Cooma - Gateway to the Aussie Snow Country

That title might upset those south of the NSW - VIC border, but for those 
from NSW, Cooma is in fact just that.  

The once quiet country town has become a vibrant year round destination and launch point for those heading to the ’snowy’. Winter brings the skiers and 
snow borders and summer those wishing to see the high county to walk, horse ride,, fish or just relax. 

Few people realize that the Australian alpine/ snow region is in fact larger than the whole of 
Switzerland. Although the mountains aren’t as high as other ski regions of the world it remains a 
favorite winter time destination for skiers Australia wide. 

In recent years the alpine region has also become a popular summer time getaway destination.  And this increase in tourism has raised the profile of Cooma along with it. It has become the hub 
for the whole region and being just a four hour drive from Sydney and just over an hour from 
Canberra the weekends bring hordes from the north. 

So Cooma is worth a visit no matter what the season.

On a recent flying visit to Bangkok I stayed at a new hotel called Vie. 
Whilst not the Oriental it is new and has to be one of the better rooms I have 
stayed in over the years.  

The staff were tremendous and really fell over backwards to assist in any way possible. 

If any of you have been to Bangkok you will be painfully aware of the 
horrendous traffic conditions that plague the city.  Getting around at any hour can be more than a challenge. This is where the Vie comes into it’s own as it is in such a great location. The skytrain station  
is next door,and it’s only a two or three hundred meter walk to MBK and the 
Siam district shops. You really can’t get more central than that.

The hotel itself is not huge with 24 floors and rooms that range from 
standard to sub penthouses and suites. 

There is an annex at the front of main building that houses meeting 
rooms, a restaurant and cocktail bar on each floor with a very nice pool on the top 
floor.  The pool is interesting as the end overlooking the street is glass only!

So for a great location, place to stay have a look.  

I have been off for just over a month now and that sure does make a difference to how the site is ranked.

Well the good news is that I will be posting a few travel pieces along with photos. I have been trying to do so from my iPhone but it’s not been plain sailing. Anyway back soon.

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A sobering report in the Sydney Morning Herald about the fortunes of Baby Boomers compared to the other generations.

Things are bad now with superannuation/ retirement funds, but with some expecting a more pronounced and protracted downturn in the months ahead this scenario could be a wake up call to all those about to retire. How best to protect whats left?

Here is an extract from the article;

YOUNG suburban families with mortgages and secure jobs are likely to be better off than they were a year ago, while sharemarket and superannuation losses have destroyed their baby boomer parents’ wealth.

As the Reserve Bank prepares to meet tomorrow to consider interest rates and the Bureau of Statistics prepares its next official jobs report for release on Thursday, economists say the economic downturn is not hitting everyone equally.

An economist at CommSec, Savanth Sebastian, said the impact of the economic slowdown had been hardest on baby boomers and easiest on generation X, provided they had kept their jobs.

“For generation X, I think you’ve already got some of that stimulus package. First-homebuyers are getting the boosted grant. If you’re still holding on to your job, and you’re not paying full price for anything, then you’re coming through this OK.”

Baby boomers, however, were those whose wealth in superannuation was destroyed. And the later generation Y cohort and school leavers faced the toughest jobs outlook as they sought to enter the workforce.

For the full story - Baby Boomers Hardest Hit