YeinJee's Asian Journal

The world’s densest cities according to Forbes (Top 20)…

1. Mumbai, India (29,650 people per square kilometre)
2. Kolkata, India (23,900)
3. Karachi, Pakistan (18,900)
4. Lagos, Nigeria (18,150)
5. Shenzhen, China (17,150)
6. Seoul/Incheon, South Korea (16,700)
7. Taipei, Taiwan (15,200)
8. Chennai, India (14,350)
9. Bogata, Columbia (13,500)
10. Shanghai, China (13,400)
11. Lima, Peru (11,750)
12. Beijing, China (11,500)
13. Delhi, India (11,050)
14. Kinsaha, Congo (10,650)
15. Manila, Philippines (10,550)
16. Tehran, Iran (10,550)
17. Jakarta, Indonesia (10,500)
18. Tianjin, China (10,500)
19. Bangalore, India (10,100)
20. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (9,450)

One of the biggest truffles found in half a century, a 1.5kg specimen unearthed in Italy late last month, has sold for $330,000 at an auction held simultaneously in Macau, London and Florence.

The winning bid on Saturday night (Dec 1) came from Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho, bidding by phone via his partner Angela Leong, who was on stage with the auctioneer.

Ho beat British artist Damien Hirst and Sheik Mansoor Bin Zayed al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi for the prized fungus. Truffles can vary considerably in size and are prized in Italian cooking for their flavour and aroma.

Proceeds from the auction were donated to charities including the Caritas in China, Consortium for Street Children in the UK, and the Telethon in Italy. [Reuters]

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300-year-old ginseng sold for $400,000
Hundred year old ginseng sold for $250,000

A giant Israeli flag was displayed in Masada, southern Israel on Sunday (Nov 25). Measured at 660 metres x 100 metres, and weighed 5.2 tonnes… the flag is officially declared by Guinness Book of Records as the largest flag in the world.

World’s largest flag (Image courtesy of Chinaview)

I am not sure if it is a good idea to lay your flag on the sandy desert though; I have always been taught that national flag shouldn’t be touching the ground. Perhaps it’s a different culture… or perhaps some people were too obsessed in creating a world record and neglecting the basic rules.

Happy Thanksgiving to people who are celebrating it. For those who are not familiar with Thanksgiving… it is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks for the things that one has at the conclusion of the harvest season.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. [Wiki]

Pikachu balloon at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, NY (Image courtesy of Xinhuanet)

Swedish women have launched a campaign called Just Breasts which fights for their right to go topless on beaches and in swimming pools.

Scandinavian feminists were outraged when two women were asked to cover up their breasts by a lifeguard at a public pool near Stockholm.

A spokeswoman for the group said: ‘We want our breasts to be as normal and desexualised as men’s, so that we too can pull off our shirts at football matches.’

So far, the campaign’s strategy has been devastatingly effective. Members of Just Breasts have been jumping into swimming pools across the country wearing nothing more than bikini bottoms. [Metro]

I bet Swedish men are happily supporting the cause as well.

A poll of 3,931 people, commissioned by UKTV Gold, asked the public to pick the most ludicrous British and foreign laws still in existence, from a shortlist. [Dailymail]

Most ridiculous British laws

1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament (27%)

2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down (7%)

3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)

4. Mince pies cannot be eaten on Christmas Day (5%)

5. In Scotland, if someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your toilet, you must let them enter (4%)

6. In the UK a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman’s helmet (4%)

7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen (3.5%)

8. It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing (3%)

9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour

10. In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow (2%)
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The Cow Parade, an international public art exhibition that has been featured in major cities over the world, arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with around 120 cow sculptures in October.

CowParade is the world’s largest public art event; while it is not meant to be high art, it is first and foremost a public art exhibit that is accessible to everyone.

Most important, CowParade ultimately benefits charity, raising over millions dollars of charity funds since it started in 1999. [Official website]

Moooo… (Image courtesy of Xinhuanet)

Lovely photos of workers harvesting organic cranberries at Canneberges Quebec farm in St-Louis-de-Blandford, Canada.

Workers harvesting cranberries (Hat tip to Spluch)