Backpacking Information on Laos

LAOS

Population: 5.9 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Vientiane
Area: 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles)
Major languages: Lao, French (for diplomatic purposes)
Major religion: Buddhism
Life expectancy: 53 years (men), 56 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 new kip = 100 ath

The Lao People's Republic is one of the, if not the least modernized countries of the Southeast Asia region isolated by the communist government, so poor it makes Cambodia look industrialized. As such, the small country prides on rich culture and heritage as much as its pristine surroundings and solemn traditions. Why Laos? Why now? Why not? This is a place so mysterious, outsiders know next to nothing about it, and it is this potential that makes it so alluring. Travellers who have the privilege to explore this exotic and generally unexplored frontier enjoy this simplicity and solemnity while it lasts until the waves of industrialization taints the truth and ingenuity that is Lao, as it slowly becomes a sought-after tourist destination for the backpacker culture- the details will come soon.

GEOGRAPHY

Laos (18 00 N, 105 00 E) is a 236,800 km2 small landlocked nation sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam. The country is the mountainous former Kingdom with thick, plush, and high forests and jungles that shroud the majority of the land. Laos is mostly rugged mountains with the Phou Bia standing atop Laos at an altitude of 2,817 metres above sea level, while the Mekong River, the artery, the lifeline of Laos and of the greater SEA region, sits as the lowest point of the Lao terrain at 70 metres above sea. Lao also comes with only a few plains and plateaus, hence the serpentine rice paddies all across the land hill side.

CLIMATE

The climate here is generally tropical monsoon with three seasons: hot from March to May, rainy from June through October, and dry from December through February. The dry season is the high season for travel to Laos simply for the absence of extreme heat or precipitation that can obstruct whatever the traveller's plans. The extreme heat on April spirals the beyond tolerable temperature to 104 °F, unless the traveler will head up to the mountains.

PEOPLE

Laotian or Lao people are good-natured and generous people who are nice to foreigners for no apparent reason, it is an eye opener, even to, say Americans who are responsible for the 266 million bombs that have taken lives in this war-neutral country over the past 30 or so years. There are around 78 million bombs left unexploded that continue to threaten the lives of locals, where only 400,000 were found and detonated in the last 10 years. That is enough bombs to consistently explode every 9 minutes in 24 hours for 10 years. As an especially peaceful Buddhist nation, none can vex them. Kindness is a more familiar feeling than anger for these people, no BS. The kind of Buddhism in this country which accounts for the religion of 67% of the 6,834,345 population is Theravada, while Christianity is but an incomparable minority with less than 2% of the Laotians. In over 100 ethnic groups, the Lao have the most sizeable 55% or so demographic, then the Khmous and Hmongs, and de facto, LAO is the official language of the state. ENGLISH is growing more priority than the colonial language, FRENCH at the same, a few too many ethnic languages or dialects.

CULTURE

Situated and locked in the middle of the Indochina peninsula, Laos has beheld "crossroads" status. Romantic and mysterious, nice and cool, pristine but very adaptable, terrible past but bright future, simply breathtaking and gets more beautiful by the second, add very low maintenance- could have just described the "ideal" girl, but this is Laos. So if you want to keep coming home to this kind of girl, then Laos is the place for you.

The Lao culture is rooted on immense spirituality, particularly Theravada Buddhism with influences extending from architecture to daily living, as goes with the communal practice of alms giving every morning upon sunrise. But Laos, with its recently acquired accolade as the Ney York Time's best tourist destination in the World, a slow modernization is taking place posing great danger to the solemnity of some rituals such as the aforementioned daily alms giving to monks. For now, the Laotians' simple life is in control, in balance with the times in absolute no hurry to match the pace of its SEA neighbours.

ATTRACTIONS

Coming to Laos, no travel experience is complete without spending ample to excessive times in historical and sacred edifices. Not to be redundant or cheesy, Laos prides on these imperial and colossal structures that tell the great Lao tale of how it has become. The Pha That Luang, the Great Stupa, the national monument of Laos covered in gold is unprecedented and truly royal. The Buddha Park is also breath-taking and magical with but one phrase to describe it, "out-of-this-world". Hoi An is perhaps one of the places with the strongest resistance to change, thus its appeal to travellers with the taste for the old and authentic. Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage City, has more adventures in store with tremendous alternatives for fun and information for the independent traveller. The Plain of Jars are also a sought after place, esteemed to be as enigmatic as it is dangerous, for it is a site of undetonated bombs. River Mekong is a natural wonder beyond necessity and importance, it's downright fun. Lastly, home and paradise to the backpacker culture, there is Vang Vieng, so phenomenal, this, for many, can be the place they see on earth, and to some it happens, for it is the land where the waters are high, and the alcohol flows free. Tubing is, to many travellers one of the ultimate adventures in Laos, and is ultimately dangerous as well with 2 deaths reported and several other casualties from a simple gash to broken skulls- doesn't make the experience any less unless of course it happens to you.

FOOD

Food, food, Lao food- this is cuisine for foodies in search of new flavours. To a lot of insiders looking in, Lao or Khmer food is much a mystery as this whole country has been. Although its relatives are Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese food, imagine these marrying together. Lao or Khmer cuisine is perhaps the best vehicle to establish Lao connection. Lucky enough, Lao cuisine has not been side-swept by the wave of Western food chains, but to be sure, the streets will offer that most authentic Khmer cuisine from the Kingdom. A bowl of Kao Piak off the Daily Market, which is a bowl of steaming noodle goodness complimented by chicken, duck, and pork and condiments...lots of it from ginger paste, chilli, fish sauce, lemon, pepper, sugar, etc, is reminiscent of Pho. Khao jii pat-te is Laos' Bahn Mi, and tam maak hung is a doppelganger to Thailand's som tam. The fundamental characteristics of the cuisine are meat and fish are used sparingly, at least in contrast to the liberal use of fruits and vegetables. The use of coconut milk in cooking is adopted from Thai and Cambodian influences. Desiring something authentic? You want some Lao lao, that traditional home brewed rice whiskey? How about a little exotica- some crispy ant egg omelettes perhaps?

This place is a beautiful secret gem, which won't stay that hidden too long. Laos amongst all is a country the traveller will love for the sights and more so the smell that says "home".

For more valuable travel information on backpacking and various destinations throughout the world please visit http://www.backpackingaddictz.com

Email: admin@backpackingaddictz.com

Josh
Backpacking Addictz

History of Japanese Pearl Cultivation - Mikimoto Kokichi

Overseas trading between Japan and the western world flourished in the late 1800s, with the emphasis falling particularly on Japan's natural pearl industry. However, in consequence to the increase in demand, Japan's naturally occurring pearl oysters, suffered greatly from over exploitation.

Enter a man by the name of Mikimoto Kokichi. From an early age Kokichi, the son of a noodle seller, had been fascinated by China's ancient techniques of pearl cultivation. This archaic technique consisted of placing a fragment of shell within an oyster to produce an imperfectly shaped pearl; these pearls were often used as offerings at temple shrines. This basic seeding technique formed the foundation of Mikimoto Kokichi's quest to create a perfect spherical cultured pearl, which could match Japan's naturally occurring pearls so in demand by the western world.

In July of 1893, after many years of trial and error, Mikimoto Kokichi managed to produce perfectly formed hemispherical (half round) Mabe pearls. Mikimoto cultured these Mabe pearls by using a hemispheric dome-shaped nucleus and placing it against the oyster's shell. Mikimoto then went into large scale farming of these Mabe pearls, journeying to Europe to sell and network markets for his new product.

Around the same time two Japanese men, Tokishi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise, returned from Australia where they had learnt a new grafting technique from the British marine biologist William Saville-Kent. Kent's technique involved the placing of a small shell nucleus into the mantle tissue of a donor oyster, this was then grafted into another oyster, this foreign body would cause the oyster to form a pearl sack, producing nacre, covering the nucleus and thus producing a spherical pearl similar to those that occurred naturally.

Although this technique, patented as the 'Mise-Nishikawa' method in 1908, had proved itself to be successful, it only became a viable business venture when in 1916 Mikimoto Kokichi took over the patent to produce round pearls. This ground-breaking procedure marked the beginnings of Japan's pearl industry, and by 1935 Japan was producing more than 10,000,000 cultured pearls every year. Mikimoto didn't stop there; he advanced his experiments from producing cultivated Akoya pearls using the Akoya (Pinctada fucata) oyster to cultivating the silver lipped and black lipped pearl oysters.

Aside from the farming itself, the major problem facing Mikimoto Kokichi was the eradication of the negative connotation that cultivated pearls had when compared to their naturally occurring cousins. He succeeded in changing peoples perceptions by his steadfast traveling and marketing of his products at expositions and then establishing Mikimoto stores in London, Paris, New York, Shanghai, and Bombay. These stores were his showcases, offering up the latest designs and sophisticated fashions, and at the highest quality possible affordable to people aside from nobility and the higher echelons of society.

Learn Japanese! Segments! U charge to apperceive this!

LEARN JAPANESE! Visit my site! japanesemadeeasy.webs.com Segments! Why segments are so important will be easyer to show with the kana charts The easiest ones are the 5 vowels. aiueo あ い う え お The next type is the consonant- vowel ka ki ku ke ko か き く け こ Next is the consonant-consonant- vowel shi tsu chi し つ ち Next are the glides kya kyu kyo きゃ きゅ きょ For a more indepth explaination of glides go to about kana etc. Finally is n n んWhen speaking Japanese each type of segment is used. When saying words each segment get equal value, regardless if it's, a, ka, shi, kya, or n. For example, if each segment was given one second to be said, then a is one second, just as kya is. This will help you pronounce words properly in Japanese. I made a video including segments. Please check out my other video lessons too Here are some examples using segments: su shi - sushi ni ho n - Japan ku ru ma - Car a ka i - Red ko n ni chi wa - Good after noon kyo u - Today People often neglect the extra "n" in konnichiwa, "n" and "ni" can't be fused togeather. They are separate segments! This is a prime example of why segments are so important. Without segments it's hard to know how to say words. Think of segments as notes of a song, each segment is a whole note. No matter how big or small it looks it is still a whole note. Think of the size as it's pitch, no matter the pitch the note is still the same length. Just because a pitch is low doesn't turn it into a quarter note, neither ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktiKEOQpUfk&hl=en

Backpacking Information on China

Population: 1.3 billion (UN, 2005)
Capital: Beijing
Area: 9.6 million sq km (3.7 million sq miles)
Major language: Mandarin Chinese
Major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism
Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Renminbi (yuan) (Y) = 10 jiao = 100 fen

The People's Republic of China - one of the world's oldest and thriving civilizations consisting of states and cultures dating back to more than 6 millennia, outpacing the rest of the world in arts and sciences. Ancient China is the master creator of four of the most critical innovations in our modern world: paper, compass, gunpowder, and printing, says British biochemist and scholar Joseph Needham. Besides, who does not know of the Great Wall, Jackie Chan, or the Peking Man who used fire 300-780 millennia ago?

China's cultural sphere has extended to the tiny corners of the world from Southeast Asia, East Asia, America, Australasia, to Europe. CHINATOWN contributes significantly to this mobility with its presence celebrated in the whole of Asia, Middle East, Oceania, North America, Latin America, Europe, and even Africa. The first Chinatown was established in Manila, but this is more of a commerce and trade hub nowadays, than as ethnic enclaves for overseas Chinese. This is mostly the world's (AND our) orientation to Chinese culture; however, Chinatown is apparently a part and parcel of this greater culture.

GEOGRAPHY

China, an East Asian country on coordinates 35 00 N, 105 00 E, is the 4th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, and the U.S. with a total area of 9,596,960 km². It has a terrain of mostly plains, hills, and deltas in the East, and mountains, plateaus, and deserts in the west, with rivers flowing from West to East, i.e. Yangtze and Huang Ho (main rivers), emptying into the Pacific Ocean. Elevation extremes comprise of Turpan Pendi, the lowest point (-154 m), and Qomolangma (Mount Everest), the highest point (8,850 m). China currently deals with ecological concerns of air and water pollution, water shortages, deforestation, and trade of endangered species.

CLIMATE

With an extremely diverse climate brought about by a vast territory, China experiences frequent typhoons, floods, tsunamis, land subsidence, earthquakes, and droughts in some regions.

Northern Zone: Summer-30 ° C; winter- sever arctic

Central Zone: Temperate continental

Southern Zone: Subtropical

PEOPLE

China ranks as the most heavily populated country in the world with 1,336,860,000 people, comprising 19.62% of the world's population as of April 10, 2010, not even including Hong Kong, China, and Macao. Of this population are 56 ethnic groups with the Han Chinese taking the cake as the largest single ethnic group in the world with 92% of the PRC population. Nonetheless, all Chinese, regardless of ethnicity, have equal national rights and privileges.

LANGUAGE

MANDARIN is Modern China's official language spoken by 850 million Chinese. The Standard Mandarin is of the Beijing dialect and one of the six official languages designated by the United Nations. ENGLISH is the nation's language for business and education with a growing demographic of 20 million speakers produced annually. A majority of China's 55 ethnic groups have their own varieties and dialects, like Cantonese, Fukien, and so on.

RELIGION

China's social values are rooted on Confucianism and Taoism. The nation respects multi-religiosity with Taoism practiced by 400 million of the Chinese population (30%), whereas Buddhism is practiced in harmony with Taoism. Freedom of religion and activities relating to belief are protected by the constitution, hence the presence and acceptance of Christianity and Islam in the region as well.

ATTRACTIONS

In China, "attractions" is an understatement, but the most famous are the majestic Great Wall, out-of-this-world Tibet, the unmatched Silk Road, the mystifying Terra-Cotta warriors, the imperial Forbidden City, and the grand Yangtze River. Hainan Island, a Special Economic Zone, remains a total backpacker destination for its natural grandeur coupled with a mild climate and favourable environment the whole year round. Tagged as "The Oriental Hawaii" for its unmatched beach landscapes, this is China's sweet winter escape where young people like to chill and old people prefer to live.

Natural or man-made, China takes pride in them all. Indeed, Chinese architecture is greater than just its wall. From China's temples to palaces, the traveller will note of the principle of balance and symmetry smeared from its ornate roofs to the infinitesimal design details. In modern architecture, China has the largest number of high-rise buildings in the world.

FOOD

Every single human being has an established concept of "Chinese food" such as rice or noodle toppings in a box, but it really is a general term as "European cuisine" as food is diverse as the regions in China. Rice is the staple in the South, while wheat noodles, in the North. We're talking Guang Dong's Dim Sum, Shanghai's spring rolls and pulled noodles, and Szechuan peppery dishes to cite some. Beijing may be the home of the Peking duck, but Cantonese food is the most popular to the world. Food trip alone will be a good reason to take a trip to China for its enthusiastic gastronomic culture. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Chinese gourmands on and off the street ensure fresh and clean food. For "dog lovers", they also serve dog meat, camel's paw, snake, shark's fin and other bizarre exotica.

ODD-BALL HABITS

Spitting ubiquitously (hotels, hospitals, banks, supermarkets, etc.);
Slurping noodles (compliments to the chef!);
Staring incessantly due to curiosity;
Shoving in queues and accepted negligence to laws and regulations i.e. driving, smoking zones, etc.;
Shouting or loud speech is simply vivacity and interest in conversation (not anger) and is very standard.

Pumpkin Rice - Children's Health Food

Pumpkins are very popular in cooking. It can be fried, boiled, steamed, baked and even roasted. Small pumpkins can be eaten as squash or zucchini. Mashed pumpkin can be used in soup. In Middle East, pumpkin is used for making desserts such as halawa and yaqtin. In China, the leaves of pumpkin are used as an ingredient in soups. In India, kadu ka halwa is made from pumpkin, butter, sugar and other spices. In Japan, some take the pumpkin to serve as tempura. In Australia, pumpkin is commonly roasted before consumed. In Italy, pumpkin is used with cheeses for ravioli. In Thailand, small pumpkins are steamed with custard, sugar and coconut milk mix to become a Thai dessert - pumpkin custard.

Usually, kids like to eat pumpkin. It might be due to its sweetness taste and the cheerful color - orange. My kid likes to eat pumpkin meals as well. My wife started feeding him with pumpkin meals since he was 1 year old. Now, he is six years old and still likes to eat pumpkin very much. Pumpkin is his favorite food, and no matter the meal prepared in soup, porridge, rice, steam or stir fry, he will always ask for pumpkin.

I would like to share with you one of the simplest and easiest way to prepare pumpkin cooking. You can prepare it in meal box and let your children bring them to school. Normally, I will add it with green peas to make the dish looked better and also more nutritious. Here is the Pumpkin Rice recipe.

Cooking Methods: (servings for 4 to 5 people)

Ingredients:

a) white rice 160g rinse clean and take off the water
b) Pumpkin 220g removed skin and cut into cube
c) Chicken breast 130g cut into cube
d) Dried mushroom 7 pcs soak till soft, rinse off the water and cut into cube
e) Dried prawn 35g soak till soft, rinse off the water
f) Onion small 5 pcs, cut slices
g) Water 350ml ( including water of soaking mushroom &dried prawns)
h) Green onion few

Seasoning materials:

a) Soya Sauce 1 ½ tbsp
b) Dark Soya Sauce 1 tbsp
c) Salt half of tsp
d) Sesame oil 2 tsp
e) Pepper 1 tsp

Method:

1. Marinate chicken breast with few starch flour and soya sauce together with sugar for about 30 minutes.
2. Heat up the oil, fry onion small until fragrance and ready to use.
3. Heats up the oil again, fry fried prawns with low flame and add in mushrooms continue by put in the chicken. Stir fry till half cook; add in white rice and the seasoning materials. Put into rice cooker and add in water and cook till 80%.
4. After that, add in pumpkin and onion that fried earlier and cook the rice till dry.
5. Loosen out the riceï¼OEput some green onions when ready to serve.
6. Completed.

Cooking Tips:

1. Australia pumpkin normally easy to cook than local pumpkin, hence don't cut too small, around 1.5cm to 2 cm will do.
2. Separate the fried onion to two servings, one can pour into the ingredients while half cook, another servings can use when ready to eat. This will help the taste.
3. Chicken breast can replace by chicken thigh.
4. Water levels that use to cook rice depend on the type of rice that you use. Use the normal cooking water level as reference
5. Use fresh mushrooms, put them into hot water, then rinse off.
6. if use pot to cook, you can follow the same method (1) to (3), put all ingredients (except pumpkin & fried onion) into pot, put in appropriate water and cook till water is boiled. Don't use too big flame, change to medium flame till water dry off, continue by low flame and add on the pumpkin and fried onion. You may want to stir it from time to time so that the rice won't stick to the pot.

Unbeatable Discounts With Red Lobster Coupons

As if you needed any more reasons to go to Red Lobster restaurant, maybe the fact that they have recently been named the Best Seafood Chain by a reputable food organization is enough to convince you of their merits.

And to cement the deal even further, you should also know that the restaurant chain was also judged the best sit-down chain restaurant in the country by no less than Men's Health magazine. These honors are of course well deserved, but it really isn't surprising that the restaurant chainwould be so well regarded.

It has been quite a long road from the very first restaurant to the multi million-dollar giant that regularly puts coupons up for offer. The first branch was opened in 1968 by Bill Darden, who saw the need for a restaurant that offered quality food at reasonable costs in Lakeland, Florida. Today, there are well over 700 restaurants in the United States, Canada and Japan. And with the coupons that are on offer, you can bet that they all do a booming business!

As for getting your hands on these coupons, it is easy enough as going to the official Red Lobster website, where you will see a list of all the promotional offers that the restaurant chain is currently running.

The restaurant chain's coupons are available easily enough from your local newspapers or even from the restaurant itself.

If you can't find coupons from these sources, you may have better luck from the restaurant chain's official website. Here the company provides a regularly updated list of the current promotions they are running, and they may have a few coupons available for download.

Hoi An, Vietnam - Top Ten

Hoi An

If you fancy upgrading your wardrobe with shiny new threads, Hoi An is the place. Every other shop in this small, perfectly formed central Vietnamese town belongs to a tailor who will happily whip up a pair of slinky pyjamas or a silk kimono ('made-to-measure, Visa or Mastercard'). It will be made from the fruit of locally bred silkworms and, with luck, will fit perfectly and carry no size tag.

This fashion hub and Unesco World Heritage Site has long been a class act. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was an international port called Faifo swarming with Chinese and Japanese merchants. Today, the exotic trader influence shines through in the shrines, silk shops, bridges and quaint tile-roofed wooden houses.

Because many of the downtown streets are closed to cars and even motorcycles on some days, they are great for a wander. Although most shops target tourists, unusually for Vietnam, much of the town has been conserved. A heritage time capsule, this living museum of Vietnamese culture offers visitors the tranquility many need as an antidote to the mania of the country's cities, and from their lives back home.

The limited development that has been allowed has unfolded sympathetically, resulting in a minimum of tower blocks and karaoke parlours and a general lack of tat and tack. It feels "boutiquey" rather than "souveniry", to echo one observer.

When you tire of the lanterns, kites and looms, there is no need to pack up and leave. Just beyond the fringes of this most picturesque of towns, you will find plenty of momentous attractions, if little in the way of golf, although the area has five world-class courses in the pipeline.

Tempted? Hoi An is just down the road and is far quieter than Hanoi. Instead of honking horns and revving motorbikes, the prevalent sounds are whirring sewing machines, clinking chisels and softly shuffling flip-flops topped by sibilantly humming voices.

Give in to the temptation to fall into a trance, but try to snap out of it when you take a taxi, as you are still in the most commercial of countries. Confirm the cost and destination. Otherwise, expect to arrive at the wrong hotel, to be charged way too much and then to be stung for extras, such as for having too many shopping bags or for any other reason your driver can concoct, such as being a large person, or your belt causing wear-and-tear on the upholstery.

Finally, ensure you have plenty of traveller's cheques or stacks of cash. The reason: as in much of Vietnam, the ATMs have the distressingly capricious habit of, like casino one arm bandits, dispensing cash at random intervals or not at all.

For wireless internet access on what some Vietnamese call your 'toplap', try the Hai Scout cafe at 111 Tran Phu Street. Alternatively, try another old quarter stalwart, the chic and bare-bones Art Cafe at 30 Thai Hoc Street, which is a good place to relax and soak up Hoi An's ample atmosphere. "It nice," as the sign says.

Simon Ramsden lists the top ten attractions in or near a town with four UNESCO World Heritage sites within easy reach:

1. Japanese Covered Bridge
Surprisingly short and stocky, Hoi An's most famous landmark has a tall story behind it. The story begins with a monster called Cu, which was so big it had its head in India and its tail in Japan. The products of its nether regions, which are situated over Vietnam, have been credited with most of what is good, and bad, in the country's history.

In the 1590s a covered bridge was built in Hoi An to link the Japanese side of town with the Chinese quarter. According to the story, because the bridge spanned the weakest part of the monster, the pressure killed it. Hence the shrine of atonement halfway across.

As if that legend were not odd enough, one entrance is guarded by a pair of monkeys and the other by a pair of dogs.

2. Hoi An Harbour
To see the harbour at its most magical, rise at daybreak and go to the bridge. A guide will take you out on a wood-boards-and-peeling-paint ferry for a fresh, laid-back take on the town. Bobbing and lolling around, you may feel that you have stepped back in time to the age of Marco Polo.

3. Tran Family Worship House
Ringed by a garden and high fences, the Old Town house could more accurately be described by a bourgeois word you are still not meant to use. Infused by Chinese and Japanese influences, the temple, sorry house, was constructed by a mandarin named Tran Tu Nhac.

Intriguingly designed, it splits into the main worship part and an annex for family and guests. The worship hall has three doors, each for a different type of visitor.

The left door is for men, the right for women. The middle door, for the grandparents, is opened during the Tet new year festival and on other celebratory days. If the place feels too rigid for your taste, try Phuc Kien Pagoda - the assembly hall-cum-temple for Chinese from the Fujian province who worship the Fujian god Tien Hau.

4. Cargo Club Restaurant and Patisserie
One of the joys of Hoi An is the eccentric English displayed on menus. Think "grilled tofu with grass" and "banana pancake with bile honey".

Set in an ancient, two-storey shophouse on one of Hoi An's liveliest streets, the Cargo Club at 107-109 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street serves up a few linguistic oddities of its own, including 'alsatian baguette'.

Nonetheless, the food is reliably delicious and diverse. The repertoire includes everything from spicy seafood noodle soup to roasted fennel and goat cheese salad. Adding to the attraction, the club has chic dark wood decor and a balcony that commands sweeping views of the harbour.

To get so close to the water that you could drink it, try Citronella Cafe at 5 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai. But stick to the bottled water. For the purest water you can find, visit any of the stalls and cafes that sell green coconuts, where the vendor will hack one open for you with a machete. The coconut is free, but expect to pay for the straw to suck the juice out with.

5. Zen Spa
Founded to promote traditional Vietnamese therapy, Zen Spa (zenspa.com.vn) has two local branches. One, at the Hoi An Hotel, is right in the heart of town. The other, at the Hoi An Beach Resort is further out, by the seaside. Pampering services that come under the Zen Spa brand include facials, foot treatments, body scrubs, Pearl of Asia (incorporating exotic Thanh Long or 'dragon fruit'), Heaven and Earth (gentle body scrub with a great coconut aroma), The Five Elements ('fresh herbals and silver coins with ginger wine') and Forever Together ('fresh leaves and herbs'). Different.

6. Cua Dai Beach
So much appears in print about Hoi An's old quarter that the visitor may forget that the town lies beside the South China Sea. Fringed with palm trees, Hoi An's beach, Cua Dai, boasts clean white sand that stretches all the way to Danang and is short on hawkers: a blessing in a country where you are far too often assailed with the demand "You, buy my things."

7. Marble Mountains
These mountains are named after the crystalline metamorphic limestone from which they formed. Blessed with soaring, incense-filled caves and pagodas, the Marble Mountains have seen it all, fulfilling roles at various times in its history as a temple complex, battleground and hospital. In the latter of these roles injured Vietcong would convalesce whilst watching the ant-link figures of GI's playing on the beach below, oblivious of the enemy's presence.

The king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last ruling family, named the mountains after the five elements that make up the universe: (metal, wood, water, fire and earth). If you want to become at one with the universe, in characteristically business-like Vietnamese fashion you will be charged a small entry fee for each of the five elements with which you wish to harmonise.

8. My Son Sanctuary
The Unesco-listed My Son Sanctuary, often described as a Hindu holy land, rests in a remote jungle valley ringed by two mountain ranges. My Son once hosted the religious ceremonies of kings of the Champa dynasty, which ruled southern and central Vietnam from around the 7th century to the 19th. Unfortunately most of it was obliterated by the US Air Force in the war, but what remains is interesting, if only because the Hindu relics seem so out of place this deep inside Indochina.

The sanctuary consists of a string of semi-ruined but imposing tower-temples built by means that modern architecture does not understand. Often likened to the Cambodian temple complex Angkor, which the Champa sacked, My Son is a spooky place as awash with butterflies as with the spirits of the dead.

One of the strangest sight you will see in its grounds is the two American bomb casings dating back to a 1963 raid. The casings' shape echoes the deliberately phallic stone columns scattered around the sanctuary.

9. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
The karst (limestone crag) configurations at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park stem from 400 million years of geological upheaval and growth. To get a sense of how slowly Phong Nha-Ke Bang evolved, consider that it takes a century for any of the stalactites or stalagmites to grow a single millimetre.

This Unesco site ranks as the oldest major karst area in Asia. It is big, too. Radiating from the border with Lao, Phong Nha-Ke Bang comprises 65 kilometres of caves and underground rivers. An adventure sports playground with a promising future.

10. Cham Museum, Danang.
This museum houses the world's finest collection of Cham sculpture and is a glorious testament to the artistic achievements of the Kingdom of Champa. The sandstone carvings of gods, beasts and celestial dancing girls possess exquisite beauty and grace and are so liberally displayed as to make it a challenge to fully appreciate this enchanting museum in a single visit.

Learn Japanese! The 5 basal vowels! A charge know!

LEARN JAPANESE! Visit my site! japanesemadeeasy.webs.com A - ah - Hop E - eh - Empty O - oh - Open U - oo - Boot i - EE - Feet



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1CkbG9f2co&hl=en

Japanese Cook - achievement affable authoritative Yaki Soba preparation

A Japanese Cook preparing Yaki Soba - stunt cooking ( high definition shot with Omnia HD i8910 )



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BveA8tdWOs&hl=en

My Journey to the Homeland

I went to Italy for the first time in 1995. The experience was both eye opening and mind boggling as I had my own ideologies regarding the real "Italians" from the homeland and how different from those living in North America.

So at 32, I ventured alone to the homeland, with hundred of stories that my father had been filling my mind with since I was a child.

I traveled quite extensively in the northern part of Italy, which is beyond description. Being a lover of ancient civilizations, I walked the streets of Rome, visualizing and sensing all those that walked the same road I was now on.

I kept asking myself, how many horses galloped along with Caesar's army? What strength did the women walking with baskets upon their head have as they transported water or food and the children that played on these streets what games did they play?

As one travels from ancient Rome, to the beauty and splendor of a Renaissance city like Florence with its architecture, art and light, to the incredible beauty that is Venice which must be seen by everyone at least once in their lifetime, one is only filled with pride and joy that in some small way one is a part of this culture.

The place that felt most like home were the streets of Pompeii whereby as I walked along the ruins I felt I was there, in another lifetime. Perhaps a vendor selling fruit, maybe a street walker selling her wiles, or bartering goods in the market. All I know is the depth of emotion that encompassed my entire being is something I had never felt before.

While travelling south 2 things are forever etched in my mind and that is the fertile ground that vineyards and olive trees come from.

I have never seen anything more beautiful than an olive tree. When the sunlight falls upon the leaves they appear to be silver and one cannot help but be grateful for this abundance in beautiful Italy! As are the acres and acres of grapes that become fine wines all over the world.

The train from Naples took me to Termoli (a city which is about 20 minutes from my father's hometown of Guglionesi) which is situated along the Adriatic coast in the region of Molise and his stories flooded my mind and several times tears came to my eyes as I reveled in being a part of this wondrous place.

I would soon be at my zia's house, see cousins I had not seen in over 20 years, meet their spouses and boyfriends and children and know that we all come from the same "pasta".

How To Burn Fat Without Cardio Or Dieting

I hate cardio.

I hate treadmills, exercise bikes and elliptical machines. I hate exercising for hours at a time, just to burn off a few measly calories.

Luckily, I recently discovered a way to burn NINE TIMES more fat without wasting my time on the treadmill.

Oh, and best of all, I didn't have to go on a diet or restrict my eating in anyway.

Here's what this is all about:

Scientists in Japan have now confirmed what you knew all along: Simply put, you burn more fat by working out intensely than you do when you "dog" it.

Unfortunately, all the "weight loss experts" told us that the only way to burn fat was to exercise at a steady pace for 45-60 minutes at a time. Yuck! 60 minutes on a treadmill, watching CNN? No thanks.

I decided to try the routine that the scientists in Japan developed, one commonly known as high intensity interval training.

Here's what happened:

Instead of huffing and puffing on a treadmill for an hour each day, I slashed my workout time to just FOUR MINUTES. No, that's not a misprint. I exercised for just 240 seconds.

In four weeks, I got into the best shape of my life. My heart and lungs were stronger than ever. My bodyfat levels dipped into single digits and my abs (which had been hiding under a layer of fat for quite some time) came into view.

How could I make such a dramatic transformation in just 4 minutes a day? Well, the high intensity interval training routine actually burns more calories in 4 minutes than working out in the traditional manner for an hour or more.

Here's the science: When you perform traditional cardio, your metabolism rises while you are working out. But as soon as you stop your exercise, your metabolism drops back down to normal levels.

But when you do High Intensity Interval Training, you don't burn very many calories during your four minute workout. But your metabolism stays elevated for 24-48 hours after your workout! So you're burning calories and fat all day long.

How To Kick Start Your Metabolism And Blow Torch Body Fat

If you're ready to finally burn off that stubborn body fat, you may want to give high intensity interval training a go (assuming your doctor says it's ok).

Instead of walking on a treadmill for 60 minutes at the same pace, try alternating speeds every minute. This forces your body to constantly adapt and you'll burn more calories.

Next, increase your speed and drop your workout time down. You don't need to waste 60 minutes a day when you learn how to push yourself.

Finally, keep at. High intensity interval training is not easy... but the results come quick. Don't be surprised if you end up in the best shape of your life.

Learn Japanese! Enlongated vowels!!!

LEARN JAPANESE! Visit my site! japanesemadeeasy.webs.com yes yes i know i messed up Kirei lol.... Elongated vowels! Enlongated vowls are vowels that when they have certain vowels after them, they are held an extra beat. aa - aa ii - ii uu - uu ei - ee ou -oo "ei" and "ou" are the irregular ones. Okaasan - Mother Baai - Case, situation Kawaii - Cute Atarashii - New Shuu - Week Fuu - seal Arigatou - Thank you kyou - today Kirei - pretty/clean Rei - zero But in some cases "oo" and "ee" are used: ookii - Big honoo - Flame Neesan - Older sisiter



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYiEvbZLij4&hl=en

What to See on Your Holidays in Burma Myanmar

For the west, Asia has always been an area of deep interest. It is one of the largest mainlands of Southeast Asia.

Once here, there are numerous places of great interest such as Naypyidaw, the well known administrative capital, Mandalay's Royal Palace, Bago, Yangon, and Mawlamyine. Some equally important destinations of Burma Myanmar include Bagan, which is an archeological site that has numerous pagodas at the bank of river Ayeyarwady, Kengtung a tribal area and Lake Inle that is well known for its exquisite boat trips. Other important sites that make perfect tourist destinations in Burma Myanmar include Kyaiktiyo, a major pilgrimage site. Mount Popa is an extinct volcano while Ngapali is a famous beach resort.

Apart from the basic information about tourist spots, it is important to know more about its geography and climate so as to make the overall trip pleasant and exciting. It lies in the Tropic of Cancer and lies in the monsoon area where its coastal area faces rainfall of more than 5000 mm.

The Northern of the region is the coolest place with an average temperature of 21 degrees. Burma Myanmar is covered with thick forests that have dense tropical growth and some of the indigenous trees including acacia, iron wood, teak, bamboo, mangrove, betel palm, coconut and rubber. So, while making a tourist trip here, it is essential to collect some useful information about the area, its climactic conditions and other geographical factors that can help to make the trip exciting and memorable.

Whilst here you can buy numerous items such as precious stones that include rubies, jade, sapphire and many other genuine precious and semi precious stones. In order to save yourself from fakes, make sure you buy these gems and jewels from officially authorized stores. Some of the other useful items that can be purchased include lacquer ware, antiques, tapestries and textiles that contain oriental world charm that makes it unique as well as culturally enriched.

A trip here can never be complete without tasting the exotic local delicacies such as Mohinga that contains soup and noodles; Laphet Thote salad that contains nuts and fermented leaves which is eaten with rice; Mee Swan prepared with meat and herbs; Onnokauswe is the coconut based noodle served with chicken; Palata is the Indian bread that is fried with sugar and eaten with meat; Shah food and Curry Mayana are what make the best delicacies of Burma Myanmar region.

Yakisoba Estilo - BeeGees

Yakisoba_Estilo_BeeGees



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5RmMN4A7lg&hl=en

yaki soba!

oh man.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD-3Daq8t2o&hl=en

Top 10 Cooking Schools Around the World

What better way to top off your luxurious travel experience than by joining in the fun at a cooking school, learning to create divine meals using fresh local flavours and traditions? Cooking schools are a popular choice of holiday with a wide variety of choices available. Here are our suggestions for the top 10 cooking schools around the world.

1. Dar Liqama, Morocco

To experience the rich spices of Morocco you can't get any better than the Dar Liqama in Palmeraie, near Marrakesh. This exotic hotel is a fascinating feature in itself, complete with marble floors, antiques and a terrace to sit and idly watch the amazing view. At the Dar Liqama cooking classes you can learn to prepare traditional fare such as lamb dishes, tagines and almond pastries.

2. Le Baou d'Infer, France

In the beautiful countryside of southern France, Le Baou d'Infer teaches confidence in the kitchen rather than precise technique. Guests here will discover how to create the perfect bouillabaisse, aioli and divine French desserts, along with experimenting with local herbs.

3. Rustic Sicilian, Italy

Italians are well-known to love their fresh food and to love cooking, so it's no surprise that Italy has countless cooking schools scattered throughout the country. One of the most famous is the Rustic Sicilian. Prepare and savour the most delicious Italian cuisine, just like Mama makes it, using ingredients -- including vegetables, herbs, cheese and meat -- from the rustic 1000 acre estate.

4. Four Seasons, Thailand

The Four Seasons hotel in Chiang Mai offers excellent cooking classes, lead by head chef Pitak Srichan. In this open hilltop cooking classroom, with view of paddy fields, you can experiment with the unique Thai flavours. Signature dishes you could perfect here include Chiang Mai curry noodle soup with chicken and dry spiced curry with pork and pickled garlic.

5. Samp and Soufflé, South Africa

The Samp and Soufflé is a mobile cooking school that roams around the Cape Town region, offering cooking classes for one day to five days. Guests can even experience preparing and barbecuing an impala on a game reserve along with tasting local wines, cheese, fish and herbs.

6. Ballymaloe Cookery School, Ireland

The Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, County Cork, is the oldest established private cooking school in all of Ireland. Courses here range from simple demonstrations to small group classes on basic fare to preparing gourmet dinner party cuisine. The school focuses on food that can be obtained direct from the garden.

7. Swinton Park, United Kingdom

The exquisite Swinton Park in North Yorkshire is a castle hotel that is surrounded by 200 acres of pristine park. Your luxury cooking holiday can be combined with activities such as golf, riding and fishing. The famous Swinton Park Cooking School is run by celebrity chef, Rosemary Shrager.

8. Kea Artisanal, Greece

Located near the sea on the superb island of Kea is the home of award-winning cookbook author, Aglaia Kremezi. Surrounded by almond and olive trees and a beautiful vegetable garden guests learn to prepare delicious Mediterranean cuisine from one of the best, with a focus on seafood, octopus and garlic. Sip wine with your meals while taking in the amazing views and nature on this beautiful island.

9. Kerala Cooking Residency, India

The Kerala Cooking Residency is an Indian home surrounded by a bio-organic garden of spices. Guests can enjoy preparing traditional Indian dishes, including breakfasts, lunches and dinners. When you're not learning about the delicious Indian fare you can indulge in a relaxing Ayurvedic massage.

10. Casa de Sierra Nevada, Mexico

This cooking school is located in a collection of six magnificent mansions from the colonial era, over 6000 feet high in the central highlands of Mexico. Guests here can learn to prepare traditional Mexican meals and sensational margaritas from one of the best Latin America chefs, Sazon.

Whether you prefer the rich flavours of Tuscany, spicy Mexican fare or the heady aroma of Moroccan spices, a luxury cooking holiday makes a perfect getaway at any time of the year.

3 Fun Things to Do in Vietnam

If you tell a person that you are going to Vietnam, the one thing that springs up in their mind is the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War had a huge cultural and political impact on Americans. However, the war happened more than twenty years ago and the country has changed dramatically since then. Vietnam is now a country full of young people and most of them have forgotten about the war. It is now a vibrant country with a growing economy. There are so many things to see and do in Vietnam that it might take a few years to explore the whole country.

Here are a few fun things you can do in Vietnam:

1. Eat beef noodle soup in Hanoi. The traditional Vietnamese soup, Pho, was invented in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. It is a beefy noodle that is usually eaten during the morning but can be eaten anytime during the day.

2. Walk around the numerous lakes around Hanoi. Hanoi has approximately a dozen lakes where you can stroll around and see people exercise in the morning. It is a great way to people watch and see how they live their daily lives.

3. Ride a motorbike around the Mekong Delta country side. This is perhaps the most fun thing to do in Vietnam. You can stop anywhere you like and eat the local food there. You can see the beautiful rice fields and the beautiful kids playing with each other. If you are the more adventurous person, you can try out the beat cobra heart alcohol drink from some pubs around the area.

What Is All The Hype About Green Tea

The Benefits of Green Tea as a Dietary Supplement

Speaking of tea, it is a usual name for a plant relative of most flowering
shrub. The groups of plants that can be produced as tea have about 600
species existing for 28 generations. It is also raised in steamy and
tropical climate. Bust most of the species of tea grows naturally in all
parts of Asia and in some parts of Middle America.

The tea shrub is a native plants that grows naturally in the Southeast Asia
are being used as a brewed from dried out leaves. It is also being drunk in
some parts of Asia especially people in China. According to history, people
started using tea as a beverage ever since the start of 28th century BC and
the middle part of 10th century BC. There are Chinese historians with
remarkable records that declare that the tea powder was being kept to
survive a good many years.

After bringing it to some parts of Europe, England became the capital of tea
drinking country. Dutch are the one responsible of bringing the tea in their
continent. The British Company who keeps on trading with them also
introduced it to America. The British then monopolized the worldwide tea
production and they put a heavy tax on the said product.

In the end tea become one of the most in demand beverages, some of the
European country conducted a party for tea drinkers relatively than coffee
drinkers. Tea is the staple drink of three fourths of the population
worldwide.

Countries with many tea drinkers are Asia, Europe and North America. The
main producers of tea are Asian countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan,
Malaysia, Taiwan and some other primary manufacturer.

One of the most popular kinds of tea is green tea. Green tea came from leaf
buds and young leaves. In some country like China, they add some aroma to
make the tea smells and taste better.

Since then tea became a scented drink for tea drinkers. Tea has also
caffeine but lower in content compared to coffee. The absorption of caffeine
content is only 4.5 percent.

Now the question is what are the health benefits that we can get from green
tea?

The press and advertising claim that green tea is a very effective
antioxidant and a very strong and useful anticancer agent. Base also on the
study that drinking green tea regularly can be able to lessen the heartbeat
failures and it helps in regulating blood pressure.

Green tea is also useful for the dietary allowance because of the fact that
it helps the stomach to digest well and be able to have a pleasant digestive
cycle.

There are researches and studies that are wanting of the concise conclusion
about the benefits of green tea. However, there are proofs from the
laboratories declare that green tea has no harmful substances to give a
negative effect in our body.

It does not contain any chemicals that can trigger up the chemical reactions
to promote cancer cells. Aside from this green tea can be able to assist how
to stop the growth of carcinogenic substances in our body. Carcinogenic
substances are the primary cause of cancer and tumor cells.

Another thing is that a chemical originate from green tea called
"polyphonics" have revealed that it is a good antioxidant potential that both
in the laboratory and in the body of humans.

Presently, research shows that drinking green tea regularly and having it as
part of our diet can lessen the cholesterol content inside our body. We are
all well aware that too much cholesterol intake in our body can cause heart
failures and clogged arteries.

Green tea can also diminish the effect of LDL "low-density lipoprotein" and
the HDL "high-density lipoprotein". Researches explain that LDL and HDL are
responsible for causing heart diseases that may lead to death. In also
supplies unnecessary substances that assembled up inside the arteries and
after sometimes the arteries clogs.

Another thing is that study shows that green tea can be able to take out the
bacteria and viruses that reside in the human body that prop up illnesses
like colds, diarrhea, influenza and kidney troubles.

So why not try green tea as an alternative drink, after all it is a healthy
thing to do.

Tapah - Rustic Getaway Into the Wonders of Nature

What a week we had at TRC! We came, we saw but we didn't conquer as much as we would like - especially where food is concerned. This is the first time we took a night bus from Singapore to Tapah. The moment we alighted bus no. 170 at Larkin terminal at 9.15 pm, the ticket agents started to tout for our business - barking to us popular places like KL, Ipoh etc.

When we said "Tapah", one bus agent quickly issued us two tickets and charged us RM 50 each. However, we learnt later from the driver that the bus actually goes to Bidor (a neighbouring town) instead of Tapah. We demanded for a refund but thankfully, they arranged for us to board another bus that goes to Tapah. It turned out to be a very comfortable bus (KKKL) - as shown below. The near-empty bus left Larkin at 10.15pm and we reached Tapah at 5am sharp - a mere 7-hour ride.

Sometimes in order to make a quick buck, the bus agents may issue you a ticket to a neighbouring town and leave you to take another bus from there. So, double check with the bus driver whether the bus goes to your intended destination before boarding.

RM 50 is considered a very good deal for such a comfortable coach. But during peak periods or festive seasons, the ticket price can go up to RM 65 or even RM 75. So if you can, avoid such peak periods. If you can't, you are advised to purchase your ticket well in advance. For the latest update on ticket prices, you can check with some suggested bus companies such as - (i) Elta-Bina: 607-2217422 (ii) Zaman Indah Express: 607 - 2247868 (iii) GSM-Express: 607-2278407

Food is cheap and plentiful in the vicinity of Tapah. Below are some of the food we ate.

Sundara Villas is the Indian restoran (in Tapah) where we had Thosai for breakfast. At only RM 1.20 per piece, this crispy fragrant onion-filled Thosai is indeed value for money - and it's even cheaper than the coffee! (which costs RM 1.60)

Over at Bidor, we tried the famous duck-thigh noodle. At RM 6.50, it is considered a delicacy by many locals. The braised duck meat was fresh and tender, dipped in light herbal soup. A little pricey - but never mind since this is the first time we are trying.

Near the the duck-thigh noodle are many shops selling Malaysian goodies - such as Tau Sa Peng (biscuit), Heong Peah (Xiang Bing), Walnut biscuits etc. You don't have to travel to tourist hot-spots in Ipoh to buy them. Furthermore, popular tourist areas tend to be more expensive as well.

If you like Pau (Chinese bun with meat), try it at Keng Chong Restoran. We didn't eat any Pau on this trip - but because they looked really big & steaming fresh, we took a picture just in case there are some die-hard Pau addicts out there!

To savour food in its local flavour, try buying the food from the wet /flea market in Tapah - which only opens every Thursday morning. Here you can get fresh corn, vegetables, fish, fruits. If you don't wish to cook, look for ready-to-eat food such as chicken, burgers, satay, nuts, etc.

And of course, no trip to Tapah is quite complete without a taste of KFC. This is probably the only place in the world where a 3-piece meal costs only RM 12 and is still served in its traditional flavour, size, thickness, texture - right down to the original white plastic plate as used in the good old days. That's why I say it's finger licking better in Tapah!

Besides eating, we also ventured into the Kuala Woh Recreational Forest (KWRF). From the Tapah bus station, a 30-min bus ride took us to the road just outside the KWRF - where we walked a 1 km road (flanked by lush greeneries on both sides) into the forest.

Soon, we heard the sound of rushing water and proceeded in that direction until we came to a suspended bridge. There we stood, admiring the scene of fast flowing shallow water moving through the rocks and the surrounding thick vegetation. Some locals were having a dip in the water while other youths were splashing and simply having a good time. Just looking at them can be quite therapeutic. Looks like we should join them in the water next time when we are more prepared.

We took a night bus back from Tapah on Sunday night at 9:30pm and reached Singapore Woodlands check-point the next morning at 4:30am. By relying on public transport to move from point A to point B, we were able to explore the places in greater depth - in addition to saving a bundle. Overall, it was a tiring but fulfilling trip.

Chamonix's Best Skiing, Dinning and Activities

Basic Facts about Chamonix:

The town is located in Eastern France in the Haute-Savoie region at the foot of Mont Blanc. It lies at altitude of 1,035 meters. In 1924 the first ever Winter Olympics were held at Chamonix.

Chamonix is generally considered to have some of the best off-piste skiing in the world. Much of this is accessible from the lift systems and includes descents of over 2000m.

Dinning and Non Ski Activities:

Après:

MBC Bar: Started by 4 Canadians this micro brewery with random bands has good atmosphere with great casual food (burgers, nachos, big cut fries). Glen Plake frequents this place! Chambre Neuf: Fun Swedish Après ski bar near the station. Cocktails are 2 for 1 between 8pm and 10pm. Generally there are lots of blond blokes and girls drinking away and dancing on tables to the band (as only the Scandinavians can do!!!) La Terrasse: is probably Chamonix's most central bar, sitting on the edge of the river, with a south-west facing terrace overlooking the central square and the Mont Blanc. In the Winter La Terrasse opens up its two floors of entertainment; the main bar downstairs hosts live music every night, whilst the upstairs bar serves as a lounge and cocktail bar. Coffee and Breakfast: Lapin Agile: Great place for afternoon coffee or casual après ski. This is a quiet and relaxed place with nice atmosphere. Aux Petites Gourmands: Beautiful small bakery and possibly the best breakfast in town. Enjoy a coffee and croissant in the cafes back area. Pub / Casual dinner: Munchies: With delicious food, cosy atmosphere and great service, this small Swedish-run restaurant is justifiably popular. It has a well thought out Thai-inspired menu, and the best vegetarian food in Chamonix.

Alan Peru Avenue: Recently opened Asian noodle bar. Limited noodles on the menu but the food is just plain great!

Special dinner out:

Hotel Eden: Combination of contemporary and classic French cuisine. Great food from this Michelin rated restaurant in the mid to upper price range. Albert 1er Gastronomic Restaurant: You may need a second mortgage to dine here but it is one of, if not the top restaurant in Chamonix. Located in Hamau Albert Hotel that also includes a more traditional restaurant and chic cocktail bar (Quartz Bar). Les Atmosphere: This nice Restaurant located in the centre of Chamonix offers a covered terrace on the river facing the Mont-Blanc. Great reputation and reasonable prices. Party night: Cantina: Dark dirty dingy club with a wicked atmosphere (watch the dreads in your pint!). DJ nights, reggae, bands. Le Garage: Big tacky night club that is very popular. Love it, or hate it, most of the locals and tourist end up there at some point and have a laugh.

Skiing In Chamonix:

Chamonix has breath-taking skiing both on and off piste. There are 62 run lifts and over 700 kms of marked trails within 12 ski areas. If you want to experience the most famous off piste skiing of Chamonix then take a guided trip with certified English speaking guides on the Chamonix Off Piste Week.

No ski day activities:

Skating or swimming located just north of town. Go shopping or eat your way through town! Try snow shoeing or cross country skiing.

Shiitaki, the Mushroom of the Black Forrest

What Japan is to the Miataki China is to the Shiitaki, its home although both crossed the borders thousands of years ago. Also like the Miataki, the Shiitaki mushroom has been a food staple for almost 4,000 years. The biggest difference might be that Shiitaki is more consumed in food but that might just be because more Chinese food is eaten world wide than Japanese. The big exception there is that Shiitaki mushrooms are part of Japans most famous soup, Miso.

General background

Now the Shiitaki mushroom is grown all over the world, prized for its meaty caps. Infact, because of a lot of vegetarians use Shiitaki mushrooms in the place of meat, especially when grilled and then added to a sandwich. In Russia Shiitaki are pickled and eaten as a snack.

They are cultivated just like Miataki and for the same reason: The herbal Shiitaki is grown on a biomass to prevent contamination but it also grows on wood or wood type product. The Chinese used to cut down fruit trees to provide a home. Now oak is the wood of choice. Shiitaki mushrooms are the ones you want for cooking. To give you a little difference in the price, Shiitaki grown on an artificial media will sell for $4 per pound whereas those grown on oak will go for almost ten times that and yes, there is that big of a difference in taste.

A little tip for those who cook with Shiitaki: you most likely discard the stems because they are tougher than the caps and take longer to cook. Don't. Save them and boil them in water to start a mushroom broth.

Herbal use

When it comes to herbal uses the Shiitaki must wear blue tights and a cape. The list of its attributes goes on an on. First it is an anti-inflammatory so it is used to treat swollen joints. It strengthens the immune system, particularly with all the influenza types, west Nile encephalitis, bacterial infections and some infectious agents. Its antiviral properties makes it a natural HIV drug. Its most promising leads though, are for treating hepatocellular carcinoma. There are already several clinical studies on that right now as well as on it being given intravenously to some patients. Only time will tell what else this mighty mushroom, Shiitaki, can do.

slamfest 07 (Ghandi v Tony Montana)

slamfest 07 (Ghandi v Tony Montana)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmMsSu_6pBU&hl=en

Okonomiyaki - Specialty of Hiroshima Japan

A visit to Japan is not complete without enjoying many of the regional specialties. Hiroshima has a significant place in history with its tie to the United States due to dropping of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. Hiroshima and Japan as a whole has risen from the ashes to become a major economic power.
 
Hiroshima is also known for several dishes that are unique to this region. A visit to Hiroshima is not complete without having a dish of "Okonomiyaki". Okonomiyaki is basically a pan fried pancake filled with various ingredients. Although Okonomiyaki can be found throughout Japan, each region has its unique way of preparing it. In Hiroshima, the ingredients are layered on top of the batter with cabbage being the main ingredient. The ingredients vary depending upon the cook and you. Okonomi literally means "favorite" in Japanese, thus your favorite ingredients.
Although I never prepared Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki, I did find this recipe online,
 
Ingredients

- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup dashi soup or water
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups chopped cabbage
- 4 thinly sliced pork
- 4 servings yakisoba noodles
*okonomiyaki sauce or worcester sauce to season
 
Preparation:

Heat a pan or an iron table. Mix flour and dashi soup stock to make okonomiyaki batter. Spread a scoop of the batter into a thin round over the pan. Place one handful of finely chopped cabbage on top of the thin pancake. Place a pork slice on top of the cabbage. Pour some okonomiyaki batter over the ingredients. Fry yakisoba noodles on the side and season with okonomiyaki sauce. Flip the pancake over with spatulas. Press the top of the okonomiyaki firmly with a spatula and cook it in low heat until ingredients are cooked. Replace the okonomiyaki with spatulas on top of yakisoba noodles and press on the top firmly. Fry an egg on the side. Replace the okonomiyaki on top of the fried egg and again press on the top firmly. Serve the okonomiyaki in a plate with the egg side up. Repeat this process to make more okonomiyaki. Before eating okonomiyaki, spread okonomiyaki sauce or worcester sauce and mayonnaise on the okonomiyaki. Sprinkle katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) and ao-nori (dried seaweed powder) on the top.
 
But better yet, on your visit to Hiroshima, make it a point to taste this very tasty dish. Itadakimasu (lets eat!)

Three Forms of Rice

Rice is a cereal which forms the staple food for half the people in the world. It is grown in Thailand, Burma, India, China, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia and parts of America. Rice is sold in three forms, in white grains as polished rice, in reddish brown grain as unpolished rice and in partly cooked grains as parboiled rice.

Unpolished rice is cheaper and more nutritious than polished rice, but its tough bran makes it rather than unpleasant to eat. Parboiled rice is also more nutritious than polished rice, but is not popular with many people because of its strong flavor. Polished rice is the most popular rice as it not only tastes good but it also looks more appetizing than the other rice. In polishing rice, the outer skin or bran which contains vitamins and mineral salts is removed and is sold as animal food. This wastage of valuable nutrients is unavoidable due to the fact that unpolished rice does not keep as well as polished rice because the fat in the germ goes rancid very quickly.

Un-husked rice is called paddy. When paddy is ready for harvesting, its husk is golden in color. These golden heads of paddy are gathered and threshed to remove the paddy grains from the stalks. The paddy is dried in the sun, them milled to remove the husk and finally polished to remove the bran. After polishing, the rice is graded into whole grain or first quality rice and broken rice. Polished rice contains almost all starch which is in small, easily digestible granules and some protein. During cooking, the starch grains absorb water and burst, so that each grain becomes much bigger and fluffier.

Parboiled rice is prepared by soaking the whole paddy in cold water for about 24 hours. The soaked paddy is then steamed for about 10 minutes. The paddy is then dried and milled like the other rice. During the soaking of the paddy, most of the vitamins and mineral salts and some protein are carried by the water into the endosperm where they are absorbed by the starch. During the steaming, the starch grains on the outer part of the endosperm are gelatinized and will seal off the nutrients in the inner part of the endosperm. When parboiled rice is milled, most of the nutrients are retained.

Rice is ground into flour which is used for some cakes and biscuits. Rice flour cannot be used for bread as it does not contain gluten. Dry rice flour used with wheat flour for biscuits improves the texture of the biscuits making them short and crisp. Plain rice flour batters are crisp and remain crisp for quite a long time. Fresh rice flour is used for many local cakes. Rice flour is also used to make noodles which are made in small factories for sale in the local markets.

Instructables: Teriyakisoba

A quick how to on making Teriyaki Yakisoba for instructables. NOTICE: I do not own the rights to Royksopp's "Remind Me" and make no claims to such. Go to www.instructables.com to see the full Instructable.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvDN8etwfR0&hl=en

Blending With Aloha Spirit

I arrived in Honolulu after 12 hours flight and a stop of 12 hours in Seoul where I was a temporary guest at the Hyatt Regency in the outskirts of Seoul; had a Korean 'Nouvelle Cuisine' Lounge style buffet lunch in a rather minimalist environment surrounded by glass and icy cold breeze where the steam of hot noodle soups looked like warmth from heaven. The arrival at Honolulu airport was quite different and the connection with the Pacific Ocean breeze immediately captured my attention, as did the Polynesian smiles and the rhythm of life. After the encounter with the engineer who build houses on the Moon and Mars I quickly realized I was going to be away from pollution, far away from the closest mainland, away from duality: the Islands of Hawaii are a bounty-full experience of beauty, oneness with the Universe codes of respect for nature, the unseen, the underwater realms connection with the forces of the sky.

The island of Maui is where I was heading to for - as short as 7 days only - and where I was going to drive a convertible car. Planning for a standard economy car can indeed bring good surprises as this is Maui and people are just friendly and for the same fee here I was in a convertible. Kahului, the small harbor on the Pacific Ocean is nothing but a hub with an airport. Nothing else except for large department stores and a few hotels on black sand beaches. Route #36 stretches from Kahului to Hana the south eastern tip of the Island. I described the road in another note. Hana is a hamlet of a few houses, a school, a church, two General Stores built in old wood, a hotel, a community center and plenty of fields. Hana is a remote hamlet on a remote side of a southern island of the Hawaii group of islands. Hana lives by the rhythm of the Polynesian lifestyle, cool, laid back, smiling, everyone waiving at each other, by the beach, with cooler boxes to enjoy the day. Hana is beautiful: simple, surrounded by luscious vegetation, energetic Pacific Ocean, humpback whales playing in the waves, birds, horses and deep black horses. Driving along the coastline on the ocean front road is a very pleasant reconnection with simple beauties of Earth: sunshine, marine life, vegetation, and an absolute perfect weather. At night, the Milky Way pours in the sky with its dusty white clouds of galaxies and makes you wonder how close to Oneness with Universe humans can get.

I walked five miles to breathe the air and blend with the environment. On my way back, three men are standing on the grass opposite the church. They are holding card boards: Give us your prayers. Drop them in the box. Although we waived at each other and exchanged the ritual "Aloha" to mean 'Love" I walked back and decided I was going to give these men a Universal prayer item. Their pick up had a sticker " On a Mission" and as I felt on a mission too, I used the paper and pen available to write down a few words to send prayers to the Universe, drop the paper in the box and crossed the street to hold hands and pray with John, John and Ekua. Their smiles will remain in my mind' eyes for long time, their sincerity was genuine. That evening they were going to have a men prayer session at the church and all our prayers will be sent to the Universe. I looked at the sky and smiled. How many of these prayers did you receive Demigod Maui!

Café Attitude is roughly located in the Kipahulu area, close to the sea on a slope somewhere near Seven Sacred Pools. Some call the Café an ' Organic Hippies' Café / Restaurant" Opened only on Sunday when vegetarian dishes are offered in a rather laid back setting. In my 2 hours visit there, I ate Thai papaya salad on banana leaves, drank kumbochi ( fermented mushroom ), talked to young and older people happy to be on earth, and was entertained by an opera singer, a native singer, and a folk song writer, when we left, the Milky Way greeted us on our way back to the pick-up!

The day of my departure arrived and my decision to drive along the slope of the Halaekala dormant volcano was as good as the decision to come to Hana to attend the Reiki retreat and Karuna Certification. Rather than going back the same way I came - something I hardly do in my life - I decided to drive along the lava fields and through the central road. Hardly anyone does that as [few people actually like to go out of the beaten tracks] and I was glad to be welcomed by an empty road winding on cliffs along a beautiful and powerful pacific ocean. People say Maui Island is still young, and the lava field still can give birth to large amount of vegetation. I found it beautiful just as it is and with a peculiar energy: a strong magnetism of closeness between the sea and the sky. I hardly have experienced such a connection on a mundane reality. Mountains by the sea, volcanoes by the sea, fire and water dancing together with the gods of the sky: a unique blending.

As I stopped by the Tedeschi Winery and Ulupakuala Ranch Store I knew I had reached the end of the lonely road under the sun and the convertible was covered with reddish dust. I ignored the heavy wine tasting and only had tiny sip of Raspberry Wine, preferring to head to Makawao, a small village I was told which is a concentration of new age shops.

As I stopped n Makawao and was intuitively directed to the only shop displaying several beautiful Selenite crystals, I realized my trip to the "end of the island's world" had come to an end, at least temporarily.

As I walked through the Maui Beach Hotel at 5.45 this morning, Scotty the hotel -airport shuttle driver waived at me: Hey Isabella Aloha, you flying away already?!" How was your trip? Good, you enjoyed it. Aloha. Come back soon, Mahalo"

And here I was driving back to the rental company and checking-in to Honolulu, Seoul and Bangkok.

All happens with a smile, a gentle turn of the body, a good vibes and a sea breeze which has accompanied me since I landed in Honolulu. The far too short trip to Maui was a recollection of earlier footsteps in the Southern Pacific. The wooden houses, the laid back friendly attitude, the respect for nature, the closeness with the immensity of the Pacific Ocean, the marine life, the women and men, the children, and churches.

As my wishes are floating in the sky under the control of Maui's will, I know I stretched some limits in my connection to the Universe. I lived the presence. Here and now. And got a message from it.

It all started with an encounter of a man building house on the moon, it ended up with prayers to Universe. Let the Earth wishes be heard and let Polynesia's wisdom spread the message of unconditional love to the waves of Lemurio!

Aloha Mahalo, Definitely a place to come back and blend!

How on Earth would one want to leave such a place?

Aloha and Mahalo

A Travelogue - Backpacking in Laos, Southeast Asia

Singapore and Hong Kong may be first world destinations but these places are the equivalent of a summer spent with a cross-stitching-fanatic grandmother. A trip to Laos, on the other hand, is like a sizzling summer fling - new, exotic and ultimately unforgettable. Crowned by globetrotters as the new queen of Asia, it is a hip destination on the verge of discovery. You might want to get there fast before everyone finds out about it.

Laos, known as the Land of a Million Elephants, is a country seemingly untouched by time and globalization. Yes, there is no smoggy metropolis, aggressive entrepreneurialism and Starbucks - yet. The main attraction of this former French colony is natural and cultural. There is an abundance of picturesque rice fields, jagged limestone mountains, that hide sprawling caves.

Strolling monks with bright orange robes who serenely walk barefoot on the pavement is mesmerizing to watch. You can even stop by a temple and hear them chant. The hilltribe people who still wear their ancient costumes and about five pounds worth of metal jewelery will give you a visual feast. French influences communed with 3rd world charms results in a progeny of quaint architecture and amazing food. The typical Lao street food is a French baguette with tandori barbequed chicken, fresh tomato and cucumber topped with cream cheese. Drink a cup of that strong Lao coffee to wash the meal down.

Many say that Lao is "one of the last quiet countries on earth". But just like lovers, on a summer rendezvous, you know that romance won't last forever. So hurry and fall-in love with this beautiful country before it loses its blush.

CITIES TO VISIT

1. Luang Prabang
A UNESCO World Heritage site and every photographer's dream location. This city, where time stands still, is framed by lush mountains and amazing waterfalls. Navigate the serene Mekong river with a kayak tour.

2. Vang Vieng
The party city with loads of backpackers from all corners of the world. Relax with a beer Lao while floating in a rubber tire through the Nam Song River.

3. Vientiane
The capital of Laos and the center of arts and traditional herbal massages.

GASTROME'S DELIGHT
Sticky rice, fish sauce and a ginger-like ingredient called galangal are Laos' staple food. Try them with:

Tam Mak Houng - spicy papaya salad
Foe - noodle soup
Som moo - ubiquitous pork sausage sold everywhere

GETTING THERE
There are no direct flights from Manila to Laos. Fly to Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh then grab a plane to Luang Prabang or Vientiane via Lao Airline.

Cooking Yakisoba Noodle

Cooked 100% homemade-Yakisoba Noodle(Japanese style chow mein)for our lunch. 04/03/2009@My Kitchen



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE6kvzwI2dU&hl=en

The Humble Beginnings of Sushi

Sushi has been a trendy culinary fashion on the West Coast for several decades, only hitting mainstream United States in popularity during the mid 1990s. It is now available in restaurants and Japanese sushi bars throughout the U.S., even found in specialty areas of local supermarkets. With its beautiful presentation and fresh, pure flavors, it is a healthy alternative to more fat-laden fare.

Though considered by most to be the chic cuisine currently, sushi had its humble beginnings over 2,000 years ago in Japan. It was originally a process of preserving fish in a salt and fermenting rice mixture. The preserved carp, or Nare-Zushi, could be stored for months with this process. At the time, it was eaten without the rice, which was discarded.

The process was altered around the fifteenth century to create a partially fermented sushi, or Nama-Nare-Zushi, in which the rice was consumed along with the fish. During the seventeenth century Haya-Zushi introduced vinegar to the cooked rice, offering the tangy flavor familiar to sushi lovers today.

Rolled sushi, Maki-Zushi, was introduced by the eighteenth century. This was followed by the creation of bite-sized Nigiri-Zushi, or finger sushi, which might be considered the earliest form of fast food, since it could be eaten on the go. In 1824, Hanaya Yohei, a sushi stall vendor in Tokyo made history with his introduction of Nigiri-Zushi garnished with a slice of raw fish, resulting in the sushi roll as it is popular today.

High in protein and healthful Omega-3 fatty acids, loaded with nutrients, and prepared with no added fats, sushi is an excellent nutritional choice as well as being delicious. There's little question that its popularity will only continue to grow as even more include this heart-healthy fare into their menu selections.

Japanese Food in America - How to Make

You do not have to be in Japan to enjoy Japanese food. Heck! You can be anywhere and enjoy the sushi or sashimi that you love so much. How? By making them yourself of course!

So right now, you are probably asking yourself how you can manage to do that right? Well, that is what this article is for. Here are some things that you need to know to help you make Japanese food in America.

1. Recipes are conveniently available almost everywhere. You can get Japanese cookbooks at your local bookstore. If you are a novice, get a book that does not only list down the recipes for you. You may want something that can give you a clear background on what Japanese cuisine is all about. However, if you want a cheaper, you can always click on your handy dandy browser and search for them in the Internet.
2. Do not worry about the ingredients. Here's the thing, sometimes Japanese recipes include some weird - sounding items that seem to be close to impossible to find. But, do not be fooled. Some of them has an American counterpart which you can easily get at your local grocery store. Plus, Japanese specialty stores are sprouting out like mushrooms everywhere. So if you want to save time on looking for some items, go look for a shop near your area.
3. In a rare case scenario, where you cannot find a specific ingredient, substitute. For example, if sushi rice is not available, you can always replace that with any short grain rice. You would just need to adjust the way you cook the substitute to achieve the same texture or consistency of the sushi rice.
4. Lastly, stay away from processed ingredients. Traditional Japanese cooking rarely calls for dried herbs, seafood or processed meat. So as much as possible, stick to freshest vegetables and meat that you can get your hands on.