Navjot Singh

Limited access to Blogger...check out www.navjot-singh.com

2011-10-03T06:23:00.001+08:00

(London, U.K.): It has been a while since I wrote my last piece on this blog. The reason why I have not written anything for such a long time is because I have been based in China, where I don't have direct access to blogger (and even if I use a VPN connection, then more often than not its slow and untrusted).

For those of you who are not aware, in China websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, YouTube, and anything else the Chinese government deems to be unfit for public use, is blocked.

So for the moment I am blogging on my personal official website (www.navjot-singh.com). I will be going back to China (Shanghai and Suzhou) this week, and so I will not be able to use blogger for a very long time. Therefore, please read my blogs on www.navjot-singh.com . Thank you!

-Navjot Singh

Glimpses of Guangzhou, China

2010-03-23T22:27:00.000+08:00

Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province in the south eastern region of China, is going to be hosting the 2010 Asian Games in November this year. This will be the first time that China has hosted the games, and the first time that such a large scale sporting global event is going to be witnessed in Guangzhou. The city is known for its rich Cantonese (or Guangdong) culture, delicious Cantonese food (you can eat whatever you like- seriously!), Cantonese Opera and the history that is as old as the grassroots of the north of China. Here are some photos which I have taken on my recent visit earlier this year to this amazing city. Enjoy!

Chance encounter with two talented Singers- one British, and one Dutch!

2010-03-21T08:44:00.006+08:00

One is a British mother from the town of Dagenham (Essex), and the other is a former construction worker from Holland. Both are young, hugely talented singers and full of energy, as well as having sheer determination to succeed and prove their critics (if they have any!) wrong. I have to confess, however, that I have only watched X-Factor once when I was in the UK, and I have never watched Popstars. I love all kinds of music from all parts of the world, but these days I seldom have time to watch any television (maybe just on a plane or a hotel when I am travelling). I suppose I can get away with not watching Popstars because that’s more of a mainland European competition. It must take a certain person to stand up and have the courage to sing (and act) in front of millions of people around the world- and to keep them continually entertained.

Despite my great love for all kinds of music from all around the world, I am, to the disappointment of many, no big fan of X-factor. In the few moments I spoke to Stacey Solomon for, who is a proud Jew, I found her to be a very polite and nice person- and I suppose an inspiration for many. It must be very challenging for her to be under all that limelight, while looking after a young child AND studying at the same time. I admire people like that. To go from the rough streets of a town like Dagenham (from my experience, the town is an example of a typical working class area- sorry but its factual information), and rise to fame with such talent takes a certain person, and hats off to this lady for doing that! My Canon 500D was neatly packed away, so I had to do with the IXUS 801S- the photo does have slight grains in it.

On this press trip to Amsterdam, I met with another equally inspirational personality- this one was from mainland Europe. By sheer chance, or call it just pure coincidence, I somehow managed to bump into a large crowd of singers and dancers in the middle of Dam Square, Amsterdam. A few dozen people were standing in a semi circle surrounding a young chap who was singing in Dutch. Clapping their hands in rhythm to his song, the troupe seemed to be part of the Television show, Popstars, which is the European version of Britain’s X-Factor. The young chap singing and dancing in the middle of the crowd was Wesley Klein, the winner of the Popstars competition. I later found out that he has had an amazing transformation in his life too. For someone who worked as a construction worker (builder), nothing could have been more than a distant dream than going onto win the largest singing competition on mainland Europe. He seemed to enjoy every word, every move of the songs he was singing, and the attention he was getting from the crowds. Below are photos of both of these remarkable people.

British X-Factor Finalist, Stacey Solomon: Copyright Navjot Singh

Popstars winner, Dutchman Wesley Klein: Copyright Navjot Singh

The Dancing Dutchman! Wesley Klein: Copyright Navjot Singh

Stunning photos of Niagara Falls

2010-03-20T06:12:00.001+08:00

Life is beautiful...and amazing
-Navjot Singh

Please click on the title of this blog to see the photos in the UK Daily Telegraph. Because of copyright issues, I am not going to publish the photos directly onto my website or this blog. They are part of a set of 16 photos I took.

A very British education in CHINA

2010-03-03T00:54:00.005+08:00

Article published in the UK Telegraph Newspaper. Please click on the title to read the article.
-Navjot Singh

An evening with Michael Wood

2010-02-28T19:47:00.004+08:00

British Historian Michael Wood: Copyright Navjot Singh

Just two days ago the Nehru Centre hosted a talk by one of the greatest travellers of our time, Michael Palin. Yesterday the Nehru Centre was yet again, privileged to be the venue for a talk given by another great figure from the world of British broadcasting, Michael Wood, the British historian and broadcaster. In this lavishly illustrated talk Michael Wood looked back over 25 years of his travels to South India (namely places such as Tanjore, and other places of historical significance). Mr. Wood's fascinating talk had a packed audience, among which some distinguished guests included Dr. John Marr (Hon. Gen. Secretary of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and a Padma Shri- one of India's highest award's), Mrs Wendy Marr (Dr. Marr's wife and a prolific writer on Indian Art History), and some distinguished guests from the Indian High Commission in London.

During his lavishly illustrated talk, Mr. Wood suggested that Dravidian India was the world's last surviving classical civilisations. One thing I really admired was his passion for Indian culture, art and of course, history. He explained that what really inspired him to get so deeply involved into Indian culture was not derived from his background in academia, but rather more the fact that he grew up in a typical northern English (dull maybe a better word!) town which did not possess much of an excitement for someone who had progressed onto Oxford to study History! Mr. Wood went on to explain in his talk that even at Oxford, in those days, Indian history was not taught- so both of these reasons inspired him to go and explore this amazing part of the country.

The talk contained a variety of intensely evocative images of landscapes and sacred places, of great temples and tiny rural shrines, stone and bronze sculptures of unrivalled beauty, along with still vital living traditions, celebrations and pilgrimages. Then in the middle of the talk Mr. Wood had two fascinating pictures of an ancient temple's archaeological site taken from a Vayadoot Airways plane. He somehow managed to persuade the Captain (bearing in mind the plane has passengers) to fly over the ancient site at low altitude. The talk did have a more serious thought behind it- it was run in association with "The Gopalapuram Educational Society", which runs 4 schools providing free education for less privileged children in Chennai. So it was all for good causes.

Padma Shri Dr. John Marr: Copyright Navjot Singh

Dr. John Marr, who speaks much better Hindi than I (and speaks, and sings fluently in Tamil- a language of which I have very limited knowledge), gave some words of advice to the audience that derived from his own experiences. The brilliance of Michael Wood's style is such that he actually makes you feel as if you are in South India. For someone like myself, who has only been to India twice in his entire life (despite being born there), and that also only to a tiny part of the country, it was rather embarrassing because I cannot speak the language, and one day I would love to go and explore this part of the world. I am, however, much more intrigued to explore the roots of my heritage, which lie in Rajasthan (Somewhere around Ajmer and Jodhpur)!

Guests listening to Michael Wood give his speech: Copyright Navjot Singh

Many thanks to the Nehru Centre, Dr. John Marr and Mr. Michael Wood for the invitation and the talk. More photos are available at http://www.navjot-singh.com/

Experience Frankfurt- City of museums and cultural contrasts

2010-02-26T23:19:00.003+08:00

MyZeil Street: Copyright Navjot Singh

I had the pleasure of going to Frankfurt on the kind invitation of the Frankfurt Tourism Board. This was my first time to Germany. What are my initial thoughts? Anyone can say that they like a place or they love the food, but one of the sweetest things I noticed in Germany is the kindness and friendliness of the Germany people. German people are the friendliest and nicest people I have met so far on my travels. I mean this from my heart and not just saying this because I was on a press trip. There are so many examples to choose from. One was in a cafe in downtown Frankfurt. I got my meal and drink, but could not find a seat to dine at- as almost all the seats were full and the two that were empty, were actually reserved. I was surprised to say that not one but at least four people (at four different tables) offered me to sit next to them at their table. In UK or other European countries (or even in Asia) that I have been to normally you may get the odd nice person offering a complete stranger to share the table with them. But in Germany I noticed that this is not just one person but almost everyone is naturally friendly towards strangers. I did not have any badge or the slightest hint that I may be an official photographer or journalist (well, it was obvious that I at least looked like a tourist with a camera!). Even if one is somewhat lost and asks someone for directions, then people will direct you in the correct way- they will take time to even walk with you towards the correct path until you are sure you know where you are heading to. In some other parts of the world, I found that people just maybe do not have the time, or because in bigger cities such as Paris and London, people are too wary of approaching strangers. It’s always that case of "if he gets in trouble, I don’t want to be dragged into it too", and so on. But am I being too favourable to Frankfurters? Certainly not, it’s the truth and straightforward viewpoint. Although maybe this is because of the internationalism of the city- around 60 percent of the inhabitants are from outside of Germany- mostly students and business people alike. This tends to provide an exciting mix of the old and new, as well as the glamorous and un-glamorous. There is also the certain contrast of being in a part of the city that feels like a village as opposed to another part that feels like a seriously active metropolis. The suburbs are not too far out, walk for around 30 minutes in one direction outside of the CBD (Central Business District) and you will come across parts of the city which are remarkably silent.

Want some German Snacks? Copyright Navjot Singh

Apart from the friendly people, I found Frankfurt to be a much smaller place than I had imagined. It’s nicknamed the “Mainhattan” in regards to its resemblance to Manhattan, although on a much smaller scale- which is without a doubt quite sweet. It is after all a global financial hub, and so with 500 of the world’s banks’ firmly located in the city it does sound like a very giant city (in terms of importance it is), whereas in actual fact you can easily walk from one side of the city centre to the other in around 40 minutes (or less if you walk fast).

London or Frankfurt? Copyright Navjot Singh

Frankfurt airport forms a vital part of the city and Frankfurters are very much proud of their airport for quite a number of reasons. Two of the main reasons are that it is the largest single employer in the whole of Germany with over 70,000 people contributing to its existence and growth, and the secondly that Frankfurt is the hub for many of the world’s airlines- both passenger and cargo. For many American and Asian carriers, Frankfurt is a second hub away from their homebase. Before the collapse of Pan Am airways in the early 1990s, Frankfurt was their man European base, and nowadays Air India has its base at Frankfurt airport too.

A "Beer Bike" in Frankfurt: Copyright Navjot Singh

I found Frankfurt to be quite an old fashioned, laid back city, very much similar to, say, Geneva (although on a much larger scale).It is also dubbed the city of museums, and it’s not hard to find out why because they are everywhere! Schaumainkai is famous for some of the most renowned museums in the whole of Germany. The street lies on the banks of the river Main, with a fascinating view across to the metropolis on the other side, and is home to 13 museums. Frankfurt has a rich Jewish history, and the roots of many Jewish people around the world actually derive from the very roads which I had the chance to walk upon. Jewish history forms the vital essence to the existence of the vast majority of the museums in Frankfurt, which are a perfect model for preserving culture and heritage. Some of the renowned museums include:

Wired Sheep greet visitors at the Communications Museum: Copyright Navjot Singh

The Communications Museum, which showcases the rich history of Telecommunication in Germany, right from the beginnings, can make any young explorer turn into a kid in a candy shop. Rather interestingly you’ll be greeted by a flock of sheep made up from nothing but long telephone wires and telephone headsets- not really sure what to say on that one except that its interesting. You’ll need around one to two hours to fully enjoy the displays.

It's all posh at the MD Bar: Copyright Navjot Singh

Founded in 1979, the German Architecture Museum (http://www.dam-online.com/), which is just a couple of doors down the road, is also a fascinating place to while away your time. It’s the only museum of its kind in Europe that displays such exquisite artefacts of significance.

The Stadel (http://www.staedelmuseum.de/), which is situated directly on the bank of the river Main (like most of the other museums), is known to be one of the oldest and most significant museum foundations in Germany. Here you will be greeted to art collections that span a total of seven centuries. Allow around 1 to two hours to enjoy the full ambience of the place.

Sight-seeing Frankfurt style: Copyright Navjot Singh

Frankfurters are also very proud of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832), the great Poet, Artist, Musician...and quite essentially a jack of all trades, and a master of all too! He had quite an influence on many people with responsibility and with that charm and influence he gained many people’s respect. Goethe was one of the key figures of German literature and the movement of Weimar Classicism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. If I am honest, in actual fact in my younger years I, like many other younger people (i.e. teenagers etc.), used to find art and classical music rather boring and almost meaningless really. Effectively, yes, museums can be rather boring, but the main turning point for me to make them interesting was my love for photography- pictures can make even the most unattractive article look pleasing.

A must visit place is the Goethe House in the old part of Frankfurt (http://www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de/), which until 1795 was the residence of the Goethe family. Everything inside including the furniture, the utensils’, the artworks (most of them by Goethe himself), and the furnishings are preserved immaculately. He spent much of his early years here, and many artifacts in the home are in relation to his lavish childhood.

Recommended Restaurants/Cafes:

German cuisine is a stark contrast of two...the sweet (very sweet!) and sour (or spicy to be extent) - one may even go ahead and say that this can be classed essentially as healthy and non-healthy. In almost every cafe, restaurant and bar you go to, you’ll be greeted by a myriad of richly decorated fancy cakes and deserts, as well as drinks (German Beer is like no other- and the glasses are huge to!). Then there is a healthy part of the food which contains lots of fresh salad, lentils and vegetables. I guess the genuine idea is to have a full bowl of something very healthy and then polish it all up with a plate of your favourite Apple or Rhubarb crumble.

For traditional German cuisine (Including Apple Wine) it has to be the Zum Gemaltenhaus at Schweizer Str. 67 (http://www.zumgemaltenhaus.com/)

For a traditional German cafe, then go to the Cafe Hauptwache (http://www.cfe-hauptwache.de/) or Cafe Liebfrauenberg at Liebfrauenberg 24.

For a Japanese meal, head to the Aiso Restaurant (aiso.asiagourmet.de) at the MyZeil Shopping Centre in downtown Frankfurt.

For breakfast, I would highly recommend Cafe Wacker (http://www.wackers-kaffee.de/) . It’s one of the oldest cafes in Frankfurt, although operating since 1914, the cafe was originally thought t o have been the place where one of the oldest sons of Frankfurt, J.W. Von Goethe, was rumoured to have bought milk everyday! Why not try a homemade carrot cake with some freshly made coffee? The staff members speak English and German. The prices are reasonable.

Where I stayed?

Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof*****
Am Kaiserplatz
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Deutschland
Tel: +49 69 215-02
Fax: +49 69 215-900
Website: http://www.steigenberger.com/Frankfurt

How I got there?

Lufthansa German Airlines http://www.lufthansa.com/ from London Heathrow to Frankfurt Main.

How I got around the city?

The Frankfurt Card is a useful way to explore Frankfurt. It can be purchased from any metro station, at the airport or even at most convenience stores dotted around the city.

More photos are available at http://www.navjot-singh.com/

An evening with Michael Palin...around India in 25 years

2010-02-25T09:21:00.007+08:00

Mr. Michael Palin CBE: Copyright Navjot Singh

Having just made it back to the UK after a short and hectic press trip to Frankfurt (Article to follow in due course!), I did not have much time to relax. So far, this week has been ridiculously busy, with my sponsors, Lufthansa German Airlines, going on strike during my press trip, which meant me being very lucky to have made it back to London (thanks to British Airways!) in time so that I can get on with other important things to do. The weather had been miserable all day (nothing new here!), and in any case I headed for the Nehru Centre in London, an organisation which fosters better understanding and relationship between India and the United Kingdom. It is a key cultural wing of the High Commission of India in the United Kingdom. The Nehru Centre has been the host to many renowned influential people, from both India and the United Kingdom. Indian and British Cinema Actors, famous Writers, Musicians and other influential people have held performances and key note speeches here. Tonight, the Nehru Centre was host to one of the most influential British Actor, Writer and Comedian in our times, Mr. Michael Palin CBE. He is also the President of the Royal Geographical Society. The event was by invitation only.

Michael Palin firmly established his reputation with the well acclaimed comedy, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, where he worked with Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones. He made a household name for himself by writing books' to accompany his seven very successful BBC travel series- of which the most famous is "Around the world in 80 Days". He is also the author of the play The Weekend and the novel Hemingway’s Chair. In 2006 the first volume of his diaries, 1969-1979: The Python Years, spent many weeks on the bestseller lists and in September 2009 the second volume 1980 -1988 Halfway to Hollywood was published. I grew up in the 1980s watching programs such as Monty Python, and especially "Around the world in 80 days". If I am honest, it was Michael Palin that inspired me to get into travel writing- I used to look forward to watching his travel series in the 1980s- he brought the sights and smells of places like India, China, Dubai to people’s homes when worldwide travel was not as accessible as it is in today's day in age. People used to talk about “The World in 80 Days show”, and no one took a trip to, say, Hong Kong or Singapore for granted as they do nowadays. For British food, it has to be Keith Floyd, and for travelling, it goes without saying that Michael Palin set the trend for global trotting. In actual fact, if I ever get the chance, I would love to go around the world in 80 days. Not for travel writing (because, of course, that’s already been done!), but just to see what's like, and to experience the thrill of travelling around the world in such a hectic way.

But for now, above all else I could not resist the temptation to take a freshly bought paperback copy of "Around the World in 80 Days" for Mr. Palin to sign for me. The audience included Baroness Shreela Flather and His Excellency the Indian High Commissioner to the U.K., Mr. Nalin Surie.

Mr. Palin commenced his talk to the fully packed theatre by describing his first visit to India in 1982 with his friend, and Monty Python colleague, Terry Gilliam. With the assistance of photographs which he and his photographer, Basil Pao Ho-Yun, took on their journeys across India right from landing in Delhi in the north, to Mumbai to the west and Kolkota in the east. In typical Michael Palin style, there were some moments of comedy thrown in too, much to the delight of the audience. Some of the experiences shared by Mr. Palin included his passion for meeting the natives in the villages around India (and how friendly they are compared to your average resident in, say, Beverly Hills!), watching a rare football match between a village team from India and one from Burma, trying the hottest curry on the planet, and giving a fully fledged bath to a giant Elephant (the Elephant enjoyed having his nose rubbed).

One very peculiar incident he recalled was watching ladies fishing in a village in north-eastern India, and then placing the live fish in between their blouses...rather strange. He also shared the touching story of meeting some of the original crew members of the dhow on which he went from Dubai to Mumbai (or Bombay as it was known when “Around the world in 80 days” was filmed more than twenty years ago)

Here are some Questions and Answers with Michael Palin (MP) (not all are included, and not all questions were asked by me):

Q (Navjot Singh): Sir, in the 1980s and 1990s, when you did your travelling, there were no websites and hardly many travel books or forums where the average person on the street can write their travel story, and give their opinions. You set the trend for world travel. But with so many websites, such as Flickr, Trip Advisor etc., and personal forums these days, plus the fact that almost everyone has a high resolution digital camera these days, what are your thoughts about the fact that literally anyone become a travel writer or photographer?

MP: Yes, a valid question. It’s always good to comment on a place that one has been to provided that particular comment is not just a copied description from a brochure or a displaced comment that is too critical which will simply put people off. My thoughts are that it’s a good thing to have different opinions on various destinations and in actual fact the more the better- provided they are different to each other.

Q: What next for Michael Palin?

MP: For the moment I am very happy to spend time to watch my two grandchildren grow up! I am writing a novel at the moment, which is set in a place similar to India- actually I may just set it in India now. I am thinking of doing one more trip to one or two places I have not been to, but that’s still under consideration. For the time being I am also very busy with the Royal Geographical Society, and so am based in London because of that.

Q: What’s the hottest food you have had on your travels?

MP: Ahh...yes, it was a really scrumptious looking dish on one of my trips to Mumbai- dare I say that it did not have a very promising effect on my stomach!

Yesterday was a memorable day for those of us who were fortunate enough to share a few rare free moments with this very generous, very kind and great man. He knows how to travel well and he is able to convey that in a very genius manner. Many thanks to the staff at the Nehru Centre and Transindus for arranging this visit.

The Sichuan Art Troupe tours around the UK for the Chinese New Year celebration!

2010-02-14T07:37:00.000+08:00

To mark the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, and as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, the renowned Sichuan Art Group is touring the UK for a few special (and rare) shows. The performance group is touring from the 12th of February until the 22nd of February to showcase the “The joyful Spring Festival” performance. The group consists of 26 actors; most of whom are natives and ethnic minority people from Sichuan Province - the home of the Panda, and the scene of a large earthquake in the spring of 2008. Their breathtaking performances are all aimed at introducing Sichuan culture to western audiences through music, song and dance. With a total of 16 programs in the UK, the performances’ will focus mainly on native Sichuan dance, folk songs, human sized puppets and extravagant acrobatics which Chinese performers are quite well known for. The cities being toured are as follows: Belfast, Edinburgh, Sheffield, London Greenwich (18, 19), and the Westfield Shopping centre in London (20th). I was provided a special preview by the Chinese Tourism Authority. Below are the photos:

Top 10 Tips for doing business in China

2010-02-07T07:11:00.001+08:00

With so many books, websites and guides on how an individual can manage themselves when conducting business activities in China, it can be a daunting process for a person interested in doing business with China who is not familiar with the country and its business ethics. It goes without saying that doing business in China is not easy for any foreign company or person irrespective of how long they have lived, worked or had some sort of connection with China. It may be just that little bit smoother if you have a Chinese business partner (person or company), however if you are going to go and try to set up a base for your company all by yourself, then you are, I am sorry to say, going to drown yourself into deep waters. Having been there, and done that myself, here are some tips I would like to share. To the seasoned China business minded person, these tips may seem like all "sold out" stuff. However, they do, of course, take into account that I have had experience of working for a Chinese company in China, as well as working for a foreign company in China. Two very different corporate cultures operating within an embedded common Chinese environment- it sounds like an experiment at a large scale but in actual fact the beauty of it all is that it does work (IF good corporate advice is followed).:

1. DO BACKGROUND CHECKS: If you are going to employ foreign individuals into your company in China, especially if they are senior executives who would be responsible for making day to day decisions, then I would strongly recommend that detailed background checks are carried out. This would, of course, apply also to Chinese nationals being employed. There are many companies specialising in these services. You can contact your local Chamber of Commerce or search on the internet.

2. KNOW THE CORPORATE LAW IN CHINA: Be very careful when treading your shoes into issues such as Import and Export Tax Laws. Select a reliable and known law firm that can guide you in the correct way. Corporate laws are different in China. With common sense any company will investigate this first before making their moves. I have come across some expats who believe that because they are foreigners, so they will get some special VIP treatment and can “get away” with some laws (such as import/export Tax). Well, this is not true at all; in fact the corporate laws in China are stricter than most other countries.

3. PROTECT YOUR IP: In China, you would be amazed at the number of fake and copied goods that are openly available on the consumer and corporate market. Ranging from your “Iron Bru drink” to even manufactured Chicken Eggs, ANYTHING can be produced by those who wrongly believe they can outclass the Chinese law. Unsurprisingly, Intellectual Property is the most sought after advice topic by foreigners thinking of investing in China’s booming economy. Sincere advice would be to use the same due diligence you would outside of China.

4. AVOID ARGUEING: It would not be a nice idea if you decide to argue or force your Chinese counterparts to come to agreements with you. Negotiation is not a smooth process in China. If the two sides do not agree, then it’s common for Chinese business officials to just go quiet and maybe not even respond to questions at all. Your best approach is to go in the meeting with not aiming to make a deal- otherwise you will become frustrated easily. Explain your position in clear, concise words. Be Respectful and state your points by the book. Then be prepared to walk off if your conditions are not met.

5. AVOID REJECTING THE CULTURE: Many foreign business people ask me what are the wrongs and right of business etiquette in China. The most important thing I would say is to respect face. Never quarrel or voice a difference of opinion with anyone- even a member of your own team. Never make the other person wrong. It is common for people to answer the phone or talk amongst themselves loudly in a meeting. Never say "no" directly, as that is considered impolite and superior. It makes sense to educate individuals the cross-cultural factors that have a direct impact on your Return on Investment (ROI).

6. BE ACCURATE: Avoid making assumptions or hoping that YOUR personal judgements will make you stand out amongst others in meetings or presentations. Logistics and facts are the core ingredients of any successful business in China. Not taking this into account can be very dangerous because if your facts are not validated then you will end up losing your credibility, and your audience will lose trust in you. In the west mistakes are somewhat accepted to a certain extent, but in China a single mistake is enough to kill trust. Once trust is lost, it’s very difficult to get it back in China.

7. AVOID SARCASM: When you are having a business meal or in a break between meetings, then sharing a light joke is perfectly acceptable, provided you don’t start talking about anything political or anything which may involve sarcasm. People will not understand western humour (especially British Humour!), and your intended sarcastic joke may be taken as offensive or completely misunderstood. In some circumstances, the consequence of this may lead to the difference between wining and losing a negotiation.

8. NETWORKING: We all know that globally in the business culture keeping rapport with like minded individuals can make the difference between a win-win and a loss situation. In China this networking goes just that extra mile. Networking is a lifestyle in China that extends beyond the boardroom. Making your client feel special and treating them to dinner or any other entertainment, such as, say for example, a day at the Golf Club, even before setting up a formal meeting would be a very good idea. Concentrate on building the relationship before talking business. Most certainly never undervalue the significance of existing connections.

9. SENSE & SIMPLICITY: When making presentations to Chinese clients or colleagues, speak slowly, clearly and concisely. Make your presentations simple and easy to follow, almost like an “Idiot’s guide to so and so” but without making the audience feel as if they are idiots. Avoid telling jokes and avoid making the Chinese audience look as if they do not know anything. People may be quiet or may not pay much attention to a presentation, but they do understand and are willing to take part if given the chance.

10. RESEARCH: Before heading to your new market, do as much detailed research as possible. There is a whole range of advice provided by Chamber of Commerce’s, Embassies, your country’s Trade & Industry organisation (UK, USA etc), expatriate website blogs as well as sound advice from other corporate professionals who have lived and worked in China.

A crude example may be taken into account, such as, if a person who has lived in, say, Canada, for 25 years and managed his business the Canadian way. Then one day as he comes to open a new branch in China- apart from the normal culture shock in all aspects of life, you can imagine the immediate corporate culture shock he will also experience. Above all else, common sense should prevail and more importantly the above ten tips may be applied anywhere in the world, however, in China they have a special significance because the culture (both outside and inside the corporate world), language and laws are different.

Hong Kong by night

2010-01-31T04:41:00.000+08:00

No other city in the world can quite match with the excitment and the beauty of the nightlife that is portraited by Hong Kong. There is so much happening, everyday, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The most happening parts of this Special Administrative Region (SAR) include Tsim Sha Tusi, Jordan, Lan Kawi Fong, Central, Wanchai and (to a lesser extent North Point). I would like to share some photos of nightlife in Hong Kong. Enjoy! More photos can be found on my official website: http://www.navjot-singh.com/

TWO IFC Tower glimmers in the night sky: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Night view of the Victoria Harbour: Copyright Navjot Singh

Hong Kong Tram: Copyright Navjot Singh

Celebrating 100 years of the tram in Hong Kong (2010): Copyright Navjot Singh

The Peak Tower at night: Copyright Navjot Singh

Tall glass dominates the night skyline: Copyright Navjot Singh

Alone cyclist: Copyright Navjot Singh

The most beautiful view in the world: Copyright Navjot Singh

Xiaozhou Village- an escape into the old China!

2010-01-25T07:26:00.001+08:00

I had heard about Xiaozhou, a small village on the outskirts of Guangzhou city in Southern China, as being a popular re-treat for artists and poets. I was told that its quite, beautiful and clean. However, I am sorry to say, but I was rather disappointed when I finally got there. It was quite and beautiful- but certainly not clean (especially the river which seems never to have been cleaned- and gives off a horrible stench). The tourist map in my Hotel (The China Hotel by Marriott in Guangzhou) recommends its guests to visit this village, provided they have seen all the other tourist attractions in the city.

Xiaozhou Village features classical Cantonese community landscapes by water, including canals, well-kept ancient buildings, bridges and local folkways. The only major disappointment with Xiaozhou is that the river is not clean and gives off a horrible stench. So if someone comes to Xiaozhou in search of a beautiful river, they will be let down. Other than this, it is worth visiting.

Don’t get me wrong- Xiaozhou Village is not a museum, or an official tourist attraction, but people actually live there. Most of the residents are elderly folk who have maintained their ways of living for centuries. It’s almost as if time has stopped in Xiaozhou. While the rest of Guangzhou has moved on at a rapid pace, life in Xiaozhou is slow, and has a somewhat routine to it. Xiaozhou is a small and close-knit community. Everyone knows each other, and gossip travels fast amongst the old folk. Being a small and quite village also means that you can hear people arguing or shouting in another part of the neighbourhood. For example you may be in one part of the village and can still here someone practicing Cantonese Opera loudly in another household!! If you ever want to taste what living in China must have been like, say, in the 1980s, then take a short trip to Xiaozhou!

I took Line 3 Metro to Kecun station, and then bus 252 to Xiaozhou (it is 11 stops to Xiaozhou Village from Kecun, and costs 2RMB). The hour long bus journey from Kecun station to Xiaozhou village snakes its way between some of the most deprived areas of Guangzhou. Most people who got onto the bus at some of the stops on the way would look at me in curiosity as they most probably have never come across a non-Chinese person before. It just makes you wonder about the stark contrast between the high rise life of the city centre and the village life on the outskirts, where a family of four can survive on a salary of around 200RMB a month (compare this with a average monthly salary of around 4000RMB for a white collar worker).

Remembering Kai Tak Airport- Hong Kong

2010-01-13T05:38:00.001+08:00

Standing at the entrance to Runway 13: Copyright Navjot Singh

Even today, after 14 years, I feel very disappointed not to have had the chance to land at Hong Kong’s former International airport, known as Kai Tak Airport, which closed down in 1996. As a young child growing up in London, and who was so much into aeroplanes and flying, I always wanted to go aircraft spotting at Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong. For me it was a dream destination. Sadly I never got to see the place in action as I first came to Hong Kong in 2001. However, recently last year, I was fortunate enough to go and visit the site of the old airport, and see how much of the area has changed. Of course, since I was not there when the place was active, so I could only assume from historical photos and videos of what the place must have been like then. I had also arranged to meet up with Peter Chiu, the manager of the Regal Oriental Hotel, which is situated opposite the former airport- offering its guests panoramic views of the harbour and the former airport site. The hotel used to be a popular choice for airline crews.

Kai Tak Airport was well renowned worldwide for its dare devil final approach into the airport’s only runway, which stretched out 2 miles into Hong Kong Harbour. When the Kowloon City side of the runway was in use (used to be known as Runway 13, due to its heading of 130 degrees), aircraft on final approach used to commence their descent into Hong Kong over Macau, then head towards either the southern part of Lantau Island (the location for the current airport, Chep Lap Kok), or fly over Hong Kong Island, and make their way over Kowloon (going over Jordan and Hung Hom); and then at around 700 feet the planes used to aim for a checkerboard on one of the hills facing Kowloon (a navigation point consisting of a small “hut” which was decorated in a red and white chessboard like pattern), and make a sharp 47 degree right hand turn over Kowloon city onto the final approach towards Runway 13. The runway was used as a venue for Celine Dion's January 25, 1999 concert on her “Let's Talk About Love” Tour. Between December 2003 and January 2004, the passenger terminal was demolished.

Sitting in the restaurant on the top floor of the Regal Oriental Hotel one does get a feeling of what the place must have been like- buzzing with activity and noise all around. You could almost imagine the exciting for onlookers must have been like to watch a, say 747-400 fly right over the hotel and land on the runway in the distance. Peter told me that even those hotel guests who had no interest in planes, would come to the restaurant just to catch a glimpse of the airport site, and even more so at night because of the beautiful runway lights. Peter further explained to me that everything in the area of Kowloon City is just the same as it was when the airport was operational- everything, that is except, of course, the airport and the planes.

The local government has built a Cricket pitch at the stop where the threshold to the runway used to be! While I was there taking photos, there was a cricket match being played by a local college team. I am sure some of the players must have been born after the airport closed. As one of the youngsters ran up at speed to bowl, it looked like a stark contrast that 14 years ago on the same piece of land many planes ran down the same way, but, alas, not to bowl, but to fly away around the world’s cities! Some of the runway and taxiway markings are still there, the road leading to the airport tunnel is still there, complete with the directional signpost saying: “Airport Tunnel”, but sadly there is no airport and the tunnel leads to a dead end; then there is that famous bridge which connected the airport terminal to the Kowloon City shopping mall- the bridge is still there, but it’s not connected to anything. Quite possibly the saddest part of it all is that the checker board is also still present on the hill overlooking Kowloon City.

Shop in Kowloon City: Copyright Navjot Singh


The Checkerboard (格仔山 for Kai Tak Runway 13 IGS Approach ) at Lok Fu Park in Kowloon. The paint of the famous Checkerboard is peeling off: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Kowloon area with Kai Tak's old runway 13 in the background (blocked by the yellow building in the centre) as seen from the Checkerboard ( 格仔山). A sorry sight for budding aviation enthusiasts. Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Paint can be seen peeling off the famous Checkerboard (格仔山) at Lok Fu Park (Kowloon): Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

Hong Kong as seen from the Checkerboard (格仔山) at Lok Fu Park in Kowloon: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

A close up image of the old Kai Tak airport as seen from the famous Checkerboard hill (格仔山) at Lok Fu Park in Kowloon: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

The Hong Kong government’s plan to build a terminal for luxury liners, and a large shopping centre is well in progress. There are also quite a lot of new high rise property being built right around the harbor and the old runway. Like the old saying goes that all good things come to an end- and even though Kai Tak has come to an end, it’s legacy still continues for aviation enthusiasts around the world.

A Cathay Pacific Airways 747 going past the Kai Tak Checkerboard (格仔山): File photo (not taken by Navjot Singh).

Cathay 747 taking off at the new Chep Lap Kok Airport: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh

A poem dedicated to the Chinese who love playing Chess!

2010-01-10T08:42:00.001+08:00

I saw two Chinese men playing a game of Chess
They both seemed highly focused, and almost in a spell,
Their ability to concentrate was amazing, just like a wizard,
For to play the game was very hard,
A peg in the game hopped over the hole,
To reach the other side was the goal,
One player was in triumph and glory,

While the other thought it was the end of the story.

2010 will be a busy year for China (Shanghai Expo and Guangzhou Asian Games)

2010-01-03T23:19:00.002+08:00

It may be concluded that 2009 wasn’t really full of much sport or other major events that can associated on the International calendar. Those set of activities belong to 2010. The last major sporting event was, of course, the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and that brought China into the global limelight. 2010 is destined to be ever better. Shanghai is going to be hosting the world expo from May to October, while in December; the southern city of Guangzhou will become the first Chinese city in history to host the Asian Games.

Then there are the three other major sporting events happening around the globe: The FIFA Football World cup in South Africa, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. I will begin my 2010 blogging with an article on the Shanghai Expo 2010 and then follow it up in coming days with other events.

The world awaits Shanghai Expo 2010!

The Shanghai Expo in 2010 is geared up to be the next big thing after the Beijing 2008 Olympics. This world event only happens once every 10 years and Shanghai is going to be at the centre of the world’s attention for five months from May. An Expo is meant to be a unique platform for a country to show off its economic assets to the world. I believe the Shanghai Expo 2010 is not meant to be a showcase for China to the world, but a showcase for the rest of the world to showoff to

China

. So, it’s to say, for example, this is the Spanish Expo booth and this is what we have to offer to China’s economy or we are India, and this is what can do to invest in

China-

and so on. One of the most interesting aspects of this is that countries are going to be looking for lucrative deals to invest in China’s future- and they will be using cleaver ways to sell themselves to

China

. I have been told that the Belgium Pavilion is going to be giving away free diamonds and expensive handmade chocolates (through prize draws), while the French pavilion is going to be giving away all expenses paid honeymoons’ to Paris to every couple who will come to the French Pavilion wearing wedding clothes. These are just two examples out of the many. The Chinese government officially bid for Shanghai to be the host city on November 18, 1999. With much valued support from home and abroad, the world expo governing body decided to officially award the 2010 Expo to Shanghai- the bid was won on December 3, 2002, at the 132nd General Assembly of the International Exhibitions Bureau. I was invited by the Shanghai Expo 2010 executive committee to have a preview of the facilities. I would like to share some photos I took from the VIP stand at the media centre, where the world’s media will stand in May. Special thanks goes to Mr. Chen Xian Jin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Expo 2010, the senior PR team at the Shanghai Expo 2010 media centre, and Mr. Han Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, for arranging the visit for me.

Although the weather was a bit hazy to take photos, nevertheless, I should not complain as I felt privileged to just be there and have access to some breathtaking views of the Shanghai Expo 2010 area.

Since the days of the first ever world expos at London’s famous Crystal Palace exhibition hall in 1851, world expo fairs have supplied guests with two things: First, a worldwide outlook via displays of products and services from around the world and; second, a flavour of what people can expect in the future, via displays and demonstrations of new creations and state-of-the-art machines and structures. As a former and now restored global metropolis, Shanghai has a distinctly international location complete with revolutionary objects, such as its first-in-the-world, ultra-high-speed magnetic levitation train, the Maglev.

Much bigger than any other exhibiting event in the world, the Shanghai Expo in 2010 will take place over a period of six months from the 1^st of May to the 31^st of October. Shanghai 2010 Expo’s motto is: "Better City, Better Life,”, and this is one which represents the universal desire for any citizen or country around the world, so that citizens can benefit from improved living standards. The aim of the Shanghai expo is to allow

China

to be a major show case for the global community, and along with all the world’s countries that would be exhibiting there to provide a platform where new ideas, technologies and ways of improving life will be shared. The 2010 Expo theme characterizes a common apprehension of the worldwide community for future policy making, urban policies and sustainable economic growth.

To give you an idea of how important this all will be, in 1800, only 2% of the world’s population lived in cities. In 1950, that figure became 29%, and by the beginning of the new millennium in 2000, approximately 49 percent of the world’s population moved into cities, and by the time the Shanghai Expo is opened, as per the estimates by the United Nations, the world’s urban population will account for 55% of the total human population. That alone is a indication that the world is going to require better infrastructure in terms of Electricity, Oil and Gas, but also the basics of life would become just that more important, such as sewage system in developing countries, food readily available to everyone, health facilities and all the other essentials of life.

The mission for a much improved life has run through the urban history of mankind. Through its diverse sub-themes (i.e. exhibition halls and areas of the Expo will be dedicated to different themes); the Shanghai Expo 2010 will create blueprints for prospect cities and urban life styles. All of this would be for providing an excellent educational and entertaining platform for visitors from all around the world. The main attractions will be placed within the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, which is an exhibition centre. With a total area of over 127,000 square metres, since its opening in 2001, it has played host to various exhibitions in the past, including the Shanghai Motor Show and the 2002 Tennis Indoor Masters Cup. The centre's indoor exhibition will increase to 200,000 square meters by December 2010. It is predicted that more than 60 million people will travel to Shanghai for the Expo – and around forty percent of them are likely to visit surrounding cities such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuxi and Wuzhen.

The official Mascot

Shanghai Expo 2010 has a mascot which has so far proven to be a success. During the beginning of 2009, quite a number of stores in and around Shanghai have started selling products related to the Mascot. The name of the mascot of World Expo 2010 Shanghai

China

is Hai Bao (as shown above), which when directly translated into English means the “Treasure of the sea”. The name of Hai Bao was chosen out of many because this is quite easy for non-Chinese people to learn and memorize. Also the colour of the mascot goes with the meaning, blue colour for the sea, plus it’s catchy, friendly and finally “Hai Bo” is a characteristic Chinese name which can brings good fortune and blessings. Hai Bai is the good well ambassador of Shanghai Expo 2010. Just like the five mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the Shanghai Expo 2010 Mascot, Hai Bo, will definitely bring together all the world’s cultures and traditions to Shanghai.

Where exactly is the Shanghai Expo 2010?

An area covering 5.28 square kilometres will occupy a site for the Expo from

the Nanpu Bridge to the Lupu Bridge region. This is all located in central Shanghai on both sides of the Huangpu River, with the exhibition also placed below the river on the underground walkway between the Bund and the Pudong area. On both sides of the Huangpu River the total expansion of the site is separated into 3.93 sq km in Pudong and 1.35 sq km in Puxi.

How is the Shanghai Expo 2010 arranged?

There are five functional zones marked A, B, C, D and E respectively, each with an average area of 60 hectares. Apart from the five zones, there are also 12 pavilion groups, 8 of which in the Pudong Section and 4 in the Puxi Section, each with an average area of 10–15 hectares.

Ticket Types

There are nine types of tickets available:

· Peak Day Single Day Admission

· Peak Day Special Admission

· Standard Day Single Day Admission

· Standard Day Special Admission

· 3 Day Admission

· 7 Day Admission

· Evening Admission

· Group Admission

· Student Group Admission

Clusters: There are 26 pavilion clusters, each covering 2–3 hectares. The average floor area of each pavilion cluster can house 40–45 exhibition units with every exhibition unit covering a total floor area of 20,000–25,000 square meters. Visitors will be reassured to know that each pavilion cluster will contain small canteens, shops, telecom, western style toilets, nursing services and other public facilities. These facilities will be available in and around the expo, and organisers have made sure that there will be no problems. The entire event will go as smoothly as possible.

Overseas national pavilions representing over a hundred countries are planned to be grouped according to the continents they belong to. There will be three types:

Type 1 pavilions are designed and constructed by official participants;

Type 2 pavilions are stand-alone pavilions constructed by the Organizer and rented to participants and;

Type 3 pavilions are joint pavilions constructed by the Organizer. Space in this pavilions are offered free of charge to countries from the developing world.

The Five Zones

Zone A is situated among the Expo Boulevard to the west and the Bailianjing rivulet to the east in the Pudong Section. Zone A will host China Pavilion and national pavilions for Asian countries except Southeast Asian ones.

Zone B covers an area between Zone A to the east and Lupu Bridge to the west, hosting national pavilions of Southeast Asian and Oceania countries, Pavilions for International Organizations, Theme Pavilions, Expo Centre and Performance Centre.

Zone C is located in Houtan to the west of Lupu Bridge in the Pudong Section. It will host European, American and African national pavilion clusters. A large

public amusement park of about 10 hectares will be built at the entrance.

Zone D is located to the west of the Expo Boulevard in the Puxi Section. The land is one of the original places of modern Chinese national industry and the site of the Jiangnan Shipyard. Some of the old industrial buildings will be kept and renovated into corporate pavilions. The docklands and slipway to the east of the corporate pavilions will be reserved and made into space for outdoor public exhibition and cultural exchange.

Zone E situated to the east of the Expo Boulevard in the Puxi Section, will host stand-alone commercial pavilions, Urban Civilization Pavilion, Urban Exploration Pavilion and the Urban Best Practices Area.

Happy 81st Birthday to the Peninsula in Hong Kong!

2009-12-30T19:25:00.002+08:00

(From Left to Right): Mr Edmond Kwok, Managing Director of BMW Concessionaries (HK) Ltd.; Mr Gert Hildebrand, General Manager, MINI Design; Mr Neil Galloway, Chief Financial Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; Lady Betty Kadoorie; Ms Rainy Chan, General Manager, The Peninsula Hong Kong; Mr Clement Kwok, Chief Executive Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; Mr Peter Borer, Chief Operating Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (Copyright Navjot Singh 2009)

On the morning of the 11th of December 2009, the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong (Hong Kong’s most luxurious hotel), celebrated its 81st anniversary with the addition of two new MINI Cooper S Clubman vehicles. These two cars are the luxury version of the MINI Cooper, and will be used to whisk around Peninsula’s distinguished guests around Hong Kong. The two MINI Coopers will join the existing fleet of fourteen Rolls-Royce Extended Wheelbase Phantoms and one 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II.

Ms Rainy Chan, General Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong (Copyright Navjot Singh)

One may ask why is the 81st anniversary more important than the 50th of the 100th? Bonnie Kwok, the Peninsula’s Public Relations Manager explained that the MINI cars were “presented as gifts from the BMW group on the 81st birthday because the MINIs reflect the legendary Grande Dame’s youthful spirit as she enters her ninth decade”. “I am certain that we will have more exciting happenings on our 100th birthday.” explained Ms. Kwok.

Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd: Copyright Navjot Singh

Stephanie Sim, the Peninsula’s Director of Public Relations, explained to me that the two MINI Coopers will be offered as a complimentary service to guests who stay in one of the hotel’s suites, and will be a treat for the hotel’s distinguished guests while they are in Hong Kong. The MINI's are a complimentary service for suite guests using the car exclusively for shopping and perhaps sightseeing purposes. This is on top of the fleet of 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms for airport transfer services.

Mr. Gert Hildebrand, General Manager MINI Design: Copyright Navjot Singh

Ms. Sim further explained that the MINI engineers and designers worked closely with The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (photo below), and Martin Oxley, The Peninsula’s Fleet Vehicle Manager, to develop a number of dedicated features which took into consideration the specific requirements of the hotel’s brand policy- and its guests. These include a custom-illuminated Peninsula logo on door entry sills, leather finishing matching the existing Rolls-Royce interiors and the signature Peninsula Green color that adorns every vehicle in the hotel’s transport fleet. Each car is also fitted a mini-fridge, and an iPhone. The two MINI coopers’ are registered PEN 1 and PEN 2.

Mr Peter Borer (Chief Operating Officer Peninsula Hotels): Copyright Navjot Singh

The Peninsula’s two MINIs were unveiled by Sir Michael and Mr. Gert Hildebrand, General Manager MINI Design (pictured below. The two guests of honor were then joined by three representatives from The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited: Mr. Clement Kwok (Chief Executive Officer), Mr. Neil Galloway (Chief Financial Officer) and Mr Peter Borer (Chief Operating Officer), together with Ms Rainy Chan, General Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong.

Mr Edmond Kwok, Managing Director of BMW Concessionaries (HK) Ltd. Copyright Navjot Singh

In his speech, Sir Michael announced, “In keeping with The Peninsula’s Rolls-Royce fleet, they will quite simply add further inspiration to our unsurpassed levels of luxury and service.”

The Peninsula MINI Clubman will consist of the following features:

• Exterior finished in the trademark Peninsula Green
• The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited crest on both doors
• Illuminated Peninsula logo on door entry sills
• iPod/iPhone connection in front and rear for guest use
• Mounted rooftop box to carry guests’ shopping, incorporating The Hong Kong
and Shanghai Hotels, Limited crest on front and rear, trimmed in Green
Everflex leatherette and printed with Peninsula logo
• Filler cap painted in Peninsula Green (Rare and only for the Peninsula)
• Rear door handles painted in Peninsula Green
• Windscreen pillars painted in Peninsula Green
• Roof rails
• Mini fridge in rear for refreshments & cold towels
• Run-flat tyres

MG 6 on show at a shopping mall in Guangzhou!

2009-12-29T22:10:00.002+08:00

Image Copyright Navjot Singh 2009

I was fortunate enough to be invited to a photo shoot of the new five-seater MG 6, which was briefly being showcased at the Grand View Mall in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou earlier this month. The MG 6 fastback was first shown at the Guangzhou Auto Show in mid-November 2009. Based around the architecture of the Roewe 550 sedan, which in turn is based on a similar status on the late 1990s’ Rover 75, the production version of the MG 6 is powered by the same 1·8-litre engine, and the range-topper is a turbocharged model. The fastback neatly ties in to the British image which was firmly established for the brand by NAC, MG’s original Chinese purchaser, and SAIC, which took over NAC. Within the first day of being showcased, MG confirmed around 200 potential buyers (would you believe it, those 200 buyers are just regular shoppers who happened to walk by and thought "Hmm...I would not mind taking a MG home today!"). You'd be amazed what you can get in China!

The model is Miss. Jiang Li. With Miss Li’s, and MG's permission, I have the pleasure of sharing some photos with you. Please note that some of my photos are only available on my website (www.navjot-singh.com) because of copyright issues. Enjoy!

Image Copyright Navjot Singh 2009

Random Thought

2009-12-29T18:43:00.002+08:00

IF God (if he/she exists!) didn't want us to smile, than humans would have been born with black teeth!!

Culture shock of a different kind (London!)

2009-12-07T00:44:00.001+08:00

I have managed to live in south-east London for the majority of my life without any problems. I have only once experienced the drama of being “partially” mugged when I was 16. It has stuck with me ever since, and I still recall the event as if it happened yesterday- a rather lanky ragamuffin (the types you see in inner city London these days), approached me outside the gates of Dulwich College, aggressively grabbed my shirt from the neck and asked if I had any money on me, and upon telling him “No, I’ll tell the police about this”, he pushed me to the ground with some force and simply left!; I am sure I must have been an easy target, especially while wearing the trademark stripy school blazer and straw hat!. Apart from this incident, I don’t recall being in any sort of trouble/danger whatsoever. However, I have heard quite a number of negative remarks about East London, and how rough the area is. I got a first hand taste of this “rough” side to the East End earlier this year when I rented a room just close to London City Airport and Custom House. I was not made aware that the area in which I rented my accommodation was the rough side and just across the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) on the other side was the posh side. The rental price looked attractive and the area on the whole seemed “OK”- it wasn’t your average “Ramsey Street” style neighborhood, but, hey, I just needed a small bedroom to lay my head on after a long day at work. There was some broken furniture lying on the street right in front of my new home, and a couple of youngsters (“Hoodies” may be better description!) lurking in the background, but nothing out of the ordinary for this kind of area.

“How long has this rubbish been here?, “When will it get cleaned?” I asked the landlord, who assured me that it will be cleaned quickly (it was still there when I left the place a few weeks later). Keeping trust in his words, I happily signed the contract for 6 months, and upon getting my keys, I went over to my VW Passat to get some belongings- came briefly into the flat to drop some bags. It must have been less than 5 minutes before I returned to see my car’s front right hand side window completely smashed. “Nooo…this cannot be happening, has this really happened to me?” I asked myself in sheer panic. Sudden confusion and shock hit me. Initially I looked around to see if there could be sign of anyone that may have seen or heard anything- but no, not even a whisker in sight. It was just like the ghost town I had arrived in 5 minutes ago- I feared that even those who may have seen something perhaps were too afraid to come forward. Anger also hung around my heart- I wasn’t sure what to think because just a few minutes ago my landlord reassured me that this is a perfectly safe area and he has never had any problems; and here I was looking at my car completely smashed in within 5 minutes of me moving into this place! Taking deep breaths, whilst I tried to calm myself down from the abrupt adrenaline rush, I took a quick walk around the car to see if there was anymore damage caused.

Thankfully there was no further damage to the car, except that the culprit/s’ had skillfully taken my TomTom Navigation system. I frantically dialed 999 on my phone, hoping for the Police to turn up within minutes. “Police here, how may I help you?” spoke a lady with a calm voice. “My car’s front right hand window has been smashed and my GPS has been stolen, can you get someone here ASAP please?”, at this moment, words projecting “SOS!” seemed to have rolled out of my mouth without much attention being paid to anything else. I had to know that I was being looked after and that I was safe. However after the police verified all the details, they gave me an unexpected response: “Mr. Singh, it seems this is not an emergency, but we can advise you to take your car to the nearest repair garage”.

“What?!” I asked in shock, “I’ve had my car smashed into and burgled and you are saying this is not an urgent situation??!”, “What do you want me to do in the meantime? Hope for someone to come and attack me?”; Perhaps this was not a sensible response or maybe too panic ridden – but it goes without saying that, yes, I was in a highly distressed situation. I tried to calm myself down by telling myself not to take this personally, it can happen to anyone and anywhere in the world- and at that moment, I just wished I had taken the GPS out of the car. The Police did not arrive and said they cannot come because they have other “serious emergencies” to deal with. I would say that a fair statement, I mean it wasn’t that my life was at risk or anything (so far!); therefore I had the long wait for the AA Car services got there. Those few minutes of panic felt the loneliest in a long time…random thoughts kept jumping in my head, “Someone must have seen something?” I thought. It was a complete mystery to me that despite this crime happening in a built up area, surrounded by terraced homes, that no as to be seen in the area. Then, as I made my way back to the flat to see if I could get some advice from my neighbors, a couple of teenagers’ in hoods went towards my car to take a curious look. Immediately I turned around back and hurried towards them. “Hey, wait, did you guys see anything?” I asked them. “Yo rudeboy* is this car yours?” asked the tallest of the two. “Yes, did you guys see anything?”, I asked them again, hoping they would be able to tell me the identity of the culprit. “No, but if you left something in your car, people would smash it anyways”, he carried on: “Geezer*, in this area even if someone sees a 50 pence coin, even that is enough for them to smash your window”. I didn’t know what to think. I could only sigh. This experience was enough to persuade my inner-self to pack up and leave as soon as I could. Much to the Landlords disappointed, I departed with the next 7 seven days. There you go, now just because I had one bad experience of East London, does not mean the whole of the area is ridden with burglars’, but it has somewhat confirmed to me, at least, the stereotypical statements I had been told all these years! On the other hand, a friend reassured me that I shouldn’t be surprised- after all, pickpockets, thieves and likewise were invented in London (well before the Dickenson era!)!

* “Rudeboy” and “Geezer” are slangs used by some individuals in parts of London (some may say it sounds cool, but in a civilized/professional environment it would be deemed quite the opposite).

Be well- prepared for travel!

2009-12-05T20:07:00.003+08:00

Image Copyright Navjot Singh

Apart from the normal travel checklist which everyone has to tick prior to their journey, (Vaccinations, Visas, Currency exchange and Hotel booking etc.), you’d be surprised to know the large number of people who, while maintaining that they are indeed clean and correct, tend to easily forget or just don’t bother to take certain essential products on long haul trips (irrespective if its for business or pleasure). Now while the following may all seem like common sense (and it is), people do sometimes brush these aside believing “they will never require them”, so, here are a few personal recommendations from my own experience – I, for one, have got into a routine habit of taking them wherever I go in the world, and it doesn’t weight more than half a kilogram! (Please note this is just my personal two cents of advice, whether you take it is up to you, of course!):

Water proof antiseptic bandages (especially if you are going to take part in Sports
Recommend you take your own towel (while Hotel towels may be clean, there is always the unpleasant thought that a lot of people have used the same towel before you, and especially in places where the Hotel/Hostel may not be of a luxury quality!)
Recommend you take any Rehydration Tablets (for Diarrhoea and vomiting), a decent factor ”Sun cream/spray” and a good quality “Insect Repellant”- this is true for most tropical places, and also places where the water quality is not deemed acceptable (though on that note it goes without saying that Water should be boiled before drinking and ice-cubes should be avoided at all costs- even in five star hotels!)
Basic First Aid like Paracetamol or any cough relief tablets.
Recommend you take your own Shower gel, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Shaving Cream and Tooth brush (Hotel kits may be acceptable, however, in some places even a no-frills kit from Asda is better off!)
For long haul flights, a mouthwash or strong mints are recommended (but then again, 99% of passengers probably don’t brush their teeth between the two meals served on a, say, 12 hour flight)
On long haul flights, to counteract the lack of moisture and protect from bad smell/germs, most people use moisture cream or aftershave (men) on their face (or even Olive Oil extracts…this does work).
Perhaps even take a small pillow for long haul travel- a seat recline of 31 inch (32 inch on some airlines) is not really comfortable for any flight over 11 hours.

The following is essential for travelling in places like China, India and other countries where the definition of a toilet is a “Hole in the ground”:

Now, imagine you have been sight seeing on a ridiculously hot, humid and sticky day, and when nature calls you come across a “toilet” which is essentially no more than just a hole in the ground with no tissue paper, no water to clean the unmentionable parts and no soap; or even worse if there is no toilet for miles- then you will know what I mean! On the whole I try to avoid using public toilets at all costs (anywhere in the world), however when nature calls, options can be limited as mentioned above! While travelling anywhere in the world, no matter where I go, I always take a bottle of water, plenty of tissue paper, liquid soap and hygiene wipes. Amusing as it may sound while reading this, you can only thank yourself for being so well prepared! Basically, the reasons for all these preparations are simple: you want to arrive back home in the same clean and healthy way in which you left prior to your trip- and thankfully (touch wood), I have never been sick abroad, ever. All the mentioned products don’t cost much, and they don’t weight much either.

One night in Beijing

2009-12-05T08:45:00.001+08:00

Welcome to Beijing! Copyright Navjot Singh

The last time I was in Beijing was about 8 months prior to the Olympic Games, in late 2007, and because of work commitments, I could not make it to the city (or the Games themselves) during all this time. That all changed on the 21st of November 2009, as fate allowed me to come back to this great city- but only for one night on a stopover. I had to make the most of my 21 hours to the journey down memory lane. My flight from Kunming arrived just before 3pm at Beijing airport’s impressive Terminal 3. My next flight was at 12.30pm the following day. I was excited, and very much looking forward to reliving the experience. Rather strange as it may seem but I had carefully planned out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in the short time that I had. I suppose the key advantage I had was that I knew where everything was - and hoping that it didn’t change from 2007! Much to my surprise, the heavy smog still lurked around the city- and the traffic is without a doubt worse than in 2007 (In actual fact I should say there are more Cars on Beijing's roads' than in 2007).

After checking in at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, I quickly made my way to the Xidan shopping area. This enormous shopping centre is one of the two main areas for hardcore shoppers (the other being Wangfujing- and I did not have time to go there this time). It looked the same as in 2007...except a few new shops had opened here and there. After about an hour there, I made my way to the Hilong Electric City (海龙电子城), a seven storey building specializing in electronics products. I wanted to see if I could get a reasonably priced Camera as a replacement for the one I had lost in Kunming the day before. Just as I had started to be mobbed by a group of eager sellers, an elderly Chinese gentleman offered to translate for me. He actually happened to be a professor emeritus in Automation at Tsinghua University (the Oxbridge of China). With his assistance I managed to purchase a bargain and a spanking new Camera (under from my insurance!)- I am highly grateful to this great man for the assistance he provided. It also worked out to be a great networking opportunity and we have kept in touch since then.

With ample time remaining, I made my way to the Quan Ju De Restaurant on 32 Qianmen Street for a delicious meal of fresh roast Beijing duck. The restaurant, the largest Roast Duck restaurant in Beijing and rumored to serve at least 8000 meals a week, is popular with Government Officials, VIPs, VVIPs and Celebs. I would highly recommend sitting on the 2nd floor as it’s a bit quieter, and provides a view of the open kitchen at work. The duck was accompanied with some fine Chinese red wine (“Great Wall Wine”). This was followed by about an hour’s stroll around the ever impressive Tiananmen Square- the scene of the recent 60th Anniversary Parade on the 1st of October. The square is busy with tourists and locals excitingly taking photos against the backdrop of the Great Hall or Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum; and even the occasional march by young Army cadets can be observed.

The following morning, I got up quite early and spent the remaining 4 hours taking photos around the Shangdi, Xizhimen and Wudaokou areas, before returning to the hotel. Breakfast consisted of a scrumptious Lai Huang Bao (White bun with sweet Egg yolk), fresh Soya milk and a delicious crispy pancake- all worth only 7RMB (Approx US $0.90).

Instead of going straight to the airport, I asked the taxi driver to take me around the 5th Ring Road to the north of the city, so I could get a glimpse of the Olympic Stadium- I had come all this way and thought why not spend the extra fare just to catch a quick photo opportunity! As the taxi approached the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube (which by the way are remarkable pieces of architecture- it’s almost like entering a different world), the only thought that came to my mind was “Wow, this is where it all happened!”. I am not a specialist on architecture, but you don’t need to be an expert to see the obvious large scale projects that are filling Beijing’s skyline- it’s like entering a large playground full of so many weird and wonderfully shaped buildings which cannot be found anywhere else in the world! 21 hours (Minus the 6 hours I slept for!) were not enough to digest the full flavor of the city, nevertheless, I am thankful to fate for allowing me to at least refresh my memory- and hopefully I will come back soon. Oh, by the way, for those of you who don't know, there is a song called "One night in Beijing" by Xin Yue Tuan (and no, the title of my blog article is not inspired from the song!).

Where I stayed:

Grand Hyatt Beijing*****
1 East Chang An Avenue,
Beijing

The CITM in Kunming, Yunnan Province, CHINA

2009-11-30T07:35:00.004+08:00

Welcome at Kunming Airport: Copyright Navjot Singh

Finally, I have had a chance to update my blog. I have been in China for the past few weeks, and due to local firewall restrictions, I have been unable to get access to my personal blog- among other websites. After the World Travel Market (WTM) event in London, I was invited to Kunming (the Capital of Yunnan Province) by the China National Tourist office (CNTO) to visit the China International Travel Mart (CITM) from the 19th until the 21st of November. The CITM is China’s domestic equivalent of the WTM, where, rather than focusing on the world’s countries, the event is a showcase for the various provinces in China, as well as some of the surrounding countries (such as Mongolia, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan) who want to buy from or sell to Chinese Tourist agencies. The annual CITM event is held in either Shanghai or Kunming. The emphasis is to promote China and its travel industry to the world.

Discussion at the CITM: Copyright Navjot Singh

After the 10 hour non-stop flight from Heathrow, we arrived in Beijing at around 11am (local time), still quite disoriented- I suppose it was more the effects of jet-lag which seemed to descend fatigue on everyone rather than the long journey, which seemed comfortable enough on Air China. Every time I visit Beijing Airport’s Terminal 3, which is still relatively new having been opened in 2008 prior to the Olympics, I am just overwhelmed by this magnificent piece of architecture, its like entering a whole new world. The ridiculously huge building alone dwarfs most airports around the world. Ironically the place is not that busy, even during peak hours. Perhaps the terminals just look empty because of the sheer size of the airport, like an illusion. But I am sure if you look the picture at large and when you see the number of passengers that pass through the airport every year, you can clearly observe that the numbers add up to being more than those seen at London Heathrow Airport, and some of America’s busiest airports’. Also bearing in mind that all of the airport’s three runways are actively in use 24 hours day- and it is not a unusual sight to see 3 aircraft taking off at the same time on those runways. As can be observed from the pictures I have taken (shown on my website: http://www.navjot-singh.com/), that President Obama was also in town the day we arrived in Beijing. Air Force One (Boeing VC-25A Registration: 29000) was parked at the VIP Terminal suite overlooking Runway 36R, flanked by the two smaller Boeing 757-200s (Version: Boeing C-32A) of the US Security Service (I believe that is Air Force Two and Air Force Three respectively- both these aircraft shadow Air Force One in the skies).

The 3 hour hop to Kunming was operated by Shandong Airlines, a CAAC subsidiary of Air China. Normally, on domestic flights that are over 2 hours a full hot meal is served, however, much to my surprise we were only offered a hot “Bacon and Egg Chinese style Burger” along with drinks for the whole flight. Upon landing at Kunming Airport, we were warmly welcomed by senior Yunnan Government officials and local fanfare- this was accompanied by loud music, and having necklace charms given to us. I wasn’t all that impressed by the sight of a ridiculously cold and wet Kunming. We were very unlucky to have arrived in Kunming during the rainy season- which normally does not last more than about a month. Whether luck plays any part in it or it’s just bad planning- but the CITM is always held in Kunming during the rainy season. This trip to China was different to all the other times I have been here because it was the first time I had been hosted by the China National Tourism board- all the other trips I have been on were on either corporate business or pleasure.
On our first official day in Kunming, we were taken to see the “Stone Forest”-known as the 'First Wonder of the World', located around a one hour drive from the centre of Kunming. Because we were the guests of the China Tourism government officials, our motorcade was neatly protected and escorted by armored Police and Ambulances- and all the roads were cleared in advance so we could pass through with ease. I took around 400 beautiful pictures at this place and we spent around 4 hours there (highly recommended). The stone forest covers an area of around 400 square kilometers and includes both large and small natural stone forests- these are stones (limestone and granite) forming weird and wonderful natural shapes and sizes. From distance, some stones may look like animals while others may look like buildings and so on. Nothing is man-made and every detail is remarkably pleasing to the eye. In the evening we were honored to be invited to the opening banquet, where VIP guests included Mr. Zhang Zulin, the vice secretary of Kunming municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Kunming; Italian Tourism Minister Michela Vittoria Brambilla; Chinese Minister for Tourism, Mr. Shao Qiwei; Shanghai Expo's chief planner Mr. Wu Zhiqiang and many others.

Now, the sad thing about this trip is that during an interview which I was doing for Yunnan TV at the CITM, and amidst the loud noise and crowds, my 500D Camera got stolen- without going too much into details, I (along with the assistance of Kunming’s Chief of Police) tried my best to look for the Camera or the thief but could not find any clue. After checking all the CCTV cameras in the control room, it turned out that all 4 of the Camera’s are just like television monitors (meaning you cannot zoom in or move them around), plus they are placed so high up in the ceiling that it is almost impossible to see anything in detail. I lost the vast majority of the photos, including those of senior officials from the China Tourist Board, the Provincial Banquet that we attended and all my photos of the Stone Forest trip. The fact that no security staff could find the thief at such as high profile event as the CITM is still a mystery to me. It goes without saying that I am sad about the loss of my photos more than the Camera itself. I was offered a nice gift from Mr. Shao Qiwei, as a token of appreciation, which I highly value; and I am very much thankful to the Chinese government for inviting me to this event. It was just unfortunate that it happened, and it can happen to anyone.

On the evening before our departure from Kunming, we were treated to a VIP special viewing of the award winning "Dynamic Yunnan" show at the Kunming Conference Centre. Dynamic Yunnan is a grand song and dance performance with its inspiration derived from the southwestern ethnic people of Yunnan province. The unique style is choreographed and performed by the famous dancer, Yang Liping. Yang, a very popular dancer of the ethnic Bai group from Xishuangbanna in southwestern Yunnan Province, began her career at the age of 13, and has been dancing for over 35 years. The majority of the performers of the show are local farmers Yang discovered in outlying villages of Yunnan- with most of them are from ethnic groups including Yi, Miao, Tibetan, Dai, Bai, Va and Hani. The music of the show is, at time very emotional, and has a deeply romantic theme to it. The breathtaking performances by the actors are a must see because every sound, every move and every look on the actors faces illustrates the roots of Yunnan's culture. "Dynamic Yunnan" has been played in over 150 shows around China and Abroad. The performance lasts 2 hours and consists of seven parts with varied themes including Cloud, Sun, Moon, Forests, Fire, Mountain and Feather in turn. It was a nice way to polish off the Press trip to this colourful city (in Colourful Yunnan!).The show was spoiled by the constant background noise of mobile phone ringtones and people using flash Cameras- this despite a warning sign clearly asking the audience (in both English and Chinese) not to use flash photography and mobile phone. I know this is common practice in theatres and cinemas around China, but it's not fair on the actors, as well as the rest of the audience.

Early morning traffic in Kunming: Copyright Navjot Singh

Compared to other similar events, such as the WTM in London, the CITM was grander in terms of the number of stage musical performances and the loudness in which it was all presented- the event was full of so much random (yet beautifully illustrated) song and dance which at times did not really make any sense whatsoever (and no one explained why or what people were dancing for or saying). Next years event will be held in Shanghai, around the same time. Below are some more photos. Some of the better photos are displayed on my website (www.navjot-singh.com) because of copyright issues. The pictures shown here are not the best of quality because I have used my spare Camera (which does the job!).

How I got there?

I flew with Air China, first non-stop from London to Beijing (10 hours), and then a 3 hour flight from Beijing to Kunming.

Where I stayed?

Horizon Hotel *****, Yunnan, Kunming

No. 432, Qingnian Road, Kunming, China, 650021

The World Travel Market- A fusion of Cultures!

2009-11-14T06:07:00.003+08:00

The WTM 2009: An International Extravaganza!

For anyone who is connected with the travel industry in all sorts of fields, the first four days of this week had been an incredibly busy affair because the annual “World Travel Market (WTM)” was held at the London Excel Center in the London Docklands area. This year the action packed event was particularly special, not just because it was the 30th Anniversary of this premier global event for the travel industry, but also because it was the first time the event was live on Twitter, enabling millions of people around the world to tune into the latest Press Releases’ by the second; as well as the introduction of new initiatives’ such as the WTM Get Connected and the WTM Hub. Both of the latter activities enabled industry professionals to connect by launching discussions, photos, podcasts and blogs. This was one place where million dollar deals were signed by Airline CEO’s, travel agencies and the various tourism ministries’.

The opening day itself was buzzing with activity all around- it had a true international feeling to the place. People dressed in their native costumes’ could be seen proudly posing for pictures in all corners of the giant exhibition hall- it felt as if one has almost stepped into a world carnival or something similar. All around the exhibition hall one could hear various accents and languages being spoken; and for those who wanted to, could spend the whole 4 days' trying to please their gastronomical interests by trying the various sample dishes on offer. The event’s slogan “Around the world in 4 days” seemed to fit appropriately too.

In amongst the hustle and bustle, one could notice that apart from the extravagant displays and the costumes’, everyone had brought their own cultural habits along to the event too. This “fusion of cultures” created a few misunderstandings and confusions alike. For example it did not take long for one to observe that some people were not used to saying “Thank You” or “Please”; or that some people were not aware that its rude to shout loudly across a hall or answering their phone loudly in the middle of a packed conference (especially when the Mayor of London is speaking too) - but of course the fun of it all was that at least we all got to experience a taste of another person’s culture.

Selamat Detang from Malaysia!

The first day, which is always reserved exclusively for the Media and Captains of Industry, consisted of Press Conferences, interviews and launches. The opening speeches were presented by Fiona Jeffrey, the Chairwoman of the World Travel Market; and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London. The enthusiastic mayor’s speech was, as always, interesting and full of good news- as one would expect from someone who is the major representative of a metropolis that is going to be host to the world when the Olympic Games arrive in the summer of 2012. I have been informed that the Paris and Berlin Travel markets are generally larger, however, with the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, London's annual WTM is sure to gain more attention in the coming few years. I cannot wait to go next year!

A colourful representation from Azerbaijan

Experience diving in Malta!

2009-11-05T08:38:00.006+08:00

The author experiences weightlessness

Upon my graduation from Loughborough University, I was offered a job in the Republic of Malta (commonly known as just Malta), with ST Microelectronics, at that time one of the biggest employers in the country. However for one reason or another fate took me to Hong Kong to work for Philips Semiconductors. It was one of those difficult choices that you sometimes have to make in life. I wanted to live and work in

Malta

, but also in Hong Kong too! With a pinch of salt I made the decision to settle for the latter because it was farther away and somehow seemed more of an exotic destination than Malta (I take back my words now that I have been to Malta!). Ever since that day I had always wanted to visit Malta, but for some reason or another (and due to the pressures of a busy life I suppose!), I just never had the chance to go. That opportunity came in early October when suddenly I got an invitation from the Malta Tourism Authority to come and experience Scuba Diving in Malta.

Even before any training started I had to pass the full medical exam. Because Diving is one of the more dangerous sports around, so it is absolutely imperative that anyone taking part should be fully fit and healthy (i.e. have no exposure to Asthma, Epilepsy, Migraine Attacks or any lung problems). Initially I feared the worst because I do have a minute history of Asthma; however considering that my last Asthma attack was almost 12 years ago, so thankfully I was given the all clear by the doctor.

Prior to going to Malta, I attended a two day full immersion Diving Training course in London. This was arranged by BASC (British Sub Aqua Club), the UK’s leading dive club that provides an internationally recognized qualification for divers. The intensive pool orientation training was completed at the ShellCentre’s swimming pool in Waterloo. This included the basics of Diving, safety demonstrations, practice of balancing underwater, Snorkeling (which is easy!) and lots of practice related to the equipment and gaining confidence under water. The training was in preparation to qualify as an Ocean Diver where one can dive up to 20 meters deep under the guidance of a qualified Diver Manager.

Considering that I had never done any Diving before so this was a truly unique opportunity to try something adventurous. I was anxious because when you are carrying so much equipment on your body (especially the 10Kg cylinder at the back!), you do question yourself that once you are in the water, “What happens if I sink!?” But it’s all very safe and controlled. The Diving instructors are very professional and high training individuals so there was nothing to worry about- just needed to carefully listen and follow the instructions! The next step was to go to Malta and commence the three-day open water training that combined shore-based instruction with five open water dives with the instructor. The good thing about diving is that you don’t need to be a good swimmer- in actual fact its so easy that you don’t need to know any swimming at all because the flippers, along with the weightlessness in the water, do all the hard work for you. All you need to do is flap your feet gently and counter balance the air in the tank so that you don’t have too much or too less either. On Earth at least, Diving is probably the closet you’ll get to experience the affects of weightlessness in Space. It really is a remarkable feeling being underwater- quite surreal too, because all you hear is your breathing, and the hollow echoes of the surrounding water.

With over 40 dive centers across the Maltese Islands, for Europeans and North Africans, Malta is a great place to go diving because it’s reached well within a couple of hour’s flight time from any major European city, the waters are clean and clear (especially at Comino Blue Lagoon) and the weather is great- warm (ridiculously hot in the summer though), with clear blue skies for most of the year. I went in late October and even then we were welcomed by warm waters.

Voted the third best place for Diving in the world, the Maltese Islands are also a heaven for night diving, there are many beautiful sea life that come alive and are more vibrant during the night. Colors appear almost fluorescent by torchlight. Although I must admit that the thought of diving at night time is fearful and dangerous, because if you get lost or you lose your diving buddy then I suppose the only option left is to quickly accelerate yourself to the surface and send a distress signal. Therefore it is safe to conclude that Night diving is for experienced divers only.

The mornings were spent carrying out the open water training; while the afternoons were free to explore the cities and their restaurants in detail. Sliema, Valletta (the Capital city of the Maltese Archipelago), and St Julian's are Malta's modern, most happening and built up areas. It is where one will find the majority of the top hotels, rental apartments’, restaurants, bars, shops and clubs. The remainder of the Island is usually silent except for the few restaurants and bars that are open till midnight.

Malta

is also a popular country with many Hollywood directors who decide to shoot scenes here. Because of the presence of yellow limestone buildings and the general calm feel that resembles a typical middle eastern village, if one is watching a movie filmed in some parts of Malta, it can be easily confused with, say, being in Iraq or Qatar. The Maltese Islands have been home to Hollywood movies such as Gladiator, U-571, Rules of Engagement, Troy (The highest tower on Comino is featured in the opening scenes), Munich and many others.

Places where I went diving:

The wreck of Lady Davinia, Sliema Creek

The Maltese islands are home to numerous purposely sunk vessels, scampered deliberately for the purpose of diving. The Lady Divinia is one such wreck located around 15 meters deep in the harbor. The Lady Divinia was formally known as the Zuara when it was with the Libyan Navy in the 1960s and also HMS Greetham prior to this when it was with the British. The Engine room and wheel house is in pristine condition, complete with a telephone. There are a myriad of large wine bottles and bits of complete cutlery scattered around on the harbor bed. Plenty of shiny silvery fish can be seen as well as some large groupers. We even came across a large lobster. The views down at this wreck are truly breathtaking.

X127 wreck, Manoel Island

Prior to this dive we carried out some useful diving exercises’, and also to get used to the surrounding waters. The Lighter X-127 is accessible from Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour. To reach the wreck, it takes about fifteen minutes, and divers have to swim in a south-westerly direction at any depth of around 10 meters. The greatest difficulty I had over here was balancing myself on the seabed, especially with currents pushing you away from your standing position, and also with the rather muddy seabed around the wreck is muddy! Dave, our instructor showed us around the wreak of the X127. The most amazing part of the dive was when we went through the wheelhouse and came out the other end, and also the huge torpedo damage at the stern of the vessel. Around the wreak there are meant to be lots f sea life lurking around, such as octopus, small groupers and thousands of small silvery fish.

Qawra Point, St Paul’s Bay

Qawra Point is located at the southern tip of St. Paul's Bay. The dive profile here drops slowly at first and the repetitiveness of the meadows gives way to a steep slope that goes down to a depth of 40 meters. As trainee divers we only went to a depth of around 20 meters and carried out underwater safety exercises such as taking your goggles off and putting them back on again (without taking your mouthpiece off of which somehow I managed to take off twice!! I can reassure you that it’s not a nice feeling swallowing all that salty water- and definitely not recommended!). The steep slope of the valley continues underwater. The bottom is scattered with sharp ended rocks- much to my unpleasant surprise when I tried to balance myself by putting my knees on the rocks. Hence there is very good reason why someone should wear a full body wetsuit when diving (apart from protecting yourself from the cold water)! We did not come across any interesting Crabs; Lobsters…guess they must have been hiding during the day!

Cirkewwa

This dive was without a doubt the highlight of the trip to these beautiful islands. The sea was a bit rough due to the high winds the previous day but our group managed to dive to the picturesque arch at the bottom where there is also a statue of statue of Madonna, and (rather strangely) people leave candles as a mark of respect. The water is remarkably clear and clean. The arch is a cavern which has a large hole in the top that creates a narrow bridge of rock under which divers can easily gain access. It was one of the best things I have ever seen; and although you can read about dives and see photos, seeing it in real life is just amazing. You have to experience this dive to fully appreciate the real joy of this wonderful sport. Our instructor, Dave, gave us a gift by taking us to this dive, and all that hard work in training really paid off well. The area around Cirkewwa is also beautiful. There is a tiny beach on the other side of the dive resort; and regular ferries to Gozo and Comino operate from here too.

Who provided the Diving training?

Full professional training was provided by the Maltaqua Diving School based at St Paul's Bay. Our inspirational diving instructors, David Colquhoun and Dragan Donkov were very professional, friendly and made the diving experience fun and enjoyable for all. Maltaqua can be reached on: www.maltaqua.com

How I got there:

I flew with Air Malta (www.airmalta.com) from London Heathrow (Terminal 4). The flight was on time, and took around 2 hours and fifty minutes. I highly rate this airline for many reasons, including the flawless in-flight service, the friendly crew members and the highly professional way in which the check-in staff deal with any problems.

Where I stayed:

The four star Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa (www.maritim.com.mt). The Spa treatments and the Massage are highly recommened.

What are the indicators of a good airline company?

2009-11-04T06:45:00.011+08:00

British Airways Boeing 737-500 parked at Luxembourg Airport

I have decided to write this article in regards to me being inspired by my love for aviation and flying with airlines that have a less than glamorous reputation for their safety in the skies!

Below are some of the major indicators that contribute to the making of an above average/decent airline company. It’s a sad fact that within a short space of around 60 years commercial passenger flights have seen their birth (around the 1940s), rise (1950s/60s), their heyday of flying (1970s/80s), and sadly their gradual demise to what has transformed a once luxurious way of travel to one where we are beginning to see airline tickets being sold for less than a pound sterling (excluding taxes!). Budget airlines are good for short haul travel where smaller aircraft can be used (such as the Airbus A320 or the Boeing 737 Series) to full capacity and planes can be turned around within 30 minutes; but for medium to long haul travel (i.e. more than 4 hours flight time) there will always be a need for some sort of luxury because of the long distances and the other fuel costs involved. Although not the main ponint of discussion for this blog article, nevertheless, it is worth pointing out that IATA (International Air Transport Association), recently predicted the airline industry will make a snowballing loss of €11 billion by the end of 2009, a rapid increase from the projected €9 billion estimated earlier in the year. The full impact of these losses is yet to be felt despite over 65 airlines failing over the course of 12 months from December 2008.

Safety

When booking their flights, for most people, the cost is the number one factor which makes them choose their particular airline. Safety is probably at the back of everyone’s mind once they know which airline they are flying (depending on how old or new, good or bad the aircraft and its engines are!). It’s too deep a subject to get into so I am going to keep this brief. On the whole it is reasonably safer to fly than to cross a busy street. However in the following cases, safety can never be played around with:

If you happen to fly with an airline company where the level of English of the respective pilots is not proficient enough as in this example of a LOT Polish Airlines Pilot: http://tinyurl.com/ybnwqg7
Where the aircraft being operated is more than twenty years old (Aeroflot, Air Koryo, Iran Air, Syrian Air and many others). - Although most of these mentioned airlines are phasing out the older types of aircraft.
Poor Maintenance Record of aircraft- Engineers not qualified enough
Some airlines cannot afford to upgrade their aircraft parts because their countries may be under International sanctions that prevent them from trading with the USA (Home to the Boeing Aircraft Company) or Europe (Home to Airbus Corporation).
If your Captain happens to be “Drink-Flying” then it’s a serious cause for concern! Apparently, according to these reports, Aeroflot officials thought that it’s no big deal for the Captain to have a few Vodka shots to relax some pre-take off chills!
If the Captain decides to challenge his fellow crew to a physical punch up while in International Airspace- sadly its becoming more of a fashion statement these days! Actually this is one of the reasons why many major airlines encourage their Pilots to work with a different crew on every flight: you will seldom find yourself flying with the same crew.

In July 2009, the European Commission published a list of over 90 International Airline companies that are banned from flying into European Airspace and airports within the European Union. These include the national airlines of

Congo

, Angola (TAAG- only allowed to fly to Portugal), North Korea (Air Koryo), and Afghanistan (Ariana Afghan). The full list is available here.

Air Malta A320 Parked at Luqa International, Malta

In-flight Meals

Gone are the days when airline meals were something to look forward to when you fly. Nowadays almost all economy class In-flight meals are the same, which is why I try to fly Business Class most of the time - at least there is a proper choice available. One of the best In-flight meals website ever is www.airlinemeals.net where passengers could upload their meal photos and give a personal review of the food, the service and the flight in general. The website has been dormant since 2007, but you can still browse through the various world airlines listed. Surprisingly some of the best meals are served on some of the less well known airlines (like Syrian Air, Tunis Air and BWIA West Indian* as an example). * BWIA has been rebranded as "Caribbean Airlines".

The sad thing about In-flight meals is that so much food gets wasted after a flight, that many airline companies are thinking of cutting down on giving away free meals. The only proper option left here is that passengers’ can purchase their desired in-flight meal.

Business Class Meal on British Airways (London to Geneva) Copyright Navjot Singh

My idea is that there should be a special chain of “In-flight meal restaurants” located at all airport departure lounges around the world where passengers, who wish to do so, can purchase their desired In-flight meal and drink prior to boarding the aircraft. Once on the plane they can store their food; and eat it whenever they like without anyone telling them when to eat etc. The concept can be similar to MacDonald’s (just as an example), but of course I am not saying it should be a fast food chain (come on, it needs to be more healthy ad better tasting at least!)- rather the In-flight meal restaurant chain should just specialize in providing healthy and delicious In-flight meals to passengers. In actual fact this concept should be tried at one airport to start with, and if the concept works I believe in the long term it would be a very cost effective way to introduce In-flight meals to airlines. The downside of this idea is that the food labels will not be branded to any particular airline company, but it will be a one common global brand which will be on everyone’s lips.

Aircraft type and seat

If you know which aircraft you are flying in (usually it states this on the ticket or when you check in online), then from the website www.seatguru.com you can find out which seat is suitable to sit on for your particular flight. The best seats are usually next to the exit and away from the galley and toilets. The vast majority of new aircraft (like the Airbus A340-600, Airbus A380, Boeing B777-200LR and Boeing B777-300) have state of the art In-flight entertainment systems embedded to the back of every seat from where passengers can listen to music, watch movies, play games and even read the in-flight magazine on the screen! Yes, sadly some airlines are even phasing out the traditional hardcopy In-flight magazines to save weight costs. So even the In-flight magazines are becoming collector’s items now- quick! Get your last copy before it gets replaced by the on-screen version!

Most passengers actually are not aware of what aircraft they fly in, and even if they were told of the aircraft type, I highly doubt that most would even know what the words A320, B747-400 etc. mean. People don’t care much, as long as they safely get from A to B. It’s like when you sit in a bus, a taxi, train or a boat; no one cares or notices who’s manufactured the machine- unless of course if you happened to be offered a “Mini” as a taxi when you expected it to be a BMW or something!. But when it comes to aircraft it is a different story- you have to approach it with an unusual line of angle. I suppose it’s because it’s a different way of travelling to what you are normally used to travelling on a daily basis.

The professionalism of the Airline Crew

A perfect example of how not to behave when flying a plane was displayed to the world recently by an Air India crew on a flight from Dubai to New Delhi where, according to media reports, the Pilots and Cabin Crew had a mid-air scuffle at 37,000 feet. Not something that you would want to see or hear about when you know that the two people who are responsible from taking you safely from A to B are too busy fighting with each other rather than flying!

Other questions that people always wonder about are if the staff are generally friendly and professional. Do they serve the meals at the right time? Are the air hostesses polite when they speak to you? Is the Cabin Crew helpful if you cannot speak English? It’s easy to put aside the fact that being an Air Hostess is not an easy job either because you have to deal with various situations and different kinds of people from all cultures. In actual fact the job is sometimes too glamorized.

If you feel you have a point to make about the airline you travelled on then feel free to voice your personal review on www.airlinequality.com, a site which rates airlines according to a five star category, with the best airline company getting five stars and the worst getting one star or no stars at all.

The brand image

The company’s brand image and its name are two of the essential core elements what attract the passengers to use the airline in the first place. When someone goes through the procedure of booking their flights, apart from the costs and the timings of their potential flight, the most crucial questions are “Which airline is it?” Now, if the answer happens to be one of the major global brand leaders in the airline industry, such as, say for example, British Airways, United Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates or any one of the other top airlines, then its highly likely there won’t be further questions coming out from people’s mouths. However, say if the airline company happens to be one of lesser known ones like, for example, Syrian Air, Mexicana, TAM Brazilian and others of a similar standing, then you are bound to get a barge of questions related to the company’s standing in the aviation industry. But then again you can have an excellent brand image but the rest of the package of the service is not worth mentioning- just a few examples are: American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, KLM (poor in-flight service), Air

India

(one can write a book on this one!) and Aeroflot (enough said already I think!).

The brand of an airline is a key indicator to the success of the company: Copyright Navjot Singh

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, I personally fear that in the USA and across Europe, flying is no longer the luxury way of travelling; and globally, flying is not glamorous anymore because people treat it in a similar way to catching a bus or a taxi (if you fly on a private jet!). European and American flyers won’t have much choice of top branded airlines; instead the skies are going to be dominated by the likes of Easyjet, Ryanair, Flybe, and other low cost airlines. The mainstream market for aviation is in the Middle East (Esp. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways) and Asia (Esp. Singapore Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, China Eastern, Kingfisher, Malaysia Airlines, Jet Airways and Cathay Pacific). I have just provided a few key indicators that may determine the quality of an airline. Of course, just like any other product, you cannot judge what the quality of an airline company is like until you try it yourself. Let us conclude this blog by saying that a good airline is one where the passengers are well informed of any changes that may occur (such as a delay for example), and where they are in the full knowledge of being safe and comfortable from their point of origin to their destination.

The perfect Chinese Breakfast!

2009-11-03T04:23:00.008+08:00

Chinese Breakfast is fresh, healthy and inexpensive!

During my travels in China, the one thing I really enjoyed turning a necessity of life into a hobby was the food. It goes without saying that Breakfast is one of the best meals of the day (the other is, of course, Dinner). I must admit that when I first arrived in China in 2003, I dreaded the thought of even slurping on a bowl of rice noodles mixed with bits of “meat” (usually Pork chops; but in China some people cannot translate the meat type into English, so they just say “meat”), first thing in the morning. Instead I wanted my Corn Flakes with delicious cold milk, strawberry muffins and a nice cup of Tetley tea! Yes, I was spoilt on eating a standard western breakfast all my life! Plus, as a travel writer I should have jumped at the opportunity to become a bit more adventurous and expand my gastronomical interests!

I still remember the huge disappointment of being forced to eat Chinese breakfast by my friend. “I can get some cake and Nestle Milk from Seven 11!” I said. “No” was the immediate answer from my Guangzhou friend;” You must try Chinese breakfast, I am sure you will like it” So, the first time my friend gave me a Chinese breakfast, my immediate reaction was “What is this?! Hot and spicy soup for breakfast?!”; I asked in hesitation.

That comment alone seemed to bring out the giggles on my Guangzhou friends’ faces. But as the days and weeks passed, I had actually gotten used to eating a traditional Chinese breakfast…no complaints whatsoever! It got to me so much that I actually used to look forward to waking up the next day and eating a delicious Chinese breakfast. It was my meal of the day. Why? Because every bite, every slurp is healthy, delicious, and just a sheer delight! I loved it, and still do. I even persuaded my parents to try Soybean milk, so much so that every time I came back to the U.K. I used to bring along bags of powdered Soya Milk.

In China, breakfast means so much more than just your average cup of tea. It's all about socialising- meeting people while soaking up the sun and catching up with the local gossip. Although western cereal companies haven't drummed it up yet in China, breakfast in China is still very much Chinese, and has proven time and time again to be the most important meal of the day. On every Chinese street, side alleyway, school canteen and office canteen; you are bound to come across five breakfast dishes renowned throughout the country for their taste, smell and unique attractiveness to foodies everywhere. Although Chinese breakfasts differ greatly between regions, however these five dishes are essential to any breakfast meal irrespective of your location in China.

The dishes are: Large white bun (Man-Tou: 饅頭), Deep-fried fluffy dough sticks (You-Tiao: 油條), Glutinous rice balls- sweet or spicy (Tang-Yuan: 湯圓), Large sesame bread (Da-Bing: 芝麻大餅); and Fresh Soybean Milk (Dou-Jiang: 豆漿). The Five dishes, sometimes referred to as just four when not taking the Man-Tou into consideration, are almost like a fashion icon of breakfast meal. Basically, it may be said that no Chinese breakfast is complete without these. Although sadly with the emergence of MacDonald’s and KFC in most Chinese cities many young kids are opting out of eating healthy Chinese breakfasts - even to the extent that these “Little Emperors’/Empresses’” will argue with their parents/grandparents to eat the last remaining Hamburger, or drink a Strawberry Milkshake first thing before school begins (I have seen this with my own eyes many times, and its not nice).

Fresh Breakfast being sold in Shangdi- Beijing

Making of a perfect Chinese Breakfast

Now, I am more than sure that my friend, Ching-He Huang, (In my opinion Ms. Huang has shown the world the true style of native Chinese cooking like no other chef before her), would have a much better way to describe this, but this is my version, and the way I was taught to eat Chinese breakfast! One dish which I have left out of the list is the Congee (稀饭), which is similar to the western Rice porridge. Interestingly enough, the word Congee actually derives from South India from the Tamil word “Kanji”. The beauty of a bowl of Congee is that you can mix it with whatever you like depending on your taste buds and preference. You can make it sweet or spicy. Everyone has their different way of eating a bowl of Congee.

Let’s begin with the large sesame bread, (Da-Bing: 芝麻大餅), which comes in three types: Tasteless (boring and simple), Sweet (preferred by many) and salty (usually sprinkled with spices and sesame). The art of cooking this bread is to simply mix the fermented dough with some butter (Margarine or, Sesame Oil and Sunflower Oil will also do) and when you are happy with the shape of the bread, stick it onto the oven (usually a clay fireplace is used by professional chefs), and bake it into savoury bread.

The Man-Tou (饅頭) can be classed as being one of the Da-Bing, however usually it can just be bought on its own. One portion normally consists of three small or large white buns- resembling a large marshmallow. The Man-Tou is boring, tasteless and quite hard to eat- imagine biting into a hardened cake and you’ll get the idea! Usually people eat a Man-Tou with a flavoured dish (salty or spicy).

The Tang-Yuan (湯圓) consists of sweet or salt flavoured steamed coarse glutinous rice turned into balls the size of Beetroot. They contain a stuffing of deep-fried downy dough sticks; spicy pickles, dried meat for salted ones; and sesame seeds or white sugar for the sweet ones. The sweeter ones are also dipped into syrup- alas this can be too sugary for some people!

The Dou-Jiang (豆漿) is best drank fresh- when I mean fresh I mean that the Soya beans that are used to make the drink have been crushed that very day and mixed with hot water and sugar (if preferred) using a blender. For some people in China it is routine to get up early in the morning and make fresh Dou-Jiang to take to work or to give to their children to take to school/college. The Dou-Jiang you get in the shops and the supermarket (even with powdered Soybean) is not quite as healthy and delicious as the fresh one. The fresh Dou-Jiang is viscous and has a strong aroma of soybeans (just like fresh coffee!). Some shops such as the Circle K-Shop make it fresh as you wait.

I have tried making fresh You-Tiao (油條) a couple of times (I managed somehow). Now some people may have different ways to cook this, but I was taught to neatly blend the fermented dough with some vegetable oil, twist it into long stripes so that it looks like a foot long screw (that’s the best way to describe the spiral shaped bread!), fry it until it turns golden, soft and crispy. Most people eat their breakfast on- the- go (i.e. in the bus, train or car on the way to work). Its inexpensive (you can get fresh hot Dou-Jiang and You-Tiao for around 5RMB in most shops), healthy and delicious!

Oh and, of course, I am talking about eating Chinese Breakfast in China...because Chinese food only tastes good IN China, not in USA, UK etc.

Madeira - The perfect European weekend getaway!

2009-10-14T05:01:00.003+08:00

Overlooking Funchal

Recently I had the pleasure of being invited on an official Press trip to the Madeira Islands, courtesy of the Madeira Tourism Board. I must say that my perception of the place changed once I arrived there. Prior to the visit my thought was that Madeira, also the birthplace of the famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, was on a similar status to, say, Ibiza, Majorca or some of the other Islands which usually attract your average 18-30 clubbers known for drinking (and causing trouble) etc. Thankfully my perceptions were very wrong. Madeira is a very up market destination and is perfectly suitable for honeymooners, young couples, hikers, families and even those who want to retire away in an affluent place. Why is this all so? Well, Madeira has the perfect warm weather all year around, plenty of fresh healthy food is available (seafood, especially Tuna, is in abundance), and lovely locally made wine (the famous Madeira Wine is known the world over). Apart from these core offerings, there are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy walking, diving, snorkeling, fly-fishing or just sun bathing on white sandy beaches surrounded by clear turquoise colored waters. Madeira is also host to the popular Madeira Walking Festival, organised by Terry Marsh (who arranged the whole trip with thanks).

Having been initially discovered by Portuguese sailors around 1420, and located around 500 miles on the south west of Portugal’s coastline is the country’s most beautiful island, Madeira. Although physically the Madeira Islands, which consist of the Island of Madeira and Porto Santo Island, are located close to the African continent (around 300 miles), they are nevertheless culturally, economically, geographically and politically a strong part of Portugal. The Island of Madeira forms the main part of the archipelago, while Porto Santo Island is smaller and quieter. Although tourism on the latter island is steadily growing annually. The Madeira Islands are blessed with spectacular natural landscapes that have earned it the nickname 'Pearl of the Atlantic'.

I flew Business Class with TAP Air Portugal from London Gatwick, and the pleasant non-stop trip took just under 3 hours. There are a few things which distinguish one airline from another, and TAP’s in-flight catering is just exceptional. The food was scrumptious, was provided at the right time and of a 5-star quality. The cabin crew and the rest of the staff (even at Check- In) were very professional. If you are lucky to have a window seat (usually you can specify for one at Check -In even if you are sitting in Economy class), and provided you have a clear view, as I did, then as you approach Madeira, you will come across some wonderful views of the Desertas and also part of the capital of Madeira, Funchal. On final approach, the tight 30 degrees right hand turning into the runway reminded me somewhat of Hong Kong’s former Kai Tak Airport- with the only exception that in Madeira (thankfully) you don’t fly over any residential areas!

View from the peak of Pico Areeiro

During the 5 day trip, I was the guest of two five star hotels (both part of the same group of hotels, The Charming Hotels Group). The first hotel was the luxurious Quinta do Monte, a hotel with an ambiance which makes you feel as if you have gone back to the Colonial days of the British. With stunning views across to the sea and the town of Funchal in the distance, the hotel had everything you would expect from a five star residence. Upon entering my enormous room, I was greeted by the sight of a complimentary bottle of sweet Maderia Wine, some complimentary food and a tempting piece of Bolo de mel (Madeira honey cake). There was also a welcome pack which contained various important leaflets and promotional material for Madeira. One of my colleagues was even luckier to have the VIP Suite, which contained a Jacuzzi and a “living room” connected to his room! The other two days were spent staying at the equally exceptional Quinta das Vistas Palace Gardens, an oasis located near downtown Funchal. If you are arriving back after a long day hiking around places such as Pico Areeiro or Rabaçal, Risco waterfall and 25 Fontes (as I did!); then a good way to relax is to take one of the body massages offered by the highly trained staff at the Quinta das Vistas Palace Gardens. Its well worth it and you will for sure feel revitalized! I highly recommend that one tops this up with a dip in the Jacuzzi or one of the two swimming pools. There’s even a Turkish bath!

The five-star Quinta das Vistas Palace Gardens

Madeira also holds the world record for the biggest coastal fireworks display during the New Year, and for this reason many hotels are fully booked well in advance (we are perhaps talking months before the New Year festivities’). Its only 3 hours away from London and with such good connections to the rest of Europe, there is really nothing stopping anyone who wants to experience a truly wonderful place. It is easy to understand why many European city workers who are tired/stressed from the hustle and bustle of metropolises’ such as Paris, London or Frankfurt, would love to escape for a short relaxing break to Madeira. Even in the winter, there is plenty of warm sun around. I know for sure that after my trip I am very much tempted to go back to Maderia for quite a many weekend breaks.

Quinta das Vistas Palace Gardens

South Africa FIFA World Cup 2010 Travel Tips

2009-10-09T08:22:00.007+08:00

Port Elizabeth

There are three main global events happening in 2010, two of them are in China (Shanghai Expo, and the Asia Games in Guangzhou), while the third is perhaps the world’s biggest stage show in itself, the FIFA Football World Cup 2010 in South Africa. So it's game on then! Unlike most British people, I am not really a hardcore Football fan (well, maybe that’s because of my Indian roots- sadly a country with 1.3 billion people that cannot even produce 11 decent football players; anyways, I’ll leave that discussion for another day!). Nevertheless, it is the world cup after all and it’s the most watched event in the sports calendar, so I would be mad to miss it! I fondly remember staying up until 4am in my Beijing residence to Watch the 2006 World Cup; and oh yes, we still cannot forget that head butt by the great Frenchman Zinedine Zidane (Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the competition prior to the final game).

You bet your bottom dollar I’ll be on the next flight to Johannesburg to support England any day!

Hundreds of thousands of international fans will now be booking their trips to

South Africa

for the World Cup which begins on the 11th of June in the city of Johannesburg. The tournament is set to catch the attention of an anticipated 400 million television viewers globally. So as they say in Zulu Language: Ngiyanemukela! Here is a concise low down on a selection of sights visitors can expect when in South Africa.

Zakumi: The official Mascot of the FIFA 2010 World Cup

World Cup 2010 Venues

Cape Town: The vast majority of users from the PR and Travel Company Holiday Check have put forward a strong recommendation to use the hop-on, hop-off red line bus service as a great way of getting around this bustling, modern city. Just like in London, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Dubai and other cities around the world, passengers are free to get on and off as they like in their own time. The ticket for the whole 2 hour tour costs 100 Rand (around £8.5 GBP) and includes discounts for a range of affiliated attractions. For those who have a bit more time on their hands, they can use the opportunity to wander out of town and head to the “Table Mountain” National Park.

Pretoria: Strangely many people think that Cape Town or Johannesburg is the capital city of this Rainbow Country, but no, in actual fact it is Pretoria. The official capital of South Africa has less to offer in terms of sights than Cape Town, hence why it’s not mentioned much on the international scene. But the matches that will be played in the city’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium will definitely put the capital city on everyones lips. Visitors will be amazed by the city’s Voortrekker or Pioneer's Monument- not as dull as it looks in the photos.

Port Elizabeth: Those on their way to see matches at the massive Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, may like to drop in for a coffee or pre-match drinks at the much celebrated Cafe Brazilia on Humewood Road. The café will sure be busy if Portugal or Brazilare playing at this venue! Port Elizabeth also has some great places to see. For those who want to get a taste of the country's natural treasures should also check out the Tsitsikamma National Park. The park is around 150 miles to the north of the city, however if one has a couple of days to spare then its well worth it. Plenty of photography opportunities’ await you!

Bloemfontein: The beauty of this part of the country is that you can go Safari pretty much close to the town centre. Naval Hill doesn't just offer much of a stunning perspective over the provincial capital; but it's a place where the local giraffes and antelopes are likely to hang around, and greet your cameras. Plus the occasional ostrich will come and say hi to you! For some reason this reminds me of TV chef Keith Floyd when around ten ostriches helped themselves to his freshly fried ostrich omelets.

Pietersburg: With the city renowned for being at the highest altitude, at around 4000 feet above sea level; it will prove quite a challenge for players and the crowds. Another city which is popular with a very beautiful and splendid park, the Polokwane Nature Reserve is a local attraction worth checking out for its wealth of local bird life.

Johannesburg: The city’s two stadiums will host the opening ceremony (12^th May) and the closing ceremony (11^th July); and with just under 100,000 spectators the new Soccer City Stadium is going to be packed. There's a fabulous water park to help you cool off; while there are other attractions as well for children and adults. For those looking to gain an insight into the country's formative past one it is highly recommended that one takes a guided tour through the neighboring township of Soweto. Visitors will come across various pieces of evidence and 'the resistance movement that was eventually to overcome apartheid had its roots in Soweto'. Overall, South Africa has so much to offer in addition to playing host to next year's championships. Many people who come to this beautiful and modern country actually find it hard to realize that they are in Africa. Yes, the affluent areas lie alongside the deprived areas, but you have that in most countries around the world. South Africa is a fast growing economy and a great place for tourists to come and enjoy the beauty and lifestyle!

Like I said at the beginning of this article that I am not a die hard football fan, however since it’s the world cup, you bet your bottom dollar I’ll be on the next flight to Johannesburg to support

England

any day! :-)

I met a scammer - in China

2009-10-07T18:22:00.007+08:00

During the time that I was working in China (for a Chinese company), more often than not I used to have my breakfast, lunch and dinner at one of the company’s fifteen massive cafeterias’ (each cafeteria can accommodate around 1500 people!). It goes without saying that I used to love the company’s Chinese food, especially the breakfast and dinner, however, sometimes in the evenings after work on my way back to my apartment I used to wander into the local Walmart or KFC to retain my western gastronomical interests- not that I was homesick or anything, but just wanted to remind myself of what western food is like!

So on one particular hot and humid evening in August 2005, I happened to set foot into the KFC in Shenzhen (near the Shenzhen Skekou Walmart). While I was waiting for my Chinese style “Chicken Tortilla Wrap”, an African gentleman, perhaps around 50 years old and of a stocky build, was standing in the queue and greeted me. As it goes that in an environment such as China, where all foreigners have something in common (in that we are not Chinese!), so when a foreigner meets a foreigner, you usually start chatting away to each other. I suppose the same analogy goes if two people from the same race or culture meet in any environment that is alien to their own.

So, during our initial conversation over a KFC meal, this gentleman told me that his name was “Jeesan” and that he was a retired South African politician who had come to Shenzhen after failing to contest Thabo Mbeki in the elections. I asked him for his full name, and his response was a bit vague. “I’ll tell you later, don’t worry about that”, he told me while munching away on his KFC Chicken popcorn. That initial meeting did not last long as I had to dash back home; it was already past 10pm (I worked late hours, and used to wake up early to go to work!). We exchanged our mobile phone numbers and parted our ways for the evening. This was probably the turning point of the whole story because later on I was to realize that I wish I had not exchanged mobile numbers with him!

Looking at the paper, I could have easily thrown it in the bin if I had not known what it was.

The next day I got a call from Jeesan at around 9pm just as I was about to leave my office. There was nothing strange or wrong with the conversation, just a normal casual friendly chat about life as a foreigner in China. He told me that he was practicing astrology and that he is living with his Chinese girlfriend in Shenzhen. I did not make a big deal of all these things, even of the “practicing astrology” part. We concluded the conversation by agreeing to meet for a drink near the Shekou Walmart in a week’s time. Sometime during that week I decided to check on the internet if there was anyone by the name Jeesan who had resigned from the South African government- has it happened, there wasn’t anyone named Jeesan who had matched the description of what he told me. I even asked a South African friend of mine and he told me he had never heard of anyone in the South African government of that name. Quite rightly my friend just advised me to be careful in case this “Jeesan” was some scammer or even a fugitive. I brushed such suggestions aside as the guy seemed to pose no direct threat in any verbal or physical way.

For that one week I received no phone call or message from Jeesan, and so I again I was under no impression that this could be something out of the ordinary or weird. Indeed, I had no reason to believe or think in such a way (except that I could not find his name anywhere on the internet!). The following week, I arrived at KFC near Shekou Walmart at around 8.30pm as agreed with Jeesan. At that time KFC was the only real western restaurant which also doubled as a coffee shop, so therefore we ordered some brewed coffee (KFC Style).

I suppose I was taking a gamble when I politely asked him for his real name again, also mentioning that I could not find his name anywhere on the internet. He did not seem to get angry or defensive; instead he coolly and calmly told me that he was protecting himself by using an alterative name. I am not sure what he meant by that. Anyways, then he told me that the reason he wanted to see me was because he has a financial problem, and that when he practices astrology in his apartment, god told him to come and speak to me (Navjot). Now at this point I really wanted to just get up and leave because I just found it hard to swallow in everything he was telling me. Nevertheless, I was just curious, and thought maybe I could dig something up from his words…what was he after? I thought.

“Go on, what is it?” I asked him. At this point he said “Look, let me show you something”; he then took out a black colored rectangular piece of paper, about the size of a US $100 note. Looking at the paper, I could have easily thrown it in the bin if I had not known what it was. In actual fact he told me that it was a genuine US$100 note, but it was black on both sides because it was defaced for security reasons. I still was not sure what he was up to, and just kept observing and listening with curiosity.

Jeesan told me that when International governments transport large amounts of hard currency across the world, they deliberately deface the hard currency with a black colored paint so that if, say for example, the plane gets hijacked than no one can make use of the real money. “So how do you make it normal/usable again?” I asked Jeesan. He allowed me to hold the paper, and asked me to see if I could rub off the paint, and I couldn’t. In my mind I kept thinking if this guy is some kind of magician or something because why is he showing me all this? I don’t have time for this rubbish, I thought to myself. Of course, I did not tell him this upfront. Anyways, at this point he took out a small bottle, perhaps around 20ml in size, containing a colorless liquid that looked just like tap water. He gently poured some of this liquid on the black note, and within seconds the black color faded away on both sides to reveal a perfectly normal (and genuine) US$100 note. He (Jeesan) even took out a fake note detector (small UV Torch) to show me the genuine watermark, and to my shock it was a real note.

The most interesting bit of the conversation came when he told me that he has over US$5 million of defaced hard currency in Beijing (which is a three hour flight north from Shenzhen), and that in order to “clean” this currency he needs to purchase at least ten bottles of 5 liters each of this liquid, which he just used to clean the US$100 note, from the American Embassy in Beijing. I think like any other sane person, I immediately knew where this was leading to, and quite rightly as I had then predicted, he wanted me to pay at least 50,000RMB (About £4,500 or $5,600) so that he could purchase this liquid and then he will give me a share of the US$5 million. I wish I had a Dictaphone or a secret camera with me so I could record the whole demonstration that he was carrying out. Of course, if only I knew that this was the real reason why he called me over for a drink in the first place.

I told him I would consider this offer of his and will get back to him in due course. The following morning I contacted both the American and British Embassies to tell them the story, and neither of the consulates (as I had predicted) had any such information or ever heard of this person called Jeesan- it was confirmed that I had stumbled across a scam. I have heard of scamming e-mails or telephone calls from African countries, but never encountered a real scammer in person (until this moment!). This was so surreal and unexpected. After our second meeting, I received a couple of calls from Jeesan, asking me to come to Beijing and assist with this "Money cleaning" task. I recorded both of those calls and gladly handed over to the authorities; changed my number and prayed I never meet such a person again. I was shocked, and somewhat scared I suppose, because I have never come across this kind of situation before, and did not expect it in China.

However, later I found out that there are a lot of fraud cases of a similar description in China, and almost all of them are originated from African countries. It’s a worrying situation for the Chinese authorities, and by all means, of course, not all African people (or other Foreigners) are like this; but I just wondered why me? Was I an easy target? It’s a mystery to me…

Singapore or Hong Kong? YOU Decide!

2009-09-28T04:13:00.006+08:00

Both Singapore and Hong Kong are tiny, densely populated , and yet so much full of life; Both of these cities are only three hours away from each by flight time other; are well connected with at least 25 daily flights each way; are home to two of the best International airlines in the world, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Singapore International Airlines; are chosen by many Multinationals as the Headquarters for their Asia Pacific Region operations; and both cities are the financial hubs for many banks and equity firms in the Asia Pacific Region.

For any new western business start up or any business leader, the question is almost always, will it be Singapore or Hong Kong? (Of course, the other major option people have is to set up in mainland China or in Hong Kong- but we'll discuss that some other time!).

I personally believe, and I still stand to this point, that Singapore is somewhat like an “Asia for dummies”.

My experience of living and working in both of these Asian cities as an expat has provided me with a privileged insight into their culture, lifestyle and general nature of doing business or travelling in these cities. Both are unique in their own ways. Hong Kong, with an area of around 1,105 km² and a population of around 8 million, goes by the slogan "Asia's World City" because of its diverse mix cultures from all around the world. While Singapore, with an area of only 710.2 sq km and a population just under 5 million is equally diverse in terms of cultures, but more concentrated towards Asian cultures (Especially India, China and Malaysia). There are some people who may argue that it is indeed Singapore which should hold the title of "Asia's World City" because of its rich combination of Indian, Chinese and Malay population living side-by-side in harmony with each other. This argument is understandable when one observes that in Hong Kong you won't get a national holiday for Diwali (Hindu festival), Hari Raya (Islamic Festival), or even Vesak Day (Buddhist Festival); but in Singapore you will.

I personally believe, and I still stand to this point, that Singapore is somewhat like an “Asia for dummies”. This is not a criticism about the country but rather an observation. Let me explain: If someone is flying from Europe to, say as an example, Australia or New Zealand, they are more than likely to stop over in either Hong Kong or Singapore (not discounting other Asian destinations of course). Now say that person has never been to other parts of Asia, and if Singapore is their first destination in Asia, they will get to experience some of the places of interests in Singapore, such as Little India, Arab Street and China Town (all of which have the strong ambiance of their respective cultures…so when you are in Little India- it actually feels as if you are in India and not Singapore, and so on). So it will give the visitors a taste of Asian cultures and cities. Singapore (or Singaporeans in general) actually thinks of itself as an island of modernity in a backward part of Asia. This may be true, but it is one of the most modern cities in Asia, and one of the fastest transformations that happened from being a developing country to a developed country all within a space of around 40 years.

There are number of things which single out Singapore from Hong Kong. Singapore is one of the cleanest countries in the world (Chewing gum, smoking, spitting and shouting loudly are just some of the “habits” that are illegal in public places), plus the air is so much cleaner than in Hong Kong (sorry Hong Kongers…its true); its modern and its multi-cultural ambiance where, as an example, Malays happily celebrate Chinese and Indian festivals; and vice-versa. So if you ever want to experience true racial harmony, Singapore is the place for you!

Equally well, there are a number of things which single out Hong Kong from Singapore, such as its vibrant fast pace and strong fusion of Chinese (Cantonese) and English cultures that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. Singapore's strong Chinese culture speaks Mandarin (like elsewhere in the world) with a Hokkien dialect (Fújiànhuà), unlike in Hong Kong where Cantonese is the primary language.

If I was to pick out something unique about Hong Kong, it would most certainly be that Hong Kong seems to have an edge for the manufacturing industry because of its close proximity to China. Most foreign business persons also find the advantage of living in the “International” environment of Hong Kong while having their manufacturing base in Mainland China. There are a number of companies which have moved to Singapore because they see it being cheaper than Hong Kong, but the harsh reality is that Singapore is not a large country, so space is a big problem.

On the whole both Singapore and Hong Kong are beautiful, diverse, full of rich culture, and energetic. If it came to a personal choice, I would say that Hong Kong is a great city to visit, do business in and explore; but it would be Singapore that I would choose to live in. This is because of two reasons: Less Pollution in Singapore (you are bound to see a clear blue sky in Singapore around 80% of the year according to my personal experience, but in Hong Kong that figure may be like 40% of the year); and Singapore is slightly cheaper than Hong Kong in terms of the cost of living.

It comes down to personal choice. In terms of tourism, both Singapore and Hong Kong are incredibly great, and can easily be explored within three to four days (maybe a little longer for Hong Kong). I still miss those days when I used to commute on business between Singapore and Hong Kong on a regular basis. If there was a direct comparison between the two cities to those in the west, I would say that Singapore would the Los Angeles, while Hong Kong would resemble Manhattan, New York. Since 2008 Singapore has been one of the newest venues for the FORMULA 1, with the “SingTel Singapore Grand Prix” being held at the new Marina Bay Street Circuit, and was also the first night-time event in Formula One history. It would be great fun to see if Hong Kong can also host the Formula 1 championship race. Punters would get the best of both cities. :-)

The Death of the Bicycle in China | The Mantle

2009-09-22T21:47:00.002+08:00

The Death of the Bicycle in China | The Mantle

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India and China: Neighbours, Global economic powerhouses...but are they really friends with each other?

2009-09-19T17:12:00.017+08:00

It goes without saying that most Indian and Chinese people would not even explore the idea of integrating with each other’s cultures. It’s a historical thing, one which goes back to the early 19th century. Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945), an Indian nationalist leader, formed alliances with the Japanese during the second world war against the British and other oppressors of India, and even in Hong Kong, the Sikhs (who traditionally have been recruited into the Hong Kong Police or the armed forces) joined in with the Japanese forces. This alliance which the Indians (most of whom were Sikhs in Hong Kong and Shanghai at that time) made with the Japanese angered the local Cantonese people so much that since then there has always been a certain amount of sentiment between the Indian and Chinese communities in Hong Kong (and the rest of China for that matter)

One may question that these old thoughts may have been forgotten by the modern generation of Hong Kong people, however, according to Roger Houghton, a former Hong Kong police officer and British writer who has resided in the former British Colony for over 35 years says that these old sentiments get passed on from one generation to another. Even to the extent that sometimes Chinese elders discourage their grandchildren to make friends with Indian people. This may be a contributing factor, however, another factor is skin colour, and it is a well known fact that some Chinese people openly discriminate people of Indian origin (this is certainly true for some Cantonese people), and that includes every dark skinned person from the Middle East down to Burma, simply because these people have brown skin and smell of strong spices (of course, not everyone). There is reluctance amongst Hong Kong property owners to rent to Indians but that is more commercial than racial. Indian cuisine tends to penetrate the wallpaper and rugs and imbue the apartment with a spicy smell. When the Indian family leaves the residence, all these fittings have to be replaced. I believe it does not go any further than that. Nevertheless, Mr. Houghton explains that this attitude towards skin and smell were initially apparent in the first opium war. Also in Hong Kong, the sad fact is that the majority of Indians, Pakistanis and Nepalis do labor jobs, such as being doorman to hotels, or even the exceedingly annoying touting that goes around Tsim Sha Tsui doesn't really assist in improving their image much among Cantonese people.

On the whole things are gradually changing for good, however say, even five years ago it would have been common practice on a Hong Kong MTR train that if the only empty seat on the train were next to a seated Indian person, then no Chinese person would dare sit on that seat, no matter how tired they may be. It’s an extreme example, but one that is based on facts (and from what I have seen with my own eyes). India and China were also at a brief war in 1962, and one of my late grandfathers’, who was a Commander in the Indian Army, fought against the Chinese in that war. I doubt history will repeat itself for both China and India cannot afford to make enemies with anyone in the current global economic and political climate. I still treasure a black & white photo of him standing along side a Chinese Army Captain on the Ladakh border station in the snowy terrain holding the Indian flag; likewise his counterpart is holding the Chinese flag. I am not sure what his thoughts would be now, if he knew that his grandson is actually encouraging foreigners to visit China for business and tourism! Indeed India and China, who share the world’s largest border (from Bhutan to the northern part of Kashmir), have been scratching each other’s backs for centuries over the border dispute. I remember my late grandfather used to tell me that since times in memorial, India has always been a close friend with Japan and Russia. I realized this as I grew up. But we must all accept that times are changing. Since 2005, India and China have held a number of joint Navy, Air Force and Army military exercises to boost friendship.

Above: India-China Border at Ladakh in the Himalayas

Another interesting observation I made while I was in China was that there are a growing number of non-Chinese news presenters, and actors who speak, quite adequately, Cantonese or Mandarin. Mr. Houghton goes on to explain: “There is a young Cantonese-speaking Indian chap who started appearing in the soaps on TVB last year. His attitudes and expressions are typically Chinese in flavor but it is a step in the right direction. He has a heavy beard and clearly shaves immediately before each filming session. Even the fan kwai is getting a better reception these days. There is an Australian named Rivers, another fluent Cantonese speaker, who regularly appears on TVB. He tends to get type-cast as the evil foreign crooked businessman but at least he is a real foreigner not a Cantonese with a false beard and eyebrows who formerly represented foreigners.”

The thing that links these two TV chaps is language-ability and I think that is mainly the test for local acceptance but, query, the Sindhis all speak Cantonese tolerably well and they are not a popular group. I suspect that may be because of their demanding standards in commerce – they are skilled negotiators and difficult to make a profit with. It is also the case they are socially exclusive and rather seclude their women.

Try asking an Indian person to eat their Chapatti using chopsticks, or likewise, try asking a Chinese person to dip an Indian Chapatti into their dim-sum!!

Neighbors they may be, but India and China might as well be miles apart when it comes to cultural differences. The food, the language, the customs, the general attitude towards each other’s people and the lifestyle is nothing short of being similar. Although with the emergence of the dot.com boom in the year 2000 and the boom of trade between the two countries has somewhat brought a change to attitudes, nevertheless there are still the “old school” differences which the older generation adhere to. In certain countries where multicultural ethos is encouraged and practised as part of daily life, such as in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, the Indians have integrated quite well into the local environment. Even to the extent that there are a considerable number of inter-racial marriages between Chinese and Indian couples, however, in places like Hong Kong and China it’s not that common.

Usually the common signs of positive relations between any two countries are signaled by transportation links, especially with air and land. In 2006 Air China commenced services to India with a direct flight from Beijing to New Delhi (with a stop in Kathmandu), while Air India, India’s flag carrier, commenced operations from both Beijing and Shanghai for the first time in history. Since 2007, Jet Airways has also been operating a non-stop flight to Shanghai from Mumbai.

Sino-India relations are not just restricted to the political and industrial corporation, but also in the general friendship between the people of these two communities. Apart from the two main differences of language and culture between China and India, there are differences in the corporate world. For example when doing business in either country, surprisingly many CEOs believe that China is an open economy because the government welcomes foreign investment but that India is a relatively closed economy because of the feeble reception the Indian government gives to foreign corporations. Engaging in best practices for your business in an emerging market like India or China depends where your presence is set. For example, even though it is easier for multinationals to set up a presence in China than in India, the advantage that a newcomer to India has over China is that the local executives are more “internationally aware” than their counterparts in China, and this will make things easier for western executives. Both countries have realized this in time.

Out of the thousands of Indians in China, more than 15,000 Indian students are attracted to China’s education system by its affordable fees as well as the high quality of standards’ offered by the country’s educational establishments. Majority of Indians choose to study Medicine, not just western but also specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, which they make full use of when they return to India. The strong aspiration to learn Mandarin in China is also an attraction for most Indian students. Likewise there are just over 38,000 Chinese nationals living and working in Indian cities, mainly in Mumbai and Delhi. Kolkata is home to one of the largest Chinese communities in India. Although the majority of Chinese living here are Indian born; and regards themselves more Indian than Chinese.

Yoga is widely becoming admired in China, especially in Shanghai. There are approximately 450 native Indian yoga trainers who have made China their second home. Because of the hectic work lifestyle of the middle class in the major cities in China, after work, as part of the culture, most people usually relax themselves with a head, body or foot massage, or go to the beauty salon. However since the introduction of Yoga into the country, people are now increasingly seeing this as a trendy activity to pursuit, mostly in the evenings or at lunchtime.

One important aspect close to people of both cultures is the food. A few years ago it used to be the case that both Indians and Chinese people were not accustomed to each other’s cuisines. However all of this is changing as there are over 120 Indian restaurants in China but try asking an Indian person to eat their Chapatti using chopsticks, or likewise, try asking a Chinese person to dip an Indian Chapatti into their dimsum!!.

The general consensus is that both Chinese and Indian people are beginning to recognize, appreciate and take an interest in each other’s cultures. I remember, even as far aback as 2005, at being surprised to see an Indian TV serial being screened on China’s state operated CCTV8 every evening. Despite it being dubbed in Mandarin, it, nevertheless, would have brought a smile to any Indian expat’s face- perhaps also an excuse to learn Chinese in an interesting way! It will be trade that brings the parties together. It would be great if the sporting switch could also be used but I am not aware it has yet. The great mass of Chinese in the interior and Indians in the villages may not be aware of change for half a century but it should occur quite quickly in the towns and spread from there.

"Shanghai - A lion that has woken up" - Dr. Chan Cheng

2009-09-06T06:10:00.011+08:00

I only started going to China in 2002 and at that time the world was just starting to realize that China (and India as well) is destined to become a strong economic threat to the west. Of course I was shocked to see how modern China was when I first went there. With those observations, I am always curious of what China may have looked like prior to the 1980s. I have met a number of former Red Army Soldiers and Government Party Officials who have told me that even today they are still very much proud to wear the traditional Mao suit and Mao Cap; and prior to the early 1980s there were hardly any advertising billboards, very few people had a television (and those that did were communist party members and the TV was only Black & White), there was no such thing as fashion because everyone wore the same dark blue suits, plus there were hardly any cars on the streets.

Of course, for those of us who have not experienced this lifestyle, it is very hard to believe all of this when you see all the technology in China these days. One thing I do fondly remember from the late 1990s, and this may be a sign of how things are changing, is that there was a surge of rich Chinese students from the mainland coming to study to the UK. Even when I graduated from Dulwich College in 1998, all of the Chinese borders were from Hong Kong; and compare that to, say, the present moment, where the vast majority of the Chinese borders studying at English Public Schools are from the mainland, not from Hong Kong. Even at British Universities, the number of Chinese (and Indian) students is rising as shown here. So, it’s now a well known fact that China and India are becoming rich (or Chinese and Indian people rather!), nevertheless, it’s always fascinating to known the real insight and viewpoint from someone who has seen the growth at first hand, right from the early 1920s to the present moment.

Recently I had the honour of having lunch with the much respected Dr. Chan Cheng, who is the Hon. Director of Board of Trustees of Nanjing University, and the President of the China Re-unification Society, to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was an inspiration to listen to his experience of what life in Shanghai was like in the 1930s and 1940s. And when you compare what he told me to what one may see on a 20 minute walk down in, say, Pudong, you immediately appreciate that we should not just take everything in modern China for granted, but to understand that there were those who fought hard for this success. Here is an e-mail which I received from Dr. Cheng, and with his kind permission I would like to share it. It perfectly sums up everything that we observe in 21st Century China.
“
Dear Navjot
Many thanks for your email and kind invitation.
Here is my viewpoint:
Shanghai was among several British and French concessions in China during the 1920s. As these were governed and occupied by foreign powers, the law served to protect foreign interests. The Chinese were second class citizens, seen as beneath the colonials. This was mainly due to an incompetent government.
Today, Shanghai can be compared to a lion that has just woken up. It is a global financial centre brimming with sky scrapers. It is also the world's largest holder of foreign currencies. The Chinese government has been remarkably successful in guiding the country to global leadership status. This was most recently highlighted during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Kind regards
Chan Cheng
“

A Poem dedicated to China's rapid economic development!

2009-08-31T01:50:00.007+08:00

The Builders in Guangzhou

The builders were constructing a flat,
I could hear them from where I slept,
The flat was being constructed at two in the morning,
So I ended up from Yawning to Frowning,
The digging was loud and nearby,
All I could do is but try to sleep here and sigh,
There was loud noise outside,
I wished I could find some place to hide.

I LOVE "Propaganda" in Beijing!

2009-08-30T22:36:00.002+08:00

When I used to live in Beijing, without a doubt my favorite bar was "Propaganda" located just behind the WuDaoKou railway station (Next to Subway Sandwiches- you cannot miss it). There are a handful of authentic Korean and Japanese bars and restaurants in this area. Wu Dao Kou has a significant number of Korean and Japanese expats, as well as foreign students because of its proximity to Tsinghua and Beijing Universities.

Its just one of those amazing places- the ambiance is one that has a typical feel of ancient China to it, both with the background classical instrumental music of the stringed "Zheng", and the pre-war style decorated atmosphere- Propaganda is just one of those places where you can while away the time with a cold Chinese beer and snacks. The beauty of it is that you can sit in the relaxed atmosphere inside, and watch (if you prefer "People watching"!) life just go by across the window. This part of WuDaoKou reminded me a little bit of some areas of New Delhi. The only difference being that in WuDaoKou you had everything that you may see in New Delhi except there were no cows or donkeys crossing the railway line!

Xiangshan Gongyuán- My favorite park in Beijing

2009-08-30T21:22:00.003+08:00

www.ebeijing.gov.cn/

Xiangshan Gongyuán (meaning Fragrant Hills Park) is located about 30 km to the northeast of Beijing’s centre. Less frequently visited by foreign tourists, Xiangshan is a beautiful park with at least five pathways leading to its peak (approx 550m), from where, on a clear day, you can get a breathtaking view of Beijing. It takes about two hours to walk up to the peak, and along the way are many temples, lakes and pagodas that have historical significance.

The park was built in the Jin Dynasty (1186). The park is open all year around but the best time to visit it is in autumn, when all the leaves turn red/orange colour and it will just leave you mesmerized.

Beijing Zhíwùyuán (Beijing Botanical Gardens), are located next to the foot of Xiangshan. It's a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and would be ideal for anyone who wants to while away their time in beautiful surroundings, including the greenhouse and a special rose garden that contains at least five types of rose flower. Quite romantic too!

After spending the day at Xiangshan Gongyuán and Beijing Zhíwùyuán, it would provide a nice ending to the day if you visited the town of Wu Dao Kou - an area near the Tsinghua and Beijing Universities, popular with tourists, foreign students and expats alike. There are a myriad of restaurants of all different types of cuisines (including Indian, Italian and Mexican). There are also some nice Japanese and Korean restaurants where you can drink authentic Japanese or Korean beer over a nice meal.

I would recommend that you set aside a whole day to explore both Xiangshan Gongyuán and Beijing Zhíwùyuán (including travelling to/from the city centre, which takes about 30 minutes by taxi, costs approx 50 RMB from Beijing city centre). It takes an hour by the many buses that run between the city centre and Xiangshan, if you are adventurous, but costs only 6RMB one way. Wu Dao Kou is located within 30 minutes of the city centre, and has a metro station (on line 13 from Xizhimen) and is easy to get from the botanical gardens by taxi (about 20 minutes and costs approx 30-40RMB).

All taxi drivers will understand you when you mention the names of the places, as they are written above.

Never forget Beijing- 8th of August 2008. But, where was I on this day?

2009-08-28T06:15:00.001+08:00

Today, the 27th of August 2009, marks the one year anniversary of the conclusion of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. In my heart and mind, it still feels like yesterday- time has just flown by. The sad thing is, and perhaps one of the regrets of my life so far, that I was not able to go to Beijing to witness the Olympics at firsthand. Fate just did not allow me to go, I was too busy with my corporate life in London. Some of you may read this description and see it as an excuse, but its not. I have a special affection with two cities in China, one is Guangzhou, and the other is Beijing.

Beijing was MY HOME for just over 2 years from 2004, and I wished I was there for more than that. I still remember the days when I used to cycle from my home in Shangdi district (Qi Er Xi) to Wu Dao Kou near the Tsinghua University campus. I miss those days soo much. If ever I had the power to turn back time, I would definitely rewind back to re-live those days! I spent the 8th of August 2008 preparing for the conference speech which I had the following day, and only got to watch the ceremony briefly later that day.

Earlier today in London, at a lunch meeting to mark the one year anniversary of the closing of the Beijing Olympics, I was fortunate enough to discuss about the London 2012 Olympics with the former Olympic Champion Tessa Sanderson. Tessa, who is playing a high profile role in training new talent for the London 2012 Olympics, told me that the London Olympics is going to be the best games staged ever, and everything is well on course for a superb opening in 2012. Hopefully I will be at the London 2012 Olympics...although I am not sure what I'll make of it if by chance I end up being in China during the London 2012 Olympics!!

Today is the festival of 七夕節 (QiXi)- or "Chinese Valentines Day"

2009-08-26T22:19:00.011+08:00

To the rest of the world most probably it is just another ordinary day, but in China and most SE Asian countries where Chinese festivals are celebrated, today, the "26th of August 2009" is the Chinese equivalent of St Valentine’s day. More formally it is known in Mandarin as the Qi Xi Festival (translated into "The Night of Sevens"), and falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar; hence its name. Always on a different day every year.

There is no official holiday in China, but let it be known that most restaurants are fully booked well in advance, and all couples (especially the males!) have to make it a commitment for a romantic date, either at home for dinner or outside at a restaurant. State media also have special television shows dedicated with the theme of romance. CCTV1, the national television channel (as well as many local provincial channels as well), air a special Blind date show for young viewers. If you are in China for the first time and are confused at the sight of a large number of couples holding roses in the middle of August, usually red or white; and also if you are unable to get a seat at most good restaurants, then at least I hope now you know the reason why! There are many stories which explain the meaning for this day.

Fond memories of Guangzhou as well, on the banks of the Pearl River where many young (and sadly poor) children roam around with bunches of small Roses in their hands, eagerly looking for any couples to whom they can sell the Rose flowers to. Festivals such as the QiXi are the perfect occasion for these children to make as much profit as possible. As soon as they see any couple approaching, some of the children can even climb onto the people's legs, determined to hold on as tightly as possible until the person buys the flowers from them. It can be a shocking experience for anyone who would not imagine that a young child (maybe under the age of 10) would be so desperate to sell a Rose flower worth only 3RMB (Approx £0.20 pence), that they would not let go of your leg until you pay them money or purchase the flower. It's not nice to see and experience. These children must be under great pressure to make as much money as possible, and maybe they don't even get to keep that money. It's so ironic that on such a day of love and laughter, that one has to come across this scene on the banks of a romantic river. You just wish there is no poverty in this world....anyways coming back to the main subject...

I remember being told that in some parts of Guangxi Province, young women offered fruit and cakes to pray for a alert mind. While in other provinces there are girls who would do weaving and handcrafts. Overall it’s a great day to enjoy good Chinese food!

2002年我的第一次旅行向中国….并且如此开始的旅途 (My first trip to CHINA in 2002- including Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai)

2009-08-26T06:24:00.007+08:00

Monks at the Six Banyan Temple in Guangzhou
On the afternoon of Friday the 23rd of February 2002 (it was also my sisters birthday), I left Loughborough for Heathrow giving myself of what I thought would be ample time, in the hope that I would be able to join my parents and sister for a short dinner at the airport terminal before leaving on the 13 hour evening flight with British Airways to Hong Kong. It just so happened that I arrived late (as always I do for my flights!), had no time to think about any long good-byes let alone a dinner; and ended up running for the departure gate (as always). Its a bad habit of mine, running at airports to catch my flight at the last minute, irrespective if I am on a business or pleasure trip...however, remarkably I have never missed a flight (YET).

Perhaps the greatest trip of my life so far because I had done so much preparation to understand the culture, the language (although I could not even say "Hello" in Chinese) and the food...but I am not exaggerating. In actual fact the whole week seemed like a long dream because everything happened so quickly. I completed my final exam in the morning in the (annoyingly) wet and windy Loughborough; and 24 hours later I was on a night cruise on the Pearl River in the middle of Guangzhou, and it was like, I have to make the most of this trip because I am only here for seven days. When you are so far away for such a short time, not knowing if you will ever go back to the place again in the future, then there should be a second wasted. So effectively everyday seemed like a great dream because I saw so many things in such a small amount of time. It was amazing.

First impressions of China?

China is a very beautiful country, one which has so much to offer but does not normally get the chance to show off its true inner self to the outside world- what do I mean by this? Well, there are those who question if it is still a friend or foe, there are also lots of biased points against (and some, of course, for) China’s policies. Media can be a wrong source for digesting a destination’s good and bad points because not all media is full of positive points. For example, the coverage of the Beijing Olympics (as an example), I believe was not covered in a well balanced way. I use factual data to take wherever I go (like for example from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website). Of course, one does not expect a simple and smooth approach to life from a country which is still considered by some hard-line economists as a sleeping dragon that is too ambitious...the obvious answer to this statement would be that even Rome was not built in one day.

It goes without saying that the cultural differences do not hit you when you land in Hong Kong (as most of its’ colonial British feel is somewhat fading away at a slow pace- for many it’s still a home away from home). There used to be a saying among the English, “If you cannot make it in London, then go to Hong Kong”, however, even though Hong Kong has a “International” feel to it, that statement would no longer stand as the former colony is now, of course, part of China. Nevertheless, the real culture shock would hit anyone once they cross the border into the mainland. Shenzhen is the city that borders Hong Kong and at that time had only 2 border crossing, one at Huanggang and the other at LoWu.

From Hong Kong, once I crossed the border I took the Guang-Shen train straight to the capital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou. If I just say that “China is amazing and full of so many surprises that one cannot just sum up the whole picture in one go”, that would be a common statement these days because so many people have experienced the country, but then in 2002, for me, those were the first words that came out of my mouth. China has of course a lot of similarities with its neighbours (namely Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, India etc), and like any Asian country which is moving from the developing stage into a newly industrialised stage, it has the good points, the bad points and the unmentionable ones- and that’s not too difficult to observe.

A short ride on one of the many local buses will open your eyes immediately; you may be travelling in a very affluent area at one point, and then suddenly you may come across a highly deprived neighbourhood. An extreme example as it may seem, but just imagine you are driving through the suburbs of a busy western city like London one minute and then suddenly you are travelling through the shanty towns of, say an economically deprived rural village, and a minute later you are suddenly back into the affluent area (vice-versa). There may be many places in the world where such contrasts exist, but to see it in the flash and blood is a unique experience. Watching something on the television or reading about it on the internet is not quite the same as experiencing it in real life.

Then there are also the minor but important downsides from living in the world’s fastest growing economy: China is also a VERY noisy country, especially in the big cities (Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai), for example it is considered normal to use the drill or do heavy construction at 2am in the morning or even all night! If you are in London and you have noisy neighbours, I bet nothing is more annoying than having a drill go off almost all night long.

China is also the world's largest consumer of alcohol so it is no surprise that if your neighbours (irrespective if it is a hotel or home) are heavy drinkers, then they will sure keep you awake all night with loud shouting and arguing over Mah-jong or any card games which they be playing. It may be quite and then suddenly you hear a loud “Arrrgggg” (of course, indicating that someone has won the Mah-Jong equivalent of the national lottery!).

China is also the worlds largest market for tobacco, therefore it is no surprise that you will be exposed to smoke everywhere because people smoke in Internet cafes, restaurants, cafes, buses...and if you don't smoke (like myself) then you are going to find it just that little bit challenging!

If you are in the workplace (corporate culture defines a very different meaning in China as compared to say a more "International" environment such as London, Hong Kong), then you will be exposed to things such as the "normality" of answering you mobile phone in the middle of a corporate meeting/presentation and even a formal Interview!

What about the culture, the people and those Famous Chinese Restaurants?

While it is quite difficult for a lone western tourist to get around and speak English with the locals, the people are very friendly and assisting. Over in the border in Hong Kong it is more of a relaxed approach towards foreigners because of the reason that Hong Kong is multicultural (and maybe because there are too many people), however that is not the case in the mainland. You do get a lot of respect and VIP treatment as a foreigner in China.

To some extent it's an advantage to be a foreigner in the mainland because you get treated in a much better way. I mean as an example I remember popping into a local sweet shop (nothing more different then a newsagent in the UK), and as soon as they saw me entering the shop, they were so eager (not pushy or anything) to lend a hand or get me to buy anything. Now I can imagine that kind of hospitality would seldom be seen towards a tourist in the UK- of course there are good places and bad places everywhere. That’s just one simple example, and also another one is that people are most willing to learn English.

The Chinese food you get in your local takeaways’ in the UK is nothing compared to what you get over there in China, of course that’s the same with all other foreign foods I hear you say, but the experience is totally different. You simply have to taste it to believe it. The most wonderful thing about seafood in Chinese restaurants is that it’s FRESH and you can choose what to eat straight from the fish tanks!

Food, especially when it comes to eating out at Dinner time, is a very important part of the Chinese lifestyle- and even more "fashionable" in Guangzhou because of the variety of seafood available here.

Restaurants in general within the UK are nothing compared to what you will see in Guangzhou or for that matter the whole of China, it brings out a whole new meaning to eating out. The competition can be so fierce in some cases that some of the best seafood restaurants in Guangzhou are similar in size to four story buildings, which usually tend to have their own Karaoke Bars (a must to try even if you do not speak the language and a popular pastime of the locals).

Chinese tea...and did I hear someone say night zoo?

One of the highlights of my trip was going to see a zoo at night (yes.. a night zoo). A unique experience which is seldom seen in the west..with all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures. Not only a zoo but mix that with a night circus, a laser disco show, and a whole load of water acrobats show which consisted of the Chinese water sports Olympic team...so it was more like a huge funfair but at nighttime..quite impressive actually. Sounds too good to believe.

Moving on from night zoos...lets talk about something which is a bit more of a common thing in China...Tea! Apart from India and Sri Lanka, China is the world largest exporter of the stuff...and its pretty much quite hard to avoid...leaving China without trying at least 4 or 5 different types of tea would be a comparable to leaving Scotland without trying whiskey. If its your first time drinking Chinese tea, you would be immensely surprised to know that it has no taste just sweet smell, nevertheless after a week of trying the stuff- day in day out, it felt soo good that I got put off drinking English tea altogether!

This one week’s trip was my first trip to China and just about when I thought that maybe this would be also my last time to go there, I was fortunate enough to have been offered a contract position as a Graduate Sales Engineer with Philips Semiconductors in Shenzhen, China. This was indeed an exciting opportunity, so much for my fate that I have been in China ever since and never looked back.

2004年我的第一次旅行向北京 (My first trip to Beijing in 2004)

2009-08-26T04:43:00.016+08:00

The gateway to the Forbidden city in Beijing

It was just coming towards the end of September 2004 and I had been in China for just over a month. The Chinese Mid-autumn festival (Moon Cake Festival) was approaching and all of my colleagues were going on vacation during that week. I had so many choices ranging from Thailand, India, Singapore and cities within China. Nevertheless in the end I chose to visit the capital city, Beijing. This was my first trip to a Chinese city outside of Guangzhou and I couldn’t wait to get going. Booking flights and accommodation was bit of an experience for me for a number of reasons; firstly I could not speak Chinese so I could not join a tour and secondly most places were fully booked because of the peak holiday season…I also felt a bit guilty that I had always relied upon friends and colleagues to translate for me and that’s when I also started making a serious effort at learning Mandarin.
In the end I decided that I was going with a tour group however I was only to stay at the same hotel as them, everything else I decided to do it myself as I am a fond tourist and quite an adventurer anyways.
I remember that even though it was the first week of October, the air in Guangzhou was still quite warm and humid on the morning of my departure date. Hurrying to the airport in a rush I finally managed to find my tourist group, who, like most tour groups in China, were carrying bright saffron coloured triangular flags. After the three hour morning flight on a China Southern Airlines Boeing 757-200 aircraft, I finally arrived at Beijing Capital Airport where the temperature was almost freezing and the air was dry with little humidity, which was much fresher than the highly humid and sticky Guangzhou that I had left nearly 4 hours behind me in the south- suddenly it seemed as if I had come to a different country! However, the truth was that for the next five days every experience, every sound and every smell and every taste would echo loudly in my ear that I’ve arrived somewhere magical, somewhere special…and even the cold temperatures didn’t deter me from enjoy moment of it.

This is the beauty of being in China I suppose that because it’s such a massive country that you are bound to come across not just different cultures however different climates as well considering if you travel from east to west or from north to south; and vice versa. Of course as a first time visitor to a country or a city so far away, like most tourists, I found Beijing to be a great place to be in, and I wished I could stay there forever...rather see it with my eyes than keep it in my heart I’d say.

Whenever I’m in Beijing I feel like I am in the real ancient China because you are always surrounded by a bit of history which ever street or building you are in, and amazingly unlike the rest of China, even though Beijing is becoming more modernized, nevertheless it still treasures a rich past; one which is to be proud of. The people are nice, the food is scrumptious and the sights are truly more than just breathtaking…from my personal experience no visit to China is complete without paying a visit to this ancient seat of power and tradition!

Before arriving here my knowledge of this splendid city was quite poor, indeed I had heard and seen the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square on various media coverage in the UK and I suppose this made me want to discover those places of interest even more than before. I had five days and four nights to explore the place where thousands of years of history were waiting to be absorbed.

After checking into the splendid Renaissance Beijing Hotel in the Yanshan area (Chaoyang District), I headed off with the tour group to Beihai Park for a brief one hour visit before attending dinner at the world famous Quan Ju De Roast Duck (Beijing Duck) Restaurant on 32 Qianmen St (of course not only the oldest restaurant which has been visited by worldwide diplomats and dignitaries, however also very special because of the unique taste of the Beijing Duck that it has); more often than not it’s renowned to be the mother of all Duck restaurants in China! With this in mind it wasn’t at all surprising to observe that it was busy indeed; luck was on my side when the waitress, dressed in an elegant Chinese Traditional costume (Qí Páo, 旗袍), lead us to our reserved room. The chef brought the freshly roasted duck and served it in front of us…and I must say there is nothing quite like it! That crispy taste mixed with bamboo shoots and soy sauce is a sheer luxury and the art of real Chinese cuisine.

After the scrumptious meal we gently strolled across to the fascinating Tiananmen Square, to witness the largest square in the world. For me it was like a dream come true, I had seen it on television many times but I never imagined it would be as big as it is. The famous portrait of the great Chairman Mao still looks on from the front gate of the Forbidden City. It was an amazing moment; just standing in the middle of the square makes you feel and think that this is something really special. Be it day or night, it’s probably not only the largest but also one of the most beautiful and romantic squares in the world.

From day two onwards I was going to travel on my own without the tour party. I had an early breakfast, naturally Chinese, with fresh warm Soybean milk (Dòu jiāng, 豆浆), a white bun made with Cow’s milk along with a sweet egg yolk mixture inside it (奶黄包, Nǎi Huáng Bāo) and a long bread stick with butter (Yóu tiáo,油条). I had pre-arranged to meet one of my Chinese friends who had been kind enough to accompany me to the Forbidden City where 24 Chinese emperors ruled China for over 600 years.

Being in the forbidden city makes you feel as you have step back in time, the remarkable feeling is that I was walking on the same piece of ground that those emperors had been walking on…of course some parts are still the same and some have been renovated. We strolled through the main gates and into Tiananmen Square itself. During the day time it is quite beautiful. I felt lucky to have met Chairman Mao in his Mausoleum; however, we did not talk much (!). I also got the chance to observe the stunning Arts Museum in the square.

The afternoon was spent shopping at the long Wangfujing Dajie for souvenirs before departing to a Beijing bazaar to do window shopping as well have dinner in one of the many local eateries!

Day three: I was going to spend time at the Great Wall (Badaling) in the morning and then the Ming Tombs in the afternoon. The cost of the transportation and tour guide (Chinese Speaking) for the whole day was only 50RMB, this included traveling from Qianmen Gate in the centre of Beijing to Badaling Great Wall, about 2 hours drive in the north of the capital; then to the Ming Tombs, visiting a Beijing Duck factory and a handicraft factory on the way from Great wall to the Ming Tombs and finally visiting a traditional Chinese herbal medicine clinic/museum on the way back to the city centre in the evening.

After weeks of planning I finally arrived at the Great Wall of China. Snaking its way through the lush green mountain tops, it was just like a dream come true for me to even step foot on this speculate of the humankind. Just looking at it makes you wonder how much hard work must have gone into constructing such a marvel. No matter how differently I want to describe the Great Wall before the millions who have before me, I cannot think of any other words except that it simply is a “Magical place”.

Two hours was not enough to absorb the exquisiteness of the place. We made our way to one of the 13 grand Ming Tombs and on the way paid a visit to a Duck factory, where on one side of the factory you see the alive ducks, while on the other side of the factory you see the roasted ones…quite attention-grabbing indeed…each prepared to sheer perfection. Here you can get your hands on all things to do with a Beijing Duck; everything ranging from duck meat sweets (!) to preserved duck food and soups…ironically the only thing you cannot purchase is an alive duck itself!

Then we arrived at the Ming Tombs themselves. Situated here are the tombs of 13 of the 16 Ming Dynasty emperors. Dragon Hill lies to the east and Crouching Tiger Hill to the west. The first emperor to be buried here was Yongle who died in 1424. His tomb, Chang Ling, and that of Emperor Zhu Yijun, Ding Ling, who died in 1620, are the only two opened to visitors today. One of the more impressive sights at the Ming Tombs is the Sacred Way. The Sacred Way runs for about a kilometre and is flanked on both sides by carvings of human and animal figures. There are 12 large stone human figures and 24 of animals, all carved from single blocks of granite in 1435 during the 10th year of the reign of Emperor Xuan De. I spent the evening enjoying the renowned Peking Hot Pot dinner in the city centre.

Day four: I went to the Temple of Heaven in the morning, while the rest of the day was spent looking at the Summer Palace (and you need more than half a day for this!). Words are not enough to describe the exquisiteness and peaceful ambiance of this nature’s gift. Vogue Greece happened to be carrying out a photo shoot in front of the main Lake, much to the unwanted attention from the large crowd which had gathered as the word quickly spread around.

As the evening drew closer I made my way towards a park in the middle of the city centre where there was to be a spectacular fireworks display along with a musical Peking Opera show in the middle of the lake in celebration of the Mid Autumn Festival. This park also accommodates a small zoo at the park with a small number of monkeys and Peacocks as well as other smaller animals, all of whom you can touch without worrying. The opera show was nice with the brightly lit and colourful boat making its way slowly around the lake while the people dressed in traditional costumes told folk Chinese stories through Peking opera. A pleasant ending to a long day.

Day 5: The concluding day of my short trip had arrived quicker than I could say “Tiananmen Square”. I had a late evening flight back to Guangzhou; so subsequently I spent the morning going to Beihai Park again, this time to enjoy a peaceful walk and taking a few last photos. The afternoon was spent walking around the Hutongs that are within the main area around Wangfujing Dajie.

In these walled hutongs you'll find individual residences and courtyards where thousands of Beijingers still live, many astonishingly without modern conveniences of which we take granted for in our lives, such as a fridge, television, an electric cooker or even hot water. Many have opted to move into the more modern apartment buildings, but many still prefer the community style living of the hutong. Like many other Asian countries (India, Thailand etc) there are quite a lot of Rickshaws (3 wheeled cycles powered by a human) and I could not resist but taking a small ride around town.

I took the last flight of the day with China Southern Airlines, this time with a smaller Airbus A318 aircraft which gently flared its way towards a warm and humid Guangzhou at midnight. On the taxi back to my home from the airport, my mind was still fresh with the sights and smells of the past five days and again I had the feeling that I just experienced a long dream, where I ventured in another country and then the reality hit that maybe I may never get the chance to go back again.

However to my delight I surprised myself, after this trip I have had the chance to go to Beijing many more times.

On business trip, I have been lucky to go to Beijing more than five times, and after that I have also had the chance to live in the city for over a year (in the “Shangdi” and “Qi Er Xi” area). It’s a city which does not bore me at all. Every time I go to Beijing, it seems to get more attractive!

It's OK, no need to show passport, just show your Boarding Pass or Ticket! (at Gatwick Airport)

2009-08-18T05:21:00.010+08:00

Air China parked at airport
Now it seems that either I got it horribly wrong or I have indeed happened to notice a serious security lapse- two days ago at Gatwick Airport- the UK's 2nd biggest and busiest International airport. Having arrived back to the UK from Madeira (I was part of a Press Trip to Madeira with other travel writers)- as I made my way towards the Passport control area at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal, I was astonished to see that there was no one present to check passports' of passengers who would be passing through the "Channel Islands'" route. This means that if someone is coming from outside of the UK, they can easily sneak themselves through the "Channel Islands'" route because all they need to do is to show their boarding pass or ticket and not their Passport. Unfortunately I did not take any photos of the area. I did however confront a security personal about the situation, and he admitted (sorry did not catch his name), that there is a security problem, but they (Gatwick Customs) would stop anyone illegally entering the country if they are caught. But how will they catch someone if there is no means to check Passports or any form of ID except a Boarding Pass? Has anyone else noticed such irregularities at any airport in the world (not just the UK)? Interesting to know, as I was surprised to see this at first hand.

Random Thought

2009-08-18T02:44:00.002+08:00

We can win the war of life by all means, if WE simply avoid two things in OUR Life: 'COMPARING with others ' & 'EXPECTING from OTHERS.'

I mentioned the 4th of June

2009-08-17T07:49:00.007+08:00

Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
It was my first trip to Beijing way back during the Mid-Autumn festival (widely known as the "Moon Cake Festival") in the first week of October 2002; and I was extremely excited at the prospects of actually going to experience the sights and smells of the city at first hand. I had long awaited for this moment and finally that thought was to become reality. Prior to this trip, I had two solid images of Beijing in my mind, the first one was of the Great Wall of China- the image which I suppose most foreigners would have when China is mentioned to them; and the second one was of Tiananmen Square. However that image of Tiananmen Square was the same image that, sadly, showed tanks and student protesters during the 4th June 1989. I was a 9 years old youngster living in London at that time and, obviously, I hardly remember anything at that time. However as the years have passed since that atrocious day in Chinese history, the images we in the UK (and outside of China) have been accustomed to watching are of a young man waving something (a white flag or shirt) and standing in front of a tank in the middle of the square. So on this trip; I was curious to see that square and to stand on that piece of historical land. By all means, it was not the purpose of my trip, however I wanted to see that exact place, and just compare the sight of what life is like in 21^st Century Beijing, compared to what I had seen through western Media.
On this trip I was fortunate enough to be accompanied by one of my good friend’s who was kind enough to take a couple of days off her work to show me around. Born and raised in Beijing, educated at the famous Tsinghua University and an aspiring Chinese model/actress, I could not have been in any better company in this splendid city. Arriving on a hot and dry afternoon at my hotel, I spent the final hours of that day sightseeing in central Beijing, having been to look at Beihai Park, the Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven) and eating a scrumptious meal at the acclaimed Duck restaurant on 32 Qianmen Street, I eventually made my way through to Tiananmen Square.
Standing at the largest square in the in the world for the first time was just such a wonderful feeling. I immediately felt as if I was part of China’s history and not just Beijing’s history. It was a quite atmosphere to absorb. The weather was still fairly hot and there was a slight breeze coming in from the south. There were many families, tourists and residents’ alike taking an evening stroll, some taking photos, while others were just whiling away the time chatting amongst themselves. There were also quite a lot of children flying kites, taking advantage of that slight breeze I suppose.
However one thing I did notice which was somewhat difficult to avoid. As a rough estimate, there must have been about two hundred uniformed army and police personnel in the square (possibly more if one includes the non-uniformed ones). Some were marching in line, while others were just standing and watching the crowds. Were they anticipating for something to happen? Was this a routine procedure (or should I say a daily one?)? I did not know the answer to these questions. Nevertheless their presence was all the all a bizarre occurrence to me, as the only time I have seen such high number of police presence is at, say marches or public events (musical concerts and so on)- and here I was standing in Beijing on a perfectly normal and quiet summer’s evening. Every time I got my camera out to take a photo, it had always occurred at the back of my mind, “Is it safe?”, “Will they stop me from taking a photo?” It seems bad that I had these thoughts, but for some reason (I still cannot explain as to why), I always felt a bit fearful of seeing Chinese police. If I, as a foreigner felt this way, I can only imagine what a native Chinese person may feel like.
Just then a group of about 10 soldiers where marching towards us. I took a chance and asked my friend to take a photo of me with the soldiers marching as a backdrop. She asked me to stand in front of a tree, and carefully placed the camera at an angle so that no one could tell that she was talking the photos of the soldiers as well.
My friend and I strolled our way to the south side of the square, and she was happily explaining to me the daily ceremony of raising (at sunrise) and lowering (at sunset) of the national flag by the guards, when I asked her a few questions; and I could not resist the opportunity. “Is this is way the tanks came in from on the 4^th of June?”, “Do you remember what you were doing on that day?” Immediately I realized that I made a mistake of even asking her up front. Suddenly her smile disappeared, and she completely ignored my questions. “Is everything alright?” I asked, to which she replied with a simple nod with a straight facial expression before we changed the subject and carried on talking about other things. To this day, I do not understand what was going through her mind, and will probably never know why she ignored my questions. Interestingly, during my many years in China, I had come to realize that this was not just an isolated case, it was quite common for anyone to just suddenly go quiet and change the subject...would be interesting to know if anyone else (Chinese or non-Chinese) has had a similar experience.

Hello World!

2009-08-17T07:07:00.010+08:00

Hi, I am Navjot Singh, a writer and blogger from London but travelling around the world. This is my first blog write up...never tried this before and going to give it a go! Although I love telling stories, and adore travel writing (I say in my charming way)....I always thought that with so many thoughts going around ones' head, it is best to collect those thoughts and turn them into a book full of stories. However, now that fate has allowed me to use a blog, I will share a few thoughts and stories with you all. It would be nice to have your comments too (good or bad...please be open as possible!).

Oh and just one final point: I am very busy doing at least a Gazillion things, plus often travelling as well, so I won't be writing a blog entry on a frequent basis.

Best wishes

Navjot