Welcome to Marrakech
A new trade event called PURE Life Experiences was my reason for going to Marrakech. The focus was luxury experiential travel – an intriguing topic to focus on for a week and an event which lent an interesting mix of people.
One of the fun parts about trade shows is that after a full day of meetings (this show had 14 appointments scheduled per day), there are usually parties in the evening which further promote networking. Since this show’s focus was on experiences, the parties in the event were nothing short of extravagant.
The picture I’ve shared here is from the closing party, held at the private palace of the owner of the Mandarin Oriental. The hotel is not even finished yet, but has great promise for splendor beyond belief. The room in the photo was actually that red. The lighting in Morocco, it seems, is always a bit dark and exotic.
Overall, the trade show was a great success. I met some really fascinating people. I think my favorite was a gentleman who represents 8 family trusts (all 8 are related) which benefits about 108 people. His job is to plan their vacations and expeditions throughout the year. I seriously could handle THAT job! Wow!
I’ve posted a few more entries about Morocco. Read on!
I’m Still Liking It
I’m such a goof! That’s me with Thomas and Kurt on the Emeraude, just taking a bunch of silly photos.
Without a doubt, this past week was the worst week I’ve experienced in Vietnam. The house leak situation, my foot, a bank transfer fiasco and the tailor screwing up 3 suit jackets really tested my patience.
There is no question Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular is a challenging place to live. It is a far cry from the orderly and beautiful life I lived in Japan. I’ve missed the simplicity of my life there very much recently.
While I am sure that as I get adjusted to my job, to my new surroundings, to my new life, that I will have a bad day or two sprinkled among all the great ones. My teaching background comes in handy here. I’m as much a teacher as i am a Director, Sales & Marketing. I provide lots of opportunities for professional growth for the sales staff I work with. And it is satisfying when they learn a lesson and do something well on their own.
I also love what I’m doing. My job, as I’ve mentioned, is a big one, and there are so many projects for me to tackle. I like that. I am energized by having a challenging job and a division of the company which has sooo much potential for greatness. In most of my jobs, I have created or built-up departments, and it is no different here.
I am loving being back in hospitality, and being in a much more expansive segment than the private club industry (although Kurt and I reminisce how easy it is to just take care of one club versus an entire group of properties!).
I’m still working on my personal life, as I need a serious boost of attention there. But I’m taking steps to fulfill this aspect of my life…it’s not going to happen overnight. I’m meeting new people all the time and trying to get out more so that I can continue to meet new people.
The thing is – I love the adventure of living life abroad. The challenges which are presented to me only make me a stronger and better person, more patient, and lend experiences which I would never have in the US. And I like that.
So while it seems, like this week, that the odds are not in my favor, I know that I will come out on the bright side of all this a much better person.
So when Kurt asks me every once in awhile, “Are you still liking it?” I have to say, without a doubt, “Yes.” And I am. I’m still liking it.
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
Motorbike Wars
Morning Commute – This is what my commute looks like in the morning. And this is actually a good day. This is not congested at all.
The day I get my own motorbike is growing near. I need the freedom to come and go as I please and I am growing quite tired of relying on motorbike and taxi drivers.
I’m particularly surprised with how little English the cab drivers speak, and by how often I am instructing them which turns to make and where to go. Because of their lack of English, when you show them and address and try to confirm if they know it or not, all you get is an “OK OK OK”. And numerous times, the guy who says “OK” and seems to understand, makes a wrong turn or takes the long way around or has to pull over to consult a map – never mind that I am trying to tell him that I know where we are going! But I could go on for hours about taxis in Hanoi. Let’s stay on the topic of motorbikes…
I’ve talked about the Tang man before. He’s my driver in the morning. I send a text message at night for the time to pick me up in the morning like
3.20.09 8:00am ok?
And he replies with a simple “ok”. Rudimentary, but it works. I don’t speak Vietnamese, he doesn’t speak English. It’s a classic case of k.i.s.s.
But recently I found a motorbike driver who stays around my work area. Mr. Ha speaks a little English, is a safe driver and can be at my work in five minutes. So I developed a good system. The Tang man takes me to work. Mr. Ha takes me home. Win-Win-Win.
Just before Berlin, Mr. Ha went out to the countryside to visit family. He called to tell me he wouldn’t be available. I told him I’d call him after Berlin. Cool.
When I came back from Berlin, the Tang man picked me up the next morning. I had the receptionist explain that I forgot to tell him I went out of town and that I apologize for not contacting him before my trip. He said it was no problem, but asked why I never call him to pick me up at work. I had to remind him that he told me he’s busy at night taking my friends Anna or MJ to their gig at night. He said to call him anyway and that if he’s busy, so be it, but if he’s free, he’d like to take me home. Fair enough.
So, feeling a bit of jet lag in the first days back, I asked him to be at the office at 6pm. And I did this for the past three nights because, frankly, I’m exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open at work and just need to ease back into the Vietnamese clock. And I always thought I did pretty good with jet lag. Whatever – anyway…
Well yesterday, I get a call during the day from Mr. Ha. I missed the call and figured he was telling me that he was back from the countryside or on his way there and simply wanted to check in with me. He’s a good salesman in that way.
After I got home and got cozy on the couch with my laptop, about 8:30pm. I saw that Mr. Ha was calling again. I didn’t want to deal, frankly. An hour later, I was about to hit the sack and Mr. Ha called again. Surely that would be the last time. He can’t be that desperate for my business, nor that curious about my whereabouts. Could he?
I drifted off into dreamland only to to be jolted awake, thinking my alarm was going off. 10:30pm. I rolled over, I just want to get some sleep, people!!!
The last call came at 11:50pm. Then I was angry. And I didn’t pick up the phone because I didn’t want to yell profanity at the man. But I was extremely bothered by this. Was he drunk? Why would a motorbike driver ever need to call me at 11:50pm. EVER???
The next day, I had one of my staff members, Mr. Nam help me. I told him the situation. He thought it also strange and unacceptable. So he called Mr. Ha for me. Mr. Ha apologized profusely but said that he was very concerned because he had asked around and heard from others that I had found a new motorbike driver. He wanted to talk with me about this because he asked and who-knows-who told him they’d seen me with another driver. Mr. Nam explained that if I needed his services, I would call him, but asked Mr. Ha not to call me again.
OH. MY. GOD.
Like I need this. Now I’m supposed to feel like I’m cheating every time I hop on the back of someone else’s motorbike? He asked other people about my motorbike habits? WTF???
Mr. Ha needs to chill out and realize that the Tang man, who I met when I traveled here last year, is my main biker dude. And Mr. Ha needs to figure out that the moment he called me more than once in a day, and at 11:50 at night – he lost my business for good. What a ding dong.
Not only am I tired of relying on others to get around town, but I do not enjoy being made a pawn in some weirdo motorbike driver war. I’ve got my heart set on a Honda Airblade, red, slick and automatic, and at this point I don’t think I can buy it quick enough.
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
Yup! That’s me!
I am posting this photo and this entry merely as evidence that I am still alive and well in Hanoi. What you see here is me “assuming the position”. As of late, that is in my office, at my desk, slaving away at the computer, either writing articles for newsletters, reading e-mails, reading reports, writing reports, writing e-mails (way too many!), managing my team or coming up with some *brilliant* idea of how to market and sell our six properties! I’m also likely to be setting myself up for a slipped disc in my neck again with my horrible posture, hunched over my laptop – but that’s a story for another day!
I really want you to know much I love you, I miss you, I am thinking about you and wishing I had the time to take a huge breath and break and touch base with each of you personally. I’m in my third week of “OH MY GOD I HAVE SOOOOoooo MUCH TO DO” mode. But I think all of us have been in this situation where a new job, a new adventure, a new chapter in life is nothing short of all-consuming. And so it is for me. I’m lucky if I remember to brush my teeth before I go to sleep (OK. That was totally an exaggeration! I only forgot to brush them on Monday night.).
As you can see I haven’t lost my sense of humor. Nor my enthusiasm for what I am doing. I am so proud to be the Director of Sales & Marketing for Apple Tree and I am thoroughly enjoying living in Hanoi (what I experience of it when I’m not in the room you see in the picture!).
My favorite 15 minutes of the day is my motorbike ride to work. The “Tang Man” (real name: Anh Tanh) picks me up at 8am most mornings. I hop on the back of his bike with my brief case between us and purse clutched over my left shoulder. I watch with wide eyes as mornings in Hanoi unfold. Sights of ladies selling produce, men setting up their barber shops against tree trunks, families of four on a motorbike, random people trying to cross insanely busy streets, buses full of middle-aged tourists, and young “cool” guys without helmets all whiz by in a blur. But the wind in my face and the sights and sounds (even the smells sometimes) are all so exciting. It’s a thrill. I can’t wait to get my own motorbike and learn the city streets.
I hope you can lend me your patience and understanding. I miss my routine of writing, of updating my blog, of chatting with you. Love and miss you oodles and will write again soon.
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
In Love with Laos
We Want You to be Happy – This sort of sums up the Laotian spirit. This sign was on the retail shop in the Luang Prabang airport. You can also get a Smile Burger, if you need to step up the pep!
I love love LOVE Laos!
I “had” to go to Laos this past week for work. I know, I know. I can hear your shouts of sympathy already. Thank you. ;p The goal was to get familiar with our hotel, Villa Maly in Luang Prabang and Kamu Lodge, our eco-lodge 2 hours up the Mekong River, nestled in the Laotian forest. Have I mentioned how much I love my new job?
Not only did I fall in love with our properties, I found one of my new favorite places in the world. Going to Laos, and particularly Luang Prabang, is like stepping back in time. Slow pace of life, friendly people, buildings no more than 3 stories high, natural beauty, no honking horns and a general sense of peace and serenity. My kind of place.
While I mostly focused on work, Kurt and I did get out a bit to take in the night life. We stopped by the night market our first evening there, where we bought these super comfy slippers. I spent all of $8.00, but could have done a lot more damage had I really put my efforts into shopping. We then went to the main street and found a great Laotian restaurant. We tried 4 different dishes, all very tasty with unique flavors. I loved the Lao basil. It’s a great herb, somewhere between Italian and Thai basil. We also ate a fired bamboo. Yu-um-my!
With our terrific co-workers, Marie-Helene, Henri-Pierre, Aurora and Phone, we enjoyed some Luang Prabang night life in the way of the local disco. And here, too, was like a tour of the good ol’ days. When young men and women dance together, they first greet each other with hands together and a bow. And then they dance without touching. The Laos ladies and men move their hands around similar to a Hawaiian style hula. It’s wonderful. The young kids love to do line dances and I enjoyed trying to catch on. What a fun night.
Kurt is a running maniac (way beyond enthusiast, folks) and had all of us up at 5:30 in the morning for jogging in the dark. My first morning out, we ran 5k. Let me back up for a moment and tell you how much I dislike running. I’m good for a quick sprint, say from home to 1st base, a 50 yard dash, or running for my plane. But I don’t really run, unless it’s for my life! While HP and Marie-Helene may have become semi-hooked, I’m not giving in just yet! I like my walks and hiking and mountain biking!
Having said that, it was quite humorous to jog in the dark and climb the stairs of Phousi Mountain. How is that pronounced? Think kitty cats. There is even a Phousi Market. Both of these monuments are (unfortunately) named after one of the founders of the city. We all kept pronouncing it poo-say, just to avoid the giggles. But giggled anyway. How can you not? It’s not every day you say, “I climbed Phousi Mountain.”
After a couple of luxurious nights at Villa Maly, we took the boat up the Mekong River to Kamu Lodge. On the way, we stopped at the Pak Ou caves, home to more than 5000 Buddhas. It’s a religious site where even the King used to come to worship. You can see some photos HERE. I had a little too much fun taking photos of all those Buddhas. It was pretty cool to learn that some of them have been there a couple hundred years!
Kamu Lodge is an eco-lodge. We share the property with the local Kamu tribe. I LOVED visiting the village and meeting all the little kids. They got a kick out of seeing their picture on the LCD screen of my camera. Bless them. I hope you’ll take a look at my photos. At Kamu, there is no internet connection or cell phone reception. You unplug from all of that and get heavily connected with nature. The sky is black and the stars are bright and sparkly. You go to bed early, letting the crickets and frogs sing you to sleep. And in the morning, it’s the birds and monkeys which call you awake. If you really want to unwind, this is the place to go. Layers of life and complexity are quickly stripped away. I could have stayed a week and not gotten enough.
On our last leg of the week, Kurt and I traveled to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. I was pleased with the warm weather – a balmy 28C degrees (82F). And while it was the capital, there were still no honking horns. I met more of my colleagues and we all enjoyed a night out. We had Lao Beers (very tasty) at a restaurant where you were looking at Thailand across the river. And then enjoyed a sort-of-Korean-sort-of-sukiyaki style BBQ meal. Very nice.
We only managed to see one monument while in Vientiane, as our one day there was filled with meetings. But nonetheless, Laos captured my heart enough that I know I will be back soon. How nice it is that the flight from Hanoi to either city is a short 50 minutes! I am going to love to be able to say, “I’m going to Laos for the weekend!”
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
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