Singapore - luxury world

Singapore, located at the southern tip of the Asian continent, has its own laws. Who throws away chewing gum or smoking in public, gets hefty fines or equal to caning. And even with cars, it has the high-priced city-state like something exclusive.

On the forecourt of the Japanese department store Takashimaya in the legendary Orchard Road has the local Mazda dealers issued its latest jewellery. On the roof of the red Mazda 6 2.5 Luxury, a price tag that Europeans robbed the perched language: 128 888 Singapore dollars. A special price to mark the 50th anniversary as well as the country's Mazda 3 2.0, which attracts many passersby the 2.2 kilometers long boulevard with a purchase price of 103 888 Singapore dollars. Does the Mazda 6 will cost in Singapore thanks to the local luxury tax on 86,000 euros and even the Japanese compact class model strikes converted with around 73,000 euros. Especially popular are, however, in the city and the island state is not only Korean and Japanese high-volume models, but European Premium models from Audi , BMW , Mercedes or Porsche , whose purchase prices are quite doubled ever by the luxury tax.

600,000 cars - more not

The countless BMW 5 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes E-class cost in Singapore is a multiple of the Mazdas that are touted on the weekend at the Leo Sayer in the 80s sung Orchard Road. These days, throughout Singapore dresses red and white in the traditional national colours. Reason is the round anniversary of the autonomous Commonwealth State on 9 August. Every business, all restaurants and the ubiquitous traders at each of the crowded street corners lure with 50-year offerings. Since the car dealers want to make an exception and sell in the popular RHD state a few more mobile pedestals more. For hybrid or even electric models nobody cares in Singapore and convertibles are due to the year-round hot and humid climate in spite of Sun's hardly an issue.

However, anyone who is interested in a model of German and Asian production, in the hot, humid temperatures can not just boots to the dealer and get the dream car despite delusion seat price in the private garage. Because to get a license plate, with its 5.5 million inhabitants even harder than in some regions of China in Singapore. The national government has capped the number of vehicles already years ago and so everyone must dig deeper than ever into the bag not only for a Mercedes E 250 or a BMW 740 Li. A license plate costs in the auctions a few more tens of thousands or future buyers of new cars has the disposal of several old models after. Thus, the number of vehicles registered holding at 600,000 years.

Formula 1

No wonder that many Singaporeans forgo owning a car and travel the daily routes with buses, which largely underground MRT or the ever-popular taxis. The Park Chaos tries the government, not least around the 50th anniversary celebrations with a high-tech parking guidance system to counteract that extends between the Financial District, Little India and Central Business District. Driving is on the Singapore Island is anything but fun. The streets in the center are clogged, parking astronomically expensive and the speed limit on expressways is barren narrow 90 km / h. "Be tolerated 100 kph," said Hashim, "but who is caught with more than 100 km / h must be in court. Then it gets really expensive." As if that were not expensive enough, costing each entry into the City area - depending on the time - between 50 cents and two Singapore dollars. On the sunny island of Sentosa Iceland is allowed only 30 to 50 km / h fast. Since equal take the Maglev or the tourist gondolas.

There have Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in September better. Because if the Formula 1 has arrived in Singapore, there are on the street circuit only the limits of physics than real speed limits. The race itself is in the South Asian country a powerful economic factor, the extensive limitations of the population will be only too happy subordinate. Like its European counterparts in Monte Carlo, the price will rise for several months and shed around one month after the race on 20 September. But as much as driving a car is also sanctioned in Singapore, cars have an enormous importance and are in addition to watches and household and home ownership as the most important status symbol. Who wants to feel again like Sebastian Vettel, can treat 430 and roar through Singapore at snail's pace at car rental company "Ultimate Drive" a motley Lamborghini Gallardo or a Ferrari F.

Tunings

Who holds something professionally in itself, has not infrequently a private chauffeur. Especially luxury cars and sports cars for sale in one of the most expensive countries in the world such as driving hotcakes. In Singapore around 50,000 vehicles are sold every year. No wonder that a brand like BMW in Singapore amounted to 3,200 cars sold in third place. Volume model: the 5 Series, because every second newly registered vehicle in the red and white city state is a premium-class vehicle. Audi sets in Singapore preferred from his middle-class model A4. It sells the models with the four rings on the grille in a spectacular traders operating on the so-called Car Belt. Three floors below ground level, eight on the ground with a large workshop in bunk seven. While the outside of the technical Audi look sets the tone, lures inside Asian feng shui. More and more, while Singapore developed into an SUV market. Bestsellers Porsche Macan is spoken of in the first half of 2015, 222 units have been sold - with a mighty advance of the Cayenne with 46 pieces. The main reason: the gigantic luxury tax.

On Car Belt not only potential buyers make preferably on weekends station, but here also meet the diehard tuning fans who in defiance preferred Japanese cars like Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza along the lines of Tokyo tune and present all restrictions and speed limits drift.

Disneyland Paris open the Jedi Training Academy

Awaiting the return of " Star Wars "to the movies with the episode" The Awakening of the Force ", to Disneyland Paris for the summer opens the "Jedi Training Academy", a school where young Padawan, between 7 and 12 years, on a visit to the amusement park, can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the film, incontrarne heroes and learn to face Darth Vader: to become, then, the small Jedi apprentices.

An interactive show in which young brave, fallen in the universe created by George Lucas, learn the art of laser-swords to face the fearsome enemy. To help us have a Jedi master and an experienced Jedi knight, along with the inevitable robot R2-D2.

The Jedi Training Academy is Videopolis in the theater, in the heart of Discoveryland in Disneyland Park, next to Star Tours attraction. Six shows a day, all week, to which children can easily participate and experience the excitement of the film. Just sign up.

Paris Parking is no longer free in August

It was an old "tradition". Thefree parking on the roadside inParis in August . This is over now! The City Council decided in July that as of August 2015, the parking in Paris throughout the year with costsremain. In addition, the parking fees were increased (since January). 

From Monday to Saturday each from 9 to 20 clock cost 1 hour of parking on the roadside in the innermost center (1st to 11th Arrondissement) € 4.00 per hour in the 12th to 20th Arrondissement € 2.40 per hour.

At this point be emphasized again: Paris is not a car friendly city!Tourists should as far as possible without a car at Paris-holidays. The journey by train or bus or airplane is more convenient and often cheaper.Visiting the sights is by public transport such as the metro far less nerve-racking. 

If you still can not do without his car (or wants) to the only possibility his vehicle in one of the (mostly underground) parking garages must be considered (prices vary depending by location). Or a hotel to be preferred with own (mostly paid) Garage!

Colombia is promoted with new video for the land of forgetfulness

More than 2.8 million views on YouTube in just four days, seem to show that liked the new video from The land of forgetfulness , that the hand of Carlos Vives and several of the leading singers of the moment seeks to promote to Colombia and abroad.

The moving video, full of beautiful landscapes of our country, from jungle to snowy, past the islands and large cities, bears the signature of Procolombia (formerly Proexport) with #LoBuenodeColombia label and was made ​​to sell the image of Colombia at the fair in Milan Expo 2015 . Carlos Vives unknown Vichada appear in Santa Marta, Andrea Echeverry Bogota, Fonseca in the Amazon, Fanny Lu in the Nevado del Ruiz volcano Cholo Valderrama in the Llanos and even in the middle still Maluma . A few days ago the news showed several of these artists (including Amparo Grisales) visiting the Casa de Nariño, which posed for the photo with President Santos. Does it have something to do with the release of this video? Most likely yes. Do you like the video? What artist do it better? Here it is ...

Malaysia confirms: debris of a Boeing 777 are similar to MH370

The aircraft debris found on a remote Indian island of belonging to a Boeing 777, similar to that of Malaysia Airlines disappeared without trace over a year ago with 239 people on board, today confirmed the Malaysian authorities.

The piece of wing found Wednesday on the island of Reunion, east of Madagascar, is a Boeing 777, said Malaysian Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, the newspaper "The Star".

The serial number of the fragment, "657 BB", proves, Kaprawi said after being informed by a spokesman of the Malaysian airline.

However, the deputy minister said that has not been proven that the parties "belonging to MH370."

Previously, the Australian Transport Minister Warren Truss, had noted that the remains are in a path consistent with the analysis of the possible path of the plane disappeared in 2014 but warned that it is unlikely to locate the rest of the apparatus.

"After 16 months, the sudden changes in current can prevent creating a reverse map (currents). So do not think that contributes a lot to know where the device is in the present, "Truss said in a press conference.

"The fact that the remains are on the island of Reunion ... is consistent with some of the maps made in relation to the movement of currents," he added.

Experts from Australia a country that leads the Quick Search tasks, had indicated shortly before they are "increasingly confident" that the remains found belong to the flight MH370.

"We are increasingly confident that it is a fragment of the MH370," said Martin Dolan, head of the Office of Transportation Safety of Australia.

The fragment is a "flaperon" an aircraft control surface located in the wing flap and spoiler acts as both.

Following the finding, experts hope to find clues to what happened with the Malaysian aircraft, which according to research deviated from "intentional" as its route between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.

Dolan, however, echoed the comments of the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who advised caution to avoid creating false hopes were also made.

Malaysia Airlines plane would be the only Boeing 777 that crashed in the Indian Ocean.

Experts believe possible that, having crashed in the Indian Ocean, the ocean currents dragged some wreckage to Reunion, a French department located about 4,000 kilometers from where it is believed the incident occurred.

According to the digital environment of the island "Linfo.re" a bottle with inscriptions in Chinese and one Indonesian were found today near the beach where the piece of wing appeared.

At the site also it appeared yesterday a suitcase being analysed by researchers.

The "flaperon" and suitcase will arrive soon to a specialized laboratory of the French Air Force located in the French city of Toulouse to be analyzed.

Jospeh Poupin, an analyst at the French Naval Academy who examined the piece of wing, said the barnacles that have appeared on the subject are "Lepa anatifera" and whose size may have joined a year ago, according to "Le Journal de l ' ile "Reunion.

Families of the victims have reacted cautiously to the discovery of "flaperon" and other debris.

"I do not know what to think, but until proven, nothing. We just need to know if what we think is "summarized the Australian Kaylene Mann, who lost his brother and sister in the missing plane.

"First it was a joy and sadness then. Now is only up and down all the time, I do not know, "said Mann, according to the Fairfax Media group.

A group of family members, the most numerous in the missing plane, Chinese passengers yesterday asked warily and criticized the lack of information they received.

The Boeing 777 of the Malaysian airline disappeared March 8, 2014 only forty minutes after taking off from Kuala Lumpur and someone turned off the communication systems.