About Sharrie

Written By Sharrie Shaw.
Date: Sep. 1, 2006.

Of the 7 wonders of the world, 4 of them can be found here in Asia.
Great Wall of China, Borobudur of Indonesia, Taj Mahal of India & Angkor Wat of
Cambodia.

History in Asia spans more than 3000 years. Each with a different kingdom unique to that
country itself. Languages differ & at least a few hundred different languages are spoken in
this continent. Each country has its own place in history & different type of cuisines can be
found here. Everyone of them delicious beyond one's imagination & until you've tried it,
you've no clue what you missed!

My favorite country to visit is Japan & closely followed by China. I'll start writing some of
my thoughts about these 2 North Asia countries to begin with. Recently, I'm more inclined
to visit Thailand for relaxation in the spas. Some of the other countries which I've yet visit
but hope to in near future are Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal & Uzbekistan. North Korea is also
one I've in mind.

In the mean time, I'll be reminiscing my time in some of the countries I've been to for the
last 15 years. I noticed a lot of my friends from foreign lands have only been to the
northern hemisphere of planet Earth. Hopefully they will find time to visit this part of the
world which offers some of the best sights, smells, sound, touch & taste. You will never
regret for having passed this way!

Why I picked China to write first of all countries & also why China?

Pretty obvious reasons:

1) My history:

I'm Chinese. One should remember one's roots.

2) Size:

China is the largest & most populated of all the countries in Asia.

There are

Chinese in this world than any country!

3) Language:

Chinese is the most commonly spoken language in the world.

4) History:

China has one of the oldest civilization in the world.

5) Speed:

China is the fastest growing economy in the last 20 years & may well

be the

largest economy in the world in 10 years!

6) Beauty:

China is a beautiful countries with awesome mountains & peaks,

historical

monuments & interesting cities.

7) one of the 7 wonders!

You don't believe me? The only man-made structure that you can see from outer space is
in China! The Great Wall of China!

You guess right!
My most favorite Asian country in the world!
A country I've visited countless times & am still on the pilgrimage!

Why Japan?

1) Always something to excite

Japan is

a amazingly

vibrant & creative society.

It's always on the move.

Everything changes with seasons & times.

Inventions, electronics, cars, cellphones...

Whatever, you name it, they have 100+ designs of the same products!

I can never get enough of Japan.

2) Culture

Japan is a country full of culture.

Well, the other two countries have them too but the Japanese made

theirs an

art.

Preserved over time & conserved them like it was only yesterday!

Everything here is of quality control & looks & feels new!

3) The Old & The New all in 1 dimension!

Yes, you see the latest gadgets around & the oldest temples or

monuments

to it.

It's mind-boggling & sensational!

4) Courtesy.

The most courteous people in the world.

I wonder how many times they bow in a day!

Amazing, always smiling!

I can never live here but I sure enjoy my visits! :-)

5) Cherry Blossoms & Momiji

What can I say? I love Springs & Autumns in this country.

It's colorful, serene & there's a zen quality to everything I see!

6) Food!

Ok, where do you eat sashimi & sushi in the world? Japan, of course!

All kinds of food to suit the palate!

Just too amazing for me to describe.

I was born in Indonesia. That's the main reason for highlighting it here in the main intro
to Asia.

Plus lots of other factors:

1) Largest archipelago

Indonesia is a dynamic country with the largest no. of islands in the

world.

Take a guess & see if you know how many!

That makes different parts of Indonesia very unique & unlike the

others.

Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi... all different in terrains,

lifestyles

even languages!

2) Friendly people

Indonesia may be a poor country but its people are friendly.

Oh no, forget about all talks of terrorists attacks.

Afterall, they have that in the States & Turkey too!

So, isolate random acts.

3) Another 7 wonder of the world!

For the Buddhists, Borobudur is a must.

It's the largest Buddhist monument in the world!

It's also one of the 7 wonders of the world!

4) Paradise

Bali! It's been known to be a paradise to most tourists & locals alike.

Enjoy the sun, the resorts & the warmth of the people in Bali.

It's a great get-away with the clearest water you can find.

Even better than Waikiki & Cancun!

5) Food

I love the food here.

Well, I was born here but even then, most of the Asians love the

food in

Indonesia too!

So, try them & let me know how you like them :-)

6) Komodo

Ever heard of them? You'll find them in the islands here.

I had my high school education here.
Everything in Singapore is high.
High buildings, hi std of living, hi levels of education, hi income, hi, hi, hi...
Only thing is you don't ever try to get high... by taking drugs!
Caught trafficking in it & it's all over for you... death sentence!

Singapore compensated all its "highs" with its efficiency (that's also at a high level!).
Everything, well, almost everything runs smoothly here.
It's a city where everyone I have ever met had called it a beautiful city.
I had lived here for years but I find it uninspirational.
Granted, it's a cosmopolitan... whatever you wish (as long as you've the $$$) you'll get it.
Yet, it's a love-hate relationship for me.
Perhaps it has been a too close for comfort scenario.
Perhaps familiarity leads to contempt.
Perhaps I just don't fit in to this society.
All the perhaps makes it a "perhaps" country for me.
I can never tell others, by all means, go visit & have fun there.
Because it's always a case of perhaps for me!

My HK friends used to call it "antiseptically clean"!
I call it "too orderly".
No, nothing bad about it... just that once in awhile I like to be surprised!

So, should you visit? Yes!

Why?

1) Possibility

To see what a country with only 41 yrs of independence has done for

itself.

It's where one gets the physical evidence that with time, anything is

possible!

It is rich even though it only has human resources.

2) Economics

This is a business/convention city. It is a city people work in & make a

living.

It is not a city for tourism (in its classical sense of the word).

It is a showcase. A showcase for the uninitiated.

A showcase for the brand-conscious.