The Grand Nuffnang Australian Roadshow!!! 4 Cities!!! 4 community events!

First of all, Happy Chinese New Year to one and all!

In what undoubtedly will be a trying year for us all, may we show the determination and tenacity of the bull! Never to yield! And to show courage in times of fear.

So anyway, I’ve actually just gotten back from a week of whirlwind travel around Australia (The photos that follow were all taken by myself, with the beast).

As you know, Nuffnang Australia launched about 2 months back now, and signups have been going well. David and myself decided it was good time to get on the ground and start meeting Australian bloggers face to face!

Our aims were simple, to:

1) Meet and greet the Australian blogosphere + Kickstart the Australian community

2) Let them know what Nuffnang is about! Namely, driving income to bloggers, and forging a tight-knit blogging community

3) And of course to get more of them signing up for Australia’s First Blog Advertising community!

David, with the help of some local blogging groups, had managed to arrange a Nuffnang Australian Roadshow encompassing 4 different cities, namely, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney!

Australia is a vast country, and poses different challenges to Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

For Singapore, there’s no need to explain. But in Malaysia and the Philippines, blogging activity centers largely around the capital cities of KL and Manila. That is not to say that we forget the other states of course, having hosted events in Penang, and supporting events in East Malaysia too.

So it was to be at 1AM on Tuesday, the 20th, I landed in Melbourne airport. As we were due on a flight to Brisbane the next morning, I checked into the Hilton Melbourne Airport hotel.

A comfy, no frills hotel, facing the airport and runway.

A 2 hour flight later, and we were checked into our hotel in Brisbane.

The Mantra South Bank.

Just to give you a heads-up, I’m writing about this trip from an experential viewpoint. Which means, it will be about the hotels I lived in (the nice ones at least), the food I ate, the bloggers and people i met, and the sights I saw.

The hotel was actually pretty neat. This is what our room looked like. Yeah, twin beds, cause me and david don’t swing that way. Sorry boys!

After having checked in, we got some directions from the concierge, and walked across the street, to this man made beach.

Which also had a great view of the Brisbane Skyline.

We then moved on to this quaint row of restaurants, on an area called, Little Stanley street. Which for just an instant, reminded me of my crazy friend stanley (he used to have a blog called, whatihaveismoney.blogspot.com). Nuff said.

So we walked down the row of restaurants …

And finally settled for one with a bold claim! The best curry in brisbane the sign said!

Those who know me, also understand I relish all things spicy, and the rings of fires that follow the next day of course.

There is an unspoken rivalry between me and david to outdo each other in said activity. And so we settled, on a sweltering afternoon, for a Chicken Vindaloo, making sure the owner understood we wanted it “Indian Spicy”!

Ming 1- David 0!

;-p

After lunch, and a short break, we headed off to our first venue to prep!

A bar in Brisbane, called ironically, “The Melbourne Hotel”

We were allocated, what the bar manager proudly proclaimed, was the “Sexiest room in brisbane”.

Brisbanites, are I am pleased to report, a punctual bunch.

The group soon swelled to about 40 odd people, and after mingling for a bit, we started off with our introduction.

The rest of the night, me and david, went around the room, mingling and having conversations with quite a varied bunch of people.

There were bloggers, twitterers, agency people, and more.

It was cool meeting the Brisbanites, and we took home some learnings, eager to see if each city was distinct in blogging landscape terms.

So anyway, at 4AM in the morning (yes …. ), we were up and out to the airport for our flight to Sydney, and onward to Perth, on a 6 hour long flight!!! Australia ISSSS a big country!

Talking about time, I caught this clock in the Perth CBD, with this quote underneath. “No minute gone, comes ever back again. Take heed, and see yee do nothing in vain.”

My philosophy in life, follows this quote broadly. I try to make my time count as much as possible. And I hope I have enough of it to make an impact, with god’s grace of course.

Perth, I learnt from david, is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, having benefitted from a mining boom, in recent years.

As usual, after checking in, and having lunch at this studenty jap place called Taka, David and myself proceeded to walk around Perth.

These are some of the sights I caught on my camera.

The harbour front is definitely a place where couples go to “Pa Tuo”.

It has a pleasant, relaxed kinda feel about it, and I figured that if I lived in this city, it would be one of those places, I would come to chill out and …

share a moment or two with somebody, under those wind swept palm trees.

As a photographer, I love capturing moments like these. I think my favourite shot taken so far (of this “type”), was of an  elderly couple napping by the River Cam in cambridge. Wouldn’t we all want to spend lazy afternoons like that, in our twilight years?

I walked by and saw the unconcious joy in his face, and will never forget that look.

David the iphone nut (His 2nd wife, sorry grace!).

We hooked up with Martyn, who had flown down from Melbourne to join us, and proceeded to our event venue.

 A cult joint, named the Brass Monkey, in Northbridge.

Once again, we got a section reserved specially for our bloggers.

Martyn, the other half of Nuffnang Australia, catching up on his emails, before the event proper.

The perth bloggers meetup featured quite a number of asians. About half to be precise. In all, about 25 odd people turned up, and they seemed really appreciative we had come out all the way to engage them.

Australia is truly a culturally and racially diverse country.

One of those people we met was Karen Cheng, our first featured blogger, and almost certainly, one of the Top Bloggers in Australia.

She had just come back from Sydney where she interviewed Lance Armstrong in person.

After the event, Karen and her husband Andrew, kindly offered to take us out for dinner.

Andrew, is clearly a proud Australian, and also proud of his home, Perth, knowing many intricate details of the history of the city.

The restaurant of choice, was a vietnamese Pho place, in Northbridge, not too far away from the Brass Monkey.

I loooooooove Phoooo!!! Super yum!

Andrew and myself.

After the Pho, Karen and Andrew took us to King’s Park. A beautiful tree lined park on the hill, with a spectacular view of the city.

Definitely another “Pa Tuo” place. Beautiful, serene, and a perfect way to end our leg in this city. I retired that night, peaceful, and content.

My 5th flight later, I was in the comforts of my hotel in Melbourne. Definitely my favourite city in Australia (I love it!)

Due to the Melbourne open, I decided to try a brand new hotel, the Intercontinental Melbourne Rialto. And OMG! WHAT A HOTEL!

Just like Tim, I really appreciate great Hotels! To demonstrate what makes a great hotel great, let me explain.

First of all, the room. When you first walk into your hotel room, it should impress you. Inspiring you with its design, and yet impressing you with little nuggets of thought and convenience.

At the intercontinental, the room was of a nice size, had a brand new LCD TV, with lots of channels, a nice phone with conference call features, internet points, mini bar, annd more.

The most important part of the room though has always got to be the bed. The bed in my room was of a good size (good meaning I can roll around and not fall off), there were 6 pillows, and the mattress was oh so soft. The linens when pulled over feel like streams of utter ecstasy. The kind that makes me feel like singing,

“You want love? We’ll make it. Swim in a deep sea of blankets … take all your big plans, and break ‘em, this is bound to be awhile.”

Ok moving on. The toilet. If I am staying at a budget hotel or the like, this is always the most important room. This one is just pefectly balanced as well. With luxurious and complete toiletries …. and …

A rainforest shower! I first tried ths at the Westin Shanghai, and after, had one installed in my own bathroom. It is so good. Makes you feel as though you’re in the movie, “blue lagoon”, showering under a cascading waterfall.

A touch of personalisation, with a TV welcoming me. “Why thank you!” I contemplate rhetorically in reply! (Ok not really).

And everytime i go to a nice hotel, I always try their room service. Just to pamper myself! There is an extensive menu here.

This is the main atrium. Isn’t it beautful? The building is a former cotton/wool mill. They’ve really retained the character of old, and yet blended it so well with touches of ….

modernity …

 

and class.

Anyway, enough about the hotel! (Go try it yourself if you have the chance).

Our event was held at a cosy little place, called The Canary Club, off Little Collins Street.

Mrs Grace Lee trying to be cute … and her charming sister Alethea. What a name! It means Goddess of Truth and is apt for her i believe.

David has yet to name his coming kid, although they did a great job with the first one, so I’m sure he’ll find something.

 I think I’ll give my kid a greek name too, or roman. Like prometheus cheo or something. Names should always mean something.

My chinese name means, “The sun will rise tomorrow.”

The guys in the office, namely Nicholas and Yee hou, started an email thread, trying to give me an “English” name. Bobby was their best shot! WTF! I hate that name. At least something cooler lah. In any case, I’ve instituted a rule in the office, if I hear the name, in any form, that persons salary will be docked!

Ahhhh… the joys of being on top of the food chain. YUUUUMMMMM …… rawwwwwww!!!!

The beautiful Lady of Melbourne and Martyn!

Some of the melbourne dudes.

Somebody asked me in perth. “Ming, why is it that everytime I read your blog, I see pretty girls?”

Simple answer is … “Don’t blame the player, blame the game!”

The beautiful ladies of Nuffnang Australia!

Being in my favourite aussie city, amongst good company, made me happy. So I resolved to cap the night with a good dinner!

 We thus headed off to Crown, and after getting turned away at the best 2 restaurants. Rockpool and Nobu. Had to settle for this one. I can’t remember the name, but it wasnt great anyway.

 The company was though. Cherry … our underage drinker was so farrrnnyy …. she started going all wonky after her drink!

I retreated that night, underneath the layers of linen, happy.

Next stop Sydney!

 And our hotel … the Four Points Sheraton! Which whilst comfortable, was definitely an anticlimax. So I won’t spend too much time there.

We did have a view of Darling Harbour though.

After grabbing a quick bite, we headed off to Sydney Aquarium.

Some of the shots I took.

Then it was on to the bar. A really swanky place called “The Loft”.

 Apparently an “in” place amongst sydney-siders. Check it out.

We had a section reserved for us once again.

And met lots of coool bloggers.

Our local singapore girl, who looks like somebody I knew.

The food bloggers group!

And some crazyyyy dudes!!!

After talking about all that food with the sydney food bloggers, I asked them if they were free, and told them to take me to try Sydney’s best cuisine! On me of course!

They all said Ocean Room. So off we went!

I’ll let the photos do the talking.

And the bloggers do the eating ….!

Perfeeccctooooo! Thank you for having me, Australia, i will be back!

As if Australia agreed with me, I was upgraded to Business Class on the way back. Leaving as twilight descended upon the city, I thought to myself. I love what I do.