Las Vegas in Asia - Macau

This year, my family celebrated Chinese New Year in Macau with the grandparents. I have to admit, I have not been to Macau for at least 10 years, and boy! it has changed drastically since then.

This was the Macau I used to remember

and this is the Macau that we see today.

Its glitz and glamor might have even surpassed it's more developed neighbor, Hong Kong. It has been developed so much over the past 10 years, and gained itself a new nickname "Asia's Las Vegas".

The city is filled with unending entertainment for all spectrum of life. You can find vegas-style casinos, luxurious brand stores, food galore, state of the art buildings, world class shows and more in this small city. Today, Macau is also now known as the gambling capital for Asia or dubbed "Asia's Entertainment Capital".

So what does a girl like me who does not gamble do in Macau? Plenty!!! In fact, I highly recommend Macau to anyone who wish to come for a weekend getaway. In the 3 days, I ate, watched, walked and shopped to my heart's content.

Food: If you just walk along the historic downtown of San Ma Lu, you will find a gallery of food stalls that serves everything from snacks to full blown meals. Even though on diet, I was not able to resist the curry fish balls, bubble milk tea, dumplings and the portuguese egg tarts. As for full meals, you get to taste everything from chinese "guangdong" food and portuguese food. So you have east and west meeting together in your mouth!

Shows: I love watching shows. In Las Vegas, I probably have watched over 5 shows and love them all. So I have a very high expectation and was not sure how Macau would live up to the Vegas show standard. I was wrong!!! My cousin and I watched the "House of Dancing Waters" in the City of Dreams, and it was one of the best shows that I have ever seen. Talented swimmers, divers, dancers and performers combined with immaculate props along with a spectacular light show. It took my breath away. If anyone comes to Macau and enjoys watching shows, this is definitely a MUST WATCH!

Shopping: Whatever brand you want, you have it in Macau. Italian or French ? No problem! If you are a budget shopper, you can even cross over to Zhuhai and bargain shop right at the border area. So whether you are a luxury or bargain shopper, you would find what you want in Macau. And did I mention that the tax in Macau is low for premium goods? The best prices to purchase premium products in Asia is in Hong Kong or Macau, so shop on!

Of course, if you are an avid gambler or someone who just want to try his luck, there is no better place to place your bets in Asia than in Macau. But for the rest of us, Macau is a wonderful city for a family vacation or just for a weekend getaway with friends.

How do you get here? Easy, just go to the nearest TX Travel branch and ask for our Macau-Hongkong-ShenZhen (HongKong Triangle) package for only RP6.9 JT. It's one of our fastest selling packages, so be sure to book it before it runs out!

A Culinary Trip to Japan

I just completed a small yet fulfilling trip with my dad and brother in Japan. We were in Tokyo, Hakone (Mt Fuji area), Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. Besides all of the interesting cultures and attractions, one of the lasting impressions I had is the food. This was one of those trips, where food was one of the main attractions. We came to Japan already knowing that we are going to sample some of the best food in the country and also local specialties.

It was so much fun and delicious, and I can't wait to share all of it with you. Oh by the way, for anyone who wishes to follow our itinerary, please feel free! We travelled all over using the Shinkansen and the subway stations. And everything was very easy to find :)

Here's a sample of what we ate throughout our trip

Just a quick tip for all the foodies out there, be sure to research on the specialty foods of the area. You definitely want to try it out. For example, we tried out the famed Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki (japanese pancake) and it was very different from the normal Okonomiyaki that we usually have. Also, be sure to have a list of items that you want to try, because you can get lost in the food choices very easily in Japan. You don't want to end up eating only Ramen or Curry throughout your stay =)

Nissan Townpod Concept Photos

 

 

Anybody appreciates the customizable utility of Nissan Townpod's van-like abilities coupled with a chic and stylish cockpit designed with the future and not just today, in mind. Nissan Townpod provides a simple platform, which each user can individually tune to their own peculiar needs.

 

 

Similar electric blue hints are visible behind the door handles, number plate, the spokes of the alloy wheels and within the headlamp pods. The car does not need to shout that it is an EV. It more subtly suggests its ecological and economical credentials.

 

 

The innovative position of the headlights also allows a coupe-esque bonnet line, not dissimilar to Nissan Z, which feeds in to a visor-like wraparound, blue tinted glass house, reminiscent of Nissan Cube, while the galls to body proportions hark back to the rat-rods of the fifties.

 

 

The car is decidedly more van-like with its split rear doors. The rear features back lights on the right, a number plate on the left, and a rear-door handle set into a concave surface

 

 

Viewed from above the car's space-maximising rectangular footprint flows into an elliptical roof, offering more graceful lines as well as increased aerodynamic efficiency.

 

 Innovative hinges allow the rear doors to slide, then open in confined spaces and then fold to the side of the car so as not to obstruct passing traffic or pedestrians

 

 The idea of simple form following function continues within Nissan Townpod. The cargo area, passenger space and dashboard are remarkably uncluttered yet do not feel spartan

 

 

Just because the interior is utilitarian by design does not mean that it cannot be stylish.

 

 

The driver is faced with an uncomplicated yet futuristic steering wheel and two familiar stalks to operate the lights and wipers, but other than these controls - which are beautifully simple in their own light - the flowing dashboard is devoid of mechanical switches.

 

 

Forward or rearward drive is selected using an uncomplicated joystick set into the right-hand side of the driver's seat base.

10 Richest women in the world 2010

Christy Walton

The 54.years old with $20 billion is now the world’s richest woman. Christy Ruth Walton is the wife of late John T. Walton. After his death in June 2005, she inherited his fortune of $15.7 billion. As of March 2009, she is the 12th richest person in the Forbes World’s Billionaires, with an estimated net worth of US$17.6 billion, source Wal-Mart and First Solar. She currently resides in Jackson, Wyoming. She has one son, Lukas. Wal-Mart stake believed to be inherited by wife, Christy, and son, Luke. Fortune created by Sam Walton (d. 1992), J.C. Penney clerk who opened first discount store in Rogers, Ark. 1962. Took Wal-Mart public 1970. Spectacular growth since, but stock down 15% this year on shrinking profits. Wal-Mart still world’s largest retailer: more than 5,100 stores serving 138 million customers per week. Sales: $285 billion. Family controls 40% of Wal-Mart. Rob serves as chairman; his other siblings not active in company.

Alice Walton

Alice Louise Walton was born on October 7, 1949 in Newport; Arkansas is an American heiress to the Wal-mart fortune. She is the daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and Helen Walton, and sister of S. Robson Walton, and Jim Walton. Another brother, John T. Walton died in a 2005 plane crash. In 2009, her estimated net worth was US$18 billion, making her the richest woman in the world along with her sister-in-law Christy Walton. The 59 years old with $19.5 billion is now world’s IInd richest woman .Father Sam and Uncle James started general-store chain in Bentonville, Ark., in 1962. Today Wal-Mart is world’s largest retailer: controls more than 7,900 stores, has 2 million employees and has sales of $400 billion.

Liliane Bettencourt

Liliane Bettencourt was born 21 October 1922(1922-10-21) in Paris, France. She is a French heiress, socialite, and businesswoman. She is the principal shareholder of L’Oréal and the wealthiest woman in Europe. She created the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, which awards the “Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences” to a European researcher under the age of forty-five. She is the second richest person in France, behind Bernard Arnault whose wealth is estimated at US$16.5 billion, and she ranks 21st in wealthiest people in the world. Forbes magazine estimated her wealth in 2009 at US$13.4 billion. The 86 years old with $15 billion is now world’s III rd richest woman and also Europe’s wealthiest women.

Susanne Klatten

Susanne Klatten was born in Susanne Hanna Ursula Quandt on 28 April 1962 in Bad Homburg, Germany) is the daughter of Herbert and Johanna Quandt. As of 2009, she is the richest woman in Germany .She is a 46 year old German woman holding $12 billion. She is the world’s fourth richest women. After gaining a degree in business finance. Susanne Klatten worked for the advertising agency Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt from 1981 to 1983. This was followed by a course in marketing and management at the University of Buckingham, and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne specializing in advertising. She gained further business experience in London with Dresdner Bank, the Munich branch of management consultants McKinsey and the bank Reuschel & Co. Recognizing that her wealth is sometimes a problem, she often worked incognito under the name Susanne Kant. Police prevented an attempt to kidnap her in 1978.

Birgit Rausing

Dr Birgit Rausing is a Swedish art historian. Together with her three children, she inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval in January 2000 after her husband Gad Rausing’s death. As of 2007, her net worth is about $14 billion. She is in the Packaging industry in Switzerland. @ The age of 85 net worth of $11 billion world’s 5 th richest woman. With her three children, inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval in January 2000 after her husband Gad’s death. Lives in tax-haven Switzerland. Son Finn lives in Sweden, while other son, Jörn, and daughter, Kirsten, and prefer England. Tetra Laval, which recently completed acquisition of French company Sidel SA, has sales of $11 billion and an 80% share of the packaging industry

Jacqueline Mars

Jacqueline Badger Mars is the daughter of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the giant American candy company Mars, Incorporated. With her share of the company, she is worth US$9 billion. As of March 2009 she is the 58th richest person in the world, and the 19th richest person in the United States according to Forbes; she is also the fourth richest American woman. She is twice divorced and has 3 children. She attended and was graduated from the boarding school Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1961.The 69 years old world’s  6 th richest woman net worth of $9.5 billion Chocolate maker, world’s largest confectionery company; then introduced malt-flavored nougat, became foundation of famous candy-bar line that includes Milky Way, Snickers, Three Musketeers. Also owns pet food operation.

Anne Cox Chambers

Anne Cox Chambers (born December 1, 1919) is a media proprietor, who is primary owner of Cox Enterprises, a privately held media empire that includes newspapers, television, radio, cable television, and other businesses. She is the daughter of James M. Cox, a newspaper publisher and 1920 Democratic Presidential nominee, and his second wife, Margaretta Parker Blair. She owns and controls her father’s business interests, through Cox Enterprises. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia for 33 years she co-owned the family company with her sister, Barbara Cox Anthony, who died on May 28, 2007. The 90 years old Atlanta women now world’s  7th richest woman with net worth of  $9 billion . Cox Communications now the third largest cable company in U.S.

Abigail Johnson

Abigail Pierrepont Johnson was in born December 19, 1961.she is an American businesswoman. Johnson is President of Fidelity Investments Personal and Workplace Investing. Fidelity is led by her father, Edward Johnson. The 47 years old world’s 8th richest woman handles the company’s board governing the investment company’s fixed-income and asset-allocation funds. She now oversees 161 funds with more than $650 billion dollars of assets. She also continues to run the firm’s retirement and retail group. Father Edward “Ned” Johnson III is Fidelity’s chief executive; has no plans of retiring.

Savitri Jindal

She is the non-executive chair of O P Jindal Group who took over the reigns of the steel and power conglomerate founded by her late husband Om Prakash in 1952.Took over as group head after he died in a helicopter crash in 2005.She recently got reelected in the assembly elections in Haryana. The 58 years old world’s 9th richest woman serves as the non-executive chairperson of steel and power conglomerate O.P. Jindal group from India Net worth of $6 billion

Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken

Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken was born in 30 June 1954; Amsterdam, She is the owner of a controlling interest in the world’s third-largest brewer; Heineken International. She is the daughter of Freddy Heineken, the Dutch industrialist, and Lucille Cummins, an American from a Kentucky family of bourbon whiskey distillers. Charlene Heineken studied law at the University of Leiden. She married Michel de Carvalho, a stockbroker, graduate of Harvard University, former film actor (as Michel Ray), and former Olympic luger she met on a ski holiday in St. Moritz, Switzerland. They reside in London, England with their five children. Upon the death of her father in 2002, she inherited a fortune estimated at three billion British pounds, making her the richest woman in the Netherlands. She sits on the board of management of Heineken, and her husband is a member of the supervisory board. The 54 years old world’s  10th richest woman manage one of the world’s great brewers Company in London  net worth of $5.5 billion with more than 170 premium brands in more than 65 countries.

10 Richest People in the world 2010

Wondering how far smarts and fierce drive can get you? Take a look at this year’s list of the world’s wealthiest people. You’ll find computer whizzes, fashion manufacturers, and self-made billionaires.

1. Carlos Slim Helu – This year’s wealthiest person is Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu. His stake in America Movil rose 35% in a single year; he now owns a stake worth approximately $23 billion. Helu’s total worth is estimated at $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion in just 12 months.

2. Bill Gates – Helu edges out Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who comes in at number two with an estimated worth of $53 billion, thanks largely to 50% growth in the price of Microsoft stock. Gates had previously held the title of world’s richest in 14 of the past 15 years.

3. Warren Buffet – Investing guru Warren Buffet has an estimated worth of $47 billion after a $10 billion jump in his stake at Berkshire Hathaway. Buffet made major investments amid the 2008 market collapse, notably in Goldman Sachs.

4. Mukesh Ambani – Leader of Reliance Industries, India’s most valuable company, Mukesh Ambani inherited his corporate stake from his father, who founded the company. Reliance has recently spent billions in acquisitions and bids for troubled foreign companies. Ambani’s pockets are said to hold approximately $29 billion in total assets.

5. Lakshmi Mital – Mital runs ArcellorMital, the world’s largest steel manufacturer. When profits fell 75% in 2009, Mital took a 12% pay cut. After the lag improved, the steel giant went up almost a third in a single year. Mital’s total worth is an estimated $28.7 billion.

6. Laurence Ellison – The self made founder of database giant Oracle has seen his company’s stock prices leap 70% in 12 months, after acquisitions of 57 companies. Those acquired include Sun Microsystems and BEA Systems. His estimated worth is $28 billion.

7. Bernard Arnault – The French fashion company head has seen a revived interest in luxury fashion propel his fortune to a purported $27.5 billion. Arnault’s LVMH is the manufacturer of Luis Vuitton, and the company is now developing Shanghai business property.

8. Eike Batista – Brazil’s richest man saw his net worth rise $19.5 billion to a total of $27 billion in a single year, backing Batista’s stated ambition of becoming the world’s richest person. Batista has made money in mining but most of his wealth comes from his oil and gas exploration company, OGX.

9. Amancio Ortega – The Spanish fashion mogul’s company has 4,500 stores in 73 countries. In addition to marketing brand names Zara and Massimo Dutti, his company has invested in commercial and apartment real estate. His total fortune is said to be worth $25 billion.

10. Karl Albrecht – The 90 year-old German owner of discount supermarket chain Aldi is estimated to be worth $23.5 billion. He and his younger brother began the company from their family grocery just after World War II.

True, many of these billionaires inherited family companies and watched them grow. However, a notable number are self-made, particularly richest Americans Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Entrepreneurship and elbow grease is what does it, so get started.

Top 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

Here’s the most beautiful beaches in the world to spend your holiday. Beach is one of the most attractive place to rest and spend holiday. Many activities also can be done in the beach from just relaxed and do sunbathing to surfing in some beach that have good waves. So let’s take a look at the most beautiful beaches in the world.

1. Fernando De Noronha, Brazil

Fernando De Noronha, is is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, around 220 miles offshore from the Brazilian coast.Probably the most beautiful beaches in the world where only a few people know about it. Fernando De Noronha is One of the Unesco World Heritage Site as “the most beautiful marine park in the World”.

2. Maldives

The best calm beach in the world. Beautiful, quiet, modern and secluded. The very rare combination found on the beaches in the world. Welcome to Maldives.

3. Anguilla

Ranked first in the top 10 World Best beaches of 2005 by the Discovery Channel Travel and Adventure certainly not a nonsense. Anguilla has it all. Quiet, clean, modern, complete with little island life that really “Carribean”.

4. Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is an island in the Philippines that located about 200 miles south of Manila and 2 kms from the northwest tip of Panay island in the Visayas Region in Philippines. In 1990, It was elected by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world and again in 1996 by the British publication TV Quick as the world’s number one tropical beach.

5. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

Bermuda is one of the most expensive place for beach tour in the world. But that didn’t stop thousands of tourists come to visit this island every year. The friendly weather, friendly calm water and waves, crystal clear water, and the pink sand make Horseshoey Bay almost unparalleled with the rest beach of this planet. This is the best beach and island in Caribbean!

6. Kondoi, Coral beach Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa. the safest islands in the world. the door here is never locked. 3 of 10 the oldest human in the world live in these islands. Very relaxing atmosphere results from the atmosphere of a typical Japanese countryside combined with beautiful beaches. Magnificent! Just one thing need consideration, It’s expensive place.

7. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

This beach is not so large, but this is a beach with the clearest water and cleanest blue in hawaii. Complete with view of two small islands called Mokuluas in the distance. Good Bye Waikiki!

8. Mnemba Lodge, Tanzania

Most beautiful beaches in Africa continent, although not located in mainland of Africa. The trip to this beach is not easy, but if you have reached on this beach, everything seemed to be valuable with the relaxing white sand and very beautiful beach.

9. Tulum Beach, Mexico

One of the first resorts in Mexico. Perhaps hundreds years ago also had been used by the Mayan as a resort as well. Ever dream of swimming in the white sandy beach, calm and relax accompanied by a Background of mayan pyramid? Here your dream come true. You can also Escape into wonderful Villa La Estancia Puerto Vallarta resort and enjoy the vacation.

10. Whitehaven, Australia

7 Kilometers of cleanest white sand beach in one of the most isolated coast in the world would certainly be sufficient for our relaxing need. Isn’t It? Sunglasses is a necessity at this beach because the sand is truly white.

Do You want to spend your next holiday in one of those most beautiful beaches in the world?