AirAsia.com Regional Traffic Rank

Perhaps we all know the top websites that people go to daily are the search engine Google, and the social network site Facebook. First to search news, info, questions. The latter is used to connect with friends, gossips, and interacting with people and interests. These websites have attained a supreme psychological level being imprinted at the subconscious level of the minds of their users.

AirAsia too has been making waves, clouds and colours in the minds of the passengers. Key words like budget airfare, cheap flights, low cost holidays, happy vacation, saving money are all automatically associated with AirAsia by virtue of association with the branding, colour (Red) and constant reminders from media marketing. Print media and internet. Even a "paad Thai" (Thai fried noodles) push cart was adorned with AirAsia's emblem and destinations.

Here are some regional ranking showing the widespread reach of AirAsia into the minds of their passengers and potential customers.

At its home country, Malaysia, AirAsia is the 36th most used, most accessed or most visible website. Small Brunei has put AirAsia at a higher pedestal breaking in at the 22nd spot.

The core countries that are part of the enlarged AirAsia family, Thai AirAsia and AirAsia Indonesia also feature prominently in their home country ranking, coming at 114th in Thailand, and 142nd in Indonesia. Australia and New Zealand traffic into AirAsia.com is very popular due to a high penetration of broadband in these first-world countries and a hunger for low priced airfares.

Bangkok to Bali Airfares Full Service Airlines

Bangkok (BKK) to Denpasar (DPS):
Thai Airways 20200 Baht
Malaysia Airlines 17300 Baht (stopover KUL)
Garuda Indonesia 20500 Baht

Using AirAsia, a return flight cost just around 5000 Baht to 8000 Baht.

How To Tweet Post Blog To Business Success

Anyone in business can use social media to increase brand awareness, customer loyalty and sales. This is Social Media shows you how.
You might already be social networking on Facebook, or even microblogging on Twitter. One thing's for sure though; you're too busy to muck about on these sites all day, not really knowing how to get any decent play out of them. You're looking for profitability, not gimmicks.
Many organizations, large and small, are using social media and social networking to build robust communities of followers, stay ahead of the competition and increase profits. Are you missing a trick?
 
This is the definitive guide to using the whole spectrum of social media in an efficient and measurable way in order to market your business. It covers Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Ecademy, Flickr, YouTube, Bebo, MySpace, Blogs, Podcasts, Mobile and much, much more. Each site is assessed not as an end in itself but as means of delivering a business result.
With simple, practical steps, real life examples and quick definitions to explain the jargon, you'll soon understand the world of social media and have access to a range of social networking tactics that will help you reach new customers and clients, as well as get your existing ones to do more business with you.

Dot Com Tech Bust 2011 Imminent?

Ten years ago, from the dizzying surge in tech stocks price, the whole market experienced a terrible crash that was termed the Dot Com Bust.

The dotcom success theory was for the tech company to keep on expanding its customer or user base as rapidly as possible, even if it has not produce any profit and perhaps chalking up losses. Products were offered free. Freebies get user. Hotmail was free (3 MB storage, and was cut down to 1 MB after the bust and user must stay active by logging on to the system at least once every 3 or 6 months). Netscape was free. Freewares. Free tools. Free signup. Free web hosting (Altavista, geocities remember?).

Fast forward 10 years to today, Web 2.0 has once again make it flashy to be techie. Web 2.0 perhaps is different. Websites are no more static with merely information and the contact page and a product. Web 2.0 means a whole new mesh system. User interactivity is paramount. Communications and social internet. User gets to interact, comment, blog, talk, video, post photos, change photos, ask questions, give answers, link, earn points, spend points, give points, Poke, play games, invite others, praise, like, create a support group, ask forum questions, download, upload their own videos, change the background theme of an application or even operating system, automatically update their software or system, allow others to collaborate and update their creation be it a blog and webpage. Think Wikipedia. Think Facebook. Think Bejeweled. Think Asus netbook.

It is just like when computer games were in 1980s, the interactivity was minimal. The computer screens were even made with just one colour displayed - green. Games were turn based. You can go out of the "virtual world". There is a set of paths and objects. You are not able to customise nor share. Now games are massive. Even the word massive is part of a game system - MMORPG. Massively multiplayer online role playing game. You can slam the wall. Cut the fake grass. Throw grenade at the ornamental chairs. Even sit on it. Squat. You can play games with others, using other computer system - you are on a PC, and your playing buddy could be on XBOX360. You can chat. Send gifts to friends. Invite them to your team. Explore or create an adventure. Earn points. Spend. Buy points. Sell gems or rare items. Trade. Customise your clothes. Change the hairstyle.

Convergence of system and interactivity has propel the internet age to a much richer environment than 10 years ago.

Daily Life in A Super Tech World:
1. Banking - everyday banking on the internet is officially the most widely done activity. Checking balance. Transferring payments. Credit cards and bills.
2. E-government - submitting tax returns, utility bills online, applying for a passport or visa (E-Visa) has helped government to streamline and reduce cost while providing efficient service for their citizens.
3. Air Tickets - the biggest commercial online transaction by value is certainly buying Air Tickets online. AirAsia, RyanAir, Jetstar, and even full service airlines have implemented easy to use, secure and fast internet booking and payment services.

Near Future:
1. With oil prices destined to increase, any country that has not implemented an efficient and low-cost public transport system will suffer. And this might spur online grocery shopping as well as food catering. Supermarkets will transform in Amazon like warehouses - focusing on packing and shipping out food and meals.
2. The greatest cities that will continue to prosper are those with an extensive network of mass public transport. Those without will see their citizens migrating abroad. And creating more cluster by moving into the biggest cities, creating more congestion. Mega-cities will continue to grow. Rising fuel prices will eventually shutter out rural living in most developed countries.
3. Hybrid cars and electric vehicles will continue to grow and thus the demand for raw materials that make them go will go up. Lithium - the storage of energy in the form of batteries. Nickel-cadmium to a certain degree. Fuel cell technology will continue to improve. The grab for coal and gas will increase.

Last Mile Failure and Disconnect in Malaysia

The weakest link in a project or system often is overlooked until the inevitable happens. Failure.

The definition of last mile is the final last few metres or distance that connects an entity to a main bigger system, often the goals is to tap into the newly developed system or infrastructure, to be enabled by it. In Malaysia unfortunately, the weakest link is apparently this last mile portion that has often been overlooked and neglected until the point of failure.

Situations of Last Mile Failure and Disconnect:
1. KL Sentral the central transportation hub have just one single entrance and exit escalators leading to the main interchange from the ground floor where the feeder buses (RapidKL), tour buses, buses from Genting, and and passengers from the Monorail jostle to enter. A terrible bottleneck for the highest number of users.
2. Ticket counters for the LRT and Monorail are often just manned by one or two staff, selling tickets to a frustrated queue. The automated ticket machines never seem to operate, and alas, there are just 1 or 2 ticket machines.
3. The supposedly world class airport does not allow passengers to connect easily or at an affordable cost. Most shuttle buses goes to KL Sentral (yes that same location whereby you'll be lead into that funnel of a bottleneck above!). Passengers and tourists are often left with the single most obnoxious choice - the monopolised taxi. 300 RM to Melaka which is a 120 km ride.
4. Melaka Sentral - the central bus station of Melaka state, is located at a busy junction with 3 traffic light stops. To add insult to injury, buses must drive  in two circular routes encircling the bus station (wasting more fuel) to get to the bus bay. The supposedly well designed station has ample of sky light from above. But this is no Europe, the amount of sunlight directly burning into the terminal has created a green-house effect, making it warmer and thus a significant cost is being used by the air-conditioning system. Malacca Town Hotels Homestays Guesthouse Price List
5. Most LRT and Monorail stations are at a disconnected distance. Commuters have to walk up and down stairways and this is no Europe with a temperature that is conducive for walking. Sweaty sardines are the fish of the day. Everyday. Life. This final straw funnels commuters into dreaming of purchasing their own vehicle. Or was this a ploy to get the TIV (Total Industry Volume of Passenger Cars) to keep increasing, reflecting is a "healthy" car industry, and seemingly "higher" standards of living? Or not? Or to chase the rabbit down the hole, the doubly frustrated new car owner now has to combat a deluge of uncouth drivers and toll plazas, sweltering in the movable sauna, finally increasing the health cost to the country. High blood pressure cooking.
6. Roads are often in patches. Coordination is non-existent. The utility company never seems to stop digging right after a newly constructed black tar road has been made. Is this a conspiracy? To frustrate the commuter?

A well-planned city, country or township has to blend in the focus of the last mile users. Awarding contracts to dubious developers to help them, is purely hitting some nails on your toes. No thorough research and due diligence are performed.

Dear Mayor or Town Council Planners, try playing "Simcity" and you might just improve.

AirAsia Beijing Shanghai Osaka Istanbul Jeddah

Five more new long haul destinations are now within AirAsia's planned route after a governmental approval was granted today.

Asia being the main focus and thus has 3 East Asian destinations:
Beijing - the capital of China
Shanghai - the financial capital of China
Osaka - the second largest city of Japan


The other two destinations:
Instanbul (Turkey) The gateway between Europe and the Middle East
Jeddah - Saudi Arabia

Disconnect Unfriend Facebook

We are so connected in this new century and new decade by devices and the second generation information superhighway (this term sounds so old?!) also known as Web2.0 that it has caught up and integrated into our daily lives like that sludge black matter that webbed Peter Parker in Spider Man 3 and eventually becoming Venom.
Staying connected has its price and rewards. Constantly and instantly accessible. Information almost at your fingertips. Call me, Skype me, email me, Facebook me, SMS text, leave a voicemail - no one can seem to hide and that feeling of "not responding on time" makes the ever continuing need to update, respond, reply, comment, LIKE, wave, poke, a way of life to show you're alive - literally.

 

Perhaps a nice time to think about disconnect, a life we once knew of the "original" untethered life?

Visit Korea Year Free Bus To Gyeongju and Jeonju 2011

Korea seems to be the most trendiest destination for all Asians currently. From Thailand to Singapore, everyone is caught up with Korean movies, actors, RAIN, Girls Generation, Wonder Girls, Full House, and a dozen Korean TV series.


Here is a nice tip for Korean fans. If you're visiting Korea this year, it is supposed to be Visit Korea Year. And thus their Tourism Department has organised free bus rides to other smaller towns or cities, that are having a hard time to get tourists. Most tourists are going for Seoul. And they might do a package tour to the island.

Seoul to Gyeongju - Millennium Line:
Hyundai Hotel Gyeongju
Departs Seoul 8AM
Arrives Gyeongju 1PM
Departs 4pm
Arrives Seoul 9pm

Seoul to Jeonju - Dynasty Line:
Core Hotel Jeonju
Departs Seoul 8AM
Arrives Jeonju 11AM
Departs Jeonju 5PM
Arrives Seoul 8PM

Tourist can register online and get the allocated seat randomly before the chosen departure date.

+82-1577-2507 / visitkorea@chesstours.co.kr
Stella. H. Choi (visitkorea_en@chesstours.co.kr)
http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/benefit/benefit_07_01_01.asp

AirAsia coming up with TuneFitness

Tony Fernandes recently posted in his Facebook account that he is happy with his weight-loss program, after appearing for a commercial.

It seems if Now Everyone Can Fly, it is also possible Now Everyone Can Be Fit.

Look, there are zillions of AirAsia customers, and most of them are unfortunately overweight because of their so-called new found wealth. This "wealth" is so detrimental to their health and is appearing at obscene places - their tummy and buttocks. Even the CEO was not spared this wealth.

With his own wisdom, he decided to combat this and had fortunately shed some kilograms of excess wealth, and proudly declaring in the internet.

So I wrote a masterplan to him last week. To create another super-brand out of the AirAsia cloud. Using the same concept of tackling the demand, in this case the demand to be healthy yet with the motivation of the Sumatran sloth that most Asians have, it seems apt to begin a new venture start-up in what else - TuneFitness.

So far, there is TuneMoney (insurance, debit cards), TuneTalk (mobile SIM card), TuneHotels (accomodations) and of course AirAsia (air travel).

AirAsia TuneFitness (not TrueFitness):
1) Now Everyone Can Be Healthy. Now Everyone Can Be Fit. Now Everyone Can Be Slim.
2) Every destination that AirAsia flies to, will have a TuneFitness centre ready.
3) This AirAsia Fitness Centre will have the usual weights but not the bulky ones. Lite versions. So people can go in fast, like a circuit and finishing in a set time. You can do the 20 minute path, or 60 minute path. Slot in Body Combat, Body Pump or Body Jam.
4) Pay early or book early to get your slots.
5) The more you lose (fat) the more points you will get.
6) Combining with AirAsia, they can organise events similar to Amazing Race. This will create a huge hype.
7) TuneFitness members can go and train and exercise in ANY TuneFitness Centres worldwide. And since AirAsia has so many routes, you'll always have NO MORE excuses to NOT exercise.
8) Getting fit socially with others, travellers and friends - with points as motivation - will boost more members. The ultimate goal, fit travellers fit customers. Get out of the "trying to sell membership fees and Personal Training sessions" that are outward dirty tricks of those fitness centres. Beat them!
9) What I wrote above is not too clean nor clear but it was somewhat an idea. Anyone else has some suggestions, comments just add on!

Last news I heard: Tony will be organising a "Apprentice"-like TV Reality show. AirAsia Apprentice anyone? Winner gets to work with this super CEO!

Aleenta Phuket Phanga Resort Best Small Sustainable Hotel 2011

The Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga was named regional winner in the Best Small Hotel and Best Sustainable Hotels in the recently-held Asia Pacific Hotel Awards 2011. Some of Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga's green credentials include its coral reef regeneration programme via the Pure Blue Foundation, a corporate social responsibility group set up by Akaryn Hospitality Management Services (AHMS).

Denzuke Asian Stock Research: KNM BUY Target Price RM3.20 by Maybank IB Research

Denzuke Asian Stock Research: KNM BUY Target Price RM3.20 by Maybank IB Research

Asian Deals Groupon Like Review

Even though Groupon hasn't made any profit, their proof of concept and momentum by users is so encouraging that copy-cat coupon or collective deals system are the latest internet shopping trend. Groupon is hoping for a powerful IPO this year. This online shopping megatrend is set to overdrive with more and more devices freely connecting to the internet these days. From netbooks, Ipads, smart phones and the convergence of voice and internet offerings in 4G networks to Long Term Evolution technology. Plus the imminent increase in the cost of travel (oil price increase is a given), shopping online and in particular hunting for herd mentality deals, has become acceptable and to some, it is indeed a fun online experience.



Here are a list of some Asian Deals Site, which are sort of a Groupon-wannabe as you can observe their website layout has a similar flair!
1) MilkADeal.com - Two languages, 3 cities in Malaysia.
2) MyDeal.com.sg - In association with Yahoo, comprises deals from 5 cities including Singapore.
3) http://www.ensogo.com/en/bangkok/invitations/ - 6 cities in Thailand. This company is actually from the Phillipines. English and Thai.
4) Dealsdee.com - now defunct, the website is not functioning from last month. It was previously run by a friend from Germany who was residing in Bangkok, Yannick Dannigo.
5) www.dealsdirect.com.au - Australian Deals.
6) http://www.catchoftheday.com.au/
7) www.jackcow.com - Malaysia
8) www.everyday.com.my - Bought by TicketMonster Korea

Groupon:
1) Groupon.hk - Hong Kong in Cantonese Chinese and English, covers both Hong Kong and Macau.
2) gaopeng.com - China
3) Grouponnz.co.nz - New Zealand

Latest:
Korean coupon company Ticket Monster just bought over a Malaysian coupon startup.
www.ticketmonster.co.kr/
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/31/technology-broadcasting-amp-entertainment-as-skorea-malaysia-ticket-monster_8491730.html

Rewarding Jobs in AirAsia June 2011

Besides investing in AirAsia by owning shares of the public listed company, another way to ride the wave is to get a job in AirAsia. Tony Fernandes termed their staff All-Stars. A staff is not a worker, or peon, but an All Star and everyone in the organisation can score a slam dunk, a hat-trick, or a Turkey strike (three strikes in a row in bowling). Literally or not, it means an employee is empowered, motivated, and will strive and enjoy the job much more than average.

And a happy employee is a productive worker that can give positive aura to the surrounding employees, corporate culture and impacting the customers and passengers directly, translating into a wider goodness that knows no boundaries. Anyone can apply for these internet-social-media-linked jobs below,

Social Media Manager
Job Description
The Social Media Manager will implement the AirAsia’s Social Media Strategy, raise brand awareness, generate inbound traffic, encourage product adoption and engage with our fans through various social media channels. This role coordinates with the internal Marketing, Branding, Operations, Customer Car, Culture, Human Resource and PR teams to support their respective missions, ensuring consistency in voice and cultivating a social media referral network.

Google Strikes Back With PlusOne

The ubiquitous "LIKE" button is everywhere. Sought after like a "like sabre", getting "likes" is sort of an achievement for a page. A momentum. A marketing prowess, as well as a trend bait to get more eyeballs or click-buttons. Facebook surely invented trendy with the "LIKE" button.

Now the Empire Strikes Back.

Google had just quietly placed a little button called "PlusOne" on my blog. I vaguely noticed it just moments ago. Have a look at it.

Plus One is an easy way to recommend things to the world. Your profile and PlusOnes will appear publicly in search, on ads, and across the webspace run by landlord Google.

Currency Megatrends Euro VS Yuan

The Euro may survive, but the block of countries that are tied up to the monetary policies are suffocating because there is no flexibility in making moves to strengthen or weaken (devalue) a currency - like elsewhere where a sovereign country can do so to their own currency.



When Japan was a powerhouse rising from the ashes of World War 2, many had predicted their currency the yen would power up to be an international trading currency. Alas, it did not due to several reasons stemming from the inward-looking business culture and government policies, as well as the "lost decade" of deflation that eventually weaken the momentum of acceptance.

Surprisingly, the yen's power or strength made it unappealing to foreign nations to subscribe or buy.


Now we have one new Olympian Asian currency. Which is not a surprise. Can the renminbi, the people's money, the yuan - become widely acceptable? Whether it is part government policy or not, the inevitable is that the yuan will attain a higher status than the yen and euro eventually.

The past 2-3 years, the RMB currency has surpassed the value of its sibling, the Hong Kong Dollar by 20%. In 2006, 1 Hong Kong Dollar gets you 1.20 yuan. Today it is the reverse. Some years ago, I was assuming when the HKD and RMB hits parity, there is a chance for these currencies to unify. Now it seems, RMB does not need HKD's branding anymore.

Canon 600D Win A Trip To Bhutan 2011

Do you own a Canon 600D Digital SLR Camera? Or thinking of upgrading your current 450D, 500D, 550D, 100D to 600D - here is a nice reason and timing to do so.

You can possibly win a free trip to Bhutan, the Land of Happiness.

Your entry needs to be taken with an EOS 600D Canon Camera. 10 lucky winners each stand to win an expenses-paid photography trip to Bhutan from 1st to 8th October 2011.
Experience Bhutan 2011
Send us ONE photo taken with your EOS 600D.
We're on the hunt for 10 unique images that emote, excite or inspire. Photos that will cause us to stop and ponder. If you know what we're looking for, send it in now! Just keep it clean folks.
All entries will be judged by veteran photographers Felix Hug and James Robert Fuller.
Winning Trip Locations:
Chele Laa Pass
Folk Heritage Museum and Art School
Dochu-Laa Pass
Wangdue Festival and town
Punakha Dzong
Tigers Nest Monastery
http://www.canon-asia.com/experiencebhutan2011_contest/

AirAsia Propels The Megatrend of the Decade

One deep aspiration of over 2 billion citizens of the world's largest continent - Asia - is being fulfilled this decade. And that aspiration needs to be summed up in a few imaginative sentences.

See the world. Travel the seven seas. Conquer the jiang hu (江湖). Climb every mountain.

The catalyst behind that helps fulfil this aspiration is affordable air travel. When those words are stringed together it is almost a reflex to think of or about AirAsia. Pavlovian or repeated pairing psychology - or simply powerful branding and truly remarkable pricing for the masses.

We can say this strategy is played by most powerful corporations. "Vorsprung durch Technik." "You merely look after it for the next generation." "Born This Way." Dark blue well defined unobstructive and white boxes. The World On Time.

AirAsia's namesake itself is a powerful marketing name. First it encompasses the massive continent. The continent of the Orient. Ancient Spice Islands. The origin and mystery of tea that captivated ancient England for centuries. Tom yum guung. Balinese temples. And that's just the ones who are conditioned to remember.

There are vast open country that previously is inaccessible, except if you're a well-funded anthropologist, some czar or magnate; much unlike what we read about the big five animals of Africa.

At the rate AirAsia is expanding their routes, it would be within this decade, that perhaps almost all those inaccessible destinations, be opened for all.

For short distance yet still unopened or currently served by a single airline:
1) Kingdom of Bhutan - not too far northwest of Bangkok. The distance is 2000 km with a flight time of 2.5 hours. This is a wonderful happy nation. And surely their new king wants to be connected to Asia not just the current situation in which they depend alot on India.
2) Kathmandu Nepal - this destination is already in the plans. Likely the route will open by the 3rd quarter of 2011. There are many Nepalese working in countries nearby including Malaysia, Singapore and India. With a good AirAsia connection, more of them can have better access to overseas jobs and perhaps at a lower cost of travel. While now it will be more possible for garden variety folks to try to climb the highest mountain(s).
3) East Timor - this small nation needs alot of support from the region. And one that is connectivity.
4) Andaman and Nicobar Islands - In 2004, I met the Indian owner of a resort in these islands, just off the coast of Thailand. It became a bit known after the tsunami, which wreck havoc there. This is a very unexplored territory of India. Perhaps AirAsia can tap this route to Port Blair.