RE/MAX Hallmark Blog

Eat and Drink anyone?

I guess I could be labeled as a fussy eater to some. I am really a meat and potato kind of guy, although I will on occasion sample fish - on rare occasions. Give me a beautiful bowl of pasta anytime and I am satisfied.

So when I see what my son Michael has always been willing to sample in the food department I am amazed. Even as a toddler, he was first in line to eat up all of the escargot, always gobbling up my portion. The kid has always been adventurous when it came to things.

Right now he is traveling throughout the Vietnam and Cambodia region and is really getting into different foods and drinks. He sent along to me a photo of what was being sold to locals for their evening dinner. Even he couldn't bring himself to trying to out.

But he did sample the local wine. It is called Snake Wine because at the bottom of the jug is a neatly coiled 8 foot snake, rapped around it's chicken prey. Michael tells me he was glad he didn't get a good look at the bottom of the carafe before he drank. Coincidentally in the same email to me he asked if his travel health insurance is still up to date!

Somehow I am sure he will be up to sampling even more interesting foods and drinks in the upcoming months.

Viva Las Vegas

Don't know what to really think about Las Vegas. I just returned from the RE/MAX International Convention which is always jammed packed with a lot of convention things to do. This year was no exception.

Speakers, courses, seminars and fun activities. I think Duncan Fremlin who was at the same convention put it right when he said he finally figured out what to do at a convention. Meet and talk to people. So many of us go to conventions and just hang out with "our group." Dunc says get out there and hand out cards, meet and greet. Not only will new friends be made but business will come from referrals for sure.

Our friends in the States are really having a tough time of it for the most part. Sales are off, deals are harder to come by. The convention focused on how to help Realtors deal with this type of market. Not really of big interest to Canadians but food for thought just the same.

They say the best way to try to figure out a city is to ask a cab driver. Cab drivers will usually offer their opinion on most everything imaginable. My question, what is life like here in Vegas." Overwhelming the response I got was one of survival, working to stay ahead of the game. Just existing. It all seems surreal to me, the glitz and glamour. I suppose beneath the surface things are tough for the local people.

Maybe I am too cynical for Vegas, can't imagine living there.

"You gotta love Shep"

"You gotta love Shep." I can't count how many times I have heard that phrase over the years. Usually uttered in conversation about what Shep was up to at the time. Always one for discovering life and making it an adventure, Shep is at it once again.

In the past week or so, I have talked to Shep on several occasions, as I usually do. This time I am talking to him while he is in Bali Indonesia with his two daughters (Meghan and Sam) and his girlfriend Kim. Shep is on another adventure, touring around and laying his "Shepism's" on anyone who will listen. For those who don't know, a "Shepism" is  profound saying about a situation on life which comes out of the mouth of Shep. Shep has always been able to come up with Shepism's at any appropriate or inappropriate time.

Right now he is having the time of his life. Traveling with his daughters and Kim. He is presently  learning how to scuba dive. His youngest daughter Sam is a master diver. Shep told me it is much harder (and more fun) to do then snow boarding which he took up a couple of years ago. Seems Shep does alot of things which his kids take up, not a bad way to go about life.

In his usual form, Shep has made friends with many of the locals in Bali. He tells me he has been invited into many of the Elders of the community homes to have dinner with them and to get to know them. They must think he is some character for sure. I can just imagine some Indonesian grandmother having a conversation with Shep and Shep laying one of his "Shepism's" on her. Respectful he is, but boy can he be unpredictable.

Shep tells me Bali is the most beautiful place he has ever been. Not only because of the natural beauty of the surroundings, but for the people living there. He says they are quite amazing. I am sure they are, and I am sure they think he is too.

CHILE

Ever since I studied South America in High School, I have had a yearning to visit the southern hemisphere. My inclination was to think of South America as underdeveloped, rough and maybe a bit dangerous. I am sure it is in certain spots of the continent. Friends have told me of their travels to Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and how they barely escaped with their lives, vowing never to return.

Nonetheless, I continued to have a strange attraction to South America. When I first started out as a realtor in the late 1970's and early 1980's I met a fellow Realtor who was from Chile. I often asked him why he had left and what life was like in his home country. Political turmoil was rampant and north he flew. Up until March of this year, some 25 plus years later, he was the only person I had ever met from Chile.

Recently I have been hearing from more and more people about how great the country of Chile is, "you have to visit it Ken, it is sooo inexpensive to buy real estate there. Hurry, before it is really discovered by the rest of the world."

Prior to March break I sat down with two of my oldest boys to discuss with them what they wanted to do. Skiing, go to a beach or maybe something alittle different. We didn't have alot of time, but we wanted to make the most of it. We talked about going to Chile, after all it was only a 10 hour flight from Toronto, but it was non stop and only one time zone away!!! I talked with a friend of mine who owns an amazing company called Zebrano. Her company, www.zebrano.com basically helps companies and families with all of their needs. Catering, travel, restaurant suggestions. Interesting stuff that people who may be busy need help with. Wendy and her husband Peter have been to Chile several times and have told me how amazing it is. So after several conversations with Wendy, the decision was made. Off to Chile we go for a very short March break trip.

We arrived in Santiago, a beautiful, clean, safe city of 6 million people bright and early Saturday morning after flying overnight from Toronto. Remarkably refreshed and ready to explore the city. And explore we did. Not stopping until late Saturday evening. Santiago is very easy to get around in, great modern subway system, excellent roads, and a fantastic layout. We walked everywhere, not once did we feel unsafe or threaten. So much for fearing South America!!

On Sunday we rented a car and drove the 104 K to the Pacific coast to explore the beaches and coastal cities and towns. It was so easy, super highways, little traffic and a fantastic coastline. The entire area reminded me of California, less developed but just as modern.

On Monday we again explore Santiago, which was fast becoming one of my favourite cities in the world. Although very few people spoke English, we easily could connect to our Spanish friends. That Monday evening we took the short 15 minute taxi ride from downtown Santiago for our flight home from the airport.

So we traveled 10 hours each way overnight to spend 3 full days in Chile and my sons and I would do it again this weekend!

An interesting thing happened. My sons and I were walking on Sunday, map in hand and of course we were lost. I said, where is the sun, since it was afternoon the location of the  sun would tell us where south was, which would help us in reading our map. My son reminded me that actually the afternoon sun was in the north in mid day in the southern hemisphere. Guess all the money I am spending on his university education is paying off.