Australian FJ Anniversary Rally; March 8, 2014

[X-Ray]

I'll be there! Probably won't be able to party into the night as I think my girls will be coming up with me to visit the beach that day, so will want to return home at some point,  .  So I get to go to lunch, they go to the beach, pick me up later and drive me home, woo hoo.

[oz.fj]

I hope this does not sound too much like a broken record but I really need to know exactly who will be able to attend the lunch on the above mentioned time and place....please let me know.........come matey's....hands up...(please)...... or if you prefer.........JUMP UP 
[/quote]

I'll do my very best to make Kev 
Darran

[CanDman]

sound greats fellas.......I am so looking forward to this....not only the rally...but the entire month I will be there........I have very few words to express how profoundly touched and humbled I am by such a warm and gracious display of genuine hospitality. It is going to be a wild ride. I will look forward to meeting as many of you as I can....whether on the Saturday lunch or the rally or any other venue that pops up during my stay. I am hoping that there is at least one golfer among you as I have decided to bring my sticks along with me...... 13 days and counting... 
Kev 

[wog57]

HI All FJer"s I am interested if any one is coming down the south coast to the FJ party. I'm at Nowra about 4 hours from the destination depending on the way we go. I am planning to leave on Friday round 10am so if you are interested in meeting up contact me on 0400558150 or email me on ducati450single@gmail.com.
Cheers
Wog57
Joe 

[X-Ray]

Just remember to keep the front door shut, even when it's really hot.

Aren't they cute? Heres a great carpet snake coming into the annex of our caravan while we were on holidays recently. He just came in, had a look, waited for me to grab some photos then ambled off into the grass behind the van. Probably 8 and a half feet long, beautiful markings on him/her 



Here here is slithering off into the grass



Then of course when we got home Christmas day, we found that one of our resident tree snakes was having Christmas lunch as well. You can see one of our little green tree frogs legs hanging out of his mouth, 

[Timbo-1]

OK seeing we are doing the snake thing...
http://www.forum.fjr13.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5393

[CanDman]

      Brain Salad Surgery anyone........



             Texas Park Road 4 on BMW K1200LT

[pdxfj]

Well.. one week until I'm on a plane heading that direction.. Mostly ready to go..


For those who have not done an international trip like this before you'll need a couple of things to help make life easier before landing in Australia.

An hour or so before arrival you'll be handed customs and immigration forms.  Bring with you a pen to write with and the Name, Address and Telephone number of someone you're staying with.

Be careful of what food you bring in.  There are a lot of restricted items.  I remember my last trip a woman from the states trying to bring in a jar of spices.  The Australian customs gal said "This jar of spices contain Cloves.  Cloves are known to carry a fungus that is dangerous to the plant life of Australia.  You can not bring this into the country, it must be thrown away." 

The woman started to pitch a fit.. After a few seconds the Customs woman barked back..

"Listen, you have TWO choices here.  ONE, you throw it away and continue on your trip or TWO, you keep it and we walk you over to that waiting area and put you on the next flight back to the United States.  Those are you ONLY two choices.  Which is it going to be?"

Clock is ticking down.. still hasn't fully sunk in I'm actually going..

[movenon]

Well.. one week until I'm on a plane heading that direction.. Mostly ready to go..


For those who have not done an international trip like this before you'll need a couple of things to help make life easier before landing in Australia.

An hour or so before arrival you'll be handed customs and immigration forms.  Bring with you a pen to write with and the Name, Address and Telephone number of someone you're staying with.

Be careful of what food you bring in.  There are a lot of restricted items.  I remember my last trip a woman from the states trying to bring in a jar of spices.  The Australian customs gal said "This jar of spices contain Cloves.  Cloves are known to carry a fungus that is dangerous to the plant life of Australia.  You can not bring this into the country, it must be thrown away." 

The woman started to pitch a fit.. After a few seconds the Customs woman barked back..

"Listen, you have TWO choices here.  ONE, you throw it away and continue on your trip or TWO, you keep it and we walk you over to that waiting area and put you on the next flight back to the United States.  Those are you ONLY two choices.  Which is it going to be?"

Clock is ticking down.. still hasn't fully sunk in I'm actually going..

Have a great time and take a lot of pictures !  As for the customs, Americans sometimes have a hard time understating some country's actually have no shit rules that are not debatable.  Be safe and have a good trip. 
George

[Bozo]

Well.. one week until I'm on a plane heading that direction.. Mostly ready to go..


For those who have not done an international trip like this before you'll need a couple of things to help make life easier before landing in Australia.

An hour or so before arrival you'll be handed customs and immigration forms.  Bring with you a pen to write with and the Name, Address and Telephone number of someone you're staying with.

Be careful of what food you bring in.  There are a lot of restricted items.  I remember my last trip a woman from the states trying to bring in a jar of spices.  The Australian customs gal said "This jar of spices contain Cloves.  Cloves are known to carry a fungus that is dangerous to the plant life of Australia.  You can not bring this into the country, it must be thrown away."  

The woman started to pitch a fit.. After a few seconds the Customs woman barked back..

"Listen, you have TWO choices here.  ONE, you throw it away and continue on your trip or TWO, you keep it and we walk you over to that waiting area and put you on the next flight back to the United States.  Those are you ONLY two choices.  Which is it going to be?"

Clock is ticking down.. still hasn't fully sunk in I'm actually going..

What, you didn't get the gerbil search?, they are trained, the only problem is that by law they have to have a sheriff's badge which sometimes can be painful. I hear that next year because the gerbils are rare they'll use Koalas with laser lights i.e use only local labour.

[CanDman]

Well.. one week until I'm on a plane heading that direction.. Mostly ready to go..


For those who have not done an international trip like this before you'll need a couple of things to help make life easier before landing in Australia.

An hour or so before arrival you'll be handed customs and immigration forms.  Bring with you a pen to write with and the Name, Address and Telephone number of someone you're staying with.

Be careful of what food you bring in.  There are a lot of restricted items.  I remember my last trip a woman from the states trying to bring in a jar of spices.  The Australian customs gal said "This jar of spices contain Cloves.  Cloves are known to carry a fungus that is dangerous to the plant life of Australia.  You can not bring this into the country, it must be thrown away." 

The woman started to pitch a fit.. After a few seconds the Customs woman barked back..

"Listen, you have TWO choices here.  ONE, you throw it away and continue on your trip or TWO, you keep it and we walk you over to that waiting area and put you on the next flight back to the United States.  Those are you ONLY two choices.  Which is it going to be?"

Clock is ticking down.. still hasn't fully sunk in I'm actually going..

whats the best way to bring beer....Harv has asked me to bring some Moosehead......I grabbed  a 6 pack of tall boys that are in cans.....anyway...what's the best strategy on that?

[pdxfj]

Umm.. dunno about packing cans or bottles of beer and/or other carbonated beverages into a checked bag.  I have a request for some Vodka.

You can place liquids into your checked bag, then declare them with customs.  You can bring 2.2 liters into Australia, duty free.

I have to buy the Vodka here and place it in my checked bag.  Duty Free in LAX is not an option for me since I'm transiting though Auckland and have to go though security before entering the international departures terminal.  No time to get anything in Auckland since my layover is only an hour.

In the past I have bought duty free at the airport (in another country) and placed it into my checked bag after clearing customs here in the U.S. then hand the bag over to the airline for the final flight home.

Your bag will be abused during the trip.  Smashed, crushed, etc.. make sure there is enough padding to keep the cans from being crushed and exploding in your bag.. would really suck to have stale beer soaked clothes..

Who's checking their helmet vs. carrying it with you?  I'm carrying mine as my one "personal" item.  Laptop bag will be the one piece of cabin baggage I'm allowed. 

[Arnie]

Australia has a 'funny' system re: bringing alcohol in :-)
There is a Duty Free shop between the plane and Customs.   
So, except for special items like Moosehead (really?), there is almost no price difference in buying your alcohol allowance here.  This saves you the hassle of taking up your free checked baggage weight allowance as well as the danger of it being broken in transit.

I have previously taken a helmet onboard a plane and it was considered to be a hat (item of apparal, not charged)  Same with your riding jacket, even if you're not wearing it. Good idea to check with your airline.

I grew up in a border town.  I learned early that when you're going through Immigration and Customs, you are not (yet or still) in ANY country. 
Immigration and Customs officers believe they are the last and greatest line of defense for their country.  They have NO sense of humor !! 
Do NOT play with them, you will lose !!
Do NOT give them attitude, you will lose !!
Answer their questions directly, and offer NO extra information or discussion.
They wear guns, and are rarely answerable to anyone.

Hope to see youse all soon :-)

[pdxfj]

Interesting idea Arnie.. Just for shits and grins I looked up Duty Free @ Coolangatta.. The requested spirits are way cheaper there than what I can get it for here in Oregon.. And yes.. the Duty Free shop is just before customs.. order now on the internet and pick it up when I get there.. Ummm...

We can only buy liquor at a state licensed store (in Oregon), and a ton of tax is tagged onto each bottle.  Most items I've seen in other states for $15 less a bottle than what it costs here..

[Klavdy]

Don't bother bringing beer to Australia.
if you must bring spirits, a bottle of Everclear.
Otherwise just buy it at the Aussie duty free,



Here's a little tip or two.
Buy a packet of candy, even chewing gum will do.
Declare it on the customs form.
Go through the "DECLARE ITEMS:" line.
Show them the packet.
You'll pass so much quicker than going through the "Nothing To Declare" lines.

Ibuprofen works.
DVT is real, do the exercises
Don't get drunk on the flight, you'll have a dreadful hangover and Aussie customs/Immigration take delight in tormenting you in that condition.