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Archiv der Kategorie Dates & events

The gardens in July

31.7.2010 von Jean Jacques.

Once a year during the summer in Hannover, a merry band of artists gather up and set up small stages in the Herrenhausen gardens. Thousands of visitors turn up every evening for the month long performance to meet up with friends, picnic and basically have a good time.

It is a very popular venue, although I am glad I have missed the last 3 years. It tends to be a little too repetitive and I was getting a little fed up seing the same acts.

I was also a little annoyed at the extroardinary length one has to go through to get tickets. And there is something seriously wrong here. Because of the apparent popularity, tickets must be ordered months in advance so that they can be dispensed based on whatever rule by the organizing body. For sure at least 99% of the requestors will not get one of these prized ticket.

No surprise though. Assume you have a party of 10 deciding in February that it might be a good idea to go in the summer. What usually happens is that every single one of the 10 will request at leat 15 tickets each hoping to a few. I know, that is the way we do it.

The problem with that is that the organizers are claiming a huge demand. How they distribute the available places is a mistery. Prices of course go up as well. All a bit crazy for something which is nice but not worth all that effort.

Anyway, as usual one of of got the 15 tickets and we made it.

Having not been for the last 3 summers, they were at least 3 new artists. The atmosphere is good though. Crowds have a pre-set itinary and rush from one stage to the other, usually getting lost on the way. As a result, it is rarely possible to see more than 3 shows.

But who cares, the atmosphere is good, plenty of drinks available if you are not driving ,I was this year, and the whole evening culminates with a good firework to the tune of the latest hit from Mozart or such like.

I’ll probably end up there next year again. I think I will order 100 tickets in advance.

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Easter weekend

25.4.2010 von Jean Jacques.

Friday

Not an official holiday, but I took the time off. Simply needed a rest. Especially after the heavy Thursday night in Nova. Tried a new place for lunch called Bricks. Very pleasant indeed.

Saturday Thanks to Jerry, we (Jerry, Philippe, Stephane and myself) had a great game of golf. The venue was…

… which is located west of Shanghai

Thank you Stephane for driving us there. Anyway, we had a good round of golf…

Sunday.Brunch at the JW Marriott.Monday.Play the tourist time… Long walk through town to the Bund. I can assure every one that we were not the only one with that idea.

Anyway, it looks very nice and the parts are more or less finished in time for the Expo next month.

It was hard and thirsty work though… And a mile down the road there is a place called Cool Docks…

which offered the right refreshments and food. Met up with Lisa and Stuart there as well. They actually live across the road.

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Happy birthday Arnaud

4.1.2010 von Jean Jacques.

I’ll get you a couple of those when I am back on DaGu Lu…

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1st day of 2010

2.1.2010 von Jean Jacques.

It snowed lightly practically the whole day adding a few inches to the existing layer…

Started the year the usual way… all you need is an improvised “ice bar”

A venue (it is always the same one i.e Armin’s drive) and a start signal at sharp 1pm (nothing works better than a remaining firework from the previous evening) …

and they all arrive one by one…

soon there is a full house…

a few gallons of mulled wine, shots of Rum and plenty of Tequilas later… time to retire to bed for a 15 hours sleep…

Why do we do it?

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The year that was - 2009…

27.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

Happy New Year

A full year in China and it went even faster than usual. I did not fly around as much as I use to but nevertheless managed to visit quite a few new places in the Asia Pacific region.

As for Shanghai my temporary home town, I still really like it. It has a lot to do with my friends there and as far as I am concerned the pleasures of living in a big town where everything is close by and where the choice of venues is almost unlimited. There are downsides of course. The air pollution, the constant noise (and believe me it is loud in China).

Fortunately I escape regularly as I have regular business trips and managed a few short breaks too…

Here is a quick review of the year…

January - White Russian month -

Made it back from Europe on the 4th with a stinking cold to find a very cold apartment in Shanghai. Did not stay there too long though.

Flew down to Taiwan for work. Always a pleasure there.

And it is much easier now that direct flights between mainland China an Taipei are allowed. No more nonsense having to fly via Hong Kong or Macau…

Back in Shanghai I managed to get out for a game of golf. The weather was quite mild…

A few days back and I popped over to Bangkok…

… and from there a few days off in Phuket.

February - Black Russian month -

Still in Phuket at the beginning of the month to escape the Chinese New Year in Shanghai. Had to fly back to China though. Work had to be done…

Managed another round of golf…

and a great paella at Philippe’s place…

Flew up for a great weekend in Harbin. Visited the ice city there and a few other attractions.

Sure was cold though.

March - Pina Colada month -

Quiet travel month, only went to the airport once…

… spent 10 days in Malaysia for work and managed half a relaxing weekend in KL.

However back in Shanghai, managed a round of golf…

… and a great party at Sylvain and Helene

April - Sex on the beach month -

Spent the whole month in Shanghai. Quite a record

Did a lot of exploring in town…

… food wise too…

and around the compound..

as well as a few bars…

and not forgetting a memorable Easter Sunday lunch at home. Traditional turkey and a very “wet” and loud day finishing late in the evening. Great company t00. Thanks Philomena, Lisa, Stuart, Sa, Henrietta and of course Carole.

May - Mojito month -

May on the other hand was a bit more busy travel wise. Some holiday time too starting on the 1st with a flight to Manilla on the way for week’s holiday in Borocay… Thoroughly enjoyed it all.

Quite an ideal spot …

Unfortunately had to fly back to reality and Shanghai… but only for one day before heading to the airport again and Thailand for work…

The only consolation was the upgrade in my favorite hotel in Bangkok (Sukotai)

From Bangkok, directly to Kuala Lumpur yet again. Starting the week there with a nice weekend doing basically nothing apart from spending my time at the pool listening to my very first eBook…

June - Pastis month (quite a lot of it actually) -

Pleasant weather in Shanghai… Went to the pool a few times (so did Lisa and Stuart) …

But June is Le Mans 24H of course. Flew to Paris 1st class with Air France I might add… Was good to meet up with the gang.

Had a great weekend and the race was not bad either…

Flew to Germany for a few days to celebrate my birthday…

Made it back to Shanghai in time for a sad occasion since my good friend Yngve was leaving. It was a good leaving party at Nova (to start with) though.

Ended up in Sin Night Club later in the night. Not sure how I got back home…

Quite a busy month really..

July - Gin and Tonic month -

Quiet month in Shanghai, basically a lot of work.

Managed the pool …

… and exploring a bit more of the French concession and the restaurants there…

August - Bloody Mary month -

Flew to Taipei , almost did not make it thanks to the latest Typhoon (forgot the name of that one). It was for work, but I managed to play the tourist for a couple of days (weekend of course)…

Had to fly back to Malaysia at the end of the month for another week there. Plenty of work. No time for fun…

September - Black Sambuca month -

Went for a long weekend to Sanya at the beginning of the month. Perfect reception at the Hilton there which included upgrades, free drinks, dinner with the manager who is now a good friend.

Anyway it was a real break and I will for sure go back there.

A few more days in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and Alor Setar around the 20th of the month for work before returning to Shanghai for a couple of days before departing for a week’s holiday in Bali (first time there)…

Unfortunately the office called non stop, internet was not working etc etc so a new hotel had to be found… But that was in October already.

October - The “odd” beer month - A passing thought to my German friends and the “Oktoberfest”.

Still in Bali. Moved to the Hard Rock Hotel there…

Work did not stop unfortunately. Made the most of it though…

Back in Shanghai for a few days awaiting for the arrival of Acki and Sylvia. Was good to see them. We had a fully packed week including a weekend in Bejing…

We sure made the most of it, went to all the main sites and actually loved it…

We walked for miles and miles…

Back in Shanghai for 1 night and yet again off to the airport direction Malaysia.

Not my best trip there. Lost my passport (it was actually stolen as it turned out). Stayed a few more days than planned in order to get my Emergency Passport and of course a visa to get back into China.

November - month -

The whole month in China… Hard to believe but it was worth it…

Flew down to Xiamen for the weekend mid-month… Quite an interesting place just across the straight of Taiwan…

The following weekend was something I was looking forward to… Nova’s golf day… A great day out with friends

a great evening too…

Other highlights in November were Thanksgiving dinner at Jim’s and Jean-Wei, as well as a few long walks in the still fairly warm weather…

December - Mulled Wine month -

Spent the first 5 days in Singapore (work). Escaped for a few hours to look around…

and try to get a xmas feeling down Orchard Rd by 30c…

Back in Shanghai for a quick visit to the Xmas market

and last minute shopping…

and enjoy the last (cool) sunshine …

before heading to the airport for a last time this year on the way to really cold Germany…

It did not stop us having a short visit to the Xmas market in town…

Last shopping trip on the 24th, a couple visits to the Markthalle, Nice Xmas at home, Klau’s 50th birthday party, visitors… and now 2 days to go till New Year’s Eve which will be celebrated together with friends. That will close nicely a busy 2009.

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