Tom Branna, Chief Content Officer12.01.23
Life lessons come in the strangest places. After I made plans to attend In-Cosmetics Asia last month, I mentioned to a long-time friend that I hoped to visit an animal sanctuary and wash elephants.
“You know that you’ll be up to your waist in elephant ***, right?” he smirked.
“That’s okay, I’m used to it,” I replied. “Back in the office, I’m up to my neck in bull**** on a regular basis.”
In-Cosmetics Asia was held in Thailand, November 7-9. But when you’re exhibiting at a show, it usually doesn’t matter if you’re in Berlin, Baltimore or Bangkok. Trade show floors all look and feel pretty much the same. It wasn’t until the last day of In-Cosmetics Asia, that things slowed down long enough for me to chat with the exhibitor and advertiser across the aisle.
“How lucky are we that we get to travel the world for a living?” asked John Oliver, owner and president of McKinley Resources. “We get to experience things that most people never do.”
That was Life Lesson No. 1.
Life Lesson No. 2 is that all sanctuaries aren’t the same. In fact, being in the water with elephants can stress them. Another preserve, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (PES), lets visitors feed elephants, but no bathing allowed.
I asked a PES guide if washing elephants harmed the animals, she replied: “No, but who needs a bath two times a day, every day?”
My wife says, sometimes, I could use three! Anyway, going forward, I’ll stay out of the water when I’m viewing wildlife.
I’m grateful to you, Happi readers, for keeping me employed another year! We hope you enjoy this edition of Happi. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Have a happy and safe holiday season and we’ll see you in 2024!
Tom Branna
Chief Content Officer
tbranna@rodmanmedia.com
“You know that you’ll be up to your waist in elephant ***, right?” he smirked.
“That’s okay, I’m used to it,” I replied. “Back in the office, I’m up to my neck in bull**** on a regular basis.”
In-Cosmetics Asia was held in Thailand, November 7-9. But when you’re exhibiting at a show, it usually doesn’t matter if you’re in Berlin, Baltimore or Bangkok. Trade show floors all look and feel pretty much the same. It wasn’t until the last day of In-Cosmetics Asia, that things slowed down long enough for me to chat with the exhibitor and advertiser across the aisle.
“How lucky are we that we get to travel the world for a living?” asked John Oliver, owner and president of McKinley Resources. “We get to experience things that most people never do.”
That was Life Lesson No. 1.
Life Lesson No. 2 is that all sanctuaries aren’t the same. In fact, being in the water with elephants can stress them. Another preserve, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (PES), lets visitors feed elephants, but no bathing allowed.
I asked a PES guide if washing elephants harmed the animals, she replied: “No, but who needs a bath two times a day, every day?”
My wife says, sometimes, I could use three! Anyway, going forward, I’ll stay out of the water when I’m viewing wildlife.
I’m grateful to you, Happi readers, for keeping me employed another year! We hope you enjoy this edition of Happi. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Have a happy and safe holiday season and we’ll see you in 2024!
Tom Branna
Chief Content Officer
tbranna@rodmanmedia.com