What went mainstream in 2013 and what kind of fish do you want to be?
Tis the day after Christmas and I love this time of the year because unlike everyone else, I am staying home. The streets are quiet, the breeze is cool, and I am taking long walks without having to bump into people and their bikes.
Seems the whole world’s gone bike-crazy – I was in Penang [...]
As 2013 nears, time to reflect on what lies ahead
In under a fortnight, we will usher in a new year. Time to wind down, take a break and reflect on what will unfold in 2013. For those wishing to pursue business opportunities in Asia, here's our take on what you have to heed. For now, happy holidays.
1. Low cost continues [...]
Tips for the new romance of 2014
So if you were to ask me what I will remember most about 2013, I’d say it’s the year Asia truly came of age. Sure, she's been noticed before. People have whispered about her attraction. The people who know her well already know that she's special. But I am now talking big-time, mass-scale, globa [...]
A world of diminishing space and privacy – like it or lump it
Two things happened on my last trip round the world worth commenting on.
One, the move by US authorities to allow mobiles to be used inflight during taxi, takeoff and landing. Delta Airlines was the first airline to allow this and on my flight from JFK to Fort Lauderdale, I experienced what [...]
Letter from Amsterdam: Canals, coffee shops and contradictions
As in Fort Lauderdale, my room overlooks the ocean – only this time, it’s the North Sea and the air is decidedly colder and blustery.
I am told this is Holland’s finest beach and I haven’t dared venture out to the sand yet. I do like the contradiction of Christmas trees and beach [...]
A week of dramas, online talk and rainbows
It’s the day after the PhoCusWright Conference in Fort Lauderdale. After the heavy rains of last night – thought I was back in Singapore with palm trees being lashed by heavy rainfall – there’s more bluster than breeze in the air and the waves are strong and choppy.
It’s been a ra [...]
Letter from Ft Lauderdale: Putting a 28-hour journey into context
Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale (right) and morning walk on Hollywood beach
Landed in Fort Lauderdale after 28 hours of journey time and have to say, not feeling as ragged as I thought I’d be.
I had had som [...]
Letter from Shanghai: Redefining the China Dream – Kim Kardashian cannot be a role model
Just returned from Shanghai and wondering what’s the point of being rich if you can’t breathe? Okay, perhaps I am being over-dramatic but often one has to be to illustrate a point.
I was fortunate to have two clear days out of four in Shanghai but yet the one day I was out sitting in traffi [...]
Think like an immigrant, work like an artisan and live in beta
It’s the new formula for workers in the new sharing economy and I couldn’t have picked a more appropriate place to write this piece than Shanghai, gateway to 1.35 billion people in a country that’s on beta-steroids.
(Pictured left: Shanghai by day)
At the WIT Conference, Philip Wolf, fo [...]
Explaining ICCA to youths and what it takes to be an entrepreneur
I am headed to Shanghai today to attend the ICCA annual conference. Yesterday, my nieces, one of whom works in hotels and the other in a digital media agency, asked me what ICCA was and what the conference was about.
I told them that ICCA stood for International Congress & Convention As [...]
