Pilgrimage to the South

Some days ago, I received an email from Jia Min, one of the students who did IA at our office. She just came back from Melbourne with her b/f and two others as part of their "final year tour", after completing their last exams at NTU. I personally thot this shot was very well taken, and it kind of refreshed my memory of the trip with the missus some nine years back.

Some of you may know that i like to head south for my vacations, so much as that Sunil, my senior at DSTA, once said that "Kok Weng is gog for his yearly Pilgrimage to South" when i told them that I was planning to visit Perth in 2002. In fact, statistics had proven so:
- 1997, backpacked in NZ;
- 1998, F&E in Melbourne;
- 2000, honeymoon in Tasmania;
- 2002, F&E in Perth and south-west WA
- and lately in 2006, Brisbane and Gold Coast
Not forgetting that i was at Rockhamptom Queensland for the Ex. Wallaby in '99 and '00 for my NS!!!

Beside gog there myself, i had been trying hard to get frens to visit there, telling them where to go and how to go. It simply gets me excited! My NZ Lonely Planet had changed hands at least four times; likewise Tasmania twice.

Talking abt Tasmania, I felt a bit paisey cos these two groups (Su Hock and gang; Yeow Lam and wife) din really enjoy as much as i did. It was not that Tas is a bad place, but rather the unpredictable weather at Cradle Mountain (the two pics above were from Cradle Mt Lodge's website, and you hardly would get to see it this way!), and the rising prices in the whole island, had somehow dampened their hols. What Yeow Lam, who is very well-travelled, said was very true - nice place to go, but for the same price there would be better options. So, next time round when i "pyscho" others to Tas, i would remind them to note these two points. But hey, may as well go to NZ instead! I bet no one would regret, and so far i have been hearing kind words.

Having said that, one has to really appreciate the fact that travel experiences are rather subjective. First my trip to NZ was more or less decided after seeing Jin Cheng's photos, and it was a decision i never regret. On the other hand, i dun think the missus would want me to remind her our cruise from Melbourne to Tasmania on board the "Spirit of Tasmania". If not becos' of the positive words from her fren Hwee Chong, i doubt we would want to part the monies. Yes, the sunset view was nice, but the night of "torture" in the cabin would be sth you wish to forget...

Back to Jia Min, i had offered some suggestions to their itenary prior to the trip and i hope it turned out to be useful. She seemed impressed with Aussie Land (a term i borrowed from Chin Kok) and maybe it would be she and b/f who would be making the "pilgrimage" next year! BTW, she is starting work on Monday and i hope her DSTA experience would be a exciting and enlightening one. I would talk about this 1 Depot Road place in my next posting.