A Tale of Two Cities

Thanks for checking back in! I hope these perspectives help re-connect with the travel enthusiast in you, and share a sense of what life is really like abroad – at least in Singapore and Dubai.

To set the scene, last Spring I was dubbed Regional Account Director, and moved from McCann’s Japan office to our Asia Regional office (in Singapore). My domain now covers the Middle East / North Africa region - so while I live in Singapore, Dubai has become my home away from home (away from home).

So what’s Dubai reeeally like?...besides hot. Well, it’s a city of superlatives. Unanimously the world’s “first”, “tallest”, and “biggest” are all currently under construction in Dubai. A few upcoming notables include the self-proclaimed 10-star underwater hotel called ‘Hydropolis’. Expect the seafood to be fresh.

Also soon-to-be-completed is the ‘Snow Dome', the world’s largest free-standing dome structure. It’s built for those not already content with Dubai’s current ski indoor ski hill. Snow Dome will boast multiple ski hills...and a ‘penguinarium’. For the wealthier desert skiers, opportunities are now available to own a ski cabin inside - complete with fireplace and indoor heating. And in a globally warming world, what says “eco-friendly” more than heating a building located in the desert? Certainly looks as though mankind will go out with a bang.

Dubai is clearly not the ideal place for those on a quest for authenticity, as it has recently introduced both the 'Diamond-Embedded Credit Card' and the 'McArabia'. To replicate to the Mona Lisa what McDonald's did to the hamburger, visitors will soon digest their culture at ‘chain-museums’ – as both the Louvre and Guggenheim are currently under construction in Abu Dhabi. However, Dubai does act as a vibrant business hub for Middle East / North Africa - basically it’s stable, safe, and the hotels serve alcohol. Consequently, everyone who is anyone passes through its gates to barter their craft. Oh, and its progressive social values not only permit women to DRIVE, but also to VOTE. Unbelievable?…it’s true! So in our industry of advertising, it’s fascinating to navigate the labyrinth of communication taboos and uncover new insights across the region – and frankly we’re producing some pretty good work. I feel lucky to operate there, and hope everyone gets a chance to visit someday (just don’t pack too many sweaters).

Here's Sean Riley (Creative Director) calling the shots...

Now back to Singapore. Travelling from Dubai to Singapore is sort of like skipping between a sauna & steam room. But for the purpose of constant business travel, it’s nice to live a place where the name of the city, state, and country are all the same – saves approx. 9.6 seconds when filling out immigration forms. For visitors, Singapore offers all the trappings of Western life. You can think of it as “diet Asia” - the perfect place to get a taste of the Far East without jumping right into the Miso Soup. The air is nice, the beach is close, and English is as pervasive as the heat. Despite the heat, the folks at McCann Singapore are quite talented - and it’s nice to be around those who push a doctrine of unabashed creativity. This year we hosted the global Effies…next year we’re going to win them! Thinking about to the Tokyo team, I miss the people tremendously - but there are certain things about Japan which I won’t miss. Did I mention the heat in Singapore?

Detour. When last Christmas rolled around, it was time to check out India – and check in on Mike (from Colombia trip below). Andaman Islands are exactly 3.5 hours from the middle of nowhere, and offer pristine landscapes & diving sites. Tourism is virtually non-existent; except for a few intrepid Israelis who, in my experience, always seem to dot the world’s more remote locations.

New Year’s Eve landed us in Mumbai, and couldn’t have been better placed. What can you say about a city of 13,000,000 people? Whatever you’re looking for, it’s happening in Mumbai. From the posh clubs to the destitute streets, Mumbai is as ‘real’ as it gets. A quick train ride through Dharavi slum is a crude reminder of just how fundamental life’s struggles can be – and how lucky we are to have our basics in place. But having spent 75% of my time stuck in traffic, I am resolute in my view that Mumbai needs less cars. So it’s tough to cheer on the world’s cheapest car scheduled to hit roads next year. Nevertheless, I definitely had a blast in India, and Mike’s crew - Malini, Nowshad, Kanu – were amazing people. Seeing India only leaves you wanting to see more. Try it yourself. But watch out…it’s addictive.

Work, work, work…yada yada...then in February I went from the Far East to the Wild West - the annual ski trip was back in full swing. This time was in Jackson Hole (Wyoming), and I recommend it highly to anyone still chasing the dream. The first few days were with my amazing dad, then phase II with friends Al, Matt, Greg, and Makepeace. We laughed, we cried, we shot guns. Almost. But Jackson Hole is as genuine as the leather on its belts. Don’t miss rodeo night on Tuesdays, or hitting the saddles at Cowboy bar. And for those who get lucky, you’ll get a few hundred inches of snow to help pass the time.

Here's Al Dickie leaving his mark...

One more port of call - Bangkok. It’s a city that offers different strokes for different folks…well, actually that depends on what ‘district’ you’re visiting. Among the lesser known tourist spots, Chatuchak Market holds the title of 'World's Biggest Weekend Market' and is a fascinating trading grounds. From alarm clocks to armadillos, Chatuchak has got you covered. For travelers weary of witnessing cramped conditions and animal rights abuse, find comfort in the placating warning provided on Chatuchak's office website, which states: "There is nothing bad happening it is just that some of the animals look to be in terrible shape and most are not in the best of environments." Pheww...guess PETA can call off the dogs.

Anyways, even when I’m there on business, my pleasure has always been a seeing Justin, Katie, and (now) Emma Medved. Their lives as teachers at International School of Bangkok have afforded them luxurious living and a wonderful birthplace for Emma, and it will be sad to see them leave in July. Bangkok is another city where traffic is the official national past time, but at least there’s a glimmer of hope through an ambitious construction project to build an airport express railway. Hopefully soon visitors will be able to check-in their luggage & clear customs directly at the massage parlour. Sawadee-Kap!

Life moves fast. For me 2 years have passed faster than any in written record. It's rare to just pause and look around. So thank you for reading this update, and for keeping in touch when you can…I know everyone is busy busy. With information now overwhelming our fingertips, it feels like we need a little more conversation, a little less action – so get writing your own updates and let's chat!

In Singapore, I stumbled across the most fantastic woman - Linda - who I’m delighted to have as my girlfriend. Simply put, she floats my boat. Linda’s warm-heartedness & tenacious spirit perfectly compliment my cold-heartedness & non-tenacious spirit. Finding her has been me the best thing to come out of this entire trip. So that’s my update…I expect some relationship gossip from you too!

Next I'm off to Istanbul for a series of meetings, and looking forward to getting a taste of Turkey...missed Thanksgiving.

For fellow Canadians, I'll be back for a visit in late July. Save me a sunny seat on the patio...I look forward to the cold weather :)

Until then...

Neill

Random pics from Random places: