I’m now in New York and having a drink all by mysef on Pier 17.

I have a brilliant view view over the East river and Brooklyn bridge from here.

So far I wandered around downtown Manhattan and Wall St today. Tomorrow I will venture uptown.

Two car bombs were found and dismantled in London city today. I must be in the wrong place at the wrong time… I went by Leicester square today - just to be in the city after two days in offices and a hotel in Heathrow.
Everything towards picadilly circus was cordoned off as the police search look for clues.

I’m in London for meetings with a large consumer electronics company. I just finished my day long meetings and am back in my hotel.

For some reason all hotels in the neighborhood were full and I’m staying in one of the worst places… With hotels, it’s all about location. And well this hotel is just in the middle of nowhere - I’m literally right next to runway 09L of Heathrow Airport as you can see from below link to Google maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=thistle+hotel&sll=51.48 0848,-0.475845&sspn=0.027475,0.107975&ie=UTF8&ll=51.480501,-0.483699&spn =0.013738,0.039911&t=k&z=15&iwloc=A&om=1

I’m in the building just north of the start of the runway.

Unsurprisingly, there’s NOTHING outside this hotel except a really sad McDonalds drive in and a gas stop.

This made me realize how much I enjoy traveling and staying over in cities in Asia, and dislike the same in Europe. In Asia businesses still are in the middle of the city, hence you’d stay in a hotel that’s always central. And the hotel service levels are at a different standard. I’m paying 140 pounds sterling per night for a 3 star hotel with a coffin size room with a tiny bed and shit bathroom (I can’t actually stand-up straight under the shower?).

Last week I stayed in Singapore in a 5 star hotel right next to Clark Quay for 70% of what I’m paying here. And the service was 200% better.

Back to Asia!

Greetings from Singapore this week. Client meetings and a visit to CommunicAsia.
Tonight having a diner with a colleague in Clark Quay. Weather is surprisingly close to Hong Kong’s this time of the year.

What a nice week; I was in Seoul on Monday and Tuesday, and I’m in Paris Wednesday and Thursday.
Mostly in daylong meetings so I’ll be pretty tired by Friday.
Paris weather is great, blue skies and nice and warm. Tonight we’re off for a well deserved diner in a resto along the Seine. Will post another picture if it’s really nice.
Au revoir!

by Nadine

Me & shopping… perfect! Me & coffee… ideal! Me & travelling, airports, airplanes, boats … wow! Me & books… magnets! ME & MAPS … DISASTER!

Now, which one is the “SEND” button here?

As you can see I’m very busy currently. So expect some delays in replies

By Nadine

Today is our nth day in Phuket, Thailand. We’ve been bumming on the beach soaking up the sun and sucking up Singha beers and mojito. So far we’ve absolutely done NOTHING and will continue doing NOTHING till it’s time to step on friendly skies! Oh, hang on! We joined a Thai cooking class yesterday. That was fun! Marc & I has now learned th basic ingredients in Thai appetizers, salads and curries. We’re proud both to say that we can whip up a party serving Thai appetizers. That’s all. Hey, we even have certificate aafter the course!

I’m completely choco brown while Marc is lobster red. He will be main course while I, Dessert. So we thought of running to the nearest spa for sunburn relief. And found out that Marc haas to be wrapped in a seaweed concoction for one hour unabe to move nor hold the remedy that Dr. Singha has prescribed him. Ah, too much time spent away from the comforting coldness of that aluminum prescrition can! So we didn’t do it.

We both went to Patong to check out Friday night. And we ended up checking out the katois dancing without panties on a platform! I almost choked on my B52s! It is as anyone have been here in Phuket or Bangkok a sensory overload once you hit Bangla Road. Girls, girls, boys, katois! Haggling with the tuk-tuk cartel is also a bit of a frustration as you mgiht end up paying too much or having to stay in Patong should you refuse to pay the fare they’ve all decided to extract from tourists.

Shopping is good here in Phuket. I’m planning to hit the largest Central Festival shooping mall tonight. Children’s clothes are quite affordable here. And they are of good quality,too. There is no haggling in this mall but tourists get 5% off on all items bought plus a detax of 7%. You need to claim your detax on the same day you purchased all these items. Minimum is THB1,500.00. I’m also hoarding on Thai fish sauce. A must on almost any Thai dish!

Anyone coming to dinner at our place tonight?

We just arrived in Phuket this afternoon, and we’re already on the beach. What a beautiful day and such a nice beach.
Greetings from paradise

We’re in Bangkok for a few days of relaxation. That sounds like a paradox considering we’re right in the middle of this city, but it’s a great change to be here with just the two of us.
We’re enjoying the city’s spa’s, shopping and restaurants.