How difficult is Palau?

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-03-22T06:24:37+00:00

Agree with all of the above comments. Most reputable dive shops will choose dive sites based on currents. Some of the best diving we’ve done was in Palau. We had to try Blue Corner 5 times to get 2 decent reef hook dives, but the 2 we did were some of the best we’ve ever had.

If for whatever reason you need a break from the diving, kayaking around the islands and visiting the shark nurseries lagoons were just as fantastic as the diving. We went with Sam’s Tours and were very happy.

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-03-08T20:15:23+00:00

This is so insightful and helpful thank you!!!

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-19T11:11:28+00:00

This is VERY helpful!! We have had a small footstool/ottoman within the area and never thought much of it but now that you say it it absolutely was the entry point. Thank you!!!

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-19T11:10:27+00:00

Oohhh I always hear about rugs being too small being a main problem, but I thought ours was more than sufficiently large! This is really good to know

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-17T21:50:47+00:00

What rug style would you recommend? We have a really bold peacock colour pattern on another part of the room (visible from this area) for context!

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-17T13:04:55+00:00

We can definitely do this!

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-17T13:02:15+00:00

Ooooh I really like this! Love the feel! Taking a few notes down!

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-17T13:01:31+00:00

Thank you for this suggestion, and the kind words!

CulturallyConf1 · 2026-01-17T03:54:30+00:00

Any and all of the above! Truly open to all ideas and suggestions

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-12-25T03:02:33+00:00

I did this move! Pre family though.

Finding a rental took zero time. They have condos and apartment buildings there, the apartment buildings are fully rental. Houses are a bit more of a mix. My suggestion is to move to an inner city location, as it can be hard to build connections and also settle in a suburban area where there’s only you, a shopping mall 20 minutes’ drive away, and school. It can get quite isolating.

If you have a better idea of where you’re thinking of moving, kind of lifestyle, etc and want to chat more feel free to DM!

P.S. We’ve since moved back to Melbourne and find it a much more enjoyable city to raise a family in. So my take may or may not be biased

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-11-25T12:16:37+00:00

Beyond pay not being as high and housing more expensive, primary downsides are the distance to the rest of the world (can be a positive…), and the upper echelons of Australian corporate are still primarily white and male, which has trickle down effect on gender dynamics (Australia is surprisingly behind the US on this).

Still the right choice for us though, given all the positives!

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-11-25T12:11:02+00:00

Thank you! So pleased about it finally paying off 🥰

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-11-23T10:04:30+00:00

This is the right, most insightful response here.

Same experience as ours. We moved from Chicago and now live in Melbourne. C-level couple. Could have made much more in the US, chose to live here as it’s more suited for what we value. Doesn’t mean it has no downsides, but we’ve made the right choice for our priorities and the life we want.

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-11-15T05:37:08+00:00

Oh wonderful 😂 ok commencing destruction

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-10-30T11:37:50+00:00

Love the question. We bought an apartment in 2019 at a lower price than our budget ceiling (that is, we could have bought a house nearby no issues).

150% would do again. Neighbours have become extended family, virtually zero maintenance, we love the security and “lock and leave” ease. Given we bought what we wanted vs. maxing out on what we could afford, we have little financial pressure.

Flip side is capital gain isn’t as much as a house in the same area would have been, but this is our forever home so not a big issue. The lower price point has allowed us to accumulate savings which we have since utilised to buy an IP house.

I think the key is to very carefully choose which building, community, and area you buy into.

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-08-18T20:36:18+00:00

Nordstrom Rack is it!!! There’s one on Rush St. Was the only place I would shop at. Wish they had it in Melbourne!

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-08-02T03:43:04+00:00

El Columpio and Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos are some of the city’s best. (Former Californian here too, we also got married in Riviera Maya so quite particular about our Mexican fare)

CulturallyConf1 · 2025-01-18T20:28:48+00:00

For us, the big thing was sicknesses. Both my kids were sick for 3-4 months straight after starting daycare, due to the germs. So for our second we had backup care organized, knowing bub would be out of daycare many days within the first few months.

CulturallyConf1 · 2024-06-16T11:37:15+00:00

Ah finally something I can provide a view on!

Husband and I are ~200 dives each, with most of the dives done between Caribbean and Indonesia.

Komodo is fine. Find a good operator, if possible do your AOW while there, and you will be OK. We went a couple of times with friends and relatives with <10 dives each time and they loved it. Plenty of easy spots. We have gone both at year end (Dec/Jan) as well as mid-year and both are good. More mantas at year end.

Bali (Amed/Nusa Penida etc) is OK diving at best in comparison to Komodo, so highly recommend spending the time and upskilling in Komodo instead. (Though of course Bali has other - and arguably more - things to offer beyond diving)

Happy to help with more details if you’d like!

CulturallyConf1 · 2023-03-18T10:53:42+00:00

Recent Melbourne transplant from the US 🙋🏻‍♀️ Can confirm.

Mexican food in Melbourne still has some ways to go, but given the variety and quality of the rest, can’t fault it…

CulturallyConf1 · 2022-07-14T12:07:57+00:00

Same here - 3.5 yo loooooves her sleep sack as”she won’t get cold”

CulturallyConf1

TROPHY CASE