Around the world in 80 yearsAround the world in 80 years
Flying currants in Kathmandu
Flying currants in Kathmandu
I was once invited by UNCTAD/GATT to give a seminar in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. It was in 1980 but it felt as if it was in 1580. It was the most primitive undeveloped country I had ever come across anywhere in the world, and I had spent time in the outlying parts of Libya, Thailand, Colombia and Ethiopia.My bet with John Lennon
My bet with John Lennon
In the 1970s I had become freelance and had been commissioned to write a book called “Plan your export drive”. Always with an eye to promotion and marketing, I had included a chapter entitled “Business gifts and bribery”. I had learnt from many interviews with British exporters that when they were bidding for multi-million-pound contracts overseas, they were often up against competition from unscrupulous foreign suppliers who built a few million pounds extra into their prices to be used as promises of backhanders to people who could smooth approval of the contract.The case of the missing underpants – in Finnish Lapland
There were two memorable incidents in 1997. One was the appearance of the previously unknown heavenly traveller, now known as the Hale-Bopp Comet – and the other was the loss of my underpants in the north of Finland. And the two incidents are connected.
I led a group of ITCM readers on a trip to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. We were hosted by the Finnish Convention Bureau and Finnair. The trip was packed with interest and excitement.
I led a group of ITCM readers on a trip to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. We were hosted by the Finnish Convention Bureau and Finnair. The trip was packed with interest and excitement.
Read more: The case of the missing underpants – in Finnish Lapland
In two courts of the King of Thailand
In two courts of the King of Thailand
With my second son Kai (second of six), I had a meeting in Bangkok in the early 1980s with a Professor Pavan at the city’s Agricultural University. Towards the end of the meeting, the Professor said that if I wanted to see what Thailand was doing to assist its northern tribes to switch from growing opium to a more acceptable crop, he would be in Chiang Mai in the North West that weekend and he could show us round his research centre.Monaco, motors and me
Monaco, motors and me
A few years ago I was in Monaco to report on its latest MICE facilities. The Monaco Government Tourist Office was kind enough to present me with a pass that permitted me to enter any museum or Government visitor attraction free of charge. I was keen to see the Prince of Monaco’s Collection of Classic Cars. I got up early one morning and went to the world renowned museum. There was no sign of life when I reached the main entrance. The doors were locked.More Articles...
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