- Xmas '87, our first major overseas trip to meet suppliers, and Japan - ancient, exciting, picturesque and so polite. As so many Japanese visit
Australia for a whirl-wind sight-seeing 'tourist-fest' we, as a
group of three, got our own back in four days - Xmas shopping in
Ginza,
 visiting places
old, golden and older, Kyoto, feeding Nara deer, crossing Lake Hakone, feeding the pigeons in the peace park (before we read the notice) at Hiroshima,
travelling the wonderful bullet train,
and taking the ferry across to Korea.
- Ginza Tokyu Hotel, GINZA.
- Miyako Hotel, KYOTO.
- Hotel New Hiroden, HIROSHIMA.
- Arriving off the ferry in Pusan and being greeted by our friend Simon, we had little time to explore before factory tours and meetings in Seoul. Watched the fireworks over the Han River, from high in our suite New Year '87. Saw falling snow for the first time in the beautiful Shilla gardens, visited the Royal Palace, the bleak D.M.Z. the fascinating Handcraft Village, and shopped It'aewon!
- Royal Hotel, PUSAN.
- Kyongu Tokyu Hotel, KYONGJU.
- Hotel Shilla, Chung-Gu, SEOUL.
- Charlene and I returned Sep. '89, and were driven back down to serene Kyongju to accommodation recommended by our main supplier. With the sightseeing, walks, tours, temples and tombs, returning to beautiful Sokkuram filled this break with many happy memories.
- Sheraton Walker Hill Towers & Casino, SEOUL.
- Kolon Hotel, KYONGJU.
- Returned to Pusan to fly back to Seoul where we visited the Olympic Stadium and suppliers, leaving Oct.'89 and having made many friends.
- Hyatt Regency, PUSAN.
- Grand Hyatt Seoul, SEOUL.
- Visiting Durban Jan '89 included my first visit to a manufacturing plant. Seemingly miles from anywhere, the factory in Lesotho renewed my appreciation of women in the workforce, and reminded me that safety in the workplace is a shared responsibility. It also reinforced how important recognition and validation are for every individual, if you want a team.
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- Ended a busy business trip Oct. '89 with a couple of days 'R&R'. The casino for him, pool for her, facial for me, and sight-seeing for all of us.
- Hyatt Regancy Macau, MACAU.
- Mandarin Oriental, MACAU.
- Living in Penang '68 - '71 one of the happiest times, filled with many wonderful experiences and happy memories. I loved all the friends I made there, the climate, the food, the language, Chinese Opera, trains, travelling around the countryside, the beaches, the children, the people. Worked with so many wonderful people, mentors and role models through St. Nicholas School and Home for the Blind. Learnt to 'see' better, ride a motorbike, Bahasa Kabangsa'an, Braille, and with delight - discovered people everywhere share far more similarites than differences ! It was also a time for discovering myself, and my spiritual side in a very tolerant, accepting multi-racial country. My soul is still there.
- Railway Hotel, KUALA LUMPUR.
- Penang Hill Hotel, PENANG HILL.
- Merlin Hotel, KUALA LUMPUR.
- Merlin Hotel, PENANG.
- Shangri-La Hotel, PENANG.
- Causarina Hotel, BATU FARINGGI.
- Ipoh Hotel, IPOH.
- Returning to Malaysia in Sept. '92 was wonderful - meeting up with places and people I knew and remembered, even visited where I used to live !
- Sheraton Hotel, PENANG.
- Penang Hill Hotel, PENANG HILL.
- Rasa Sayang Resort, BATU FARINGGI.
- Golden Sands Hotel, BATU FARINGGI.
Other Malaysian links.
- Charlene's idea of the best holiday - pancakes, served by the pool, with whatever toppings you wanted ! For me - the diving - 60ft, and luckily the others, more experienced, didn't mention the shark until later. On our way to South Africa Jan. '89, this brief holiday put a completely new perspective to the phrases 'delayed at airport' and "Don't worry - be happy".
- Le Saint Geran Hotel, Belle Mare.
Other Australian-Mauritian links.
- Spending two weeks during Jul. '72 sparked my interest in the hospitality industry.
- Auckland Travelodge, AUCKLAND.
- Another two days at the end of my Christmas trip, Dec. '97 'Net-networking'.
- Hyatt Regency, AUCKLAND.
- At the end of another 'net-networking' trip during Oct. '99, and a tour of the delightful Bay of Islands.
- Hyatt Regency, AUCKLAND.
- Autolodge, PAIHIA.
- Hyatt Regency, AUCKLAND.
- Not having visited the previous Christmas made this a stop to finally catch up with a few long-time chat friends during '98.
- The Eglinton Hotel, EDINBURGH.
- First visit to wonderful, tropical, clean and friendly Singapore was in Jan '89, followed by further visits Mar/Apr '91 and a brief stop-over Sep '92.
- Sheraton Towers, Singapore, SINGAPORE.
- Raffles Hotel, SINGAPORE.
- Singapore Airport Hotel, CHANGI.
- Shangi-La Rasa Sentosa Resort, SENTOSA.
- Hyatt Regency Singapore, SINGAPORE.
- Again as the first stop of the Paddynet chatters trip Oct. '98.
- Shangi-La Rasa Sentosa Resort, SENTOSA.
Singapore Economic Development Board.
Singapore Trade Development Board.
- Visiting our original supplier in Durban Jan '89. Wonderful experiences on safari - sights, sounds and smells under an African sky.
- Londonozi Game reserve.
- DURBAN.
- Sun City.
- Sabi Sands
- Returned Jan '90 driving down from Harare, crossing at Beitbridge and onto Johannesburg. After lunch high in the Drakkensburg mountains, Visited another plant. Re-visiting Sun City, and 'connecting' with giraffe on night safari back at Londolozi left lasting impressions.
- Flag ? Holiday Inn ?
- Londonozi Game reserve.
- Sandton Sun & Towers, JOHANNESBURG.
Africam - live imagery.
- Arrived Boxing Day, '95, when it was -16oC. originally for two weeks. Breakfast at sunrise - afternoon tea at sunset. Poisonous coffee, reindeer milk, hares in fresh snow, beautiful crystal, innovative design, wonderful buildings, countless windows, solemn faces yet happy laughter. Making wonderful friends through THE Cyber-Coffee Shop, as well as learning heaps. This is one of the happiest holidays I have ever had.
- Sheraton Hotel and Towers, STOCKHOLM.
- The Diplomat Hotel, STOCKHOLM.
- Returned prior Xmas '97 to revisit, actively 'net-network' by catching up on business and the internet-cafe scene, and also to host an 'Aussie chat-fest' in Stockholm. Sadly no snow this time, either.
- Sheraton Hotel and Towers, STOCKHOLM.
- Visiting new suppliers out of Bangkok, April was the hottest time of year - Thai New Year. Being April '91 school holidays Charlene and I stayed on and travelled to cooler, picturesque Chiang Mai to experience sitting atop elephants as they walked through teak forests and mountain streams, before returning home via Singapore and Perth.
- The Oriental, BANGKOK.
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Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, BANGKOK.
- Chiangmai Plaza Hotel, CHIANGMAI.
- Empress Hotel and Convention Centre, CHIANGMAI.
- Stop-over March '95 before the longer haul to Rome.
- Half-way between Melbourne and Stockholm, so brief stop-overs Dec. '95 and Jan. '96.
- Amari Airport Hotel, BANGKOK.
- Dusit Thani Hotel BANGKOK.
- Another two days at the start of my Christmas trip, Dec. '97 'Net-networking' - catching up with contacts I've made. Also took advantage of the special tours offered as part of the 'stop over' deal, and chose the River Tour one hot afternoon - up and down the klongs and riverways, stopping to feed fish, take pictures, enjoy the scenery, company, drinks and afternoon sun in the cooler breezes.
- Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, BANGKOK.
- Spent another very pleasant five days during Oct. '98 and I had hoped to return in December.
- Dusit Thani Hotel BANGKOK.
Other links - Thaiindex.
- First visit was to Hawaii, in July '93 and what a pleasant suprise ! Pollution-free it did more to sell me on lead-free petrol than any other campaign. Wonderful beaches, shopping and sights - spectacular scenery, and warm. friendly people.
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Outrigger Reef, HONOLULU.
- Sheraton Royal Hawaiian, HONOLULU.
- Flew Concorde Apr. '95 from Heathrow into New York - fantastic flight - fantastic place ! Such diversity and contrasts, architectually, as well. People aware of their own space, yet not of each other. I now know the price of service.
- Grand Hyatt, NEW YORK.
- Then Los Angeles, to see the tourist spots and a breathtaking view of the moon.
- Hyatt on Sunset, LOS ANGELES. Now Hyatt West Hollywood ?
- Finally Hawaii and beautiful Maui, ending a wonderful trip of seven weeks May '95.
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort, MAUI.
- Hyatt Regency Waikiki, HONOLULU.
- Another two days instead of four as planned, near the end of my Christmas trip, Dec. '97 'Net-networking'.
- Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Long Beach.
- Breaking the journey during Sep. '99, staying in Hawaii both times.
- Sheraton Waikiki, HONOLULU
- Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, HONOLULU
- Anne, my travel agent booked me away from the net during Feb '99 - to snorkle, SCUBA dive, relax - yet it wasn't as far away as I thought !
- Hideaway Island Resort, Vanuatu.
- Our first visit in Jan '89 did not prepare me for the closeness I feel with Zimbabwe, maybe the friendliness of those I've met. Smiling faces wherever we went, remembered images - cruising the Zambezi with Irishmen aboard. Charlene with her 'bones'. Monkeys on the roof at dawn.
- Victoria Falls Hotel, VICTORIA FALLS.
- Harare Sheraton, HARARE.
- So returning in Jan. '90 had a special meaning - we visited
our little Plan International foster-child Elina Dube, and her
school at Chigombwe, Mutare. Many, many happy memories here,
re-enforced over the next few years by personal ties with others
from Zimbabwe. This lead to implementation for strengthening trade for mutual benefit, interaction with Rotary, further corporate and individual sponsorship of further children, and partnerships between distant schools, TV promotion and voluntary work with Plan International Australia. Now I am equally proud to also be associated with Project Five-0 through BPW membership.
- Harare Sheraton, HARARE.
- Manica Hotel, MUTARE.
Bush Telegraph of Rhodesians Worldwide.
Rhodesians Worldwide - contact site for folk from Zimbabwe.
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