life-in-asia.info

Interactive Session – Ageing – World Economic Forum on East Asia 2009

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:46:00 +0000

Image taken on 2009-06-18 16:53:01 by World Economic Forum.

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:38 +0000

Image taken on 2008-11-01 14:03:57 by cliff1066™.

Hans Rosling: Asia’s rise — how and when

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:33 +0000

www.ted.com Hans Rosling was a young guest student in India when he first realized that Asia had all the capacities to reclaim its place as the world’s dominant economic force. At TEDIndia, he graphs global economic growth since 1858 and predicts the exact date that India and China will outstrip the US. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the “Sixth Sense” wearable tech, and “Lost” producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at www.ted.com

Overview of Istanbul’s Transportation Network for Travelers

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:32 +0000

Istanbul has a well-established transportation network with bus routes reaching almost everywhere, trains from both Asia and Europe making it into the very city center, boats and ferries along the Bosphorus, a clean and fast subway although it only serves a route with limited stations. Yellow cabs are easy to find almost everywhere in the city and they are not expensive at all. They all charge using a meter and it does not cost much to ride cabs around the city unless the distance is really long. However, some taxi drivers are known to turn the ride into a thrill or a speed race which is not really fun unless you are late for your flight. Tipping is not necessary at the cabs but you can round up to the next lira. You do not have to leave any extra cash after that. The traffic, however, tends to slow down a lot or almost stop at many intersections during the rush hours. The city center, however, has a lot to offer so this might be the ideal time of the day to take a walk around and discover the city.

On most of the popular routes, it is possible to take a shared cab which is called ‘Dolmus”. They are slightly bigger than cabs and they are yellow as well. The sign on the top reads ‘Dolmus” instead of “Taksi” . Most of them have a seating capacity of approximately 10 people and they charge a flat fee along the route. You can take the city ferry to ply over the Bosporus in all directions from one continent to another. One of the best ways to explore Istanbul is to do so on water. That is really a sight while you will have the advantage of paying nothing more than a regular transportation charge. For a short trip from the European side, just hop on a ferry to Uskudar and you can be back in an hour.

If you are planning on riding the ferry, the bus or the subway, it is advisable to purchase “akbil” which is a pre-paid electronic chip embedded on a plastic similar to a key fob. You can use your pre-paid credit on the Akbil and you will have access to city’s transportation network with just a tap. There is always a direct bus service between the airports and Taksim. Taksim is the center of the transportation network, with buses, subways and dolmus’ coming in from various destinations of the city. Taksim bus stop and the central subway station is only a few minutes from where Hotel Lamartine is located.

If you will arrive Istanbul by car, your safest option will be to park it in a parking lot and take advantage of other transportation opportunities during your stay. For a western driver, Istanbul’s traffic can prove to be really difficult to navigate in, the streets can get complicated and the local drivers sometimes may not be patient enough to show enough respect to slower drivers.

Central Asia Travel Destinations: Turkmenistan

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:31 +0000

This largely arid country lies to the south of Uzbekistan, dominated by the Kara Kum desert in its center with mountains in the west and east. The country contains some of the world’s largest natural gas and oil reserves and is a major cotton producer.

Historically, Turkmenistan has seen conquerors from Alexander the Great to Islamic Arabs to Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, but maintained its nomadic, equine identity until Soviet-era domination. In the post communist years, Turkmen language and culture have made a strong revival.

The Turkmen people are legendary horsemen and their tall, powerful horses were prized by the Chinese in ancient times. The national handicraft is carpet making and Turkmen carpets are prized throughout the world for their beautiful patterns and superb craftsmanship. An extension of the nomadic lifestyle of the people, carpets were

For tourists, Turkmenistan is garden of archaeological delights. Remnants of civilizations that have been swallowed by the centuries are everywhere to be found. In mountain foothills, in dry riverbeds, in caves across the country you can find tools, domestic utensils and artworks of bone, stone, ceramics and metals. Ruins of earthen houses and mountain fortresses remain from as long as 50 centuries ago.

A visit to Turkmenistan must include a stay in the ancient Silk Road city of Merv. It is an archaeological wonderland, being actually 4 cities built during different periods, a testimony to the oasis’ staying power as a major center along the Silk Road from the times of Alexander. It remained a commercial and cultural power for centuries before Mongol armies destroyed the town in 1221. One of its most imposing features today is the mausoleum of Sanjar the Great, the dome of which could be seen by caravans a full day’s journey away.

A day trip from Merv to the archaeological dig at Margush, where remnants of a Bronze Age civilization lived 3500 years ago. A palace, intricate fire temple and necropolis have been excavated and local museums contain numerous artifacts of gold and semi-precious stones.

Turkmenistan’s capital is the city of Ashgabat, rebuilt using modern principles of city planning after being destroyed by an massive earthquake in 1948. Lush parks and hundreds of fountains create a pleasant microclimate that shields the city from the desert heat. All public buildings and apartments are clad in white marble, giving the city a unified beauty. The National Museum houses many culturally significant antiquities, and the Turkmen Carpet Museum contains many fine examples of world-renowned Turkmen carpet making skills, including one that covers a massive 294 square meters.

In the west near the Uzbekistan border, lies another stop along the Silk Road, Kunya-Urgench, site of the large State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve. The famous Kulug-Timur Minaret is thought to be the tallest in Central Asia, towering nearly 200 feet. Another must-see is the Turabeg Khanym Mausoleum, with its double cupola and perfectly preserved interior tile work is considered one of Asia’s most outstanding constructions.

Of Turkmenistan’s natural wonders, the Caspian Sea provides recreational facilities for boaters and water sports enthusiasts.

Julia Feydman, has always been fascinated by the rich history of Central Asia. Over time, her passion as well as many memorable trips to the area have grown into a successful, U.S. based travel agency – East Site, Inc. Turkmenistan travel is one of the major routes her company specializes in. Visit her Central Asia travel website today and discover many more ancient jewels of the Great Silk Road!

Shopping in Bangkok

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:28 +0000

Bangkok is generally considered to be one of the leading shopping destinations in the world. There are so many outstanding Bangkok shopping venues where shoppers can shop until they drop. You can certainly find for sale whatever you are looking for. People from all over the world travel to Bangkok simply so that they can visit the wonderful shops, boutiques, markets and shopping malls.

Bangkok is well known for its pirated DVD movies and software as well as all the fake brand name clothing which is for sale in many of the street side vendors however there are also a large number of modern shopping malls in the Thai capital city. In these malls you can find many stores and boutiques from well known fashion designers and international brand names.

There are too many shopping venues in Bangkok to list in a single article however we have listed and reviewed for you some of the most popular Bangkok shopping venues.

Central World Shopping Mall

The Central World Shopping Mall in Bangkok is in fact the largest mall in all of South East Asia. This Bangkok shopping mall is home to over five hundred stores, various entertainment centers and over fifty restaurants. The largest supermarket found anywhere in Asia is also located at the Central World Shopping Mall.

Pantip Plaza

If you would like to buy some games, software or some IT products then the best place to visit in Bangkok is definitely Pantip Plaza. This large IT shopping mall consists off hundreds of both small and large computer stores and Pantip Plaza is popular with both local residents as well as tourists. Pantip Plaza is located along Petchaburi road nearby to the Amari Watergate hotel.

MBK Shopping Center

If you are a hard core shopper then you should definitely visit the MBK Shopping Center during your stay in the Thai capital. This well known Bangkok shopping mall has eight floors and over two thousand small stores. Opening hours at the MBK Shopping Center are daily from 11:00 until 22:00 and it is located right next to the National Stadium Bangkok Sky Train station.

Weekend Market

The most famous weekend market in Bangkok is the Chatuchak weekend market. This popular Bangkok market attracts close to a quarter of a million shoppers every weekend. Prices for many products found at the fifteen thousand market stalls are the cheapest found anywhere in Bangkok which is why both tourists and Bangkok residents enjoy shopping at the Chatuchak weekend market. Opening hours during the weekend are from 08:00 until 19:00.

Asia House Prices Lead the World

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:25 +0000

Shanghai, China (up 35.4%) was the world’s strongest residential property market during the past full year, according to a compilation of official and private-sector statistics by the Global Property Guide. Bulgaria (up 34.6%) was in second place, followed by Slovakia (up 32.5%) and Singapore (31.1%).

The worst performers were the United States (down 8.9% by Case-Shiller calculations), Ireland (down 7.3%), and Estonia (down 3.9%).

Asia-Pacific’s strong performance was led by China, Singapore (31.2%), Hong Kong (25%), the Philippines (15.2%), and Japan (8.4%). In most cases, this was due to strong economic growth.

Price rises in Japan have now paused. Outside the US and Europe, Japan has been the hardest hit by the credit crunch. In March, Reicof, a listed property investor, failed with debts of Y42.6 billion (US$422 million). Deals are now being postponed, and the credit squeeze is hitting private real estate funds, which tend to be highly leveraged, and have borrowed mainly from foreign banks. These private funds are finding it hard to refinance and are being forced to unload property.

Hong Kong surged ahead this past year (up 25%), but transaction levels have now fallen sharply, despite declines in interest rates in line with the US.

Singapore’s residential market is still holding steady, but last year’s euphoria seems to be over.

In both Hong Kong and Singapore prices are high by most yardsticks and there are low rental returns, usually a harbinger of price weakness.

China’s housing market seems to be on the verge of significant weakness. It has a history of very strong cycles, and the authorities have discouraged the house price boom by prohibiting foreign acquisitions, by higher interest rates, and by credit controls.

South Africa’s market seems to be weakening, having experienced the first decline in 8 years.

The Baltics has been hard hit. Latvia, last year’s star performer (up 69%), was this year’s biggest disappointment with a price decline of 1.7%. Estonia followed Latvia down with a decline of 4%.

Eastern Europe shows sign of weakening, partly due to the end of inward money flows associated with buy-to-let boom, but more importantly due to past price rises. Yet there are many islands of strength. Slovakia has seen continued price rises. Land prices in Bratislava increased by an average of 50% in 2007. The price of residential apartments also rose strongly. Strong economic growth, continued foreign investment, a burgeoning mortgage market, and a shortage of new developments, are all contributing to Bratislava’s performance, which looks likely to continue at least next year.

In Bulgaria, Sofia prices are still rising strongly, while the coast and mountain resort booms are over.

Those looking for upcoming trends may want to consider Latin America. The increasing willingness of Americans to retire abroad and to look beyond the Caribbean has led to strong buying interest in both beachfront property and in colonial cities such as Guatemala’s Antigua, Nicaragua’s Leon, and Colombia’s Cartagena.

Latin America sadly lacks property price indices, the exception being Colombia whose economic prospects have been transformed by President Alvaro Uribe’s stern anti-rebel policies, causing property prices and the currency to surge.

Interactive Session – Growth & Models – World Economic Forum on East Asia 2009

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:25 +0000

Image taken on 2009-06-19 15:46:22 by World Economic Forum.

Home Entertainment for the 21st Century

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:21 +0000

The gaming industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Even the movie industry looks pale in comparison. Traditionally, we’ve seen games being developed after movies. Current market trends have many movie makers developing adaptations of video games knowing they will be a sure-fire hit at the box office. But why are we seeing such trends? One can point towards the evolution of the television and the increased demand for quality home entertainment furniture.

Television has seen one of the greatest advances in technology in recent years. High-definition television and Plasma TV’s have the technologically-savvy drooling. And it’s because of the advent of these that many furniture manufacturers are taking the initiative to make the home entertainment system something to behold. For many of us, there is no better feeling than seeing in perfect detail, the game-winning overtime goal during the Stanley Cup Finals, or watching the walk-off home run during the World Series.

Proving to be one of the most advantageous from the advent of High-Def and Plasma TV’s is the gaming industry. In recent years, we’ve seen the birth of such next-generation gaming systems such as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. These systems have taken the world by storm, with over three quarters of the homes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia owning at least one of the three aforementioned systems. And is it any wonder why these systems are the “Must-haves” for any teen or young adult? Not really when you think about it. For many gamers, for years they’ve wanted to see their games come to life, and with the engines these systems are equipped with, the graphics are so realistic that it may be as close to real life as they’ll ever get. Or perhaps they’ve wanted to be part of the game, acting as the main hero in the story, or actually driving the car. Enter the Nintendo Wii – a system that uses a remote control as a peripheral device that acts as your own personal sword, steering wheel, golf club, etc etc.

So what does this mean for the state of the home entertainment system? A tremendous leap in demand for high-quality entertainment centers, big-screen units, and/or other home theater furniture.

Keeping up with this demand, many furniture manufacturers are producing home entertainment centers as their top line of product, as they too want to be part of the home entertainment phenomenon. In today’s marketplace, it is not uncommon to see a wide selection of big screen and corner units, entertainment armoires, TV stands and cabinets, and other home theater furniture from your local retailer or online store.

We are now left with the evolution of gaming, combined with top-of-the-line entertainment furniture. What does that make? Home entertainment for the 21st century. A state where our lives are being fulfilled by unbelievable clarity in the games we play and the movies we watch and undeniable fun when entertaining our guests.

The evolution of the television has indeed forever changed the outlook on modern day home entertainment. With it, we are once again seeing our living rooms as a haven where fun and entertainment lives. High definition and plasma televisions, next generation gaming, and quality home entertainment centers are the future of home theater. This is home entertainment for the 21st century!

Residential Property In Asia Is Predicted To Struggle

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:47:20 +0000

The next five years will be a trying time for Asian residential property markets, according to a recent report. The cost of housing is increasing in many Asian markets, which is one reason for this expectation. Governments are doing their part to try to keep housing prices down through regulation and law, but they continue to rise in many countries. While the property market in Europe and the UK slowed considerably (apart from in Bulgaria), Singapore and Hong Kong have outperformed the market in general with their housing prices. This sounds positive, but may cause trouble for uncanny investors.

A recent survey of experts in real estate, finance and business revealed that Asian real estate will still be hot ‘property’ in the next five years. This survey was commissioned by Allens Arthur Robins, a trust company and law firm. They predicted that REITs will remain quite healthy in Asia, however the residential property market in Asia may struggle. Commercial property is expected to do well, with high volume turnover predicted and good prices. Residential property though, is expected to suffer from increasingly high prices, and a resultantly slower market.

The residential property market in China is one of the biggest in Asia, volume-wise. A report by the South China Morning Post reveals that the main focuses of real estate growth will most likely be retail, industrial and commercial property. This is despite the fact that all three of these sectors have slowed down in the last few months. However, residential property has outperformed itself somewhat -the record high prices and appreciation that have thrilled many investors now make most residential property in Asia beyond the reach of the country’s middle-class citizens.

One example comes from Shanghai, where Shanghai Forte Land recently announced that a recently completed residential project will see an expected hike in prices of 20%. This is despite measures specifically put in place by the Chinese government to control the residential property market in China’s skyrocketing prices, which have created havoc in the country’s economy in the past years. Real estate investment in China is in turmoil due to these regulations.

Another example comes from Singapore, where the residential property market in this Asian country was described as the hottest in the world by Jones Lang LaSalle in 2007, after the city-state’s property prices surged by 31% in just one year. However, the effects of the credit crunch have not left Singapore’s market untouched, and Asia’s real estate generally, along with Singapore’s are now cooling somewhat. Private home prices rose by only .4% in the second quarter of 2008, which is the slowest increase in four years. These figures come from the government’s preliminary statistics.

India is also seeing the residential property market slow down. There is expected to be a 15-20% dip in residential property prices, due to the extremely low numbers of residential properties changing hands. The market is stagnating in cities like Mohali, Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Surat and Cochin, with up to a 90% drop in the number of property deals in these cities. This seems to be indicative of the residential property market in Asia generally.

Crude oil prices have also had their impact on Asian real estate, with both developers and private home buyers having less money to spend on their accommodation. The credit crunch continues, and we expect that residential property in Asia will be subject to all of these factors in the coming year.