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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Happy birthday Klaus…

27.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

Looking forward to the party tonight, even more looking forward to welcome you in Shanghai in May…

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Coming up: “The Year that was”…

24.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

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Merry Xmas …

24.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

Merry Xmas everyone. From Shanghai to Paris (via Philadelphia, Otsego,Gehrden, London etc etc…)

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Happy birthday Jacques

22.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

See you later at the Markthalle. Probably around 1pm…

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Back in Europe for 3 weeks…

21.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

Not quite the weather I was expecting but it fits the season perfectly. Beginning to have this xmas feeling… Settling in back home slowly…

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Last weekend in Shanghai before Xmas in Europe…

13.12.2009 von Jean Jacques.

Friday

Started well with a nice dinner on Friday night in a very good Japanese restaurant. Made a nice change to be with a group of Italians. Thank you Theodora for organizing that…

This was followed by a few drinks back at Nova with the gang and a few more drinks at Beedees with the same gang and a couple more who were already there…

Made it back home at 3.30am I think…

Saturday

Long walk to  Taikang Lu to try and find the missing little presents for Xmas…

  

… was not too successful but had a nice lunch in Lotus Land. Very tasty Indian food there…

Relax afternoon on the sofa watching DVDs. Saw quite a good film actually…

On the evening aperitif as planned at Nova’s till late followed by a bit of pasta at Papa Mario’s…

… before returning to Nova for a few more late drink. Very late in fact and for the second night running I closed the bar.

Sunday

A bit of shopping on Nanjing Lu in the morning. Quick soup at Nova for Lunch before helping my neighbor Theodora bypass our beloved Chinese watchdogs and get into Facebook.

Early evening  at Sabine and Andreas for the obligatory (in this season) mulled wine before going all together for dinner at one of Da Marco’s restaurant…

… walked past Nova on the way back and guess what I stopped in and guess what, I closed the bar for the 3rd night in a row. Listened to some good music too.

All in all, not a bad weekend

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