Sydney, Australia – 6-10 March 2014 (with Mum)

My excitement for Sydney really kicked into gear on Wednesday night when I received to text from Qantas telling me my upgrade had come through - woo hoo!!

After a crazy crazy busy day at work on Thursday, March 6 it's time for my long weekend to Sydney. Nice and painless check-in and straight through immigration to you guessed it the Qantas lounges. First stop was the bar - now I'm on holiday!! Sticking with last nights theme (on Facebook) I choose an Aperol spritz, one of my favourite drinks from when I lived in Venice, Italy.

I elected to have the turn down service on the plane rather than eat and was thankful that most other people around me selected the same option - smelling the food would have made it very hard to say no.

We arrived into Sydney early, so typical when I'm flying business class! Mum and Dad were arriving in 2.15 hours so I was in no rush to clear immigration and customs. After having a much needed coffee, just wandered around and tried to stay awake.

Dad headed off with his work colleagues and Mum and I took the train to Townhall then walked to the hotel. Nice and easy! We were thankfully allowed to check-in early so after a shower headed off for a much needed lunch at Galloways (in the old state theatre building). It had been recommended to Mum and did not disappoint -- fresh oysters, tuna tartare and mussels with a glass of bubbles. It was definitely a lot more formal than we expected but totally worth it and I would absolutely return.

The rest of the afternoon we wandered around the shops and streets, stopping for a coffee late afternoon. Nice to be back here.

After pre-dinner drink and sorting out Mum's iPhone we went to a Greek restaurant for dinner and were very lucky to get the last outside table that overlooked Darling Harbour - watching the sunset was amazing followed by delicious food! A great end to our first day in Sydney.

Saturday morning after a sleep in we headed off to Bondi Junction in search of a place for brunch that Mum had read about - more a coffee place so after a coffee we headed back to a place we had passed earlier. Definitely didn't disappoint.

To walk off our brunch we went shopping - breaking news there were purchases for both of us!!!!

A fuel stop was needed before we began the journey back into the city.....only 4 stops on the train buy hey ho!

Lee had recommended a Mexican Restaurant in Newtown, which had BYO, so off we headed for dinner. A smallish place that had amazing food; even better was the $3 BYO charge - super cheap!!!

Sunday morning we walked down to the Rocks for brunch to a place Mum and Dad had been for dinner on a previous trip. Another great place! After a look around the markets we headed back out to Bondi Junction to collect a dress I'd had altered.

Mid afternoon Dad arrived at the hotel; we had a couple of hours together before we met his work colleagues at 6pm for drinks in the hotel then dinner down at Kings Wharf. Can't believe Mum and my 3 days have come to an end.

Monday (March 10) after a very relaxing morning I drag my suitcase down to the MS building and have an hour catching up with one of my Australian colleagues – now I’m wishing I had extended my stay and worked out of the office. Ooh well there is always another time.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – 30 January – 2 February 2014 (CNY)

Gong Xi Fa cha!!

Chinese New Year weekend and after leaving work at 3pm I'm off to Ho Chi Minh City :) My flight isn't to 7.35pm so I decide to take the MRT - no need to rush to the airport. It's a very easy journey and after having to cross the platform at one stage, arrive within 40 minutes of leaving the office.

Check-in is very easy and I'm moved up 4 rows which is great (no not to business class)....it's the small things in life!! Though immigration promptly and now to the lounge - ooh how I've missed you (again it's the small things.....it's been an interesting couple of weeks at work).

Aperol spritz is ordered immediately, which goes down a treat. I have 2.5 hours here before having to head off for my flight and need to pace myself.

I manage to drag myself away from the lounge to take my flight - thankfully no waiting at the gate. It's a fairly uneventful flight and within minutes of disembarking I'm through immigration (no line....helps to be at the front of the plane) and in a taxi. Aah HCMC how I've missed you!

Motorbikes galore :) The streets are particularly busy tonight due to the Vietnamese Lunar New Year called "TET".

An easy check-in at the hotel ends with a room upgrade - nice!! I'm greeted in the room by a red packet and two oranges, a nice treat.

The view from my room is pretty cool, I'm on the 18th floor so can see quite far!! Due to the TET celebrations the streets below are packed with people and ooh so much noise! There is a flower show on, featuring local flowers and other ornamental plants, hence the busyness. Right now I'm more than happy staring down! I have 15 minutes of fireworks to look forward to at midnight.....hoping I might be asleep by then (I have a very busy day tomorrow); then again with the noise that might not be the case.

I wake fairly early on Friday, January 31, 2014; thankfully my sleep wasn’t disturbed too much last night. There is a dragon and lion dance on at 8.30am in the lobby so I decide to go and watch that before going to breakfast. It's an enjoyable show.

I'm in no rush today so take my time at breakfast as well as getting to the pool, because of this there are no loungers left - hmmm tomorrow will need to be more onto it!! I have a couple of hours relaxing at the pool (finally got a lounger) before heading out for a late lunch to a restaurant (Lemongrass) that I've been too before. It definitely does not disappoint!! I eat enough food to last me the rest of the day and the next 2 days.....The letter in my room from the assistant manager in the hotel advises a lot of the restaurants in the city are closed due to the TET holiday so hopefully I won't be eating at the hotel for the rest of the time.

I decide to brave the crowds and walk down Ng Yen Hue Avenue which, closed off the traffic; it’s hosting the flower display I can see from my room. Wow it's really impressive! The (Year of the) Horse is everywhere throughout the display. I continue to wander the streets, enjoying the sights, smells and sound of HCMC. I decide to stop for an iced coffee (with condensed milk none the less)....a little stupid given its 4pm in the afternoon but hoping the beer later will counteract it so sleep actually will happen!!

A doctor is needed and quick smart!!! It's been nearly 23 hours since I arrived in the country and only now having a drink - no wonder I've been feeling a bit off this afternoon......I seem to spend bloody ages trying to find someone (outside) to sit and enjoy a beer and watch the world go around. In the end I decide on a place that is a stones throw from the hotel. This is the life. It's an early return to the hotel for me - where I read what I need to do for my blog and review / change a resume for a friend. I'm joined by the constant hum of the outside world :)

Saturday morning I wake at 6.30am, who does that on holiday??! And it wasn't due to hunger nor being hungover. After a relaxed breakfast I'm at the pool by 9am and enjoy a good couple of hours there. The water is beyond freezing - such a contrast to the temperature outside the pool.

First stop needs to be for coffee; I seem to arrive at the right now as I get the last outside table. Great for people watching! For some strange reason I decide to eat lunch somewhere different.....not my smartest decisions given so many places are shut due to the TET holiday. I find myself wandering towards Nha Hang Ngon, a restaurant that I always visit when I come to HCMC. A beer is ordered first.....now to review the massive menu.

I decide to have a manicure; Murphy's law no-one stops me on the street to offer their services, so typical! So I return to where I saw the latest place. How I managed to survive is beyond me as the language barrier was huge!!!! Anyway 30 minutes later I'm leaving with my nails painted :)

Now time for a beer....my walk around now begins - while there are more places opened today than yesterday it's still a struggle to find somewhere that I can sit outside and watch the world go by. And would you believe it I end up in the same place as I was yesterday but in a better spot. Life is good!

I find it fascinating watching people; seeing how people carry themselves on a motorbike - some with helmets, lots (mainly children) without. The most I've seen on a motorbike is 5 people but the more common is definitely 4. Motorbikes carrying a huge pile of balloons and one with the pet dog are among the "not so much the norm" I've seen sitting here.

I've found this afternoon and evening quite cold and wish I brought my jeans!! I get chatting to two guys from Toronto over beers and they laugh at me when I say that....for them it's tropical compared to the weather they have had and is still happening. Not for me thanks very much!!

I try to return to Lemongrass for dinner but they can't seat me for another hour (by that stage I'll be close to returning to my hotel room) so I head down the road to Vietnam House restaurant where I have a seat right by the window. Allows me to continue my people watching - perfect!

Sunday morning I thankfully slept past 7am! A sleep in compared to yesterday morning. I'm in no rush today - so after breakfast I relax in the room for a bit. Not the nicest weather to be sitting by the pool so I head out for coffee (and of course people watching) instead. I return to the room to pack up before going out again for my final (Vietnamese) meal. After looking at a couple of places that I've been too before I decide to venture out and go to the Ngoh An restaurant. That's where my venturing ends!!! Beer with vermicelli noodles and spring rolls wins again.

On check-out at the hotel the receptionist asks me if I've enjoyed my stay, which I have; then remarks that I look tired......not the look I was going for today but there you are. To the airport I go!

This is my 5th or 6th trip to HCMC and for some reason I feel like this will be my last visit; it's an amazing city which I do feel at ease at and would encourage everyone to visit at some stage in their life. Back to reality I go.