Japan Openarms!

WE WANT TO EMBRACE THE WORLD FROM JAPAN!

WELCOME TO JAPAN OPENARMS!

Japan is located in the North Pacific off the coast of Russia and the Korean peninsula.

Eva Packlé from Holland & Eugenio Morán from Spain at Temple Fushimi Inari, Kyoto Openarms!

The area of Japan is 377,873km², which makes it slightly smaller in land mass than California.

Japan consists of four main larger islands and more than 4000 smaller islands. The main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the largest with an area of 231,000km². A modern railroad system connects the major islands with Japan’s high-speed Shinkansen connecting major urban areas.

Government: Parliamentary with constitutional monarchy

Prime Minister: Yoshihiko Noda (elected Aug 2011)

Capital: Tokyo

Population: 127,078,679 (July 2009 est.)

Population Growth Rate: -0.191% (2009 est.), World Rank: 219th

GDP: 4.34 Trillion (2008)

Electric Power Generation: Conventional thermal (coal, oil, natural gas) 60%, Nuclear 29%, Hydroelectric 9%, Renewables 2%

Industries: Consumer electronics, motor vehicles, machine tools, steel, and nonferrous metals

Exports: Motor vehicles, semiconductors, and office machinery

Agriculture: Rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pork, fish

Currency: Yen

Life Expectancy: Average: 82, Male: 78.8, Female: 85.6

GDP per Capita: $33,800

Literacy Rate: 99%

Unemployment Rate: 4%

Oil imports: 5.425 million bbl/day

Internet Users: 87.5 million

Environmental Issues: Acid rain; Japan is the largest consumer of Amazon rainforest timber

Japan is over 70% mountainous terrain with approximately 18% of the land mass suitable for settlement. Japanese cities are typically sprawling and densely populated. Tokyo, a megalopolis and capital of Japan, is located on Honshu island. Central Tokyo has a population of 12 million people, with the population of the Greater Tokyo Area estimated at over 35 million people.

The islands of Japan are located in an area known as The Ring of Fire in the Pacific. This is an area with many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Japan is very seismically active with over 1,500 earthquakes per year. In 1923 the Great Kanto Earthquake killed more than 143,000 people in the Tokyo area. Tsunamis and volcanic eruptions are other natural destructive forces in Japan. In 1896 in Sanriku, Japan, 27,000 people were killed by a Tsunami caused by an earthquake.

There are over 127,078,679 (July 2009 est.) people living in Japan. For most of Japan’s history its borders were closed to foreigners. As a result, Japan’s society is very homogeneous, composed of 98.5% ethnic Japanese. The remaining 1.5 percent are mostly Korean, who number around 1 million. There are also considerable numbers of Brazilians, Chinese, and Filipinos residing in Japan. There is also an ethnic minority of indigenous people, called Ainu, who live mostly in northern Hokkaido.

Japanese is the official language of Japan. Many Japanese also have some ability in writing and speaking English as it is a mandatory part of the curriculum in the Japanese educational system. Japanese uses four different writing systems; Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana (phonetic alphabet for native words), Katakana (phonetic alphabet for foreign words), and Romaji (western alphabet used to write Japanese). Japanese vocabulary has been strongly influenced by loanwords from other languages, with most loanwords coming from Chinese and English.

The climate of Japan varies considerably depending on the region and season. Summer is usually very hot and humid, known to the Japanese as “mushiatsui”. From mid June there is a rainy season which lasts around one month. Winters are usually mild, with the northern areas of Japan receiving more snow. Spring and autumn are usually sunny with mild temperatures.

The two major religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. Religion does not play a major role in the life of the average Japanese, but people usually have religious ceremonies at births, weddings, and funerals. On New Year’s Day visiting a temple or shrine is also a common custom. About 1% of the population follow Christianity, which was heavily persecuted in Japan prior to the Meiji Restoration in 1873.

Thailand Openarms!

WE WANT TO EMBRACE THE WORLD FROM THAILAND!

WELCOME TO THAILAND OPENARMS!

Capital: Bangkok with a population of 8 million people

Yariv from Israel, owner of www.namchaithailand.com ,close to Chantaburi. Thailand Openarms!

Major Cities: Nonthaburi, population 265,000, Pak Kret, population 175,000, Hat Yai, population 158,000, Chiang Mai, population 146,000

Thailand’s currency is the baht.

Government: Thailand is a constitutional monarchy under the beloved king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has reigned since 1946. King Bhumibol is the world’s longest-serving head of state. Thailand’s current Prime Minister is Yingluck Shinawatra, who assumed office as the first ever female in that role on August 5, 2011.

Language: Thailand’s official language is Thai, a tonal language from the Tai-Kadai family of East Asia. Thai has a unique alphabet derived from the Khmer script, which is itself descended from the Brahmic Indian writing system. Written Thai first appeared around 1292 A.D. Commonly used minority languages in Thailand include Lao, Yawi (Malay), Teochew, Mon, Khmer, Viet, Cham, Hmong, Akhan and Karen.

Population: Thailand’s estimated population as of 2007 was 63,038,247. The population density is 317 people per square mile. The vast majority are ethnic Thais, who make up about 80% of the population. There is also a large ethnic Chinese minority, comprising about 14% of the population. Unlike the Chinese in many neighboring Southeast Asian countries, the Sino-Thai are well-integrated into their communities. Other ethnic minorities include the Malay, Khmer, Mon, and Vietnamese. Northern Thailand also is home to small mountain tribes such as the Hmong, Karen, and Mein, with a total population of less than 800,000.

Religion: Thailand is a deeply spiritual country, with 95% of the population belonging to the Theravada branch of Buddhism. Visitors will see gold-spired Buddhist stupas scattered all across the country. Muslims, mostly of Malay origin, make up 4.5% of the population. They are located primarily in the far south of the country, in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Chumphon. Thailand also hosts tiny populations of Sikhs, Hindus, Christians (mostly Catholics), and Jews.

Geography: Thailand covers 514,000 square kilometers (198,000 square miles) at the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The Thai coastline stretches for 3,219 km along both the Gulf of Thailand on the Pacific side, and the Andaman Sea on the Indian Ocean side. The west coast was devastated by the Southeast Asiantsunami in December of 2004, which swept across the Indian Ocean from its epicenter off Indonesia. The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 meters (8,415 feet). The lowest point is the Gulf of Thailand, at sea level.

Climate: Thailand’s weather is ruled by the tropical monsoons, with a rainy season from June through October, and a dry season beginning in November. Average annual temperatures are a high of 38° C (100° F), with a low of 19° C (66° F). The mountains of northern Thailand tend to be much cooler and somewhat drier than the central plain and coastal regions.

Thailand’s currency is the baht.

South Korea Openarms!

WE WANT TO EMBRACE THE WORLD FROM SOUTH KOREA!

WELCOME TO SOUTH KOREA OPENARMS!

Population: 48,294,000

Carolina from Argentina. Seoul Openarms!

Capital: Seoul (9,592,000)

Area: 99,250 square kilometers (38,321 square miles)

Language: Korean, English (widely taught)

Religion: Christian, Buddhist

Currency: South Korean won

Life Expectancy: 76

GDP per Capita: U.S. $19,600

Literacy Percent: 98

The Republic of Korea, or South Korea, consists of the southern half of the Korean peninsula in East Asia and many islands lying off the western and southern coasts. The largest island, Jeju, has the highest mountain in South Korea at 1,950 meters (6,398 feet). The terrain is mountainous, though less rugged than that of North Korea.

Major population and industrial centers are located in the northwest (Seoul-Incheon area) and southeast. To overcome distance and traffic congestion, South Korea launched a high-speed rail service between Seoul and Busan in 2004. English is taught as a second language in most schools, and more than 1.5 million ethnic Koreans reside in the U.S. In 2000 the government introduced a new phonetic system for transcribing Korean into English, changing names like Cheju to Jeju and Pusan to Busan.

Starting in the late 1970s this capitalist prodigy matured into the world’s 12th largest trading nation and a major exporter of cars, consumer electronics, and computer components—due in part to huge export-oriented conglomerates called jaebols. From 1980 to 1990 economic growth averaged 10 percent a year—more than three times that of the U.S. and twice that of Japan. However, the Asian financial crisis caused a deep recession. Economic growth rebounded in 1999, and the economy continues to perform well thanks to vibrant exports.

After the Korean War, South Korean society has shifted from being 75 percent rural to being 82 percent urban. Since 1987 it has grown as a multiparty democracy, and the government has pursued peace initiatives and trade with the unpredictable North Korean regime. Road and railway projects are under way to link the two Koreas, and in 2003 more than half a million South Koreans visited the North—and 1,023 North Koreans traveled to South Korea, mainly for joint sporting events. The potential military threat posed by North Korea keeps some 37,000 U.S. troops here.

Industry: Electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles

Agriculture: Rice, root crops, barley, vegetables; cattle; fish

Exports: Electronic products, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, steel, ships, textiles

We are waiting for your pictures. You can send them to theopenarms@ymail.com

Maldives Openarms!

WE WANT TO EMBRACE THE WORLD FROM MALDIVES!

 

WELCOME TO MALDIVES OPENARMS!

Official Name: Republic of Maldives

Juan from Colombia. Maldives Openarms!

Location: Indian Ocean, Southwest of Sri Lanka

Juan from Colombia at Huvafen Fushi Resort. Maldives Openarms!

Capital: Male’

Area: 90,000 km (of which only 10% is land)

Official Language: Dhivehi

Second Language: English

Religion: Islam (100% Sunni Muslim)

Time difference: +5hrs GMT

Currency: Rufiyaa (Notes) and Laari (Coins)

Climate: Tropical

Average Temperatures: 30.7 º Celsius (Max) & 25.7 º Celsius (Min)

Average Rainfall: 1868.9 mm

Major tourist attraction places: national museum, grand Friday mosque, Sultan park, mulee aage palace, Islamic center, fish market and beaches & coral reefs in Maldives

Best time to visit: December to April

Number of islands: 1190 (approx.)

Major Industries: Tourism, Fishing and Shipping

Major exports: dried and salted fish, coconuts, shells, tortoise shells, coir rope, and ambergris

Major imports: rice, flour, sugar and other consumer products

Electricity: 240 Volts, 50 Hz

Banking hours: Sunday to Thursday 8.00 am to 1.30 pm

We are waiting for your pictures. You can send them to theopenarms@ymail.com

Vietnam Openarms!

WE WANT TO EMBRACE THE WORLD FROM VIETNAM !

WELCOME TO VIETNAM OPENARMS!

Tati from Brazil. Vietnam Openarms!

Area           329,560sqkm

Ralf from Chile. Vietnam Openarms!

Capital City     Hanoi

Population      85,262,356

Language         Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, and French.

Religion            Buddhism, Taoism, and Catholic.

Climate             North Vietnam has Southern Mediterranean type climate. South Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate.

Local Time      GMT +7

Currency      Vietnamese Dong (VND) in denominations of 500,000; 200,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000 banknotes. Coins include VND 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200. These values have paper note equivalences.

Exchange       Travellers cheques are accepted at most banks. Hotels sometimes charge a commission. Cash dollars in good condition are accepted in many places, so small denominations are useful to carry. The exchange rate can fluctuate considerably. Remaining

Vietnamese currency can be exchanged for US dollars at the exchange bureau at the airport.

Credit Cards Most major hotels and big restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi accept Visa and MasterCard.

Business Hours Most shops, banks and businesses open from 8am to 4 or 5pm with a 1-2 hour lunch break

Tipping Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but is appreciated. A 5-10% tip for a meal in a good restaurant may equal a day’s wages.

Nightlife There are numerous discos and karaoke bars. As in most places, it is preferable to explore in the company of a long-term resident, to avoid the traditional rip-offs.

Electricity supply 220V, 50Hz / 110V, 50Hz

Photography Print film is widely sold, but risks having been badly stored, so best buy from reputable photo dealers rather than street vendors. Slide film is available only in large cities. Photo-processing shops are everywhere with one hour processing facilities.

We are waiting for your pictures. You can send them to theopenarms@ymail.com