Friday 24th

after a wonderful and yummy dinner at a japanese restaurant last night, back to the hotel tying to get some sleep. That wasn't the case so I had to sleep fast in order to recover some time. Last meeting with a very innovative customer, I know we will get very well along.

Back to the hotel, shower, jeans on and debriefing at the rep's office. 14.45 and we on or way to the airport.

First leg Taipei-Singapore pass by quickly and am already waiting to get boarded. More infos and pictures tomorrow afternoon, stay tuned!

you are driving on the wrong side mate...

Thursday 23rd

We are driving to the south of Taiwan, a ride of about 300 km one way, hoping to be back before the expected typhoon reaches Taipei.

Wednesday 22nd

Customer visits, combine to a short visit to the 101…you don’t know what it is…google it, it will fascinate you. Later the same night visit to the night market, oh yes, that’s an experience….

Night traffic in Taipei

no, it was not a motorcycle riot....

Tuesday 21st

Nothing but customer visits, but in the evening we go to Xaming ding again. After having something to drink near to the “red theater” (beautiful by the way) early evening

Burbs of Taipei

Monday 20th

Back to serious, customer visits on the program, later the day, tasty dinner in a Thai-restaurant.

Xaming Ding

Sunday 19th

Our driver picks us up at 09:00, Shanghai is saying good bye the same way she was saying hello: raining.  After a bit chaotic check-in, we make our way through passport control and security. We are flying with China Eastern, an Airbus A-340-400,  absolutely full. After an quite flight, we arrive in Taipei, 35° and  the Sun is shining…

I am going out for dinner with a Swiss friend, who is living in Taiwan for several months. Time to cacht up and for some drinks in Xaming-ding, a nice district full of shops and what is more important, full of modelling shops! I found 6!! in shopping mall

Saturday 18th

Guess what….is still raining. We decide to go out anyway and we take a taxi to a modelling shop, but when we arrive there, there is no power and no lights in the whole street. The old lady behind the counter had to laugh as  I was using  my Iphone as a torch to find the model I was looking for.

Back to the hotel,  time for a nap and after that, a massage (a serious one). Dumplings are on the menue for tonight, and we go to a Chinese restaurant (not difficult to find when you are in Shanghai) where you can choose from almost 40 different dumplings. We take the card to the cash counter and we show at the picture what we want…it works…

It's rush hour in Shanghai

Rainy Shanghai II

Rainy Shanghai

Monday 13th June

At 9:00 we are ready in the lobby for the first meeting, our rep is picking us for a customer visit. From there we go to the exhibition hall to supervise the booth.

Yes, that is how it looks like short before an exhibition: chaos in its pure shape.

Yu Yuan Garden Impressions III

That is a poker face!

Yu Yuan Garden Impressions II

Oh oh, are they all coming towards me? Guess I am standing on the wrong side....

Yu Yuan Garden Impressions I

Need a haircut?

Sunday 12th June / Discovering III

After breafaskt we go for a walk, to the opposite side of the NanJing lu, direction to the “Bund” a promenade where we can see the “Shanghai Skyline of Pudong”, well we imagine is there because the fog does not allows us a clear view. The traffic is quite heavy even on a Sunday and there is a lot of people walking and enjoying the view to the river. I had to help a Spanish group of 6 people to take a picture, yes even here…..Was thinking of cutting off her heads on the picture, but in the age of digital photography they would notice inmediately. The rest of the day we spent doing a bit of  sightseeing, and believe me, there is a lot to seee and discover. We manage to go by undeground to the Yu Yuan Garden a very touristic place but worthwhile visiting: Crowded (well where is not crowded in this city?) but a huge source for photographic inspiration…if you take the camera with you which was not my case. But the good old Iphone helped me out as well.

Discovering II

Unpacked and ready to go, we explored a little bit the area but before I had to get  an umbrella and I did my first business in China. One girl was selling umbrellas and other stuff at the hotel door, she asked for 40 RMB and I put the price down to 30 RMB, but I guess I paid to much according to her smile! Oh well, I don’t wanna get wet and five Swiss Francs is not much.

After walking around the People’s Square we decided to get back to our hotel. And I learnt something: when is raining in Shanghai you get wet anyway (unless you are all dressed in fetish latex, so why to buy an umbrella) and is slippery….oh yes…I landed on the floor coming down the stairs of an underground passage

Discovering I

After 50 minutes we finally arrived. Nanjing Lu (or nanjing road). One of the pedestrian zones, full of shops, coffees, restaurant and Chinese neon lights! Oh yes, I am really in Asia!

Shanghai finally!

After a relatively short flight (only 2 hours) we landed in Shangai. Passport control and customs were not as crowded as expected and we were out in the arrival hall after a few minutes. Oh yes, and you will be asked if you need a taxi, not once but about 20 times in five minutes. We make our way out to the taxi stop and I wish I could have taken a picture of our cab driver after he noticed that he not only had one passenger but two and 3 suitcases plus 2 handbags. But we managed to put everything inside (including one suitcase at the co-pilot seat.

The weather is bad, is foggy and is raining but we are sweating inside of the car.

Airport Incheon impressions

Saturday 11th June

During this short week, I met very nice people, Korean are very open minded and friendly. Here some impressions of Incheon on our way back to the airport, for once without smog.

bye, bye Korea!

We are on the move again, everything is checked in, we are waiting for our flight to Shanghai, first time with a triple seven. A lot of things are new on this trip, first time A-380...and enjoying it a lot.

Friday 10th of June

Waiting for the driver to pick us up, I made some pictures from the hotel hall: is quite bright, invitating and the last thing in design. Never seen such a waiting area in a hotel, wanna swing with me?

We are driving to the South of Seoul, and even with a navigation system, we can not find the customer. Today we can't see the sun, the smog is all over us, and people told me that they are expecting the raining season.
Back to Seoul in the late afternoon. After training to the local rep technicians, we are out for dinner in a Korean restaurant. But before we go, a short visit to a local hobby store. Yes, just in front of the office is one of the biggest modelling stores in Seoul. The old song from Rod Stewart come back to my mind: "some guys have all the luck...."

No, I did not got anything, no empty space in my suitcase, I just got a present from my rep:

 During this very short stay I have the opportunity to meet very nice people. Yes, I am coming back: good bye for now Korea, hello China we are coming!

Thursday 9th June

After an exhausting day visiting customers, we finally made it back to the station. The train is fully booked and we have to wait for an hour. I don't mind, time for a cool beer and to take some pictures. Oh no, even here, we are not save from Italian coffee.... :-) no, no for me this time, I prefer beer.

Thursday 9th June

Today we are going to Daeung a city in the south of the country almost 340 Km away from Seoul. We will be using the Korean TGV.

After almost 2 hours, finally Daeung. Everywhere is crowded, we are fighting for a taxi.

Wednesday 8th of June

First meeting with the Korean representative, and after having lunch in a Chinese restaurant we are moving to see some customers. Is hot, humid and I can't see the sun...The city is full of soldiers, mostly American and the Military Museum is quite close to the office and hotel. At the main gate you can see parked a B-52 (Dr. Strangelove) among other planes. I am coming back to Seoul, definitively....

And all over the places nice subjects to take pictures.

Tuesday 7th June

Finally Seoul! Not as warm as expected and full of smog, but that gives the city an interesting light. After almost one hour taxi drive, we finally arrive at the hotel. No, not going to sleep now, we are down town and I want to explore the area.

But, what I am seeing? Almost 9000 Km away from home and what is in front of the hotel? A Spanish restaurant promising the best Tapas in the world....no, I don't think so

Tuesday 7th June

After a short stop in Singapore, the next flying leg was Seoul. Another 6 hours flight. Did I asked for that? Who did the travelling planing? Am not his biggest fan....And the flight is fully booked uggh! Anyway, time to sleep and or last try to.

Monday 6th June

Finally, I am flying with BB. No, BB does not stand for Brigitte Bardot but for "big bird". Oh boy, this thing is really big. The flight will be relaxing, I know that already :-)

keep on watching!

Saturday 4th June

Everything is packed, I am ready to go: 3 weeks, 3 different countries with a lot of things in common, first stop Seoul. Due to the special program we have, I will be able to travel accross the country.