Firstly I should explain that "Kris Mon" is not an aged Reggae Star from Jamaica, but rather is the Indonesian Idyom for "krisis Monetary" (or I guess 'recession' in English). I was here through Kris Mon I. That was the Asian economic crisis that crippled Southeast Asia from 1997 through until around 2001. It was bad. Many people lost their lives here in Indonesia, and there was a change in government with President Soeharto standing down after 32 years at the helm of this huge… Continue

My last trip through Venice, a couple of years ago, was also in the month of November. My memories of the once powerful city-state were of brilliant blue skies, and coldness reverberating like heavy sound off the stone walls that line the narrow lanes. Cold. It was Cold last time and cold this time as we spent the night wrapped up warm waiting for the train to Naples.

With three in the travelling party, two of us decided it was wise to reduce our… Continue

The Trieste show finished 5pm on Saturday afternoon. In the tradition of the Expo, the last afternoon revolved around the exhibitors visiting each others stands with bottles of bubble to open and enjoy. The crowds were thinning after 12, and there was time to get to know our neighbours. On one side of us was Sandalji, a standard splendid in Canary Yellow- well lit and setup. In front of us we had Bazzara Espresso (the flamboyant and charming… Continue

The flight through to Venice's Marco Polo Airport took us almost 18 hours, including the transfer in hyperdelic Dubai International. With the baby in tow it was not an easy trip. He is at the age where "Interactive" can be replaced by ACTIVE (in capitals). It was misty coming into Venice. The Emirates plane seemed to be floating endlessly down through a sea of grey, whispy cotton fluff. At the last second the mist lifted and we bumped down on the tarmac.



Although I have flown into… Continue