JOURNALISTS are not known as early risers, our excuse often being that news always happens later in the day.
But for three days this week, I had to drag myself out of bed before 7am in order to get to Shangri-La hotel by 8am, when the annual Forbes Global CEO conference rolled into town.
The event - now in its eighth year - gathers more than 450 business leaders with a combined net worth of more than US$160 billion (S$229 billion). Unsurprisingly, a ballroom full of entrepreneurs from all corners of the globe threw up many colourful characters that provided both stimulating discussions and amusing gossip - which made getting up so early worthwhile.
It was the request of the organisers that the journalists didn't "mingle" with the delegates - who knows what we would have unearthed if we had the chance. We covered all the sessions from a media room that provided live feed of the plenary sessions. Any burning questions we had was saved for selected press conferences after the sessions.
Mr Steve Forbes, chairman and chief executive of Forbes, was very eloquent. He made no secret of his support for Republican candidate John McCain, declaring that McCain was 'better for free trade in Asia'. He did acknowledge, however, that the Democratic party was enjoying huge popularity in this election.
Elsewhere, at other sessions, another view emerged: "Obama is better for climate change" - but we had no space to run the story in print. As one expert summed up, "Obama is more likely to follow through with actions... McCain is more likely to just build more oil rigs, under pressure."
Climate change was the one topic that was glaringly missing, given that the conference was about issues that had relevance and currency. Topics at the conference, titled "The Winning Hand" ranged from strategies to combat global uncertainty and issues such as energy and commodities, real estate, India, entertainment, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Nobel prize-winning economist Michael Spence won my vote for "Man of the Conference" - if there was such a prize - for saying to a room full of capitalist entrepreneurs: "I know some people don't think climate change is a serious problem.. but I think we should buy some insurance on this."
Other quotable quotes from the conference included one from energy expert, Dr Fereidun Fesharaki, chairman and CEO, of Facts Global: "Oil is like dating. Gas is like getting married, requiring proper contracts, and long arrangements. Your mother-in-law (the banker) moves in with you to make sure you behave properly."
Besides predicting that within three to four years, the price of oil will be at the US$200 per barrel level, he also advocated that the United States tax its people for its oil consumption. One out of four barrels of oil produced is consumed in the US - "if you don't tax yourself, the market will tax you", he said.
Other gems that were overhead: Aussie actor Mel Gibson, who was invited to the conference last year, apparently got the organisers up in arms by turning up dressed in berms and crocs, while everyone else was in suit-and-tie garb for a very serious topic of discussion.
Nothing similar happened this year, though. Stars like pro-golfer Adam Scott and actor Jet Li turned up suitably dressed and won all the journalists over. The former, who no doubt would have won "Hottest Man of the Conference" was accosted by several helpers of the conference to sign autographs and take photographs. This reporter, mesmerized by his tanned looks and winning smile, was too embarrassed to do the same.
Lastly, I think the "Quote of the conference" prize should go to our very own Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who answered a question posed by Mr Forbes on the last day of the conference: how do you think history will remember George W Bush?
MM Lee thought for a moment and then replied, to an audience who roared with laughter: "I am not history".
And with that, the three-day affair was wrapped up.
This event is the last of three years in a row that Asia's premier business event is hosted in Singapore. It is moving to Kuala Lumpur next year. Shame, about that, I was starting to get used to waking up before dawn.