Doesn't quantitative easing go against the age old adage that money doesn't grow on trees?

Driving styles and traffic patterns are so indicative of a society.

Take a step back and look at the city you live in. Think about the places you have traveled.

Watch the way a society transports itself.

Without knowing anything about a certain culture, take a moment to look at the way in which the citizens drive, the flow of traffic, the public and private transport, the structure (traffic lights, police, roadways), the types of transport available, etc.

It is very telling….very reflective of the government, the culture...

Recommendations in Singapore

Marrison Hotel

Looking for a hotel in Singapore might be a bit overwhelming as there are SO many options. I stayed at the Marrison for a week and highly recommend it! It is a new hotel that is super clean with very friendly staff. There is complimentary internet access in the hotel room (a major plus) and they have a printer behind the service desk if you need it (excellent for printing boarding passes). It is also a two minute walk from Bugis Junction which is a mall that has everything you could need. It is also a good spot to start your walking tour of Ruggles Hotel, Arab Street, and Little India. It is a short distance from Clark Quay as well. When returning to the hotel I recommend that you tell your taxi driver to take you to Bugis Junction on North Bridge Road and then walk two minutes to the hotel. My experience with taxi drivers in Singapore is that they get lost quite easily, don’t know where many places are, and do not use GPS. The Marrison Hotel is new and Beach Road is quite long. Multiple times the taxi driver did not know which way to go on Beach Road or they tried and got lost.

If you are claustrophobic the Marrison may not be the best option for you. I must warn you that the rooms are CRAZY small. They have all the amenities you would need but the reason their price is so reasonable for the area and excellent service is that the rooms are very efficient and SUPER small.

Again, I highly recommend this hotel. The service was excellent. The location couldn’t have been better. The rooms were VERY clean.

http://www.marrisonhotel.com/

No Signboard Seafood Restaurant

Crab is something that must be eaten while in Singapore. This place is a bit pricy for locals but I found it reasonable after paying such high prices in Clarke Quay. It was my first time to eat crab legs and it is so much fun! It was absolutely delicious and the appetizers of sliced fish with veggies were also quite scrumptious. And like most places in Asia, you can drink coconut water straight out of the coconut – so healthy and refreshing. Don’t let the strange name of this restaurant fool you. The ambiance and food are worth checking out.

I would recommend the absolute minimum number of people to enjoy this place together to be four. It is a place where it is best to go in a larger group.

There are various locations. So go to their website to decide how to fit it into your day:

http://nosignboardseafood.com/

Jumbo

This restaurant was also recommended by friends to eat crab but I personally did not have the opportunity to try it. If you have time to check it out, let me know how it is.

The Hair Salon: The Hair Secrets BEAUFOND

I have had my hair done up for many special occasions. I just happened to stumble upon this place and cannot praise Vaan Tai, my hair stylist enough. He is creative, detail oriented, and pleasant to be around. The salon serves jasmine tea while your hair is being made into a masterpiece. He did such an amazing job that I returned the next day to have him style my hair again. He truly cares about what he is doing and it shows in the way he works on your hair, adds extra finishing touches, and the stunning final product. Both days my hair was styled in a way that was classy with a twist of creative uniqueness. If you stay at the Marrison Hotel, it is a 45 second walk down the street.

http://www.thehairsecrets.com/

Night Zoo

This place is fantastic! It starts out with a fire show. People are actually blowing gasoline out of their mouths and doing all sorts of tricks with fire. I can’t imagine the long term detriment they are doing to their teeth, gums, esophagus, etc. but the show is quite enjoyable. Then you can take the tram to see all the animals. It is quite informative. You learn why an elephant flaps its ears, why a flamingo stands on one leg, and how the giraffe has to rock its neck back and forth in order to use the momentum to stand up. The animal show they put on was quite good as well. It was even more enjoyable watching how much the children loved it. The food and drink options are a nice break before deciding to enter the walking trails. It is a bit scary (well for me but I scare easily)! You get to actually walk through massive foliage while looking at exotic animals close up.

I recommend arriving at 6:40. This will allow you time to enjoy all the park offers (shows, dinner, walking trails, and the tram) and finish up by 11 or 11:30.

Arrive to the night show 30 minutes early to ensure a good seat. Then you will be much closer to the animals walking around.

My guide book recommended checking out the bathrooms too. And after checking them out, I agree.

My only disclaimer is that if your only mode of transportation is by taxi, you may want to re-think going to the zoo. It is 32 SGD to enter the zoo and a round trip taxi ride from the city will cost you over 60 SGD.

If you have been on an actual safari in Africa, you may not be that impressed. So go have a drink or go shopping instead. For those of you that haven’t made it to Africa yet, have fun!

http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/

What the heck!?

The U.S. government just reached an agreement regarding the debt ceiling and current "crisis". I really cannot believe the way we are behaving and the choices we are making as a country. Why must we sensationalize and make everything an "emergency"? Such extreme measures have been taken lately (i.e. closing all government offices including universities in certain states for weeks at a time) that go against what America is. This country is great. We have order and are civilized. Let's not stray from that.

I am especially disappointed with the use of different vocabulary words to attempt to assuage the topic being discussed. For example, the term tax increases has been changed to revenue increases for the government. I know that this is a part of marketing and has gone on for decades but by doing this it is simply making it more difficult for the layman to follow what is going on and separating the political group from the average citizen.

Also, I do not know all the details for the current financial situation of the USA but by raising the debt ceiling we are simply taking out more loans to pay off our current loans. Does this sound sustainable? I am glad we made the responsible decision not to default. It was ridiculous that that was even an option on the table but the current solution will not work either.

I have a few more comments that are quite critical of current decisions being made but I do not have solutions to offer. I will hold back for now...

Supercapitalism by Robert Reich

I am currently reading this book and my key takeaways so far are:

Capitalism started to change in the 1970's, not just in the USA but also in Japan and Western Europe. This change was mainly due to the oligopolies losing power due to technology (largely sponsored by the US government to protect itself during the Cold War, ex. 70% of R&D for the nation's aircraft industry by the late 1970's), product differentiation, globalization (ex. empty ships returning from Vietnam during the war stopping in Japan to load up with consumer goods on their return to the US, global supply chains) , and deregulation.

This change in capitalism shifted the power to the consumers and investors. The citizens lost the power. There was no longer a need for corporate statesman. Profit, profit, profit became all that mattered.

My personal thoughts:

Robert Reich speaks of the "widening inequalities of income and wealth." This is one of my main concerns. As I travel and see the poverty and huge disparity between the small percentage of people in the top tier, the lack of a middle class, and the large lower class, I see first hand what could happen if we are not careful here in the USA. What makes our country strong and supports the American dream which so many admire is the large middle class. If it continues to decline, as the statistics show in this book, America will lose much more than it realizes. And from what I am reading, the consumer, as well as the investor, can make a difference.

Many speak of the "triple bottom line". Let's try and actually implement that and not just empty words.

And, strive to be the best citizen, not just the best consumer or best investor. We can each individually make a difference. Don't be complicit.

An added thought is don't buy products with white labels (store brand or no name brand items). There is no accountability when there is no brand equity to protect.

Robert Reich writes on page 95, "Higher education is a uniquely hidebound industry whose economics highly defy rational explanation." I thought I would share this humourous comment with you. He is talking about how higher education is becoming more and more expensive each year, yet the product you receive is the same. Interesante...

Houston, Texas Recommendations

Houston is a large metropolitan city (4^th largest in the states) and like all large cities, you have to find the types of places that fit you. My below recommendations are of individual places I have been to and have found to be exceptional but some are better for locals to visit that have more time here. If you are visiting Houston for the first time, contact me and let me know the kind of "feel" you are looking for. We have it all: alternative, hipster, hippy, chic, preppy, sporty, nature lovin', foodies, dancers...

Tango and Malbec - I recently discovered this restaurant after being fitted for my first real cowboy hat. Tango and Malbec is the place that all restaurants should strive to be. You will get reasonable prices for exemplary service, shiny silverware, exquisite dishes, and an international atmosphere. http://tangomalbec.com/our-passion.html

The Hat Store – Looking for a REAL cowboy/cowgirl hat? This is the ONLY place you should go. They are professionals. You walk in the door and they immediately know the size of your head. You pick out the hat style and they hand shape the hat with steam and other cool contraptions. You pick out your own band and if your face is too small, they will cut the brim down. Your initials are put into the hat along with a funny little card. It is an experience you shouldn´t miss. Don’t order your hat online! It is quite pricey but all true cowboy hats are. Mine is made of wild hare and beaver. The hat store is right down the street from Tango and Malbec. You can’t beat their executive lunch special. I think it’s a great afternoon trip during the week – leaving you with a happy palette and stylish head. http://www.thehatstore.com/ For big shoppers, the Galleria (high end mall) is located right here as well.

The waterfall – If you are in a romantic mood, it might be nice to take a quick trip here. The part I like about the waterfall is that it is actually a cooling station. I like that an engineer thought to make something not just functional but also an enjoyable place to visit. It is located near the Galleria next to the TransCo Tower, which is apparently now called the Williams Tower. The address is 2800 Post Oak Blvd.

Hilton - Americas Hotel – the pictures in their website say it all. http://www.emarketing360.com/Hilton/TX/HOTA/

Plus it’s across the street from The Grove and Discovery Green.

The Grove - http://thegrovehouston.com/

Discovery Green – This park is in the middle of the big city but offers a bit of refreshing outdoor fun with free concerts, outdoor movies, yoga, etc. I had fun flying kites there just a few weeks ago! http://www.discoverygreen.com/

Buffalo Bayou – the city has really built up this area. It is a nice bike ride or long walk along the bayou with excellent places to take pictures with oak trees (great spot located at the entrance to the Aquarium amusement park with the Ferris wheel), unique statues (the Buddhas contain letters from all the languages of the world), or the skyline of Houston (best shot is on the bridge next to the Jamail Skate park). http://www.buffalobayou.org/

Ziggy´s - There is more than one Ziggy’s. I only recommend the one in the Montrose area because this place is more than just the food. It is the atmosphere. You feel like you are in Austin. When I’m in town, I go here once a week. It is located at 302 Fairview (at Taft near Montrose). I recommend going on a cool night when you can sit outside next to the little trees with white lights and eat your organic food (many options for vegetarians). The food is healthier than what you find at most places. Plus, it is across the street from Boheme, which I recommend you go to their back, back patio after dinner for a glass of wine and more great ambiance.

P.S. They serve eggs Benedict on the weekend – wowzers!

http://www.ziggysbarandgrill.com/about

The Beer Can House – I have not included the website because you should not look at the house in a picture. It will ruin the experience! Please, just go to 222 Malone Street, between Memorial Drive and Washington Avenue. You will love it! It’s just a quick stop but a unique thing to see.

Taco Milagro - I only recommend Taco Milagro on Thursday nights. Come early to be surrounded by young professionals and be ready to salsa, salsa, salsa dance with a live band. It is located at 2555 Kirby Drive. www.taco-milagro.com

Tiny Boxwood’s Cafe – I hear that brunch on the weekend here is fabulous. Dinner is quite nice as well – small, hidden away treasure within Houston. It is located next to a nursery/plant store which adds to the environment. It is located at 3614 West Alabama Street (River Oaks area) and their number is 713-622-4224. Thank you for showing me this fabulous spot Arnaud!

Cafe Brownstone - this place is new (2011) and has a great atmosphere for brunch on the weekend. It is probably quite nice in the evenings as well but I haven’t checked it out. It is a bit hard to find. So we shall see how it does in this competitive restaurant environment. www.cafebrownstone.com Another thank you to Arnaud – great spot!

Empire Cafe – This is one of my favorite places to go on a weekly basis. It is located at 1732 Westheimer Road between Shepherd and Montrose. You can do a little shopping for quirky yard decorations, clothing re-sale shops (good ones), or antiques. I just go for the good food and great ambiance. I never thought I’d recommend such a simple dish but I do love their oatmeal. I don’t know what they do to it but it is so gooood! http://www.empirecafe.com/

Agora – come on Wednesday to watch the free belly dancing show while having wine or coffee, very different environment. Check it out! Located at 1712 Westheimer http://www.agorahouston.com/pages/agorafirst.html

Memorial Park – If you’re looking for a place to run. This is the best spot in Houston. It is always filled with runners, bikers, walkers, etc. They make the atmosphere! You can find the park map here: http://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

For the out of towners, do not leave Texas without eating at Pappasitos, Pappadeaux, and Pappas Burgers! I cannot express this strongly enough! We also have some exceptional museums and it is impressive to drive through the medical district. Houston has a fabulous medical community and the museum district was really enhanced by the last Director of the Fine Arts Museum – may just make NYC a little jealous. J

I also recommend to the out of towners that are visiting Texas to not leave without spending some time in Austin.

Cusco, Peru Recomendaciones

Tierra Viva Hotel - I highly recommend TierraViva. The hotel is very clean with spacious rooms, hot showers, and the largest beds I´ve ever seen in a hotel. I was taken aback by the excellent service - attentive, personalized, and professional. The outdoor patios are so charming. The breakfast was delicious and I can´t stop thinking about the coffee....wow! They´re also coveniently located just off the main square in Cusco. http://tierravivahoteles.com/

La Valle Sagrada - my favorite spot - make sure to spend as much time as possible there and have a knowledgeable guide with you. You can learn about the condors spiritual powers that were determined later to simply be a matter of science. Interesante...

Inka Sol Travel - this is run by a man named Eduardo. He is very helpful, calm, and does not try to sell you on anything. He is very kind and simply there to help tourists enjoy his country. His prices are very reasonable and all you have to do is show up in the morning for your scheduled activity. Additionally, if you would like to hike the Inca Trail, which you must book about 8 months in advance, since he is a local and not one of the big agencies, the price is less than half what you will find online. So book with him! His email is inkasoltravel8@hotmail.com. His local cell number is (0051-84) 984 624710 and his home number is (0051-84) 437659. His office is just off the Plaza de Armas plaza on Avenida el Sol. It's a short walk down the street located on your left hand side. I unfortunatley do not have the address.