A Slow Morning, Finding the Ideal Caravan, and a Heartbreaking Dash to the Animal Quarantine Facility
Ever since arriving in Melbourne, we had been waking up before 7:00 AM every single day, rushing through paperwork and sourcing essentials. But on our fifth morning, with our Pajero secured and a clear strategy for our future home finally locked in, a wave of relief washed over us. For the first time, we allowed ourselves to sleep in. By the time we opened our eyes, it was around 9:30 AM—a beautifully relaxed start to the day.
For breakfast, we tried some of the local oranges we had picked up at the Fresh Market. Biting into one, we were instantly struck by how incredibly juicy it was compared to Japanese oranges. Instead of having a dense, fleshy texture, it exploded with liquid the moment you bit into it, feeling almost like drinking pure juice. It was a fascinating little reminder of how much flavor and texture can vary from country to country.
- Scouting the Perfect Caravan on Facebook Marketplace
After breakfast, we dove into Facebook Marketplace to hunt for a used caravan that matched our newfound criteria: a compact, low-profile pop-top around 5 meters long. Our wishlist was specific:
- A manageable pop-top model
for easy towing - An infrared remote-controlled air conditioner
to survive the harsh Australian summer - A budget of around $12,000 AUD
It didn’t take long before a particular listing caught our eye. It was slightly over our budget, but it checked every single box, and the model year was quite reasonable. To make things even better, it came fully equipped with a robust solar power system setup for off-grid living
—perfect for staying at unpowered remote campsites.
Anxious not to let it slip away, I immediately messaged the owner. To my surprise, they replied almost instantly, saying, “You can come down for an inspection tomorrow.” The speed of Facebook Marketplace is mind-blowing. We bought our Pajero on the spot, and now we couldn’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation wondering if the same thing would happen with this caravan tomorrow.
- An Email from Quarantine: Racing to Help BELL
Just as our excitement was building, a heavy, sinking feeling hit us. An email notification popped up from the Government Animal Quarantine Facility.
Reading the contents made my blood run cold. Our beloved cat, BELL, who had braved the long journey across the ocean with us, was struggling to adapt and was barely eating her food
. The notice stated that her weight, which was around 4.4kg before departure,had already dropped to 4.2kg.
They informed us that if there were any familiar treats or foods she loved back home, we could mail them to the facility, and the staff would try feeding them to her.
A 0.2kg weight loss is a severe drop for a small cat’s body. “We can’t wait for the mail. It will be a million times faster if we drive there and deliver it ourselves!” We grabbed the keys and bolted out the door.
Our first mission was to find “Ciao Churu,” the Japanese liquid cat treat that BELL would absolutely never turn down, no matter what. Desperate to give her something familiar from home, we rushed around Melbourne, hitting up various Asian grocery shops, massive supermarkets, and specialized pet supply stores. Unfortunately, the exact Japanese-packaged Churu was nowhere to be found.
Knowing we couldn’t afford to waste another second, we compromised by buying two packs of the Australian version of Churu and a bag of Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome (dry food), which she used to eat back in Japan to keep her stomach settled. With the supplies in hand, we jumped into the car and made a 30-minute mad dash directly to the quarantine facility.
The government facility was incredibly solemn and secure, surrounded by a heavy, completely locked gate. To get inside, you have to use an intercom at the entrance to explain your business. After explaining the emergency over the intercom, a staff member directed us to a slightly different entrance, and the massive gate slowly opened to let us in.
Once inside the grounds, we were only allowed as far as the office reception door. Under no circumstances were we permitted to enter the actual boarding area to see our sweet girl. However, the receptionist at the office was incredibly kind. They took the time to properly read the detailed note we attached to the food, which explained: “Our cat doesn’t eat immediately when food is served; she prefers to eat at her own pace when it’s completely quiet. Please leave her food bowl out and do not take it away.”
The staff member reassuringly told us, “I’ll pass this on to the handlers for you.”
With the handoff completed and the staff taking care of the rest, we quietly wrapped up our business and left the facility.
Getting back into the car, an overwhelming wave of sadness hit us. Imagining how lonely, terrified, and exhausted BELL must be feeling right now in that unfamiliar isolation facility completely broke our hearts. Knowing that she was suffering so much that she couldn’t even eat, I thought to myself that I never want to put this child on an airplane ever again. The intense anxiety and psychological stress took a massive toll on me, too—I noticed that small bumps and rashes had broken out all over my own skin from the sheer worry.
- Our First Bunnings Experience and Defensive Budgeting with Cheap Pasta
Though our hearts were aching, we knew we had done everything humanly possible as her parents for the day. Trying to shift our heavy mindset, we decided to visit Bunnings
for the very first time—a massive warehouse chain that every local talks about.
We walked in with zero expectations, but the moment we pulled into the parking lot, the sheer scale of the place left us completely stunned. “This place is absolutely gargantuan…”
It was on a completely different dimension compared to home improvement centers in Japan. It literally felt like you could buy anything in the world there, though the place was such a massive labyrinth that just finding a single item looked like a workout. Still, knowing we would be doing plenty of DIY for our future caravan life and setting up an environment for BELL once she’s released, we knew we had just found a powerful, lifelong ally in Australia.
On the way back, we stopped by a shopping mall in Epping to stock up on groceries at Coles. It was there that the local prices gave our wallets a massive sense of relief.
We discovered that a 500g bag of pasta was a mere 90 cents, and a massive 680g jar of tomato pasta sauce was only $2 AUD.
While eating out in Australia is notoriously expensive, this trip to Coles—combined with our Fresh Market discovery yesterday—reconfirmed that if we strictly stick to home cooking with basic ingredients, our food expenses would actually be significantly cheaper than in Japan. It gave us a tremendous boost of confidence that we could heavily defend our living expenses moving forward.
Back at our accommodation, we cooked up a big batch of cheap spaghetti bolognese. Eating it at the table, we silently processed everything that had happened, our minds entirely consumed by one single prayer.
“Please stay safe, BELL. Eat your food, and please get better…” Holding our beloved cat close in our thoughts, our fifth night in Australia came to a close.
What’s Next?
Tomorrow we are heading out for our very first caravan inspection sourced directly from Facebook Marketplace.
We are going to check the compact pop-top caravan equipped with a solar setup and an air conditioner. Will it look as good in person as it does in the photos, and will we make another snap decision? We will also continue our job hunt online, while constantly praying for updates on BELL’s health. Stay tuned!
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