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I read with great interest this two conflicting reports about the current world countries quality of life assessment surveys conducted by the Economist magazine and InternationalLiving Dot Com. While the Economist magazine ranked Ireland as the best place to live in the world back in 2005, InternationalLiving Dot Com ranked Ireland as the 40th best in 2006!

Personally, I really don’t give it much of a damn. Way back in the year 2000, I was instructed by my employer to work temporarily in Ireland for 1 and half months and I’m telling you right from the bottom of my heart that I enjoyed every minute of my stay there. I was fortunate to be able to experience a little bit of the daily Irish life over in Dublin and Cork. The work assignment requires me to work very closely with my Irish colleagues in the nation’s biggest energy provider, Bord Gais Eireann.

In that short period of time, I have found myself fallen in love with the Irish way of life. They are very cheerful folks and their friendliness would make any visitors and tourists feel very much at home. Heck, their friendliness is plain to see even though they are dead drunk in the middle of the night! In the first few days, I did have a little trouble in trying to understand their Irish language where I was told has that ancient Celtic origin. Rest assured though, language is not a barrier in Ireland. Even though Irish is their first official and national language, they can understand and readily communicate in plain English when speaking to non-Irish. You only have to politely say that you do not understand Irish and they would just throw their lovely smiles away and make everything easy for you from there.

You may think that I’m promoting Ireland here for something in return but in reality, I’m doing this in all honesty as an observer. Unfortunately though, I could not really say much about what Ireland can offer since my work forced me to dedicate myself towards completing the job in hand day and night. But, I can sincerely vouch for Ireland as among the world’s best place to visit as a tourist. If you and your families are all dead tired of that hectic hustle bustle life in the big metropolitan cities, one week’s vacation in Ireland should relieve you of all that unnecessary stress! I certainly did! Dublin was their biggest city and yet the life there is not like what you would normally expect from neighbouring big cities such as London. Life in Dublin for an example is quite serene and their easy going pace is a big welcome for walking dead zombies like me. Life in Cork on the other hand is slightly different that Dublin’s. It is a city all right but it comes with that high dose of countryside ambience which should make anyone feel relaxed and dozy.

Ireland has wonderful breathtaking scenery. Their countryside is nothing but fresh warm green, green and green all over them. Ireland could be the greenest country in the whole wide world! It is simply great for soothing my tired eyes. Rolling hills, chirping birds and those lovely scents of flowers is what you could smell, see and hear in the Irish countryside. Don’t forget their old magnificent castles and towers, ruined or otherwise! Simply majestic! I have been inside a few but I could only remember two of them, Kilkenny & Dublin Castles. Their beliefs and culture is just as fantastic too. In my short visit there, I finally learnt what Shamrock is all about in its relation with St Patrick and also more or less share their fascination with Leprechauns, the Irish fairies. I did manage to see how they celebrated St Patrick’s Day and their street parades are fascinating. Perhaps it is best for tourists to visit Ireland in such holiday season. You would have more things to see and enjoy!

If you are planning on having a long vacation with the whole family, give Ireland a visit this year. I don’t see why anyone would ever regret it!

Ahh.. Ireland, I truly miss you..

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