Wednesday, February 1, 2012

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Starbucks takes on India

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:33 PM PST

by Zoe Li, Hong Kong Editor

Starbucks is due to open its first store in India through a 50-50 joint venture with Tata Global Beverages. The first branches will open in Mumbai and New Delhi in September and about 50 stores will follow within the first 12 months.

John Culver, Starbucks president for China and Asia Pacific, said there could be as many as 3,000 Starbucks stores in the world's fastest-growing economy after China. China currently has about 500.

Starbucks declined to comment on the pricing at its future Indian stores. The price of a cup of coffee ranges widely in India, where consumers can spend Rs 53 rupees on a cappuccino at a local chain or Rs 400 on a frappé at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, an international chain that already has a presence in India. 

Starbucks arrives at a time when the Indian government is trying to attract more foreign retail investment, but is slow at loosening restrictions.

Strict limits on foreign ownership in India in the past have kept many international brands from setting up shop, including Ikea and Walmart. The latter met with stringent conditions on a recent deal while the Walmart negotiations have been put off altogether.

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Finally, air con and night shopping at Asia’s best (and hottest) market

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:31 PM PST

Shoppers at Bangkok's Chatuchak Market, one of the world's most famous retail zones, could soon be feeling cool breezes instead of sweltering hot temperatures if a new modernization plan goes ahead. 

According to a report in the Bangkok Post, Thai Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan wants to upgrade the mega market to meet international standards. The most notable changes on his reno list are air conditioning and a night bazaar. 

The market is now managed by the State Railway of Thailand, which owns the land, since it took over the lease from Bangkok City Hall late last year. 

Though many local fans of the sprawling 142,000-square-meter market will likely object to the plans, saying Chatuchak's charms lie in its chaos, more than a few of the sweaty tourists who pass through its gates weekly will likely approve. 

According to estimates, Chatuchak -- or JJ for short -- attracts more than 200,000 visitors on weekends. It's one of the top places to go for Thai handicrafts, artwork, clothing, furniture, decor, plants and even pets.

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UFC 144: World’s most violent sport hits Tokyo

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST

by Jason Coskrey

Later this month, that bastion of bash-'em-ups, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), makes a long-awaited appearance in Japan, giving fans an opportunity to see some of the best fighters in the world, including the latest incarnation of B.A. Baracus in the flesh.

The Japanese fight scene hasn't been quite the same since Pride Fighting Championships (PRIDE) shuttered its doors in 2007.

As UFC holding company Zuffa bought the remains of the old company that year, it's no surprise the card UFC has put together is a mixture of new Mixed Martail Arts (MMA) stars and former PRIDE stalwarts.

For the curious, or uninitiated, it's a chance to get a taste of a rapidly growing sport that has deep roots in Japan. MMA is unarmed combat that brings together fighters with backgrounds in karate, Brazilian jiujitsu, boxing, wrestling and various other disciplines.

If it involves pummeling your opponent in a ring, it's in.

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Gulangyu: China's loveliest island

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:57 PM PST

by Gillian Bolsover

"Two legs good, four wheels bad," might be the unofficial motto of Gulangyu Island, which lies a short way offshore from the city of Xiamen.

With the warm climate, good air quality, abundant beaches and laid-back lifestyle, Xiamen (厦门) is one of the most pleasant places to visit and live in China: but a lot of the credit goes to its tourism magnet, Gulangyu (鼓浪屿).

The island, which is just under two kilometers square, is a five-minute ferry ride from Xiamen's urbanized city center and is most famous for its beaches, seafood and a refreshing lack of automobiles, which are banned.

Gulangyu is nicknamed "Piano Island." With a population of around 25,000, the subtropical town contains more than 5,000 pianos and a 450-square-meter piano museum, showcasing more than 40 ancient pianos from around the world.

The other main draw of Gulangyu is the large number of colonial houses -- a legacy of having been an international settlement of 14 different countries in the 19th and early 20th century.

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50 ultimate travel apps ... so far

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 07:15 PM PST

by Rick Martin

There is of course one smartphone app no true traveler could ever do without. This one. 

But once you've downloaded that, why not browse these too?

We're going to skip over obvious ones like Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Gowalla, Foursquare, Instagram, Google Earth/Maps, as worthy as they are, for ones you may have overlooked, but shouldn't. 

Also on CNNGo: 20 most iconic skyscrapers

1. Kayak -- Flight search

More than a few trips begin with Kayak, one of the web's most popular travel services. Its mobile apps are great as well, allowing you to search flight details with ease on a mobile device.

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at 9:47 AM

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