Rice and more rice

Bangkok - My channel partners talked about the record prices of rice, which is one of the staple food for half of the world's population has more than doubled in the past year. Since World War II, Thailand has been the World's largest exporter of rice, and may decide to restict shipments thus worsening a current global food crisis. China, Vietnam, India and Egypt have curbed overseas sales to safeguard domestic supplies and cool inflation. Thailand ships about one-third of the world's exports, may follow its Asian neighbours in limiting sales.

Thailand has 2.1 million tons of rice as reserve stockpile. Thailand produces about 30 million tons of paddy annually, equivalent to about 20 million tons of milled rice. Of that, some 9 million tons are for domestic consumption while a similar amount is for export, and the remaining 2 million tons are retained as safety stocks by the state.

Singapore is a small country and have to import most food. So, I am very grateful for the foresight and mandatory requirement of the Government on rice supplies that Singapore do not need to touch her rice stock pile.

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry said that the current adequate supplies make it unnecessary to draw on Singapore's national rice stockpile. The stockpile is a result of the Government's requirement that all rice traders maintain an amount equivalent to twice their monthly imports. Importers say the stockpile, enough to see Singapore through three months in an emergency, is stored in three government warehouses.

Meanwhile, importers are ensuring supplies remain stable by sourcing rice from alternative sources. Apart from Thailand, major rice importer FairPrice, for example, brings in the grain from Australia, India and Vietnam. It has not stopped looking for other potential suppliers. Singapore imported 326,854 tonnes of rice last year - 60 per cent from Thailand, another 30 per cent from Vietnam and India and the remaining 10 per cent from about 15 countries.

So, if 326,854 tonnes divided by 12 months and multiply by 2 times, would give a stock pile of 55,000 tonnes of rice for Singaporeans in times of emergency.

Checked into Mayfair Mariott Bangkok

Bangkok - The flight from Singapore to Bangkok was good and since I watched CSI and documentaries since I have seen most of the good movies that was available. After picking up my luggage, I approached the AOT Limo Taxi to bring me to Mayfair Mariott Executive Apartment, and it cost me Bht1,200 (the last time I paid Bht 1,100) - due to increase in petrol prices. The only familiarity is the constant traffic jam and it begins from morning till evening - I suppose there are too many cars, narrow and few roads.

This time I am staying at Mayfair Mariott Executive Apartments- located at 60 Soi Lang Suan, Lumpini. Never stayed in an Executive Apartment before so decided to try it out. I booked a 1 room apartment about Bht 4,900 (US$122) - but the hotel upgraded me to a 2 room apartment because it was fully booked. The 2 room apartment is huge about 1,000 sq feet - dinning area, living area, kitchen (fully equipment with refrigerator, washing machine and dryer, dish washer, microwave oven), 1 guest room, guest bathroom, and master bedroom with attached bathroom. It was just great - I might stay here the next time. The convenience is that it is just 6 minutes walk to the Ratchadamri BTS (on the Silom skytrain line) or Chitlom Skytrain (on the Sukumvit line).

I had meetings and dinner with my channel partner, and then back to the Hotel.

Another Budget Airline bites the dust...

Hong Kong - Budget Carrier Oasis Hong Kong airlines has shut down its operations on 9 April, after being in service for just over 17 months. The airlines has made headlines by offering one-way fares to London for as low as HK$ 1,000 (S$177), taking on Cathay Pacific Airways on some of its profitable routes. That is just 20% of the standard fares of its rivals, but is was losing money on the flight.

Rising oil prices have been blamed, along with higher landing fees at Chek Lap Kok, Asia's 3rd busiest airport. Oasis will make it the 4th airline worldwide to shut down within 2 weeks after a 73 per cent surge in fuel costs over the past year. US carriers ATA Airlines, Aloha Airgroup and Skybus Airlines have all ceased operations since March 31.

On my way home....

Tokyo - Woke up early 6.30am when my alarm rang both on the bed side alarm and my handphone. Outside temperature is around 11 degrees centigrade with light drizzle. Took the 7.30am Limo bus (which arrive on time), bound for Narita airport. I soon arrived at the airport @ 8.45am and it was good that I was early because the immigration line was so long. I always try to be at the airport at least 2 hrs before departure, it gives me enough time to relax in the ANA lounge (SQ uses ANA lounge) and have some good soba noodles. ANA has a spacious and well equipped lounge with full business area that has ample personal computers for you to work on with integrated printing facilities.

The SQ 637 to Singapore was full with every seat from my visible eye is occupied. This is the 1st time I had to sit at the window seat because there were no more aisle seats more than 5 days ago when I made my booking. It was a bit wierd as I am very used to seating aisle but it is ok - 7hrs and I will be back home.

Raining in Tokyo

Tokyo - It was raining when I stepped out of the lobby and it was fortunate that the Hotel provided complimentary use of their umbrellas. The temperature was cold - after a good 20 minutes of walk I arrived at my meeting place. The meeting went smoothly, nothing out of the ordinary.

I met Terry outside the Toyocho metro station, we took the Tozai line bound for Mozen Nagacho station, which was 2 stations down. I like sushi and she brought be to a very nice sushi restaurant, it was very cosy. We sat at the sushi counter and was served by the Chef (who is also the owner). The meal was really good and the sushi just melt in your mouth. The best sushi was the Chef trademark and he instructed us not to dip into the soya sauce. Wow, it was so delicious - Oishi des. This sushi had a taste of ginger, shallots and tinkle of lemon on it. As we sat at the sushi bar counter, Terry went down the line of seafood and we literally ordered everything there was.

It was really good to get to know Terry more and insight into Japanese business and culture. Thank you for a delicious and i think very expensive meal. I took the metro to where I started, and walk to back to the hotel.

Need to catch the early Limo bus at 7.30am, off to bed.

Back again in Tokyo

Tokyo - This tip will make it my 23rd trip to Japan. I managed to catch 2 movies on the flight to Tokyo. One is Shanghai Red (which is in Mandarin), the setting was in Shanghai. One of the places in scene was St Regis Hotel, Shanghai - that is the hotel I normally stay in Shanghai. Acted and produced by Vivan Wu.

The other movie was The Great Debaters - a true story about US south where deep discrimination against blacks, and the debaters from a small black college took on Harvard University and won. Two actors Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. Denzel Washington is one of my favourite actors - an intelligent, deep thinking and passionate actor.

I arrived Tokyo @ 6pm and the weather is nice at around 12 degrees centigrade. The immigration installed biometric systems which I had to put 2 index fingers and that a camera that took a photo of me. Apart from this, the process was quite fast. The Hotel I am staying is Hotel East 21, because it is not one of the popular hotels, the Limo bus frequency to this hotel is low. I had to take the Limo bus instead to TCAT and then took a taxi to the hotel. The starting fare for the taxi has increased from Y600 to Y710, maybe due to the rising petrol prices.

I had dinner @ Inaba Wako restaurant serving Tonkatsu (Breaded Pork cutlet) located walking distance from the Hotel. My Tonkatsu (200g) set meal cost Y1,350 - it is a nice and delicious meal. This restaurant does not accept credit card so I had to pay by cash. I should have paid by credit card for the taxi fare because I am down with Y5,000.