Germanwings tragedy

Such a tragic shame.

Who would think on boarding a flight that there would be a co pilot that had decided to end their life by crashing the plane?

Not just their own life but taking innocents with them.

Someone commented that it is not just suicide but murder.

Quite possibly right.

RIP those who died.

Expat/long stay life

Hi

It is not easy to adjust to life in another country, even for those with a very open mind.

A fair number of the people I speak to in Pattaya/Thailand have trips planned back home, for a break, all seem to be looking forward to it, as am I.

A taste of the familiar I suppose.

Many split their time, escaping cold UK/European winters for Thailand then returning here.

Just a thought but they seem to be the most well adjusted.

Will transatlantic flights be cheaper in the future? One carrier is hoping to make it so

Hi

The board of Ryan Air has approved plans for transatlantic flights in the future.
UK & Europe to the US.

I was surprised to read of the very strong demand for long haul aircraft, which means the plan could be some years off.

There appears to be quite some waiting list for the aircraft they would need.

Maybe good news for travelers in the future as well as aircraft manufacturers.

More here

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/ryanair-s-board-approves-transatlantic-flights-1.2141529

Bellagio north Italy

Hi

Bellagio is a pretty small town in the Como province, Lombardy region of Italy.
It is very popular with tourists and has several nice bars, cafes and restaurants to relax at.

Accessible from some other Como lakeside towns by hydrofoil/boat as well as by road.
It can get very busy at  weekends and if coming by car, parking a little tricky, not insurmountable though.



A small park just a few minutes away from the centre

Cars and bikes in the queue for the lakes ferry

Road leading away from the centre

Classic car just leaving the centre

One of the lake ferries

Some bikes parked up by one of the restaurants

Jeremy Clarkson suspended from the BBC and getting a lot of attention

Hi

An entertaining presenter and an obvious main reason for Top Gear to be so successful, rated as the world`s most watched factual program.

This Sunday`s episode already cancelled and statements that the remaining episodes will not be shown.

A tough call by the BBC.

A sometimes controversial presenter can obviously be good for viewing figures but the BBC is funded anyway so has less( zero ? ) of a commercial view than what many other broadcasters might have.

He has received a lot of support from his fans, good to see that those who enjoyed Top Gear have supported him.

Incredible that a TV presenter has attracted so much attention.

Major world news.

It will be interesting to see how it finally plays out.

The curious case of Thailand - Financial outlook

Hi

Quite an interesting article

A brief extract:

"While much of the globe wrestles with the growing healthcare and pension costs associated with an aging population, Southeast Asia is in the enviable position of remaining largely exempt from such concerns. In most countries in that region, an expanding working age population underpins positive GDP figures and labor productivity growth. But there’s one country that isn’t following the demographic pack

.That would be Thailand, and the results aren’t good for growth or Thai stocks. “Thailand faces not just aging challenges but challenges from changing consumers and workers,” says Amlan Roy, head of Credit Suisse’s global demographics research team in London. 



http://www.thefinancialist.com/the-curious-case-of-thailand/?utm_source=taboola&utm_term=bloomberg&utm_campaign=Global

Global Property Guide

Hi

Just an interesting web site that might be of use to someone curious about or considering other countries to live/invest in.

It gives an overview of many countries.
One would then need to do further more specialised research .


http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/

San Fermo de. Battaglia ( north Italy )

Hi


  San Fermo is a small sleepy little town located approximately 10 minutes by road from Como, the much better known lakeside city.
Maybe about 100 kms from Milan, Wiki has it at 40km, google, by road at 140, take your pick.
About an hour or less from either Linate or Bergamo airports

Only a very few shops but enough to get by with essentials.
Restaurant choices extremely limited, as are bars but you`ll get a coffee, wine or beer without too much difficulty.

Once a week small market, Fridays.

Pretty place.



The central square

Fountain area, there is a pleasant little bar located behind it, indoor & outdoor, indeed in the photo by a couple of trees.

Vergosa, the small co op type store, fine for basics, fresh bread everyday, they take a long lunch break though, closed for about 2 & 1/2 hours everyday.

Next to it a small newsagent/stationery  store, on the right a partial view of the terrace of a bar/coffee shop

Simply a nice view

Red Bull King of the Air 2015 ( kiteboarding )

Hi

It would scare me personally but entertaining to watch and Red Bull is a very popular drink in Thailand, as well as many other countries of course.

A 2 minute youtube clip ( not mine )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5TsU8qw90o

Vienna Austria voted the world`s most liveable city

Hi

An interesting article :

"Vienna, Austria's elegant capital on the Danube river, has again been commended as offering the best quality of life of any city in the world; Baghdad, once more, was deemed the worst to live in"

Source and full article :

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/04/us-austria-vienna-idUSKBN0M01OJ20150304

Chinese property buyers catch a cold in Portugal

Hi

I find it interesting that wealthy Chinese and also Russians like to invest in overseas property.
Sydney Australia attracting a lot of Chinese buyers, pushing prices up.

London also popular, one report mentioned that Russians were actually the biggest buyers of high end London property within the last year or so.

Surprising that a few of the Chinese seem to rush in, maybe without proper homework, normally very astute.

Not surprising that some people/agents attempt to take advantage of this.

An interesting read :

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-03/chinese-rushing-to-buy-property-for-portugal-visas-get-burned

Asia still likely to provide world growth in 2015

Hi

Despite talk of a slow down in China`s economy it still leads a list of top 20 countries for growth in 2015.
Other Asia countries also feature highly.

Philippines at no.2 & Indonesia at no.5.
India is no.4 and their recent budget announcement of increased infrastructure would support that

Africa also features well with Kenya at no.3.

Full Top 20 list and brief article here :

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-25/the-20-fastest-growing-economies-this-year