If it’s Tuesday it Must be Jakarta

It’s the gray season here in SE Asia. Alighted very early from the hotel in Hong Kong and headed out to the airport—the sky was lightening, but there’s just this eternal haze. Same thing Monday in Zhongshan. Bethany and I wondered if people ever see blue sky here. After passing thru immigration and passing a mini version of The Bean in Chicago (this one’s called the Dew Drop, I think. Fun, but not as well-polished), we made our way to the Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge where we had cappucinos and watched a report on CNN International on recent plane crashes in Indonesia. The debate seemed to be: Pilot error? Endemic problem with Indonesian Air Traffic Control? Either way, it sure brightened our spirits as we waited to board the plane for our flight to…that’s right, Jakarta! I couldn’t help but have this in the back of my mind as our VERY turbulent flight took us down over Vietnam, across the equator, and in to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The approach to the airport took us over very tropical areas….lots of red-tile roofs, and lots strewn with gargabe. The sky was, of course, gray. The airport itself is kind of like an overgrown airfield---one-story buildings, very tropical greenery and architecture---it’s not a big hub or anything. Bought my Visa upon entry (very painless), considered the “Death Penalty for Drug Smugglers” signs in the airport (very painful), then gathered our stuff and out we went to meet our driver, Pak Dikdik. The drive in from the airpot took us past swollen waterways (the Jakarta Post reports that high ocean tides have resulted in flooding that’s wreaking a bit of havoc in North Jakarta, sort of where the airport is), and Pak Dikdik did a great job of dodging the incessant lane-changing of his fellow drivers. As we got in to the city we got off the highway and onto some of the tiny tiny local streets on our way to the hotel. Motorbikes everywhere, and wee little 3-wheeled cargo vehicles called Bajaj weaving to and fro. Bobbi’s cousin Marc was right; the poverty here, and the highly visible disparity between haves and have-nots, is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. SUVs and Mercedes driving amongst street after street of begging children, garbage, and meandering (somewhat insane-acting) goats. Intersections are scary---everyone racing through them, jockeying for position as the street children who beg at the stoplights try to stay out of the way. Our arrival at the hotel was like we were entering a mini Green Zone; guards check under and inside each car before its allowed on the property, and they also enter the car with some sort of electronic sniffer and check us out, the driver, and the glovebox. Then we get to the front door, but can’t enter the lobby until we pass through the metal detectors. Once inside the Shangri-La Hotel, it’s all immaculate service and highly-attentive uniformed personnel…and a fair number of armed guards. We checked in and I got to my room just as the 3pm call to prayer was being broadcast from the local mosques (there are many here; one right across the pool area from my room). Then we headed to the Motorola offices for a pre-pro meeting, and entering that facility was the same thing; vehicle inspection, metal detectors, and many armed guards everywhere. The gray, very humid skies persist (we are told it will be like this for about 4 months), but we’re very much looking forward to Wednesday….6 interviews, lots of b-roll, then a dash to the airport for the red-eye to Tokyo.

A Visit to the Jewel of the Pearl River Delta

What a great and busy day! After accomplishing a hat trick of Getting Dressed, Eating Breakfast and Reinstating My Mysteriously-Cancelled Flight Reservation (for, um TOMORROW!)—simultaneously, I would add—we got off to a bit of a dicey start as we got to the ferry terminal here in Hong Kong and discovered there were more people in our party than passports, but a mad dash back to the hotel was executed and all was well. Our excellent motoclient Bethany, the fabulous, local motowizardress (is this a word?) Daisy, and I departed for the 90 minute ferry out of Hong Kong, across the bay (Zhujiang Kou), past Macau, and up the Pearl River into mainland China----destination Zhongshan, in Guangdong Province. We passed all manner of vessel—from big container ships to crafts that looked as though they were homemade back in the 1920’s and had been renovated dozens of times with only found objects. The scenery shifted from mountainous big and little islands on the Hong Kong side to flat delta marsh like areas on the mainland side. Up the Pearl River we went, through immigration and customs, and into the waiting arms of Leo, the Motorola customer relations specialist for the local China Mobile Group Guangdong Co., Zhongshan branch. The main reason for our visit was to speak with Mr. Zhang Zhi Ping, a most wonderful and helpful interviewee/host, but—as we were to learn later—an even better lunch host and Zhongshan ambassador! As expected, everyone at Mr. Zhang’s office was extremely nice and helpful as we brought the natural turbulence that is on-location video production to their environs, but with their help we got through it all quickly and with ease. Then we were spirited off to a fabulous lunch, hosted by Mr. Zhang, which began with warm corn juice and Roast Pigeon, then went on to include fish balls (at this point I ask my mother to hold her tongue), octopus, delicious baked/glazed tofu, prawns, and various other meats, fishes, and vegetables—and pineapple buns, which have no pineapple in them but which are amazing in their deliciosity! Our drive back to the offices took us by way of the beautiful park and memorial in Zhongshan dedicated to its most famous son, the great Dr. Sunyat-Sen. And to commemorate our visit, Mr. Zhang gave us each the most wonderful gift—a beautiful book about Dr. Sen, and the City of Zhongshan. Talk about a lesson in hospitality! After a few remaining b-roll pick-up shots back at the China Mobile offices it was a mad dash back to the harbour and our 3pm ferry back to Hong Kong…which we made with, literally, a minute to spare.

A nice nap was had by all on the trip back—nothing like hard work then a comfy seat that gently rolls with the sea to knock you right out. But there’s no rest for the weary, and we were in a cab and off to the local Motorola office to talk to some more people and shoot some more b-roll…because we can, and we like it! The very nice and patient Tom Tse gave us quite a good interview, then we wrapped for the day….13 hours after we started. Now I’m back in my room, ingesting footage and ingesting a club sandwich and some diet cokes as I get the gear (and myself) ready for tomorrow’s odyssey—the flight to Jakarta.

Fun fact: Zhongshan is the birthplace of Dr. Sunyat-Sen, but it’s ALSO the birthplace of our friend Stacey’s new daughter Macey, (an absolute cutey as you can see) whom she picks up in a few short weeks!! Yay Stacey and Macey!

Small World Moment: On the flight to Hong Kong from LA yesterday I sat next to a woman who 1) is interviewing for a job at Moto Corporate—interviewing for a good friend of ours’ job (who’s retiring), 2) works at a place where Bobbi used to work (Bobbi recognized her name), and 3) is very good friends with a very good, former Motorola friend/mentor of Bobbi’s, in Austin (where the woman and her family now live…for the moment).

Rolling with the Punches of the Punjab

God love India. It probably benefits more from outsourcing than any other country. Chances are we’ve all experienced that call with someone in Mumbai trying to help sort out a questionable charge on the credit card bill, or help with a minor technical problem with the laptop. The calls can be a bit of a challenge language-wise, but they’re always very polite and trying to get things solved quickly. So guess what India did? Starting at the beginning of October they outsourced all their US-based Visa application and fulfillment operations…to the biggest bunch of typical, impolite, inept, hourly American I Could Give A Shit workers you can possibly imagine. 40 of us were there for well over 2 hours, watching as the line never moved, watching as no one walked past with smiles on their faces and passports in their hands, watching as 6pm came and half the staff walked out “hey, it’s quitting time, I’m out of here!”. Unreal. Check the pix—those are disorganized piles of passports strewn all over the office, and with every request a search through EACH pile ensued. “Sorry, your passport’s not here”. “But you didn’t check those piles over there.” “What? Oh, wait, yeah--here it is. Sign here. NEXT!!” I actually got the daughter of the Vice Consul on the phone and suggested she call her Dad on his mobile so he could get someone down to prevent the anarchy that was brewing. Eventually I got my passport back with my Indian visa…I don’t know what happened with the other 15 people who were in line behind me--someone send them some sandwiches.

Bobbi says this is a preview of coming attractions. I can’t wait.

And so the latest trip begins---an early morning flight out of Chicago to Hong Kong (via fire-haze filled Los Angeles), then a series of quick 2- and 3-day jaunts to Jakarta, then Tokyo, then Mumbai, the Dubai, then home. Stay tuned as the fun ensues, won’t you? It’ll be something indeed.