2024 marks the 75^th anniversary of Russia (previously USSR) and China diplomatic relations, with both countries having played an enormous part in my life over the past 30 plus years, in both business, culture, and romance. To mark the occasion, the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe of China have developed a new form of ‘acrobatic ballet’ loosely based upon the Swan Lake ballet, but with additional acrobatic routines as part of the performance. It was staged at the Mariinsky Theatre in St.Petersburg, and I was lucky enough to attend. Part an homage to Tchaikovsky, part Chinese Cirque du Soleil, and part just mad, it’s quite the spectacle and an entertaining blend of East and West. I wonder what Mao and Stalin would have made of it. (more…)

Roy Chapman Andrews was a famous explorer and naturalist, who uncovered, as a result of several 1920’s expeditions into the Gobi desert, that dinosaurs laid eggs. He also discovered many new species of dinosaur and helped direct the evolutionary theory that contemporary birds are the evolutionary extension of these prehistoric creatures.

It’s been a glorious spring in Northern Europe this year, a little later than usual however now it has arrived it is absolutely superb. These photos were taken just close to where I live on Lai Street, by the Old Tallinn city walls. These photos show lilac, apple, cherry and horse chestnut blossoms.

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An interesting Nordic classical music concert, “From Ice To Est” at the Tallinn Concert Hall last night, with acclaimed young Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olafsson leading a quartet featuring works by the Estonian composer Arvo Part and Icelandic composers Jon Nordel, Borkell Sigurbjornsson & Snorri Sigfus Birgisson. Some beautiful and often enchanting music, a lot of it reminding me of descriptions of weather and especially rain showers and occasional thunderstorms. Nordic classical music is not so well known, however Estonia has a long and proud musical heritage. It was a real privilege to hear these pieces, which were played,without a break, one after the hour to form a type of symphony. I especially enjoyed the Arvo Part piece, “Peegal Peeglis” for piano and violin.

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A dramatic Mazepa at the Mariinsky last night, in Tchaikovsky’s (via Pushkin) tale of Maria, a girl driven mad by the greed, scheming and conflicts instigated between her Father and Husband. She is the naive victim, only wanting to be loved but instead encountering murder and war. Two intervals, and both much needed to recover and have a stiff drink as her doom marches onto its unrequited conclusion of love and the loss of her redemption. Thought-provoking as much of Tchaikovskys work was – dealing with the cruel hands of fate.

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Prince Igor (Alexander Sergeev) holds aloft a huge sword as he dreams of war. The demon Div (Vasily Tkachenko) looks on in delight

Tischenko’s ballet “Yaroslavna” at the Mariinsky II, a telling of Prince Igor’s campaigns in the east and a warning of demonic influence on men who wage war. Visually stunning, occasionally violent, and musically somewhere between Stravinsky’s “Rite” and a cacophony. Igor’s desire to fight unnecessary wars ultimately results in death and destruction – only the timely intervention of an eclipse saves him. Still, Igor wants war as revenge. Princess Yaroslavna eventually manages to persuade him not too, and the demons fade away – for now. Dramatic and different, and a timely note about today’s political climate. A Mariinsky video about the making of the ballet can be seen here: I found it thrilling, dramatic and a very relevant parable for an increasingly stressed world.

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St.Petersburg is often misnamed “The Venice of the North” – presumably by people who haven’t seen both to compare. Venice is indeed famous for its canals, and it does have those beautiful renaissance era buildings. St.Petersburg’s buildings too were often designed and built by Italian architects, however its canal network, designed in part by Peter the Great, takes more of a stylistic cue from Amsterdam and Manchester than north-eastern Italy.
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Parliament House, with Chingghis Khan’s imposing statue in the centre

Sukhbaatar Square in the Mongolian capital of Ulaan Baatar is named after the man who originally brought democracy and independence to the country back in the early 1920’s. It is the main square in the city. I remember it when there were no skyscrapers, and the vista was stunning and uniform. Today’s progress has rather ruined the effect. However, it is still a lovely place to visit, sit and hang out, as many Mongolians do. These are the views from around the Square.

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I was interviewed today by the lovely Enkezul Orgodol, who I have known for 15 years. She was my tour guide in Mongolia many moons ago, and later became an intern at my firm’s Singapore branch. Today she runs a successful business consultancy and is married with two young children. It’s great to see friends and colleagues doing so well. I don’t often post business things here on my personal blog,but for anyone curious about my professional expertise and what I know, this interview is a good place to get a feel for that.

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Monkey damage to my roof this morning. A bunch of them were after one of my Jak Fruit and the branch broke. Several broken roof tiles and a big mess. Must have been funny to see it but that’s several thousand rupees worth of fixing needs doing. The Jak Fruit they were after is the dark green rugby ball sized object, the yellow gunk insides of other part eaten Jak Fruit. All mixed up with large amounts of smelly green Monkey poo as they collectively shit themselves when the branch broke thirty feet above. Lovely.

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