Day 1

On the way from airport to hotel (a 90 minute bus trip)

Building a new city. About a hundred of these babies going up in this one construction site.

This is my 'hood - Samsung Plaza

Seongnam Soliloquy

Ok I admit it - I had to check how to spell Soliloquy just to make sure I got it right...

I just spent the last few minutes learning South American countries using this site: http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/samericaquiz.html
Onto Africa next. That might take a little longer.

Anyway, Korea has been okay. Meetings have involved a fair bit of waiting in between, but have gone pretty well. Haven't seen too much of the city, but that's a business trip I guess! Ate some fun food - might have to whip the old oriental grill out when I get home.

Seongnam - Korea

Yep - this is what I thought Korea might look like...

Di's 30th Birthday Day and Party

How to Make a Transformer...

I feel the below image needs some explanation. As it turns out, somewhat counter-intuitively, a transformer costume seems to really impress the ladies. If there was a single guy in our party, I would have gladly given him the suit so he could weave some magic with it...

Where is Punta Gorda?

So after 5 weeks of jetting around the USA, we thought it was time to come up with a funny travel anecdote to send people...

Yesterday, we were to fly from Greensboro, NC to Columbus, OH (then drive to Toledo) – which would have taken about 10 hours to drive the whole way. We were a little excited because our flights cost $10 each with a new ULTRA low budget airline called Skybus. We dutifully went to the airport two hours before the flight, only to find that it was delayed by 3 hours (along with most flights). After the wait, and negotiating our way through hordes travellers, having a gate change, no signage or update announcements, and straining to hear flight attendants yelling above the crowd, we boarded our plane. No big deal, it was just another about of about 19 flights we’ll be on this trip.

When we landed, the captain announced “Welcome to Punta Gorda, Florida” – and a bunch of people laughed, so although my heart jumped, I wasn’t worried.

An arctic blast was forecast for the North, so the temperature was likely to be 0 ̊F outside (about -18 ̊C). So we put our coats on and braced for the cold air... which was... warm and humid. Weirded out, we walked into the tiny (ie NOT Columbus) terminal to see people in shorts and t-shirts. Really weirded out. We walked around for a while in disbelief, but it finally started to sink in that we were indeed in Punta Gorda, Florida. I’d never even heard of the place – and it took a while to even work out what it’s name was. If you’re wondering, it’s down on the bottom Western side of the little appendage that is Florida, sticking out like a pan-handle from the USA. I checked with Google, and it told me we were a 20 hour drive from Toledo, Ohio and therefore, Grandma and Grandpa.

When we finally got up the courage to tell a staff person, and he said – “You’re not the only ones” and we met our new friend called Dain who the same thing had happened to. Since Skybus is such a low cost carrier, you can’t talk to a real person who works for them. The guy we were talking to was just a contractor, and they do everything online, so there’s no phone number to call. The airport was so tiny that it was only Skybus who flies into it, so there were definitely no more flights going out (it was after midnight by this stage). After lots of fun, we ended up getting a lift in an airport employee’s limousine to a nearby Days Inn for the night, planning on turning up to the airport the next morning at 7am to talk our way onto the 9am flight.

Apparently the area we were staying in was devastated by Hurricane Charlie in 2003 or thereabouts. All the buildings had been either rebuilt or re-furbished after the storm.

The next morning, after a little adventure trying to get a lift to the airport and getting there with less than hour before the flight. (Floridians seem to be very friendly, but pretty laid back, i.e. not in a rush to get us to the airport, and also due to dense fog, the guy who eventually was nice enough to drive us got a little disoriented) the Skybus people still claimed they could do nothing for us, so I urgently had to buy tickets online in the minutes before departure time – luckily I had my laptop and the airport had free WiFi or we and our friend Dain were not getting on that plane. We can apparently claim a refund online... probably about as likely as Di and I coming to America and not eating Krispy Kreme donuts.

The plane ended up being a few hours late again due to the airport being fogged in. We finally got to Columbus, complete with arctic blast, got our car and followed Aunty Ji’s directions to Toledo, Grandma, Grandpa and dinner. Aunty Ji is our GPS.

So overall, it was a shame to miss almost a full day of our last two days with Grandma and Grandpa for a long time, but it was an interesting experience. Sort of.

Dain and me booking tickets with minutes before the flight was due to leave...


Boarding our Skybus flight in Florida.

By the way, Punta Gorda is HERE

Election signs in New Hampshire. I just registered Di to vote today!

New Hampshire

The Strip in Vegas from the plane when we were leaving

BumbleBee at the CES show.

We just got back to Toledo after a whirlwind 24 hour visit to Vegas. I had set up a work meeting with a guy at the consumer Electronics Show (CES) - a HUGE event held in Vegas every January. So while I spent the day there, Di hung out at Tahiti (out hotel).

That evening we spent our time walking up and down the strip and looking around in the casinos. While I had been a little skeptical, I now agree that it's definitely worth giving Vegas a visit at least once in your life.

We went and saw the Cirque Du Soleil show 'KA' at the MGM Grand Casino. It was simply the most astounding thing I've ever seen... it's a little hard to describe really. Everything, from the theatre, to the stage setup (involving multiple massive platforms that were manipulated into every imaginable position while the performers were defying death on them), to the insane things those performers do, to the costumes and beautiful lighting - was amazing. It seemed weird to step out of the show and back into the real world (well, it was Vegas, so it wasn't really 'real). It was as if this thing we had just experienced should be headline news around the world... but no one seemed to care. *Sniff...*

Now we're REALLY back in the real world. Toledo! Had lunch at Tony Packos cafe today - of MASH fame. Good Hot Dogs and a very entertaining ordering process. I would say, "I'd like a Hot Dog ple..."
"HOT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!!!!!!!!!!!" the server would reply.

525,600 Minutes

I just couldn't resist a quick post tonight... because we're in New York City, and I had forgotton what an amazing place this is.

We drove about 4 hours from Nashua, New Hampshire where we've been loving staying with our friends Ambrish and Shruti. On the way down, we stopped at Hartford, and then Yale University in New Haven on the way to have a few Gilmore moments. Pretty impressive campus actually, and right on the edge of the hood in New Haven.

The approach to New York City from the North East was overwhelmingly urban - it's unbeleiveable how big this place is. We arrived in the city at about 5pm - when the streets were full of people leaving work, and it was COLD. So after giving the rent-a-car and the keys to a parking garage a la Ferris Bueller, we went for a walk to Times Square - only a few blocks away. Managed to pick up some cheap tickets to 'Rent' the broadway musical, so that was our evening planned. It was sort of cool seeing Rent in New York City, WHERE it is set, in Winter at Christmas/New Years - WHEN it is set. Just got back to the hotel, after a nice walk back from the theater in -8 Degrees C.

Smelling the books in Yale Library

Apparently touching the foot of this guy is good luck for exams

Macys

Brad in the "most beautiful place on earth if you don't read English" (Is that a Mark Twain quote?)

The theatre we saw 'Rent' at. Obvious really.

Happy New Year from New Hampshire!

ToledOooooooooooooo

A guy at the Glass Museum in Toledo today explained that the Toledo accent is different than other Americans because they have long 'O's. I guess that comes from saying ToledO and OhiO a lot.

We made glass beads out of glass. I like the kind of art where you get to use a blow torch.

We had a nice Christmas in the old folks home with Grandma and Grandpa and all the other residents. Tomorrow it's off to New Hampshire. We'll be trying to outrun the cold weather that's coming across the country after us. It snowed last night - but just a little bit. Just enough to ease us into it.

Christmas Dinner

Making Glass Beads

Our art. Di, Di, Brad, Di, Di, Brad, Brad, Di, Brad, Di, Brad, Di.

Taipei and Vancouver - Totally Grouse

We're finally off again! Brisbane-Taipei-Vancouver-Toledo-Nashua-NewYork-Toronto-Toledo-Las Vegas-Toledo-Washington DC-Durham-High Point-Toledo-Vancouver-Taipei-Brisbane
Or something like that...

So here's some photos so far. From Taipei and from our few days in Vancouver with Owen and Corrina. Sorry for not rotating the images... but I'm using an Apple, not a computer.

We made a list, and managed to tick off most of it... including snowboarding, ice skating, watching hockey, playing hockey, Cinnamon Buns, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kremes, Sushi, Mastering Etch a Sketch, Buying warm clothes, 5-pin bowling, Corrina's Mum, Owen's Mum, Corrina's Grandma and watch Degrassi.

Off to Seattle tomorrow for a day, then flying to Toledo for Christmas with Di's Grandparents!

Our Taipei photo

Di in the night markets - Taipei

Christmas in Taipei

A really tall thing (and Taipei 101 - tallest building in the world. We went up it!)

Some random people at Vancouver Airport

Granville Island

A Clear Day. Wooh!

Ice Skating

Di, Corrina and Owen with Santa and Mrs Santa at Grouse Mountain

Snowboarding on Grouse and a chick I picked up while doing it

Goalie Di

Brad Gretzky-Schultz

The Team

Old man?

Just thought I'd whack in a quick link to some photos from my 30th birthday party on the weekend. Check out our photos here.

Pretty amazing to have so many great friends in one place. Even the people working at the pub commented on what a great bunch of people our friends were! I just wish I could have been part of multiple conversations at once all night. Thanks to all who came and to those who I know couldn't come but wanted to!

May the Don rest in peace.

Piloting skills

I'm making some progress with my piloting skills...

Heavy Machinery, Hotels and a Weak Share Price that Doesn't Matter to Me

This post starts with the following sign that appeared a few weeks ago, across the road from us, sending us into frenzies of excitement... Our very own new Coles supermarket, looking ready to open for MONTHS was finally opening!!

As many of you know, we have experienced much pain in Gibbon street with the construction of the development across the road. So to finally gain some benefit out of it, even if it IS just a Coles, is appreciated.

So 8am on Monday the 24th, we were there - part of the mob of around 30 odd people who wanted to see the doors open at a Coles for the first time. We got in, bought our clothes pegs and cookie dough, claimed our free rose, then got out. Sort of surreal to see this supermarket with NOTHING missing from the shelves...




Unbeknownst to us, we were putting our lives in serious danger by even entering the store! When dropping in later in the day to by some more things, we were informed about THIS little news story.

Meanwhile, next door, work on the North South Bypass Tunnel has continued, being a major disruption to our otherwise idyllic lives. Last week was particularly painful, with work going on until midnight every night and starting at 6am the next morning. After a few late night phonecalls to their 'hotline' to complain, they came through with the goods - putting us up in hotels for the next two weeks while they complete their night works!

See the view from our new pad below.



Unfortunately the hotel's TV isn't as big as the one I had in my room in Sydney when I was there overnight for work this week...

Another New Toy

I've decided to launch a transportation experiment... by purchasing an electric scooter on ebay. Legally it's classified as a bicycle (so I'm led to believe). I'm sure this classification will be tested the first time police notice that I don't have a number plate...

A few photos...and a few more are here.


I found Krispy Kremes in Mong Kok!

At Si Kung

Going home tomorrow!!!

Hello countless millions of Brad's Big Bad Blog fans...

Well I didn't really do too many updates during the week. It was a pretty full week of work, but topped off with a nice day today. Knocked off at Lunchtime and my host, Ian, took me to Sai Kung, a nice little 'holiday village' type of area just out of the city. Ate some seafood, drank some beer, and it made all the hard work worthwhile!

This evening I hit the technology shops - Apliu St, and the Golden Computer Arcade - then the Temple St markets and some other markets around Mong Kok. Fun evening - I just wish Di was here too! I'll post a few photos.