World’s 25 dirtiest cities

by Abha Malpani on

When I read this headline, I was 100% sure that if Calcutta wasn’t number one on this list, it would definitely make the top 5. It doesn’t feature on the list at all!

The list has been compiled by Forbes basis Mercer Human Resource Consulting’s 2007 Health and Sanitation rankings that ranked 215 cities worldwide based on levels of air pollution, waste management, water potability, hospital services, medical supplies and the presence of infectious diseases.

Here’s the top 10 World’s Dirtiest Cities:


Black fumes of smoke, acid rain, and free flowing sewage are part of life in these countries. Pretty depressing huh.

On a positive note: according to Water Aid for every $1 spent on improved sanitation, the benefit equals $9 resulting from decreased cost of health care and increased productivity — yes, the 90/10 rule. It looks like a little bit of work and expenditure can make A LOT of difference.

Genitalia restaurant in China

by Abha Malpani on

If you think that eating water-buffalo penis, a yaks knob with a hunk of foreskin, a dog’s penis, bull’s penis tip, bull’s perineum, or deer-penis juice is gross (excuse me one minute while I go to throw up), think again. Apparently they’re delicious delicacies, with energetic and virility benefits that rich Chinese people (mainly male members of the Communist Party) pay up to £250 for.

Guo-li-Zuang restaurant in Beijing specializes in serving such dishes of animal penises and testicles. China has a history of poverty and famine, which is why they are used to eating any animal and every morsel of it, so eating penises and testicles is nothing out of the ordinary. The stuff is mainly boiled, roasted or steamed, and served with a variety of items like lemon, soy, chili, honey and sesame-seed paste.

According to the author of the article on this restaurant: “All the knobs have intriguing, delicate and bizarre textures, although the flavor is mainly of pork braised in hot stock.” The restaurant is sexist though as it doesn’t serve female genitalia — but oh what the heck.

Now that I think about it a bit more, it doesn’t seem all that gross. They are really just body parts like anything else. I would have to say though, I’d probably enjoy it more if I didn’t know what I was eating.

Big in Japan: White Day is the opposite of Valentine’s Day

by Matthew Firestone on

To Western eyes, there’s no shortage of unusual Japanese festivals that have little to no equivalent in our society.

Indeed, the first time I started throwing dried rice around the house in order to ward away evil spirits, I couldn’t help but feel like I was wasting food.

(Then again, you can imagine the reaction most Japanese people have when they see us Westerners carving up a perfectly edible pumpkin on Halloween!).

Anyway, last month was Valentine’s Day, a chocolate-fueled holiday dedicated to everlasting love (or at least intense sugar-highs).

While this Hallmark holiday has swept around the world, from London to Sydney and Buenos Aires to Cape Town, Valentine’s Day in Japan is just a bit different.

While Western women expect their significant others to reward their devotion with flowers, candy, jewelry and/or expensive dinners, in Japan, Valentine’s Day is a man’s holiday.

Yes – that’s right! On Valentine’s Day in Japan, men expect their significant others to reward their devotions with chocolate, expensive dinners and/or a six pack of lager.

But, fret not ladies as today is March 14th, which is otherwise known as White Day in Japan.

And, assuming you haven’t broken up with your man since February, today you can expect your generosity to be repaid three-fold!

White Day (ホワイトデー, howaito dē), which was created in Japan in 1980, is somewhat akin to the American version of Valentine’s Day, though it’s celebrated exactly one month after the fact.

While few women in the West have any reason to mark March 14th on their calendars, this seemingly innocent day is unforgettable in Asia.

In fact, the concept of White Day has spread throughout Korea, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong in recent years, and is being applauded as a way of turning the tables on sexism.

While women in Asia have long been snubbed on Valentine’s Day, Japanese females are quick to cite the right of sanbai kaeshi (三倍返し), which literally translates to thrice the return.

So, if you gave your man a box of $25 chocolates on Valentine’s Day, this rule dictates that the return gift should at least $75 or even more.

Then again, as this is the age of women’s liberation here in Japan, it shouldn’t come as surprise that the right of juubai kaeshi (十倍返し) or ten-times the return is becoming more the norm.

So where exactly does White Day come from?

Well, the romantic story is that the holiday began in 1965 when a marshmallow maker started marketing to men.

His unique pitch was that men should pay back the women who gave them chocolate and other gifts with fluffy, white marshmallows.

Of course, the reality is probably a bit more monetary in scope.

In the 1970s, confectionery companies realized that they could capitalize on such a tradition, and began marketing white chocolate.

Soon after, other companies jumped on the consumer bandwagon, and started advertising everything from white gold to white-lace lingerie.

History aside, today is White Day in Japan…

So, if you’re living over here in the Land of the Rising Sun, and there is a significant other in your life, might I suggest a quick run to the candy store.

After all, the consequences for missing White Day are just to brutal and gruesome to depict here.

** Image are courtesy of the WikiCommons media project. **

Big in Japan: Sisters hide billions of yen in their tool shed

by Matthew Firestone on

Today in Japan, the tabloids are buzzing with the latest news of two sisters from the city of Osaka, who were arrested yesterday after hiding US$58 million from the tax man.

Now, I know you’re probably thinking to yourselves: “Did they hide all of that money under the mattress?’

Good question, but they actually kept all of the money in cardboard boxes and paper bags that were stowed away in a shed attached to their house!

Awesome.

According to prosecutors, the two sisters in question, Hatsue Shimizu and Yoshiko Ishii, inherited about 7.5 billion yen (or US$73 million) when their father, who owned a property and finance company, died in 2004.

In Japan, inheritance tax can take a serious chunk out of your assets, and this dastardly duo wasn’t about to lose their hard-earned money to the government.

So, rather than losing an estimated 2.86 billion yen (or US$28 million) of their newfound fortune, the free-thinking pair simply declared a small amount and stashed the rest.

Again, awesome.

So how will the story end? Keep on reading to find out!

Needless to say, governments tends to notice when wealthy businessmen die, especially when they’re considered to be industry leaders and property moguls.

So, the Japanese government wasn’t about to just sit pretty when their cut of the wealth never trickled back to them in the form of taxes.

It what must have been an amazing raid to witness – Japanese police officers stormed the home of these two little old ladies, and proceeded to tear the place apart.

The Osaka taxation bureau had previously made a list of ten possible locations where the money was stashed, but they weren’t prepared for the spectacle that unfolded.

In fact, not only was most of the money lying in a tool shed, but it was actually neatly arranged in plastic bags that were packed into cardboard boxes.

According to one tax official, “We have confiscated somewhere around 50 cardboard boxes.”

Indeed, this makes for some great visual journalism. For those of you without Japanese TV stations, think two sobbing old ladies, and a line of police officers hauling away boxes upon boxes of cold hard cash.

Anyway, let me be the first person to applaud these two women as you can’t help but feel sorry for them, especially since they’re bound to lose all of the money and face prison time.

Of course, if I was planning to skip out on inheritance tax, I’d like to imagine that I’d investigate somewhat more legit options, like a bank account in the Caymans, or at least a buried treasure chest.

But, I guess there’s nothing wrong with the tool shed method, assuming of course that your neighbor doesn’t need to borrow your hedge trimmers.

So, I guess this of course brings up my question for day: if you had millions and millions of dollars lying around, and weren’t too keen on paying taxes, where would you hide it?

** By the way, if the IRS is reading this, I filed my 2007 tax return on time, so no worries! **

What strange things have been found on planes?


Click the image to read the bizarre story…

European river cruises: AAA travel show tidbit

by Jamie Rhein on

The one presentation I was able to attend at my cyberspace AAA travel trade show, “Europe is Closer Than You Think” was the one by Uniworld Grand River Cruises. As I watched a slide show from the comfort of my home-based office, the presenters talked about what the cruise ship company offers and then answered participants’ questions.

For people who would like to tour Europe, but are afraid of the costs, a river cruise has some advantages. Since you sleep on the ship and meals are covered, that takes care of worrying that you could end up spending much more money than you had planned. Wine comes with dinner and is included in the price. The ship also is your transportation. That cuts down on the wondering about how much getting from place to place will cost you. Since at each stop, local entertainment comes on board, you won’t have to spring for entertainment tickets either.

One of the things the presenter mentioned is that such a trip also cuts down on the hassle of needing to pack and unpack at each destination. There are 5 to 8 hours at each port, but you could stay longer at the city where the cruise starts or ends. Just arrange for your flight to arrive a few days early or leave a few days late.

Another feature I like about Uniworld Grand River Cruises is that there are experts who give tours of the places on the shore excursions and the admission to the places on the tour are included in the cruise price. You won’t be dinged over and over again when you want to maximize your experience. On board the ship, there are programs as well, or you can chill out.

Another plus about these cruises is that the ships are not big so you’re not traveling with huge crowds of people, and because the ships are small they can travel where large ships can’t. Cities are not the only stops–so are small towns and villages.

There are several itinerary options. Here is a link that leads to the page of European river trips. The company also offers trips in Egypt, China , and Russia. There’s a trip that cruises the Black Sea and takes in Ukraine and Turkey.