PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2017

EDITOUR PET planet Insider Vol. 18 No. 01+02/17 www.petpla.net 30 Overheard: views on the South East Asia Road Show, three weeks before the start South East Asia Road Show With preparations for the coming South East Asia Road Show well underway, the PETplanet offices are buzzing with excitement – and a little apprehension! The publishers have divided the tour into four parts, specifically so that they could also visit the up-coming Propak fairs in Vietnam and Thailand. Part 1 of the tour will take the editors to Indonesia, part 2 Cambodia and Vietnam, part 3 Malaysia and Singapore and finally part 4 will be covering Thailand and Laos. We thought it would be interesting to eavesdrop on the discussions in the office between tour organiser Kay Barton and publisher Alexander Büchler. It soon became clear that time is rapidly running out and some appointments are still very much in the air. Will the tour go ahead as planned, nevertheless? Alexander Büchler: In three weeks I fly to Indonesia and I still haven’t booked the flight. Kay Barton: Ok, we need to get a move on. We ought to be finished with the tour by summer, before the rainy season starts. And then, at drinktec, we aim to do a presentation on all the companies visited. Alexander Büchler: Yes, but as usual with our tours, not all appoint- ments have yet been confirmed. In Indonesia we’ve got tentative appoint- ments with Indo Tirta Abadi, Indo Kompresigma, Dynaplast, Namasin- dro Plas and Production Recycling Indonesia. How are things going with the vehicle marking? Kay Barton: The layout has been begun, but we are designing it so that sponsors who come in late will still be able to come on board. My worry at the moment is driving in these coun- tries. Our contacts are saying that we would be well advised to use a local driver rather than doing it ourselves. Alexander Büchler: I think I’ll trust my instinct. Satay kebabs on banana leaves and platefuls of rice will be our guiding beacons. Kay Barton: Yes, and you won’t be sweating with panic as happened in Peru during our Latin America tour of 2013 when you came down with severe cramp after negotiating those serpentine mountain bends. Alexander Büchler: Indeed. Now, how are you getting on with your part of the tour to Cambodia and Vietnam? Kay Barton: After my experiences in India, I’m immune to any kind of traffic situation. Besides, Rolf* will be organising for me a Satnav that works. The trick is to drive defensively and then it’ll be fine. I just hope the vehicle can take it. Alexander Büchler: Do you remember that gear damage in Latin America, the broken windscreen during the Russia tour and the engine breakdown in the USA? The good thing is that South East Asia is famous for its generous hospitality so if there is a problem, we should be able to count on getting help from the compa- nies we visit. Kay Barton: So maybe we should ask these companies to be ready and waiting with a box of tools! Actually, joking apart, we’ve had great support on our tours with the problems we have encountered, so I’m confident all will be well this