Nairobi, Sept. 3 -- You always run into someone you used to know in a hotel bar. At least I do.

I had just walked into Serena Kigali's Executive Lounge Bar, the one silenced by thick carpet, with a stocky bar at the edge. He was seated at one of the tables behind a wall, engaged in an intimate business conversation with a gigantic lady, who listened to him raptly, one very long leg draped over the other. Our eyes met and closed the 10 years between us.

He was there for business.

"If you ever need to start a business here, she is the one to talk to," he said, introducing his business associate.

After the niceties, I found a corner and opened my laptop. But I couldn't get any work done, so I did what any adult male would do. Only I did ...