Latest (January 2003) Updates from  our new life in Australia 2003 and the 2002 Holiday

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We landed in Brisbane Australia on 01.01.2003 at 10:25am

Please join us in our new life in Australia 2003

FIRST UPDATE FROM BRISBANE - AUSTRALIA (04.01.03)

We are FINALLY here, after a 8 hours smooth flight from HK. We "celebrated" the New Year still in Hong Kong's airport at the tarmac , ready to take off for our new life in Australia. We landed on time at 10:25am, greeted by a blue sky, a smiling and 30C warm sun. After a short but thoughtfully immigration check-up a customs officer would make sure that we did not bring any illegal or dangerous items with us. All our four large suitcases plus four hand carries been politely searched bit by bit. I could tell him before that we did not have any drugs, snaked penises or nuclear waste with us, but I guess he would not believe me and just doing his job. I thought , if this what it takes to life in a secure country, let them check our bags twice, no problem for us. After a short taxi ride we arrived at our temporary home, which is in the very center of Brisbane, easy walking access to all the important places we have and like to go. A very friendly and helpful hotel manager of the Dorchester Inn, Brian and his wife Jenny welcomed us and we moved in a nice and cozy mini apartment with everything in what we would need for the next few days. Brian gave us tons of good advices and tips, I guess he is used to guys like us. Few hours later we visited our first friend Alex who is the F&B manager of the Sheraton hotel which is just a five minutes walk away from us. He is in Brisbane since one year and could give us additional valuable tips, he even invited us for dinner at his home where we later met his wife Jenny and their lovely and very smart two year old daughter Jenny (when ever our beer bottles been empty, she would walk to the fridge and brought us refill with a big smile on her face, she will be a dream wife :) They arranged a Barbie (BBQ for non Australians) on their balcony overlooking the Brisbane skyline and we had a very chatty and informative time. They told us that we are very lucky with the weather (31C) because last year they had hot and steamy 44C. Next day we started early to explore the surroundings and the city. Before we left the hotel, Brian gave us another half and hour insider tips, really helpful. The day before he actually pointed all the important places out on a map with ball pen dots, unfortunately there been so many dot's at the end, that I forget what places there been. First thing first, to get us each a mobile phone number and an internet connection. This was done very quick and next was to stock-up our fridge. Now we started to learn new things like:

- to greet people (even if you don't know them, "very strange"#) while entering a shop, bank, bar, they even ask you how the weather is outside, how gorgeous Vera's hair looks, how busy they been during the holiday times,  VERY VERY VERY friendly people around here #you will understand this only after living in Hong Kong for a while.....

- open your bag to show the cashier at the supermarket that you did not stole anything, beer and wine you can only buy in "bottle shops"...

- if you pay by credit card you have to mention that you pay "credit", press a button to confirm that you pay "credit" than confirm the amount before you sign the slip...

- people actually wait on pedestrian crossings while the traffic light is on red, even there are only a few cars or none on the street...

- that a Aussie drivers license is VERY important, I've been asked today around a half dozen times if I have one, it functions as an ID card here...Unfortunately they don't accept Vera's HK car driving license, she has to do a driving and the written test again. I'm more lucky, with my German car driving license I only have to do the written test. The written test you can do as often as you need, just pay 15$, fill in the questions, wait for the result, if you busted it, just bring the $$ and come back the next day....

- few more things we observe, while using an automated telephone switchboard, you don't have to listen first to two foreign languages (as in HK where you can choose to listen in Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese or English), the 10 TV channels are all in English, a lot of advertising for Special Sales for woman's bra's, Newspapers offering loans from A$100 to A$2,000.- !!!(again # is applicable), some shops are closing at 5:30pm, Banks and the Post office are not open on Saturdays, a lot of Asian people here who speak very good English (again # is applicable), not many people talking on mobile phones, we heard not EVEN ONE mobile phone as we watch the Lord of the Rings movie today (again # is applicable),  we been not bumped into by fellow walkers on the street, (again # is applicable), did not see anybody spiting or the familiar HK sound and "evidence" of somebody who is the master of deep throat clearing (again # is applicable), we visited China town last night, it looks very orderly and clean with lot's of people enjoying the night out drinking and eating....so there are many things to add, but I'm tired now and we have to get up early tomorrow because we join a tour to an island in the Ocean...will update on this very soon...

brian said we should go to the beach, I was very tempted but I wa splaning to updated our CV's and thought that as long we life here in QLD that weaterh weill be like this for th emost of the year anyway, engough time to visit the beach, BUSINESS FIRST...after printing few pages, my printer had a problem, first thing HK style I though, OK go out buy a new one, but than I thought again, well let's send him for repair.

Bye for today...So far we are having a great time................

LATEST NEWS: 28th Dec. three days to go....

we been busy visiting friends and colleagues and trying to keep warm. Yesterday I was invited to the Holiday Inns Golden Mile F&B Christmas dinner party. Meeting old friends can not get much better than this, we had a wonderful winter menu where East (Chinese Hot Pot) meets West (Swiss Cheese Fondue & Raclette) plus a lot of wine and beer. Afterwards I met my Pacific Club friends Rene and Noel who is leaving HK as well for another rounds of beer.... Last Wednesday we joined a bunch of friends to Shatin horse race course and I was lucky in betting for a "dog" horse which come unexpectedly first. Lucky us, all the expenditures of the day including the bets being taken care of with this single 10$ bet. :) On 22nd I joined Noel and David for a 15K race out in Sai Kung, it was David's ( he is my successor at the Pacific Club) first race where he did exceptional well, hope he will keep it up and enjoy running as I did in HK.

LATEST NEWS: 19th Dec. we got three nice visitor's on our beautiful island, please visit this the SPECIAL 4 friends Page.....

LATEST NEWS: BACK IN HONG KONG (18th December)

Back "Home" yes that how we felt after been back in Hong Kong. We checked in again at the Warwick Hotel on Cheung Chau Island and felt home right away. We been busy with catching-up with old friends and colleagues and organizing our move to Brisbane on 31st.

LATEST and LAST NEWS from Thailand: 15th December from Bangkok

Today we leave Bangkok to Hong Kong, we are both excited to come back to the city which we called home for eight years. The last three weeks in Thailand been marvelous, full of sunshine, delicious spicy and hot Thai food, sandy white beaches, cold beers, crystal clear and warm water, lot's of coconuts, beautiful people, visiting old friends like Nit, Gap and Nan-Nam and enjoying the friendliness and hospitality of Thai people. Vera really felled in love with Bangkok and was exploring the city while I was lying at the pool side. It was a great way to wrap-up 11 1/2 months of holidaying. The next 15 days we will again stay at the Warwick Hotel on Cheung Chau Island, before heading to Brisbane on 31.12.02 at 11:50pm with a CX business class flight. By the way I booked already a Hotel in Brisbane for the first few days, it is called the Dorchester Inn. The coming week I will start to search for a new job and try to line-up some interviews for the first week of the New Year. Next update will be from HK

LATEST NEWS: 13th December from Bangkok

The bus ride from Phuket to Bangkok was not as smooth as Thai silk but we arrived safely after a 13 hours drive. Vera had her final dental appointment and is now very happy about it. The last six days here in the city of angels are used to relax and meet with friends. Today we met Marco Brüschweiler and his wife Nuu-Mausi and their lovely Princess daughter Pokpek, who was my Executive Chef during my time at the Casino in Luzerne/Switzerland over 16 years ago.  He was my first contact to Asia as he had worked there already. By the way, if you want to book very reasonable priced hotels in Thailand, I found that this website offer the best deals.

LATEST NEWS: 2nd December from sunny Phuket - Thailand

We left Bangkok on 28th with a rental car to visit my old friend Khun Nok at her home in Phetchaburi province. We had a very nice vegetarian lunch in her restaurant and she later showed us few tourist attraction near by. Later we visited her families home to meet her kids and parents. Dinner we had at a typical Thai pub, with lost of cold beer, hot and spicy food and very LOUD music. We stayed for one night in a local hotel and left the next day to Phuket. WOW what an thrilling experience to drive over 900 Km on Thailand's roads. Believe me, nothing for a fainthearted person. After a ten and half hour drive we safely reached Phuket. We stay at Josef's and Ben's house, had already a very nice BBQ in their garden and enjoying their hospitality. Today we visited Ron Podlas (he hired me for my job at the Holiday Inn Golden mile in HK) he is the Director of Operation for TRI-ASIA and is overseeing five property in and around Phuket and many more to come in the near future. Visiting Laem Sing Beach is always a very enjoyable time, for me it is the most beautiful beach on Phuket and my friend Ali whom I know now for over 14 years is the best host you can ask for. He and his staff will make sure that you want to come back over and over just as I do for many years.

LATEST NEWS: November 27th, (first from Bangkok - Thailand)

After our departure from cold and wet Germany we had five days in sunny and exciting Dubai (you have to see the pictures, please click on Dubai). I was able to meet my good old friend Mark Bettsworth with whom I was working over ten years ago at the Landmark Hotel and Plaza in Bangkok. He is now the busy Hotel Manager of the dream property Royal Mirage hotel where we stayed for five days. Our vibrant friend Böf from Amberg, extra added a one day stop over in Dubai from his flight Bangkok to Munich and we went out on excursion to visit the only Seven ******* hotel Burj Al Arab  and her sister hotel Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Since 21st we are in Bangkok, (my third visit to Thailand this year) staying at the Amari Boulevard hotel, we met up with George from Amberg and had a great dinner with him at our favorite restaurant Suda. Vera and I used the excellent medical and reasonable priced medical facilities here and had both a eye examination (both 20/20) and dental check-up. We been to the exotic Night Life, watched Harry Potter, visited Thomas Nowak at his Swiss restaurant Chesa and Otto from the famous German restaurant Bei Otto which is just next to it. We even could have a night out with Andrew Jacka the Chef from which I took over at the Pacific Club more than eight years ago. He is now the General Manger of the soon to open deluxe property Kamalaya in Ko Samui. Tomorrow we will head in a rental car to Phetchaburi to visit our good friend Nok and her family. She has now a vegetarian restaurant and teach English to everybody who can afford it. We will stay for one night at one of the resorts in Hua Hin or Cha-am to be ready for the long drive to Phuket. The first few days we will stay with Chef Josef Bender and his girl friend Ben at their house. We are looking for some leisure time on my favorite  Laem Sing beach.

LATEST NEWS: November 7th, (ninth and LAST update from Germany)

November 7th, today we start our last tour, from our house in Meckenbeuren to Munich where we will meet my mother and brother for the last time. The next two days we will visit my auntie Annie in Cham and Luise in Kirchberg, each for one night. Sunday we drive to Klaus & Birgit by Frankfurt our last destination before taking off from Frankfurt airport on 15.11. to Abu Dhabi where we stay for five days in Dubai at the Royal Mirage hotel. On 21st we will head to Bangkok for a ten days stay at the Amari Boulevard hotel. Our return to Hong Kong is scheduled for the 2nd of December. (arrival date to HK might be delayed due to next news) I just got our flights confirmed to Brisbane, we will leave Hong Kong on 31st of December at 23:50. This is the first time we celebrating the New Year in a plane, I guess there will be some Champagne on Cathay Pacific's business class section.

Australia we are coming on 01.01.03

November 3rd, There's plenty of things to tell and I want to start with the sad news first.  While visiting my two great aunties †Marie and Annie in Cham (Bavarian Forest), my great auntie †Marie peacefully died (aged 84) on October 17th which incidentally  was her sister's (auntie Annie) 77th birthday. It was the first time ever, that I witnessed a member of my family pass away and attended a funeral. We actually planned to stay for three days only but due to auntie †Marie's death we stayed for a total of eight days.

On the 28th we celebrated my mother's 58th birthday with a leisurely walk to "Kloster Andechs" where we had tender roast pork and each of us had a liter of excellently brewed in-house  (monastery) beer for lunch.  In the evening we rounded up this fun day with a visit to the "Hofbräuhaus"  and had some more beer. Well, this is the German way of having a good time. In order not to let my belly grow rounder and bigger than a beer barrel, I run and finished four marathons in four weeks in three countries. To top this (and if I feel like it) I might run the Bangkok marathon on 24th of November. October 12th, Juergen Bemmerl my good friend and vibrant 5***** chef from the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong flew in to Munich for a "Blitzkrieg" visit. Less than two hours after he touched down we went for an hour's run at 7:30am in rainy and windy conditions through some of Munich's finest paths along the river Würm. Later we had lunch at Käfer's where he was  working more ten years ago and was raving about the good old times. Today (3.11.) I started to send out my CV's to some of the leadings hospitality headhunters to assist me in finding a new position at the Brisbane area. Wish me good luck....

September 28th, first of all, Greetings from Berlin, the capital of Germany. It's almost a month since our last update and if you read further you will know why. Our short trip to Venice on 29th of August was wonderful. It's a beautiful and romantic city. Please take your time and visit the Venice picture page. On one picture you can see Vera on a telephone booth, we've been calling our very good friends in Melbourne, June & Carl Simpson. Carl was celebrating his  90th birthday on this very day. Both of them have been in Venice before we were even born and loved this place just as we did. Exactly one week later on 7th of September we visited Milan and there's  a really amazing story to it. In a period of seven days we congratulated two dear persons close to us on their 90th birthday and on both occasions we've been in Italy, a country we usually don't go too frequently. My dearest aunty Marie from the Black Forest had her 90th birthday on this day. On September 8th we went to my hometown Tettnang to celebrate the "Bähnlesfest", this was for me a highlight because I wasn't able to join this event for more than 15 years. I was expecting to meet longtime friends, such as the brothers Franky & Klausi Ebinger and "long lost friends" and I was right.  On 11-14 September Klaus & Birgit Muttke from Frankfurt were visiting us. Klaus just successfully finished a double  Jungfrau mountain marathon in the Swiss alps (each one is a full 42Km marathon on Saturday & Sunday). (Well, after this I should not feel too strange running three marathons in three weeks). We've been touring with them around the Black Forest and Bodensee. The trip to the island of Mainau was a very flowery event. On September 14th I was running my first Bodensee marathon of now four marathons this year. I was really pleased with my time and performance, my target time was under four hours and I clocked in in 3:53 hour. I felt great all the time, without any pain and even been able to run the last 14Km without being overtaken by another runner. This gave me now a lot of confidence for the Berlin marathon where I will support my uncle Rolf for his first ever marathon. There will be a record number of 42,000 runners. The day after the Bodensee marathon we went to Meersburg to celebrate the Weinfest and I treated us for a one night stay at the Hotel Bären where I did a summer season 15 years ago. Michael Gilowsky, the owner of this very nice and romantic hotel is also the third mayor of Meersburg  and he  was so kind to give us the keys to climb up to the famous "Obertor" watch tower which is a very famous historical landmark in that area. This was a privilege and proved to be an exciting adventure. 18th of September we started our current trip and after a 1,070KM car ride (my longest ever) we arrived at Aabenraa in Denmark where we visited my friends Simon & Hele Martin proud owners of the beautiful Hotel Europa and two Scottish pubs for two sunny days. They both took a day off and showed us the beautiful surroundings of their countryside. We had a traditional Danish cold platter for lunch in an old farmhouse and were invited to their impressive house (with a garden as big as a football field) for a real traditional Danish dinner. For our next stop we took a car ferry from Denmark to Sylt where we've been welcomed with several glasses of bubbly Champagne by our good friend Gerhard Diehm , the Executive Chef of the famous Vogelkoje Restaurant. He treated us to an out of this world six course dinner and on our last day to a "fit for a king power breakfast". From the island Sylt we took a car train to the mainland of Germany and headed to our next destination, the Beckmann family in  Buxtehude by Hamburg. Gerd and his wife Minda whom we know from our time in Hong Kong are running a restaurant in a prestigious golf and country club. Gerd originated from Hamburg and was the best guide you can wish for to see the best and interesting places in Hamburg. Since the 24th of September we are here in Berlin and enjoying the hospitality of my uncles Rolf and Hugo and their families.

August 28th, this time there is no  last minute rush before boarding the plane or car for a trip however, tomorrow night we board a bus for a trip to Venice (Italy). We  had a really  great time in London and I think we saw most of the interesting sights there. Everyday I did an early morning run, starting from the Hyde Park which was less than a minute from the hotel we stayed. It was great fun to see that there are so many runners enjoying the same pastime. On my 38th B'day (20th Aug.) we had our first Chinese lunch since leaving Hong Kong almost three months ago. It was a great little party with my uncle Hugo & his girlfriend Rosa, Amar my cousin, who is working as a nurse in London, Ms. Pamela Barton our vibrant and very good friend from Hong Kong and of course my lovely "wify" Vera. Next week on Saturday we are planning to visit Milan (Italy) for a day trip. Now we are also starting to discuss how to organize our smooth move back to HK in November, you can't believe how fast time is running if you are on holiday. I said to Vera that we actually need another holiday to finish everything which I was planning to do on this holiday. Unbelievable, but true. However, let me say that we have been lucky and feel privileged that we are able to do this. Everyday was a joy and we enjoyed the company of each other. It is a great experience, a lifetime experience which I hope everyone of you will have the chance to do one day....

August 16th, another short update just before we take-off for a flight to London. Our one week car trip went well and we met a lot of family and friends. We had a lot of rain but this meant people had time and the mood to stay home. We had some delicious family style meals and even played a Swiss card game in Luzerne with the Urs Wigger family. We had great fun. We are looking forward to a lovely time in London for a week's holiday (16-23 Aug.) My uncle Hugo booked us into this very nice Hotel just next to the Hyde Park. I will celebrate my 38th Birthday (August 20th) with a meal in a Chinese restaurant which was recommended by our good friend, Pamela Barton. She and my uncle Hugo and his girlfriend Rosa will join as well. A great way to get a year older. So, it's time to call a taxi and head to the airport. I will drink a pint of Guinness for all of you...

August 07th, we had an exciting time in Paris, more details and tons of pictures after I find time to do so. (HOLIDAY STRESS) Today we start another  seven days car tour to the south of Germany and Switzerland where we will catch-up with our HK friends Rene, Jennifer and Baby Boy Brian in lovely city of Mellingen.

I've got news for my running friends: "I CAN RUN AGAIN - pain free" after almost two years of constant pain in my left Achilles tendon and many visits to Hong Kong' s "best" ($$$earnings$$$) Dr's. and physiotherapists I finally went to see a German "Medicine Man",  a week later (this was three weeks ago) I had my first of now daily PAIN FREE runs again. So I checked out what  races are around and signed in for another two marathons in September (one is the 3 country marathon where I will run from Germany, cross to Austria and into Switzerland and then finish in  Austria again. Another race is the local Bodensee marathon which is very close to the place I grew up) and then on to the Berlin marathon which was already booked for the end of September. It seems that I will do at least three full marathon in three weeks, an idea, it seems Vera does not like too much.  So I'm back in training and enjoying it very much, especially the beautiful countryside we have here in the south of Germany. On our return from the seven days tour we will have a 2 day break to recharge and prepare before boarding yet another plane for a week of London excitement.....and we are already planning as well our trips to Italy (Rome, Venice, Milan.....) but more of this after we're back from the UK.... give me some REST..... :)

July 19th,  today we fly to Paris for a one week holiday with my uncle Hugo who lives in  Berlin and his partner Rosa. Vera was busy studying a Paris guidebook the last seven days and even tried to learn some simple sentences. We are both looking forward to our first visit to the city of love, especially  just after celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary yesterday.

July 13th,  we're back from a wonderful 11 days Bavarian tour where we met family and friends. This time in Germany almost every city, town or village have their own "Fest" and there's plenty to where we've been traveling. In Amberg we visited the Bergfest, in Regensburg the Brückenfest and today we will join our own famous Seehasenfest at our base here in Friedrichshafen. I guess the last time I had the chance to mingle in this beautiful event was 16 years ago. (For those of you wondering what a "fest" is,  it's actually about gurgling as much beer as you can, eating yummy local delicacies and catching up with your mates.  Just another excuse to get pissed, perhaps? Nah! We all know the Germans does not need an excuse to drink their beloved beer. And I have to admit the atmosphere is  undeniably great---Vera)

June 25th,  FINALLY I have time (first rainy day in 10 days) and am able to go online (we had to wait for 13 days to get a telephone line connected, "THANK YOU" to the German Telecom, I miss the service of HK Telecom) to update this page and answer  e-mails.

First of all we had a very pleasant flight (business class) with British Airways. Vera was able to sleep for almost eight hours out of twelve hours flying and I was busy checking out and playing with all the electronic in-flight gadgets  they have on offer. My mother picked us up in Munich where we spent the first week visiting family, friends and  lots of beer gardens and were greeted with plenty of  sunshine.

Since the 5th of June  we live in our beautiful holiday flat in the middle of Friedrichshafen. The weather is exceptionally hot and sunny (although not today) with record temperatures of up to 38C. I signed Vera up for a in-line skating course and we've been out almost daily  on bicycles. Last week we visited my brother Uli and his girlfriend Manuela in Davos/Switzerland . Vera went back in my mother's car and Uli and I cycled back home to Friedrichshafen. It took us just five and half hours for this 160Km ride. This was really a great experience.

We've been following all the football matches and whenever Germany, Turkey or the Italian team won the streets  just get crazy afterwards with supporters flooding in and hanging out of noisy cars with huge national flags flying around.

By the end of this week we will start a Bavarian family and friends visiting tour for around 10 days. So that's all for today, we're going out for a walk to the lake of Constance (Bodensee).

BYE BYE HONG KONG

May 28th, today we are leaving Hong Kong to Germany for our five months summer holiday. We had eight wonderful and exciting years here, which we call, "the best time and experience in our life".  The last five months where we lived in Cheung Chau island has been especially the most memorable one. We will try to keep this page updated as much as possible, so please try to come in.

I just added a lot of new pictures from the last few weeks when we've been too busy saying good bye and packing and savouring the last and best of friendships, beer and Chinese food.

May 19th, today is the famous Bun festival on our island. Check out the pictures which I shoot.

May 14th, Beijing was fascinating, we had a marvelous time there and enjoyed the sounds and many sights there. Please take a minute and have a look at some of the over 250 pictures which I took during this time. Many thanks to Simone, Rene, Ronald, Vivian and Richard for their hospitality. Now the countdown is running and we are busy with packing and organizing our move to Germany on the 28th.

May 3rd, we are both safely back from our holidays and both had a great time, though missing each other. Vera has another holiday from 10th - 16th May and we will head for four days to Beijing from May 10th to 14th. Vera has never been there and I like to climb the Great Wall with her. We are busy with our move and Vera has now her German visa and is now processing the UK and Swiss visas.

March 18th, I just confirmed our flights back to Germany. We will leave Hong Kong on the 28th of May to Munich.

The Menu for my Bavarian Menu at the Aberdeen Boat Club is now ONLINE.

January 21st, Hans last working day at the Club was the 31st of December 2001. Vera will continue to work until 15th of May. (By the way she got promoted to Senior Concierge in October and awarded Employee of the Third Quarter)

On 14th of January we moved out of our flat which we had lived for over six and half years and moved to Cheung Chau Island. I rented us a suite with three rooms (1000sqf) and two balconies overlooking the sandy beach, ocean and hills at the Warwick Hotel . If you like to see the view I just enjoying while typing this, click HERE

The first two months of my holiday are gone and I started to have somehow a routine. I'm still busy organizing my files, preparing for the Bavarian Food Festival at the Aberdeen Boots Club, running, cycling,  rock climbing around the beautiful trails and beaches on the island, entered a Dart competition at Morocco's Pup, played again football for the first time in seven years, started to played badminton, and took a five hours windsurfing course with the uncle and first coach of Hong Kong's first ever Olympic Gold Medal winner in windsurfing. We started to receive a steady flow of visitors to the island and enjoying very much to show them around. Please visit our NEW PICTURE GALLERY PAGE with latest views and sights from us and the island.

Vera and I enjoying very much to explore other islands too, when ever she has a day off, so we chartered a Sampan (small wooden boat) and crossed over to Lantau island. From there we been hiking for over four hours to reach Mui Wo and took a inter island ferry back to our island. We both enjoyed the empty and secluded beaches and the unspoiled nature and had a great day out.

To make sure that my cooking skills does not get rusty, I  accepted to do a 10 days Bavarian Food Promotion during the 13th until 22nd of March, at the Aberdeen Boat Club. If you like to see the menu, Click HERE.

Vera will fly home to the Philippines in April for three weeks to join a family reunion. Due to the hostage crisis there,  which is targeting foreigners in her country, I might play safe and not join her. During this time, I might fly to Thailand for a week to meet up with my Friend Carsten and his girlfriend.

I secured us a Holiday Flat in Friedrichshafen, which will be our base during our five months stay in Europe.

My uncle Hugo in Berlin, invited us for each one week to Paris (from 19.07.02) and London (from 16.08.02).

The UK, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and the USA are also on our visiting wish list.

One of my last "MUST SEE, MUST BE THERE" plans before leaving for Australia by the end of 2002 is to be at the  Munich Oktoberfest. 

Believe it or not, I've been to a lot of  Oktoberfests around Asia (Thailand, Philippines, China and eight times in Hong Kong) but never on the REAL one.