New Years Celebrations in San Diego

We finished off the year in San Diego.  Celebrated twice.  First at the 6pm children’s countdown and fireworks at Logoland, and then when it actually closed in the Pacific time zone, four hours ahead of the International Date Line.  Looking back, we used 2008 well - spent a lot of time with our kids, kept to our promise of six plus vacations – Florida, Mexico, Hawaii, Yellowstone, Palm Springs, New Zealand and San Diego, and saw our parents and friends and family a lot throughout the year.  Here’s looking to 2009 !

Yet another new airline

We flew Virgin America to San Diego with the kids.  I have travelled extensively on Virgin Atlantic, and find them to be very strong on the SFO – LON route, great on meals, exceptional on their club rooms (particularly at Heathrow).  Conveniently, they partner with SQ for mileage credit, who are a great partner for them.  This was my first experience with Virgin America though.

In a nutshell, a very positive experience.  Cool (literally – see mood lighting on aircraft above), hip (very new century convenient – purchase, check-in, bags check etc is all self/internet enabled) and just right (no idiotic frills, and wide choice of options).   There were 50 plus programming options to choose from, which the kids promptly managed to get their Mom to figure out and order programming with her credit card.  There were some 10 menu items all orderable from your in seat console and delivered right away upon ordering.  In both cases we paid for what we wanted but got exactly what we needed –didn’t have to see our kids eat high sodium pretzels and get erroneously exposed to the Simpsons !

Mumbai, after 11/26

I just returned from Mumbai - my first visit after the recent events. Much has been written up on these events and one of the most common criticisms has been that this event compared to others from the past got a disproportionally higher level of media coverage since the targeted establishments were more frequented by the affluent section of the Indian society. I suspect this is true, and in its own way it is good. I find that the more affluent Indians didn't have much of a use for or daily interaction with the government. Sure you still need a passport to travel but most affluent Indian homes make their own basic or incremental arrangements for education, medical care, utilities and security. As such there wasn't a sense of real accountability of the elected officials and government bureaucrats - the educated and economically active Indians didn't ask and the economically deprived and uneducated Indians just accepted what they got. I see this starting to change as more and more affluent Indians are starting to ask the question. What have you done
for me recently ?

Eight years ago we were hiring software engineers in Delhi and I could see for the first time these men and women truly internalized the fact that the world is their oyster. This fundamental shift in the thinking of the youth to a "I can make it happen" mindset fundamentally changed the course of events from the previous fifty years and put India on a growth curve third to none. A similar paradigm shift is in the making - one hopes will result in a truly accountable democratic government, not just the largest.

South Island, NZ

Our vacation was, as it were, a years worth of pure, absolute, total and complete delight crammed into a week. The South Island of New Zealand is an breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. And its pristine, relatively uninhabited, and pure. And given the global economic environment, NZ was actually a great value. The interest rate arbitrage game is now over as their central government reduces rates to ease the credit crunch and as a result the currency has eroded significantly. If you are into the outdoors, NZ is probably the best value today. This photo of Fjorland was taken from a low altitude aircraft close to Queenstown.

Cruising in the Akaroa Harbor

We spent the day in the water with the Hector Dolphins.  The Hectors are the rarest dolphins in the world, they are smaller and have rounded dorsal fins.  Like most dolphins, they were extremely curious and playful – and came out and spent an hour with our boat and some other divers – checking us out.  We were in the Akaroa harbor – a shallow and rich expanse of water that was formed when the crater of the volcano got flooded by sea water.  And it was a sunny, beautiful day.  And we had a great time.  If you are ever in Christchurch, this is a definite recommendation, unique geology with a wonderful history and close to get to.

Children-Friendly Vacations

We find New Zealand as a perfect destination for our kids.  First, the country is amazingly child-friendly.  Locals are laid back and friendly, there is an abundance of parks, animals and activities for the children.  In addition it is safe (no poisonous insect bites, no vaccines or other medical preparation needed).  Flights are simple from the West Coast - non stop that leaves in the night and arrives first thing in the morning, so if you tire your kids out before boarding, they are out for the duration when not hooked on to the in-seat tv/games.  And the jet lag – very much unlike traveling to Singapore or Mumbai – is manageable, for us it’s the next day and three hours back so routines aren’t thrown off terribly.  Finally, we do lots of farm stays, so the kids get an amazing exposure to something that they aren’t likely to find in the SFO Bay Area.

Sunset on the Arabian Sea

If the US is bottoming out, India still has a ways to go. There are complex and insufficient regulations, low to no transparency, a denial-oriented mindset, and no previous experiences with market crashes. October saw $24B in fx come out of India (from some $300B in reserves), the $ became as expensive as Rs 50 (up from 43 a month ago), and the commercial paper markets froze completely. The central bank has kicked in and helped bring the $ down to Rs 47 and expanded money supply to help with liquidity. But mutual fund redemptions will follow the hedge funds, and more money will trickle out before the end of the year, meanwhile lower borrowing rates from the government and decreased CRRs haven't made much of a dent in the commercial paper market. Still, one hopes its relative insularity will provide India the soft landing it deserves.

This photo is taken looking west into the Arabian Sea in Juhu, Mumbai.

India Restaurants

I was in India this week.  Had a few great meals.  Mahesh Lunch Home on Juhu Tara Road in Mumbai has the best Lobster Curry I have ever had.  Next to it the JWM’s main restaurant concocts interesting Indian fusion dishes (like the masala pasta dishes in the photograph here), though I passed, on account of the more authentic choice in the Mahesh nearby.  The Raj Pavilion at the Windsor Manor in Bangalore has fantastic Dosas, which I did repeat.  And the China House at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai has the only Peking Duck I have ever had in India.  In a nutshell food is great; the service though is still a substandard value for money – the waiters are right on top of you and desperate to help with spooning the food from dish to plate, yet totally clueless about the ingredients, preparation or the origin of the foods.

Halloween Pumpkins

We had a great Halloween this year, full buildup including standard Half Moon Bay run for pumpkin selection and all associated rides (photographed here), and into Friday for the sugar-heavy troll with equally-costumed friends through San Mateo Park for the kids.

Soccer in California

One of my son’s coaches is a Bengali from Calcutta (Kolkata) now settled in the bio-tech industry in California.  Nice to see his good old Mohan Bagan vs East Bengal spirit in coaching.  Needless to add, and independent of the coaching, my older son is really enjoying the game.

Stop in Korea

I had a great stop in Seoul, Korea today.  It was a beautiful autumn day.  I am reminded of the first trip I made here – probably some ten plus years ago – and still unmatched in terms of memories.

This photograph is taken from a 777-300ER just crossing the Yellow Sea with a view looking out to the ice free harbor at Inchon in Gyeonggi.

Windows into Europe

I was in Europe this week.  As if blissfully ignorant of the current economic outlook – particularly for Europe’s financial services industry – these flowers provide a beautiful rest for the eyes on the window to the world.

Dining in Delhi

Had a nice meal in Delhi, India.  This photo is at one of the restaurants at the brand new Ambiance Mall on the border of Delhi and Gurgaon.  Ambiance is four floors high, each a kilometer long and filled with high end wares from Versace to Ritu Kumar – along with a mega-theater, and assorted restaurants.  The retail business in India is getting super-hot, and the growing wealth of the middle and upper class is creating a large consumption-driven economy.  But supply-side investments are large and have to be made well ahead of demand because of infrastructure build-up lead times.  And given the declining growth projections one wonders if all will be well here.  For now though, it’s the place to be.

Autumn Colors

Flying through Europe today, autumn is here, colors are changing, days are shorter.  I think this picture captures it well.

Favorite Song

My younger son's favorite song these days, you should see him dance to this one. I spent the entire week in San Francisco, and learnt a few new tricks myslf !

Toll Road to Gurgaon

The best thing about Gurgaon, India is the road that gets you from the International Airport here. In sharp contrast to the chaos and mayhem that you see elsewhere, this one is a smooth, easy ride thanks mostly to the fact that the outside BPO hours traffic is low, there is no ongoing construction - and there is a toll to go on it. Of course that creates one small complication - the toll plaza where the (Electronic Pre Paid) Tag Only lanes are always stubbornly filled with cars that only want to pay cash. Proving that despite the advances in infrastructure Indian drivers haven't lost their good old Roadsigns-are-Meaningless mindset. Still once you are through this minor inconvenience, you will have much to thank for on your drive to Gurgaon.

Bavaria at Summers End

Bavaria is one of my favorite areas of Germany - the others are the Rhine Valley around Cologne and the Black Forest close to Freiburg driving upto Basel. And Munich is a close second to my favorite city in Germany - Berlin. I spent Saturday in Germany this past weekend, and was among other places, in Freising - a small, cozy and typical Bavarian village (and incidentally home to the Pope when he was teaching/studying). It was a nice summer day, beautiful outside with views up through to the Alps on the south and expansive bucolic countryside to the north. The fields green, and the corn was almost ready for harvesting. I am back in Germany next month and looking forward to all the fall harvest festivities at their peak. I have never driven to Salzburg from here, though that's on the list of things to do with the family, now that we have a budding musician amidst us.

A Threatened World

I drove back to the office in Canary Wharf last night after dinner. We were stopped at one of the roads leading in and checked by policemen for explosive traces on the car. It was the same sort of a test that the TSA do with chemical analysis of dust particles on the outside of carry on luggage often at airports in the United States. Except this was all around the car doors and handles. I am told this is now fairly common in the business areas in London. The photo is taken looking east from our office (note London City Airport in the distance) and shows the road leading in from the Thames that this happened on. Two thoughts, one - to the extent one is needed, this is a much better test than the old wheel the mirror under the boot that all American hotels in India now do - I am always concerned in India with the heightened and yet so easily manipulate-able security. And the other - that one is needed in the first place - and how much the world has changed in what we leave for our children from what we found it growing up.

Palm Springs over Labor Day Weekend

We spent the long weekend in Palm Springs with family friends. It was a great break for all of us - and the kids had a phenomenal time - it was the best back to school vacation they could have had. It was hot though (100F +) and dry heat - the sort you see around Delhi. But we had two convenient escapes - the pools for one. And a ride up the Arial tram to the second highest mountains in California, and a hike up at around 8,400 feet above sea level - and conveniently a good 35 degrees cooler than the valley. The children of course had a third one - the misters around town - here they are seen enjoying one in downtown Palm Springs.

Shaadi in London

I was on the Tube in London last night. The photo above is of an advertisement on the inside panes of the train. It was interesting to see Shaadi.com being advertised right next to an assorted set of cosmetics and other consumer personal products. Without access to their financials its difficult to know how the company is really doing, but they claim they are #1 in the UK, and one would hope they have managed that growth well. In hindsight what a perfect market opportunity - a large set of first and second generational Indians, stuck on a small island, lots of class and structure still in that society, highly divergent needs across generations within each family , and a fundamental, basic need that doesn't go away. In other words, a well understood and commonly articulated problem across an easily reachable large prospective audience - a marketer's perfect dream.

Yellowstone in August

There is something about animals in the wild. This week in Yellowstone we saw a few grizzlies, lots of moose, elk and other deer, and many many birds. The kids had a great time - scanning the horizon to see who would spot what first - playing a game - and rejoicing when we chanced upon the occasional beast. I recall zoos were major stops for us - in pretty much any city that we visited up through to early this year. Then there was that unfortunate accident at the SF Zoo where a tiger escaped and mauled a couple of youths. My wife promptly stopped any financial contributions to the SF Zoo and upon further reflection and deeper discussions about the state of caged animals that was prompted by this incident, we have stopped visiting zoos altogether. No wonder then, these now not common, animal encounters were all the more fun for our kids. Cant wait to take them back to Kenya and Tanzania one day....

The Grand Tetons

We spent a few days in the Grand Tetons this week - around Jackson Hole and north. It was fascinating. The Rockies are my favorite mountains in the world - spread out, accessible, and majestic. I love the Colorado Rockies north and south of Denver, my wife loves the Canadian Rockies - particularly around Jasper, and Banff. This was our first time in the Grand Tetons. There is a lot more water than I had expected - lakes and low gradient, winding rivers, and on this trip in August, the weather was absolutely spectacular. The photograph above is just off where the Snake River leaves Lake Jackson.

Outsourced - the Movie

Enjoyed it. Quite a laugh if you are in the subset of the population that knows India but lives far from it. First half was absolutely hilarious (particularly if you don't have great alternative options for your time). Very cleverly done, it seems to have won a ton of awards, definitely worth watching, higly recommend. I dont think its released in the US though. Probably need to order the DVD.

I watched it on a flight in the airspace close to and over Afghanistan yesterday. Ironic, the two most popular American exports around the world - military and business - nothing really to show on the cultural or historical fronts. Still if you ever end up with a headache thinking about all the foreign policy missteps from a few years ago, nothing like a light hearted comedy to get you in a better state of mind. Watch preview at http://www.outsourcedthemovie.com/videos.html

Best address in Mumbai

So the place to stay in Mumbai is the JW Marriott. Having stumbled through the Hyatt (too pseudo-American), ITC Maratha (convenient and good, but no extra punch), and the Taj & Intercon (just too far), I finally stayed at the JW last couple of nights.

Its in Juhu, admittedly from most business engagements, but it does afford the best beach access, as the photograph above will prove (provided you can get up at 5am and make it before it gets hot and crowded). And its nice. But what really brought it out for me is that this is the center of Bollywood activity. I saw Sunil Gavaskar eating at the next table (big deal for this blogger who grew up as a young cricketer), was introduced to Farah Khan in the bar (whom I didn't know before), and saw dozens of what looked like young and old film and modeling casts. This place has a real buzz that's difficult to describe in a write-up.

If you want the quintessential Bollywood experience in a hotel in Mumbai, this is the place to be.

T5 Heathrow versus T3 Beijing

Just flew through Heathrow's brand new Terminal 5 for the first time. I couldn't help but compare the experience on my last visit through Terminal 3 at Beijing's National Capital Airport. Built and opened around the same time, and at similar total costs ($4B+), this is a valid comparison. The net is this: T5 is a major improvement over Terminals 4, 3, and god forbid 2 and 1, both in aesthetics and check-in bays - in that it makes a real statement - the British seem to have oh finally caught up. On the other hand though, Terminal 3 is a major revolution, the largest building on earth, and the friendliest staff on top - in that it makes another real statement - the Chinese have reset the bar, and well, well ahead of the line for now. I would take T3 over T5 any day - so best now to go off to tackle the real problem - how to get more business out of China.

Souffles in San Francisco

There aren't that many men I know that are good cooks and enjoy cooking. A good friend of ours bucks this trend. Yesterday evening he and I made it to a hands-on class on French Desserts - Soufflés ! It was a good class - baking is not one of my strengths and wasn't one of my interests. This may change it. We baked (and tried) four different soufflés from savory to sweet and frozen to baked, but the best one was clearly the classic dark chocolate soufflé. I enclose a scanned copy of the recipe, in case you are interested in a personally tested-to-work version.

AB's Tour

I saw Amitabh and the gang (Aishwarya, Preety and Madhuri to be exact) along with the B crew of Abhishek and others in Oakland last night - and had a good time. Unfortunately I was up in the peanut gallery - and this wasn't a show quite designed for large audiences. But the overall effect of being with 1000 plus other Indians that grew up seeing Big A movies and humming those songs in the shower was great. It was also interesting to see the size of the Indian-American population all in one place at one time in this part of the world. And I took my mother with me who is visiting from India, and is an avid follower of Indian movies, since my wife was traveling (and who doesn't care much for Indian movies) - and that in itself was nice since it was a great mother son outing. The takeaway is this though - need to get more plugged in - and find some smaller size more private Bollywood events next time, this could be a lot more fun in the right setting.

Weekend in Santa Cruz

Sand. Its the ultimate sport. For my sons anyway. They can roll in it, play in it, throw it, sift it, form things with it, mix water with it that they get over hundreds of bucket runs to the crashing waves - its amazing to see just how long pure simple sand can hold their attention. Particularly given the number of sports, games, shows, computer programs and toys they get exposed to. We were in Santa Cruz this weekend - and they sure got their fill of it. I am happy they are growing up on the Coast.

Japanese dining in Singapore

I was in Singapore this week. As if in response to the comments I had made on this very blog earlier, my colleagues took me to Cherry Garden at the Mandarin Oriental. In turn, allow me to formally retract my earlier comment about Japanese dining in Singapore being no good. The Cherry Garden was really nice. And of the four meals we did, including the grilled seafood at the outdoor Newton Circus Hawkers Market, upscale American at Desire at the Scarlet Hotel, and hip Indonesian at Indochine next to the Asian Museum, this was by far the best. If you are looking for a nice Japanese meal, sans the additional flight to Japan, this is the place to go to in SIN. Incidentally the photograph above is from our offices in Singapore - the Fullerton can be seen in the foreground close to the mouth of the Singapore river.

Hong Kong in July

Hong Kong is always the best in the post shower early mornings. The day isn't hot yet, the nights humidity just released in a downpour, the rain appears to have freshly cleaned out the streets, and the cloudy morning soothingly lures you into the noise of yet another productive day. This photograph was taken at Kai Tak on a comfortably warm but fresh July morning.

Growth Story in India

As many of my Indian colleagues do, I often wonder what it would be like to live in India. My wife is convinced that I wouldn't be able to cope with the shift in lifestyle, and I for the most part, agree. And thus, she believes we will not be moving any time soon. Lifestyle notwithstanding, one thing is for sure, the pace and energy in India today is unmatched - and for the transferrable executive an amazing work experience awaits. I recently had the opportunity to prepare and review a "Why and How" India Strategy Deck with senior executives from a top ten global software company. One of the slides - reproduced here without the template, frames it well. Careers are often more about catching the right waves than swimming harder. Its clear India is one in the making and this is the year to make the decision to ride it or pass it for the next one. I for one, need to start getting my head around renewable energy.

Fathers Day in Half Moon Bay

“Walk a little slower, Daddy,” said the child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
sometimes they’re hard to see;
so walk a little slower, Daddy, for you are leading me.
Someday when I’m all grown up, you’re what I meant to be:
then I will have a little child who’ll want to follow me.”

Bengaluru's new airport

I flew though India's newest and fanciest airport this week. Compared to DEL and BOM, and the previous BLR, this is very impressive - open, airy, and brightly lit. And its well set for retail and food choices - in the domestic departures area I spotted a Illy in addition to the Barista, and there were a couple of food places you could easily eat at. The single runway didn't cause any noticeable delays or flight backups, and contrary to what I had been told, getting in and out to the city was easy (I landed around late in the night and left around noon).

Air India and Kingfisher are now both starting non-stop SFO - BLR flights. The latter is the better option, since Air India business class is normally filled up with freebie tickets and free upgrades for every possible government employee, and (based on my one and only flight on Air India when I had to take the only available option to Kenya) you would be better off in the cargo bay than traveling the back of the bus. Its more than 8,700 miles over the Arctic Circle, so getting a good seat is going to be really important.

BLR is a preview of Indian air travel to come, and thanks to privatization and capital markets, India is getting ready to fly.

Room with a View

The sun rises over the bay as seen from my kids bedrooms. Memorial Day Weekend, 2008

Outdoor breakfast in Tokyo

I eschew "American breakfasts" when I travel. Normally this means three genetically engineered and over-hormonal massive eggs with greasy sausage and toast of mostly questionable origin. And across the world, hotels are proud and happy to accommodate the needs of the traveling hordes by cleaning their menus of creative and unique local favorites all to be replaced with what else - the all too consistent American buffet breakfast. Now I like consistency myself - particularly a Starbucks Latte for breakfast when its otherwise too early for me to experiment, but I like consistency only if I can enjoy it.

This morning's was the perfect experience. I went walking/running around the embassies and quiet residential streets in Akasaka. From there I went to the Starbucks in Ark Hills and got the exact drink I expected (albeit with a courteous style sadly uncommon to where I live). And taking it to the Ark Outdoor Courtyard, I sat down to enjoy my breakfast. The courtyard was being setup for a rose festival and a week of lunchtime concerts. For the twenty minutes I was there, I sat amongst workers wheeling out and setting up the rose displays, probably a hundred varieties in brilliant colors. The beauty of the flowers, the smell in the air, the work ethic of the movers, the attentive arrangement of the gardeners, on a warm sunny Tokyo morning - all juxtaposed against a brilliantly consistent coffee - the same as if I were home - made this an experience one I would look to have again and again. Here are a few photos of the flowers, sans café ... Enjoy.

Pudong or Puxi ?

China is developing at an astonishing rate. The first time I went to Shanghai, I remember looking at a map before the trip to figure out which bank of the Huangpu I should stay on. Mission Impossible 5, the movie partially shot in Shanghai was releasing that month, and if you have seen the movie, you know the Shanghai footage in it and will understand my interest at the time. I picked the Puxi side and every time I have gone since, I look around to see what new skyscrapers are changing the skyline. And the development has been consistently sight numbing.


This time walking into the just opened brand new Terminal 3 at Beijing International Capital Airport was entirely jaw dropping. As airports go (second home for me), this one is at an entirely new level - in size, scale, layout, planning, and service. Similarly the fast changing skyline of the (new) financial district or the brand new Singapore style Airport Expressway was new this time from before. The Olympic Games are coming and boy will China be ready. All in all, around the world, I have never seen development of this scale at this pace (I haven't been to Dubai, though cant imagine it coming close).

That said, there is the darker ecological impact side of this development. I remember musing over the hazy skies in the Bay Area over a weekend a few years ago when the dust storms were blowing sand off the Gobi clear across the Pacific and into the Bay Area, thanks to the severe deforestation around Mongolia. This time I got to experience the sandstorm up close - standing in it, small particles of dust or sand hit your face (or other exposed parts of your body) and prick where they land. Its a unique experience - standing in a strong winds while having hundreds of sharp pings all over your face.

The world is getting to be a small place. As Tom Cruise makes the jump in the movie, its easy for the Shanghai skyline to fill up your family room screen in THX. Unfortunately its just as easy for the sands of Gobi to show up right at your doorstep.

Lychees in Beijing

I had a few great meals in the imperial city of Beijing this week. Beijing is always good for Peking Duck (recommend Da Dong - leaner cuts than average) and great Chinese food (recommend South Silk Road for Yunnan, or this no name place in the financial district right across from the Camway building for Dumplings), and this trip did not disappoint. However, the highlight will go to some surprisingly good lychees I managed to come upon. Given lychees originated in China (and India), and this was Beijing after all, no surprise that these were of exceptional quality. But the world is getting to a point where the best Peking Duck in Beijing is fractionally better than in the Bay Area. Lychees though orders of magnitude are. And so the lychees in Beijing were a pure unexpected delight.

The problem is one of supply chain logistics. Supply drives experience (and taste preference). Experience drives demand. Having just paid $6 a pound for the start of season (and not great) cherries from Chile at my neighborhood produce store this weekend, its clearly not an issue of distance or economics. Lychees (particularly the non genetically engineered delicious ones) have thin skins. And they crack if not handled properly. The best lychees come out of hot tropical climates. And of course, once the skin cracks in a non climate controlled environment, its over. This is the problem with the best lychees in the world. In my mind these are from Muzzafarpur in Bihar, India. My guess is that 75% of these top of the world lychees get consumed within days and hundreds of kilometers of where they are grown. The other 25% rot on their ambitious way somewhere (anyone who has taken a train anywhere in Bihar will understand why, naturally this is before you even get to question of transport refrigeration). I was lucky to enjoy those lychees growing up in India.

I also clearly remember the best lychee experience I have had. We were in East Queensland in Australia and driving around, we happened upon a lychee farm. Stopping to discover, there we tasted three different varieties, all harvested within the last forty eight hours and properly refrigerated in large bins in their farm barn. Standing outside that barn looking out to the lychee orchard, with the smell of the soil in the air on a hot summer day, and discussing lychees and local farming issues and techniques with the 80-some year old farmer and his wife, while tasting cold, juicy and incredibly fresh lychees - that moment was like no other.

I wonder then, is it OK that the supply chain logistics haven't quite caught up to this one little corner ? I remember my father describing drinking fresh (non pasteurized) milk within minutes of milking when he was growing up and remembering how different and better it tasted. In contrast, I cant tell the difference in 2% milk whether I am in New Zealand or Switzerland - and much to the dismay of my wife - even if its organic or not; it all tastes the same. And so as I look to my sons, who grow up in a world different from one I grew up in, and see them go from Hawaiian papayas to Californian strawberries as easily as opening the refrigerator door, I wonder if they will be able to look back in their life - and like me, remember clearly the day they ate the lychees in Muzzafarpur or stood on that farm in Queensland - or came upon a pleasant discovery in Beijing ?

Dinner in Manhattan

I have been smiling for the last hour. I am on the 6am JFK - SFO flight headed home after a few days of meetings on the East Coast; more importantly I had dinner last night with some friends from junior and high school. It was an amazingly fun evening - and difficult to describe all the many happy feelings that came with it.

For context, the last time I had met two of these good friends was some twenty-five years ago. The third, a friend from high school I had been very close to, I hadn't seen or spoken with in some fifteen years. First, for bright, energetic, mobile and committed individuals that we are, how do we let this happen to ourselves ?

Second, as the conversations through the evening unfolded, more memories came unfaded. Driving a metallic blue Fiat to school and feeling on top of the world for doing so. Watching the Asiad on the first color transmissions with a good friend in the early 80s and feeling the shared excitement. Pace bowling in a very crowded public field and the joy and frustration of cracking the ball in a few overs. Walking around in oppressingly hot and humid school afternoons for hours and then looking forward to doing it again. If life is a painting, this is the stuff that the canvas is made of, and it was good to go back and unpeel the sketches that the paint later came upon.

Finally, there is a derived happiness in seeing your close friends happy, content and settled down. The last time I had met few of them, it had been in a world very, very far away from this tony Upper East Side home we were now at. Happy marriages, adorable children, looks of professional achievements in their eyes, and hints of wonder and amazement at what life is yet to bring. If you could go back in life and pick out the best of futures for your closest friends, I doubt it could have been much better. There is joy is knowing that.

Sydney in May

Here are a few photos from Sydney. I have gone from using my cell phone camera to a Sony Cybershot (awesome non-SLR camera, ideal for traveling).

Palmers Lane, Hunter Valley, NSW

I had the rare opportunity, after my last meeting of the day, to visit the Moorebank Estate and taste some of their wines yesterday evening. Moorebank is a small, boutique style vineyard at the address above, and is into sustainable, organic farming. They have a nice location on the lower loop and we were the sole visitors for the time we were there. It was a quiet dusky fall evening and sitting on their front yard I could see kangaroos hopping in the distance. Co-owner Ian Burgess is at once a fiercely passionate and a completely laid back vintner, and I had a fun time with him learning about his wines. This is big Semillon and Shiraz country but he also does some Chardonnay, Verdelho and Gewurztraminer. I tasted a few of their whites; they have an awesome 2006 Chardonnay and a stunning 2003 Late Harvest Traminer. And I had some of their best white, a extremely nicely balanced 2005 Chardonnay with dinner last night. Fantastic wines. In addition, they do brilliant grape sauces.

Back to sustainable organic farming, there is a real growth opportunity here. Speaking with Ian, I learnt that much of his "product positioning" was really into a niche market of people that have allergies. Turns out he sells almost all of his wines by mail list, affording people, that have allergies to the various chemicals that are used in the grape growing and wine making process, an opportunity to try some fantastic wines. That's nice, but as earth awareness grows, and more and more consumers globally get ready to fork out a little more for organically produced food, his "product differentiation" should evolve and organically produced wines could "target market" a broader, more affluent demographic. As a result, I believe there is a real valuation uptick opportunity in this segment. Buying a vineyard, anyone ?

Flying the A380-800

I flew the Airbus A380-800 into Sydney this time (my previous trip was last October - 10 days before SQ put the first A380 into service). It was a great first experience, here's why:

Naturally, it's conceptually thrilling to be flying the most advanced (and largest) passenger aircraft in the world - all the more so, since as of yesterday there were only three A380s in service anywhere in the world (SQ just took delivery of its 4th a few days ago).

Intellectual thrills aside, compared to the 747-400, the ride is definitely more stable (larger wingspan, shorter fuselage), clearly feels way quieter (50% less cabin noise per literature), and actually less tiring since pressurized to a lower altitude (5,000 feet instead of 747's 8,000 feet). More importantly, the ride is greener - the A380 burns 17% less fuel per passenger than the 747 and also, can run on mixed synthetic jet fuel with a natural gas based component - as a frequent flier, this really feels good.

I boarded the upper deck straight from a jetway that attaches to the top level - eliminating the bag drag up the narrow stairs problem in the 747. 2/3 of the top deck is business class in SQ's 471 passenger version - I sat in towards the end of the section, which meant I was slightly behind the wing (see top photo). Seats are best in the industry - extremely nice and similar to the new SQ Business Class seats (also on some of their 777-300ERs including the Seoul - San Francisco route). There is a great demo at SQ's site. And the entertainment system is better, bigger, and has wider options - it kept me up most of the night.

The flight steward took me down the front stairs to the First Class (renamed Suites on SQ) area. Now these were nice - door shut, tandem dining, separate bed, and an even better entertainment section (I didn't sample the wines or food). There is talk now that Emirates upcoming first class version will have a shower as well.

You don't have to be an aeronautical engineer to enjoy the A380-800. I had a flight I will fondly remember for a while.