Stories about East Asia from February, 2006
Indonesia: Model Returns
Indonesian model and blogger Tiara Lestari, who controversially posed for a European edition of Playboy and who now lives in Singapore, is returning to Indonesia for a photo shoot. She expresses her trepidation at the trip: “Will they accept me as a model who is trying to be a better...
Philippines: Burger Brand
Howie Severino talks about Jollibee, a local fast-food chain in the Philippines that competes strongly with McDonalds. “Jollibee has since come a long way, and so has our globalized world. But now I'm wise enough to know that it might one day make Filipinos as obese as Americans. Jollibee is...
Philippines, Thailand: Healthy Food?
Jessica Zafra writes from Manila about marketing coffee as healthy: “I've been drinking coffee since I was 8, and let me tell you: I don't drink it because it's good for me. Part of the attraction of drinking coffee is knowing that too much of it is bad for you.”...
Vietnam: Expats
Expatriate Mister Morris lists the reasons why he likes living in Vietnam, among them “a really really nice country club swimming pool nearby that is to die for.” Our Man in Hanoi sighs that in his mind, its people like Mister Morris who are “expats” — and that's why he...
The Law of Love in China
How to regulate love in China? A mock law on love has been circulating online in China as early as 2002 and was recently picked up by mainstream media. Joel Martinsen presents the English translation on Danwei.
Too Many Rights in The Prison?
Flying Yangban applauds the South Korean government's consideration to officially abolish the death penalty. However, he shudders at the thought of extending voting rights to prisoners.
China's Tiny Step towards Facing Its Past
The Peking Duck gives China credit for opening up the first Cultural Revolution Museum for the people to remember the past – “Yes, it (China) can do a lot more. But there's no question this is a positive step“.
Democracy on Tabloid?
On The View from Taiwan, Michael Turton and readers discuss how Apple Daily, the top selling tabloid newspaper in Hong Kong and Taiwan, reflects the regions’ democracy, freedom of speech and cultural spirit.
Marxist Class Analysis in Hong Kong
Simon on Simon World considers that “Marxist class analysis pervades even the world's free-est economy, that darling of laissez-faire economics, Hong Kong”. He cites the latest budget discussion as evidence.
How Many Parents Can Toby Have?
So far 10 South Korean have claimed to be either Toby Dawson's birth parents or relatives. Toby Dawson was born in South Korea, adopted by his American parents at age three, and recently won the bronze medal in the men's mogul ski event. The Lost Nomad cites two reportings on...
Cambodia: At a Crematorium
travel-itch visits a Buddhist crematorium in Cambodia: “It looked like most Southeast Asian temples: walls of whitewashed concrete topped with curlicues of gilt plasterwork, and shiny bas reliefs jutting out from dark-painted surfaces. But there was a large pile of wizened-looking logs next to it.”
Indonesia: Electric Growth
Sarapan Ekonomi critiques John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman: “His self declared crime — inflating the forecast of electrical demand to force Indonesia into bankruptcy — has turned into an important engine of Indonesia’s economic growth since the early 1970s.”
Malaysia: Unbalanced Punishments?
Colors of Life contrasts the sentences in two murder cases in Malaysia: one involving a lover's quarrel, another involving inflamed passions over harsh words. Both were emotional crimes, yet why did the perpetrators of the latter get lighter sentences?
Philippines: Two Disasters
Torn and frayed in Manila reflects on two disasters that have recently hit the Philippines: a stampede at a game show that killed over 70 people and a mudslide that smothered possibly thousands.
Singapore, Malaysia: Chocolate Love
All U Can Eat Buffet discusses MILO, a drink made from chocolate-flavored powder that children all over Southeast Asia have grown to love. He's found at least two types: one made in Malaysia, which is sweeter, and one from Australia, which is creamier.
Thailand: Airport Odors
A Daily Dose of Words ridicules a Financial Times travel writer who described inhaling “the smell of mint, of jasmine and perfume” on stepping out of Bangkok's Don Muang airport. Exhaust fumes, perhaps, he and his commenters point out. But no, no herbs and flowers.
All Quiet on The Chinese Front
The topic of Internet and press censorship in China continued to draw heated debate after the US congressional hearing on this issue last week. Rebecca MacKinnon wrote a comprehensive review of discussions among the English-language blogs on China. She also quoted from two well-known Chinese-language bloggers – Anti and Keso....
Indonesia: Blog aggregators, President's new site and Prophet Muhammad Cartoon
GVO, Indonesia post about Indonesian Blog aggregators, Indonesian President's new site and Prophet Muhammad Cartoon
Political Posture on China in the US Congress
US Congressman Tom Lantos sharply criticized the US hi-tech firms for helping the Chinese government censor the Internet at Wedn's congressional hearing. Chinese blogger Keso compares that to Chinese government's insistence that no one has ever been arrested due to speech on the Internet. He considers both “political postures”, and...
Indonesia: Begging, the Question
The Lucretius Plan, which is setting up an NGO in Flores, Indonesia, struggles over writing an email asking for donations from family and friends. “I find it hard asking people for donations, partly because I am anxious about being disappointed by the response.”
Indonesia: Thoughts on Nationalism
Once Upon a Weblog wonders what nationalism means for Indonesians, and worries whether the elite has hijacked it: “To them nationalism has revolved into an instrument for manufacturing consent in order to legitimize socioeconomic and political interest of political groups.”
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