Monday-Sunday

As yesterday afternoon I was panelist in a class of the Kellogg EMBA Programme visiting Hong Kong and China, I decided today to make Monday a Sunday. And what could be better to do on such a day than going for a hike. Choose the first section of the Wilson Trail on Hong Kong Island, starting North of Stanley. Very beautiful views. I found that from the places I feel home, the Hong Kong Country parks are one of them. Entry point is not that easy to find, so you may want to download the GPS-log (GPX-Format) by clicking here.

Steep starting point of the Wilson Trail, North of Stanley (Hong Kong Island)

Map view of the first section of the Wilson Trail

View before descending down into the buzzing Hong Kong

Back to the classroom

Teaching my MBA Elective at HKU is great fun. It is a very nice class of smart and engaged students. Even the course covers the whole Saturday and is quite intense, a critical mass stays switched on all day. Given that some of them have a full time job aside, I really respect this level of energy. The Friday before, we had an excellent dinner with Maurice Tse, Sachin Tipnis and Josephine Chan. Under the leadership Dean Eric Chan, their team has built up the MBA Programme of the University of Hong Kong to the level that it was recently ranked Best Programme in Asia by The Economist. Given the intense competition in the region, this is really an outstanding achievement. I know this from my own previous experience with launching the EMBA Global Asia here in Hong Kong University. It is tough. So congratulations. Even rankings are not the only thing to look at, they do reflect the quality of delivery and design of educational programs, and last but not least the standard of students. And this time they are really good. Nice to be back to the classroom.

Getting ready for the next lecture on Sunday

New Territories

Yesterday morning I made a trip to the wonderful green campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the New Territories in Shatin. Was nice to be on the train to Luohu again after so many years. It changed. Still of course it is the terrestrial axis for a lot of exchange between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, which in many ways are becoming more and more sister cities. The train carries a large spectrum of people: transit travelers, business people, trades people, students. In my perception there were this time less smugglers, and less "foreign friends" yelling at their mainland factory managers on the phone. For those who want to know more, a nice local literary account of this train is The Train to Lo Wu by Jess Row.

I dropped off the train at the University station, briefly took the chance to congratulate Kalok Chan, the recently appointed Dean of the Business School, on his new position. Then I had an excellent lunch and conversation with Michael Ferguson and Marjorie Chang, whom I both have not seen for ages. Definitely I wanted to spend more time on the campus, but returned to HKU in the afternoon to attend the public lecture of Roderick MacFarquhar, who is currently visiting from Harvard University as a Distinguished Chair Professor. He spoke on China in Transition - The Impact of Xi Jingping. His book Mao's Last Revolution, co-authored with Michael Schoenhals, has been on my reading list for long. Now that I heard the lecture, actually I want to add his publications on the Great Leap Forward. But my reading list is already very long and I have to catch up with the current titles first.

This talk was really excellent. Among many insights, my main takeaway was, that Xi Jingping might be better understood, when acknowledging that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a trauma for the Chinese Communist Party. If you look at what made the Soviets fail, then some of the tight actions of the new Chinese government are better understood. Also, it was interesting to see the current role of the PLA and the curbing of corruption seen in perspective. As a evening event I attended the Swire scholar's event on the Fall of the Berlin Wall in the Robert Black's College Guesthouse. It was a nice little gathering, and great to get to know most of my neighbors. 

Midtime Hong Kong

Every morning around five, groups of elderly ladies gather on the still empty campus and do exercise. Sometimes it is a form of Tai Chi, sometimes normal gymnastics and stretching. It is not surprising when you see this that Hong Kong has one of the world's highest life expectancies. I was also told it is a certain soup, people drink here. Mostly, it is of course the well managed public health service. So, it gets a bit noisy in the early morning, while our days starts with a late breakfast, where we often meet and chat Barry Kerzin, who recently founded an initiative on Altruism in Medicine and is teaching at the Medical School and the Centre of Buddhist Studies. Very refreshing. 

My courses are going well, and I am trying not to be overwhelmed by all the friendly and kind invitations I receive, since I am here. One month, I have to admit, is too short. Next time would be longer. It is already mid-time in Hong Kong. 

Construction workers in Wanchai. I love the practical spirit in Hong Kong. Though this one looks a bit unstable, it is perfectly save. Perhaps. 

Campus life

Enjoying the campus, since this week I moved into my new office on the Main Campus of  The University of Hong Kong. Even the view is less spectacular than in Cyberport, I like the atmosphere. It is nice to mingle across faculties, and to catch up with friends and what is often called the business world. Quite enjoyable and sparking many new ideas. Tomorrow will be a long teaching day and I am looking forward to see what my students came up with in their assignments. This should become an interesting discussion. And for the next week, we already raise the stakes. 

Hanging out in the Earth Sciences of The University of Hong Kong.

First week in Hong Kong

Since I have arrived in Hong Hong I have been preparing course material, teaching a class of smart students at HKU, and catching up with friends. The week passed by very quickly, and perhaps I should have scheduled more than a month in town. But we can always come back. Yesterday, we visited my friend Magnus Barlett in his habitat on Lamma Island - the publisher of wonderful books and maps and owner of Odyssey Publishing Company. It is always a nice trip over to the island, specially off the beaten tracks. Sure, there is a bit of melancholy swinging for me when setting foot on the island. There were times I thought I should have never left it, perhaps like the pianist in the movie 1900. We had coffee on his sunny terrace and seafood, as you should never miss it, when you come here. Magnus' parents were painters and at his wall, in his study, he has a painting by his father, showing a bedroom in their house in Greece. It immediately resonated with me, like Chambre a Arles. I like it a lot.

Room in Greece (Bartlett Sr., as taken with a point and shoot camera on Magnus' wall - against the South China sea sunlight coming in from the right)

49th Birthday in Hong Kong

Many thanks for all the birthday wishes. I have spent quietly my 49th birthday, working leisurely and having a modern Japanese dinner in the Hong Kong Mid Levels. It is a perfect season here: palms, but no mosquitos. I am impressed by the new HKU subway station, which just opened a few weeks ago (MTR they call it here). In 10 minutes I can be in Admiralty.  Very kindly, the Faculty Office will provide me an office on campus from next week on. Cyberport has a great view and excellent facilities, but of course the main campus has a different aura and it is easier to mingle with colleagues and friends.

I am enjoying a lot to stay at a comprehensive University, which spans all faculties. Joined a talk by Prof. Lucien Bianco yesterday, comparing the role of peasants in the Communist Revolutions in Russia and China. Was interesting for me to realize that the Russian Communists had their waves of rapid modernization, leading to severe famines, well before Mao's Big Leap Forward. They could have been a warning for Mao, what might happen. He either didn't do his homework, or had other priorities. 

My main focus is now on preparing lectures, which will start by tomorrow. This will be fun.

Cyberport office day

It was a very nice welcome back to The University of Hong Kong. I enjoy living on campus and they kept my "old" office in Cyberport. This is where I spent my working day. Winter here feels like spring time in Germany and I had lunch on the Seaview Terrace. But just looking out of the window, is already very nice. This is how winter should look like.

View from my office at Cyberport 4 (Hong Kong Island)

Winter kicked in

We ended the Christmas days with the Villa Musica chamber concert in Engers Palace, which is just 20 minutes drive down through the forest, just at the right Rhine river bank. And just one day after, finally the winter kicked in with snowfall. Very nice. If winter at all, then it should be with snow. Now the morning walk to the (indoor) pool goes through a beautiful winter forest scenery. We also had very nice reunions with friends, and slowly 2014 chills and the new year can come.

Engers Palace: a former hunting residence of the Dukes to Wied.

A Merian illustration of Engers castle.

Early morning walk after the snow came.

Christmas flora getting weird

White Christmas has been still a reality in Westerwald (Germany) for quite a while. But this year interestingly there are 7 - 8 degree Celsius during daytime and night temperature not far below that, and well above zero. No frost. The general weather pattern of this region is, that we have wet Westerly winds at the end of December. So, it is not unusual that frost comes only in early January, when winds turn to East and North-East. But still, this is unusual that in the time associated with winter, you have Daisies in the garden and trees still with flowers. For the bigger picture: if this is climate change, then the first predictions I heard in my Meteorology classes at Cologne University in 1986 actually are coming true. Should the others also come true, then we are in a deep mess.

Christmas view 2014 in Westerwald (Germany)

Not exactly a white Christmas

Christmas Markets

It is nice to be back in Germany for Christmas. I enjoy the atmosphere. Some people blame it to be too commercial these days. But it is your own choice: it is supply and demand, on any market - also the Christmas Market. Demand seems to be not that big, as many shops go in with heavy discounts, already before the feast. For me, as an orthodox atheist, Christmas is a cultural event, which is deeply rooted in Europe. And I like it. I think, that's what Alain de Button calls "Atheism 2.0". We strolled around the Christmas Markets and yesterday went to the Christmas Concert in the State Theatre in Wiesbaden. Quite fun. Have not been in a civilized concert for a while. 

People doing the last Christmas shopping on December 23rd in Wiesbaden, as seen on a ferris wheel ride.

Preparations for the Christmas Concert in the Wiesbaden State Theatre. View from the loge of William II. It is better than our seats, I have a say.

Total destruction

Yesterday we unpacked our sea shipment, which brought most of our belongings from China to Germany. It was a shock. Some boxes must have stood in water for weeks. Opening them, the odor of mold was everywhere. Clothes, shoes, bags, suitcases where completely covered with black and green fungus. You can not stay close to them without a face mask. It is a complete loss of everything. All what's left are the things we brought with us in our suitcases. This was not a self-organized move, but a service provided by one of the "best of the best" relocation companies. It is hard to believe this, when you see the condition of the items. I wish I would have organized it by myself. Seeing all material memories on a pile of stinky trash, is sad. I never had many things, but they were all carefully selected and carry memories of people and places and the ones who made them. For Feibai, all she brought to her new home and life, is gone. 

Nearly nothing survived this. 

Copenhagen

I never thought, going North (or South), you can actually get a jet lag. Well, go to Copenhagen in mid December and you will. The days are really short. But even with the lack of daylight, I liked Copenhagen a lot. It is quite a "cool" town and again, compared with Berlin (which has a hype these days), Copenhagen wins for me. I held a seminar on the future of the Chinese Automotive Industry at the Asian Research Center of the Copenhagen Business School. We had a very friendly welcome, and people were extremely knowledgable in the lively discussion. Friends showed us around the old meat packing district, where we went to an excellent fish restaurant. There are all kinds of corners, which are becoming interesting in town. We will return in summer.

Nyhaven morning view

A very interesting exhibition in the Danish National Museum on the pros and cons of fur fashion, in the light of the Greenland industry.

Finishing a week in Amsterdam

Leaving Amsterdam, after a week in town and a little trip to the countryside and coast in a small Fiat 500. I really like the practical and liberal mindset which is shaping the town. There is a lot less whining than in Berlin and other German cities. It seems, that if you smoke Cannabis all day, then you chose that as a lifestyle, and not the society made you a victim. But actually, I have not seen many people doing this anyways and the topic itself seem to excite tourists more than locals. The town is quite energetic and mixes history and innovation in a very nice manner. The practicality of Amsterdam also appears to be different from what I experienced in Hong Kong, which I found one dimensional and far too commercial. Even Amsterdam is also a traditional place of traders, still the mindset is far less speculative than in Hong Kong. Sure, the Dutch experienced their first reported economic bubble market crash in 1637, in what was called “Tulip Mania”. Dutch tradesmen know very well, that they have to find something innovative to source if they want to stay competitive. Last but not least the Netherlands have excellent Universities and own capabilities to do so. My impressions are just the ones of a short visit, and far away from a general judgement. But what I have seen, I liked - except the weather. But that’s fine.

Standing in front of Vincent van Gogh's 'Chambre à Arles'

Arrived Amsterdam, not on a business trip. The first impression of the city is, that it is a mix of all the nice sides of Berlin, and Hamburg. By this, I for sure do not mean that is like a German town, but these are the reference points which first came into my mind, arriving from Germany. Amsterdam is nice, lively, people are friendly, and I love the canals, which are here called 'gracht'. Our accommodation is just in a half basement room along Achtergracht, furnished very functional, but nice.

Visited the Rijksmuseum in the morning, and enjoyed the Rembrand and Vermeer paintings, among many other objects. My favorite Vermeer, The Geographer, is not exhibited here, but ironically in the Staedelisches Kunstinstitut in Frankfurt. 

A few weeks ago, I posted some lines on the Chambre a Arles, by Vincent van Gogh, which I like a lot. I look the chance to walk over to the Vincent van Gogh Museum to see the painting. It is very nice. Much brighter than the reproductions I have seen before. The museum rules do not allow to take a photo, but I bought myself a postcard. I like the atmosphere of the room and I will explore this picture a bit more, to understand why I like it so much. This should actually include a trip to Arles in Southern France to see the Yellow House. Elizabeth Briel pointed me at an interesting article on van Gogh's bedroom series: A comparative study of Vincent van Gogh’s Bedroom series by Ella Hendriks, Leo Jansen, Johanna Salvant, Élisabeth Ravaud, Myriam Eveno, Michel Menu, Inge Fiedler, Muriel Geldof, Luc Megens, Maarten van Bommel, C. Richard Johnson Jr and Don. H. Johnson. 

It was quite a museum day, and in the late afternoon we went to Body Worlds. This is really a fascinating exhibition plasticized humans and body parts. I felt the overlaying topic "Happiness" a bit artificial, but the exhibits and the related information was very interesting. I have done a preparation course in the medical school at Cologne University many years ago (back when Universities were still  Universities, allowing all qualified students to study anything). But back then, I was so involved to make good academic use of the allocated body, that a lot of details slipped my attention. Very interesting to visit, in deed.

Visit to Mannheim University

Evening view on the Main Building of Mannheim University in the Palace.

After spending the week in Bonn, I gave a talk on the current reforms of Chinese State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) at Mannheim University Business School on Friday, and taught an introductory lecture on “Doing Business in China” for the Mannheim-ESSEC EMBA students over the weekend. The latter brought me to a small place in the beautiful Pfalz region, called Asselheim. There were nice and interesting classroom discussions, as the students were experienced and many of them well-travelled. Some though were slightly stunned by how different a realistic view on China is from a romantic one. I tried not to touch on the pseudo-cultural propaganda which they might have heard in a Confucius Institute, or the burp on “Guanxi” propagated in second grade management literature. Instead I told them, what my insights are and how things work (or don’t). Hope this provided them a short cut and helps practically.

Now is the Sunday of the Second Advent, and Christmas is approaching together with North-Eastern winds. So, the chances of getting a white Christmas are getting higher.

Week one starts in Bonn (Germany)

The first week of my retirement from big corporate started in Bonn, the former capital city of West Germany, working on a small forecasting project for B+L Marktdaten GmbH. It is nice to have an interesting topic to think about, a quiet and undisturbed place to do so, and smart people to bounce ideas with. I like it much more than paying supplier to do work for me, which I actually would enjoy doing myself. We stayed in the Bonn University Guesthouse which is a quiet and convenient place to be. They also hosted a conference on core technology for electric mobility, and people were happily discussing their inventions for batteries, battery management systems, and also mechatronic solutions which could make electric cars much more easy to maintain than conventional ones. First snowflakes yesterday, were increasing expectations to probably have a white Christmas. Let’s see. The Christmas Market is already up and running here.

Got your papers?

We made a surprise visit to my aunt Ruth Siegmund, who was exhibiting and selling her paper jewelry today in Sayn Palace just below Sayn Castle, which is the residence of the Princes of Sayn-Wittgenstein. Feibai wore the paper earring Ruth gave her before as a present. They are made of a paper covered trunk of a grape. Painted red, looks like coral, but is much lighter. It is cooling down in Germany, after a really warm November. But whether we get a white Christmas, is still in the stars.

Paper Jewelry by Ruth Siegmund.

Richard

I am very sad that Richard (Dick) Jones left us on the night before, peacefully at home, far too early. We shared house and garden and the view on the South China Sea for three years on Lamma Island. Richard, a professional camera man, showed me how to use my video camera. Could not have learned it from anybody better. I really liked him with all his crazy, but at times also very normal sides. Now the island will be more quiet, but far less brilliant. The photo below, taken by Andy Maluche, one of his best friends, ... Richard's sleeping bag thrown from his home's rooftop into the jungle. Once again, Richard is gone with the wind. Take care. We miss you.

Vis Naturae

The forest was filled with fog this morning and the dew was dripping from the trees. No wind. No sun to be seen for orientation. If you take two times the wrong turn, you might get seriously lost. But we made it fine, up the mountain to a small hut running a simple restaurant. It is called "Koeppelhuette". Just before arriving there for lunch, we actually came out of the fog into the sunshine with a clear blue sky. It is a nice moment when the sun breaks through the haze and trees. This is Westerwald. It is a region, East of the Rhine and North of the Lahn rivers, with quite some reputation to be rough and cold, and where the smallest sunshine is touching. As I grew up here, it brings of course up all kinds of memories, and a feeling of home. I enjoy very much being back in nature. It has not to be a forest, but when thinking about criteria to judge which place might be nice to live in the future, pollution is a no go.