"And away we go"

So I'm packing- in advance this time- going to be gone for 28 days! That's right- almost a month! I found out today the the new market launch in Turkey has been delayed a week due to construction, but I still have to be in market to deliver training and help with the things that I was going to delegate due to me being on Holiday. So now everyone is much happier- 2 weeks in the states, 2 weeks in Istanbul.
I leave tomorrow mornign at 8:30am Dubai time, and will get into Columbus at 8:30pm EST. But that ends up being exactly 24 hrs of time!!!!!!!!! UGH! The 16 hrs of flying the 8hr time change- 24hrs. That I am not looking forward too. Luckily I'm flying the Emirates A380 so I'll have my own cabin where I can sleep for a good 8 hrs without being disturbed. Got my Tylenol PM all ready, and did my spreadsheet on when I should be sleep, awake, sleeping, awake so that I can get on the EST time schedule as soon as possible. I have my driver arraigned for tomorrow morning, turned in my car this evening so that I don't have to worry about that tomorrow morning, and ensured I had time to do a little shopping so that I'll have something to bring back to the states to show I live in Dubai :-).
I had a great touchbase today with my boss, kindofa "5 months in- how you doin?" touchbase. I know my company is developing budgets for next year, and we are expanding three fold next year- so part of it was "how you doin now?" "What you wanna be doing then" kindofa touchbase. I had been doing some reflection on what this experience has been, how I've grown as a leader, and a person, and I do have some thoughts on where I want to be in six months.
Overall- I walked away from the meeting with an A on my report card. It was very nice to hear as I'm walking away from the market for a month. To hear that I'm doing a good job, the partners all like me, the stores like me, and I'm delivering what my company wants is all good news.
This whole week was crazy hectic. Kuwait the first part of the week, then we had the US merchandising team in Wed and today. It seems like the weeks I actually have to get things done are the weeks that are horribly overscheduled. Of course with that, I don't sleep as much, and eat out every meal and then comes the "Am I getting sick" moment where I barter with myself "If I give you Tylenol Sinus and get sleep on the plan and don't get drunk on champange in the lounge you'll not get sick- Deal?" So hopefully that works because the worst thing ever would be to get sick on the time that I'm visiting!
So 12 hrs from now, I'll be on the plan settling in. Can't wait.
"And away we go..."
I am so looking forward to being back in the US for a bit. I miss you!

"That really just happened"

Met up with the Exec team at Diera Mall this morning for a day of visits all over the UAE. As we approached the gate to the store it was open about three feet, and everyone I was with was like 5'6-9" so they all scurried under and I was like.... "umm...." well I wasn't going to have the store manager come over and open up the gate JUST for me, so I was like - I can do this. As I got just under the gate thinking I was going to embarrass myself and fall over- end up rolling into the store- an even more UN-IMAGINEABLE thing happened- my pants exploded! LOL It was so loud too they thought I had caught myself on the gate or something- myself, I thought I had been shot- one of those- I know something just happened but I don't know what and I was kinda disoriented by it! (laughing out loud as I write this because it was just so hilarious). Standing up I felt the very open-ness of the back of my suit, and yes. It happened. So the store manager had started talking to the team and I whispered to my boss- I just split open my pants which he looked at me and I turned around and he lost it. Thank god I had on black underwear today not a camoflouge or red pair! Then everyone had to see it- yep- those seams were under some big pressure- it split all the way up- the only thing keeping the top together was the fact I had on a belt!
So we carried on the visit, and as we still had 6 stores to visit today and it was 9:10am, I went to Zara on the way out of the mall to get some new pants, thank goodness they had my size and the color, so I carried on.
"Yes, this really just happened"

Kuwait; but a new experience!

I think someone from Starwoods Preferred Guests has been reading my blog and maybe they say that I dissed the Kuwait Sheraton last time I was here, because let me tell you- I am not in Kansas anymore!.... Kuwait Anymore.
My travel assistant booked my trip this week as normal, I go out from their airport to my get into the car- it's not the black chevy tahoe- It's a black Mercedes 6 series? I was like "I'm not paying for this! And they guy goes- it's complementary" with a puzzled look on his face. So I get in, and just to make sure- "You're going to the Sheraton right?" He says yes and away we go. I go in the same lobby entrance as always, through the metal detectors, and they go "oh- I'm sorry, you'll have to check in next door which I was like "What? I have to stay at the four points?" Not that it's bad, but for the rate we pay- it's not appropriate. "No- you're staying next door..." As I'm walking around the corner the tile turns into marble, the marble turns in to mosaics, the mosaics turn into gold cherubs playing violins and and flying behind me with my suitcases..- Ok- so that didn't happen, but seriously It is a St.Regis! Holy Lord- and it was right around the corner from the Sheraton this whole time--- and for the Same Flipping rate!!! AH! Pinch me! I am sitting here in the office part of my room at a gold claw foot chipndale desk and the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in and I can not believe I'm 200 feet from the Sheraton!
So if the Starwoods people have been reading my blog- Thank You. I LOVE THE ST.REGIS! And I have a whole new respect for Kuwait and will have NO problem coming back here whenever needed :-)

Amazing Dinner

Last night was "Saturday Night" here and I went to dinner at Buddha Bar at Grovesnor House. It was unreal! First off- the pictures above are from the web because it is far to chic of a place to be bringing in my camera and snapping pictures- plus it is super dark in there at night so I can't imagine they'd turn out if I did.
When you pull up to the place it's all roped off with security out front, and they have to check you off before they open the ropes, then the security open the door for you where you are greeted with a Host in a suit and earpeice who escorts you to your area! It was so crazy and amazing and I felt like a SuperVIP. It was great.
We sat right up against the huge window looking out into the marina with all the boats passing by, and great views of the bar and restaurant. The wine list was comical- I have never seen bottles of wine for six figures ever on a menu- and most of the wines were four figures!! So we did martini's which were still socially acceptable.
Food was as to be expected to match all this hoopla. Portions were good size, cooked perfectly, dessert was amazing, and the entire night they had an amazing DJ curating the music up untill 11pm when it turned into a nightclub and he began "spinning" out techno and trance music. At that point the place was so unbelievably crowded- both floors, and it was sweet. So if any of you come over to Dubai to visit I know where we can go- and who we need to have take us to get the good seats!!

One last post on my trip

I realized that I didn't post any pictures of the Dolmabachie Palace. It was right down from my hotel, on the main waterway. I went down there for lunch on my free day and then toured the palace. It was again- amazing. The architecture in many of the buildings was Indian influenced with the tall intricatly carved minerettes and gates. It also has the worlds largest chandelier collection. There were so many different types, and sizes it was crazy how much money they spent building this Palace. As much as we think Versaille when you think ornate palace- this one was a close second! My photos were too dark in the palace, but you can google it : Dolmabahce Palace.

Back to the real world...

Its lunch time and i'm sitting in a shady cafe on a side street in Istanbul. It is a gorgeous mediteranean day, cool breeze coming off the bosphorous strait, sunny but no humidty. Taxi cabs go by, horns honking in the distance, there are two stray dogs laying in the shade of a tree across the street. The rumbling of tires over the coblestone streets and a mix of music coming from the other cafes make this the perfect last morning here.
Last night was the fashion night out event at Istiniye Park. The malls had so many people all over the mall and outside spaces. Dj's were blasting music out of every other store, there were turkish celebrities in a few of the young stores which were creating a huge roar and massive crowds outside the stores. Our group had dinner at a rooftop cafe overlooking the park. It was great food, italian pastas which of couse were finished off with baklava and turkish tea. It was a great night, cool 70 degrees with a warm breeze.
This week was the perfect balance of work and business building, with fun and relaxation. Usually when I travel I am very detailed with all my expenses, counting every cab, every starbucks, but here it didn't seem as relevant. It had alot to do with the business partner here. Everyday we had a driver pick us up wherever we were going, even on our personal tour day, they had us set up. They also had fun event for us to do with them which was new to our business relationship. Other business partners just see you from 8-5 but here they were having dinner with us, taking us to other shopping areas in the city, showing us the nightlife. They did a super job of hosting us, and I know my experience of the city would have been much different had they not have been so great.

I am sad to be going back to dubai where it is still 110 and I am sure there are crazy things happening and I have a jet trip flying in for a visit sunday, but think it is good to be leaving on such high. Istnabul, highly recommend!

Bestikas Cadessi

Two streets over from where my hotel there is a "real" Turkish neighborhood. The city is very walkable, and I have been exploring many of the different areas. This is called the Bestikas Cadessi and has lots of cafe's, bakeries, shoe stores, knock-off stores, and liqour stores. No one speaks english, but I've still been able to get around, find stuff, pay with no problems. Turkish Lira has the exact same coinage and dollars as the US, and unlike the Gulf states, it is written in normal normals, not in Arabic, so no problems there. I've been trying to blend in and act like a normal, but being 6'4" in a country where the average height is 5'8"- it is pretty hard. Also- I haven't seen a bald person yet- so a dead give away that "one of these things doesn't belong" :-)