Australia – For Expats and Visitors

By Jamie Douglas

Australia for expats

Australia has been the dream destination for people all over the world, representing something that the United States once was: the land of freedom, wide-open spaces and unlimited opportunity.

Well, things have changed a bit since the 1950s and 60s, when Australia had still adhered strictly to a “White Australia” policy. That racist policy was officially established when Australia became a federation in 1901 and pretty much favored Anglo-Saxons, making migration to the continent very difficult even for Italian, Greek and Slavic people. Apparently, they failed to take into account the tragic fact that the British stole the entire continent from the Aborigines who had made it their home for at least 60,000 years.

After the federation was formed, one of the first acts was to pass the “Immigration Restriction Act.” It was not until 1975 that the laws were changed to allow for a multicultural nation to prosper.

Little did the Aussies realize that this multiculturalism would bring in masses of people from the Orient, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and more. The new arrivals, for the most part, did not want to assimilate, with the immigrants from Pakistan, in particular, keeping to the tradition of oppressing their women. Not very may new arrivals adopted the Anglican Church as their house of worship, instead, building mosques and living in Islamic enclaves,  rejecting the cherished Australian way of life, which includes mass consumption of beer (not Fosters, which is scorned), a healthy amount of hard liquor and all assorted hard drugs.

Gaining residency on the isolated continent has become a process of insanely bureaucratic hoops you have to jump through. And you better have a job waiting for you and register with the police, telling them where you live, who lives with you, all of your personal data (numbers) where you work, etc...

And as part of their social program, they have an inordinate amount of police, who can come to your house anytime they want. All major areas are completely under live video surveillance – sort of like in the USA, but not as intrusive as in the UK.

If you are a retiree, they definitely don’t want you because you may become a burden as you age, even if you have a decent stash of retirement funds.

What they are looking for are young and strong bodies – male and female – to work in and around the remote mines in the outback (lesbians and gays gladly accepted): miners, mechanics, heavy machinery operators, truck drivers, cooks, etc. McDonald’s pays $35 per hour, and regular miners and truck drivers make $85 per hour, with generous raises, if they sign up for a second year. They have regular breaks about every two weeks, when they are flown to Perth or Melbourne, where they just drink and drink and drink and, of course, chase every skirt. The best way to get one of those jobs is to go to the mine of your choice and apply. If you have a pulse, you are hired. Then, the mining company will use their inside track to get you legal residency almost immediately.

Australia for visitors

Australia is a drinking nation with a work problem. Almost the entire population lives within 50 miles of an ocean – the Pacific, Indian and Great Southern – or the Coral Sea in the north.

The southeastern part of the continent is home to Sydney and its suburbs, but not far away are the Blue Mountains and the quaint, small city of Katoomba, where those expensive cockatoos fly freely and take pleasure in waking you at dawn. And not far from there are the Jenolan Caves . You can drive there. Or better yet, take a train from Sydney’s Central Station.

Australia is blessed with two transcontinental railroads: The Indian Pacific connects Sydney with Perth, with a few-hour layover in Adelaide. The entire trip takes four days and three nights. Then there is the Ghan, which goes from Adelaide to Darwin – the southern coast to the Northern Territory. Leaving Adelaide either way, heading north on the Ghan or west to Perth, you will get to experience the desolation of the outback, also referred to in places as the Nullarbor, or “no trees.” The nearest town from Cook to the mining town of Kalgoorlie is 775 km. The train stops in Cook for a couple of hours – but beware. They have recorded temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit regularly. But this humongous woman who is famous all across Australia for her obesity sells candy, snacks and cold drinks to the passengers on the train, which stops by four times a week. She apparently makes enough to sustain herself.

If you go to Australia, even as a tourist, go to the Sydney Hostel by the central train station and get yourself a Hostelling International Card, and your train ride will be half-price. My recommendation is to leave Sydney and get off in Adelaide, spend a few days in this splendid city, and then take the Ghan round-trip to Darwin. Now, I know it’s costly, but remember: You are just spending your kids’ inheritance. After returning to Adelaide, be sure to visit the Central Market, and after perusing the wonders there, exit out the back of the building, where you will find the best Italian restaurant I have found so far – sidewalk seating, weather permitting.

Perhaps the most touristy place in all of Oz is the Gold Coast, which stretches north of Sydney. It’s overbuilt and overcrowded – much worse than Miami Beach or Uruguay’s famous Punta del Este. But if you want to go to the amazing Great Barrier Reef, you have to go there.

Farther north, you start running into the dreaded man-eating crocs. They are very aggressive, and they love pets and children.

So yeah, Australia is a lovely place, kind of over-policed but no more than England, Switzerland or Singapore. It is very expensive to visit and you should be prepared to spend many thousands of US dollars to really explore the place – much of which will be spent on transportation between widespread locations. But it is a great country, with huge areas to discover.

Just beware of navigating the outback – it has taken many an adventurer! Hire a guide, but ask around first if he has ever lost anyone.

Jamie Douglas

At large in the universe

[Photo by Jamie Douglas]

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Expat News and Info Jan 6, 2014: Libya, Brazil (reposted from original location)

article from January 6, 2014
By Jamie Douglas

Working in Libya

During the attack on Libya that deposed Muammar Gaddafi, I wrote two articles (here and here) for Expat Daily News forecasting that there would be many openings in the oil fields of Libya, which holds the largest oil reserves in Africa, to rebuild the infrastructure that has been neglected for decades and also to build new high-capacity pipelines.

Sure enough, there is now a sizeable population of expat workers under contract to various companies as well as the state-owned Libyan oil company. But one must always be careful when navigating the explosive atmosphere of this country. After 40 years of iron-fisted rule by the despot, there is still a lot of hatred against Westerners present in this oil-rich nation.

Sadly, two expats decided to go on a romantic beachfront picnic in western Libya recently, but instead of having an undisturbed time on a lovely beach, they were later found shot to death, execution style.

Tripoli itself has several enclaves of expats who only move in heavily secured convoys, and life is very difficult for them, as they are unable to move freely. The concept of accompanying family members is impossible to realize, but the excellent salaries are enough incentive for foreigners to go live in this desert wasteland that is suffering from all kinds of security issues.

Brazil, the “B” in BRICS

The only Portuguese-speaking nation in the New World, Brazil is the fifth-largest nation in the world. It is home to over 200 million people, the majority of which live in poverty.

The nation had become the darling of investors, with its ever-growing GDP, and the currency of the nation, after years of wild swings and hyperinflation, became one of the strongest in Latin America. Along with that came a new era in politics that brought socialist Lula da Silva into the office of the presidency. New wealth was created with industries and a middle class was established, but the very poor still existed below what the World Bank considers to be abject poverty, US$1.25 per day per family.

With all the newfound wealth, one would have expected the administration of Lula da Silva to institute stronger social programs to stabilize the destitute and build a sustainable social safety net. But instead, he committed the nation to take on the Soccer World Cup as well as the Olympic Games, squandering billions of dollars in the process.

His successor, Dilma Rousseff inherited a mess of corruption that ate away at the core of the government, with ministers and governors as well as local politicians robbing the nation’s coffers.

The nation initially was spared the impact of the meltdown that was triggered by the real estate bubble in the USA and Europe, but by late 2013, the Brazilian real had lost almost 30% in value, and the nation was downgraded by the major ratings agencies.

The new affluence has brought in many manufacturers and there has been a boom in auto sales, which, in turn, has created a demand for refined petroleum products, a large portion of which has to be imported, adding to the problems of inflation and the nation’s trade deficit.

Meanwhile, the construction projects for the World Cup are way behind schedule and the quality of the construction can only be described as shoddy, leading the FIFA President Sepp Blatter to issue an unusually blunt statement on January 6, 2014.

This is also an election year, which will see Dilma Rousseff try to hang on to the presidency of Brazil. Her current approval rating is 52% among the desperately poor but at an all-time low of 0% among the upper classes. She has looked at the example set in Argentina for years, covering free food, TVs, cash handouts, large child allowances and generally buying the election with the poor on her side a la Evita Peron.

There is no doubt that the disenfranchised Brazilian masses need government assistance, so just imagine what could have been done with the trillion dollars the nation is spending on itself to celebrate its exit from “developing nation” status.

One of the biggest priorities Brazil should have is to create decent jobs to get the millions of young unemployed into mainstream Brazil. There will always be favelas (slums), but the living conditions there should be improved by creating much-needed infrastructure for the poor instead of giving them a little money.

Jamie Douglas

At large in the Americas

[Image of Tripoli Central Business District via Wikipedia]

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Is the New Peru Better for Expats?

article from October 20, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

So maybe 2010 Nobel Prize winner for literature, Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa was being overly dramatic when, earlier this year, he reluctantly endorsed Ollanta Humala in the runoff for the presidency of the Andean Nation. Humala was running against Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the disgraced former President Alberto Fujimori, now deservedly rotting away in prison. The highly respected Vargas Llosa summed the runoff up as the Peruvian people having the choice between AIDS and terminal cancer.

The Lima Stock Exchange must have felt that one of those unenviable descriptions fit Ollanta Humala, as it experienced its largest drop ever upon his win. Unfounded fears of Chávez-style socialism had been spread by the opposition, to the point where they apparently started believing their own propaganda.

During the campaign, I received several communications from US and British expats living in Peru, all of them telling me that it was over in the event that Marxist/socialist Humala would win, and they would leave the country. I would love to hear from them, to see what their view is now!

Humala surprised his opponents when he appointed many moderate technocrats with many years of experience to his cabinet, and the stock exchange quickly recovered. The mining companies, which provide a nice chunk of income for the state, agreed to a reasonable upward adjustment in royalties, and a portion of that is to go toward helping the very poor who live in the remote areas of Amazonia and in the Andean highlands – we hope!

So suddenly, Peru is back on the radar for expats. Lima always had a sizeable expat community, and lately there have been a number of new arrivals, many of them professionals working for multinationals. For expats who require some safety and comfort in their lives, Lima is not inexpensive. One-bedroom apartments in the center will run you from US$400 to $800 per month. Food prices can vary wildly, depending on where you buy. Fresh fruits and vegetables at the market are the most economical and healthiest, while supermarkets tend to be much pricier.

If you are looking at Arequipa or Cusco, your cost of living will be lower. The rents in Arequipa are substantially lower, with a three-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging just over $400 per month.

Health care is actually something that brings some retirees to the area, as the cost is very reasonable, and there are a number of doctors and clinics that specialize in eldercare. I see that as a growing specialty field, as more and more Baby Boomers find themselves priced out of the US market or are tired of the mediocre care afforded through Medicare, which is only good in the USA. Dentists are also very reasonable and good. Just make sure that, in either field, you have a reputable professional taking care of you.

For those of you with school-aged children, there are a number of choices available. If you want that your kids to become fluent in Spanish so they can help you with shopping, the bureaucrats and the mechanic, send them to a good Spanish-speaking private school. There are a number of them. It would probably be a good idea to find a good school before you rent or buy a home, as the daily to-and-from can be a grind in Lima’s traffic nightmare.

As far as your utilities are concerned, it depends mostly how big your refrigerator is – and how efficient it is. Expect to have to pay between $150-200 for everything, including water, gas, electricity (220 V, 60 Hz), broadband Internet (6 GB flat rate) and telephone. For making international calls, use Skype, which is free between Skype users, or do as I do and get a low-cost subscription with a US number that your friends and loved ones can reach you on at no cost to you.

If you need domestic help, it is also available for $200 and up per month. Inform yourself of the labor laws. Knowledge of them is protection, for if you have reason to dismiss you helper after paying them under the table, they might just turn you in.

Would I recommend Peru? Hell yes! It is a very fascinating country that is full of surprises – and not just Machu Picchu. Just south of Lima, there are intensive archeological excavations under way. A quick flight over the Andes will take you to Iquitos in the Amazonian rainforest, where you will have a chance to explore and see incomparable fauna and flora, as well as visit with the indigenous inhabitants.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where fortunately, the pisco sour is NOT the national drink!

[Image of Arequipa Yanahuara, Peru, via Wikipedia]

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Viva Uruguay

article from August 22, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

I have sung the praises of Uruguay before. I have also criticized “the Switzerland of South America” for putting the iron mining industry into overdrive. But one thing is for certain, and that is the fact that the country’s economy is doing better for its citizens than even Brazil’s.

Of course, part of it has to do with long-standing educational policies, which have rendered a highly educated populace. Unemployment is sitting at a hemispherical low, and the future investment picture looks to create so many jobs that I foresee a shortage of skilled and unskilled labor.

The National Bank’s intervention in the currency against the US dollar has unfortunate consequences for shoppers who suffer from an annualized inflation rate of 8.25% (August 2010 to July 2011) while the economy grew by a very respectable 8.5%. Many parts of the country are still extremely rural and suffer from poverty, with a lack of jobs, leaving room for a rise in the standard of living. It is for this reason that so many campesinos are eagerly awaiting the new mining project and pulp mill. They will probably not be highly paid positions; nevertheless, they will bring jobs to areas that have none.

The cattle industry, for which Uruguay and neighboring Argentina have been famous, has slowed down substantially, with several of the abattoirs owned by a giant Brazilian corporation having to close due to a lack of cattle. Because of the astronomical rise in the prices of grains, Argentinean, Uruguayan and Brazilian farmers have switched to soy and, in places, corn as much cheaper, less labor-intensive and more export-ready crops.

The past and current administrations of the Frente Amplio coalition, an openly socialist regime, have brought great advances to the nation of less than 3.5 million inhabitants. The new Montevideo Carrasco International Airport is an architectural marvel and is currently in the final four selection for being one of the most efficient and modern airports in the world. The highways in the country are well maintained, the electrical grid is first world, and the ports are becoming inadequate for the amount of commerce entering and leaving the small country, which also serves as a major port of entry for Paraguay and Bolivia via the Paraguay River.

The current president, José Mujica, or Pepe, as he is lovingly referred to, saves the nation a bundle by not partaking in the excesses of high office. He lives on his flower farm outside of Montevideo, drives his own vintage VW Beatle, and donates the majority of his salary to charity. The Volks Presidente drives a Volkswagen. How appropriate! Despite his “un-presidential” demeanor, he has gained the grudging respect of world leaders while struggling in the personal relations with neighboring Argentina, where unemployment and underemployment is a staggering (and denied) +20% and inflation is close to 25% (again, officially denied – this is an election year, after all).

In previous years, tiny Uruguay has depended heavily on its enormous neighbors for export and tourism. And when Argentina’s economy collapsed 10 years ago, the impact on Uruguay was catastrophic. So the Little Nation that Can has since distanced itself economically from its neighbors and diversified its import-export portfolio. The two largest cities, Montevideo, the capital, and Punta del Este, one of South America’s most revered summer resorts, are vibrant and lovely, while the beaches along the Atlantic Coast that are mostly sand dunes interspersed with small towns that are largely abandoned during the off season, are nevertheless charming in a uniquely Uruguayan way.

It is my fervent hope that Uruguay’s cheerful frugality will spare the country from the coming financial meltdown and provide shelter for those who have chosen to expatriate to this nation so lacking in official corruption.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where springtime is in the Malbec!

[Image of Uruguayan President José Mujica via Wikipedia]

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Living in The Cayman Islands

article from May 31, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

The Caymans have acquired a well-deserved reputation for being a tax heaven for both individuals and corporations, and this UK overseas territory currently is home to no fewer than 93,000 corporations, with 10,000 mutual funds, 800 insurance companies and 300 banks. This small group of islands is home to no more than 52,000 inhabitants, a whopping 20% of which are expatriates.

Of all the registered businesses in the Caymans, most have no physical presence on the islands themselves, but live out of post boxes and barristers’ offices.



Gaining a work permit for the Cayman Islands

If you are interested in joining the other 10,000 expats from all over the world who live more physical lives there, the process can be easy if you are in a profession that is wanted by a Caymanian enterprise. First, they have to file your application for a work permit, during which time you are not permitted to be in the islands. The process is relatively straightforward, with one major catch, the so-called “rollover” that applies to expats living there under work permits. Your maximum stay is limited to seven years, unless you are what is known as a “key employee.” In the rollover situation, expats are rotated out of the country for one year, after which time they may return to live and work there for another seven years.

Several of the companies that are the most affected by this policy, such as law firms, dive shops and real estate agents, have been the most vociferous against this policy; but as the Immigration Law of 2003 was written, not even government bureaucrats are exempt from it. It is a measure that was adopted to protect the Caymanian identity (whatever that is) from the encroachment of foreigners. In my personal opinion, that is a bit hypocritical in view of the fact that they live tax free off the proceeds of all the offshore companies.

Cayman Islands geography

The islands themselves bask in the warm Caribbean sun 400 miles south of Miami, 180 miles south of Cuba and 195 miles northwest of Jamaica. The territory consists of three main islands. Grand Cayman, with an area of 76 square miles, is three times the size of the other two combined. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are located some 80 miles to the east of Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac features the highest mountain on the islands, The Bluff, which soars to a nose bleeding height of 1,680 inches, or 42,600 millimeters, above the Caribbean Sea.

Cayman Islands attractions

Beyond hiding your assets, the Cayman Islands are world renowned for the scuba diving in its pristine, crystal-clear waters, as well as for sailing and all the water sports that you’d expect to encounter on Caribbean islands.

After a busy day at sea, or a not-so-busy day on the beach, you might enjoy the world-class shopping before heading out to one of the numerous fine dining establishments that offer their daily fresh catch, as well as all the vegetables and meats that are flown in fresh every day from the US mainland. You will be sure to rest well at night with the balmy breezes that Caribbean is so famous for.

Enjoy Life and be Happy, and while you are at it, please be nice to all around you. Adopt a stray dog, and call your parents every once in a while to let them know how wonderful the life they gave you is!

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

[Image: Georgetown, Grand Cayman waterfront, via Wikipedia]

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.