Things to know if you are heading to Camp Growl (Ex Wallaby) 2017 Update

Two years ago, I wrote about 5 essential things to bring when heading to Ex Wallaby. Going overseas for an exercise can be very daunting especially if it is your first time and it is so far away from home! So, I hope the information I provide can help you ease your anxieties and make your life a bit easier during your admin time in Camp Growl.

Much has changed since I last wrote my last blog post about this and it is time to update it to the freshest information. Obviously, I cannot write too detailed about what goes on in camp. But at least, here are some publicly known information that deserves to be consolidated in one spot so that it is convenient for you when you are already rushing for time, packing and running multiple trips to e-mart and army market to check off your packing list. If you have more information to share, do let me know in the comments!

1. Mobile Phone & Communication

Good news! I'm happy to update that there is now good 4G signal at Camp Growl and you can now communicate with your loved ones as often as you like (during your admin time, of course).

Buying your Australian Pre-Paid SIM card

The first step to establishing contact with the outside world is to buy your SIM card! But don't rush to buy one from retail stalls at the airport. These won't work unless you activate it using a passport number tied to an Australian Visa or Australian Drivers' License. Instead, buy them from Camp Growl. Go ask your superiors when the Telstra representative would be coming down to the camp to sell the pre-paid SIM cards. The rep will likely be selling at the canteen. There are no signs, no booth - just an individual with a stack of pre-paid SIM card packages.

There is only 1 option - a $30 Pre-Paid Starter Kit with 7.5GB data allowance and $5 of credit for calls and SMSes.

I had to wait for about half a day before the SIM card is activated and finally felt my phone vibrate from the messages that were coming in. It felt so good to be connected again.

*Unfortunately, Optus' signal is almost non-existent in the camp. Until Optus manages to do something about this, stick with Telstra.

Reduce your data usage!

By the end of my first day of getting the SIM card, I was shocked that I had used more than 0.5GB of data. All I did were the same things I used to do when I was at home - scrolling through Facebook, browsing Instagram, a light YouTube session and reading websites.

I turned on Data Saver Mode on Facebook, Instagram as well as disabling HD video for YouTube. These helped a lot. But was still burning through a few hundred megabytes daily.

I really appreciate how much data that my home Wi-Fi was transferring every time I was at home. 7.5GB is really not much.

If you are a compulsive data hungry person, you will be calmed by the possibility to 'recharge' the data allowance via credit card. But that means you will need your primary SIM card to be online to receive your one time password.

2. Power

Now that the camp has mobile connectivity, the next thing that we need is power. Yes, we are still not allowed to charge in our tent and have to head to the charging tent as our source of power.

It is at the charging tent where I felt that the charging speed is way too slow and time consuming to be sitting there waiting for my phone and powerbank to charge up. This is despite the fact that I had already brought along a pair of QuickCharge 2.0 compatible charger and a Xiaomi power 10000mAh powerbank. This meant the charging speed is capable of going twice as fast the usual charging speed.

Both the charger and powerbank must be QuickCharge compatible to get the most out of the fast charging.

I highly recommend getting the Xiaomi 10000mah version 2 powerbank as it is one of the cheaper powerbanks that offer QuickCharge. The slim form factor is easy to carry around and while the charging is still long ( I didn't time it but it felt long), the charging progress is noticeably faster when compared to another person's powerbank without QuickCharge.

3. Local Information

After almost 3 weeks of being inside an army controlled area, you might be lucky enough to have a day of R&R at Rockhampton town. After all, it doesn't feel right going to foreign soil and not be a tourist for some days. Here are some information that you should know that would make you a guru in the area

Daylight Savings Time
- Rockhampton does not practice daylight savings time. Your phone might mistakenly advance the time thinking that you are in some other part of Australia. Take note of that.

Getting Around
- Getting around Rockhampton town is easy. Call a cab at 131-008, tell them your pickup point, destination and number of passengers. It costs about $12-$20 getting to and fro most places in town. Just pay the metered fare, no tip required.

Business Hours
- Shops start closing at 4pm onwards, buy your necessities early in the day, leaving the rest of the day for sight seeing and souvenir shopping.