China and the Internet
December 31, 2005
I think the number of Chinese on the net is going to explode in the next couple of years, if it already hasn’t started.
Currently I am in an Internet cafe, actually more like a large hall with rows of computers and there is hardly a computer free!
It seems like most are playing games, but there are also a lot chatting and using webcams. I suppose it is a cheap and fun way for young people to communicate.
If individuals or companies can actually capture this market, I am sure there is a great deal of money to be made.
Two Days in Lijian
December 31, 2005
I have just spent the past two days in Lijiang, Yunnan provence. If you are visiting China I strongly recommend visiting Yunnan - particularly Dali and Lijiang.
Most of the large cities of China look and feel pretty similar. Yunnan offers glimpses of how China looked two hundred years ago. The region is also rich in culture with the Bai and Naxi minorities colorful costumes and excellent food.
China has an amazing feeling unlike traveling around other countries. You visit just a couple of places and you want to see more and more. There isn’t anything so amazing to see, but the experiences you get from traveling around will definitely remain with you forever.
What to do with realestate in 2006
December 28, 2005
I had a good year this year in terms of property aquisitions - I bought three individual properties. The first one I know definitely has gone up in value - or I was able to buy it below market value and all are running cash flow positive.
I am still wondering if I should keep buying property in 2006. Buying properties does take up some cash reserves, in terms of funding the deposit, legal fees and other closing costs.
I was thinking of putting new purchases on hold for 2006, to build up some cash reserves in case I wanted to quit my job some time in the year and do something different, or even move back to Australia.
Then, just yesterday I was talking to a Polish-American who was travelling around China. I asked him how he could take so much time off his job/business. His answer was - property.
He has a son who he just put through law school. Total tuition cost US$200K and another daughter who he is currently funding to the tune of $40K a year! He told me how he started with virtually nothing and couldn’t even speak English.
Ideally, I would love to be able to have a business in the future where I can take long trips away and visit all the places I want to visit.
Is Blogger banned in China
December 26, 2005
It is interesting that I can still write to this blog, but I am unable to view the site. I thought it could just be the place I am at, but now I have tried from two separate places and still unable to see the site.
I am sure people might be wondering why I am still writing this while I am on holiday, but the truth is it is raining outside, it’s cold, I have already finished one book and there is not much on Chinese TV!
At least where I am staying now, they have free internet and I have even update a couple of my blogs.
I am currently in Dali which I think is almost the most south west in China you can go. If anyone has been to Bali, it reminds me very much of Ubud.
I am hoping the weather picks up a little tomorrow so I can go out and explore.
Merry Christmas from China
December 24, 2005
I am in China now. Kunming to be exact. I think Chinese are still learning about Christmas and what it is about. At least everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
Slow boat to China
December 21, 2005
I have taken a boat from Japan to China a few years ago, but this time I am flying.
I am off to China for Christmas and New Year holidays. I plan on travelling around Yunan province in southern China. I will be there for about two weeks.
Believe or not I wouldn’t mind staying home and working on my new projects, but I think the break will be good for me and help get my thinking straight for the big year I am planning for 2006.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/yunnan/
November 2005 Google Check
December 19, 2005
I received my Google November cheque just today. It seemed a little bit late this month. I kind of forgot whether I had received it yet or not. I usually take the attitude that if the company is a reputable affiliate company, it is better just to wait for the money rather emailing or calling them.
I am not so reliant on affiliate cheques but I just realized I am a little short for my deposit of house number 5, so I appreciate getting additional funds in my account.
I can’t believe how weak the yen has become in the last few weeks. Transferring money to an overseas bank can vary an easy 3-5 per cent in a matter of weeks.
Bring on a strong yen for 2006! (Although, to be honest with the way the Japanese economy is heading I can’t see it happening at least until some strong reforms take place.)
Website partnership
December 18, 2005
With only four property listings my New Zealand property site is not going very well. Even after a short Adwords campaign and a print magazine advertisement.
I tried to market the site with as little effort as possible, which is probably why it is doing so dismal.
Last week I approached a couple who are doing investing, renovating and buying property for people in New Zealand. They put out newsletters on investing in New Zealand and I thought the information would be great to add to my site.
I just don’t have enough time to produce content for every site that I am running, which is partly why I started a property classifieds site. Many people have said that adding great content to a webiste is the best form of advertising anyone can do.
Their business gets free advertising and I can get more people to the site. I think it should be a great win-win situation.
New registered domain
December 16, 2005
I have just registered a new domain and applied for hosting. For domains I use godaddy.com, because I find them reliable for managing domains. For hosting I have been using asmallorange.com.
They offer hosting with all the regular features for just $30 a year. I am yet to have a problem with them yet, so I will continue to use them. I have had a few problems with godaddy with hosting.
I suppose the one of the problems with godaddy is that they have become so big and don’t respond to individual concerns. I had a problem a few months ago with my whole account being removed, and don’t want a repeat experience of this.
In my bid for diversication, it will have a medical focus. I have heard that medical type sites do very well with Adsense, so I thought I should try to at least develop one medically related site.
Deposit for house 5
December 15, 2005
I paid the deposit for house 5 today. Settlement is planned for early next year, which gives me time to go on my holiday and forget about developing sites and realestate for a couple of weeks. Although I don’t think I will be able to stop myself from logging in to my Adsense account to check my stats!
The property does have some issues, but it is cheap and with a bit of work on it I am sure I can improve on the value of the property greatly in a short period of time. I was even able to get a further reduction in the price, on top of the previously reduced asking price.
I will be using up most of my current savings for the deposit, so I will be more than ever reliant on my Internet income to help finance some renovations. I have done fairly well this year and I have some big things planned for 2006.
