 And aloha, my name is Mark Shklav, I am the host of think tech Hawaii's law across the C program. You know, being a lawyer is not only about the practice of law. Lawyers have clients and some lawyers even have friends. Those clients and friends have interesting business and personal activities that are not subject to the attorney client privilege and we can talk about them, we can share Today, we're going across the sea with my friend, Hawaii businessman, Robbie Gessel. Robbie likes to mix his business trips to various countries with walking. We call our program today old man walking because we want everybody to know that there are healthy physical activities that become even better with the wisdom of age, with travel, with business and on the ground experience. So Robbie Gessel, welcome. Good to see you. How are you doing? Doing great. Very excited. Before we get talking about walking, tell me a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? What type of business activities you do? Please. Well, I live in Manawili and I'm helping out and working with a company called Pacific Craftworks. They're a manufacturer of cabinets and furniture and doors. And their plant is in Vietnam, just outside of Vietnam in Binh Dung province. Okay, so Pacific Craftworks, you just explain a little bit more what they do. What type of furniture or what type of things do they build? Well, it's basically a custom manufacturer. We'll build kitchen cabinets. We work with the homeowners or the contractors or the developers. And we come up with the designs for what their specific needs are with kitchens or bathrooms. We also do walk-in closets. Everything is pretty much a custom job. Unless we're doing like a high-rise and we get involved in the ground floor and we're doing all of the, we're doing all of the cabinetry work in this high-rise, then it's, you know, one or maybe three or four different plans that a homeowner would be able to choose from. Okay. And we build it. All right. And you said the factories in Vietnam? Vietnam, it's about 45 miles outside of Ho Chi Minh. So I generally get to Ho Chi Minh and then every day take the drive, which is actually a 90-minute drive outside of Ho Chi Minh, even though it's only 45 miles. And the products that are made there then get shipped to Hawaii and to be installed around the world? Wherever, you know, the clients are, but I basically, I deal with Hawaii. And you travel to Vietnam and all over Asia, really, as I understand it, on business? Yeah. I'm in Vietnam three to four times a year. I go to the factory and do what I have to do at the factory. And then I'm off to doing what I love to do. Okay. That's going to bring us to the title of our program, Old Man Walking. Now, let me ask you first question. Are you an old man? Well, I'll call myself middle-aged. Okay. You know, I'm... Yeah. Well, how old are you? Yeah. Well, I'm in my 73rd year. Wow. So I'm going to be 73. So still young. Yeah. So I'm still, I figure I feel still very young. Okay. So you said, you know, you love to walk, and how does walking fit into your life, and how do you mix it with business? Well, even when I'm in Vietnam, and I do my work at the factory, and then I come home, I may walk around the city, and I may go for hours just to see difference. Well, you know, the exercise comes in as a plus, but it's more for the pleasure of seeing what's around me, and you don't get to see that in a car or in a mo-scooter as easily as you do when you walk and go through the alleyways and whatnot. So you try to do that every day? Pardon? You try to do that every day? Every day. I try to do it. And when you're in Vietnam, or when you're in any foreign country, is that's part of your routine? Well, part of my routine is I do my work, and then I always spend a little more time in the area or fly to an area that I want to see and explore, so, and I've done that almost every time I've been out to Vietnam, I do, I'll call it a side trip. So that allows you to kind of mix business with the walking and do both things while you're traveling? Yes, yes. And you say you live in Manawili? I live in Manawili. And we have a short video of you walking in Manawili, so let's take a look at that. Okay, walking in Manawili with Mark Sparv. You're close to the block across the sea, Mark Sparv, how are you doing? Okay, just to give you a little idea, the beauty of Manawili, I can even walk backwards, it's very talented. I do a lot of walking all over the world, but it's just so wonderful to wake up in the morning and to see the koalas and be able to walk, yeah, ain't that the truth, but this is a love of mine, a passion that I really enjoy seeing the beauty, meeting the people along the way, and the dogs and cats, but it's a wonderful experience. You say you've walked all over the world, where have you walked? Well, in my Asian travels, actually, I've been to Northern Vietnam in the mountains area, Sapa, and there's five Humong tribes up there. And I did a two-night homestay on this three-day walking trip, and I got to visit with the families and eat the food and also meet people along the pathway, whether they're another fellow walker or the locals, I really enjoyed that, and then Dalat in Vietnam, actually many places in Vietnam, I've done it in Laos, I've been to Laos, and also China and Taiwan, so I've done walking in all places. And so this business kind of gives you the freedom to do that because you're traveling, and you also say walking is a love and passion of yours, so it's not just business that brings you, but you have this feel for it, right? It's a love and a passion. What does that mean? Explain what a love and passion about walking means. Well, it means it gives me the opportunity not only to enjoy the beauty of where I'm walking, but also to meet the locals where I'm walking. And believe me, I have no qualms about stopping and talking, and you're not shy. I am not a shy person, so whether they speak English or not, somehow we're able to communicate, and it's just very, very pleasant for me and something I really enjoy doing. And you say in the video also that you like to see the beauty and meet the people, and you talk a lot about meeting the people, but let's take a look at about three slides before our break and describe what they are. Let's take a look at the first slide. Where are you, and who are those people? Okay, this is in the mountains in Sapa, and this is one of a couple of Humong tribe natives. Sapa is where? Sapa is in northern Vietnam, and we're talking and they're trying to sell me some goods or something, but very friendly. You were just walking, and this is what came up? Just walking, and they came up to me, and I came up to them, and we started trying to communicate, so maybe they don't speak English, obviously, but yet we're able to smile, and goodwill. Let's take a look at the next slide. What's this all about? Well, this is, I'm in the home of this woman, and there's a couple, it's a home stay, and she's actually getting the coals ready to cook my dinner. Actually, the meal was quite good. My guides told them what I would eat and what I wouldn't eat, so not to insult anybody. I have a diet that I'm pretty careful about, and oh, and by the way, that's another thing. When I do these hikes, especially in foreign areas where I don't know the routes, I try to hire a guide, and the guide will be with me, and I let them know what I'm willing to do and how dangerous it would be, and I like to go at my pace, so they all work within my pace. Old man walking pace is what we call that. Old man walking, but I do have a pretty fast pace. Yeah, I know you do. I've walked with you. Okay, so, and you have a home stay, and that's, you pay for that? There's a, it's with the family? Actually, yeah, I arranged with the tour guide, and I found the tour guide online. It was very simple. I found the tour guide online. We communicated. She actually spoke. Her English was quite good, and so I made the arrangements. She made the arrangements for the home stays, and she knew the meals that I wanted, and then, you know, we got to spend time and actually sit down with the homeowners, and she would interpret for me. And everybody was friendly? Oh, extremely friendly. And what are we talking about charges, just generally, for this type of the thing? Well, that was the two nights, three day, including meals, was about $75 to $100. And that includes the guide. Wow. And then your tip, you got a tip. That's good manners. And then let's take a look at the next slide, and that's, I think, same area? The same area, different tribes people, and I'm handing out kosher candies. I brought a bag of candies to the kids, and they all came around, and it was, they had a great time, and I was enjoying myself, and you can see I have my backpack on. So, yeah, it was, again, you meet the people, you have a conversation if you can, just the interaction is a very positive thing, and you have the scenery. And the candies is something that you would typically do. I mean, you bring along something just to hand out to kids or whatever, just to make friends. Adults, too. I have a picture of me handing out to the adults, too, and they loved it. I mean, you know, they're not expecting anything. And you're traveling all alone, all by yourself, basically, with your guide, I guess. Yeah. Yeah, I get the guide, and we travel around, and again, I've, she's aware, this particular guide was aware, she told me one day it was really wet, and she said, this might be dangerous for you, and she arranged for a different route, and that was great, we had a great time. Okay, we're going to take a one-minute break right now, and then we're going to come back and take a look at some more of your travels, some more of your travel slides, okay? So, hang on, don't walk away. Aloha, I'm Keisha King, host of At the Crossroads where we have conversations that are real and relevant. We have spoken with community leaders from right here locally in Hawaii, and all around the world. Won't you join us on ThinkTechHawaii.com or on YouTube on the ThinkTechHawaii channel. Our conversations are real, relevant, and lots of fun. I'll see you at the Crossroads. Aloha. Aloha, y'all. My name is Mitch Ewen. I'm from the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, and I'm the host of Hawaii, the State of Clean Energy. We're on every Wednesday at four o'clock, and we hope that we have interesting guests who talk to us about various energy things that are happening in Hawaii, all the way from PV to windmills to hydrogen, most of my heart, electric buses and electric vehicles. So please, dial in every Wednesday at four o'clock on Hawaii, the State of Clean Energy. Aloha. Aloha, welcome back. I am an old lawyer, Mark Schloff, host of Law Across the Sea, walking with an old friend of mine, Robbie Gessel. Robbie has been telling us about how he mixes his business trips to Asia with walking, one of his passions, meeting people, giving out candy, and talking and watching and seeing the beauty of various places. So Robbie, you didn't walk away from me, you're still there? No. All right. I'm still here. Okay, now, let's take another look. I mean, it's very interesting. I mean, you have a guide and you're putting all your trust in the guide, and it seems like you're really enjoying yourself meeting these people. You know? I do. It is wonderful. And I've been very fortunate with the guides that I've had. And I guess if somebody wanted to replicate a trip, you could perhaps give some advice if they wanted to contact you. Is that a possibility? Absolutely. And I keep a record of the name of the people and how I contacted them, and they're welcome to get in touch with them as well if they're still in business. All right. So let's now go back to the slides. I want to take a look at some more of the places you've been. Let's take a look at the next slide. Where's this? Okay, this is in Laos. And I climbed a small hill called Nafusi. Yeah, not everybody believes is at a small hill, but yeah. It really was. But it was a wonderful climb and beautiful views. And again, a lot of people trying to climb it. And it's not how fast you do it. Again, it's not a speed race. It's you're enjoying everything and the steps along the way. You're enjoying life as you do it, right? I do. And at the top of Mount Fusi, as I understand, there's a temple up at the top. Is that correct? There is a temple up at the top, and I went to it. I went inside. And on the way down, too, there's temples and religious. And that's what town is that in? In Vietnam? This is in Laos. Laon Prabang. And that's kind of an ancient town in a way, isn't it? But it has French influence and that type of stuff also, right? I stayed in Villa, which was quite beautiful. Where was this? A villa? Yeah, I stayed in a French villa. It's a hotel. It was a hotel, but it was a French villa. And it was run by French-speaking people. Okay, let's take a look at the next slide. Okay. Okay, so outside of Laon Prabang, there is an elephant camp. And unlike other places in the world, possibly Thailand or India, African elephants, you can't do this. But the Laotian elephants are, I'll call them friendly. And I went to the camp. They're very well looked after. So people that are worried about animals and what not and animal rights and what not. These animals are very well cared for. And this particular elephant took me down the river about a half a mile. And just, again, it was a wonderful experience. I'm talking to my guide that was on top with me and enjoying it. And it takes you outside of your normal activities for sure. Yeah, it does. It does. Okay, let's take a look at the next slide. Okay, where are we? Now we're in the Yellow Mountains in China. And again, it was a side trip. I flew to Huanxiang in China. And again, I threw the internet, hired a driver, picked me up at the airport, had a little difficulty finding my hotel that I was staying at. But it, because it was in an alleyway to really crawl around, call from Vietnam. But anyway, yeah, so to get to this Yellow Mountain, the driver took me to a bus stop. And the bus took me up about 20 minutes up the mountain. And then I had to take another gondola ride up to the top of the mountain. And if I have time, I have a funny story to tell about it. Because I wasn't aware that there are no roads on the top of this. And it's all pathways. So they're well marked pathways, concrete even. But I didn't realize, I'm carrying my bag, which is a 20 pound carry-on bag. And you're going up and down these hills. And my hotel is a 90 minute walk from where the gondola leaves you off. And I didn't realize that. I thought, oh, there's transportation up there. There isn't. It's walking. Okay. Okay. And you find again, you found this online. Is that how you found the hotel? I found the driver online, talked to him, called him up, arranged for pickup, made payment. And it worked out great. Now in China, the driver didn't speak English. So we ended up communicating through one of the chat programs. Because you're allowed to speak English and what we chat. So when you type something in in English, he gets it. And he pushes a button and it comes out in Chinese. This is how we communicate it. It's amazing how technology combines to make it so that you can enjoy nature. It's interesting. That's an interesting twist. Let's take a look at the next slide. Okay. Now we're in Taiwan. And I'm at the top of a mountain that I climbed. It's Toroko Gorge is on the bottom of this mountain. And again, I hired a guide. Same thing online. Found him. And he, this was a quite a tough climb for an old man. But still very doable. And he followed my pace, explained things along the way because there are, you know, the nature and the trees or the plants. He's speaking English with you? Actually, he was from, I think, from Netherlands. I see. And he just happened to be an English speaking person living in Taiwan, in this area of Taiwan and married to a local girl. And so he, like I say, took me up the hill. He had a fantastic lunch up at the top of this mountain. It's about a three and a half, four hour hike. And like I say, it wasn't an easy hike, but it certainly was exhilarating. And coming down, it was about a three hour, two and a half hour hike down. And then he took me around to different areas after that. Okay. Let's take a look at this last slide, which is kind of interesting. That's you. The pathway is, and that's looking down at Toroko Gorge. Now that's a steep drop. You know, it's very steep all the way down. And the pathway, you can barely see a rope on the side of the mountain. It's about 24 inches wide the pathway. And you can hold on to the rope if you have, if you're afraid of heights. I was pretty comfortable up there. And looking down, it was amazing, amazing views, amazing views. So it sounds like you've really enjoyed all the, all these adventures and walking that you've had. And you were able to tie them. I mean, the nice thing is you can, you've been able to tie it to your work in a way. And, and, and so kind of makes your work a little bit more fun, right? I mean, it kind of a little more enjoyable and like, and it makes your life a little more, a little more fun too, right? That's what I'm hearing from you. It is. Yeah. Yeah, it was, it was a great time. All, every one of my trips have been wonderful. Like I say, there's other trips that I've done. You've highlighted a few of them. And, and I certainly enjoy my travels in Asia. Well, let me ask you, where, where, where are you planning to go next? Where, where are your thoughts and why? I always wanted to climb Mount Fuji. Okay. And I'm doing a little bit of research on it. It's about an eight hour climb and you can break it up as an old man I would. You just have to make the reservations. You, you know, you're not climbing from the base of the mountain. You're, you're going up to the point where cars can go up to, which is station five. And then, and then start your climb. And it's about a four or five hour, I think initial hike. And then you get to another state, a station up there. I think it's station eight where you, if you rent in advance, you can get a cot to lie down on and then take, take in the sun's sunrise. If you get up at three and do the last few hours hiking, and then you're at the top of the mountain for the sunrise, which I hear is spectacular. And you just got to be lucky with the weather. So that, that's your, your next goal is to climb Mount Fuji. That's my goal this year. And if somebody wants to join you, how do they go about joining you? Can they or find some more advice from you? How, how would they contact you? Well, you can use my email address. It's King Kailua at gmail.com, K-I-N-G-K-A-I-L-U-A at gmail.com. And you're willing to share your knowledge. I'm willing to share my contacts, my knowledge. You're welcome to, to all of that. I haven't set the dates yet. I'm working around some of the calendar, but I'm looking at fall, September, October, timeframe. Okay, now here's my last question for you. And anyway, briefly, if you can, tell me, what, what, what have you learned from walking? And what have you learned about life? What have you learned about people that you met? Well, well, you know, it's, it's just a peaceful thing. What have I learned? I've learned a lot of different cultures, a lot about different cultures, different ways of life. Not everybody thinks the way you do. And I guess it's, it's being tolerant of others and being patient with others. Because not, like I say, not everybody thinks and does things the way you do. And if you can, if you can be somewhat patient and tolerant and, and enjoy, just enjoy the environment that you're in. I think it's a bit of a peace of mind and will hopefully give you longevity. Good job. So, so, so, you know, I hear you saying that walking kind of brings you together with other people. And maybe if we were all out there walking, it would, it would be helpful, huh? If we were all walking, meeting each other on the trail, that might, might be a good result from that, maybe. I think it would be even in Manawili, you know, walking around and talking to the people. It's, it's a great thing. Well, Robbie Gessel, thank you very much. Enjoyed hearing about your walking travels and how you mix it all up and what you get out of it. So Aloha, thank you very much. I'll see you on the walk.