How to know how popular is your Instagram account via IDP (Instagram Domestic Popularity)

If GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is a measure of economic production of a particular territory in terms of financial capital over a specified time period. According to boundless, GDP is calculated by:

GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government investment + government spending + (exports - imports)

GDP indicates whether the economy is growing or contracting.

So how can we measure our popularity on Instagram over a specified time period? One way to know how popular your account is on Instagram is by the number of followers. Hence, I give you the IDP (Instagram Domestic Popularity). "Domestic" means that the measurement of IDP contains only followers from one's Instagram account. Assuming that for each post made on Instagram, the number of followers is increased by one or more.

To calculate IDP:

IDP = (no. of followers - no. of posts)/no. of posts

If IDP = 0 means Normal popularity / break even

If IDP > 0 means Popular

If IDP < 0 means Not popular

If A's IDP > B's IDP means A is more popular than B
or perhaps A is a more efficient and effective content producer than B.

Example:

(2846 - 675) / 675 = ~ 3.216

The IDP of this account is approximately 3.216.

Perhaps a more accurate way to calculate IDP is to calculate it within a certain time period. 

IDP = (no. of followers gain in year X - no. of posts made in year X)/no. of posts made in year X

Example:

If  there are 286 followers gain in year 202X and there are 132 posts made in year 202X, hence the IDP for year 202X is:

(286 - 132) / 132 =  ~ 1.167

IDP for year 202X is approximately 1.167.

The above example may be a more accurate measurement of ones Instagram Domestic Popularity. However like the GDP, there are drawbacks using the IDP.

Drawbacks of IDP:

1. No. of followers can be manipulated such as creating bogey Instagram accounts to increase number of followers.

2. Private Instagram accounts only approves following requests from others. Hence the IDP may not give an accurate measure.

3. IDP does not take into account that one post may not acquire any followers at all.

4. If no post is made during that time period but the no. of followers increase.

5. Any other drawbacks that I have yet to come across.....

Pros and cons of driving a motor-home in New Zealand

Thinking of hitting the road for an adventure? You should try it in a motor-home. Driving a motor-home enables you to indulge yourselves in mother nature through freedom camping and eliminates the need to do your business in the bushes where the mosquitoes hide. So what does one need to know or require to attain the van life experience in kiwi land or down under? Well here's 6 things that might help you:

1. A Drivers license in English 
• In New Zealand and Australia, a heavy vehicle license is NOT REQUIRED to drive a motor-home in these two countries.
• Automatic or Manual does not matter. I am sure most rental companies have automatic transmission motor-homes. (PS: My rental motor-home is an automatic)
• Drivers license not in English how? Get an official translation or get an international license.
2. A Travel insurance (obviously)
• Get it. You will be better protected with one then without. Never underestimate the power of travel insurance.
3. Where can I rent a motor-home in New Zealand?
• Maui, Apollo, Britz, Juicy, Star RV these are the few common rental companies I came across. We rented ours from Maui.
4. Where are the campsites? What are the types of campsites?

• Download the campermate or Maui app it shows all campsites in New Zealand and will be a great help during your planning phase.
• Two types of campsites. One is a holiday park, requires you to book and pay the other is absolutely free. Holiday parks  have facilities such as communal showers/toilet, laundry, kitchen, games room, out door playground, out door BBQ grill, thermal pool (some holiday parks), WIFI (only 100 MB) and other facilities or services which I did not explore. Campsites that are free are mostly found in a nature reserve area. I assumed you get the point.
• For a holiday park, you have the option to book a power or non-power site if you are coming by motor-home. I suggest trying Top10's holiday parks when planning to stay close to tourist hotspot area in New Zealand. If not you can always book a room.
5. Insect repellent
• You will be surprised that there are tons of sand flies in New Zealand's nature reserves and I went during the winter season. Sand flies are tough and no winter is too cold for them.
6. Memories, keepsakes etc etc
• Along with your passport (I am stating the obvious) pack your cameras, iPhones, Samsungs, GoPros, a travel journal. Anything that helps you to document your adventure. Get a travel sim card which can be purchase at the airport upon landing cause you might wanna Instagram!!!! Vodafone travel sim is currently the cheapest in New Zealand with two choices, $29 for 500 MB or $49 for 3 GB. Downside is top up can only be done via phone using your credit card. But if you rent from maui, their motor-homes include a GPS unit which have 1 GB free WIFI for you to surge on Instagraming.

Being born and raised on a island nation, there is no need for a motor-home and moreover no space to accommodate one. So being able to drive one with only a drivers license (car) is an experience I will never forget. That being said, there are pros and cons when driving a motor-home.

Pros:

• Camping is a whole lot convenient. Motor-homes are installed with a gas stove, kitchen sink, , bar size fridge, heater and for some a toilet. Along with that you get to sleep on a bed.
• Costs for a power site ranges from NZD $50-$80? most I had paid was NZD $65 compare that to the price for a room/cabin for the night at a motel. You get the point.
• Ease of parking at campsites when compared to a caravan. You know caravan? I leave it you to google the difference between a caravan and a motor-home.
• No need to unpack or pack EVERY TIME! Staying at a motel/hostel requires the unpacking and packing of bags. Unpack to get a set of fresh clothes/amenities and packing before getting into your car and hitting the road. But if you drive a motor-home, just unpack on the first day and pack up on the second last day of your trip before returning the vehicle. I think this is by far the best advantage a motor-home can offer.  

Cons:

• Driving. Yes driving a motor-home can be a hassle. With a long wheel base makes turning wide and the heavy weight makes it difficult on the mountainous routes of New Zealand. Lastly, unpaved roads. New Zealand have plenty of them and most campers are not all wheel drive so if your motor-home gets stuck good luck trying to get help. PS: if you are travelling on unpaved roads most likely you are headed for a farm-stay or nature reserve YOUR PHONES WILL NOT HAVE SERVICE in areas far from civilisation so really good luck.
• Parking! Yes Parking can really be frustrating while driving a motor-home. Imagine yourself driving a motor-home looking for a space to park in town just so you can visit a tourist hotspot or to stock up on food at countdown or new world. You have to find not 1 parking lot but 2 or 3 depending on the size of the motor-home you rent. 

  

  You see! Takes 2 to fit this big guy..

• Cost of rental is of course significantly higher than compared to that of a car. I paid $1,850 NZD and it only sleeps 2 + 1 child. The biggest rental motor-home that I come across can only cater to a maximum of 6 adults. Bigger motor-home = higher the rental = Cons significantly increase. PS: You can get a quote online from maui/jucy website for both motor-home or car rental. 
• Clearing your own shit!!!!! No you did not read wrong. As like most motor-homes and caravans they are self-contained vehicles. Which means emptying both the shit container and waste water tank every 1-2 days at a dump station which most holiday parks have. To top it off, you also have to regularly check and top up the fresh water tank and swapping the LPG gas tank when its running low which can be done at any petrol station that have counters manned by HUMANS. (Not those rural petrol station that is only governed by a machine.) 
• 12 volt batteries. The motor-home comes with TWO 12 volt batteries, one to start the engine the other to power the living lights. The one that powers the living lights only lasts 1 day and requires charging that means plugging it in at a power site. (Though the 2nd battery will get charged as you drive but it is not sufficient.)
• Space. Some may find it cramp living in a motor-home especially the toilet. It is a price to pay for the sake of having all these conveniences on board. Here are some interior shots of my rental motor-home.

Front of the motor-home

Rear, those couch can be transformed into a queen size bed

Shower/Toilet 

Shower/Toilet may be cramp for some people.

• Prohibit Routes*. Given the shear size of most motor-homes, there are some routes that prohibits motor-homes from travelling due to its near vertical roads or narrow lanes. One route that I was made known of is Crown Range Road as such to get from Wanaka to Queenstown, we had to go via Cromwell which is a 3 hour drive total. This is a critical consideration you have to factor into your road trip route planning if you have decided to rent a motor-home.

So if you are planning your route, be sure to avoid unfriendly motor-home roads 

In the picture above is our route for the southern island of New Zealand. Places that we went are:

1. Christchurch
2. Arthur's Pass
3. Greymouth
4. Fox Glacier
5. Wanaka
6. Queenstown
7. Milford Sound
8. Invercagill
9. Curio Bay
10. Nugget Point
11. Dunedin
12. Lake Tekapo/Mt John Observatory
13. Kaikoura
14. Hammer Springs
15. Christchurch and back home

• Diesel Tax*. Motor-homes are powered with a diesel engine, and countries like Australia and New Zealand diesel is taxed unless you are a Farmer. Example maui's Road User Recovery Fee for every 100 km NZD $6.22 or $6.62 (depending on the model of your motor-home). So if your road trip covers more than 100 km  select the Express Return Pack which is an additional NZD $300 if memory serves me correct but I managed to get it $50 cheaper thanks to a kind sales representative. Good going Maui!

Well these are the Pros and Cons that I could remember for now and if you are willing to put up with the disadvantages of a motor-home, then I highly encourage anyone who are keen to go on a road trip in New Zealand to do so with a motor-home. Lastly and importantly, bring your camera and take pictures. Keep those moments in a photograph and time will forever frozen still. Who knows you might get a great shot! 

To devil's punch

Devil's punch at Arthur's pass

Unexpected places like a ceiling may sometimes give you a great shot.

"Pebble Beach" at Greymouth

Need a new wallpaper? Just look down.

Great pictures are where you least expect it to be. Fox Glacier

Nugget Point

Interior of Dunedin Railway Station

Dunedin Railway Exterior 

The Galaxy Far Far away at Mt John Observatory

Star trial at Hammer Springs

I implore each and everyone of you travel addicts to pick up photography. A picture speaks of a thousand words, so start taking photos with whatever camera you have. Remember "the best camera is the one that is with you" - Chase Jarvis. So what are you waiting for? Get up, get out, and explore New Zealand!!!!

Sir yes Sir

18 October 2014, on this very day my bmt mates have graduated from the Officer Cadet School at SAFTI MI. Once strangers but now brothers. From the very first day of my enlistment till this very day, the bond that I have forged with them stays strong. 4 months of basic military training may be short but the memories that I made with them have deeply engraved in my mind. Once again congratulations Sir!

去高雄 Kaohsiung Taiwan Day 5 台湾 第五天

Our 5th Day in Taiwan, we were scheduled to travel down to the southern part of Taiwan, Tainan (台南). We got coach tickets at 600 NT each that is about SGD 25. It took  5 hours total from Taipei to Tainan and the ride was a no rest stop. But fear not, the coach has a toilet built-in, electric moving seats and entertainment devices all to make the long trip comfortable. The coach we took is from Aloha. I have provided the link do use chrome to translate the site if you have trouble understanding Chinese like me.

The more affordable alternative to travel down to Kaohsiung is via train. But we were a little late, as all the seated train tickets were sold out and the our options left were to purchase the standing tickets or pay more for the high speed railway a.k.a 高铁 (gao tie). Therefore, if you are planning to go down Kaohsiung, please do purchase your train tickets early. Well if have surplus, then by all means go for the high-speed railway. Train tickets can be bought at a Train station. For our case we had to get our tickets at 台北火车站 (Taipei Train Station).

We boarded the coach at Taipei Coach terminal, located somewhere nearby Taipei Train Station, and after 5 hours of 'when will it end' coach ride we alighted at Kaohsiung Train Station. From there we took the subway down to  liouhe night market (六合夜市). Not to eat but to check into our hostel.

Liohe Night Market Subway station.

Liohe street, before night fall

The nearest subway station to Liohe street is the Formosa Boulevard Station (美丽岛车站). Proceed down deep these flight of stairs and you will be greeted something nice once down there.

Possibly the deepest I have seen so far

Take a dive anyone?

Once at the entrance, you will be amazed by this beautiful ceiling art piece. To me, I think it is wonderful and to top it off there is someone playing the piano to suit the atmosphere.

Beautiful lighted art covered the circular ceiling.

A pianist playing, soothes the environment.

Beautiful ceiling art + Soothing piano melody = ultimate relax combo.

Fast forward to night fall and Liohe street suddenly becomes bustling with activities. My friends who planned out the itinerary really like night markets. Night markets are our usual spots for us to have dinner. As we are traveling on a tight budget, night markets makes it the perfect place for us to try many different types of food and basked ourselves in the local atmosphere.

Getting Toyed by this ice-cream seller.

We tried the BBQed prawns from this stall and it tasted
very much like our usual barbecued prawns sprinkled with salt.
Though I am unsure about the prawns being imported from Thailand??? 

Chew got himself some papaya milk to suck on.

We decided to try one of the stalls selling seafood congee.

We bought a bowl of seafood congee from the stall pictured above, and it is absolutely tasty!

Tried this dried food and I must say I certainly dislike it.

  And that's that. I guess my friends or rather most Singaporeans are food hunters. Willing to venture around the world in quest of getting a taste of what is sold in the night markets of Taiwan. Either that or Taiwan is really good at advertising itself. You see, there was a period of time where our local Chinese Television broadcast station (Channel U) starting airing Taiwan reality shows. In these shows, we Singaporean Chinese viewers are exposed to Taiwanese celebrities and of course their night market culture shown in these Taiwanese reality programmes.

Well I hope this explains why we kept on crashing into different night markets for dinner. Remember, different night markets have different hidden gems (e.g. well known food stalls, crowd, whatever). I do highly recommend to visit the night markets of Taiwan as it allows us foreigners to indulge ourselves in their local culture.

DORAEMON 100th Anniversary! 去 Taiwan Day 4 第四天

Based on the previous posts on Taiwan, our routine is very much the same as Day 1. We go out to some tourist attractions and then spend most of our time shopping and eating at the night markets of Taiwan. But on our fourth day, we went to visit the DORAEMON 100th anniversary exhibition. All thanks to my otaku friend Adam who had included this in our itinerary.

Location:  松山文創園區 110, Taiwan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Guāngfù South Rd, 133號

100 years before the birth of Doraemon. Here we come!

Doraemon commonly known by us Chinese as either 小叮当(xiao ding dang) or 哆拉A梦(dou la A meng), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko Fujio. It is so successful that is also had been adapted in a anime series and media franchise. Though I don't really follow the Doraemon series but it has made it's presence engraved in my mind from the very first time I watched it when I was just 7 years old. For those who are new, Doraemon is the named of a robotic cat who can pull out all kinds of innovative gadgets from its pocket. Gadgets that can only exists within our wildest imagination. Along side his best friend 大雄 (daxiong), who knows what fun or trouble these gadgets might cause.

So on our 4th day we went to the exhibition, which explains the origin of Doraemon till the end. Without further ado, I be posting pictures as it speaks a thousand words.

Queuing for tickets at the Doraemon booth

Literally everything has Doraemon decorated on it. EVERYTHING is DORAEMONish.

Doraemon Lockers

Doraemon gold tickets!?!??Forgotten what are they for

Doraemon entrance exhibit tickets!!! Oh yeah 

Step inside and you will be greeted by the original gold coloured Doraemon. The exhibit starts from the very beginning of Doraemon's life.

Doraemon under manufacturing process

Spoiler Alert!!!! No. 1 If you are still new to the Doraemon thing, I am really really sorry but the next image shows Doraemon ears^^ nibbled. Nibbled by who? 

My ears!!!! My ears!!! NOOOOOO!

Eaten by a rat, now my ears are gone and I am sad.

Spoiler Alert!!!! No. 2 If you are still new to the Doraemon thing, I am really sorry again but here is how Doraemon lost its gold colour. Based on Adam's knowledge, Doraemon was down in the dumps upon losing its ears, he then resort to a cheer-up potion, a potion to make him happy. Much like anti-depressants. But he drank the sorrow potion by accident which made him cried uncontrollably which causes his gold finish to fade and his voice coarse permanently.

I think what we can learn from here is that NEVER resort to any form MEDICATION if you are feeling sad or down! Prevention is better than cure. Remember that.

Sniff... oh no...

That is Adam by the way

That is the very beginning of what happened to Doraemon before he met 大雄 (da xiong) pass this section, and you will be greeted by one of the most popular gadget in the whole of the Doraemon series. Its is the どこでも (Doko demo) door. どこでも (Doko demo) means anywhere in Japanese. This door allows Doraemon and his friends to any side of the universe.

Daddy lets go anywhere!

Entered it and be wowed by the 100 different types of Doraemon equipped with different gadgets. Click the bottom image Caption to view all 100 Doraemons!!!!

Click Here To View all 100 Doraemons!!

With 100 Doraemons all around the exhibition, a Doraemon fanatic will have trouble deciding which Doraemon to have picture with.

Smile!!!

Another popular gadget in the Doraemon series is his time machine. We follow Doraemon on his time machine which take us to the very start of the series where he met 大雄 (da xiong).

Lets go back in time Everyone!

Once pass the space time tunnel, be amaze again by a live size town somewhere in the city of Nerima (练马) city, Tokyo (东京) prefecture.

View scenes that are re-enacted by exhibits.   

Or be part of the exhibit too!

Which house shall we visit next???

 Here we have the female lead which 大雄 (da xiong) have a crush on.

This the female lead 静香 (jing xiang).

刚田 (gang tian) a.k.a Gian the bully who picks on 大雄

刚田's little sister Jaiko

小夫 (xiao fu) is 刚田's friend and accomplice. Together they pick on 大雄

Several of the stories revolve around 大雄 (da xiong) and his friends' efforts to avoid Gian's concerts. Singing is another prominent hobby of Gian, in which he thinks himself proficient, but very appalling to the point that people often pass out upon hearing his singing. Nonetheless, he manages to "convince" the neighbourhood to be his concert audience, and even force them into praising his singing. He often steals the comics of other children. Sometimes he steals Doraemon's gadgets from 大雄 (da xiong) and missuses them.

Please make him STOOOOPPPPPP!!!!!

One of the many gadgets of Doraemon is this see through gadget. Place the hoop on any exterior wall of the house and you may catch a glimpse of what's' behind it.

What do have here???

Closer....

Hmmm...not bad.

A good and true friend, will always be by your side when you are down.

Ever thought of flying? Forget jet packs or jet shoes, how about a helicopter propeller? Just stick it right on top of your head and you can fly! Simple right?

They are flying!!!

I believe I can fly~

That's Ruiqi

That's Adam

Bleeeehhhhhh~

That's Yichin

Going Up^

Going Down

The 100th Doraemon Anniversary is not just for children and fanatics, they also showcase some of the author's sketches and scripts to those who seek inspiration. 

Part of a manga page before it was published

Sketches of Nobita in its final stages 

Finalised sketches of Doramon 

Sketches of Dorami Doraemon's sister

Finalised sketched of every character from one of the Doraemon movies directed

Scene script paper? I believed this was used by a voice actor maybe?

If the drawings and scripts do not strike you an idea perhaps you could let your creativity run wild and create your very own Doraemon!!! That is right! I believe you can purchase a clay-made Doraemon figure and paint it to whatever designs your creativity takes you. Who knows your very own figure might be on display like the ones below!

Fancy a chequered Doraemon? 

Look at the Doraemons !!!!!  ^_^

So many variations of Doraemon!!!! Ohhh but they are not for sale..... =(

Trex? more like Dragon! Dragon! Rock the Dragon! Dragon Raemon Z

Half a polka-dots-raemon?

Wateraemon!!!!

I like this. Looks like Lu Bu from the romance of the three kingdoms

福(FU)! Furaemon! Buy this and you will 福 ah!
PS: 福(FU) in means luck. Be sure to turn the word upside down during Chinese New Year or else bad luck.

Of course, no exhibition is complete without souvenirs!!! Like any other exhibition, there is a souvenir shop located right near the exit of the exhibition. They sell everything Doraemon. Doraemon T-shirts, plushies, snacks, hats, stickers, cards, they even got a Doraemon cafe set-up right there.

Doraemon Plushie for you?

Perhaps some Doraemon snacks?

They got Doraemon pancakes, cookies.. etc...etc

Or how about a Doraemon Bread? Comes in handy before a mathematics exam.

Low on cash? No problem. They still got Doraemon stickers for you to purchase as keepsake

Little or no cash at all? Don't worry, they got Doraemons in a Gashapon!!!

Fancy this propeller hat? Hmmm might get critics from some fashionista

Screw those fashionista comments!!!!! Adam here seems to like it.

Well we have come to the end of the Doraemon adventure. Doraemon has been around ever since when I was just a little boy. To those who are new to Doraemon, you should go watch it. If there is time, I still do catch a few shows here in Singapore. Doraemon is aired it every Sunday morning on Channel 8. It really does take me back to my childhood years. To those who are new to Doraemon, I think I spoiled a far bit...? hahas. Anyway I do recommend watching or reading the Doraemon series. Who knows, it might be an inspiration to somebody else?

Bye~

PS: If you have missed the Doraemon 100th Anniversary. There is still time to catch it, as they are now in Malaysia Johor Bahru. Please refer to the image below or you can find out more on their website or facebook page. Don't say I never say hor... hahas bye~