Humdrum

Well there wasn't an upgrade although I did have an exit seat so not all bad.

Back in the UK now for a while - day trip to Germany next Tuesday but that's about it.

SJ travelled to Seattle yesterday - back at the end of the week. Like ships that pass in the night at the moment. Still leaves me to get on with the endless list of stuff to do around the house!

This week is also busy at work...travelling to Northampton this morning, Leeds tomorrow an then our boss of bosses is in on Thursday. Ho hum...

The ride...take 2

I'm at Calgary airport, early as usual. Just waiting for the flight to board. This is the plane I'm travelling on...full flight apparently...maybe an upgrade?

Last night in Stampede

We drove down from Edmonton to Calgary on Tuesday. It's about a 3 hour drive and pretty boring.

The temperature dropped significantly though - when we left Edmonton it was around zero but by the time we reached Calgary, it had fallen to about -10. The other noticeable thing is that Canada is incredibly dry so you constantly had this powder snow blowing across the carriageway...seemed dangerous, but they're all equipped for it with snow tyres, 4WD etc.

Calgary was the home to the 1988? Winter Olympics and is a strange mixture of cowboys and snow. Whilst we were there it actually snowed significantly ...I guess not unusual for this time of year.

Block Heater

I've been wondering what the Block Heater is in the boot of the rental. Well, I think I've figured it out...at each of the parking bay's at the hotel, there is a stanchion with 2 electrical sockets - I initially thought this was for electric vehicles, but now I've realised it must be to plug the Block Heater in...I note the weather forecast has it down to something like -15 later this week...might need it!

Ship in a bottle

As part of the WEM, there is a Pirate Ship parked at one end of the Mall. Quite amazing actually, it moves along rails at certain times of the day.

The ride

Picked up a Volvo XC 30 as a rental. It's actually quite nice. Good interior but a bit small - fast though!

West Edmonton Mall

Spent the day at West Edmonton Mall or WEM for short. It's apparently the largest shopping mall in North America and I can certainly confirm this is one big place! Over 60 fast food outlets!

(Canadian) Outback

Have arrived in Edmonton, Canada. Somewhere I've been looking forward to coming to...Canada is not somewhere I've been before but it's always been a place I wanted to visit.
So far it's lived up to its reputation...cold and snowy!

Posted with Blogsy

In Eindhoven

Arrived yesterday. Took a while to get here as there was so much fog in the area. We were circling for an hour and a half before the pilot said we would "give it a try". Now, maybe it's just me but I prefer my pilots to be a little more positive than "trying" a landing...

Anyway, we made it...

Craving Kraze Burger!

I like Asian food but sometimes you can't beat a Burger!

Leaving Korea

Just on the bus to Incheon airport. It's actually called a limousine bus and its not bad. Wide, comfy leather seats...plenty of space...very nice.

My flight isn't for a few hours so I should have plenty of time to do the obligatory present buying!

Flight arrives back into uk around teatime although no doubt there will be some delays going into Heathrow.

Last business trip bar one this year. I've been to quite a few places though. Here's the ones I can think of...

Netherlands
Monaco
Belgium
Norway
France
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
China
Germany
Austria
Czech Republic
South Korea

And I've still yet to go to the Netherlands again, plus the holiday to New Zealand, Bali and Oz....clocking up some mileage!

Korea - Part 4

The hotel was the Renaissance Seoul and very comfortable. Of course, as it was near Xmas, there was a huge tree in the reception area. It seems that I travel a lot around Xmas time as I remember hotels in brazil and china having trees in their reception too..

 

Posted with Blogsy

South Korea - Part 3

There is a man made stream that runs through Seoul, which is pretty peaceful. When I went it was the light festival so at night it was full of lit paper lanterns.

 

Posted with Blogsy

South Korea - Part 2

From the tower I went round a couple of the palaces, however gave up on the Tourist bus as the traffic is so heavy, it's easier and faster to use the subway.

As it was autumn, I have to say that the colours in the trees were absolutely spectacular, truly magnificent.

 

Posted with Blogsy

South Korea - Part 1

One of the advantages of my job is that I do get to travel to quite a few varied locations around the world...it's not always pleasant but when you're able to spend an extra day or so visiting a country you've never been to, it definitely has an advantage. This year I had the opportunity to visit Seoul in South Korea.

I planned what I wanted to go see using the new Tripadvisor city guides - they're actually pretty useful. I took the (very) clean and efficient subway into town to pick up the Tourist bus. The first station made me laugh though...Gangnam...an area of the city famous for its socialites and now forever immortalised due to Sy's song. The subway itself is easy to use having signage in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and English.

I took the tourist bus up to the Seoul tower, and I have to say the weather was glorious...cold but sunny.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Green Grass hotel

Been for an Italian tonight at the green grass hotel ... Strange name? Maybe it's reticent of the green green grass of home? Anyway, 'twas an Italian and the waiter painstakingly explained to me that penne pasta was not noodles....yes I know this!

Gangnam style

Well, here I am in Korea...South that is...another work trip. I haven't updated this in such a long time...I'm going to see if I can add the missing posts (18 months or so ) retrospectively. Of course, that means if you're reading this chronologically in a few months time, this really wont make sense...still can't help that.

Back to Czech

I attended and presented at the Myslivna event in Czech Republic. This is something I did a couple of years ago, and this year, we ran this seminar again. It's in conjunction with our agents, and it takes place at the Myslivan hotel...hence the name. Myslivna is an old hunting lodge, and I guess it's seen better days, however it does have a huge amount of character.

Once again, my presentation was translated live...an odd sensation, but you do get used to it.

I also had the opportunity to have a walk around the hotel into the surrounding woods. It's been cut back a lot but you can still get he impression of Communist Generals commanding their minions into (faux) battle.

Posted with Blogsy

Birds Nest

Having arrived back in Beijing, I was able to visit the Olympic Park and the famous Birds Nest stadium. very impressive although there is something a little sad about the fact that the whole site is rarely used nowadays...it is also interesting in that the Park is built on the North / South line that runs throughout Beijing, from the Mountains to the Forbidden Palace.

Every athletes name was engraved in the stone, both for Olympic and Paralympic.

Posted with Blogsy