Nota Bene

Hey everyone!

As I write this I’m recovering after a 32-hour multi-stopover flight back from Latin America; however, despite the exhaustion, I’m already back into reminiscing about Rio de Janeiro while the memories are still fresh…

The first time I visited this splendid city (and Brazil, for that matter) was way back in 2006. We were having our second Latin American partner conference in a place called Salvador (here), and we figured it’d be a shame not to spend a few days on some banal tourism. I mean, why fly halfway around the world just to work and then immediately head back home? No – you need to stay a while longer and take a good look around.

But since I wasn’t blogging in 2006, there aren’t any photos on the internet from back then. Still, I do have a few pics in my archives – for example the following. Yes, it was windy! ->

Read on…

Ok, let’s have a show of hands…

Who has experienced, or at least knows about something about, teamLab?

Ah, just as I thought: not many. Too bad! For this is a uniquely entertaining art project at the intersection of light effects and music, computer animation, and a completely wild atmosphere. Drop everything and get there!…

Last year I visited the teamLab Planets mega-digital-lightshow in Tokyo, and now had come the time to check out their latest exposition in the UAE.

You really need to see this phenomenon “live”, as photos and videos only capture some of the impressions and emotions. Accordingly, this post needs to be considered merely as an introduction to teamLab Abu Dhabi: a modest and not too professional promo-account about this highly intriguing art event. Which goes something like this:

Here‘s where it’s situated:

Read on…

I’ll tell you about Rio a bit later, as well as other notable events of my trip. But first I want to tell you about Brasília, the capital of Brazil – for it’s rather an intriguing place…

The city was built from scratch in the early 1960s (meaning it’s less than 70 years old!) specially to become the capital – Brazil’s state-administrative center. The main buildings were designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer – known for his leading role in designing the UN headquarters in New York…

With a population of about 2.5 million, the city’s shaped like a bird (or airplane) – a long, narrow central part with two “wings” on each side. Here it is on Google Maps:

Read on…

Another day – another continent!…

• Country: Brazil.
• City: Rio de Janeiro
• Main business: our regional (the Americas; these days mostly Latin American) partner conference
• Secondary activity: tourisms – of course!…

First up – the partner conference carnival. It wasn’t in Rio city itself, but a bit outside – in a beach suburb; still Rio though. I’d been here a couple of times before, but that was ages ago. The first time was in 2006; the second in 2010 – and on both occasions the reason I was here was for… you won’t will believe it: regional partner conferences!

Back then, I didn’t bother with detailed stories and lots photos (that got started properly in 2011), so I can’t compare today’s experience with that from 19 and 15 years ago, alas.

On the morning of our arrival, with a few hard days’ work ahead, we start out with breakfast looking out onto the South Atlantic Ocean – and a seemingly endless traffic jam:

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Hi folks!

Herewith – another rewind/catch-up post now I’ve had some time get it done!…

And so it’s back to the United Arab Emirates – this time the Emirate of Abu Dhabi – for… this! ->

But first – rewind. (“Again?!”)

Read on…

How many times have I been to Dubai? Based on both memory and my photo archives, I think it must be no less than 20 times. Some were long trips, others were lightning-fast one-day hops; all the same – you’d think I’d have seen all there is to see and snap there by now. But you’d be wrong. For they build new stuff here faster than I can keep up with; example: the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel ->

In keeping with Dubai’s shiny maximalism, it turns out it’s the tallest Ferris wheel in the world – a full 250 meters in height.

The closer we get – the more impressively grandiose the views get…

Read on…

Ask any tourist what’s the most famous hotel in Singapore, and most will confidently answer Marina Bay Sands. And they’d be right! This iconic hotel, with its distinctive unique design, which towers over a small man-made patch of land by the Bay (here), is so dominant you literally can’t miss it – not that anyone would want too!…

And ask the same tourists what stands out the most for them regarding the Marina Bay Sands, and the answers will be unanimous: the rooftop! Of course! And it totally deserves the hype. So let’s head up there right now. Up we go to the top (57^th) floor – from where the views are absolutely mind-blowing:

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Hi folks!

Well, I’m back home from my month+ intercontinental business trip – but I’ve still got plenty to tell and show you from the trip. And that includes yet another key Middle Eastern cybersecurity event (expo + conference) – GISEC in Dubai. And since it was both a biggie and a goodie and in this most promising of regions, I just had to be there to speak, meet folks, have meetings, etc…

The expo is positioned as Middle East + Africa-focused, but in reality, the participants and visitors come from much further afield. Looks like the Emirates are aiming for something bigger than just a regional event. And good luck to them!

Read on…

Though it’s some three weeks since I was in Singapore for, among other things, GITEX Asia, and I’ve traveled thousands of miles (between three continents) in the meantime, herewith – another post on… Singapore. (Well, I did warn you: Singapore doesn’t let you go that easily!) For there are still some stories I need to tell you about some unbelievable Singapore wonders…

Let’s start with one of the most remarkable spots in this city-state – the Gardens by the Bay. This is how they look from the rooftop of that hotel – the one I stayed at (Marina Bay Sands). Check out those two big “shells” by the river: more on them a bit later…

Read on…

My previous post about Cairo turned out a bit gloomy, so let me lighten the mood with something upbeat! Today’s post is all about the Grand Egyptian Museum, aka the Giza Museum ->

This place is absolutely mind-blowing.

Read on…