Wednesday, November 30, 2005
November 30 - Berlin
Asia/Pacific forum
Today at the Hotel Schweitzerhof for the Asia/Pacific forum. They say there are over 100 attendees - a relatively small room, but quite small, so the number probably stacks up.
The day has been organised by the Learntel company of Australia, of which Carol Daunt (learning forward in photo) is the prime mover. Also shown in shot at the lecturn in Gerry White, the CEO of education.au, a leading Australian provider of consultancy services in Australia. Gerry opened and managed the forum.
Speakers at the forum included representatives of e-learning providers at either Government or Tertiary level from the following countries - Malaysia, India, Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and of course new Zealand (yours truly). Presentation time was very limited, and I seemed to be given the 5-minute bell when only half way through. either that or I had just prattled on for so long they were desperate to get me off.
Day 2 - November 29
Bugger this jetlag. Awake this morning at about 3am. Tried to stay in bed and doze until a reasonable hour, but no luck. So I figured I might as well get dressed and explore the immediate vicinities. At least I now have my luggage, so can dress appropriately for the conditions at last.
Found my way around the block and down Budapester Strasse to locate the Hotel Intercontinental. Only barely ten minutes walk, so that's some reassurance. When I first booked the cheapest hotel I could find, I really had no guarantee of how convenient it would be. But it turns out to be great - Wittenbergplatz is very central, and within easy walk of both the Online Educa venue and the Asia/Pacific forum venue (just across the road). So this is what the hotel entrance looks like at about 5am!
Bugger this jetlag. Awake this morning at about 3am. Tried to stay in bed and doze until a reasonable hour, but no luck. So I figured I might as well get dressed and explore the immediate vicinities. At least I now have my luggage, so can dress appropriately for the conditions at last.
Found my way around the block and down Budapester Strasse to locate the Hotel Intercontinental. Only barely ten minutes walk, so that's some reassurance. When I first booked the cheapest hotel I could find, I really had no guarantee of how convenient it would be. But it turns out to be great - Wittenbergplatz is very central, and within easy walk of both the Online Educa venue and the Asia/Pacific forum venue (just across the road). So this is what the hotel entrance looks like at about 5am!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Day 1
Luggage left behind in Frankfurt, so the day is spent investigating the environs of my hotel wearing nothing but my cabin clothes. It's about -2deg with the remnants of snow on the streets. Frequent dashes to cafés for coffee and other forms of nourishment become a survival strategy.
It's certainly going to take a while to adjust to the weather. Before leaving NZ I was aware that I'm unlikely to get much above 3 or 4 deg while in Berlin. Will get good value out of the possum and merino socks and hat I bought before leaving.
Luggage left behind in Frankfurt, so the day is spent investigating the environs of my hotel wearing nothing but my cabin clothes. It's about -2deg with the remnants of snow on the streets. Frequent dashes to cafés for coffee and other forms of nourishment become a survival strategy.It's certainly going to take a while to adjust to the weather. Before leaving NZ I was aware that I'm unlikely to get much above 3 or 4 deg while in Berlin. Will get good value out of the possum and merino socks and hat I bought before leaving.
