Photos from our Japan trip - October 2009

Finally  got around to collecting my favourites from the trip. Overall, we enjoyed our time at Hokkaido the most, because there were just tonnes of fresh and delicious sashimi.

Osaka- we think it was OK, but probably once is enough. The city is a bit too busy to our liking, and shopping wise- I still prefer Hong Kong's... particularly given my lack of knowledge of the Japanese language...

Kyoto was great... fascinating to see the different shrines... but again (for hubby and I), once we've seen 1 or 2, the rest are pretty much the same.

Our best memory of Kyoto is probably our stay at the Westin Hotel... Ooo.... we luvv their Heavenly Bed, they are SUPER COMFIE and totally live up to its name. The hotel do sell the mattress, ensemble and manchester etc... from the Australian price list, just the ensemble will cost you $3,500.... and if you get matching pillow, sheets, doona etc, add another $1,000 to that. I personally think it's worth the bucks, cos the mattress is just divine (and once you get the mattress, you might as well go the full length with the matching accessories)...

Too bad our mattress is brand new, and will have at least another 10 years of life, if not more.....

Luxurious Tahiti resort- Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa

When researching for our last Christmas holiday one of the places I really wanted to go was Tahiti... it's such a romantic place (last Christmas, we ended up in Vanuatu and also had a really good time, best of all was doing our PADI open water course).

Today read about the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa renovation to their already gorgeous overwater bungalow. The bungalow will become double storey villas, with 2 bedrooms, a living room, PRIVATE POOL (wow wow!!!!!), spa, gazebo and deck. Price? Just over AU$5k a night, with breakfast and dinner included...

Another thing I must do when I win the big lotto jackpot....

Median House Prices in Australia

Latest property price data from RP Data. One interesting point that the SMH mentioned is that the median house price in Western Australia's seaside town of Cottesloe tops the chart over Sydney’s beautiful Mosman…

My colleague was in Perth earlier this year, and told us all how pretty it is in Perth… maybe I can plan an interstate holiday to WA and see for it myself.

Sources:

• http://www.businessday.com.au/business/the-cheapest-the-dearest-20090918-fuif.html
• http://www.rpdata.com/

New South Wales
Most Expensive		Most Affordable
Mosman	$1,922,500	Walgett	$100,000
Woollahra	$1,650,000	Hay	$90,250
Hunters Hill	$1,450,000	Bourke	$80,000
Waverley	$1,275,000	Coonamble	$80,000
Manly	$1,150,000	Central Darling	$39,000
Queensland
Most Expensive		Most Affordable
Gold Coast	$480,000	Murweh	$140,000
Brisbane	$475,000	Barcaldine	$135,000
Sunshine Coast	$460,000	Blackall Tambo	$125,000
Redland	$440,000	Winton	$92,000
Scenic Rim	$406,000	Paroo	$60,000
South Australia
Most Expensive		Most Affordable
Adelaide	$780,000	The Coorong	$145,000
Burnside	$700,000	Cleve	$130,000
Walkerville	$700,000	Peterborough	$100,000
Unley	$625,500	Southern Mallee	$93,750
Norwood Payneham St Peters	$550,000	Coober Pedy	$75,000
Tasmania
Most Expensive		Most Affordable
Greater Hobart	$405,000	Southern Midlands	$188,000
Kingborough	$349,000	Tasman	$186,500
Clarence	$314,750	Dorset	$185,000
West Tamar	$276,500	King Island	$172,500
Latrobe	$275,000	West Coast	$89,500
Victoria
Most Expensive		Most Affordable
Stonnington	$999,000	West Wimmera	$103,500
Boroondara	$945,000	Loddon	$102,500
Bayside	$925,000	Buloke	$90,000
Port Phillip	$840,000	Yarriambiack	$86,250
Glen Eira	$702,250	Hindmarsh	$81,500
Western Australia
Most Expensive		Most Affordable
Cottesloe	$2,000,000	Northam	$232,000
Nedlands	$1,775,000	Plantagenet	$225,000
Mosman Park	$1,520,000	Wagin	$170,000
Claremont	$1,350,000	Katanning	$156,500
Cambridge	$1,050,000	Moora	$149,000