Randy's Rants

I thought, I'll put up this Newsletter I subscribe here. As it touch on my
country Singapore and Neighbour Malaysia. Pretty interesting
read. If you have the time that is, as it's rather long..

There's a link to subscribe way down below .. if you like it!

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Randy's Rants
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Romance in the Air…Clarity in KL

Dear fauzi,

Remember when the airlines placed a little cloth mat on the top
of each seat for sanitary reasons, and actually changed them
after each flight, so you didn’t pick up the dandruff and
cooties from the last slob?

Can you recall when “flight attendants” were “stewardesses,”
they had perky personalities, wore elegant uniforms, and we all
thought they had the coolest jobs in the world?

Think back to when the seat in front of you didn’t press against
your knees, or cause you mortal danger if the passenger in that
seat actually reclined it.

Remember when travelers didn’t come to the airport looking like
they were supposed to be at the bus depot? Think back to a time
when someone attentively noticed if your meal was finished and
whisked away your tray, or your glass was half empty and they
topped it off.

Can you remember when air travel – dare I say it – had a little
romance attached to it?

I thought the era officially died with the touchdown of BA 002
in London, the last return flight of Concorde back from New
York. But of course it wasn’t actually a sudden death like that.

It was a long, lingering illness, with much suffering, the
patient on life support and an oxygen tent, never dying, but not
quite in a state you could call living…

If an autopsy were done, the medical examiner would have said
death came from a multitude of causes.

It was Frank Lorenzo auctioning off Eastern Airlines, route by
route, gate by gate. It was the disappearance of other icons
like TWA and Pan Am.

It was President George “Give ‘em liberty, or give ‘em death”
Bush invading Iraq, and eventually creating an environment where
he could sell terror alerts, homeland security, and the Travel
Sucks Administration (TSA).

So now to simply take an airline flight, you must go through a
screening process equivalent to what you would have to do to
enter a maximum security prison. Which of course you are.

Remember when the British guy tried to blow up the plane with
his shoe bomb? Which is why the TSA makes take your shoes off
now every time you got through a security checkpoint. I got some
interesting figures from Joe Brancatelli about that. Since then,
three Billion people have gone through he checkpoints. And you
know how many shoe bombing plots they have foiled? Exactly zero.
Which means you have 150 times better odds to win the Florida
Lottery than have your plane blown up.

Which begs the question? Who is more stupid? The dim-witted shoe
bomber who couldn’t operate his Bic lighter, or you and I for
putting up with all this nonsense.

Anyway, back to the causes of death…

It was the nit-wit boneheads at the legacy carriers thinking
they could create Continental Lite, TED, SONG, and the other
ridiculous and futile attempts to create budget airlines within
the framework of union workforces, hub and spoke route systems,
and tortuous fare structures, which couldn’t be more convoluted
had they be designed by a brain-dead moron on crack.

Ok I apologize for that last comment. It’s not fair to the
brain-dead, morons, or crack addicts. They’re all much smarter
than those airline executives.

It was every teeny, tiny little decision, like charge a
redemption fee to use frequent flier miles, sell ads on the
napkins, push the seat rows tighter together, take pillows off
the planes, take the olives out of the salads, take salads out
of the lunches, take lunches out of the flights, and hundreds of
other decisions, all of which had the cumulative effect of
sucking the glamour, fun, and romance out of flying.

Of course we must also affix some blame to the traveling public…

They have proven they will eagerly trade away their dignity,
comfort and common sense, to save a couple bucks on an airplane
ticket.

The herd will gladly add a connection with an extra flight and
another 400 miles out of their way to save $40. They will stand
in line up at the boarding gate for 45 minutes, to fight for a
seat on a cattle car carrier to save an extra $80. When that
300-pound person comes in last and squeezes into the middle seat
next to them, they will rue the day. But not enough to pony up
more next time.

A six-foot-two person will spend three hours in a seat built for
someone five-foot-six to save $200. Not only will the herd put
up with filthy cabins, un-stocked restrooms, and desultory
service, but they will fly that same carrier again and again.

But I’m ranting again, aren’t I?

Anyway, if we are going to look for the causes of the death of
the era of glamorous air travel, there are plenty of guilty
parties. But what if I told you the patient isn’t dead yet?

There is a pulse. A possible cure. There is hope!

It comes in the form of Singapore Airlines. (And of course
Emirates, but they don’t seem to fly anywhere I’m going.)

I’m on another around-the world trip. I started in Miami with my
first stop Auckland, New Zealand, then went on to Australia,
Malaysia and Singapore, where I am now. From here I go to
Germany, then back home in time to play in a double header to
open the softball season this weekend.

As long-time readers know, I am not looking for bargains when I
travel. I want to be productive on the flight, eat well, and
arrive at my destination rested and refreshed. Unfortunately,
even buying a First Class ticket no longer ensures that.

So I usually base my flight choices for long international trips
on frequent flier programs, figuring that keeping elite status
with a few airlines provides me with less abuse and a few more
perks on the many domestic flights I take a year.

Anyway this time around, I decided that even 30,000 qualifying
miles, plus the elite bonuses aren’t worth flying around the
globe in a dingy cabin with bad food and apathetic service. So I
went with the alliance that had Singapore Airlines available for
the long haul flights. Sure glad I did.

The LA to Auckland flight was on Air New Zealand. They have
pleasant enough service (certainly better than Qantas), but
their lie-flat bed is made only for anorexic supermodels.

Each seat kind of curves, and they are so narrow (and not for
tall people) that sleep isn’t very comfortable. Frankly I sleep
better on older style seats that don’t recline a full 180
degrees, but are wider and softer.

Once you get on Singapore Airlines, you know that something is
different. A flight attendant walks you to your seat and takes
your jacket. Their First Class seats are the widest in the air.
Even the Business Class seats are wider than most. Crew members
rush to open the door for you when you use the lavatory. The
lavs are spotlessly clean and well stocked. The crew is
friendly, helpful, and downright gracious.

Can you imagine that? The words airline and gracious in the same
paragraph. The pillows actually have satin pillowcases on them.
The cabin is clean and they actually have those little linen
covers on the headrests.

I don’t know that we will ever return to the era when flying was
glamorous. But dare I say it? Singapore Airlines actually has
actually put some of the romance back in flying!

The trip so far has been a wonderful adventure. I love New
Zealand, and Auckland is just flat out cool. And Melbourne
rivals Sydney as the best city in Australia. The mix of
cultures, burgeoning artistic community, and general Aussie
attitude make it a must-visit stop on any trip down under. The
weather in both places was perfect, a nice respite before the
next two stops, which straddle the equator.

This was my first time in Malaysia. Those commercials on CNN
International have intrigued me for years, so I was very happy
to finally get there.

What a mind-bending experience Malaysia has been for me. I have
always prided myself on the diversity of my friends, and my
affinity for other cultures, languages, and people. My social
circle has always included Arabs and energy healers, Orthodox
Jews and psychologists, Gays and Buddhists, Latinos and
entrepreneurs, ministers and mountain climbers, Atheists and
Asians, hip hoppers and opera tenors.

If I ever gave dinner parties (which unfortunately I don’t),
they would be the most enlightening, stimulating and interesting
way you could spend an evening. As you know from my latest book,
I love spirituality, though I’m not very keen on organized
religion.

Yet it warms my heart seeing Jews heading to the synagogue near
my home, I relish the opportunity to pray with those in my
church, and it always gave me a sense of great peace to see
someone in an airport chapel praying to Mecca.

I enjoyed a fascinating discussion about Shiva with a priest in
a Hindu temple in Fiji, spent a weekend in silent meditation at
a monastery, and experienced deep bliss praying in a Shaolin
temple.

As a critical thinker, I am open to question my beliefs on
anything at any time. So I have spent countless hours,
evaluating my beliefs about God. I remember one Christmas eve,
when I was in serious contemplation about whether God really
existed.

I went to church, and in the service, there was only the light
of 800 candles illuminating the sanctuary, as we all sang
“Silent Night.” I was thinking that if this whole God thing was
a man-made fantasy – it was a pretty good one.

I have never concerned myself with labels, however. While I
despise the hateful, extremist fundamentalists of all faiths, I
have always embraced the truly spiritual in each of those belief
systems. I have always had the highest level of respect for a
spiritual scholar, whether cleric, priest, Rabbi, or minister.

Yet if I am absolutely honest, I must admit I have allowed
myself to be brainwashed, and bought into some of the hate that
fills the air today. I remember waiting for a plane from Paris
to Miami, about three months after the 9/11 attacks. At the gate
in Charles de Gaulle, six young Arab men wearing traditional
khandura robes spread their prayer mats down and began to pray.

Where as before I would have been warmed at the site of such
spiritual devotion – at that time, I couldn’t help but have
fleeting thoughts about whether they were there to hijack the
plane.

Even though I try and inoculate myself from the news media, you
can’t help but hear the pronouncements of President Bush and his
merry band of NeoCon Nazis. Even watching Bill Maher, who I
revere, has programmed me with some additional negative beliefs
about Islam. If I walk in a room and encounter a man with a long
beard, I do a double take, just to make sure it isn’t Osama bin
Laden.

So what an experience Malaysia was for me…

One of my local reps set up a series of press interviews for my
book while I was there. They wrote me ahead of time saying that
since the country is about 80% Muslims, I may want to downplay
my comments on organized religion and fundamentalists. And since
it was my first visit to a predominantly Muslim country since my
book came out, I must admit I was a little anxious.

What a waste of mental energy. My first clue was my welcoming
committee at the airport, which included Maria, a Muslim woman
in traditional dress. Who it turns out is one of the most
delightful people I have ever met.

Malaysia is the textbook example of how different cultures,
religions and ethnic heritage can live together in harmony.
Kuala Lumpur is a bustling metropolis that makes you feel like
you’ve just landed in a James Bond movie. It is a wonderful
mélange of languages, dialects and customs, all melded together
in a wonderful community of shared experience, aspirations and
dreams of a better life.

On the Malaysian peninsula, they have some issues in some areas,
as you might expect where some states have more than 30
dialects. But people find a way to work them out.

The country is an astonishing blend of ancient culture and
modern politics. There are 13 states, four which have a kind of
Federal jurisdiction, and nine ruled by Sultans. (Who each take
turn being King in five-year terms. Nice work, if you can get
it.) There is also a modern-day Prime Minister. Malaysia is
celebrating its 50th year of statehood this year.

Although the vast majority of the citizens are Muslim, you’ll
find women are quite empowered in Malaysia. My eyeballs
practically popped out of my head, when I encountered two women
in burqas, riding a motorcycle with their helmets on top of
their traditional head covering. The Malaysian equivalent of our
US Federal Reserve Board is run by a woman, as are many other
civil service positions.

Maria who was my guide for the weekend, is raising three
children by herself. If you have ever attended my seminars, you
know I like the music pumping at earth-shattering levels during
the build up and breaks. I was waiting backstage in the green
room with the music reverberating, when I noticed she was
dancing along. And I mean she had it going on!

I couldn’t help laughing and telling the event staff, “there is
a Muslim woman with her head covered next to me, dancing to a
Ricky Martin song!” (“She Bangs” no less.) Somehow I had never
envisioned that happening in my life.

All told my visit to Malaysia was simply sublime. There were
huge crowds at my book signing and seminar, the English, Malay,
and Chinese daily papers all did positive feature stories on my
stay there, and several more magazines interviewed me for future
stories. Everywhere I went, the people welcomed me with warmth,
friendship, and love.

There are 25 million people in Malaysia, and I think I had my
picture taken with 24 million of them. My cheeks are frozen like
Jack Nicholson when he played the Joker in that Batman movie.

The Muslims (and everyone else) in Kuala Lumpur are a lot like
the Catholics in Venezuela, the Mormons in Salt Lake City, the
Hasidic Jews in New York, or the people I pray with at my church
on Sundays. They want the same things we all do. Connection,
recognition, security, respect, meaning, and love.

I don’t know about you, but this visit is really what I needed
right now. With all the hateful talk, belligerent posturing, and
war mongering going on in the world right now, it’s nice to get
back in touch with real people and remember what’s really real.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still people who want to execute
me because of who I am, and others who want to kill you because
of what you believe. And some who want to take out both of us.
But that’s not the majority. The biggest group is the good guys.
I just needed to be reminded of that.

In Singapore, it was more of the same as Malaysia. Due to the
nature of the government there (think benevolent dictator), it’s
quite a study of contrasts. They are forever doing campaigns to
eradicate graffiti, clean up litter, get people to read more,
stop swearing, ban gum chewing and all sorts of other things
that the government feels will make you a better citizen.

They want everyone to be happy little members of the collective;
homosexuality is illegal, and they want to monitor what web
sites you visit. They still do public canings, and capital
punishment still looms for serious offenses. It’s kind of like
what the US would be like if the Republicans were in power for
30 years. Picture Walt Disney World, only with the death penalty
if you dis Mickey.

Yet the Singaporean people are as welcoming, hospitable, and
friendly as you could hope for. The city is teeming with new
construction, with skyscrapers dominating the view in every
direction. The ubiquitous Housing and Development Board
high-rise apartment blocks fill the horizon in every direction.
And there are many towering new office buildings, which are
magnificent to see.

I stayed at the Ritz Carlton Millenia, which is simply
spectacular. Ritz is the only chain that can hold its own with
the Four Seasons. My spacious marble bathroom had a huge octagon
shaped picture window in it, with a stunning view of the city.
Wednesday night after my program, I filled the tub with steaming
water and mineral salts, and just luxuriated in the moment,
watching the pulsating lights of the city. I drifted off to
sleep and only woke when the water cooled down.

The ethos of the Singaporeans at my seminar was the same as it
was in Novosibirsk, Zagreb, or Kiev. People with a dream,
looking for a better life for their children, and eager to grow
and learn. I felt honored to be there speaking to them.

Now the Strait of Malacca is off the left wing and the Gulf of
Thailand off the right. We’re heading toward the Andaman Sea and
the Bay of Bengal, then we’ll fly over India, Pakistan and
Afghanistan, on the way to landing in Frankfurt.

I’m on the upper deck of a 747, in the cocooning embrace of
Singapore Airlines once again. Truth be told, it’s one of their
older planes and the seats aren’t as spacious as the other ones.
They don’t give amenity bags, even though it is a 14-hour
flight.

But they still win me over with the service…

Lunch was spaghetti and it was absolutely delicious. The
entertainment system is great, so I’m catching up on all those
Oscar movies I never saw. I took a nap earlier, and one of the
flight attendants actually came over and pulled up the blanket a
little and tucked me in. I think I’m in love!

-RG

P.S. to you guys in Florida who are interested in professional
speaking, consulting, and being information entrepreneurs: I am
conducting a program with Lisa Jimenez for the Florida Speakers
Association at their annual Speakers School. It is titled, “How
to Build an Entrepreneurial Empire Through Speaking and
Consulting.”

Come to this if you want to learn how to set up and position
your business with income coming in from speaking engagements,
public seminars, coaching programs, consulting, and product
sales. You'll discover how to develop ongoing residual income
and create a broad-based business that is fun, challenging, and
lucrative. Get all the details here. It is a long URL, so you
may need to cut and paste it in your browser.
http://www.florida-speakers.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Events.Display&EventID=97
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