Sure it was wonderful in the early days but after you have stuffed earplugs in your ears, race after race, drunk copious amounts of champagne with the same race followers time after time, things tend to get a bit hum-drum and despite the glamour, the pre-race balls and after race parties, it can all get a bit much.

After all, here I was traipsing from one country to another, but never really learning too much about the places I visited or their culture and certainly not doing much in the way of shopping - my preferred pastime. Most of my time had been spent at one or other circuit sitting on uncomfortable grandstand seats, eating hamburgers, hot-dogs, endless packets of crisps, sausages on sticks and popcorn by the ton, trying vainly to become ‘interested’ in the speeding machines I was here to watch.

I took myself off to discover this fascinating city’s sights, sounds, smells and tastes and discovered a friendly multicultural city that is home to people from over 140 nations.

I was in seventh heaven when I realised that the city also boasts hundreds of designer fashion boutiques, handicraft shops (I enjoy doing basketry in my spare time) plus has wonderful architecture, outstanding galleries and opulent theatres showing international performances well worth seeing.

Not only that, one day, I left our hotel early with a friend, who kindly offered to show me around and she drove to the hills that hug Melbourne's eastern fringe. Here she introduced me to the local wineries, some wonderful nature reserves and took me on a lovely train trip on the Puffing Billy Steam Railway. It was bliss.

Like Melbourne the shopping opportunities are seemingly endless, and the tri-annual Mega Sale Carnival held across the country didn’t do my credit card any favours! The eateries, alongside the variety of cuisines and snacks available, also beg weeks of discovery. However with only three days in the country, I had little time to experience it all and instead took myself off to discover some of the well known sightseeing spots in the area. Car rental is cheap in Malaysia and I drove myself to visit the Batu Caves situated only about 13 km north of the capital. These towering limestone formations were little known till about 100 years ago and made for a fascinating tour.

Speaking of towers, I couldn’t resist a visit to the famed Petronas Twin Towers. Both towers stand almost 1,500 feet tall (88 stories), included is a skyline link to connect both towers about halfway up. They are a visual and architectural feat to behold and begged climbing. However I decided I had had enough exercise and would take on this challenge on my next visit.

This year my husband has said he won’t be going to the Malaysian Grand Prix as a number of his friends are going to pay a visit to Adelaide to experience Australia’s most popular motor sport event, the Clipsal 500. This race is said to be as popular with spectators as it is with the race car drivers and their sponsors alike.