Neill Brown

Hello - hugs & kisses. Thanks for checking back in. I hope some of these shots/words connect with the travel enthusiast in you.

The past year in Tokyo has been intensely active with work. But office life doesn't blog well, so let's talk about the rest. Since there's some important news, I'll start at the end then 'Tarantino' back to the beginning.

McCann is moving me to Regional Account Director with geographic territory to cover Middle East / North Africa. Strangely that requires me to relocate to our regional office...in Singapore. Anyways, now I'm flying to Dubai.

Prior to this trip, I was acutely aware of only two stratified airborne societies; Economy and Business Class. But an administrative glitch has fortunately bumped me up from Business Class to 1st Class. For those curious, 1st Class (at least on Emirates) is both literally & figuratively on a different level. Behind closed doors, there’s a luxurious room with walls of rich oak wood, private suites, and endless dietary indulgences. A hostess comes by to recommend Dom Perignon, saying “the 1999 is drinking beautifully now.” Ok, I’ll have a gin & tonic. I settle into my satin pajamas and hit 'full-body' massage on flat-back bed. Having sampled the sharp cheeses & dull conversation of Executive Lounges, I've concluded there are indeed people are living above us.

Dubai is a place you must see. Risen from oil, it mocks everything Mother Nature intended. It's already so hot in Dubai that Climate Change will ironically have limited effect on a city who's existence is already played out almost entirely indoors. Including indoor snowboarding.

Now back to Japan. First of all, it has been great to see so many friends & family pass through here lately. Most of them will tell you Japan is a world of contradictions – an ethereal collision of past & future. A half-day in Tokyo will quickly validate that Japan is technologically years ahead, but their present is not necessarily the future of other societies. I believe their development lies upon a completely different continuum. Think of it like the exhibits at Expo ‘86. Futuristic…yes. But do we really need a vending machine that sells both cigarettes & soft drinks? Achievements in automation & miniaturization continue to burgeon, while basic principles of social order remain to be addressed. Honda can make Assimo dance, yet banks can’t open an account in under 3 weeks. Bowing is a standard form of politeness, yet men openly read pornography on the subway. George Jetson would be ashamed.

But ladies, just in case you thought all the kinky fun was for guys...think again. 'Host' clubs are just as popular as 'Hostess' clubs, and a flamboyant night of wining & dining imasculated Japanese men can cost up to $14,000 USD per night. Check out these beafcakes.

Oh, by the way...Merry Christmas. The Holidays were interesting in Japan. Christmas wasn't even a day off work, and it's traditionally untraditional. Actually, it's a couples day. Children aren't even involved. On the evening of the 25th, boyfriends & girlfriends visit KFC for the official Festive Meal. Think Valentine's Day but with lots of grease. You thought chocolates & roses were romantic???...how about a bucket of fried chicken!

New Year's Eve was a blur – just an intimate little party with 2,000 of my closest friends. Sadly, it's one of only a handful of times I've actually been out. Ohhhh poor me. Work has taken up 120% of my time. Here’s Darren squeezing out an extra 15%...

For those who visit Japan, the winter in Japan is worth seeing & skiing. Quaint villages boast sake bars instead of pubs, random street-side onsen (hot springs), and some of the weirdest festivals I’ve ever seen.

On the hill, peacocks show their feathers in all sorts of colourful outfits. Inside the chalet, the atmosphere is predictably electric. Just proof that you can take the people out of Tokyo, but you can’t take the Tokyo out of people.

Mom & Dad popped over the pond for a visit recently. In 2 weeks they quickly saw more of Japan than I’ve seen in over a year.

They dove right into local culture and impressively biked around rural regions rarely visited by gaijin (foreigners). They earned themselves the accolade of appearing in a Japanese newspaper not once…twice…but three times! The second time was because of a boat accident - but that’s another story. Simply put, their resiliency was impressive.

One should never confuse 'standard of living' with 'quality of life' - but Japanese often confuse the concepts are interchangeable. Louis Vuitton can only make you so happy. I was delighted to finally get out of the office, and a week with family is priceless. Having my parents here was the highlight of my year...after all, that's what life is really all about.

For those visiting Japan in the future, it's too bad I won't be here to accomodate more visitors. But if you need accomodation, there's always a bed for you at this hotel.

Despite Japan’s eccentricities & abnormalities, one cannot fail to respect the world’s second-largest economy. I feel there's an undeniable charm to a people who are (predominantly) gentle, considerate, and exhibit no sense of entitlement. Sure, Japan is not the most open society in the world., but arguably Western countries have exported a little too much of their culture lately. Japan's own systems & processes are often confusing & labourious to outsiders, but yet they somehow work. There's an ancient Japanese proverb junin toiro (ten persons, ten colours) which basically means "different strokes for different folks." Well, actually there's another Japanese proverb jakuniku kyoushoku (weak meat, strong eat) which basically means "my way or the highway." As I said earlier...Japan is a world of contradictions :)

From a career standpoint, I’ve now seen the future of Advertising. Predicated upon my experiences this past year, I'd say the future of advertising will be…uhmmm…different. Media here truly must outsmart rather than outspend. And "instantaneonsism" is not yet a word recognized in Webster's dictonary, but with a killer wave of pervasive 4th-Generation technology applications on the horizon, it soon will be. "Search" will become the primary media. All traditional forms will become secondary/support strategies. Then the robots invade.

Last words on Japan. Japanese television is notoriously bizarre. The shopping channel is by far my favourite, as I love gadgets thinly diguised as exercise equipment. Ladies & gentlement, I present you with exhibit A and exhibit B. And though I didn't have the privledge of filming this with my own camera, if you're into Japanese game shows check out exhibit C, and D. Hope you're enjoying this window to the world.

Thailand was chosen for a long overdue (yet somewhat truncated) 4-day holiday. While in Bangkok, Justin announced the greatest news I’ve heard in years – he & Katie are having a baby! Their life in Thailand is anchored by a beautiful home & world-class school, and the future will continue to shine with mini-Medved on the way. And with tremendous honour bestowed upon me, I have officially accepted the title of “The Godfather (Neill) James Brown.” I cannot think of a greater honour, and cannot wait to buy the baby clothes.

Anchored loosely around an agenda to climb rocks, 4 old school friends then met up in Krabi. Sun-kissed versions of Drew & Bryan rolled in like veterans of a war against sobriety. We hit the beverages, got caught up on latest movements, and enjoyed open conversation on the world’s affairs. Here's a shot of Drew on the down-low, and of Devine on the up & up.

For those who haven’t been, Krabi offers you steep cliffs and the type of white sand seclusion sold in brochures – it’s a gem, and definitely another gin & tonic to be remembered.

A few final thoughts. Whether you’re working abroad or staying at home, it’s the individuals around us who give shape to our world. Connecting with people from different parts of the human spectrum can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. Still, there’s no substitute for home. To my family & friends around the world, you’ve given me opportunities & experiences far richer than dollars, yen, or ringat can buy – and perspective on what’s most important in life. So as I chip away in one corner of the world, I’d love to know what you’re working on. Please do keep in touch as your own personal path unfolds. No detail is too drab. Given the new opportunities ahead, my status in Canada will remain on “away” for a little while longer. But I do so in hopes that next time we’re together, there’s even more to share at the table. Until then…