Fun and memorable vacation, 8 days in three very different locations in Baja Mexico, with good friends C&B. Warm-to-hot windy days, cool evenings made a very nice combination for the adventures expertly assembled for us by Black Sheep Adventures and our Chief Shepherd Fred, who accompanied and lead us on this great experience.

Kayaking, snorkeling amongst sea lions, hiking and horseback riding were interrupted only by magical authentic Mexican meals in such unique local restaurants as Nancy’s, Corral Reef and Tequila. We met wonderful people, both Mexican and gringo’s, and all were welcoming and helpful.
Our stays included Los Bariles, Cabo Pulmo and the town of San Jose.
Christmas day in the heat of Mexico, a 6-mile tough mountain hike and then retiring to our quaint Palapa’s in Cabo Pulma was very special.

Full set of photo’s here

Thanks to Fred Ackerman, owner of Black Sheep Adventures and our tour guide for the whole 8 days. Great job Fred! I’m not sure it could have been better.

New York, always a unique and fun place, is especially so at Christmas. Spirits are lightened (and flowing!), hearts are warm(er), the pace slows – just a little. There’s the sence that things are closing – ‘the books’, the year, the season. The feeling is one of relief plus the inevitable question – where did that year go?

The city celebrates through its buildings, with skyscraper tops painted in red and green lighting, snowflakes are projected across the Rockefeller Center and, at every opportunity, lights of all kinds bring the seasons shapes and symbols to life.

I was in the city the night ‘the tree’ was switched-on. Just three blocks from my hotel the Rockefeller Christmas Tree switch was thrown by the mayor, Lionel Ritchie and Alec Baldwin (don’t ask!), and the tree’s 30,00 lights were illuminated. I didn’t see the ceremony, the crowds were enormous and streaming by the hotel entrance, enough to make me keep my distance. Kids were in abundance, enjoying a night-in-the-city. NYPD were everywhere, but it was nice evening and the festive season prevailed.

Wall Street and the NY Stock Exchange joins the party with its own tree, though not as prestigious nor the quality of the Rock Center.

I like NY, it knows how to enjoy!

In late September I traveled back to Asia, returning to Singapore and then on to Mumbai (Bombay) and Bangalore, India. This was a business trip, meeting with colleagues in the three locations and touring our new facilities in the Indian cities.

I reached Singapore courtesy of Singapore Airlines 18 hours non-stop flight over the north pole, down through Russia, China, Mongolia and Thailand. The flight passed surprisingly well, though the combination of eating, working and sleeping had to be carefully managed. A choice of 60 films to watch helped and I was able to catch-up on some I’d missed.

Singapore always impresses. Clean, orderly, secure, managed. Beautiful skyline, modern and aged buiding inter-mixed. Wonderful food, fascinating people.

India – quite an experience. It’s wrong to overlay western standards and then to comment on the differences. It’s wrong but difficult not to do so. Impressions – traffic, people, poverty and wealth, heat, energy, drive, enthusiasm, people and even more traffic.

My photo’s: Singapore, Mumbai, Bangalore

Away for 10 days, Lynne and I connected most evenings over Skype video-conferencing from my hotel rooms. It made a big difference and helped a lot. Seeing Jackson & Spencer, the house etc made it easier somehow.

I traveled back through Heathrow, 10 hours from Bangalore, lay-over of 4 hours in Heathrow (I called mum!), 8 hours to Philly and home!