Orlando vacation in January

We had an awesome time with the kids in Orlando this week. The trick was sleeping in late, spending mornings in the resorts swimming, having lunch poolside and then having the kids take a nap through 2/3pm. Then we would arrive at Disneyworld at 4pm and stay through 9pm. I found 5 hours (starting from fully rested) was the right amount of time from an energy throughput perspective for our kids to enjoy and not get cranky, and the evening hours made it nice and cool. Not sure what the late morning traffic would have been like but the evenings were definitely also easier to get around. And by the way we used the half day ticket, as opposed to the more expensive, full day standard version. Its amazing to see how happy the kids are in Disneyworld. Its a small world after all .....

Tokyo visit in January

This is my first visit to Japan in this year. I shifted my hotel base from Shinjuku to Akasaka/Rappongi, and I think I will stick with it for now. Its quieter, closer to the Financial district and the Grand Palace (great walking trails). Shinjuku has a very nice park next to the City Hall, has tremendous electricity, and has a very downtown feeling. However, I like Akasaka better - it feels quieter and like more of a neighborhood. Overall, Tokyo continues to be my favourite business capital in the world to visit - clearly its the most civilized destination, its easy and safe to get around, and has phenomenal culture.

Delayed in Shanghai

I was in Shanghai the second week of January, it was cold. On the way back, United Airlines nicely sent me a flight update by sms informing me that my return flight would be delayed, first by 23 hours, and then revised to 13 hours. Finding a sudden block of open time was simultaneously both frustrating and rewarding. I took the time to catch-up on one of my favorite cities in the world and then, go get a massage. This time I went to Dragonfly (http://www.dragonfly.net.cn/) at 20, Donghu. This appears to be a top notch, clean and professional chain and quite a bit less expensive than the one in the Westin Bund. I would easily recommend it. I got the 2 plus hour combination massage with three therapists and couple of assistants all working different parts. I was in a different world by the time I reached the airport. On a separate note once I arrived at the airport, I found most of the passengers on that flight waiting from having arrived 13 hours ago for the original check in time. I am so glad for flight paging ....

Decoupling and capital markets

I sat in a meeting today with the Goldman Sachs principal in Hong Kong. The discussion was around upcoming growth in Asia. She had great data; projected GDP growth over next three years is expected to average around 11% in China, 8/9% in India and 2/3% in US. From there the logic trail goes ... since the economies in China/India are 'decoupled' from the US, there would be continued upward momentum in capital markets there. I am not sure I buy this. While the inter-trade and other inter-dependencies may be small enough to skirt a steep fall in gross production, I believe the valuation mindset and methodology in its most abstract form is consistent the world over. And with real-time media and broader public participation in capital markets, I believe the shift in valuation multiples will transcend the geo-borders, coupling or not. Unfortunately if the US slips, this will impact the Asian exchanges, note to self - I am getting out of Asia funds ....