Friday, October 31, 2008
Lau Pau Sat
I guess you take some things for granted...
Take Lau Pau Sat, a historical hawkers market in Singapore's CBD, a 2 min walk from our office.
Almost every time I've come to Singapore we've had lunch here. Yet today, there was a band, it was noisy and crowded, and very very cool.
So I took a photo :)
There is also a photo of Marina Bay Sands (Aconex client) with the Merlion Statue in the foreground, you should be able to see it by clicking on the photo.
See, I promised you something exciting...
Take Lau Pau Sat, a historical hawkers market in Singapore's CBD, a 2 min walk from our office.
Almost every time I've come to Singapore we've had lunch here. Yet today, there was a band, it was noisy and crowded, and very very cool.
So I took a photo :)
There is also a photo of Marina Bay Sands (Aconex client) with the Merlion Statue in the foreground, you should be able to see it by clicking on the photo.
See, I promised you something exciting...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunset at 35,000 feet
Sometimes you get to see some cool stuff when you are on planes....like this sunset on route to Hong Kong.
We were at about 35,000 feet, and the clouds were very cool shapes (hard to see detail)
The plane also contained the Wallabys...Australia's male rugby team on route to Hong Kong to play New Zealand in the Blesidoe Cup.
Am off to Singapore tomorrow...will see what I can find of interest to post :)
We were at about 35,000 feet, and the clouds were very cool shapes (hard to see detail)
The plane also contained the Wallabys...Australia's male rugby team on route to Hong Kong to play New Zealand in the Blesidoe Cup.
Am off to Singapore tomorrow...will see what I can find of interest to post :)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sailing in the Whit sundays
Sorry there haven't been updates for a few days...I am the proud owner of a Blackberry Bold, and it has taken me a few days to get it up and running.
Then, I had a board meeting on Hamilton Island in Queensland, where David and our friends Vic and Matt joined us.
We have been sailing around for 5 days, and except for the engine problem this morning we've had a nice week.
We fly back to Melbourne tomorrow, and then I'm off to Hong Kong and Singapore for the week, before 3 weeks at home!
Woo hoo!
Then, I had a board meeting on Hamilton Island in Queensland, where David and our friends Vic and Matt joined us.
We have been sailing around for 5 days, and except for the engine problem this morning we've had a nice week.
We fly back to Melbourne tomorrow, and then I'm off to Hong Kong and Singapore for the week, before 3 weeks at home!
Woo hoo!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Ah, the glamorous life
Don't tell my Shanghai team, but Shanghai is not glamorous.
For example, here is a picture of Shanghai from my hotel room this morning.
The building in the foreground (on the right hand side) is our office (7th floor). My room this trip was on the 11th, so it is probably around the bottom right hand corner of the picture.
Y'day, I walked from hotel to office, spent day in office, walked back to hotel. Nuked some frozen dim sum in the microwave from Carrefours previous night and watched a horrible movie with a seriously "I've had plastic surgery cause I look really scary without it" Arnold Schwarzenegger on HBO (its that or CNN, and that isn't any less scary at the moment).
Then I flipped through 60 channels of Chinese TV, and saw the exact same thing. Yesterday, there were 60 different channels -- today there was only one . . . the Chinese government propaganda version of the world. My basic Mandarin can tell you that they were talking about qian (money) and what a wonderful job the Chinese government is doing managing China's prosperity.
No game shows, no crazy soap operas (which are entertaining because even if you don't understand the language, the story is so predictable you know what is going on) -- just rows and rows of serious looking bureaucrats with a stern Mandarin voiceover. Of course, Chinese people cannot borrow money to buy property so the Chinese market isn't in the same situation of the rest of the world. . . but you might as well take credit while you can.
And just in case their people managed to slip the Chinese firewall (most major internet sites are blocked), or found an international paper (which are distributed in limited news agencies) and saw that the rest of the world's economic foundations have fallen over, have no fear, the Communist Gov't is here!
After multiple trips here, it was a stark reminder that this isn't a free market -- no matter what the Olympics might have shown everyone.
Maybe I should have posted this after I left China . . . :-)
For example, here is a picture of Shanghai from my hotel room this morning.
The building in the foreground (on the right hand side) is our office (7th floor). My room this trip was on the 11th, so it is probably around the bottom right hand corner of the picture.
Y'day, I walked from hotel to office, spent day in office, walked back to hotel. Nuked some frozen dim sum in the microwave from Carrefours previous night and watched a horrible movie with a seriously "I've had plastic surgery cause I look really scary without it" Arnold Schwarzenegger on HBO (its that or CNN, and that isn't any less scary at the moment).
Then I flipped through 60 channels of Chinese TV, and saw the exact same thing. Yesterday, there were 60 different channels -- today there was only one . . . the Chinese government propaganda version of the world. My basic Mandarin can tell you that they were talking about qian (money) and what a wonderful job the Chinese government is doing managing China's prosperity.
No game shows, no crazy soap operas (which are entertaining because even if you don't understand the language, the story is so predictable you know what is going on) -- just rows and rows of serious looking bureaucrats with a stern Mandarin voiceover. Of course, Chinese people cannot borrow money to buy property so the Chinese market isn't in the same situation of the rest of the world. . . but you might as well take credit while you can.
And just in case their people managed to slip the Chinese firewall (most major internet sites are blocked), or found an international paper (which are distributed in limited news agencies) and saw that the rest of the world's economic foundations have fallen over, have no fear, the Communist Gov't is here!
After multiple trips here, it was a stark reminder that this isn't a free market -- no matter what the Olympics might have shown everyone.
Maybe I should have posted this after I left China . . . :-)
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Shanghai Day 1
A relatively uneventful day with transport a focus. A 630am start with a taxi to Tokyo Station, the Narita Express to the airport, a 3 hour plane ride, the 6 minute 60km MagLev train to Pudong (my favorite journey in all of Asia....something about hitting 430km/hr on land), and another taxi to the office.
Ventured out to Gobei, a suburb of Shanghai near Hong Qiao, and found a Carrefour. Spent a good hour wandering around looking at everything you could buy for your house in Shanghai, plus picked up some food basics for myself.
Left the chicken feet, durian, swimsuits, rice cookers, bicycles and televisions (to mention but a small part) and walked the 2km back to the hotel in Shanghai's notorious traffic.
Ahh... It is a glamourous life....
;-)
Ventured out to Gobei, a suburb of Shanghai near Hong Qiao, and found a Carrefour. Spent a good hour wandering around looking at everything you could buy for your house in Shanghai, plus picked up some food basics for myself.
Left the chicken feet, durian, swimsuits, rice cookers, bicycles and televisions (to mention but a small part) and walked the 2km back to the hotel in Shanghai's notorious traffic.
Ahh... It is a glamourous life....
;-)
Sunday, October 05, 2008
The Gold Poo
Today, I took the Toei O-edo Line to Shiodome to see the Hama Rikyu-teien, which was a family garden of the Tokugawa Shogun in 1654. The Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II bombings caused lots of damage, so it was mostly rebuilt in 1945, when the Tokugawa family gifted it to the City of Tokyo. One of the most beautiful things in the garden is a pine tree which was originally planted in 1696 which survived.
From the Hama Rikyu, you can take a water taxi to Asakusa which is the heart of old Tokyo downtown. On route, we passed by the "kin no unchi" in the photo, which translates to "Gold Poo". Got to love the Japanese,
After lunch and a wander around Asakusa, I travelled across town to Shibuya, where I met an old friend Guy, and his wife and two young sons for afternoon tea.
A shop at Tokyo Hands and Zara, and it was back on the subway to Roppongi, where I have packed my suitcase and prepare for tomorrow's early taxi/train to Narita for my trip to Shanghai.
Jamata!
From the Hama Rikyu, you can take a water taxi to Asakusa which is the heart of old Tokyo downtown. On route, we passed by the "kin no unchi" in the photo, which translates to "Gold Poo". Got to love the Japanese,
After lunch and a wander around Asakusa, I travelled across town to Shibuya, where I met an old friend Guy, and his wife and two young sons for afternoon tea.
A shop at Tokyo Hands and Zara, and it was back on the subway to Roppongi, where I have packed my suitcase and prepare for tomorrow's early taxi/train to Narita for my trip to Shanghai.
Jamata!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Eno-den rail crossing Hase station
Forgot to mention, there are a few pictures uploaded (yes, the Blackberry is still on duty even though it cannot connect to the network).
They are accessible by clicking on either the Great Buddha below or this photo of the Eno-den electronic train.
They are accessible by clicking on either the Great Buddha below or this photo of the Eno-den electronic train.
Kotoku-in Daibutsu (Great Buddha)
Well, after a small sleep in and a few hours of work, I did decide to venture outside Tokyo to Kamakura today (Saturday).
After a quick hop to Ebisu, then another subway to Shinagawa, I caught the Yokosuka line to Kamakura.
Kamakura is a seaside town which was the capital of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura shogunate (1185 - 1333). The area contains two of Japan's oldest Zen monasteries, as well as numerous shrines, and yagura (or cave tombs).
Once you arrive in Kamakura, there is a private electronic train that runs to Fujisawa through some tiny villages -- there is a good map here --> http://www.enoden.co.jp/flangu/e3.htm
On the way (for the Australians out there) is Bill Granger's first Japanese restaurant called . . bills. It is on the water in a little village called Shichirigahama. Just in case you get a craving for Sydney eggs! Lovely.
Apparently one of the most photographed views of Mt Fuji is from Enoshima, but it wasn't my day. Although it was a gorgeous 25oC and not a cloud in the sky, there was obviously smog or mist which obscured Mt Fuji.
Then a rapid train back to Tokyo (through Yokohama), where I went to the Meiji-du (supermarket), and am now cooking dinner in my little Tokyo apartment!
After a quick hop to Ebisu, then another subway to Shinagawa, I caught the Yokosuka line to Kamakura.
Kamakura is a seaside town which was the capital of Japan's first military government, the Kamakura shogunate (1185 - 1333). The area contains two of Japan's oldest Zen monasteries, as well as numerous shrines, and yagura (or cave tombs).
Once you arrive in Kamakura, there is a private electronic train that runs to Fujisawa through some tiny villages -- there is a good map here --> http://www.enoden.co.jp/flangu/e3.htm
On the way (for the Australians out there) is Bill Granger's first Japanese restaurant called . . bills. It is on the water in a little village called Shichirigahama. Just in case you get a craving for Sydney eggs! Lovely.
Apparently one of the most photographed views of Mt Fuji is from Enoshima, but it wasn't my day. Although it was a gorgeous 25oC and not a cloud in the sky, there was obviously smog or mist which obscured Mt Fuji.
Then a rapid train back to Tokyo (through Yokohama), where I went to the Meiji-du (supermarket), and am now cooking dinner in my little Tokyo apartment!
Friday, October 03, 2008
Another day . . another Yen
Another busy day in Tokyo, running from meeting to meeting. Ventured to the outskirts of Tokyo for one of the meetings, which is actually a long way.
Finished nicely with a lovely Yakatori selection and sake in Roppongi -- almost my favorite Japanese combination -- although I do love sushi!
Am torn about going to Kamakura (a beach side historical area) or just staying in Tokyo for the weekend. I have been so busy, I would like to relax and just hang out (plus I have a lot of work to do from all of the meetings), but I am here for the weekend, and the weather is lovely (mid 20oCs), so I feel like I should do something exciting!
You'll have to stay tuned!
Pictures from Monday (when ye trusty blackberry is back!)
Finished nicely with a lovely Yakatori selection and sake in Roppongi -- almost my favorite Japanese combination -- although I do love sushi!
Am torn about going to Kamakura (a beach side historical area) or just staying in Tokyo for the weekend. I have been so busy, I would like to relax and just hang out (plus I have a lot of work to do from all of the meetings), but I am here for the weekend, and the weather is lovely (mid 20oCs), so I feel like I should do something exciting!
You'll have to stay tuned!
Pictures from Monday (when ye trusty blackberry is back!)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Bleeding feet
It nevers ceases to amaze me how people cannot understand why there is a growing obesity problem in Australia/America (car cultures) and why "Asian" cultures remain relatively lean (public transport cultures).
There is no secret people.
They walk ALOT. (ok and they eat small portions of relatively healthy food!)
After buying my second box of bandaids (happened to pack a particularly bad pair of shoes), I worked out that between riding the Tokyo subway today, and walking to and from the different stations/gates/exits and clients I was getting to, I have spent 6 hours on the move. And 6 hours in meetings. And 3o mins bandaging my feet.
In a normal day in Melbourne -- if I do a run or exercise, I might get 1 hour of real activity.
So that new diet isn't on the internet -- it is in Tokyo! It actually reminds me of triathlons where the distance between the running to the water for the swim leg and running out of the swim leg to transition is actually longer than the entire swim leg.
Joys of getting around an efficient public transport city of 12 million people!
There is no secret people.
They walk ALOT. (ok and they eat small portions of relatively healthy food!)
After buying my second box of bandaids (happened to pack a particularly bad pair of shoes), I worked out that between riding the Tokyo subway today, and walking to and from the different stations/gates/exits and clients I was getting to, I have spent 6 hours on the move. And 6 hours in meetings. And 3o mins bandaging my feet.
In a normal day in Melbourne -- if I do a run or exercise, I might get 1 hour of real activity.
So that new diet isn't on the internet -- it is in Tokyo! It actually reminds me of triathlons where the distance between the running to the water for the swim leg and running out of the swim leg to transition is actually longer than the entire swim leg.
Joys of getting around an efficient public transport city of 12 million people!
Trying really really hard
Right, so do I get points for having good intentions, but then bad luck?
I took a lovely photo of Hong Kong -- all high 20oCs and high humidity to post, as I was heading out to the airport bound for Tokyo.
Of course, Tokyo is notorious for not supporting either the US Cell system or GSM (the rest of the world). As I've been with Telstra, and had certain handsets (tri-band) that have been designed for these networks, it really hasn't been too much of an issue.
However, when you are trying to update a blog with a Blackberry (trusted Blackberry is still hanging in there with another taped up section). .well, issue!
Arrived @8pm in Tokyo, and by the time I got through customs (apparently even though an APEC card gets you diplomatic status through Immigration, at Customs, its "back of the line missy!"), bought my airport train and subway card, took the 1 hour train ride into Tokyo and then the two subway lines to Roppongi, and then walked in the pouring rain to my hotel, it was more like 11. Drowned, tired cat came to mind after a quick look in the mirror.
The accommodation is very un-Tokyo like. It is quite large (especially for Asia), and I have my own microwave oven, full kitchen (including gas stove, oven, kettle, toaster, rice cooker), washing machine, TV, DVD, floor heating, self-heating bath, air conditioning (both for main room and one "shower" A/C). And of course the famous "sit while you get washed and dried toilet" of Japan. While you might read this and go, "ok, so?", I can tell you after 30 weeks on the road in Asia, its like a kid in a candy shop.
Every single item above has its own little laminated English user guide fixed to the walls. I have over 15 laminated pieces of plastic in my room (which btw, is still just a small room with 4 walls, so there is almost 4 per wall). There is the "How to use the Restroom" and the "How to use the Floor Heating", of course the "How to use the TV", "DVD", "Cable TV", and of course the "Door Phone", the "Telephone", the "Recycling" (apparently Tokyo councils are very strict).
Being a Canadian at heart -- I always find hotel rooms in Asia too hot, so of course, I need the "How to use the Air Conditioning Unit" (not the A/c for the Bathroom meanwhile!). So after searching all walls/windows and fixable structures, I note a small decal on the air conditioning unit in English which says "Air Conditioner instructions located in desk drawer".
Which makes me wonder . . why didn't they do that with them all?
I took a lovely photo of Hong Kong -- all high 20oCs and high humidity to post, as I was heading out to the airport bound for Tokyo.
Of course, Tokyo is notorious for not supporting either the US Cell system or GSM (the rest of the world). As I've been with Telstra, and had certain handsets (tri-band) that have been designed for these networks, it really hasn't been too much of an issue.
However, when you are trying to update a blog with a Blackberry (trusted Blackberry is still hanging in there with another taped up section). .well, issue!
Arrived @8pm in Tokyo, and by the time I got through customs (apparently even though an APEC card gets you diplomatic status through Immigration, at Customs, its "back of the line missy!"), bought my airport train and subway card, took the 1 hour train ride into Tokyo and then the two subway lines to Roppongi, and then walked in the pouring rain to my hotel, it was more like 11. Drowned, tired cat came to mind after a quick look in the mirror.
The accommodation is very un-Tokyo like. It is quite large (especially for Asia), and I have my own microwave oven, full kitchen (including gas stove, oven, kettle, toaster, rice cooker), washing machine, TV, DVD, floor heating, self-heating bath, air conditioning (both for main room and one "shower" A/C). And of course the famous "sit while you get washed and dried toilet" of Japan. While you might read this and go, "ok, so?", I can tell you after 30 weeks on the road in Asia, its like a kid in a candy shop.
Every single item above has its own little laminated English user guide fixed to the walls. I have over 15 laminated pieces of plastic in my room (which btw, is still just a small room with 4 walls, so there is almost 4 per wall). There is the "How to use the Restroom" and the "How to use the Floor Heating", of course the "How to use the TV", "DVD", "Cable TV", and of course the "Door Phone", the "Telephone", the "Recycling" (apparently Tokyo councils are very strict).
Being a Canadian at heart -- I always find hotel rooms in Asia too hot, so of course, I need the "How to use the Air Conditioning Unit" (not the A/c for the Bathroom meanwhile!). So after searching all walls/windows and fixable structures, I note a small decal on the air conditioning unit in English which says "Air Conditioner instructions located in desk drawer".
Which makes me wonder . . why didn't they do that with them all?
