Okay, so this is yet another one of my deep questions.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to see some of the most amazing places around the world. I have plenty of places on my yet to do list, but I am also looking for some inspiration on where to go next.

So my question is:

If you were able to visit one place in the world, where would it be and why? I will accept countries as long as you think about it and give a good enough reason! :-)

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So I’m finally back after another long weekend away.

We (James, Rob, Andreas, Gerard, and myself) flew down to Melbourne on Friday to see the first F1 Grand Prix of the season.

By the time we got to Melbourne it was late. Our trip to our hostel in St.Kilda was slightly long winded but we finally arrived. It didn’t take long to dump the bags - we still managed to get out for a couple of hours in the evening for drinks.

On Saturday with a great breakfast in us we headed off to collect the tickets. Walking along the beach it soon got pretty hot. The temperature down in Melbourne had been off the scale for the last ten days or so. Walking around when it’s 35c takes it’s toll on you. At least it is not as humid as Brisbane!

After a couple of drinks along the way we collected the tickets and bought our Ferrari shirts. We mingled with a couple of promo girls before heading down town. After some more drinks and a couple more we headed of to an irish pub. With a Guiness on the way we noted several camera bags and lots of people running around. The guys quickly chatted up the crew which is when we discovered they were filming a reality TV show. Gene Simmons from the Rock Group Kiss was in the house.

The Guys signed their releases for the show and went next door. Andreas and I sat back wondering what all the fuss was about. Eventually getting bored we joined the others on a podium at the back of the room. At least we were getting free drinks.

After several drinks lots of chit chat we were told to get to ready and action was called. After several hours and seeing Gene we chatted with more of the guys for several hours. We then headed back to the Hostel dropping Andreas and James off on the way.

Up early in the morning we had our breakfast across the road. Then we set out to the track. We were close enough to walk and it only took about thirty minutes. We got to the track around eleven am. Finding our spot we got comfortable.

The great thing about being in a group of people is that you can take it in turns to go and get drinks or a look around.

Now I’m not sure if you heard much about the race? Well let me just tell you - IT WAS HOT!!! It was at least 35c probably a lot hotter next to the track where we were seated. It got so hot that most people even stopped drinking beer!

The other thing you probably don’t realise how fast and how noisy F1 cars really are. It’s pretty phenoenal to see and hear.

After another hour or so we saw Lewis Hamilton win. We then proceeded along the track to go to the start line and watch Kiss in concert. Several drinks later and after watching Kiss we headed back into town. Finding a bar we settled down for a couple more drinks. By 4am it was time to head home.

Up later in the morning we checked out and had breakfast in St.Kilda. With another taxi ride we headed back off to the airport where we had another couple of drinks - after all it was St. Patricks day!!

So you guys like reading about my travel tales.

Well just for you have have uploaded a couple of photos of my trip to Everest Base Camp in December 03 (It still feels like yesterday) The photos are not up to my normal standard I'm afraid!

Anyhow here is an extract from one of my diary entries. It relates in particular to one photo.

http://pictures.yuwie.com/content/profile/pictures/pics/125/1254511.jpg

24th Thengboche

Felt s**t!. Cold, tired, hungry.

Throat & sinuses really playing up. Snow Late afternoon.

VERY COLD

One of my friends - Kmeera, was asking the question where people had come across her page.

Like always it got me thinking. Maybe it wasn't the right question to be asking. Which leads onto this question -

Why do you want to be my friend?

Hi! If you haven't already guessed my name is Rob.

If you don't know me (that's probably 99.9% of you) then this is for you.

I was born many moons ago in a place called Wakefield (UK). Our family moved further south via Derby (UK) to Plymouth (UK). Plymouth is town steeped in lots of naval history; Sir Francis Drake set sail to attack the Spanish Armada from here, and a large proportion of settlers that sailed to America sailed from the Mayflower steps. It is home to Devonport dockyard (Naval refits) and to Plymouth Arglye (football club), to name a few.

Plymouth is surrounded by the sea to the south and some of the most beautiful Devon and Cornish countryside to the north. Dartmoor & Exmoor are the most notable.

So I was seven when we first arrived. I went to school there and worked there as a poor penniless youngster for years.

In 1992 I decided to go to University. I managed to get into Oxford Polytechnic, as it was then known. I stayed there studying Civil Engineering for four years. Now Oxford (UK) was probably one of the best choices I made. It is a beautiful place and secondly very easy to get to, as it is in the centre of the country.

Once I graduated in 1996 I ventured out into the big wide world of working for a living. My first main venture into where I am today was to work for a roofing and cladding company. I became the engineer looking after the setting out of the cladding to British Airways World Cargo Centre, at Heathrow (UK). This is a gigantic warehouse 40m high and 300m long. If you ever fly that way you will note its presence as it is the biggest and largest �shed� around.

I digress slightly. After that I proceeded down the line of engineering and project managing several jobs in the UK; Isle of Man Incinerator, John Radcliffe Hospital, Russells Hall Hospital to name a few.

The long hours and working away from home slowly took its toll. It could take up to 6 to 7 hours to drive home on a Friday! (The weather is not great either.)

Anyhow, I came across an Expo for NZ in 2004. I went along. Everyone was so friendly and cheerful � it was a pretty strange place to be. Soon after that I emigrated to Christchurch, NZ. Venturing back into the civil engineering side of things. I had the opportunity to work and see some of the most stunning places. I have some great friends there that take me out into some of the most stunning hidden scenery you will ever know. We would routinely disappear out into be southern alps, past where they filmed Lord of the Rings, way up into the valleys.

Again work took its toll. Long hours and traveling for very little reward. You don�t actually get paid a lot in NZ. Which is okay but what you don�t realise is that it costs money to travel. Secondly it costs a fortune to travel from NZ to anywhere.

The civil engineering work is okay, but nothing compared to buildings. Disheartened I came across a company in Australia that seemed to care about its employees. I discovered that they were building a high rise in Brisbane.

The rest is history. I am now back doing what I really enjoy � working as a Fa�ade Engineer building a 150m high rise. I am fortunate to get trips out to China every once in a while to inspect the materials and visit the factories.

The best part about this is that it is the first time that I have ever lived and worked in the same place. This means that I get to go home every night.

I shall write more about my travels soon.