Young Neighbourhood

My first $100 with Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:32:00 +0800

I was pleasantly surprised when I received this cheque. It came through the mail.

The payout amount is USD106.94. Amazon is a great market place. Imagine - doing a trading business without stock holding costs, warehouse costs, logistics cost and staff costs. And no need to worry about stock obsolecense and deteriorating condition. Practically no risk and no capital outlay... just put in time and effort. Give it a try.

Items that I sold from Amazon are:

Levi’s jeans, football jerseys, baby bottle steam sterilizer, bottle warmer, coloured cosmetic lens, recipe books, computer parts, Kindle eBooks, training chopsticks, vacuum robot, shoes and gift cards. And some other items that you would least expect to be purchased online.

Here are some of my pages with Amazon links on them:

http://healthsentral.blogspot.com/2010/04/exercise-at-home.html

http://healthsentral.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-sleep-better.html

http://hubpages.com/hub/Buy-Online-FIFA-World-Cup-Soccer-Jersey-2010

http://hubpages.com/hub/Buy-a-Baby-Bottle-Sterilizer-Online

Guess what? I am starting to believe that people are earning lots of money online. The wonderful thing is that you just need to put in effort once to create a good post and it will generate income for you for a long time (maybe a lifetime). Read this post on how I made my first $100 online with Google Adsense.

Klang Sentral tenants want better deal

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Sat, 9 Jul 2011 08:09:00 +0800

Low passenger count, single entry/exit system irk bus operators.

OUTSTATION bus operators at the Klang Sentral bus terminal in Jalan Meru, which opened in December 2008, are still struggling with low volume of passengers and are upset with the station's management over the one-entry, one-exit system.

Although the 25 bus operators there have lodged complaints with the management, they claim their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

NOR FAIZIELAH BASIR, a spokesman for one of the bus operators, claims it has been months since they complained to the management company, NPO Management Sdn Bhd.

"When the building was constructed, it came with a one-entry, one-exit system which favours bus operators with counters at the front as the public tends to buy tickets from operators closest to the entry," she says.

"Now, it's a struggle to get enough passengers each day," says NOR FAIZIELAH, who works for Konsortium Bas Express Melayu (Klang) Sdn Bhd.

"Also, the station is prone to congestion during peak travel hours and it gets worse during public and school holidays when passenger volume is at its peak."

Another bus operator, who prefers to be known only as SHAMSUDDIN, says: "We only have many passengers during weekends, public and school holidays.

"On the other days, my company only has about 35 passengers and it's hard to make ends meet.

"Passengers also have a tendency to buy tickets from bus operators with counters at the front, so those operators further down suffer."

He says the station management could help improve the situation by allowing direct buses to Kuala Lumpur.

"Despite the KTM Komuter train services to KL, there are passengers who prefer taking the bus to the city," he says.

One bus operator upbeat about future prospects is Super Nice Express Sdn Bhd which started its services last month. Its spokesperson, SITI RAHAYU HUSSAIN, says: "Like most operators here, we have good days and bad days in terms of passenger volume, but we are positive that business will improve."

● WHEN contacted, NPO Management's property development leasing officer EIAANA ARIFIN says: "To build another entry system is too costly for the time being.

"Due to the current situation of less sales than anticipated, we are giving discounts to the bus operators of up to 40 per cent on their rental. Right now, some operators are fine with the rent but some aren't happy."

Bus operators pay a rental of about RM1,000 a month on the average (more if their lot size is bigger), stall operators pay RM1,200 a month, and those operating kiosks pay RM960 a month.

The most popular destinations for passengers from Klang Sentral are Ipoh, Kedah and Perlis in the north, Johor in the south, and Kelantan and Terengganu in the east.

CECILIA VICTOR - The Malay Mail

Setia City Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Mon, 6 Jun 2011 22:36:00 +0800

Greenhill Resources Sdn Bhd, a unit of the country's largest developer SP Setia Bhd, is bullish that its latest project, Setia City Mall, will generate big revenue.

Part of the optimism is based on the high take-up rate for the mall's retail space.

The estimated RM450 million Setia City Mall is due to open its doors for business in May next year.

Those that have confirmed tenancy include big names like Padini Concept Store, Golden Screen Cinemas, Urbanfresh, Harvey Norman, Fitness First, Courts and Wangsa Bowl.

Greenhill development director Robert Spinks said out of the 250 retailers expected 160 have confirmed their slots in Setia City Mall.

The mall consists of 740,000 sq ft of lettable space spread over four levels of zoned shopping space.

Its biggest tenant will be Parkson, which is taking a total of 120,000 sq ft.

Setia City Mall is jointly developed with Asian Retail Investment Fund, a fund managed by the investment arm of global property developer Lend Lease.

"We are confident the opening of Setia City Mall will help boost Greenhill's revenue," Spinks said at a media briefing Thursday.

He did not reveal any sales forecast.

Spinks said construction work on the mall was started in 2009.

"Gross development cost for the Setia City Mall is about RM450 million," he said, adding that the project would be a good and profitable venture for those involved.

Rental varies from RM5,000 to RM30,000, depending on size and lots.

Spinks said Setia City Mall would offer much more than the typical retail destination.

"It will provide a fun and affordable family experience - encompassing shopping, dining and entertainment," he said.

Meanwhile, SP Setia executive vice-president Khor Chap Jen said there will be a convention centre and a 250-room hotel located opposite the northern entrance of the mall.

"The construction of the convention centre, which is large enough to host a 200-table banquet, will commence next month," he said.

The company also plans to launch three blocks of SoHo (small office home office) apartments next to the hotel by the end of this year. - Business Times

Click here, for more information on Setia City Mall.

New Developements That You May Have Missed

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:50:00 +0800

One South Street Mall

One South Street Mall @ Seri Kembangan, Selangor

Upcoming development located along the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban highway that offers a mix of shop offices, service apartments and office towers.

Ride the wave of the new workplays.

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Senawang Link

Senawang Link @ Senawang, Negeri Sembilan

Senawang Link is an integrated commercial and industrial development consists of 2 Storey Shop-Office, 1 1/2 Storey Terrace Factory, 1 1/2 Storey Semi-D Factory and Industry Lot.

An integrated commercial and industrial development.

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Sunsuria 7th Avenue

Sunsuria 7th Avenue @ Shah Alam, Selangor

Bringing a client to your premise will always be pleasant and welcoming experience.

First Luxury Lifestyle Retail Offices in Town.

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Sri Utama Condominiums

Sri Utama Condominiums @ Sandakan, Sabah

Sandakan’s first and tallest condominiums is strategically located adjacent to the newly completed Utama Court 2 apartments and the proposed largest shopping mall in the East coast region in Sabah namely Sandakan Mall.

Unveil Your Sky Living Experience.

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Symphony Heights Service Apartments

Symphony Heights Service Apartments @ Gombak, Selangor

Gorgeous views, facilities for your every need, and a zippy exit to practically anywhere – at a fraction of the price! Welcome to Symphony Heights.

High-Quality Home at 10% price.

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Glenmarie Cove Rosea II

Rosea II Semi-Detached @ Klang, Selangor

The low-density, freehold development features a 2 km river frontage with exquisitely designed bungalows and semi-detached homes surrounded by landscaped parks and lagoons.

Gated and Guarded community that offer a riverfront lifestyle.

Courtesy of: thinkproperty.my

Property Fair 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:52:00 +0800

Setia Sky Residences, Kuala Lumpur

This year Star Property Fair will be held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 19th November to 21st November 2010.

Theme: Stylish Living II

SP Setia Bhd and Sime Darby Property are among the exhibitors. For more information check out

http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyFair/Kl10/Default.aspx

Delicious Mooncakes

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:44:00 +0800

It is the time of the year for mooncakes and lanterns. The Mid-Autumn Festival or Chinese Mooncake Festival is just around the corner. The actual date of this festival is 22nd September 2010. Shopping malls and shops have started selling mooncakes and lanterns. Many shopping malls even have lantern decorations where they promote the sale of mooncakes.

Mooncakes are delicious. I love them. And nowadays they come in attractive packaging which makes them ideal as gift to family and friends. When we celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, we think of togetherness and unity.

Every year there are new flavours of mooncake. I remember the traditional flavours of mooncake are lotus seed paste, red bean paste and mixed nuts. The many new flavours of mooncake are:

Charcoal Infused Mocha Milk Tea

Fragrant Corn with Soft Yolk
Snow Skin Raspberry & Blueberry
Snow Skin Japanese Potato with Custard
From Tai Thong

Low Sugar Taro Yuzu

Green Tea Custard Azuki
Chocolate Almond Butterscotch
Mocha Hazelnut Praline
From Baker’s Cottage

Red Yeast Japanese Sweet Potato

Golden Baked Lemon Tea
Bamboo Charcoal Hazelnut
Charcoal Baked Yam
From Casahana

Tiramisu Lotus Paste

Dragon Fruit Lotus Paste
Cranberry Lotus Paste
Fine Red Bean with White Bean
From Six Happiness

Black Sesame Bamboo Charcoal

Spinach with Single Yolk
Red Yeast with Mixed Beans
Durian Pearl
From Kam Lun Tai

Other types of mooncake:

Mooncakes with fruit filling (Mango, Passion Fruit, Apple, Orange and Honey Dew).

Vegetarian Mooncakes (Mushroom, Mixed Nuts).

Ginseng Mooncakes, Cordyceps Mooncakes

Jelly Mooncakes

Ice Cream Mooncakes

Mochi Mooncakes

Mochi Truffle Mooncakes from Taiwan

Every year I will try some of the new mooncake flavours. However, my all time favourite is still the Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake. In my opinion, all the new flavours and varieties still cannot beat the good old traditional Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake. Take time to enjoy this delicacy and Happy Mooncake Festival!

“When the moon is round and bright,

We bring out our lanterns and light up the night,

Families come together for some fun and delight,

And enjoy mooncakes till the very last bite.”

Secrets of buying from property developers

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 22:12:00 +0800

by Sherry Koh - StarProperty

Juanita Chin is one gutsy lady. Her property investment journey with her husband began in year 2003 and today, they own 13 properties in Penang worth approximately RM5.6 million. 12 of those properties were purchased from developers.

How do these numbers make her gutsy you ask? They don’t, but the following figures do; when she started, she was a bank teller earning RM400 and she had two young children. She had the courage to take action and the story of her journey towards financial freedom is as inspiring as it is heartwarming.

In a recent two-day property investment course titled Breaking the code: Discover the secrets of buying from property developers in Malaysia, Chin partnered with fellow property millionaire and close friend Michael Tan. This is not their first collaboration and certainly, will not be their last.

The first day – information download by Chin

Even before looking at new residential developments by developers, there are many things that each investor must do and ask oneself.

• Research: Spend 80% of your time on research before placing any deposit. Make sure that the price per square foot and location is right. Chin shared, “There was an expo overseas and most of the buyers bought a property that was in the jungle, with beautiful scenery and all that. But these investors were not aware that the development would be 100km from the nearest town! By asking the right question(s), these investors would not have been stuck with their purchase.”

If one does not conduct the necessary research, one could be stuck with a property that has depreciated from RM100,000 to RM50,000 and be stuck with the property after seven years (and counting!). That is another example that Chin shared. The unfortunate investor told her, “I should’ve invested in seminars. What is a few thousand (to spend on seminars), to save a RM50,000 mistake!”

• Set your goals: You need to know whether you are going purchasing to keep (for rental returns) or flip (buy-to-sell upon capital appreciation). It is also important to figure out who the target tenants or buyers are once the project is completed as that affects your goals. Ask yourself, “Would a restaurant or grocery store want to do business here?”, because future tenants or buyers will ask such questions.

• Set your budget: Decide on your property portfolio, whether it would be less than RM500,000 or RM100,000 and so on. For a newbie, it is advisable to begin with a smaller budget.

• Set your target location: Don’t run all over the place. Instead, be an expert in a particular area and keep farming (investing) in that area.

• Pick type of development: Would it be residential, commercial or industrial?

Once you have figured all that out, then you should analyse the developer. To evaluate, you need to find out these key information - track record, financial strength, reputation, past projects (completed / abandoned), end-financiers, workmanship, license approval and the individuals behind the project.

Chin also cautioned that it is important to find out if a developer has been blacklisted by the Ministry of Housing and Local Development. As reported by The Star on March 23, 2010, a total of 1,345 housing developers were blacklisted from carrying out projects the previous year. As at March 5 this year, a total of 1,120 developers were blacklisted and the highest number of blacklisted developers were from Selangor, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

To help residential property investors select the right project, Chin shared a list of positive and negative indicators.

Positive indicators

Workmanship

Near amenities

Location

Good property management

Security

Surrounding neighbourhood

Developer’s track record

Property layout

Facilities

Car park

Landscape

Good catchment area

Growth potential

Negative indicators

Near sewerage treatment plant

Next to electricity sub-station

High tension wires

Graveyards

T-junctions

Facing empty land

Garbage dumpsite

Smelly surrounding

Specifications Noisy

High density

The second day – field trip

On the first half of the day, all participants were ferried to two upcoming residential projects. They had to evaluate these projects based on the first day’s learning and decide which project (of the two) that they would purchase.

The second half of the day was a sharing session with two property investors – Prudence Wong and Nancy Ng, who are of course, property millionaires themselves. In fact, they are so successful that they are currently collaborating on a commercial project in Shah Alam. Both have attended many workshops and courses (property and non-property related) before finding their Midas touch in property investment. They actually met through an Internet course eight years ago.

Read the interview with driven property investor-turned-developer Prudence Wong and find out about her property investment journey and retail-cum-business suite project, Qube.

Nancy Ng is the sales project director for The Qube. She began investing since year 2003 and has attained more than 15 properties within six years. This comical and cheerful Ng shared the following with regards to financing.

• Pay your taxes

• Refinance some of your paid properties or properties that have increased in value

• Be a member of banks’ priority or privilege clubs

• Pay all your loans on time

• Establish good working relationships with your bankers, lawyers and property agents

• Look out for discounts and promotions such as 5/95 (5% down payment / 95% financing from bank), 10/90 or 20/80 from developers

If you are new to property investment, she advised to take baby steps and invest in yourself by attending property seminars (or attend to get the latest updates if you are not a novice investor).

My first $100 with Google Adsense

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:08:00 +0800

I did not know what to expect when I started blogging back in November 2009. To be honest I started blogging with the intention to make money but didn’t know how. Fortunately the internet is a very informative place. One can learn almost anything from the internet. The trick is not to get information overload. After six months, I finally got to the $100 mark on my Google Adsense account. $100 is the minimum amount required for payout. Not an amount to shout about but it’s a milestone for my make money online journey. In these six months, I found out that contrary to what many online marketeers say, making money online actually requires a lot of hard work and patience. And there is a lot of trial and error on my part. In this post, let’s share what I have done to achieve $100 with Adsense in 6 months. All the sites I use are free. No subscription required.

My Adsense account after 6 months

I started this Young Neighbourhood blog on Blogger because it is free. At that time, being new to blogging I did not want to put in any investment on something that I am not familiar with. So Blogger is the obvious choice. Blogger is user friendly and you can set up Adsense easily from here. Due to Blogger’s popularity, you can get a wide range of applications that is compatible. For example, the blogspot templates available are endless. Blogger is highly recommended for new bloggers as you don’t need to delve too much into the technical of setting up a blog. The first month I played around with various blog templates and change the layout of my blog (many times). I posted whatever I felt like posting. Second month… I began to get impatient. There is very little traffic to my blog. So I started reading articles on attracting traffic. Mean while, I still posted whatever I felt like posting.

After reading a lot of crap articles, lady luck finally came. In one blog, I was directed to HubPages. I read a lot on blogging and writing articles online here. Information on this site is applicable and useful because they are written by experienced hubbers that have been through the process. I learned about blogging from HubPages and later decided to join this site and publish my own hubs. I started to have a direction. Publishing a hub on HubPages allows you to share 60% Adsense revenue while HubPages will take the balance of 40%. A small price to pay/share. HubPages has Pagerank 6. My Young Neighbourhood blog has only Pagerank 1. The authority of this site allows articles that you published to be quickly indexed by Google. From observation, it takes a day or two for your article to be indexed and to be ranked highly on the searches. I have a few articles in HubPages that is on first page of Google search (depending on the keyword search). This is great for attracting traffic. If you have traffic, more often than not, money will come too. To date I have 18 hubs on HubPages and planning to publish much more. This is where you should focus on… churning out good content articles on HubPages and rely on the site’s authority to get your articles indexed and ranked. Visibility is important. No one will know that an article is good until they read it.

To be successful, your blog has to be in a particular market niche. Hence, I started my Healthy Living blog on Blogger. The name says it all – Healthy Living is the market niche and I will blog on this topic only. I started this blog 3 months ago to try out what I have learned. Healthy Living is already generating a bit of Adsense revenue in this trial stage. I have to admit that I am not putting enough time on this blog as I focus on HubPages primarily.

Now, these are my 3 faces on the internet. I place Adsense on all 3 sites so when readers/visitors click on the ads I get money. Sounds simple but you really need traffic before the money start flowing.

Young Neighbourhood @ Blogger

Healthy Living @ Blogger

Jasonycc @ HubPages

This is how I market these 3 sites:

1) Submit your URL to Google, Yahoo and Bing. Although web crawlers will eventually find your pages, this may take time and submission of URL directly to these search engines will shortened it. Also use Submit Express to submit your URL to 40 other search engines. Make your site visible. You do not need to do this for HubPages as it is done automatically by them.

2) Create Backlinks for every post. Each backlink is a vote to your site. The more votes, the more authority it has and your page ranks higher in Google’s view. Currently I am using:

Xomba

Snipsly

SheToldMe

Redgage

YouSayToo

I use all the above sites because they are revenue sharing. 10% of my Adsense earning is from them. Read my previous post on “I am doing more Backlinks” here.

3) Join MyBlogLog and BlogCatalog. Socialize with communities here. You will be able to get decent traffic to your blog on daily basis. This may take a bit of time for your friend base to grow and you need to put effort in leaving comments on their blogs. A useful feature on both sites is, you can broadcast your new blog post or anything else to all your friends in a single click. Imagine if you have 1000 friends and 10% respond to it.

Click here for my profile on MyBlogLog. - This site has been has been discontinued.

Click here for my profile on BlogCatalog.

If you have joined HubPages, socialize with the hubbers. I find them a helpful lot.

4) Use Facebook and Twitter to send traffic to your blog. Share your new blog post on Facebook and tweet it. You can repeat this if respond is poor but do not make it look like spam.

My Twitter profile is jasonycc.

5) Use StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit. So far I have not much luck yet with these sites. The best traffic I had from StumbleUpon is 55 hits on a blog post. Reddit, I once got 28 hits to a blog post. On Digg.. nothing. I am still exploring on how best to use these sites.

My StumbleUpon profile.

My Digg profile.

My Reddit profile.

Now I am gearing up for the next $100. It will take a shorter time to achieve. Six months experience into blogging and I am just on the tip of an iceberg. Hope to share more when I know more. If you noticed, I am still riding on someone else’s website be it Blogger or HubPages. I am thinking of having my own website soon when my monthly Adsense earnings can cover the costs of hosting my own website. Till then, I'll just need to work harder and learn more. Hope this post has been useful and I welcome feedback and questions so that we can all improve in blogging. Good Luck!

Klang Sentral 'blossoms' due to Puduraya bus terminal closure

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:21:00 +0800

Update on Klang Sentral Bus Terminal May 2010

KLANG: Klang Sentral, the sprawling 83-acre bus terminal which had failed to draw visitors since its opening late 2008, appears to have been given a new lease of life from a most unexpected source — the closure of the Puduraya terminal in March have resulted in passengers flocking to Klang instead of opting for buses from the temporary Bukit Jalil bus terminal.

The long-suffering bus operators at Klang Sentral are understandably elated over the recent development. Bus operator Prabu Ramiah, 25, claimed ticket sales have rocketed ever since.

"Before the temporary shutdown, we could not even get 15 passengers for each trip. It was bad. But many passengers are now switching to Klang Sentral as an alternative. Many have told us the Bukit Jalil bus terminal is simply too far. Though the increase is not much, at least it is improving," he said.

Prabu, however, pointed out that there was no transit bus available at Klang Sentral.

"Do you know that there is no bus going to Kuala Lumpur from here? We were promised that such buses would be available. But until today, there is no transit bus. Also, I think if Klang Sentral gets more publicity, more people would want to come here," he said.

Another bus operator, Nurhazirah Mohd Nafiah, 25, said that last year, ticket sales were dismal.

"When we first moved here, the terminal was pretty empty. Very few people wanted to come here. I admit the ticket sales is doing slightly better now but still, not many people prefer to come here.

I do not blame them as Klang Sentral is far compared to the previous location in Klang town," she said.

The traders, on the other hand, were unhappy with the bus terminal's situation. One restaurant owner, who only wanted to be known as Hamidah, said her business was not doing so good.

"During festive seasons, I get quite a number of customers. Other than that, it's very deserted over here. On top of that, there are now more traders here, so the competition is keener," she said.

Hamidah also said the high rentals made the situation difficult for traders to earn a decent income each day.

Another trader, Azmi Jaafar, 23, said that normally his daily income would reach about RM150. Azmi, who sells magazines, snacks and T-shirts, added that despite the temporary closure of the Puduraya terminal, his business remained relatively stagnant.

The Malay Mail team contacted NPO Management Berhad, the developer of Klang Sentral and informed them about the findings.

"We are happy to see that Klang Sentral is receiving more attention. We always want to provide better facilities for the people and are working on gaining more publicity for the bus terminal here," said NPO director Charmaine Lim.

"We are planning more ways to attract passengers to Klang Sentral, such as getting major anchors like the Giant supermarket.

"In other words, we want Klang Sentral to be much more than just a bus terminal."

When asked about the unavailability of transit buses, Lim said they were not the transport policymaker but were working on the issue and hoped to sort it out as soon as possible.

As for the high rentals, she said that due to the challenges which the traders and bus operators have been facing, the management gave them a 40 per cent discount.

"We understand their difficulties. So, with the discount, we hope to help them run their businesses easier," she said.

Lim also said the old Klang terminal was now operating for local buses only, not for express buses.

Klang Sentral has been operating since December 2008 and is located approximately nine kilometres from Klang town

Hafizah Hoze Rizal - The Malay Mail

South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Football

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:57:00 +0800

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is an association governed by Swiss law founded in 1904 and based in Zurich. It has 208 member associations and its goal, enshrined in its Statutes, is the constant improvement of football.

FIFA World Cup is held every 4 years since 1930 up to present (except in 1942 and 1946 - World War II). Listed below are the previous World Cup Winners:

Brazil - 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 (x5)

Italy - 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 (x4)

Germany - 1954, 1974, 1990 (x3)

Uruguay - 1930, 1950 (x2)

Argentina - 1978, 1986 (x2)

England - 1966

France – 1998

This year 2010 World Cup will be hosted by South Africa. It will be the first FIFA World Cup ever to be hosted in Africa since the competition began. All the previous World Cup winners qualified for the finals in South Africa. The 32 teams who qualified are:

Group A – South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B – Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece

Group C – England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D – Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group E – Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F – Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia

Group G – Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H – Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Zakumi - a Mascot with attitude

Zakumi will be first on the dance floor and last off it at the biggest party in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. He wants to dance and entertain as many people as he can. He is an animator for fans, players and officials, for schoolchildren, teenagers and big kids alike! The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa.

South Africa 2010 – Host Cities and Stadiums

Johannesburg – Soccer City Stadium (Final match)

Johannesburg - Ellis Park Stadium

Durban – Moses Mabhida Stadium (Semi Finals match)

Cape Town – Green Point Stadium (Semi Finals match)

Bloemfontein – Free State Stadium

Port Elizabeth – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3rd Place match)

Nelspruit – Mbombela Stadium

Tshwane/Pretoria – Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Rustenburg – Royal Bakofeng Stadium

Polokwane – Peter Mokaba Stadium

Join the Football Fever in South Africa 2010! Opening Ceremony is on 10 June 2010. The opening match is between South Africa and Mexico on the 11 June 2010. For a month, South Africa will be a big stage for the world to watch.

Which of the 32 teams will advance to the Final 16? See prediction in website below.

Which team will ultimately win the Cup? Vote for your favourite team in website below.

Get FREE download of the 2010 World Cup Schedule and Score sheet (Easy to use with all matches formularized. You only need to key in the scores of each match) in the website below.

Buy 2010 World Cup jerseys and other merchandise such as cap, t-shirt, scarf, adidas World Cup official match ball and accessories in the website below.

Website: HubPages 2010 FIFA World Cup

Moses Mabhiba Stadium in Durban

Legends of Langkawi Island Malaysia (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:16:00 +0800

Legends and Myths of Langkawi

There are many fascinating legends in Langkawi. So I will break it into two blog posts. This is the second post. To read Legendary Langkawi Island in Malaysia (Part 1), see my previous post.

Gunung Raya and Gunung Mat Cincang

There are two well known mountains in the heart of Langkawi Island, Gunung Raya and Gunung Mat Cincang. Added to the two and appearing to separate them is a hill called Bukit Sawar. The three were said to be human beings with respective names of Mat Raya, Mat Cincang and Mat Sawar.

Legend says Mat Raya's son was interested in marrying Mat Cincang's daughter, much to the displeasure of Mat Cincang. The boy was said to be of bad character. Despite the reluctance on Mat Cincang's side, the marriage did take place. But unfortunately a fight broke out during the wedding feast.

During the fight everyone became violent and pots and pans were flung at one another. A big pot of gravy (“kuah” in Malay) was broken and the contents spilt on the ground. The spot where the gravy spilt is known as Kuah - now the largest town in Langkawi - and where the pot was broken is a village now called Belanga Pecah (“broken pot” in Malay). A cauldron of hot water was also spilt on the ground and the spot, now a village is known as Air Panas (“hot water” in Malay). The spilt gravy seeped into (“kisap” in Malay) the earth at the village named Kisap. Where the engagement ring was flung became known as 'Tanjung Cincin' or Cape of the Ring. The straits now separate Langkawi from Terutau Island in Thailand. The fight between the two families went on until it was intervened by Mat Sawar. Both Mat Raya and Mat Cincang apologized for the damage incurred. In remorse, they chose to be transformed into mountains, immobile and benign. Soon, Mat Sawar followed suit. If you look at the two mountains today, you will notice that little Mat Sawar Hill is wedged in between, probably to prevent another fight between the two. The marriage turned out to be a prosperous one, for Mat Raya's son turned over a new leaf and became a devoted husband.

Gua Cerita

Cave of Legend (“Gua Cerita” in Malay) is one of the many intriguing limestone caves located in the north east of Langkawi. It comprises of two limestone caves, one above the other and faces the sea. There are a number of legends associated with the Gua Cerita, one of which was related to Merong MahaWangsa in the episode involving the Roman and the Chinese Emperors.

The story goes that the Emperors of Rome and China had a plan to marry off their children. The scheme was opposed by the legendary Phoenix (“Garuda” in Malay) who saw the union of the two great powers as a threat to the other smaller kingdoms. The Garuda was determined to stop the scheme. Hence, the Garuda abducted the Chinese princess and hid her in a cave on Langkawi Island. Then the Garuda planned to attack and destroy the Roman fleet commanded by Merong MahaWangsa with the Roman prince on it. Merong MahaWangsa is said to be of mythical origin, the descendents of a minor divinity (“indera” in Malay) and an ogre (“gergasi” in Malay).

During the battle Merong MahaWangsa summoned the help of Jentayu, the mythical bird of water. However the Garuda was victorious. During the battle the Roman prince fell into the sea and was washed ashore on the island where the Chinese princess was hidden. He was later found by the princess' maids and the couple was finally united in marriage.

Meanwhile the Garuda had thought he was victorious but came to know later that the couple was united in marriage. In disgrace the Garuda vanished itself from the world.

There are other places in Langkawi with equally interesting and mysterious legends. The Cave of the Banshee (“Gua Langsir” in Malay) somewhat weird sounding, was believed to be a haven for vampires. The cave with its ghost like appearance immediately strikes a visitor with a semblance of truth to the legend.

Tasik Dayang Bunting

Tasik Dayang Bunting is a fresh water lake on the island of Dayang Bunting, the second largest in the Langkawi archipelago. Dayang Bunting means pregnant maiden. Look carefully at the picture on the left, can you see the pregnant maiden? There are two versions of the Dayang Bunting legend.

One version has it that Dayang Bunting was a giant guardian spirit that kept watch over the islands. The lady's defenses include her pet lion and poison from the tuba root, potent weapons for her protection. Hence, the two islands closest to Pulau Dayang Bunting, whose silhouette resembles that of a reclined pregnant giant, are named Great Lion Island (“Pulau Singa Besar” in Malay) and Poisonous Root Island (“Pulau Tuba” in Malay). The story goes that, a group of rude merchants failed to pay the obligatory respects to Dayang Bunting as they passed by the islands. Rudely awakened by the intrusion, she summoned her pet lion to despatch the trespassers. She roused the spirits of wind and water, stirring up a tropical storm that unleashed its fury on the incoming fleet of vessels.

The howling winds and tossing waves threw and dashed vessels on Junk Island (Pulau Jong), hence the remains of wrecked vessels. In the stormy affair, a cargo of black and white water buffaloes escaped to Land Stable Island (Pulau Gubang Darat) and Sea Stable Island (Pulau Gubang Laut) while the white buffaloes sheltered at White Water Buffalo Island (Pulau Balar). Yet other boats, laden with rice, were stranded at Wet Rice Island (Pulau Beras Basah). All the names mentioned are the true name (in Malay) of the islands around Dayang Bunting.

The second version of Dayang Bunting is closely related to the romantic tale of Mambang Sari, a beautiful female genie and Mat Teja, a male genie. Mambang Sari used to frequent the island accompanied by her maids. Their favourite spot was Pasir Teluk Air Tahun and Teluk Lawak. One day Mat Teja saw Mambang Sari and was struck by her beauty. He fell in love with her and follow her wherever she went. Once, while on a lookout for her, he met Tok Diang an old man from the village. Mat Teja told him of his love for Mambang Sari but just did not know how to express his love. He feared that his love might not be reciprocated.

Tok Diang asked Mat Teja to get the tears of a mermaid from the sea and to wipe them on his face the next time he met Mambang Sari. He did just that and when Mambang Sari saw him she fell in love with him. They often met at various places to enjoy the beauty and serenity of these spots. They became more intimate and as a result Mambang Sari became pregnant.

She chose to retire at Tasik Dayang Beranak (Lake of Born Maiden) to give birth. Unfortunately the child died after seven days. Saddened by the death Mambang Sari took the child's body and threw it into the lake, Tasik Dayang Beranak. The lake later came to be known as Tasik Dayang Bunting. Many people believe the water of the lake possesses some mystical power of helping barren women to bear children.

For more attractions on Langkawi Island, click here.

Legends of Langkawi Island Malaysia (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Sat, 15 May 2010 21:41:00 +0800

The name "Langkawi" has two possible origins.

First, it is believed to be associated with the kingdom of Langkasuka, itself a version of the Malay negeri "alangkah suka" (the land of all one's wishes), centered in Kedah. The historical record is vague, but a Chinese Liang Dynasty record (500 AD) refers to the kingdom of "Langgasu" as being founded in the 1st century AD.

Second, it comes from the combination of two Malay words. “Helang” mean eagle and in short it is called “Lang”. “Kawi” means reddish brown in colloquial Malay. Put together they simply means reddish brown eagle. True enough, this island has a large number of reddish brown eagles in its habitat.

Sheltered by the mountainous backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi escapes the north eastern monsoon entirely and enjoys sunny skies when the eastern provinces are flooded. Blessed with natural white sandy beaches, lush greenery and jagged mountain, Langkawi is a beautiful and captivating island.

The 10,000 hectares of Langkawi and its 99 islands were declared a Geopark by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2007.

Legends and Myths of Langkawi

There are many fascinating legends in Langkawi. So I will break it into two blog posts. This will be the first. To read Legends of Langkawi Island Malaysia (Part 2), see my next blog post.

Legend of Mahsuri

The most famous legend in Langkawi is Mahsuri, a pretty maiden who lived during the reign of Sultan Abdullah Mukarram Shah II who ruled Kedah from 1762 to 1800. Mahsuri died under tragic circumstances for a crime she did not commit. She died a victim of a conspiracy plotted against her out of jealousy by Mahura, her mother in law. Mahura viciously objected to her husband's intention of taking Mahsuri as his second wife and eventually agreed that their son, Mat Deris should take Mahsuri as wife. Not long after Mat Deris marriage with Mahsuri, she gave birth to a baby boy and he was named Mat Arus. This aggravated Mahura further. Mahsuri was accused of committing adultery with Deramang, a young singer whom she befriended. The chieftain of Langkawi, Dato Karma Jaya, and her own father in law was so convinced by Mahura's accusation that, without a befitting investigation, he sentenced Mahsuri to death.

As proof of her innocence, white blood was seen bleeding out of her wound during execution at Padang Hangus. Some people said that there was a sudden appearance of white mist that enveloped the spot where she was executed, which they believed was a sign of mourning of her innocence.

Up to today, Mahsuri is remembered for her curse on Langkawi which was uttered before she died. She had said, "For this act of injustice Langkawi shall not prosper for seven generations to come." The execution of Mahsuri was indeed a tragedy of dramatic proportions. Was her curse real? History tells us that within a few years of Mahsuri's death, Langkawi was destroyed by the Siamese and Dato Karma Jaya and his entire family was killed. Rice fields and granaries were completely set on fire. To this day, grains that appear to be burnt rice can still be found at Padang Matsirat.

Langkawi remained a sleepy backwater until 1987, when the island was granted duty free status with the intention of promoting tourism and improve the lives of the islanders. The following boom was spectacular and now Langkawi is on almost every travel agency's radar.

Believe it or not… this spectacular boom was also due to the fact that Mahsuri's curse was lifted with the birth of her 7th generation descendant.

Mahsuri Mausoleum

Today, visitors can see and read the full story at her tomb in Kampung Mawat, several kilometres away from Kuah Town.

Opening Hours: Daily, 08:00 – 18:00

Location: Mukim Ulu Melaka

Address: Lot FF8, Jalan Persiaran Putra, Langkawi Malaysia 07000

Legend of Beras Terbakar (Burnt Rice)

Kampong Raja at Padang Matsirat was the ancient capital of Langkawi. During the heyday of Langkawi the island's rice granary was located there.

During the Siamese invasion of Langkawi in 1821 the Chieftain of Langkawi, Dato Karma Jaya, ordered the granary to be burnt. They torched the fields to prevent the Siamese army from getting their hands on them. Remnants of the burnt rice could still be seen today at the very spot of the burnt granary which is known as Beras Terbakar (Burnt Rice).

The burnt rice is said to have been buried a few metres below ground but often appears on the surface after a rainy day. If you’re really observant, you might still find a piece of burnt grain on the ground today, almost two centuries later.

For more attractions on Langkawi Island, click here.

Sydney set to lose spot as Australia's largest city: study

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:09:00 +0800

Sydney may boast a sparkling harbour and Bondi Beach, but Australia's biggest city is set to be eclipsed in population terms by its southern rival Melbourne, according to a study published Tuesday.

The report by economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel says a lack of affordable housing in Sydney would see the city's annual population rise miss the state government's projection of 1.1 percent growth for 2015 to 2020.

"Melbourne, with its long-term population growth of 1.3 percent a year, will displace Sydney as Australia's largest city in 2037," said Aaron Gadiel, head of the property development group Urban Taskforce, which published the research.

The report found that in 2001, Sydney was home to 660,000 more residents than Melbourne but this had slipped to a difference of 500,000 by mid-2009.

"The gap between Sydney and Melbourne is already closing rapidly -- Sydney's lead has been reduced by 20 percent over the space of just eight years," Gadiel said. "Over the past decade, Melbourne has proved far more capable of accommodating extra people than Sydney."

The cities are already by far the most populated parts of the country, with some 4.4 million people living in Sydney and 3.9 million in Melbourne. The third most populated city is Brisbane with just 1.9 million people.

Gadiel said that before Sydney property prices skyrocketed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, its state, New South Wales, had maintained a steady 42 percent share of Australia's total immigration.

But he said this figure was now falling as house prices continue to soar and insufficient new housing stock becomes available -- with about 30 percent of foreign migrants settling in the harbour city.

He said without an adequate housing supply, New South Wales would be unable to support the economic growth needed for an increasing population. "What drives our economy is the activities of people. Housing people is at the fulcrum of it all," Gadiel told ABC Radio. " Not only does housing provide jobs itself, it also gives us the opportunity to house and attract people to our economy who can make a difference."

New South Wales state Premier Kristina Keneally brushed off the report. "Sydney is Australia's only global city and there is no credible evidence to demonstrate that is going to change," she said.

From StarProperty

Does this mean that buying a property in Melbourne now will attract higher appreciation over 20 years as compared to buying a property in Sydney? Possibly, but due research should be done before committing to any property anywhere. Again, just my 2 cents worth.

Formula 1 Circuit in Melbourne

Power Up Your Life With Positive Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:12:00 +0800

Boost Your Positive Thinking!

Always use positive words while thinking and talking. Use words such as, “I can”, “I am able”, “it is possible”, “it can be done”, etc. Say them over and over again until your mind accepts them and you believe what you are saying.

Before starting with any plan or action, visualize clearly in your mind its successful outcome.

Allow into your conscious mind only feelings of happiness, strength and success.

Try to ignore negative thoughts. Refuse to think them, and substitute them with constructive happy thoughts as often as they come.

Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks.

Associate yourself with people who think positively.

Read at least one page of an inspiring book every day, or watch movies that inspire you to go further, reach higher or become a better person.

Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.

Read more on Positive Thinking.

Quotes on Positive Thinking by Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Thomas Edison and Michael Jordan.

Vegetarian Dining : Kechara Oasis

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:05:00 +0800

We have wanted to try out this Vegetarian Restaurant ever since we read a review on it in a magazine. Located in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya this place is not difficult to find. When we reach there, no problem with parking too. We were greeted by some tastefully done deco.

A very convenient location. Kechara Oasis entrance is right in front of a covered parking. I parked in front of the restaurant and the entrance door is just two steps away.

Although at the entrance the sign says "New Age Vegetarian Cuisine", when we looked at the menu it says Tibetan Vegetarian. Well, whatever it is let's hope the food is good.

Stainless steel chopsticks that is as light as feathers.

We did not order this... it's a complimentary starter. Beetroot soup... scary colour don't you think. Beetroot is really good. Just three baby beetroot equal one of the recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables. Do not panic when your urine turns pink after consuming beetroot. It will return to normal after once or twice. This was served hot.

"Banana leaf spicy fish", is the name of this dish. I feel it's not spicy enough. Taste is alright when served with white rice.

Fried Dumpling.. cheese and various vege inside. This is probably a new age cuisine. Taste is acceptable. At the background is "Camel meat with butter"... probably one of the Tibetan specialty. This dish is delicious and the texture is really like meat.

Dessert.. banana and red bean wrapped and topped with icing sugar. Weird taste. I do not like this. Out of the six pieces, we ate only one. Balance we "tapau". Someone has to eat it later.

Deco outside the Kechara Oasis.

As a meat lover, this is not a place for me. For vegetarian looking for a change in taste, this new age cuisine and Tibetan vegetarian restaurant may be worth a try. Click here for more information on Kechara Oasis.

Get the right mortgage

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:32:00 +0800

Buying a property takes time and energy. First is the searching, viewing, comparing and then deciding. After a decision is made on which property to buy, you need to make another decision on which mortgage loan to take. This may be challenging especially for first timer. Here is an article that will give you a better understanding of mortgage loan before you sign those papers.

When you have located the right property and paid the necessary deposit, you need to hunt for the right mortgage loan. Before you visit every bank in the city, it is advisable to sit and think about your loan requirements. Ask yourself these questions.

• How long do you want to borrow?

• What is the margin of financing you want?

• What is the amount of monthly instalment you can afford?

Choosing the right mortgage loan is not just about choosing the loan with the lowest interest.

Key mortgage considerations for a property investor

An investor does not want to have a long lock-in period as he or she will flip (sell) the property within a short duration of time, when the time is right.

Although it is difficult to find zero-entry-cost package deals these days, a property investor can opt for the loan legal fees to be included into the loan amount. This is known as Finance Entry Cost (FEC).

Advice for first-time home-buyers

• Loan tenure

If your income is not enough to support a housing loan application, do not despair. This is where you, the borrower, can apply for longer loan tenure to lower the monthly instalments. A professional or graduate can stretch the loan tenure between age 65 and 70 years old. When your income improves, you can make extra pre-payments to reduce the loan’s principal amount. It is important to find out if there is any penalty for extra pre-payments.

Another alternative is to apply the loan under a joint name. The bank will assess the income from all borrowers in the loan application.

• Properties under construction

For properties under construction, some banks allow you to pay the interest only without having to serve the principal amount. Once the property is completed, only then do you start paying the regular monthly instalments. The money saved during the construction period could be used for other things such as paying your existing rental. It may not be much for some, but a Ringgit saved is a Ringgit gained.

• Flexi-loans

Some loan package deals come with a cheque book. This type of loan is also known as flexi-loan, where you can withdraw the excess money for emergencies or other use. While it may seem handy, you need to assess whether this is really required. For some flexi-loan borrowers, the cheque book is never used and/or the funds are never withdrawn. Not all flexi-loans are free as some impose a one-time set-up fee and a monthly maintenance fee. The amount will vary from bank to bank.

There are two types of flexi-loan. One is semi-flexi while the other is fully-flexi. The main difference between these two is that semi-flexi loan requires an advance three-day notice for withdrawals, while a full flexi loan does not require any advanced notice.

In conclusion, every loan package deal is different, with its own set of pros and cons. Due to the recent rise in BLR (Base Lending Rate), some banks have already revised their loan package deals. Choose wisely, or get a mortgage agent to assist you.

This article is contributed by Peter Loke, a professional mortgage agent.

From StarProperty

Lifetime Commitment

I am doing more Backlinks

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:57:00 +0800

There is so much work to do with blogging. Not only posting what you have to say, you have to manage the blog layout, tweak the settings, socialize and do a bit of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) work... all these to make your blog survive in the brutal internet world. Or it will die a natural death when no one visits or reads it. As I am growing my blog, here is my experience with SEO so far:-

With reference to my previous post, I have joined Xomba and YouSayToo to improve my Google search position. This may have helped me achieve Google PageRank 1 recently. So, I am doing more backlinks to my blog. Hopefully it will boost my ranking further in the eyes of Google and ultimately bring more traffic. Recently I have signed up with:

Shetoldme

Snipsly

RedGage

Shetoldme and Snipsly are similar to Xomba. You need to submit a summary of your post as bookmark.

RedGage is simpler where you create a Title and just link your blog address to it. YouSayToo is even better as every post you make will automatically be posted in YouSayToo (downside, only provide link back to your blog's main page).

Plus point. All of the above offer Revenue sharing. The sharing percentage differs. All except RedGage, revenue is through Adsense. The more clicks the more money. RedGage pays based on pageviews of content submitted. The more views the more money.

After signing up with these, it's time to submit the links. Tedious work but I think it's worth every minute of it when you see traffic coming and money trickling in.

Submit Links like this!

Young Neighbourhood - Google Pagerank 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Thu, 8 Apr 2010 17:50:00 +0800

I was informed by a fellow blogger that Google has updated the Pagerank recently. I think the exact date is on 3rd April 2010. Everyone seemed so excited except me. This is because I know my blog is new and won’t be ranked until after 6 months (at least).

As I was checking the new Pagerank of my friends’ blogs, I said to myself.. “Why not check for your own blog? Just type the URL.. won’t take even 10 seconds. No harm.” So I typed in my blog address. To my surprise, my blog has already been ranked by Google. Woohoo! It’s now on Pagerank 1. Well, I know 1 is not exactly a great number for Pagerank but it's a start. Also, I can't help it but to display that ranking at the bottom right of my blog. Hahaha. Just sharing my happiness :)

MANY, MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Australia Central Bank: Home prices ‘quite high’

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Wed, 7 Apr 2010 12:18:00 +0800

A point to note before jumping into the property bandwagon in Australia. Apply caution.

Glenn Stevens … ‘I think it is a mistake to assume that a riskless easy guaranteed way to prosperity is just to be leveraged up into property.’ — Bloomberg

SYDNEY: Australia’s central bank governor Glenn Stevens said house prices are “getting quite high” and signalled that interest rates may need to be increased further to contain inflation.

Speaking in his first television interview since taking the helm at the Reserve Bank of Australia in September 2006, Stevens told Channel Seven it was important for borrowing costs to be returned to “normal” levels. The interview was recorded in Sydney on March 22.

“It’s not wise to leave interest rates right down at rock bottom any longer than you need,” Stevens said. “It would not be doing people any favours to have a prolonged period of very low rates and then hammer them unexpectedly.”

Stevens this month increased borrowing costs for the fourth time in five meetings, in part to contain house prices. The central bank will keep its overnight cash rate target unchanged at 4% in its next policy announcement on April 6 before increasing the key rate on May 4, according to a Bloomberg News survey of 22 economists.

“I think it is a mistake to assume that a riskless easy guaranteed way to prosperity is just to be leveraged up into property,” Stevens said. “It isn’t going to be that easy.” Australian house prices surged 11.8% in the year through January, according to a Feb 26 report by realestate monitoring company RP Data- Rismark. The country’s property market is “very buoyant,” central bank assistant governor Philip Lowe said on March 25.

“These prices are getting quite high,” Stevens said yesterday. “I’ve got kids that within not too many years are going to want somewhere of their own to live and you wonder how is that going to be afforded.” A gauge of housing affordability published last month by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) slumped 18.4% last quarter, amid rising population growth, borrowing costs and dwelling prices. The HIA predicts around 152,000 dwelling commencements this year, fewer than the 190,000 required by higher population growth.

Sales of newly built dwellings fell 5.2% in February from January, the Canberra-based HIA said in a report emailed to Bloomberg News yesterday. Sales rose 9.5% in January from the previous month.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who must hold an election within the next 13 months, announced yesterday A$50mil in spending as part of the government’s A$512mil Housing Affordability Fund. The spending “will help unlock housing supply,” he said.

“There are not enough new houses being built to accommodate a rapidly growing population, and this is putting upward pressure on prices and rents,” said Brian Redican, a senior economist at Macquarie Group Ltd in Sydney.

“This leaves policymakers with the Catch-22 of having to balance the risks of warding off rising house prices with increasing interest rates, while at the same time trying not to discourage stronger residential construction.”

Traders are betting there is a 52% chance of a quarter-point rate increase when the central bank next meets on April 6, according to Bloomberg calculations based on interbank futures on the Sydney Futures Exchange at 10.32am.

The Australian dollar traded at 90.51 US cents as of 10.52am in Sydney from 90.58 US cents late in Tokyo on the previous trading day. To stoke demand for property at the height of the global financial crisis following the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc in the United States, Australia’s government tripled grants in late 2008 to first-time buyers of newly built dwellings to A$21,000. Those payments were cut to their original level of A$7,000 on Jan 1.

The central bank is monitoring whether the government’s decision to relax rules on foreigners who buy local property is stoking a surge in house prices, Stevens told a finance industry conference in Sydney on March 26.

The “question of the role of foreign purchases is an important one and it’s one we’re giving some attention to,” Stevens said at the time.

“Hard facts” about the trend were difficult to find, he added. Stevens said on March 2 that Australia’s economy would probably expand at or close to trend this year amid increased investment on new mines and resources projects such as the Chevron Corp-led Gorgon natural gas venture in Western Australia. - Bloomberg.

From StarProperty

SP Setia buying Melbourne site for RM92mil

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:16:00 +0800

Australia property is creating lots of news (see my previous posts)… Even our local neighbourhood developer SP Setia Bhd is acquiring land in Melbourne Australia. SP Setia is a well established Property Developer in Malaysia and has Home Developments in Vietnam. Now they are gunning Australia. See excerpt below:

PETALING JAYA: SP Setia Bhd is buying a 0.42ha site in Melbourne’s Central Business District for A$30mil (RM92.4mil) to undertake a high-density inner-city integrated residential and commercial project.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, SP Setia said its unit Setia International Ltd would acquire the land from S.L. Nominees Pty Ltd and Jonquil Pty Ltd.

We will update this when more information is available. Meanwhile, anyone else to join the bandwagon??

Updated on 13 April 2010:

The leading property property developer in Malaysia, S P Setia announced the purchase of a 46,715 sq ft piece of land in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD) in Melbourne for RM92.4 million (AUD30 million) today.

The land enjoys dual street frontages with A' Beckett Street on its southern and Franklin Street on its northern boundaries, and is located between Elizabeth and Queen Streets. The largest remaining undeveloped site in the central spine of Melbourne's CBD, the land is a short walking distance to Melbourne Central Shopping Centre and Railway Station, and is close to the Queen Victoria Market. It is also close to RMIT University, University of Melbourne and La Trobe University and the beautiful Flagstaff Gardens.

See Full Press Release here

http://www.spsetia.com.my/corporate/news/attachments/melb.pdf

Homemade Tiramisu

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:35:00 +0800

Over the weekend, Agnes and sister Sue have combined their skills and made this famous Italian dessert... Tiramisu.

Visit HubPages for Agnes' simple Tiramisu recipe. Anyone can try.. baking not required.

My glass of Tiramisu :)

Return on Investment: Calculating gross yield

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:52:00 +0800

How do property investors know which property to purchase? One of the assessment methods used regularly is termed as Return on Investment (ROI). It is not the only method that investors use to calculate returns; however, it is the most widely used.

ROI, also known as Yield, is calculated to determine the feasibility of a property investment. It is designed to assist the investor to answer, ‘Is this investment worth it?’, ‘What will I get back in return?’ and ‘Which investment options are more attractive?’

It indicates cash flow of an investment over a specific period of time, usually a year. Therefore, the higher the percentage of ROI/Yield, the better rated the property investment opportunity is. As with any investment, before you put your time, energy, effort and money into it, you must have an indication of the kind of returns, including an indication of when it is expected. In this article, “Yield” indicates an annual rate of return, unless otherwise noted.

Note: Investment property refers to a property purchased for the sole purpose of earning a return on the investment, either in the form of rent or capital gain. The owner does not live in the property.

How to calculate yield?

In its simplest form, the profit of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment (Yield is usually shown in percentage). Often, it is best to determine each investment over the course of a year to find out the yearly Yield.

Gross yield

For example:

Investment property RM500,000

Renovations RM80,000

Rental RM3,000 per month / RM36,000 per year

Gross Yield = Annual Rent / Total Cost of Investment

RM36,000 / RM580,000 = 0.062 = 6.2%

However, to arrive at a more accurate Yield (actual returns), you must deduct other costs such as Maintenance Charges, Sinking Fund, Management Fees, Insurance, Quit Rent, Assessment, Estate Agent and Legal Fees (where relevant) and other expenses.

Calculating the Yield for each property investment will aid in comparing, shortlisting and selecting investments that bring the best returns to you. However, at present we base our returns on the yearly rental and not the ultimate returns you will get when you sell the property. Yield and expected Capital Appreciation must be considered together, in order to make better decisions on the investment option. Some properties might be lower on yearly Yields but over a shorter period of time, it can double in property value.

The preferred Yield percentage

As a general rule of thumb, seasoned investors would go for a property investment which has a nett yield that is twice the fixed deposit rates, which in this case would have to touch no less than 5%.

How can this be achieved? There are only two ways, as per the formula – either rental can improve or reduction in purchase price. For example, if the seller is willing to consider RM450,000 and a more reflective rental is RM4,000 per month. The gross yield now hits 9.1%.

By Chan Ai Cheng - StarProperty

More Trouble at Klang Sentral

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:40:00 +0800

TRANSIT: an update on the mostly forgotten Klang Sentral bus terminal.

KLANG: Barely a year after the controversial Klang Sentral bus terminal was opened, many retail outlets there are vacant as shopkeepers have packed up and left due to poor business and high rentals.

There are 38 retail outlets in Terminal A and of these, 11 outlets are vacant, with most retailers closing shop after only a few months.

The food court, or “food station”, which is located on the first floor of Terminal A, also closed down after operating for only seven months.

The food station operator was only given a day’s notice to vacate.

A notice dated July 24 last year, which was pasted on the main glass door by NPO Management, the operator of Klang Sentral bus terminal, stated that the food station would be closed the next day, July 25.

The notice stated that NPO Management had decided to close down the food station as the operator had refused to sign a tenancy agreement with them.

The notice added that NPO Management could not afford to suffer further financial losses.

Charmaine Lim, director of the Titijaya Group of Companies of which NPO Management is a subsidiary, said the company was considering other plans for the food station.

“We have other plans for the place allocated for the food court. We may not reopen the outlet for the sale of food and beverages but we are seriously considering other businesses so that the public can have a variety when they patronise these outlets,” she said.

Most of the traders at Terminal A complained that business was bad and it was hard for them to earn enough to pay for the rental of their outlets.

“Very few people patronise our shop which sells various kinds of souvenir items. We only see a crowd on weekends and public holidays,” said Mohd Izwan Marjan, 29, an employee at one of the outlets.

Izwan said the operator should lower the rentals as the outlets were finding it hard to make a profit, resulting in many of them being forced to close down.

Another retailer, who wished to remain anonymous, said although the operator had given some discounts in the rentals, they were not enough.

“There is insufficient business. The operator should reduce the rental. They can always review it when more passengers make use of the terminal and there is more business for us,” he said.

He is also unhappy as traders near the passengers waiting area are now selling the same type of food and drinks although they were earlier told that each trader would only sell a particular type of food or drink.

Lim, meanwhile, said the management empathised with the plight of the retailers and had reduced the rental by 40 per cent.

“When the number of passengers at the terminal picks up, the traders should be able to overcome their problems,” she said.

[TRANSIT: And what plans exist to make this happen? Using the 'power' of the CVLB?]

The RM12 million Klang Sentral complex in Jalan Meru is located 10km away from Klang town.

It is a build-operate-transfer project and the developer was given a 30-year concession to operate the bus and taxi terminals after which it will be handed over to the Klang Municipal Council.

It is part of a RM300 million commercial hub developed by NPO Development on a 33.2ha freehold land.

The little-used Klang Sentral opened its doors in November 2008 and has been the subject of controversy as many residents in Klang complained it was too far from the town centre.

Most bus operators have refused to use Klang Sentral because of its poor location and the lack of passengers. Many said the location of the terminal had added to their operational costs.

TRANSIT Says:

What is truly sad here is that no one is coming up with any solutions to improve the current situation. The customers are in Klang, specifically in North Klang, not Bandar Meru Raya (which is where Klang Sentral is).

Even the massive congestion in the town because of the construction of the flyover has not deterred the bus companies or the customers.

It is truly sad that no one in the government has come up with any solutions for the Klang Sentral problem. Where is the NKRA in the face of this sad and disappointing example of how not to plan public transport?

TRANSIT has suggested that a bus-rapid transit (BRT) system be introduced to Klang, with a north-south corridor that would quickly link Klang town to Klang Sentral in the north and Bukit Tinggi in the south, with 3 east-west corridors linking Klang to KL (along the NKVE, Federal Highway and KESAS).

Implementing the BRT for Klang would bring life back to Klang Sentral, turning it into a popular hub for intercity express buses and rural mini-buses and outstation taxies.

But if the governments do not start working together, Klang Sentral will become a permanent white elephant and the traders will lose the most.

by transitmy

Property Investment in South Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:46:00 +0800

Another positive developement in Australia.

South Australian Property Council calls for `live in the city' bonus.

BIGGER grants should be available for first-home buyers who choose city apartments, the Property Council says.

In its pre-election platform, released today, the group has called for efforts to make city apartments more attractive to help the state meet its goal of 70 per cent urban infill.

Executive director Nathan Paine said changes to the State Government's affordability measures and more marketing support for high-rise buildings would benefit the entire city.

"I don't think there is any question that Adelaide is going through the same process Melbourne went through a few years ago," he said.

"Young people want to be in the city, they want to be close to the city, they want to walk to work, they want the lifestyle.

"More people living in the city means we will have a more vibrant and safer city, which will improve Adelaide for every South Australian."

The council's vision also calls for renewed investment in "thinking industries" such as renewable energy and biosciences and a renewed focus on making SA the destination of choice for migration.

"We are on the path to prosperity, and we will have population growth, regardless of what some people think. This is about making SA the best the state can be," he said.

The policy is aimed at three key areas - people, productivity and place - and calls on political parties for support or commitment in the lead-up to the March 20 state election.

It recommends greater focus on the attraction and retention of international students through a new taskforce to identify work and housing needs, but also pushes a new "student accommodation" planning definition against which councils should assess proposals. Another major thrust lies in boosting the attraction of multi-level residential developments through added marketing, changes to the concept of affordable housing to apply to transport-rich areas, and the consideration of first-home buyer stamp duty reductions.

"As our population booms, we will need to provide multi-level residential accommodation," Mr Paine said.

Source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/property

Brighton Beach - Adelaide

The question is WHEN? How soon?

Baby - Speech and Language Development

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Young) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:44:00 +0800

Understanding Normal Speech and Language Development

It's important to discuss early speech and language development, as well as other developmental concerns, with your doctor at every routine well-child visit. It can be difficult to tell whether a child is just immature in his or her ability to communicate or has a problem that requires professional attention. These developmental norms may provide clues:

Before 12 Months

It's important for kids this age to be watched for signs that they're using their voices to relate to their environment. Cooing and babbling are early stages of speech development. As babies get older (often around 9 months), they begin to string sounds together, incorporate the different tones of speech, and say words like "mama" and "dada" (without really understanding what those words mean). Before 12 months, children should also be attentive to sound. Babies who watch intently but don't react to sound may be showing signs of hearing loss.

By 12 to 15 Months

Kids this age should have a wide range of speech sounds in their babbling and at least one or more true words (not including "mama" and "dada"). Nouns usually come first, like "baby" and "ball." Your child should also be able to understand and follow single directions ("Please give me the toy," for example).

From 18 to 24 Months

Kids should have a vocabulary of about 20 words by 18 months and 50 or more partial words by the time they turn 2. By age 2, kids should be learning to combine two words, such as "baby crying" or "Daddy big." A 2-year-old should also be able to follow two-step commands (such as "Please pick up the toy and bring me your cup").

From 2 to 3 Years

Parents often witness an "explosion" in their child's speech. Your toddler's vocabulary should increase (to too many words to count) and he or she should routinely combine three or more words into sentences.

Comprehension also should increase — by 3 years of age, a child should begin to understand what it means to "put it on the table" or "put it under the bed." Your child also should begin to identify colors and comprehend descriptive concepts (big versus little, for example).

Warning Signs of a Possible Problem

If you're concerned about your child's speech and language development, there are some things to watch for.

An infant who isn't responding to sound or who isn't vocalizing is of particular concern.

Between 12 and 24 months, reasons for concern include a child who:

-isn't using gestures, such as pointing or waving bye-bye by 12 months

-prefers gestures over vocalizations to communicate by 18 months

-has trouble imitating sounds by 18 months

-has difficulty understanding simple verbal requests

Seek an evaluation if a child over 2 years old:

-can only imitate speech or actions and doesn't produce words or phrases spontaneously

-says only certain sounds or words repeatedly and can't use oral language to communicate more than his or her immediate needs

-can't follow simple directions

-has an unusual tone of voice (such as raspy or nasal sounding)

-is more difficult to understand than expected for his or her age.

Parents and regular caregivers should understand about half of a child's speech at 2 years and about three quarters at 3 years. By 4 years old, a child should be mostly understood, even by people who don't know the child.

What you can do

Reading to your child is a great way to boost speech skills. Books help a child add words to her vocabulary, make sense of grammar, and link meanings to pictures. Ordinary conversation with your 2-year-old helps in similar ways. Mealtimes and bedtime provide nice opportunities to sit and chat in the course of a busy day. Researchers have found that the more words a child hears, the greater her vocabulary will be.

Spend a lot of time communicating with your child, even during infancy — talk, sing, and encourage imitation of sounds and gestures.

Read to your child, starting as early as 6 months. You don't have to finish a whole book, but look for age-appropriate soft or board books or picture books that encourage kids to look while you name the pictures. Try starting with a classic book such as Pat the Bunny, in which the child imitates the patting motion, or books with textures that kids can touch. Later, let your child point to recognizable pictures and try to name them. Then move on to nursery rhymes, which have rhythmic appeal. Progress to predictable books, such as Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, in which your child can anticipate what happens. Your little one may even start to memorize favorite stories.

Use everyday situations to reinforce your child's speech and language. In other words, talk your way through the day. For example, name foods at the grocery store, explain what you're doing as you cook a meal or clean a room, point out objects around the house, and as you drive, point out sounds you hear. Ask questions and acknowledge your child's responses (even when they're hard to understand). Keep things simple, but never use "baby talk."

When to seek help

If by age 2 your child rarely attempts to speak or imitate others, doesn't react when you call her name, or seems uninterested in talking, seek help. If by the end of this year she still says only single words instead of two-to-four-word sentences, uses new words once and then doesn't repeat them frequently, or doesn't ask or respond to simple questions ("What's this?" or "Where's your hat?") then she may also have a speech problem.

Read some more on Hubpages.