My view of the world and anything that might interest me.
It is another Geekdinner tonight and I cannot make it. I looked so forward to it but having only returned from overseas make things a bit tight when it comes to time. In any case, I still have not catch up on all my lost sleep so would probably fell asleep in my dinner.
Enjoy and see you all around next time. Will catch up on everything when all the reports hits the blogsphere.
Technorati Tags: geekdinner, cape town
After a week away in sunny warm Denmark, I arrived back in South Africa early Saturday morning. It only happens in South Africa when they have to delay the take-off of a flight to make sure that the airplane does not arrive early in Cape Town. You see, they were working on the run-way overnight and the flight was not allowed to land before 5am. They delayed the flight by 40 minutes in Frankfurt just for this.
It was my first visit to Copenhagen and what an eye-opener. No crime to talk off, actually I almost never saw the police or heard any sirens. Once an alarm went off in a shop and within a blink of the eye a policeman arrived.
Bicycles, this is everywhere. No wonder since Denmark is very flat. The highest point in Denmark is a pilar on a bridge that goes from one island to another. Since they ride on the wrong side of the road I almost took out some bicycle riders a couple of times. Getting out of the bus I always looked in the wrong direction and then just started walking just to hear some calls from my right from a couple of bicycle riders pedalling down on me.
And nobody lock their bicycles when they get off it. Hours later that bicycle will be just where they left it.
Talking of busses. It is always on time, clean and get you on time where you need to be. And cars do not drive in bus lanes. It just does not happen. Also if a pedestrain crossing is red nobody walks, even if there is no cars and/or bicycles. It just does not happen.
Technorati Tags: denmark, copenhage, bicycle, robots, travel, ibm
As promised, here are some photos from my visit in Copenhagen.
Views from my hotel, not my room but the room of a colleague of mine who is here with me. 
Had dinner yesterday evening on the benches you see. Burger King burger and chips — and that cost 55 Danish Krone, about R72 .. yes you read correctly, R72 for a burger and chips.
While we are talking about my colleague, here is he (Andre) lying on his bed. 
We have this joke about him staying in a real pimp room. I am staying in the new renovated part of the hotel where the rooms are ultra luxury. Last night while beer drinking from pub to pub we came across this traffic light — 
The small green light on the right is a traffic light for bicycles. Yes, they have their own lanes with their own traffic lights.
We also met this “alien” that was dancing every time somebody threw some coins in her tin .. she was actually very entertaining. 
When she was not dancing then she was standing dead still like a statue and would not move even if people tried to make her move. The moment some coins was thrown she started dancing with her flags.
Technorati Tags: copenhagen, denmark, site seeing, beer, bicycle robot
Arrived in Copenhagen at the Palace Hotel very late yesterday evening after 18 hours on airplanes and in airports. Was touch and go in Frankfurt when I had to get from one airplane to the next one in under 30 minutes. Assisted by a security guard through some back allies we eventually made it. The fact that my luggage arrived with me in Copenhagen was a miracle.
Also the take-off in Cape Town in that stormy weather is not something I want to experience soon again. Talking of the weather, it is a great sunny 22 degrees here in Copenhagen. Eat your heart out, Cape Town 🙂
I have taken some photos and will upload as soon as I have some time. It is beer drinking time so until later.
Technorati Tags: ibm, copenhagen, denmark, cape town, weather, airplane, palace hotel
My trip to IBM Denmark is just a bit too long to just take a small suitcase that will go through as hand luggage. On top of that Denmark is moving from winter to summer so the weather can be anything from below 10 degrees to over 20. This means one have to pack for both mild and cold weather.
I hate all this permutations … I am one of those travelers that like to throw something in a suitcase a hour or so before I am due to leave for the airport. Do not think it is going to work this time. Firstly I have to leave for the airport while I am halve asleep and I do not want to take the change that I leave halve of what I should take behind. Since this is a business trip I should actually put some thought into what I will wear. I believe the Danish people dress way more formally than us to work. So more formal pants than just a couple of jeans which is what I wear to work here in SA.
I have eventually received my Visa this morning after the 3rd try and it is valid and correct. Luckily it has now been issued for a whole year so any travel to Europe over the next year will be a bit easier. The travel agent did manage to screw up my travel date so now I will be traveling a day earlier (Sunday, 20th) and stay one day longer in Copenhagen. Will have to work in some sightseeing.
I have to be at the airport at some un-godly hour on Sunday morning — 7am flight out of Cape Town. And I am landing back in Cape Town at just an un-godly hour. Saturday morning at 5am.
Technorati Tags: denmark, visa, travel, copenhagen
I want one of these babies. I am due for a new laptop and since I now work for IBM it will be a Thinkpad. Think I have to hold on bit with my old one and wait till the T61 arrive here in South Africa.
Today is the day we all become Sharks and Bulls supporters. Even if you are a Sharks or Bulls supporter only I suggest for only today you cheer for both teams. You can go back to your home team when the Sharks and Bulls play one another next week. Hey I am a South African and have to be optimistic that both the Sharks and Bulls are going to win.
And just to be clear, my team is watching from the sidelines preparing for the Currie Cup.
And if anyone reading this have no idea what I am talking about you are clearly either not a South African and/or a rugby fan.
Which programming language are you? This is what they say about me and to be honest, it is fairly accurate.
Go ahead and click on the image and see what you are …. real geeky stuff
Technorati Tags: php, programming language, quiz, geek