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Abdullah's FotoPage
By: Abdullah Malik
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| Sunday, 7-Dec-2008 12:00 |
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South America Trip
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The Beatles Club
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Midnite adventures
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Hey jude...
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Belem signboards!
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With Mr Tadeu
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Nak beli kayu balak..
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With Brazilian friend
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Belem town
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Factory visit
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The bodyguard..
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The thrilling plane ride
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Golf in Montevideo
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Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in December 2008
Buenos Aires 7-9 Dec
My 3rd trip to South America! I was sent there by my office in 2005 and 2006 and now in 2008 I am in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay for the Samba and Tango night classes ! Seriously South America is just like home...hot and dry with lots of tropical fruits to eat and Guarana to replace Tongkat Ali ! In 2005 I visited Argentina, Brazil and Chile and this time around I will be visiting Uruguay instead of Chile and second visit to Argentina and Brazil...
I arrived in Buenos Aires Argentina late afternoon on Sunday 7 December 2008 after about 29 hours of journey. Departed KLIA about 1 am on Sunday and arrived on the same day...at 3.45 pm, how amazing! Took a taxi and put up at the Dazzler Tower Hotel near Florida Street, BA. Dinner at McDonald and slept early!
Monday was a holiday in Argentina so no much activities in the city. A friend Mr Ernesto Fernandez took me to meet a custom made furniture maker, Michael..an Italian and then spent about 1 hour in his office. Talked golf a little bit with Michael and he brought me to the Buenos Aires Golf and Country Club where Tiger Woods and David Duval competed in the World Golf Championship for lunch..I bought a T-shirt to wear and play in Malaysia! We had lunch at the club and ordered Salmon..what else can I eat!
Tuesday...rejuvenated and full of energy and completed six business meetings at the Argentina Chamber of Commerce office for South East Asia. In the evening I met them again at a dinner hosted by me...eat my second Salmon for the day!
Sao Paulo, Belem and Curitiba 10-15 Dec
Early wake up call to catch a flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil and arrive there after 2 hours flight..I felt hungry because I was unable to take the in-flight meal. I purposely let a vacuum in my stomach because I am going to the Brazilian barbeques for dinner! Mr Khairul..the Malaysian Trade Commissioner in Sao Paulo took me to the restaurant and I was having a great time..savouring the Japanese and Brazilian dishes! Brazilian beef grilled meat were the best.
Next morning I took the early morning flight to Belem about 700 km from Sao Paulo where Mr Alex (Brazilian) was waiting at the airport. I took buffet lunch at the riverside restaurant and went straight to the Grand Continental Hotel, the newest hotel in town. Belem is located at the mouth of the Amazon river! When I was here in 2005, it was a quick visit and didn’t see the town.
Belem is the central activity for tropical timber distribution, the reason why I was sent to South America. I visited three woodworking mills and met with several logistics provider in case some procurement contract could be established. There were some night activities in Belem for the braves and the non-sleepy because night activities only start at 12 midnight...until 5 am! I went to see the Brazilian Beatles band...and they were good. I went back to the hotel at 2 am.
After three days in Belem I flew to Sao Paulo again to catch a flight to Curitiba and check-in at the Grand Continental Hotel and in the evening met with Mr Tadeu who will bring me to his factory the next morning. The factory is located 230 km from Curitiba and we drove by car, its the Nissan x-trail equivalent. It was a very nice trip..and the factory visit was really worth it, very well organized operation and manufactured Pine timber for export market.
Montevideo 16-20 Dec
The next day I flew to Sao Paulo again for the connecting flight to Montevideo, Uruguay and it was just a short flight. I spent four days in Montevideo meeting with Government Ministries, Timber Associations and Timber Companies. Uruguay is interested to sell their Eucalyptus timber and this timber is widely used in the production of outdoor furniture.
Montevideo celebrated its 100 years anniversary of it town council and the city was alive day and night with fireworks display and the parade and music everywhere! I stayed at the Four Points Hotel which is located at the central area and very close to shopping areas..at the hotel doorsteps actually! But the great attraction was the Casino...and after a few nights of observations..I concluded that, its true, nobody wins at the casino! When there were 7 or 8 people betting at the roulette table hardly 3 of them got anything back! My friend won RM 600 the first night but lost the other two nights...how much ? He only said more than 2K. Anyway, there was this Korean restaurant near the Casino and every night we eat there because they served very good grilled fish..looked like Trout!
Me and my friends managed to play 2 rounds of golf at the Montevideo Golf Club and the Del Cerro Golf Club...no lady caddies here but tough men who spoke very little English! In Malaysia we have the luxury of choosing lady caddies from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia...and they would go all the way to seduce you and pampered you just to get those extra tips...
Buenos Aires 20-21 Dec
The next stop was Buenos Aires, Argentina while waiting for the flight home and I spent whatever Pesos and Real at Florida Street ! Of course we went to the Casino again..in BA the Casino is a converted ship and as usual everybody lost money!
Time to go home and prepare for the 29 hours journey! Departing 21 Dec and arrived KLIA 23 Dec !
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