How to Get an Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

Australian ETA Start Page

Later this summer, I will be attending a friend’s wedding in Sydney.  Of course, this means that I have to get my visa house in order.

I have been to Australia once before, but it was quite some time ago, and a travel agent made most of my arrangements.  This time around, I am going it alone, so I was prepared for an involved visa application process.

Imagine my surprise and joy when I realized that I could just go online and get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)!

What is an ETA, and what are the relevant requirements?

 

Photo of the Week: Sydney, Australia

Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor

This past weekend, I met up with an old friend for the first time in years, and we got to talking about our travels.  One destination that popped up in our conversation was Australia, hence the inspiration for this week’s photo.  Visiting Sydney was one of the highlights of my time in the country.  Especially exciting was touring the Sydney Opera House and learning about its unique acoustics, something of great interest to me after spending almost half my life doing instrumental and vocal performance.  My only regret was that I didn’t get to check out a concert while I was there.  Here’s to going back someday to rectify that error!

 

Photo of the Week: Yasawa Islands, Fiji

Market visit from Kuata, in the Yasawa Islands

I have been shivering too much lately in the more recent San Francisco weather, so I have decided to think of happier, hotter times.  Here is a photo from a market visit that I made while staying in Kuata, one of Fiji’s Yasawa Islands.  As you can see, the setting was absolutely beautiful.  I took this photo with a Canon point-and-shoot camera, yet the picture is still almost postcard-perfect–that’s how amazing the view was.  Ahhh.  This is just one of the many memories that will help to keep me warm until the City by the Bay can literally bring the heat….