去闻闻玫瑰吧！

 [After spending six months with unsatisfactory results in building a wonderful simcity, I decided to take a radical approach to my simcity; with some success finally. This is guide for those still struggling to be the good mayor. I hope this helps.]

In my opinion, Simcity is about balancing the finance to the problems of a growing city. In simpler words, it is how to spend money wisely to grow the city to bring in more money to further grow the city.

There are 2 major areas of concern: maximizing income and minimizing expenditure.

Income depends largely on the number of population living in the city. Generally more population means more income. But having more population also means increasing expenditure to keep the population in. Therefore there is a need to control the influx of the population without straining the expenditure. The control lies in the amount of expenditure spend on growth and expansion. As a result, there is a need for a financial strategy

As I am a conservative person, I took on a less risky strategy. Firstly, I never allow my reserve to dip below $20,000. Starting off on the easy level, I spent only $25,000 out of the $50,000 issued for the first 5 years in starting the city.

Secondly, I make sure my monthly total expense is only half of my monthly total income. You can explore by yourself which are the expenses you can save up. I can give you 2 hints. I have only 1 fire station till 1950 and my roads expense is always at 100%.

Thirdly, I spend only half of the annual net income on developing zones and save the rest. Civics buildings are built only when they are full.

But even with this strategy in place, it does not guarantee a successful city. The reason is because we lower our taxes under pressure to keep our population. The tickers below kept reminding us the taxes are too high and people are packing their bags. Even our financial advisor says our taxes are too high and request us to drop the tax. This situation will first occur around 1930s where the population stagnates and people demand taxes to lower and it will occur periodically as the years goes by. In the 1930s I lowered my tax from 7 to 6% as I have enough income to maintain my 50% expenses.

But I decided not to lower my taxes in 1950s as I will make a lost and boldly take on another approach. Instead I increased my tax level from 6 to 7% for the first year and then to 8% for the second year. At the same time, I increased my monthly expenses in the other departments especially in police and education but keeping in line with my strategy. I decided my population should pay more if they wanted a better city.

To my surprise, my population bloomed even though they threatened to leave the city as announced in the tickers. It is then that I realized the increased value of the city can out-weigh the population desire to leave the city and attract even more population to come. But here is the crux, never go above 8%. I tried 9% and population dropped rapidly. Luckily for me, there is a rewind in Simcity universe.

With this strategy, my reserve was $50,000 by 1975 and $100,000 by 1985. Right now in 2018, my reserve is $240,000 with annual net income of $20,000 and a population of 400,000. Do note I already built the 3 costly projects which are the science research centre, the stadium and the amusement park and most of my ordinance are on by 2000. I have now a steady income that I can adjust my city without worrying about money and start to lower my taxes.

You will realized I never let out any details on minimizing expenditures in this post. That is for you, dedicated mayors to figure out. But I hope the above helps.

Some hints on expenditures though:

1)      I started build my rails only in 1970s and still not completed. Save a lot of money though.

2)      Not all ordinances are critical. On them only when you have the money.

3)      Save the game before building the seaport and airport. They really may not build even when you have everything right especially the seaport.

Good luck to you, fellow Simcity mayors!

Whoapa, Simcity Mayor of RICH

It closes on Sundays and Public Holidays. As such I had only one chance in my entire trip to visit the market.  I have only one thing to say. It is comic comes alive.

For more details, please the website: The Tsukiji Market. Please adhere strictly to the rules and behavior in the market.

Common sight at the the market but the WOW factor for the first timer

My favourite food

So is this

Just like in the comic

Temple of the Lions

The female lion. For those who have read the comic, you will remember there is an episode on the Anniversary Celebration of Tsukiji where the Lions, Guardian of the Market will be making the rounds in and out of the market. You can find the 2 Guardians residing just near the entrance of the market. Remember to say your thanks and prayers for the bountiful seafood you savor in Japan. (The male Guardian is black but my photo was blurred. I apologized for the lack of the photo)

Do walk the outer area of the market. Do walk the outside of the market. There is sushi bars (with very long queues) and shops selling everything and anything related to the market. I did not really explore the place due to the lack of time. (I need to reach back the hotel by 8am. I was at the market at 5.30am and I walked 1.6km from hotel to reach the market and then back.)

So more reason to visit the market again.

Chen Kee…

I got off at Station Asakusa Bashi and came to the original Temple and then walk along the river passing Asahi Beer to Asakusa Kannon Temple. Beside the iconic Asahi Beer Building, I saw the new Tower of Tokyo along the river.

Along the stalls leading towards the Temple, do stop over at the wooden miniature shop. All of them are masterpieces. Bought 2 tiny weeny froggie for my XMJ as birthday present. The price is of course “wa”. But it is worth it.

After Asakusa, I went to the kitchenware street. Very famous street. 2 very long stretch of kitchenware. You can shop till you dead there.

From there, I walked to Ueno. For toy lovers like me, there is a shop here that is a shop that is a few stories high full of toys. I had a lot of fun there. Those looking for bargain fashion can roam this area too. I had my pork chop rice in a eatery under the railway track.

From Ueno, I walked over to the famous electronic haven, Akihabara. But what really attracted me was the row of hobby shops that is just outside and near the station. I did find some stuff that I liked but it is a bit expensive for me. Overall it was a good walk.

The original temple

Entrance

The walk

The end of the walk

Through the gate and onwards

Up the steps

On the Ceiling

Will be there again…

Chen Kee

Trivia: Did you know I have taken more than 100 photos of Tokyo Tower? After deleting those not so nice ones, I am left with 30 odds… Ha! We were all trigger happy….

How I wish my XMJ is here with me…. to hear the wind chimes here…..

For a moment I wonder whether it has injure it legs. But it finally rested. And I carefully placed a bag over it, gently closing it and released it at the balcony.

Can anyone ID it?