xanawu

article in the economist about re-building and expanding mecca from the current capacity of 900,000 to 1.5 million worshippers.

among those approached for the project are two respected British architects, Norman Foster and Zaha Hadid. a slight controversy arises since Lord Foster is not a muslim; should he win the commission, he would have to implement his plans from a distance, since non-muslims cannot enter the holy city.

on a similar vein, I saw body of lies yesterday. not recommended.

tilegnet arbeiderbevegelsens-pionerer frihet-solidaritet

(dedicated to the pioneers of the labour movement: freedom solidarity!)

Hà Nội - mùa đông 1946

(“Winter 1946″: in reference to the French re-occupation of Hanoi after Ho Chi Minh had proclaimed independence in 1945)

“You are not Rukai then?” I said.

“On no!” she replied with a tinkling laugh.

“None of us are. We saw the chance to get married Rukai style on the Taiwanese tourist board website.”

The Israeli government has limited the number of visas for foreign restaurant workers to 500, and will reduce this number to zero next year. seems to be targeted mainly at asian workers, particularly thai, chinese, japanese and indian restaurants… and the Israeli Ethnic Restaurant Association is trying to appeal this decision to the supreme court.

“We feel an Israeli can hold a wok as well as a Thai or a Chinese person,” said Shoshana Strauss, a lawyer at the Trade Ministry, which regulates work permits for foreign workers. (MacLean’s)

hong kong — airport, or shopping mall?

airport of the year from 2001-2005 (with a mere second place in 2006). fastest way to get there is taking the subway. you can check your luggage at Hong Kong station in Central, maybe shop a bit at the swanky IFC mall, then take the 23-minute ride to the actual airport… and shop some more.

kuala lumpur — airport, or shopping mall?

fastest way into town is to take the 28-minute KLIA express train to KL Sentral station. the airport looks eerily similar to HK’s airport: shopping shopping shopping. just with more muslims in headscarves walking around. according to wikipedia, the airport was designed by a japanese architect with the concept of airport in the forest, forest in the airport. It also has the world’s first six-star animal hotel for pets.

singapore’s budget terminal

the 2006 “airport of the year” is a 30-minute subway ride from City Hall station. plus an extra 5-minute shuttle ride to get to the budget terminal (yes, it’s actually called the “budget terminal“, as opposed to Terminals 1 & 2). they only tell you which gate your flight is at 30 minutes before departure, and last call is 10 minutes later (the terminal is small though, so this is not a problem)–which means most passengers wait in the large common hall instead of at each gate. I flew tiger airways, which was fun (and cheap). no assigned seating. all flight attendants and staff wear cotton tees and pants by giordano with tiger-striped belts.