Last month I went for a five-day trip in Taipei. After a 4½-hour flight, I was overwhelmed with fatigue and boredom. A lovely lady working in the Subway kiosk at the airport smiled at me a few meters away, using her coquettish voice to draw me to her eatery to order a sandwich meal. One by one, a few guys queued up behind me, probably all being put under the same spell. That … [Read more...]
Tis the season to spend future money?
With the countdown to Christmas well underway, the whole retail industry is in full swing to fill up this joyful festive season with a shopping atmosphere. 50-month installment to own a luxury watch I was reading the newspaper early last week when I came across a half-page advertisement about a 50-month 0% interest installment plan to buy luxury timepieces. It is a joint … [Read more...]
When housing becomes unaffordable for the next generation
Just came back after spending five days in Hong Kong. During the daytime, we didn’t go to any popular sightseeing place except meeting up with friends and relatives. In the evenings, we went back to the hotel to watch the news on TV about the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement. A visit to the occupied zone With clashes between the police and protesters, we had to avoid … [Read more...]
Foreign properties: Why long-distance relationships fail
Tonight inside this dimly lit bar with deafening music, you emptied a bottle of liquor without uttering a single word. Guys drink when they stress over money and relationship. Obviously, you have no luck in both now. First impressions are deceiving From day one when you told me that you fell for this high maintenance girl from a foreign country, I knew you are going to … [Read more...]
6 reasons why property is not an antifragile investment
It was exciting to see Nassim Nicholas Taleb presenting "Antifragility: Gaining From Volatility, Stress And Disorder" in the open space outside National Library last Wednesday. Like a loyal fan longing to meet her idol, it made my day when I managed to get his autograph at the end of the session. (P.S. I hope that I can cheer my readers up the same way when I autograph my … [Read more...]