After a successful career in IT a change in lifestyle was sought. Hoping to turn our hobby and passion into a business we spent six months travelling through Southeast Asia, exploring outside the ‘tourist trail’ seeking out the quality Asian Art we thought would be desired, by fellow enthusiasts.

Concluding our wondrous six month travel experience we had secured and shipped home beautiful statues, paintings and lacquerware from countries throughout Southeast Asia – the foundation art collection for HDAsianArt.com.  

Fig. 1 – Pieces such as this lacquerware trunk are hand carved, taking four months to craft

Whilst securing beautiful art that appealed to us was important of greater importance were certain criteria, that all of our purchases had to achieve:

1. Unique and Museum Quality

We were not interested in purchasing anything that could be considered mass produced. Unique, individual pieces that would not look out of place behind glass in the Victoria & Albert museum in London or the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Our website offers worldwide shipping and pricing in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY & AUD so our pieces had to be of sufficient quality for an international audience.

Fig. 2 – An aged bronze Apsara – the celestial nymph – these centerpieces have generated much interest.

At times we clarified our purchases with Professors at the University of London, School for Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS). Their concern that some of the pieces we had seen being produced in Cambodia or Thailand might be 12^th or 13^th century originals was particularly gratifying.

2. Artisan Crafted

Commencing our venture we were determined to work directly with the artisans producing our Art. We wanted to travel to their workshops, meet their workers and understand the effort involved producing the quality of pieces we required. Some of our lacquerware trunks take over 4 months to produce.

By refusing to buy from ‘middlemen’ or faceless mass supply websites we ensured a unique product but more importantly our continued purchase of their pieces providing a long-term stable income source for both themselves, their family and their workers.

Fig. 3 – An aged bronze statue arises from the workshop of a Cambodian artisan.

As our understanding of the communities and villages that they lived in grew we have also been able to work with local schools and hospitals – items that might be considered ‘basic’ are often much sought after. Through our regular trips to the region we have been able to provide, along with an income to our artisans, some much needed supplies to the communities that they work in.

3. Affordable

It is easy to source beautiful pieces of Asian Art when cost is not an issue. However, we wanted to supply beautiful, unique, museum quality art to a much wider audience.  More expensive than the typical ‘tourist market’ souvenirs, that are readily sourced throughout Southeast Asia, we looked to appeal to customers wanting unique, artisan crafted, affordable, museum quality art. Today we work with Interior Designers, Architects, Retailers and Consumers to provide art that brings a little affordable Asian serenity to their home, office or design project.

Fig. 4 – Burmese sand paintings, depicting 12^th and 13^th century temple wall murals offer stunning wall art

Since launching our website interest in our art has continued to grow. Comments such as ‘beautiful’, ‘I want one’ and ‘amazing’ abound. Continuous buying trips to Southeast Asia are planned throughout the year, to help meet demand for our pieces, with orders for specific pieces being placed ahead of these trips and local artisans now contacting us directly with details of what they produce. 

Travelling in Southeast Asia has always been a personal joy. Building a Southeast Asian inspired business that both fulfils a lifelong passion and also helps those living in the region is extremely satisfying. Hard work, great art and amazing customers should allow us to continue building on this passion.

For more information about Southeast Asian art please contact:

James Horsfall

With more than 80 million members, the Chinese Communist Party is the largest party in the world. Simultaneously, the Chinese Communist Party holds absolute power – including power over the judiciary, the armed forces and intelligence apparatus, and SOEs. But for Westerns doing business in China, the Chinese Communist Party is largely invisible. While power is centralized at the top, it is decentralized at local level. There is no total control ála 1984, but if something is in the party’s interest it will most likely be implemented.

Chinese Democracy

“All power in the People’s Republic of China belongs to the people,” the People’s Republic of China constitution proudly proclaims. But Chinese democracy is defined (by a CCP whitepaper) as “Democratic government is the Chinese Communist Party governing on behalf of the people.” Only 5-10% of people applying are accepted into Party ranks. Consequently, being accepted is seen as a status mark similar to an Ivy League education in the U.S. There are no direct benefits of membership – you pay a monthly fee (salary deduction) and have to submit two patriotic essays annually. Only the most ambitious, well-connected, and educated are accepted. It has been a conscious CCP strategy to target the best and brightest. The Chinese Communist Party has transformed itself from a mass organization for workers mobilization to a “technocratic leadership corps”, according to Professor Jeremy Paltiel of Carleton University in Ottawa, a CCP expert.

Propaganda

The propaganda starts at an early age. The CCP’s youth organization (7-14 year olds) outlines in their official mission statement, that their goal is to promote “indoctrination of children by cultivating [positive] feelings of the Party and the socialist motherland.” In the most comprehensive survey to date, when Mainland Chinese where asked how democratic their current system was, Chinese gave it 7.22 on a 10-degree scale – third in Asia and well ahead of Japan and South Korea. It is important to recognize that Chinese don’t necessarily strive for a Western governance model with a multiparty system – but rather freedom of information, improved rule of law, and greater accountability for local officials.

In a collectivist culture like the Chinese, the one party system has worked remarkably well. Other influential cultural threads are the Chinese endurance and resilience as well as the society’s long-term orientation. Today, it is hard to see an alternative to the Chinese Communist Party. Mostly because so many of the most able people are now party members – more than one in ten of the urbanized (665 million) population is now a party member – as almost all natural leaders have been swooped up by the Party there is no viable leadership alternative.

Special Interests

Not having to directly placate special interest groups or changing policy directions after an election has served the Chinese economy well. But while pressing issues may be addressed quickly there is a problem when SOEs need Party guidance in strategic issues. Although all Chinese SOEs have direct communication lines to top-level Party officials, the decision process can be protracted, especially as decisions are made through somewhat lengthy internal consensus-building. Also, there has generally been a problem for Chinese SOEs to execute more complex financial maneuvers as the financial aptitude is lagging. But this is rapidly changing. One of the greatest assets of Chinese SOEs have been access to State owned bank funding (both for themselves and their customers). These banks are also directly or indirectly influenced by the Chinese Communist Party.

The Chinese Communist Party has cultivated an international non-intervention perception, but the Party is omnipresent. Officials’ loyalty is foremost to the Chinese Communist Party and keeping the current system in place, second only to the State and the people. Hu Jintao is primarily Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (and Chairman of the Central Military Commission – just as important) and secondarily President of the PRC.

Five Year Plan

China’s biggest dirty little secret is its 5-year plans. This is a fairly detailed insight into the Chinese Communist Party’s plans for the country. In a bureaucratic communist country where Party and State is almost one and the same, one thing is sure: plans are going to get implemented. The current 5-year plan was enacted in 2011. The plan outlines a range of sustainability and equality-oriented policies growing out of the (socialist) “scientific development concept.” More specifically the plan will address these issues:

• Counter rising inequality and create an environment for more sustainable growth by prioritizing more equitable wealth distribution with increased domestic consumption, and improved social infrastructure and social safety nets
• Re-balanceing its economy, shifting emphasis from investment toward consumption and from urban and coastal growth toward rural and inland development – initially by developing small cities and greenfield districts to absorb coastal migration
• Enhance environmental protection, accelerate the process of opening and reform, and emphasize Hong Kong’s role as a center of international finance

Richard McGregor published the highly acclaimed The Party: the Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers in 2010 which is a great insight into how the party works. McGregor makes the acute observation that the Chinese Communist Party works very much like the Vatican, with arcane election procedures and absolute power. Moreover, this Chinese “Vatican” runs on Leninist-inspired structures and principles.

Foreigners should be very conscious with which information they share. Locally engaged staff in China will be expected to deliver intelligence on your operations to the authorities if your business is perceived to be sensitive to Beijing’s broad definition of ‘national security’ – the Chinese intelligence community could pressure any ethnic Chinese (for example using travel privileges as leverage), even expats, to provide them with information.

Finally, one should remember that two thirds of Chinese businesses (as percentage of GDP) are not owned by the State. This means that when engaging with small to mid-size companies, the Chinese Communist Party exercises no direct influence over your counterpart.

By Andreas Fried and Jessica Chang of Universal Consensus, a leading international cross-cultural consulting firm.

Forget the manufactured, robotic and Hollywood sounds that you’re sick of. Freestyle music is back and it has some upgrades. The best news you wonder? For starters, NO AUTO-TUNE; something lurks behind the wall of scenes depicting simplicity in the Red Carpet land, and if you can, hear this song, “The Love Is Sound”; make peace with your mind, realize someone’s brought back the times – Are you in?

In this era of romance, we are digitally connected more than we are emotionally. Sekrett Scilensce (アソシエイツ) from Japan is bringing freestyle music back in the form of music, stories and poems. Check them out at www.secretsilence.com.

Sekrett Scilensce is an officially distributed line of MP3/e-reader products under the “Kuneo Koei” publishing trade. KuneoKoei

Hokkien mee is a traditional Singapore dish of fried noodle dish comes with prawns and is a delicious blend of briny seafood, oil, noodles, a slight spritz of lime and some heat from chilli. You will be hard pushed trying to find it anywhere outside of Singapore. One place where you can get hold of some hokkien mee is at the Cuppage Food Court: A huge space with low-ceilings and plenty of stalls to choose from. Alongside your seafood noodles, why not grab a couple of spring rolls as a side and some freshly squeezed fruit juice? A meal like this will cost you around $5! Amazing value.

Another bargain place to dine is the food mecca the East Coast Lagoon Food Centre. Singapore is full of amazing scenery and here you can eat your food and enjoy this all at the same time. Sit outdoors and surround yourself with the palm trees and warm sun. The smell of burning wood and grilled meats fills the air and creates mouth-watering atmosphere. A great tip is to head to the satay house with the longest queue and you will not be disappointed with your meal. Enjoy barbecued skewers with marinated, tender meats are served with a tasty peanut sauce and mixed vegetables. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, beef, pork, or chicken, you can enjoy them all here. You can get your hands on about eight meat skewers for $4 and then head out to the sandy outdoors area and soak up the lively atmosphere.

If you feel like working up an appetite before you buy your meal. Make your way to the Chinatown Complex Food Centre – the largest and oldest food centre around. There are literally hundreds of stalls to choose from and you can be walking for ages until you find what you want. A favourite with the locals is the beef or minced meat noodle soup. A large bowlful will set you back as little as $2 and is enough to fill you. If you want something a little more substantial, opt for the crispy roast duck and rice option for a dollar more. There are also plenty of stalls that sell desserts for only $1, like mochi balls, which are sweet, glutinous rice with a sweet paste in the middle, often served with a sweet sauce.

Singapore’s hawker centres are a way of life and have been around for decades. Entering a hawker centre, it is hard to control yourself when you are surrounded by the smells, sights, and sounds of food being prepared in so many ways. If you want to become a real Singapore Foodie, buy a copy of Makansutra, by K. F. Seetoh (Makansutra Publishing) at a local bookshop. Seetoh is the well-known local guru of hawker foods and has sniffed out the tastiest, most authentic local delicacies you can imagine.

Thanks to Rosalind B from the car hire provider, Errentals.co.uk

Asia has always been a very mysterious and intriguing place for many Westerners. Over the years with the free flow of information from the Internet, people around the world are beginning to get more information about Asia. This has definitely makes an average person feels a little bit more comfortable in visiting the desired Asian countries of his or her choice.

Traveling should be fun, but sometimes the experiences shared by tourists are not always positive. Tales about shady business practices and unethical dealings have always been a major issue with tourism in Asian countries from retail shopping to restaurants. DineMates.com is a determined food and travel community aiming to minimize this problem and help people create international and long lasting friendships.

So what is Dine Mates really about? It is a social networking site focusing on Asian food culture allowing fellow foodies to share pictures, videos, blog about their experiences, and connect online and in person over meals or drinks. The idea was born when it’s creator who is a regular traveler found it difficult to get access to the “best kept secret” places by the locals. He tried connecting with people from different social networking sites but it was difficult to find people with similar interests… GREAT FOOD!

After years of traveling and meeting a few locals and ex-pats in Asia he decided to take his passion for food and adventure a step further, so he created DineMates.com with the goal of getting a large community of people that are interested in food. People can meet and guide others to great dining and drinking locations.

“I know there are people who are passionate about their country, culture, and food, and they love meeting and introducing foreigners to their local delicacies! Living in Asia, I am one of them. Anybody can go to big restaurants or road side food stalls, but true experience begins once you go off the beaten path to a small family owned shop with food that makes your taste buds tingle!” says the DineMates.com founder.

For food fanatics, fast food is a big ‘no no’ and healthy local meals remains to be the trend. Compared to most Western cultures, eating is a big part of life in Asia and meals are usually shared between a group of people making it a social event. The majority of people in Asia are proud of their food culture and love showing off their knowledge, cooking, and exposing new travelers to their favorite dishes. So I recommend visiting Dine Mates because the site brings people together to learn about different food through out the world and get a grasp on local culture when they travel and meet up. All one needs is an awesome and exotic meal introduced by the locals and that will definitely give you a memory that will last a lifetime.

Thailand is well-known for being a hub of tourists, backpackers and locals all mixing together to give on of the busiest tourist destinations word-wide. The streets are always busy and are full of a whole range of attractions including 5* restaurants, budget accommodation choices to theme parks for all the family. But there is another, more hidden side to Bangkok that is more frequented by the locals and those in the know. Here are a three hidden treasures to help you discover these gems and uncover a different side of bangkok.

Ko Kret

Like most big cities, Thailand has it’s own smaller, eclectic area which is a home by to a community of pottery-making Thai people. The Mons, as they are known, are a small minority group of Thailanders that originally headed to a tiny manmade island back in the 18th Century. Today they can be found in the middle of the Chaeo Phryaha River and if you are looking for a less hectic market to visit during your trip, head to their market. Here you can find a great selection of handmade crafts, local delicacies and spiritual memorabilia.

Baan Bat

Hidden away behind The Golden Mount you’ll find the wonderfully peaceful Baan Bat which translated in English is “house of monk’s alm bowl,” Here you’ll find one of the few remaining places where monks still hammer their bras alms bowls by hand. These alms bowls get passed around in the morning collection. In the past, many monks made their living making and selling these bowls. Now there are still a few thousand monks who continue to do so. Keep your eyes peeled next time you are wandering through the backstreets of bangkok, you may see the bowls and the monks who make them quietly hammering away.

Khlongs

When you think of long tail boasts gliding across the rivers, most people will automatically think of Venice because the iconic boat and waterways are synonymous with the italian city. Most visitors to Bangkok are probably unaware that this area used to be referred to as “The Venice of the East.” Cars and Tuk Tuks now drive along roads where these waterways could once be found but you can still enjoy a boat ride in downtown Bangkok. Sit back and soak up the sun on a peaceful smooth boat trip in the Khlong Saen Saeb’s boats.

You can also find a quieter places to soak up the Thai culture if you travel further out away from the main tourist attractions and enjoy the side of Bangkok that the locals know and love.

This post was written by traveller and freelance writer Rozzy B. She has visited over 22 countries and offers followers in footsteps tips on anything ranging from tips to hire a car in spain to the best places to eat authentic tapas in Barcelona.

Japan in the Heart: Help Change Someone’s Life Today it will bring both help and hope to those right in the heart of this troubled region.



Do check it out. Cheers!

Population

Labor Force

GDP PPP

IT Outsourcing Market Size

Salary Demands

Management Talent Pool

Customer Base (For IT Services)

English Proficiency

Contracts & Trust

Infrastructure

Original story at: http://www.cio.com/article/640363/Offshore_Outsourcing_24_Ways_to_Compare_India_vs._China

Whoever thought that learning Chinese could be so easy before Rocket Chinese came along? After testing countless Chinese language learning programs, the tools and lessons that Rocket Languages Chinese incorporates into their program prove to be highly innovative and impressively created. The lessons are highly efficient and easy to use, making the language learning process quick and effective.

The makers of Rocket Languages Chinese understand that learning a new language shouldn’t take so much time that it gets in the way of everyday life. Learning a language should be recreational, and hopefully develop into a skill that can be used for personal and professional purposes. This is exactly what Rocket Languages Chinese allows learners to do. The program is time efficient, allowing the learner to work on his/her own time, and effective enough so that learners don’t have to waste hours at the computer before retaining even the smallest amount of information.

Click here to read the full review of Rocket Language at LanguageSoftware.net

To illustrate the Rosetta Stone Chinese Mandarin teaching method, you are shown an image with words below it and make the connection. On the screen there are four pictures and text in Pinyin. Pinyin is Mandarin Chinese written with Romanized letters. For instance, you are shown an apple and the words “ping guo” below so you will know that “ping guo” means apple. You will hear a translation so you will be familiar with the sound. Similarly, you will also learn that “nan ren” means man and “nu ren” means woman and “nan hai zi” means boy and “nu hai zi” means girl.

After this, you are shown pictures and you must choose the appropriate word for a particular picture. If you are correct, you will get a green check mark but if you are wrong, you will get an orange cross. You can try until you get it right though.

Click here to read the full review at LanguageSoftware.net