Today is the second day of the conference and we continue our adventures in Davos. As an event planner, I am amazed of how much hard work and efficiency is put forth by the team and the entire town here to execute this event in the best possible manner. We are in the Swiss Alps and you hardly see anyone skiing in the beautiful white mountains. The entire town is closed up and dedicated to the World Economic Forum.

While most of the conference sessions are taking place in the main conference center in the town center, there are myriads of breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings taking place simultaneously at Various hotels across town. There are police men and women who will check your badge a few times before you can enter any building; your bags and jackets go through the Xray machines as well as I already mentioned. The coolest part though are these metal detectors situationed in front fo every building and session hall. They are silver blocks with a white and blue lit circle in the middle. You stand in front of them and scan your badge and the blue light turns green allowing you access. When you scan your badge your credentials along with your picture comes up on the screen above the station. It has a futuristic, star treky feel to it that I like.

While there are many politicians, financiers, media personalities and NGO administers from across the world are here, scientists, technologists, artists, celebrities, and health professionals among others are also attending the conference. Everyone I have come across has been approachable and friendly. I have already seen the Prime minister of China and the Prime minister of Israel being interviewed within a few feet from me. Somehow you are accepted as part of the club as long as you are wearing your conference badge. There is such a feeling of trust around here. I see laptops and computer bags left unattended across the halls.

Yesterday, I got a chance to ask an author I admire, Paulo Coelho a question about one of his books and get his perspective. As an English Major, there is no better high. I asked Paulo, why in the book The Alchemist, the female character stays behind in the tent while the male character goes around the world for many adventures to find himself. Why does she have to wait back home for him to return? He responded that she was not waiting for him but taking care of matters at home; she was going about her life, doing what was important to her and she already knew what he had to search all over the world for, that Love makes you free. I had never seen the matter in that light and it was so refreshing to hear him explain this to me. I felt like I was walking on a cloud all day after talking to Paulo. I also met Randi Zuckerburg of the Facebook famous family yesterday. She was so gracious, kind and a breath of fresh air to talk to.

Although my individual meetings have been energizing and fun, the overall mood here is gloomy and down. The economic crisis has hit this group of leaders in a hard way and so far I haven't heard any concrete solutions or visionary ideas from anyone. I hear Bill Clinton will be talking today so perhaps he can put a positive spin on this situation and give us some hope.