Bertie's Mood

Always Critical and Never Superficial

Category: Actions

  • A dangerous and failed landing in Cuzco, a closed airport in Arequipa: welcome to Tacna

    A dangerous and failed landing in Cuzco, a closed airport in Arequipa: welcome to Tacna

    From a distance, Tacna could be called a border town. Close to the Chilean border, there is little escaping the sand of the coastal desert of Peru that surrounds the city. The city is clearly the economic center of the region and home to a significant mining industry. Using its last breath, the Caplina River…

  • Así será 2017: la pobreza intelectual se consolida

    Así será 2017: la pobreza intelectual se consolida

    2017, desde mi realidad. Habló en 1939 Frida Kahlo de los artistas franceses durante su estancia en palabras no muy halagadoras. En una de sus cartas a su amante Nickolas Muray, escribe “It was worthwhile to come here only to see why Europe is rottening, why all this people – good for nothing – are…

  • The South 2015: Tuesday March 31st 2015: Lithonia, GA

    The South 2015: Tuesday March 31st 2015: Lithonia, GA

    As you drive into Lithonia, very few clues are there to convince you this is much more than a commuter town. A Wal-Mart ungraciously displays it presence and it is joined in its omnipresence by every brand of fuel or motor oil known in America as I am leaving the East Expressway. Tucked away in…

  • The South 2015: Monday March 30th, 2015. Brussels – Atlanta, GA.

    The South 2015: Monday March 30th, 2015. Brussels – Atlanta, GA.

    Have ever noticed that the week before your vacation is often the busiest and more important week at work? All of a sudden everybody needs you, you are deemed irreplaceable and “who is going to do all the work while you’re gone?” is asked more than once during the daily coffee breaks leading up to…

  • The South 2015: chronicles of the unexpected

    The South 2015: chronicles of the unexpected

    Only so few times in a lifetime you take on a journey where you feel a chronicler and an explorer like Pedro Cieza de Leon. Open, inquisitive and with respect for local culture he wrote down his observations of what was then Peru. Not that I am about to detail an expedition with reports of…

  • Chiang Mai: Happy New Year!

    Chiang Mai: Happy New Year!

    January 2nd, 2014, writing from Chiang Mai. When last year in my hometown a true Thai festival -under the patronage of the Thai ambassador- was organized, I was impressed and amazed by the entrepreneurial spirit and managerial skills exhibited by the Thai women present. If not surprised at the number of Thai currently living in…

  • Travellog: Amphawa, a way of life.

    Travellog: Amphawa, a way of life.

    December  21st, 2013, writing at San Sook Guestplace, Ayuthaya. In this economy, it’s all about “experiences” and less about goods. These are not my words, but those of a close personal friend and entrepreneur. I believe he is right. We love, live by and are constantly seeking trusted and new experiences alike. One recent experience…

  • JCIKH Bal Burlesque

    JCIKH Bal Burlesque

    To honor its 35 years of existence, the Jaycees of Knokke-Heist organized a splendid party in the world-renowned Casino of Knokke Saturday May 21, 2011. The evening started with a gala-style outdoor reception, followed by a Walking Dinner inside the casino where new members as well as founding members exchanged experiences and anecdotes accompanied by…

  • First class: Bert as Professor (II)

    As a part of the “Doing Business with South America”, I gave three seminars (in Spanish!!!) at my former University (EHSAL). It was the second time I was invited to teach future business leaders on Latin America. It was a very enriching experience and I enjoyed it very much. First hand I experienced that a…

  • 10 points to help you preparing for the SAP certification.

    Last month I passed what is called the “SAP Certification” for the Materials Management part of SAP. From my (humble) experience, here are 10 rules that will help you get there. 1. Expect the worst but do not fear. “You must do the things you think you cannot do”. Avoid consultants trying to impress you…