Standard Time

Brisbane’s Standard time zone; UTC/GMT +10 hours. This includes all the states on East Coast.

There is no daylight saving in Queensland, however the Government announces this might change soon, maybe in few years time?

Brisbane Postcode

The postcode for Brisbane City is 4000. You can check the area postcodes at What Post Codes

Australian Dollars

There is a decimal currency in Australia, with bank notes for five, ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred dollars. Here are some interesting facts about Australian dollars.

The cost of the Australian dollar (AUD) does fluctuate (how low will it go!), it’s currently below $0.50 US Dollars. You can check the daily rate at Currency and Foreign Exchange site.

You can use this currency converter to get a more accurate conversion from 180 different currencies.

Tipping

As a rule, tipping is not expected in Brisbane, however, it is customary so if you are happy with someone who has tried that little bit harder and gone the extra mile, then a tip is in order and always appreciated.

Giving a small tip (10% of the bill) in a restaurant is in order if the service is good. It is also fairly common practice to tip bellhops in international hotels a few dollars, some hotels discourage tipping so don’t be offended if they refuse to take it.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in government buildings and on most public transport, including domestic flights. You have to be at least 4 meters distance from any buildings. Including Queenstreet mall.

Emergency

In a life threatening emergency dial 000 for Fire, Ambulance & Police.

Cars On Left Lane

Cars drive on the left hand side of the road. If you’re not used to it, take care when crossing the road – you should always use a “zebra crossing” to cross safely.

First Language

The spoken and written language is English. If English is not your first language, there are many accredited English language schools in Australia.

General Information for Brisbane International Visitors is a post from: http://www.brisbanestudentguide.com

As an international student here, the local weather jeopardizes my skin. I am not comfortable with the dry weather here so I need moisturizing lotion.

Here are a few types of skin lotion that I use, and I will give reason why I use these lotions. I usually apply lotion and cream after my shower. So naturally my lotions start during my shower.

Body wash

I like to use cream based lotion. It depends on what occasion. If I just finish swimming, I’ll use body wash for sports, and probably has scrubs with it. When I am preparing to sleep, I’ll take hot showers with cream based body wash.

Body lotion

After my shower, I’ll apply body lotion from neck to my feet. Immediately you can feel the difference after applying lotion. My skin feels like baby ass. I have been using Vaseline lotion for awhile now.

Face lotion

Besides applying body lotion, I also apply face lotion. Face lotions are usually more expensive than normal body lotions because… honestly, I don’t know, hehe.

I wonder, can I apply body lotion on face? I have no idea too.

Investing in good face lotion is wise choice.. you don’t want to regret only when damage has been done. e.g, first wrinkle.

Lip balm

My lips often has minor cracks due to dry weather, and its uncomfortable.

Optional cream and lotion

Occasionally, I will apply cracked heel cream and hand lotion when necessary. It’s an optional choice, though.

There are many other types of lotions available in the market. Choose the lotion that you need, and take good care of your skin. You’ll be staying here for some time, you will regret if you do not take action in protecting your skin.

This post is not complete without your participation

What lotion are you using? And what do you think about it? Discuss.

Recommended Lotion and Cream for International Students is a post from: http://www.brisbanestudentguide.com

Australia was the first country in the world to have a complete system of bank notes made from plastic (polymer). These notes provide much greater security against counterfeiting. They also last four times as long as conventional paper (fibrous) notes.

Australia’s currency comprises coins of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two dollar denominations; and notes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar denominations.

The $100 note features world-renowned soprano Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931), and the distinguished soldier, engineer and administrator General Sir John Monash (1865–1931).

The $50 note features Aboriginal writer and inventor David Unaipon (1872–1967), and Australia’s first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan (1861–1932).

The $20 note features the founder of the world’s first aerial medical service (the Royal Flying Doctor Service), the Reverend John Flynn (1880–1951), and Mary Reibey (1777–1855), who arrived in Australia as a convict in 1792 and went on to become a successful shipping magnate and philanthropist.

The $10 note features the poets AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson (1864–1941) and Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962). This note incorporates micro-printed excerpts of Paterson’s and Gilmore’s work.

The $5 note features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Parliament House in Canberra, the national capital.

The $2 coin, which replaced the two dollar note in 1988, depicts an Aboriginal tribal elder set against a background of the Southern Cross and native grass trees.

The $1 coin, which replaced the $1 note in 1984, depicts five kangaroos. The standard $1 design, along with the 50, 20, 10 and 5 cent designs, was created by the Queen’s official jeweller, Stuart Devlin.

The 50 cent coin carries Australia’s coat of arms: the six state badges on a central shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu, with a background of Mitchell grass (see fact sheet on Australia’s coat of arms).

The 20 cent coin carries a platypus, one of only two egg-laying mammals in the world. It has webbed feet and a duck-like bill that it uses to hunt for food along the bottom of streams and rivers.

The 10 cent coin features a male lyrebird dancing. A clever mimic, the lyrebird inhabits the dense, damp forests of Australia’s eastern coast.

The 5 cent coin depicts an echidna, or spiny anteater, the world’s only other egg-laying mammal.

The 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins are made of cupro-nickel (75 per cent copper and 25 per cent nickel). The one and two dollar coins are made of aluminium bronze (92 per cent copper, 6 per cent aluminium and 2 per cent nickel). The one dollar, 50 and 20 cent circulating coins occasionally feature commemorative designs.

Key Facts
# Decimal currency was introduced on 14 February 1966
# In 1988, Australia introduced its first polymer bank note and in 1996, Australia became the first country in the world to have a complete series of polymer notes
# Polymer note technology was developed by Australia, and Australia prints polymer notes for a number of other countries
# Australia’s colourful bank notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars

Source from: http://www.dfat.gov.au/

Interesting Facts About Australian Currency is a post from: http://www.brisbanestudentguide.com

Are you seeing all these purple trees around Brisbane? Have you even wonder what’s the name? Interested to know more? Read on.

These purple tree are called Jacaranda trees. Jacaranda trees are highly concentrated around University of Queensland area. If you explore this area around mid-Spring period, you will be amazed by the impressive display of these beauty flowers, brought to you by mother nature.

I have been referring these tree as “tree of death” because these tree usually blossom during peak assignment period. These Jaracanda trees also have other slang names such as “exam tree” or “purple panic“.

Students have superstitious about these special trees. One of them are “if a Jacaranda bloom falls on their head during exam time, they will fail an exam”. But the bad luck can be broken by catching another bloom before it hits the ground. And so they say.

Lecturer also said once, “by the time the Jacaranda flower become main quadrangle flower, it’s too late to start studying for exams”.

Government purposely planted these plants along Brisbane River as part of their landscape design. Brisbane’s hilly geography allows the views of the city and suburbs in which the brightly coloured flower can be easily seen for miles.

Unfortunately, Jacaranda only flowers approximated six weeks from September through October.

The Purple Trees Around Brisbane is a post from: http://www.brisbanestudentguide.com

I have been an avid camera user since high school. I bring camera every where I go. Now, this has become my habit. Sometimes I am lazy to shoot photos, but if friends insist, I still pull out my camera and take a few shots. I arranged my photos into different folders when I reach home. Years pass by, and I look back at my folder. Boy, I am glad to took those photos!

Since I have been using a camera for years, let me share why owning a camera benefits you.

Lecture notes
Take a quick shot at lecture notes. Some lecturer provide additional information on their own slides. Why’d they do that? They encourage students to attend lectures. I am a lazy guy, so I take a shot of the lecture slide. Remember to turn off your flash!

Personal notes
What personal notes? I take a photo that reminds me of something. For example, I saw a recipe I wanted to try out, quickly take a snap shot. Recall what I am going to do when I am sorting out the photos. This can apply to many situations. I shoot at pretty girls too, heh.

Stuffs to sell
I take a photo of the item I want to sell. Post it online with photo attachment. For example, reselling a second hand goods. I believe this greatly increase the chances of the item being sold.

Blog
I am a blogger and I own a personal blog. I learn a lot from blogging all these years. Taking good photos with compact camera are definitely one of my proudest skill. My personal blog covers lifestyle I had in Brisbane. I take photos in every event and gathering. The reason for writing that blog is to share it friends and family from home country. If I don’t do this, I am afraid no one will recognize me when I go back, heh.

Photo Album
Take photos in every event and gathering. Develop the photo and give it to friends as a gift or appreciation. Or simply burn it into a CD collection and share it around. Keep the photos for future reference. Looking back at old photos never fail to giggle me.

Facebook
This is a no brainer. With Facebook’s tagging function. Friends will love you for taking their photos in every event you attended. Let the tagging war begin!

Assignments
Surprise? Don’t be. Some assignments need to take photo. Get your extra mark!

Leisure
Having a camera with you certainly gives you more chances and reasons to explore around while you don’t have class. Take a stroll around Brisbane river, Queenstreet mall, South Bank or Botanic Garden. Get yourself to shoot amazing photos and send it to your friends and family. You get some private time to clear your mind too.

Travel
How can miss the golden opportunity to travel to other cities while you’re at Brisbane? Go explore other cities such as Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. And why not New Zealand? You certainly need a camera with you while you travel. Memory doesn’t last that long, you know.

Friends
Holding a camera certainly gives you bigger chances to know more friends. For example, you’re at a party – holding the camera. You approach them and talk, then ask for a photo. Then exchange details and keep talking. I believe taking photo is a good opportunity to bond with others.

Clubs
Hah! This is my secret skill for knowing girls at club. First, invite girls to the bar. Second, dance. Third, take photos! Fourth, say this “hey I want your contact details so I can send you these awesome photos!” It works EVERY TIME.

Don’t tell them you learn this from Brisbane Student Guide, though.

11 Reasons To Own A Camera While Study Abroad is a post from: http://www.brisbanestudentguide.com

Brisbane has sub tropical weather. The weather is comfortable and it attracts a lot of visitors throughout the year. The climate is enviable indeed with the brilliance of the hot summers and the winters that are so very mild. The summer temperatures rise up to a maximum of 30° Celsius and some of the months are extremely hot.

The winter in Brisbane are pleasant and mild. The daytime during winter are usually bright and sunny with the average temperatures hovering around 17° Celsius.

Climate of Brisbane

Brisbane has got the four usual seasons of summer, autumn, winter and spring. Temperatures vary to a certain extent though the speed of wind remains almost the same leaving out the spring season as it is a little more windy in this particular season than the rest.

Summer in Brisbane
The summer season in Brisbane comprises of the months of December, January and February. The mean temperature in this season is 24.80° Celsius. The maximum temperature is 29.20° Celsius and the minimum is 20.40° Celsius. The monthly average precipitation is 150.4 millimeters.

Autumn in Brisbane
Autumn is from March to May in Brisbane with the mean temperature of 21.10° Celsius. The maximum and the minimum temperatures are 25.80° Celsius and 16.40° Celsius respectively. The average precipitation (condensed moisture that falls from the sky, i.e. rain, snow, hail, etc.) is 102.3 millimeters.

Winter in Brisbane
Winter covers the months of June to August and the temperatures drop to a minimum of 10.10° Celsius and rises to the maximum of 21.20° Celsius. The mean temperatures also fall to about 15.60° Celsius during this season.

Spring in Brisbane
Spring covers the months of September, October and November. And the mean temperatures hover around 20.80° Celsius. The maximum and the minimum temperatures range from 15.60° Celsius to 26° Celsius.

Weather Updates

Current Weather (update every 10 minutes): http://www.ourbrisbane.com/weather

Tips to protect yourself

The sun is pleasant but not when it burns you. So it is better to take precautions so that you do not suffer from sunburns and sun strokes. It is better to take the aid of proper hats, sunscreen lotions and protective clothing especially during the summer season. But it is advisable to take these precautions through out the year.

(Source: here)

What Do You Need To Know About Brisbane’s Four Season Weather? is a post from: http://www.brisbanestudentguide.com