Seattle

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originally uploaded by _bernd_.

Again, I had an opportunity to visit the US as part of a conference trip. This time I went to Seattle, where I listened to Bill Gates and other luminaries. And I had a few days before the conference to acclimatise and to explore (an unusually sunny) Seattle and Mt Rainier. Photos are as per usual on Flickr.

2-week visit in Australia

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originally uploaded by _bernd_.

A week of relaxing, cooking, eating, drinking, writing, presenting, shopping, bike-riding, swimming, sunbathing and then getting rained on in Melbourne. Then a week of meeting, presenting, networking, more eating and getting rained on even more in Sydney.

Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam

bamboo bridge,
originally uploaded by _bernd_.

My first trip to Asia was incredible: lovely people, great food, amazing nature and scenery, and some pretty crazy traffic. When I first arrived in Ho Chi Minh City I wasn't sure how to cross the street without running into a motor bike, but I've learnt to just walk slowly and at a steady pace and the bikes just drive around you.

My personal highlights were Angkor Wat at sunrise, a relaxed bike ride on an island in the Mekong river, and a swim at the bottom of a waterfall. I also learned more about the war in Vietnam and the the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Many a time I was reminded how lucky I have been to grow up in Austria.

It was certainly a memorable trip. I've started to share photos on Flickr and will add more over the next week.