings. We have lived out of town and in town at various times, and have not ever been bothered by the floods – actually it’s a very social time and a time where we think of how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful environment where water is plentiful. I’m sure that no matter where you live in this point in time there will be drug issues. I am a local teacher, and I am so proud to say I have taught countless intelligent, loving and talented children in our town. We are privileged to live in such a supportive and vibrant community. You’ll love it – hope it doesn’t grow too big though!

]]> Comment on Moving from Sydney: What we’re after by Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/comment-page-1/#comment-2065 Matt Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:50:08 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-2065 @Kath: Glad the info helped. Good luck in your search! :) @Kath: Glad the info helped. Good luck in your search! :)

]]> Comment on Moving from Sydney: What we’re after by Kath http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/comment-page-1/#comment-2064 Kath Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:58:41 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-2064 Thanks Matt. Info is great. Thirroul has come up a bit during research so might have another look and will definitely check out Bundeena. Not considering Campbelltown but like the idea of the performing arts high school and is only 45 mins from some areas of Wollongong. Yes, I think Jervis Bay is beautiful and it may be that we need to go a little further afield. I have been to Robertson and it is a beautiful part of the world but I am not overly keen on the cooler weather! Thanks again - will keep looking and hopefully, like yourselves, find our own little piece of paradise... Cheers! Thanks Matt. Info is great.

Thirroul has come up a bit during research so might have another look and will definitely check out Bundeena.

Not considering Campbelltown but like the idea of the performing arts high school and is only 45 mins from some areas of Wollongong.

Yes, I think Jervis Bay is beautiful and it may be that we need to go a little further afield.

I have been to Robertson and it is a beautiful part of the world but I am not overly keen on the cooler weather!

Thanks again – will keep looking and hopefully, like yourselves, find our own little piece of paradise…

Cheers!

]]> Comment on Moving from Sydney: What we’re after by Matt http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/comment-page-1/#comment-2063 Matt Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:14:50 +0000 http://tgo.elated.com/2007/09/18/moving-from-sydney-what-were-after/#comment-2063 @Kath: I think some Wollongong northern suburbs are OK - Thirroul seems nice, for example. A mate of mine says Bundeena (small township on the coast just south of Syd) is beautiful, though it's about 1h15 to Syd CBD. I suspect it's reasonably expensive though, and not near anything major. Campbelltown is a bit too "suburban" for my tastes (and a long way from the water!). Not somewhere I would choose to live. It's hard finding the right spot, especially if you're on a budget and want to live anywhere near Sydney that's near the water. I can sympathise! Personally I would look further afield, eg Jervis Bay is beautiful. It's 2h45 from Sydney but that's just about doable for a weekend trip visiting family. Gerringong is nice too. I like where we moved to (Robertson, Southern Highlands). It's affordable, and it's 1h40 to Syd CBD on the M5 (non-peak!), 35 mins to Kiama and 1h15 to Jervis Bay. If you don't mind the cooler weather and a bit of fog then it's perfect. :) @Kath:

I think some Wollongong northern suburbs are OK – Thirroul seems nice, for example.

A mate of mine says Bundeena (small township on the coast just south of Syd) is beautiful, though it’s about 1h15 to Syd CBD. I suspect it’s reasonably expensive though, and not near anything major.

Campbelltown is a bit too “suburban” for my tastes (and a long way from the water!). Not somewhere I would choose to live.

It’s hard finding the right spot, especially if you’re on a budget and want to live anywhere near Sydney that’s near the water. I can sympathise!

Personally I would look further afield, eg Jervis Bay is beautiful. It’s 2h45 from Sydney but that’s just about doable for a weekend trip visiting family. Gerringong is nice too.

I like where we moved to (Robertson, Southern Highlands). It’s affordable, and it’s 1h40 to Syd CBD on the M5 (non-peak!), 35 mins to Kiama and 1h15 to Jervis Bay. If you don’t mind the cooler weather and a bit of fog then it’s perfect. :)

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