3 Down – 1 To Go

Well, I just finished my review of the Indonesia facility and will be heading to China in another hour.  Last week I reviewed Singapore and Malaysia. Saturday I’ll finally be heading home. The trip has gone very well. Last week I had 2 of my group with me, this week I had 1 and in China it will be just me. I’m pleased with the how things are going at 2 out of 3 of the plants so far. Fortunately they’re the 2 most imortant ones. 

The air quality here in Jakarta is so poor that I can feel it in my lungs and also in my sinuses. I now understand how poor air quality can result in thousands of deaths every year. Just picture your poor lungs trying to filter out all the smog 24 hours a day. I dare say my resparatory system is not strong enugh to allow me to tolerate this air for very long. It’s been 1 1/2 years since I was in Beijing and I bet the air has only gotten worse. We’ll see.

There was a small bomb detonated in the local A&W on Monday but it wasn’t any organized group, just a poor sap who only injured himself. Small protests started yesterday ahead of a visit by George Bush next Monday. I ddn’t see any of them. None of these happenings has any impact on me. We stay way clear of any possible hot spots and follow the news closely. We can get out of the country pretty quickly if needed. Most of the folks here see Bush for who he is and recognize that he doesn’t represent most of America. The recent election results support this. The folks here that I meet with know how I feel.

The computer here in the airport lounge is acting up so I’ll save and sign off.