From Wuling to BMW - Mini Electric Cars

Wuling - Hong Guang MINI EV

The latest increase in EV cars is astonishing but not surprising. Electric cars are drastically improving battery efficiency and tend to be often more affordable. The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, introduced by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture (between SAIC, GM and Liuzhou Wuling Motors), is no one of the most popular EVs in China.

Demand for this tiny BEV went through the roof, as it starts at roughly £4,200 and seems to be a perfect "tool" for city driving and parking. It took the company only 12 months to design and start production of the MINI EV, but is it really that good? Well, no. It's a very cheap vehicle, which is reflected in basically everything.

According to the Wheelsboy's review, the interior materials are really cheap, with low plastic quality. The air conditioning has turned out to be weakest ever experienced. Seats are one of the most uncomfortable ever.

The acceleration is mild and you would have to be "brave" to drive it up to the top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), as from the safety perspective, it's a cute steel can with nothing besides seat belts and ABS. Going over any kind of bumps is an "adventure". In other words, it's a specific vehicle, but not a normal car. It might be better than a scooter (cost is comparable to a motorcycle by the way), or a great second vehicle in a family, just to go for groceries. However the trunk is very small and one will be forced to fold the rear seats to store anything basically.

Peugeot e-208

The all-electric version of the 208 supermini is one of several PSA Group compact EVs that hit the market in 2020, but it's the best priced and also the most visually appealing. For its mix of usable range, performance, value, practicality, style, perceived quality and driver appeal, it clearly deserves to figure highly if you’re shopping for your first electric car this year. Higher, perhaps, than any other pint-sized electric car.

Unlike more low-rent-feeling EVs, the car’s materially rich interior distinguishes it just as clearly as the stylish bodywork. Practicality is on a par with the Renault Zoe and better than in a Mini Electric. Refinement beats both of those key rivals, too and performance is fairly strong. Certainly, you get an adequate dose of that electric-motor-enabled ‘zip’.

The car also rides with a suppleness missing from some smaller EVs, which often struggle to contain their body mass on the road. The steering is striking for its directness, although body control deteriorates a little bit if you drive more enthusiastically. Even so, it’s the roundedness of the e-208’s driving experience that really impresses.

Renault Zoe

Another French option, right at the sharp end of the field. The Renault Zoe was always an appealing short-hop electric supermini, even when it was offered with a 22kWh battery and had only 80 miles of real-world range. The car’s usability was enhanced during a mid-life update, however, by a 41kWh battery option that, on a warm day, turns the car into one good for 150 miles of mixed real-world use.

Now there is a comprehensively updated version with a significantly refreshed design plus a 52kWh battery and up to 245 miles of range on the WLTP cycle; or around 190 miles in mixed real-world use. It still offers strong value for money against its competitors, with the UK government’s PiCG incentive bringing the car’s entry price down to around £25,000. And it’s also still pleasing to drive: very nippy and fairly quiet, albeit with some leaden feel to the controls.

Whereas previously the Zoe couldn’t be rapidly charged at the motorway services quite as quickly as certain rivals, CCS fast charging is now an option. It may have fallen behind newer EV rivals in some ways, but the Zoe remains an excellent entry point into EV ownership.

Volkswagen e-Up

Beautifully designed German VW electric car. We could just have easily put Skoda’s Citigo-e iV in this slot because these are mechanically almost the exact same car. But we prefer the Volkswagen for its slightly more playful demeanor and the fact that, well, it was here first. 

Volkswagen’s smallest electric car predates the new ID range and was updated in 2020 with an enlarged battery that now gives 159 WLTP miles. There’s also been a cut to the asking price, which is now only just above £20,000 and makes the e-Up look good value compared with the recent rash of £30,000-plus small EVs. The latest model benefits from a camera-based lane-keeping system, too, and the light-hearted, airy interior remains. As is often the case with small EVs, this Volkswagen is best suited to second-car duties and running shorter errands. It’ll carry four with relative ease, and 155lb ft of torque makes it reasonably quick. As ever with Volkswagen, the controls are also intuitive and breezily easy to use. At this price, it buries the Smart EQ Fortwo, as does the Skoda.

BMW i3S

If the i3 can’t quite claim to have brought the concept of EV ownership to the mass market (step forward the Nissan Leaf, introduced in 2010), then it can at least claim to have shown that such cars could be interesting and genuinely characterful. Since 2013, BMW’s motor-show-esque city car has gained in range, power, and interior technology, even if along the way the plug-in range-extender that offered owners a safety net has been ditched, so now the model is pure-electric only. The official range is 188 miles, although admittedly this is adequate rather than outstanding in 2021, and the 50kW charging potential is no more than you’d expect given the i3’s high asking price. 

What we love about the i3 is, spongy body control aside, its sense of refinement, easy-going drivability, nicely weighted controls and interior ambiance. With that carbonfibre-reinforced plastic architecture and standout design, it also somehow manages to still feel avant-garde, and exciting.

Mini Electric

Mini has been a long time preparing to enter the electric car market, but now that it finally has, it has certainly brought all of the fun factors you expect of the brand – albeit packaged with a few equally typical usability restrictions.

Based exclusively on the three-door Mini bodyshell, the Mini Electric adopts the powertrain from the BMW i3S, giving it a very healthy 181bhp and 199lb ft of torque. Performance is notably stronger than many of the cars you might compare it within this list, while handling is grippy, darty and agile in the enduring dynamic traditions of the Mini brand.

Range is the catch. Mini claims 144 miles, but in reality, depending on how and where you drive it, you’re more likely to get between 100 and 120 miles. And that’s in a car with a pretty small boot, whose back seats are tricky to access and little use for anyone but younger kids in any case.

This clearly isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ sort of electric offering, but it’s priced surprisingly competitively and, if its limitations aren’t bothersome to you, could be the very car to show you how rewarding electric motoring can be.

Mazda MX30

Mazda has never been afraid to do things its own way, even when the rest of the industry appears to be doing something different.

The MX-30 is therefore not quite what you’d expect, but it's an appealing proposition all the same. Toy-car looks are wrapped around an unusually small battery pack – just 35.5kWh, giving an official range of 124 miles – because Mazda believes owners simply won’t need any more, and increasing the size of the battery would mean unnecessary cost. It’s why the MX-30 costs less than £30,000 after the government grant, and yet it’s reasonably spacious within, has an SUV-lite body that is very much on trend, and is trimmed in interesting materials thatn give the cabin a singularly cosy and likeable atmosphere. 

Dynamically, the MX-30 also stands out. With 143bhp and 199lb ft, it’s never going to blow your socks off in a straight line, but the weighting of the steering and the supple manner in which the suspension transfers weight while cornering are genuinely reminiscent of the MX-5 sports car. Truly, the MX-30 is one of the most satisfying EVs to drive around in a non-committal fashion, despite being solely front driven. 

Charging at up to 50kW is possible, and if the limited range works for you, there is plenty to like about the unusual Mazda MX-30. It could be an effective second car.

Honda E

Honda has taken a left-field approach with its first all-electric car, the Honda E supermini - which is unusually compact for an electric car, and innovative in several ways. A rear-mounted motor promises packaging efficiency (although the car itself fails a little to follow through with it) while all-independent suspension heralds the ride and handling sophistication of a bigger car (which the car does a deal better to actually supply).The E is available in 134bhp and 152bhp forms, but neither has quite the battery capacity of rivals: 35.5kWh ‘gross’ is all you get here, which makes for a claimed WLTP range of 137 miles maximum (with the car rolling on 16in wheels). In testing, we struggled to get much more than 100 from our 17in-equipped test car.

To drive, the E feels plush, composed, and easy to operate, with medium-paced steering but a tight turning circle, and moderate but responsive performance. It doesn’t excite and doesn't offer the last word in background body control, but it would make a relaxing city car and its alternative styling should also do much to recommend it.

Vauxhall Corsa-e

Vauxhall's sibling to the Peugeot e-208 doesn't quite have the style or claimed WLTP range of its French relation, doesn't have the imaginatively configured interior, and isn't priced quite as keenly. They're fine margins by which to relegate the car so many places in this top 10 chart, but that's simply how competitive this varied class is becoming. But don't let that fool you into believing this Vauxhall isn't worth a test drive, at least. It might be a little plainer than the Peugeot but it still looks handsome enough. The car's driving experience combines genuine 180-mile everyday battery range with keen and competent handling and a comfortable ride, while 100kW DC rapid charging compatibility as standard should also be a selling point.

Vauxhall's large UK dealer network will likely make this car one of the UK's better-selling EVs, ready to convert people who haven't considered electric motoring thus far. It's certainly good enough to leave the right kind of impression.

DS 3 Crossback E-Tense

This compact crossover is something the budding Mazda MX-30 owner might also consider, not least because the near-200 miles of range comfortably beats that of the Japanese car. 

All the usual DS hallmarks are here: the distinctive exterior, the somewhat overwrought but superficially ‘lavish’ interior and a decent dose of the performance. 

Our reservations are that cabin space isn’t especially good, the driving experience is ordinary, and the pricing is fairly steep. However, if you want an EV that’s a little less ordinary and are prepared to pay for that, the E-Tense is unlikely to let you down.

Renault Twizy

Renault’s strapline for the Twizy is "plug into the positive energy" and, in fairness. it's difficult to resist smiling when you get behind the wheel. Unless, of course, it’s raining, and you didn’t buy the optional windows…

Technically, the Twizy is a quadricycle, not a car, so it belongs to the same category as the newly released (but as yet not UK-bound) Citroën Ami. It’s a two-seater, with the passenger sitting behind the driver, and designed for very short-distance, and most probably urban, journeys. That’s why, even when the sun’s shining, you’ll still get only around 50 miles from the 6.1kWh battery. An electric family car it certainly is not.

To drive, the Twizy is fun and agile, if a bit numb. Its secret weapon is the fact that it is rear driven and so can, if you’re committed enough, pull off gentle slides. Prices start at just under £12,000.

The Best Alternative to YouTube

The big question is, what is Rumble? The answer is it's a full-service video platform and a website connecting creators to publishers and advertisers, and helping them better monetize their work through a variety of distribution and licensing models.

The incredible platform of Rumble has established itself as an online resort for over 400,000 independent content creators that upload videos to their site. It allows them to exchange their video content with publishers, thus creating a specific marketplace that connects producers with distributors who publish the content on other video platforms simultaneously. Especially now, when some content creators find YouTube discriminating, the Rumble video platform has proven to be welcoming and has given the freedom to its users to feel like they can share their personal opinions with the public. And more importantly, they will not be hidden and buried in search results. The platform itself has a growth rate of approximately 100% per month. Just imagine the magnitude of growth Rumble achieved in the last few years. Nevertheless, its still a David versus Goliath in comparison to YouTube. The good news is, that Rumble is still a lot of growth potential as it is not over regulated. 

Behind every successful brand stands a great leader and a well-organized, dedicated team. Read on to discover more about what makes Rumble video a more appealing option than YouTube and who stands behind its tremendous success.

Ever since YouTube started hiding specific videos from their search results, people began looking for a new option that will allow them to publish their videos without being concealed from the YouTube audience. At this point emerged Rumble – the best video management system which allows everyone to create and upload video content and have it rank in search results, unlike YouTube, which some people claim that buries certain videos in their search results. In addition, creators often feel abandoned and confused about why their videos are buried in search results, don’t appear on the trending page, or are being quietly demonetized.

With recent events proving that YouTube is a discriminating platform towards certain people, Rumble has decided to show equal treatment to all content creators on their platform. If you take a quick look at Rumble’s Twitter profile, you will notice many people opting for Rumble when it comes to publishing videos, thus turning their backs to YouTube. One of them is the conservative radio host Dan Bongino who has gotten an equity stake in Rumble – a platform that protects free speech.

Throughout the years, Rumble has done nothing less than achieve new goals and become better in their industry. The Rumble journey began back in 2008, and in these past 12 years, they managed to accomplish many goals and surpass their company’s expectations. We decided to list some of their most significant accomplishments in the past few years:

2015: The Rumble player got the fastest player rating on Google Developer Insights

2016: ComScore ranked Rumble as a Top 50 Video Site

2017: Alexa ranked Rumble a Top 100 Website

2018: Quantcast ranked Rumble a Top 10 Mobile Site, and Deloitte proclaimed Rumble as the 10th fastest growing technology company in Canada and the 75th in the United States

2019: The Rumble Viral YouTube channel surpassed one million subscribers. Rumble received the prestigious Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award and got in the 18th position with 955 percent revenue growth from 2015 to 2018. Rumble also received an award from The Globe and Mail for being one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies, in the revenue bracket of $10M-$25M.

Although Rumble hasn't reached its full potential yet, its on the best way to do so and to continue growth that will surprise most of those that thought it wouldn't stand a chance to survive. Dont get me wrong, every platform has its pros and cons, its up to you to find out and time will tell if Rumble will be able to make it on top of the charts. Another great aspect is Rumble management capabilities and the continuous influx of talented and capable personnel that help to boost confidence in the company's future growth prospects. Having said that, time will tell. 

How to Make Money Hatching Eggs

Egg hatching may appear difficult, but in fact, it all depends on timing and a tiny little bit of discipline. Most of us don't realize that waiting for a paycheck takes one month but we do realize that waiting for an egg may take only 21 days etc. In other words, difficult roads lead to a beautiful destinations. Hatching eggs is not a highway and needs a certain degree of patience as well as passion! 

If you have been collecting eggs for eating you might be used to collecting them once a day. However, if collecting eggs for breeding, it is a good idea to collect your eggs twice or even three times a day. This ensures that the eggs don’t get dirty and that the hen doesn’t accidentally start them developing by sitting on them.

When you collect the eggs from the nest box you should be very careful not to jar, bang or crack them. This can damage the membrane and internal parts within the egg itself. You should also take care not to leave them in the sun or in the cold. It might sound quaint but collecting your eggs in a basket with some straw in the bottom will help keep them safe and stop them from rolling around or cracking. You should also make sure that your hands are clean when handling the eggs so that you don’t pass on any bacteria. The best way to do this is to use anti-bacterial wipes.

You can store fertile eggs for up to 7-10 days before incubating them. You should try to keep them between 12 degrees C and 15 degrees C in a drought-free place. This slows down the cell division and ensures that the eggs don’t lose too much moisture through their shells. Regardless of how keen you are to get started, you must wait at least 24 hours before starting to incubate an egg because otherwise, it might not hatch. While you store them you should ensure that the eggs are turned every day. The easiest way of doing this is to store your eggs in an egg box or egg tray with the sharp end of the egg pointing downwards. You ‘turn’ them by tilting the tray or box to one side using a block of wood under one side. Simply move the block of wood to the opposite side each day and it will keep the eggs in good condition.

The temperature inside an incubator is the perfect temperature for breeding chicks but unfortunately, it is also the perfect temperature for breeding bacteria too. However, you should avoid over-cleaning your eggs because this tends to remove both the dirt and the outer cuticle from the egg as well. This can leave the egg at greater risk from bacterial contamination in the future.

How to choose the right egg incubator for your needs

Let's face it, buying an egg incubator is not something you do every day! Most of our clients are first-time buyers and many questions are usually asked regarding what they should look out for and what size incubator they should buy. Below is some important information you need to take into account when making your decision.

How many eggs do you want to hatch at a time or per month?

It's important to decide how many eggs you would want to hatch at a time or per month. This will determine what size incubator will be suitable for your needs. It's also important to take into account that you will more than likely need more incubation space as you grow your flock - so don't buy too small at the beginning. 

Some examples of Egg Incubators: 
(Link to full description on Amazon)

Homdox Egg Incubator; Fully Automatic Egg Incubators 12 Eggs Poultry Hatching with Egg Turning

Mini 7 Egg Incubator; One of the smallest and cheapest incubators on the market. The success hatching rate is around 50%

72 Eggs Incubator; Larger scale incubator, Suitable for chickens, ducks, geese, and other poultry, quail, parrot, pigeons and other birds.

Estinl brand egg incubator; Although made in China, it's one of the best egg incubators. Steady temperature keeper for 56 eggs. 

24 Eggs mid size incubator; Equipped with candler, LED, and high precision temperature controller. One of my favorites. 

R-Com MX 20 egg incubator; Let's say this, this incubator is the Ferrari among incubators. The price is like a Ferrari too by the way. However, just push the button and this incubator will take care of the rest. 

What is the ideal temperature for hatching chicken eggs? 

The temperature should be kept between 100-102° throughout the entirety of the incubation period. Keep in mind that as the chicks grow, and the larger they become inside the egg, the more heat they will produce. After day 17, it is important to keep an eye out for surges in temperature and quickly respond. Quickly turn the temperature down and spray the eggs with water to cool them. Temperature spikes can be detrimental to the chicks.

Turning Eggs During Incubation

If the incubator does not have an automatic egg turner, and the turning is done by hand, then they ideally should be turned at least 4 times a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and before bed. It is an easy process to turn them: the X is up one turn and the next turn the X is down. This is done to prevent the developing chick from sticking to the side of the egg.

But the moment the egg is set in the incubator or under a hen…life begins. (This is just an example for hens, it works for Ducks, Turkeys, Guineas, etc. The only difference is the length of the entire incubation process)

FIRST DAY

16 Hours: First sign of resemblance to a chick embryo

18 Hours: Appearance of the alimentary tract

20 Hours: Appearance of the vertebral column

21 Hours: Beginning of formation of the nervous system

22 Hours: Beginning of formation of the head

23 Hours: Appearance of blood islands–vitelline circulation

24 Hours: Beginning of formation of eye

SECOND DAY:

25 Hours: Beginning of formation of the heart

35 Hours: Beginning of formation of ear

42 Hours: Heart begins to beat (TWO days and the heart is beating! WOW!)

THIRD DAY

50 Hours: Beginning of Formation of amnion

60 Hours: Beginning of formation of nose

62 Hours: Beginning of formation of legs

64 Hours: Beginning of formation of wings

70 Hours: Beginning of formation of allantois

FOURTH DAY Beginning of formation of tongue

FIFTH DAY Beginning of formation of reproductive organs and differentiation of sex

SIXTH DAY Beginning of formation of beak and egg-tooth

EIGHTH DAY Beginning of formation of feathers

TENTH DAY Beginning of hardening of the beak

THIRTEENTH DAY Appearance of scales and claws

FOURTEENTH DAY Embryo turns its head toward the blunt end of the egg

SIXTEENTH DAY Scales, claws, and beak becoming firm

SEVENTEENTH DAY Beak turns toward air cell

NINETEENTH DAY Yolk sac begins to enter the body cavity

The TWENTIETH DAY Yolk sac is completely drawn into the body cavity; embryo occupies practically all the space within the egg except the air cell!

TWENTY-FIRST DAY Hatching of chick!

And during this whole process of development, you are instrumental in keeping the proper humidity and temperature and the eggs turned throughout each day.

Please always remember to ship your eggs timely

Use a fast shipping time for optimal hatch rate. When shipping hatching eggs, keep in mind that the more egg ages the less likely it is to hatch successfully. For best results, gather the eggs from the nests and have them shipped within a couple of days. I have had some success with eggs held longer, but the fresher the better.

Conclusion of hatching eggs for profit

Breeding chickens for-profit and hatching eggs to sell day-old chicks may not be all it’s cracked up to be for everyone or every situation, but it may be something you will love and it may be a great fit for your situation!

The most important aspect of expanding any business or looking into new markets of profit is to do the important and necessary research before jumping in. There have been many ideas that I thought were brilliant and I thought they would help us expand and save money, but when I did the legwork and research, I found out that in reality, it was a horrible idea and would have cost much more than it would have saved us in both time and money.

The good news is that starting a hatching business doesn’t require a large investment and it could be started small to get a feel for the market in the area. And if it doesn’t work out, it can easily be stopped without any repercussions.

How To Get From/To Suvarnabhumi Airport?

If you’re travelling the 30km distance from Suvarnabhumi Airport to central Bangkok, you have 4 choices. You can take the airport bus for $2, the city bus for $1.20, the train for $1.30 or a taxi with prices starting around $14. Travel time is 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.

If you stay around the Khao San Road area we recommend taking the airport bus. It’s a cheap and hassle-free transport that takes you straight to the backpacker district.

You can also take the train, but you will need to arrange an extra transfer (taxi or tuk-tuk) from your hotel to the train station.

If you stay in downtown Bangkok (Sukhumvit area), we suggest taking the BTS (Skytrain) or MRT (Subway) and then transferring to the Airport Rail Link. The Airport Rail Link will drop you off directly at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

A taxi definitely provides more comfort but can take longer depending on traffic. If you choose to take a taxi, we recommend taking a train and taxi to your hotel so you don’t end up in traffic for too long.

Transport mode	Duration	Costs	Availability
Airport Bus	1 hr	60 THB ($2)	No online tickets
City Bus	1-1.5 hrs	35 THB ($1.20)	Check City Bus Online
Train	30-40 mins	40 THB ($1.30)	Check Train Tickets Online
Taxi	40 mins	from 420 THB ($14)	Check Taxis Online

Suvarnabhumi Airport by Airport Bus

Duration: 1 hour

Costs: 60 THB ($2)

There is an airport bus (S1) that goes from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Khao San Road in central Bangkok and vice versa. These buses are normally orange-colored, but they have recently added new blue buses for this route.

To find the S1 airport bus, take the escalator down one level and exit the arrival hall at Gate 7. Then pass the crosswalk and you will see the sign for Line S1.

These airport buses depart almost every 30 minutes from the airport to Khao San Road. They only stop at designated stops along its route. But it is a great option if you’re staying in the Khao San Road area as the bus stops just 100m from the famous backpacker street.

See the bus route below:

Suvarnabhumi Airport – Democracy Monument – National Gallery – Sanam Luang Bus Terminal (few minutes walk from Khao San Road)

The airport bus has a standard fare of 60 THB ($2). Allow at least 1 hour for the journey, possibly longer depending on traffic, especially during peak hours.

S1 buses are available from 6:00 to 20:00 at the airport and from 7:00 to 21:00 when coming from Khao San Road.

Suvarnabhumi Airport by Public Bus 
Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours Costs: 35 THB ($1.20)

The public bus from and to Suvarnabhumi Airport is a cheap way to get to the center of Bangkok, but it is one of the slowest options.

The city buses depart from the Transport Center near the airport terminal, which you can reach by the shuttle bus (not to be confused with the first option). Shuttle buses are parked outside the arrival hall.

There are three different city buses going to different areas across Bangkok. These buses operate 24 hours per day, which also makes them a cheap alternative if the airport buses are not available.

Bus	Route	Fare	Interval
Bus #551	Airport - Victory Monument (vise versa)	35 THB ($1.20)	Every hour
Bus #552	Airport - On Nut BTS Station (vise versa)	35 THB ($1.20)	Every hour
Bus #556	Airport - Bangkok Southern Terminal (vise versa)	35 THB ($1.20)	Every hour

Without traffic, the travel time is about 1 hour to the final stop. With traffic, it can take 1.5 hours or more. Bangkok has very busy roads and it’s important to keep this in mind when travelling throughout the capital city, especially if you are on a tight schedule.

The city buses do not provide separate luggage compartments so you will have to carry your bags with you. This is not comfortable or convenient on a packed bus, therefore we do not recommend this option if you have a lot of luggage.

Also, carefully check the stops along each bus route to make sure your hotel is near one of them.

BUS ROUTES

Bus #551 : Airport – New Bangkok-Chonburi Expressway – Srirat Expressway – Asoke-Din Daeng Road – Ratchawithi Road – Victory Monument

Bus #552 : Airport – Bangna-Bangpakong Road – Sukhumvit Road – On Nut BTS Station

Bus #556 : Airport – Yommarat – Democracy Monument – Thammasat University – Pata Department Store – Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal

Suvarnabhumi Airport by Train

Duration: 30-40min
Costs: 40 THB ($1.30)

The Airport Rail Link is an easy way to reach Bangkok. Especially during peak hours, the train can often be quicker than the bus or a taxi. The only disadvantage of taking the train is that you will likely need another transport from the end station to your hotel or the other way around.

The airport link is connected to the BTS via Phaya Thai station and to the MRT via Makkasan Station.

The train operates from 06:00 to 00:00 every day. Travel time takes about 30-40 minutes and fares range from 15 THB – 50 THB ($0.50 – $1.70). Fares will depend on which station you boarded the train.

You can buy tickets at the train station located in the basement of the airport or you can book online via Klook for 40 THB ($1.30). Note that the Klook airport counter is only open from 8:00 to 23:00. This is also located in the basement, near the Airport Rail Link.

The airport rail link has the following route:

Suvarnabhumi Airport – Lat Krabang – Ban Thap Chang – Hua Mak – Ramkhamhaeng – Makkasan – Ratchaprarop – Phaya Thai

Top 5 Martial Arts Fights of All Time

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Who doesn’t like a good fight scene? There are few things as great as a fun martial arts movie to motivate an aspiring martial artist to practice, practice and practice.

In between all that practicing, grab a snack and watch some of these great martial arts movies from my very own Top five list of Best Martial Arts Movies. The martial arts actors and at the same time masters are more or less the same ones we knew since childhood. I was always inspired by Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Steven Seagal till Jackie Chan stunts.

Hong Kong Calendar 2025

5. Enter The Dragon (Hong Kong, 1973)

Famous Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris scene, this fight is the most legendary! The film was shot on location in Hong Kong. All scenes were filmed without sound: dialogue and sound effects were added or dubbed in during post-production. Bruce Lee, after he had been goaded or challenged, fought several real fights with the film's extras and some set intruders during filming. The scenes of Han's Island were filmed at a residence known as Palm Villa near the coastal town of Stanley in Hong Kong.

Bruce Lee with legendary master Ip Man

Bruce Lee's martial art training with Master Ip Man in Hong Kong

4. Fist of Legend (Hong Kong, 1994) Jet Li vs Japanese General

Later films have also been influenced by Fist of Legend. Hitman also has a scene involving him using a belt as a weapon as seen previously. The more realistic and less wire-driven fight choreography seen in Kiss of the Dragon was a result of fan criticism of Corey Yuen's choreography in Romeo Must Die and preference for the style seen in Fist of Legend.

3. The Big Boss (Hong Kong, 1971) Bruce Lee

The Big Boss is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts action film written and directed by Lo Wei, with assistance from Bruce Lee, and was Lee's first major film. It stars Lee, Maria Yi, James Tien and Tony Liu. Originally written for Tien, the leading role was given to Lee instead when the film's original director, Ng Kar-seung, was replaced by Lo. The film was a critical success and excelled at the box office. Lee's strong performance overshadowed Tien, already a star in Hong Kong, and made Bruce Lee famous across Asia.

2. Best of the Best (USA, 1989) 

Best of the Best is a 1989 American martial arts film directed by Bob Radler and produced by Phillip Rhee, who also co-stars in the film. The film also starred Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, and Chris Penn. The plot revolves around a team of American martial artists facing a team of South Korean martial artists in a karate tournament. Several subplots pop up in the story - moral conflicts, the power of the human spirit triumphing over adversity and the meaning of life are some themes. Set and filmed in Los Angeles, California, and Seoul, South Korea, between February 13 and April 6, 1989, Best of the Best was released on November 10, 1989.

1. Bloodsport Frank Dux vs Paco (USA, 1988) 

Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts film directed by Newt Arnold. It stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, and Bolo Yeung. The film is partly based on unverified claims made by martial artist Frank Dux. It sold well at the box office, grossing $65 million on a budget of $2.3 million. Bloodsport was one of Van Damme's first starring films and showcased his athletic abilities. It has since become a cult film. Van Damme plays Frank Dux, a man who goes AWOL from the U.S. Army to compete in the Kumite martial arts tournament. The character and story are purportedly based on the real-life Frank Dux. He is also credited in Bloodsport as the fight coordinator — who claims to have served in the military in Southeast Asia.

Two legends, Bruce Lee and J.C. Van Damme (fictional picture)

The Mysterious Lady that Introduced Tofu to the West

Madamme Yamei Kin introduced Tofu to the West

In 1917 Yamei Kin, a Chinese-born doctor then living in New York, visited her homeland to study a crop that was virtually unknown to Americans: the soybean. By that point, she had become something of a celebrity dietitian. For years before the mission to China, she had been telling women’s clubs that tofu and other soy products were nutritious alternatives to meat and that they required fewer resources to produce. She liked to say that they tasted “a little like brains and a little like sweetbreads.” In other words, she is credited with introducing tofu to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during World War I.

Kin Yamei was born in 1864, in Ningbo. Her father, Rev. Kying Ling-yiu, was a Christian convert.
As a small child she was orphaned during an epidemic; she was adopted by American missionaries, Divie Bethune McCartee and Ms. McCartee. They encouraged her to use her given name, and to learn Chinese as well as English; she also learned to speak Japanese and French. She attended the Women's Medical College of New York, where she finished at the top of her class, and the Chinese Consul attended the graduation ceremony to witness her achievement. She pursued further study in Philadelphia and Washington, D. C. In 1888 she became the first Chinese woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She also learned photography skills and published a journal article on medical photo-micrography while she was in medical school.

In 1907, Kin began running the Imperial Peiyang Women’s Medical School and Hospital in the northern Chinese city of Tientsin, now called Tianjin.

She later founded a nursing school in the city with funding from Yuan Shikai, a Qing dynasty official who would become president of the new Chinese Republic after the 1911 revolution, said Zhou Zhuitian, a historian in Tianjin. Prusek wrote in his book that she also served as the physician for Yuan’s family.

Kin returned to China for good in 1920, two years after her son, Alexander, died while fighting for the United States in France in the waning weeks of World War I.

She died in 1934 at the age of 70, leaving no survivors. The cause was pneumonia.

At her request, she was buried on a farm outside Beijing. Shortly before her death, she said: “Here my dust will blend with soil, and after the pile of clay they will place upon my grave has crumbled as well, I will become a field, a fertile field.”

If you are interested in cooking tofu dishes, you may find this book interesting; Tofu the Ultimate Recipe Book

Today, Tofu is as famous as Pizza

Did you know that there are many types of Tofu in the market? Every type of Tofu can be good for something specific in the menu. Tofu is categorized by texture or consistency. The texture is determined by the water content in the tofu. The more water, the softer or ‘silkier’ the tofu; with less water, the tofu is firmer. Tofu is categorized as silken, regular, firm, extra-firm and super-firm. Silken, the softest type of tofu, can be compared to a young white cheese. Firm tofu, the most common, has the same consistency as feta, while the texture of super-firm can be compared to that of meat. You should be able to guess the textures in between.

Some special tofu varieties are:

Silken Tofu

Silken tofu, also known as Japanese-style tofu, is silky, creamy, and has the highest water content. If you try to hold it, it will fall to pieces. Silken tofu looks like a very young cheese such as burrata (a kind of mozzarella) and can be used as a thick cream, fresh cream cheese, or ricotta in cheesecakes, smoothies, dips or even ravioli fillings. You usually prepare dishes with silken tofu when it is wet.

Regular Tofu

This type of tofu is used primarily in Asian dishes. It is a little more compact than silken but still soft. Regular tofu easily soaks up the flavors of sauces and broths and so is often used in noodle soups and stews. You can also make delicious spreads using regular tofu, or ‘scrambled’ tofu, a vegetarian take on scrambled eggs. Don’t pan-fry or deep-fry regular tofu as it is likely to crumble.

Firm Tofu

Of all the types of tofu, firm tofu is the most widely available in supermarkets. Firm tofu is quite compact and is often packaged soaked in liquid – the amount depends on the type of packaging. Firm tofu is like feta: it doesn’t crumble when you pick it up and it is easy to chop. In the kitchen, firm tofu is the most versatile of the tofu types. It can be pan-fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, put in a stew, used as a filling or to make spreads. Be sure to fully dry firm tofu before cooking, to ensure it can absorb the marinade and will splatter less in the pan. Firm tofu can also be bought smoked or seasoned.

Extra-firm

Extra-firm tofu has less water than firm tofu, which you notice in the difference in texture. The culinary possibilities of firm and extra-firm are almost the same, but extra-firm tofu doesn’t absorb marinades as well. On the other hand, extra-firm is easier to pan-fry, stir-fry or deep-fry. Follow your personal preference.

Super-firm

If you look at super-firm tofu you can easily mistake it for meat because it is so dense. In fact, it is a great meat substitute! Cut the tofu into regular-sized slices, sticks, or cubes, mix with a hot marinade and pan-fry, stir-fry or deep-fry. Super-firm tofu is not widely available but is easy to make.

Seasoned tofu

Tofu is also available pre-seasoned. This makes it easier to prepare as you can start as soon as you open the packet! Seasoned tofu is available in different flavors; tamari and tomato/basil are widely available. Seasoned tofu is mostly firm and can be pan-fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, grilled, roasted in the oven, barbecued or eaten raw.

Smoked tofu

This tofu is extra-firm and has a smoky flavor. Smoking is generally an artisanal process. Originally, tofu was smoked above tea leaves, but today it is mostly done over beech wood, which gives it a great aroma. You can pan-fry or stir-fry smoked tofu, but it is best eaten raw, such as in a winter stew or a summer salad.

Tofu à la minute

These small tofu pieces are pre-marinated and pre-cooked. All you have to do is add them to a (stir-fry) dish, or pan-fry the tofu à la minute in oil until crispy and add to dishes such as salads and stews. Tofu à la minute can be purchased in a variety of flavors including Asian-spiced, Italian-spiced, and Mexican-spiced.

Pressed tofu

When tofu is pressed under high pressure, very little water remains, giving it a meat-like texture that can be compared to that of super-firm tofu. There are two types of pressed tofu: natural and pre-seasoned.

Fermented tofu

If you pickle tofu in a mixture of salt, rice wine and water it will ferment. This fermenting gives a tofu deep, savory flavor called umami. In Chinese cooking, fermented tofu is not used as an ingredient but as flavoring. Don't buy fermented tofu in plastic packaging as only glass stops the fermentation process and so guarantees the flavor.

Tofu skin

When heating soya milk, skin forms on the surface of the liquid, just as with regular milk. Fresh tofu skins are not widely available, but dried skins are. These skins are similar to filo pastry and can be pan-fried (after marinating), filled and deep-fried like spring rolls, or used to make dim sum.

Tofu sticks

Tofu sticks are sun-dried, rolled tofu skins. Tofu sticks are a great filling for your miso soup.

Fried tofu

These slices of tofu are first firmly pressed and then deep-fried. They are soft and sponge-like and quickly soak up marinades and sauces. In the countries of origin (Japan, China, and Korea) you can find two versions: abura-age (oblong slices that are cut into strings and served in soups or over rice) and sushi-age (small squares filled with sushi rice and, as the name suggests, served as sushi). Abura-age and sushi-age taste similar. Fried tofu is usually sold pre-seasoned.

Tofu pockets

Fried tofu is often sold under the name ‘tofu pockets’. First, place them for a few minutes in boiling water, then pat them dry and cut them like an envelope.

Tofu puffs

These tofu balls are frozen first and then deep-fried. They are soft and sponge-like and so ideal for quickly soaking up marinades and sauces. Tofu puffs are already cooked and do not need to be cooked for too long. They are also delicious raw: fill them or dip them into chili sauce, for example.