Hainan-Sanya-Haikou Expat

Seems that 20 celebrities including British Actor Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey will be at the Celebrity ProAm Golf Tournament chasing an incredible "winner takes all" purse of 1.28 million dollars. Taking place at the end of October, "two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman, China's multiple Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Li Ning and Japan's No. 1 comedian and talk show host Akashiya Sanma will serve as Host Ambassadors for the Mission Hills Star Trophy.", according to a story found at World Golf. The rich continue being rich while, by the way, I am daily receiving articles and reports from numerous sources suggesting that Hainan property prices, true or not, are dropping like a rock.

So is that "Buyer Beware" or "Buyers Be Where?"...?

The description of northern Hainan Island's expansion around the golf industry is impressive. According to a press statement released by Buffalo Communications, "Mission Hills Hainan lies in the volcanic region of exotic Hainan Island, China. The resort sets a new standard in leisure, recreation and wellness experiences. Nestled amid lush, green gardens, the resort caters to golf enthusiasts and comprises specially-designed golf courses, each one incorporating the native lava rock formations. Other state-of-the-art features include 525 tastefully-appointed guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, meeting facilities, 12 world-class restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, Hainan's only aquatic theme park, therapeutic natural mineral springs, a spa oasis, and a shopping arcade. A magnificent addition to Hainan's tropical island paradise, Mission Hills Hainan is poised to be the island's premier sanctuary, attracting visitors from around the globe."

World Golf Article Here

You just have to love the Sanya evenings this past week with the temp coming down and the breeze kicking up. Check out Tim's Dadonghai Dusk video here. Oh yes Sanya really IS tropical paradise. Let's not forget the facts. Somebody did complain a bit about the lack of posts...admittedly true but the reality is threefold.

First there is in fact a dearth of new news. Yes the hotels and apartment complexes are being built. Yes, real estate prices went way too high and are drifting back down as speculators and fools across China start seeing reality more clearly. Secondly, we're in the summer low season, which is a normal if not slightly negative phenomenon for tourist destinations throughout the world but as you'll read below, still many good things worth mentioning. In June, there will be student holiday arrivals and then we'll see what July and August have in store. As in the European winter, many shopkeepers close their doors during the low season. It looks like the original Dadonghai Rainbow finally closed its doors and it is officially announced the Kempinski Sanya Resort is no longer under the Kempinski name, although I think they get to use the name for awhile longer.

Thirdly, new activity and posts will be found first at the new SanyaExpat site at www.sanyaexpat.ning.com. We'll keep you linked here to whatever is going on over there which is where all the action and info is and where YOU belong!!

So moving on to much upbeat and happy, head over to Fat Daddy's for 29rmb imported Aussie beer promotion....brands include Crown, Pure Blonde, RedBack, James Hoags, VB Bitter, green curry at Pattaya Thai still works perfectly, one can never complain about 10rmb small draft beers at Dadonghai's Wave Bar and you have to try the new Shepherd's Pie at CoffeeWorld....Aussie beer list coming soon...the Dadonghai Mall makeover turned out quite nice and heaven above forgive me for never before mentioning that there is a four lane bowling alley at the Shan Hai Tian Hotel in Dadonghai...

Welcome to new members Simon Jones, who successfully found the He Ping Lu downtown dental clinic we recommended, and to Bernie Flores, entertainer extraordinaire still doing his thing at the Ritz Carlton Yalong Bay. Bernie, we want you to post some video clips PLLLEEASSEEEE!!!!

Cheers, Mario

We will send you a free drink thank you email which you can print out and redeem at either restaurant, redeemable until the end of May.

Cheers, Mario

THE HAINAN-SANYA-HAIKOU COMMUNITY IS DONE! UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS! UPLOAD YOUR VIDEOS! START A FORUM DISCUSSION! AND CHAT TOO! ITS UNBELIEVABLY EASY AND FUN! ITS BETTER THAN FACEBOOK! WE SPENT FIVE MILLION U.S. DOLLARS TO LAUNCH THIS JUST FOR YOU!

Ok, ok just kidding on that last one folks...Offering big kudos and credits to my dear pal and supporter Tim Wilson for helping me set up this new community at Ning.com, this is the Tim Wilson whose bouncing balls we all love, um, that would be his bouncing Waboba Balls for those of you whose imaginations might be wandering off course a bit.

At the banner link below in this post and in the right column, you will now find the new fabulous, amazing, wonderful, and nifty Hainan-Sanya-Haikou Social Media Community we have just set up at Ning.com. You can post in the forum, photo/video gallery, events, activities, blog and even chat! How's that for cool?

Visit Sanya-Haikou-Hainan Expat Network

In consideration of our decision to be based in Shanghai starting the end of May, it will be easy to stay in touch with people like Tim, and other supporters including CoffeeWorld, Fat Daddys, Surfing Hainan and ShanghaiExpat to continue growing the SanyaExpat site,keeping it fresh, making it better for everyone. Adding this new social media community at Ning goes a long way to making that happen and giving you our valued readers and friends an open opportunity to be part of the community. Of course everyone is encouraged to join, share and invite friends, which Ning makes very easy with their "Invite" feature.

Thanks to Brendan at Surfing Hainan for grabbing me in the gmail chat window just now to tell me he's already signed up and starting to post photos and information even before I've finished typing this post!!...and five minutes I find Sheldon at Fat Daddy's and Erik too so we're on our way, please do join us to grow the Hainan island community! If you have other thoughts on becoming a feature contributor and supporter of SanyaExpat, don't hesitate to drop us a line to talk about it further.

Cheers and Thanks Everyone!

Mario

Elizabeth's Boao Bed 'N Breakfast

As my wife and I recently discovered, the Boao area of Hainan island is well worth a visit. Elizabeth and Richard do a nice job at their B&B tucked away in lovely little Boao town where today's Chinese emperors meet to continue formulating their plans for China's global rise...

Cheers, Mario

Having seen the Hainan property story on the front page of Dow Jones' MarketWatch website a couple of weeks back, we realize Hainan is now mainstream news and I was pleased to receive another media invitation, this time for an interview with Bloomberg Television, which will air worldwide later this week. I'll be sure to place the link to the story on the site here as soon as I receive it from Zeb Eckert, the lead reporter who flew into Hainan for the story and did a great job catching the key points.

The Market and China Advisory Monthly Newsletter is available at $109 per year PLUS you receive a FREE copy of The New Reality, Mario's new 111 page e-book on business, world culture and China.

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