| (Sent from my iPad) Friday was Day 2 of the show and Saturday the final day. Both of these days were not nearly as busy as the first day, yet still a great audience. The show was over projected and with the exhibitors, exhibit space, and attendees, a larger show than last year. Across from our booth are two tradeshow floor diagrams in the Reed Exhibitor area. Nearly all of the exhibit spaces for the spring China Golf Show in Beijing and 2012 Asia Golf Show being moved from Guangzhou to Shenzhen along with 2012 dates at the end of November rather than October also selling out. Congratulations to Reed, the PGA of America, and all of the exhibitors on a very successful show. GCBAA was pleased to take part and support our International members, meet some new friends, and share our members knowledge and experience in golf course construction across the globe. It was a great opportunity for us to meet some of existing International members that have never traveled to the US. We were also able to visit with our US members that are now doing the majority of their business over-seas. Members like Sam Sakocius and his knowledge of this market are a tremendous resource. GCBAA veterans like Dye Designs International, Toro, Rain Bird, Jacobsen, ITT Flowtronex, LASCO, Hunter, Atlas Turf, Leemco, Paige Electric, Watertronics, CMF Global, Profile Products, Sternberg Golf Services, Builders like Hainan Shapemasters, Forward Management, Flagstick, and many others (apologizes to those that I have forgotten) shared their experiences and contacts and have established a network here. Also we were able to meet for the first time members like Alert Golf based in India, Country Golf, Rainbow, Yacon Golf, and others. I appreciate their support to the GCBAA and our trip. The experience was worthwhile and we have began plans for the spring China Golf Show and possibly the 2012 Asia Show again. Booth breakdown was very simple, our "skin" display is simply recycled or most likely thrown away. Out booth items were all picked clean and a small group of us headed back to Hong Kong. We did hear an interesting story where one american traveling on the trip converted his money from american to the Hong Kong dollar, and once into China the Chinese Yuan. ALL of his money when converted was counterfeit and this was done at a currency conversion kiosk at the station. He is left with no option other than a withdraw from the ATM. I told him next time to question when they guy behind the window is using a paper cutter and printer during an exchange. A great travel tip I received is to never convert all of your money. The American hotels and most all shopping areas have access to currency conversion, exchanging $40 to $80 at a time can easily cover your incidentals and using plastic is much safer. Half of the train ride was in the dark, you can see the horizon lit by the thousands of high rise apartments. Some that would tower over Manhattan and Las Vegas buildings, and some that look like they would topple in a small breeze. I will never get over the extensive use of bamboo as building scaffolding. Hong Kong was an amazing experience, in the Kowloon district we along with along with Rhett Evans, Carrie Riordan, and Eric Boedeker with GCSAA walked an Asia Time Square area. Food, shopping, bands, everything. To get the full expereince this ended up being a 5:30 am commitment for some of us. Sunday morning GCBAA Board Member and chairman of our International Member Enhancement Committee Jeff Bine with Hunter Industries and I travelled to Singapore. Departing the Hong Kong airport through customs and into Singapore was an easy experience. Although our plane was fairly new, seats are 3x3 isles with very little leg room. My 6-foot profile had knees into the seat in front of me, we calculated this allows about 10 extra feet so they have 30 rows rather than an american flight of 28. On approach into Singapore the bay has hundreds of enormous shipping vessels waiting to come into port. It is phenomenal and pictures cannot show just how much product is moving. Unfortunately, the vessels are being loaded more than unloaded... Customs was again a simple process and now being a minority, we were "profiled" into our own special line for further inspection... Luckily it only involves passing our bags through another X-ray. The airport is a shopping mall with access to all areas. You go through security just before you board your airplane at the gate. This takes tremendous resources and personnel, but i assume the opportunity for more to shop outweighs. It will be interesting flying out. Singapore is beautiful. The entire city is landscaped to perfection. The buildings and architecture are very modern. More to come this week as we begin Monday visiting jobs and members throughout Malaysia. Congrats to the All Blacks. The folks here take their Rugby very seriously. Lots of screaming from taverns this afternoon! fortunately my time zones will not change, II'm dialed in on my sleep schedule for now. Cutting back the 5:30am treks. |
