Chinese/Lunar New year differs for many countries. Although in the US it is commonly celebrated during one exact time frame, in Asia there is a difference. For Vietnam and China, there’s a one hour difference due to HaNoi and Beijing’s time difference. Hanoi celebrates Lunar New year one hour earlier. Well that’s the interesting fact of the day!
pham
Sep 102009
Sep 052009
Largest Country in the world – Russia
Second Largest – Canada
Third Largest – China
Fourth Largest – America
Smallest Country – Vatican City
Largest City – Mumbai, India
Sep 022009
If you are in the Seattle-Tacoma area, this is the perfect time to start going green by going organic. The Farmer’s Market is open (has been open for quite sometime, actually) and is selling organic products. If you want to save the environment, help the local farmers compete against the corporates, then do what you so desire to do and shop at the market. The produces are very good, green, and just the way you want it.
Aug 232009
You might be thinking to yourself, they’re writing about Seattle again? What’s there about it to write so much about. Well, Seattle is not only home to the Space Needle, the Pike Place Market, and the Seattle Mariner’s, but also the Monorail. Just recently, we are home to the Northwest’s newest light rail, the Sound Transit. Rather than riding the metro, which stops every block, you can ride the Sound Transit, which stops every 10 blocks. If you’re in the Seattle-Tacoma area, you know that from Seattle to Tukwila by bus usually takes at least an hour. However, if you ride the Transit, it takes approximately only 24 minutes. And, the best thing is, you can ride the Sound Transit for about the same amount as the Metro bus!
Journey to the West, an epic story written by writer Wu Cheng-en (Ngo Thua Thien), begins with the world in a state of peril. The demonic monsters from the underworld have traversed the 18 stages of hell and shown themselves on earth. The king of the mightiest region in China at the same time was experiencing an incurable illness, where in his dreams, he is visited by the demons of his past. At this time, however, in the Holy Kingdom above, where His Holiness, the grand Buddha, was lecturing his disciples in the wisdoms of man. During the lecture, a disciple named XuanZang accidentally fell asleep, and the Buddha reprehended him and sent him down to earth to fulfill a mission before entering again the realm of the Gods. His mission was to save earth from the demons that were quickly taking over. To be continued.
Aug 102009
If you’ve ever watched a show on the Travel Channel called Bizzare Foods hosted by Andrew Zimmern, you would know that durien is one of the few things he cannot ingest. The reason is that durien is an acquired taste. If you are not used to it, then it’ll stink in your mouth, literally. Southeast Asia is home to this exotic, strange fruit. If you ever stop by Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Thailand, make sure you pick up a durien to test your taste buds, and if for the first time you don’t vomit, then I guess you’ve acquired more of a taste for ‘bizzare foods’ than Andrew Zimmern himself.
Aug 052009
If Paris, London, Beijing, and Tokyo are the major capitals of the world, then America’s New York City pars no lower than any capitol. With the graceful statue of Lady Liberty holding tightly the red flames of American desire, New York is the world’s capital city for finance and business. Home to Wall Street, the Big Apple, and the World Trade Organization, NYC is probably the most important city when it comes to business. However, famous as it is for the endless possibilities and promises New York holds, they are not the only things that bring fame to the city. From the ever-so famous subway stations to the ever-so high skyrises, NYC is one of the most developed cities in the world. It’s the epitomy of American success. With businessmen, doctors, lawyers, and corporate managers browsing the streets, there is no better place that can better describe America in its glory. In addition, because New York is probably the first true melting pot of American culture, where people of all descent, from England, Ireland, Germany, China, Japan, and other countries come together to form a nation greater than the ones from which they come, it is truly a culture that one can appreciate. Along with the night markets and the Asia-like streets filled with bustling people, NY offers a place where many can truly call home. From the entrepreneural spirit of the businessman to the hopeful innocence of the college graduate to the dreams of an immigrant fresh off the boat, NYC offers everything anyone can hope for.
Jul 232009
“If geography is the mother of history, then Africa is the mother of humanity.” This is a quote that is often used to described the motherland of Africa – the place from which all humans derive. Our ancestors and predecessors were all evolutionary descents of Prime Apes found in Africa. Africa, particularly Ethiopia, is thus a place of great cultural significance, not only to humanity, but also to the history of the world. If you want to visit a place that is as important to humanity as the very oxygen in the atmosphere that we breathe, be sure to visit Ethiopia. Here, the people are friendly, the culture is immense, and the food is great. In Ethiopia, hospitality means everything to its people. For example, if you are a fan of ‘Bizarre Foods’ hosted by Andrew Zimmern, you would know that in his visit to Ethiopia, he experienced hospitality first hand. After buying a chunk of meat from a seller, the seller himself ate half of what Zimmern bought. Why, you might ask? Because it’s hospitable. Ethiopians are even kind-hearted toward animals. In the country, there is a person called the hyena man, who buys meat to feed the hyenas in the night. Out of hospitality,however, he tends to go very close to them to feed them – it’s also a matter of respect. Further, with cultures such as story telling and the birth of humanity fresh on the tongues of the Ethiopians, it’s hard to miss culture when you’re in such a cultural place. In addition the foods there are amazing. Raw meat with a red, brownish sauce that – what else is better than food in its original state – not messed with by any means of cooking, and it’s safe to eat! So, if you plan to visit the motherland of humanity, visit Africa and Ethiopia!
Jul 222009
Over several thousand years ago, in a land long seperated from the rest of humanity, there existed a people who called themselves the Aboriginies. They were a peaceful people who held faith in a religion called Dreamtime and practiced the art of worshipping their ancestors, holding true to the values of their predecessors. The Aboriginies resided (and currently reside) in the Northern parts of Australia. Often called the Downunder land, Australia had been almost completely shut off from the rest of mankind and is still very isolated today (only in terms of distance). If you should ever visit the Downunder land, be sure to tour the lands that bore its original peoples. With all the original customs and traditions still held true, one of humanity’s oldest, the Aboriginies are very rare today. If you want to experience culture first hand, be sure to visit Australia. But, there’s not only that, Australia has much more to offer, from the lifestyle of the people on the mainland, to the foods they eat, to the things they do. Stay connected to read our ongoin series of Australia!
Jul 202009
If you’ve ever been to Seattle, or just heard of it, then you probably know that it’s often dubbed as the Rain City. Holding true to it’s name, Seattle experiences rain in all four seasons, and more often than not in three of the four. However, as gloomy as it may sound, there is hope under the umbrella. For those who don’t know, Seattle is a city of great diversity and cultural experiences. For example, every Spring, there is an international film festival, where people gather to experience culture through the art of video. In addition, when comes Summer, Seattle hosts what is called a ‘Summer Festival,’ where the night markets resemble those that are often found in Asia, which is a nice change once in awhile in such a developed nation. Furthermore, every spring also, there is a festival called Folk Life that takes place in Seattle. It’s a festival of culture through appreciation of music and food. So, as far as the nickname of Rain City, Seattle’s not that boring of a place, so come, check it out!