Train and Bus fare increase by 3.5% starting January 3 2010

Distanceup to (km)	Single (adult)		Off-peak return		7 Day RailPass
	Normal return is double the single fare		Available after 9.00am		14 Day RaillPass is double the 7 Day fare
	Current fare	New fare	Current fare	New fare	Current fare	New fare
5	$3.20	$3.20	$4.40	$4.40	$24.00	$25.00
10	$3.40	$3.60	$4.80	$5.00	$27.00	$29.00
15	$3.80	$4.00	$5.20	$5.40	$30.00	$31.00
20	$4.00	$4.20	$5.60	$6.00	$32.00	$34.00
25	$4.40	$4.60	$6.20	$6.40	$36.00	$38.00
30	$4.80	$5.00	$6.60	$7.00	$38.00	$40.00
35	$5.00	$5.40	$7.00	$7.40	$40.00	$43.00
45	$5.60	$6.00	$7.80	$8.20	$44.00	$47.00
55	$6.60	$6.80	$9.20	$9.40	$47.00	$49.00

Visiting Bondi Beach

Catching the 5:14AM train($6.40 return trip) to Bondi Junction and then take a bus to Bondi Beach ($2 one way)

 

Bondi beach map

 

Freebies (plastic bottle and recycl bag) given at Bondi Beach by their local council.

Train fare to work - $ 9.20 (return trip) = Php 382.26/day

I was surprise today that the train fare had increase by more than 3.5%

I bought a train ticket (return) today for $9.20. Previously, it only cost $8.80

It is an increase of about 4.5% but city rail claims that the increase is only about 3.5% overall.

Weekly train ticket is now $38.00, previos weekly train ticket cost $36.00

$ 9.20 = Php 382.26  (return train ticket)

$ 38.00 = Php 1,578.9 (weekly train fare)

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Note: Current exchange rate:  $1.00 = Php 41.55  (reference: Forexworld)

Online banking that provide high interest rate -> uBank

Interest rate: 5.51%'

website: http://ubank.com.au

Advantage:
- high interest rate
- Backed by NAB
- up to 1 Million insurance by the government
- no fees
- withdraw anytime
- no minimum balance required
- unlimited withdraws without fees
- you can manage your account online
- gives additional 0.1% if you setup automatice deposit of $100 monthly

Disadvantage:
- they don't have branches
- no transaction account that provides ATM cards
- if you want to get back your money, you need to transfer it back to your transaction account (other banks)
- it takes about 2-3 days before the money can be transferred to your transaction account (other banks).

30M Lotto Jackpot - Jan02

Bought Lotto ticket for Jan-2  30M draw.

Did not win :-( Better luck next time.

No Xmas party in Sydney for 2009

No xmas party last year and no Xmas party for this year.

Cost of dental cleaning in Sydney

Dental expenses in Australia

This are just sample fees to expect.  Prices may vary depending on your dentist.

Amount   Description
$45.00      Oral examination
$95.00      Removal of calculus
$50.00      Remineralizing - Oral Tx

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$ 185.00 (Php 7,955)   /  1AUD = 43.00 pesos  (exchange rate)

Service provided last for about 20mins.  I did not pay anything as it was covered by Private health insurance and  GAP was  discounted by the dentist.

Dental cleaning is normally covered 100% by the private health insurance and can be discounted by the dentist.