Travel ranking: Flying
Well, I travel too much... actually way too much. Therefore, I decided I'm entitled as anyone else to elect the best airlines I've travelled in. I'll keep it simple and just divide it into First/Business and Economy Plus/Economy. I've also decided to talk about airports.
So here we go:
First/Business
1. Virgin Atlantic (Upper Class) - I thought a lot about who should be on top and ultimately went for the only airline that I really look forward to travelling in. Best lounge I've ever been in at Heathrow with Spa, Hairdresser, Delicatessen counter, Dining area, Games room and everything is very, very cool... courtesy of the SoHo House crowd. The overall service outside the flight is indeed completed by the limo service which is absolutely great and extremely useful. When onboard the product is great: great swanky seats, nice pjs, massage on board, great inflight entertainment (VOD, etc) and last but definitely not the least lovely flight attendants - very nice (unlike the "matron style" British Airways in-flight service), informal yet professional and yes, cute. Overall, and for the London-bound traveller, the price of BA's Business for a clear First class product. It's a shame they don't fly to more places.
2. Singapore Airlines (First and Business) - Ok, they almost came first right? An extremely good product - seat, great inflight entertainment (VOD, fabulous choice of movies) with some of the nicest flight attendants - really professional, beautiful and nice (maybe too nice sometimes). The rest is vintage Singaporean: good service at good rates with extreme efficiency and a smiley face (albeit a bit artificial at times). Not particularly overwhelmed by the quality of the lounges, but then again nothing compares to Virgin's lounges in Heathrow and in New York... ok, ok, BA's Concorde lounge in New York is quite impressive. Well, back to Singapore Airlines... very good, but not the best. Just not sufficiently exciting.
3. British Airways (First and Business) - I hesitated a lot on this one. Really a lot. Cathay is very good, Asiana is surprisingly good and Qantas is cool. BA is the "devil you know". Always very proficient, always good, extremely good product onboard - the inflight entertainment is not that good in Business... in First they sort of make up for it, but the seats really compensate for it - and ok on the ground - the lounges can be some of the best around, which doesn't say much given the current low quality of almost all lounges, and the lack of the limo service as fellow VA provides is indeed a bit embarrassing. Flight attendants are rarely nice, but always professional. All and all, it's still the great BA... very expensive, but the quality is always there... and you always know what you are getting.
Economy/Economy Plus
1. Singapore Airlines - service much brisker than in First or Business, but quite exceptional on everything else - food, inflight entertainment, in-flight service. For me the best in Economy hands down. The only one that doesn't make you feel that you are loser just because you are in the back of the plane.
2. Virgin Atlantic - good service, good in-flight entertainment. Overall, a good experience, just not tremendously special and you do feel strong "Upper Class envy" in the back... maybe because Upper Class is so damn good.
3. Southwest Airlines - if you are going in Economy, go in style. Southwest is just tremendously fun and that's about it. All the rest is low-cost carrier at its best (worst?), but it's fun, fun, fun.
THE BAD (for every class): Not one comes to mind has being totally impossible to travel in, but some are genuinely not very good. The ones that come to mind: Iberia - it's a pet hate... I admit it, but you can have one of two experiences - great or really bad - and that simply doesn't work when you need to choose an airline to travel with; America West - they are now merged with some other airline, but really, really bad... low cost at its worse... only good thing was the Brazilian flight attendant based in Phoenix (long story... 6 hours of flight to be more accurate). Air China - ok, it's not that bad, but the service is so all over the shop... could definitely learn from DrangonAir or even China Eastern;
Airports
1. Singapore International Airport, Singapore - great stores, a lot of nice spaces that actually make you feel alright, hiper-efficient security and immigration; all this makes a great airport. I never hesitate to go through it if it makes sense. The lounges are good: Singapore Airlines lounges are not exceptional, but very good nonetheless; the BA / Qantas lounges are quite exceptional; the Air France, etc, etc lounges are cool... a lesson in how to do something with high quality that is really not that expensive or overwhelming... minimalism at its best. A shame other airports are simply not that good.
2. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia - everything is upper-spec - stores, open spaces, it actually makes you feel good. The Malaysia Airlines lounges are great, really great. It is a very efficient place that works really well. Finally, the idea of having an hotel literally in the airport is fantastic. Really enjoy it.
3. Carlsbad Airport, USA - Ok, I'm kidding... it's a shed. If you want to go to the toilet, you have to leave the "airport" and go to the shed next door. Anyway, it's very cool: a VCR (an old one) with videos on and you see the whole ground crew from check-in to security to going on-board... how cool is that. In America, I feel uncomfortable going through airports these days... a clear sign of lost freedom that I believe most people feel over there... a sign of the times we live in. Carlsbad rocks... it is small-time, sub-scale, but works. If I hadn't gone with Carlsbad and had gone with a more "scalable" Airport, it would have been Oslo... absolutely great. Munich would get a special mention for sheer efficiency and for "the airport I have spent most time in, where I've had my best on the ground and my worst on the ground experiences - summer 2005 rings a bell? - I would have to go with Heathrow, the airport I love to hate.
THE BAD: Bangalore airport... it's chaos, absolute chaos. Avoid it if you can; Atlanta - big, big and awful experiences. Difficult to leave from... but strangely enough, difficult to arrive at as well; Mumbai also comes to mind.
SAMPLE AIRLINES: Air France, Sabena, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, Czech Airlines, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Airlines, America West, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Continental Airlines, American Airlines, PGA Portugalia, SAS, Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, DragonAir, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Qantas, Finnair, Air Volare, Alitalia, El Al, BMI, TWA (now extinct).
SAMPLE AIRPORTS: Lisbon, Porto, Bonn, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Barcelona, Ibiza, Madrid, Palma Mallorca, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Shanghai PuDong, Hong Kong, Manila, Denpasar-Bali, Rome, Venice, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Prague, Zurich, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Copenhagen, Newark, New York La Guardia, New York JFK, LAX, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, San Diego, Carlsbad, San Jose, Tokyo Narita, Seoul, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Lima, Tel Aviv, Antigua, Barbados, Bangkok, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cape Town, Dublin, Miami.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
She
When I last saw you, you were getting out of the car in London. I was on my way to the airport, indeed to my new life. That seemed... it, but it really wasn't.
Our relationship - or rather lack of it - is the most mysterious I've ever had. I simply don't get it. Why did I like you so much... better yet, why do I miss you so much?
You are undoubtedly comparable to a cat - sometimes very close, sometimes so, so distant.
I remember vividly what you were wearing when I last saw you: jeans, denim jacket, tennis shoes... the cool casual look. Gorgeous as always. You still don't believe me when I tell you are incredibly cute, do you?
I remember your intrinsic beauty - the one you might feel you don't have... but believe me you do - but I also remember something else: the last two times we met, I felt that you were abandoning yourself in me more... not totally, but more. Was it because I was leaving or was it because that was where our pseudo-relationship was taking us?
Probably, I will never know.
A real huge kiss from far, far away and... I do miss you!
When I last saw you, you were getting out of the car in London. I was on my way to the airport, indeed to my new life. That seemed... it, but it really wasn't.
Our relationship - or rather lack of it - is the most mysterious I've ever had. I simply don't get it. Why did I like you so much... better yet, why do I miss you so much?
You are undoubtedly comparable to a cat - sometimes very close, sometimes so, so distant.
I remember vividly what you were wearing when I last saw you: jeans, denim jacket, tennis shoes... the cool casual look. Gorgeous as always. You still don't believe me when I tell you are incredibly cute, do you?
I remember your intrinsic beauty - the one you might feel you don't have... but believe me you do - but I also remember something else: the last two times we met, I felt that you were abandoning yourself in me more... not totally, but more. Was it because I was leaving or was it because that was where our pseudo-relationship was taking us?
Probably, I will never know.
A real huge kiss from far, far away and... I do miss you!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Sometimes...
Sometimes, just sometimes... I wish I was a bit less self-centered. On the one hand, it helps me cope with life, keep a happy spirit and move on, but it has really made me reasonably insensitive to whatever happens around me.
Not sure I really want to write more on this post... sorry for that.
Sometimes, just sometimes... I wish I was a bit less self-centered. On the one hand, it helps me cope with life, keep a happy spirit and move on, but it has really made me reasonably insensitive to whatever happens around me.
Not sure I really want to write more on this post... sorry for that.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Note: I thought about posting this a long time ago and always hesitated - finally did on Sep 14th. Don't really know why it took me so long. As for my "hopeful" wish, let's just say it didn't materialize ... and that's actually good, since I've dramatically changed my opinion on the "cool, distant girl"... Wait a sec, I think I actually like her.
The hours that did follow
Well, well… you’ve come a long way mate.
Two girls: one sexy from here to kingdom come, moving like there was no tomorrow, distant… but sexy distant… most probably following the "cool, yet distant" standard; the other girl… prissy, cute … Christian… wow.
Who do you go for?
Well, I have to say the day started with me going for the former, but something happened. I changed my mind somehow when I started talking to the second girl. She just… made me feel better.
I had one of those strange moments where everything stood still, like nothing was around us. This happened in the middle of a club with loud music that made our conversation oh so much more difficult! Yet, it was all so still. My heart went at its normal speed as if I got immersed in a feeling of re-assurance, of … belonging. That was it: I belonged there … in that moment… with that person. I don’t know, maybe I saw too much into that moment, into that conversation. It has happened before after all… but what if this time it’s different?
I sure hope so.
The hours that did follow
Well, well… you’ve come a long way mate.
Two girls: one sexy from here to kingdom come, moving like there was no tomorrow, distant… but sexy distant… most probably following the "cool, yet distant" standard; the other girl… prissy, cute … Christian… wow.
Who do you go for?
Well, I have to say the day started with me going for the former, but something happened. I changed my mind somehow when I started talking to the second girl. She just… made me feel better.
I had one of those strange moments where everything stood still, like nothing was around us. This happened in the middle of a club with loud music that made our conversation oh so much more difficult! Yet, it was all so still. My heart went at its normal speed as if I got immersed in a feeling of re-assurance, of … belonging. That was it: I belonged there … in that moment… with that person. I don’t know, maybe I saw too much into that moment, into that conversation. It has happened before after all… but what if this time it’s different?
I sure hope so.
Friday, April 28, 2006
The hours that did not follow
We met at 3 pm or around that time anyway… Little was I to know that at 6 pm I would not be back at the hotel, but having drinks with her at some half-built club in the middle of town.
In the middle of high-rising buildings and next to a lovely green park, I looked at her. That’s when I finally got it. I was in love… maybe love is not a good word… maybe some sort of word with passion in it would have described it better. It was also when I realised she did have someone already… he was not there, but it was as if he was. She wasn’t too clear about him… about their relationship. There was definitely some tension when she talked about him… was it an open door for me? Was it me just wanting it to be an open door? Probably I will never know.
Between the drinks, her friends (and her boyfriend’s friends), I got some time alone with her. I hesitated for a second, but looking into her eyes, I just lost all self-control. “How about dinner? Do you want to have dinner?”. I stopped. Surely I had gone too far. “Yes, I just need to go home first. Is that ok?”
After a couple of comments on dancing, I asked her “Do you want to dance… or do you want to go for dinner?”. “Dinner” – she answered.
There was I, in a cab with her… I tried to avoid looking, but somehow couldn’t. We ended up in this really nice restaurant… I was almost kneeling… how ironic. Her conversation with a child that was next to us was so amazing that for a while I must have lost track of where I was, which country I was in.
“Shall we go to this bar right next door?” The answer was obvious… I will never forget the number that got us in… 57. She laughed… I looked a fool… long story.
The light of candles illuminated her face like I hadn’t seen it before. It gave it a sense of beauty that was surely different. I had lost it totally. I think she noticed, but just continued being herself and that made it worse, so much worse.
On the way out to get a cab, she asked me again if I wanted to go out somewhere and today I’m sure my answer was wrong… later on at my hotel, I looked at the night outside and thought “How dumb can one be?”.
I am not sure things would have been different, but at least I could have tried to hold her. I could have tried to dance with her… a couple more minutes or hours… I wouldn’t have finished the evening by just saying “Tell you boyfriend he is a lucky bastard. And I am very precise about those two words.”
I could have told her other things: that I hadn’t felt like that for a long time; that she was so special that every other decision in my life at that stage would just have to wait for her “say so”.
How do you tell a girl that you love her on the exact same day you have met her? Do you wait for midnight so it’s a new day? Do you hold it off altogether?
Why aren’t things simpler and more direct? Why don’t people just fall in love and understand that they are supposed to spend the rest of their lives together?
I can’t help but laugh. There is something definitely weird about me and the way I relate to the world. The relationships I have had in the last few years seem to happen because I don’t worry too much… when I do seem to worry, things never work out.
Well, therein lies the answer.
Lost, just lost, but I would have told her so many things… maybe this was for the best… maybe this way I still have a chance… maybe I just need to get some distance.
Again, clueless… I should just stop wondering and getting on with… that thing… life?!
Yeah, that sounds about right. Just get on with it.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
"You are so beautiful"
"You are so beautiful ... and I love you. I just don't like you any more."
This is a phrase from one of my current favourite TV series. It illustrates something I feel more and more: the disillusionment with women that I meet.
I have realised that I get most attracted to women with the following three characteristics:
- They are beautiful... some of them even gorgeous.
- They are intelligent... very sharp.
- They are real... let's just say... they are not very nice or better yet they like "playing games".
The problem is not with these women, but with me. Why do I get attracted to them? Why don't I get attracted to women that are actually nice... nice people?
Not sure. One might think it was masochism or just low self-esteem. I don't think it's either. My self-esteem is doing reasonably well and I don't think masochism is my thing.
Last night I went out with a friend and every time I go out with this guy, I know I will drink too much and by some strange reason end up meeting reasonably strange girls. It probably has to do with the clubs or house parties for that matter that we end up going to.
This was no different. Same old, same old... mind you, it was a good evening - I even got a special mixed CD from my favourite R&B and Hip-Hop DJ (long story) - the problem is that I miss something. I miss being genuinely surprised... getting enchanted by some girl... surprising myself in the process... surprising myself because I'm not attracted to the same old things.
Anyway, not a lot of closure on this post... sorry for that. Hopefully I'll get there some other day.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
"So... do you have a girlfriend?"
"So... do you have a girlfriend?"
"No, not at this moment."
"Well, then I will have to take care of that. I will get you a nice girl."
I laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Well, knowing your track-record, I am just worried that you will actually achieve it."
Taken out of context, this conversation that took place somewhere in Asia might actually be interpreted as something very very different. It was actually a nice conversation with a very nice lady that I have had the chance to work with in the last few years.
The thing is that it made me think of where I'm headed. I have become successful at a tender age (or at least I like to think so) and the real challenges ahead - in the short-term at least - look to be of a personal nature, not really professional.
Life is going well in general, but we can always have the discussion around women. What if I'm not really intended to find the woman of my life in the next few years... what if (worst-case scenario) I will never find the right one?
I guess I have just learned one very important thing about myself: I have changed so much I barely recognise the things that used to be fundamental... the things I used to live for. Is that bad?
No idea. I guess I will just have to figure it out as I go along.
"So... do you have a girlfriend?"
"No, not at this moment."
"Well, then I will have to take care of that. I will get you a nice girl."
I laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Well, knowing your track-record, I am just worried that you will actually achieve it."
Taken out of context, this conversation that took place somewhere in Asia might actually be interpreted as something very very different. It was actually a nice conversation with a very nice lady that I have had the chance to work with in the last few years.
The thing is that it made me think of where I'm headed. I have become successful at a tender age (or at least I like to think so) and the real challenges ahead - in the short-term at least - look to be of a personal nature, not really professional.
Life is going well in general, but we can always have the discussion around women. What if I'm not really intended to find the woman of my life in the next few years... what if (worst-case scenario) I will never find the right one?
I guess I have just learned one very important thing about myself: I have changed so much I barely recognise the things that used to be fundamental... the things I used to live for. Is that bad?
No idea. I guess I will just have to figure it out as I go along.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
The Reply
I've been waiting for this reply for the past week. Nothing... not an email... nothing. It's quite strange, because all my personal life (or almost all of it) seems to have been put on hold.
Of course it's an email from a girl... a woman, rather. What else could it be?
Still, I'm waiting... patiently... desperately.
I don't know how much longer I'll wait. I just know I'll have to state a deadline... something. I can't just be on hold for weeks and weeks, can I?
Maybe I can... maybe I don't want to... or maybe I do.
I'll just have to find out... won't I?
I've been waiting for this reply for the past week. Nothing... not an email... nothing. It's quite strange, because all my personal life (or almost all of it) seems to have been put on hold.
Of course it's an email from a girl... a woman, rather. What else could it be?
Still, I'm waiting... patiently... desperately.
I don't know how much longer I'll wait. I just know I'll have to state a deadline... something. I can't just be on hold for weeks and weeks, can I?
Maybe I can... maybe I don't want to... or maybe I do.
I'll just have to find out... won't I?
Monday, July 25, 2005
Copenhagen
There is such a thing as "love at first sight"... well, not really love, but "passion at first sight". It happens with girls, special icons and with cities... My experience in Copenhagen was exactly that. After Sweden, Finland and Norway, this was the Scandinavian country I was missing... and it was truly an exceptional experience.
First of all, I was lucky enough to choose a cool hotel, the Skt. Petri. After talking to the incredibly nice concierge/receptionist at the hotel, I was told there were 2 or 3 clubs that were quite hip in Copenhagen and I ended up going to one of them: Nasa. She was kind enough to put me on the guest list and the experience was quite good: lovely space, beautiful women and very good hip-hop music. The DJ could have been better, but nothing is perfect.
The concierge also told me that, strangely enough, one of the coolest bars in town was actually the "Bar Rouge" at the hotel. I thought it was "please spend some more money with us" propaganda, but she was totally right. What a place! Cool music (very good DJ), incredible bar staff in terms of cocktails and service and the women... well, the women were... how can I put it? ... exceptional.
At this stage one would ask: Why is this guy so obsessed with women? Well, first I'm heterosexual and at the moment I'm single, so that would be a good enough reason, but it's more than that: I have this strong belief that women are the single most exceptional work of art that we men have been given the possibility to see here on Earth. That's probably why I prefer cool bars to museums, women to statues or paintings. When you have the real thing, why would you go for a copy.
Well, I have to admit it, I like quite a lot of paintings and sculptures, but I'm just trying to make a point here.
"And the point is?"
The point is that by some wish of God, Denmark has been blessed with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Next to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, probably the most beautiful in Europe (on an average basis of course :-) ). Why? We will never know... but for a strange tourist like me, definitely well worth another visit.
There is such a thing as "love at first sight"... well, not really love, but "passion at first sight". It happens with girls, special icons and with cities... My experience in Copenhagen was exactly that. After Sweden, Finland and Norway, this was the Scandinavian country I was missing... and it was truly an exceptional experience.
First of all, I was lucky enough to choose a cool hotel, the Skt. Petri. After talking to the incredibly nice concierge/receptionist at the hotel, I was told there were 2 or 3 clubs that were quite hip in Copenhagen and I ended up going to one of them: Nasa. She was kind enough to put me on the guest list and the experience was quite good: lovely space, beautiful women and very good hip-hop music. The DJ could have been better, but nothing is perfect.
The concierge also told me that, strangely enough, one of the coolest bars in town was actually the "Bar Rouge" at the hotel. I thought it was "please spend some more money with us" propaganda, but she was totally right. What a place! Cool music (very good DJ), incredible bar staff in terms of cocktails and service and the women... well, the women were... how can I put it? ... exceptional.
At this stage one would ask: Why is this guy so obsessed with women? Well, first I'm heterosexual and at the moment I'm single, so that would be a good enough reason, but it's more than that: I have this strong belief that women are the single most exceptional work of art that we men have been given the possibility to see here on Earth. That's probably why I prefer cool bars to museums, women to statues or paintings. When you have the real thing, why would you go for a copy.
Well, I have to admit it, I like quite a lot of paintings and sculptures, but I'm just trying to make a point here.
"And the point is?"
The point is that by some wish of God, Denmark has been blessed with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Next to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, probably the most beautiful in Europe (on an average basis of course :-) ). Why? We will never know... but for a strange tourist like me, definitely well worth another visit.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
The art of seduction
I have been reading this book for a few years now (yes, years) called the "Art of Seduction", it's mostly and historical characterization of different types of seducers and although I love the book, I have never been able to finish it.
The book defines nine types of seducers: the siren, the ideal lover, etc. After having read the beginning now two times, I believe I'm sort of a natural, ie, a child-like seducer. At least, I would like to think so... :-) Strangely enough, the book just reminds me of how typified our whole society has been come. Let me explain: we all believe there are seducers and "losers". We all believe there are leaders and followers. We all believe that someone has to win and someone has to lose.
What if it was all wrong? What if it was all much more grey than we think?
"But it is" - you would tell me. I would agree and would even say most people would agree with both of us, but we seem to forget it when we create these images of people. When we revere the front cover of Fortune or Time. When we believe in heroes.
We seem to look at other people forgetting the basis on which we live our own life. It is never too happy or too sad. Never too perfect or too imperfect. So why should Bill Gates' life (just an example) be clearer than ours? Why should he not abide by the laws that bound us all to our "normal" lives?
I would dare say that no matter how rich, how heroic someone has been, he has to face the "gravity" of every-day life (on his/her terms) or has several people have once written: "Gravity always wins".
I have been reading this book for a few years now (yes, years) called the "Art of Seduction", it's mostly and historical characterization of different types of seducers and although I love the book, I have never been able to finish it.
The book defines nine types of seducers: the siren, the ideal lover, etc. After having read the beginning now two times, I believe I'm sort of a natural, ie, a child-like seducer. At least, I would like to think so... :-) Strangely enough, the book just reminds me of how typified our whole society has been come. Let me explain: we all believe there are seducers and "losers". We all believe there are leaders and followers. We all believe that someone has to win and someone has to lose.
What if it was all wrong? What if it was all much more grey than we think?
"But it is" - you would tell me. I would agree and would even say most people would agree with both of us, but we seem to forget it when we create these images of people. When we revere the front cover of Fortune or Time. When we believe in heroes.
We seem to look at other people forgetting the basis on which we live our own life. It is never too happy or too sad. Never too perfect or too imperfect. So why should Bill Gates' life (just an example) be clearer than ours? Why should he not abide by the laws that bound us all to our "normal" lives?
I would dare say that no matter how rich, how heroic someone has been, he has to face the "gravity" of every-day life (on his/her terms) or has several people have once written: "Gravity always wins".
Friday, July 08, 2005
Girls / Women
Well, I give up. I have had extraordinary advise from men and women alike and still don't get it. How does one show interest in a girl?
"You have to show interest, but not too much." or "You shouldn't show any initial interest. Just keep a distance and then go for it." or "You should show total commitment to the girl"...
Guys (and gals), your advice sucks. It doesn't make any sense. You guys (and gals) contradict each other all the time and I am guessing you are not doing it on purpose, so why doesn't it make sense?
Well, I believe - and this is theoretical, so please don't mind me - that your advice is based on specific situations of your own lives. The way you met your girlfriend / boyfriend, etc.
The thing is - and I know this will come as shock - people are different. I am different, most of the girls I get interested in are different (or at least they seem to be) and then you go into the "I'm not really sure method 3 will work. Nor method 1 or 2..." Real life demands real situations, real reactions and I will continue my (with low success) approach to relations... a ad-hoc one... one "made to measure"... typically shocking, most of the times very different, but at least MY approach.
I do hope you will stay as my friends after this ;-)
Well, I give up. I have had extraordinary advise from men and women alike and still don't get it. How does one show interest in a girl?
"You have to show interest, but not too much." or "You shouldn't show any initial interest. Just keep a distance and then go for it." or "You should show total commitment to the girl"...
Guys (and gals), your advice sucks. It doesn't make any sense. You guys (and gals) contradict each other all the time and I am guessing you are not doing it on purpose, so why doesn't it make sense?
Well, I believe - and this is theoretical, so please don't mind me - that your advice is based on specific situations of your own lives. The way you met your girlfriend / boyfriend, etc.
The thing is - and I know this will come as shock - people are different. I am different, most of the girls I get interested in are different (or at least they seem to be) and then you go into the "I'm not really sure method 3 will work. Nor method 1 or 2..." Real life demands real situations, real reactions and I will continue my (with low success) approach to relations... a ad-hoc one... one "made to measure"... typically shocking, most of the times very different, but at least MY approach.
I do hope you will stay as my friends after this ;-)
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Hantuchova
Ok, I am a tennis fan. And as most male tennis fans, female tennis transcends the ability to play tennis... yes, I love watching it at times because it's played by women for crying out loud. Some pretty beautiful, others not really. I believe Daniela Hantuchova is the most beautiful of them all these days (in my honest opinion). Long gone are the days of Sabatini ... and I have to say I am one of those "I don't get why Kournikova was such a big deal" kind of guy.
Hantuchova is more interesting than the typical tennis player for several reasons:
- She is extremely beautiful.
- She is technically, one of the best tennis players around with strong all round game and incredible groundstrokes.
- She has problems... some of them strangely public, like her potential anorexic issues and her lack of mental grounding to just become one of the top 5 in the world on an ongoing basis.
Maybe this will seem a bad comparison, and I do apologise to Daniela if I'm not being fair with this, but she illustrates the mess in which we live today. The mess of having a beautiful, talented professional, who has indeed become a star, but cannot live within the boundaries defined by modern life society.
If one does exceptionally well, one is expected to do even better... if one is beautiful, one is expected to become even more beautiful. Indeed, we are becoming Lemmings... following each other without any sense of direction or belief. The strange question I have is: who are they (we?) following? Who are the leaders? Are they as clueless as the followers? If they are, everyone's in big trouble.
So... and just to finish this: Daniela, you are fabulous, you look great, you play incredibly well... just relax and enjoy life and tennis. I am pretty sure you will "kick some butt" along the way, but more important, you'll enjoy yourself (or seem to enjoy yourself) much more.
Ok, I am a tennis fan. And as most male tennis fans, female tennis transcends the ability to play tennis... yes, I love watching it at times because it's played by women for crying out loud. Some pretty beautiful, others not really. I believe Daniela Hantuchova is the most beautiful of them all these days (in my honest opinion). Long gone are the days of Sabatini ... and I have to say I am one of those "I don't get why Kournikova was such a big deal" kind of guy.
Hantuchova is more interesting than the typical tennis player for several reasons:
- She is extremely beautiful.
- She is technically, one of the best tennis players around with strong all round game and incredible groundstrokes.
- She has problems... some of them strangely public, like her potential anorexic issues and her lack of mental grounding to just become one of the top 5 in the world on an ongoing basis.
Maybe this will seem a bad comparison, and I do apologise to Daniela if I'm not being fair with this, but she illustrates the mess in which we live today. The mess of having a beautiful, talented professional, who has indeed become a star, but cannot live within the boundaries defined by modern life society.
If one does exceptionally well, one is expected to do even better... if one is beautiful, one is expected to become even more beautiful. Indeed, we are becoming Lemmings... following each other without any sense of direction or belief. The strange question I have is: who are they (we?) following? Who are the leaders? Are they as clueless as the followers? If they are, everyone's in big trouble.
So... and just to finish this: Daniela, you are fabulous, you look great, you play incredibly well... just relax and enjoy life and tennis. I am pretty sure you will "kick some butt" along the way, but more important, you'll enjoy yourself (or seem to enjoy yourself) much more.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Travelling
I have now travelled to 30 countries (this is my 30th) in my life and to 10 new ones since I joined the company I have been working for in the last two years.
I know the difference between Economy classes (for short-haul flights) of some airlines and even better the differences between the Business classes (for long-haul flights) of many more. I know a lot of lounges, way too well some Airports in Europe and this is scary. Why?
I feel I've lost some sense of grounding and home... If home is where I spend most of my time (although not too much or indeed many weekends these days) it would be London... if it were to be where my incredible family and my great friends are, it would be Lisbon... if it were to be where my Heart is... well, let's just say my Heart is somewhere between two cities... maybe on an airplane somewhere (and no... it has nothing to do with air-hostesses) just trying to decided where to be.
I have now travelled to 30 countries (this is my 30th) in my life and to 10 new ones since I joined the company I have been working for in the last two years.
I know the difference between Economy classes (for short-haul flights) of some airlines and even better the differences between the Business classes (for long-haul flights) of many more. I know a lot of lounges, way too well some Airports in Europe and this is scary. Why?
I feel I've lost some sense of grounding and home... If home is where I spend most of my time (although not too much or indeed many weekends these days) it would be London... if it were to be where my incredible family and my great friends are, it would be Lisbon... if it were to be where my Heart is... well, let's just say my Heart is somewhere between two cities... maybe on an airplane somewhere (and no... it has nothing to do with air-hostesses) just trying to decided where to be.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Lima
I'm now in Peru... basically in Lima. A lot of fog, some normal (winter) weather and that's all... really.
I wouldn't say I am particularly worried about my life at this stage. The recognition that life is to be lived has been intrisic in the last few months, but precisely because of that I think I haven't focused on what really matters ... me.
This is actually a very strange post and actually the start of a new series of potentially very weird and dodgy posts. Beware... Phase 3 has begun.
I'm now in Peru... basically in Lima. A lot of fog, some normal (winter) weather and that's all... really.
I wouldn't say I am particularly worried about my life at this stage. The recognition that life is to be lived has been intrisic in the last few months, but precisely because of that I think I haven't focused on what really matters ... me.
This is actually a very strange post and actually the start of a new series of potentially very weird and dodgy posts. Beware... Phase 3 has begun.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Scene 1
Exchange of texts between a man and a woman:
Man: “I apologise for tonight’s behaviour… Actually I don’t… Needed an excuse to send u a message. Hi. I’m __. I’m a bit of a bastard. I’m 27. Who are u again :P”
Woman: “Sorry not into bastards ;)”
Man: “Shame”
Woman: “I’m just ur typical girl that’s been hurt too much and trusts noone – some day I’ll meet nice guy but not ready for it yet – ignore all that, me tipsy – see ya tomorrow”
Man: “Can relate. Wasn’t bastard… Suffered. Now, still only mini bastard. Sort of tipsy but not apologetic :P Will want to see u tomorrow if u want it too :)”
Woman: no reply
Man (day after): “Still tipsy ? :)”
Woman: no reply
Man: “Should I still ignore what u sent me yesterday/today? Personally would hope u would reconsider one or 2 things :P”
Woman: no reply
Man: nothing else to say
I all started some hours earlier.
Woman: “Hi, I’m ___. You must be ___”
Man: “Yes, I am.”
She looked ravishing and he liked her straight away. There was something about her.
Further down the night, after talking quite a few times and some very serious conversations and a lot of drinks.
Man: “Sorry to be changing the subject altogether, but you are cute.”
Woman: smiled
Scene 2
Singapore close to Boat Quay, man trying to get a taxi cab (nearly impossible in the evening in Singapore).
Taxi cab stops.
Man stands by the door.
Woman inside taxi cab starts paying.
Beautiful woman, Asian but certain with other influences.
Woman knocks on the windows of the car.
Tells man to get in.
He does.
She says it’s much nicer insider.
He agrees.
He wasn’t talking about the air-conditioning.
She leaves the cab.
He thanks her.
She smiles.
Conclusion
Both scenes seem to be subject to the same iconic moment: the smile. Unfortunately, neither one of them ends well.
Nevertheless, the second scene was nice. There was no relation between both of them. They did not spend more than 5 minutes together and most of it on different sides of the window of a taxi cab. It was nice. It probably nice for the man in the scene.
The first scene is intense. It is fast paced and the man would probably have gone through the several feelings in a passional/seduction process: he gets interested, he engages in talking to her, he tries to seduce her, he tries to get her into a more serious mode.
Trouble is: if the man in scene 2 were the ask the woman in the cab to stay or have some drinks with him, it would have looked ridiculous. So what about scene 1, what would make it ridiculous… probably it looks already ridiculous. How can you go from “Hi, how are you?” to “Maybe we should have something more serious going on” in less than 12 hours?
The problem with these scenes are not the actions or hypothetical actions of both men. The problem with these scenes and at the same time what makes them more or less vivid is the timescale. They are fast paced, they are intense and they end up in disappointment. One probably a true one… the other one just a “what if” one.
Maybe the key to this all is time … just time.
Exchange of texts between a man and a woman:
Man: “I apologise for tonight’s behaviour… Actually I don’t… Needed an excuse to send u a message. Hi. I’m __. I’m a bit of a bastard. I’m 27. Who are u again :P”
Woman: “Sorry not into bastards ;)”
Man: “Shame”
Woman: “I’m just ur typical girl that’s been hurt too much and trusts noone – some day I’ll meet nice guy but not ready for it yet – ignore all that, me tipsy – see ya tomorrow”
Man: “Can relate. Wasn’t bastard… Suffered. Now, still only mini bastard. Sort of tipsy but not apologetic :P Will want to see u tomorrow if u want it too :)”
Woman: no reply
Man (day after): “Still tipsy ? :)”
Woman: no reply
Man: “Should I still ignore what u sent me yesterday/today? Personally would hope u would reconsider one or 2 things :P”
Woman: no reply
Man: nothing else to say
I all started some hours earlier.
Woman: “Hi, I’m ___. You must be ___”
Man: “Yes, I am.”
She looked ravishing and he liked her straight away. There was something about her.
Further down the night, after talking quite a few times and some very serious conversations and a lot of drinks.
Man: “Sorry to be changing the subject altogether, but you are cute.”
Woman: smiled
Scene 2
Singapore close to Boat Quay, man trying to get a taxi cab (nearly impossible in the evening in Singapore).
Taxi cab stops.
Man stands by the door.
Woman inside taxi cab starts paying.
Beautiful woman, Asian but certain with other influences.
Woman knocks on the windows of the car.
Tells man to get in.
He does.
She says it’s much nicer insider.
He agrees.
He wasn’t talking about the air-conditioning.
She leaves the cab.
He thanks her.
She smiles.
Conclusion
Both scenes seem to be subject to the same iconic moment: the smile. Unfortunately, neither one of them ends well.
Nevertheless, the second scene was nice. There was no relation between both of them. They did not spend more than 5 minutes together and most of it on different sides of the window of a taxi cab. It was nice. It probably nice for the man in the scene.
The first scene is intense. It is fast paced and the man would probably have gone through the several feelings in a passional/seduction process: he gets interested, he engages in talking to her, he tries to seduce her, he tries to get her into a more serious mode.
Trouble is: if the man in scene 2 were the ask the woman in the cab to stay or have some drinks with him, it would have looked ridiculous. So what about scene 1, what would make it ridiculous… probably it looks already ridiculous. How can you go from “Hi, how are you?” to “Maybe we should have something more serious going on” in less than 12 hours?
The problem with these scenes are not the actions or hypothetical actions of both men. The problem with these scenes and at the same time what makes them more or less vivid is the timescale. They are fast paced, they are intense and they end up in disappointment. One probably a true one… the other one just a “what if” one.
Maybe the key to this all is time … just time.
Monday, August 02, 2004
"We are young, heartache to heartache we stand
No promises, no demands
Love is a battlefield"
Everyone must remember this music... I watched the not brilliant, not bad "13 going 30". Apart from a gorgeous Jennifer Garner, this music stuck in my mind.
I have no deep thoughts to share with you today... just this music segment.
No promises, no demands
Love is a battlefield"
Everyone must remember this music... I watched the not brilliant, not bad "13 going 30". Apart from a gorgeous Jennifer Garner, this music stuck in my mind.
I have no deep thoughts to share with you today... just this music segment.
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Aqui vai uma descrição resumida das férias... ok, não é uma descrição e devido aos "esforços" de um determinado Banco quase que não eram férias, mas enfim...
Nova Iorque: cidade extraordinária, como o chamado "buzz" que até hoje só senti em Londres. Há 7 anos escrevi: "London is calling". Hoje ouso escrever: "New York is calling". Quem sabe, quem sabe...
Guggenheim: Eu não gosto de museus, mas adorei este. É informal, simpático e tinha 2 exposições muito interessantes: "Hands", que basicamente era uma colecção de fotografias sobre... you guessed it... mãos. Muito bonito. Outra era à partida um loser na minha avaliação: arte contemporânea... abstracta... baseada em escultura... de um tal de Constantin Brancusi. O nome e explicação da exposição é que colocaram tudo em perspectiva: "The Essence of Things". Não adiantando mais... fez-se luz.
"I, Robot" et al: Or should I say "Ai, ai, que é que eu estou aqui a fazer?". Mais a sério, não é demasiado mau, esperava pior, mas ao pé do quase extraordinário "Artificial Intelligence" fica um pouco aquem. Vi igualmente o "Spiderman 2", que é bom, mas não tão bom o primeiro e o inacreditável "Before Sunset". Detestei o primeiro filme... mas este é muito bom. Aconselho vivamente. Dá muito que pensar.
"Sight Unseen": A melhor peça que vi na minha vida. A fabulosa Laura Linney deslumbra, mas os outros dois actores e actriz iluminam igualmente . Fabuloso, simplesmente fabuloso.
Midtown e Upper East Side: As áreas onde passei mais tempo estão aprovadissimas. De Central Park a Times Square é tudo, ou quase tudo, muito interessante. Mais a sul adorei Soho e Greenwich Village. O Ground Zero fez me sentir mal e - admito - quase chorar.
"Why pride is more important than money": Livro gentilmente cedido... ou seja dado por um Project Leader da McKinsey após originalmente me ter oferecido o "Creative Destruction". Livro razoável e curto sobre motivação de R.H. por um tal de Katzenbach, ex-McKinsey (duh!!!) e hoje com a sua própria firma. Essencialmente, uma ode aos Marines e ao Marvin Bower.
"The curious incident of the dog in the night time": LIVRO MAGNÍFICO, EXCEPCIONAL... o que quiserem. Basicamente um "policial" narrado (livro de ficção, claro está) por um miúdo com síndrome de Asperger, uma espécie de autismo. ABSOLUTAMENTE "MUST READ". Concordo com a crítica do Guardian: "Superbly realised... A funny as well as sad book... BRILLIANT."
Citibank: Sem comentários. As merdas (perdoem-me a palavra) que estes senhores fizeram com a minha conta davam para a sequela do "Processo" de Kafka. Inacreditável a falta de tudo que foi ilustrada pelos eventos da última semana.
Kafka: Em relação aos problemas do Banco só tenho a dizer que apesar de tudo o stress foi minimizado... muito bom sinal. Talvez já seja adulto, after all.
Hudson Hotel: Hotel excelente. Absolutamente nada a dizer. Ver próximas referências. Valeu 50% (talvez esteja a exagerar) da viagem a Nova Iorque.
Sky Terrace: Terraço/Esplanada no 15o. andar do Hotel... Cadeiras de piscina sem piscina mas com tudo o resto, duches, miúdas giras, sol e vista sobre a cidade e Rio Hudson. 5 estrelas. Momentos de felicidade.
Library Bar: Mais um dos bares do Hudson. Cool, jazzy, mas quase vazio... Deviam estar todos no Sky Terrace ou no Hudson Bar.
Hudson Bar: Um dos bares cool de N. Iorque. A J. Lo vai lá muitas vezes (não a vi) e o Matt Damon teve lá a festa do seu 30o. aniversário. Muito cool, música excelente, decoração irrepreensível, miúdas... ai, ai.
Quarto: Pequeno, quase demasiado... mas muito cool (será que eu já disse esta palavra antes). A cama e o colchão incríveis (nada de boquinhas).
Serviço: Em N. Iorque e em particular no Hotel muito perto da perfeição... à americana. E as empregadas de mesa... ai, ai.
Raparigas: Muitas e muito giras. N. Iorque é parecida com Londres, muitas miúdas de diversas nacionalidades. Vantagem do Hudson é que muitas das miúdas giras andam por aqui... chamem-me preguiçoso... eu prefiro iluminado :-)
Aeroporto JFK: Do mais confuso que há. Heathrow parece um livro de crianças por comparação. Estou a pensar comprar um dos terminais... pelos vistos todos podem ter um. Nos EUA chama-se liberalização e livre empreendorismo. Na Europa chama-se estupidez.
Férias: "Que é isso?" Bolas, férias é onde o homem (sorry, girls) quer, quando ele quer. É um estado de espirito. A única coisa que não nos podem tirar é quem somos... a nossa essência.
Deus: Sim, Ele também anda por Nova Iorque. Se alguém viu uma personagem parecida o Kramer (em demência) mas mais forte e baixo a falar consigo próprio (parecia estar a reza)... dirija-o para mim.
Beijinhos e abraços de Londres (após Nova Iorque)
Nova Iorque: cidade extraordinária, como o chamado "buzz" que até hoje só senti em Londres. Há 7 anos escrevi: "London is calling". Hoje ouso escrever: "New York is calling". Quem sabe, quem sabe...
Guggenheim: Eu não gosto de museus, mas adorei este. É informal, simpático e tinha 2 exposições muito interessantes: "Hands", que basicamente era uma colecção de fotografias sobre... you guessed it... mãos. Muito bonito. Outra era à partida um loser na minha avaliação: arte contemporânea... abstracta... baseada em escultura... de um tal de Constantin Brancusi. O nome e explicação da exposição é que colocaram tudo em perspectiva: "The Essence of Things". Não adiantando mais... fez-se luz.
"I, Robot" et al: Or should I say "Ai, ai, que é que eu estou aqui a fazer?". Mais a sério, não é demasiado mau, esperava pior, mas ao pé do quase extraordinário "Artificial Intelligence" fica um pouco aquem. Vi igualmente o "Spiderman 2", que é bom, mas não tão bom o primeiro e o inacreditável "Before Sunset". Detestei o primeiro filme... mas este é muito bom. Aconselho vivamente. Dá muito que pensar.
"Sight Unseen": A melhor peça que vi na minha vida. A fabulosa Laura Linney deslumbra, mas os outros dois actores e actriz iluminam igualmente . Fabuloso, simplesmente fabuloso.
Midtown e Upper East Side: As áreas onde passei mais tempo estão aprovadissimas. De Central Park a Times Square é tudo, ou quase tudo, muito interessante. Mais a sul adorei Soho e Greenwich Village. O Ground Zero fez me sentir mal e - admito - quase chorar.
"Why pride is more important than money": Livro gentilmente cedido... ou seja dado por um Project Leader da McKinsey após originalmente me ter oferecido o "Creative Destruction". Livro razoável e curto sobre motivação de R.H. por um tal de Katzenbach, ex-McKinsey (duh!!!) e hoje com a sua própria firma. Essencialmente, uma ode aos Marines e ao Marvin Bower.
"The curious incident of the dog in the night time": LIVRO MAGNÍFICO, EXCEPCIONAL... o que quiserem. Basicamente um "policial" narrado (livro de ficção, claro está) por um miúdo com síndrome de Asperger, uma espécie de autismo. ABSOLUTAMENTE "MUST READ". Concordo com a crítica do Guardian: "Superbly realised... A funny as well as sad book... BRILLIANT."
Citibank: Sem comentários. As merdas (perdoem-me a palavra) que estes senhores fizeram com a minha conta davam para a sequela do "Processo" de Kafka. Inacreditável a falta de tudo que foi ilustrada pelos eventos da última semana.
Kafka: Em relação aos problemas do Banco só tenho a dizer que apesar de tudo o stress foi minimizado... muito bom sinal. Talvez já seja adulto, after all.
Hudson Hotel: Hotel excelente. Absolutamente nada a dizer. Ver próximas referências. Valeu 50% (talvez esteja a exagerar) da viagem a Nova Iorque.
Sky Terrace: Terraço/Esplanada no 15o. andar do Hotel... Cadeiras de piscina sem piscina mas com tudo o resto, duches, miúdas giras, sol e vista sobre a cidade e Rio Hudson. 5 estrelas. Momentos de felicidade.
Library Bar: Mais um dos bares do Hudson. Cool, jazzy, mas quase vazio... Deviam estar todos no Sky Terrace ou no Hudson Bar.
Hudson Bar: Um dos bares cool de N. Iorque. A J. Lo vai lá muitas vezes (não a vi) e o Matt Damon teve lá a festa do seu 30o. aniversário. Muito cool, música excelente, decoração irrepreensível, miúdas... ai, ai.
Quarto: Pequeno, quase demasiado... mas muito cool (será que eu já disse esta palavra antes). A cama e o colchão incríveis (nada de boquinhas).
Serviço: Em N. Iorque e em particular no Hotel muito perto da perfeição... à americana. E as empregadas de mesa... ai, ai.
Raparigas: Muitas e muito giras. N. Iorque é parecida com Londres, muitas miúdas de diversas nacionalidades. Vantagem do Hudson é que muitas das miúdas giras andam por aqui... chamem-me preguiçoso... eu prefiro iluminado :-)
Aeroporto JFK: Do mais confuso que há. Heathrow parece um livro de crianças por comparação. Estou a pensar comprar um dos terminais... pelos vistos todos podem ter um. Nos EUA chama-se liberalização e livre empreendorismo. Na Europa chama-se estupidez.
Férias: "Que é isso?" Bolas, férias é onde o homem (sorry, girls) quer, quando ele quer. É um estado de espirito. A única coisa que não nos podem tirar é quem somos... a nossa essência.
Deus: Sim, Ele também anda por Nova Iorque. Se alguém viu uma personagem parecida o Kramer (em demência) mas mais forte e baixo a falar consigo próprio (parecia estar a reza)... dirija-o para mim.
Beijinhos e abraços de Londres (após Nova Iorque)
Monday, March 08, 2004
Monday, February 09, 2004
The Tempest
No, not the film. On Saturday evening, I just went out for a walk in the evening. All normal, no rain. Prayed a bit and said something (don’t actually remember the original phrase so I keep making a new one every time I say it): “Lord, give me the grace to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the ones I can”.
1 minute after I said this, it started raining, really, really strong. Then the wind just became incredible (my umbrella really suffered from that). It just looked like a tempest. It went on for 5 minutes, but it just looked to go on for ages.
I was able to hold on to the umbrella and come back home, safe and sound.
What did I learn from this?
I learnt that for one, just writing a simple “A bit shocked you can’t come.” in an SMS can prove to be an incredible mistake. I also learnt that I sometimes over-analyse and lose track of what’s going on...
Yes, you might be wondering if this is a true story... it actually is.
“Just RELAX” – I keep saying to myself. “Just RELAX!”
No, not the film. On Saturday evening, I just went out for a walk in the evening. All normal, no rain. Prayed a bit and said something (don’t actually remember the original phrase so I keep making a new one every time I say it): “Lord, give me the grace to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the ones I can”.
1 minute after I said this, it started raining, really, really strong. Then the wind just became incredible (my umbrella really suffered from that). It just looked like a tempest. It went on for 5 minutes, but it just looked to go on for ages.
I was able to hold on to the umbrella and come back home, safe and sound.
What did I learn from this?
I learnt that for one, just writing a simple “A bit shocked you can’t come.” in an SMS can prove to be an incredible mistake. I also learnt that I sometimes over-analyse and lose track of what’s going on...
Yes, you might be wondering if this is a true story... it actually is.
“Just RELAX” – I keep saying to myself. “Just RELAX!”
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