YeinJee's Asian Journal » Discovery and Learning

Tokyo is world’s most expensive city (2009)

Yein Jee — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:06:12 +0000

Tokyo has knocked Moscow off the top spot as the world’s most expensive city for expatriates, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer.

Currency fluctuation is the major factor for the ups and downs; London, Seoul, and Sydney etc. are dropped significantly because of weakened currency.

10 most expensive cities in 2009 [2008 ranking in brackets]

1. Tokyo, Japan (2)
2. Osaka, Japan (11)
3. Moscow, Russia (1)
4. Geneva, Switzerland (8)
5. Hong Kong, China (6)
6. Zürich, Switzerland (9)
7. Copenhagen, Denmark (7)
8. New York City, USA (22)
9. Beijing, China (20)
10. Singapore (13)

Tokyo is world’s most expensive city (2009) from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Philippines roasted pig parade

Yein Jee — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:53:05 +0000

Roasted pigs in costumes were paraded on the feast of St. John the Baptist, a hundred-year-old practise in the Philippines. Festival goers also got to sample the roasted suckling pigs (lechón), a famous Filipino delicacy, for free…

Philippines roasted pig parade from YeinJee's Asian Blog

North-South Korea qualified for 2010 World Cup

Yein Jee — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:08:36 +0000

Both North Korea and South Korea have qualified from the Asian groupings to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

It will be the first time in history that both nations are participating in the same tournament.

North Korea will be making only their 2nd appearance; their first was a fairy tale journey in 1966 in which they defeated European giant Italy en route to the quarter finals, a result that stunned the footballing world.

South Korea on the other hand is the most successful Asian team in World Cup history and will be making their 8th appearance in 2010. Their best result was 4th place in 2002 when they were joint host (with Japan) for the event.

The Koreans met in the qualifying stage in which the southern counterpart has the upper hand with a win and a draw. The northern boys are unlikely to get their revenge in 2010 though, as chances are pretty slim for them to meet each other.

North-South Korea qualified for 2010 World Cup from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Discovery roundup (June 17, 2009)

Yein Jee — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:59:02 +0000

Discovery snippets from other sources…

Archaeology – Missing link found; from lemurs to higher primates [NatGeo]

Archaeology – Oldest pottery found in China [BBC]

Astronomy – Star size comparison [Youtube]

Bio – Awakening of a 120,000-year-old microbe [Livescience]

Robotic wheelchair controlled by thought alone [Newscientist]

Russia – Cat army guards treasures at Hermitage Museum [NatGeo]

Safety – Global Peace Index 2009 [Visionhumanity]

Seriously? Battling termites? Just add sugar [NatGeo]

Discovery roundup (June 17, 2009) from YeinJee's Asian Blog

A Saudi’s princess Paris diary

Yein Jee — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:08:21 +0000

The diary of a Saudi princess…

Staying at George V Hotel in Paris – £2,500 a night

Shopping at O Caprices De Lili for expensive lingeries – £60,000

Shopping at Key Largo for casual wear – £130,000

Shopping at other 30 fashion boutiques – NA… too many zeros to count

Dry cleaning my wardrobe collection – £30,000 a week

Total unpaid bills – £15 million

Solution… claims diplomatic immunity; no need to pay a single cent

Life is good for a Saudi princess.

A Saudi’s princess Paris diary from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Nakizumo – Japanese baby crying festival

Yein Jee — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:05:05 +0000

Nakizumo (lit. crying sumo) is a traditional Japanese festival with 400-years of history. The event, believed to bring good health to the babies, is held annually in temples across Japan where the kids would face-off each other to see who’s crying the soonest (and loudest)…

The above video [credits to garyjpn@youtube for the upload] is probably from Hiroshima in 2009; there are other slightly different format in other places, including in Tokyo where some real sumo wrestlers were involved.

Nakizumo – Japanese baby crying festival from YeinJee's Asian Blog

How you hold your glass reveals your personality

Yein Jee — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:53:33 +0000

The way you hold your glass can reveal your personality, according to Dr Glenn Wilson, a consultant psychologist in UK…

Dr Wilson, who carried out a research for the Walkabout bar chain, has observed the body language of 500 drinkers and divided them into eight personality types… the flirt, the gossip, the fun lover, the wallflower, the ice-queen, the playboy, Jack-the-lad and brow-beater [more details on BBC]

Quite accurate in my case; how about yours? Or are you old enough to drink yet?

How you hold your glass reveals your personality from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Dhaka’s polluted Buriganga River

Yein Jee — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:44:36 +0000

The polluted Buriganga River in Dhaka city, capital of Bangladesh which is often rated as one of the world’s worst cities to live in…

My heart wrenched when I watched the kids swimming in the river like a fun-filled swimming pool; it’s saddening, yet reminded me of how blessed I am.

Dhaka’s polluted Buriganga River from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Former S. Korean President dies in suspected suicide

Yein Jee — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:00:22 +0000

Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun died after falling from a mountainside on Saturday morning.

Roh left a suicide note on his computer that he was going through hard times, apparently referring to the recent bribery probe surrounding him and his family [more on Yonhap]

Roh, 62, was South Korea’s President in 2003-2008. He moved to Bongha Village, near his birthplace, after leaving the office in March 2008.

Reports have suggested that investigation on Roh and his family is likely to be ended following his death; and it might be what Roh was hoping for.

His death still sounds fishy though… leaving a suicide note on PC instead of a hand written one? And amusingly discovered by his aides in hours? Who would bother to check his PC shortly after his death? It’s just a bit too convenient imo.

Former S. Korean President dies in suspected suicide from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Black Hornet – world’s smallest spy-copter

Yein Jee — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:35:44 +0000

Black Hornet is a video-camera equipped helicopter not more than 100mm long, weighing less than 20g, and can be carried in your pocket and launched within seconds to give immediate situational awareness…

Developed by Norway based Prox Dynamics, the spy-copter aims to become the world’s smallest and most capable Unmanned Aircraft System for close range surveillance and inspection.

And if the Black Hornet fails to live up to its expectation, the company can choose to reinvent the copter into an expensive toy instead… bet that it’s going to become a global hit.

Black Hornet – world’s smallest spy-copter from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Wormhole, space travel, time travel

Yein Jee — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:16:19 +0000

A short video from National Geographic, about wormhole and the possibility of space travelling, and ultimately time travelling…

If you have never read anything from Einstein or Hawking and could understand the video in one shot… congrats, you are probably a genius ;)

Wormhole, space travel, time travel from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Michael Rogge – Old Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Yein Jee — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:48:14 +0000

City of Kuala Lumpur in 1961. Video by Michael Rogge, (former) banker and cinematographer from Netherlands who was stationed in Asia in 1950s…

There’s a huge video collection of Rogge during his stay in Japan and Hong Kong from 1949 to 1961, which I absolutely adore… it’s a valuable cultural heritage imo. You can check all his works on his Youtube channel.

Michael Rogge – Old Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Two-seated Segway concept car

Yein Jee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:46:41 +0000

Auto giant General Motors is joining forces with Segway to create a two-seated Segway concept car… (or scooter?)

Two-seated Segway concept car from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Vintage Formosa – historical photos of Taiwan

Yein Jee — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:13:20 +0000

Found this website, Taipics.com which shares a large archive of old Taiwan photos. Sharing a few of my favourites here; check the site for more if it’s of your interest…

Read the rest of this post »

Vintage Formosa – historical photos of Taiwan from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Polar bear attacks woman at Berlin Zoo

Yein Jee — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:58:03 +0000

A woman was attacked by a polar bear at Berlin Zoo on Saturday after jumping into the enclosure area; she was rescued and survived with a few (probably really huge) bite marks. Video below, view at your own discretion…

It’s unsure why she jumped (certainly not accidental); it’s beyond stupidity. She’s lucky though, that the bears have lost some predator instinct after years in enclosure.

Polar bear attacks woman at Berlin Zoo from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Rafflesia, world’s largest flower, Kinabalu National Park

Yein Jee — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:37:16 +0000

Rafflesia is the world’s largest flower, found naturally in South East Asia. There are 27 species of Rafflesia; the largest is Rafflesia arnoldii, which could grow over 100cm in diameter and 10kg in weigh [wiki]

Rafflesia is infamous for its rotten-meat like smell; but I’ve seen the flower twice on different occasions and never smelled anything that resembled the fact.

Sharing a few Rafflesia photos from Poring in Kinabalu National Park during my Sabah trip in March 2009; the bloomed Rafflesia I saw was about 60-70cm in diameter…

Read the rest of this post »

Rafflesia, world’s largest flower, Kinabalu National Park from YeinJee's Asian Blog