Impressive Timelapse Photo Video Across Europe

Check out the artist's website here.

Geek Central @ Taipei = Guang Hua Digital Plaza

Around the World in 60 Seconds

Time-Lapse of Vietnam Traffic

Traffic in Frenetic HCMC, Vietnam from Rob Whitworth on Vimeo.

A Journey Through Vietnam Shot with GH2

A Journey Through Vietnam from Leon Visser on Vimeo.

Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera w/14-140mm Lens (Black) Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera w/14-140mm Lens FeaturesAdvanced Compact Hybrid (Still/Video) Mirror-less DSL Micro Body (16.05 mega pixels)Micro Four Thirds Mount and 3D Lens ReadyAdvanced 3.0in. free-angle LCD with Touch Control Features (460K)High Speed Three Core Processor (Venus Engine VI FHD), AVCHD Video 24Mbps bit rate1080/60i Full HD Video in StereoHybrid Touch-Control Digital Camera DMC-GH2 Featuring Full HD 1920x1080/60i Movie Recording and the Worlds Fastest Level of Light Speed AF *Enforced by the high-performance of new components and advanced technologies, the creative HD Hybrid DMC-GH2 is now offering an even higher level of creative possibility and intuition for every enthusiastic user to explore realms of not only photography but also of videography at the same time.The LUMIX DMC-GH2 is the latest member of the New Generation System Camera LUMIX G DSL Micro System. Fully compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System lens standard, the LUMIX G DSL Micro System combines a downsized body with advanced functions that achieve both high performance and operational comfort. Featuring an intuitive touch control, the new DMC-GH2 boasts its worlds fastest* level Light Speed AF of approx. 0.1 second to capture the subject in spur-of-the-moment in sharp focus*. The key components including the sensor and the image processing engine are totally refined to achieve the highest performance of the camera to render a stunning image with high resolution, beautiful gradation and high sensitivity - all worthy of the flagship camera of LUMIX G DSL Micro System, DMC-GH2. Elevating the potential of movie recording into a "true-hybrid" digital cameraThere are always two options to record spur-of-the-moment scenes – high-quality photos or movies. The user can simply choose the one that saves precious memories most beautifully with DMC-GH2.The predecessor DMC-GH1, which was substantially the first full HD movie recording interchangeable lens system camera with practical auto focus system. The AVCHD format features almost twice the recording time in HD quality than the conventional Motion JPEG format. A special, dedicated button on the top lets the user instantly start recording movies while shooting photos without ever having to make any extra settings changes. Now the DMC-GH2 can record high-resolution full-HD 1920 x 1080 movies in astonishing smooth 60i, doubling the sensor output from 24p to /60p. The DMC-GH2 also supports 1080/24p native mode with 24 Mbps, the highest in AVCHD format bringing an impressive cinema-like afterimage effect to the movie. The newly added Cinema mode option (selectable in the Film mode) gives a movie rich, cinema-like gradation. Now image recording is more flexible and fun with the DMC-GH2. It is now possible to choose a suitable frame rate for movies among 80%, 160%, 200% and 300% with the new Variable Speed Movie mode. The Touch AF in movie recording also lets users enjoy professional-like pull focusing. Just by

Go-Ped Factory Tour

I'm a fan of alternative transportation (vs regular gasoline powered cars).  Personal transportation in particular is one that I feel more people can improve upon in their lives.  Does it really make sense to drive a 2 ton vehicle out for a local trip to the grocery store or rent movies?  What a waste!

Sadly, at least in most of California, I see few people using alternative transportation for such short local trips.  I've seen one segway, a few bicycles used by some staff, a motorcycle every now and then, and a handful of people who walk from across the street here in So. Cal.

Go-ped goes a long way into making personal transportation fun and practical.  They recently released a line of bulletproof kick scooters that I think everyone should consider in an urban / city / metropolitan environment.

Enjoy the factory tour!

Sells Go-Peds.

Time for Taiwan

Algae powered Plug-in Toyota Prius

Shanghai is electric bike city! It's true, I was there.

Want to share your recent trip? Try Tripline

Tripline.net allows you to create plans, share trips, make friends, and tell your stories from your travels.  I think it's a great start, but I hope they make some improvements soon or over time.  Particularly larger picture sharing and HD videos.

Book Early & Save: 2010 Mexico Vacations from $408! - Expires 8/30/10

Buses are both convenient and economical

I'm sitting here at a bus station 1-2 minutes walk from the apartment.

Over the course of my 10 minute wait for my bus to the Taipei High Speed Rail at least a dozen buses have passed by going to any number of destinations in Taipei.

If you are new to Taipei, do yourself a favor and buy a bus map / schedule. I found one at the local 7-11 for under $5 USD and has stops in English.

Most fares are just around a dollar. On some buses you pay when you get on, and on others when you reach your stop. I never knew that until I asked the driver who pointed at a sign right above him.

Mobile Blogging from here.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Times are tough, pay what you want on your next vacation or business trip!

I don't know about you, but the act of traveling is a pretty tiring ordeal for me.  Whether its by air, car, plane or train there's always a lot of standing, sitting, walking, or waiting involved.  When I get to my destination, I want at a 3 star minimum hotel to stay in with fresh linens, fresh towels and a nice hot shower.

I get it though, times are tough.  Those hotel stays add up quickly, and three star hotels in the West coast average starting at $80 a night (and that's discount rate) in major cities and climb higher up the closer to the popular destinations. 

When I travel with friends, they know to count on me to get them the best deals.

So how do I get 50% off or more on that suite hotel?  (Most recently $39.99 on a $89.99 hotel in SF Bay).

Priceline is the first place I visit.  Not only can you name your own price, but you can tell them what region you want to stay at, and if you need to contact customer service for some reason, their response is relatively fast and friendly.  (Response time within 3 hours, 24/7 typical with email form - which is fast for discount travel brokerage).

The way I look at it is my friends are willing to pay $69 a night for some 2 star, far away from the main attraction, if I can score a 4 star for less than that, and closer - its a big win!

If its the night before, and you know you definitely don't want to stay in some cheap-ie motel and spend the night with roaches, do yourself a favor and bid the $69 (don't forget tax and other miscellaneous fees).  Chances are you will get an upgrade or two.

Make sure you do the: name your own price option, and not the Priceline fixed rate.

Either book really early, or book last minute. I tend to get the best deals booking just the night before.  If you think about it, that makes sense.  Some hotel out there has vacancies, why not book it and get something for the room rather than nothing at all?

If you are booking really early, do yourself a favor and pay for the cancellation insurance.  You are already saving a lot of money on the reservation/booking, whats a few more dollars?  The worse that could happen is you lose a few dollars for the convenience of being able to cancel or move your travel time-line.

Some of you might ask why you need cancellation insurance in the first place.  Well Priceline is only able to provide those awesome deals by securing and booking those rooms immediately when they are accepted by travel partners.  That means - no cancellations!  ... unless you paid for the insurance.

True story, and I'm sure it happens to many others.  I booked a hotel just the night before my trip for two days.  Couldn't actually make the trip due to car trouble on the way.  Contacted Priceline and hotel.  No love.  $100 lost.

And very importantly, Priceline is cheaper. Overall, they are cheaper than the competition.  They want your bid to win.  They have more partners in more cities, which means better deals!

Every plan needs a plan B.  Let's say you couldn't make the deal happen.  There's no hotel in the region, you've tried booking other regions close by.  

With Expedia, its sort of the opposite.  You don't name your own price.  They do give you a list of prices to choose from.  What you pick is the rating, and amenities.  

Hotwire bonus is that they give you more information about the hotel you might be getting, what amenities, services is offered, etc.  So if you have very specific needs, Hotwire may end up being your first choice.

Know that, and take what I've shared with you on priceline and find your deal!

   

Update on 2011-10-06 05:22 by Mike Mu

I just wanted to update on a few new strategies which work well.

First, I check Hotwire.com to get a general feel of the going rates around town.  If I really want to know which hotel it is that I'm looking at, I use BidGoggles.

Next, I jot down the same area, same star rating and head on over to Priceline Hotels and Name Your Own Price! I bid at roughly 20% below the best offer I got on Hotwire.com.  I usually win, or get so close that Priceline tells me just how much more I might need to bid to secure the deal.

Update on 2013-07-04 01:01 by Mike Mu

Another Comparison site.  The times I used it, I ended up saving more than $30 on the same hotel for the same night.  Pretty impressive.  Don't forget to use the coupons!

Update on 2015-10-26 22:56 by Mike Mu