My answers to a Tourism Questionnaire

My friend Bilal Ulmer from Pakistan recently sent me a tourism questionnaire for some case studies on different topics including technology,science,travelling, arts etc.

I was happy to oblige of course!

He wanted my opinion on the following questions.
1) Why you want to travel around the globe? 
I love travel as it offers me opportunities to meet new people and see places I never could have imagined. It widens your knowledge and opens your eyes to new experiences. You get to see and do things you never even knew existed.

Meeting my sponsor child and his mother in Tanzania, Africa

2) What thing attract you the most while travelling ? 

I like people. I love talking to people from different places to me and unusual settings. Some of the best experiences I’ve had are just chatting to someone in a cafe, or changing my plans after meeting a new friend and then going off to explore together. These are friendships that last a lifetime or moments that change your life.

Halloween Party with an old Australian Friends and new friends in Cusco, Peru

3) What thing make your passion more for travelling? 

The fear of missing out and the opportunity to see and do something new. There is always something to discover and always an experience I’m yet to have. I love the unknown.

4) Which country you like the most while travelling and why? 

India! It’s my favourite by far. The people are beautiful and warm and welcoming. They will give you the shirt off their back and do anything possible to make you feel welcome. The food is delicious and so different to what I grew up with. There is colour everywhere and in everything, I love to watch saris blowing in the wind and people make food with the bright coloured spices. There is so much diversity, from the people, to the cities, to the foods and the languages – there is something new and different everywhere you go.

Taj Mahal India

5) As an Aussie how you find Australia with rest of the world? 

I love Australia. It’ll always be my home and I think I’m so lucky to live here. We are very safe and we have a high standard of living. We also have a mix of cultures here so I get to experience other cultures even when I’m here at home. It’s a great fusion of people in this place, and I just can’t escape the natural beauty- Australia is a beautiful place to just drive around and look at our amazing ecosystems and environments.

6) Which region/country you recommend for travelers ? 

I recommend Germany. It’s a wonderful country with a very interesting modern and ancient history. It’s a real centre in Europe and it’s got a good mix of everything. From skiing in the mountains to modern culture in Berlin, from traditional beer festivals in Munich and beautiful forests in the middle country. The food is incredible and the people are so interesting, knowledgable and once you warm them up – incredibly friendly.

Oktoberfest 2006, Munich, Germany

What are your plans this Easter?

What will you do this Easter long weekend?

Are you in Melbourne or Victoria?

 

Why not head to one of my favourite places in Victoria, Dinner Plain. This beautiful suburb perched on the top of the Alpine Region has a quaint little village, friendly locals and Loads of Activities for Easter.

Read more about how they are coming back from the recent Summer Fire Threats and Rising in the spirit of Easter!

 

Rise to the High Country, it’s Easter!

Dinner Plain, Victoria: The Victorian Alps and surrounding communities have been feeling the heat over the last month with the Harrietville/Alpine fires threatening the region.  Rest assured that activities for the Easter weekend, from 29^th -31^st March 2013, are going full steam ahead, offering visitors to the region a weekend full of festivities and family fun!

After more than 30,000 HA of bush land being burnt, the communities of Harrietville, Dinner Plain, Mt Hotham, Swifts Creek and Omeo are looking forward to rising from the ashes. Although a worrying time, the worst is over, it’s business as usual.  In Dinner Plain the skies are blue and the air is clean and we’re excited for the planned Easter events, not only to raise our spirits but to provide a fun filled weekend for visitors to our village.

“We have stayed strong as a community and we are pleased to be hosting this wonderful family weekend” says Elaine Burridge, Dinner Plain resident.

The Easter weekend’s events include the annual inaugural Geebung Polo match.  Atop of the Polo match is an array of family and children’s activities across Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.  Other activities you can expect to see over the weekend include:  North East Produce Exposure (featuring local wines, beer and local food produce), face painting, treasure hunts, geo cache, movie night, blue light disco, car boot sale, CFA fundraisers, there will even be a visit from Easter Bunny during our massive Easter Egg hunt on Sunday morning…. the list goes on. Our surrounding townships are also hosting the Swifts Creek Picnic Races and Omeo Rodeo.

“The Easter Weekend is a favorite here at Dinner Plain and we are thrilled to be hosting this event again in 2013 – it shows how our communities can work together, reunite and rise above adversity”, says Peter McKenna, Dinner Plain Advisory Committee.

This Easter, Dinner Plain is throwing out a big THANK YOU to the CFA, with funds raised from many of the activities over the weekend being donated to the CFA.

It’s Easter so it’s time for clean air, mountains and big open skies, so break out the RM Williams, it’s time to get your Polo on! All things family, fun and Easter!

For more information on the Easter Events and Geebung Polo, visit:

http://www.visitdinnerplain.com.au/Pages/Events___Activities.aspx, you can also join our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dinner.Plain?fref=ts .

 

Summer Life in Melbourne

Melbourne in Summer is one of the best places to be in the World!

Everyone is out, there are 100′s of events on and the weather shows itself off for once!

 

I was lucky to have LOTS of activities over Summer including:

- Working at Summadayze

- Swimming in the Crown Metropol Rooftop Pool

-Working at the Australian Open

-Watching Andy Murray and Roger Federer at Australian Open

- Getting to Big Day Out Festival free with a friend of a friend of someone in a band – the Gary Clarke Jr Band and later seeing Red Hot Chill Peppers!

- Surfing at Torquay

And more!!

 

(I think I can write 50 summer posts – all just awesome photos of the great times we’ve been having in Melbourne.)

 

Here are some snapshots of the fun I was having

Summadayze

Tropical Islands Make You Realise How Beautiful Life Is

As I stood in the beautiful tropical waters of Magnetic Island, I threw my head back and laughed out loud as I realised how LUCKY I am to live the life I live.

 

How I can take 5 days off a month (though I worked remotely) and be just 30 minutes by Ferry from this paradise. A spur of the moment trip to Townsville and a day trip to this amazing place, Magnetic Island, has made me reconnect, refresh and REALISE what life is all about. LIVING! Loving! Enjoying!

Feeling very thankful today.

Travel is the only thing you can buy which makes you richer!

Townsville so far!

Surprise visit to Townsville!

A friend of a friend and I were having dinner a few weeks ago and I was expressing my interest to explore more of Australia and in particular visit some friends in the Army in Darwin and Townsville. She said “Well would you want to go in 3 weeks?”

“Dates?” I replied.

“18-22nd Feb” she said with glee.

“Mental Calendar isn’t ringing a bell!” I responded like gun-fire. “How much?”

“$100 – name transfer and they are yours! I can’t go due to work commitments.” she replied.

And within a week it was settled!

Views over townsville

It’s so fantastic to be here visiting my friend in Townsville. Not only was I in dire need of a break, but also I have been wanting to come here for 2 years since he was posted here. I had never been to Tropical North Queensland and was keen to see what it was all about.

This is what Tropical North Queensland is about

Suffice to say, I came here knowing nothing and have been pleasantly surprised at every twist and turn. Black hawks and Chinook helicopters flying over head, palm trees on the roads, storm clouds rolling in only to be blasted away by sunshine, islands off the coast and mountains on the land. What a dynamic and beautiful landscape.

chinooks

Staying in my friends lovely Air conditioned apartment with 2 swimming pools and a spa bath in the courtyard, I’ve been very comfortable.

A stunning drive up Castle Hill to get an incredible view of the city and a plan to come back and walk up it with the many other exercise fiends later in the week.

Magnetic Island from Castle Hill

Off to Magnetic Island tomorrow. Just checking out what’s on and what I should do – though pretty keen just to walk around, lie on the beach and generally explore. I think you need more than a day on the island to see it truly.

http://www.whatsonmagneticisland.com.au/things-to-do

Loving my trip so far and think this could be on the cards for another visit. I love Australia, so lucky to live in such a naturally beautiful country.

Thanks for having me Matty! I mean , SIR!

2013 Range of Ladies Snowboards from fyve Snowboards & Skate

So excited to see the awesome guys at fyve designing a ladies range.

Three awesome styles to choose from with the only problem being…… I WANT THEM ALL!

 

final girls board for the 2013 range!

SUPER SOFT MELLOW REVERSE CAMBER “KELEIDOSCOPE”.

Sizes 140, 142, 145 & 147!

Kaleidescope from http://www.5fyve.com/

I’m loving the specs on The Daydream, the super soft is gonna make for a fun ride!

 

Our 2013 Ladies Daydream

SUPER SOFT FLEX ZERO CAMBER

140 142 145 147

The Daydream by http://www.5fyve.com

Our second and final artist colab board, done by Australian Artist Alex Lehours!

THE WOMENS ‘COLAB II’ ZERO CAMBER!

Available in sizes 140 142 145 and 147

www.alexlehours.com

The Colab II by http://www.5fyve.com

 

What would you go for – technical stats or is it all about the design for you?

 

 

The Australian Ski Season has just ended and I’m already dying to get back to test these beauties out.

Check out http://www.5fyve.com/ for more awesome gear!

 

 

Working at the snow for Mountain Dew

Finally I was given my absolute dream job! Promotions work at the snow for a weekend. Mountain Dew were the snow angels who blessed me with this opportunity and I had a great time and can’t believe I got paid to do what I love.

I caught the bus up from Melbourne on the Friday and was met in Mansfield by the team leader and our Jeep for the weekend. This is a much cheaper option for getting to Mt Buller if you can arrange it, the bus was just $22 with V-Line. Once up top we loaded up the Jeep with 1000’s of cans of Mountain Dew and then handed them out for the afternoon to people in the carpark. We were met with many “Thank you’s “and “You’re angels” as the tired snow bunnies were heading off the hill. Mountain Dew with its caffeine hit and great taste was certainly going to help them for the drive home.

The lovely team from the Marketing Department of  Mt Buller were a great help to us and I actually stayed in staff accommodation with some of the team. It was really wonderful and they took good care of me, taking me out for dinner and a round of darts on Friday night. Saturday night was the big event, the Cattleman’s Rail Jam, Sponsored by Burton, and I was lucky to be there for this awesome event and one of the biggest parties of the season. It was a great night and good to meet up with some guys from Burton, videographer and photographer Mic Simpson and see some of the Fyve team representing. I was lucky to be working with Jason Maxfield, Pro rider for Quiksilver, super nice guy and great rider.

 

Jason Maxfield with happy Mountain Dew recipients

I got to head out to the slopes Saturday and Sunday. Sadly Saturday morning was rainy, foggy and slushy – but Mt Buller has a tendency to grace us with these conditions. Being the keen bean snow bunny I am, I still put in a good few hours but called it a day around 11.30 as I had to head off for work in the afternoon. Sunday morning was 8cm of fresh snow and bluebird skies. I don’t think I’ve ever got dressed so quickly in my life! A couple of lovely runs first thing in the morning cruising around the mountain was a great way to start the day.

We met some great characters and the Mountain Dew was very well received with lots of “Extreme” comments. It was snowing for the Saturday and Sunday sessions but I had asked for snow, so my wishes were granted. It wasn’t bad at all and as you can see, we were well catered for with our wonderful uniforms.

Thanks Mountain Dew. It’s my pleasure to make snow bunnies happy at any mountain, any time. DO THE DEW!

Legally Blonde Stay & See Packages

Legally Blonde has arrived!!

No! I’m not talking about myself! I’m talking about the incredible stage show adaption of that great movie, Legally Blonde. Toga Hotels are offering you Stay & See packages so you can enjoy the full theatre and weekend away experience. This will be a must see show! Can you tell I’m excited?

Toga Hotels are delighted to announce their partnership with the award winning hit, Legally Blonde The Musical. Toga Hotelshave beennamed the musical’s official Apartment Hotel (Medina Apartment Hotels and Adina Apartment Hotels) and 3&4 Star Accommodation Partner (Vibe Hotels and Travelodge Hotels).
Now playing at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, this hilarious musical has already wowed audiences overseas and won the coveted title of Best New Musical 2011 (Olivier Awards). Based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde The Musical will delight all ages with its fun combination of comedy, romance and dancing!

The musical features a stellar cast including Lucy Durack (Wicked), Rob Mills (Young Talent Time), David Harris (Miss Saigon), Helen Dallimore (The Wharf Revue), Erika Heynatz (Next Top Model), and Cameron Daddo (Packed to the Rafters).

 

Stay & See packages are available from Showbiz, at the following Toga Hotels:

• Medina Executive Sydney Central
• Medina Classic Martin Place
• Medina Grand Harbourside
• Medina Grand Sydney
• Travelodge Sydney
• Travelodge Wynyard
• Vibe Hotel Sydney

 

For more information about Legally Blonde The Musical visit: www.LegallyBlonde.com.au

 

To book a Stay & See package, visit: www.showbiz.com.au/legally-blonde-the-musical/stay-and-see.html

For more information about Toga Hotels, visit: www.togahotels.com.au

Santosha Yoga retreat at Little Beach Tasmania

I was introduced to this fabulous offering by the lovely Christine Hepburn and I sadly will be travelling but would love to hear about your experience – a Tasmanian Yoga Retreat.

www.beachweddingsholidaysyogaretreats.com

Do you need, or perhaps you would just love, some time out from your hectic schedule?

If three incredibly relaxing nights at the beautiful Santosha Yoga retreat at Little Beach Tasmania, for a superbly reduced price, appeals then please contact me via message.

All meals and yoga sessions are included with the twin share accommodation at this wonderful retreat situated on the beach.

The dates are from the 29th of October to the 1st of November.

Treat yourself and enter the last phase of the year ready to finish strong.Enjoy four days and three nights at this adventure retreat at Santosha at Little Beach, a glorious and remote ten-acre beachfront haven surrounded by ocean, bush and bliss.Santosha offers luxury accommodation with an open plan living and dining area, state of the art kitchen appliances, eco-friendly heated flooring, rammed earth walls and solar heating.
Enjoy three delicious, healthy vegetarian meals per day in the beautiful outdoor kitchen and entertainment area.

Enjoy spectacular bush and mountain views from your room, daily yoga and meditation lessons taught by internationally-trained professional teachers.Then relax on the deck and watch the stars appear in their multitudes in the crystal clear sky.

The price is only $299 for three nights, including all meals and yoga sessions for one person in a twin share room.

Have you met a Kangaroo?

Skippy is not the only Kangaroo in the world, look at these 80 odd at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Brighton, Tasmania. We got to go out with our grass pellets and gives these gorgeous creatures a pat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friendly until you stop feeding and then expect a few paws going into your handbag and possibly a scratch or two. Naughty joeys!

 

Australia’s national crest sports them as does our $1 coin and they are a true national treasure. Beware when driving on Australian roads as they do like to bounce around and will do more damage to your car sometimes then to themselves. When you see this yellow sign, keep an eye out.

beautiful Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary