The Feinbaum Chronicles

Today we spent the entire morning and afternoon preparing and delivering our synthesis project to the faculty. We did something called a CAGE analysis which stands for Culture, Administrative, Geography and Economic. We analyzed these factors for Bangalore, China and Hong Kong. Our assignment was around the concept that we were consultants hired by a fictitious company to explore the options for acquiring or starting a technology/consulting firm into Asia. We also did the same CAGE analysis on our first day in Bangalore.

Tonight we head over to Disney Hong Kong for a dinner and time in the park. After that I head back on a midnight flight to Knoxville. I hope everyone has enjoyed the blog and I’ll try to post something when I get back to the states. Feel free to leave your comments by clicking on the comments button below.

China 001

Originally uploaded by feinbaum.

Here is the Wal-Mart in mainland China. I found it interesting that Wal-Mart hasn’t open a store in either Hong Kong or Bangalore but they are in China. I also saw an Ikea furniture store in China.

China 003

Originally uploaded by feinbaum.

We had a long day yesterday as we trekked into mainland China. We took a 1 hour boat ride into the mainland and started the day visiting Shekou. In Shekou we visited a mineral museum. Next stop was a 2 1/2 bus ride to Guangzhow. We had lunch plus toured around a bit. It was amazing seeing how many factories lined they highways on the 2 1/2 bus ride (as far as the eye could see). Also, they have a huge pollution problem. It’s always smoggy and overcast and the sun never really breaks through the clouds….ever.

After a long day, we took a 2 hour train ride back into Hong Kong. It ended up being a 13 hour day trip into China. Well worth the visit.

Hong Kong Jockey Club

Originally uploaded by feinbaum.

We all visted the Hong Kong Jockey Club this evening for a tour, dinner and night of horse racing. The HKJC is a not for profit race track supported by the HK government. All excess revenue goes back into the community. They give about a billion Hong Kong dollars per year back to schools, hospitals, parks, etc. They are also the largest tax payer in Hong Kong paying about 10% of all taxes collected by the Hong Kong government. They also built the new University of Hong Kong Science and Technology University which we also visited today. That cost them somewhere around $3 billion Hong Kong dollars.

I think Adam is displaying some sort of Australian modern dance move.

James and Kim work in on the dance floor at Sticky Fingers.

Today we visited the Port of Hong Kong. The pictures attached just can’t portray the size and scale of this operation. It was quite amazing! The Hong Kong port is the second busiest port in world behind only Singapore. We were given open access to most of the port facilities and had a chance to tour the docks, warehouses and the top floor dispatch operation. Click on the photo to see a more detailed look.

This photo is of one of the high-end residential areas of Hong Kong. As you may know, Hong Kong has some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Very few people can afford a 4,000 square foot house but if they could it would cost them about $30 million US dollars (yes three zero).

Here is a picture of the Hong Kong $100 dollar bill. It’s worth about $12.85 in US dollars.