My dream to live abroad was planted by glorious memory I made in Sweden and a solo trip around Eastern Europe. I wasn’t staying in luxury hotels or dining at Michelin-starred restaurants. Though I wish I would have loved to experience that, I was just a lost boy with a tight budget and many questions about my life. But those unexpected circumstances made me discover and come to the realisation. I had time to sit down and have a conversation with myself for the first time. That feeling was the most precious part of the journey.
After graduating, I spent four years trying to survive in Bangkok. During that time, I began to lose my own dreams and found myself adopting the aspiration of others. It left me feeling mentally drained, like a bird trapped in a cage. Despite this, I couldn’t just pack my bags and run. Because I didn’t want just to travel somewhere, I wanted to find my own voice again. It took me a year to find a way, leading me to Work and Holiday in Australia. This country was never on my destinations list, but each year I spent here has brought me closer to understanding myself more and more. So, if you’re wondering whether the Australian work and holiday visa is worth it? My answer is definitely, absolutely, utterly YES.
MY FIRST YEAR – HEADING TO CAIRNS
In my first year, I was about exploring and seeing as much as I could. As a solo backpacker, I wanted to start somewhere with a supportive community to reach if things did not work out well. After browsing through Facebook groups, I decided to go to Cairns, a little tourist town in Far North Queensland popular among backpackers. Also, some of my friends have been there and given it a thumbs up.
However, it wasn’t easy and smooth as I would hope. I stopped over at Melbourne before landing in Cairns around 11 pm. And I couldn’t get to town because everything was closed. With no shuttle bus and not wanting to pay AUD30 – 40 for a taxi or Uber, I wouldn’t mind staying overnight at the airport. But the airport was about to close at midnight!
Here we go, I ended up outside the terminal right in front of the entrance, waiting to catch the first shuttle bus at 5 am to the town centre, which cost me AUD16. So my advice here is to research how to get to town from the airport wherever you go in Australia!
Despite that rocky start, I remember that early morning drowsy on the shuttle bus heading to town. There were mangroves and huge mountains in the background along the road. The cloud was floating and wrapping around. And just a minute, the scenery had changed to many palm trees along the road, Queenslander houses, people jogging and biking on the pedestrian, and the ocean. It gave me tropical vibes, especially the smell of the wet ground after the rain. I love it!
Cairns has a long history. It once was home to the Yidinji people who lived in the rainforest and along the coast before Captain James Cook visited in 1770. And not long after that, gold was discovered in the area and Cairns became part of the goldfields. Many Chinese and Italians migrated to this town due to the expanding sugar industry. Nowadays, Cairns is one of the important tourist destinations, serving as the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and The Great Barrier Reef.
While dropping resumes around town on my first week, I shifted to three hostels because of weird experiences. Fortunately, I got a casual waiter job at In2Thai, a cosy Thai restaurant near the town in Bangalow. I was grateful to get to know owners Chris and Tan, a wonderful couple who helped me through a tough time in Cairns.
The first time I have been around so many gays
A month later, I got a part-time job at one of the iconic gay resorts in Australia, Turtle Cove Beach Resort. Thanks to a referral from Chris and Tan. Located remotely on the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas, Turtle Cove is a stunning oceanfront accommodation with an exclusive private beach, soft sand, and a rainforest backdrop. Truly a place where you can be your most authentic self.
Even though I come from a country known as a gay paradise in Asia, I have never been part of a gay community or been around so many gays before. Naturally, I was nervous, overwhelmed, and excited at the same time. After accepting a job offer, I had to move into one of the staff cabins on site. And I happened to share with a guy who was a friend of the person that got sacked and replaced by me.
Working there for six months as an all-rounder, I served guests, cleaned, and even worked as a masseur. Behind the bar, it felt like being in a reality show with all the drama, scandals, and odd happenings. So yeah, it’s kind of like what you imagine. But I felt free to express myself for the first time, and the manager and staff were supportive and open-minded, helping me feel connected.
Most of the guests were lovely and friendly. Sure, I encountered some shady queens who didn’t appreciate my small Asian appearance, preferring the tall hot European type, but it didn’t bother me. I focused on doing my best during work hours and didn’t hesitate to show my sassy side afterwards. There was little private spot access from the beach at the resort, climbing over the big rocks to the south. It’s my secret beach to go unwind in the afternoon.
As much as I loved working at Turtle Cove Beach Resort, I also wanted to explore other places. So, I quit the job and spent two weeks visiting Melbourne and Adelaide.
Exploring city vibes and staying in Sydney
Melbourne was vibrant, filled with fashionable people everywhere on the street and a cool café at every corner. There was so much fun, unique, and inspiring energy. However, I found Adelaide more refreshing and relaxing, perhaps because I had a friend showing me the beautiful beaches and hills around the city while I explored Melbourne on my own.
After a short break, one of my friends convinced me to give Sydney a try. I wasn’t sure at the beginning. But one afternoon, I went to Woolloomooloo just for a walk and unexpectedly fell in love with the area and decided to stay. While looking for a place to rent in Woolloomooloo, I stayed with another friend who once was a guest at the resort in Erskineville, near Newtown. The rental cost was ridiculously expensive, but eventually, I found a bed in a shared room in Sydenham.
Having a few friends in Sydney would have been easy for me to like Sydney, but my introverted side felt like something was missing. Despite the beautiful beaches, bushwalks, scenic neighbourhoods, vibrant nightlife, and efficient public transport (when it worked), I still felt unfulfilled at that time.
I tried to explore and meet new people within two months there. Unfortunately, it just didn’t feel right. So in mid-January 2020, a few months before my first Work and Holiday visa finished, I returned to Cairns.
MY SECOND YEAR – SURVIVING DURING COVID
The day I arrived back in Cairns, I got a job interview immediately. It’s so much easier than the first year which took me about a week or two. Also, finding a place to rent was simpler this time. I inspected around ten places before deciding to sign up for a private room in Paramatta Park. It’s much cheaper than Sydney and conveniently located near Cairns Central. The owner, a kind Thai lady, was incredibly nice to me.
I can’t thank everyone that helped me through my journey enough. Being alone in a foreign country for a long time taught me to appreciate people and their kindness. And I always try to give back to anyone who needs help from me as well. You never know that just a small thing can change someone’s life.
So yeah, I was happy with jobs as a barista at a café in Cairns Airport, a housekeeper at a hotel in the city, and helping Tan and Chris causally at In2Thai. I had a nice place, friends to hang out with, and more opportunities to explore Cairns. Everything seemed perfect until I heard the news about the flu spreading around in China and America.
Working so hard until everything suddenly shut down
Out of the blue, in mid-March 2020, everything shut down. I got stood down from the café and had fewer shifts at the hotel. I hadn’t planned for this situation, which stressed me to the moon. I was thinking of flying back home, but what happened in Thailand was even worse. So, I chose to suck it in and stay in Australia.
Once again, Chris and Tan came to my rescue, offering me some shifts while their restaurant could only do takeaway. Their help allowed me to cover my rent, and the landlord also decreased my rent so I could survive. Everyone kept checking on me to see if I was still okay and gave me food and supplies in case things got worse. Honestly, I sometimes cried when alone at home. Wondering why I had to be so far away from home and struggle through such challenging times.
During a month of lockdown in Cairns, I had to be cautious with my health, especially working in hospitality. And when things got better, I said yes to every shift I was given at work. I started cleaning at the hotel from 7 am to 1 or 2 pm, taking a break or doing mobile massages, and working at a restaurant from 5 pm to 10 pm before finishing the day. I just wanted to save as much money as possible if something took a turn for the worse again. Sunday morning is the only free time I got for myself.
Meeting someone with a kind heart
Then I met Greg, a generous and intelligent person. I remember he invited me to a hike at Earl Hill Summit Track in Trinity Park. It was a beautiful day as you usually get in Cairns, with a clear blue sky, pleasant weather, and an infinite view of Trinity Beach. The track was a bit steep. Greg was ahead and warned me to be careful, but then he ended up slipping and falling down himself. I couldn’t help but laugh as I helped him off the ground. Moments like that made me want to spend more time with him.
Even though I only had Sunday morning, Greg tried to show me around Cairns. We visited many beautiful places like Kuranda, Tablelands, Port Douglas, and several waterfalls. When most parts of the world were shut down, Greg helped me see more than ever before.
My life was pretty stable, having multiple jobs, a comfortable bed, and good friendships. But my time was running out, and I still wanted to visit one place before leaving Australia. It’s Tasmania.
MY THIRD YEAR – FINDING MY VOICE AGAIN
Covid restrictions delayed my trip to Tasmania until just before my second year Work and Holiday visa expired. So, I decided to apply for a third year to have enough time to save up and travel to Van Diemen’s Land.
I shared my plans with Greg, and to my surprise, he had never been to Tasmania either. Greg told me that most Aussies wouldn’t like going somewhere cold and expensive. They prefer going somewhere warm and budget-friendly like Bali, instead. That’s fair enough, I thought.
Anyway, at the end of my second year visa, I left the jobs and headed to Tasmania with Greg. Of course, he couldn’t pass up the chance to explore this island at least once in his life! We spent 20 days road tripping through little towns from Hobart to Mouth Fields, Strahan, Waratah, Cradle Mountain, Stanley, Penguin, Launceston, Bicheno and Port Arthur.
I noticed similarities between this charming island and northern Europe. The chilly weather, fresh pollution-free air, incredible nature, and a unique local character. These experiences inspired me to think about what I truly want in life. And that’s precisely the reason I came to Australia in the first place.
Time to reflect and listen to myself
Greg and I had many heart-to-heart conversations about what was next for me. I couldn’t answer it clearly when we first discussed it. But I knew I wanted to reinvent, start fresh and be true to myself. Australia, by far, is one of those places that offers endless freedom to do whatever you want and deserve, as long as you’re willing to work hard for them.
The visa process can be a bit of a pain and requires careful planning. But the multicultural environment opens doors for everyone. It’s great if you have a plan and are ready to jump on the track. You will achieve what you want in the end, for sure. But, if you’re someone like me who just came to visit but ended up falling in love with the place, you can find a way to make it work too.
Although I wanted to live in Tasmania, I chose to settle in Adelaide, where there are more educational opportunities and a lower cost of living. So, I flew to Adelaide and repeated the familiar steps of looking for a rental and a job.
And that’s a wrap for my three years journey as a Work and Holiday backpacker. If it weren’t for Covid, I might have explored more places. However, without that pause, I may not have had the time to reflect and figure out want I truly wanted. This is a part of my story. I don’t know if it will inspire you to take the leap or scare you away. I understand that everyone has their standards and boundaries for choosing their path. I’m just one of those who believe that stepping out of our safe space and taking some risks can lead to incredible personal growth.