Beat the system, don't go with the flow

Do you remember that old happy hardcore song, "Can't beat the system, go go with the flow". If not why not! Obviously not cool enough! Errrrr anyway, in certain circumstances you should take the opposite view, beat the bloody system! I'm suprised by the amount of people who follow along like sheep and never question things. There can be a lot of gain to be had for very little work. For example all these stupid travellers who put down that they are a "non resident" for tax purposes as adviced by the employment agencies and tax offices. I did a little research the day I arrived in Australia, because I know the tax system is there to be blagged. You've gotta think sideways mate! There is nothing to stop you putting yourself down as a "resident" for tax purposes, its all a grey area. This means in Perth I got paid $521 a week from my $598 gross (only did 26 hr week). Every single traveller I've met in my situation would get $425. Unnecessarily losing $100 a week in earnings to tax. A sixth of their pay disappearing cause they just go along with the system. Gotta use your noggin. Some people say I'm always lucky and fall on my feet. Bollox. You make your own luck mate. Good luck is f***ing hard work!

Got myself a job today, thank the good lord. Just in the nick of time before my money ran out. And no it wasn't luck mate, it was cause I registered with 7 blooming agencies last week. Agency phoned me up yesterday morning saying got an interview in the afternoon. After the interview they said start tomorrow. Sorted. So today was my first day at work, cushy admin job, reasonable pay, full time, weekends free, nice people, its all tickety boo. Still in my hotel by the sea, the waves crashing as I drift off............. then a cockroach crawls over me and I stare at the peeling paint on the walls and grimey carpet and come back to reality.

Last week was basically just job hunting with a bit of sightseeing thrown in. Saturday was spent pilling in a pool. That was quite fun. A pool party. Tons of fit practically naked boys and girls either splashing in the pool, dancing to techno or chilling out under the umbrellas. Sunday was a little messy, ended up getting pissed and woke up very hungover monday morning with job interviews and started work today. So a little tired, but having fun and happyish.

Sydney though is so oh so humid. Perth was usually 30-40c during the day, but I didn't sweat when I was just walking and my clothes dried in about 30 seconds. In Sydney its been around 27c in the daytime. I walk fast and sweat is pouring off me. And my clothes are not dry even a day later! Its all to do with the humidity. Perth is desert like dry and Sydney is sub tropical and humid. So sometimes 27c can feel hotter than 37c. Otherwise I love Sydney, it feels like a proper city like London. Perth was much more laid back and relaxed and nicer in a different way, maybe a nicer place to live? But Sydney to visit has it all. About a hundred more things to do. The city centre is about a hundred times bigger, vibrant, huge skyscrapers going on for miles, amazing parks, hundreds of miles of beautiful harbour, amazing scenery, and suprisingly really historic too (its a lot older than Perth). Its beautiful, it really is.

But its hard work too, living in bloody squats, having to eat takeaways cause I've got no kitchen, being kept awake at nights, starting new jobs all the time. The stress has caused me to take up smoking again, mind you today have given up again. So its got the good and the bad all this travelling. A proper adventure. Really looking forward to coming home but also really looking forward to enjoying it for a couple more months yet, if that makes any sense?