A Long Night at the Long Bar and more....

A few of us enjoyed our last night in Singapore by revisiting Raffles and seeing a new side of it from our first visit to dinner. We were fortunate enough to have an appointment with Roslee, the assistant guest relations manager/ concierge. Little did we know we were in for a treat! We are convinced he is one of the best historians of this historic property. Roslee gave us a private tour and delighted us with colorful and detailed stories that brought this landmark hotel alive. We felt a part of the history. Stories included an interesting tale about the silverware that was buried under the pool prior to the Japanese invasion of Singapore.

We visited the prestigious suite that Queen Elizabeth stayed on her visit to Singapore. This is a perfect place to bring your family and allow them to become a part of the history. A priceless and rare gift for those desiring a one of a kind experience. Celebrities include Ava Gardner, Queen Elizabeth, Charlie Chaplin, Heads of State, and many more too numerous to mention.

We finished our evening at the infamous “Long Bar” to enjoy the signature Singapore Sling drink. This beverage was created at Raffles Hotel at the turn-of-the-century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon.

In the Hotel’s museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away His precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted down on a bar-chit in 1936 by a Hotel visitor who asked the waiter for it. Originally, the Sling was meant as a woman’s drink, hence the attractive pink color. Today, it is enjoyed by all.

Raffles Hotel, the legendary symbol for all “the fables of the Exotic East” was established in 1887. Be sure on your visit to say hello to Jimmy at the Grand Lobby Piano while enjoying his tunes - the best ever!

Singapore Facts

Singapore – Republic of Singapore - I love little facts at a glance on destinations I visit. Here is a great overview:

• Singapore Dollar $1.20 USD = 1 Singapore Dollar
• Multi-cultural: Chinese 70%, Malay 15%, Indian 10%, Other 5%
• Population 5 million – about the size of St. Lucia in the Caribbean and growing – “reclaimed land”. It is the 2nd most densely populated country (1st is Monaco)
• Singapore has over 50% of its area

covered by greenery with over 50 major parks and 4 nature reserves. It is an enchanting garden city.
• History: This area was a part of Malaysia and they separated in 1965.
• Changi Airport – well organized, and incredibly fast immigration and baggage
• Location: Southeast Asia, South of Malaysia, North of Indonesia and right near the equator
• Weather: Tropical Climate: Hot and humid
• 18-hole fully lit golf course for night play (approximately $400 for green fees, club rental, cart, hotel transfers)
• The Flyer – A “ferris wheel” similar to the one in London. Approximately 30 people are lifted in the sky in an enclosed air-conditioned capsule for spectacular views of Singapore. One revolution takes 30-minutes and the capsule moves very slowly. Shopping and restaurants are located all around this area.
•Description:
o Vibrant nightlife scene
o Multi-cultural for dining and shopping: Little India, ChinaTown, Arab area,
o Orchard Row – 5th Avenue shops and miles and miles of shopping malls
o Marina Bay – newest feature dominated by the Marina Bay Sands casino, shops, and the SkyPark***
o Riverside – Singapore’s colonial core, museums, statues, theaters, restaurants, bars, clubs
o Sentosa-a separate island once a military fort developed into a resort. Sentosa is the closest that Singapore gets to Disneyland, now with a dash of gambling, Universal Studios, Feng Shui exhibit and tour (I actually found it very informative! Just a little bit “Universal Studio’ish). Capella Resort located on Sentosa.

Raffles Hotel Singapore

Home of the Singapore Sling and named after Sir Stanford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore in the 1800's, the Raffles Hotel is an iconic hotel to visitors and one of the most beloved grand hotels in history. It's British colonial charm and contemporary elegance amid the lush green landscape is an inviting destination to travellers. It is now a National Monument and a must visit when coming to Singapore.

Laurent, the new General Manager shared what he believes to be one of the greatest secrets and values for this property: the Butlers. Guests will be privvy to the personal attention and service of their own private butler in one of the 100 all-suite guest rooms.

We enjoyed a fine dining experience at Raffles Grill with the General Manager after cocktails in the garden courtyard. Visits to the Longfin Bar must not be missed. This two-story bar is home to the Singapore Sling and the bar's design was inspired by the Malayan plantations of the 1920's.

Singapore's China Town - by Trishaw!

Kristin and I travelled throughout China Town and the Financial District of Singapore in a Trishaw! This is similar to a rickshaw; however, it requires "pedal power" in the form of a bicycle. We had a Chinese driver that spoke very little English so we enjoyed the breeze and scenery of this colorful part of Singapore. We were followed by fifteen or so other Trishaws with our friends from Travel+Leisure. It was a perfect way to navigate the narrow streets where the shop vendors could show their wares. Several continued on foot to shop and some to visit the Buddhist Temple or to feast on the famous "chicken-rice" dish.

After a tour of the city, we boarded a "bum boat" to take in the view of this vibrant city and coastal area on the Singapore River. We terminated our cruise at the Fullerton Heritage area where the infamous Merlion statue is positioned. This area draws more than a million visitors each year.

Business Class with Singapore Airlines

Some say Singapore Airlines is one of the most outstanding airlines, and it's true. The gracious service and beautiful Singaporean women are a welcome respite in the world of air travel today. Singapore has a new fleet of aircraft that make it an extremely comfortable way to travel.

I experienced the First Non-Stop All-Business Class flight between North America and Asia, offering the newly designed Business Class seats.

The seat configuration is 1-2-1 and the seat width is 30". The best part was that the seat fully reclines to a flat bed with a generous 6'4" length! There is A/C power, a USB Port, and a 15.4" TV monitor at every seat.

You can immerse yourself in non-stop entertainment which offers more than 1,000 on-demand entertainment options, ranging from the latest blockbusters, TV programs, interactive games, and an extensive menu of audio CDs and radio channels. There are even learning applications including foreign language learning, management and leadership Executive book summaries, and culture quest. This competes with your discipline to carve out some time for sleep.

During my flight, I enjoyed a review of the book called "Primal Leadership" and gained some great insight! I also brushed up on my conversational French. The flight was actually shy of 16 hours and despite the many video options, I enjoyed a restful sleep arriving in Singapore around 430am. My daughter Kristin arrived two hours earlier and was there to greet me upon my arrival. It was a wonderful way to be welcomed to this beautiful island.

Singapore with Travel+Leisure 2011

Singapore will complete my third trip to Asia in the past 12 months. The Asian people define hospitality beyond what we pride ourselves in the South as Southern Hospitality. It is a joy for me to return to Singapore with many of my esteemed colleagues within the travel industry, and more importantly to share this wonderful experience with my daughter Kristin.

Singapore is a tiny island state in Southeast Asia, south of Malaysia. It encompasses over 250 square miles and is half the size of the island of Kauai in Hawaii, and a little larger than the island of St Lucia in the Caribbean. Over 5 million people call Singapore home with over 75% of the population Chinese. Despite it's small size, the island is expanding. There is much "reclaimed land".

Singapore is 12-hours ahead of Eastern time zone. So, if it is 5pm in Atlanta, it is 5am the next morning in Singapore. Simply advance 12-hours and you will know the time difference!

I am sitting in the relaxing Star Alliance Lounge in Los Angeles waiting for my 9pm Singapore Airlines departure. We will be flying on their all business class flight non-stop to Singapore, for what I believe to be a 16-hour flight! I plan to enjoy a good night's rest in the flat-bed business class section. Pictures hopefully to follow... good night...good

morning...I guess it depends where in the world you are :)

A Seoul-filled Day of Sights

Enjoy the pictures of a day in Seoul. Our sightseeing began with a visit to the King's Royal Palace and the colorful Changing-of-the-Guard ceremony. More details to follow on our last full day in Korea.

Hyundai Steel - Wednesday in Korea

After a well rested evening, we headed to the train station in Ulsan for our 90 minute bullet train west across South Korea to Asan. We then motorcoach to Dangjin, located along the Yellow Sea. We are treated to a delightful lunch with President Woo Yoo-cheol, the CEO in Hyundai’s newly designed guest house.

This morning, we visit Hyundai Steel. The second largest steelmaker in South Korea is leading the way by establishing a “tightly closed raw material processing system”. Hyundai Steel created the worlds’ first closed raw material processing system that enables the steelmaker to operate all its procedures under airtight conditions. The closed roof raw material handling facility, can store 3 million tons of iron ore, coal, and other raw materials. The plant imports all its materials and is located on 2000 acres. Three key factors for the steel they produce for their cars: producing 6mm thick steel that is of the best quality and with a brilliant shine.

Prior to our departure, President Woo has gifted each of us with a replica of the closed dome-roof facility buildings where the raw materials are stored and production initiated.

Tuesday in Korea

We boarded the KTX bullet train from the northwestern city of Seoul across South Korea to the southwest industrial city of Ulsan (approximately 250 miles). Here we visited Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Shipbuilding division. This division leads the global shipbuilding industry and is the world’s number one shipbuilder. HHI’s shipyard stretches over four kilometers along the coast in Ulsan, Korea and employs approximately 44,000 people. It has nine large-scale dry docks with six huge “Goliath Cranes”. The division has delivered more than 1500 ships in 48 countries since 1972, since the shipyard’s groundbreaking.

A short ride takes us to the world’s largest automobile plant – The Hyundai Ulsan Plant. As Hyundai Motor’s main production facility, the Ulsan Plant sits on a 5,000,000 square meter SITE and is equipped with five independent plants that employ over 34,000 people to produce an average of 5,400 vehicles a day. The plant has its own port where up to three ships can anchor simultaneously.

To make our day complete, we visited the coastal city of Gyeongju (pronounced “kun-zoo”). This was the capital of the ancient kindgdom of Silla which ruled most of the Korean Peninsula between the 7th and 9th centuries. Its rich historical heritage afforded us the opportunity too tour the Shhilla Dynasty Tombs and Lake.

After a full day of sights, we checked into the Hyundai Hotel (yes, it is Hyundai’s hotel!) located along the lake in Ulsan. This truly is a Hyundai city. Dinner at our leisure and karaoke to follow found many of our group enjoying a delightful evening. My body was so tired that I slept thru dinner and well into the night foregoing the evening activities.

Bullet Train cross country

We enjoyed a fast 300kph bullet train from Seoul to Ulsan where we toured Hyundai Heavy Industries. They have created a "city" around this expansive plant with 44,000 people living and working in this one area. There are schools and a hospital here along with coffee shops dotting the area here and there. Refer to my next post "Tuesday in Korea" for more details on this exciting day.

The two and a half hour journey was quite comfortable in first class with one window seat, an aisle passageway, and then an aisle and window seat across. Light snacks are available for purchase. A relaxing ride to read, nap, or catch up with one another is ideal. Gas here is close to $7 per gallon. People take the trains, ride their mopeds, motorcycles, and walk.

The temperature has been a pleasant mid-70's. After our morning tour, we enjoyed a spectacular tour of the shipyard. It is almost incomprehensible to realize the multiple departments and competencies of the people within these plants.

Hyundai is more than cars

And I thought Hyundai only manufactured cars. I had no idea it had its own shipyard where it builds ships and transports literally thousands of containers around the world. And did you know that Hyundai has the largest steel manufacturing plant in the world and it is rated one of the best?

We have been privileged to have access to the extraordinary plant tours and experiences to learn about these various companies within Hyundai’s global enterprise. Their top leadership has met with us and we have received informative briefings and watched insightful videos into the complexity of what it takes to be one of the most well respected companies within their field.

At times I felt we were viewing what the next 20 years will bring, and I realize the future is here now at Hyundai. The Chairman’s vision and undisputable commitment to quality is forefront within each of these organizations.

I am honored to be in Korea with 16 other business leaders as well as some of the Hyundai key personnel. I join my colleagues in returning to Montgomery with the hope to share this company's wonderful story and rich history.

The ONLY way to fly to Asia

Ahn nyung ha se yo! Good Morning (or is it afternoon there now) - Hello!

I am supposed to be in bed despite the fact that it is 12 noon in Alabama and it is nearly 2am here (the next day)! I just finished an hour workout in the gym and my body refuses to believe it's time for bed. There is a 14 hour time difference.

Our group of 20+ enjoyed Prestige Class (Business Class) on Korean Airlines - flat beds and gracious service from a generous number of flight attendants. The Korean people are so lovely, genuinely hospitable, and gracious. I was drinking two water bottles an hour and it did not matter how many requested from one of the many flight attendants, a beautiful smile greeted me each time with a respectful bow.

After viewing the various movies of our choice, lunch, dinner, and two long naps on our flat beds in Prestige Class, we all felt fairly rested upon arrival. Many exchanged money in the airport and we feel quite rich with the large bills that fatten our wallets. 10,000 bills, 5,000 bills, and 1,000 bills in great denominations....and yet it all totals a mere $200 USD. Current exchange is roughly $1.00 USD = 1100 won.

The Hyundai team in Seoul greeted us and is caring for virtually every need while we experience their country over the next five days. An hour transfer from the airport to the beautiful Grand Hyatt in the heart of South Korea's capital city gave us views of many mountains and the Han River, the largest river in South Korea. Mountains cover 70% of the land mass, making Korea one of the most mountainous regions in the world. The Grand Hyatt is set on the historic Mount Namsan amid 18 acres of waterfalls and landscaped gardens and offers a dramatic backdrop to this busy metropolitan city.

Tonight, several of us were fitted for custom made suits from a tailor that has worked with many of the Alabama delegation from previous trips. I'm thrilled to meet Benjamin, the owner and have him as a contact in Korea. He keeps our measurements on file and at any time we can email him a design or picture of any suit or outfit desired and he will custom make from some of the finest fabrics at a fraction of the cost of a tailored suit.

We have an early start in a few hours and a very exciting day planned to meet the Hyundai executives at the Hyundai Headquarters in Seoul. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming days!

Nae-il man-nayo (See you tomorrow)

Korea with Hyundai

Greetings! In a few short hours, I will be getting up for what will seem a 48 hour journey to South Korea. It will be my first visit to this country. While preparing for this trip, I learned that South Korea is similar in size to the state of Kentucky (38,000 square miles). South Korea is 75% of the size of my home state of Alabama.

I've been practicing a few Korean greetings and very excited to be immersed in the Korean culture. There are many wonderful Koreans living in Alabama and I feel very fortunate and priviledged to visit their country.

Join me on this journey and I will share the wonders, delights, and fascinations of this incredible destination.