Asamer Weihnachtsfeier in Mondsee

 Kurz vor Weihnachten gab es dann noch ein kleines gesellschaftliches Highlight: Die Wihnachtsfeier der Fa. Asamer in Mondsee. Speziell für die von Veranstaltungen ausgehungerten Expats aus Libyen eine Wohltat. Aber, auch jede Menge libyscher Gäste war geladen und so gab es heuer erstmals drei "Libyen" Tische.
Für mich war es das erste mal im idyllischen Mondsee, aber auch bei der Weihnachtsfeier.

 Manfred Asamer, der CEO der Asamer Gruppe leitete den Abend mit einer Ansprache ein, die relativ klare Worte für die schwierige Situation der Bauindustrie fand, aber dennoch Raum für Optimismus offenliess. "Da müssen wir durch" lautet die Devise. Warm anziehen und durchtauchen ist also das Motto für 2013.
Vielleicht kann das Engagement in Libyen ja einen kleinen Impuls zum Aufschwung beitragen. Es käme zur richtigen Zeit.

Merry Xmas

Merry Christmas to all my readers !

Happy Independence Day Libya !

On 24th December 1951 Libya gained independence after the events of WW II and the following administration by the UK, France and the US.
Congratulations to this big event !
These days even kites already have Libyan colours, in order to honour the happenings in Libya.

Weihnachts Punsch im AC Tripolis

Da darf man sich schon geehrt fühlen wenn die gesamte OMV Truppe (Management Team) zum Weihnachts Empfang des AC Tripolis einreitet. Ok, ok, eine Person fehlt, aber er ist gut begründet entschuldigt ;-)
Ansonsten darf man sich als OMV Manager ja nicht so einfach ausserhalb des Büros oder des gesichterten Camps bewegen. Da sorgen dann auch Begleitpersonen dafür, dass dies eingehalten wird. Es soll bereits Fluchtversuche gegeben haben, aber dem wachsamen Auge des Sicherheitspersonals entgeht nichts. Verdächtige ansammlungen von OMV Mitarbeitern werden sofort aufeglöst und es soll auch den ein oder anderen Unterläufer geben, der über geplante Aktivitäten berichtet.
Besonders hartnäckige Fälle werden für zwei Wochenenden in Palm City behalten.
Somit darf ich den Weihnachtspunsch als "Business Essential" einstufen, ist ja auch kein Wunder, wenn sich die Creme de la Creme der österreichischen Wirtschaftstreibenden einfindet.
Zu trinken gab es natürlich österreichische "Säfte"...

OMV Krampus in Tripoli

Luckily some things don´t change. Mainly if some persons keep old and well established traditions. One of these traditions is the OMV Xmas / Nikolo invitation.
By tradition, Franco Caparotti of OMV comes as "Nikolo" or "Krampus" and gives out presents to persons who have deserved it during the year.
Unfortunately the OMV guest house in Regatta has not been available for this event in 2012, so it was held in a smaller setup.
However, I heard that 2013 will see the return of the BIG Krampus party.  

The Future Development in Libya

Just in time for a Christmas gift, Colonel Pusztai makes his analysis on the future development of Libya available to everybody interested.
Above you just see one slide (the one on economy), the full presentation also covers all different kinds of risks.
It that can be downloaded with the link below.
 
Presentation Col.Pusztai

Tripoli´s 9 hole championship course

Many foreigners complain that weekends are boring in Tripoli. Well, I am sure they have not discovered all the beauties here.

Like "Ghargharesh International Golf course" for instance. A true 9 hole championship course, though a bit different from what you might expect.

Starting off Tee number 1 you have a wonderful view to the clubhouse. Ok, at the moment it is still under construction, but one can already now imagine the unique architecture filled with marble, chandellier and state of the art locker rooms with jacuzzi, steamroom and sauna. Overlooking the deep blue mediterranean with the sun setting over the ocean.
Sorry, I got carried away...

 Later on, my golf buddy Stefan and me found out that hole no 1 is actually hole no 5 but we probably missed the signs that pointed towards the starting tee.
Two dogs showed us the way and we thought they must know it. On the first T-box an old shoe was waiting already to be used as a tee.

And what a golf course the "Gharghares championship course" is: If you are not playing accurate, you easily end up in the rough. And believe me, you don`t want to to be in the rough on that course. Very challenging to get out again, and no "ground under repair sign which would let you have a free drop". Also no red stakes which would let you drop with a penalty, so one must play the ball as it lies.

Even on the fairway you sometimes make acquaintance with objects that do not belong to the course.  According to the rules, man made objects can be removed without penalty, or you have a free drop. So I could move the broom without penalty and luckily the tablet blister did not hinder my swing.

Finally we arrive at the signature hole. "The brown double monster" it is called. Always well protected by a local dog who takes away each and every ball that does not land on the green. 

Stefan is playing a very ambitious round. No wonder, after the first few wholes he is only very few shots over par. But then the unavoidable happened: The ball goes into the heavy rough. Very heavy rough. But he does not give up. Do some of you still remember the French Jean Van de Welde? Who did not give up at the 18th hole, played into the water and then even out of the water (where he actually lost it). Not giving up is also Stefan´s thing.

 Finally we meet the "real guys" Those local golf fanatics that would come every weekend to play a round on this challenging course. On the picture we see Ramadan, doing his last business call before starting off tee number 1.
And those guys really know how to play.

Of course, golf fashion is slightly different than in Continental Europe: The revolution left its footprint and thus military look is very much en vogue.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to tell the best thing about golf in Tripoli: It´s completely free of charge... but I guess not for long anymore.