Insadong - the arty scene of Seoul - must visit to Seoul

Knock-knock "House-keeping"...open the door in my daze and was pissed that someone woke me up from my slumber before the alarm bell. This was the first time such a nuissance happened to me.

Visited Insa-dong - it looks like the arty scene of Seoul. Insa-dong, located in the middle of the city, is an important place where old but precious and traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, traditional teahouses, and cafes. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each store is unique. The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong.

I bought a souvenir that looks like the shape of a question mark, "?" - do you know what it is for?
A: To scratch my back....

Lunch was interesting because Young-jin insisted that we have it at a popular traditional Korean restaurant but it comes with waiting standing outside the entrance for 30 minutes and the queue was always filling up. Well, in Singapore if locals are willing to wait for a good meal - it must be good. So, I hope this principle applied here too. I was not disappointed - the food was good and reasonably priced. We had the traditional Bi-Bim-Bap, which is a popular Korean dish - literally means "mixed rice". Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm rice topped with sauteed and seasoned vegetables, beef, a fried egg, and gochujang (chili pepper paste). The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating.

Later, we went for traditional Korean tea - the ambiance was quaint and very traditional. But the tea taste normal to me. I was expecting some tea drinking experience but nothing of that sort happened. I had The drink of choice is Omija-hwachae ("five-taste" tea), from the fruit of the Chinese magnolia vine, which is rich in organic acids and helps suppress coughs and soothe dry throats. Young-Jin had mogwa-cha (Chinese quince tea), which is high in vitamin C and helps prevent colds and suppress coughs. It is a favourite winter tea.

I had dinner alone with one of my favourite dish, Gori-Gom Tang (Ox-tail soup). .....

Summer in Seoul

The taxi arrived late at my home and when I reach Changi Airport, I nearly missed the flight to Seoul - I just rushed to my gate to board the plane. Because of Singapore's booming economy, the airport is packed with business travellers. So early in the morning, the 5 counters for KrisFlyer Gold's priority passengers were full. As the saying goes..."When it rains, it pours" - taxi arrived late, long queue to get my board pass, last passenger to board, had to change 5 times for a decent audio headseat to watch a movie"

But I am glad I arrive safely and this will be my 54th trip to Seoul and I like coming back here...the limo bus journey from the Inchon Airport to the Hotel was very long - taking 2 hrs to reach the Hotel. The weather was warm around 25 degrees Celcius, as it's Summer. Today, I am staying at Seoul Renaissance Hotel which is my usual hotel as it is very centrally located at Samsung-dong - right in downtown Seoul.

Upon reaching the hotel, Young-Jin was waiting at the hotel so there was no rest for me this time - it was a very busy schedule. We adjourned for a round of my favourite dish - Bul-Gal-Bi (BBQ beef ribs) and finished it with a dish of Naeng Myun (Cold noodles). This is one of Korean favourite dish during the Summer. It consists of thin noodles typically made from arrowroot or buckwheat flour, and is served in a large metal bowl with a tangy iced brooth. It is garnished with sliced beef or pork, a boiled half egg, slices of Asian pear, sliced cucumber and sesame seeds. You can add vinegar and mustard to the dish or not at all - but I like a dash of both to give it a tangy taste.

SINGAPORE - Low cost airline Hub

Now you can fly from India through Singapore, to China for under S$500. Or to Taipei or Darwin for about S$300? or choose from a dozens of exotic destinations served by the region's low cost carriers (LCCs).

Within a span of 5 yeas, regional LCCs have dramatically changed the dynamics of air travel. And in the process, Singapore - with its strategic location has emerged as the de facto hub for regional low cost air travel. By connecting the dots around the region, and offering cut-rate tickets, Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia, AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Air India Express,Bangkok Airways, Lion Air, and others have effectively "commoditized" air transport for the region's half--billion people.

To cater to the demand, carriers like Tiger and AirAsia are already buying more planes. Tiger, which has a current fleet of nine aircraft, will take delivery of 70 planes by 2014, while AsiaAsia will have a fleet of 100 planes by the decade's end.

Tiger Airways has another hub based out of Melbourne to cater to the Australian market and set up a subsidiary Tiger Airways Australia Pty. Ltd. With the start of its India flights this year. Tiger will have the broadest pan-Asian footprint of any SE Asian LCCs.

List of Low cost airlines in Asia : http://www.attitudetravel.com/lowcostairlines/asia/

GST everywhere you travel

There is a trend that GST (Good and Services Tax) or Value-Added Tax will be implemented throughout Asia Pacific.

Tomorrow (1st July), Singapore businesses will switch from 5% to 7% GST, a 2% tax hike. Comparing Asia Pacific countries to European Union (EU), you will find that the majority of governments in the Asia Pacific region that impose GST or VAT do so at comparatively low rates between 5 to 12.5% (with the exception of China), and on average at a rate far below the norm in the EU where rates range from 15 to 25%.

VAT and GST are the two of the fastest growing taxes globally with no less than 140 countries operating a VAT/GST system, reflecting a global trend by governments to focus on the certainty of revenues from indirect taxes.

When Singapore first introduced GST in 1994, the tax was responsible for approximately 11% of government tax revenue, in the last financial year, that proportion had nearly double to around 20%. This trend is set to increase with the impending GST hike by 2%. As a consequence, the corporate income tax is to be reduced from 20 to 18% to keep Singapore competitive.

Similarly in China, the recent corporate tax reforms in China are expected to shift the tax revenue collection profile even further towards indirect taxes which already accounts for two-thirds of China's tax revenue.

GST/VAT around the region (as at 1st July 2007)

China - introduced in 1994 - 17%
Pakistan - introduced in 1990 - 15%
Bangladesh - introduced in 1991 - 15%
New Zealand - introduced in 1986 - 12.5%
India - introduced in 2005 - 12.5%
Philippines - introduced in 1988 - 12%
South Korea - introduced in 1976 - 10%
Indonesia - introduced in 1985 - 10%
Cambodia - introduced in 1999 - 10%
Vietnam - introduced in 1999 - 10%
Australia - introduced in 2000 - 10%
Thailand - introduced in 1992 - 7%
Singapore - introduced in 1994 - 7%
Taiwan - introduced in 1985 - 5%
Japan - introduced in 1989 - 5%

Currently there are no GST in Malaysia and Hong Kong, but Malaysia is expected to reduce direct taxes in preparation for the introduction of GST soon. Laos will introduce VAT in 2008.

Dragon Boat Festival

Singapore - Bak Chang is here finally. "Bak Chang" is the hokkien name for rice dumplings. The Mandarin name is called "Zong Zi" - this is also the only time when my mum-in-law makes hundreds of Bak Chang and give to our family in couple of tens.

When I was in KL, I tried some rice dumplings from "YY Famous dumplings" @ Mid Valley Megamall - very tasty about RM4-5 each. They have Cantonese Chang, Nonya Chang, Hakka Chang, Chicken Chang and Golden Chang. I tried they Hakka Chang, Golden Chang and Chicken Chang.

Now a days, you can buy Bak Chang every day, not only during Duan Wu Jie. My regular 'kuek' or cake stall sells Nonya chang (sweet and no soy sauce is used in the preparation so the skin is whiter) or Cantonese chang (salty with chestnut).




Tradition
Bak Chang or Zong Zi is traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie) which falls on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the Chinese calendar (approximately early- to mid-June), commemorating the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet from the kingdom of Chu who lived during the Warring States period. Known for his patriotism, Qu Yuan tried unsuccessfully to warn his king and countrymen against the expansionism of their Qin neighbors. When the Qin Dynasty general Bai Qi took Yingdu, the Chu capital, in 278 BC, Qu Yuan's grief was so intense that he drowned himself in the Miluo river after penning the Lament for Ying. According to legend, rice dumplings were thrown into the river to prevent fish from eating the poet's body.

The fifth month is normally a month with a great deal of rainfall that threatens to ruin young crops. In traditional China, the Double Fifth was a day of misfortune: the fifth month was considered an evil month and the fifth day of the month was particularly evil. On this day, the mystical river dragons, who had sovereignty over water, needed to be placated so that the dragons would bless the community with an optimal amount of rainfall. Rituals surrounding the theme of dragon were then developed.




Dragon Boat Races
Originating in Southern China over 2000 years ago, dragon boat racing started gathering interest in the western world in the 1970s. Today, it is both a recreational and a highly competitive sport enjoyed by people of all ages in over 50 countries or territories around the world. Dragon boat racing is increasingly popular as a component in corporate team building retreats and charitable fundraising events, particularly for promoting breast cancer awareness.

Current races
Penang - International Dragon Boat Festival 2007 (28th Anniversary) - 8-10 June 2007
Singapore - 30th June - 1st July 2007 - 10am to 6pm - Bedok Reservoir

2nd trip to Guangzhou

You can feel the summer heat when you alight from the aircraft at Guangzhou International Airport. Unfortunately, there are no air-conditioning in the aero-bridge so you can feel the heat hitting your skin straight away. The Guangzhou airport is huge and modern.

The taxi took about 45 minutes to reach The Garden Hotel (located at 368, Huanshi East Road) - a five star international hotel. The wall-to-wall panel at the reception area was impressive in gold colour of Chinese impressions. I was expecting a 'shoe-box' size room but surprisingly the rooms are spacious, clean, nicely decorated and comes with free internet access. The lobby is spaceous and gives a grandeur feeling to the hotel with the focal point being the water fall in the garden - with obvious reasons why it is called "The Garden Hotel". A very centrally located hotel with their staff ever willing to help.

This is my second trip to Guangzhou - the last time was via a train from Hong Kong for a day meeting. The city has a dull overcast due to the ever increasing industrial estates polluting the sky which can be felt as far as Hong Kong during certain times of the year.

The local restaurant I tried has a wide Guanzhou cuisine. Bing Sheng - very crowded and the food is local and the price is reasonable too.

The other restaurant was at The Garden Hotel - Peach Blossom restaurant. This is a Cantonese gourmet dishes - the restaurant was well decorated and the food is very good.

Upon my departure, at the immigration check point - you will come across a customer service panel just in front of the immigration officer - you can rate the service by pushing either one of the four buttons. I push the Excellent service and the lady officer said thank you and she smile - probably that simple effort would give her enough points to jump to the next promotion.

It's a special day today

Singapore - Yes, it is - today's is Father's day. To me everyday is Father's day...the screaming, shouting and chasing my children to do their homework. To play an active part of their life is important but it is tough.

My Dad made it a point to get me things which are practical whenever he goes shopping - I am 42 and he stills gives me shirts, shoes, and shorts on days when I visit him. The thought that he still thinks about me when he goes shopping made it special. My casual wardrobe are filled with my dad's practical gifts.

On this special day, my youngest son gave me one month ago - a $1 - this is worth millions as that is all he had - it means so much to me. My second son, got me a can of deodrant and my eldest got me a packet of cuttlefish. It's the thought that counts. Today, I took them to the park and spend time playing with them.

To my father - a Happy Father's day.