My Model...someone for me to aspire to.

I have an interesting passenger right beside me on the way back home from Shanghai yesterday. He is rather old and I notice that he shakes a little. He was sitting by the window and I had aisle (my favourite row). He was already seated when I arrived. We made eye contact and he smiled at me and I reciprocate. After the plane takes off, he took out a catalog from his brief case and started to sketch out chairs. Up in my head, I thought he may be Danish. Just back from Copenhagen, I now know that Denmark is famous for the chairs and chair design.

I cannot recall what was the first comment he said to me. However there a few key points I remember and I think he is send by God to me. He is a Swiss and speaks German and Italian(mum's Italian) He is 65 years old and he start his own business at 40 years of age. He started with 10,000 swiss francs and 6 chairs. He has been to North Pole by Russian helicopter. South Pole by Russian Icebreaker ship, been to Sahara desert two years ago...

Why do I think he is godsend? At 40, he started his own business. He learn about chairs by visiting exhibition. He first imported chairs from Italy because that is the language he can speak fluently. He learn English by watching television and talking people like me! He taught me so much and show me the way. His father is still alive and 91 years. He says until today his father still do not believe he could make so much money selling chairs!! He tells me he has Parkinson disease (now I know the shakes). He recommended I should go to Mana Mana in Bintan. He says it is like paradise. Small huts on stilts just right on the sea. He flew Singapore Airlines a lot.

He showed me the price list of his product. One cost 230 Swiss francs. He told me it cost him only 40 francs. He does not make all the profits as the retail makes 40%. Still pretty good profit! He tell me that you must be first. Then you can make product for one dollar and sell for fifty. He just introduce a new series of chairs made from Seagrass. He is the first to bring this product to Switzerland.

I asked for his name card so that you know it is real. His name is Erwin Hauser. He has showed me that it is not too late to be an entreprenuer. Thank you! Mr. Hauser.

Copenhagen - day 3

Took train to Helsingor and then by bus to museum of Technology. History of technology is right there in front of you. Old aeroplanes, old telephones, early batteries, early experiments with electricity, old apparatus. It is educational for kids except my boys do not seem to be interested. We then visited Tivoli in Copenhagen. For Singaporean in their forties and fifties, they will know what I mean....Tivoli reminds me of Great World. Rides, pay to have 3 balls to throw and get a prize if you score three direct hits, rifles with moving targets, duck fishing, etc. Tivoli also have musical fountains, roller coaster, bungee seats just like the one in Clarke Quay. We also visit the Design Center and Planetarium. Good thing we pay for the Copenhagen card i.e. train and museum fares included, though not all museum. We are a little disappointed as the museums have little exhibits and mostly Danish explanation. Not sure if you will get value if you pay to get in to see. Singapore time 2:07am

Land of expensive meals

Would you believe a McDonald meal cost S$20? A resturant meal cost average S$50 per head... A hot dog is 20 konors or S$6. I guess there are lot of BYOs (bring you own). We are lucky. My wife has read up and is ready. So she has prepared snacks, instant noodles, instant porridge, rice, etc. The challenge is with 3 hungry boys the food run out fast. We are only in day 2 and our supplies has run down quickly. Food from supermart is not cheap either. 10 eggs cost 20 konors - S$6 more expensive than during chicken and eggs ban when Malaysia had bird flu!

No wonder Copenhagen retain the honor for the most expensive city in Europe. 12:05am singapore time.

What time is it?

Time for packing and off to airport for a holiday in Copenhagen. Will be blogging the holiday trip on my return. Good Bye.