Friday, October 27, 2006

Good to be home

Finally I'm home after the most concentrated period of travel in my life - three separate overseas work trips over four weeks, through three continents and six of the world's major cities.

Just on a month ago it started with an overnight trip to Tokyo, then on to New York for one night and Washington for three nights (see earlier post). A week later I was in Singapore for two nights where I had a great run along Orchard Road (at left), the island's main shopping thoroughfare.

I then went on to Bangkok for two nights to attend a series of conferences and meetings and had a chance to check out Bangkok's caterpiller-like new international airport (at right). I also distinguished myself by getting lost in Bangkok during one of my runs and struggled to get back to my hotel when I couldn't find anyone who could speak English and/or knew where my hotel was. Thus, Bangkok joins Tokyo (2003) and Washington (2005) to those cities in the world where this spatially-challenged runner has...um...lost himself (yes, I know, sad but true)!

Just yesterday I returned from my final trip to Vienna in Austria where I enjoyed the last of Europe's pleasant autumn weather before the northern winter starts to set in. It was my second work trip to Vienna this year and I am coming to love this place. It is just so incredibly beautiful with an aristocratic old world charm about it (see left) and a fabulous cafe culture to match what Paris has to offer. I didn't get lost running in Vienna but I did have a chance to see the city's Roman ruins (at lower right).

The morning after getting home (today) I was out with my running group enjoying a very nice 17k'er through Canberra's forrests and tracks and trails. After spending time with my family, getting back with my running group and catching up with the blog world again I am gradually reestablishing the priorities in my life.

I have had some fantastic experiences over the last month and am so lucky with the opportunities that came my way. It is a month I will never forget.

As always, though, it is so good to be home. There is just a little matter of outstanding tax returns still needing to be done (argh!)