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Events, Appearances & Happenings

Most Recent Blog Entries
July 19, 2017

Whitney Linen Joins Pink Tartan’s #CanadianChic Edit

Whitney Linen has been selected by Pink Tartan to be included in its #CanadianChic edit. Whitney Linen designs and manufactures its diverse line of fashion and […]
July 6, 2017

Spotted: Jeanne Beker in Whitney Linen

(Photo via @thejeannebeker on Instagram) The doyenne of Canadian fashion, Jeanne Beker, dazzled in Whitney Linen’s “Monaco” linen tailored blazer. Read her post here. You can […]
June 22, 2017

Whitney Linen Back on The Shopping Channel

Whitney Linen will be back on The Shopping Channel on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. Due to the brand’s success on the shopping televison channel the year […]
January 9, 2016

Review: ‘The Ultimate Hipster Tuxedo’ Plus More Beautiful Fashions for Spring / Summer 2016

Watch the Runway Video A Linen Tuxedo you say? Voila. The Whitney Linen SS2016  Collection has been unveiled, and it’s every bit as awesome as expected. […]
September 18, 2015

Marlon Durrant for Whitney Linen, Men’s & Women’s SS2016

Whitney Linen in collaboration with Marlon Durrant is pleased to provide you with this sneak peek of the Whitney Linen Men’s and Women’s Spring / Summer […]
September 11, 2015

Lennox Lewis, Team & Boxers Dressed by Whitney Linen & Marlon Durrant

The teams of #MarlonDurrant and #WhitneyLinen joined together to create the #Md4WL #WLMensLineSS2013. We outfitted some of boxers, coaches and #LennoxLewis himself! Thanks to #GLBoxing for […]
May 12, 2015

Retail Merchant Program Now Open

We are now accepting new retailers into our wholesale distribution network. To apply for a retailer’s kit today and receive each of our seasonal look books, […]
January 10, 2015

Clearance Sale – Save 75% on Select Merchandise

Clearance Sale – 75% Off Select Items While Supplies Last! Hurry and Save Big Today! Shop Online:
December 13, 2014

Luxurious Wraps From Model Yasmin Warsame

As seen on CityLine December 12, 2014 – Take a look at these beautiful pieces inspired by Yasmin’s homeland of Africa. Click here to watch the […]
December 5, 2014

Yasmin Warsame Scarf Collection

Click here to inquire about ordering one of these beautiful scarves.
September 12, 2014

Whitney Linen to be featured at Raise the Rythm 2014

Whitney Linen is pleased to announce it will be participating in Raise the Rhythm (RTR) 2014. Raise the Rhythm brings together Toronto’s most talented and up-and-coming […]
July 15, 2013

Whitney Linen X SummerxSkin!

Summer is here and Anum Khan of SummerxSkin has the right idea when it comes to dressing for the heat—head to toe linen! Check out this […]
May 7, 2013

Show your linen some love

It’s our favourite time of year here at Whitney Linen — Spring! Time to finally put that parka away for good and pull our linen jackets, […]
April 23, 2013

Spring Tips with Janette Ewen

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April 3, 2013

Raise The Rhythm Show – Limited Tickets Available

“The Raise The Rhythm Show” is approaching, don`t forget to buy your tickets at for this Sunday, April 7th! Whitney Linen will be showing the most coveted […]
April 3, 2013

Whitney Linen Pro Studios Launch Photos

“The Whitney Linen Spring/Summer Collection looked amazing at the Pro Studios Launch on Thursday, March 28th! The event was a great success, with a full house […]
May 29, 2016

Stylish Hostess Gifts

Whitney Linen’s Home Collection gift sets were designed to remove the stress from choosing the perfect housewarming, weekend visit, or dinner and cocktail party hostess gifts. Each […]


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The Daily Drum, 6-11-14, Single Mothers Claiming Father’s Day

Should single mothers celebrate Father’s Day?

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Merry Meet and Merry Part, and Merry Meet again

Monday, July 23, 2012

New Jersey Adventures

We are home safe and sound after a marvelous weekend. My husband and I met two of the kindest, most generous people on this planet. Sandy Sandy and her husband welcomed us into their beautiful home and treated us royally....great food, beautiful surroundings including wild turkeys, hundreds of hummingbirds, whimsical handcrafted artwork and spirit-filled paintings. They gave us a tour of their workshop and studio, horse barn, the nearby Pine Barrens and miles of cranberry bogs. We were gifted with fresh-picked Jersey white corn, tomatoes, a Christmas cactus, art, both painted and metalwork, and wonderful home-made blueberry waffles for Sunday breakfast.

Oh, and there were kittens as well. (click on any photo for a closer look)

Jersey Kids a-frolick

Tom Turkeys and their ladies
More than 30 deer visit Sandy's home daily, for corn, apples and bananas
Sandy's husband crafts dragons and all manner of things out of found scrap metals
Through the Pine Barrens into cranberry bogs
Hard to capture the many hummers on camera
Two great friends, Robin and Sandy

An amazing weekend! Fun and sweet. We came home with two adorable kittens! There has been a little change in who we brought home. You will have to visit my other blog, Purrrrsnickitty  to read about that.

Please visit Sandy's blog to see her art and read more about her journey through a spirited life and how she and her husband live with horses, cats, wild turkey, deer, raccoons, woodchucks and all manner of things of the natural world. Sandy Sandy Spirit Artist

Lon said...

Dear Robin,

That's absolutely wonderful that you both were able to meet such kindhearted people as this!!!

I'm so happy that you all had such a wonderful time!!!

And I love the photos!!!

I'm going over to see your other blog.

Plus I'm going to have a look at Sandy's blog, for it sounds like she has a wonderful blog as well.

mxtodis123 said...

Sounds like you had a special weekend. Sandy sounds like a wonderful person. I'm going to hop on over and checkout her blog. By the way, I've forgotten. What part of New Jersey? I was born there you know.

Linda Wildenstein said...

Hi ya Robin. Your adventure sounds wonderful. How exciting and fun. I love the photos and am headed straight over to see your other blog. Yeh for good weekends. Oma Linda

Wendy S. said...

What a joyfully wonderful and whimsical weekend you had! I can't wait to read more about the babies.

Lady Caer Morganna said...

Welcome back! It looks like you all had a wonderful time together!

The pics are fab and I can't wait to see the kittens you came home with!!:D

Luv and hugs,

thecottagebythecranelakeolof1 said...

That looks like a wonderful place! Not very unlike how it looks here but with lots more deers and turkeys that we don't have at all :-)

I loved those dragons and other critters he had made!

Have a great day!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Sounds like a great weekend! I checked out Sandy's blog and she is a marvelous artist!

Kallan Kennedy said...

What an awesome post, Robin! Loved the pictures and the recap! Thank you so much for sharing with us! Sandy and her hubby seem lovely!

Introverted Art said...

Robin, there is nothing more energetic than meeting great friends and gentle souls.

Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor said...

Lucky you! I have got to visit Sandy soon, I miss her:)

Magic Love Crow said...

Robin, what a great adventure you and your hubby had! I love the hummingbirds photo! And, I want some of Sandy's husband's metal sculptures! They are amazing! The picture of you two is great! Take Care, Hugs ;o)

Sandy Sandy said...

Oh My Dear Robin, where do I begin? You are just way too magnanimous for words. I am humbled by all your benevolence, love and generosity. Your visit was totally awesome, from beginning to end. The only thing wrong with it was it was just way too short! Next time you and your sweet hubby must stay longer! I miss you and your beautiful babies. I am so glad I will be able to stay connected here through your blogs and emails though! Thanks again for everything. Love to you all, Sandy

Mina said...

Oh Robin, what adorable babies! Sandy and her husband sound like truely amazing people and your images are so beautiful. I'll have to go visit your kitty blog. ;-)


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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Starting a business-Whats your motivation?

One thing that I have come to realize is that everyone is a potential entrepreneur.  You can be from any walk of life, have any educational background, ethnicity or experience AND be a business owner-there is no step by step process that will make you a business owner.

One thing that all entrepreneurs have in common is their drive and passion to start a business.  I am outlining some of the most common reasons why people start a business:
  1. Hobbies - Some people start a business because they want to take a hobby and turn it into a money making machine-common businesses include hand made jewelry, knitting.  If you can turn a hobby into a business good for you, however I have seen too many people struggling-it's hard to put a price on something you love to do.
  2. They have a gift-there are truly some talented people out there, some are gifted with something unique-a beautiful voice, an artist, a motivator etc.  If you can turn the gift into a money making machine-why not?
  3. They hate their boss-this is by far the most common reason-they are sick of working for someone else and sick of being the mule-so they take their revenge by starting a business and making someone else the mule.....
  4. They want freedom-this is by far the MOST popular reason-here's the irony, when you have a job, its only 8 hours per day and then live your life, with a business, you are preoccupied 24/7-I remember reading somewhere, if you are a business owner and you are sleeping 8+ hours, you are doing something wrong.
  5. Stay at home-let's admit noone likes commuting (ask me, I spend 10+hours per week commuting to and from work), a lot of people start a business to work from home-working in your pjs from the bedroom sounds good; however, I see MANY business owners who will admit they can NEVER concentrate by working from home-toddlers running around can be quite a distraction!  If you are one of those who can manage to run a business from home-kudos to you!
  6. They want to make millions-(don't we all) Not to ruin anyone's parade but let's be realistic over 50% of small businesses fail in the first five years.  We all want to start a business and make it big and often we loose touch of reality in search of the business success-be VERY VERY cautious with what steps you take in starting a business-go to to see a list of small business resources in your area to help you with your business decisions.
  7. You can have a second career-Alot of people are becoming part time business owners (including my husband and I).  We both have full time jobs but we decided to start a side business not only for the experience but also to have a second career.  In this economy, we are seeing more people starting a part time business.
  8. Control-A lot of people jump into starting a business they want control, they want to be the boss, they want to take all business decisions.  Most people who start a business start off as sole proprietors or partnerships, hopefully the aim should be to hire more people, managers etc to help you with running the business-as your business grows you loose control over the day to day decisions of the company.  Most decisions are made by your employees and manager-this is one of the signs of business success and sadly it comes at the cost of you loosing control.
  9. Experience-this was definitely my motivation to start a business-gain as much experience as possible to leap into the next business and hopefully more success.  If you are starting a business with this motivation, do not spend too much money on your business and make sure there is a Plan B.
  10. Because my friend John Doe has a friend Jane Doe who started a business and was successful-sadly, this entrepreneurial myth leads to alot of failure.  Just because something worked for someone, doesn't mean it will work for you.
Whatever your drive, whatever motivates you, make sure you take precautions before you venture out.  Good luck with you and your business success!

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Tag Archives: French bistro

Brunch at Petite Provence

Sometimes you need to go out of town to discover the “hidden gems” in your own back yard. Such was the case with Petite Provence. Late last fall, I headed east to The Dalles, Oregon, in a quest to find … Continue reading

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Les Dessous de la Robe

4 rue Bertin-Poirée 75001 (M) Chatelet
Lunch -
Pre: Salmon salad - 2 big spoons worth -mousse-like. Thought it a bit dry. Dressing on the salad greens was a well balanced lemon/mustard.
Main: Melon & Chevre salad. More greens, tomato & cucumber too. The chevre with melon combo didn't quite catch my interest.
Wine: The blanc de jour - Wanted more than a glass but less than a bottle. They don't have pichets so they open a bottle and you pay for what you drink.
Dessert: Tarte de pomme de grand mere. A flavor, subtle, that I did not figure out. Some other type of fruit I'm sure - kiwi?
Failed to ask.

Cafe in a nice little glass with assorted chocolate, cookies, cinnamon, sugars &c.

I had a seat where I could see straight into the kitchen and the one fellow in there worked sharply, cleanly, hygenically, and smoothly. It was interesting to watch. I went at 2:00 (not at the lunchtime peak) so it was pretty easy-going... maybe more a typical deranged kitchen at 12:30.

They're closed for dinner on Mondays.

Fair price, lovely decor, good service, good presentation, v.good wine, food... I'll go back and see if they do better.

1 comment:

willson said...

Currently they appear to be closed for lunch too.


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Looking for a Holiday Cottage around Winchelsea Beach?

Forge Mews Cottage … find out more

4th August 2017 Events

4th August 2017 Events near Winchelsea Beach

Below are events happening in Winchelsea Beach and the surrounding area on 4th August, 2017. You can add your own events here.

Rye College GCSE Show

Saturday, 29th July 2017
Ends: Sunday, 27th August 2017
(30 day event)
Rye Art Gallery
107 High Street
TN31 7JE

Rye Art Gallery’s annual event showcasing our local students' recent GCSE. work. Come and see this wonderfully energetic and creative ... more

Rye Country Market

Friday, 4th August 2017, 10:00am - 11:30am
Rye Community Centre
Conduit Hill
TN31 7LE

Rye Country Market will be open every Friday from 10th March - 15th December. We sell Cakes, Savouries, Preserves, Free ... more

Festival Preview Party&Talk - MadMen & the Artists

Special Event
Friday, 4th August 2017, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Wittersham Church will be hosting a Preview Party in advance of their Weekend Flower Festival. The Preview Party will commence ... more

An American in Paris

Friday, 4th August 2017 from 7:00pm
Rye Community Centre
Conduit Hill
TN31 7LE

When Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly), a struggling artist living in Paris is 'discovered' by a wealthy heiress, she has more ... more

What's On in Winchelsea Beach?

Winchelsea Beach Message Board


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In the summer of 1916, it was decided by the Baltimore & Ohio RR as well as the Winchester Lumber Company that the forests of Hardy, Hampshire, and Frederick Counties of West Virginia could potentially be tapped for their resources. In the years following, the country was participating in the First World War and more railroad ties were needed due to the resulting increase in rail traffic.

The Intermountain Construction Company began working on the Winchester & Western Railroad, and the first train set track in January 1918 to carry lumber from Gore to Winchester, VA. Construction was a long process due to a shortage of heavy machinery during wartime, and the track itself was completed to Wardensville, WV by May 25, 1921.

West Virginia Governor John J. Cornwell spoke during a celebration held at the end of construction, saying that the railroad line will help to grow the region’s economy. His brother, William B. Cornwell was named president of Winchester and Western Railroad at the time.

The Winchester & Western began to cut back operations throughout the 1930s and 40s, but remained active between Gore and Winchester. The railroad has seen more use since the mid-1980s due to WW’s acquisitions of the Conrail “Winchester Secondary” line to Williamsport, MD as well as three short lines in New Jersey. The railroad was then split up into the Virginia Division and the New Jersey Division, which both have connections to the CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway, two major eastern rail lines.

Today, the Virginia Division has 53 miles of track running through the Shenandoah Valley, and moves approximately 15,000+ loads per year. The New Jersey Division has 47 miles of track and moves approximately 11,000+ loads per year. The New Jersey Division has four lines: the Mainline, Seashore Line, Deerfield Branch, and Bridgeton Port Branch. These four lines are all interconnected through WW, Conrail, CSXT, or NS tracks. The Virginia Division has 2 lines: the Winchester Mainline, and the Sandman Branch. The latter covers the 18 miles of track between Gore and Winchester, VA.


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Saturday, 8 September 2007

G is for "Glasses"

Today was such a good day that we decided to take ourselves off to Bangor, Co. Down just for a wee change. It felt so good just sitting soaking up the sun with a glass of the black stuff.

Recently I posted a listed of my favourite restaurants but I think I am going to have to amend that. I think no. 10 - Giraffe will have to come out to be replaced by Coyles, Bangor. We had a meal in the restaurant a few weeks ago which was really something and today we had what was laughingly termed 'bar food'. I say laughingly because our meals were nothing like bar food you get served elsewhere.

I had warm rare beef salad with blue cheese, lentils and truffle, while dr. em had roast pork belly and honey glazing with creamed leeks, beans and savoy cabbage - she replaced the mustard mash with champ. For dessert - cheese platter for dr. em and chocolate mousse with cherries and almonds for me. I hope I am making your mouth water. So I think Coyles will have to step into the no. 7 slot.


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Friday, May 1, 2009

This Just in: Mercury More Exciting Than Mars

from Wired:

Mercury was once seen as a cold, dead little world, spinning around the sun unchanged for the past 4 billion years.
No longer: Observations from the Messenger spacecraft say it’s anything but.

and; JUMP

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Skype for Business User Tip #47: Find & Replace Contacts that Changed

So you are notified that a contact has changed their SIP address and now you want to update your Skype for Business client. How do you find all the “Contact Lists”/Groups this contact is in? Actually not too hard.

First, search for the contact in Skype for Business.

Next click on “More Options” and then “Add to Contacts List” and now you will see a list of all the Contact Lists/Groups that have this contact in them in a light gray font.

Now you can add the new contact in each group and then delete the old contact and your done.

Enjoy Skype for Business & see you next time!

For a ton more cool User Tips, get the Skype for Business User Tips & Tricks for Anyone Free eBook

See the other Skype for Business User QuickTips (formerly known as Lync)

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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Something odd has happened in the past 2 days to our traffic on this blog, as shown by our hit counter on the left here. It seems that since my first LA post mentioned lots of famous cars, and since I linked to some images I found on google images, now this blog is the place to go for some people searching google images for those car pictures that are hosted on another site. Make sense? Me neither because if you do a search for Porsche 911 on google images you do get the picture I used but thats not us.

So what do we do? Well for one we are suddenly making money via our Google Ads on the left. Not much but enough that I though I would sell out and stick an ad box on the top of the page too. Sure I might be whoring us out, but you do need a "Sleep Diary" don't you? (thats what's up now anyway) Clicking on one of those adds is extra valuable because it cranks up our page CTR or Cost Per 1000 impressions that calculates our value.

If things die down again I will remove it, but its worth an experiment I think. Did I mention I saw an Austin Martin DB9 today?

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Jayne Surrena

04.07.2013 in19:34 in Art -->

Jayne Surrena is a Philadelphia Artist who has graduated from the University of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing and Master of Arts in Teaching the Visual Arts.

Jayne’s work appeals to multiple audiences. Jayne has shown with galleries, museums and in art fairs nationally and worldwide. She also works with architects and designers on large-scale projects featuring her imagery.

Her work also appears on many websites, blogs, magazines .
Highlights: Gawker, Art Basel Miami, Artist a Day, the Wall breakers, Get Inspired Magazine, Art House Co-op, bit-FUUL Magazine, Philadelphia Stories, Art Takes Times Square, Comeintoland.com, HAHA Magazine, Art Newspaper, Art Scene News, Zealous.com, boutique hotels, on permanent collection with the Malaysian Museum of Art among others.


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Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Certré International Award 2008

2007 winner -Casuarina equisetifolia by Robert Steven

Certré International Award 2008
Now's your chance to enter the Certré online competition for 2008. Follow the links and you can review the trees from previous years, those already entered for 2008 or even enter one of your own- good Luck!!

Friday, 11 January 2008

Tokoname large pot creation

I know I've linked to this site before but for anybody interested in the construction of bonsai pots, click the links below for videos (be aware, they can be large files!!) the first highlighting the making of a huge Tokoname pot. Both the skill and speed involved in the construction by hand are a sight to behold.

The second features the ancient dragon kilns and the work of Master Xu.

Tree of the Month- January

The tree of the month went to Les Storey with his Trident Maple and Juniper composition.
-Nice one.

The proud recipient of the trophy.

AGM report

Doug n Dave debate

Ian started with a talk on how well the club had performed over the past year, and how we need to keep up our performance to continue to act as a team, the importance of teaching the young ones Bonsai techniques as they were the future.

Then went on to discuss the treasurers report, the financial position of the club is not in too bad a position. Membership sub's were increased to £10 for single and £15 for couples and family memberships.

The committee were to stay as they were with 2 new positions -Iain Quayle as official web/blog Editor and Brian Miller as official photographer.

Ian spoke of Fiona Wallace who organizes a show, similar to our Gordale one, up in Glasgow and has asked us to organize an exhibit for sometime this year, details to follow.

Long discussion took place on a full days workshop and to seek a well known master in the art of Bonsai, venue and dates to follow.

All The Best

Lee -happy in the knowledge that he is to remain social secretary.

The future of bonsai !!??!!

Tuesday, 8 January 2008

January Meeting- AGM

The membership welcomes the chairman's opening remarks
& agree to pass the societies 06-07 accounts!!!

This months meeting is the AGM (not the highlight of the year I know but essential non the less!!)
Personally I think its important we don't let the social Secretary retire from his post, he's worked hard this year and should be encouraged to continue his good (?) work. *

Bring a tree anyway!!

* "........... if you don't agree you can take it up with the committee -
Give order!

(to be read in a broad Yorkshire accent)

I feel I'm showing my age now-I hope I'm not the only one to remember the Wheeltappers!!

Friday, 4 January 2008

An exploration of the Literati style

Call it Literati, Bunjin, Scholar Style, Wenjen, Nansoga, or the Southern Song Painting Style- this style of tree poses many questions and challenges both the artist and viewer alike.

John Naka once said of this style, "It is a dream, an abstract. It is an extremely advanced, significant bonsai design."

The link above takes you to an interesting exploration of the style.

Wednesday, 2 January 2008

Bonsai Site of the Month - January

This months item is part of the site developed for our friends over the border, the VoCBs. Produced by Kevin Bailey it includes a number of articles by Kevin that appeared in Bonsai Magazine or The Art Of Bonsai Magazine.
This article highlights the issue of feeding and fertilising-not a hot topic for this time of year but it may give us all time to acquire any missing items for the coming year.

If you explore a little further you will find a wealth of interesting stuff: and I did like the story of his greenhouse rebuild!!

Hello and welcome to the Wirral Bonsai Society Blog - an ongoing diary & newsletter highlighting the adventures of the society & its members

Society Diary-We meet at 8pm every 2nd Wednesday of the month at the RAFA club in Oxton (CH43 1UU).

  • 13th January
  • 10th February
  • 14th February Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 28th February Workshop - Gordale
  • 9th March - Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 13th March Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 27th March Workshop - Gordale
  • 13th April - Demonstration - Andy H
  • 17th April Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 24th April Workshop - Gordale
  • 8th May Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 11th May- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 29th May Workshop - Gordale
  • 4-5th June WBS Flowering Bonsai Show - Port Sunlight GC
  • 8th June - WBS Member trees critique
  • 12th June Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 26th June Workshop - Gordale
  • 10th July Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 13th July- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 31st July Workshop - Gordale
  • 10th August- WBS Show tree selection
  • 13-14th August - Wirral Flower Show
  • 20th August - Japan Day, Liverpool
  • 27-29th August WBS Annual Show - Gordale
  • 14th September- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 11th September Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 25th September Workshop - Gordale
  • 9th October Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 12th October- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 30th October Workshop - Gordale
  • 9th November- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 13th November Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 26-27th November - Potter Workshop with David Jones (Walsall Studio Ceramics)
  • 27th November Workshop - Gordale
  • 14th December - Club Party

New members are always welcome, just come along to one of our monthly meetings at the RAFA club. You can even 'try us out' for a few months before you decide on joining as an official member. The meetings are informal (there's a bar!) and the club members are (mostly) friendly, approachable and happy to pass on guidance and information to anybody interested in bonsai- whatever your level of experience.


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Recent Posts

Thoughts on Level 4

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

It’s very fitting that, since Neptune has entered the spiritual sign it rules – the sign of Pisces – scientists have announced the discovery of the Higgs Boson, a quantum particle named after a physicist, the attributes of which seem to confirm the key concept that there must exist a particular type of energetic bit [...]

Living in a Bubble of Light!

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

My husband says that I live in a bubble of light up on the ceiling because I’m an optimist and I see the world growing lighter.  He says it’s not, and that people always have a dark side, and will always be negative and sometimes evil. But that’s not what I see.  I’m an optimist [...]

Judgment Day…?

Friday, May 20th, 2011

  What is “judgment” anyhow?  Who is doing the judging?  Who is receiving it?  The pat answer is “God judges”.  Some now believe that God is the name for the Creative Source of the Universe… or if you’ve investigated the truths of quantum physics, that God is the synonym for the Conscious Awareness that exists [...]


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Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Reason!

I love traditional red and green for Christmas, but sometimes it is fun to use an unexpected color for a totally different look!  The soft purple tones of this Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather designer paper are a great alternative!

I kept the layout simple, and let this powerful sentiment speak for itself!  A sheer ribbon and jute bow, and a lacy snowflake topped with a paper rose add some elegance.  I love the symbolism...purple is the color of royalty, appropriate for the King of kings, the Rose of Sharon!

Christmas4Him from the {stamps} of Life
Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather designer paper
Stampin' Up Pale Lavender ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Spellbinders Labels 14
MS snowflake punches
May Arts ribbon
ivory jute thread
paper rose

  1. Beautiful Deb! I love the purple, it is so pretty! Call the paper police....I never bought any paper from the Mitten Weather collection...what was I thinking?

  2. Beautiful colors and elegant design. Love the bow with snowflake especially.

  3. Very nicely done. Julianne


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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I came so close to losing altogether today.

Over dramatic words. Not for me.

For 45 minutes it was as though I lost all sanity.
I broke all my own rules about internet safety and got sucked into something that could have been a scam.
I was so forceful, so determined.
TWJ handed over our credit card even though he was very unhappy and not quiet about letting me know how he felt.
He did try to stop me but I was unstoppable.
Short of hog-tying me he had no show.

One second after it was too late I began to come to my senses.
I checked and checked, and became increasingly uneasy.
I tried to stop payment.
Too late.

I felt sick, ashamed, stupid.
I didn't want to talk to anyone.
I wanted to hide in a deep, dark hole.

There was no hole.
I had to pull myself together enough to go into town then to Mum's for lunch.
I tried very hard to continue to live while feeling that I was the stupidest person on earth.

I bought something for Mum's lunch and I bought a large size packet of Nestle cappuccino sachets for me.
I was determined to stay Gluten Free but oh how I wanted bread.
A big, fat, juicy, meaty, hot pie would have been nice to.
I felt too sick to eat but I knew I had to eat something.
Danger time!!!!!
Eat for health or eat for comfort or yield to the 'I want to die, not eat,' feeling.
The SuperMarket had a style of GF loaf that seemed a little softer than the last one I tried.
I bought a slice of ham and a small scoop of coleslaw from the deli section.
I bought some almonds, brazil nuts and dried Otago apricots.
I bought 4 pieces of ginger chocolate to share with TWJ.
I avoided the stuff that would throw me badly off track.

The bread was OK and a plus is that it doesn't seem to work so well with slatherings of butter.
Mum was well so I came home mid-afternoon.
I was trying to process my feelings so that I could live.
Finally the tears flowed.
Not many but enough to break the damn of shame.
Finally I said out loud how sorry I am for being so stubborn and stupid.

Meantime TWJ had plodded away on-line searching, searching and decided it was a legitimate promotion even if it was one we didn't need but maybe we will benefit from it sometime in the future.

I'm still full of 'ifs.'
Would I have continued if I'd had time to pull up the website and search for scams?
If I'd paused for long enough to think with any sanity I'd have ended things before it was too late.

'Ifs' are useless.

Curiosity has cost us.
I learned a serious lesson about the danger of temptation.
It's all there in the Bible in Proverbs 3.
Temptation in the form of a glitzy pop-up caught my eye.
Instead of turning away, getting rid of it without even bothering to read it I paused.
I paused too long.
I walked right in and I was hooked.
Thus began a chain of events which I could have stopped at any time during the first 35-45 minutes.
Instead I let myself be sucked in,
Minute by minute,
Deeper and deeper.
The damage is done and I have to live with it.

It was a very stupid thing to do but hopefully no lasting harm.
What stung me most was not the loss of money although it was many times more than we can afford and that hurts, but the stupidity of letting myself get sucked into a dodgy sales promo.

The amazing thing is that somehow by late afternoon I had climbed out of the dark hole of shame and lifted out of the depression which was threatening to swallow me.
Now I can live.
I can hold my head up and face the world again.

Knowing there is a price to pay,
Unpleasant consequences,
Knowing recovery is possible
And will be accomplished.

Chastened but not destroyed.

And I have forgotten the chocolate treat waiting in the pantry.
I don't 'need' it but I will enjoy it.

Rettakat said...

Wow... what a lesson this is for all of us! What struck me was when you said you "paused".

And that was the open door. I thought of all times that I have messed up (like last night!). And it was in that "pause", where I wavered and even considered it. That is what usually does me in. I pause... and in that pause, I have opened the door, and made it a thousand times harder to have a good outcome.

I am happy that you have come out the other end of this not destroyed... "knowing recovery is possible." God's tender grace is a wonderful thing!!

Kate said...

oh margieanne !! i sat here cringing as you mentioned that hubby handed over the credit card, and also that it was a pop-up, but these are mistakes anyone could easily make, and probably the decision to do it was made when you weren't in the right frame of mind. it would be interesting to hear how your day, diet, emotions etc were leading up to when you got on the computer. .. chin up darl you will over come this :) xox

Sasha said...

Hi and thanks for visiting my blog recently and for your lovely comment! I hope you're feeling better soon. Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them. :)

Lynda said...

You beat yourself up far too much about food. You should just eat what you enjoy and relax :) Maybe cutting gluton altogether is not a great idea if there is no medical reason?? Certainly try to keep white carbs away (flour and sugar) but other than than... enjoy !!

Chris H said...

Try not to feel too bad about this, I think most of us have made rash decisions re: spending... but hey, you only live once and we all make mistakes!

Trisaratops said...

Oh MargieAnne! I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm so glad that you've come through to the other side and are not embarrassed anymore!


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The Green Lantern Hits The Silver Screen

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite, powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. Warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him the ability to create anything his mind can imagine. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.

Click below to watch the trailer:

Trailer and synopsis provided by Warner Bros Pictures.

[photogallerylink id=70568 align=left]

Related Articles:

Captain America: The First Avenger Trailer

Ryan Reynold’s Green Lantern Costume

Ryan Reynolds Reportedly Separated Shoulder

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Bernie Sanders’ New Ad Uses Simon & Garfunkel

By Amanda Wicks

Bernie Sanders released his new TV campaign ad on Thursday, and the background music might sound familiar. That’s because Sanders chose to use Simon and Garfunkel‘s classic song “America,” off their 1968 album Bookends, to hammer home his message.

Related: Killer Mike and Bernie Sanders Enjoy Soul Food Before Atlanta Rally

Showing settings like farms, a winter street, a coffee shop and more, Sanders aligns Simon and Garfunkel’s song with the ideas of home and the heartland. Using the lyrics, “They’ve all come/ To look for America/ All come to look for America/ All come to look for America,” his message exudes a hopeful note, one that implies he can restore the country to a better way of life.

Mixing music and political campaigns during the 2016 presidential race hasn’t always gone well. When Donald Trump used one of R.E.M.’s songs at a rally in September, Michael Stipe had some choice words for the Republican presidential candidate.

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Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Honey

The benefits of honey are even more wonderful than its taste.These days,many people think that anything sweet may cause harm to body.But there is a good news for you that honey is exception.Yes,refined sugar is harmful but nature has provided you with an great alternative of refined sugar.Bees work very hard for making this nectar for you.It contains almost 550 compounds.Honey is so good that is is considered as one of the superfoods.
Eating honey is simple yet most powerful way to strengthen our body.Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
Here we are going to serve you the sweet sweet benefits of eating honey

Thursday, July 24, 2014

How to Get Rid of Dark Lips

Many people suffer from this problem and the most affected are women,because they are more conscious about their facial features than men.In order to achieve desired facial features and complexion,women tends to experiment with various cosmetic products like lip gloss,lipsticks.Most of them result in a big turn down for them and leaves a negative impression such as dark lips.Dark lips may also be caused by other bad habits such as smoking.Many people get frustrated because of their dark lips because it affects their whole facial look. Do not worry,we are here to help you.We will suggest you some natural remedies to bring back the natural color of your lips i.e. pink lips.

1. Glycerin
Sometimes dry lips are the cause behind dark lips.Glycerin is best available natural water retainer.Apply glycerin on your lips daily in night and see the wonder in a week.

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10 Best iPad Pro Cases That You Should Consider

Best cases iPad Pro (3)

Announced in September 2015, this has the potential to be the best iPad ever. It features a 13″ screen, 8MP Camera, a 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Apple fans will have wait to till November though as it is expected to be released in mid-Winter season. So check out the list of 10 best iPad Pro cases and let us know your favourite case in the comments section below.

10. iPad Pro Case, JETech®(15$)

Best cases iPad Pro (8)

This case is flip style case with magnetic closure. The case protects your iPad against scratches, dirt and also wear and tear.
You can get one here

9. iPad Pro Case – Peyou®(10$)

Best cases iPad Pro (6)

A case specifically designed for iPad Pro. The case is slip proof as per manufacturer and is made from polycarbonate plastic that makes it durable.
You can get one here

8. Bovon® Apple iPad Pro Case(10$)

Best cases iPad Pro (2)

This case has a lot of features. Like built in magnet to support Auto Wake & Sleep feature; Built-in ELASTIC HAND STRAP for one-hand holding; Built-in CARD SLOTS to keep your business card & credit card together.
You can get one here

7. iPad Pro Leather Case(10$)

Best cases iPad Pro (4)

This case is made fro synthetic leather which gives it excellent protection abilities. The case also has rotation 360 degree which allows you to work in landscape mode with ease.
You can get one here

6. iPad Pro Case, LK(9$)

Best cases iPad Pro (3)

LK has a range of cases for all sort of devices. They have a consistent quality in all of their products and this case is no different. It is made from smooth, treated rubber that resists dirt and stains.
You can get one here

5. iPad Pro Case by Ionic Pro(5$)

Best cases iPad Pro (10)

This case is made from fine leather. The thick leather coating  act as a barrier against hard impacts as well. As a plus point, many designs and colors are available.
You can get one here

4. KHOMO iPad Pro Case(15$)

Best cases iPad Pro (7)

This case can double as a kickstand and also has a hand strap for easy holding. All jacks, ports and buttons are accessible without removing the case.
You can get one here

3. Universal Business Leather Portfolio for iPad Pro(35$)

Best cases iPad Pro (1)

As the name and the picture suggests this is more than just a case. Made from synthetic leather this case offers decent protection as well. Expandable file pocket offers plenty of storage for 8.5″x11″ documents as well.
You can get one here

2. iPad Pro Case, FYY (20$)

Best cases iPad Pro (5)

Made from high-quality leather this case has terrific protection capabilities. This case has plenty of space to keep your extra stuff and offered in many colors.
You can get one here

1. iPad Pro Case, by SUPCASE (22$)

Best cases iPad Pro (9)

Advanced dual layer designed case combined of polycarbonate hard shell and flexible TPU withstands accidental drop, bump and shock. This case has the best protection features overall and is a must have for any iPad user.
You can get one here

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Sunday, October 4, 2015

Mannequin...But More Real

The film Mannequin is a work fine art rarely appreciated in our hustle and bustle contemporary lives. I consider it to be a wonderful documentary in the same lines as factual films like Independence Day and 2012. In the documentary, Andrew McCarthy falls in love with a show room dummy who happens to be Kim Cattrall before she was not made of plastic, silicone, and Botox. Zany things happen, there are magic necklaces, a guy named Hollywood who had great sunglasses, and there is more importantly love. It's a simple factual story with a simple factual plot.

Blah, blah, blah, et cetera.

So the thing that isn't known about the factual documentary Mannequin (and the follow-up documentary Mannequin: On the Move) is that the movie is really based on mannequins of workers in Northern British Columbia.

Yes, Canadians.

So in Canadian museums, late a night, human figures made of cloth and nylon, stuffed into traditional clothing come to life in small town museums.

In fact these two individuals roam around drinking Molson's and maple syrup. There really isn't any love story happening with these two individuals. But the love of lumberjacking and fishermanliness is all that needs to happen in the cold cedar forests of the northern woods.

No magic necklaces are needed to wake these two Mannequins, all the magic is in the Canadian wilderness.


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John Pilger – Australia & England

Linked with CBNRM.Net.

First read: Iran, A War Is Coming, by John Pilger, February 3, 2007 – The United States is planning what will be a catastrophic attack on Iran … (full text).

John Pilger (born October 9, 1939) is an Australian journalist and documentary filmmaker from Sydney, primarily based in London, England. He told, in an address at Columbia University, on 14 April 2006: ”During the Cold War, a group of Russian journalists toured the United States. On the final day of their visit, they were asked by their hosts for their impressions. ‘I have to tell you,’ said their spokesman, ‘that we were astonished to find after reading all the newspapers and watching TV, that all the opinions on all the vital issues were by and large, the same. To get that result in our country, we imprison people, we tear out their fingernails. Here, you don’t have that. What’s the secret? How do you do it?’ “. (wikipedia).

John Pilger - Australia & England.jpg

John Pilger – Australia & England

Read: War with Iran is coming.

He says also: “what I wanted to do – and I’ve tried to do this in most of my films – is not just simply assault people’s emotions… you saw that… it’s not difficult to do, but when you start to make sense of something then you stray into what’s called the political area”. (full text).

Journalist John Pilger told the crowd of the majority of the white population of Australia would not be able to retain their nationhood until they recognised the Aboriginal nation as first in the country. He linked the Hickey case to the prosecution of a Queensland policeman charged over an Aboriginal death in custody on Palm island. Police made no arrests. (full text).

He has also written for various French, Italian, Scandinavian, Canadian and Japanese newspapers and periodicals, among others, and has contributed to the BBC’s news service. He is on the advisory board of UKWatch.

His publication work (books & articles, films and documentaries, DVDs:

Tony Jones interviews John Pilger,10/03/2004, transcript.

on his Homepage;

Read: the Salvador Option, 08 May 2006.

List of Awards.

War, Iran, and Who will Pay! by Dana Smith, February 14, 2007;

Literature festival programme;

why I am angry;

Countdown for Iran: When Commonsense is Nonsense;

Morning TV: it’s awful but I love it;

Social justice films March 3 at Trinity;

Inspect to keep home fires burning safely, Febr. 16, 2007.

Comments are closed.


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Tips on Using CPT Coding

by Amanda Maddox

Medical billing is the connection between medical facilities and insurance companies. A fairly complicated system of Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT, codes set forth by the American Medical Association ensure billing for surgical, medical and diagnostic services is kept uniform across the board. Following a few billing tips helps ensure reimbursement is received in a timely manner.

Medical Necessity

When choosing the correct CPT code, it must be backed up by medical necessity based on insurance guidelines. Use the Professional Edition of CPT coding book supplied by the American Medical Association for guidance. For instance, choosing the correct CPT code for an office visit is based on the complexity of the visit. If you choose 99214, the medical documentation must provide details about the visit and the amount of time spent with the patient that warrants the use of the code. Also, all procedures must be properly documented in the patient chart before billing. If a procedure is not backed up by medical necessity, the payment will likely be denied by the insurance company.

Diagnosis Code

The ICD-9, or International Classification of Diseases, diagnosis code must match the procedure. Medical claims are often denied because the codes are not compatible. For instance, if the patient complains of osteoarthritis pain and a urinalysis is preformed, it will likely not be covered based on the insurance company’s policy. On the other hand, if the diagnosis were urinary incontinence, the procedure is considered necessary and will likely be paid. Review the diagnosis and procedure codes before submitting the insurance claim form.

Modifiers for Codes

CPT codes often require modifiers, or letters or numbers added to the code, that give the insurance company in-depth details. Modifiers cover several aspects of medical coding, including anesthesia, X-ray and surgery. For example, if an X-ray is done on the right arm, the modifier RT is added to the CPT code. A modifier of -50 added to a CPT code means a procedure was done on both sides of the body. If a physician administers anesthesia, a -47 modifier is used. Using the correct modifier helps prevent denial of the claim.

Seek Guidance

Before completing a claim form, contact the insurance company if you are unsure about the CPT code. The provider hotline provides details regarding medical billing, including the proper CPT and ICD-9 codes for the procedures performed. Seeking guidance helps ensure claims are processed in a timely manner and the physician is reimbursed properly. However, if a claim is denied, a corrected claim may be submitted with the proper documentation based on the insurance company guidelines.

About the Author

Amanda Maddox began writing professionally in 2007. Her work appears on various websites focusing on topics about medical billing, coding, real estate, insurance, accounting and business. Maddox has her insurance and real estate licenses and holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting and business administration from Wallace State Community College.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/ Images
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

When gorillas retire

When people reach retirement age, many of them like to move to a warmer climate. But what about gorillas? According to this article at the Disney and More blog, the original Jungle Cruise gorillas may have opted, instead, to go somewhere much colder instead.

Also they got a dramatic makeover on the way.

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving was merely days ago, and I had a lot to be thankful for this year. For one, my family is great, and they put up with all my cooking. Secondly, we had the opportunity to eat insanely delicious Bolivian food today, a welcome change from turkey and dressing. (Even though my sister made Indian peas and Middle Eastern cookies, and I made the Salade Liégeoise that I did when I cooked from Belgium.)

I usually do the bread first, but this time I switched up. The main course I made is called silpancho, and the recipe I had actually broke it down into prep work that could be done the day before and the actual cooking. Here are the basic parts of silpancho:

The beef I used was an angus steak that I cut into thin strips, covered it with adobo seasoning (I made my own out of sea salt, onion powder, garlic power, black pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin. After that, I coated it in bread crumbs and put it in the refrigerator. Later on, I took it out and fried it in a skillet. (I cheated on the salsa that tops the meat. I already had a jar of black bean and corn salsa.)

Fried beef strips. Mmmm...
I took four golden potatoes, peeled them and boiled them whole for 20 minutes. Then I took them out and put them in the refrigerator to cool. After a couple of hours, I sliced them and fried them until they were just turning golden in color.

I might just eat these leftovers for breakfast. Too bad I don't have any sausage gravy.
Then I steamed some white rice as directed and put it in the refrigerator to cool. Later on, I fried the rice using the leftover oil from frying the potatoes and added some diced red bell pepper and green bell pepper and a little bit of cilantro in with the rice.

Fried rice. Way better with peppers in it. Of course, that's true for everything.
It also called for fried eggs. Now, I am more of less proficient – almost professional, if you will – at scrambled eggs, but other methods somewhat elude me. Not because I can’t do it, it’s just that I’m more of a scrambled egg person and never saw a need to make them any other way. If it’s not broke, you need to break it and scramble it hard (with garlic powder, cumin, and chopped green onions). But it turns out I did a good job, according to my husband, my local expert on how to fry an egg.

Between the prep work for the silpancho and actually frying everything, I made the bread. The bread I made was tawa-tawas. It actually seems more of a pastry to me. After making the dough and letting it rest for about 10 minutes, you roll out the dough to being about a quart of an inch thick. I took a pizza cutter and rolled it across the dough at angles to make diamond shapes (or as the recipe calls it: rhombus-shaped. I was actually surprised my seven-year-old knew what a rhombus was!) Then you take the dough and fry it.  When it starts to puff up, you turn it once and remove when it turns golden. I topped the pieces with powdered sugar and my sassafras-infused honey.  It was really, really good. Definitely a win with the whole family!

If you want to know what heaven tastes like, it's pretty close.
And as a side dish to add variety to this fried food extravaganza that would make any Texan approve, I went with a hominy-honey mustard salad.  Now, hominy is one of those foods that gagged me as a child. But then again, my dad would just open the can, heat it up in a pot and serve it. That being said, it’s understandable why I didn’t like it. For this salad, I took the hominy and put it in a bowl with water and some sugar and heated it in the microwave for three minutes. Then I chopped up a quarter cup of red bell pepper and a quarter cup of green bell pepper and added it to a bowl. I threw in the hominy plus a tablespoon of mayonnaise (I hate mayonnaise; I use the fake stuff, Miracle Whip), a tablespoon of yellow mustard and a little bit of honey and stirred everything together. It reminded me of potato salad, and I was surprised that hominy can actually go down my throat without setting off a gag reflex.  What a difference that 20 years and a good recipe can make.

One of the best meals I've made so far. This one is going in the top ten.  The picture makes me drool.
I’m sure that my heart will thank me when I wake up from my heart attack caused by all the fried foods. But it was so good. Really it was. And it’s not like I eat like this every day. I once had someone tell me that I must spend a lot of money on all of these meals, but in actuality, I spend no more than other meals. Of course, it depends on if I had to find a hard-to-find or more expensive ingredient or not. But for something like this, the ingredients were simple. In many countries, people don’t have the means to buy expensive ingredients for their meals; they have to use what they have available. And this meal is another perfect example of that. There was enough variety in color, flavors, and in texture that kept the meal interesting and filling. It is these moments spent with family over good food that I cherish and am continually thankful for.

Up next: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Music in Bolivia has strong ties to its traditional native music. Bolivia, like many other countries in South America, was colonized by the Spanish, and there's no doubt their music had its influences in Bolivian culture. However, after the 1952 Revolution, Bolivia eschewed much of the European influence on its culture, and there was a revival of its native cultures as a means of national identity. Traditional music, arts, and dress became very popular among many Bolivians.

One of the first groups to break onto the scene in 1965 was a quartet called Los Jairas. Other musicians emerged as well, including one of my favorites, Ernesto Cavour, with a style that more or less took traditional music and modified it in such a way so it appealed to urban-dwellers and Europeans. Later, other groups like Wara, Los Kjarkas, and Kalamarka came onto the scene and soon Bolivian music started making a name for itself internationally. This video is of Ernesto Cavour performing on the charango (see below). He is an amazing musician.

In addition to European instruments that were introduced to them, namely the violin and guitar, they also utilize their own assortment of instruments that are commonly found throughout the Andean region and South America. Some of the instruments you’ll hear in Bolivian music is the charango (type of lute plucked with the fingers, traditionally made from the shell of an armadillo, but now made with different types of wood), zampoña (type of pan pipes, named after the Greek god Pan, traditionally made from bamboo or cane, but also made from wood, plastic, metal, or ivory. The longer the pipe is the lower the note, and it’s played by blowing across the top of the pipes.), quena (a type of 6-holed flute with a thumb hole; it’s played in front), bombo (a type of bass drum), and güiro (an open gourd with parallel notches carved into the side so that you can rub a stick across it making a ratchet sound, may also be made of wood or plastic). There are many varieties of these instruments, some larger and some smaller to give different tones and allow for different texture and range of sounds.

This video of the group Wara shows how they use traditional instruments (here you can see and hear the quena, the pan pipes, and the charango) in a modern musical style.

Different types of dances are found across Bolivia and surrounding areas. One dance is called the Huayño. One of the most identifiable aspects of the huayño is the rhythm: the first beat is stressed followed by two short beats. Certain variations use a lot of panpipe music (along with a variety of other instruments that may include guitars, violins, quena, accordion, or charango) to accompany the dance, which always starts out with the man inviting the woman to dance. He lays his handkerchief on her shoulder as they turn in an enclosure before the actually start dancing. The dance itself has vigorous steps and stamping of feet. A cheerful dance called the Carnavalito is related to the Huayño.

Another dance that is popular around the Lake Titicaca area is the Kullawada. It’s a dance for and by the alpaca and sheep wool weavers. The dancers wear bright colors and use a spinning wheel as the symbols of the dance. I'm really digging on the hats that look like lampshades, and especially the hat that looks like it has a pagoda on top of it that one of the men wears. I'm sure I just need to have that.

The Tinku is a type of dance that originated from the north of Bolivia in the Potosí region. It has its roots from the time when the natives were made the slaves of the Spanish who had claimed their land. The people would dress in colorful clothing and start to dance. The women would form a circle while the men on the inside would perform moves like staged fights. (I wonder if this is a similar conception to capoeira in Brazil, where the natives practiced fighting moves masqueraded as dance so that the Spanish wouldn’t suspect a rebellion.) However, this looks more like choreographed fighting than acrobatics. (And if you look at the hats the fighters are wearing at about a minute and a half in, I could use that too.)

The Saya is a type of dance that is almost always performed by Afro-Bolivians. The music that accompanies the dance, which consists of polyrhythmic drums and other instruments, has African origins. The musicians in this piece are the band mentioned earlier: Los Kjarkas.

While it’s more popular in and originated from Chile, the cueca dance is also found throughout other Andean countries including Boliva. It’s a courting dance, mimicking the mating habits of a rooster and hen. While there are many variations, the males tend to dance with aggression while the female’s moves are more elusive, and the male ends the dance by bending down on one knee with the female placing her foot on his raised knee. Both the male and female spin a handkerchief above their heads as a way of luring the other.

Up next: the food.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Bolivia, like most other countries colonized by the Europeans, had a great cultural fusion between the two peoples. Many genres of art, such as painting and sculpture may be European in style and technique, but native in style and substance. Materials and mediums have been modified and adapted to be able to utilize what is available. Traditional arts are still ever popular and are continued in order to preserve the ancient cultures they were created from.

Jewelry making is really popular in Bolivia. Most jewelry uses silver or gold, and many use ancient and traditional symbols and styles. Wood and other gem stones are also found in pieces of Bolivian jewelry.

Wood carving is also a popular traditional art in Bolivia. Many of these carvings are made with different kinds of wood to add variations of color. Bolivia had a problem with deforestation and the effects of it, but it was one of the first countries to enact forest conservation efforts.

Archaeologists have discovered ancient rock carvings in several areas in Bolivia. These intricate ancient rock carvings are found alongside rivers, in mountains, and in the caves in the Andes and eastern lowlands regions.

Almost half of the indigenous peoples of Bolivia speak either Aymara, Guarani, or Quechua. Similar to many other cultures, there is a strong tradition of storytelling, including myths and legends. These stories have been passed down from generation to generation by mouth, and unfortunately many of these stories have not been written down.

Because of Bolivia’s political upheaval through the years, many writers found it difficult to publish their works, and it was especially true if the work was anything contrary to the ruling government at that time. Newer writers have emerged on the scene, but the older writers still dominate Bolivia literature.

Adela Zamudio has long been considered one of Bolivia’s most famous poets. Her other claim to fame is helping to found the country’s feminist movement. Born in Cochabamba, she started out as a teacher and then moved up to being the director of an all-girls high school. Her work was often highly intellectual and non-religious, often writing under the pseudonym Soledad. Towards the end, she even stopped teaching religion at the school where she was director, receiving criticism from the League of Catholic Women. Her birthday, October 11, is celebrated as the Day of Bolivian Women.

Franz Tamayo is a renowned writer and politician, as well as poet, philosopher and intellectual, being the namesake of Franz Tamayo Province. Tamayo had both Aymara and Spanish ancestry, and his ideologies and concepts on race were quite influential to the new Bolivian identity after the 1952 Revolution. His basic idea was that those who were of mixed race were actually superior in comparison to those who were primarily of one race because mixed-race people took what was good in each race and made them stronger (more or less).  He was originally part of the Liberal Party but later switched to the Republican Party. President Salamanca had appointed him the Minister of Foreign Relations and had actually won presidential elections in 1934. However, a military coup right afterward nulled the win.

Oscar Alfaro is another Bolivian writer who is famous for writing children’s literature. He had studied law, but he had never finished his degree. He did go on to teach Castilian language and literature at a school in his hometown of San Lorenzo. Alfaro also produced a radio program called “The Republic of Children” and had wrote several columns in different newspapers published in the area. Several of his poems were put to music by various composers, and many others had been translated into several different languages.

Up next: music and dance

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Bolivia seems like it has fewer national public holidays in comparison to other countries, but there are many local and regional festivals that are throughout the year to make up for it.

New Year’s Day.  January 1.  At the stroke of midnight, many people – especially in the larger cities – gather in the streets to wish people “Happy New Year!” People will celebrate with baking special meals and sharing it with family and friends. Hotels and restaurants are often booked well in advance.

Fiesta de la Virgen de Candelaria.  February 2. A festival in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus; it’s an important holiday for Catholics. The core of this festival is the dancing and musical performances that go on during the festival period. The festival itself is actually held for a couple of weeks. There are special masses held in honor of the festival, while costume-clad parades and festivities are held throughout the Andean communities.

Good Friday.  Varies. All businesses and schools are closed, though you may find a few businesses such as grocery stores open. No alcohol sales are allowed on this day. There are special masses held on this day as well. Many people participate in the tradition of eating fish (as their only meat) on Good Friday. Many people also attend special masses held on Holy Saturday as well; one tradition is to push five grains of wheat into some melted wax to symbolize the five wounds of Jesus after being crucified on the cross.

Easter.  Varies. Bolivians often start their Easter morning with a sunrise mass. The Paschal candle, a candle made of metal spikes similar to the spikes used in the crucifixion, is carried in through the main doors of the church and is used to light all the other candles. While it’s not a native tradition, the tradition of Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies are starting to be found in areas of Bolivia in recent years.

Labor Day.  May 1. Bolivians started celebrating Labor Day in 1906, and it was really important when the railroad industry became popular and the railroad unions and miners unions were being formed. The interesting thing is that most countries celebrate Labor Day on May 1 based on a labor dispute that went bad in Chicago, Illinois, USA (look up the Haymarket Riots) on that day. However, the US celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday in September, which is based on events that took place on that day in Canada.

Corpus Christi. Varies. Primarily celebrated by Catholic church. It’s basically a holiday surrounding the practice and belief that the body and blood of Jesus Christ is present at the Eucharist (or Holy Communion). At the end of the Mass that is held this day, there is a procession through the streets of the Blessed Sacrament.

Andean-Amazonic New Year.  June 21. Coordinating with their winter solstice, it’s also called Aymara New Year. The native societies here were based on agriculture, and their agricultural rituals were highly important to thank the gods, especially that of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Inti (Father Sun). If you remember, the sun on the Argentinian flag is based on Inti. Every single business must close for this day. And if a business does work, it will be fined and must pay its workers double for their work. Wow.

Agrarian Reform Day.  August 2. In commemoration of the Agrarian Reform of 1953. This is basically the reform act that redistributed land so that the indigenous peoples of Bolivia could also have the opportunity to own land. This basically broke up the pre-colonial land organization that had been established for decades and centuries.

Independence Day.  August 6. This day celebrates Bolivia’s independence from Spain in 1825. Celebrations usually last two days, and there are parades, street festivals and dances, music, food, and cultural events. The flag is hung and the national colors decorate homes and businesses throughout the country.

All Saints Day.  November 1. This is the day in the Catholic religion that celebrates all the saints. Many saints have their own day, but this day celebrates all of the saints – like a catch-all for the ones not lucky enough to get their own day. It’s also a day in preparation to heading to the cemetery for the next day, called Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). People will use this day as a day to do maintenance on their family member’s graves and leave fresh flowers. There will also be vendors selling a special type of sweetbread called tantawawas. There will also be special masses held.

Christmas Day.  December 25. Christmas Eve is celebrated with family and is usually spent going to church services. These services start at midnight and usually go to the wee hours of the morning.  People will return home to open presents and share elaborate meals together.  Many families have the tradition of putting out nativity scenes. There is also a tradition that children put out shoes and stockings to receive gives from El Niño Jesus.

Up next: Art and Literature

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The snow-topped mountain peaks of the Andes arch its way across the land-locked country of Bolivia. Farms carve their way throughout the land, interrupted by pristine lakes, and rivers that flow off of the mountains. Bolivia shares control of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, with neighboring Peru. It’s also bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile.

Originally ruled by the Spanish, Simon Bolivar helped to lead the people in the fight for their independence in 1825. For this, they named their newly formed country after him. Bolivia has had a long history of coups, regime changes, the war on illegal drugs, and problems with racial and economic tensions. However, the country has been making changes towards remedying these problems for the better. The current president, Evo Morales, is in his second term as president of Bolivia and is striving to address some of the issues that has plagued Bolivia in the past.

Bolivia is one of those few countries (like Benin that we did earlier) that has two capitals. The administrative capital is La Paz, the second largest city in Bolivia (after Santa Cruz de la Sierra). There are actually more government offices and departments in La Paz than in the official capital of Sucre. So, you’ll find that some sources call La Paz a “de facto capital city,” and among de facto capital cities, La Paz is the highest in the world. (FYI: Quito, Ecuador is the highest official capital city.)  The odd thing is that water boils at 190F instead of 212F in La Paz because of the altitude. The city of Sucre is named after an important marshal in the Battle of Ayacucho of 1824, Don Antonio José de Sucre. One of the things about Sucre that makes it desirable is that it is situated in a subtropical highland climate. The temperatures throughout the year are fairly constant: average highs are in the upper 60s, average lows in the upper 40s. There are definitely months where it rains more than others, but otherwise it sounds perfect.

The official language is Spanish, although indigenous languages Quechua and Aymara are also listed as official languages as well. Bolivia takes pride in its many ethnic groups that comprises its population, even though it has been the cause of problems and unrest in the past. The dominant religion by far is Roman Catholic – some sources show as many as 95% claim to be followers – followed by a small percentage of Protestants. Outside of the urban areas, clean water and sanitation services are diminished, leading to a high risk of diseases such as bacterial diarrhea, typhoid fever, malaria, and yellow fever. Like most other Andean cultures, the most common identifier with the culture is the brightly colored clothes, blankets, hats, etc.

Despite the economic and social problems that Bolivia has struggled to get out from under, there are a lot of redeeming qualities Bolivia holds.  I’m already hungry reviewing the recipes that I have lined up, spending my time listening to panflute music, and looking at pictures of the incredible views of the Andean landscape.

Up next: Holidays and Celebrations

Sunday, November 11, 2012

This was the first country I got to in this blog where I had trouble finding a recipe for the bread. I did all kinds of research, but to no avail. I could find mentions that people in Bhutan did eat bread, and that it was fairly popular as a staple to a meal. I found that Food For Life and LiveStrong both mentioned a Bhutanese red rice bread and that it was available to buy online, but no one was giving up their recipe for it. And I stumbled across documents listing certain types of bread found in Bhutan; one that is called khule interested me (a type of buckwheat pancake). But there were no recipes to make it as the Bhutanese make it. However, I did compromise and find a recipe on a gluten-free website for buckwheat pancakes. So, now I’m set with a recipe for buckwheat pancakes. Ready to go. But then again, I was assuming buckwheat flour was easy to find. I found myself standing in the middle of the store with two whiny kids, doing a Google search on my iPhone for substitutions for buckwheat flour, and came up with quinoa flour – which I CAN find. So, even though quinoa is grown on the other side of the world (in the Andes, as opposed to the Himalayas), it still made for some tasty pancakes that seemed more like a crepe hybrid. Although, I do have to state that this is my first experience with quinoa flour, and to me, I couldn’t shake that it smelled like unfired ceramics or greenware. (Just for the record, there are no leftovers.)

My buckwheat pancakes made of quinoa flour and thin as crepes. It didn't matter when covered with maple syrup.
The main dish I made was called kewa phagsha, or spicy pork with potatoes. After boiling cubes of pork in salted water, I added chillies (I used Hungarian yellow peppers instead), potatoes, and onion. I used a lot of chili powder, some minced garlic and a little bit of ginger and black pepper.  This was a really good dish. I tried to keep the heat down by using the yellow peppers, but you can add as much spice as you prefer by using different types of chillies and peppers.

Just the right amount of spice. Too bad my kids and husband are wimps, I would've made it spicier.
One of the most iconic foods from Bhutan is red rice. I found some at my local international grocery store, even though I had to buy a 5-lb bag of it. I sautéed green onions in butter, then added carrots and shitake mushrooms and rice to the onions. After that I added some vegetable stock, thyme and bay leaves and transferred it all to a baking dish to bake in the oven for 20 minutes. I did have to add a little more stock and put it back in the oven for another 10 minutes. This dish actually surprised me. It was really full of flavor and was very hearty. Although, if I make this again, I may use chicken broth instead of vegetable stock. It seems that it would make a very nice pilaf of sorts.

Red rice with all sorts of things in it. You can't go wrong with red foods.
Finally, I had to make some kind of vegetable dish. I felt kind of bad that the past couple of countries that I’ve cooked for didn’t include much of a vegetable dish. So, this time I went with asparagus with farmer’s cheese. I love asparagus, much to my husband’s chagrin. However, my daughter was on my side on this one. Thanks to everything that’s sacred that she didn’t quite develop his taste bud defect. (To be fair, he did try it. He gagged and almost choked up trying to swallow it, but he tried it.) I sautéed the asparagus with some onions and added a little water. Then I crumbled some farmer’s cheese on top of the asparagus and let it simmer for a few minutes. This was actually my first time with farmer’s cheese, and I really liked it. The taste was similar to that of Swiss cheese, yet it was creamier like mozzarella.

Crumbling cheese for the asparagus. Sampling cheese, more like it.
This meal brought along its own problems as well as surprises. The country as a whole came as a surprise to me, actually. There were so many things I didn’t know about this country before I started, except where it was. There’s a certain mystique about it that makes it attractive. The city-dweller in me who is constantly connected to Facebook, Twitter, my iPhone is general, my computer, and my car can’t fathom living in such an isolated rural area (even though my hometown has roughly 950 people). However, there is a part of me that wouldn’t mind so much to get away from it all. (But maybe for only a weekend or a week. Or two. Or a month.) But what I really, REALLY wish, is that if someone wants to do a service to the global community, please post some recipes for Bhutanese bread. Don’t keep this a secret. You’ve opened up your country, and we’re interested.
The final product. A masterpiece.

Up next: Bolivia

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Music is a very important part of Bhutanese culture. There is a very strong traditional style of music, and a popular form of music called rigsar.

Traditional folk music in Bhutan uses three main instruments: the lingm, the dramyen, and the chiwang. The lingm is a type of six-holed flute that actually has two varieties: dong lingm (which is played in front like a clarinet and about as long as one too) and the zur lingm (which is played to the side). The lingm is native to Bhutan.

The dramyen is a type of seven-stringed lute with a long fretless neck. It’s used a lot in religious music and ceremonial music, as well as in folk music. It’s played by plucking and strumming the strings. Although it may be strummed, it’s mostly played one note at a time as a melody line.

The chiwang is a type of two-stringed fiddle that more than likely was brought over from neighboring Tibet. In folk music, the chiwang is often associated with the horse.

There are several types of folk music, but the two main types are zhungdra and boedra. Zhungdra is often considered secular, but often the subject matter has Buddhist overtones to it. Boedra often includes the chiwang, and developed from Tibetan court music. A lot of religious music is chanted and not heard much by the general public. The lyrics tend to be stories about the lives of religious figures in Buddhism.

In the late 1960s, the genre known as rigsar became very popular. It has a more upbeat tempo, more local and vernacular language styles, and utilizes electronic instruments and synthesizers. And actually, they created what became the 15-string rigsar dranyen which has two bridges.  The first rigsar songs grew out of the Bollywood songs of neighboring India, and the first actual rigsar star was Shera Lhindup with the top song “Jyalam Jyalam Gi Ashi” in 1981. However, popularity began to wane in the late 1980s. After some ups and downs, rigsar music had a transformation and expanded itself to use its influences of English-language pop, Indian pop, and Nepalese music.

Music and dance go hand in hand. A set of dances called zhey and zhem are often danced at tsuchus (festivals). It’s actually considered a choreographed vocal performance, utilizing both styles of folk music mentioned earlier (zhungdra and boedra). The zhey dance is performed by men and is a little quicker of a dance, while the women dance the zhem with more flowing and fluid moves. Originally, dancers would dance barefoot without any particular costume, but only in the past 40 years or so did the dancers start wearing long gowns, headgear and the traditional boots. During the royal wedding last year, several dance troops danced traditional zheys, representing various regions of the country.

[And congrats to myself: this is my 100th post! Thanks for reading; it only gets better.]

Up next: the food!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Most of Bhutan’s art reflects its Vajrayana Buddhist traditions. In many of its works there are various schools of art, but Buddhist themes unite them all.  In Buddhism, there are several divine beings that are revered, and each of them is attributed different colors, shapes, and objects that are associated with them.

Traditional arts have been passed from generation to generation. And certain regions specialize in certain types of arts. When the kingdom was first established, among the first items on the to-do list were the Thirteen Traditional Arts (known as zorig chusum). These are paper making, stonework, blacksmithing, clay arts, painting, bronze casting, wood/slate/stone carving, woodturning, woodworking, weaving, silver/goldsmithing, cane/bamboo work, needlework.

There are also other types of art that you’ll also find in Bhutan. Large-scale sculpture is popular, especially clay sculptures of religious images and figures. Another art form is sword making. Ceremonial swords are commonly given to those who are being commemorated for their outstanding achievements. Boot making is also especially important. It’s not only for ceremonial purposes, but the color signifies different social standings: orange is for ministers, senior governmental officials wear red, and regular people wear white boots. And since archery is the national sport, it’s no surprise that they also specialize in creating specialty bows and arrows. Depending on the season, and the type of sport and target used, different materials and designs may be utilized.  Jewelry making is also a popular art form, especially for women. Gold and silver is used in many pieces, as well as turquoise, coral, agate, and other gem stones.

Literature in Bhutan is almost all related to Buddhist ideologies. Even a lot of its written history is entwined with Buddhist history and its main players. There are actually several genres of literature in Bhutan, even though some seem somewhat similar to each other. Among these are dharma history (teachings of Buddha), religious biographies, historical chronicles, epics (like the ever popular Ling Gesar Gyalpo), folk songs, poetry (both religious and ornate), catalogues (lists of how to build dzongs [traditional style buildings], relics, etc.), and dictionaries.

Up next: Music and Art

Monday, November 5, 2012

Public holidays in Bhutan follow the Tibetan calendar which is based on lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. Every two or three years, there is the addition of a 13th month, kind of like a leap year so to speak. There are also numerous local festivals called tsuchus that occur throughout the year at various times in an many different places.

Winter Solstice. 7th day of the 11th month of Tibetan calendar. It’s usually celebrated around December 21 or 22. Treated as if it were New Year’s, this holiday celebrates the shortest day of the year and that the coming days will start to get longer. The day is often celebrated with great feasts and the national sport of archery.

Traditional Day of Offering. 1st day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar. This day usually falls in January or February. It’s a day in honor of the founder of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It’s celebrated with different sports such as archery, digor (a kind of game that is like a cross between shotput and horseshoes), and khuru (darts). Acts of charity and community projects are also popular activities to do in honor of the holiday.

Losar (Tibetan New Year). 1st day of the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar. It’s usually celebrated between February and March. This is a holiday that generally lasts 15 days and can be celebrated at slightly different times across the country. Like many cultures, this is a time to do a lot of cleaning in the home, getting rid of the items that aren’t used any longer and fixing broken items. It’s also a time to celebrate with a lot of food and alcohol.

Birthday of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The holiday lasts from February 21-23. This celebrates the birthday of the current King of Bhutan. In Bhutan, the king is referred to as the Druk Gyalpo, which basically means “Dragon King.”

Shabdrung Kurchoe. 10th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar. It generally falls in April or May. This is a national day of mourning for the passing of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutan, back in 1651.

Birthday of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.  This is celebrated on May 2. He is the 3rd King of Bhutan and was instrumental in leading the country into modernization.

Coronation of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.  Celebrated on June 2, it marks the coronation of the 4th King of Bhutan. He is also credited with many reforms, but probably most notably for allowing access to television and Internet to its citizens. This day also coordinates with Social Forestry Day, where children all over the country are encouraged to plant trees on this day. There is actually a decree in the country where 60% of the land must remain forest-covered.

Parinirvana of Buddha. Held June 15, this is a day in honor of the nirvana of Gautama Buddha. Nirvana is the highest form of peace you can attain in Buddhism. It is also a concept – in slight variations – found in Hinduism and in Jainism.

Birthday of Guru Rinpoche. July 10. Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, is often attributed the honor of bringing Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet from India. He’s also called the Second Buddha or an emanation of Buddha Amitabha.

First sermon of Buddha: August 3. This is s holiday that celebrates the first dharma lesson that Gautama Buddha taught in the city of Sarnath, India.

Blessed Rainy Day. In September. At first thought, it seems an odd thing to celebrate, but anyone's who's been through a drought knows the importance of rain. The holiday is held during the monsoon season, and can be celebrated with as much rigor as New Year's with food, drink, sports, music, and a ritual purification through washing.

Dashain. October 6. This is one of the key holidays celebrated by the Nepalese people (as well as a Hindu holiday). During this time many people clean their homes and do any kind of home repairs with the anticipation of friends and family gathering for food and drinks and the exchanging of gifts.

Coronation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. November 1. I saw last week that many of the tourism sites online had special promotional events for this occasion. This holiday marks the coronation of the current King of Bhutan.

Birthday of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. November 11. Initially marking the birthday of the 4th King of Bhutan, it also doubles as Constitution Day. The country’s first constitution was enacted under his reign.

Lhabab Duchen. 22nd day of the 9th month of the Tibetan calendar. Generally in November. This holiday celebrates Gautama Buddha's return to earth after his ascension to attain nirvana. On this day, some people will give special blessings to Buddha in various forms in different areas of Bhutan.

National Day. December 17. This marks the day of the coronation of the first King of Bhutan, King Ugyen Wangchuck. Many buildings and homes are decorated in flags, dragons, and the national colors or red and gold. There is a procession through the streets with a statue of King Ugyar Wangchuck, there is a large public speech by the current king at the local stadium.

Up next: Art and Literature

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Tucked away in the Himalayas Mountains, there lies a small country, isolated from the rest of the world until recently. Uninfluenced by outside effects, its ancient traditions are still very much a part of mainstream life in Bhutan. While it’s been “opened” to the world in recent years – only getting television and Internet in the past 15 years or so – the Bhutanese have been somewhat reluctant to shed its old traditions. By their own accord, they calculate their wealth by a Gross National Happiness factor instead of the Gross National Product. It’s considered by many to be one of the happiest places on earth. (Sorry, Disneyland.)

The origin of the name Bhutan is somewhat vague, and there are many theories as to its origin. The traditional etymology is stemmed from the Sanskrit word “Bhota-anta” which means “end of Tibet.” Many of the European explorers had their own names for the area as well.

Profoundly guided by Buddhist traditions and ideologies, Bhutan boasts strong sentiments towards preserving ecology and environmental issues. In fact, it has even limited the number of tourists that come into the country by imposing a fee equal to US $250 per day. For that reason alone, I’m not sure if it’s a place I’d be able to afford to go. Bhutan has many protected areas that are known for its forest cover and its rare and exotic animals. It’s actually established a decree that demands at least 60% of the country remain forest-covered. An animal called the takin – something new to me – is Bhutan’s national animal. It’s considered a goat-antelope, a type of animal that comparative to the muskox and is part of the same family that includes sheep and goats.

Bhutan, landlocked right between China and India, became the location where many Tibetans fled from religious persecution. Bhutan came in contact with the British Empire after the controlled India, and after a few skirmishes that led to a war and a treaty, it pretty much ended all ill-feelings between the two. Even after India’s independence from the British Empire, Bhutan and India have remained on “friendly country” status with each other. In fact, Indian rupees are considered legal tender in Bhutan as well as their own currency.  Indians (as well as Bangladeshis) can enter the country freely.

Their government is a constitutional monarchy, which basically means that while it is ruled officially by a king (King Wangchuck), there is also a council of ministers put in place to make other policy and administrational
decisions. They’ve even put in place the ability to impeach the king, but no one feels it necessary to do so.

The official language of Bhutan is called Dzongkha, part of the Tibetan language family. The writing script is the same as classical Tibetan. (I actually found a place here in Indianapolis at a Buddhist center where I could take Tibetan language classes on Saturdays.) However, English is the language that is used in education while Dzongkha is listed as the official/national language. There are many other minor languages spoken in Bhutan that include Nepali, Tshangla, Kheng, and Dzala.

The capital city is Thimphu, the country’s largest city with a population (metro area) of around 98,000. The entire country has about as many people as in the city of Detroit, Michigan. While in the past 50 years, Thimphu and Bhutan has been making efforts in expansion, but it has come somewhat slowly. They tried installing traffic lights, but the people requested that it be taken down, saying that it seemed unsightly and marred the landscape. They opted for the traffic cop instead. (It’s only one of two capital cities in the world without a traffic light: Pyongyang, North Korea being the other one.) It’s hard to believe that in a national capital, the drivers also share the road with people moving their cattle without much sign of roadrage at all. Perhaps there may be something to that Buddhist patience and happiness factors. Archery is the national sport and the city of Thimphu is the headquarters of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, headed by the king himself. Bhutan has sent several archers to the Olympics, but no medals have been won. Yet.

Even though Bhutan is the only country in the world to measure happiness, there’s a sad part there as well. Homosexuality is punishable by prison. Those who leave the country without express written permission of the government hold their citizenship at stake, and many who do become stateless refugees. The Lhotshampas (meaning “southerners” in Dzongkha) are those of Nepali ethnicity and suffer governmental discrimination when it comes to education, employment, and the ability to own land. It’s even been said that the government has forced all the people to wear the traditional dress of the majority while out in public. They’ve also imposed that Buddhist-only buildings are allowed to be erected. Only 47% of the total population is literate. Clean water and sanitation aren’t available in many areas, especially in the rural areas. There aren’t enough doctors, and there is a surprisingly high number of maternal deaths. The life expectancy at birth is only about 67 years old. And yet, despite all of this, they’re still happy.

Much of Bhutan remains untouched and unseen by outsiders. Called the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan is subject to many storms that pop up out of the mountains. It’s the only country in the world that has banned tobacco. (However, marijuana grows freely. The thing is, is that no one smokes it. Rather, it’s fed to the pigs. But before you start planning your trip to “trip,” not all weed is smokable.) The purity, isolation, and mystique of this practically unknown country keeps many people vaguely even aware of its existence. Bhutan itself may be shrouded with mist from the mountains, but hopefully we can unveil its culture and cuisine this week.

Up next: Holidays and Celebrations