View of Milford Sound New Zealand from helicopter

Helicopter view of mountains near Milford Sound

Quiet beach in Kaikoura, New Zealand

See Mapplr’s posts on New Zealand.

I went to a penguin colony outside Punta Arenas, Chile and captured these lovely creatures on film, waddling around in their natural surroundings. They are really amusing little things, rocking left and right as they traverse the fields and waterways of the colony, and every now and then, one of them seems to lose his balance, but suddenly manages to stay upright.

Llao Llao, Argentina looks very much like the Italian or Swiss Alps. I enjoy hiking the trails around Llao Llao to get stunning views of the lakes and the snow-covered mountains. Llao Llao is a popular ski and summer holiday destination.

Easter Island is one of the most remote places on earth, situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean far away from Chile (5.5 hours by plane) or from Tahiti (6 hours by plane). It is tranquil, beautiful and mysterious. The moais (gigantic heads carved out of stone) give the island an eerie atmosphere. They seem to be looking up and into the distance, as if waiting for someone to come (remember Chariots of the Gods?). Only a small part of the island, the town around the airport, has electricity and habitation. The rest is uninhabited, except by small birds, wild horses and a few cows. Because there’s nothing on most of the island — no electric or telephone poles, no houses, no hotels — walking along one of the many paths along the water or around the volcanic craters (see photo below) makes one feel calm and serene.

So when I see a public figure like Carol Bartz, who was fired by Yahoo the other day, whining all over the press like a 3-year old, I shake my head. She told Fortune: “These people fucked me over.” 

She claims she told the Yahoo chairman of the board, who had telephoned her to tell her that she did not have a job any longer, “Why don’t you have the balls to tell me yourself?… I thought you were classier.”

Classier in the eyes of Carol Bartz is something other people owe her, not something she owes to herself and to the world.

By bitching and moaning in public, Carol is just as unclassy as the person who fired her. And what is it about these CEOs who feel that they are owed a huge favour, a red carpet way of being fired, complete with champagne and orchestral music?

You know how CEOs fire employees in the US? Mere employees (aka wage slaves) get a few minutes to clear out their desks while being watched by security. They are not allowed to say goodbye to colleagues, and they are escorted out the door by security, as if they were criminals.

This is what boards of directors need to do to CEOs and other executives in companies: treat them exactly the way they treat their employees.

Mark Cavendish wins final stage of Tour de France 2011 in Paris (photo: Getty Images)

Mark Cavendish has won the green jersey in the Tour de France 2011. He also won the last stage in Paris. Read about why Cavendish is considered one of the greatest sprinters in the history of cycling.

This video clip shows the last 3 kilometers of the Tour de France 2011 in Paris.

Cadel Evans has won the 2011 Tour de France after beating Andy Schleck in the time trial stage one day before the peloton was scheduled to ride to Paris. The finish was quite dramatic because many people expected Andy to win this year. However, Cadel showed himself to be the more complete rider by doing well in the mountain stages AND the time trial.

Mark Cavendish, the best sprinter in cycling today, won the green jersey after also winning the final stage in Paris.

Altogether it was a very exciting Tour de France although the media was too obsessed by the rivalry between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck. Andy complained about the downhill courses and Contador bragged about what he was going to do in the climbs. I just got sick and tired of these two guys blabbing about what they were going to do to the other.

Cadel Evans kept to himself, rode brilliantly, executed his plan and ended up with the yellow jersey. It’s better to shut up and ride.