http://gliving.tv/gmag-summer2008/gvehicles-summer2008-page01.php
Bit of interesting reading from Gliving of all places. Terrafugia has a hybrid which is having its first full scale model produced in Woburn, Massachusetts. It looks good, but I think that Terrafugia needs to really study the market they are attempting to enter. There are good products (Automobile, Airplane) and there are good products in concept (The flying car). Some well loved products are just not meant to be crossbrids, especially when their respective industries are undergoing such massive change, that will undoubtedly change the way we look at their products.
I do not see an immediate future of consumers that drive out of their garage, on to the highway, and up into the sky. The worlds infrastructure is not designed for it and neither are we. I am however interested to watch as our daily land based transportation system gets leaner and greener, while travel at 17,000 feet gets cheaper. A near future of hybrids (50pmg) and Honda Jets ($4m and lower) is just the sort of future I intend to have.
Terrafugia's well touted “flip of the switch” wing gadgetry, brings back fond memories of Roger Moore's “flip of the switch” Lotus/submarine. I'm sure they can make space next to the Lotus in the warehouse of useless crossbrids, ill throw in my old Flowbee (Vacuum/Clipper) for good measure.
Showing posts with label Rants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rants. Show all posts
July 29, 2008
REMINISCING CHINESE FLIGHTS
I would rarely classify myself as the irritating one on any flight, but working on my laptop and communicator, with 2 glasses of water (filled about 7 times on the red eye flight), and elbows sharply pointed out, I might see why some would find me difficult to be with. I was enjoying a blast from China past, with Chinese opera blaring on microphone speakers only slightly less irritating then the constant jabbering and cholera induced hacking by sexually frustrated middle aged ladies. There were sunflower seeds littering the aisles and tiny curious heads peering at my angry typing, through the setbacks.
In the China I started my business in, this would classify as a “relaxing flight.” you cannot imagine how filthy and uncomfortable they used to be. With globalization and modernization, these sort of experiences are slowly fading away. Pity. They brought a raw, poetic beauty that can only be fully appreciated from a foreign point of view.
I was rudely jolted from this cheerful reverie when my seat mate, while crossing over during turbulence, abruptly landed square on me, pausing briefly like an overeager Mexican stripper and catching me quite by surprise. So much for my water and communicator. So much for her dignity. As our eyes met and she gave an awkward but warm, over the shoulder smile, my mind reached back several hours to the cross eyed check in agent that put me in between a bathroom frequenting Shanghainese and a comatose Yunan government official.
The eyes, the steely, mismatched eyes. I felt ever so slightly ashamed to continue to stare at this China Southern manager, noticing the small details that might elude one less frustrated. A small and crease lined mouth (no doubt from years of spitting), His aggravated posture and translucent skin, a mutant cross between Gollum and your common Napoleonic stance. And the non symmetrical eyes that gazed in different directions, piercing and confusing as I couldn't figure how he could work a computer??
I refused to acknowledge his argument in broken English, because I knew it insulted years of classroom drills and quite frankly because It pleased me to see this troglodyte get even more incensed. Of course, my insistence in answering in broken Chinese probably did not help the situation much. It was a battle I lost before I even started and I took home the grand prize of 20 kilos for overweight luggage-- or roughly the full price of an economy class ticket.
I have little doubt that the onslaught of these new “fees” are due to the staggering rise in oil prices, I just wish there was a more graceful way for airline companies to handle their spreading costs. My Italian friend says it best when he angrily haggles with the airline personnel: “look at me!!,” 6ft, toned and in a nice suit, “you see, I weigh little but my seat mates are fat and heavy. They have bags that are 1 kilo under limit, but weight 10 kilos more as a person! It is fair, you should not charge me overweight!” When you are tired, in need of a shower, and waiting in line... that sort of philosophy makes a whole lot of sense.
Things are not going to get any easier for airline companies or frequent fliers. The last decade of battling between low cost and premium carriers has slimmed margins across the industry. Oil prices may level but will most likely remain in the vicinity of their current levels and the American economy is in a recession and with it the rest of the world. We will be seeing a good number of mergers, buyouts and bankruptcy's in the coming year or two. I'll bet my value-diminished frequent flyer miles on it!
In the China I started my business in, this would classify as a “relaxing flight.” you cannot imagine how filthy and uncomfortable they used to be. With globalization and modernization, these sort of experiences are slowly fading away. Pity. They brought a raw, poetic beauty that can only be fully appreciated from a foreign point of view.
I was rudely jolted from this cheerful reverie when my seat mate, while crossing over during turbulence, abruptly landed square on me, pausing briefly like an overeager Mexican stripper and catching me quite by surprise. So much for my water and communicator. So much for her dignity. As our eyes met and she gave an awkward but warm, over the shoulder smile, my mind reached back several hours to the cross eyed check in agent that put me in between a bathroom frequenting Shanghainese and a comatose Yunan government official.
The eyes, the steely, mismatched eyes. I felt ever so slightly ashamed to continue to stare at this China Southern manager, noticing the small details that might elude one less frustrated. A small and crease lined mouth (no doubt from years of spitting), His aggravated posture and translucent skin, a mutant cross between Gollum and your common Napoleonic stance. And the non symmetrical eyes that gazed in different directions, piercing and confusing as I couldn't figure how he could work a computer??
I refused to acknowledge his argument in broken English, because I knew it insulted years of classroom drills and quite frankly because It pleased me to see this troglodyte get even more incensed. Of course, my insistence in answering in broken Chinese probably did not help the situation much. It was a battle I lost before I even started and I took home the grand prize of 20 kilos for overweight luggage-- or roughly the full price of an economy class ticket.
I have little doubt that the onslaught of these new “fees” are due to the staggering rise in oil prices, I just wish there was a more graceful way for airline companies to handle their spreading costs. My Italian friend says it best when he angrily haggles with the airline personnel: “look at me!!,” 6ft, toned and in a nice suit, “you see, I weigh little but my seat mates are fat and heavy. They have bags that are 1 kilo under limit, but weight 10 kilos more as a person! It is fair, you should not charge me overweight!” When you are tired, in need of a shower, and waiting in line... that sort of philosophy makes a whole lot of sense.
Things are not going to get any easier for airline companies or frequent fliers. The last decade of battling between low cost and premium carriers has slimmed margins across the industry. Oil prices may level but will most likely remain in the vicinity of their current levels and the American economy is in a recession and with it the rest of the world. We will be seeing a good number of mergers, buyouts and bankruptcy's in the coming year or two. I'll bet my value-diminished frequent flyer miles on it!
THE WONDERS OF UBUNTU
I spent a perfectly good Sunday in the office, not an ideal day, but since a friend of mine was so kind as to leave a frozen 10 year old bottle of Laphroig, it passed by quickly. We are starting the migration from Mac's to Linux's new Ubuntu operating system which to my pleasant surprise has been quite amazing. This system runs practically virus free, comes with all the necessary applications to run a business, and best of all, runs so lean that I've been able to pull some late 90's hardware off the antiquities shelf for a new lease on life. These days I'm not the only one that seems to think highly of Linux. Dell has announced that it would install Ubuntu on more of its desktops, Canonical (Linux distributor) seems to be deftly maneuvering around IP infringement lawsuits, and all of the cheap Taiwanese/Korean computers that started this Linux craze are still, 1 year later, flying off the shelves. In general I think the public has just gotten sick of constantly paying for more advanced software and hardware that does not work right. Even as a die hard mac user, I am finding the quality shortcomings of the new apple machinery hard to ignore,and with the all aluminum notebooks due out soon (you can't build them like you used to and yet your experimenting with new materials??), I feel secure in my decision to switch over to Ubuntu. Bill Gates has built his fortune off licenses and Steve Jobs started the model, lets see how these guys react to Linus Torvalds and his creation!
June 11, 2008
THE PROBLEM WITH GAPS IN LEADERSHIP CONTINUITY
I had the privilege of touring the two major shipping ports in Ningbo, as well private time with the government ministers and company leaders that conceived and developed the Chinese port expansion plan of the early 90’s. Impressive is the best word to describe it. This government has a vision for the shipping hubs of the 21st century and it will surpass and dwarf ports like Singapore and HK (considered the worlds best).
In our 20-person shuttle bus, there was unanimous praise in the Chinese as well as a sense of foreboding and disappointment that our respective governments have been unable to compete as effectively. It was culturally amusing and slightly stereotypical to watch the Kazaks grunt in approval, the Koreans bow in amazement, and the Filipinos click their tongues while shaking their heads in stunned, clicking silence—quite the symphony! This was no group of slugs either; my shuttle mates included the former Prime minister of Kazakhstan, the former Prime Minister of South Korea, Minister Long Tong Yu, and a handful of leading shipping/logistics/port operators in the industry. How has China managed to develop and surge forward at such a rate? $$$! But also a strong, sustained drive towards a long-term vision, set forth by the government and defended by each successive leading body.
My beautiful country of the Philippines has an almost perfect model of how NOT to progress through “leadership continuity.” Projects are not centrally planned since we seem to choose to develop our country based on the whims of our presidents. This is NOT OK. In this model how do you develop the correct infrastructure? Zoning? Create the right atmosphere for foreign investment and provide/guarantee them with a reasonable payback period? How do ensure that projects that affect the nation are done in the best capacity of the country? The answer is you cannot. Which is why we have a patchwork of ports, roads, airports. Practically primordial infrastructure, which keeps our costs up, productivity/efficiency low and makes us uncompetitive in a world that has become increasingly competitive.
Let us take our airport system as a good example (since it has been in the news lately). Originally, when they were planning the expansion of the existing NAIA Terminal 1, they had several criterions to fill. Aside from being able to handle the capacity for several decades, it needed to be modern and people friendly. Passengers would have been able to come in from an international flight check-in at the terminal of entry for any domestic flight, and promptly walk over to the domestic terminal via bridge way. These were to be connected by a central transit hub where private vehicles, trains, and buses would convene. Interestingly, the MRT train line would run all the way to Clark, linking another air hub to the major NAIA terminal.
Of course, what we ended up with was a white elephant of a terminal 3 and the new domestic terminal entirely in the hands of PAL. In retrospect, I think the only two hubs ERAP gave thought to was the International Financial Hub of Equitable PCI (check this) and the International Entertainment Hub of Airforce One (not accurate chronologically, but you get the point!). The handling of GMA further exacerbated all of this. This project came together near the end of FVR's term, so in two presidential terms and 10 years of our lives, we have lost and near buried what would have been a boon to our economy. Disgusting.
Touching back on my previous entry discussing Nuvali or Clark, there is a distinct opportunity for us to fix our international image and give The Philippines a competitive edge. Anybody that looks at a map can see why we can still be a strong player in the region. Our location is suitable for all Central and South East Asian destinations. We have a wide berth of seafaring water on each end and can certainly provide a more attractive shipping route to China than Singapore, Malaysia and even HK (though depending from where). This is really just for transshipments, as our local economy will not create the demand that foreign companies are willing to invest in.
Clark and Subic have now been connected; there is plenty of room for growth in our major Freeport zones. There does exist infrastructure around the deep waters of Subic that can be expanded and the surrounding area has plenty of room for growth. I know of several groups, ICTSI being one of them that currently operates and can continue to develop our port capacities. We should take from the HK/Singaporean model and allow foreign firms like Maersk and MOL to handle their own port operations. With them come jobs, professionalism, and a glimmer of hope to foreigners that the Philippines is still a good location to park capital.
A greater frequency of inbound shipments lowers overall shipping rates, while opening up trade. The best part is, Subic and Clark are a destination in their own right, which means that we can develop a whole other city for the country, one of equal value to the CBD and its neighboring Nuvali. The Philippines can have the traditional port and airport (Subic/Clark) and the future information port (Nuvali). Great combination. Let us not forget that old logistics dream of cutting a swath of land through Quezon province connecting the Pacific in an almost straight line to Manila Bay. The possibilities of turning Luzon into a major Asian hub are tremendous and quite feasible, a dream for my generation perhaps! Logistics runs in my blood, and developing the Philippines geographic endowments is something I have always wanted to do. We can be so much more in this field.
We need central planning, political will, and a design that can make plenty of $$$ for foreign and local investors brave enough to invest large sums in the Philippines regardless of our present track record. Can it be done? I think it can.
March 29, 2008
MY BEST FRIENDS AT THE MAPSA
I had another run in with the MAPSA recently, completely unjustified and therefore undeserving of my attention. I would usually at the least discuss it with the officer, but I had little patience with this organization due to a bribery run-in (I sent him packing empty handed) and an incident that happened last September. Plus I was having a bad day. Fortunately I was driving a vehicle that is both impossible to tow and intimidating. Let me make some things explicitly clear (researched online):
1) Unless you plowed into a person or vehicle, disregarded previous ticketed violations, or are in fear of your life, you do NOT have to give your license to a MAPSA officer. Please do not make the regrettable mistake of confusing MAPSA (yellow) with Police (blue). The latter can take your license and will make your life miserable.
2) You can be fined for using your cell phone (non-hands free) while driving. Do not bother arguing this one.
3) MMDA officers cannot group together to apprehend you. As unlikely as it sounds, you can argue and win this claim.
4) There is apparently an auction every Monday of the month. This takes care of cars abandoned or left at the impound for more than 6 months. Of course these auctions (I have tried) are hard to find, poorly advertised, and almost devoid of all good cars. The Vehicle Auction is also known as the public officials S and R.. Only government ID's accepted.
5) Swerving is not a traffic violation so long as you do not make drastic cuts across two lanes or more. Sneaking briefly into the yellow line section will get you a ticket. Note, this law does not apply to reckless PUJ or Bus drivers.
6) Do not pay bribes, it reinforces poor values and makes you an embarrassment to your country.
This brings me to my MMDA story. I am including a letter I wrote last September, where I felt the officer was being unreasonable and deserving of correction. I would like to share it because it is still unresolved and illustrates what we drivers put up with on a daily basis. The charge: I parked my car on purpose beneath a street light for safety, it so happened that in doing so I straddled two white “parallel parking slots” which were invalid anyway as it was past 7pm. The officer towed me anyway with a parking charge at 7:30pm.
I would like to express my concern over a situation that has left me irate and disheartened about the MAPSA officers that operate within Makati. I feel that it is my responsibility to share my experience/opinion in the hope that it will contribute to better service from the Makati City organizations...Receiving an unwarranted fine is not as bit a concern as the fact that the person who was supposed to assist citizens to make us feel safer, to make sure that those who follow laws are not taken advantage of by those who do not-- was not at all interested in my situation. He had a ticket and he wanted to use it. I am a citizen of this country and a resident of Makati City. I use my company to employ Filipinos and to contribute to the economy. I strive to create and maintain a respectable, ethical and socially responsible international image for my country. I pay taxes, contribute my time to local community efforts, assist in government directives, and take pride in watching my country develop into the Philippines we all know it can be. It irritates me to be preyed upon by individuals that treat their organization as a means to generate revenue, where reasonable explanations and citizens who genuinely try to follow laws are overlooked. Where his time and effort as a public officer is more important than my time and effort as a Makati resident. I told this MAPSA official that I preferred to watch my vehicle be towed than to accept his ticket and pay a fine. This is about the principle and my distrust towards an organization that is designed to service and protect me...I hope that this letter can make a difference... I feel that overall MAPSA is doing a good job keeping order. It is unfortunate that one officer can taint an opinion so quickly.
I mailed this out to Mayor Binay and Director San Miguel, both of whom responded promptly by studying and supporting my complaint, reinstating my vehicle, and handing me a receipt to reimburse my ticket and towing expense (as is expected). It has now been 6 months since the incident and each time I send someone to collect the reimbursed cash, they are still “waiting for the officer to return to the station.” I suppose he is on sabbatical, or possibly traveling the world with my 1200 pesos. It is unfortunate and petty, as I would have had my confidence reinstated in the MAPSA had they done the correct thing. Again, we are facing an organization that is more talk then action. Herein lies the root problem of the Philippines, manifested in an overrated and redundant organization. For those of us that want change in the country, we will need to just hike up our skirts and do it ourselves.
1) Unless you plowed into a person or vehicle, disregarded previous ticketed violations, or are in fear of your life, you do NOT have to give your license to a MAPSA officer. Please do not make the regrettable mistake of confusing MAPSA (yellow) with Police (blue). The latter can take your license and will make your life miserable.
2) You can be fined for using your cell phone (non-hands free) while driving. Do not bother arguing this one.
3) MMDA officers cannot group together to apprehend you. As unlikely as it sounds, you can argue and win this claim.
4) There is apparently an auction every Monday of the month. This takes care of cars abandoned or left at the impound for more than 6 months. Of course these auctions (I have tried) are hard to find, poorly advertised, and almost devoid of all good cars. The Vehicle Auction is also known as the public officials S and R.. Only government ID's accepted.
5) Swerving is not a traffic violation so long as you do not make drastic cuts across two lanes or more. Sneaking briefly into the yellow line section will get you a ticket. Note, this law does not apply to reckless PUJ or Bus drivers.
6) Do not pay bribes, it reinforces poor values and makes you an embarrassment to your country.
This brings me to my MMDA story. I am including a letter I wrote last September, where I felt the officer was being unreasonable and deserving of correction. I would like to share it because it is still unresolved and illustrates what we drivers put up with on a daily basis. The charge: I parked my car on purpose beneath a street light for safety, it so happened that in doing so I straddled two white “parallel parking slots” which were invalid anyway as it was past 7pm. The officer towed me anyway with a parking charge at 7:30pm.
I would like to express my concern over a situation that has left me irate and disheartened about the MAPSA officers that operate within Makati. I feel that it is my responsibility to share my experience/opinion in the hope that it will contribute to better service from the Makati City organizations...Receiving an unwarranted fine is not as bit a concern as the fact that the person who was supposed to assist citizens to make us feel safer, to make sure that those who follow laws are not taken advantage of by those who do not-- was not at all interested in my situation. He had a ticket and he wanted to use it. I am a citizen of this country and a resident of Makati City. I use my company to employ Filipinos and to contribute to the economy. I strive to create and maintain a respectable, ethical and socially responsible international image for my country. I pay taxes, contribute my time to local community efforts, assist in government directives, and take pride in watching my country develop into the Philippines we all know it can be. It irritates me to be preyed upon by individuals that treat their organization as a means to generate revenue, where reasonable explanations and citizens who genuinely try to follow laws are overlooked. Where his time and effort as a public officer is more important than my time and effort as a Makati resident. I told this MAPSA official that I preferred to watch my vehicle be towed than to accept his ticket and pay a fine. This is about the principle and my distrust towards an organization that is designed to service and protect me...I hope that this letter can make a difference... I feel that overall MAPSA is doing a good job keeping order. It is unfortunate that one officer can taint an opinion so quickly.
I mailed this out to Mayor Binay and Director San Miguel, both of whom responded promptly by studying and supporting my complaint, reinstating my vehicle, and handing me a receipt to reimburse my ticket and towing expense (as is expected). It has now been 6 months since the incident and each time I send someone to collect the reimbursed cash, they are still “waiting for the officer to return to the station.” I suppose he is on sabbatical, or possibly traveling the world with my 1200 pesos. It is unfortunate and petty, as I would have had my confidence reinstated in the MAPSA had they done the correct thing. Again, we are facing an organization that is more talk then action. Herein lies the root problem of the Philippines, manifested in an overrated and redundant organization. For those of us that want change in the country, we will need to just hike up our skirts and do it ourselves.
HTTP://DELFINDJMONTANO.BLOGSPOT.COM
This DJ Montano blog is still up and going strong. In a country with a clear dichotomy between the wealthy and the poor, it is proving to be the perfect medium of attack by a man who is justifiably angry and looking for some modicum of justice. However, I am perturbed by the fact that this blog is exacerbating an already tense rift between the upper and middle classes. At a time where we have little faith in our government and US recession tremors are already being felt, this blog is not what I would call a “constructive preoccupation.”
Then again, when you do the math: (1 gram of cocaine = 1 good night = $125) x (3 nights a week on average) x (4 weeks in month) = $1500 a month. Decent companies have a starting salary of roughly $500 a month. You know, perhaps this blog is exactly what Philippines society needs.
I work hard (247) for what I earn and I will still balk at spending 130 pesos for a movie ticket (I remember 25 at greenbelt 1). You read this blog and you realize that there are people who can party several nights a week, not hold a steady job, and still spend an average persons salary. There is definitely something off with this situation!
Then again, when you do the math: (1 gram of cocaine = 1 good night = $125) x (3 nights a week on average) x (4 weeks in month) = $1500 a month. Decent companies have a starting salary of roughly $500 a month. You know, perhaps this blog is exactly what Philippines society needs.
I work hard (247) for what I earn and I will still balk at spending 130 pesos for a movie ticket (I remember 25 at greenbelt 1). You read this blog and you realize that there are people who can party several nights a week, not hold a steady job, and still spend an average persons salary. There is definitely something off with this situation!
March 18, 2008
CHEAP IS NOT THAT CHEAP ANYMORE
One of my businesses is involved in the manufacturing of products in China, which supply a specific niche market primarily in the Philippines. The dramatic rise in prices for all the commodities used in my products as well as an increase in labor and operations costs has really sent my team into a spin. Prices have gone as high as 40% on certain goods, which is ridiculous. Material prices fluctuate daily and it is getting to the point where I feel we need to horde when we get a workable price.Now, I understand I am on the front line for what will/has become a global concern. The 23% increase in food costs is what started this mess and unfortunately it will only get worse. I am in no ways an expert on the Chinese economic model, but there are several points have never really been addressed by Beijing, which undoubtedly will lead to a serious correction in the market.
China’s trade surplus and massive foreign direct investment has led to a massive amount of USD, which the government has handily been purchasing at a fixed exchange. Well, that’s about to backfire. Especially since it is the USD that the locals are using to fund the real estate boom (in for trouble) and the crazy stock market (still crazy). From a social level, the local Chinese have increased their wealth dramatically, which will inevitably lead to a backlash against their current living and political conditions (think Tiananmen Square). Anyone who has lived in China can see that the majority of the population still live the way they did during the communists, but its changing, and rapidly. It won’t be long before they start expecting the same rights as their foreign counterparts, the same freedom- let us see what Beijing does then. While not immediately felt, this growth in wealth will obviously shrink the cheap labor market, regardless if they are almost 2 billion strong. Then again, with the rapid rise of technology I wonder if this will even matter in the coming 20 years.
I always joke about that time I once traveled to this tiny little fishing village town in the Zhejiang region of China back in 2004. Small and completely backwards—it was the pearl growing center of the country. In this small and backwards town, I think every OTHER car had to have been an S600, A8 W12, or a 760. I have never seen so many $100,000 sedans in such a concentrated location. They did not have proper streets, but they were driving the best. Incredible.
Global commodity prices are also on a rise. For a country that is gobbling up massive quantities of oil, steel, wheat, etc. You can expect that this will continue to clobber the economy and help cool what has been a tremendous 10 years of growth for the Chinese. It would be nice however if someone could explain exactly why these material prices fluctuate sporadically? I cannot even use international trading prices as a guide?
How does this affect all of us? Well, I can tell you that for the short term it is really going to hurt. These price fluctuations caught a lot of companies by surprise, its going to take some time for us to correct our prices. For companies with large quantities of stock, they will be able to undercut the rest of us—but again, just for the short term.
The Chinese have always found the greatest competition comes from other Chinese. It will be interesting to see how the factories will react to these new market challenges. Will they bind together or will they undercut and make deals with foreign companies (every man for themselves)? For smaller Asian countries, it gives local manufacturers a chance to breathe. I doubt that prices will drop enough to revive local industries beaten down by china, but it certainly makes those who are still operating, a little more competitive. Wen Jiabao proclaimed that "The current price hikes and increasing inflationary pressures are the biggest concern of the people.” Well, let us wait and see how he does in the coming months.” Who wants to bet it will be more of the same: “Tighter monetary policies.”
Do not be too concerned, Chinese goods will still be dirt cheap, just not at dirt cheap as before.
December 09, 2007
$11,621 JADE CARVING
Doing business in China is always a new and novel experience. With our start up in the mobile advertising industry, each day is a wonderful day to fend off greedy local businessmen, short minded upper management, and stubborn government officials. A few of my favorite expenses that some of our local partners are “attempting” to bill us for (English translation lifted from expense sheet):
1) Invited the government superior leader having diner in Beijing Hotel, in order to get some help from the project: 15700 RMB/$2121
2) Sending a Dunhill bag to the leader of company in order to get some information. 8645 RMB/$1168
3) Meeting with the general manager, send him a jade carving that commemorates for Olympic. 86000 RMB/$11621
4) Sending a Patek Philippe watch to the government superior leader 130,000 RMB/$17,560
5) Spending lots of money on bad taste : Priceless
A jade carving for $11,621??! I can understand a Dunhill bag, or a Patek Philippe (Couldn't you use a Casio?), but a bloody ugly green, carved jade statue? Fountain? Olympic rings? Couldn’t they have just bought a slightly cheaper, $10,000 golden cat, with a right paw that moves up and down…...
1) Invited the government superior leader having diner in Beijing Hotel, in order to get some help from the project: 15700 RMB/$2121
2) Sending a Dunhill bag to the leader of company in order to get some information. 8645 RMB/$1168
3) Meeting with the general manager, send him a jade carving that commemorates for Olympic. 86000 RMB/$11621
4) Sending a Patek Philippe watch to the government superior leader 130,000 RMB/$17,560
5) Spending lots of money on bad taste : Priceless
A jade carving for $11,621??! I can understand a Dunhill bag, or a Patek Philippe (Couldn't you use a Casio?), but a bloody ugly green, carved jade statue? Fountain? Olympic rings? Couldn’t they have just bought a slightly cheaper, $10,000 golden cat, with a right paw that moves up and down…...
November 28, 2007
FLYING THE IRRITATING SKIES
To say that I am a frequent traveler is an understatement. In a year my travel cycle has its peaks and lows, but on average I am on a plane 4 times a month, which makes the quiet time spent on a plane, thinking or reading, a crucial part of my sanity. I landed in Shanghai early morning (1 am), jostled, harassed, and tense—thanks entirely to the wonderful “Making every Juan fly” experience, which started with an extremely inefficient and slow ticketing system at the old NAIA airport. I would compare yesterday’s flight to domestic Chinese flights in the late 90’s, except in place of smelly cages of chickens and produce; we have oversized bags filled with durian, old sandwiches, and dried squid. Where my seatmates used to chew noisily on “butong pakwan” they are now tossing cans of sprite and half eaten oatmeal bars within the cabin. Economically speaking, as the margin on air fares shrink, so does the distance between seats. Some of us like that feeling of circulation in our lower extremities, so we opt to lean to the extreme left or right, so we can steal a part of the aisle. A trick that works well until the trolley or neighboring foot tromps across your Italian shoes. Note to the airline companies: Yes. Passengers DO notice that 1 extra inch you skimped.
I am a hardened traveler. I spent my teens backpacking the darkest armpits of our planet, and my 20’s shuttling between cities for work. My Jedi conditioning can keep me asleep through a bloody volcano eruption. Cebu Pacific can be proud to note that it is one of the few modes of transportation that can keep me on edge the entire length of the trip. It’s a pity really as the planes are all brand new and the $300 round trip ticket to Shanghai, is very attractive when you can spend as much as $490 for a China Southern and $570 for PAL. It may have been a rough night (a Chinese tour group of rowdy guys filled the majority of the plane). Even the cabin attendants looked flustered. Sadly, it will remain one of those “life questions.” As of today, I am returning to the old stalwart of Philippines – China flights, PAL. The planes are not quite as new, the tickets not quite as reasonable, but if it gives me the 4 hours I need to catch up with my reading and thoughts, it’s worth it.
I am a hardened traveler. I spent my teens backpacking the darkest armpits of our planet, and my 20’s shuttling between cities for work. My Jedi conditioning can keep me asleep through a bloody volcano eruption. Cebu Pacific can be proud to note that it is one of the few modes of transportation that can keep me on edge the entire length of the trip. It’s a pity really as the planes are all brand new and the $300 round trip ticket to Shanghai, is very attractive when you can spend as much as $490 for a China Southern and $570 for PAL. It may have been a rough night (a Chinese tour group of rowdy guys filled the majority of the plane). Even the cabin attendants looked flustered. Sadly, it will remain one of those “life questions.” As of today, I am returning to the old stalwart of Philippines – China flights, PAL. The planes are not quite as new, the tickets not quite as reasonable, but if it gives me the 4 hours I need to catch up with my reading and thoughts, it’s worth it.
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