Bucharest, Romania - The final day: went up to the top of the Intercontinental Hotel to check out the pool and view - Part 11

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - More huge halls - Part 10

All the days I've stayed at the hotel, I have yet to visit the top floor where the gym and pool are located. The view on that floor was breathtaking. The clear sky allows me to see far. Took a picture of the city. Note the lack of skyscrapers as this region is located on top of a earthquake zone.

A small pool but with a well equipped gym.

The lobby of the hotel is marbled. Looks very 1980s.

To be continued.

Bucharest, Romania - More huge halls - Part 10

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - Wondering inside the second largest building on Earth - Part 09

In this particular room, last year's NATO summit was held. It too has a huge chandelier.

In this particular room, pink marbles are used extensively. Very feminine.

The intricate design of the ceiling decorations are baroque influences.

We were told that thousand of local artisans labored on this building. In fact, it still not finished yet.
 

A glass panel sky-roof overlooking another massive hall.

It is huge enough to play football.

The height is 16 meters from ceiling to floor.

Marble staircase.

Because of the marble, in summer, it is cool in the building.

On a major balcony we can see the city of Bucharest.

Even the balcony is huge.

Notice the lack of any tall buildings.

Bucharest sits on an earthquake zone, hence the hesitant of any developer to plan anything tall.

The Romanians are really proud to be a member of the EU. Everywhere you see a place to hang a flag, there will be an EU flag flying besides a Romanian flag.

To be continued.

Bucharest, Romania - A tour of the second largest building in the world, The Palace of Parliament - Part 08

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - Introducing the bond valaution concept at a World Bank conference and proud to know Malaysia has something unique to share with a lot of developing economies - Part 07

At the end of the conference, the organisers arranged a trip to The Palace of Parliament, a multi-purpose building containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. The Palace is the world's largest civilian building with an administrative function, most expensive administrative building and heaviest building.

We took a bus to get to the building.

It is massive!

Made out of marble, the building holds the world record for the heaviest building in the world.

Very impressive facade. Some technical details of the building:

• 270 m by 240 m, 86 m hight
• 92 m underground
• 1,100 rooms
• 12 stories tall with four additional underground levels currently available and in use (another four in different stages of completion)
• Floor area 340,000 m2 (3,700,000 sq ft)

We are currently mingling outside the building waiting for a guide to come to us.

In Bucharest, the weather was just beautiful, clear skies without any clouds.

BPAM bag in Bucharest.

The tour starts. I though this first room was a hall but I was corrected by the guide, it is only a passageway...wow.

Green carpet and a green dial watch.

The guide. Behind her are busts of famous people from Romania and a tapestry that depicts the history of ancient Romania.

A selfie.

To be continued.

Bucharest, Romania - Introducing the bond valaution concept at a World Bank conference and proud to know Malaysia has something unique to share with a lot of developing economies - Part 07

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - Interesting find as part of the hotel room tidbits - Part 06

The Romanian Banking Institute is situated about 20 minutes walk away from the hotel. Here is where ongoing training of banking professionals in Romania are usually held.

On the third and final day of the conference was my turn to take to the podium to share the Malaysian bond market as well as the aspects of valuation experience in the last 10 years. This was the most liveliest moment of the conference as a lot of developing countries from Europe, Africa and Latin America have not had such concepts introduced into their respective jurisdictions. Questions came thick and fast.

Quite proud to know that Malaysians do have another working idea to share with the developing world and I am in the thick of it. 

Another interesting fact about Romania: for the four days I was there, all mineral water comes from glass bottles. I don't see plastic bottle anywhere.

The picture below was taken when I set down after my presentation for the questions and answers session. Too embarrassed to take a good photo so I took this subtle/sneak picture.  
 

A question being asked by a representative of an Eastern European Central Banker (I believe from Poland).

Its noon-time in Bucharest (I've yet to change the Malaysian time on my watch - Romania is 6 hours behind Malaysia). My session has just ended. Time for lunch!

To be continued.

Bucharest, Romania - Official dinner on the first day of the Conference - Part 05

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - First day of the World Bank Conference - Part 04

After a long and fruitful first day, the Romanian Ministry of Finance hosted a dinner for the participants at a famous local restaurant called Caru Cu Bere somewhere in the Old Quarter of the city.

A selfie I took decked with pullover and scarf. The weather was just about 5 degree Celsius. This place was not far and all of us walked.

The restaurant was situated in a old building with very interesting architecture. The ceiling is full of antique chandeliers and wooden carvings.

Everywhere you can see murals depicting the way of life of Romanians.

A selfie. Note the intricate design of the room.

Food wise, not as spicy as Malaysians are used to. A lot of meat and grilling is a major component of the cooking style. This is based on the food that was chosen by the host and served to us.

To be continued.

Bucharest, Romania - A walk about town - Part 03

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - Checking into Intercontineal Hotel - Part 02

I had the afternoon to explore the city. As the hotel is in the middle of the city, I do not need to walk far to see the sights.

Bucharest is an old and very city. I hardly see any rubbish on the streets. However, I see a lot of graffiti on practically everything in the city. Note the picture below. This is the city campus of one of the primary universities in Romania. Noticed the walls?

Weather was a nice single digit Celsius. Excellent weather for walking.

The Central Bank of Romania has an imposing facade. Romania is very proud of being part of the EU and everywhere you go you will see the Romanian flag as the EU flag flying side by side.

One thing I have to note is the number of casinos as well as the erotic shops in town. They are everywhere. Even the Intercontinental Hotel has a casino. Although I only saw one beggar on the street throughout my four day stay in the city, every time I went out, I would be approached by pimps. Even though I felt safe in the city, the constant badgering by pimps leaves a slight bitter taste to the overall experience. 

Above is the picture of the Intercontinental Hotel. When it was built, it was the tallest building in town. In the picture also you can a typical city park with a lot of statues and sculptures. Note the heavily stickers-ed street lamp.
 

A close up of the hotel structure. Note also the clear blue sky (unlike in Kuala Lumpur which was smoky).

To be continued.

Bucharest, Romania - Checking into Intercontineal Hotel - Part 02

Continuation from Bucharest, Romania - The flight - Part 01

After another 4 and a half hour flight from Doha, I arrived at Bucharest International Airport. The Qatar Airways plan was a small Airbus. A small but modern airport. Weather was a nice 8 degree Celsius.

The airport is reminiscence of the old Subang Airport. Two stories high and a bout 100 meters wide. The car park is right in front of the terminal.

Stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel in the centre of Bucharest. Got a car that was from the hotel and after a short 30 minute drive, arrived at the hotel at around 1 p.m.

The room is very European in concept; warm and loads of fabric.

Internet is not free!

Should be comfortable as a base for the next few nights.

The room number was #825. The view out of the window is the city of Bucharest. Very low buildings. I was made to understand this city sits on a geographical fault-line and suffers from earthquakes once in a while.

Very quaint city that I can't wait to explore.

Loads of marbles in the bathroom. Marble is one of the natural stones found in Romania.

Not a lot of hotels have bidet anymore.

To be continued.