Giants of the deep draw tourists to quiet corner of Philippines

by Karl Wilson Fri Jun 22, 2:30 AM ET

Tourists follow a huge whale shark,nearly 6 meters long, swimming near the surface of the plankton-rich water of Donsol, Philippines (AFP/Scott Tuason)

DONSOL, Philippines (AFP) - The enormous grey whale shark glides effortlessly in the murky waters off Donsol in the eastern Philippines, its distinctive pale yellow spotted back and fins clearly visible as excited tourists prepare to enter the water from nearby outrigger canoes.

They swim to within a few metres (feet) of these gentle giants of the deep as their guide makes sure they give the whale shark plenty of room to move.

The world's largest fish, some as big as a school bus and weighing up to 30 tonnes, are not aggressive.

"But it's advisable not to get too close in case they decide to turn over," Angela Quiros, a marine biologist and one of the country's leading experts on the whale shark, told AFP recently.

Whale sharks have been a common site in the waters off this coastal town for as long as anyone here can remember, feasting on the rich plankton between January and June.

Once hunted for its soft white meat, known throughout Southeast Asia as "tofu shark," the whale shark is now protected and has transformed this sleepy corner of the Philippines 600 kilometres (372 miles) south east of Manila into a major eco-tourism centre.

"Since 1998 when the government passed a law protecting the whale shark, known locally as 'butanding,' tourism and revenue numbers have shot up dramatically," said local tourism coordinator Salvador Adrao.

Last year, almost 11,000 tourists visited Donsol, up from around 900 in 1998. Revenues from eco-tourism have risen to an estimated 12 million pesos (261,723 dollars), from 454,875 pesos (9,920 dollars) in the same period.

"Swimming with whale sharks has transformed Donsol from a sleepy fishing village into an eco-tourism centre," Adrao said.

"The only problem we have is the infrastructure. We can't cope with the tourism numbers we now have, let alone any increase."

Compared to some of the more developed areas for whale shark watching such as Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia, Donsol is still very cheap.

"That's why the tourists, especially the foreigners, come to Donsol," he said.

Ten years ago environmentalists fought a bitter campaign to end the slaughter of the whale shark, forcing the Philippine government to pass a law protecting the creature.

"I can't believe how this place has changed," said Korina Escudero, an underwater film maker and one of the original campaigners for the protection of the whale shark.

"The attitudes of the local people towards conservation rather than killing has been quite extraordinary. They can see the value in protecting these magnificent creatures. People come from all over the world just to see and swim with them.

"The publicity we gave to the senseless slaughter just hit a chord and people reacted. Villagers even managed to free two whale sharks that had been tied by their tails to coconut trees as they floundered in shallow water off a local beach.

"You can still see them today off Donsol. They are easy to identify as they still have the rope around their tails. We call them Big Lucky and Little Lucky."

One local fisherman said: "There was a time when the butanding was considered a pest. They would plough through our nets driving away smaller fish.

"Tourism has changed all that. Now we see the value in protecting them. Not only Filipinos but people from around the world come to swim with these giant fish."

Quiros and a small team of marine biologists and volunteers have spent more than a week photographing, measuring and taking tissue samples from the whale sharks for genetic analysis.

"It will help us build a better picture of the whale shark," said Deni Ramirez, a marine biologist from Mexico who specialises in whale shark genetics.

The programme is the first of its kind in the Philippines and is being partly financed by Mexico-based cement multi-national CEMEX Philippines Foundation and Conservation International.

"We hope that through the genetic analysis we will get a better understanding about their migratory patterns, age and breeding habits," Ramirez said.

"No one knows how long these fish live for. Some estimates have said up to 180 years. But we just don't know."

Quiros said a female can carry up to 300 eggs, each measuring up to 18 centimetres (seven inches). When hatched, the young are 40 to 60 centimetres long.

"They hatch inside the mother but very few survive to maturity," said Quiros.

"You very rarely see juvenile whale sharks. I haven't seen any here in Donsol but the local fishermen have so we know that the young are still in the area.

"Once the juvenile has established itself the mother will leave it and move on."

Despite its name and size, the whale shark is not a whale but classified in a family of its own called Rhincodontidae. Its closest relatives are the leopard and nurse sharks.

Romeo Trono, executive director for Conservation International in the Philippines said eco-tourism has helped save the whale shark from extinction but it hasn't stopped the killing.

"It still goes on in some parts of the country but not to the extent it did a few decades ago.

"It takes time to educate poor people that there are alternatives to killing a species off.

"Donsol is an example of what can be done if a unique species is protected."

Buying a home in Germany

Should you buy or rent? Owning your own home is always an appealing option with a long period of economic stagnation having helped to keep German real estate prices down. Andrew McCathie takes you along the road to home ownership in the country.

A long period of economic stagnation has helped to open up some new opportunities in the German property market.

Indeed, a pickup in the economy and increased emphasis in the country on rolling back state pensions and encouraging people to provide more for their old age has made owning bricks and mortar a more interesting proposition for Germans, who for the most have been renters.

What is more, a somewhat fitful performance of the stock market has led many people to given looking at property as an alternative to shares.

That said, however, one of the few tax benefits for homeowners (the Eigenheimzulage) is facing an uncertain future.

But then officials in Berlin argue that Germany does not have a housing shortage which means that there government financial support to promote the housing market is not necessary.

Germany's economic recovery from a protracted period of stagnation has also meant property prices have remained subdued (and have fallen in some places, in particular the economically hard-pressed east). This combined with low interest rates; means buying could work in your favour.

One key factor behind any decision to buy is the length of time you intend to stay in the country. Apart from the somewhat hefty costs involved in buying, property prices in Germany do not tend to race ahead like other real markets so you should not expect a big quick return on your investment.

Considering that Germany's recent less-than-sparkling economic performance has also meant that rents have barely moved in recent years (and in cities like Berlin are low in comparison with other European cities) you should also weigh up whether it is financially more sensible for you to rent or to make monthly mortgage payments.

You don’t have to be German or even be a resident to buy what the real estate business in Germany call an ‘Objekt’. All you need is valid passport and enough money.

At the outset you should realise that total fees, including say for the agents and preparing the contract, can add up to between 10 and 12 percent of the purchase price.

But as you head off out onto the market, don’t forget the three rules of investing in a property also apply in Germany: ‘Lage’, ‘Lage’, ‘Lage’ (location, location, location).

Who you need to consult

Because a home-owning culture has not really developed in Germany, buying a property in the country can go along at a relatively leisurely pace without the tensions that arise in other markets around the world through auctions or in bidding wars.

But for really popular properties in Germany, you may find yourself competing in a quasi-auction with your agent (Makler) handling rival bids from prospective buyers.

Before you buy it is advisable to assemble a small team of advisers: a lawyer, Notar (notary), a tax accountant and if possible an architect.

OK, so you have found your dream home. Remember that normally you don’t have to sign anything committing you to the purchase until you are presented with the final contract. In general, you just have to reach an agreement with the owner on the price. But after that events can move fairly quickly.

This is when the team of advisers comes to the fore with that quaint continental European tradition of the Notar playing a key role in the process.

As the buyer you should be able to select the Notar to draw up the contract. Needless to say this is something that you should insist on from the start. No matter how chummy everything surrounding the sale has gone, it also goes without saying that you should not accept the Notar suggested by the owner.

Considering the size of the investment it is good to have as much control as possible, especially as the terms of the contract can vary.

Indeed, after the purchase has gone through, if the building is part of a modernisation project and the developer installs a firm to administer the property (Hausverwaltung) it is probably worthwhile to try an early point to link up with the other new owners and seek out a new Hausverwaltung.

You will need your tax accountant to help you through the purchase as the bank or mortgage company will want to see details of your recent tax returns. Depending on whether you want to live in it or rent it out as an investment you will need the tax accountant to fill you on exactly what the tax advantages are at present.

Some areas are, for example, zoned to regulate the rents that can be charged on the property. Besides, the tax office could also want details of how you have financed the purchase.

Mortgages and financing

In general, mortgage financing usually can be arranged up to about 60 or 70 percent of the purchase price.

Anything above that up will normally need to be secured possibly through insurance or another other form of financial security. This can sometimes be based on the income of the person or company making the purchase.

In the meantime, it wise to have an architect look through the property, especially if it is part of a building that has been renovated. There are all sorts of things to watch out for, including the age of the heating. New standards have to be met by 2005.

If everything goes to plan you will receive the contract to read through before you sit down to sign. Lawyers can be Notars as well. But just to be on the safe side, it is not a bad idea to have an independent lawyer read through the document first.

You should try and get as many of your wishes written into the contract as possible. This could include work on the property that the owner has agreed to undertake before you move in. Or even fittings that you want kept. This is especially the case if the property is part of a building which is being modernised. Valuable door handles, for example, have a habit of disappearing before you move in.

In setting out your wish-list, don’t forget the so-called common areas such as the stairwell (carpet?) and entrance area (in need of an update?).

The parties will then assemble on a specified date in the Notar’s office for signing the contract and to partake in the seemingly ancient ritual of the Notar reading out the contract word for word before you are called upon to put your signature to it. You will need to have your passport with you when the contract is signed.

The day of reckoning: handing over the property

The contract will also set out the date for the Uebergabe (handover) of the property. Because this is part of the contract, the failure of the owner or builder to meet the deadline for the Uebergabe could mean that you can make certain claims.

If the property is part of a complex that is undergoing renovation you can make instalments as the building work progresses. Once again these will be set out in the contract. You can also draw up a so-called ‘Maengelliste’ (list of faults) before you move in. This is when an architect on hand becomes very useful.

You should not pay the final payment until you are completely satisfied with the work and that all your wishes have been fulfilled.

The work carried out on modernised properties in Germany will normally have a five-year guarantee (Gewaehrleistung). But don’t be surprised if the building company responsible for carrying the costs of work under the guarantee suddenly declares itself to bankrupt once the project is completed.

Either way, battles over the ‘Gewaehrleistung’ will set you up for hours upon hours at the building’s annual ‘Eigentuemerversammlung’ (owners’ meeting).

What it all costs

The cost of the whole process depends who is involved. But in general you can expect to pay:

• Notar - about 1.5 percent of the purchase price
• Stamp Duty or Property Tax (Grundsteuer) - 3.5 percent of purchase price
• Makler - between 3.5 percent and about 6 percent of the buying price, including VAT. The commission charged, however, can depend on the state
• Registration of the property – between 0.8 and 1.2 percent

If the ‘Objekt’ is in the former east (where ownership claims are still been settled) you may find that a lot of the paperwork for the property has not been completed. This might even include the ‘Grundbuch’ (Land title register) for the property.

Any mortgage needs to be secured in the ‘Grundbuch’ and that can only be done by a Notar.

As a result, you find you stand to be hit with a bill every time a piece of paper concerning the property moves in the local administration.

Source : http://www.expatica.com

The Taj Mahal Needs a Facial

By SIMON ROBINSON/NEW DELHI

What to do when one of the world's great icons of beauty and love begins to weather and age? Begin with a cleansing mud pack, at least according to an Indian parliamentary committee looking into the state of the country's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal.

Indian Muslim devotees offer prayers at The Taj Mahal in Agra.

AFP / Getty

The committee this week reported that pollution — mainly in the form of "suspended particulate matter"(SPM) such as dust and vehicle exhaust — is slowly changing the color of the Taj. "The deposition of SPM on the shimmering white marble of the Taj Mahal imparts yellow tinge to the marble surface,"the report states.

The monument has been threatened by other pollutants in the past, including coal dust, while the Supreme Court in the 1990s forced a nearby oil refinery to reduce its emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide before they ate away at the architectural wonder built 350 years ago by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum in memory of his favorite wife. But Agra, like cities all across India, has seen a boom in construction and a sharp increase in the number of cars on its streets, and this has raised new threats to the Taj Mahal. Measures introduced over the past decade to limit the number of cars and buses allowed within a mile or so of the building appear to have had only partial success; the air in boom towns like Agra is just so full of dirt that vehicle exclusion zones become almost meaningless.

The parliamentary report suggests applying a special mud treatment to the building to bring it back to life. "To restore the pristine glory of the Taj Mahal, as a conservation measure, the clay pack treatment which is non-corrosive and non-abrasive [should be] carried out for the removal of the accretionary deposits,"it says.

But M.C. Mehta, an attorney who has spent more than two decades fighting to stop pollution around the Taj and along the sacred Ganges river, says treating the symptoms misses the point. "It is very sad," he says. "We need to do more to stop the pollution rather than fixing its effects." India, he says, "should have pride in its heritage rather than have all this industry come up, this materialism increasing, it's a need for greed that's killing our monuments, our history. If the cultural heritage is not protected then India will lose so much.�

Anumita Roychowdhury, head of the air pollution program at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based research and advocacy group, says it's a question of how much Indians value their heritage — and themselves. "It's the monument but it's also a public health issue," says Roychowdhury. Centre for Science and Environment monitoring in more than 90 Indian cities has found that 57% of them have "critical" levels of particulates that endanger public health. "The Taj can become a flagship to address the pollution challenge but you really need a city-wide, or a country-wide solution," she says.

Indonesia's island names are sold out? - Toekang IT - Blogs - CNET Asia

It's quite interesting to discover that some Indonesian island names are picked up as favorite technology-related brands.

After Java--where Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, is located--was picked-up as the Sun's platform technology. I was just surprised to find that Sumatra, another big island in the country, was also used as a technology-related product: Sumatra PDF.