and this time, I mean business...
Filed under: business Author: Villy
It's been a long time between postings for me but with good reason. I've actually been quite busy with the two projects I've been working on.
The first project is starting a packaging business in Thailand. We are now the primary distributor for APS machines and materials in Southeast Asia. Automated Packaging Systems is a large privately held company based in Cleveland Ohio that sells bag-on-a-roll packaging machines. They are the dominant player in their space in both the US and Europe. We just had a visit from the newly hired APS Asia-Pac representative and I he seems to be quite happy with what he sees so far. I also just hired a sales manager with 6 years experience as well so I think we're well on our way. We're have a big show coming up in June called ProPak Asia that I'm busy preparing for now. If that goes well, I think we should get a ton of leads.
The second project is still confidential, but involves outsourcing sewing from the US to Thailand. This is definitely a multi year project but it's definitely headed in the right direction.
Since both projects involve completely different people and companies, it takes up a pretty significant portion of my time. I'm glad it didn't take me too long to find something to do here though.
The first project is starting a packaging business in Thailand. We are now the primary distributor for APS machines and materials in Southeast Asia. Automated Packaging Systems is a large privately held company based in Cleveland Ohio that sells bag-on-a-roll packaging machines. They are the dominant player in their space in both the US and Europe. We just had a visit from the newly hired APS Asia-Pac representative and I he seems to be quite happy with what he sees so far. I also just hired a sales manager with 6 years experience as well so I think we're well on our way. We're have a big show coming up in June called ProPak Asia that I'm busy preparing for now. If that goes well, I think we should get a ton of leads.
The second project is still confidential, but involves outsourcing sewing from the US to Thailand. This is definitely a multi year project but it's definitely headed in the right direction.
Since both projects involve completely different people and companies, it takes up a pretty significant portion of my time. I'm glad it didn't take me too long to find something to do here though.
One of the things I've always wondered was whether or not the American diet was more likely to make you fat than the Thai diet. In Thailand it is far more common to eat smaller portions more frequently during the day instead of sitting down to a huge meal. Food is readily available at small restaurants and street vendors and is both high quality and inexpensive. Portions are sized such that you can order 1-2 items. Currently I'm a not so svelte 186 lbs. (none of it muscle). My goal is to get to 172. So in the grand tradition of blogging about way too personal stuff (e.g. starryeyes posting about an herbal tea laxative), I've decided to post my weight loss progress (or regression) for all those interested. | ||||||||||||||||||
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4 Wat-ings and a factory
Filed under: sightseeing - wat Author: Villy
Despite the traffic jams, countless modern malls, bustling open markets that pop up within hours, and crowded side walks where vendor and pedestrians fight for space...it is possible to escape to a peaceful and tranquil WAT (Buddhist temple) in just minutes. If you open up a map of Bangkok (one with icons of tourist sites to visit), you'll notice countless WATs are sprinkled throughout the city; each infamous for something – their location, how fast they can grant your wish, or the type of Buddha (tallest, longest, etc.) that is housed in the temple.
In our attempt to be typical tourists in the city, Villy and I decided to visit a handful of Wats with the help of a local tuk-tuk driver. Although the experience is worth a try, I don't recommend using a tuk-tuk as your regular means of transportation – it is basically a small 3-wheeled vehicle that is a cross between a motobike and horse carriage. The cabin is open and would be considered a pleasant ride if we were in Napa Valley with light traffic and lots of fresh wine air; in Bangkok, this is quite the contrary since we share the road with many cars and exhaust fumes. But the ride is cheap and even cheaper during government subsidized days to promote tourism...our entire trip (4 Wat visits) was suppose to cost us 10 Bahts ($0.31 USD!!) as long as our tuk-tuk driver could take us to a gem factory to collect his free gas coupons. A deal worth paying and even tipping on (which is not a norm here). It's too bad our tuk-tuk driver abandoned us on our 3rd Wat stop...after the gem factory visit, of course. Those must have been some amazing gas coupons!!
Click on photo below for more photos.
In our attempt to be typical tourists in the city, Villy and I decided to visit a handful of Wats with the help of a local tuk-tuk driver. Although the experience is worth a try, I don't recommend using a tuk-tuk as your regular means of transportation – it is basically a small 3-wheeled vehicle that is a cross between a motobike and horse carriage. The cabin is open and would be considered a pleasant ride if we were in Napa Valley with light traffic and lots of fresh wine air; in Bangkok, this is quite the contrary since we share the road with many cars and exhaust fumes. But the ride is cheap and even cheaper during government subsidized days to promote tourism...our entire trip (4 Wat visits) was suppose to cost us 10 Bahts ($0.31 USD!!) as long as our tuk-tuk driver could take us to a gem factory to collect his free gas coupons. A deal worth paying and even tipping on (which is not a norm here). It's too bad our tuk-tuk driver abandoned us on our 3rd Wat stop...after the gem factory visit, of course. Those must have been some amazing gas coupons!!
Click on photo below for more photos.
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| 4 Wat-ings and a Factory |
I just notice that I had our blog was set to only allow comments for people with Google accounts. I have changed the setting to allow anyone to comment so comment away!
Foreign fast food in Thailand
Filed under: food Author: Villy
Thailand was never conquered by a foreign power but they appear to have definitely stopped off for a bite. Walking around the city the last couple weeks we have noticed a ton of foreign fast food restaurants in Thailand.
So far we've only stopped off at two, and even then only really for novelty reasons but the longer we're here, the more I'm sure our bodies will begin to crave the preservatives we've been missing.
Click on the gallery below for more pictures.
So far we've only stopped off at two, and even then only really for novelty reasons but the longer we're here, the more I'm sure our bodies will begin to crave the preservatives we've been missing.
Click on the gallery below for more pictures.
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| Foreign Casual Food |
