Bondi beach, Sydney

Opera house

El Alamein fountain

All this was arranged by the External Affairs Dept in the Commonwealth Office in Sydney. They gave us talks about Australian culture, brought us to the Commonwealth Bank, opened savings account for each student and deposited some money for us to use during settling-in time, until our regular allowance arrived fortnightly through the mail, a princely sum of 126AUD per fortnight. We were also taken to Myers store to buy thick woollen jumpers and cardigans. I would have fared much better wearing track suits or lazy Joe at home because I felt the cold very badly during that first winter in Melbourne.

Any way, we arrived in summer and it was warm. I have never felt so rich in my life! What with bank accounts and cash in my pockets for shopping. It is getting better and better! All of us were exceedingly happy except for one Malaysian student who complained to me that he could not get a shower for three days because one water tap was scalding hot and the other one was freezing cold. Apparently he did not have running hot and cold taps at home in Penang and did not know how to mix the hot water with the cold! Another complained that he could not sleep at night because it was very cold and he had no blankets. He was sleeping as usual on top of his bed, like in Sarikei. All the blankets were underneath the bed cover! That first week in Australia, I sat down on the edge of the gutter while waiting for a bus and ate a whole pound of grapes. I had severe diarrhea! It was clear that all of us, including me, were behaving like Sakai! Ha-ha!

From Sydney we were sent onwards to other parts of Australia: Brisbane, Adelaide, Tasmania and Melbourne. Kong Ai Tiing, the other Sesco candidate flew to Adelaide and I caught the night train, the Southern Aurora for Melbourne. On arrival at Spencer Street station I was again met by a Limousine which sent me directly to a guest house in  the suburb of Richmond. Mrs Henderson was the landlady of the guest house Most Colombo Plan students were advised to go into home stays or full board with Australian families during the first year. Then we were allowed to go flatting with friends and do our own cooking. No one was staying at residential colleges in Melbourne because they were too expensive and not included in our allowance which was quite meagre @ AUD 163 per fortnight.

A new friend, Wong Ngie Tiong was a private student from Sibu. He got about 40AUD per week from his father. So, he must work during school holidays to supplement his study expenses for books and train fares. His father was a taxi driver in Sibu and was unable to afford to send more money as he had other younger brothers. Some times we went ten pin bowling at the Camberwells Bowls. He caught the train from Nanawading and met me there. After the game he usually came to my bed-sitter in Hawthorn and I belanja him fried rice or curry dinner. We also visited some friends from Sarawak staying at Camberwell: Ting Chong Seek, Awang Ahmad and Sylvester Lim were flatting just next to Safeway Stores, a super market. Their landlord was a German migrant.