This little flutter happened earlier today whilst I was in my hotel room, on the 8th floor!

*meep*

Bliss is...

A mini bar filled with delights for the weary traveller.

Just landed in Taipei from Seoul and it's around 20c. That's a welcomed change as it was 7 this morning in Seoul.

Right, I'm off to catch up with Sarah, it's her birthday today :)

Monday marvel

I received this unexpected surprise in the post today at the office *grin*

Thank you my dapper fairy!

Dutch word of the day: mooi - beautiful.

Four!

Finally, a Chinese massage - it's only taken 2 days. Normally we have them every night when we're travelling in China. And a hotel room with disposable knickers.

What more could a girl ask for?!

Did I mention I managed to play 18 holes today as well? Admittedly rather badly but still...a good day!

The eagle has landed

I have just landed in Hong Kong airport having chosen (stupidly) not to sleep on the plane. For a 10 hour flight it was very comfortable with no turbulence which is my favourite kind of flight. I also managed to work through my emails and tidy up my calendar. Ahh, organised bliss.

We have free wifi acces in the airport (unheard of in Europe and the US!) which means that I can tackle my unusually small number of emails without interruption. Well, I say without interruption but the music in this French inspired cafe is doing my head in. If I hear an accordian song one more time...

Anyways, we're now just a ferry and a car ride away from our first meeting of the week. I hope that our hosts go easy on the kampai tonight and that the evening is finished with the usual relaxing massage.

Bergamo

Bergamo is just a hop, skip and a jump from Charleroi. It's a good location for a weekend getaway, the only downside being that you have to fly with you know who. It's also just outside Milan if you fancy a proper city weekend.

Thank goodness for modern conveniences. These were the old wash basins to wash clothes. Makes you thankful for the epoch you're born in!

Local delicacy - polenta cakes. Not my choice.

The view from the BB.

Room with a view

I flew to Bergamo and then onto Bratislava on Fri nite for work. We spent the fri nite in Bratislava at the Park Inn by the Danube river. Ideal for getting down town but watch out for the cost of the over night parking.

Saturday nite I stayed just outside Bergamo in Italy. This was what greeted me the next morning lol. Aside from the friendly dog, there is an excellent view over Bergamo and home baked cake with fantastic coffee for breakfast - Ca Nel Bosco

Crying in the air

My lack of confidence in Ryanair stewards was fully justified at the weekend when I noticed that one of them was wearing a Jagermeister lanyard! Appropriate attire for someone who is meant to be in charge of your safety? I think not, unless I'm perched at a bar and not in a plane!

I guess it helps to induce the feeling of "club 18-30"

Oh how I love Ryanair.

S-t-r-u-g-g-l-e-!

I left this morning at 3.45 to catch a flight to Italy.
I've just had a heavy Italian lunch and my next flight is in a few hours to Bratislava for one day, then back to Italy, then back to Belgium.

I'm hoping it's time for a famous Italian siesta shortly!

Out of office

I'm pissed off! Some people just don't get the whole out of office thing now do they.

I'm also pissed off because I have 200 emails in my inbox.

I'm travelling with clients so it's impossible to be 100% on your emails. The day is long enough as it is.

Some people are just ignorant. My coffee sucks too which doesn't help! And I've also just scoffed a box of chocolates that I had bought for one of my clients. Oh well. Desperate times, desperate measures he!

And not to forget I can't get the tv in my hotel to work!

Stranded

In the middle of July I flew out to the USA for a business trip for 2 weeks. I was flying from Brussels to Amsterdam then on to Minneapolis. That was the plan at least.

Whilst sitting in BRU our plane was struck by a rather over zealous baggage truck driver. 2 hours later and we were finally allowed to fly to AMS. By this time I had missed my connection. Not a happy bunny. I was hoping I could catch another flight later in the day. No such luck.

I had to wait to fly out the next day. I was on standby for the first flight of the day and definitley had a seat on the second flight. The first flight was oversold soat least I was on the second flight but this meant I would miss my presentation. *Hmph*

I requested that my luggage be given back to me so that I could change clothes and get freshened up etc. After waiting 2 hours there was still no sign of my luggage and I was becoming more and more aware of the distinctive smell of AMS airport. It kind of smells like sandals in the baggage area...And I was getting thin with "just give it another 15 mins..."

I go back to customer services who officially declare me as 'stranded.' You don't say?! Well, being 'officially stranded' entitles you to a rather delightful *ahem* care pack that consists of many things you don't really need:

Yes, it includes toothbrush, toothpaste, deoderant, brush, creme, blah blah blah which is all great. It also comes supplied with a XXXL tshirt and a pair of socks. But where the hell is the underwear? There wasn't even disposable underwear! So unfortunately for me and the guy sitting next to me on the plane lol, I had to go the next day in the same clothes all the way to the States. Yuck!

As if the thought of having to wear your own nickers inside out for another 24 hours wasn't humiliating enough, they had a 'stranded persons' menu at the restaurant which had erm, 2 choices as opposed to the normal menu...nuff said.

Hotel saga continues

At 2.20am I was rudley awakened by music coming from the room next to me. It took 3 calls to the front desk, 2 security visits and apparantly a quick shag for this motley crew to quieten down.

My bags are packed this evening and if they so much as crack a whisper I will be demanding a new room! And whilst I'm on it, I'll also be complaining about the cost for wireless and the noise air-co system. Grrr!

Not quite what it seemed

How do you know when your free room upgrade to a top floor garden is a rip off?

When there's a live band and a party going outside said room!

Luckily I'm off out tonight!

Take the high road

Some pics from the top of the category 3 climb in Benicasim - the descent was well worth the pain!

Coffee justified

Remind me the next time that a hotel situated between a major motorway and an airport is never a good thing, especially when you're hyper and struggling to get to sleep *bleary eyed look.*

And now, as I type this across from the mirror in the room, I can't help but notice the throbbing heat spot permeating from my chin. Nice. Red eyes and a red chin, just what you need when you're meeting customers. Heat spot I hear you ask. Well, I'm trying to make it sound more exotic than it is cos it's pissed down for the past few days. It's probably a bed bug bite...

Anyways, only 3 more sleeps and I'm back in Belgie Land - Yay!