Moz@Work: Travel

Shopping in Bangalore

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 22:09:16 GMT

After a visit to the Indian team, Pooja and I headed shopping. The first photo is a view through our car window. See if you can guess if we are on the road or pavement by the number of pedestrians in front!

This next photo is on a popular shopping street. Apparently this was the quiet day because everyone was off for Diwali. Could have fooled me.

India is a phenomenal place. I love the contrast with China where top down planning dominates. Indians joke that their economy grows despite their government, not because of it. It's easy to see how on the streets of Bangalore.

Competition between China and Japan heats up

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 09:39:53 GMT

Forget manufacturing prowess or research and development, the next frontier of China and Japan competition will be in the design of toilets.

I was impressed by the toilets in New Otani in Tokyo and it's sounds for hiding those private bath room moments. But I was blown away by the toilets in Regal in Shanghai and it's sensor seats that rise as you approach and go down as you leave; men need no longer worry about leaving the seat up. Heated seats are of course now standard, but washing jets for front and rear as well as drying is now common. There are functions I dare not try on the console next to the toilets, so who knows what else was in store.

How else could one innovate a toilet?

Japan and The New Indoor Outdoors

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:55:39 GMT

We went to an awesome Japanese restaurant last night. It was actually inside a building but had waterfalls, bridges, a small stream and verandah such that standing outside the restaurant, you felt like you were outside. I wonder if this is the way of the world as outdoor space becomes harder to find in crowded cities.

The flashiness didn't stop there. We continued to a 7+ course meal, each sophistically served and sparing no ingredient in the true Japanese style. Many thanks to our Japanese hosts for treating us to this experience. We should visit more often :-)