Asian Tiger

Recently, there has been much talk about the US sub prime market woes leading to the decline in Malaysia stock market and investor sentiments in general. Let us consider the Denver homes for sale as an example. Why Denver? Because I love John Denver But really, if the whole of US sub prime market is affecting Malaysians, then Denver would also be a contributing factor. Therefore, no matter which city I choose, it’s theoretically the same.

Take this home as an example. A beautiful 3,364 square feet bungalow that consists of 4 rooms, 3 baths and a basement. Know how much is it going for? Only US$380,000. Now, now, don’t convert it to Malaysian Ringgit. If you are in the US and earning US Dollars, this is equivalent to your RM380,000 in Malaysia. Where in Malaysia can you get this kind of house at this kind of price?

Probably the sub prime market did deteriorate in the US but why is it affecting us or did it really affect us? According to some “finance” friends that I spoke to, it is their opinion that the problem has not fully blown out of proportion. It may be worse next year.

So, let this be a forewarning to us as we approach the end of 2007. The potential US sub prime market problem in 2008, the imminent petrol price hike in 2008, the imminent toll increase in 2008, the potential electricity utility tariff increase and the forthcoming bundling of Indah Water charges into our water and sewerage bill.

2008 is going to be a year of belt tightening. Perhaps Nostradamus would agree with me.

I just got an email from a so-called friend who introduced to me a site called Buena Viva Exeter.  To be absolutely honest with you, I read and re-read the site and I still have no idea how points can be translated into a holiday.  Correct me if I am wrong but buying points that last 40 years is like a prepaid program; i.e. money upfront.  Coming to think of it, hey! It’s not a bad idea after all.  You know, paying once and have holidays for the next 40 years!!

Speaking of holidays, we as Malaysian got to be thankful to Tony Fernandes for Air Asia.  Our Malaysian budget airline have really took to the skies and many of us can now fly cheaply around the region; sometimes even for free.  Folks like me have even booked several trips overseas in a single year.  In the past, I have limited myself to one vacation per year.  This year alone I have had 2 vacations and the last one is just on the horizon; BANGKOK!

Through Air Asia, I have booked for a Bangkok holiday this December.  I’ve never been to Bangkok but I hear that December is a nice time to enjoy its cool air.  I hear that Bangkok is quite polluted, hence I would be sucking in the cool Bangkok-ian air.  I’m planning to visit the floating market, the grand palace and Ayutthaya (once the great capital of Siam).

Have you been to Bangkok?  If you have, could you please recommend me must-visit places?  Muchos gracias.

In today’s news, the Nordic nations (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland) via a joint statement has raised the alarm over the melting Arctic. They are worried that this phenomenon will have irreversible consequences, threatening livelihood and doubling the rate of ice melt.

United Nations (UN) has put the blame on burning fossil fuel for this melt. While the nations and head of states work on their protocols and what needs to be done, I have already start practicing “environmental-friendly” life whenever and wherever possible. How? Read on for some of my many ways.

Many of us own a car; the more fortunate ones own more than one. A huge majority of our cars run on fossil fuel; the remaining minority operates on biofuel, natural gas, liquid petroleum gas, hydrogen and electricity. My car runs on fossil fuel because I cannot afford Honda’s new hydrogen car. I drive my car everyday and each minute I burn fossil fuel and contribute to the overall rise in global temperature, although in a minute way.

What I practice are ways to reduce the burning of fossil fuel and at the same time, saving me money against the rising global fossil fuel price. As you may know, Malaysia is right smack in the tropical region and hence is a very hot place. Using the car’s air conditioning consumes about 20% extra fuel. For me, whenever my car is cooled down, I turn off the air conditioning. Call me crazy, call me a fool, but switching off air-conditioning whenever you don’t need it saves fuel, saves money and saves the environment. Fixing heat reflecting films helps a great deal.

I have already changed the way I drive, from being heavy footed to very light. I seldom accelerate more than what is required, using momentum to help push the car, thereby reducing fuel consumption. I also reduce the need to hard brake by looking further ahead, decelerate much earlier on whenever I see traffic ahead.

These simple methods have helped me reduce my fuel consumption by some 15% than before; at the same time, reducing the emission by the same margin. Can you imagine if 20 million Malaysians reduce 15% emission? Malaysia will a very blue sky.