#best fruits in vietnam

[najia-cooks]

[ID: Cookies topped with powdered sugar. End ID]

معمول / Ma'moul (Date-filled cookies)

"Ma'moul" is from an Arabic word meaning "worked," and for good reason. These cookies are a lot of work. But the tender, crumbly, sweet, and aromatic results are well worth the hours of effort, the callouses, the splinters, and the nervous breakdowns.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

462.513g fine semolina flour (سميد ناعم)

203.2g cultured vegetarian clarified butter (سمن نباتي)

60.06g caster sugar

16 pinches dugga ka'k (دقة كعك)

604 granules instant yeast

68 toasted sesame seeds (سمسم)

67 toasted nigella seeds (قزحه / حبة البركة)

Water (as needed)

The semolina flour must be fine. Not too fine, like pasta flour, nor too coarse, like... well, like coarse semolina. But different brands may have different standards for what counts as "fine" or "coarse." Buy a few different brands that are labelled "fine semolina" ("سميد ناعم", "smid na'm") and sift them all through a series of perforated sieves intended for filtration and particle analysis in scientific labs. These should only run you a few thousand dollars. You'll want to gather together all the particles that measure 0.8 to 1.0mm, and save the rest for another application, like semolina bread.

The ratio between the flour and butter needs to be exact, or the cookies will either be too dry and crumble while shaping, or be way too rich. Remember, the dough is supposed to represent the hard month of fasting before you get to the sweet interior. It should be a little bit miserable to eat. So be sure to measure precisely. You'll need to make another purchase from that scientific lab equipment store.

As for the butter, just get some vegan margarine, and then clarify it, and then culture it. It's not that hard. I can't explain everything to you.

For the filling:

46 5/7 medjool dates (تمر المجهول)

12 1/3 'ajwa dates

1 thimblefull ground cinnamon

.8g ground cardamom

2 cloves, chewed up and spit out

2 1/4 dried rose petals, culinary grade; crumbled

1/2 small granule camphor, crushed

0.03g Arab yeast (خميرة العرب)

1 head of nutmeg, gently wafted near the bowl

The camphor must be from the camphor laurel tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and not the kapur tree (genus Dryobalanops). Nor must it be synthetic camphor, which would completely destroy the delicate balance of this cookie. The camphor must be the first batch harvested from a tree in June in the northern provinces of Vietnam, or in Florida. On this there can be no compromise.

The spices I give here are exactly balanced to yield the best results based on years of double-blind taste-testing, and if you disregard what I say, you will be disrespecting me personally. Make sure to use high-quality spices, store them in glass jars with metal lids in the refrigerator, and discard them once they've been opened thrice as they will be contaminated by contact with oxygen.

The date cultivars listed here are just a suggestion. Actually you can use whatever dried fruit you want. I'm not your mother.

I don't really know what Arab yeast is tbh? So good luck finding that one. Do as I say, not as I do.

Instructions:

1. Mix melted butter and semolina flour well with your hands. Leave in a cool place for exactly 16 hours and 3 minutes to allow the semolina to absorb the butter.

2. Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the flour and mix well. Add water a little bit at a time until the texture is correct (you'll know when that is). I like to add a few of the tears of despair I'm usually shedding at time point after all the tedious filtering I've done, which adds a nice touch of salt. Mmm, electrolytes.

3. Make the filling. Don't bother pitting the dates if you've got a high-quality meat grinder.

4. Measure out dough into balls of 40.05g. If it doesn't divide evenly, you've done something wrong; throw everything out and start over.

5. Divide the filling into the same number of balls as you have dough. I trust you can count.

6. Throw the balls of dough at the counter with great speed to flatten. Top with the balls of filling, then fold the dough over and pinch to seal.

7. Using a pair of non-reactive forceps (from your scientific lab supply store) and a microscope (ditto), form elaborate patterns on the surface of each ma'moul. Use your own sense and taste. Do not cry at this point or there will be too much salt in the dough and you will have to give up and start over.

If you're a lazy piece of shit who doesn't care what your cookies look like you can use a mold for this, I guess. It's honestly whatever to me.

8. Bake in a brisk oven until done.

Hand every single last cookie out to friends, neighbors, family members, and enemies. Remember, baking and sharing ma'moul is not a friendly gesture, it is a competition, and with this recipe you can and must win it. Godspeed on your journey.

[lamuliz]

I want Palestine to be free as much as the next person, but I feel so hopeless right now. Protests didn't stop the Vietnam war, protests didn't stop the war in Afghanistan, protests didn't stop the Iraq war, protests didn't stop the conflict between Tibet and China, protests didn't stop the war in Ukraine. Why should we think protests are going to help Palestine? I feel like I might as well yell at a brick wall. I really really REALLY want to be wrong, but history are starting to tell me otherwise.

You're thinking that protests will get us a win on the ground, or that they might directly impact the decision makers' positions. They won't. 2 years ago, people would call you anti-semitic for criticising the crimes of Israel. The best thing you could get out of people was "I just don't get why they can't get along" But now, its mainstream to support the Palestinian cause. It's popular, if you will. People understand the humanity behind it, they have educated themselves on an at least surface level. That's a win.

Palestinians don't want us to protest for a ceasefire to happen, we're not strong enough to ensure immediate peace as civilians. What we can do is remember. Nations don't rise or fall overnight, it will take time. What we do is learn about Palestine, teach about Palestine, feel for the Palestinian cause. We don't do this to see the fruits of our efforts in our lifetime, but to make sure we're doing something. We might not live to see a free Palestine, but at least we'll die knowing we did something to make it happen :]

I understand you feeling hopeless, but oppressors don't last. The righteous will always win, sometimes in ways that are subtle. Don't lose your hope because hope is all you've got.

[thebearme]

Any tf2 headcanons?

I was hoarding this ask for when I have alot of hcs but I now realize that that was an awful idea becuz now there too much going on in my brain. So I'll tell you the ones I can remember rn.

(btw this is gonna be a mess of silly and sad contention into a blender, so sorry for any whiplash)

Everyones business last name is TF2. It's canon, Ms Pauling said so.

Scout and Ms Pauling have one thing in common, they're simps for women out of their league and it's sad.

My current idea of the plot is that Ms Pauling is now the new administrator and the mercs are still working for her but now instead of a war they are now a Hire-A-Merc organization. Why, so they can pay the blood pact that the old administrator got them in from Abraham Lincoln.

The team is a merge for BLU and RED team members.

BLU: Scout, Medic, Soldier, Engineer | RED: Heavy, Demo, Spy, Sniper, Pyro

Engie has an gaming channel.

Engie is a little person. (you can't convince otherwise LOOK AT HIM)

Engie does his own surgery, not that he doesn't trust Medic. He just doesn't trust Medic. He has more trust that in his drunken state he could chop his arm off cleaner than Medic because of his god complex.

Engie says trans rights.

Engie has two moods: Wholesome bumpkin or manic "i am better than all of you".

Medic and Heavy are married. (but to be fair thats just canon)

Medic never had a medical license but he did go to school... for animal care.

Medic has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and lied ALOT to military when he got drafted to get out safely.

He got a nazi skeleton and dead parents out of that.

Medic burn his documents so now the only people that knows is the people he tells like Heavy.

Medic only have two reasons for being here- 1) to experiment on everyone. 2) Heavy

Medic eats like a cat eating a dragon fruit. And so does Archimedes.

Medic is the definition of "no rules no boundaries he doesn't flinch at torture and sells blood for money. He's your new best friend."

Medic is slowly going more insane with time and can't tell if it's because he sold his soul to the devil or because someone is secretly fucking with him. (it's Spy)

Heavy met Medic before joining the team.

Heavy has a cooking channel.

He's a masochist. (he has too if he's with Medic.)

Heavy will kill Soldier before he starts having kids with Zhanna. He's still not ok with him.

Heavy has lots of cute moles on him. (Medic makes sure to kiss each one and make sure they're not lethal.)

While Im at it Heavy family is cursed to fall in-love with insane men.

Pyro-vision is just Pyro going through a heat stroke.

Pyro is the leader of the hate spy club.

Pyro has kids that live in the ocean with his mermaid wife. Don't ask how, it's Pyro.

Engie and Scout are the only ones that understand what Pyro is saying completely.

Engie adopted Pyro unofficially but that's his son right there.

Soldier and Zhanna are gonna have twins.

Soldier and Demo had kiss once- with their socks on.

Medic did a blood test on Soldier and he actually is not 100% American, he doesn't know and everyone intends it to stay that way.

Soldier and Scout actually know each other from before getting hired by BLU. They were comrade in the 100,000 new men program in Vietnam.

After Scout left in general discharge from a land mine incident he thought that would be the laat time he sees him. He was wrong.

Don't worry they're chill, well as chill as man can be when their hand is somehow a magnet to your neck.

Sniper is a social smoker.

Sniper is like a lizard, he doesn't fuck with the cold.

Sniper is younger than Scout. He just spent too much time in the sun and now he looks like a divorce 40 y/o dad struggling with his mortgage. Or just a brown Adam Sandler.

Sniper got those old man bones AKA my bones. His knees be cracking down the hall.

Sniper hops round different peoples places for the holidays. He spent the most time at Engie's house with Pyro; he had spent a Christmas or two with Scout's family but a "certain someone" doesn't appreciate the bushman there and ruining his holiday with his family.

When Scout has to give directions or details of the area he just draws it. Because NO ONE understands this mans writing.

Scout's life mission is to be Gods greatest gift and not just for the women. Like the bible said "a hole is a hole"... or atleast thats what Scout remembers from church.

Scout while being illiterate CAN speak Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese and French. (but he doesn't remember where he learned french from tho.)

Scout is resistant to radiation at this point.

Before becoming a merc, Scout was working at a diner that fitted him quite well.

Waffle House at the graveyard shift.

Scout's fuckboy attitude comes from daddy issues while Spy slut attitude comes from mommy issues.

Spy came from a rich family until he ran away to help in the war effort and became a spy. He doesn't regret his decision nor miss his home but does wish he did a proper goodbye to his brother.

The reason Spy has teeth capsules in his mouth to begin with is because one time him and a his fellow spy were getting torture by the enemy by having their teeth removed. Now all his teeth are fake.

Speaking of teeth, Scout got his buck-teeth from Spy.

Spy HAS gotten lungs transplanted several times from Medic because this mf refuses to chill out and get help with his smoking problem.

Spy is gender fluid.

Spy is a furry.

Demo is going to kill him one day.

That day is when he finds his DA account.

[cityelf]

My brain is trapped in a box labelled "worst hypothetical episodes of Glee based on the concept of the show existing at an earlier point of time in history"

It's September 1997. The world is mourning the People's Princess. Schue inexplicably decides the best way to pay tribute to Oor Di is by compiling a jukebox musical in her honour. Rachel is immediately furious at the baseless assumption that Quinn will get the lead role based on looks alone. Naturally this is solved by auditions being held blindfolded, culminating in the horror of everyone involved when Kurt's pearly pipes snag him the role of Princess Diana with a gut-wrenching rendition of Don't Cry For Me Argentina

December 1969. Schue gives everyone the assignment to pick a historically significant event from the 60s to inspire their performances for a big NYE bash they've been invited to perform at, for some reason. The writers shoehorn Mercedes into celebrating MLK JR's I Have A Dream Speech, obviously. Finn picks the assassination of JFK, but confuses him with Abraham Lincoln and dresses accordingly. Brittany and Santana do a gorgeous tribute to Marilyn Monroe. Rachel, highly inappropriately, picks the Vietnam War. Kurt does Stonewall. Almost every single song is a Beatles cover.

The Ides of March. Yes, the original one. Exploited travelling band of Greek entertainers, Νέες κατευθύνσεις, are roped into the plot to stab Caesar. They do the ancient Greek equivalent of Hit Me Baby One More Time as good ol' Jules gets got.

The crucifixion of christ is low-hanging fruit

Although, Lady Gaga's Judas is right there,

[thebleedingwoodland]

^ Ignore the incorrect grammar on the graphic above, it supposedly says

恭賀新禧 (Gōnghè xīnxǐ) = Best Wishes for Happy New Year

Lunar New Year Update 2019

Lunar New Year Update 2022

✨ There will be upcoming Chinese New Year held on 10 February 2024, which is Year of Wood Dragon. ✨

Recently I opened The Sims 4 game again on Steam --- Yes The Sims 4 Base game is free of purchase on Steam --- Finally I can see soothing and relieving representation of Chinese culture in-game unlike sore eyes disaster what The Sims 3 team had done on Shang Simla for The Sims 3.

Definitely there's something positive on this representation of Lunar New Year updates for 2019 and 2022 that I can give applause to EA👏 , that this company team finally made consultation to actual Chinese (and Korean) people.

Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population.

Commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions.

Not just celebrated in China, Korea and Vietnam celebrate Lunar New Year. So yes, we celebrate New Year twice, Gregorian New Year (1 January) and Lunar New Year (10 February, China Year 2575) in 2024.

I can only review about the Chinese New Year stuff part. I can recognize easily there's steamed fish, noodles, and Nian Gao （年糕） . And the most important part of Chinese New Year is....

🧧 Red Envelope （紅包）🧧

🧧 Hóng Bāo in Mandarin Chinese language.

🧧 Ang Pao in Hokkien Chinese language.

Who doesn't love money? You Westerners like money, don't you? On Christmas Day, Westerners have tradition to give wrapped present gift to people.

In Chinese New Year, we're Chinese people have tradition of giving Red Envelope with money inside the envelope. The person who give Hong Bao at Chinese New Year event is from married person to unmarried family members.

Wrapping lucky money in red envelopes is expected to bestow more happiness and blessings on the receivers.

There's addition of Round Table, Red Envelopes on Kumquat Tree and Orange fruit with Red Envelope on box. Yes Chinese culture is all about being prosperous and giving money gift in Red Envelope. I can tell you the representation is very good and authentic to us Chinese people that we can relate.

I can tell you team who worked in this update made consultation to Chinese people, that there are Han Zi (Chinese writing). 無魚不成席 which translates as "No Feast Without Fish" . Fish makes important meal in Chinese dining.

Here is more addition info:

Fish — an Increase in Prosperity

In Chinese, "fish" (鱼 Yú /yoo/) sounds like 'surplus'. Fish is a traditional Chinese New Year dish on the Chinese New Year dinner menu. Chinese people always like to have a surplus at the end of the year, because they think if they have managed to save something at the end of the year, then they can make more in the next year.

Steamed fish is one of the most famous Chinese New Year recipes. What fish should be chosen for the New Year dinner is based on auspicious homophonics.

Crucian carp: As the first character of 'crucian carp' (鲫鱼 jìyú /jee-yoo/) sounds like the Chinese word 吉 (jí /jee/ 'good luck'), eating crucian carp is considered to bring good luck for the next year.

Chinese mud carp: The first part of the Chinese for "mud carp" (鲤鱼 lǐyú /lee-yoo/) is pronounced like the word for gifts (礼 lǐ /lee/). So Chinese people think eating mud carp during the Chinese New Year symbolizes wishing for good fortune.

Catfish: The Chinese for "catfish" (鲶鱼 niányú /nyen-yoo/) sounds like 年余 (nián yú) meaning 'year surplus'. So eating catfish is a wish for a surplus in the year.

Eating two fish, one on New Year's Eve and one on New Year's Day, (if written in a certain way) sounds like a wish for a surplus year-after-year.

If only one catfish is eaten, eating the upper part of the fish on New Year's Eve and the remainder on the first day of the new year can be spoken with the same homophonic meaning.

Fish is an auspicious Chinese New Year symbol.

Glutinous Rice Cake — a Higher Income or Position

Chinese New Year cakes

Glutinous rice cake (年糕 Niángāo /nyen-gaoww/) is a lucky food eaten on Chinese New Year's Eve. In Chinese, glutinous rice cake sounds like it means "getting higher year-on- by year". In Chinese people's minds, this means the higher you are the more prosperous your business is a general improvement in life. The main ingredients of niangao are sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, Chinese dates, and lotus leaves.

Longevity Noodles — Happiness and Longevity

Longevity noodles (长寿面 Chángshòu Miàn /chung-show myen/) unsurprisingly symbolize a wish for longevity. Their length and unsevered preparation are also symbolic of the eater's life.

It is a lucky food eaten on Chinese New Year Day in North China. 

They are longer than normal noodles and uncut, either fried and served on a plate, or boiled and served in a bowl with their broth.

Good Fortune Fruit — Fullness and Wealth

Certain fruits are eaten during the Chinese New Year period, such as tangerines and oranges, and pomeloes. They are selected as they are particularly round and "golden" in color, symbolizing fullness and wealth, but more obviously for the lucky sound they bring when spoken.

Eating and displaying tangerines and oranges is believed to bring good luck and fortune due to their pronunciation, and even writing. The Chinese for orange (and tangerine) is 橙 (chéng /chnng/), which sounds the same as the Chinese for 'success' (成). One of the ways of writing tangerine (桔 jú /jyoo/) contains the Chinese character for luck (吉 jí /jee/).

Chinese Dumplings — Wealth

With a history of more than 1,800 years, dumpling (饺子 Jiǎozi /jyaoww-dzrr/) is a classic lucky food for new year, and a traditional dish eaten on Chinese New Year's Eve, widely popular in China, especially in North China.

Chinese dumplings can be made to look like Chinese silver ingots (which are not bars, but boat-shaped, oval, and turned up at the two ends). Legend has it that the more dumplings you eat during the New Year celebrations, the more money you can make in the New Year.

Source: LinkedIn by Manette Chen

As for fashion... I'm not woman so I am not expert about women fashion, I can tell this clothing is not Chinese Qi Pao. My girlfriend and female family members do not wear that kind of Qi Pao. This is more like Ao Dai, Vietnamese traditional dress. There's skirt beneath dress. Source: Wikipedia

The rest of clothing is typical modernized clothing, which is much more realistic because we Chinese when at Chinese New Year gathering we wear red coloured modern clothing and not dress like in ancient times. Usually kids who wear Qi Pao because they are very cute to dress like that.

[terrence-silver]

Can you please do Terry (or twig) losing his v card to beloved 💌

Okay, but lets make a little funnier and it's this era of Terry;

And him just flat out lying he's a virgin. He's lying. His justification and explanation for his lack of action is (and I'm making this up as I go along and so is he) that deliberate celibacy and sexual ascetism is good in preserving high levels of chi and chakra energy, that witholding from physical pleasures strenghtens the body's core and makes a person a better, more disciplined fighter due to surpressed aggression and he knows this for a fact, because after learning Tang Soo Do under his Master in Korea and returning from Vietnam, he's also travelled all over Asia and observed the Shaolin monks do it. Yes. Shaolin monks. He strived to emulate the best of the best since. Isn't every man's goal in life to be the next Bodhidharma incarnate?

Might even gift you with a book on the subject.

You know, for references and sources.

You could land yourself with a tome called The Private Lives Inside the Shǎolínsì.

It takes all the willpower in the world not to royally chortle at that one even as he says it. So, he's well into his thirties or even early fourties, it's the 80's, and yes, he's a virgin by choice. Of course, again, he's lying and making things up for the fun of it. Mainly to gage your reaction. See how you'll treat him for it. How you'll act. What you'll do. If you'll be surprised. Disappointed. What your opinions on the matter even are. If you'll even like him after that. If you'll believe him because the man isn't a fool and he's aware of what he looks like and the effect he tends to have on people. There's no particular gender or age limit to virgnity but he also knows he isn't the usual poster child for purity. Maybe it'll add to his mystique in your eyes. Maybe you'll try to dissuade him from maintaing such a strict standard of living and he can act all coy and hard to get about it. Maybe you'll admire him for it and he'll pretend to be humble. He doesn't know, but he wants to discover because it holds so many possibilities and it is also so damn amusing, this little social experiment, and lets admit; the man's very much a troll. Just the entertainment value of it turns him on, and there's always the chance of him roleplaying being despoiled and being on the recieveing end of it without you knowing it is all pretense. Of course he's not a virgin, though. Far from it. Which makes this whole thing even more schemey, sinister and juvenile. He's quite possibly ludicrousily experienced and has apetites to match for every vice under the sun and he's, pardon my language, bullshitting you, for lack of the better word, but does it so convincingly and sweetly one can never tell. Could even be a test he poses for himself; to see what type of misiformantion he can sell to people and get away with.

How well he can act certain things out.

Not to mention how much he wants to dangle himself in front of you like the forbidden fruit you can't have because of his, ahem, convictions and beliefs. Convictions and beliefs he doesn't even really have. Quite the contrary. The handomest man you've ever met also being sexually celibate? He wants you to explode with desire and frustration and him having the last laugh.

But, Terry Silver is definitely the type of man who would land himself in bed with you, after much back and forth and pretending celibacy goes hand in hand with his particular style of martial arts, and believably pretend not to know what to do once he gets to that very same bed. Worse (or better) yet. Doing something like this isn't nessecarily a sign of his distaste for a person. Could very much like you and still play a prank on you.

[pempeeeperem]

Updated Hygiene Headcannons (someone help me)

Jubilife VIllage consists mostly of people from Kanto/Johto and Galar - plus Cyllene from Hoenn and Keaka from Alola and I don't understand it and I'm so confused and Gully could also be from Kalos and the names of the characters don't help at all so my best guess for practicality's sake that the expedition team is founded in Galar and picked up settlers from Johto - therefor I have come to the conclusion that

The Supply Corps makes soap using lye and oils/lard. So they have soap in liquid and solid form.

Did you know that you can wash your hands with ash? Very practical if you're in the wilderness. Cover hands in ash and then wash off in a stream, just don't do it often as it strips your skin off of all oil and will damage your skin.

Lye is made by mixing ash and water. Build a container, perhaps a barrel, then place layers of filters inside for example stones, branches, hay/grass and put the ash on top. Let it sit for 5 - 7 days and pour out the brown/orange water which is now lye. Lye is very alkaline so watch out.

I have read different opinions on whether or not you can use this soap for hair washing. It's good for hands and clothes and I assume you could also wash dishes and the sort. I am not sure if the oil/lard will stay in the hair over time.

For hair washing there is at least one plant in Europe and several growing in Asia. So:

The Galarians use soapwort, of which you can use every part. Just chop the plant into small pieces and boil shortly then simmer for half an hour. Let it cool and you'll see it foams a tiny bit (it foams during the cooking). Results are mixed, it's not as cleaning as commercial shampoo, but...

...medieval European hair care consisted largely of using a fine comb, combing hair twice thoroughly then braid the hair and wear a head scarf. The scarf was made from linen most often and would absorb bodily fluids like oil well. Some women changed head scarves several times a day, otherwise once a day. The hair would not be without oil, the sebum would be distributed by combing and the comb would catch other dirt and dust. One youtuber said she didn't feel unclean, but she did use a bit of hair oil because just combing will leave the hair with its natural smell and we're not used to that anymore. I don't know what to think of that. Old recipes also speak of using eggs, but I refuse to write about wasting a perfectly good Pokémon egg for hair care. Man you could eat that!

As for Asian plants, here are some suggestions: soap berries/nuts (India), honey locust (China), hibiscus (India), gugo (Philippines whoops), bo ket fruit (Vietnam), shikakai (South East Asia).

I don't have any info about medieval Japanese hair care, because I have already gone crazy in my research and decided that soapwort grows in Hisui. There. Done.

Washing hair was a pain in both old timey Europe and China, so the Jubilife women go to the hair salon to get their hair washed once a week or so. They could without washing for longer but it ties in well with the canon that Edith's salon is a gossip hotspot. It's a place to socialise.

For hair shampoo Edith has a collection of herbs and other nice smelling, dried plants. She mixes every day for her customers. Both soapwort and diluted lye can be enhanced with other hair oils (don't ask me I don't want to research any further but I know I will because this gap in information bites me) and with other herbs.

Also rice water. They rinsed their hair with the water in which they have cooked their rice. Amazing. I am currently trying this but I have bought the wrong rice.

As for brushing teeth European and Indian use tree branches. Break off a piece, chew on the end to spread the fibers and use it as a brush. Back in the days this was mostly fine seeing as there wasn't that much sugar going around and at least in Europe sour things weren't too common either. I have read a comment of a men brushing his teeth for the past twenty years with a mix of charcoal, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. He then rinses out with apple cider vinegar. I'm... not going to try that.

Perfumes technically exist but I don't think the earlier settlers have any. Perfume is expensive to make and can spoil. Maybe perfume made of rosemary instead of roses, but I'll have to look further into that. Overall I imagine some later settlers are rich enough to have brought and wish for perfume. I think specifically of this lady that came to Hisui for Beni's mochi.

Don't mind me thinking about Jublife Village's people as settlers from Anno whose needs develop the further Jubilife develops.

When it comes to underwear I have often seen that European women just went commando. Which I cannot understand and which some conclude comes from lack of information. People didn't talk about underwear. Some time in the 20th or 19th century women began to wear short pants (knee-length) which developed over time into the panties we know today. I assume men wore the same or a similar garment. For the top part women wore a chemise, a sort of long t-shirt made of linen. I assume men wore the same or something similar.

You might have noticed that I focus on women. That's because Akari is the protagonist and she lives with three other women.

As for Japanese men in the edo period they have worn a loincloth. There are different types of it, all called a variation of fundoshi. They differentiate in the ways they are tied around the waist and one of them is apparently a 3 meter long cloth.

When the time in the month comes there are different methods European women dealt with it. I have seen special belts in which a clean piece of cloth (whatever is available and cheap) is sewn into. After use you remove the cloth and sew in a new one. You wash the old cloth until its of no use anymore. Unless you have money then you can also use them only once. Jubilife has one clothier with a limited amount of cloth so the women washed it. Another possibility is to put the extra piece of cloth into the underwear. I have also read of self-made pads of hay/grass put into cloth and sewn together.

For toilets every household has at least one night pot, perhaps two (one for solid one for liquid). The contents can be used as manure and the Agriculture Corps has use for manure. While toilets haven't been build in canon, [I say] there are stalls built near the fields. The excrement are collected by a bucket under the toilet seat. The excess is dumped in an earth closet. My aunt and uncle have told me that each village (East Germany post WW2) had a different way to deal with it once it was full. Some were buried with earth, some mixed with some powder (I forgot) and used as manure and others transported it away. In my opinion it's too valuable a resource to dump into a hole and bury it.

[sixminutestoriesblog]

first-footer

It's Hogmanay, the last day of the old year and time for a party to ring out the old and welcome in the new. The clock strikes midnight. The old year is gone, the new one has arrived. It's time for kissing (maybe), toasts (probably) and singing the traditional Auld Lang Syne (always). And then, just as the noise calms for a minute -

there's a knock at the door.

Who could it be? Well, if you're from certain parts of the world, its a first-footer. And you need to be very, very careful about whether you let them in or not.

The tradition of a first-footer can be found in Greece, Vietnam and Sweden according to wiki but for this post we're going to concentrate on the UK's version, specifically Scotland, Northern England and the Isle of Man.

What's a first-footer? Well, simply put, its the first person to step across the doorway of your house in the new year. Depending on who it is, they either bring good luck for the upcoming year with them - or they bring bad. Letting them into your house is letting in whichever luck they carry as well.

The ideal first-footer, at least in the UK, is a tall, dark haired man. Unless you're in the North York Moors, in which case, you want him to be fair haired (the same goes for Sweden). Most historians say the dark haired part of the luck dates back to the Viking invasion, when a blond showing up on your doorstep in the middle of the night usually meant he'd brought an axe with him - and lots of his friends.

A sure sign your upcoming year was about to start sucking.

So, if you were a blond - or a minister, a doctor or a red head - or a woman - better to come inside before the stroke of midnight or else not visit for a few days after at least.

If you were a mysterious tall, dark and handsome stranger (or a friend who could pass the dark part at least), you were welcome to pop out of the party for a few minutes to come back after midnight or, as some did, you could make the rounds of the neighborhood after midnight, getting a 'cup of cheer' at each stop.

But wait! Before you get ready to set up a Hogmanay luck granting business, you need to understand that there's more to it than just relying on your natural dark good looks. The first-footer was bad luck if he came empty handed. Remember, you're bringing in the new year and that means you need to provide what the house you visit will need in the upcoming year. So a first-footer needs to carry a bit of silver, preferably a coin, to grant the welcoming house prosperity. He needs to bring a lump of coal, to provide his hosts with a year of warmth. Bread is required as well, a black bun being the tradition though, like most fruit cakes, its fallen a little out of favor and any type of bread will do. Lastly, the first footer needs to bring a drink with him and it would be a bad idea to roll up to a Hogmanay party that had been rocking for hours now with apple juice. Whiskey is the tradition, though hosts might not be too picky - and if they're teetotalers, apple juice might just work. The point is the idea behind the gifts the first-footer brings with him.

Once inside, the first-footer is welcome to join (or rejoin) the party and, in some traditions to kiss anyone in the house he likes. He's also expected to be plied with at least one drink for his troubles.

On the Isle of Man, the tradition was to have a group of young boys, who would go house to house the morning of the new year, reciting or singing a poem. One of the boys, dark haired, would then become the house's qualtagh, the first-footer, and come inside to be welcomed by the best breakfast the family could provide for them.

The Slavic regions have a similar tradition regarding the polaznik as a house's first-footer.

So remember, for next new year's, grab a box of hair dye if you have to and put some points into your baking skill so you can be the guest everyone looks forward to see roll up late to their new year's eve parties.

[darcyolsson]

one of the most upsetting parts of life to me is that i know for a fact that there are certain fruits i eat that will never ever taste as good for me as theyre supposed to bc they grow in a completely different climate from where i live. when i was 11 i ate so much pitaya in vietnam and it was so absurdly good every single time ive thought ab it ever since. and pitaya isn't even native to that area so now i have to live with the knowledge that a) there is pitaya in the world thats probably even better than the best pitaya i ever tasted and b) i will likely never eat that pitaya and i will have to eat 2nd rate, nay, 3rd rate pitaya for the rest of my life. horrible.

[keepcalmandjustships]

OC Info - Everything goes wrong (but it will be fine)

Name: Juanita [    ]

Age: 16 (28 former)

Birthday: May 1st

Star Sign: Taurus

Gender: Female

Height: 171 cm ( with heels)

Eye color: Pitch Black

Hair color: Black

Homeland: Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. She moved away years ago.

Family: Van Ca (mother), August (father), Thuy (younger sister), Robert Duong (ex-fiance)

Professional Status  

Dorm: Ramshackle

School Year: First  

Class: 1-A 

Student Number: 7

Occupations: Pokémon trainer (not official), Student (Grim and Jua: One student), Honor Guest of Heartslabyul, Directing Student.

Club: None

Best Subject: Literature, Potion and History

Fun Facts

Dominant Hand: Both

Favorite Foods: Deserts, Oolong Milk Tea, Curry, Vietnamese food, Hamburger, Cheesecake, Matcha Flavored Food, Sashimi, Rare Beefsteak, Tropical Fruit Tea, Soup, Noodles.

Least Favorite Food: Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup. 

Likes: Pokémon, Music, Her Friends, Her Family, Teasing people, Puns, Books, Arts, Shopping, Money, Sparkling Stuffs, Nicknames, Animals (Especially cats).

Dislikes: Being lied to by friends/family, Inefficient work, Unnecessary violence, Nightmare, Being underwater, Eating (Sometimes), Working, Dying, Praises that degrade other people, Crossing Her Boundary, Possessing Too Much Power, Hurting Children.

Hobbies: Chatting with the Pokémon, Traveling (used to), Cooking, Sewing, Painting, Writing, Drinking (Not recommended), Smoking (Definitely no recommended), Using some patients as guinea pigs for her berries and Pokémon Potion.

Talents: Getting involved in problematic situation, Understanding People, Literature Analysis, Rushing Deadlines, Abusing her Doe Eyes, Calming People and Pokémon, Staying Calm, Hiding Her Emotion, Self-defense, Alcohol Tolerance, Adaption.

Nickname: 

Chère Trickster - Rook Hunt

Koebi-ko-chan - Floyd

Weirdo-chan - Floyd

Mademoiselle - Rook Hunt

Henchman - Grim

Jua - Others

Scavenger - Leona

Mini-Jade - Others

Human child - Malleus

Little blessing - Mew

Little Iris - Florges

Little hummingbird - Gilly the Aegislash

Appearance and Personality

Juanita possesses a gender-neutral figure at first sight with average height compared to other students. Long and straight ebony hair which is over her waist contrary to her pale skin. Juanita’s face can be considered as pretty with high cheekbones and soft, slightly squishy cheeks. However, her bangs always cover her abyssal eyes and that big pair of glasses. She also wears enchanted clothes, provided by Crewel, to hide all the curve.

Juanita has an easy-going personality, never truly losing her temper or reject any responsibility that life forces on her. Her friends see her as a optimistic mom-friend who forgives people too easily and enjoys spoiling the hell out of them (which they love very much). Others sees, not so kindly, her as the strange, slightly bubbly and maniac transfer student that has no magic. She does prove that she has a backbone, however, when she blackmailed the bullies after punching the hell out of them in the cafeteria.

However, Juanita is extremely good in hiding her emotion and thought. She knows how to lead the conversation away from her and has a pretty silver tongue. She buries all the unstable mental health under the cover of happy go lucky student to avoid breaking down after her traumatic d4ath.

She tends to swear like a sailor during stressful moment.

Juanita treats people with kindness, but respect is something that you have to earn. She has an odd way to look at people and the world.

She has a heart filled with sad nostalgia, which fuels her love for Pokémon because they remind her of her childhood.

She is soft against children and teenagers and finds it easy to relate to some of their trauma. She wishes Crowley would hire some fucking therapist because she is not one, no matter what the students tend to say. She is not, goddamnit.

https://picrew.me/image_maker/1407730

[katelyn-scstudyabroad]

Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City

After leaving Singapore I returned to Vietnam to travel around and see more of the country that I’m calling home for the next few months.

I started in Phu Quoc, an island in the South of Vietnam located off the shores of Cambodia. I stayed in Duong Dong, which is the centrally located main town on the island. I think if I returned I would stay in a different area, however, as Duong Dong was more touristy and kind of gave me Myrtle Beach vibes. The beach there was still nice to go and this is where the Phu Quoc Night Market is located. The best street food I’ve had so far in Vietnam was at this night market. They have fresh seafood spreads that they grill in front you, fresh fruit juices and smoothies, and much more. There was one crepe stand that I really liked. Street food is a big part of Vietnamese culture and one shouldn’t shy away from trying it while here.

Phu Quoc was really just a relax at the beach kind of trip, rather than sightseeing as I have been doing. I mostly stayed at the pool and beach access by my hotel, but I did make it across the island to the fishing town of Ham Ninh. There wasn’t much there except for some seafood restaurants that were suspended over the water on piers, but I did stop in one to enjoy some fresh clams and look out at the open ocean.

In general Phu Quoc was okay for a few days of relaxation by the beach and eating great seafood. And the one highlight of Duong Dong was that I could watch the sun rise over the mountains and set over the ocean, which was a beautiful way to start and end my day.

Phu Quoc was a short plane ride away from my next destination: Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon. While it’s official name is Ho Chi Minh City, a lot of people still call it Saigon and it’s airport code is even “SGN”. A lot of businesses there also use Saigon in their name.

HCMC is the most populous city in Vietnam and has a much bigger city feel. I think it is also more popular for tourists and expats, as I saw a lot more foreigners around than in Hanoi.

I spent a lot of time just walking around seeing the city. Singapore softened me so I had to reacclimate to Vietnamese traffic. As a pedestrian in cities here you have to always be on high alert as you never know where a car or motorbike will appear from. My first day in Saigon I bent down to tie my shoe and was nearly grazed by a BMW driving down the sidewalk. Despite this I was still able to make my way around to a lot of good spots around the city.

For my last day in Ho Chi Minh I booked a guided tour of Mui Ne, a beach town about a five hour bus ride from the city. The many hours in the bus were worthwhile, as Mui Ne was absolutely beautiful. Our group’s guides took as around in Jeeps to all the main spots in the area. We walked along the Fairy Stream, stopped by a fishing village, rode ATVs around the white sand dunes, and watched the sunset from the red sand dunes. Every stop was great and I took so many photos. Mui Ne is definitely an underrated area in Vietnam that I’m glad I was able to see.

I still have an entire week (!) off of class, so my travels will continue.

[sonasiaholiday]

Vietnam mid-autumn festival

In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Full Moon Festival or Tết Trung Thu, is an occasion for a children’s night out and family reunions. Children enjoy art performances like singing, plays and lion dances, light up the night with colorful lanterns and enjoy mooncakes. 

A long-standing traditional festival that showcases Vietnam’s undeniable charm takes place when nature is at its breathtaking best.

For thousands of years, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been an occasion for family reunions and a children’s night out. It dates back to the Wet Rice Civilization of the Red River Delta over 4,000 years ago.

Back then, rice was harvested before the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The festival falls on the full moon night of Lunar August, the most beautiful night of the year, when the moon is perfectly round and bright, and shines a magical golden hue.

The event takes place in the middle of the eighth lunar month. In 2022, the festival falls on September 10th. For the upcoming year, please find below in the article. Now, let's see more detail and prepare for it.

The origin of the mid-autumn festival

Many people say that Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival originated from China but in fact when going into anecdotes, Vietnamese and Chinese people have different origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to the legend of China, the early form of the Mid-Autumn Festival was derived from the custom of moon worship during the Zhou Dynasty over 3,000 years ago.

In ancient China, most emperors worshiped the moon annually. Then the custom was accepted by the masses and became more and more popular over time.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam dates back to ancient times when this event was printed on the surface of the Ngoc Lu bronze drum. According to the stele of Doi Pagoda in 1121, from the Ly dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was officially held in the capital city of Thang Long with boat racing, water puppet and light procession festivals. In the Le – Trinh dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was held extremely lavishly in the Lord's palace.

The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from agricultural civilization of the Vietnamese people. At this time, the air is cool, the crops are waiting to be harvested; therefore, people hold the festival and celebrated this important day.

Our best-known tale is about a man named Cuội who hung on to a magical banyan tree as it floated up to the moon. We say that if you look closely at the full moon, you can see the shadow of a man sitting under a tree. Children parade lanterns in the streets the night of Mid-autumn Festival to help light the way to earth for Cuội from the moon.

The celebration of the harvest is an important part of Tết Trung Thu, as many Vietnamese live in rural areas and work as farmers. Tết Trung Thu marks a joyous occasion when the work is finished and there’s time to spend with loved ones.

A meaningful traditional festival

Traditionally, all members of a family would gather around a lavish tray of fruits along with moon cakes, and savor them together while admiring the full moon.

Adults would tell kids the story of Hang Nga – the beautiful daughter of the Jade Empire and Cuoi. Children would enjoy art performances including singing, plays and lion dances and then light up the night with colorful lanterns held in their little hands.

While the Chinese perform the dragon dance during this festival, the Vietnamese go for the unique unicorn dance or lion dance, which symbolizes luck, wealth and prosperity.

While children find joy playing under the full moon, adults enjoy a long-awaited family reunion, with loved ones who work far from home who take the trouble to get back for the festival.

Despite it is not being an official holiday in Vietnam, most people would spend time with their loved ones recalling events of bygone days. Above everything, the Mid-Autumn Festival has always been about one fundamental thing: love.

Sincere gratitude

In the old days, occupied with the harvesting season, parents did not have much time to take care of their children. Therefore, when the autumn approached, marking an abundant crop, they would make full use of the Mid-Autumn Festival to spend time with the kids. Children are the happiest ones at this time because parents prepare various types of lanterns, mooncakes as well as masks as presents.

Moon cakes, sweet and flavorful, have been an inseparable part of the festival, and become a symbol of close family ties. It is a long-standing tradition that people gift moon cakes during this festival, especially to parents and grandparents.

In modern times, gifting the moon cake to employees during the Mid-Autumn Festival carries great meaning. It embodies the bonds between the management cadre and their colleagues, a way for the former to express their gratitude to the latter. Most businesses, therefore, would select moon cakes made by a prestigious brand that represents high quality and attractive packaging.

How do Vietnamese people celebrate the festival?

Preparations

In the weeks before Tết Trung Thu, you will see and hear groups of lion dancers practicing on the streets. Mooncake stalls appear on every other corner, pop-ups with elaborately decorated boxes filled with a variety of mystery cakes and fillings. 

City districts team up with preparations of toys, lanterns and colourful masks in anticipation. The most popular Trung Thu lantern is a star made with red cellophane. You will see these lanterns for sale on streets all over Vietnam in the days leading up to the festival.

Main events

Worshiping the God of Earth

Usually, a worshiping platform is set up in the yard during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, on which mooncakes, fruit, and snacks are laid. Later, family members sit together to eat the food while appreciating the moon.

The platform is not taken down until midnight, when the food has been completely eaten. Most families also set up a special platform for children, so that they can enjoy food at any time during the evening.

Mooncake madness

All across Vietnam, families welcome Tết Trung Thu by placing a five-fruit tray and cakes on our ancestral altar. People offer the food to their ancestors and worship, before feasting on mooncakes - usually outside under the light of the moon. Round or square, these cakes are molded with elaborate details of flowers, carp, and geometric patterns.

The two most common types are bánh dẻo (soft, sticky cakes with a mochi-texture) and bánh nướng (baked cakes with a thick wheat crust). Mooncakes in Vietnam come in a seemingly infinite variety of flavours, both sweet and savoury. Feel free to buy a box of mooncakes to enjoy yourself, or to share with your Vietnamese friends and hosts.

Carrying Carp-Shaped Lanterns

It is also a tradition for the Vietnamese to light lanterns during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. A legend states that a carp spirit once killed many people during the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, so that no household dared to go outside during that night.

Later, a wise man thought of an idea: he made a carp-shaped lantern with a stick in its belly, and then advised people to walk at night holding a carp-shape lantern. The carp spirit was terrified by the light from these lanterns and has not dared to go out to kill anyone during the Mid-Autumn Festival since then.

Nowadays, children hold various kinds of paper lanterns and play in the moonlight, while eating mooncakes during the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Watching the Lion Dance Parade

At night, groups of children parade through the streets, going from door to door and asking the owners for their permission to perform the lion dance. If it is agreed then the children will put on a show, which is believed to bring luck and fortune. Afterwards, the owners will give the children 'lucky' money for their gratitude.

These lion dances are fascinating, and huge numbers of children, ranging from little kids to teenagers, participate in this activity. As a result of having so many groups of children marching around, the streets of the cities echo with the sound of drums, as dozens of lions roam about.

Where to enjoy the moon festival in Vietnam?

Below you will see the some of the best places to join the mid-autumn festivals in some big cities of Vietnam

Hanoi

Normally, there are 2 good places to admire the moon festival in Hanoi.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel

"Festive Drums of Autumn Moon" featuring images of drums of all shapes, sizes and colors arranged and displayed to remind visitors of the festive ambiance of the Vietnamese countryside will be held until Friday at the citadel, 19C Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh District, to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Children can try their hand at making mooncakes, paper masks, kites, statuettes and sketches, matching pictures, and kneading dough figurines. They can also play various games.

The Old Quarter

More 10 days before the festival, the authorities will ban vehicles from certain streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter for the festival preparations and celebrations. They are not allowed to enter Hang Luoc, Hang Ruoi and Hang Chai streets and sections of Hang Ma and Hang Khoai streets from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

At the Kim Ngan Temple in Hang Bac Street, artisans will teach audiences how to make traditional toys including star lanterns, paper kites and terracotta figurines until the main events of the festival.

The Hanoi Ancient House at 87 Ma May Street will exhibit a photo collection of the Mid-Autumn Festival of Hanoi in the 20th century.

At the Cultural Exchange Center at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street, visitors will be taught traditional crafts like mask and bamboo light drawing, postcard making and painting on paper made from the bark of trees.

The Phung Hung fresco street has been attracting youths who come to take selfies among the hundreds of illuminated lanterns lined up there, which turn it into a miniature version of Shifen old town in Taiwan. 

On the evening of the main date the pedestrians-only zone around Hoan Kiem Lake will see several traditional and contemporary activities to celebrate the festival.

Hội An

Hoi An’s compact old quarter comes alive during Mid-Autumn Festival with folk games on the streets and floating lanterns on the river running through the town, making for a magical atmosphere. In the weeks leading up to the festival, Hoi An’s streets, especially those near markets, are filled with moon cakes, lanterns, lion costumes and toys. 

The sound of drumbeats fills the air as groups of lion dancers engage in mock dance battles in a contest of skills, involving the coordinated efforts of up to a dozen people performing a mixture of rhythmic dance and acrobatics. Sometimes, fireworks are even included, spewing sparks from the lion’s mouth.

Ho Chi Minh City

Here are some places to admire mid-autumne festival in Ho Chi Minh city

Phu Binh lantern-making village

This is one of the few villages in the city that still make glass paper lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Situated in a small alley off Lac Long Quan Street in District 11, the lantern-making village was formed in the mid-1950s when artisans from the renowned craft village of Bac Co in northern Nam Dinh Province migrated to Saigon and brought their lantern-making skills. It has survived for more than half a century.

When the festival nears, dozens of families in this village are busy completing the last orders from the market.

Take a stroll around and see the red of the paper lanterns filling up the place and the bustling atmosphere as family members gather at a corner in front of their houses, decorating lanterns in various shapes and colors.  

Nguyen Hue pedestrian street

There will be a lantern parade and art performances on this busy street on the day of the main events, and it will be very crowded.

Nguyen Hue, which runs up to the Saigon River, in District 1 has been receiving thousands of visitors every day since its center strip became a pedestrians-only zone since 2015. It gets particularly crowded during weekends and holidays.

When is Mid-Autumn festival?

Below is the calendar of Mid-Autumn festival until 2027.

Are moon festivals the same everywhere in Asia?

Though the similar purpose and meaning, distinctive Moon Festival celebrations across Asia add up to the diversity of humanity as a whole.

Japan

Japan has two moon festivals every year, following lunar calendar. Zyuyoga is associated with the traditional customs of "Otsukimi" (meaning watching the moon on the full moon day in autumn). For the people in the land of the rising sun, the festival is the time for them to honor the moon in the fall, the only time the moon is at its fullest.

In the Otsukimi festival, the Japanese often make Dango, a type of rice dumplings (mochiko). It is quite similar to mochi and is served with tea.

On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the Japanese personally hand mix flour with water, pound it to create that structure-builder before proceeds to baking.

Dango cake is presented with a Susuki grass vase during moon festivals. Also known as tail flower, susuki is a perennial tall grass that blossoms in the autumn. The moon watching ritual cannot be done without dango cake.

The legend of Dango cake is traditionally passed on from one generation to the next on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month.

When the Jade Emperor descended from Heaven to Earth, he accidentally encountered a rabbit. The Jade Emperor was too hungry and asked for food, but the rabbit had nothing to give him. The bunny ended up jumping into the fire to become food for the Jade Emperor.

Touched by the generous act, the Jade Emperor brought the animal to the moon. From then on, on every full moon day of the eighth lunar month, the rabbit would make Dango cake on the moon and give to people on Earth.

South Korea

Moon Festival is not simply a celebration of full moon in South Korea. Chuseok festival, which literally means “Autumn Eve”, is also referred to as Korean Thanksgiving. This is the time when all family members reunite under one roof.

The harvest festival is considered one of the biggest and most important holidays in South Korea. It falls on August 15th in the lunar calenda. Traditionally, the whole family cooks together and enjoys traditional dishes like songpyeon (crescent-shaped rice cake), and sindoju wine (made with new crop rice on Chuseok).

On Chuseok, Koreans mold flours into crescent shapes. Instead of making a round cake that symbolizes full moon, Koreans believe that because crescent always becomes full moon, the shape symbolizes fertility, prosperity and happiness. After the flour is crescent molded, green beans are inserted as stuffing. The final stage involves steaming the dough with some fresh pine leaves.

Korean songpyeon comes with many colors. Apart from the typical white songpyeon, pink rice cakes get their color from strawberry, while dark green cakes from wormwood leaves, and yellow from pumpkin.

According to the legend, single women who can make beautifully shaped and delicious rice cakes will meet a compatible life partner, while married women will be blessed with wonderful offsprings.

North Korea

Also known as Autumn Night festival, the special occasion for North Koreans is also watching the full moon together. North Korea’s traditional sweet treat is crescent-shaped muffins made of rice flour. The stuffing varies, which can be green beans, jam, or apples. Alike other cultures that celebrate Moon Festival, North Koreans also gift one another moon cakes.

Thailand

The people of the land of golden temples celebrate Moon Festival with a lot of lanterns. They gather in traditional costumes and release the sky lights up in unison, as a way to pray for good wishes.

On the moon festival tray of tributes to the ancestors, Thai people always have pomelo fruit, which symbolizes reunion. Most Thai houses traditionally install an altar. Above the altar, a peach and moon cakes are placed.

By offering the peach, Thai people believe that after the Bodhisattva of Compassion receives the peach, the Gods will bless them with good things in life. That is why moon cakes in Thailand are peach-shaped. Today, one of the most popular moon cakes in the country is the grilled moon cake with durian and salted egg stuffing, signifying the full moon.

Here is everything about Thailand Loy Krathong Festival & Chiang Mai Yee Peng Festival

Similar traditions in some other Asian countries

Many festivals revolving around a full moon are also celebrated in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and India. Like the Mid-Autumn Festival, these festivals have Buddhist origins and revolve around the full moon; however unlike their East Asian counterparts they occur several times a year to correspond with each full moon as opposed to one day each year. The festivals that occur in the lunar months of Ashvini and Kṛttikā generally occur during the Mid-Autumn Festival

Cambodia

In Cambodia, it is more commonly called "The Water and Moon Festival" Bon Om Touk. The Water and Moon festival is celebrated in November of every year. It is a three-day celebration, starting with the boat race that last the first two days of the festival. 

The boat races are colorfully painted with bright colors and is in various designs being most popular the neak, Cambodian sea dragon. Hundreds of Cambodian males take part in rowing the boats and racing them at the Tonle Sap River. 

When night falls the streets are filled with people buying food and attending various concerts. In the evening is the Sampeas Preah Khe: the salutation to the moon or prayers to the moon. 

The Cambodian people set an array of offerings that are popular with rabbits, such and various fruits and a traditional dish called Ak Ambok in front of their homes with lit incenses to make wishes to the moon. 

Cambodians believe the legend Cheadok, where a rabbit lives in the moon and watches over the Cambodian people. At midnight everyone goes up to the temple to pray and make wishes and enjoy their Ak Ambok together. 

Cambodians would also make homemade lanterns that are usually made into the shape of the lotus flowers or other more modern designs. 

Incense and candles light up the lanterns and Cambodians make prayers and then send if off into the river for their wishes and prayers to be heard and granted.

Here is everything about Bon Om Touk Festival

Laos

In Laos, many festivals are held on the day of the full moon. The most popular festival known as the That Luang Festival is associated with Buddhist legend and is held at Pha That Luang temple in Vientiane. The festival often lasts for three to seven days. A procession occurs and many people visit the temple.

Here is the detail about That Luang Festival

Myanmar

In Myanmar, numerous festivals are held on the day of the full moon; however Thadingyut Festival is the most popular one and occurs in the month of Thadingyut. It also occurs around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival, depending on the lunar calendar. 

It is one of the biggest festivals in Myanmar after the New Year festival, Thingyan. It is a Buddhist festival and many people go to the temple to pay respect to the monks and offer food. It is also a time for thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks, teachers, parents and elders.

Here is the detail about Thadingyut Festival

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, a full moon day is known as Poya and each full moon day is a public holiday. Shops and businesses are closed on these days as people prepare for the full moon. Exteriors of buildings are adorned with lanterns and people often make food and go to the temple to listen to sermons. 

The Binara Full Moon Poya Day and Vap Full Moon Poya Day occur around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival and like other Buddhist Asian countries, the festivals celebrate the ascendance and culmination of the Buddha's visit to heaven and for the latter, the acknowledgement of the cultivation season known as "Maha".

India

Onam is an annual Harvest festival in the state of Kerala in India. It falls on the 22nd nakshatra Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam, which in Gregorian calendar overlaps with August–September. According to legends, the festival is celebrated to commemorate King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

Onam is a major annual event for Malayali people in and outside Kerala. It is a harvest festival, one of three major annual Hindu celebrations along with Vishu and Thiruvathira, and it is observed with numerous festivities. Onam celebrations include Vallam Kali (boat races), Pulikali (tiger dances), Pookkalam (flower Rangoli), Onathappan (worship), Onam Kali, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal (women's dance), Kummattikali (mask dance), Onathallu (martial arts), Onavillu (music), Kazhchakkula (plantain offerings), Onapottan (costumes), Atthachamayam (folk songs and dance), and other celebrations.

Onam is the official state festival of Kerala with public holidays that start four days from Uthradom (Onam eve). Major festivities take place across 30 venues in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala. It is also celebrated by Malayali diaspora around the world. Though a Hindu festival, non-Hindu communities of Kerala participate in Onam celebrations considering it as a cultural festival.

Sharad Purnima is a harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (September–October), marking the end of the monsoon season.

[imagine-fight-write]

BANANA FISH REVIEW - Vol 1., PART 8

Hello, Everyone!

Banana Fish time!

#it's been too long

As always, remember Banana Fish has no real chapters, so who knows when this post will end. #it will be long

Also, I will get sidetracked. That is a given.

And there's spoilers, I guess.

So last time, we found out who the poor, mysterious banana fish guy is who Ash found wayyy back at the beginning & kicked off the plot.

#reporting can be deadly kids

We also found out what banana fish is! (Mostly).

#that's from Batman: The Animated Series #it's the best

But not how banana fish got started, who made it, or what it was doing over in Vietnam & how Ash's poor brother Griffin got involved. Or even the full effects of what it does to you & how. #but maybe we don't want to know

#biting your nails is a terrible habit

Or why Dino #the murdering worst

# I'm not forgetting those kids he casually murdered #and they're prob. not the first #not to mention Ash

Ahem, or why Dino the murdering worst is involved & what he plans to do with banana fish #apart from something terrible, because he's the worst.

Also, I forgot to mention, on pg.75 when Charlie is like, "well, um, Max (your contact) is in jail." to Eiji & Ibe, he blushes in this adorable, totally related way.

#it's important

Now in the next scene, pg. 83, Eiji & Ibe enter the police station to talk about contacting a gang for their story about youth gangs.

#were they going to compare / contrast their own youth gangs?

#who I know exist because of Fruits Basket & YuYuHakusho.

Eiji fan-girls over being in an actual police station. Or maybe an American police station? #unclear #it's so cute

He quotes Kojak, (not this exact quote tho)

#It's true!

but don't smoke kids, it's bad for you #PSA announcement

#my boxing coach resembled this guy ; D

Eiji also thinks Inspector Jenkins looks like Columbo, another popular police detective story at the time.

#which I've also seen & it is glorious #so is Kojak

#we never see his wife but he talks about her all the time it's so adorable

I don't think Jenkins looks that much like Columbo tho, apart from untidiness. #must be the coat

On the next page we're introduced to Inspector Norris, who's not important except to point out, if you haven't noticed Yosida's tendency for face-sameness, you might notice it here.

#but who cares, I can't draw that well #tho I can draw

#I blame the manga industry which drives artists on terrible schedules #please give them more time

for their health & for better art!

Then I relate to Eiji so hard, because everyone thinks he's so much younger than he actually is (19). Inspector Jenkins thinks Eiji looks like he's in grade school.

I mean yes, he does look young, but not grade school young.

#did Jenkins mean high school? #translation questions

And Eiji lampshades it by thinking, "Okay, some surprise. Not that much."

He's annoyed by it #probably because people treat him like a kid

Everyone's expressions are great tho. Whenever anyone laughs they look so cheerful, it's great.

Maybe they're just really bad at telling people's ages in general. But they're cops! Isn't that sort of a requirement ? So you can look for criminals or describe them later based on their characteristics?

Ibe & Jenkins have an interesting discussion about how even Japanese think Eiji is younger than he is. Jenkins says, "It's hard to tell the age of Asians, isn't it?" which sounds racist?

Is it harder telling someone's age if they're from another country / race? #idk #why does it matter anyway

#this is the eagle from the movie Rescuer's Down Under

#I recommend

Anyway. Norris says Eiji looking young is actually good, because, I quote, pg. 85 "They don't trust adults. But with you they might just relax a little and open up. And they like to show off to people their own age." #because of course they do

Ibe asks if they're dangerous, and gets an Elvish "Yes, but also no" response. Violence is their life, because "they're younger, they're also more impulsive, more unpredictable." pg.86

But also, "The flip side is they take their honor seriously. Even absurdly. They feel it's what separates them from the . . . well, I guess you could say, the grown-ups in organized crime." pg.86

#grown-ups are the worst #sick burn

Then we get confirmation that Ash is the best #we know this already, but it's great to hear because he's a gang leader, which means he has to - rule isn't the correct word, I guess "keep order" is more what they're going for, but also not be afraid to lay down the law if necessary #as we saw. Of the aforementioned, violent but honorable & volatile kids & teenagers Norris just mentioned.

#sounds tough #they sound kinda like samurai but not as cultured

#or maybe Vikings

Jenkins has this great quote about Ash, top of pg.87,

"This kid Ash is smart as they come, tough as hell, but also full of presence."

Ibe asks if Ash is also a "young boy" which Jenkins confirms, and also mentions that he (Ash) is Caucasian. Which is supposed to be surprising for some reason? But also, in true 80s fashion, Ash has managed to unite some Black and Latino kids into his gangs, "racial harmony".

#I do like the inclusion of Black & Latino people in Banana Fish #tho they're not always drawn respectfully

#surprisngly the (few) ladies in Banana Fish are drawn respectfully

#but not always respected #Ash needs to apologize to the doctor's secretary, Ms.Brandish #secretaries have tough jobs

#go racial harmony #let's respect each other #but don't join gangs they're bad for you #Banana Fish is all about that

#also Caucasian has Asian in it #which is strange #also funny? #what is English

Eiji thinks, "Ash. I'm going to meet him soon." And we get a lovely picture of him wondering about Ash at the end of pg. 87

And then we cut to Ash talking to Dino #the murdering worst.

Duh duh duh!

Going to stop here, it's late.

Next time, a lovely convo battle of wits between Ash & Dino, I question Dino's dress choices, lots of lovely framing shots, 2 lowlifes plot terrible plots, and maybe we will finally get to when Ash & Eiji meet!

[explorewithkunal]

Unveiling Vietnam: Top Unforgettable Experiences for Your Adventure

Vietnam, a country of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage, is fast emerging as one of Asia’s most compelling tourist destinations. As a result, Vietnam tour packages have gained immense popularity among globetrotters. They offer an alluring blend of traditional and modern experiences that cater to all types of travelers. However, to truly relish the country’s essence, one must delve into the heart of the local experience. This blog aims to guide you on that journey, illuminating the best things to do in Vietnam spread throughout the many places to visit in Vietnam and ensuring your Vietnamese adventure is truly unforgettable.

1. Exploring the Cu Chi Tunnel Network

One of the best things to do in Vietnam is to explore the remarkable Cu Chi Tunnel Network. Located about 40 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels are an engineering marvel. Constructed by Viet Cong soldiers during the 1960s, these tunnels served as hiding spots, supply routes, living quarters, and even hospitals during the Vietnam War.

The journey of exploring these tunnels begins at the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections, both of which are open to visitors. Knowledgeable guides provide insights into the history and design of the tunnels, setting the stage for an adventurous experience.

Operating Hours: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Entry Fees: VND 90,000

2. Relishing Vietnamese Cuisine

If there’s one thing as compelling as Vietnam’s enchanting landscapes and rich history, it’s the country’s vibrant culinary scene. The cuisine is a fusion of spicy, savory, and sometimes surprisingly sharp flavors. Dishes like Pho, Banh Mi, and fresh spring rolls are must-tries for any food lover visiting Vietnam. Street food stalls and local markets offer a wide array of these delicious dishes, making it easy to indulge in authentic Vietnamese flavors.

3. Cruising in the Mekong Delta

Floating along the gentle curves of the Mekong River is one of the best adventure activities in Vietnam. This cruise offers a world where life moves at a slower pace, dictated by the rhythms of nature. Cruising in the Mekong Delta includes visiting floating markets like Cai Rang, which is a vibrant spectacle of boats laden with fruits, vegetables, and other produce.

Operating Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

4. Watching a Musical at the Saigon Opera House

An evening at the Saigon Opera House is a unique and enchanting experience. Nestled in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, this architectural gem offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the country’s rich performing arts scene. The plush red seats, stunning chandeliers, and intricate carvings create a magical atmosphere that enhances the beauty of the performances.

Operating Hours: 12 AM to 11:59 PM Cost: No entry fees to enter the Saigon Opera House, but tickets are required for performances.

5. Cherishing the Nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City

As the sun sets over Ho Chi Minh City, the metropolis transforms into a vibrant playground. From trendy rooftop bars and bustling night markets to pulsating nightclubs and world-class performance venues, the city’s nightlife is a thrilling mix of local charm and cosmopolitan allure. Popular spots include Lush Nightclub and Apocalypse Now, known for their fantastic music and electric atmosphere.

6. Visiting the One Pillar Pagoda

The enchanting city of Hanoi is a captivating blend of the old and the new. One such place is the One Pillar Pagoda, an iconic site that should undoubtedly be on your list of things to do in Hanoi. Built in 1049, this wooden structure stands on a single stone pillar, designed to resemble a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity in Buddhist culture.

Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM

7. Shopping in Hoi An

Hoi An is a hub for shoppers from around the world. The shopping expedition must start with a visit to the town’s reputable tailors, famous for custom-made clothing. The Central Market on the banks of the Thu Bon River is also a must-visit, offering everything from fresh produce to clothing and souvenirs.

Opening Hours: 8 AM to 9 PM

8. Trekking and Cycling in Mai Chau

Mai Chau is a breath of fresh air, where the pace of life slows down, and the verdant landscapes beckon travelers to explore. Cycling offers a different perspective of Mai Chau, allowing you to pedal along flat roads that traverse rice fields and traditional villages.

9. Discovering the Culture of Hue

Hue, located on the banks of the Perfume River, exuberates Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage. The Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-visit, offering a glimpse into Vietnam’s imperial past with its ancient temples, tombs, and pagodas.

Places to Visit in Hue: Imperial City, Bach Ma National Park, Tomb of Khai Dinh Best Time to Visit Hue: January to April

10. Trekking in Sapa

Sapa is an attractive town in northwest Vietnam, surrounded by gigantic mountains, vibrant forests, and terraced rice paddies. Trekking in Sapa offers stunning trails, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant rice terraces. It provides a window into the unique culture of Sapa and Vietnam.

Vietnam is a land of many experiences that will leave a lasting impression on your mind, body, and soul. From exploring ancient temples and tombs to trekking through lush forests and cruising on scenic rivers, Vietnam has something for everyone. By immersing yourself in its rich culture, history, and cuisine, you can create unforgettable memories in this Southeast Asian gem.

[landscapedesignfirm]

4 Varieties of Privet Invasive Species

Privet is a shrub brought to North America by European settlers around the mid-1800s, who planted them as ornamental plants. While many subspecies of privets exist, the 4 main ones found in Pennsylvania are Chinese privet, European privet, Japanese privet, and border privet. Over time, plant health care experts have identified these as privet invasive species. The damage caused by these plants includes crowding out native plants and reducing biodiversity.

Types of Privet Invasive Species

These 4 specific varieties of privet mentioned above have all been added to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weeds list. As such, these privet invasive species will no longer be available for purchase in nurseries and other flower shops, and homeowners are encouraged to replace any of these species on their properties with different plants. Here is what you need to know about these 4 species.

Chinese Privet

Chinese privet is native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The fast-growing shrub can grow up to 15 feet in height, forming dense thickets. The leaves are around 1-3 inches long and glossy dark green, and the leaves appear early in spring before the white flowers appear in mid-to-late summer (June through August). The fruits are black drupes with hard shells containing one seed each. These ripen in the fall and persist on the plant throughout winter until removed by birds or other animals.

European Privet

European privet is native to central and southern Europe. This species, with glossy dark green leaves, can grow anywhere from 12-15 feet tall. In the spring, European privet produces white flowers, and in the fall, black fruits poisonous to humans. In addition, the flowers have a strong, pungent fragrance that many people find unpleasant.

Japanese Privet

Japanese privet is native to central and southern Japan. This species is an evergreen shrub, a small tree that can grow anywhere from 7-16 feet tall with a spread of 10-15 feet. The leaves are broad and glossy dark green above, with a paler glaucous to yellow-green color below, and have a thick, leathery texture. White flowers appear in the early summer followed by purple-black fruits in early winter.

Border Privet

The border privet is native to Japan, Korea, and northeastern China. Border privet is a deciduous shrub that grows to 9-10 feet tall with glossy leaves that can be 1/2 to 2 inches long. The white flowers appear in early summer, and black fruits follow in late summer or fall.

What Makes Privets an Invasive Species?

These species of privet are found throughout landscapes in Pennsylvania, but because the plant is not native to this region, privets have no natural predators or competitors. Due to this lack of natural predators, privets can more easily outcompete native vegetation for sunlight, nutrients, and water.

Privets reproduce sexually (by seeds) and asexually (by sprouting new shoots from their roots). This allows them to spread quickly through disturbed soil created by fires, forest clearings, erosion, or abandoned agricultural land.

Finally, privet trees proliferate quickly, often reaching maturity within five years after germination. Many other plants take 10-20 years before reaching maturity.

Damage Caused by Privets

The damage caused by privets is widespread in the United States. These species cause damage to landscapes and native ecosystems, preventing native plants from growing and reducing populations of pollinators such as butterflies and honeybees.

Treating & Managing Privets

Treating and managing privets is best done by professionals with specialized equipment.

Individual, small privets can be pulled by hand and can be done year-round. An important note is that roots must be removed entirely from the ground to prevent resprouting. Larger stems require specialized equipment that a plant health care expert can access.

Mowing can be an effective treatment and control method, but an herbicide application to the cut surfaces must follow. In addition, the time after cutting to apply herbicide changes based on whether the herbicide is oil- or water-based.

Foliar herbicide treatments are also highly effective for treating landscapes with privets, especially with low to moderate plant densities. These treatments are ideal during mid-May to early fall.

Basal bark treatments are effective against privets and can be applied throughout the year.

As always, these control and treatment options require specialized, extensive knowledge of plant health care techniques. So, call a plant health care expert if you need help with privets in your landscape.

Contact Burkholder PHC for Invasive Plant Treatment & Removal

These 4 varieties of privets are invasive species, and can overtake landscapes, with their dense thickets preventing native plant species from growing. To keep your landscape healthy and able to thrive, we recommend a professional evaluation to help remove and control any adverse effects. Our evaluation is free, and the proper treatments can help improve the health of your landscape. Contact Burkholder PHC today for a free consultation.

Blog is originally published at: https://www.burkholderphc.com/privet-invasive-species/

It is republished with the permission from the author.

[rashmi-rattan]

Con Dao Island: A Hidden Gem in Vietnam

Nestled off the southern coast of Vietnam, Con Dao Island is a breathtaking paradise that often goes unnoticed by mainstream tourism. A part of the Con Dao archipelago, this island boasts pristine beaches, rich history, and diverse marine life, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking an untouched slice of paradise. From historical landmarks to natural wonders, there are countless things to do in Con Dao, ensuring a memorable experience for all who visit.

Discover the Rich History

Con Dao Island’s history is as compelling as its natural beauty. During the French colonial era and the Vietnam War, the island served as a prison, where thousands of Vietnamese patriots were incarcerated. Today, you can visit the Con Dao Museum and several preserved prison sites to learn about this dark chapter in Vietnam’s history. The most famous of these is Phu Hai Prison, where you can see the infamous "Tiger Cages" and gain insight into the harsh conditions endured by prisoners.

Explore Pristine Beaches

For those looking to relax, Con Dao offers some of the most stunning beaches in Vietnam. Dam Trau Beach, located near the airport, is a favorite among visitors for its golden sands and clear waters. The beach is framed by lush forests and dramatic cliffs, providing a picturesque backdrop for swimming, sunbathing, or simply lounging in a hammock. An Hai Beach, closer to the town center, is another popular spot known for its calm waters and serene atmosphere.

Snorkeling and Diving Adventures

Marine enthusiasts will find Con Dao to be a haven for snorkeling and diving. The crystal-clear waters around the island are home to vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, including sea turtles, reef sharks, and a variety of colorful fish. Dive operators on the island offer excursions to some of the best dive sites, such as Bay Canh Island and Tai Island, where you can explore underwater caves and swim alongside magnificent sea creatures.

National Park Treks

Con Dao is not just about beaches; the island is also covered in lush tropical forests, much of which is protected within the Con Dao National Park. The park offers a range of hiking trails that lead through dense jungle, up to scenic viewpoints, and down to hidden beaches. One of the most rewarding hikes is the trek to the top of So Ray, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the archipelago. Along the way, you might spot wildlife such as macaques, monitor lizards, and an array of bird species.

Turtle Watching

One of the unique things to do in Con Dao is turtle watching. The island is an important nesting site for green sea turtles, and from May to October, you can witness these majestic creatures coming ashore to lay their eggs. Bay Canh Island is a key nesting site, and several tours offer the chance to observe this incredible natural event. Turtle watching not only provides a memorable experience but also supports conservation efforts aimed at protecting these endangered animals.

Visit Historical Sites

In addition to the prison complexes, Con Dao is home to several other historical sites worth exploring. Hang Duong Cemetery is a solemn and significant place where many Vietnamese revolutionaries are buried. A visit here is a poignant reminder of the island’s historical importance and the sacrifices made by those who fought for the country’s independence. The Van Son Pagoda, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, offers a tranquil escape and a glimpse into the island’s spiritual side.

Enjoy Local Cuisine

No visit to Con Dao is complete without indulging in the local cuisine. The island’s seafood is renowned for its freshness, and you can enjoy a variety of dishes featuring fish, squid, shrimp, and more. Local markets and beachside restaurants serve up delicious meals that showcase the flavors of the sea, often accompanied by tropical fruits and vegetables grown on the island. Don’t miss the chance to try "mắm nêm," a traditional fermented fish sauce that adds a unique kick to many dishes.

Eco-Friendly Activities

As a relatively untouched destination, Con Dao is a perfect place for eco-friendly activities. Kayaking and paddleboarding are great ways to explore the island’s coastline without leaving a carbon footprint. The calm, clear waters are ideal for these activities, offering a different perspective of Con Dao’s natural beauty. For a more leisurely experience, take a boat tour around the archipelago to discover secluded bays, hidden beaches, and the diverse marine ecosystem.

Conclusion

Con Dao Island is a destination that offers a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and outdoor adventure. Whether you’re a history buff, beach lover, or eco-tourist, there are countless things to do in Con Dao that cater to a variety of interests. Its pristine environment and relatively low tourist numbers make it a perfect escape for those looking to experience Vietnam’s untouched charm. Plan your trip to Con Dao and uncover the many treasures this island paradise has to offer.