Asian Crossroads

This year's IFA regional conference in Hanoi seems even more productive than ever. Registered attendance was 280, with a few more hitch-hikers working the shadows. The Intercontinental Hotel was excellent, serving as a real benchmark for Vietnam's progress since IFA's last visit to Hanoi in 2002. If we were to comment on Hanoi as a destination, our only regret is the ever present smog that seems to be a trademark of progress in this region. Try as it might, the sun was never able to break through the haze and shine on our beautiful lakeside venue. The program was very interesting, holding its own against a changing conference culture within our industry. Specifically, there seems to a growing appetite even at this conference for scheduled meetings as opposed to group social and educational programs. The annual Kim Gai Soh golf tournament still has a loyal core group of supporters. We played this year at the Kings' Island Lake Course which is a great track. The jungle and water hazards that line this course are framed by ubiquitous beds of a flowering but impenetrable ground cover which can be challenging. Good thing that we are often encouraged to...stop and smell the flowers.