July 29, 2010
Another day of work, but I had a good nights sleep so I didn’t feel like I was struggling through the day. It is really great to meet face to face the people you have been listening to on conference calls. There is also something to be said for walking down the hall and asking a question instead of sending an email. Continue reading
July 28th, 2010
My first day in the Singapore Office – the views from the office were stunning. My visitor office as well as the main lobby entrance looks over the Skypark buildings and convention centers. Further out you can see the ships coming in and out of the port.
July 27th, 2010
After calling into a few meetings and catching up on email, I headed out for a late afternoon walk to help keep me awake. I didn’t want to fall asleep only to wake up at 1:00 AM with nowhere to go.
Singapore is close to the equator, there isn’t a lot of temperature variation. July is supposed to be one of the driest months but when I looked at the forecast, it was supposed to rain everyday. At least it wasn’t supposed to rain the entire day and by the time I made it out for a walk, the sun shone bright.
My first impression of Singapore was “What a skyline!” Each building seems to have character. Everything looks pretty new and construction seems to be going on everywhere. I wonder what Singapore will look like in 20 years?
July 25th, 2010
Singapore Airlines – Flight q38 and all business class flight. I heard Singapore Airlines was good and I wasn’t disappointed. Flying 8000 miles, or 17 hours, a private video screen with hundreds of movies and TV Shows. USB Ports, electrical outlet, iPod hookup, good food, and great wine and a seat that would recline to a fully flat position. I could get used to this!
I arrived at 4:15 AM. Customs went quickly and it was a quick ride from the airport to the Ascott Raffles, the place am staying. The Ascott Raffles is a nice residence, built-in refrigerators, coffee/tea pots, and a stove top. The only thing kind of strange is the bathroom, there was a huge window that looks into the shower area from the bedroom. There is a curtain you can pull over it but I wondered why you wouldn’t just cover it up or put in frosted glass? Who knows.
September 26, 2006
While I walked around the city I saw some Cows. The story behind this goes back to when I visited Europe and my co-workers and I made it a point to try to find as many decorative “cows on parade” that we could.
September 26, 2006
The Kremlin! While growing up, I never thought I would see the inside of the Kremlin. It was just a few decades ago that an American spy would risk his life to pass through the walls.
The Kremlin is a self-contained city palaces, armories, and churches. The word “kremlin” means “fortified town.” The Kremlin dates back to 1147 and the very beginnings of Moscow and over time, every ruler added additional buildings and monuments to the walled city. Today, it remains governmental property and although a tourist attraction, it is where the government officials work. Continue reading
September 25, 2006
Our first stop in Moscow – the Novodevichy (New Nunnery) Convent. I was excited to see this because it was here that Peter the Great’s power hungary, manipulative half-sister, Sofia was exiled here.
Peter was not first in line for the Tsar. His father had two wives and Peter’s half brothers, Fyordor and Ivan V, were in line to succeed to the throne before Peter. Fyordor died six years after he was succeeded to power leaving the throne to Ivan V.
Ivan V, however was an invalid and unfit to rule so the Russian Council named the 10-year-old Peter the next Tsar. Sofia, Ivan’s sister and Peter’s half-sister, led a rebellion against Peter, killing most of Peter’s family and insisted that Peter and Ivan be made joint Tsars while she acted as regent. A fascinating story of greed and power. Continue reading
September 25, 2006
I never thought I would end up giving Moscow’s Metro system its own web-page. I had heard the Metro was nice but when I learned that the “Moscow by Night Tour” included a tour of the Metro, I thought, come on, how nice can it be?
I have been in a lot of subways around the world and although some of them are more distinctive than others, there was no doubt that there isn’t another Metro system like this one. Nice” doesn’t exactly describe it – more like palatial. I guess that is why it is often called “the people’s palaces”. Continue reading
September 25, 2006
Moscow! Wow, I couldn’t have been more surprised by Moscow. It is a great city with plenty of things to do and see. I guess my impression of Moscow were based off of old new stories with pictures of people lined up at the GUM department store or waiting for hours to spend a day’s wage on a Big Mac and fries.
In also I had heard so many negative stories about pickpockets and racquets that targeted tourists. I was a little nervous but as I walked around, I realized, it is just like any other big city, there are great things to see and there are things you have to watch out for. Continue reading
September 24, 2006
We again sailed through the night. We sailed down the Volga River towards Moscow. I had awoken while passing through a lock and sat up for a while admiring the clear sky and bright stars. I was shocked when I woke up, fog had set which gave an eerie view of Uglich as we approached it.
Uglich was founded in 1148. It sits on the banks of the Volga river. The kremlin (fortress) was built by Ivan the Terrible. Within the walls are several building including the Cathedral of Resurrection, the Palace of Tsarvich Dimitry and the Church of Dimitry on the blood.
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