Brick has existed as a building product for thousands of years. Genuine clay brick is durable, affordable, and easy to maintain. Why choose brick? Find the answer in these enchanting brick houses.
Whether it’s a porch, pool or patio, you can turn your outdoor space into a relaxing tropical retreat. There are passive cooling techniques you can use to create thermal comfort. They include skills in building orientation, shading, and choice of materials that don’t store much heat but dissipate heat quickly. Here are some useful design ideas compiled by Living ASEAN.
The Quality of Life Index measures which city provides the best opportunities for health, safety, and good living for the year ahead. Singapore no doubt ranks the highest in the ASEAN, while Jakarta and Bangkok take distant second and third places, respectively. Let’s see how cities across the Region fare in the bigger picture and what can be done to improve life quality.
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Numbeo is the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. Its latest survey and rating statistics showed Singapore topped the index as the country with the highest quality of life in the ASEAN Region, followed by Jakarta and Bangkok in distant second and third places, respectively. Manila fared badly at the bottom of the ranking whereas Laos, Myanmar and Brunei didn’t make the cut for lack of information in the database.
Street walkway in Singapore
The QLI is a composite criterion used to rank cities. It looks into the costs of living and purchasing power, safety, affordability of housing, pollution, crime rates, health system quality and time spent on daily commutes. According to the survey, Singapore is the safest city in the ASEAN. It scores 83.26 on the safety index, 86.32 on the costs of living index. Jakarta takes a distant second place scoring 47.51 on the costs of living, and 46.90 on safety.
However, the people in Jakarta perform much better in the area of wellness scoring 62.99 on the health care index. Jakarta fares badly in terms of purchasing power scoring a low 35.97 compared with 92.91 in Singapore.
BTS skytrain in Bangkok
In parts of Bangkok, people are facing multiple health problems with the pollution index remaining high at 73.88. The city scores a high 81.47 on the health care index, a low 51.25 on the costs of living index, and a very low 43.12 on the purchasing power index. It fares badly at 49.81 on the traffic commute time index.
The Numbeo survey puts Manila at the bottom of the Quality of Life Index with a low 41.32 on the costs of living, 43.16 on purchasing power, and 39.65 on safety. The pollution index for Manila is very high at 92.01 while the traffic commute index is also high at 55.72.
Meanwhile in Europe, Vienna ranks the highest in the World Quality of Life Index. Numbeo statistics show Vienna scoring a whopping 193.79 out of 200 in the quality of life, which is very high. It also performs brilliantly in safety, health care, and the property price to income ratio index.
Summer is here to stay now the rain is gone. And it’s beginning to look like a scorcher. But that’s nothing compared to the highest recorded temperatures in the ten ASEAN countries. Check this out!
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Myanmar:The temperature at Myinmu, a river town west of Mandalay, rose to its highest at 47.2 °C (116.96 °F) on May 14 as a moderate El Niño occurred in 2010
Thailand: Mae Hong Son saw the hottest temperature on record in Thailand topping out at 44.6 °C (112.3 °F) on April 28, 2016. The previous record was held by Uttaradit at 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) on April 27, 1960.
Vietnam:The temperature at Con Cuong rose to a record 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) on May 30, 2015. The city of Con Cuong is located in Nghe An Province in the North Central region of Vietnam.
Cambodia:The new all-time record high for Cambodia was set on April 15, 2016 in Preah Vihea when the mercury soared to 42.6 °C (108.7 °F).
The Philippines:Mindanao Island observed its highest temperature on record at General Santos with a 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) reading on April 16, 2016. This was a long way from the national record of 42.2 °C (108 °F) held by Tuguegarao in April 1912 and May 1969.
Laos:The hottest day at Thakhek sent the mercury soaring to a record 42 °C (107.6 °F) on April 20, 2015. That tied the previous record of 42 °C held by Savannakhet since March 1933.
Malaysia: The all-time record in Malaysia was 40.1 °C (104.2 °F) at Chuping on April 9, 1998.
Indonesia: There are two candidates. The all-time record high of 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) was measured at Makassar City in Sulawesi in 2012. However, the hottest temperature recorded by reliable sources in the country was 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) at Jatiwangi, on Java on November 19, 2006.
Singapore:A record 37 °C (98.6 °F) reading was measured on April 17, 1983 by the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), which confirmed the hottest day on record in the island country.
Brunei:The hottest day came on July 6, 2015 at Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei, with the mercury rising to a record 35 °C (95 °F). For reference, on that day the average high was 32°C (89.6 °F).
Armed with technology, the right skills, and a can-do attitude, more people are working freelance from home now. If being independent is your style, here are some ideas for your workspace.
Studies have shown that exposure to natural light improves performance in the workplace, not to mention overall well-being. Avoid the pain and discombobulated feelings that come with working in dim light conditions or under fluorescent lights during daylight hours. It’s a good idea to set up a workspace near windows. But too much sun exposure can make your eyes weary. So, windows should be on the side or behind your desk, or you can hang curtains to block out the heat and minimize glare. Reflections on walls and your computer screens can cause eye strain. Remember. Sunshine is healthy in moderation.
– Clever update under the stairs –
Don’t hesitate to experiment with new design updates if you live in a small house. You are only limited by your own imagination. Thinking unconventionally, you can turn the nook under the stairs into a hip workspace. That little space there has enough room for a 40-centimeter-wide work desk. Put in a few electrical outlets over the desktop for easy access, and you are good to go. Facing solid walls may make you feel boxed in, but the trade-off is worth it. You get a lot done in the comfort of your home.
– Take it to the next level, literally –
Living in a home with high ceilings, you have the advantage of vertical space that can be updated to serve a wide variety of functions. How about putting in a mezzanine and use it as your private workspace? You may need to install extra layers of ceiling insulation because it’s slightly warmer up there, especially as temperatures increase during the day.
– A little privacy counts a lot –
Working from home has its disadvantages. Some freelances find it hard to stay focused since it’s easy to get distracted by all kinds of things and people, from kids to family members to next door neighbors. Calm the distractions by putting in glass partitions or window coverings. A good way to keep the blaring and talking noises out, heavy curtains promote a sense of concentration and a little privacy. No more hustling to the workplace every day, you have more time for the family.
– Make it fun and creative –
Say, you have a home with double high ceilings, but you don’t like the standard mezzanine because the floor is too thick. Go for something more exciting and creative. At three meters high, put in a hammock-style rope mesh suspended by cords at the ends. Soon you find yourself airborne chilling out in the comfort of your home. Researching in the supine position makes your brain work smarter and lightning fast. But if you’re a freelance musician, it is a good idea to soundproof your room properly before your start rehearsing.
– Straightforward down-to-earth approach –
If all else fails, you can always get work done on the floor. That looks to be a sensible solution where office furniture is scarce and hard to come by. Just don’t make yourself too comfortable. It’s important to stay motivated if you want to work from home. Make sure your “shop floor” is adequately lit.
Windows are great ways to allow natural light into the interior space. Why limit yourself like it’s a rectangle with corners? There are other attractive window design options. Check this out.
Cave windows are stylishly unique, albeit not an easy task. You will need special jamb shafts, caps, and bases, as well as professional installers to accomplish the task. The jambs bear the weight of the window and wall. Their strengths are vitally important as precautions against cracks in the wall. Done right, cave windows are aesthetically pleasing sights to see. Your kids will definitely love them.
Round Windows
Round window frames measuring 1.2 meters in diameter can be crafted of a concrete pipe. Put cushions on the window sill to ensure it is soft to the touch, and it will be your new favorite spot in the house.
Panoramic Windows
If you like a crisp, cool breeze but don’t want the heat of the scorching sun, panoramic windows may be for you. The long horizontal design is an ideal solution where a lot of natural light is desired without sacrificing thermal comfort in the interior space.
Tall Windows
Tall windows and narrow rooms with high ceilings make fine pairings. You can make them look fashionable by separating the main window frame into two sections. Fill the top part with a row of swing-out casement windows, and the lower part with awning windows.
Diagonal Widows
Slanting windows are seriously cool, but be patient because they take a long time to install. Oftentimes building constructors will first need to measure the aperture, have the casements made to custom specifications, and then put different parts together on site.
Shelf Windows
If the display of souvenirs and beautiful objects is your style, just add a flat length of rigid materials to the window frame. You will have handsome shelving to show off your sentimental collections.
Sink Windows
The stuffy atmosphere is no more. Let a custom-designed overhead window light up your kitchen sink, and get rid of that airless, musty feeling.
Moroccan Windows
Making your own Moroccan windows is easier than you think. All you need are pieces of plywood cut to Moroccan arch specifications and painted white. You will also need brass-plated window latches and handles. Attach them to you window frames and enjoy a touch of the exotic.
Vertically Stacked Windows
A neatly arranged stack of awning windows can make your home or workplace look unique. Add a personal touch to your design by putting messages, labels, inspirational quotes, or pieces of graphic design on glass shutters.
LivingASEAN proudly presents different durian cultures unique to the ASEAN region. Perhaps it’s something you have never heard of, including five interesting ways of making eating the spiky fruit more fun than you would ever imagine.
A wall is covered with durian graffiti in Kuala Lumpur.
The majority of durians are grown in Thailand and Malaysia with other varieties available in Indonesia. Some are also grown in the Philippines, southern Vietnam and other Southeast Asia countries.
Thailand
Out of more than 200 varieties of durians in Thailand, the three most sought-after are Mon Thong, Chanee, and Kan Yao.
Mon Thong (meaning “golden pillow”) comes with a sweet taste and a firm texture. Chanee is smaller in size but less sweet, softer and creamier. And Kan Yao has mild, not-so-sharp sweetness.
The quality that most Thais look for in the fruit is its firmness. Durian aficionados can tell a good fruit apart from plain ones simply by knocking on the spiky skin and judging the sounds. Hollow sounds tend to indicate the fruit is too soft. In contrary, solid sounds indicate the fruit is a firm one.
Due to their pungent odor, the spiky fruits are not allowed in many places including aboard the BTS Skytrain and the MRT.
Malaysia
Malaysians prefer their durians to be soft and buttery. In Malaysia, the fruit is eaten within the day they are ripe and drop from the trees to the ground. It is said that the best ones are the ones that fall down in the morning.
Malaysia seems to have it all from Musang King durian puree to Musang King durian mochi to durian flavored popsicle sticks.
Durian flavored cheesecakes come in the guise of a simple cupcake appearance.
There are many products made from the fruit in different, perhaps quirky, ways that are available in Malaysia. They include durian-flavored ice creams, candies, cakes, pastes, freeze-dried snacks, and a wide variety of parfaits.
Indonesia
The keyword for getting a nice durian experience here is “Kampung”. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the word means “village.” So, when you visit a fruit stall, make sure to look for the “Kampung” sign. It means that the fruits are products of indigenous durian trees grown in the villages, and not from any genetically modified tree.
Often you will come across durians that are either too ripe or too raw. So, one useful thing to know is not to buy a fruit that had been cut open. It is a normal practice that a “Takung Duren” (durian seller) will always select the fruit, cut it open and pass on an amount of its creamy flesh for you to taste. After that it’s your turn to decide whether to take the fruit or ask for a new one.
Well, choose wisely. We hope you all have a chance to meet your fruit soul mate!
Crispy freeze-dried durian makes a perfect snack. It’s light and also full of nutrients.
This Hello-Kitty ice cream is a combination of cute and cool.
Dubbed “durian pancake” or “durian crepe,” this bite-size sweet pack has loads of fresh cream wrapped inside a thin layer of durian crepe like a little golden treasure box.
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