Shantou

Well today was an important meeting with one of our important suppliers. And then we drove 4 hours through rural China to Shantou for another meeting. The manufacturing facilities have people as far as you can see. The bed at the hotel was as about as hard as they come unbelievable. But this town is considered a village with 4mm people. All in all a cool trip through Shantou. To top it off I flew an airline called China Southern. I have never
heard of them but it was cool. A 2 hour flight from Shantou to Shanghai.

Completion of my Thurs...

So after a long day of store checks etc. We checked our blackberrys, and then head for the train from Hong Kong to Shantou which is in the Peoples Republic of China. It was straight out of a movie. Hong Kong is an old British State, China is China. The minute you get to the border there is wire everywhere and Communist troops. When I got off the train, I was searched and my bags were searched(hmm surprising as I was the only black male on the entire train lol). Then the sniffing dogs went off on my bags. I was searched again not by one but 10 agents who only spoke Chinese that was a treat. In the end it was chocolate that set them off. Needless to say a bit scary but all was ok. Welcome to China! There is red everywhere, people watching you everywhere and mass chaos on the street. Apparently the average person in China doesnt drive and has only had real access to cars since 2002. Uh yea, to say people have 4 years driving experience based on what I see would be a stretch! Stay tuned. Today I am in the village of Shantou. Tonite, Friday in Shanghai.

The Wet Market

Ihave never seen anything like this. Its the equvalent of the Fulton Fish Market, China style. Oh my Especically the toads!

Lunch in Hong Kong

Presentation then, First group lunch then dinners over the last 2 nites followed by Wet Bar visit

Another tour day of Hong Kong

What a pretty country. Today we did more touring of the island. Check it out

First Full Day of Hong Kong!!!

Sunrise in Hong Kong

Spectacular!

Finally in Hong Kong

What a city! Fabulous. Tall buildings everywhere. I had my first local meal(didnt get sick yet phew). Its 2am here but 1pm in NY and Richmond. Time for bed. But I did take a great picture. I am way up in this hotel which is by far the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. Rise n shine at 7am. Going to do store checks in Hong Kong where there are animals running around everywhere in Walmart but no pet department. You pick em they take em, cut them up for you to take home and put in freezer to eat! Yuck!

Flying to Hong Kong

Long flight! 16 hours. At least in first class. There were 60 seats in first class and took up half the plane! My coworkers wont shut up though lol. Words words words. Im trying to sleep they want to talk. I did get 6 hours of sleep. My crazy boss had a staff meeting when we got off the plane!!! So had to call in for an hour! The flight goes north to Canada over Greenland then the North Pole. Then right on the other side to Russia down thru Russia China and then into Hong Kong. We went out of day and nite 2 times! Food was great! Ribeye Steak, Potatoes, Ice Creme Sundae, Omlets, you name it I was full. Coach was wild. There must have been 300 people squeezed up in those little seats and they were all Asian yelling at each other....in fun. Well got a pic of the North Pole but not a good one.

Great photos of the Strip

Checked out the George Wallace Show

great comedy show in the Flamingo hotel.

Prince Concert

Wow what a show.....He sang all kinds of songs...I was standing no more than 15 feet from the stage. The only thing was the hall opened at 10pm he came on at midnite and sang until 2am. A good concert overall.

On my way to Vegas

It is time for me to depart soon to Las Vegas. Flying my favorite airline Continental to Las Vegas for my first ever Alcoa National Sales Meeting. Looking forward to meeting everyone!