SAP advice after 8 days of real bad smog (10 times world health norm)

Advisory on Haze/Smog Situation

Dear Colleagues,

SAP gives high priority to the health of its employees and we follow both company and government policies in this regard. As you are likely well-aware, a big part of mainland China has been affected by poor air quality according to the government report. It is decided that SAP will follow the relevant policies of the local governments (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai and etc. ) of those areas affected by recent haze while the company continues to monitor the situation.

If there is need for you to work from home, please consult your direct manager.

During periods of high air pollution, people in affected areas, including those with underlying heart or lung conditions (such as bronchitis or asthma), pregnant mothers, and young children are advised to:
 Minimise time outdoors;
 Reduce physical exertion;
 Keep windows and doors closed;
 Consider using an air cleaning device;
 Use an air conditioner in ‘recirculate’ mode;
 Consider using a respirator (N95 mask or equivalent) while outdoors;
• Consult your direct manager if there is a need to work from home; and
 Consult your medical practitioner if you are feeling unwell.

Best regards,

SAP APJ Crisis Management Team

And some not-to-miss tips & tricks from our Central Park management for the residents 🙂 :

Room with no view…

And this is China too:
In 2 hours the pollution drops from 450 to 50. Open the windows! Back to blue!

End of spring festival

Hopefully real colour will come back to Beijing soon. (5 300+ days in a row 😦 )

Gone

Beijing became my new home, I’m gone or better I arrived.

What happens to you when you stay away for 2 years and didn’t touch dutch soil for 11 months? Why should I go back and to what? What do I miss and what not? Who do I miss? How far is the Netherlands? What excitement will I loose when I return? Which opportunities will Asia have for me? 

Somehow I’m in nomansland and feel strong desire to stay in Asia. Home is where your family is, your hart bounces and by the way we are not far away, only 10 hours 🙂
It’s a small world in the end.

Hong Kong Stanley

The other side of the hills.
2-faced city…

Sunday Yum Cha, chinese dimsum brunch.

Hong Kong, finding Bruce…

Found him the second time.
Bruce Lee ànd Jackie Chan on avenue of the stars, yay! Tick it of the to-do-list and move on.

Hong Kong nightlife

Sweet!
From hidden clubs and bars in Soho with overpriced cocktails to a kind of a mardi gras at Lan Kwai Fong, where you hop in a 7 Eleven to grab a drink and party on the street. They even open the bottle for you 🙂

Hong Kong, the Peak

Next quest: finding bus 15 to Victoria Peak, because (a little bird told us) the famous peak tram is way to boring and touristic. For better thrills take the bus up on those small bendy roads.
Didn’t find it…
So, we went the boring way up but the scary way down! Fasten your seatbelts!

Hong Kong, girlsweekend!

Escaping Beijing with Kristen. First quest: finding Bruce (Lee)….
Didn’t!
But did find a really nice hidden bar, nightmarket and divy massage place (with cute pants)

Bukaopu

(= not to be trusted, in chinees)
The name of the performers we spent a night out with. Music, magic, chinese kids-songs, Mario the classic and lots of talking. Valentines day and lantern festival at the bookworm.

Pollution again

Again indoor days… But interesting is: this is now front page news in China. Everybody knows many rich people are leaving because they can leave, it is bad and the government should do something.
I have hope: we can talk about it and if the Chinese want to solve it they will!

Article says: Beijing unfavorable for human living….