‘Money doesn’t count!’ - The Friar

Think that counting money is done the same way all over the world, well think again, counting money is done very differently depending on where you are. This video shows how counting money is done in Japan, Korea, China and Singapore, then in Afghanistan,Iran,India, Tajikistan and the Middle East, then in Russia, Mongolia, Poland and Eastern Europe, then in Turkmenistan, Kazakistan, Pakistan, and parts of Turkey, then in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt, then in Africa, then in America, Canada and England.

Interesting differences in the counting styles of the different countries, who would of known that there are hugh cultural differences in money counting!

‘Unemployment is capitalism’s way of getting you to plant a garden.’ - The Friar

Andorra the tiny country nestled in the Pyrennes, between Spain and France, is arguably the best country in the world to live in. Andorra’s boasts an unemployment rate of zero percent and a life expenctancy of 83.52 years, the best in the world. (Macau is higher at 84.33 put is part of China now). Andorra is also a tax haven and a top tourist destination, with about 9 million visitors a year.

There is one place in this world that has been left completely untouched by the credit crunch and impending recession. That place is North Korea.

Unlike it’s neighbour to the South, which is getting hit hard, North Korea hasn’t felt the pinch at all. This is due to a centrally planned economy, the complete rejection of capitalism and Kim Jong-Il’s “Military-First” policy.

However, being recession proof isn’t all good news, North Korea is considered a failed nation as the economy has been contracting year-on-year since the 1970’s, there is no stock exchange and the country is heavily dependent on aid from South Korea and China. The population of 23 million have being to the edge of famine.

For visitors that brave this country, the euro is a popular currency in North Korea and all visitors pay in foreign currencies at an inflated rate, with foreign currencies worth more against the North Korean won on the black market than the official rate.

Visitors are not allowed to bring their mobile phones with them to North Korea, and internet access requires official forms to be filled out, and it’s considered a bit risky to send an e-mail.