This last week I was down in Australia and New Zealand for a business trip and just got home early this morning. It was a last minute thing as I stepped in for someone at work for presentations on IP Commercialization. I really enjoyed the sessions and the comments by people who attended indicate that they also enjoyed the sessions.
My experience on this trip was a bit like traveling back in the late 70’s or early 80’s. Somewhere between Delhi and Singapore, my laptop decided it wanted to act like a brick instead of a computer. So scratch email, for the most part and phone calls home (I use my laptop for that). Although my mobile phone would probably work, I hate to think of the international roaming charges, so it stayed turned off and in my bag. Since I was a late pinch hitter, I also didn’t stay at the same hotel as everyone many nights. It was a bit difficult to coordinate the whens and wheres of travel without a mobile phone. I did manage to get a few email to Michelle so she knew what was going on. But it was really hard not being able to chat like we usually do. Yah, I know. Whine, whine. It all worked out.
It nice to see New Zealand. I told everyone that my Mom had lived in New Zealand for about 18 months for our Church, including the immigration officer who stamped my passport. The people from New Zealand seem to be really thankful that we would spend enough time to fly all the way down there to meet with them. They realize that unless you are flying within New Zealand, outside of Australia (about 5 hours away), everywhere else in the world is a long, long plane ride away.
The weather is just turning spring down there and it was weird to leave from Delhi where it was still finishing up the monsoon season and step off the plane where the temperature was substantially less and spring was all around. While we were in New Zealand we met with Weta Digital, who did special effects on lots of famous movies, including Lord of the Rings. They had a shop called the Weta Cave (Weta are a type of cricket that lives in a cave) that has lots of props and things from the movie, including Aragon’s broken sword and a full size Orc (very scary looking). They also do a lot of work with Microsoft on Halo and have a full-size drivable Warthog (which I didn’t get to see or drive – darn it).
I also really enjoyed Sydney (what I got to see of it). It has a fun downtown area and lots of things that you can walk and see. Of course, all I saw was the inside of conference and hotel rooms. But still, it looked fun and I wouldn’t mind spending some time there with Michelle and Becca where we could just go see all the stuff.
One thing that was funny to me. Every meal that was served at the seminars we put on had some sort of curry dish. I told people that I’d eat anything on the menu except for the curry. I’d leave the Indian food for when I got home. They all laughed. I can tell that it hasn’t been that long since they were able to have a nice steak or anything at all made with beef.
I’m hoping to get the first part of our trip to Agra posted soon. Sorry for the delay. It has been a bit busy.
No comments:
Post a Comment