Russian Far East: VLADIVOSTOK

Russia is so extensive that it straddles both Europe and Asia. One of the jewels of Asia is the easternmost big city of Russia (the other "big" city in the east, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Sakhalin Island, is relatively small).

Location, location, location... Vladivostok doesn't only  boast of a really spectacular geographical location, its position on the eastern edge of  the Eurasian landmass has become a  preferred gateway of Asian products, particularly South Korean and Japanese, to Europe, utilizing the massive transcontinental Russian railway networks through Siberia instead of the roundabout trans-oceanic routes down south.

What Are The Richest Countries In The World?

1 United States    15,653
2 China               12,383
3 India                  4,711
4 Japan                 4,617
5 Germany           3,194
6 Russia               2,512
7 Brazil                 2,366
8 United Kingdom 2,316
9 France               2,253
10 Italy                  1,834
11 Mexico              1,758
12 South Korea      1,622



 GDP (PPP) Figures for 2012 (in $Billion)
Source: World Bank


NOTE: The OECD expects China to surpass the US as the richest country by 2016.

Standing Tall In The Asian Century

The tallest buildings in the world:

1 DUBAI  Burj Khalifa (Burj Dubai) 828m 

2 MECCA  Abraj Al-Bait Endowment  601m

3 TAIPEI Taipei 101  508m

4 SHANGHAI  World Financial Center  492m

5 HONG KONG International Commerce Center  484m

6 KUALA LUMPUR Petronas Towers  452m

7 NANJING  Zifeng Tower  450m

8 CHICAGO Sears Tower   442m

9 SHENZHEN  Kingkey100   442m

10 GUANGZHOU  Guangzhou IFC  440m

11 SHANGHAI Jin Mao Tower   421m

12  HONG KONG Two International Finance Center  415m

Manila CBD's: ORTIGAS

The topmost photo is the best shot of Ortigas that I've found in the web; it has a major defect though:  not up-to-date enough, it doesn't show the four 60-plus storey towers of Shangrila in the right corner and some other mostly 40-plus storey new towers. I used it anyway because the photo composition captured the sleek essence of the CBD: a First World oasis, like all Manila's post-WWII CBD's, in a still Third World metropolis.

Ortigas Center is the second wealthiest CBD in Manila (next to Makati, but the two are in danger of being eclipsed by the fast-developing Fort Bonifacio, envisioned as even more modern than the first two). Just 3 kilometers to the north of Makati along the main metropolitan highway, EDSA, Ortigas is located in a more central location, directly connected to the teeming residential enclaves of eastern Mega Manila via Ortigas Avenue and the congested residential districts of the old city via Shaw Boulevard. This centrality most likely accounts for the fact that its malls are the most profitable in the city- the SM Megamall being the top income generator in the entire SM retail empire throughout the whole country.

Vacacion Grande

Friends have been making "kulit" about the next post. We'll continue with the daily posts after my vacation. I have to recharge, I guess. I am about to make a big investment decision afterwards so I have to have a clear mind.