Are you from Michigan by chance?

Just returning from a holiday back to the states and with it the realization that Americans are overweight and I mean big time.  Being from Michigan myself, I recently received invitations from "friends" on Facebook and with it comes many photos of themselves and their families.   

Once I shared these photos, I was asked the question, "is everyone from Michigan that big?"

Not that there is anything wrong with it but it made me realize that Americans are eating too much of the wrong foods and not getting out to exercise at all it seems.

Now my bag was overweight by a few kilos and I ended up paying Southwest Airlines $25.00 to allow my bag of tricks to go with me (I was given a Brookstone room fan which I had to schlepp with me).  But what about the overweight people?  Do they have to pay overweight charges for their bodies?

When walking through DFW Airport last week we walked past the Detroit flight and before I could look at the monitor I knew where it was headed.  The choices in my head were Minneapolis or Detroit, had to be.  I knew this by looking at the people sitting in the departure lounge.  Do you think the airline adds extra fuel for those flight routes?

I know this might be offensive to some of the people out there and it is not intended to be so, but living in Asia for four years now has made me forget the McDonalds Super Size nation I once lived in.

Here is an interesting article addressing the flying issues of todays supersize Americans.

You know you're on the way to Tokyo when...

Sitting in the JAL Sakura Lounge at the Bangkok Airport at 6:15am heading for Tokyo.  In the background, as I sip my coffee and eat my morning cake, I hear from every direction a sound synonymous only with Japan.  The sound of slurping Japanese men while they eat their way through hot morning instant ramen noodles.

Ahhhhh

Monday - time for Tokyo update

Dear All

The state that the Internet cannot be connected in the guest room floor is sometimes being generated now.

In the cause, the case for man who doesn't have the precise knowledge to touch LAN wiring and to have damaged the system is most. Therefore, Please never touch the computer and LAN wiring, etc. other than the system manager or engineering.

As for wiring in the hotel, domestic wiring and the system are different. When man who doesn't have the precise knowledge touches wiring, the system is destroyed.

Very Confucius don't you think? When Man doesn't have knowledge, the system is destroyed. Doesn't that just say it all.

Update from Tokyo

I know I keep referring to Tokyo here but it just keeps giving me good material. I really can't wait to get back there in two weeks time to see friends and of course a big bowl of spicy ramen at Raku Raku.

So here is the Monday update, which I have to say threw me:

"It was said that the broiled fish of the dish of the dinner was hard, and had a new thing immediately though it ate in the place where it was about 13:45, it was Japanese restaurant Miyuki, and Mr and Mrs Dany of Ms who reserved it was a table seat. It was very high-spirited, and moreover, the child of Dany's next table very got angry about it, and put away today on the way of the meal of the shop..it was possible to go out.. coming to a store of a lot of guests of the child. The Miyuki Mori ran after soon, it apologized, and it apologized to staying manager's Kunimi manager in the lobby.

It apologized to section chief Kobayashi again in Jardin, and afterwards, coffee and the fruit were eaten and consented. By the way, I did not get the meal fee in Miyuki."

Translation:

The child next to M/M Dany's table was noisey and they complained.
Also, it took 3 attempts to charge the credit card as it would not go through.

Credit card?? I thought this was about the fish and screaming child?

Spirituality

I have someone I would like to recommend to the world. How often do you hear this?  John lives in Bali with his wife and wonderful family of three gorgeous daughters.  He is one of the most spiritual people I have ever encountered through the many places I have lived and the trips I have taken around the world. His insight into life and his views and approach to the energies that surround all of us, guide each of us, reach to places I only wish I could go.

I have attached his link to his poems, his art and his journeys through Nepal and Bhutan for you to explore and enjoy.  Feel free to contact him in Bali and let him know your thoughts and opinions on his website and his specifically his arts.

I guarantee you will see things differently.

This just in from Tokyo

Resume/CV explanations why a young pastry chef wants to work for us.

"If I get assign to an unofficial decision, make repeated unceasing effort.
And I want to be a confectioner like the unsung hero behind kitchen. "

Amen sister, unsung hero, too many unsung heroes in this world.

Next time you are at a restaurant or hotel, ask to see the unsung hero pastry chefs. Go ahead and give'm a hug then tell them to head straight to therapy to talk about their lack of selfconfidence.

I have a car and driver...

Ok, really I have a taxi and eager driver who on Monday was waiting at the curb, not for me but just parked there.  Apparently I had taken him one other morning and he remembered me and immediately told me where I needed to go.  He said he would pick me up again same time on Tuesday.  As I came out of my apartment driveway, he was inching the taxi forward to see which apt complex I was exiting, blocking all traffic to get a good look.

Now on Wednesday, he was waiting in the apartment driveway with the door open.  When I got in the car, he called someone who spoke English and we have now set up a weekly payment system on his suggestion.

Now the best part of this thing is that he doesn't speak any English so we will see how that goes when I need to change my time.  He also will be charging me $6.00 a week or $24.00 a month.

I love this country!  And don't you love the colors of the taxis in Bangkok?

How easy is it to vote?

In some countries citizens are not allowed to vote or the elections are so corrupt the votes don't count.  In the US, we can (with the exception of a few counties in FL) and we should, but do we?  

Millions of Americans have died to ensure that everyone has that right to vote for the candidate they best see fit to run the country, levy taxes upon them and somewhat rule the world for the next four years.  I have just faxed my ballot to the Miami-Dade County Clerks office and it could not have been easier.

Step 1.  Look on line for the absentee ballot request form 

Step 2.  Fill in said request form

Step 3.  Fax to your local registrar

Step 4.  Three days later receive an email with your ballot and print it

Step 5.  VOTE

Step 6.  Fax back, it's that easy.

In some countries, Australia for example, it is mandatory for all citizens to vote no matter what.  If you are out of town, vote absentee but it is the law.

It really stops the people the day after the election from bitching about the results when they didn't bother to get their fat asses off the couch and away from Oprah.

Just 13 days to go for you over in the US.  Exercise your right!

A sanitary pad and a toothbrush

We have weekend Manager On Duty shifts (MOD) in the hotel industry.  The MOD is the one that allows all of us managers to have the weekend off and know that if the place burns down we don't have to deal with it.

With the weekend duty, the manager has to spend Saturday night at the hotel and test the standards.  They have to eat in the hotel, perhaps have a spa treatment, make a fake reservation etc.  On the following Thursday afternoon you give a report to the management team of how the standards were met and how the hotel performed.

So not sure if this is a cultural thing or just an age thing but the MOD for last weekend, a middle aged woman who has the nickname "pussy lips" due to the size and redness of her lips, reported to the group, "Called housekeeping for a sanitary pad and toothbrush".  Not a sound in the room.  Not because they were in shock that she actually used her time of the month in her test but I think because it was no big deal, which according to my sex educator father would not be.  Some post comments were even "she still needs that?"

Besides the obvious funny part of this whole thing including a PowerPoint presentation, you could look around the room and see that only four people had a look of shock and amazement on their faces, all male foreigners.

Sanitary pad and toothbrush, it's a natural request at any hotel.

KCRW - NPR Santa Monica

Each day I listen to KCRW in the morning to keep up with the news of the US.  Its the end of the day wrap up show in Los Angeles but for me its the get a coffee and wait for it to kick in type of radio show.

Well, just heard on the radio in order of headlines was:

1.  Los Angeles Magazine's annual sex issue is now on newsstands...

2.  News on Iraq...blah blah blah

Sex sells, even on NPR, that's National Public Radio.   

I love this advert

It's a catchy little tune and just the way the world works.  Not everything is as it seems.

God Bless America

A funny little conversation that was had on a recent Qantas flight from Auckland (that's in New Zealand not Australia - if the Americans in the room are asking).

Flight Attdnt:  "How was your holiday?"

Passenger:  "I loved everything about Australia, fantastic!  But I wanted to bring some souvenirs home for everyone and was about to buy a bunch of calendars with different pictures of Australia every month.  Thank god I realized you guys are a day ahead of us so the calendars would be on the wrong day."

I guess Thursday, October 9 in the eastern hemisphere isn't Thursday in the western hemisphere.  Does that mean I get another day to remember birthdays and anniversaries?

Racism is Everywhere

This sign means that all foreigners must pay 20 Baht but Thai citizens get in free.

Question for the world? How do you respond when you are in the gym spinning and a staff member in a higher position than you refers to you as "the foreigners".

It's hard to really comprehend how you are received in a country where you are living as a guest until something like that slips. You work amongst a very nationalistic group of people, proud of their country and culture, but at the same time resentful of your mere existence.

Needless to say it was thrown back at her without haste but with no apology what so ever. This is the same person who said I needed to work every weekend because I was a foreigner and made more money and had a housing allowance. In a separate conversation she also said I needed to work every weekend because I am the "single" one of the group and everyone else has a family.

Just to put this in perspective, she has two housekeepers, a nanny and a driver.

My Geography is off

When did Minnesota move to Alaska?  I know they are both near the arctic circle but when you listen to people who "hale from them there parts" they seem to sound the same.  Could it be that we have never heard anyone speak from Alaska?  

Check out this NPR interview with David Gurkie who just makes Alaska sound so folksy and easy. "What happens when you see a polar bear?", "Well you just call 911 and let them know."  Oh boy!

HRH Princess Soamsavali

This weekend I was told that HRH Princess Soamsavali was coming to the hotel for dinner and since it was an Official visit and it was part of a 7 day World Gourmet Festival we hold every year and the GM was traveling, I had to have dinner with her.  Short of pulling all my teeth out I couldn't think of anything more painful than sitting down with a princess to watch her eat.

Now Princess Soamsavali is the first ex-wife of the Crown Prince of Thailand and his first cousin, eww!  But besides that she was actually very nice and took an interest in our worlds and shared stories of her life.

Prior to the dinner there were photos to be taken on her royal throne and all the chefs that had come from around the world.  "Remember not to turn your back to her", is what we were also told.  Have you tried to walk backward from someone without falling over yourself, not that easy.  "Make sure your head is lower than hers is at all times", come on, you know how tall I am?  So I see all these other people crawling around the floor at her feet trying to position themselves for the photo and I just couldn't do it.  I was in a suit for gods sake.  Besides did I mention ex-wife of the crown prince?

As it turned out I didn't have dinner with her as I was bumped for someone more important but it was a great experience to see the fluffing and fawning around her while she sat on her thrown watching the people crawl on the floor at her feet.

Bring on the Veeps

I watched the debates from the other side of the earth and I admit I have lost touch with much of it.  However it is truly clear now that Barack is the one that should change his home address.  If you don't know the name of the president of Iran, just say Iran or some other side step vs getting it WRONG.  It almost came off like, "you know who I mean, move on".

Now it's on to the Veep debate.  I think it will be like watching a car wreck on the side of the road, you just have to see who's dead or the very least who comes away bloody.

Anderson Cooper:  "But it still remains if they let her (Palin) do an interview again".  Ya think?

Is that a phone in your pocket or are you...

Just a note to all out there who entertain clients with wine and fantastic food...lock your phone keyboard.

You never know when your hot girlfriend is going to be leaving you a message in the morning saying she didn't think you liked chocolate. Huh?  Well apparently when you don't lock your keyboard you end up dialing your girlfriend five times and she hears the entire evening including a discussion on the chocolate desert.  Now of all the people that I have listed in my phone directory my pocket picked her.  Now I just have to face accounting who will be questioning my five calls from Bangkok to Australia...oops!

ACL - The Best Music Festival in the World

Just about now every year I make a pilgrimage to Austin, TX for another turn at discovering new music from all corners of the earth including the most obscure of places, Texas.  

Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Last years highlights were the sexy and sultry Gotan Project, rocker blended with Inxs - Muse, Paolo Nutini - with his heart and soul and from the home town of Austin, Spoon. 

Unfortunately I wont be making it back this year.  However, to taunt me but good, ACL and iTunes put out a sampling to get you psyched for the amazing music experience.  So now I sit here in Bangkok on a Wednesday night, wishing I was on a plane right now, listening to what is turning out to be a great evening of sample songs.

So far Nicole Atkins and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are winners in my book.  If you have a chance to head down to Austin, bare the 95+ heat and listen to some outstanding bands, 150 or more in three days, I really suggest it.

View of Japan

I moved from Tokyo about 7 months ago and I do miss some of the craziness of the city and culture. I especially miss the way the English language is used by the Japanese.

In the hotel world we report on when a guest has a complaint; when the hotel does something that impacts a guest adversly; or sometimes just to let all staff know that a guest likes something a certain way. Many times when there is problem we appologize with a nice amenity and an appology note from the Manager on Duty, letting the guest know we care about the situation and value their feedback.

Well today's laugh came via email from a friend back in Japan.

"Report receiving supervisor Yonehara faces the apology for the guest by 15:43, saying that "the remote control of the TV doesn't move." It exchanged it for new remote control because it was broken when remote control was confirmed. It had at once and it apologized again I wanted to have eaten the fruit as follow-up. The guest is very with pleasure".

So what this really means is, the guest called down to say his remote control didn't work and when we went to the room at 3:43pm we confirmed it didn't work and replaced it. We then sent a note and fresh fruit and the guest commented he loved the gesture.

Facebook Shit-canned

Let's just start with, if you are not familiar with Facebook then you have been living in a cave.

Created by 24 year old Y generation types to keep in touch with friends which had been lost during their very short lives. It has over 100 million active users and is the 4th most visited website in the world. It has grown to be a global, seven language, web based networking tool that spans from friends to business associates to groups in favor or against something.

So who would have thought that I would have been shit-canned by a "friend" who wanted to avoid seeing her ex-boyfriend who has recently gotten married. Not only this but her son in-law has been shit-canned since he was also a friend of the ex on Facebook.

Because Facebook allows you to see your friend's friends, you learn many things. As an example, you find for the first time that your ex has recently married, that they honeymooned in Langkawi and are posting pictures. You find that your friends are actually friends with the new wife and think she is fantastic.

The lesson is that you should not be "friends" with someone on line unless you are ready to accept all the public shit that comes with them. This takes us to a bigger lesson in life. When a couple breaks up, who keeps the friends? Being told that "I can't have you as a "friend" because you are a "friend" with the ex" is just not right as the world goes and seems a bit juvenile.

So the son in-law and I have been shit-canned and cancelled as "friends".

How do you penetrate deep enough?

It's marketing plan time and budget time here in the corporate world. Trying to figure out where the next big Tuna will come from.

Will it be Seoul, Korea with the most vacation time of any country and one of the highest per capita income at $16,000 USD per household?

Will it be the Russian market who are benefiting from the quick rise in the price of oil and celebrating their new freedom?

Will it be the massive economies of India and China with nearly 1/2 the earths population between them, they are traveling and spending money if only the top 5%, which translates to 120 million people.

So how do you penetrate deep enough? How much money do you spend and what do you do to get them interested in you?

I love Saturdays

For $100 USD per month (including groceries) I have a wonderful housekeeper who cooks and makes sure my underwear and all my crap is folded and ironed perfectly in my closet.  But why do I love Saturdays beyond the obvious?  She cooks a week worth of meals for me.  

So they say the sign of a good cook in Thailand is being able to go a month and not eat the same thing twice.  That is Khun Pem.  Today, red curry with crab as well as pad thai with prawn...arroy!

What's it all mean

Well, it's Japanese and Diajobu has become such a common phrase in my world; meaning, "It's all good", "No worries" and to increase the ease of it add Zen Zen before or after.  Zen Zen Daijobu is beyond OK.  Add Desu and its about you.

So, Diajobu-desu let's start the journey.