tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82149431419931895712012-01-03T14:34:51.428-05:00Gregg's adventures and nerdy thoughtsGwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.comBlogger4391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-15804499663264078222012-01-03T14:33:00.000-05:002012-01-03T14:34:51.529-05:00

After I returned I found this map in some paperwork from the hotel.  The map is printed on odd sized paper so the scanner could not get the complete map.  When you look at the tourism items along the bottom, I have been to:  Pearl TV Tower - Did not go upWorld Financial Tower – Ate dinner at the topAP Plaza – Bought fake memory cards - Doh!Yu Garden – Beautiful and a lot to see; until you see the

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-29940000494015105672012-01-01T09:31:00.003-05:002012-01-01T09:38:58.613-05:00

This article from the Orlando Sentinel really hit home  By Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-27642877619970710172012-01-01T09:28:00.002-05:002012-01-01T09:28:51.330-05:00

This is the final edit of Chance's Key West bike ride

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-6008767396356733822011-12-19T19:44:00.003-05:002011-12-23T18:04:38.746-05:00

I arrived in Orlando Sunday night. On Monday, a day I stayed home to let my mind catch up with my body, Chance decides to go on a seven day Adventure Cycling trip. He takes the van in the rain to the city of Cocoa and starts on a bike ride around South Florida. He made a bee line to Key West. View Keys Ride in a larger map Day 1 - Cocoa to Ft Pierce Day 2 - Boca Raton Day 3- Miami Day 4 -

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-62503754556451775462011-12-10T20:32:00.002-05:002011-12-18T23:15:11.392-05:00

About to board my plane back home. Head congestion has reared backup. HK airport is bigger than I remembered it was a long walk and train ride to our gate. It seems there are thousand of stores from news tands to Tiffany. Who buys Jewelry in an airport?? Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-39104781618594121452011-12-10T10:00:00.004-05:002011-12-22T19:49:37.557-05:00

We ate at the Disney hotel restaurant, which was incredible. We let Susan and another cast member order the meal. During our taxi ride home a consultant that was traveling asked if I was going on an adventure tonight; I said if you want to go somewhere we should go to LKF. Lan Kwai Fong is where the Expats party and the Chinese come to watch :) After two Erdinger beers we headed home. I

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-13941479357781140392011-12-10T04:58:00.001-05:002011-12-10T04:58:51.380-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-21174344678052297402011-12-10T04:18:00.001-05:002011-12-10T04:18:14.882-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-90946580173353901522011-12-10T02:20:00.001-05:002011-12-10T02:20:51.345-05:00

This is the view going down from the peak.Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-58984244817210492432011-12-10T00:01:00.002-05:002011-12-18T23:19:07.103-05:00

View from the peak. To get here we took an incline plane... Except the car was not at an incline so you get pushed back into your seat. Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-87640644171898429232011-12-09T21:17:00.002-05:002011-12-18T23:20:15.617-05:00

Saturday brings a visit from the HK IT director for breakfast then a hike up the peak with a cast member that is lobbying for a job. We will end the day with a park visit.This picture is from my hotel room. The odd building on left is called the kuala bear building by the locals. Can you see why? Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-40978338384113088802011-12-09T06:11:00.001-05:002011-12-22T19:56:01.653-05:00

Sites from our visit today Macau was a Portuguese colony, and is both the first and last European colony in China. Like Hong Kong, it is a Special Administrative Region as of 1999. Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the People Republic of China's Central People's Government is responsible for defense. Macau maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system....

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-25902409168025525052011-12-09T06:09:00.000-05:002011-12-09T06:11:51.754-05:00

Went to the Venetian Casino today. The one here in Macau has the largest casino floor in the world. Here are some stats we learnedMore than 10,000 employees15,000 seat arenaCirque showFamous Venetian mall with waterway and Gondolas. 6000 rooms on one propertyThey have 6 properties40 casinos in MacauThanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-23580767711825805532011-12-08T20:55:00.002-05:002011-12-18T23:29:05.131-05:00

Today we are going to Macau, the Las Vegas of China. We are doing benchmarking with the Venetian? Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-31974257615723747712011-12-07T10:06:00.003-05:002011-12-22T19:57:15.958-05:00

This is how I get back to the hotel. In Mandarin it says "My residence in Shanghai is Kerry hotel , Hua Mu rd.... I am very careful to always have this card in my possession at all times outside the hotel bubble. Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-7106333779046816902011-12-07T09:41:00.001-05:002011-12-07T09:41:11.587-05:00

I would have never thought that my Ipod touch would become my main tool for communicating. With Skype and my Bluetooth headset all I need is a Wi-fi connection and I can call a disney conference bridge for free as well as any other laptop for free. For just 2.6 cents a minute I can call any US phone number. Tonight I called Sally from a restaurant until my battery started to die. Amazing tool

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-19307386464806026742011-12-07T09:21:00.001-05:002011-12-07T09:21:45.495-05:00

Sitting in a expat restaurant drinking a favorite german beer listening to a Chinese band cover American music. This is too unreal. Food was great, chili made with spicy curry and a order of cedar planked salmon. Great to find a expat restaurant away from the Kerry bubble I call home. Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-17647574957318364832011-12-07T06:06:00.001-05:002011-12-07T06:06:13.042-05:00

Going to dinner alone, having the concierge write down the address is the only way to communicate to the taxi drivers. If I get lost send the police this photo hahaThanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-61583697738425157212011-12-06T05:12:00.001-05:002011-12-06T05:12:51.006-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-13509046098256275742011-12-06T00:46:00.000-05:002011-12-06T00:47:00.280-05:00

It is very expensive to own a car (get a vehicle license) but they still have huge highways.Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-51299793506447982252011-12-06T00:43:00.001-05:002011-12-06T00:43:19.687-05:00

We arrived early for a meeting and saw a Walmart on the corner. We went in and walked around for just a fee minutes. Food and everyday goods are very inexpensive. 50lb bag a rice is just a few bucks. Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-89460731247003376832011-12-05T03:49:00.001-05:002011-12-05T03:49:50.864-05:00

I approach a street corner downtown and a woman runs up and says shoe shine, I say no! I look for traffic so I can bolt across traffic and before I know it she slathers the wrong colored polish on one shoe. So off to Starbuck I went for napkins to clean up the mess. Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-14950075775071965022011-12-04T09:53:00.000-05:002011-12-04T09:53:53.059-05:00

The Kerry Center is where I will be working when in Shanghai. As I have wrote before it has a hotel with 32 floors, four restaurants in the hotel, largest gym in any hotel, separate residence condos, 60+ floor business tower, a mall and subway station all in the same city block.  The mall has a grocery store and 20+ restaurants.  Everything is very new, western and pricey. We have come to realize

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-58370718943637847222011-12-04T00:58:00.003-05:002011-12-04T10:58:48.225-05:00

Today we drove to a local amusement park called Happy Valley.  Here is the route we took - Map: View Larger Map This should show the route- http://g.co/maps/tastb The park has been open for two years but by looking at the facilities paint, concrete cracks it would seem to be 30 years old. They have a LOT of thrill rides We think we recognized a lot of the rides. Bug out, Sheikra and

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-44723971844468839472011-12-03T19:27:00.001-05:002011-12-03T19:27:58.383-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-52594408047953395142011-12-03T10:50:00.003-05:002011-12-03T17:31:08.448-05:00

We ended the night at the Hyatt on the Bund.  We had a Peking duck served to us and we ate it the traditional way.  Below the chef is slicing the cooked skin off the duck. We ate these strips with a little sugar on top which was wonderful.  The meat is laid in a wrap with cucumbers and another vegetable and topped with a thick, dark sauce.  The view from the roof top of the Hyatt was

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-15314858569283512002011-12-03T10:42:00.001-05:002011-12-03T17:27:08.089-05:00

Susan put together a great Excursion for nine colleagues that are visiting Shanghai.The village is 2 hours West of Shanghai by bus. To hire a driver and bus it cost a little over $150 USD for one day. The village is a tourist destination with many shops along the canals but it also is a place where people live on the water and make their living selling fish and seafood.   Below are pictures

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-67153549909342344232011-12-03T03:09:00.001-05:002011-12-03T03:09:33.492-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-29128844572781452942011-12-03T03:08:00.001-05:002011-12-03T10:08:49.214-05:00

At the water village my phone did not have data service which stopped me from updating my blog in real time. Here is my location on the way back to Shanghai. View Larger Map

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-41147785867384280572011-12-02T22:39:00.001-05:002011-12-03T10:09:48.975-05:00

Susan arranged a nice bus for nine of us to go to a water village 2 hours outside of Shanghai. We will also be going to Madame Troussauds and the Bund for dinner. Peking duck has been arranged which I hear is a quite a production to serve. Tomorrow we go to a local theme park. Everywhere we go we are trying to understand how companies do business in China. Ticketing systems, point of sale,

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-46483886315507635072011-12-02T21:19:00.000-05:002011-12-02T21:20:01.000-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-52087149272626383102011-12-02T21:01:00.001-05:002011-12-02T21:01:56.796-05:00

This is a functioning McDonald kiosk along the river Huang Pu. It was closed and I could not find a menu to see what was served.Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-77378621069090343282011-12-02T21:00:00.001-05:002011-12-02T21:00:10.762-05:00

This would look better with mickey earsThanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-62401228576165870972011-12-02T20:59:00.001-05:002011-12-02T20:59:13.390-05:00

I went by myself Friday night. 6 others were too tired. I have great pictures on my camera which I will post soon. Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-84043254096464348752011-12-02T20:53:00.001-05:002011-12-02T20:53:39.076-05:00

This is my favorite dish to date. An Australian dining manager helped me one night venture out of my comfort foods. Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-90813843436568271922011-11-28T19:14:00.001-05:002011-11-28T19:14:06.734-05:00

Thanks, GreggThis message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos. Please only reply when it is safe to do so.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-44633282926204472612011-11-28T17:34:00.000-05:002011-11-29T15:42:35.833-05:00

  This is a picture I took using my Ipod of the in-flight entertainment center that was at my seat. This shows the flight path that I took to Shanghai.   I only watched one movie, Space Cowboys and two TV episodes.  I try to read but I fall asleep after just a few minutes, book reading was never a strong point for me. I did get through my emails that were unread from my vacation time.  It

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-90944745769848069232011-11-27T16:02:00.001-05:002011-11-29T15:45:43.971-05:00

About to take off from San Francisco non-stop to Shanghai. Flight from Orlando went fast with no headwinds. Took about 4.5 hrs. This will be my routine flight group going forward. Flight time is just under 14 hours from SanFran. This is a newly configured 777 which seems nice. It is 4 PM Est Sunday, I started today at 4:15 AM. I land in Shanghai Monday evening at 5pm.I am traveling with

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-39251725491391051882011-11-23T22:35:00.001-05:002011-11-29T15:53:10.512-05:00

Thankful for family, good weather and time off from work. Sally and I drove up Sunday while Chance was in classes through Tuesday. We left Stephanie at home so she could have a party!  The two of them along with a friend from Church drove up Wednesday morning. It was a good break from work; although I did take a call from Shanghai whilst sitting around the fire.I did some work around Mom and

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-66570902332984407662011-11-18T22:07:00.001-05:002011-11-24T09:33:13.696-05:00

2011 Annual Florida Land Cruiser Association Turkey Trot was a great success.  Four FJ-40s, 2 - 60s, 1-62, 1-80 and 2-FJCs made up this years trail ride at Hard Rock.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-12714884967466851242011-11-17T15:13:00.001-05:002011-11-21T13:39:58.052-05:00

Harry Potter fans having a forced family fun day at Universal Orlando Island of Adventure.  Great weather, no lines and good food at the park.  This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos. Please only reply when it is safe to do so.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-43919654400014161902011-11-17T14:57:00.001-05:002011-11-21T13:40:43.572-05:00

This is the team that will be making Magic in SH. This is a two day team meeting in the Frank G Wells building. This building makes up part of the Disney Studio lot.  Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos. Please only reply when it is safe to do so.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-61494606958679995662011-11-17T07:20:00.000-05:002011-11-21T13:41:53.285-05:00

Many mornings I drive my little girl to school. I act like it is a pain but the truth is I get 10min of alone time with steph which is so rare.Neither of us are conversationalists but I really do enjoy it.  Soon she will get her parking permit and this ritual will come to an end. Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos. Please only reply when it is

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-81041132816955280992011-11-07T21:29:00.000-05:002011-11-29T17:06:43.054-05:00

  As we approached the Florida peninsula the moon was rising in the East.  This Ipod photo does not do justice to how cool it was seeing the moon on the horizon as we flew over Tampa.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-50157999789083676992011-11-07T18:30:00.001-05:002011-11-21T13:42:35.695-05:00

Heading out to LA for three full day meetings. Last night I checked into this delta flight and was #2 on the upgrade list. Hour before the flight I am number 11 with only 2 seats available. Makes me realize I am still in the minor leagues when it comes to number of flights I have in my reward program bank. This is the first time I rented a car. Should be fun. I just remembered I forgot my

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-86316543880940562592011-10-07T02:12:00.000-04:002011-10-07T02:13:21.589-04:00

It truly is a small world- Mom sent me my father's itinerary coming back from Auckland going to Atlanta. I am traveling home from LA. He was at gate 52 I was at 53 at LAX. So we met for dinner and caught up before our red-eye flights home. Unbelievable. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-81209938468895239452011-09-09T07:20:00.002-04:002011-09-09T07:20:58.449-04:00

Why is China so important to US based companies? Watch this short video and the last question does scare me.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-60797238318134228882011-08-21T16:51:00.000-04:002011-08-21T16:52:05.306-04:00

Things are going well so I was given a reprieve of work and caught some sites this weekend. Today we are at Pearl Harbor visiting the memorials. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-50996869063863013072011-08-15T17:50:00.001-04:002011-08-15T17:50:42.656-04:00

What a day, I was at Shanghai airport at 11:30am Sunday 14th. After my delay and re-ticketing I landed at Honolulu airport at 10:10am Sunday 14th. I got to relive Sunday all over again. I met up with Sally and the kids. I did not have to go into work. We drove around and went to a public park along the beach. Chance swam out with the surfers filming them. We then watched a Hawaiian dance

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-35021603666530540582011-08-14T08:21:00.001-04:002011-08-14T08:21:25.268-04:00

Well I knew I missed my connector when we landed at 8:30Tokyo time. (Lost yet another hour) I was told in Shanghai another flight left at 9:15 but that would be rushed. I decided to be calm and take my time forcing me to stay until a later flight. I was hoping they would put me up for the night!!!!!!!I would rather have a night in Tokyo than boring working Waikiki :) As I exited the plane I

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-7644786401228867242011-08-14T02:22:00.000-04:002011-09-09T07:27:13.719-04:00

I wish I knew the whole story about the water here. I asked one guy who thought it was odd that Americans spend a lot of money to sanitize all the water to then literally flush it down the drain.  Interesting concept if that is the reasoning behind "do not drink the water".  Hotels provides bottled water in the room and Susan says restaurants sterilize their drinking water including ice. The

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-74768776509221213292011-08-14T01:27:00.000-04:002011-08-14T01:30:28.602-04:00

I just received word that the Aulani team would like me to report straight to their work site. I have a 3hr flight on Air China to Tokyo then 8hrs to Honolulu on a United flight. I will get picked up at airport and drive into resort. Sounds like fun. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-30409166415899302782011-08-13T20:04:00.000-04:002011-08-13T20:04:18.132-04:00

Flying out today on Air China at 2:30 PM to Tokyo with a short layover and then a United flight to Honolulu. My Asia trip was very educational both personally and for work.  See you in Waikiki Monday morning which is -6 hours EST.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-24496637061955973652011-08-13T20:01:00.000-04:002011-08-13T20:01:25.491-04:00

Quick picture posts I will update text later

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-46147605244092921812011-08-13T09:17:00.000-04:002011-08-12T21:18:35.075-04:00

This is what is going on in Orlando:

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-44467392999349157202011-08-12T23:44:00.001-04:002011-08-12T20:48:30.255-04:00

Do not tell Susan but after she put me on the subway, actually pointing to the open spot she wanted me to stand at and waving until the train pulled away, I jumped off at a tourist spot.  This was just an extension of Nanjing East so it was a lot of bright fancy neon signs with millions of tourists, locals, pimps, scammers and people selling Monte Blanc pens and flying neon balls! It is

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-50046343341421056892011-08-12T20:23:00.001-04:002011-09-09T07:51:48.781-04:00

Tonight I rode the train back across town with Susan to eat and see a dinner show.  The total train time was about 45 minutes.  Our first stop was at a "fake" mall, I received an email from someone at work wanting a fake Versace. Pictures were discouraged but I took a few covertly.  There were no name brand look a likes, it was an uneventful place IMO.  We got back on the train and it was

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-44232440993185771582011-08-11T20:46:00.000-04:002011-08-12T20:47:09.259-04:00

Here are some decorations from within my hotel convention center.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-62467542416396783982011-08-11T17:59:00.000-04:002011-08-11T17:59:32.139-04:00

On the way back from an appointment I convinced Susan to stop in at a bike shop that sold Specialized brand of bikes.The salesman explained that they catered to the Expats in the area and they were told that everything in the store was higher priced than in the US even the bikes made in China.   I looked and looked for something unique but it was as if I was standing in a bike store in the US.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-27708816461633312362011-08-11T15:22:00.000-04:002011-08-12T20:50:04.683-04:00

I probably should not promote this website so I will not post this as a link. Copy and paste into your browser. thethemeparkguy.com/park/shanghai-disneyland/ -- Cheers, Gregg

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-47365632533830124372011-08-11T09:40:00.000-04:002011-08-12T20:50:42.282-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-86995413761961088962011-08-11T07:31:00.002-04:002011-08-11T08:50:16.694-04:00

Last night I ventured out on my own to the beautiful Bund. The subway was very easy to navigate due to the World Expo held here last year. I changed trains once. The pictures show how crowded it was at 7PM, not sure if I would want to ride at rush hour. The Bund is where the different countries established their trading posts or banks years ago. On one side is the restored historic district

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-23569448316128180622011-08-10T22:21:00.001-04:002011-08-10T22:21:58.799-04:00

I found where Harry P hangs his cloak when in China.Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-25720099354106443162011-08-08T18:30:00.003-04:002011-08-08T18:34:41.028-04:00

Click picture to start video

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-88756320625366287812011-08-08T04:49:00.001-04:002011-08-08T07:08:56.935-04:00

For a short time I am going to open my Picasa photo album for public viewing. A LOT of these pictures were shot in the back of a cab so you get to see my perspective of an hour long ride across town and back. Today was spent in and around the Corporate office in Xintiandi district. Click on the link to read about it.  Every culture class and movie about China makes reference to this area of

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-52342159653725071262011-08-07T09:27:00.001-04:002011-08-07T09:30:01.950-04:00

Dinner tonight was extraordinarily different. I went into the hotel's restaurant and was greeted by a waiter who swiped a mag stripe card into a portable device and then presented me with the card. He explained that I am to select my food and then present the card so the staff can track my consumption.  I love the ChinEnglish.  As I started to roam the restaurant I counted eight separate cooking

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-86538654489516141172011-08-07T06:53:00.001-04:002011-08-07T06:53:06.800-04:00

This was all I had for directions

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-88672606384081911322011-08-06T23:16:00.001-04:002011-08-09T19:11:22.378-04:00

If you have been keeping up you have read that Shanghai is going through unprecedented growth. Some estimates of 30% growth a year in the economic sector.  Susan's husband warned me that it will be hard to keep up with the Chinese.  When I was in Hong Kong it was amazing that many of the people there just talk about the Chinese mainlanders like the US discusses Canadians or Mexicans. Few have

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-76911810348536319252011-08-06T23:10:00.005-04:002011-11-21T13:51:40.634-05:00

If you remember my post from July 29th Shanghai is the world most populated city at 13 million people.  Instead of boroughs like New York it is comprised of 17 districts.  Here is the astonishing fact.  The Pudong New Area was rural farmland when my children were born. The central government granted economic reforms in 1990.  Construction started in the mid-nineties with the majority of the

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-90006623998136593042011-08-06T21:49:00.001-04:002011-11-21T13:51:57.186-05:00

If you remember the post from July 29th where I quoted population numbers for Shanghai at 13 million making it the largest populated city in the world. Here is the astonishing thing about the Pudong New Area which the city was built.  This city was built in the last 16 years with the most construction taking place in the last ten years. The area across the across the Huangpu river is what

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-64003229212677547772011-08-06T06:47:00.002-04:002011-08-06T22:04:46.722-04:00

Mufia is going to stay off the coast so Shanghai is just going to get the rain and thunderstorms. 12:00 Midnight, the wind woke me but as I look out there is no rain.  I am on the 14th floor and my room is not facing the wind direction but is adjacent so there is quite a lot of noise.  when I flip through the local channels on TV there is mention of the typhoon but unlike the USA there are no

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-5336081118823956782011-08-06T05:13:00.000-04:002011-08-06T05:13:30.113-04:00

 Food and view from the plane.  This was really our breakfast; it included watermelon, noodles and chicken and a pastry with juice.  It was not until we neared Shanghai did the clouds really stack up.  We landed at 10AM and the forecast puts landfall of Muifa at 7PM.  The immigration and customs process was very easy and fast.  There is an area you enter called the "Disinfection area" it was

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-67179586610587118052011-08-05T19:38:00.001-04:002011-08-05T19:38:18.140-04:00

3 postcards are heading to USA, the airport is the only place that I found with postcards. I passed a post office earlier in week and bought the stamps. I have made it through security and immigration now waiting for my flight to Shanghai. I was a little apprehensive but there are other westerners here at the gate. I am flying on China Eastern MU726. Susan's husband is the CIO of this

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-90042972121755486232011-08-05T10:41:00.002-04:002011-09-09T07:44:40.272-04:00

So we finished working at 3:30 we were received at the Admiralty train station at 4:45. We were meeting a hospitality consultant at 6PM so Susan and I went separate ways until we would meet at 5:30 for our meeting. I went into the best buy of Hong Kong and walked out with an Olympus.XZ-1 camera. I shopped every kind of store and settled on Fortress. I arrived for our meeting just in time.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-12835244427280118332011-08-04T20:53:00.000-04:002011-08-04T21:23:43.676-04:00

I found my favorite beer last night. Erdinger Dunkle. This was in the KFW area at a pub called "The Keg" Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-91870559873562679702011-08-04T11:38:00.000-04:002011-08-04T11:38:43.697-04:00

From Wikipedia - - In 1975, German-Canadian businessman Allan Zeman, also known as the father of Lan Kwai Fong, moved to Hong Kong. He felt it needed a western style restaurant, so he opened “California” in 1983 in Lan Kwai Fong which became his claim to fame. One year later, following this success, Zeman invested HK$32 million to buy a whole block and began a new career as an entertainer

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-40387853610236697952011-08-04T11:27:00.000-04:002011-08-04T11:27:03.406-04:00

 Daytime

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-49536081999126761912011-08-03T23:19:00.001-04:002011-08-03T23:19:10.054-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-44778541741690571532011-08-03T22:55:00.003-04:002011-09-09T07:35:57.212-04:00

Sorry for lack of pics. I started to use steph's camera and the memory card would not connect to laptop. I am getting very confident riding the Metro Train Rail (MTR) System. It is very clean, no police, beggars, street performers, smoking, eating or drinking. They are not faster than US trains. Today we boarded at peak rush hour and it is quite busy. Two trains Susan and I were packed

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-15047111103271116072011-08-03T04:05:00.001-04:002011-08-03T04:05:25.928-04:00

The bed in Marriott feels like box springs with nice sheets.  I never knew the definition of tired until this week.  Not only are the days scheduled with back2back meetings but we participate in USA conference calls which can and do occur from 6AM - 9AM HK time or 8PM-10PM.  I have three people in Hawaii, two teams in Glendale and Florida teams to communicate with on a regular basis.  Keeping

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-70300091109892278192011-08-02T18:38:00.000-04:002011-08-02T18:38:18.778-04:00

 This is the office that the IT team works in.  The building was suppose to be temporary.  I was given a 90 minute tour of the back of house areas today.  There was an hour where I went into the park on my own and walked around.    The park is a clone of Disneyland California when you look at the architecture and design.  Like anywhere in the world the dress varies from one extreme to another

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-74909705487335033432011-08-01T22:22:00.002-04:002011-08-02T18:20:33.015-04:00

If you clcik on this picture you will be able to see a "junk boat" in the harbor.  Here is an explanation from wiki- A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-88204600258390209822011-08-01T11:54:00.000-04:002011-08-01T16:23:38.328-04:00

Click to make bigger Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-55308428804504818142011-08-01T09:38:00.002-04:002011-08-02T18:19:15.501-04:00

I made it to the resort today (Monday). We arrived from the hotel by train by 9AM. Susan packed the day with a data center tour up until noon and then a taxi back into town to meet with a D1sney IT team that manages an International data center that is in HK.  (D1sney has offices in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China and Korea. These offices make up Asia Pacific market) We

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-62736331383907135052011-07-31T19:12:00.000-04:002011-07-31T11:14:18.559-04:00

The bus ride from the south part of the island is along a windy road and the bus is a Double-Decker that is not that smooth. With the heat, humidity and hunger I started to bonk and the jet lag started to kick in. So instead of continuing Susan and I headed to the hotel.  We stopped and ate at Peking Palace. This was a nice restaurant that served Mandarin and Cantonese.  I ordered the shrimp

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-58179129607457916672011-07-31T18:30:00.000-04:002011-07-31T12:30:20.010-04:00

This is a typical high rise where the middle class live.  They are monstrous buildings.  Susan calls the apartments "flats".  This is from the bus returning to the city. There was a beautiful horse race track to the right.  The track was a pristine grass.  We rode the bus and trains today with "domestic helpers" from another blog -- The lives of domestic workers in Hong Kong resemble something

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-38851776902204831072011-07-31T16:33:00.001-04:002011-08-06T05:27:30.094-04:00

Susan took me to the South side of Hong Kong Island to an area called Stanley. The market is an interesting array of little shops selling silk garments, sportswear, art, Chinese costume jewelry and souvenirs. It reminded me of the shopping village in Tunisia.  This part of the island was also like the city we visited in the Canary islands.  Public beach, ocean facing restaurants make

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-9617519376357595752011-07-31T14:45:00.000-04:002011-07-31T11:45:55.512-04:00

While walking over to the market Susan pointed to a pub that she says many people from the US that came over to help open the HKDL park frequented.  This was a welcome rest stop, a very eclectic place with a lot of history.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-11957130079817948362011-07-31T12:33:00.000-04:002011-07-31T12:33:24.990-04:00

Sorry about typos, grammar and brevity but I try to get my points across quickly. Always go back a few pages because at the end of the day I add pictures that I took when I did not have a network connection or with another camera.  I keep the timeline on the blog correct. 

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-57629373128993029302011-07-31T12:01:00.001-04:002011-07-31T12:01:27.854-04:00

Tese are pictures of Hong Kong Time square.   Waiting to catch the train from Time Square to  Tsim ShaTsui Tsim Sha Tshui is an area where the locals live and shop but tourists make there way across the harbor to get better pricing.  Susan took me to multiple stores, malls and street vendors. Pricing in the US is cheaper on everything I was looking at.  I compared Cameras, Laptops,

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-91384522555935485872011-07-31T12:00:00.000-04:002011-07-31T12:02:11.201-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-38732185814011809822011-07-31T01:36:00.001-04:002011-07-31T01:36:42.606-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-18223470820481137152011-07-30T23:43:00.000-04:002011-07-30T23:51:55.933-04:00

Sunday morning I rode a stationary bike for 40 min then met Susan to go sightseeing. We rode a very crowded train to HK times square. I cannot describe how big this place is. Susan says Shanghai shopping much bigger.There is an art exhibit, these statues are made with waste handbills, magazines and sales flyers.Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-87405707631595254652011-07-30T12:26:00.001-04:002011-07-30T12:26:22.940-04:00

Susan and I went down and ate dinner in the mall located on main level of hotel. Below the mall is the main MTR rail line.Mall is very western, Susan says it is 15yr old but IMO it looks newer. Of course there is a Starbuck.We ate at Zen, Susan ordered in Cantonese. I had Corn chowder, crab soup, Jasmine tea, fried rice and a green vegetable. The vegetable does not have a English translation

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-63978123266069072352011-07-30T12:18:00.002-04:002011-07-30T12:27:59.057-04:00

From Lobby I am in a Marriott hotel. The TV guide is on a bamboo roll which is unique. The view from my room looks at a common road that links three hotel. The lobby over looks the harbor. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-20459742590081697222011-07-29T23:30:00.001-04:002011-07-30T12:33:26.633-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile-you can click on any picture to make it larger

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-6566813955438718352011-07-29T15:58:00.001-04:002011-07-29T15:58:26.928-04:00

Another shot of the upper deck. I just had a heart attack, they announced flight number and destination and said flight to Ho Min Chi. They then explained that is final destination after HK. Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos. Please only reply when it is safe to do so.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-55819486497220975502011-07-29T15:50:00.001-04:002011-07-29T15:50:59.507-04:00

The upper deck is very cool Thanks, Gregg This message was composed on a mobile device, please excuse brevity and typos. Please only reply when it is safe to do so.

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-63779917328987007672011-07-29T15:12:00.001-04:002011-07-30T12:35:53.368-04:00

United 747-400 Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214943141993189571.post-16671286104225269302011-07-29T15:07:00.002-04:002011-07-29T15:11:55.481-04:00

We were 43 miles from SFO when the pilot announced the temp of 63?? It is July right? I opened the shade and saw rolling mountains that looked arid and sparsely populated. It was a clear sky until wham we hit a cloud bank. The infamous SanFran micro climate. Look to left of pic for clouds (click to make larger). You can not make it out but there are large letters on the side of the mountain

Gwagghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13967888285043517307noreply@blogger.com0