My World Café – insights & experiences from my travels, café visits and daily life.
Business & Career Mentor, Photographer, Aviator
The post-covid Identity Crisis of the Hospitality Industry: "Staff Shortages", "Tip-flation" and ever less Value for Money. Read about good and bad Examples. It borders on absurdity: A section of a pub is closed, due to "staff shortage". Then I endure an endless wait for my food. And finally, the debit-machine gives me a choice… Continue reading Hospitality is in Crisis – Value for Money has almost become the Exception
Two memorable exhibitions in Vancouver highlight the absurdity of war: YOKO ONO: GROWING FREEDOM Yoko Ono to this day remains a peace activist. It's now 42 years since John Lennon was murdered. The videos and photos in the exhibition deeply moved me. In one room, visitors could pin messages to their mothers to the wall… Continue reading If those who decide war had to fight it, would there be less war?
I am sick of covid as an Excuse for bad Service We're currently travelling in the Okanagan, a premier wine region in British Columbia. It is truly amazing how covid splits prevailing attitudes: Many are slacking off, hiding behind covid; while others go the extra mile and perform at their best. They both still have… Continue reading Covid – an Excuse for everything or an Incentive to do better?
A Rainy Day Fund Anyone? It is important these days to distinguish the truly distressed from the whiners. Many will have to close their business permanently and look for entry-level employment. When 911 hit, we had to close our air charter and tour business, and I had to start off washing cars (later becoming the… Continue reading Saving our Way through this Crisis
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has created a network of startup support facilities across the city. The epicentre is the Seoul Startup Hub, which boasts 150 resident startups and huge co-working spaces. The atmosphere is - well - entrepreneurial 🙂 These people do not want to be compliant corporate soldiers at a Chaebol. These family-run conglomerates… Continue reading Seoul Startup Hub – WOW!
We were just done with our Korean language exam. I was the last of about 60 students to finish and most likely failed the Reading part. They all waited for me until I was done and off we went to have some super-cool fun. It's actually 9 nations: One of us has a Columbian, Mexican… Continue reading 6-Nation Korean BBQ
Cafés open late in the morning in Korea - people's rhythms are just different. So I found Jass Café that was open early on Sunday. The Barista there is very cool - not only is her English excellent (she doesn't believe me OMG), but we had a very inspiring conversation. And THEN she pointed me… Continue reading The Famous Lamb in Hongdae – a café in its own class! Korean kindness abounds.
My friend Eunjae’s family took me out to a mind-boggling dinner. While I have been to many Korean restaurants by now, I’ve never experienced Korean fine dining. It is interesting that our restaurant was located off a freeway, together with several other high-end dining places. We had a choice between two main courses. But that… Continue reading One of my best meals ever – on my final day in Korea!
An evening of yummie food, good conversations and laughter. When leaving a Korean barbecue restaurant, you spray each other to get the smell out! That restaurant did brisk business and I was the only foreigner - good!
Airbnb offers "Experiences" now, and I booked three in Seoul. One was this culinary experience with Ben, who also has a YouTube Channel - Bachelor Ben's Kitchen. Ben guided me through all the main and side dishes, explaining their context and how to eat them the Korean way. I also learned to de-bone a fish… Continue reading Dining like a Royal
My World Café - insights & experiences from my travels, café visits and daily life. 