So we rented out ku de ta on the top of the Marina Bay Sands (no big deal), and all I got were these crappy photos...
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Singapore by night
As part of the welcome-back-to-INSEAD festivities, there was a party on the top of the Marina Bay Sands, an enormous, three-tower casino complex that looks like it has a surfboard on top of it.
So we rented out ku de ta on the top of the Marina Bay Sands (no big deal), and all I got were these crappy photos...
So we rented out ku de ta on the top of the Marina Bay Sands (no big deal), and all I got were these crappy photos...
Ko Phi Phi
One of our best days in Thailand was spent on a chartered boat that took us from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands. Thanks to an amazing feat of negotiation (one of the perks of traveling with business school students), we were able to get a great deal on the charter. So, we got up early with a full cooler of beer, snacks and spirits and made our way to the marina to get a ride to Ko Phi Phi.
Ko Phi Phi is best known as the setting of the 2000 movie The Beach, and at certain points it felt like cinematic fantasy. I'll let the (many) pictures do the talking. Note -- many of the photos are courtesy of our trip-mates Sabir and Maria...
After the various activities that one would do in such a paradise (snorkeling etc.), we settled in for a tasty lunch on Phi Phi Don. Afterwards, we visited a monkey beach, "shark point" (less exciting than it sounds), and ended up on a pretty, yacht-infested little island for some good old-fashioned beach-sitting. All in all, a superb day.
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| We're on a boat. |
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| Liz and Maria are on a boat. |
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| I climbed onto the side of the boat, and Sabir heroically followed suit in order to balance the boat and prevent it from capsizing. |
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| Two tan dorks, one pale dork are on a boat. |
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| Infamous long-tail boats |
After the various activities that one would do in such a paradise (snorkeling etc.), we settled in for a tasty lunch on Phi Phi Don. Afterwards, we visited a monkey beach, "shark point" (less exciting than it sounds), and ended up on a pretty, yacht-infested little island for some good old-fashioned beach-sitting. All in all, a superb day.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Nai Yang Beach, Thailand
Attracted by a relative lack of crowds, cheap beach-front massages and rows of tasty seafood restaurants (not to mention a free shuttle from our resort), we spent a lot of time at Nai Yang beach while in Thailand.
Our first visit was with 10 or so INSEADers. I made my way straight to the masseuses for three glorious hours of Thai massage (Liz joined me for an hour, but was more interested in building her base tan). After a few hours on the beach, we all sat down for a lunch on the beach.
Of course, beach lunches have to include alcoholic beverages with frilly little umbrellas. Amazed by the actual open-close functionality of the mini umbrellas, Sabir set out to test their water-repellency...
The afternoon was spent lounging, throwing an orange football around and enjoying the glories of the Andaman Sea. The next day, we came back for more massages and seafood...
Our first visit was with 10 or so INSEADers. I made my way straight to the masseuses for three glorious hours of Thai massage (Liz joined me for an hour, but was more interested in building her base tan). After a few hours on the beach, we all sat down for a lunch on the beach.
Of course, beach lunches have to include alcoholic beverages with frilly little umbrellas. Amazed by the actual open-close functionality of the mini umbrellas, Sabir set out to test their water-repellency...
The afternoon was spent lounging, throwing an orange football around and enjoying the glories of the Andaman Sea. The next day, we came back for more massages and seafood...
A New Year's Day long-tail boating around Phuket
After arriving home from our New Year's Eve festivities around 5 am, I promptly headed back to our hotel room and fell fast asleep. But Karim was still energized and decided to stay up by our hotel's pool with a handful of other survivors. Once 5 became 6 and then became 7, they decided to stay up for the free breakfast that opened at 7:30 am.
Meanwhile, I woke up to find the bed empty around 9:30 am. Immediately filled with panic, I headed out to the pool area to see if I could find Karim. Luckily he was making his way down from breakfast. I have to admit that I lost my cool and yelled at Karim a little bit: "Where have you been all night!?!?" It wasn't my finest hour... but we were quick to make up and get on with the rest of the day.
Ramona, the sole female to stay up all night, had the brilliant idea to book us a traditional Thai long-tail boat for the day. I was the only person that had woken up after our late New Year's Eve, but boy was it worth it to skip those extra hours of sleep. The long-tail boat is a vessel around 60 feet long, with an uncovered truck engine mounted on the back of the boat and connected to a 15-foot, turret-like pole that connects the powertrain with the propeller in the water.
I think that might go down in the books as my most memorable New Year's day to date!
Meanwhile, I woke up to find the bed empty around 9:30 am. Immediately filled with panic, I headed out to the pool area to see if I could find Karim. Luckily he was making his way down from breakfast. I have to admit that I lost my cool and yelled at Karim a little bit: "Where have you been all night!?!?" It wasn't my finest hour... but we were quick to make up and get on with the rest of the day.
Ramona, the sole female to stay up all night, had the brilliant idea to book us a traditional Thai long-tail boat for the day. I was the only person that had woken up after our late New Year's Eve, but boy was it worth it to skip those extra hours of sleep. The long-tail boat is a vessel around 60 feet long, with an uncovered truck engine mounted on the back of the boat and connected to a 15-foot, turret-like pole that connects the powertrain with the propeller in the water.
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| Karim relaxes on the long tail boat |
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| Islands in the distance |
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| Ramona, Guy, Liz and Tim enjoying the breeze |
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| Karim and Guy give Tim a boost |
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| Any now it's time to tie Tim up |
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| Guy really wanted to take a photo of us kissing, so... here it is. |
I think that might go down in the books as my most memorable New Year's day to date!
New Year's Eve in Thailand
After a week of relaxation with the Nehdis, it was time to pack up and head off to Asia. Karim and I were each allowed one checked bag, so we're traveling light these next two months. Our flight from Paris to Singapore was as comfortable as a 13 hour flight could be. Singapore Air is a great airline - I highly recommend it.
We landed in Singapore on the 30th and had a day to unpack and start setting up our apartment here at Heritage View. Heritage provides an unreal living experience - every morning I wake up and feel like I'm at a Vegas resort. There are 3 huge towers of apartments with half a dozen swimming pools sprinkled below them. Palm trees and manicured tropical plants are everywhere. I could get used to living like this!
Then, on the morning of the 31st, we headed back to Changi airport to hop on a flight to Phuket, Thailand, for our New Year's Eve celebration. I found a good deal at the Supalai Resort there and nearly 20 INSEAD students and partners gathered there for NYE. After everyone trickled in, it was time to head to our party destination for the big night - Stereo Lab Beach Club at Surin Beach. Let the fun begin!
We dined at a long table on the beach that provided easy access to the vendors selling traditional Thai lanterns and fireworks. A devilish Karim, complete with pink light-up horns, got things started with a purchase of a handful of firecrackers.
Then we purchased a handful of lanterns that we lit and then let drift into the night for good luck. Hundreds of others did the same thing along the coast and the sky was dotted by a sprinkling of yellow stars as the lanterns drifted higher and higher.
After ringing in 2011 on the beach, we headed up to the lounge's dance floor for hours of dancing and antics. That was one New Year's Eve celebration I'll never forget! We wish all of you the best and lots of love for 2011!
We landed in Singapore on the 30th and had a day to unpack and start setting up our apartment here at Heritage View. Heritage provides an unreal living experience - every morning I wake up and feel like I'm at a Vegas resort. There are 3 huge towers of apartments with half a dozen swimming pools sprinkled below them. Palm trees and manicured tropical plants are everywhere. I could get used to living like this!
Then, on the morning of the 31st, we headed back to Changi airport to hop on a flight to Phuket, Thailand, for our New Year's Eve celebration. I found a good deal at the Supalai Resort there and nearly 20 INSEAD students and partners gathered there for NYE. After everyone trickled in, it was time to head to our party destination for the big night - Stereo Lab Beach Club at Surin Beach. Let the fun begin!
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| Maria, Liz, Sara, Char and Daniela strike a pose |
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| Alberto & the ladies |
We dined at a long table on the beach that provided easy access to the vendors selling traditional Thai lanterns and fireworks. A devilish Karim, complete with pink light-up horns, got things started with a purchase of a handful of firecrackers.
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| A devilish Karim |
Then we purchased a handful of lanterns that we lit and then let drift into the night for good luck. Hundreds of others did the same thing along the coast and the sky was dotted by a sprinkling of yellow stars as the lanterns drifted higher and higher.
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| Lighting lanterns for good luck in the new year |
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| Liz thinking "is this really my life?!?!" |
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| Up, up and away go the lanterns |
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| The lanterns turn into "yellow stars" as they drift higher |
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| The NYE night sky above Surin Beach |
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| The group lets one go for collective good luck |
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| And happy new year!!!! |
After ringing in 2011 on the beach, we headed up to the lounge's dance floor for hours of dancing and antics. That was one New Year's Eve celebration I'll never forget! We wish all of you the best and lots of love for 2011!
Christmas in Fonty
Happy New Year and greetings from balmy, rainy Singapore! But before we update you on our time in south east Asia so far, we have some catch up to do.
Karim and I spent this past Christmas in snowy Fontainebleau. It was my first Christmas without my parents and brother, but we were joined by Ann, Nehdi and Selim. Christmas and the surrounding days were filled with lots of cooking, baking, napping, wine and good cheer. Thanks for a great time Nehdis!
Nehdi, our resident photographer and videographer, took tons of photos and video footage and Karim applied his expert editing skills to produce this video of this year's Herrmann-Perman-Nehdi Christmas:
Enjoy!
And for those of you who don't have time to watch the video, here are a few photos:
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| Karim all bundled up before our walk around the chateau |
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| Karim & Liz and their berets |
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| Karim, Liz, Selim and Ann on a wintery walk |
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| Behind the Fontainebleau chateau |
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| The beautiful light display at Galeries Lafayette |
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| Another light display at the Place Vendome |
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