Chicken legs, onion, ginger and salt go in boiling water. Wait till the chicken is tender.
Next, place the chicken in a hot pan with oil and broil it in soya sauce. Add sugar and salt. Lower the heat but keep adding chicken soup till the meat is nice and juicy.

Labels: Asia, eat+drink

Another fun illustration of China's economic relations with the USA.

Labels: Asia, Economics

I always keep an eye on cheap flights to Asia. I hailed Lufthansa's "Ready to Fly" for it's 300€ flights to China, but this offer seems to be expired. Anyway, help is on it's way: Oasis Hong Kong Airline promises flights from London to Hong Kong for 50€.

Checking flights for next week showed nothing below 400€. But a month later, flights show up for about 130€. Adding a discount flight to London Gatewick, and one should get from about anywhere in Europe to Hong Kong for under 200€ (one-way).

Now if I just buy a nicely trailered suit and a few gadgets, I can quickly save 2x200€ in the tax-free-shopping-haven also known as Hong Kong. Which leaves me a free flight to Hong Kong. Right?

Labels: Asia, Economics

Twice a year (next on May 22nd) the economic leadership of China and America meets for a Strategic Economic Dialogue to disuse trade relations.

The dialogue was coined by Hank Paulson, America's treasury secretary and ex CEO of Goldman Sachs. He will welcome Wu Yi, the woman behind China's economic policy since 1991 and current vice-premier of China.

Unfortunately discussions are overshadowed by increasing hostility against China. The American congress accuses China among other things of stealing their economic leadership, natural resources and jobs. (This weeks issue of The Economist runs a survey about America's fear of China.)

First, China's population is more than four times bigger than America's population. Obviously China should command a bigger economy at some point (as it did in the past).

Second, natural resources are bought and sold internationally. As the world economy grows and more people live a decent life, so does demand for resources and their price. America could easily improve a thing or two in its efficiency of using resources. A higher price (and regard for the environment) provides the right incentives. The same counts for China.

Lastly: jobs. Is China stealing American jobs? Some members of congress seem to believe that world trade (or trade in general) is a zero-sum game. One job more in China's export industry means one job less in America.

That's not the case. As America imports from China, China imports from America. Jobs lost in one sector, will be gained in another. If America imports more than it exports (as it currently does), it pays with dollars. A promise of value which China can use for imports in the future. If China does not redeems those dollars, America basically imports for free. Hardly something to complain about.

In today's China Daily I read a smart statement by Ms. Wu: "The United States, as a global leader in science and technology, should give full play to its comparative advantage, enhance mutual trust and relax export controls to boost the competitiveness of American companies, revers the trend of dwindling market share of American hi-tech products in China, and reduce its trade deficit with China."

With comparative advantage, David Ricardo's theory on trade, Ms. Wu reminds us that even if America is far ahead in science and technology, it could still gain from trade in those fields.

As a previous investment banker, Mr. Paulson knows just as well about the gains from trade. That's why he should resist pressure from congress and further open the US economy. Ms. Wu would certainly welcome him.

Labels: Asia, Economics

10RMB = 1Euro

Labels: Asia, eat+drink, Economics

China's share of world GDP is nearly four times more than it was in 1980. Measured at purchasing power parity, it approaches that of the world's rich countries. It's just a matter of time* before China returns to it's ancient status as the Central Kingdom.

*Goldman Sachs predicts that China's GDP will overtake the US GDP (in PPP terms) by 2011.

Labels: Asia, Economics

Labels: Asia, Economics

On February 18th started the Year of the Pig in China. I was in Beijing and enjoyed the spectacle but hated the firework. In Austria I don't mind. I enjoy the free ride, when other people spend there money lighting up the sky.

But Beijing firework isn't about illuminating the sky, its about who makes the biggest bang. At moments its a pain to be outside and uncomfortable loud inside.

Only last year was the bane on fireworks lifted in Beijing for the days surrounding new-year celebrations. It seems people needed to make up for the 12 years it was forbidden. But unlike a smart boy, who carefully drives when his father gives him the first opportunity, Beijing people seemed to try to get it banned again as soon as possible (some 270 people were injured and one 25-year-old was killed during this years celebration in Beijing).

Of course a single Beijinger doesn't make the difference. Only the combined overshooting causes risk of banning. A negative externality of fireworks. Putting the Econ101 textbook example for public goods (a firework for everyone to enjoy) on the head.

Labels: Asia, Economics

I remember walking around GangNam, in Seoul, where I passed a fashion store. The store and the exhibited clothes appealed, so I walked in for a closer look. I liked there shirts. They used a surprisingly comfortable material, which just felt good. But there it was, a shocking slogan: Made in Downtown LA, Organic. Gosh, another anti-globalization environmentalist. No, I can't support this company. I left the store feeling a bit sorry for the missed shirt.

Half a year later, today. I'm reading about this guy, Dov Charney, who runs a global fashion company focusing on the needs of the young, well-travelled crowd that he calls the “world-metropolitan culture”. While reading I figured this company called American Apparel, is the one I visited in Seoul.

From The Economist:
DOV CHARNEY courts controversy. The 37-year-old founder and chief executive of American Apparel, the largest T-shirt manufacturer in America, has been called a brilliant businessman, an amateur pornographer, a Jewish hustler and a man with a social mission. He is admired for single-handedly creating one of America's most successful fashion retailers, for devising his company's sexually suggestive approach to advertising and for treating his workers much better than his rivals. He is also envied, loathed and criticised for all of these things.
Read the entire Face Value.

This article and an interview by Charlie Rose showed me that Mr Charney is a likeable person, indeed a capitalist and very much pro-globalisation. The Economist calls him The Hustler. An aggressively enterprising person. A go-getter.

I guess I can return to GangNam and buy that Shirt without a guilty conscience.

PS.: I wanted to show a picture of Mr Charney. But American Apparel has a beautiful Photo Collections where I stumbled over a picture of Ji-Sung, an employee from the Seoul store, which I liked better.

Labels: Asia, Economics

Prices for flying in Asia, just like in Europe, are falling. But it is still expansive to get to there in the first place. At least is was. Until Lufthansa asked: Are you Read to fly? Including Asia for less than 300Euro. For a roundtrip, that's cheap. They have different destinations every Wednesday. You can book one week ahead. Last week Beijing. Which I'm trying on the weekend. Next week HongKong? Tempting. But I hope for Seoul.

Labels: Asia, Economics

The Economist usually doesn't report tabloid news. But this one is funny.

Shanghai’s newspapers reported a particularly bizarre story in October. A four-year-old deaf boy disappeared at Beijing Zoo, only to resurface the following day at another zoo—in Shanghai. When the boy’s parents realised their son was missing they notified police and made postings on various websites. A man in Shanghai quickly responded to an internet post, saying he had seen a boy who fitted the description at Shanghai Zoo. The parents immediately flew to Shanghai, where they were reunited with their son at a local police station.

The only possible explanation police could offer was that the boy’s kidnappers decided to dump him after discovering his disability. Why they decided to leave him at another zoo, 1,300km from Beijing, is anyone’s guess.

Labels: Asia

Impressions from Peking University and Fudan University.

by Patrick Öhlinger

This summer started for me with an invitation by my good friend Andreas Kraml. He told me about his application to a summer university and knowing about my interested in China and economics, he recommend me to apply as well.
Already close to the application deadline, I contacted Mr. Böhm, my economics professor. Thankfully did he help me right away with a letter of recommendation for the Modern China Studies for Scientists and Economists in Beijing und Shanghai.
With little formalities, the application was quick and much easier than I worried. I even received a scholarship. And with the kind help of Ms. Höfler, I was soon heading for Beijing.

In Beijing with the first lectures ahead, I was exited to find out about the university, the lectures and our group.
In every regard my expectations where soon exceeded.
Peking University and Fudan University both have a beautiful campus. With trees and lakes and motivated students all over. Walking under the trees, one constantly feels like sitting down for a chat or to enjoy a book.

Right from the start we had inspiring lectures. Given from the top professors at the various departments. Usually from 10 till 12 and 2 till 4, with occasional trips to famous sights and foreign companies in the surrounding of Beijing and Shanghai.

On those trips our group got closer together. Soon friendships developed, which I’m sure, will hold much longer than the four weeks in China.

The impressive growth of China

Reading about the growth of China is impressive by itself. But actually being at the scene to experience what is happening is a different thing. China grows fast. So fast, that we in stagnating Europe can hardly understand what’s going on. For most, China still seems far away. To really understand, one has to be part of it. We weren’t. But we got to talk with professors and students who are and they explained as much as they could about the implications of the growth for China, Asia and the rest of the World.
It was as funny as it was shocking when I followed the comparisons the professors were showing. They were not comparing China with another developing country. Not even America. They were comparing China with the rest of the world:

• 50% of cement consumption
• 36% of steel consumption
• 30% of coal consumption
• 20% of the population
• 20% of foreign exchange reserves (1trillion US $)
• 7.3% of all exports
• 6.4% of GDP (just behind USA in PPP terms)
• 6.3% of all import
• 5.4% of cell phone subscribers (400 million)
• ...

Again, those numbers are in comparison with the rest of the world!

China’s economy grows with 10% a year. Since 20 years and with no clear reason why this shouldn’t continue for the next 20 years. And that’s how it should be. Still too many are poor, with growth as their only hope. With 20% of the world population, China should approach 20% of the world GDP. Like it had before the industrial revolution gave western countries a headstart.
America's time as leading (economic) world power is numbered. China will take that role. That’s known. Unknown is when. Economic forecasts predict 2030, as the year when China’s GDP will overtake Americas (in PPP terms).

For those numbers and further reading on Chinas economics I recommend: The China Miracle by Lin, Cai, Li and two recent surveys from The Economist (Sep 16th 2006 and Oct 21th 2006).

The big industries, banking, insurance and infrastructure, are still state owned or strictly regulated. But the free market is working in millions of small and mid-size business all over the country. While hiking the Great Wall of China, there where always people selling bottled water. Just when sweating tourists needed it most.

When I reached the highest point of the wall, I was looking for a trashcan to throw away my empty bottle. At that moment a men collect my empty bottle. He collected hundreds. I had no idea what’s going on. But later I found out there is a market for trash to be sold. Impressive how markets develope seemingly everywhere.

We students in cozy Europe sometimes relax that students in China (and India) are no competition. But just as chinese blue-collar works challenge their competitors in Europe so do white-collar works. China has more graduate students then Europe and America combined. We may (for now) comfort us with believing their education is not as good and misses critical skills like innovative thinking. But while European universities feel sorry about being overtaken by American universities, Asian schools are overtaking European schools as well. Japanese, Korean and Indian universities are already ranked above European and next to American universities. And China is following fast.

Criticizing China’s innovative thinking, one only has to look at the streets to find very innovativ solutions to everyday problems.

China is still a poor country. It has a long and challenging way ahead. But it is on the right track. Millions are lifted out of poverty every year. It’s an exiting moment for China and the world. I’m glad I could see a bit of what’s happening.

Labels: Asia, Economics

I'm in a cap in Shanghai, trying to find a Sushi place where I'm supposed to meet my colleges. That's always a challenge. Taxi drivers plainly refuse to read street names written by me in English on a napkin. If I try reading to them, they refuse to listen. I have to call a chinese friend, spell out the street name, and ask the driver to listen to a correct pronunciation over the phone.
Any attempt to sidestep this procedure leads me outside the city from where I have to call my friend anyway.
To make things easier, I carry a collection of business cards with Chinese addresses of various places I may want to go to. But of course the card from the Sushi place is missing...

Labels: Asia, eat+drink

Returning to Shanghai for an economics session at Fudan University, I'm glad to see Park 97 is still hip.
Today we had our final exam. One question, asked how Shanghai shows the economic development of China. Luckily I remembered a fitting discription from The Economist.

"Nowhere is China’s continuing transformation from Communist backwater to economic powerhouse more visible than in Shanghai. Twenty years ago, its streets were filled with workers in drab blue Mao suits, silently pushing identical black bicycles down derelict streets. Shops spread the few goods they stocked across bare shelves and there was so little to do that the city was asleep by early evening. Today, Shanghai is wide awake at every hour, seething with energy, noise and unbelievable traffic. Foreign labels in glittering shops entice China’s newly wealthy, while the skyline is dotted with futuristic skyscrapers. It is often the tourists who feel badly dressed."

Labels: Asia

Getting some time off, from our classes at Beida (that's Peking University), Andreas and I where lucky to have a smart fellow showing us the new Olympia stadium. Which looks like a bird's nest. The 2008 Beijing Olympics mark a new high point since Chinas open-up up in 1979 and it's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001.

Deng Xiaoping pioneered "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" and Chinese economic reform, also known as the "socialist market economy". He opened up China and reunited it with Hong Kong as "one country with two systems". He laid the foundation for the market economy, which lifts millions out of poverty every year.

A smart fellow indeed.

Labels: Asia, Economics

From the classic Milton Friedman television series Free to Choose (1980):

Hong Kong never stops. There's always some business to be done, some opportunity to be seized. Its long been a tourist center and a shoppers paradise and it's now one of the business centers of the East. It's the ordinary people of Hong Kong who benefit from all this effort and enterprise.

This thriving, bustling, dynamic city, has been made possible by the free market indeed the freest market in the world. The free market enables people to go into any industry that they want; to trade with whomever they want; to buy in the cheapest market around the world; to sell in the dearest around the world. But most important of all, if they fail, they bear the cost. If they succeed, they get the benefit and it's that atmosphere of incentive that has induced them to work, to adjust, to save, to produce a miracle. This miracle hasn't been achieved by government action by someone sitting in one of those tall buildings and telling people what to do. It's been achieved by allowing the market to work. Walk down any street in Hong Kong and you will see the impersonal forces of the market in operation.

And so it is today. 26 years later.

Hong Kong today is among the richest countries of the world. Just behind Austria. But unlike Austria, Hong Kong keeps growing. Surpassing those countries who discourage working with overblown regulations and high taxes.

After watching the first volume Free to Choose, continue with the remaining nine. Irresistible!

Volume 2: The Tyranny of Control
Volume 3: Anatomy of a Crisis
Volume 4: From Cradle to Grave
Volume 5: Created Equal
Volume 6: What’s Wrong With Our Schools?
Volume 7: Who Protects the Consumer?
Volume 8: Who Protects the Worker?
Volume 9: How to Cure Inflation
Volume 10: How to Stay Free
Want more? Enjoy Milton Friedman on Limited Government

Milton Friedman died Thursday Nov 16th at age 94.

Labels: Asia, Economics, movies

Arriving in Hong Kong, a busy Indian approached me to have a look at his "hotel". What he showed was a shabby, tight room with no window in the 7 floor of Chungking Mansions. But I remembered this house. It's where Wong Kar Wai shot Chungking Express. This movie has two stories. The first, rushing thru Chungking Mansions and the second, a bit slower let's Valerie Chow playing a busy Air Hostess break up with Tony Leung the Cop 663. Who will, after suffering, meet the sweet Faye Wong.

This movie represents everyday Hong Kong life. Just like Chungking Mansions. Flashy, shabby, crowded, lovely!

Labels: Asia, movies

Koh Samui has motorbike taxis. Now that was a first for me to see. I would expect a motorbike taxi business to face at least three problems. First, no business during rain, which usually is the busiest time for caps. Second, Helmets. Some people may not like wearing the sweaty helmet from the previous customer. Not to mention that everyone may need a different size. And third, what about the luggage.
In Samui, those points are no issue. It hardly rains. Not even now, in the “rainy session”. And no one is wearing helmets. Except, possibly forced by their license, the cap drivers. And regarding the luggage, those backpacking tourists penetrating the island can carry their belongings, well on their back.
I love this service. After all, a motorbike get's much faster thru traffic.

This smiling lady is preparing a delicious Thai soup for me :-)

Labels: Asia

Finally we met again after three separated years. You have changed. Grown bigger. More appealing. But more expensive too, I’m afraid. Getting used to the luxury? Aiming for glamorous Tokyo? Still jealous of this city next door? Don’t be. You have your own style. More homely and original. Full of wonderful people. Some of which I count as close friends. And don’t forget the delicious food you are known for. It's so much more than raw fish.
I had a great time with you. Again!
Just like 9 years ago when we first met. Do you remember? July 1997. I was still young and innocent. It was my first time with a big city. But I wasn’t afraid. I trusted you from the beginning and quickly fell in love with you.
You have always been welcoming and forgiving to my inexperience with your culture. You thought me about the little differences. Showed me things I had never seen, felt or tasted before. Thank you!
It’s hard to say goodbye. It always is. I was considering many times to postpone my flight. But I had to leave. There are others I want to meet. Soon I will see Hong Kong for the first time. I’m very exited. Yes, I’m unfaithful again. But open to the world as you are, I’m sure you understand my desire to experience other places. You know I will return. And someday when I have seen enough. I will stay.

Love, Patrick

Labels: Asia

Finally I saw one of those famous Korean Dance Concerts. Yesterday in COEX. BADA's concert, SHOWMAN aLIVE. I very much enjoyed it. But was confused that no one in the audience was actually dancing.

Labels: Asia

Reading about North Korea I found this revealing video about the arrogant imperialists from the west. It shows a bit about North Korea as well. A nice place, with bountiful treasures, I would love to visit.

Labels: Asia, Economics

Taipei is known for their night markets. You can shop around. Look at shirts, DVD's, PDA's... everything! True, it's a bit chaotic. But just go with the flow. Try noodles, tasty fruit juice and those delicious rips. Lovely!

Watch closely. After cooking, he pours the soup in a plastic bag. Ready to go!

Labels: Asia, movies

I was lucky to get a scholarship for the Modern China Studies for Economists at Peking University and Fudan University.

Beeing in Asia, I decided to visit some friends in Korea as well as Peter, Joe and Stefan who are in Ko Pha-Ngan.

More and more cheap airlines penetrate the world. I used EVA Air to get to Asia and Bangkok Air to fly around in Asia. Both are cheap and proved flexible enough to all the alterations I demanded.

Labels: Asia, Economics

The first one, looking at the traditional side of Japan, offers great hints on how to eat Sushi.

The second presents a snapshot of contemporary Japanese TV culture.

Labels: Asia, movies

Labels: Asia, eat+drink

Labels: Asia

Konrad and I found our way to Tokyo.

To Tokyo via Moscow	Aeroflot	Demanded strict controll at the Moscow airport
The airport, a scary communistic artifact	With nothing exept vodka	We had to rely on our own food supply
Awake in Tokyo	Konrad in our Chintai	In the fishmarket, to get some tuna!
Debate with the fisher in the Tsukiji fishmarket	But we got what we wanted. Whale!	For a perfect lunch

We expect to be back, with more pictures, on 8th Aug.

Labels: Asia

So Taiwan is international or national??
Anyway, I'm back in Vienna!

Labels: Asia

I couldn't help myself. I had to try skiing in China. Not that I couldn't wait a few days before I'm back in Austria. But I had to see what's going on there.
Now I must say that I'm pretty impressed. Surely it's not Austria. But it gives the right feeling about skiing and I guess those Chinese who can afford it, may afford a trip to Austria next time (to get the real thing :-)

Labels: Asia

On my way thru China I basically crossed the nation from south to north. From Hainan to Beijing. I learned quite a bit about this great (big) country. Shanghai and Beijing are both impressive in size and development. In my impression, Shanghai is the shopping mall while Beijing is the cultural center of China.

Labels: Asia

Finally I reached Shanghai. An impressive city. Crazy about shopping with no sign of communism in sight.
Almost uncommented I posted some pictures below. I will add more details when I get online again.

Labels: Asia

I'm very happy about SungWoo giving me a visit in Shanghai. We spend a few days enjoying the food in China. Although we mostly had Japanese and Korean food we really liked the cracy low prices. Our highlights were a fun night out in Park97 and shopping for cheap movies (we are talking about high quality -Dual Layer- 0.60 Euro DVD's).
That's now the 3rd time we met since our summer in 2002. Last time I visited SungWoo in Korea and the winter before he gave me a visit in Austria.

Labels: Asia, Stanford

Park 97, is beautifully located inside Fuxing park where you can party from dusk till dawn. Park has great DJ's in it's California Club, a Hip Hop or Reggae band in the main area and a Jazz band Upstairs'.
They serve Sushi and GinTonic which was all I needed...

Address	2A Gaolan Lu (near Sinan Lu)
中文	皋兰路2A号(近思南路)

Labels: Asia, eat+drink

Starting with christmas, we spend a few days in Hainan.
An island in South China right next to Vietnam. We have been there while the horrible Tzunami went over South Asia. Lookily we didn't get hurt.

Labels: Asia

Some famous Temple called Chang Huang Tempel.

Labels: Asia

Where I life in Shanghai.

Labels: Asia

...in der Schweiz, in der Schweiz

I wanted Shanghai, but I found myself in Lausanne (since Qatar Airways was busy). There Konrad and I went swimming in the Genfersee and had fun with Mr. Incredible.

Labels: Asia

Intro | Café | Seoul Subway | My Room | Cheju Island | Reunion | Karaoke

Intro

Since the end of July 2003 I'm in Seoul Korea to do some research in the Computer and Communication Lab of the Yonsei University. I'm having a pretty good time so far. I get to know a lot of people and everyone is really kind and fun to hang out with.
Also I love Korean food. Like Kimchi, Bulgogi and of course always soup. It's so good and it's much cheaper than in Vienna. I go out eating everyday. Well surely I have no clue how to cook Korean food. Even if I would, my room doesn't have a kitchen (well of course I can always make ramen). But since it's cheap to eat out, I just go for lunch and dinner.

In the lab I spend most of my time programming on a transmission protocol for calendar events (caltella). Which is the fundament for a paper I'm going to write about P2P systems. However, it's a great laboratory with nice people.

That's the Engineering building where I'm working.

Café

As a little surprise to me, I found even more coffee houses in Seoul than there seem to be in Vienna!

And I'm not talking about some kind of Starbucks. I'm talking about a nice place to hang out, with service and ceramic cups. I even found places with newspapers available, not in English but still. That's nice to see.

Above is the picture of Café Tous Les Jours a European-style bakery. My favorite place.

Seoul Subway

Some important places in Seoul

	station	line
Yonsei Universtiy (that's where I'm)	Sinchon	2
Kyobo Bookstore	Gangnam	2
SungWoo's place	Apgujeong	3
Huge Elektronic market	Itaewon	6
Market	Yongson	1
JinWoo's apartment (Exit 6)	Shin Yong San	4
Market	Dongdaemun	1,4

My room

My apartment, or should I say room, is rather small with about 3.5m2. As a matter of fact, when I flip over my (green) matrace and stretch out diagonaly I can touch all four walls of my room at once.

Wow, I have never been in a room that small. However, when I open my window I can see the lab where I'm working. I could even trow a stone at it, since it's so close. That kind a makes up for the small size. Plus, with 200.000Won/Month, which is about 150 Euro, it's pretty cheap. Surely I wouldn't wanna stay forever but, for the time I'm here it's ok.

You can see my window within the red circle.

Cheju Island

During the national celebration day of Korea (15th August) SungWoo, his family and I went to the wonderful Cheju Island. As SungWoo's father explaned to me, Cheju is famous for three things: the weather, food and woman.
Surely, I can agree with him.

Reunion...

...with my friends from Stanford.
Jun, Janet, Angela, Patrick, Tony, David and BonSung

Karaoke-night in Jonggak

Judi, Patrick and Kara


Soni


"At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinkin I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinkin how you did me wrong
And I grew strong and I learned how to get along"

Labels: Asia, Stanford