Thursday, October 14, 2010
At Hong Kong International Airport
Today is the last day in HK. After taking a shower at the Health Club of JW Marriott, at the lowest floor, I took a shuttle bus at JW Marriott to their last stop, Hong Kong Station. I bought a ticket of Airport Express by cash; it just costs 100 HKD. It just takes 24 min or so.
It seems people in Hong Kong is approaching mainland China; people try to learn Mandarin while they are getting a bit poor at English. Unlike Singapore, there are some people who cannot speak English very well. In this sense, I felt a bit tired in HK; it's a part of China and I just don't get used to Chinese culture and way of thinking.
I felt differently in Singapore; it's more international country and I merely thought I was a foreigner.
Now it's time to go back to my home country.
NH1276: 0:35 Terminal 1, Hong Kong - 5:45 Terminal 1, Haneda, Tokyo; flight 4:10
It seems people in Hong Kong is approaching mainland China; people try to learn Mandarin while they are getting a bit poor at English. Unlike Singapore, there are some people who cannot speak English very well. In this sense, I felt a bit tired in HK; it's a part of China and I just don't get used to Chinese culture and way of thinking.
I felt differently in Singapore; it's more international country and I merely thought I was a foreigner.
Now it's time to go back to my home country.
NH1276: 0:35 Terminal 1, Hong Kong - 5:45 Terminal 1, Haneda, Tokyo; flight 4:10
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Marriott Rewards for ANA Milage
Work, lunch, work, drink, and dinner
I did an internal presentation in the morning. I also visited a prospective client with my colleague in HK at 11AM. After that, my colleague brought me to the restaurant where is famous for the dim sum. The restaurant was City Hall Maxim's Palace.
Another my colleague came to the place with lots of people in a training session which I am one of the lecturers. We are around 16 people or something; it was like a lunch party.
After a long day at the training, I went to a bar just in front of the HSBC building with my associate in HK and had some drinks there. Then our team went to the restaurant, Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop at ifc, International Financial Center. I enjoyed the cuisine and my coworkers' hospitality.
Another my colleague came to the place with lots of people in a training session which I am one of the lecturers. We are around 16 people or something; it was like a lunch party.
After a long day at the training, I went to a bar just in front of the HSBC building with my associate in HK and had some drinks there. Then our team went to the restaurant, Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop at ifc, International Financial Center. I enjoyed the cuisine and my coworkers' hospitality.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I did some work in the morning. Then we just had a quick lunch near Citibank's building. In the afternoon, I did two training sessions for employees as a lecturer in the office today. For dinner, my colleagues brought me to a popular Cantonese food restaurant. Tomorrow is gonna be hectic.
I found out taxis in HK accept only cash. It's a bit inconvenient.
I found out taxis in HK accept only cash. It's a bit inconvenient.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Business trip to Hong Kong
I took a bus from the nearest station to my home. A bus reminds me of my old days back in my university. I sometimes use a bus to go to Tokyo; it's a kind of nostalgic, but not that bad feeling. I always feel "Oh, I am far away from that old days." Moreover, I also think that "did I make every effort to improve myself? Not enough, huh?". I am basically an introvert and introspective person.
I chose ANA's flight from Haneda airport. It's a flight in the night. Reasons why I selected the flight are:
1 - the flight is in the night so I can sleep in the airplane.
2 - I prefer Haneda since it's relatively near my home. I can save 1 hour compared to Narita airport.
3 - all but tonight's flight by ANA were already fully booked. Actually, I checked the ANA's flight during the day, but there was no vacancy. I was recommended JAL and Cathey by a travel agency, but I like ANA and am correcting ANA's mileage. ANA is a member of Star Alliance while both JAL and Cathey are members of One-World.
NH1275: 20:30 Terminal 1, Haneda, Tokyo - 0:10 Terminal 1, Hong Kong; flight 4:40
Hotel is JW Marriott Hong Kong:
Pacific Place 88 Queensbay
Hong Kong Island 22407 CN
Rate 2100.000 HKD/night
I have lots of internal trainings as a lecturer. Furthermore, I have to do some external meetings there. Fortunately, I was invited to Hong Kong office as a guest speaker, who has an expertise in quantitative finance. I will do my best and make a n every effort to make it successful. I would like to give them a positive impact!
I chose ANA's flight from Haneda airport. It's a flight in the night. Reasons why I selected the flight are:
1 - the flight is in the night so I can sleep in the airplane.
2 - I prefer Haneda since it's relatively near my home. I can save 1 hour compared to Narita airport.
3 - all but tonight's flight by ANA were already fully booked. Actually, I checked the ANA's flight during the day, but there was no vacancy. I was recommended JAL and Cathey by a travel agency, but I like ANA and am correcting ANA's mileage. ANA is a member of Star Alliance while both JAL and Cathey are members of One-World.
NH1275: 20:30 Terminal 1, Haneda, Tokyo - 0:10 Terminal 1, Hong Kong; flight 4:40
Hotel is JW Marriott Hong Kong:
Pacific Place 88 Queensbay
Hong Kong Island 22407 CN
Rate 2100.000 HKD/night
I have lots of internal trainings as a lecturer. Furthermore, I have to do some external meetings there. Fortunately, I was invited to Hong Kong office as a guest speaker, who has an expertise in quantitative finance. I will do my best and make a n every effort to make it successful. I would like to give them a positive impact!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
What I've learned from my business trip to Singapore
(1) Importance of foreign languages: English and Mandarin
English: even taxi drivers speaks English, technically "Singlish" though. I've heard from my colleague that Singlish has a similar accent with Southern Eastern part of mainland China, Hukken in Japanese pronunciation; Singaporeans' ancestors are mainly from the area. Some local restaurant employees seem to prefer Mandarin, but they basically have no problem about English. However, in Hong Kong, I think people is getting poor at English; rather, I assume they try to master Mandarin I addition to their mother tang, Cantonese.
Mandarin: Singapore has a strong business relationship with mainland China. Also, one of their four public languages is Mandarin. Especially Chinese Singaporeans usually speak both English and Mandarin.
In Singapore, they cover the most important, and probably the second most important language; namely, English and Mandarin, respectively. This is really huge advantage for them. A language might be just a language, but it will certainly impact our business environments; it deteriorates Japan's competitive advantages.
(2) Singapore's expanding economy and social systems which support it
I did feel that Singaporean economy has been booming. There were a lot of people out there and they got more sophisticated even compared to my first visit back in 2008. Since one ruling party moves the politics and business, they are quick to make a decision and well-organized to build good social systems. I think ordinary people are under the strong control by the government, but "leaders" have been doing good job.
English: even taxi drivers speaks English, technically "Singlish" though. I've heard from my colleague that Singlish has a similar accent with Southern Eastern part of mainland China, Hukken in Japanese pronunciation; Singaporeans' ancestors are mainly from the area. Some local restaurant employees seem to prefer Mandarin, but they basically have no problem about English. However, in Hong Kong, I think people is getting poor at English; rather, I assume they try to master Mandarin I addition to their mother tang, Cantonese.
Mandarin: Singapore has a strong business relationship with mainland China. Also, one of their four public languages is Mandarin. Especially Chinese Singaporeans usually speak both English and Mandarin.
In Singapore, they cover the most important, and probably the second most important language; namely, English and Mandarin, respectively. This is really huge advantage for them. A language might be just a language, but it will certainly impact our business environments; it deteriorates Japan's competitive advantages.
(2) Singapore's expanding economy and social systems which support it
I did feel that Singaporean economy has been booming. There were a lot of people out there and they got more sophisticated even compared to my first visit back in 2008. Since one ruling party moves the politics and business, they are quick to make a decision and well-organized to build good social systems. I think ordinary people are under the strong control by the government, but "leaders" have been doing good job.
Friday, October 1, 2010
At Singapore Airline's Lounge of Chiangi Airport
I took a taxi from the Fullerton Hotel and went to Terminal 3 of Chiangi Airport. After checking in Singapore Airline's flight SQ638 to Tokyo, I passed the immigration and got my tax refunded in SGD.
Now I am writing this at the Singapore Airline's lounge for Business Class.
The aircraft is Airbus A380 again. Boarding is going to be 11:15PM; so I would like to have a good night sleep.
Now I am writing this at the Singapore Airline's lounge for Business Class.
The aircraft is Airbus A380 again. Boarding is going to be 11:15PM; so I would like to have a good night sleep.
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