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[Paphitis]

That makes me feel my age. I visited the shipbuilders near Adelaide when the first Collins were being constructed.

You are young at heart mate.

If you ever feel like going down memory lane and come out to Oz, then give me a call.

Cheers.

I’ve probably been to Sydney a dozen times and agree, it’s a fantastic city. Stayed in the Shangrila on a few occasions. All the rooms are on the harbour side and our facing wall was almost entirely glass. Amazing view out over the opera house/bridge.

A brother had a big, 8 bedroom house in the Adelaide suburbs north of Aldgate for years. It was a converted hotel. Alboury Manor (?). He also had a penthouse in what must be one of the few high risers in the city centre. All sold up now.

I got to Brisbane and up to Cairns. Drove up the east side Canberra to Nowra a couple of times, Just scratched the surface of the country though really. We used to fly down from Hong Kong to Adelaide. After coasting in over Darwin it was something like another 4 hours flight time before landing IIRC. Most of it the GAFA of course (Great Australian F**** All )

I’d like to do a few months there. Perhaps cover another ten percent.

The drive from Darwin down to Adelaide is good. It’s bueatiful country from Litchfield National Park down to Alice and Ayers Rock, then Wilpena Pund and Flinders Ranges. It’s very pretty.

Tanami Desert and Straslecki Track are full on though.

4 wheel driving is great fun.

You got to plan though and be very careful. Carry supplies, water and spare fuel in 20L containers. Yes the country is massive and if you want to see the whole lot (you got Buckley’s) then you got to come for 6 months plus. I got stranded once in floods at Ord River. But swam with the Freshwater Cricodiles.

What you plan on doing is what I want to do with USA and Canada. I want to see every bit right up to Alaska.

Now for those who don’t have a lot of time, these are the must sees:
Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Australian Alps and Upper Murray, Lorn, Adelaide, Barossa Valley, Margaret River, Perth, Broom, Darwin, Litchfield, Kadadu, Cairns, Proserpine, Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef, Shark Bay, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Coffs,

Look it’s just too expansive so you have to work out what you like and pick your places carefully. Then you got Tasmania and New Zealand to see and do.

If you really want, you can even spend the whole time in Sydney as there is plenty to do and see in that city alone to occupy you for weeks and you still won’t be sick of it. Great city. As are all our cities.

Adelaide is starting to build a Skyline too. The new Stadium is massive and they are building huge apartments everywhere.

They just finished building the world’s most expensive building. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world and it puts Dubai to shame. It’s the new hospital that cost 2.4 billion just to build. Patients are served their food by robots after they order from the menu on Apple IPads.

When you enter that building you think you’re on the set of Star Trek I the year 2143.

It’s literally freaky sharing a corridor with all these boys carrying food everywhere and towels and what not. They would be giving patients their pills by bot if they could.

[Paphitis]

That makes me feel my age. I visited the shipbuilders near Adelaide when the first Collins were being constructed.

You are young at heart mate.

If you ever feel like going down memory lane and come out to Oz, then give me a call.

Cheers.

I’ve probably been to Sydney a dozen times and agree, it’s a fantastic city. Stayed in the Shangrila on a few occasions. All the rooms are on the harbour side and our facing wall was almost entirely glass. Amazing view out over the opera house/bridge.

A brother had a big, 8 bedroom house in the Adelaide suburbs north of Aldgate for years. It was a converted hotel. Alboury Manor (?). He also had a penthouse in what must be one of the few high risers in the city centre. All sold up now.

I got to Brisbane and up to Cairns. Drove up the east side Canberra to Nowra a couple of times, Just scratched the surface of the country though really. We used to fly down from Hong Kong to Adelaide. After coasting in over Darwin it was something like another 4 hours flight time before landing IIRC. Most of it the GAFA of course (Great Australian F**** All )

I’d like to do a few months there. Perhaps cover another ten percent.

If you come down, make sure you give me a call. Would be nice to catch up somewhere for some Aussie Beers.

I may be able to help you with accommodation in Adelaide and Sydney too and believe me you will want to take that up in Sydney. Average rents in Sydney are almost as much as the average Australian wage. Kid you not. Median rents are $1000 per week plus. It’s an expensive town that will bleed you dry. There is only one city worse than Sydney and that is Hong Kong!

[Londonrake]

If you come down, make sure you give me a call. Would be nice to catch up somewhere for some Aussie Beers.

I may be able to help you with accommodation in Adelaide and Sydney too and believe me you will want to take that up in Sydney. Average rents in Sydney are almost as much as the average Australian wage. Kid you not. Median rents are $1000 per week plus. It’s an expensive town that will bleed you dry. There is only one city worse than Sydney and that is Hong Kong!

I certainly will. Although, sadly, that doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.

I've been fortunate, in having spent quite a bit of time in those places during the past (including HK), staying at nice hotels normally, courtesy of HMG. I did try to get every penny's worth of value for the taxpayer of course.

[Paphitis]

If you come down, make sure you give me a call. Would be nice to catch up somewhere for some Aussie Beers.

I may be able to help you with accommodation in Adelaide and Sydney too and believe me you will want to take that up in Sydney. Average rents in Sydney are almost as much as the average Australian wage. Kid you not. Median rents are $1000 per week plus. It’s an expensive town that will bleed you dry. There is only one city worse than Sydney and that is Hong Kong!

I certainly will. Although, sadly, that doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.

I've been fortunate, in having spent quite a bit of time in those places during the past (including HK), staying at nice hotels normally, courtesy of HMG. I did try to get every penny's worth of value for the taxpayer of course.

And from the Australian Government with that P3 upgrade you were responsible for. Then the Israelis after you.

[Londonrake]

And from the Australian Government with that P3 upgrade you were responsible for. Then the Israelis after you.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!

If it’s Adelaide, not beer. Wine!

I’ve done the Barossa half a dozen times. Starting IIRC at Jacobs Creek and ending up at Penfolds (?) For some odd reason, I can never recall much of that last one.

I also did the McLaren Vale continuous picnic a couple of times. Well, I think.

[Paphitis]

And from the Australian Government with that P3 upgrade you were responsible for. Then the Israelis after you.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!

If it’s Adelaide, not beer. Wine!

I’ve done the Barossa half a dozen times. Starting IIRC at Jacobs Creek and ending up at Penfolds (?) For some odd reason, I can never recall much of that last one.

I also did the McLaren Vale continuous picnic a couple of times. Well, I think.

You know about our wines and the Barossa Valley.

Yes Penfolds is right. There are dozens of wineries. Also the Clare Valley has some great ones too.

Along with our wines, we have some boutique Kraut beers too.

Wine it is then.

[Londonrake]

You know about our wines and the Barossa Valley.

Yes Penfolds is right. There are dozens of wineries. Also the Clare Valley has some great ones too.

Along with our wines, we have some boutique Kraut beers too.

Wine it is then.

It wouldn’t be right to visit Adelaide again without taking in a pie-floater, from the big kiosk outside the casino. And of course, a wander down Hindley street. I’ve never been there you understand but they tell me it’s very culturally enriching.

[Paphitis]

You know about our wines and the Barossa Valley.

Yes Penfolds is right. There are dozens of wineries. Also the Clare Valley has some great ones too.

Along with our wines, we have some boutique Kraut beers too.

Wine it is then.

It wouldn’t be right to visit Adelaide again without taking in a pie-floater, from the big kiosk outside the casino. And of course, a wander down Hindley street. I’ve never been there you understand but they tell me it’s very culturally enriching.

Culturally enriching it is.

Hindley Street is very trendy these days with classy retro and themed cafe bars, cafes, and restaurants especially down the side streets.

Adelaide and Melbourne are famed for having the best Restaurants and Cafes with a great outdoor cosmo feel about them. Some very trendy stuff as well. They say, if you are into your Gastronomy, you give France, Italy, Greece etc the skip and just come to Melbourne and Adelaide. Adelaide also has the best wines and they always win International Awards but you can get those wines in any part of Australia. They also say, if you love your wines then forget France because the best wines are in Adelaide.

The pie floater is no longer there because of the Adelaide Casino and Hyatt Regency. That was an institution. Plus the guy is probably retired in his multi million dollar mansion now.

Glenelg has been redeveloped fully, and Hahndorff hasn't changed much. Riverbank has changed a lot with trendy bars, convention centre etc.

You will notice a lot of change. You will love Adelaide. Many Australians think Adelaide is better than Sydney and Melbourne. It's certainly a lot more livable than Sydney. But Sydney and Melbourne are always a must.

[Londonrake]

I remember Glenelg. Looking out at the sea from the beach and thinking "Next stop Antarctica?"

[Paphitis]

I remember Glenelg. Looking out at the sea from the beach and thinking "Next stop Antarctica?"

Now it is full of multi-million dollar apartments.

There is also a Marina. A berth there costs about a million dollars for a 12m by 3m plot of water to park your yacht.

I have a mate who bought 5 at $60,000 each and when the development was done they were worth almost $5million bucks.

Next stop is Kangaroo Island more like, then its Antarctica. Kangaroo island is about half the size of Cyprus with a population of 3,000 people. Also the home of thousands of Sea lions and Sharks who come to eat them.