Mortens Blog

Manila

2008-08-18T04:40:00.000-07:00

Manila is a big city, full of life so many people. To get around Manila takes some time because of the traffic, typical scenes in Manila are kids playing in the streets or people gathering around for some food. There are many big roads and also side alleys. Manila has very rich people and many very poor people.

Influence

2008-07-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

influence happens all the time,by force, by breaking strenghts, and influencing others by imitating weell known persons. parents and so on, by impacting major strenghts and then making them totally confused and disorientated. this tells people what to do and not to do, so we usually limit ourselves to this. this is when people influence us without people being aware of it.
Have relationships. inde

Sabang

2008-07-14T20:54:00.001-07:00

Im heading south from Manila to beach resort Sabang.

Living in a so called third world

2008-07-01T23:19:00.000-07:00

The third world is a term wi\hich is uesed by the west, It describes the countries which material lving standard are less than their own.

For many people in the west this means images of not so well of people.

But for once try to consider if maybe these countries and people priorities differently. I lived in this part of the world for more than a year and im here again. I see that many many people here hvae more time, are more tolrerant and respect people and their privacy and give more people the benefirt of doubt.

I read somwhere that the west is ri having a lot of things but the third world has a lot of heart. It really is my personal conviction that this is true.

Thats why visiting and living here is something i want to do, and recomend to others.

making tough decisions...and trying tio live right and decent

2008-07-01T22:51:00.000-07:00

Utits hard to live right and decent, one of the reasons it is so is because its diffivcult to make decisions. Its difficult to commit to something that seems to be broing or that requires a lot of effort. Many times tihs is because we dont know the alternative. A way to be more comitted to difficult things is to get close to the alternative. U must know what u are missing out on. Try to get close to that thing that is the opposite of what u know is right. Get as close as u can. Evenif its immoral or u know its wrong. Consider what that lifestyle would give u of pleasure and probably easy living and see it as if was happening. Then when u do this focus ur attention on what u know is right. It will be much more clear why u aspire to something else which requires more effort. Many times these things are about feeling about urself with respect and dignity and so on. But we can anly appreciate these htings if we make a decision that is firm because we know the alternative. Then hopefully when we choose the harder but also more dignified way of living which will give us results such as a family and so on it will be asier to follow. Feeling torn or feeling unreal or not libving life is also beacause we want to live right and be someone with dignity and self respect, and get respect from others, but we also have desires, some of which conta\rdict what we know is right. So we dont live our desires to the maximum and we dont live right or what we hope to aspire to. The result is frsutration and possibly much alcohol or other use. So get close to that which u think would be easy and pleasurable and then see what the harder more dignified way of living will give u. off course it is very important that u find some way of getting pleasuere and hiopefully being able to transform this into something that serves the dignified and respctfull way of living. When u do this and are able to transform ur desires, which contradict ur aspirations of a more dignified life, then u will feel more real. Desires and pleasure are good, as long as they serve ur most dignified idea about urself.

Whats it about those far away places...

2008-06-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

Why do we bother travelling to Asia when we live in europe.

Couldnt we just go to Italy or Spain where the weather is hot and there are beaches and people have siesta. I mean this applies if u are northeren european. I mean there are plenty of places in europe to satisfy the hunger for something new.

Well I think travelling is about one personality much more than anything else. I mean people go to Ibiza to have a good time and get personal with the opposite sex, and have sex, but i still think the same rules apply which I will describe in a short while.

Everyone who arrived in Bangkok must know the culture shock they experienced there. But after a while they got used to and returned and told everyone about the weird asians. They also came back just a little different than when they left.

What happened was that they got into a new culture and had to adapt to fit in just a little. In reality what happened was that people saw them from the asian way required them to act a little more asian. These people were seen by asians and they saw something that the travellers didnt see in themselves.

So my point is when we travel we go somewhere to be seen differently and therefore to be different. We go places so the local people can find something in us that we cant find ourselves. Sometimes we prefer what the locals find and we choose to stay.

I think all round the world, expat, or foreigners living abroad has been changed a lot personally by their travel and or stay.

Even when we go to Ibiza we also go to be seen as interesting, fun and possibly sexually attractive...

So really travelling is about being seen differently and then seing the world differently...Of course if u go hiking in the mountains...but for most part this is what makes us go around the world..

Enrique Razon sports center

2008-06-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

DLUS's 8 or 9 story building where all of La Salle universities indoor sports are being played. I played judo here for my entire stay at DLSU university. On the floor there is a basketball arena. There is many kinds of sports being played. Every floor has fascilities. Judo was played on the floor below the basketball court. There is also a parking lot and a weight room. Judo was played in a room with mats and mirors. The the judo training was held. The builidng is near to de la salle campus in walking distance. There all the talented judo trainers no athletes play.

Granvin

2008-06-06T07:34:00.001-07:00

Granvn is a city near where my family is from. It is a small city with a lake called Granvins vattnet. There is also a river called Hranvins elven. It is possible to get to Granvin from my familys place by boat or by car. By boat the travel time 45-60 min dependending on weather conditions. By car the travel time is 15-10 minuttes. Then the boat is at dock. Granvin has a sawmill which employs a number of people.

The muay thai roundhouse kick

2008-06-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

The roundhouse kick is one of the most lethal kicks in most martial arts. the kick consists of swinging the rear leg in a circular motion through and against the target. In muay thai the front foot pivots with the force being generated from the hips. The target for this kick is the ribs thigh or head. The roundhouse kick creates amounts of pain when it connects with the target. The muay thai fighter is a dangerous one.

Lunigning

2008-04-30T07:26:00.001-07:00

Famous dancer from hit show wow wow wee in the Philippines.

Leon Guinto Street

2008-04-30T07:25:00.001-07:00

Located next to taft avenue the street has many bars restourants internet cafes and some residential buildings.

Bangkok Areas to live

2008-04-30T07:16:00.000-07:00

1. Silom

Silom is the central business district in Bangkok. Most commerce and banking are located here. Silom is next to the chao praya to the west. Silom also has the infamous night market Pat Pong 1 and 2 with many nude shows. There is also the Lumphini muay thai stadium in the district.

2. Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit is the farang(foreigner) gheto in Bangkok. Everything here is modern and well functioning. Sukhumvit is the place most business traveklers frequent. There are many good hotels here. There are many restourants which mostly serev foreign food. The side soi's (side streets) serve thai food and there are also the very thai street food stalls. There are many adult entretainmebt venues in the area(soi cowboy, nana plaza)

3. Banglhampu is the backpackers residence. The main backpacker place is khaop sarn road road with cheap guesthouses and imitated goods. The area also has numerous sights(golden palace) and the chao praya river. Thammasat university is here. There are many scammers in the area.

Judo Randori

2008-04-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Randori is the central element in judo. Randori is free playing and the reason judop is such a fun martial art. Most martial arts have many hours of focus on forms and movements and little playing or sparring. Judo is different because mnost of the training is free playing. The rounds are 10 minutes and people are teamed according to weight. Randori is a way to test technique and throws and the intensity is mostly high. Injures to the shoulder and arms occur. I think judo is popular also with the police as I believe they use judo technique when restraining crazy norwegians.

Easiest country in SE Asia to live in

2008-04-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

Is Thailand because it has the largest foreign population and is the country with the most developed infrastructure. It is also the gateway between east and west so that many flights are available to Europe.

The Philippines is more difficult to live in because taht the culture there is more traditional. The infrastructure is not very good.

Malaysia is another alternative because it has a english speaking mixed population.

Alternative beliefs: Shamanism

2008-04-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

Shamanism is a set of beliefs about the world and the so called spiritual world. It is the oldest practiced form of the natives in traditional cultures. It focuses on the spirit of things.

Have u ever noticed how different places makes u feel differently and how some places relaxes u and so on. Then some people see right trough u and others dont. Shamanism is about these things and also about knowledge of people.

In the native cultures the Shaman gave advice and they were also healers.

Malate

2008-04-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

Malate is Manilas bohemian nightlife district and the area has many different bars and music lounges and karaoke and stripclubs. Most of the nightlife is centered around Remedios Circle wher many places to eat also can be found. Japanese and Korean places here are common and there are both bars and girlie bars even if most of the clubs are focused on music. There are some roads which are exclusively for girlie bars. One of the more well known bars is Cafe Havana. The main roads in Malate are Adriatico street and Mabini which also is known as the tourist strip. Here all the usual money changers, travel agents and girlie bars can be found. It is even possible to go to shooting ranges. In the daytime Malate outside of Mabini, Adriatico is calm and also a residential area. Lots of kids play around in the streets here and it is a generally hospitable place.

Filipinas

2008-04-09T03:03:00.001-07:00

Transportation in Manila, London, Copenhagen and Oslo

2008-04-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a little guide to the transportation available in some of the cities I have visited:

Manila

LRT/MRT

Prices are 8-15 peso for one ride.
Jeepney

8 peso per ride

Taxi

Fare is 30-200 Peso

London

The underground

A ride is 4£

Bus

Busses are 2£ per ride

Copenhagen

Rides are 20-50 dkrOslo

Trik

BOOOOHHH IM LIFTING MAX WEIGHT

2008-04-06T03:29:00.000-07:00

On almost every weight machine in the gym.

Thx for reading my blog

Movie recomendation: Tombstone

2008-04-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Tombstone is the the hit movie starring Kurt Russel and Val Kilmer about the famous Earp brothers, Wyat, Virgil and Morgan who fights some crooked bandits in a small american late 18'th century mid western town. With the help of their drunken friend Doc Holliday they seek to eliminate all the bandits. A great movie about courage and the brothers.

Dream interpretation

2008-03-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

This is very basic dream interpretation:

People represent aspects of urself that is or is not integrated in ur psyche.

Places or things describe levels of ur unconsious. For example childhood houses represent the childhood part or often the deepest part of ur mind.

So on and so on. Try to make sense of the often very confusing images. Dreams make sense.

Would I pay to get my dreams interpreted. Let me say that they are very valuable to me...3 days i write more

Muay Thai Sparring

2008-03-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

I have sparred many rounds in Muay Thai and has trained and sparred for a match which I due to injury could not fight. Muay Thai sparring is one of the most exciting and adrenalin creating things I have done. When I sparred my instructors I usually used the sparring as a way of testing my level and technique against better opponents. When I sparred other muay thai students the competetion was the main focus and the sparring rounds could get really competetive and even violent.

Muay Thai sparring is more like kick bpxing sparring since elbows are to extreme to use in sparring. Many times knees are also prohibited and the clinch is trained seperately. Injuries do occur but most sparring rounds are safe. Sparring is a great way of testing the strength and skill against other opponents and some sparring rounds are almost match like in intensity.

My reality vs your reality

2008-03-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

Book recomendation:

Richard Bandler : Frogs into Princes

Penguin

2008-03-14T07:26:00.001-07:00

How to lose 25 pounds in a month!

2008-03-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

Or how I lost that weight.

Eat much less than u are used to. About two meals a day is what I ate. Then I ate no sugar, soft drinks or candy.

I tried not to eat pizza. I excersized about 5-7 times a week and drank lots of water.

This made me feel hungry but after a while I got used to the feeling and the result was that I lost 25 pounds in one month.

2 places to stay in Copenhagen

2008-03-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here are two places to stay in Copenhagen:

Absalon Hotel:

Vesterbro.

Situated right next to Istedgade it is a budget option in the hearth of vesterbro.

Windsor Hotel:

Straight next to Israels plads in Noerrebro.

Psycological Balance

2008-03-06T03:12:00.000-08:00

To be calm and focused in everyday life is important for me and many others I am sure.

This is something that must be practiced. When we lose our temper we become subject to others influence in both good or bad. It is much better to be in control of the mind and allowing others to influence you when you feel like it.

Psychological balance is mainly achieved by doing what you say you will even with small things. When you do this you will feel in control and centered in your life.

Manila

2008-03-02T02:46:00.000-08:00

Manila is the capital of the Philippines. More than 15 million people live here.

Let some pictures speak for the city.

Makati
Intramuros

Manila consists of 8 cities that has grown together as one and thats why its called metro Manila. Metro Manila has the highest population density of any city in the world. Manila is in the part of the Philippines called Luzon and metro Manila and the surrounding areas are often called the national capital region. People from all parts of the country reloacte to Manila to find work and get away from the hard agricultural labour.

hot singers

2008-03-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

some hot singers are madonna, sheryl crow and nelly furtado

A nomad a vagabond or a viking?

2008-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

I like to travel.

I have visited more 13 or 14 countries. I have seen more of the world than most people do in a lifetime. I feel at home many places and I believe I can live most places. My longest stay is the almost 1.5 years in the Philippines my shortest stay apart from airports was 2 days in Malaysia.

A nomad is a person that changes the home often. Lives different places often according to the season. This is a lifestyle. The nomad feels free because home is where the nomad chooses it to be. The nomad often has a routine way of travelling and places to visit each year.

A vagabond is a person that chooses to drift wherever the wind(hangin) takes that person. Home is the road or the people the vagabond meets on the way. A vagabond might travel far and the route is to be determined along the way. Since a avagbond relies on the feet they rarely leave the mainland.

My home country Norways finest the vikings are warriors, explorers and conquerers. They travel far to plunder gold, slaves and women. They travel to find land to settle and to build their own place. Some return to their native country and some stay for a lifetime in their new place. Vikings like the sea and rough wind(hangin) is their company. They are brave and does whatever it takes to reach their destination. They are great warriors who protect and serve loyally those people that are important to them.

Myers Briggs type indicator

2008-02-23T05:52:00.001-08:00

To learn more about your personality there is a well known one called myers briggs type indicator or MBTI.

click on heading or link to the right to take a MBTI test.

It is a test that can be taken online which classifies your personality by different groups. For example introvert versus extrovert, thinking versus feeling, intuitive versus sensing and percieving versus judgement.

Then the first letter of these personalities are put together to describe a personality such as INFP or ENTJ. Each of these personality types have different descriptions and charecteristics. By learning about your personality type you can learn more about yourself and why you behave the way you do. This can lead you to self discovery and probably a more purposefull life.

The online test is usually a number of questions which can be answered yes or no or you have to say how much you agree or disagree with a statement.

Heres short overview of the personality types:

ISTJ
Serious and quiet, interested in security and peaceful living. Extremely thorough, responsible, and dependable. Well-developed powers of concentration. Usually interested in supporting and promoting traditions and establishments. Well-organized and hard working, they work steadily towards identified goals. They can usually accomplish any task once they have set their mind to it.

ISTP
Quiet and reserved, interested in how and why things work. Excellent skills with mechanical things. Risk-takers who they live for the moment. Usually interested in and talented at extreme sports. Uncomplicated in their desires. Loyal to their peers and to their internal value systems, but not overly concerned with respecting laws and rules if they get in the way of getting something done. Detached and analytical, they excel at finding solutions to practical problems.

ISFJ
Quiet, kind, and conscientious. Can be depended on to follow through. Usually puts the needs of others above their own needs. Stable and practical, they value security and traditions. Well-developed sense of space and function. Rich inner world of observations about people. Extremely perceptive of other's feelings. Interested in serving others.

ISFP
Quiet, serious, sensitive and kind. Do not like conflict, and not likely to do things which may generate conflict. Loyal and faithful. Extremely well developed senses, and aesthetic appreciation for beauty. Not interested in leading or controlling others. Flexible and open-minded. Likely to be original and creative. Enjoy the present moment.

INFJ
Quietly forceful, original, and sensitive. Tend to stick to things until they are done. Extremely intuitive about people, and concerned for their feelings. Well-developed value systems, which they strictly adhere to. Well-respected for their perseverance in doing the right thing. Likely to be individualistic, rather than leading or following.

INFP
Quiet, reflective, and idealistic. Interested in serving humanity. Well-developed value system, which they strive to live in accordance with. Extremely loyal. Adaptable and laid-back unless a strongly held value is threatened. Usually talented writers. Mentally quick, and able to see possibilities. Interested in understanding and helping people.

INTJ
Independent, original, analytical, and determined. Have an exceptional ability to turn theories into solid plans of action. Highly value knowledge, competence, and structure. Driven to derive meaning from their visions. Long-range thinkers. Have very high standards for their performance, and the performance of others. Natural leaders, but will follow if they trust existing leaders.

INTP
Logical, original, creative thinkers. Can become very excited about theories and ideas. Exceptionally capable and driven to turn theories into clear understandings. Highly value knowledge, competence and logic. Quiet and reserved, hard to get to know well. Individualistic, having no interest in leading or following others.

ESTP
Friendly, adaptable, action-oriented. "Doers" who are focused on immediate results. Living in the here-and-now, they're risk-takers who live fast-paced lifestyles. Impatient with long explanations. Extremely loyal to their peers, but not usually respectful of laws and rules if they get in the way of getting things done. Great people skills.

ESTJ
Practical, traditional, and organised. Likely to be athletic. Not interested in theory or abstraction unless they see the practical application. Have clear visions of the way things should be. Loyal and hard working. Like to be in charge. Exceptionally capable in organizing and running activities. "Good citizens" who value security and peaceful living.

ESFP
People-oriented and fun loving, they make things more fun for others by their enjoyment. Living for the moment, they love new experiences. They dislike theory and impersonal analysis. Interested in serving others. Likely to be the centre of attention in social situations. Well-developed common sense and practical ability.

ESFJ
Warm-hearted, popular, and conscientious. Tend to put the needs of others over their own needs. Feel strong sense of responsibility and duty. Value traditions and security. Interested in serving others. Need positive reinforcement to feel good about themselves. Well-developed sense of space and function.

ENFP
Enthusiastic, idealistic, and creative. Able to do almost anything that interests them. Great people skills. Need to live life in accordance with their inner values. Excited by new ideas, but bored with details. Open-minded and flexible, with a broad range of interests and abilities.

ENFJ
Popular and sensitive, with outstanding people skills. Externally focused, with real concern for how others think and feel. Usually dislike being alone. They see everything from the human angle, and dislike impersonal analysis. Very effective at managing people issues, and leading group discussions. Interested in serving others, and probably place the needs of others over their own needs.

ENTP
Creative, resourceful, and intellectually quick. Good at a broad range of things. Enjoy debating issues, and may be into "one-up-manship". They get very excited about new ideas and projects, but may neglect the more routine aspects of life. Generally outspoken and assertive. They enjoy people and are stimulating company. Excellent ability to understand concepts and apply logic to find solutions.

ENTJ
Assertive and outspoken - they are driven to lead. Excellent ability to understand difficult organizational problems and create solid solutions. Intelligent and well informed, they usually excel at public speaking. They value knowledge and competence, and usually have little patience with inefficiency or disorganization.

A train trip in Norway!

2008-02-22T03:07:00.000-08:00

When you visit Norway - be sure to to try this trip from Oslo to Bergen in train.

The train runs from Oslo, the capital, to the second largest city Bergen. The train rides in more than 1000m heights and the scenery is spectacular.

Below are some pictures from the trip:

Some music for your ears...

2008-02-20T07:06:00.000-08:00

Ramstein:

Iron Maiden:

Audioslave:

My top five travel destinations in Asia!

2008-02-15T09:22:00.000-08:00

Phuket

Phuket has everything for everybody – Nightlife – Beaches – Thai Boxing and all kinds of gimmicks to keep everyone happy. Accommodation is plentiful and there are all different kinds of price levels. Rent a motorbike or a car and enjoy. Phuket and Thailand in general is an easy country to visit in Asia because it is very touristed. For the first time visitor to Asia Thailand is the best choice.

Batangas

A beach resort in the Philippines for mostly locals where people eat, swim and sing karaoke. Very fun to be there especially if you are invited by the locals. Batangas is a resort that is better visited with Filipinos or if the visitor already has visited other places in asia. Manila

The most crowded city in the world and also one of the most chaotic. There isn’t a lot of tourist gimmicks but everything is available and very affordable. The Filipinos are great people and it’s easy to live there.

Bangkok
I have been there 4 times and Bangkok is the place to be. A very chaotic city although it is getting very developed and the infrastructure is getting better.

Koh Samui
One of the best places for a beach holiday in Asia. Nice beaches and affordable accommodation. The city is small enough that you can cover everything on motorbike.

Filipina and Thai Hot!

2008-02-15T03:03:00.000-08:00

this a post of some of the hottest asian chicks...see if u can tell which ones are Thai or Filipina..

Katrina Halili:

Francine Prieto:

Angel Locsin:

Ornussa Cadness:

Lunigning:

My experiences with street fighting and violence

2008-02-15T01:39:00.000-08:00

Violence is something most people want to avoid and that is understandable. It hurts to be hit or punched and more than that the psychological and emotional pain is great. The feeling of loss of honour and dignity that comes from being assaulted is severe.

I have been involved in some fights. Many as a bystander taking in the action, some where I was the one using violence mostly against people I knew, and then an episode against a total stranger who was verbally and physically abusive. I must admit that I was looking for a little trouble in that episode. I was also on the receiving end of violence in the streets some times.

This is what I learned about how and why and what to do about violence and how to avoid being a victim. Many fights happen under the influence of alcohol which makes people more aggressive. Violence usually results when one part is experiencing a feeling of loss of honour in which violence might seem, and sometimes is the only solution. If you must defend your honour in a situation then strike first without any signs of doing so and make sure you strike hard enough to get away afterwards or to get out of the confrontation as the winner.

You should punch the face, solar plexus or knee in the groin. Hitting teeth or head butting is also useful. Never end up underneath an opponent on the ground. Never think that if you behave yourself towards an aggressor then that person will be nice. It is always better when the aggressor is about to attack to strike and fight than to think you can speak yourself out of it. Be aware and ready to use violence always. Hopefully you will avoid doing so.

If somebody is following you move to the side or simply stand still and make that person walk in front. Never let anyone walk behind you especially if it’s late at night or if you feel threatened. Contrary to what many people believe the best thing to do against someone stalking you or sneaking up on you is to confront that person and let that person know that you are watching them. Never try to pretend that there is no danger or that if you just close your eyes then that person will go away. If you feel danger it is probably real and anyway it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I try to always be aware of my surroundings and people around me and I follow these simple rules. I watch people who are behaving strangely such as eyeing me or walking behind me or just stand’s in a place without moving for a long time. If you experience the adrenaline rush in a situation, the heart beats faster and your muscles tense try to control it and know that it happens to make you sharper. When I was in quarrel with a stranger my muscles tensed and I was amazed that just one push made the other person loose balance and falling after moving about 15 feet.

Be careful everybody ;-)

Ps. Check out the ebook on the right side of the blog

A guide to meditating

2008-02-14T03:58:00.000-08:00

Why meditate. Mediation is a way to bring peace into your daily life. When you meditate you get rid of all excess thoughts from the day. It is like relieving psychical stress with a massage. In meditation the person relieves stress from the mind. Meditating can also bring more clarity about situations that the person is not comfortable with. Mediating is a way to find more purpose in daily life.

To meditate most people sit in the lotus position with their legs bent. It is also possible to meditate sitting upright. What is important is that the place is silent and that the light are usually dim. Then the person breaths in and out and listens to the breath. Or that persons focuses on how the air gets trough the chest up to neck and the mouth. It is important that mediation is continued even if something itches.

Then after about 30 minutes the mind will be calm and a feeling of well being will begin. After about one hour all thoughts are usually gone and only emotions remain. When mediating for even longer period of time insights from the sub conscious or repressed memories might emerge. There are ways to get deep in meditation and one of them is imagining climbing into a well or down a ladder with a security line.

Then seeing that image as the person slowly lowers into the dark all the time remembering that the lifeline is there. When in a calm state of mind which usually takes at least 30 minutes, then the person meditating might choose to say some statements loud which could bring more positive emotions. In this state the mind is really open to thoughts and new ideas and saying them out loud might help to increase mood.

Another way of meditating is by saying statements out loud again and again or mantric meditation. This focuses the mind on something particular statements and in that way relieves stress and makes the sib conscious mind appear more clearly. More than anything mediation requires practice like everything else. When mediating again and again the person might find ways that suits that individual best.

Investment Basics

2008-02-14T03:33:00.000-08:00

First off all I am not a professional investor and I have not invested any real money in the stock market. So any advice I give you here treat it as you like. I have studied economics and some financial courses as well as developmental economics. In addition I have spent a lot of time studying markets and some of the stocks I wish I invested in have become real money makers. So this is my investment strategy. I think it might be useful for those of you without any knowledge of investment. I also worked for as a student sales agent in a stock broker E*Trade bank. If you want professional advice go to a broker firm. Maybe this short outline can inspire you to invest in the stock market.

Markets are many and diverse and so are the investment strategies. I would prefer to invest in emerging markets particularly in South East Asia and China. Countries such as the Philippines have many real money making firms especially in the telecommunications industry. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia are other options. If I had to invest my money in a firm tomorrow these are things I would look for. How is the economy doing on a 5 year scale. How is the sector of the firm doing. How is the individual company compared to its competitors. What is the growth rate’s in stock price and in revenue the last five years. What are the market opportunities for that firm the next five years.

Then I would choose a company in a market which I had some knowledge of. Then I might use some statistical tool to determine if the stock value was correct or over or under priced. I might use price earnings ratio. The lower the price earning’s ratio the better. Then I would look at the board of directors to see if I trusted them and if they had experience in the field. Then I would invest my hard earned money in a company.

Philipinne Stock Exchange
http://www.pse.com.ph/

The German Stock Exchange
http://deutsche-boerse.com/

US Technology Stock Exchange
http://www.nasdaq.com/

US Industrial Stock Exchane
http://www.djindexes.com/

Tokyo Stock Exchange
http://www.tse.or.jp/english/

Thailand Stock Exchange
http://www.set.or.th/th/index.html

Hamre - Where my family is from

2008-02-14T02:11:00.001-08:00

This place in Norway is where my family is from and where I spent many summers fishing and spending time with my family. Hamre is located far from anythin and it was only some 10-15 years ago that a road was brought there. The place has all of my family living there, off course they live other were also ;-). My family is mostly in the business of timber or construction.

I like fishing a lot. The fishes there are typical for the norwegian countryside and are fishes such as salmon and codfish. The way to catch these fishes are many. There are the traditional ways to catch the fishes where the fishing line is being controlled manually and there is the modern way with a fishing rod. Then there are the fishing nets which are lowered into the water at night and pulled from the sea in the morning.

More advanced and more expensive methods of fishing are also available. This is a popular pastime also for the local residents. Other things to do in the area is hiking the trails in the mountains or sailing on the fjords. There is off course also homemade beer and wine but it has been a while since I have drunken alcohol so it will have to wait. Hamre is part of Hordaland and near Bergen the second biggest city in Norway.

Foreign student in The Philippines – Manila

2008-02-13T09:50:00.001-08:00

To be a foreign student in Manila is a life changing experience both if you are Asian, African, American or European. For me the stay in Manila was so different than Denmark where I came from and it ended up changing my life and my future is definitely in the warm, hospitable and beautiful country of the Philippines. There are so many good things about studying and living in the Philippines.Let start with the weather which is tropical meaning hot weather all year around. There is off course the rain season and the dry season which is a little dull. Then there are the Filipino people and especially the Filipinas! The sweetest hottest girl’s there is. Well let’s talk some academics. Manila is not the most popular destination for foreign students and that really is a shame. There are many colleges in Manila. The educational system is made with high school and college after the English model.

I studied at De La Salle University in Manila which is one of the two main universities there along with Atheneo De Manila in Quezon city. My university in Europe had much more high tech equipment but the teachers in Manila are more present in their teachings. Because these universities take a fee unlike the university I studied at in Copenhagen the teachers are concerned that the students actually pass the courses.

This could be seen by the way that passing grades were sometimes lowered to get more people to pass. The form of teaching was traditional with the teacher writing on the blackboard. Class participation was usually limited to writing assignments on the blackboard. There were a lot of quizzes and tests which required preparation. Being a foreign student made it easy to get the teachers and students attention and I suspect that sometimes my grades were a little higher because of my white skin.

I studied Economics there and was generally satisfied with the courses. I took both undergraduate and graduate courses. The undergraduate were fun and more sociable while the graduate courses were serious with the majority of the students already in pay employment. There were other foreign students there. At graduate level I met mostly Chinese students. The undergraduate foreigners came from places such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany and so on.

Most international students spend time together. The exchange students spend a lot of time drinking and travelling around the country. Most of them are there for one term which in La Salle is 4 months. They have a lot of fun. I also travelled some and hit the clubs sometimes with them. I planned to stay more than one term so my focus was a little different. Many of the foreign students living in Manila go to La Salle.

There is a foreign students association there. This association is primarily for the permanent foreign students in Manila. I did a lot of sports in Manila and went to some social events. Judo became a big part of my social after hour’s time at the university. This is where I met most of my Filipino friends.

Naughty Nightlife in Manila

2008-02-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

This will serve as a very brief guide to some places to get friendly with the local women in Manila.

There are some main districts in Manila to meet a girl for fun and pleasure.

Malate:

this place a number of KTV bars, some strip clubs and a lot of regular bars.

Makati - P.Burgos Street

Burgos Street is a more expensive option with lots of Strip Clubs and Also some bars. The girls here are very good looking and the bar fine is all the way up to 3000P. The dancers at P.Burgos dances topless.

Quezon Avenue

Queazon Avenue has many strip clubs and massage parlors and hostess bars. The bars here are in many different price levels. From relatively cheap to the most expensive upper class bars. The girls here dance and show themselves completely naked.

Roxas Boulevard and Pasay

The former main street for naughty nightlife is still a good place to go. The girls in these clubs are hot and the price is accordingly high.

Check out manilatonight.com for more info.

Judo

2008-02-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

Judo or the gentle way as it is called is a grappling form of martial arts. It originates from Japan where it is the national sport. Judo is today a popular Olympic discipline with both male and female practitioners. Judo is about throwing your opponent to the ground in such a way that the opponent preferably lands on the back and the thrower wins the match by scoring an ippon. Judo derives fom the martial art of jiu jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that mainly focuses on self defense. It was originally a way of training the troops for combat and included everything needed to defeat an opponent unarmed. It included striking as well as grappling and other forms of joint manipulations. It was a very brutal martial art and matches between practitioners in Japan usually ended with injury or even death. Then around the beginning of the 20’th century Kano developed the Kano-Jiu-Jitsu system also known as Judo.

Judo was developed with the focus that a smaller opponent could defeat a larger opponent by using balance and skill instead of force. Using the momentum of the opponent was also a big part of the judo system. Judo was then trained and more and more became a sport since feudal wars ended. Judo is still the system being taught to police and military units in Japan. When applied correctly a Judo throw can be lethal.

Judo training is a combination of drills on technique and randori or free fight. Compared to many other martial arts in particular striking arts the free fight is very important. There is usually a warm up where a number of moves meant to strengthen the balance and coordination of the practitioners are done. Beginners usually spend significant amounts of time learning to fall correctly. This is important because the impact of the throws is great.

Then footwork is being taught with a partner where the practitioner steps in and out while maintaining the grip. Then lifting comes next where the judoka lifts the partner using the moves taught. Then lastly the judoka throws the partner using a certain move, usually the one being taught in that class. This is then followed by some free playing training for example grip fighting were the judokas battle to get the best grip or partner play were offence and defence is practiced.
Randori is a major part of judo training where the judokas test their strength and skill against each other. Usually judokas play against people of similar rank and belt but this need not be. A white belt can play against a black belt even if the difference in skill level usually is very big. Judo is a very fun martial art and is actually interesting to watch as a spectator since the games are played with speed and throws

Muay Thai

2008-02-12T09:44:00.001-08:00

The martial art of muay thai or thai boxing originated in Thailand many hundred years ago. It is also known as the science of the eight limbs since all parts of the body less the head is used in combat. It is perhaps the most brutal form of fighting known. Under current rules the matches are 5 times 3 minutes where the match is decided by points or by knock out. Knock outs are frequent but since most fighters are very well conditioned many if not most matches go all five rounds.

Muay Thai differs from other forms of striking arts since the rules allow some neck wrestling and using knees and elbows from the clinch. In addition muay thai fighters are perhaps the most conditioned fighters with very strong abs and cardiovascular strength. This allows the matches to be very though and brutal. In Thailand most matches are fought as hard games of attrition where the fighters exchange blows and in particular round house kicks to ribs.

The first rounds are usually slow and then the matches pick up the pace with the majority of knock outs in the later rounds. The Thai round house kick is unique in that it uses the shin to kick with and not the foot. In most other striking arts this kick is done by a snap with the knee. In Muay Thai the kick is executed by turning the hips and keeping the leg stiff. This makes up for the saying that a Thai round house kick resembles a baseball bat.

Punches are not typical in Muay Thai and score lowest. Elbows and knees score the most. Some throws are also allowed but do not score very much. To be a muay thai fighter tons and tons of hours must be spent kicking sand bags and thai pads. This training is not for everyone and only well conditioned and dedicated people ever make it to the ring. In addition to the skill needed to fight having lung capacity is also very important.

Flexibility is another important factor.

Martial Arts (1)

2008-02-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

A short overview of martial arts and their application

This newsletter aims to give a limited view of the martial arts which there are to choose from. It will serve as a guide to the different forms and help the beginner choose the right martial art. It will also focus on some of the mental aspects and philosophy behind the different martial arts.

Most martial arts originated in Asia. To understand what a martial art is we must consider its origin. Martial arts of today are mostly sports competitions deriving from the unarmed combat part of what was once the military system of fighting. So the complete martial art’s cover both unarmed and armed combat and is essentially the same as any military training today but applied in a much different way.

The list of martial arts is long and I will not claim to know or describe everyone. This is a short introduction to the different martial arts. Most of the martial arts are Asian and have their origin there. The most known western martial art is boxing. Modern boxing originated from a form of free fighting that resembled street fighting. Then around the end of the 19th century gloves were worn and rules were changed so that people could no longer use kicks and holds and so on. Modern boxing is only punches but since that is all boxers do they are usually very effective at it. Boxing is trained with a lot of focus on speed and is the most restricted martial art with respect to rules.

The striking martial arts describe a wide range of martial arts where kicks and punches and sometimes knees and elbows are used to stop the opponent. The most well known is kick-boxing which in the American form originated from the traditional Japanese art Karate. Then gloves were added and harder combat could begin. The European form of kickboxing originates partly from the Thai art of Muay Thai which is probably the most influential striking art these days. Muay Thai or simply thai boxing is the sport version of the much older unarmed combast system of the thai military. In its present state kicks, punches, knees and elbows are allowed to all parts of the body. Some throws are even allowed. Muay Thai is known for its clinches where the opponents secure a grip around the necks of their opponents and then knee the opponents in the rib or belly. From this position it is also possible to elbow your opponent.

Karate and Taekwondo are some of the more traditional forms of striking martial. Taekwondo is fought mostly as sport competition where only kicks are allowed. Very fast kicks and sometimes spectacular kicks is the trademark of Taekwondo. Karate on the other hand is more traditional and emphasizes on forms, the so called katas where the Karateka will make a series of attacks and defenses against an invisible opponent. This is to deepen the knowledge of the art and to train the different moves.

The other part of the martial arts could be called the grappling arts. These include Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In these martial arts the competition is usually about throwing your opponent or securing a dominant position or making a leg lock or another submission which means forcing the opponent to submit by extending the joints. The original form Jiu-Jutsu was the Japanese military unarmed combat system. It had focus on throws, kicks and punches and locks and joint manipulations.

Judo is known as the gentle way by its founder Kano. He reformed jiu-jutsu by making the moves more dependent on skill and balance than force. In this way judo became the national sport of Japan. Judo is a major Olympic discipline where the Judokas wins by making a throw ehere the opponent lands on the back. This throw is called ippon. It is also possible to win by submitting your opponent on the ground or pinning your opponent down for 30 seconds. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu founded by the Gracie family focuses almost only on ground work. It derives from Judo and the founder Gracie was trained by judokas.

In the grappling arts there are also arts such as Aikido which uses no attacks, only defensive moves. Then there is a whole range of Chinese martial arts usually known as kung fu. These martial arts include wing-tzun a dynamic martial focusing on attacking straight down the center line and controlling the opponent with the hands in close combat.

A similar approach is found in the Filipino fighting systems such as Eskrima where close combats and weapon’s training is central. Here the emphasis is on movement and learning fundamental weapon skills such that any object might be employed as weapon.

:-)

2008-02-09T02:43:00.000-08:00

Strengthening core muscles and back:

2008-02-09T02:27:00.000-08:00

So why is core muscles and back important in strength training?

It is important because these are the major muscles used for balance and stability in almost any sport. The core muscles are your midsection and lower back muscles. In almost any explosive activity there is a situation requiring the body to stabilize afterwards. Consider the footbal player kicking the bal towards the goal and then remaining balance afterwards. Or the dribler like Ronaldinho maintaining balance when dribbling in high speed trough multiple opponents. For those in martial arts the core muscles is the absolute most important muscles.

The best way to strengthen the core muscles is by constant repetition. This means training the abdominals over and over again. This is most easily done by crunches or sit ups. For a novice not trained a number of about 50 every day is best. Later the number of crunches is 150 to 200 for a strong midsection. There are many different kinds of crunches. The most typically used is the simple abdominal crunch where the arms are placed behind the head and the crunch is about 30-40% upwards towards the knees. Other crunches can be used also. To strengthen the back the most common is the back lift where the face and shoulders are lifted upwards. The best back training includes weights where the lift is on the shoulders or punching with weights.

The midsection or core muscles are necessary in most sports. Consider martial arts where most striking arts requires a rotation of the hips to deliver maximum impact in kicks. The midsection and core muscles is what transfers the force from the legs and hips trough the kicking leg. It further helps to stabilize the body during this movement. Core muscles is important also in grappling martial arts such as Judo since a strong core gives the body the strength to remain balanced even in positions in instability.

Most people despise training the abdominal muscles and that is a shame. Training the abdominals is probably the most important for total health. And with everything else repetition makes the training more enjoyable. The fact is that 100-150 crunches a day only requires about 10 minutes very day and the effects are great. There are many myths about strengthening the core. For example that it is necessary to go to a gym to train or that machines are necessary. There is a vast number of ways to strengthen the core in your own home. These include training the side abdominals the upper and lower abdominals and so on. The most important thing is to keep at it. Any abdominal or core training is beneficial if done properly for an period of time. This means at least 50 crunches a day for the beginner towards 150-200 for the more trained person.

The back is a very important part to train. More than any other muscle group it provides strength and resistance against shocks in sports and in general. The best way to strengthen the back is by making lifts continually. Lifting weights from the floor is a way to strengthen the stability of the back. Another is to draw the weight from above. The best back training is that which can be done by weights. If a person requires a certain movement where back muscles are involved then it is possible to add weights to that movement or resistance bands. This is a way of training the muscles in throwing and grappling martial arts such as judo and sambo practitioners use.

Some more advanced technicues for training the abdominals involve medicine bal crunches. Here the person who does the crunch use a heavy bal lifting from behind the shoulders to the knees, or with a partner taking turns. Some of the more challenging crunches is where the person inhales and then does the crunch keeping at 50% strain towards the knees for as long as possible each time. Then there are the vertical crunches where the right elbow is lifted towards the left knee and opposite. There is a number of abdominal training that involves lifting the legs from the floor towards the ceiling. These are done better by small movements than large and kept at some resistance. Then it is also an idea to lift the entire lower body by using the abdominals. To gain real strength do normal sit ups while a trainer hits the abdominals while the person does the crunch. This is especially for martial arts and striking sports.

Abdominals can be strong but not show if the body fat percentage is high. To lose weight effectively and reduce body fat there is a number of things to do. All sweets and chocolate must be reduced to a minimum and the same with soft drinks. Eat lots of rice with tomato or beans. This kind of diet will leave the person in a kind of hungry state which takes some time getting used to. After a while it will be more permanent and body fat is reduced. Remember that native people are surviving on very little meat in day to day life.

The benefits of strengthening these muscles are twofold. For everyday life it gives stability and robustness both for the body and mind. A person with a strong core is able to resist much movement towards that person without loosing focus. In sports this means maintaining balance and developing crushing speed and power in martial arts.

Sho-Ryu-Ken!!!