Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Marina Bay Sands is the world’s most expensive hotel, it’s boat-shaped ‘SkyPark’ perched atop the three 55 storey towers. This three towers are connected with a one hectare roof sky park offering 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline and featuring beautifully sculptured gardens, restaurants and a swimming pool.

 The SkyPark will be home to the world’s longest elevated swimming pool, with a 475-foot vanishing edge, perched 200 meters above the ground. While the water in the infinity pool seems to end in a sheer drop, it actually spills into a catchment area where it is pumped back into the main pool. At three times the length of an Olympic pool and 650ft up, it is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height.

Popular cartoon characters

Cartoon characters are loved by children to adults. Watching the Cartoon Serials has been always entertaining and fun. . We laugh at their antics and misfortune. Many times we miss some of our old cartoon series that got completed, but still we do remember their characters. In this article I will list about the 10 most loved and popular cartoon characters till the date.

1.Mickey mouse

Mickey Mouse is the oldest presentation of Disney and represents Disney in all its forms. But still it is the most popular and loved by everyone. When you watch an episode of Mickey Mouse, you think that how can a cartoon stay alive for so many generations and still is so famous. Mickey’s journey started in black and white during 1928. Mickey Mouse has developed a couple of new forms such as the toddler’s favorite ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ including characters like Minnie, Pluto, Donald etc. and Mickey Mouse himself.

2.Tom and Jerry

The most familiar and entertaining cartoon serial ever had. All loved to watch the epic chase between the cat Tom and the mouse Jerry. This cartoon was released more than 80 years ago and is still one of the most watched cartoons. In this cartoon Tom (cat) is always trying to catch the little mouse (Jerry) but never succeeds. The cartoon is still being telecasted on cartoon network.

3. Scooby Do and Shaggy

This cartoon featured on a story of a dog called Scooby and his master Shaggy who are inseparable. All the day they go through many surprises like monsters and zombie still remain the best buddy. Along with these two other characters also included as their friends who helped them to fight against the enemies.

4.Power puff girls

This cartoon is still loved by every grown up girl who spent their childhood in watching the story of three Power puff Girls. This cartoon featured on three sisters who have superpowers, Blossoms, Bubbles and Buttercup. They live in Townsville, USA and keep the country safe from evil monsters and so, while trying to handle the pressure of kinder garden. All three sisters have different powers and often fight with each others. This cartoon has almost finished but still yet remembered by everyone.

5.Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is the most loved characters whether it is to watch on T.V or to keep the soft toy in the room. Winnie the Pooh was first developed in a children’s story book  and funsouk article many other cartoons. Later Disney bought it and added another character tiger along with Pooh. These characters are famous from the year 1975.

6. Donald Duck

Donald duck has two forms, on the cartoon itself and on Mickey Mouse. The most popular thing about this character is his unique voice and his eye rolling feature and exasperation. His debut was at Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony cartoon segment; The Wise Little Hen, this was the year 1934.

7.Popeye

Imagining Popeye you recognize his arms legs and his spinach. The music of “Popeye the sailor man still sounds melodious. Like other cartoons the journey of Popeye started from comic and educational books. Watching Popeye was amazing, how the thin man gets his muscular power by eating spinach, and afterwards fights against the evil.

8. Doraemon

Doraemon is one of the latest cartoon characters and recently very popular among small children. With all his tricks he has made his place in the list of top 10 most popular cartoon characters of all time. Doraemon is a robot who has come from the 22nd century. It is fun watching the cartoon how Doraemon helps a school kid Nobita with his gadgets.

9. Teletubbies

Teletubbies was originally a British television serial among the primary kids produced between the years 1997 to 2001. Later it became popular among the world. The four characters in the serial were so cute that were loved by every on. Till the date the demand of Teletubbies characters in toy is famous.

10. Spongebob SquarePants

Sponge SquarePants is still on the top 10 from more than 10 years. The serial features on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The series’ popularity has prompted the release of a media franchise, contributing to its position as Nickelodeon’s highest rated show. In 2004, SpongeBob’s first movie was premiered and another is going to be released in 2014.

World’s Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live

10. Bern, Switzerland

The country’s capital is home to several major Swiss companies including Rolex, Toblerone, Swisscom and The Swatch Group, as well as the foreign offices of American companies, such as eBay, Cisco and Ingram Micro. Bern is popular for its lower taxes, as well as liberal labor laws. To top it off, the city has managed to retain its cultural heritage. Old Bern has been recognized as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site for being one of Europe’s best examples of a medieval town. The city, which is filled with diverse historical attractions, was home to Albert Einstein from 1903 and 1905, during which he developed his groundbreaking theory of relativity. Human resources consultant ECA International has drawn up its latest list of the world’s most expensive cities for U.S. expatriates. The survey examined 400 cities and regions across the world, and measured a basket of common items purchased by foreign workers in U.S. dollars terms, including food, clothing and electrical goods.

09. Kobe, Japan

Kobe is one of Japan’s busiest container ports. It is also the point of origin and namesake of the world-renowned Kobe beef. While Japan is the only Asian country surveyed where the cost of goods in the ECA basket has fallen, it is the most expensive country for foreign workers in U.S. dollar terms. That’s a largely a result of the appreciation of the yen over the past six months, as well as the already high cost of goods and services.

08. Geneva, Switzerland

Situated along Lake Geneva in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, Geneva is regarded as the global center for diplomacy. It’s home to many United Nations agencies, as well as the World Trade Organization, Red Cross and World Economic Forum headquarters.

One quarter of this picturesque city is made up of public parks, making it a popular destination for U.S. expatriates looking to relocate. Geneva is also well known for its haute cuisine, boasting more restaurants per capita than New York City.

07. Luanda, Angola

The capital of Angola has seen an influx of multinational companies looking to tap the country’s rich energy reserves. The country is also rich in other goods, exporting coffee, diamonds, sugar, iron and salt.

But a three-decade-long civil war has devastated Luanda’s infrastructure, driving up the cost of goods and services. From haircuts to gym memberships to fast-food meals, nothing comes cheap in the city. A one-year gym membership reportedly costs $2,500 and a haircut can cost upwards of $150.

06. Zurich, Switzerland

Despite its low tax rates, Switzerland’s largest city ranks as the fifth most expensive for expatriates. A large reason for this is the rapid appreciation of the Swiss franc, which has strengthened 27 percent against the U.S. dollar in the last year.

The country’s business center is the base for many leading financial institutions, including Credit Suisse, Julius Baer and UBS. In addition to its position as a European financial hub, Zurich is famous for its watch companies and chocolate makers, such as Lindt & Sprüngli.

05. Yokohama, Japan

As Japan’s second-largest city, Yokohama is a major commercial center for the Greater Tokyo Area.

The port city has a strong economic base, particularly in the biotechnology, semiconductor and shipping industries. Carmaker Nissan and Fujitsu semiconductor have moved their headquarters to the city.

Yokohama also is a budding artistic hub. The city is gearing up to host its triennale art event from August to December this year, with artists from around the world exhibiting their works at venues around the city.

04. Stavanger, Norway

The discovery of oil in the North Sea during the 1960s, converted this quaint metropolis into Norway’s petroleum capital. Over 50 energy companies have offices in Stavanger, making the city home to hundreds of expatriates working in the oil and gas sector.

During the recent economic downturn, Norway’s oil wealth meant the government could sustain economic growth with a lavish stimulus program. The country also has one of the world’s most generous welfare systems, including public schools that offer free, high-quality education.

It is the high cost of food and transportation that make Stavanger No. 4 on the list, however. Food prices in Norway are around 50 percent higher than the euro zone average, with meat, sugar and cereal products being the most expensive products.

03. Nagoya, Japan

Known as Japan’s most dynamic region, Nagoya is located 165 miles west of Tokyo. It is the hub for most of Japan’s manufacturers, and produces a large portion of the country’s automobile and aircraft parts.

A number of Japanese automotive companies are headquartered in Nagoya, including Toyota and Honda. Fortunately, these manufacturing plants were largely unaffected by the impact of the March earthquake and tsunami, which struck the region north of Tokyo.

02. Oslo, Norway

Oslo has been the second most expensive city for expatriates for six years in a row — that’s thanks to the relative strength of the Kroner, which has appreciated 16 percent against the U.S. dollar over the last year, and the resilience of the Norwegian economy during the financial crisis.

This hub of Norwegian trade is the home to the world’s largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and maritime insurance companies.

The city also boasts of one of the world’s most extensive and efficient metro transportation systems, and an environmentally friendly tram system. Efficiency comes at a price, however — a one-way ticket on public transportation costs around $5.60.

01. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world, with a movie ticket costing $24 and the average taxi fare at $8.

As a global financial center, the city is home to headquarters for many of the world’s largest investment banks and insurance companies. Tokyo is also one of greenest cities in the world. Despite having a population of more than eight million, it has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions in Asia-Pacific. The city has been praised for its comprehensive transportation policy, under which the city’s entire taxi fleet is being converted to electric vehicles.

Top 10 Highest Paid NBA Players

10.  Zach Randolph – Memphis Grizzlies 

$17.3 million 
Randolph has had a checkered NBA career and never lived up to the $84 million, six-year deal he signed in 2004. He had his most success last season when he made his first All-Star team and led the Grizzlies to a 16-game improvement in the win column. The NBA’s highest-paid player is guard Kobe Bryant, who last season led the Los Angeles Lakers to its fifth title since he entered the league in 1996. This season he is the NBA’s highest-paid player for the first time in his career with a salary of $24.8 million. Here are the count downs of top ten NBA’s highest paid players.

09. Yao Ming – Houston Rockets

$17.7 million

Yao is one of the best centers in the game when healthy, but he was sidelined all of last season with a broken foot. Yao is in the final year of his contract with the Rockets and will have to prove he is healthy to command another big ticket contract.

08. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards

$17.7 million

Injuries and a suspension for bringing guns into the locker room forced Agent Zero to miss 80% of his team’s games since signing a $111 million deal in 2008. His contract with three-plus years left on it might be the most impossible to trade in the league.

07. Andrei Kirilenko – Utah Jazz

$17.8 million

Kirilenko is nicknamed AK-47 for his initials and number with the Jazz (he was also born in Russia, home to the famous assault rifle). He fills up a stat sheet with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, but his production hasn’t matched the $86 million deal he signed in 2004.

06. Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers

$17.8 million

Gasol and Bryant are both under contract with the Lakers through the 2013-14 season. Gasol signed an extension during last season that added three years and $60 million to his existing deal.

05. Michael Redd – Milwaukee Bucks

$18.3 million

The Bucks’ sharpshooter has seen his last two seasons cut short by serious knee injuries. Redd’s salary is likely to take a major haircut when his six-year, $90 million deal expires after this season.

04. Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs

$18.7 million

Duncan can make a strong case as the greatest power forward to ever play the game with four titles, two MVP awards and nine selections to the All-NBA first team. His current contract with the Spurs expires after next season.

03. Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics

$18.8 million

Garnett’s massive $126 million contract signed during his third season in the league was a major reason behind the NBA lockout that shortened the 1998-99 season. The Big Ticket was the league’s highest-paid player for three straight years until Tracy McGrady took the title last season.

02. Rashard Lewis – Orlando Magic

$20.5 million

Lewis signed a $118 million, six-year deal as a free agent in 2007 after nine seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. Lewis has seen his scoring average decline three straight years.

01. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers

$24.8 million

Bryant is the NBA’s top-paid player for the first time this season. The $83.5 million, three-year extension he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in April assures he will stay on top through the 2013-14 season.

Sun Cruise Ship on the top of the Cliff

Sun Cruise sitting high and dry on the coastal cliff of Jeongdongjin.

To get to Sun Cruise Hotel and Yacht from Jeongdongjin Beach, I could only walk. Public transport was out of question as there was only one bus (Bus 109) going to the Hotel every two hours. Flagging down a taxi was also not easy as empty taxis were few and far between.

The slope leading to the Hotel was steep, probably about 50° gradient. I could feel the full force of gravity acting down on me as I struggled my way up. The fortunate thing was the distance to overcome was not too long.  It took about 15-20 minutes to get to the top but it was worthwhile effort.

Entrance fee for non-resort guest is 5,000won. The recommended course - panaromic view of the East Sea, bird's eye view of Jeongdongjin from the Observation Deck and a leisure walk around the sculpture park. I was most interested in the Observation Deck. I wanted to look down from the highest point of the ship.

Sun Cruise is 165 metres in length, 45 metres in height and 30,000 tons in weight. A 1:1 replica of a passenger cruise liner.

Looking out at the East Sea from the garden inside the resort

The Observation Deck is at level 9. To get to the open deck or the Observation Deck, I have to first negotiate through a souvenir shop. For people who are afraid of height, the open deck is not a place to be, because the only barrier that separates you from the cliff below is the guardrails. But for me, standing at such an elevated height and close to the edge of the ship with absolutely nothing to obstruct my view, gave me an adrenaline rush.

Looking down on the yacht-like restaurant from the open deck of Sun Cruise. People with acrophobia, beware.

This is the view that I was there for - bird's eye view of Jeongdongjin.

The bow of the ship. It was almost like the ship was sailing across the East Sea.

The revolving Sky Lounge is at level 10 but it is not served by lift. You have to walk up two levels (there is an intermediate level between level 9 and 10) of stairs to get there. It is an ideal place to sit down, enjoy a cup of coffee and the wonderful view outside without feeling acrophobic.

The bridge of the ship was actually a revolving sky lounge.

Inside the sky lounge. The window seats with breathtaking view were all taken up.

Leaving Sun Cruise and on my way out.

After sunset (about 5:30pm), temperature dipped sharply. Staying too long outdoor was just too chilly for comfort. So it was back to accommodation for me to "thaw" a  bit before going back to Jeongdongjin Beach for the "New Year Party". I did not stay for the countdown. Countdown was done in my room with TV on. At midnight, I looked out the windows as fireworks lit up the night sky of Jeongdongjin. I could not remember when was the last time I saw fireworks on New Year's Day.