Cycle rickshaws which originated in Japan around 1868, at the beginning of the Meiji Restoration are today considered a uniquely Asian mode of transport. Although the human powered three wheeler is popular across the United States and Europe, it still remains a distinctly Asian vehicle.
The cycle rickshaw is known by varying names across Asia – cyclo in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, cycle rickshaw in India and Bangladesh, trishaw in Malaysia and Singapore, becak in Indonesia, traysikel or pedicab in the Philippines, samlor in Thailand and saika in Myanmar. Known by different names across the region, cycle rickshaws are great ways to commute through zig zag and traffic infested Asian lanes.
While traditional cycle rickshaws involve a man peddling or pulling commuters who either sit beside, in front of or behind him, the more modern version of cycle rickshaws or auto rickshaws are motor powered gas guzzling vehicles that zip around cities. Meanwhile, some rickshaw drivers are also doing their bit to save the environment by using solar powered rickshaws.
If you are looking to relocate within Asia and are concerned about how much bang you can get from your buck turn to Burgernomics. Invented by The Economist magazine in 1986, Burgernomics is a modern, fast food version to calculate the purchasing power parity (PPP) of a nation. The informal theory uses a common standard, the McDonald’s Big Mac burger whose price varies according to a country’s cost of living.
Nestled between the Philippines and Vietnam in the azure clear waters of the South China Sea are the Spratly Islands, an archipelago of more than 30,000 islands and reefs. Laid claim to by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam the Spratlys which are spread over 400,000 square kilometers of sea occupy less than five square kilometers of land area.
Its a definite sign of worsening times, but a measure that his highly advised against, especially during global economic downturns. India on Friday banned Chinese made toys for six months in order to protect the domestic industry which was being hurt with a flood of cheap Chinese toys that couldn’t make it to western shores.
While the U.S., Japan and EU are expected to produce low or even negative GDP figures for 2009, such predictions paint a brighter picture in Asia. A quick chart assimilated by 2point6billion clearly points out that export dependent Asian nations will not see red this year.
