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Just returned from another trip to KL and Singapore. Unfortunately the KL pictures were corrupted for some reason, but there are lots of Singapore. Did a few customer visits (the construction site shots), and we also had a Chinese New Year dinner in Chinatown which was fantastic.

Spent a weekend in Hong Kong. Ran Victoria's Peak (which really wasn't a good time) and generally tried to live the life of a local. These was one of the random shots wandering through the streets at night . . . More pictures by clicking on the photo

One of the interesting things about Tokyo are the rituals and tradition in even the most simple things. Like the daily opening of Isetan (exclusive department store), where at 10am every morning, 2 women come out and announce the rules in the store (no mobile phones, etc) before opening the doors. Then once in, all staff line the aisles and bow to you as you walk in.

Only in Tokyo!

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Have spent 3 days in Shanghai, which has been an interesting experience. Let the local team order at all of the restaurants, so got to try pig tongue, sea sponge, dried pigeon, lotus root and lots of pork in lots of different ways. Highlight was trip back to airport on Shanghai MagLev -- the first commercial high-speed magnetically leviating train line in the world.

The train can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with a maximum speed in normal operation of 431 km/h (268 mph).

While I know that airplanes go faster, it is quite the experience to be travelling along the ground at these speeds.

More pictures can be seen here or by selecting the photo above.

We spent the week around New Year's Eve on a houseboat in Echuca, which is the border of Victoria (Melbourne's state) and New South Wales (Sydney's state). It was over 40oC for every day except one, and that one was still over 30oC! Had a great time. You can see some of the photos by clicking on the picture to the right of us getting our boat briefing on the first day.