The one who had a roommate

A few sights of my life with Dario - best room mate ever.

The one who was in a fighting mood...

A few views from the army of Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. It's not that simple to reach it from Hong Kong, but it really worths the tour.

Be your own judge...

The one who was literally amazed

If you can only go once in your life to China, go to Beijing.

It's a city displaying an incredible culture, with beautiful monuments and fantastic places. It is also a city preparing itself for the 2008 Olympics, setting up incredible stadiums (check the "sneak picture") and state-of-the-art infrastructure - thus displaying a big contrast between century-old monuments and brand new buildings. It is finally a city of an impressive variety, whith very poor areas, not far from the city center.

In a certain way, Beijing is fairly representative of what China is today: a country with a tremendous heritage, who's been through a terrible century, and who's trying to catch up as quickly as possible with western countries in order to go back to its former place. But it is also a place facing huge challenges (imbalance of revenue between the different social layers, environmental issues, etc.).

Worth the visit.

The one who had Chinese food (yes, again...)

Upon a request by my grandmother, here is a quick review of my diet. Yummie...

The ones who tried the Cantonese cuisine

"Guangzhou's cuisine is justifiably legendary."
Lonely Planet Travel Guide





During our stay in Guangzhou, we had the chance to be hosted by a local friend who introduced us to the secrets of the Cantonese cuisine: dim sum (of course), hot pot (naturally), but also chicken feet, turtle, snake, etc.

We especially had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dinner in one of the finest chicken place of the area, where products couldn't be fresher. The short video below will give you an idea of the experience.

Bon appétit !

The one who checked the bed

In order to give an idea of the bedding comfort of the hotel where we stayed in Guangzhou, we conducted an independent test of the bedding system - which might give an idea of the improvements to be done.

Fortunately, it has been confirmed that this case shouldn't be generalized to the rest of the city and/or country.

Personal note for my Mum: don't worry, I'm fine.

The one who went to Guangzhou

Also known by many Westerners as "Cantont"

The ones who had a room with a view

As our good friend Arnaud was finishing his internship in Macau, we paid him a visit. And a drink.

Hong Kong's Five

A short message from IMHI students in Hong Kong to IMHI students in Cergy-Pontoise...

The one who landed in Hong Kong

Dear All,

After a safe flight, I landed in Hong Kong a few days ago and joined some fellow classmates for an exchange program in Hong Kong. As time goes, we will give you more impressions about this fantastic place.

For the moment, I just share with you that view of Hong Kong Island taken in the morning (just click on it to have a clearer view).

Tk care

The one who left Dubai...

It is quite difficult to give some final piece of advice about a city as changing as Dubai after living there only for five months. As I have already mentioned, it is a city full of contrasts, where multiple projects are under development... which makes it an extremely exciting place from a very professional point of view - though it's quite disappointing from a more personal point of view. But since the whole place is still under construction, we can only hope that things will improve in a near future.

However, a stunning point about Dubai is that it's a very mixed city, with people coming litteraly from all over the world... which makes Dubai a kind of modern Babel: a city with people from different origins, all working on a major project, which is - surprise ! - a construction. Funnily enough, the comparison with Babel is quite accurate, since gigantic projects are being built in there - the tallest tower, the largest mall, the most luxurious hotel, etc.







Now, the question is to know whether Dubai will finish as Babel finished (i.e. destroyed - though all those construction companies have insurances). But I like to remember that the cultural differences of people in Dubai tend to fade now, in favor of a more generic way of life - extemely comfortable if you're part of the happy few living there, absolutely miserable if you're not one of them. Let's see of things will go in the future...

The one who surfed the dunes...

After skiing on snow in Ski Dubai, I went to an other playground to surf on sand... though it's much slower, it's quite funny (even interesting ?). Actually, most of the time, you fall because it's too slow (as you can see on that picture).

What a strange country...

The one who was watching the sky

Dear All,

I really have to apologize for not updating this blog more regularly, but since we are just a few weeks from the opening of the hotel, our schedule is now quite hectic and time turns to be a scarce ressource.

As you've certainly seen last week, the Burj Dubai is now the tallest tower in the world. With our friends at the Cloud Appreciation Society, we paid this fantastic architectural achievement a little hommage - with altocumuli in the background.

http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/index.php?showimage=3001

The one who bought a local cello

After a few weeks in Dubai, I HAD to go back to music. You'll see on that video the kind of instrument you can find in Dubai.

The one who drove in International City

After a couple of months in Dubai, I had the opportunity to move to a new area of the city called "International City". That short video will give you an idea of its look and... of the local ambiance in the streets.

The funny bit is that, in spite of different building designs, ALL the flats of International City are strictly and desperately the same. Only one bedroom apartments.

You can see more projects of the development company on their website : www.nakheel.com

The one who had a fresh time

Since the weather is getting quite hot at the moment (at least 40°C degrees every day, if not more), I finally decided to have a look at that world-famous indoor ski slope called "Ski Dubai", located inside the Mall of the Emirates (one of the largest shopping center at the moment).

First impression is just physical : when you're coming straight from outside, you enter a place with a constant -4°C temperature. And many people just can't bear it (imagine : it's almost a 50 celsius degree drop !).

Second impression is quite amazing : you're in Dubai, one of the hottest spot on the planet... and you're skiing on real snow ! In my case, since I didn't touch a ski for years, it's been quite a disaster for the first hour... but it's a lot of fun, anyway.

Third impression is finally disappointing : you have one slope, and you do nothing else that going down along the same way. Of course, that last sentence is simply unfair, because unconsciously I just compare that ski experience with previous ski experiences in France or in Switzerland, where everything is just freedom, pure air, unlimited spaces, etc.

So as a short conclusion, I have to say it's a good example of what Dubai can offer: a really amazing place built out of nothing in the middle of the desert, providing a very good entertainment to expats and tourists. But it's a true success : you have a lot of fun, and some company plans to built a bigger, higher, more impressive one as part of a project called "Sport City".

See you there...

The one whose hotel wasn't quite finished (2)

Dear All,

Unfortunately I still can't show you pictures of the hotel (although it will be finished very soon), but here is a short video I shot from one of the room's balcony. All this will be very nice (once it'll be finished...)

Enjoy !

The one who got a friend

Due to a massive load of work, I couldn't update Thiebontheroad until today. Sorry for all those who asked me whether I was still alive.

By clicking on the image above, you'll find a short video I shooted during the Arabian Travel Market a few days ago - as a reward for your patience.

Take care !

The one who was looking for Dubai's "heritage" (2)

After a first attempt to discover Dubai's local culture or heritage, I tried to have a look at the local art galleries. They are located in a quite remote area, far from urban surroundings, in the backyard of big car dealers. The picture above is a view of the street where are concentrated three among the hippest galleries in town. The place did remind my a certain movie... Even the noises in that place are quite similar ;-)))








Those galleries are displaying artworks of different kinds (paintings, sculptures, installations, videos) created by local artists. One could wish a greater variety, or simply a larger size, but, at least, it's an attempt in creating in Dubai something less... finance-driven (?!).

You can pay those galleries a visit :
The Courtyard : http://www.courtyard-uae.com/
B21 Gallery : www.b21gallery.com/
The Third Line : www.thethirdline.com/

To be continued...

The one who experienced contrasts

A striking point about Dubai is that it's a land of contrasts.






The grass of polo fields or golf courses against the sand of the desert.
The heat of the ambient air against the extreme cold continuously produced by air conditioners.
The wealth of expats against the poverty of other workers.
The rapid growth of urbanism against the normal path of time...

Let's bring a bit of poetry in that blog... (sigh)

"Fourmillante cité, cité pleine de rêves,
Où le spectre en plein jour raccroche le passant!
Les mystères partout coulent comme des sèves
Dans les canaux étroits du colosse puissant.

Un matin, cependant que dans la triste rue
Les maisons, dont la brume allongeait la hauteur,
Simulaient les deux quais d'une rivière accrue,
Et que, décor semblable à l'âme de l'acteur,

Un brouillard sale et jaune inondait tout l'espace,
Je suivais [...]
Le faubourg secoué par les lourds tombereaux."

Charles Baudelaire, les Sept Vieillards

The one who couldn't remember where he was

Pictures from Ibn Battuta Shopping mall. Strange...

The one who was looking for Dubai's "heritage"

Since the new Sofitel "The Palace" (= my company) is supposed to represent the whole "heritage" side of Dubai, I decided to have a look at that so-called "heritage" a few days after my arrival. As soon as I got a day free, I jumped into a taxi, heading to a famous place in Dubai called "Madinat Jumeirah", featuring a "traditional souk".

For those who have an experince of souks in Morocco or in Tunisia, that place is extremely funny. Of course, you'll find a lot of different shops, from different types and sizes, selling various types of products... which is pretty close to the basic concept of a souk. But this is much more an air-conditionned, covered, safe souk, cleaned 6 times a day, and having a help desk for the customers who couldn't find their way. A kind of "Four Seasons" souk, if you wish...

Is that it, in term of "heritage" ? To be continued...

The one who's been upgrated

After one week at the hotel Ibis from Dubai (which is not that bad, compared to the european standards), I've been asked to move to one of those "corporate residences" you can find everywhere in Dubai.

Actually, you can find all kind of such residences in Dubai ; they are so numerous that they almost represent a kind a threat for hotels. For the lucky guys, those residences are facing the sea or are located in exclusive towers. For others, they are closer to the desert area... Mine is called "The Greens", because of the wild forest planted in the area, as you can see on the picture...

However, behind that bauhaus-style architecture is hidden a quite high level of comfort... which is pretty nice for a simple intern. I don't want to imagine where my GM lives.

You can see further pictures of that place by clicking here. I highly recommend that the people who take internships in difficult conditions DO NOT click on the link.

The one whose hotel wasn't quite finished

As most of you know, I'm taking an internship in a hotel (the Sofitel "The Palace - The Old Town in Dubai) which is going under its pre-opening phase. But the funny point is that the hotel itself is just... not finished.

The opening is planned for mid-august... and now hundredths of workers are working on it day and night...
But the architect still believes it will be mostly finished in two months from now, and many people say that, in Dubai, you never know... things can change quite rapidly. On the picture above, you can see the entrance gate of the hotel... which still requires further finishing.

By the way, you can see in the back of the picture the Burj Dubai, the tallest tower in the world (which will face the hotel, on the other side of the lake). That tower is also under construction (surprise !), but they finished yesterday the 120th floor (so the tower is now a bit less than 3/4 of its final size).

The one who discovered the "big" city

Let me warn you quickly : in Dubai, everything is big (if not huge).

You'll find big buildings, enormous skyscrapers, gigantic shopping malls, titanesque and numerous property projects... And as soon as you arrive in the city, you understand why people say that 80% of the cranes in the world are in Dubai. Even doughnuts at Starbucks are larger (though cheaper) than in the US !
[You can see on the picture above a view of the construction of Dubai mall - the biggest shopping mall in the world (to be open in 2008).]

But in Dubai, you also have to face big problems : traffic is a major issue for instance, since you can be stuck in traffic jams at any place, any time, any day of the week. Heat is also a big issue, and pollution as well (because everybody is using cars, super-powerful air-conditioners, and, sometimes, both together).

Communication is a kind of big concern as well, since eveything is controlled by a single (state-owned) company. So, if you want to get the internet, you need to have a (local) cell phone, with a (local) phone number, to be able to access the (local) proxy server through (local) wi-fi connection. And to encourage people to use (local) phones, the access to Skype is sometimes... simply cut. Therefore, for those who are complaining about the internet access in Cergy-Pontoise's Essec residence, keep in mind it could be worse ;-) !

Boarding time !

Dear All,

As most of you already know, I'm leaving France for 9 months and will be back at the very beginning of 2008 ; I'll be in Dubai from April to August and in Hong Kong from September to December.

In the meantime, this blog will help me giving you news, updates or just poetic impressions about my journeys abroad. I'll try to keep it updated on a regular basis (hopefully, once a week). Moreover, I'll try to link this page to other sites or contents (like music, arts, hotels), in order to make it a "rich and useful resource for everybody" (great expectations).

As you might have noticed, this blog will be mostly written in english, since all readers are english-speaking people... Apologies in advance to all the French people.

Also, comments or messages are very welcome. Please avoid insults, commercial ads or pornographic content (they'll be automatically filtered anyway). You can also contact me directly through my e-mail (tossola@gmail.com).

Take care, guys !