Recently for my day job, I circled the globe. Left Vancouver, flew to Frankfurt overnight then on to New Delhi, Bangkok, Tokyo and back to Vancouver; in just two weeks.
Twenty thousand miles and about thirty-six hours of flying. Not a lot of time in each place, but enough to get some sense of what's important (and what's not) in each place.
Frankfurt Germany
The economic center of Germany, Frankfurt has a great airport and fast access to the city via a fast train. Other cities should take note but won't unfortunately.
In Germany, everything is organized. Cars, cabs, food, buses, luggage. Even the airport security ran like a clock - with special attention to process control and getting people through the security lines fast and easy. However, with the World Cup on, Germany re-prioritizes. Football becomes life. More important than religion, sex or anything else. Everything stops for football. Everything but the autobahn.
On my way back to my hotel during a German playoff game, the highway sat empty, except for a couple of cars driven by I'm assuming people from France. My driver was in a hurry and hit 170 Km/hr - which equals about 105 MPH.
New Delhi, India. Large and clean airports, opulent hotels, wonderful meals and extreme poverty and chaos pushed up against the wealth. Few traffic lights but the cars move and honk. Plus there are cows.
My hotel felt extravagant and over the top. Granite bathrooms and 1000 thread sheets. Unbelievable service.
But three blocks from my hotel not so much.
Bangkok Thailand
The city looks surprisingly clean after my trip to India. Everyone smiles and is selling something. Food, socks, T-shirts and short trips on tuk-tuks. Plus optional food poisoning from one street food vendor. (If I ever find that guy, I'm writing a strong letter)
Tokyo - Japan. Japan is a different beast. Large, clean and organized. Quarter mile long bullet trains that leave every ten minutes from Tokyo Station Osaka.
This time of year, Tokyo is hot. Sticky, three showers a day hot. All offices have air conditioning, but I'm sure the setting in the office I worked in was stuck on "humid"
But there are many cultural 'things' that I can't quite understand.
Talking in elevators isn't done. People stand stone silent until their floor.
Hotel, bus and retail staff bow at everything. People, taxis and buses.
Work is life.
5:30 PM. Desks are full.
6:30 PM. No one is moving.
Smoking laws have changed and now smoking is no longer allowed in restaurants. But for those that need hourly cancer sticks, at this event I attended, people smoked in a closet. I'm assuming the last person in didn't need to light up at all.
Overall a great trip with interesting people! If you ever get a chance to travel internationally just say YES!