Back to The Past 2

So... where was I? Oh, I promised you readers I would tell you about my trip to 1 European country and 1 Asian country, and also find more information on them. Let's start with the European one...

1. Greece

What I remember most: Why are there so many rocks, mom?

Greece is famous for its ancient Greek Gods, history, mythology and architecture. There are so many public buildings with stone structure all around the country such as the Parthenon and the Erechtheum. These places are spectacular, but I'm telling you, they're not places for kids!!!!! I remember looking around as an 8-year-old girl thinking, "rocks again??" I wish I had a chance to visit Greece once more. Greece's architecture is amazing. Then I thought, these stone structure buildings are all man-made, does Greece have any natural stone landscapes? And I found out about this beautiful landscape...

Meteora 

Amazing, right? The Meteora is in central Greece with the nearest town, Kalambaka. When I looked at this, I felt like I could easily believed that the Greek Gods pushed the stones to where they are. The Meteora is not made by lava that turns into hard volcanic rocks or anything like that. According to geologists, this valley was once an enormous lake. When the lake dried, the softer sandstone around it eroded away, leaving the Meteora standing. It is simply a great earth-sculpture. 

If I have another chance to visit Greece, I now know that there are not only man-made stone buildings, but also a natural stone sculpture I could explore. (More stone? ;D )

2. Hongkong

What I remember most: Of course... shopping

Everyone knows Hongkong as a big shopping attraction, but what I didn't know is that it is so big that it has something called "theme shopping streets". Theme shopping streets specify on certain product categories, so people with long shopping lists can save time and maybe some money. Paradise for me!!! Here are some of them...

• Luxury Brands Street - Canton Road

Hongkong is the center for international brands in Asia. You can find all the luxury brands you can think of on this street–Hermes, Prada, Giordano Armani, Louis Vuitton and so on. If you can't find the latest items for a certain luxury brand at your hometown, it is very likely that you will find it here. 

• Sportswear Street - Fa Yuen Street

All sportswear including sports equipment can be found here all along the street. The products are trendy and are always updated. 

• Toy Street - Tai Yuen Street

If I had known about this place when I was there when I was a kid, I would of dragged my parents around the place all day. There are many toy shops here with medium and low price toys.  

Feel like going shopping now? These places are made for people who love to shop like us! 

I've learnt quite a few things looking back to my past trips. I'll search for information about the places I will visit in the future in advance to make sure I won't miss anything. Sometimes it will just give me a better picture about the places. You should try it too. :D

*If you haven't, please check out my previous blogs too. Thank you!! ;)

Back to The Past

The other day I was talking to my mom about how lucky I am when compared to her when she was young. Then I realized I had been to 10 countries already! Yes, exactly 10. But when I thought about how much I knew about the places, I couldn't really give good answers. I thought about what I remembered most, and what I was impressed with from each trip. My answers were, I believed, not what most people would expect. That's because I was so young when I traveled to some of the places. If I was there when I was a teenager, I just didn't bother to find any extra information about them. I think if I want to learn more about the countries, or the world, I should start with the clearest memory I have about them. I've chosen the ones I thought would be interesting for you readers and for me, too. I hope I will learn something from what I've found...

 

1. Italy

What I remember most: There were so many pigeons in the city!

I know you were waiting for answers like spaghetti or the Coliseum. No, I remembered the pigeons. They were everywhere! I thought they were like beggars because they didn't have to look for food at all. They just had to wait for people to give them food. So, I decided to look more on these naughty birds. These are what I've found...

• It is clear to me that there are so many pigeons in Italy. What I didn't know was that pigeons actually populate every continent on Earth, except for Antartica because I guess it's too cold there.
• Charles Darwin used pigeons to support his evolutionary theory a lot.
• Picasso, the great artist, loved pigeons so much he even named his daughter Paloma which means pigeon in Spanish.
• In the past, pigeons' feces was very valuable. The droppings were highly prized manure in Egypt, and in England they were declared property of the Crown as they were an important ingredient for making gunpowder.
• Chefs are fond of baby pigeons. They are served rare at many finest restaurants.

Wow! I didn't know these little birds were so precious....

2. Minnesota, USA

What I remember most: "The Wild Thing"

I'm not scared of height and that's why I'm crazy about roller coasters and other scary rides. There is a big amusement park in Minnesota called "Valleyfair" with this huge ride "The Wild Thing". 

As far as I can remember, I went on it for 4-5 times in one day despite the fact that there was always a long line. What makes a roller coaster scary (or fun) is not the height, but it's actually the angle of the drop. It was the steepest ride I've been on. I looked up some information about the ride. 

Height: 207 feet (63 meters)

Drop: 196 feet (60 meters)

Length: 5460 feet (1660 meters)

Max vertical angle: 60 degrees!!

I looked up more about roller coasters and I found out that the "Takabisha" in Japan is the   steepest one exist now. This makes me feel like "The Wild Thing" is now "The Baby Thing". 

I guess I have to go to Japan then...

Please share some of your impression when you go abroad. I'll be writing about 1 European country and 1 Asian country next time. Stay tuned! :3

 

Citation

1. http://www.andrewblechman.com/pigeons/cool_facts.html
2. http://www.deterapigeon.com/21-amazing-facts-about-pigeons.htm
3. http://rollercoaster.wikia.com/wiki/Wild_Thing_(Valleyfair)

5 Ways To Be Pretty In Rainy Seasons...

Girls hate rainy seasons cause it ruins our mood and we cant be pretty in the rain..but here's some tips for you to be pretty even the rain falls...

First tip is to wear stains make up instead of powder type make up. Powder won't last long when the weather is humid and watery but stains do... Nowadays there are so many cosmetic product out there and in different variety of color for stains.. Just wear some light foundation all over your face and make sure it is waterproof, follow up with come cheek stains and lips stains of the color of your choice! you face will look so awake in the rain and it will last yo all day long without touching up! 

Second tip is to wear your long, beautiful and shiny hair up! you can either wear it up into an easy ponytails,, decorate it with some cute ribbons or hair clips or just use a regular colored-hair ban to avoid your hair from the rain Or just put all your hair up into a hair bun. Hair bun is very popular in Thailand not because of its easy but also its elegant...you will look classy and elegant too..one way to make it cuter is to decorate with a small hair clip or a flower will also be a good choice you can create!

Third tip is to wear short skirts or short jeans...Who wants their clothes to be wet? I'm not one of them! and i bet you don't too.. you will also look more earnest and chic at the same time...Choosing color of your clothes is also one small thing you can do to make yourself look HOT in the rain... wearing dark color in rainy days will only give you that gloomy emotions, try something more colorful...such as red, yellow, bright blue, bright pink, green , or orange! follow the rainbows after the storm!! those rainbow colors will give you a happier mood and will somehow effect the emotion of people you met! make them and yourself happier in rainy days by just wearing pop colors!!! ;D

Fourth tip is too avoid chunky accessories!! Those big ones will only make you annoy and you also have to protect them from the rain! Stop that habit and starts to wear something small! Small earrings rock! go for it...lilttle diamonds and pearl are also on good choice you can make. Change from a long and heavy necklace into s smaller piece! Have fun in the rain while you still look chic and beautiful!! 

Fifth is to bring your umbrella with you all the time! Nowadays there are so many kinds, shapes, and colors of umbrella out there in the market! Not only they will protect your from the rain, it can also hide you from the heat of the sun! UV rays are also something you need to avoid! NO, Not just that umbrella can also make you CHIC! by its color and prints! choose some animals print one! or some bright pop color! I am sure you will be able to catch all the eyes on the street!! looking chic and beautiful without getting wet!

There you go some quick and easy tips of me to help you with this annoying rainy seasons! Have fun in the rain and remember to stay pretty wherever you go!  

"Some people feel the rains, some just get wet!" #Bob Dylan ;) 
                                                                                                                  With love, Beaut

***Fascinated-Unpredictable-Informative***

Three words for Ching-Cha, a recommended comic books.

Title: Ching-Cha
Story&Illustration: Wisut Ponnimit
Genre: Comic
Publisher: a book
Price: 235/245/255 Baht



According to comments on my last post about books with pictures  and books that most people around me is mostly talking about right now, I have decided to recommended a comic book named Ching-Cha (comes from a protagonist's name) which is a series about a simple girl who one day found out that herself do have a supernatural power. Also, she is wondering something about life. Then the story goes, she meets many strange creatures, faces many difficult obstacles, and so on.

As three words I have mentioned above:

• Fascinated The writer is so creative. The story is attractively written with high imagination, so you will enjoy reading it.
• Unpredictable Base on its imaginary plot, the writer's idea is unpredictable. Many many unpredictable and complicated situations happen to the protagonist. That's why the story is undoubtedly fun. In addition, the story is not written neither in chronological order nor flash back, but the time order is mixed up. The written style is quite unique. Many complicated states and mixed time order might at first be a bit confused, but It's not too difficult to understand when you gradually get use to its style of storytelling--which, for me, it is one of reasons why this story is so attractive.
• Informative This is not just a simple comic, but it carries lots of idea about life and living--through short speeches--which you could adopt. During the adventure of the protagonist, she gets many answers and ideas about living. I think that the book is not written for kids because the ideas are quite complex and some of the content is adulterate, so writer's target must be the age(at least)around ten-something and older. Furthermore, different ages or people will get some different ideas.

That's all why I want to recommended this wise comic book. If you are now going to read it, you better read in order(1-2-3) so that you won't get confuse; the first one is like an introduction.

Works by Wisut Ponnimit (in Thailand)

1.hesheit (1999)

2.Kwan-tai-mhuag (2002)

3.everybodyeverything (2004)

4.Tum and Japan (2006)

5.Romance (2011)

6.Ching-Cha (2011)

  Ching-Cha 2 (2011)

  Ching-Cha 3 (2012)

*PS. I also read number 3-5 which each includes short stories inside. If you are not sure about start reading Ching-Cha, you can try one of these first.

 To follow Wisut Ponnimit

Blog

Facebook

Instagram: Wisut Ponnimit

 (I'm following his instagram. His cat is so lovely :D, also there are sometimes his lovely cartoon with quotes)  

5 Spring 'n Summer Tips

When it comes to summer, sweating is what you hate when it comes to wearing make up. These are some tips I normally use to avoid the smudgy and oily face during sun time.


first of all, drinks tons of water..you skin needs it to refresh itself and water is also a way to avoid sunburn! cause when your skin is in good quality the dead skin cells can be easily take care of, it won't stuck into your pore anymore.


Next, try using BB cream instead of full coverage foundation.. BB creams are very popular in Asia. BB creams are like  your skin moisturizer but it gives you some coverage to make your skin radiant and glow but still keeps your natural beauty of your skin to be able to peak through the cream. Unlike foundation, where it covers all your skin and building up a new skin shade on your face..and ended up oily and cakeky at the end of the day. 


Third tips is to use water base moisturizing cream or body lotion...in the hot sun, I am pretty sure you don't like that sticky feeling of lotion and leaving you some redness on your skin at the end of the day...So, try out some water base lotion...or gel type one..it is easily absorb into your skin and giving your skin a little bit of sun protection too.


Fourth, wear less make up! I know I know, wearing less make up can reduce a girls confident but actually, wearing less make up can keeps your natural beauty stays with yoiu longer... you skin will get old faster and starts to wrinkle and get fine lines easier if you wear a lot of make up... Take it easy, starts some new routine!... wear some BB creams and highlighter can really make a different!!.. follow up with some blusher and a lip gloss....also, with some water prove mascara! there you go! a new face with your natural beauty!


My last tips is to wear comfy clothes... wearing jeans at this time of year can easily drives me crazy form the heat of the sun! starts wearing some skirt or shorts instead!...for the upper parts, why don,t you try some cute bikini pair with a ten-top or some cut-line t shirt. Or, go for short skirts and mini dress for cuter and girly look! 

Travel Tips: How to fast-track your way through airport security!

Travel Tips: How to fast-track your way through airport security!

Bored of getting stuck at the airport security line? I am sure many of you have had an airport security nightmare. Here are some tips I can guarantee will help you get through the line fast.

Pack Smart

• Pack your carry-on bag in neat layers. Separate clothes from electronic devices such as cameras, radios, or chargers. This will help security officers see what's in your bag clearly when it passes through the x-ray machine.
• Remember NOT TO put sharp equipment in your carry-on bag, or leave them in you hand bag. Students like us always carry cutter knives or small scissors to school. Just don't carry them on the plane with you.
• Ladies, you can't bring the whole face-cleanse with you on the place! All liquid needs to be 3.4 ounces (about 100 grams) or less, and has to be stored together in a zip-top bag.
• I know you want to surprise your friend, but DO NOT wrap your presents. The security officers have to unwrap the presents anyway. 
• Consider buying a security friendly laptop bag, so you don't have to waste time getting your laptop in and out of your bag.

Security Friendly Laptop Bag

Dress Smart

• It would be wise if you "undress" in advance. Remove jewelries, keys, cell phones, anything metallic, and put them all together in a zip-top bag. This will save you a lot of time picking the things up individually. 
• Wear shoes that can be taken on-off quickly. Shoes with shoelaces are the ones you want to avoid. Choose shoes that you don't need to sit down to put back on.
• Keep your jacket in your carry-on bag, and take it out when you are on the plane. You have to take the jacket off at the checkpoints, and these things can be very shaggy!

You can't avoid going through the security line, but you sure can avoid getting stuck there if you follow these rules!
Have some cool tips to share too? Please feel free to  share them!  You can also share your bad experiences at the airport security.  :)

Slow Book 

Slow Life

Name: Slow Book

Author: Thong-Garn (ต้องการ)

Publisher: a book

Price: 220 Baht

>>If you feel tired or bored of a hurried urban living…

>>If you are interested in eco-living in order to safe your happy life and our lovely earth…

>>If you want a “slow life”

BUT…

What exactly is a slow life?

How could I have a slow life even in an urban society?

…Slow Book could give a lot of help.

It is not that hard to tell you why this book should be highly recommended.

• Firstly as you see a cover picture, although the illustration looks simple, it is very lovely. Also inside the book, many illustrations —drawn and painted by the author, herself,—are placed in order to describe texts and just for fun, so you could enjoyably read through the book.

• Secondly, Thong-Garn describes all every (little) detail clearly in the easy words, so readers could understand all the information about slow life undoubtedly.

• And the last reason is that the author has successfully been a slow life people. She has been following the slow-life ways for years before the book was written; she clearly explained everything she had experienced.  Also, she has learnt a lot as she mentioned in many worldwide resources on the text. That is why the book is so believable.

Furthermore, I just find other book about slow life named Sha-Sha-Noi Slow Life which is also interesting. It newly showed on bookstores’ shelves.

Anyway after I superficially read the  new book, Slow Book is still be the number one recommended book about slow life as it is much easy to understand even for starters. The new one is kind of talking about conception of slow life more than explaining that basic information and process of the slow life as in Slow Book, so you better read Slow Book first.

Thanks for reading!

Please let me know if...
-you guys are interested in the slow life or need more book's information
-there is any kind of books you want me to recommend or review

How to make a good breakfast?

Breakfast is important because it "wakes up" your metabolism and will help you feel more energized throughout the day.

It is important to eat breakfast every morning because you need energy.And breakfast is the most important meal of the day.Your metabolic rate will increase when food is eaten and decrease when food is not eaten, meaning that it will help to eat in the morning. In the morning is when you start fresh.You wouldn't want to be stuffing yourself with meat and rice or pasta.That's what you eat during lunch.You can prepare something the time before or take something with you to wherever you're going.         

Eating breakfast every morning helps control your weight. The body starts to use the breakfast food energy right away.No matter how much you sleep, you still wouldn't be kept awake unless you have a hearty breakfast. Remember, breakfast is the most IMPORTANT meal of the day. Don't let weight loss, or running late get to you.

Fills your body up with new nutrients to get your body going every morning...

                How to make a good breakfast?

       Sunrise Sandwich 

Ingredients: 

1 Muffin, Bagel, Burger bun (any would work) 

1 Egg (per person) 

Ham Cheddar Cheese

Directions: 

Its way simpler to use the microwave, not the stove, to cook the bun. But you will need the stove for the egg. Take your egg(s) and scramble them up like you would if you were making scrambled eggs. Now pour the egg batter onto a griddle like you were making pancakes. DON'T SCRAMBLE THEM! It should be really thin and spread out. You want it to do that. now take a metal spatula and flip the thin sides to the middle until it looks like it would fit in your muffin (etc.) now put the egg on the muffin. Now the super easy part, Take some cheese and put it on your egg, now some ham, how ever much you want. Put it in a microwave and heat it for 25 seconds. and enjoy! Tip: you can toast the muffin, Bagel or Bun in the toaster before you put the egg on.

Potato rosti with smoked salmon, egg and hollandaise

Ingredients: 

• 3 medium potatoes (desiree or Pontiac)

• 2 tbs horseradish cream

• 1 tbs plain flour

• 4 very fresh eggs

• 50g butter

• 1 tbs olive oil

• 4 slices smoked salmon

• 2 tbs finely chopped chives, to garnish

• Hollandaise and rocket, to serve
• 
  

Directions:

1. Place potatoes in a pan of cold, salted water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 8 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. Peel potatoes, then coarsely grate into a bowl. Stir in horseradish and season well.
2. Form into 4 patties and squeeze out any moisture ? ensure they have ragged edges. Dust lightly with flour, then cover.
3. Break eggs into a frypan of boiling water. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 minute.
4. Uncover, turn heat off and allow eggs to sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat butter and oil in a non-stick frypan over medium heat. Add rosti and cook for 2 minutes each side or until golden.
5. Place each rosti on a warm serving plate, top with a folded slice of salmon. Use a slotted spoon to remove eggs, cut off rough edges, then place on top of salmon. Drizzle with hollandaise, garnish with chives, season and serve with rocket.
6. Hollandaise: Place 2 egg yolks in a food processor and season. Heat 1 tablespoon each of white wine vinegar, white wine and lemon juice in a pan over medium heat. Simmer for 1 minute, then add to egg with the processor motor running. Slowly add 110g of melted, unsalted butter, processing until a smooth sauce. You can make this in advance and keep it warm in a thermos.

• 
  

  Breakfast wraps

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ingredients:

  • 10 round (15cm-diameter) flour tortillas

  • 6 bacon rashers, rind and excess fat trimmed, thinly sliced crossways

  • 12 eggs, lightly whisked

  • 125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream

  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper

  • 20g butter

  • 120g (1 1/2 cups) coarsely grated cheddar

  • 4 green shallots, ends trimmed, thinly sliced
  • 
    
  Directions:

  
  

  1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Wrap the tortillas in foil. Place in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until hot.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a medium non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel.
  3. Whisk together egg and cream in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a heavy-based saucepan over medium-low heat until foaming. Add egg mixture and use a flat-edged wooden spoon to gently push the egg mixture, scraping the spoon along the base of the pan, from 1 side to the other in 4 different directions. Repeat pushing action every 10 seconds, including around the edge of the pan, to prevent egg sticking. Cook for 5 minutes or until three-quarters of the egg mixture is cooked, but mixture is still creamy and slightly liquid. Remove from heat. Stir in the bacon.
  4. Transfer scrambled eggs to a warm serving bowl. Garnish with a little of the cheese and green shallot. Serve immediately with hot tortillas and the remaining cheese and green shallot.

     
     
     

     One-pan brekky

     
     

  
  

  

  
  

  Ingredients: 

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

  • 4 lean beef chipolata sausages

  • 4 rindless shortcut bacon rashers

  • 150g button mushrooms, sliced

  • 1 medium tomato, halved

  • 2 eggs

  • Toast and tomato sauce, to serve
  • 
    

  Directions:

  1. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add sausages and bacon. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until sausages are almost cooked though.
  2. Add mushroom and tomato to pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until mushroom is tender and sausages cooked through. Push sausages, bacon, mushroom and tomato to 1 side of pan. Crack eggs into pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with toast and sauce.

Directions
1. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add sausages and bacon. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until sausages are almost cooked though.
2. Add mushroom and tomato to pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until mushroom is tender and sausages cooked through. Push sausages, bacon, mushroom and tomato to 1 side of pan. Crack eggs into pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with toast and sauce.