Our daily accident give us now

Malaysia is one of the very countries in the world where the number of road fatalities is increasing. Since I moved to KL, I have seen things I never witnessed before.

If stuck in a jam, chances are that a truck rolled over a few motorcycle riders. I have seen that 3 times now, with blankets covering the riders.

This picture was taken Friday morning. Yesterday, 400 meters down the road a car burned out. While sitting at the breakfast table this morning, I heard some noise. A taxi spun backwards off the road and into a consturction stock pile, wrecking their fencing. Three accidents in 4 days is not bad...

Bus and Truck Expo - Thailand

Off to Thailand for the Bus and Truck Expo this week...
Don't you love the big rigs?

Looking forward to some great Siamese Food.

Questionable jobs: Sex-guru

From: http://www.dailychilli.com/news/7254-meet-spores-first-female-qsexpertq

There is also self-styled sex guru Wei Siang Yu, better known by his nickname "Dr Love".

He recently launched an online sexuality education portal, which is aimed at providing young people with interactive online sex education in Singapore.

To be a board-certified sexologist, one has to complete between 300 and 500 hours of training in human sexuality.

Those who possess an academic degree such as a doctorate, like Dr Lee, would have completed between 3,000 and 5,000 hours.

What exactly is "Training in human sexuality"?????

Singapore on a mission

Ahhhhhh nice...
Floyd didn't like the idea of having his picture posted, so I upload a snapshop of the place 30 seconds before his arrival.

Yes, this is in Singapore, I was there last week again. This time to set up our Launchpad office in the island state. We are growing. Time to celebrate? Well, once we get the first client.

Beauty in Darkness

Back to Kuala Lumpur after a hectic month full of travel. Got a nice shot of the twin towers this morning. Something different. Instead of gleaming and beaming, this one is a bit more dramatic.

Coffee time now.

Family gathering in Singapore

This Wednesday I will be flying to Singapore. The other Pertzens are coming as well, arriving 15 minutes later than I do. Talk about planning.

The missus will join us on Sunday for the long awaited family trip to the beach.
In the meantime we will be (hopefully) having a great time at the Singapore GP (http://www.singaporegp.sg/). Not sure if I really HAVE to see Mariah Carry On, but hey, free!
Or maybe I see the Chippendales? 15 years after the male stripper hayday they might be sporting pot-bellies, bald heads and fewer teeth...

Here also a few things I wish would go away:

- The "Medium" size when there are only 2 sizes.
How can something be in the middle between 2???

- The need to almost undress completely when boarding a plane.
Thought your X-Ray machines take care of all the detecting of dangerous stuff?

- Messages like "Best use of 3-D effects since Avatar" when Avatar was yesterday!

Up in the Air - Starring Stefan

Travelling again. To Germany for the weekend and a day. Then back to Kuala Lumpur. When I come back, it is a half day in the office, then another public holiday.
The week after this, we are all going to be in Singapore for the Formula 1 race.

One night in Abui Dhabi

This Sunday I am with a client in Abu Dhabi. They put me into The Yas Hotel. The Hotel is part of the Formula 1 race in November, so we are all going to see it on TV (I guess). The race track goes through the hotel. The rooms are extremely stylish. Something you might want your living room look like (my taste at least. Hey, don't say I have no taste :-) ). As I am travelling light, I did not bring my camera, so you have to check their website for pics.

We are here for a meeting in the afternoon, then we head back to Kuala Lumpur. Next weekend I am going to Germany again for another meeting. Then it is vacation time!!!

Germany and more travel

A week in Germany was quite refreshing. The Hotel "Domizol Leidinger" was a blast. Very exciting hotel with each room in a unique design and style. German Hotlers also managed to surprise us with a lot of added value.

Thanks to Julia and Kersten for having me at their wedding. All the best for the two of you!
I also like sleeping on the ship. Something different.

Next weekend I am going to be in Abu Dhabi.
Then there is the trip to Singapore for the F1 with my parents.

I promise to post more pictures... My phone got stolen a few weeks back, now using a phone that makes calls only. Not a bad thing though as I don't get distracted so much.

How to improve running times

Here some radical ideas on how to improve your running times:

1) Place a sharp stone in your shoes. You will be faster as you want the pain to end
2) Upset a bunch of stray dogs in the park
3) Run during a thunderstom and hope not to get hit by lighting

If you want some serious advice: www.gotriathlete.com

Gotta run now. See you!

Traveling again - 3 Stops in one month

August will be a busy month. First we head north.
Then I am going to Vietnam to attend a fair and support a client of ours.
Lastly, a business trip to Germany.

For Vietnam I found a good looking guest house. No need for a hotel as I am going to be out and about most of the time. Last time in Vietnam I had food poisoning, so did not really see a lot of HCMC.

Gonna be fun.. I hope.

Got sun tan?

Taken today on the highway linking Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan. Don't ask why the H I am standing in the middle of the road, taking pictures of people working on the highway.

New Currencies in Asia

Another international airport in Asia. And everyone calls this European currrency "Euro Dollar".
I suggest we (the white folks) start creating new names for Asian currencies. Here some suggestions:

Yen Dong for Japan
Ringgit Drachme for Malaysia
Thai Blood Bath for Thailand (given the current political situation)
Philippine Peso Pound
Cambodian Riel Mark

Unsolved mysteries in Asia

I was concerned about 2 mysteries: What is the meaning of life and what is it with Asian toilets.
Thanks to Douglas Adams, we know what is the meanign of life: 17

Now, here is the thing,... you average Asian toilet is 1,5 meters x 1,1 meters. A standard door is 90 cm wide. Why is it that all toilet doors open inwards? Basically, the door will hit the bowl when opening. Why? Basically, it means you have to stand on the bowl to open / close the door.
(I would give you a drawing, but I failed in art classes). I think you get the drift...

Simple solution: let the door open outwards. Unless people enjoy a limbo to get in and out of the cubicles. Maybe the idea is to entertain and challenge the user?

Any thoughts are welcome.

Business trip to Singapore

An all new experience: I am upgrading to a more expensive bus this time. They have internet on board. So they claim. That means I can surf, while someone else is driving.

I am with Xeralife, attending an Exhibition in the new Sands Marina Bay convention center. Is the roof top infinity pool open? Hope so. Will be staying for a week. As I am on the road most of the time, I checked into a cheap cheap hotel. Let's hope I can get some sleep.

As always: pictures later.

Would you like to have a switch with that?

Asian supermarkets are amazing.
What you get is toilet paper and a switch.

Trip to Sepang - Formula 1 2010

It was this time of the year again. Formula 1 in Kuala Lumpur. Just that this time around, there was no atmosphere. No real F1 action in town. No bars featuring the colours of the teams... Well, at least not where we (Simon Ng and I) went. In Souled Out they were showing EPL on Saturday evening.

Funnily enough the ticket prices are going to drop again next year after a low turn out this time around. Well, could that have to do with a lack of promotion and excitement around the actual track? Tickets for Singapore are much more costly and they are selling like hotcakes (We got some for my parents visit).

Interestingly, they brought back the MIG 29's. We have seen that in 2004.

Yes, I am still here

Sorry, haven't had much time to update this blog. But then again, not much happening here either. Next scheduled trip is only in May, to Singapore.

Hong Kong was fun. But too short. I went back to see our old place one evening.
Many places that we used to go for dinner were gone, replaced by other places we could go for dinner. Well, nothing more consistent than change, I guess.

Next week is F1 in Sepang. I am going with Simon. We have now been there 4 years in a row I believe. Not sure if I am going next year. The hype is really gone in KL. Just TRYING to pick up your tickets is a nightmare. Singapore GP does a fine job there. Parents are coming to see the race in Singapore.

Upcoming visit to Hong Kong

I will be spending the next week (2nd - 9th March) in Hong Kong. This is primarily a business trip, however there should be some time for relaxation too. Hoping to go for a hike with Roland and a run with Kamlesh. Kamlesh might put me to shame, having just completed the 100Km hike in Hong Kong.

Pictures later.

Only in Asia - Part 2

Chinese New Year is the time when 7 Million Malaysians travel from North to South and another 6 Million the other way. Joining the stampede, we went to Taiping to see the rest of the family. Instead of booking the usual spot, Thomas wanted to try something different. The food was "as normal", with all the typical ingredients. No surprise here. When he mentioned entertainment, we were all expecting a lion dance. Well,... someone danced. I think this must have been the most interesting interpretation of this song I have seen so far. Only in Asia...

Isolation

The old man walked in while we had our lunch. He ordered coffee and smoked his cigarettes (Malboro). No one came to join him. No one spoke to him. All he did was stare at the traffic while he enjoyed the cigarette and coffee. I wonder what stories he would have to tell. The sunken eyes look like they have seen a lot.

Good-bye to T-Online

Someone seemed to have hi-jacked my personal e-mail address. I am therefore shutting it down. In 20 days there will be no more @t-online.de

In the future please use the company address...

Sorry for the inconvenience... I really loved the address and it has been with me for a decade.

Vietnamese Take Away

Just picked up my Vietnamese Take-Away dinner...Still a bit raw...