My company car (5 Series BMW) in Germany was taken away from me due to a reshuffle in the fleet. After a long discussion I was moved to the last selection since I was the only person eligible for a car that was not married and did not have kids. I got “stuck” with this one:
And the sun is shining!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Car Troubles :P
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
World Wide GPS
The Global Positioning System is a godsend for the world traveler, especially if you are driving yourself (rather than the hiking version) in multiple countries and cities. However, there are problems as you move off the roads well traveled or are in place which is constantly changing (think old versions of map software). Countries like China where maps are non-existent are a separate story. I have had quite a few GPS experiences, involving driving around in circles, finding roads missing, dead-ends, or even taking highways which are shown as “off road” on the maps. There is a certain level of trust you place in the system to get you to your destination, even if it is not the ideal route. This woman however found out first hand the mistake of trusting your GPS blindly:
Monday, March 26, 2007
German Gummy Bears
(http://www.yatego.com/fruchtgummisbilliger/p,45b5f471e84de,457d8a6b0c3f11_9,3kg-haribo-kinder-schnuller-im-karton)
Someone bought a pack of these the other day.
I don't even want to know...
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Autobahn Speed Limits – Germany “secedes” from the EU
The recent indication by the EU that it would encourage Germany to place speed limits on the unlimited portions of the autobahn has been received in Germany by ardent protestations and silent resignation. It is no secret that German’s love their cars. While in the United States people look at electronics, trim and features in a vehicle, in Germany they first check the engine, acceleration and the top-speeds.
If you ever get the chance to pass over an active part of the autobahn, you would see it resembles more of a race track than a freeway. I spoke to several Germans on their views:
“It is inevitable, two to three years maximum; we will have to change it.”
“Who are they to tell us how we can drive? I tell you, this EU idea was the worse thing that could have happened to Germany.”
“It will never happen, this all talk, they all want to look environmentally conscious, Merkel is not suicidal.”
“This is a German institution! My friends come from the United States, London, everywhere to come and drive on the autobahn for a few days, what is Germany without the autobahn? It is our national identity, a show of our progress, our industrial strength.”
My own personal experience has been very pleasant. People follow the rules, and they respect the need for each other to overtake at mind blazing speeds. In most other countries drivers take it as a personal affront if you want to overtake them. My favorite comment which became the title of this post:
"This is the straw that will break the camels back, watch it, if they try to enforce it, Germany will secede from the EU, it will not be the Euro, the polish plumber, the Turkish kebabs, the ECB, nothing; it will be this, Germans will never stop driving fast.”
However, my small sampling apparently does not reflect the opinion of plenty of Germans. A new poll says Germans favor speed-limits to protect the environment, (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070316/od_nm/germany_speedlimit1_dc_1). Showing this poll result to those who made the comments above incited a range of comments specifically targeted at women, old people, and American cars.
International Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/16/news/journal.php
Heathrow - A step closer to hell
Avoid going through this damned airport at all costs! Apart from mad rules like turn your two bags into one this instant (new carry on luggage policy) even if you are a transit passenger and the airline said you could take two pieces from your point of departure. It was hilariously “fun” to watch a whole bunch of people wear four layers of clothes to create room for their purse / laptop bag / other carry on baggage only to remove them to pass the same security X- Ray machine. Heathrow baggage handling is also famous for rummaging through your bags for goodies, as well as forgetting put luggage on a flight. They lost mine for a few days, ransacked my cousin’s and two of her friends’ possessions, and sent a relative’s bags for a round the world tour of the sketchiest airports. Let us also not forget the recent BA labor problems.
The airport itself is confused, infrastructure is run-down, and parts of it look more like a homeless shelter that a place of transit or function. The Luxury brand shops huddle in silent disgrace at the fall of such an institution. Don't get me started on the parking garage... (brrr!)
Thus, until you hear otherwise from credible sources, it is worth paying the extra bit of cash to transit through elsewhere or arrive at a different airport. You are going to have to pay much more for anger management / massages / therapy.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Non-Existant Global Bank
Don’t let your bank fool you. There NO such thing as a global bank. Sure there are collections of large regional banks which happen to share common names, shareholders, IT systems, back-end services and on occasion the same management team, consultants and advisory groups but they do not operate as global banks.
My definition of a global bank is simple. When I walk into their branch in San Francisco, Paris or Timbuktu they offer me access to my account and basic services (deposit, withdrawal, and maybe a few local checks).
Those you of you who enjoy the benefits of your private banking accounts will point out to me that this is usually not a concern as things are “handled” by your account managers. Your Swiss Banker rings the local Paris branch and transfers the $10,000 dollars you need to buy next season’s limited edition Versace in cash from this broker (who is also incredibly hot with the most darling accent) you met in the Latin Quarter despite the fact that Versace is dead, the LE has not been finalized, and you are probably going to be mugged if not worse.
This still requires a call to that private banker, and the 24 hr turn-around period for the wire-transfer, inter-branch instructions etc, to go through.
Part of the problem has been the daily limits set on ATM cards. Usually hovering around 500-2000 Euro they limit the customer’s and the banks’ liability in case of theft. Also, many ATM machines can not process “international cards.” Then there are the usual obstacles to global trade including complex tax laws, residency issues, and the perpetual ghost of money laundering and terrorism.
HSBC’s Offshore banking is an interesting development in this area, and I have high hopes for it fulfilling this need. (Link: http://www.offshore.hsbc.com)
Other banks are also moving at glacial speeds by expanding their offerings of online-wire transfers, and expanding their inter-bank agreements as well as their ATM networks.
Credit cards with high limits are great improvement from the 1900s but are worth nothing when purchases are to be made in cash, i.e most of Asia and Europe (shocking isn’t it?) or when “International Cards” prove problematic. (For example, recent US laws trying to restrict people from spending their money from their offshore accounts which ended up creating much trouble for Bermuda tourists visiting the states).
Enough of the expenditure, what if you want to receive cash?
The SWIFT system of inter-bank remittance has made international transfers much easier. But try explaining how to do one to most people you want money from, or even the desk clerk at a local branch. It doesn’t help that most countries don’t accept foreign checks, or charge a cashing fee for them. American checks are notorious for attracting some of the highest fees as their funds are recallable under certain conditions.
Pessimism aside, I do believe the global economy will sprout an account or two of this type (if it hasn’t already, anyone? Anyone?).
We just have to make sure the commies, the isolationists, the anti-globalization troops, the regional banking lobbies, government taxation departments, politicians, and other groups with vested interests don’t ruin it.
P.S. Traveler Checks – Just say no, or you will hear it often enough.
Monday, March 12, 2007
To the VILLAGES!!
Sunday turned out to be quite fun. After my protests at not going with my father and family friend on a backbreaking eight hour road trip to an ancestral temple failed, I found myself in the front seat of a soccer mom styled mini-van heading to Jhunjunu, Rajasthan.(http://www.india-tour-package.com/rajasthan/jhunjunu-tour.html ). Before going I had outlined a case for taking an SUV instead, which I argued would be better suited to handle the punishing road-trip. I was however vetoed for not entirely logical reasons.
After the initial half an hour, I switched into road-trip mode which greatly improved my mood and my enjoyment of things. The newly constructed highways helped a great deal in this regard, and quite frankly I was impressed. We passed through Gurgoan, Haryana (I just realized it could be translated as sugar-village) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurgaon) which is the upcoming capital of BPO India whose architecture is indistinguishable from the Bay Areas tech campuses. We then headed through a series of toll roads. For a few seconds I nearly forgot that I was in India. The large sign describing what various vehicles should do at a particularly large toll check-point brought me back to reality. Apart from the usually trucks, cars and two-wheeler vehicles, horse and camel carts were shown, and had a special lane reserved. Also, the government had made the highways without teaching anyone how to drive on them. Outside Delhi this meant cars straddling two lanes, going at all sorts of speeds, and random people crossing the road as if it was their village cow-path.
Off the highways though the roads were pot-holed and ill-kept, but I was reminded by the chauffer that I should be pleased that roads exist. We passed village after village, which had expanded into small towns with the usual ramshackle shops, most of them selling sweets. After the first hour we became desperate to find a tea stall, which against all common sense and experience was hard to find. We had masala tea for four in large shot glasses with some snacks, and being non-locals, were charged the exorbitant sum of thirty-three Cents US. In Delhi we would have paid ten dollars for the same.
Going on India’s roads and highways at a respectable 120 KM/Hr (75 miles/hr) may appeal to your spiritual side. You are guaranteed a near death experience every few minutes. Half-way through I was glad we were going to a temple, versus some other destination which was not looked favorably upon by the Gods.
The temple was humbling. There is something incredible about walking into a place where generations of your family before you have come and have etched their names on the walls that brings you to your knees. It had been two years, and it suddenly felt like a lifetime. Rajasthan is a desert, but as we made our way barefoot through the main arches, the sunset sky was ripped through with multiple bolts of lightening. It was a storm, with movie like special effects, it ragged on as we completed a ceremony passed on from centuries before. It felt calm and serene despite the cracking and thunder that probably shattered a few windows. The temple guards and priests were shocked at the quantity and ferocity of rain that flooded the large spaces. My father joked that God was telling him to have patience at not leave His house quickly as my father normally did. We moved from one of the temple to other, our clothes thoroughly drenched. Lightening struck the skies every two seconds, turning night to day. We finished, pocketed our socks, and scrambled to the car. In moments my arguments for taking the SUV were vindicated. The roads were flooded a foot deep.
Our chauffer turned out to be a daredevil, and miraculously charged the car through, while others found themselves trapped in self-made islands. Now and then we thought we were done for, but the soccer mom van pulled ahead. You know you are in trouble when the road ahead has rapids.
It took five hours to get back to Delhi, with more thirty-cent tea stops, complete meals for four for seven dollars, and toll stations where someone comes to your window to collect your money and give it to the person in the toll booth.
The way Indian perceivers and develops despite all social and political odds continues to astound me. Every six months the urban and countryside changes beyond recognition. I am excited! I wonder what it will all look like ten years from now.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Ambassadors and Embassies – A world of difference
The difference in the attitudes of ambassadors between countries and replacements shock me. It amazes me how a single person sitting far away from the home country can make or break relations through their personality. Finding the right person for the job is exceedingly difficult, and most often than not, people are selected on the basis of their loyalty and suck-up power rather than their country or subject area expertise. I have met incredible ambassadors who go out of their way to make sure their countries are represented as warm, friendly (even if the newspapers say otherwise) and facilitating. On the other hand I have met ambassadors who are aloof, arrogant, and generally will incite hostile feelings towards their country in a room by their very presence.
Two countries I have noticed go overboard, with very impressive results. I know people who are trying to find an excuse to go and set up things in these countries after simply having met with embassy personnel.
The first is Ireland. Ireland is famous for becoming the home of most of the Fortune 500 in Europe within a few years. Their embassies and consulates around the world are engineered with the sole purpose of attracting the very best into Ireland, and helping Ireland invest abroad. They act more as a professional consulting operation rather than a government representation. Ireland’s neighbor (you can stop laughing now) the U.K. has been rattled into action with their Think London response to the Irish Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland successes at home and abroad.
The second is China. It many countries the ambassador will meet with any business person willing to invest a few hundred thousand dollars into the Chinese economy. Most of them are well trained, will long careers in the government, and show a degree of humility alien to the diplomatic community at large. The Chinese embassy is surprisingly fast and efficient, and goes out of its way to make you feel comfortable.
Diplomacy is an art, and there is a dearth of its artists.
Links:
Enterprise Ireland: http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/
IDA Ireland: http://www.idaireland.com/
Think London: http://www.thinklondon.com/
Chinese Embassy:
http://www.china-embassy.org/ - US
http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/ - UK
France – My regard for it is sinking lower
I generally refer to France quite fondly. I am enamored perhaps in a clichéd manner with the various delights the country has to offer. I even forgave them for their recent and blatant racism against Indians with the now famous, “monkey money,” and “a company of Indians” comments. (See Links).
In an attempt to ban “Happy Slapping,” a phenomenon sweeping Europe in which people (usually youths) go out and commit acts of violence against a specific target (usually someone they know) and film it using an amateur camera (in a cell phone for example),the good French Councilors decided the only way to stop this activity, was put, get this, a ban on all posting all filmed violence except by professional journalists on the internet. Welcome to death of freedoms, and the end of the citizen journalist, not to mention a whole bunch of bloggers. For a parliament that was going after Steve Jobs to make music more free and open, this is a strange step backward. If it wasn’t for pictures and videos captured by amateurs around the world, we would lose access to many important events and news stories (the hanging of Sadam Hussein for example).
Is this law really against Happy Slapping, or a move to ensure that citizens do not capture French citizens, and state officers, in questionable acts? Violators can face up to five years in prison, and seventy-five thousand euros in fines.
Why not just make Happy Slapping illegal? It is a form of assault!
This is another example of a broad sword being used when a scalpel was needed. A sad day for France, and the world.
Monkey Money and such:http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/03/yourmoney/mittal.php
Happy Slapping: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_slapping
The Story: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/07/europe/EU-GEN-France-Happy-Slapping.php
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Schengen Visa Rules – Twisted.
As the number of days I can stay in Schengen countries in this half of the year speedily declines, I begin to wonder for whose benefit the visa policy has been made. As an investor in many of these countries, with the direct creation of jobs, I would hope they would accord me some kind of special treatment.
Germany for example has the Self-Employed Residency which was created in an act a couple of years ago
LINK: http://www.kanton.diplo.de/Vertretung/kanton/de/formulare/visa__engl__selbst_C3_A4ndige__t_C3_A4tigkeit__downloaddatei,property=Daten.pdf
However, the process is notoriously well hidden to the point that most embassies will not know / deny its existence until shown the text of the act.
It is rather strange that a refugee would get more rights, and easier access, that someone who is willing to spend money on these countries. Perhaps, this is a key reason why people prefer to invest in the United States and Canada. For example, the United States grants Green Cards to anyone who invests between 250K USD to 1 Milo USD (depending on the location) and creates a bunch of jobs. The United States also very happy to give ten year visas, something which is unheard of in the Schengen system.
Hopefully, said countries will wise up and not stop bleeding their entire rich populations to Switzerland, and their qualified to Canada, while losing much needed foreign investment to the United States.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Newspapers In-Flight
I took a recent poll of some of my fellow travelers to see which newspapers they normally attempted to pick-up while in-flight. Here is the general list:
Newspaper from Home – This could be the Indian Express, USA Today, New York Times or the South China Morning Post etc. i.e. any newspaper from their home country, or current country of residence.
The Financial Times – In varied languages
(www.ft.com)
The International Herald Tribune
(www.iht.com)
The Wall Street Journal
(www.wsj.com)
Also, I just noticed, all of them have abbreviated website urls...
Which newspapers you do read?
Comments on the White Man
A friend commenting on Paris Hilton's and Donald Trump's attempted trademarks of “That’s Hot“ and “You’re Fired!“ declared, “white man is mad, bloody brother-in-laws (a rather complex insult)” (Gore Pagal Hote-Hain Saale) in hardcore slang Hindi. Coming from a fellow international traveler, I expect this to provide much amusement in the future.
Satellite Phones – May Actually Be Cheaper…
After my prior post (Link: http://www.quasijetset.com/2007/02/international-phone-issues.html) on my telecommunication systems I decided I needed to find out in how much all this was costing me per minute. I nearly fainted when I saw the obscene roaming charges I was being charged. There had to be better options. After going to the regular international telecom sites (links below) I discovered something rather unexpected. It turns out it is cheaper for me to buy a satellite phone and use it while roaming rather than use my existing telephone. After Iridium had gone bankrupt I knew it had been bailed out, but I had no idea they would be able to cut prices to this extent. When it was launched the call rates were between 10 USD and 100USD per minute. Now, they hover around a very respectable 1 USD a minute. Companies (particularly in the US) even let you rent these phones for that out of the way vacation.
Now all I have to do is find out the fine print, and how they intend to screw me over.
Telecom Sites:Road Post
www.roadpost.com/
Outfitter Satelite
www.outfittersatellite.com
Cellular Abroad
www.cellularabroad.com/
Friday, March 2, 2007
The Myth of the Unlimited Indian Workforce
The new Indian budget came in during my stay in New Delhi. The budget, announced by the finance ministry, is the single most important document for businesses during the year. It describes the changes in taxation, subsidies, government spending, as well as gives a good indication of the reform process and what the government is thinking. The stock market fell heavily after this budget (though some of it could be linked to events in other financial markets).
A good deal was talked about the great Indian boom, which started most visibly with the IT sector a few years ago, and has since spread to every part of the economy. Countries around the world are becoming fearful and enamored (depending which side of the fence you are on), of the seemingly unlimited (one billion is a huge figure) workforce the country has to offer. Sadly, most people, including the Indian government fail to understand one singular truth:
This so called workforce has only always consisted of a very small percentage of the population, largely those who went to private school, and a handful of special government schools. This group has barely expanded by 5-10% in the past decade.
Therefore, all the industries which are now booming are fighting over this select group. Salaries are sky-rocketing, and fifty percent attrition rates are become the norm. The only consolation is that a small percentage of one billion is still quite a lot.
So, next time someone tries to raise the outsourcing boogie man at you, throw this at them and watch them melt into the personal and political agenda they came with. (i.e. the floor)
P.S. I know this is changing at a glacial speed. Plus, all those air-hostess training academies, call-centers and BPO shops are now going after the remaining population, and arming them with American accents and fake global polish.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Record Clearance - Delhi Airport
My flight arrived in New Delhi, India on time, a great feat given the usually foggy conditions of the city (they tend to cancel early morning flights). It took me five minutes to get from the plane to the parking lot! For those who have experienced the madness (time wise) that is Delhi immigration and customs (which I must point out is centuries ahead of the crappy Mumbai (Bombay) experience) this time without "facilitation" is simply unbelievable. I checked my cellphone twice to make sure the lack of sleep hadn't caused delusions.
Delhi...hats off to you! Wow!
On board report - Munich
I love that Lufthansa has real power sockets in their business class seats. No need for expensive unavailable questionable adapters and cables which usually end up killing your battery.
I wish they would inform their flight staff that the sockets exist though...
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