Business Traveler in Asia-Pacific

Price comparison: Patek Philippe watch

2010-03-19T20:53:00.000+07:00

Based in Geneva Switzerland, Patek Philippe is a luxury watch manufacture formed in 1851 whose watches have long been favored by the world’s movers and shakers. In fact, it was in 1851 that the firm began supplying its watches to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert along with the other royal courts of Europe. In addition, Patek Philippe has the distinction of holding the world record for selling the most expensive modern wristwatch at Hong Kong Sotheby's for HK$11.75 million (US$1.49 million) in 2008.

Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a Patek Philippe watch in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were all over the place – that is, highest in Shanghai and New York, consistently low across Europe and lowest in Sydney.

Price Comparison*

Shanghai	225,000 Yen	US$32,958
New York	US$26,753	US$26,753
Singapore	S$36,600	US$26,256
Manila	1.19 Million Pesos	US$25,597
Kuala Lumpur	82,100 Ringgit	US$24,826
Hong Kong	HK$187,500	US$24,158
Tokyo	2.14 Million Yen	US$23,653
Bangkok	765,000 Baht	US$23,621
Brussels	€16,650	US$22,941
Rome	€16,550	US$22,803
Paris	€16,490	US$22,721
Frankfurt	€16,410	US$22,611
London	14,700 Pounds	US$22,388
Sydney	A$22,000	US$20,214

* Calatrava 6000G in white gold. Prices are based upon foreign exchange rates as of March 17, 2010.

Interviews with the CEO of The Executive Centre serviced offices

2010-03-18T22:37:00.000+07:00

In these interviews from three years ago, Paul Salnikow, the CEO and founder of The Executive Centre, one of the leading providers of serviced offices, virtual offices and conference meeting room facilities within Asia and especially China, discussed the company’s expansion plans and the general market characteristics of serviced office space - such as how moving into a serviced office during a slowdown acts as a hedge to avoid capital expenditures.

At the time of the interviews, their plans included adding 20 new centers in China and moving beyond the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing into China’s secondary cities. In fact, Paul mentioned that they were already doubling their China network every 3 quarters while the group was already the largest serviced office operator in Hong Kong:

All Nippon Airways (ANA) now providing women-only lavatories

2010-03-16T20:40:00.000+07:00

Japan is a country known for having women only trains, but now All Nippon Airways (ANA) has introduced women-only lavatories. According to the Airline Reporter blog, women-only lavatories are now available on ANA’s international planes, except the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, and they have a pink logo on their doors.

However, there will be some circumstances when male passengers may use the female lavatories, namely:

When required for safety reasons, just prior to the seat belt sign being turned on during take-off and landing.
When a passenger is not feeling well and a personal emergency requires such use.
When there are very few female passengers and the women-only designation has been lifted for the flight. If this is the case, an in-flight announcement will be made.

Nevertheless, this may prove to be a good idea because after all, a man using the restroom during turbulence could cause some “issues” plus women wouldn’t have to worry about having to put down the toilet seat in their own lavatories!

Asia’s strangest airports

2010-03-14T17:49:00.000+07:00

Popular Mechanics magazine has recently featured eighteen of the world’s strangest airports – including five located in Asia. As the magazine noted, there are many challenges to building an airport as there are often few places to build that are ideal. Moreover, they must ensure what they build is as safe as possible in a variety of situations. Hence, Popular Mechanics survey of airports includes those that range from being dangerous to just plain unique.

For Asia though, the magazine cited the following airports:

Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan). With land being scarce in Japan, Kansai was constructed on an artificial island that is 2.5 miles long and 1.6 miles wide. Hence, engineers had to contend with Earthquakes, cyclones, an unstable seabed and even sabotage attempts from protestors.

Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok, Thailand). A mid-sized airport, Don Mueang has an unusual feature smack-dab in the middle of its two runways: An 18-hole golf course. Hence, the only two taxiways are located at the end of the runways.

Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong). Besides the fact that the airport was built on two islands that were combined together, Hong Kong International Airport has a luxury golf course and a massive expo center within walking distance of its runway. The airport is also one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world.

Macau International Airport (Macau). With no space for large aircraft, the Macau International Airport was opened in 1995 on a strip of reclaimed land that is just large enough for 747s to land safely on. A set of highways then links the runway with the small island of Taipa where there is an air traffic control tower and a terminal.

Qamdo Bangda Airport (Qamdo, Tibet). At more than 14,000 feet above sea level, Qamdo Bangda is the world’s highest airport. Moreover, the airport boasts a nearly 3.5-mile-long runway.

So the next time you are passing through any of these airports, just remember that they rank among the world’s strangest.

Price comparison: Logitech universal remote

2010-03-12T21:03:00.000+07:00

Billed as the one remote you will ever need, advanced Logitech universal remotes are easy to program, use and control everything you own. In fact, a Logitech universal remote can control up to 5,000 brands and 225,000 devices.

Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a Logitech universal remote in various cities in Asia and around the world. Surprisingly, the survey found that prices were highest in Jakarta and lowest in London – the opposite of what you would expect.

Price Comparison*

Jakarta	2.96 Million Rupiahs	US$322
Paris	€219	US$298
Brussels	€215	US$292
Tokyo	24,531Yen	US$273
Frankfurt	€199	US$271
Rome	€198	US$269
Shanghai	1,750 Yuan	US$256
New York City	US$229	US$229
Hong Kong	HK$1,699	US$219
London	120 Pounds	US$180

* Harmony One Advanced. Prices are based upon foreign exchange rates as of March 10, 2010.

Four important and simple travel tips to remember when traveling

2010-03-10T22:14:00.000+07:00

The PlaneCrazy blog has recently posted a short entry that listed 4 important and simple travel tips to remember. These tips included:

1. Make photocopies of your passport details, insurance policy, any travelers cheques, visas and credit cards and always carry one copy someplace different from the originals plus leave a copy of everything with someone at home.

2. Pack smart while keeping airport security in mind as all of your baggage will be screened and possibly even hand-searched. In addition, remember to pack your medicine, jewelry and any valuables in your carry-on baggage.

3. ID your baggage and place identification tags on both the inside and outside of your baggage. In addition, don’t forget to label your laptop computer as well because laptops are usually the number one item that gets forgotten at security screening checkpoints.

4. Share your travel plans by registering with your respective embassy and by telling your family or friends what your travel plans are. However, remember to also tell them what constitutes an emergency at your end or their end. In other words, if its something that you or they can handle handle themselves from 3,000 kilometers away, its probably not an emergency.

Keeping the above tips in mind will increase the odds of your next vacation or business trip going more smoothly.

More tips on how to pack a carry-on bag

2010-03-08T23:51:00.000+07:00

With security increasingly tight at airports leading to delays and airlines charging more and more fees on checked-in baggage, knowing how to pack everything into a carry-on is increasingly important. Hence, a recent Forbes.com article about packing for portability is well worth reading.

According to Forbes.com, there is another reason to pack for portability: Theft or lost checked-in bags. The article noted a 2008 report from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which revealed that over a three-year period, an estimated 42,000 travelers in the USA alone have reported missing items from their luggage with a total estimated value of more than US$31 million. Missing items would include things such as clothing, jewelry, laptops and medicines and the article even quoted Doug Dyment, the creator of OneBag, a travel blog that offers advice on how to pack, as saying: "There are only two types of luggage: Carry-on luggage and lost luggage!”

Hence, here are five essential packing tips to remember before your next business trip:

Have a packing list and consider it to be a “contract with yourself” to NOT put items into your suitcase that is not on it.
Never travel with a suitcase that can’t also be carried instead of wheeled.
Carrying a garment fresh from the cleaners that is still on the hanger is ok as usually it won’t be counted as an additional piece of luggage. In fact, the flight attendants will likely hang it up in front of the cabin.
Women need to be aware of the weight of all of their products – especially cosmetics. Moreover, they should be aware of the amount of water in their products both for weight and security concerns
Look for solid versions of liquid products. For example: Powdered toothpaste weights less than tooth paste that comes in a tube and there is less risk of it ruining your clothes should it explode or leak.

At the end of the article, Dyment noted that organization is the key as there is no secret to traveling light because all that is in your suitcase is a very large number of very small things – an excellent point worth remembering.

Japanese business etiquette video: Exchanging meishi kokan or business cards

2010-03-07T22:42:00.000+07:00

If you are planning a business trip to Japan, this short video from JapanTravelTV about giving and receiving business cards or meishi kokan in Japan is well worth watching. As the narrator explains, there are some subtle manners and etiquette to follow.

The video begins by showing the proper angle of bowing and the proper angle of the feet while doing so. The narrator then describes the proper procedure for exchanging business cards. This includes holding the corners of the business card and not covering up the company name or logo as this is considered bad manners. When giving the business card, hold the corner of it and when receiving one, be sure to hold it in both hands over your business cards or meishi kokan case and display respect by carefully reading over it rather than quickly putting it away.

Keeping these tips in mind will greatly aide you in making a good first impression on your next business trip to Japan or when dealing with your Japanese business counterparts.

The best iPhone travel applications

2010-03-06T21:45:00.000+07:00

If you are a road warrior with an iPhone, Forbes.com has recently posted a great article listing several must-have iPhone travel applications that are less known than some of the more popular apps such as FlightTrack (which will tell you if your plane is running late), Next Flight (which tracks upcoming flight departures) and Currency (which provides updated exchange rate information). These lesser known iPhone travel apps include the following:

Yelp's "Monocle": If you have a iPhone 3G S with the latest version of Yelp's iPhone App, just shake it three times to activate a feature called "Monocle." Then point the screen in any direction to see information about what you are looking at that is superimposed over a real world image. Cost of the application: Free.
Email 'n Walk: This application uses the iPhone's internal camera to project a video behind an email you are working on. In other words, you can multitask. Cost of the application: US$0.99.
I'm In Town: If you are about to arrive or are already in your travel destination, this application will search through your contacts who are in your vicinity and alert them via email that you are in town and how they can get in touch with you. Cost of the application: US$0.99.
Shoot It! This application allows you to send personalized post cards straight from your iPhone or Blackberry to your friends or family with just one click. Cost of the application: US$0.99 for the application and US$0.99 to send a postcard in the US or up to US$1.50 if outside the US.

In addition, Forbes.com has also posted a video about the best iPhone apps that is also well worth watching even if you are not a technology geek.

How to avoid illness while traveling

2010-03-05T21:09:00.000+07:00

A hectic travel schedule can easily wear down even the most fit business traveler’s immune system. Not to mention the fact that flu season is in full swing right now in Northern latitudes. Hence, a recent Wall Street Journal interview with Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky, a travel-health expert for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a professor of medicine at Emory University, is well worth reading. Some of the tips or advice she mentioned during the interview included:

It's never too late be be vaccinated for something like Hepatitis A.
Have a good idea of what your travel schedule will be like for the next six months to a year and get vaccinated and buy medicines accordingly.
If possible, go in a day early to get used to the time zone and spend as much time as you can outdoors to adjust your biological clock.
Make a little travel health kit with everything that you might need in the event of a minor illness.
Be sure to have loperamide (Imodium) and an antibiotic – especially if you are traveling to a developing country.
Wash your hands more than you usually do and carry an alcohol-based sanitizer or hand gel.

Keeping the above tips in mind will keep you healthy both before and during your next hectic business trip.

Price comparison: Monthly car park parking fees

2010-03-05T20:56:00.000+07:00

Parking a car in a big city can be ridiculously expensive. In fact and in the worst case scenario, you could spend more on parking fees than you do on gas, maintenance and car payments combined.

Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a Ferrari Rosso helmet in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that monthly car park fees were highest in Rome. In fact, it costs almost US$400 more to park your car in Rome than it does in notoriously car unfriendly London. In sharp contrast, it only costs the equivalent of US$54 and US$33 a month in Manila and Jakarta respectively.

Price Comparison*

Rome	€750	US$1,022
London	433 Pounds	US$651
Sydney	A$697	US$629
Hong Kong	HK$4,763	US$614
Tokyo	54,250 Yen	US$612
Brussels	€320	US$436
New York City	US$304	US$304
Frankfurt	€220	US$300
Paris	€163	US$222
Shanghai	933 Yuan	US$137
Bangkok	2,500 Baht	US$77
Manila	2,479 Pesos	US$54
Jakarta	308,333 Rupiahs	US$33

* Covered garage in a central business district. Prices are based on foreign exchange rates as of March 3, 2010.

The world's worst airports for delays

2010-03-04T22:53:00.000+07:00

If you are a frequent traveler in Asia, a recent Forbes.com article about the world’s most delayed airports has both good news and bad news for you. First, the good news: Some of the world's least delayed airports are in Asia. These include airports in Japan and South Korea. In fact, it was noted that flights at Osaka's Itami Airport were 94% on time in 2009 while flights arriving at Seoul's Gimpo International Airport were 91% on time and those departing were 93% on time.

Now the bad news: Many of the world's most delayed airports are in China and India. These include the following airports:

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL):

Worst-arrival rank: 1
On-time arrivals: 44.5%

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM):

Worst-arrival rank: 2
On-time arrivals: 55.9%

Chennai International Airport (MAA):

Worst-arrival rank: 4
On-time arrivals: 63.9%

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK):

Worst-departure rank: 1
On-time departures: 38.3%

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

Worst-departure rank: 10
On-time departures: 62.4%

Hence and if you are traveling to some of the above airports, you should probably anticipate the possibility of having a delay either when arriving or departing.

Chinese business etiquette video: Giving and receiving business cards

2010-03-03T22:21:00.000+07:00

If you are planning a business trip to China, this short video about giving and receiving business cards in China featuring Mark Kemsley, who has worked as a business consultant in China for 20 years and speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin, is well worth watching. As Mark explains, not having a business card is the equivalent of not having a name as the Chinese place great importance on both greetings and titles. In fact, the Chinese prefer to deal with someone who is of equal importance to them and preferably has a high sounding title – hence, the importance of having a business card that clearly shows your rank.

In addition and when giving a business card, Mark explains that you should always be standing and use both hands while if you accept a business card with only one hand, it is considered extremely disrespectful. Moreover, it's very important that you don't just ignore the business card and stick it in your pocket. Instead, carefully read over it for about three or four seconds before putting it in your pocket.

Tips for packing a 22-inch carry-on bag

2010-03-01T20:44:00.000+07:00

If you are a road warrior who travels regularly, especially across borders, you probably have gotten accustomed to not checking in luggage. After all, with increased airport security, longer waiting times along with higher fees for checked in bags have made carry-on luggage essential for saving time. However, packing everything you need into a 22-inch suitcase for meetings, formal and informal dinners or gatherings plus the gym can be downright tricky.

Hence, a recent Wall Street Journal interview with handbag designer and road warrior Devi Kroell is well worth reading as she offer tips for other road warriors about how to keep their wardrobe both versatile and “fresh” while living out of that 22-inch suitcase. Her tips included:

Take items that are multifunctional.
Pack knits because these can be easily crinkled and uncrinkled.
Tissue paper in between each garment will make them less likely to wrinkle.
Keep your toiletries in a little zippered pouch that’s waterproof in case something leaks or explodes.
If you are a man, pack socks in different colors as it will get you noticed more!

Keeping the above tips in mind will save you both time and potential grief on your next hectic business trip.

The most outrageous guest requests at the world’s most luxury hotels

2010-02-28T20:16:00.000+07:00

If you thought that hotel concierges at luxury hotels spend their days scoring tickets to the ballet or reservations at the hottest restaurant in town – think again. In fact, Forbes.com recently had an article detailing some of the world's most outrageous guest requests. Just how outrageous is too outrageous of a request from a super wealthy guest? Just check out some of these requests received by concierges over the years:

The Setai, South Beach, Miami: A guest visiting from the UK asked the concierge to ship a tiger from Florida to London - on two days' notice no less. Apparently, the tiger belonged to a Florida woman the guest had fallen for and she wouldn’t go to London without it.
The Plaza, New York City: A guest asked the concierge to obtain a live batch of tarantulas for him to take home and enjoy – naturally roasted.
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun: A guest wanted to privately watch a film on the beach – after all of the sand had been covered up. Hence, a team was dispatched to Mexico City to obtain some extra rugs.
The Sagamore Resort, Lake George, NY: A guest asked the concierge for an engineer to come to his room to change the fireplace from gas-burning to wood-burning.
Hotel Adlon Kempiniski Berlin, Germany: A guest realized that the stuffed bunny his four year old needs to have in order to fall asleep was left at home and no substitute could be found. Instead, the concierge arranged for a bellhop to drive the five hours round trip to the home of the family to retrieve the bunny.
Brown's Hotel, London: A guest from the Middle East asked the concierge to ship 21 live deer to Kuwait as a 21st birthday surprise for his daughter.
Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel, Montreal: A movie star guest on a strict dietary regiment insisted on drinking raw milk straight from the cow no less, for breakfast every morning. Hence, the concierge made regular trips to a nearby farm every night and milked a cow – while wearing his concierge suit!

Somehow though, I don’t think a concierge will perform any of the above requests for ordinary guests like you or I!

Price comparison: Ferrari Rosso helmet

2010-02-26T13:19:00.000+07:00

The Ferrari Rosso is an all-Italian helmet and an official Ferrari licensed product. And since its shell is produced in advanced thermoplastic polymers, the result is a low weight of just 950 grams – perfect for someone who regularly rides a motorcycle or moped.

Price Comparison*

Paris	€332	US$452
Brussels	€320	US$436
Frankfurt	€299	US$407
Tokyo	37,030 Yen	US$404
New York City	US$360	US$360
Rome	€249	US$339
London	180 Pounds	US$278
Hong Kong	HK$1,960	US$252

* Prices are based on foreign exchange rates as of February 22, 2010.

Five great travel gift ideas for the executive traveler

2010-02-24T23:16:00.000+07:00

Forbes.com has recently posted a video interview of Adam Rich, the co-founder of Thrillist (a newsletter and website that caters to male urban professionals in their twenties and thirties), who mentioned five great ideas about what to get an executive traveler who has everything. Adam’s gift ideas included:

Grid-it by Cocoon Innovations is a lattice work of elastic straps to keep everything inside your laptop bag. The Grid-it retails for US$19.95.
The Movie Wedge is a beanbag with a wedge on it that acts as a stand to hold up your iPhone plus the microfiber case can be used to clean its screen. The Movie Wedge retails for US9.95.
The Southern Brand iPhone sleeve is a sleeve made out of cowhide and the sale proceeds will go to assist struggling musicians. The Southern Brand iPhone sleeve retails for US$29.00.
The Balanzza Too is a 3 in 1 travel accessory that includes a timer, flashlight and a luggage scale to prevent you from being overcharged for overweight luggage. The Balanzza Too retails for US$31.00.
The Eskuche Headphones has a great retro look and also comes with several interchangable cords – including one that allows you to use your phone handsfree. The Eskuche Headphones retails for US$58.00.

So if you or someone you know is a regular business traveler who has just about everything, some of the above gift ideas might be worth considering.

The awards for the best wines served in business and first class

2010-02-23T23:41:00.000+07:00

The Bangalore Aviation blog has recently noted that the results are now in for the annual Cellars in the Sky Awards which recognizes the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide. Some of the big winners in this region included:

Qantas with four awards: The best first class red wine, the best first class fortified / sweet wine, the best first class cellar and best presented wine list.
Cathay Pacific with two awards: The best business class red wine and best business class cellar.

Oddly though, Singapore Airlines which usually wins several top finisher awards in any contest, seems to have been knocked right out of this competition.

Either way, here are the complete contest winners:

Business Class

Sparkling wine

1. Delta
Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 18.25 out of 20

2. JOINT: Qantas, Singapore Airlines
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne, France
Score: 18

3. Mexicana
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17.75

4. JOINT: Jet, LAN
Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Champagne, France
Score: 17.5

5. JOINT: Cathay, KLM
Billecart-Salmon Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17

Red

1. Cathay Pacific
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 18.75

2. Korean Air
Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2005, Hunter Valley, Australia
Score: 18.5

3. KLM
Tempus Two Barossa Shiraz 2005, Barossa, Australia
Score: 18.25

4. LAN
Altair 2004, Alto Cachapoal Valley, Chile
Score: 18

5. Alitalia
Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio, Casalferro, 2005, Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
Score: 17.75

White

1. SAS
Tim Adams Semillon 2007, Clare Valley, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Cathay Pacific
Moët Hennessy, Green Point Reserve Chardonnay 2005, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Score: 18

3. ANA
Weinguter Wegeler, Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett 2007, Mosel, Germany
Score: 17.75

4. Qantas
Peter Lehman Wines Eden Valley Riesling 2005, Barossa, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Air New Zealand
West Brook Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.25

Fortified / Sweet

1. Lufthansa
Vinhos Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2004, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18.5

2. Singapore Airlines
Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2003, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18

3. Air New Zealand
Dr John Forrest, Forrest Noble Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.75

4. Delta
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards, Muscat a Petit Grains, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Qantas
Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Liqueur Muscat, Glenrowan, Australia
Score: 17

Best business class cellar

1. Cathay Pacific
2. LAN
3. Qatar Airways
4. American Airlines
5. British Airways

First class

Sparkling

1. Lufthansa
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Rare, Champagne, France
Score: 19

2. Qantas
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1999, Champagne, France
Score: 18.5

3. Qatar Airways
Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle 1996, Champagne, France
Score: 18

4. Emirates
Dom Pérignon 2000, Champagne, France
Score: 17.75

5. JOINT: ANA, Singapore Airlines
Krug Grande Cuvée Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17.5

Red

1. Qantas
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2005, Canberra, Australia
Score: 18.75

2. JOINT:
Emirates
Felton Road Pinot Noir 2008, Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand
Korean Air
Château Léoville Poyferré 2004, Saint-Julien, France
Score: 18.5

[Editor's note: Singapore Airlines used to serve this wine and it is indeed a great wine]

4. JOINT:
American Airlines
Chapoutier Coteaux Tricastin 2006, Rhône Valley, France
American Airlines
Château Lynch-Moussas 2006, Pauillac, France
British Airways
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 Pinot Noir 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 18

White

1. TAM
Michel Picard Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2006, Burgundy, France
Score: 18.5

2. British Airways
Albert Bichot Meursault 2007, Burgundy, France
Score: 18.25

3. British Airways
Salomon Lindberg Reserve Gruner Veltliner 2007, Kamptal, Austria
Score: 18

4. Cathay Pacific
Wente Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay 2006, Livermore Valley, San Francisco, US
Score: 17.75

5. Qatar Airways
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.5

Fortified / Sweet

1. Qantas
Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Emirates
Château Rieussec 2003, Domaines Lafite, France
Score: 17.75

3. ANA
Taylor’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal
Score: 17.5

Best first class cellar

1. Qantas
2. American Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. British Airways
5. Cathay Pacific

OVERALL BEST-PRESENTED WINE LIST

1. Qantas
2. Air New Zealand
3. JOINT: ANA, Qatar Airways

CONSISTENCY OF WINES ACROSS BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS

1. Qatar Airways
2. JOINT: American Airlines, Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. British Airways
5. ANA

Useful video to learn some basic Bahasa Indonesian survival phrases

2010-02-22T16:54:00.000+07:00

Should you be visiting Indonesia soon, you may want to visit the Travel Linguist site on YouTube as it contains numerous resources to help you learn some Bahasa Indonesian words or phrases. In this video, you will learn the following useful Bahasa Indonesian survival words:

Hello - Halo

Goodbye - Selamat tinggal

How are you? - Apa kabar?

Very well, and you? - Baik sekali dan bagaimana dengan anda?

Thank you - Terima kasih

You're welcome - Terima kasih kembali

Do you speak English? - Apakah anda berbicara bahasa inggeris?

What is your name? - Siapakah nama anda?

Excuse me - Permisi

Where is the bathroom? - Dimanakah kamar kecil?

Knowing the above Bahasa Indonesian words or phrases will make even a short trip to Indonesia much more easier!

Chinese business etiquette videos

2010-02-20T23:33:00.000+07:00

Relationships and proper etiquette are extremely important considerations when doing business with the Chinese as they are renowned for being skilled and patient negotiators. Hence, its always important to put your best foot forward and to know what to expect when you meet with potential Chinese business partners for the first time.

In this first short video, the proper way to greet someone at the beginning of a business meeting is addressed:

In this second short video, viewers are walked through an entire business meeting between a Westerner and her potential Chinese business partners:

Price comparison: The i2 Segway

2010-02-19T17:56:00.000+07:00

Since their unveiling back in roo1, the two-wheeled self-balancing electric Segway have had some success in certain niche markets or as a novelty item. Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for the i2 Segway in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were highest in Bangkok – in fact, nearly double in comparison to New York where i2 Segway prices were lowest. Nevertheless, having a i2 Segway would probably not make much of a difference when navigating through Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams!

Price Comparison*

Bangkok	399,000 Baht	US$12,025
Frankfurt	€8,530	US$11,651
Shanghai	75,000 Yuan	US$10,976
Tokyo	981,750 Yen	US$10,927
Paris	€6,650	US$9,083
Sydney	A$9,450	US$8,464
Rome	€5,988	US$8,179
London	5,200 Pounds	US$8,175
Brussels	€5,595	US$7,642
New York City	US$6,215	US$6,215

* Prices are based on foreign exchange rates as of Feb 16, 2010.

How to use chopsticks videos

2010-02-18T17:53:00.000+07:00

For westerners who are accustomed to eating with silverware, using chopsticks for the first few times can be intimidating and tricky. Luckily, learning how to use chopsticks is not that difficult with a little bit of practice.

In this first video, Hiu Yau, a home chef and caterer, first explains the different types of chopsticks and what they are used for:

In this second video, the basic Chinese method for using chopsticks is explained:

Finally, this last video explains how to pick up rice with chopsticks:

Asia's top amusement parks

2010-02-17T17:33:00.000+07:00

Should you be visiting Asia for pleasure or you are based in the region with your family, a recent article on Forbes.com that listed Asia's top amusement parks is well worth reading. According to Forbes, the following are Asia's top theme parks based on attendance figures:

However, don’t expect to have any of the above theme parks to yourself during a visit as according to the article, members of Asia’s growing and increasingly affluent middle class are flooding these 12 popular theme park destinations. In fact, it was noted that PricewaterhouseCoopers has predicted that Asia’s amusement park market will be worth nearly US$8.5 billion by 2012 - up from US$6.4 billion in 2007.

Useful video to learn some basic Japanese survival phrases

2010-02-16T16:28:00.000+07:00

Should you be visiting Japan soon, you may want to visit the Travel Linguist site on YouTube as it contains numerous resources to help you learn some Japanese. In this video, you will learn the following useful Japanese survival words:

Hello - Konnichiwa

Goodbye - Sayonara

How are you? - Ogenki desu ka

Very well, and you? - Genki desu anata wa?

Thank you - Arigato

You're welcome - Do itashimashite

Do you speak English? - Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?

What is your name? - O namae wa nan desu ka?

Excuse me - Sumimasen

Where is the bathroom? - Ote arai wa dochira desu ka

Knowing the above Japanese phrases will make even a short trip to Japan much more easier!

The top 10 destinations to celebrate Chinese New Year in

2010-02-14T22:47:00.000+07:00

The year of the Tiger is upon us and in case you are not in China and still want to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Travelfront has recently posted an article listing the top 10 places to celebrate Chinese New Year and some of these places may surprise you. According to the article, the top 10 Chinese New Year destinations are:

Singapore: If you are not in China, this cosmopolitan Chinese city state is by far the best place to ring in the New Year complete complete with fireworks, music and the “Parade of Dreams.”
Sydney, Australia: Sydney boosts the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year outside of Asia with over 600,000 people, including Jackie Chan, celebrating it in 2009. Celebrations this year will also include a Chinese New Year Twilight Parade.
London, UK: If you are in the UK, Leicester Square, China Town and Trafalqar Square are the places to be and expect to see plenty of fireworks, lion dances and much more.
Paris, France: On the continent, millions of people will watch the parade of dragons, dancers and musicians who will parade through the streets of Paris.
Helsinki, Finland: You may be surprised to learn that there is a Chinese community in Helsinki who will put on a show with plenty of fireworks and live performances.
Los Angeles: The Lunar New Year has been celebrated in Los Angeles for some 110 years and the Golden Dragon Parade will attract will over 100,000 people this year.
Hong Kong: Another place to be, Hong Kong will celebrate the Lunar New Year with plenty of tradition – including gift giving.
San Francisco: Since after the Gold Rush years, the South-West Airlines Chinese New Year Parade has been a San Francisco tradition that now attracts 100,000s of visitors to the city.
New York City: Celebrations in New York will include a Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival in Columbus Park and the 11th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival.
Numerous Places in UK: Major UK cities such as Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Kent, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh will also put on their own Chinese New Year celebrations to match those of London and anywhere else in the world for that matter.

As an added bonus this year, the celebration of Chinese New Year will also include Valentine’s Day as well.