[•°¤»»---(¯`(¯`cRaZy*´¯)´¯)---»»(¯`·._

2008-01-12T11:41:00.000+07:00

PHẦN QUAN TRỌNG NHẤT TRÊN CƠ THỂ

Mẹ tôi thường đố tôi:
- Phần nào là quan trọng nhất trên cơ thể?
Ngày nhỏ, tôi cho rằng âm thanh là quan trọng đối với con người nên tai là bộ phận quan trọng nhất. Mẹ lắc đầu:
- Không phải thế. Có rất nhiều người bị điếc trên thế giới này, con ạ. Nhưng con cứ tiếp tục suy nghĩ về câu đố, sau này mẹ sẽ hỏi lại con.
Vài năm sau, tôi lại cho rằng hình ảnh là quan trọng nhất, vì thế mắt chính là bộ phận mà mẹ muốn đố tôi. Mẹ lại nhìn tôi âu yếm nói:
- Con đã học được nhiều đấy, nhưng câu trả lời của con chưa đúng bởi vì vẫn còn rất nhiều người bị mù.
Đã bao lần và lần nào cũng vậy, mẹ đều trả lời tôi:
- Không đúng. Nhưng con đang tiến bộ rất nhanh, con yêu của mẹ.
Rồi năm ngoái, ông nội tôi mất. Mọi người đều khóc vì thương tiếc ông. Ba tôi cũngkhóc. Đây là lần thứ hai tôi thấy ba khóc. Khi đến lượt tôi và mẹ đến cạnh ông để nói lời vĩnh biệt, mẹ nhìn tôi thì thầm:
- Con đã tìm ra câu trả lời chưa?
Tôi như bị sốc khi mẹ đem chuyện đó ra hỏi tôi lúc này. Tôi luôn nghĩ đó chỉ đơn giản là một trò chơi giữa hai mẹ con. Nhìn vẻ sững sờ trên khuôn mặt tôi, mẹ nói:
- Con trai ạ, phần quan trọng nhất trên cơ thể con chính là cái vai.
Tôi hỏi:
- Có phải vì nó đỡ cái đầu con không hả mẹ?
Mẹ lắc đầu:
- Không phải thế, đó là nơi người thân của con có thể dựa vào khi họ khóc. Mỗi người đều cần một cái vai để nương tựa trong cuộc sống. Mẹ chỉ mong con có nhiều bạn bè và nhận được nhiều tình thương để mỗi khi con khóc lại có một cái vai cho con có thể ngả đầu vào.
Từ đó, tôi hiểu rằng phần quan trọng nhất của con người không phải là phần “ích kỷ”, mà là phần biết cảm thông với nỗi đau của người khác.
Ngưởi ta sẽ quên những gì con nói. Nhưng người ta sẽ KHÔNG BAO GIỜ quên những gì con cảm thông với họ.
nguồn : chicken soup for the soul

hUgGiNg is ???

2008-01-11T13:11:00.000+07:00

-->> hUgGiNg is ??? <<--

Cái ôm rất có ích cho sức khoẻ chúng ta. Nó giúp tăng cường hệ miễn dịch,chữa lành nỗi thất vọng,giãm căng thẳng và mang lại một giấc ngủ ngon. Nó tiếp thêm cho chúng ta một nguồn sinh lực mới,giúp con người trẻ lại và không hề gây một tác dụng phụ nào cả. Cái ôm chính là một phương thuốc diêu kỳ.

Cái ôm luôn tự nhiên.Nó là một hợp chất hữu cơ ngọt ngào, không chứa bất kì thành phần nhân tạo nào, không gây ô nhiễm môi trường, rất thân thiện với môi trừơng và hoàn toàn lành tim tính.

Cái ôm là một món quà lý tưởng, thích hợp cho mọi dịp, đem lại niềm vui cho cả người trao lẫn người nhận, chứng tỏ rằng bạn luôn quan tâm đến người ấy, không cần có một lớp giấy gói bóng loáng, và dĩ nhiên, bạn có thể trao tặng lại cho người đã tặng mình.

Cái ôm gần như là hoàn hão về mọi mặt . Nó không cần pin để rùi hết năng lượng, không lạm phát, không gây béo phì, không cần lương tháng, chống được trộm cướp và không phải tính thuế.

Cái ôm là một nguồn lực không được sử dụng đúng mức nhưng lại có nhiều sức mạnh kỳ diệu. Khi chúng ta mở rộng trái tim và vòng tay của mình cũng chính là lúc chúng ta động viên người khác cũng làm như vậy.

Hãy nghĩ đến những người bạn thân, những người bạn trong cuộc đời của mình. Bạn có điều gì muốn nói với họ ? Bạn có muốn chia sẽ vòng tay của mình cho họ ? Hay là bạn đang chờ đợi và hy vọng người ấy sẽ chũ động điều đó ? Đừng chờ đợi ! Hãy là người khởi đầu !!!! that's all .

Chuyện về những cái ôm_Kẹo Ngốc

2007-12-05T13:26:00.000+07:00

chu'ng ta o^m khi.......................

cun`g nhau chia xe~ trao nhau tinh` a^'m a'p.....

khi lu'c tha`nh co^ng

dau lo`ng va` chia xe~

giua~ nguoi` me. va` dua' con ye^u wy' cua~ minh`

.........

...

Tối hôm kia, gần 11h, nhận đựơc tin nhắn của Cô

....

Cô nhắn “Khi bị stress, người ta thường làm gì?”

....

Em trả lời “Khi bị stress, người ta thường cần một cái ôm thật chặt”.

Em thích đựơc ôm. Khi ôm và đựơc ôm, em cảm giác rất ấm áp. Khi xem phim, những cái ôm ghì và xiết chặt tay thường làm em cảm động hơn những nụ hôn. Em thích cảm giác tựa vào ai đó, bình yên và hạnh phúc với một tấm lưng vững chãi và một vòng tay ấm áp. Với con gái, những va chạm vật lý không chỉ là bằng chứng nhận cho một mối quan hệ thân thiết. Những cái ôm, cầm tay còn giúp họ khoẻ mạnh hơn về mặt tinh thần. Da con người có hơn 500 ngàn thụ quan cho áp lực và tiếp xúc, nhưng độ nhạy thì khác biệt ở hai giới. Từ khi sinh ra, các cô gái đã sở hữu những thụ quan xúc giác nhạy cảm hơn ít nhất 10 lần so với phe kia. Đìêu này khiến những va chạm bên ngoài ảnh hưởng mạnh và lâu dài hơn với họ.

Khi bùôn hay stress, em ôm ghì lấy thú bông. Đó là cách những thụ quan của em đựơc lấp đầy. Khi ấy, những thụ quan này sẽ truỳên ngựoc thông tin về não, làm giải phóng oxytocin xoa dịu cơn khó chịu. Do vậy, khi một cô gái không vui và thỏ thẻ với bạn rằng “Anh có thể ôm em thật chặt không?”, thì không phải cô ấy nhõng nhẽo đâu. Đấy là dấu hiệu cho thấy, bạn rất quan trọng và cô ấy múôn vòng tay bạn là thuốc giảm đau.

Cũng không phải ngẫu nhiên khi có lần em nói cái gối ôm có ý nghĩa rất lớn với em. Khi ngủ xa nhà, đìêu đầu tiên em nhớ là gối ôm. Cái gối ôm là hình ảnh thân thương và gần gũi nhất về gia đình. Đó là cái gối em đã ôm mỗi tối suốt hơn 10 năm. Cái gối ôm cũ, mềm oặt, không còn căng phồng, nhưng tạo cho em cảm giác rất yên bình và ấm áp . Khi ôm ngừơi yêu, em cũng thấy yên bình và ấm áp. Và em gọi ngừơi yêu là Gối ôm.

Em vẫn nhớ hình ảnh trong một bộ phim Hàn Quốc nào đó em xem cách đây mấy năm. Cô gái gây ra một lỗi lầm nghiêm trọng, chàng trai rất rất giận, bỏ nhà đi và không thèm nói chuyện với cô. Mấy ngày sau, khi hai người gặp nhau để nói rõ mọi chuyện, chàng trai vẫn rất giận, không thèm nói gì cả. Và đột nhiên, anh ghì chặt lấy cô, và cô oà khóc. Anh nói hãy cho anh thời gian để quên đi chuyện đó, anh sẽ không thể cười vui và nói chuyện với cô như bình thường tạm thời trong lúc này được, nhưng anh vẫn rất thương cô. Cái ôm xiết bao dung đó của chàng trai ấn tượng tới mức đến bây giờ, em đã quên mất tên phim, tên diễn viên, thậm chí tình tiết phim, nhưng cái ôm đó thì không quên đựơc. Và em nhớ lần người yêu giận em, em thấy mình rất sai, sai đến mức không dám nói gì để biện minh cho mình cả. Em chỉ ngồi im lặng một góc tự trách mình. Khi người yêu lẳng lặng choàng vai em và xoa nhẹ đầu, đột nhiên em rơm rớm nước mắt vì thấy tủi thân hết sức, như nãy giờ mình bị bỏ bê quá lâu vậy. Em thích cảm giác lâu lâu ghì chặt người yêu một cái khi ngồi trên xe, mặc dù lắm lúc làm người yêu la oai oái vì nghẹt thở. Em thích cảm giác được người yêu bất ngờ ôm choàng từ phía sau. Em thích cảm giác vòi vĩnh “Người yêu ôm em một cái đi”, và người yêu sẽ ôm em một cái thiệt chặt. Em còn thích ngừơi yêu xoa đầu, thích bàn tay to và ấm của người yêu, dù biết sẽ có ngừơi bảo là sao con nít quá đi. Em thích dùng icon Hug trong quickcomment hơn icon Flirt. Những cái ôm lặng lẽ nhưng lại nói lên rất nhìêu đìêu. Như cái ôm vui mừng lúc thành công...

Còn bạn, bạn có thường xuyên ôm cô gái của bạn không? Con gái chỉ chấp nhận va chạm khác giới khi đó là chàng trai họ yêu thương. Sự lười nắm tay, hạn chế ôm… thường bị nghi là tình cảm đang vơi dần. Khi ấy, một là cô ấy sẽ hờn dỗi nhưng không nói ra vấn đề chính và biến thành một dạng “con gái lắm chuyện” trong mắt bạn. Hai là cô ấy sẽ chủ động ôm bạn, nhưng bạn lại gạt ra vì “yêu lâu, đâu cần hoa lá thế”. Điều này khiến cô ấy tủi thân cho rằng mình đang trở nên kém xinh, kém yêu trong mắt bạn. Tự nhiên thôi, lòng tự trọng và kiêu hãnh sẽ chỉ đường cho cô ấy rời xa bạn, vì bên bạn, cô ấy thấy giá trị bản thân đang bị mòn.

Nếu vitamin “ôm” vừa nuôi tình yêu, vừa khiến cô gái của bạn mỉm cười, hồng hào xinh xắn và yêu đời hơn, thì tại sao không thi thoảng ghì chặt nàng một cái?

ghi la.i duo.c tu` nhung~ loi` an ui cua~ nguoi` ban. ma` tui dang yeu^ wy'

eyes_xuli

2007-12-05T13:14:00.000+07:00

Đôi mắt, nụ cười
xuli

"Em cười mà mắt không vui.
Bởi vì đâu em cười mà mắt không vui..."

Dạo này nó lại giở quẻ thích một người. Không phải em. Khuôn mặt đó, ánh mắt đó, nụ cười đó không phải em. Nó ngờ ngợ thế, tin chắc thế.

Nó thích em vì một đôi mắt rất buồn, vì khuôn mặt hay trầm tư, vì cái cách em nhìn cuộc sống,... và vì một lẽ rất vu vơ là em gắn bó với nó quá thể. Nó nhớ người kia cũng vì một đôi mắt buồn, chỉ thế thôi.

Không phải nói như thế là nó muốn so sánh. Nó thích sự so sánh, nhưng chưa bao giờ thích so sánh những đôi mắt. Bởi nó tìm thấy trong những ánh mắt những đam mê khác nhau. Nó thích tìm trong đấy những lấp lánh sắc màu, mà mỗi người luôn ẩn chứa những sắc màu rất riêng. Kế đến là nụ cười. Nó thích một nụ cười không hẳn vui cũng không hẳn buồn. Mỗi thứ một chút thôi, một chút đủ để sưởi ấm trái tim nó.

Có bao nhiêu nụ cười đã sưởi ấm được trái tim nó rồi, nó cũng chẳng biết nữa. Đôi khi nhói lên chỉ vì một nụ cười rất vu vơ, để rồi lãng quên... Nó vốn là một kẻ đa cảm. Chỉ đa cảm thôi!!!

Thế mà chị bảo nó, những kẻ có đuôi mắt dài sượt như mày vừa đa cảm, vừa đa tình, nhất là có... trong khoé mắt. Ôi thôi... tránh xa những kẻ như mày... Chị cũng bảo rằng, một người có thể có rất nhiều giấc mơ, nhưng một kẻ chín chắn luôn có điểm dừng... Trong cuộc đời chị có bao nhiêu giấc mơ, và chị đã dừng ở điểm thứ bao nhiêu trong cái mắt xích ngớ ngẩn đó?!!!! Nó chưa bao giờ là một kẻ đa tình, dẫu có đuôi mắt dài sượt, dẫu có... trong khóe mắt... Nó chỉ đa cảm hơn chị một chút thôi, là ko thể nói những lời dứt khoát với bất cứ ai. Nó sợ làm tổn thương trái tim ai đó... Và cuối cùng nó phải trả giá. Em bảo một kẻ đa cảm chỉ làm khổ người khác, chẳng có gì hay...

Cũng lâu lắm rồi nó không để lòng mình lắng xuống theo những giấc mơ, lâu lắm rồi nó bỏ quên cách lãng quên thực tại, lâu lắm rồi nó không chạnh lòng khi nhìn những mái phố rong rêu đang dần vơi đi... Em đã cuốn hết tâm trí nó. Hay cũng có thể là cuộc sống tấp nập của Sài Gòn khói bụi đã cuốn nó đi không kịp thở... Giờ đây, ngồi lắng nghe lòng mình, nó muốn oà khóc cho những kỉ niệm đã qua. Nó luôn cảm thấy lạc lõng giữa đám đông...

Muốn viết cho em một điều gì đó, những mong nó có thể làm em nhớ lại cái ấm áp của Sài Gòn mưa. Nhưng rồi lại chẳng làm gì cả... Em rồi cũng chẳng hiểu được.

Chợt nhớ đôi dòng cụ Vũ Bằng khóc vợ "Bắt đầu viết thì là nhớ, viết đến tháng 9 gạo mới chim ngói thì là thương. Thương không biết bao nhiêu cho hết, nhớ không biết mấy cho vừa...". Tự dưng nó nhớ Hà Nội da diết, thèm cái không gian Việt trong tâm tưởng, thèm 1 tiếng cười vang rung nỗi nhớ....

Rồi lại nhớ "Tôi muốn được trở về ngày hôm qua. Không phải để nói cho hết những điều chưa kịp nói, cũng không phải để rút lại nhữnmg lời đã qua. Mà đơn giản chỉ để được yêu em thêm lần nữa...". Than ôi, thê thái nhân tình có kẻ đa cảm đến thế sao?!!! Nó chẳng muốn trở về ngày hôm qua nữa, có trở về cũng ko thể tìm lại được những gì nó trông mong. Ngày hôm nay là thực tại, một đôi mắt, một nụ cười hờ hững của ai kia đang làm nhói tim nó.

theo mo^t. nguoi` ban. ma` tui ye^u wy' nha^t'

Phong canh Vinh Ha Long

2007-09-28T12:05:00.000+07:00

PHONG CẢNH """"Vinh Hạ Long""""

Bãi Cháy

Đảo Khỉ

Trinh Nữ

Núi Bài Thơ

Vinh Ha Long _Vietnamese - Ha Long Bay

2007-09-28T11:56:00.000+07:00

Nằm ở vùng Ðông Bắc Việt Nam, vịnh Hạ Long là một phần vịnh Bắc Bộ, bao gồm vùng biển của thành phố Hạ Long, thị xã Cẩm Phả và một phần của huyện đảo Vân Ðồn. Phía tây nam Vịnh giáp đảo Cát Bà, phía đông là biển, phần còn lại giáp đất liền với đường bờ biển dài 120 km, được giới hạn từ 106o58' - 107o22' kinh độ Ðông và 20o45' - 20o50' vĩ độ Bắc với tổng diện tích 1553 km2 gồm 1969 hòn đảo lớn nhỏ, trong đó 989 đảo có tên và 980 đảo chưa có tên. Ðảo của vịnh Hạ Long có hai dạng là đảo đá vôi và đảo phiến thạch, tập trung ở hai vùng chính là vùng phía đông nam (thuộc vịnh Bái Tử Long) và vùng phía tây nam (thuộc vùng vịnh Hạ Long) có tuổi kiến tạo địa chất từ 250 - 280 triệu năm. Vùng tập trung dày đặc các đảo đá có phong cảnh ngoạn mục và nhiều hang động đẹp nổi tiếng là vùng trung tâm Di sản thiên nhiên vịnh Hạ Long, bao gồm vịnh Hạ Long và một phần vịnh Bái Tử Long. Vùng Di sản thiên nhiên được thế giới công nhận có diện tích 434 km2 bao gồm 775 đảo, như một hình tam giác với 3 đỉnh là đảo Ðầu Gỗ (phía tây), hồ Ba Hầm (phía nam), đảo Cống Tây (phía đông) vùng kế bên là khu vực đệm và di tích danh thắng quốc gia được Bộ Văn hoá Thông tin xếp hạng năm 1962.

Từ trên cao nhìn xuống, vịnh Hạ Long như một bức tranh khổng lồ vô cùng sống động. Ði giữa Hạ Long, ta ngỡ như lạc vào một thế giới cổ tích bị hoá đá, đảo thì giống hình một người đang đứng hướng về đất liền (hòn Ðầu Người), đảo thì giống như một con rồng đang bay lượn trên mặt nước (hòn Rồng), đảo thì lại giống như một ông lão đang ngồi câu cá (hòn Ông Lã Vọng), hòn Cánh Buồm, hòn Cặp Gà, hòn Lư Hương... Tất cả trông rất thực, thực đến kinh ngạc. Hình dáng những đảo đá diệu kỳ ấy biến hoá khôn lường theo góc độ ánh sáng trong ngày và theo góc nhìn. Tiềm ẩn trong lòng các đảo đá ấy là những hang động tuyệt đẹp như động Thiên Cung, hang Ðầu Gỗ, động Sửng Sốt, động Tam Cung... Ðó thực sự là những lâu đài của tạo hoá giữa chốn trần gian. Từ xưa, Hạ Long đã được đại thi hào dân tộc Nguyễn Trãi mệnh danh là kỳ quan đất dựng giữa trời cao. Vịnh Hạ Long cũng là nơi gắn liền với sự phát triển của lịch sử dân tộc với những địa danh nổi tiếng như Vân Ðồn - nơi có thương cảng cổ nổi tiếng một thời (1149), có núi Bài Thơ ghi bút tích của nhiều bậc vua chúa, danh nhân, xa hơn chút nữa là dòng sông Bạch Ðằng - nơi đã từng chứng kiến hai trận thuỷ chiến lẫy lừng của cha ông ta chống giặc ngoại xâm.. Không chỉ có vậy, Hạ Long ngày nay được các nhà khoa học chứng minh là một trong những cái nôi của con người có nền văn hoá Hạ Long từ Hậu kỳ đồ đá mới với những địa danh khảo cổ học nổi tiếng như Ðồng Mang, Xích Thổ, Soi Nhụ, Thoi Giếng... Hạ Long cũng là nơi tập trung đa dạng sinh học cao với những hệ sinh thái điển hình như hệ sinh thái rừng ngập mặn, hệ sinh thái rạn san hô, hệ sinh thái tùng áng, hệ sinh thái rừng cây nhiệt đới... Với hàng ngàn loài động, thực vật vô cùng phong phú trên rừng dưới biển, cá, mực... Có những loài đặc biệt quý hiếm chỉ có ở nơi đây.
Với những giá trị đặc biệt như vậy, ngày 17/12/1994, trong phiên họp lần thứ 18 của Hội đồng Di sản Thế giới thuộc UNESCO tổ chức tại Thái Lan, vịnh Hạ Long chính thức được công nhận là Di sản thiên nhiên, khẳng định giá trị mang tính toàn cầu của Di sản thiên nhiên thế giới vịnh Hạ Long.

source : http://vietnamtourism.com/

[K]i[M]o[N]o-truyen thong NHAT BAN

2007-09-27T15:38:00.000+07:00

Nói đến Kimono, kể cả những người chưa từng đặt chân lên đất nước Phù Tang, cũng biết ngay đó là bộ lễ phục truyền thống của người Nhật. Hình ảnh những cô gái với những bộ Kimono rực rỡ trong ngày hội, đã từ lâu là nét đẹp có một không hai của xứ sở hoa anh đào.

Áo Kimono ra đời vào thời Heian ( 794 - 1192 ). Lúc đó, do người ta đã bắt đầu biết kỹ thuật cắt vải ra thành từng mảnh và khâu ghép chúng lại với nhau cho nên các thợ may không còn phải lo lắng nhiều về hình dáng, kích cỡ của khách hàng đặt kimono nữa. Điều này thực sự đem lại rất nhiều điểm thuận lợi cho người mặc kimono. Trước hết là nó dễ gấp, sau nữa nó có thể phù hợp cho mọi thời tiết. Chẳng hạn mùa đông họ có thể mặc thành nhiều lớp để giữ ấm, còn mùa hè, do kimono được may bằng thứ vải lụa thấm mồ hôi nên tạo một cảm giác mát mẻ cho người mặc. Chính vì vậy, kimono vào thời đó trở thành trang phục thường ngày của người Nhật.Về sau, khi việc mặc kimono thành nhiều lớp trở nên phổ biến, người Nhật bắt đầu chú ý đến việc dùng các màu sắc khác nhau cho mỗi lớp áo. Màu sắc của kimono thường để biểu thị cho các mùa trong năm, ngoài ra mỗi một tầng lớp trong xã hội cũng có một loại màu áo kimono riêng.Vào thời Kamakura ( 1192 - 1338 ) và thời Muromachi ( 1338 - 1573 ), mọi người kể cả nam và nữ đều ưa chuộng những chiếc áo kimono có màu sắc tươi sáng. Còn các võ sĩ thì mặc kimono có màu là màu tượng trưng cho người đứng đầu gia tộc mình. Do mỗi gia tộc võ sĩ có một màu áo kimono riêng, nên có lúc chiến trường trông giống như một buổi trình diễn thời trang đầy màu sắc vậyVào thời Edo ( 1600 - 1868 ), khi gia tộc võ sĩ Tokugawa nắm quyền ở NB, NB bị chia thành các lãnh địa nhỏ, đứng đầu lãnh địa là các lãnh chúa phong kiến. Samurai ở mỗi lãnh địa được phân biệt với nhau bởi màu sắc và hoa văn trên áo kimono. Do nhu cầu về áo kimono của các samurai khi đó rất nhiều, nên các thợ thủ công phải làm việc liên tục. Vì vậy tay nghề của họ ngày càng thành thạo và khéo léo tới mức nó đã trở thành một thứ nghệ thuật.Vào thời Meiji ( 1868 -1912 ), khi văn hoá Âu Mỹ ồ ạt du nhập vào NB, chính phủ khuyến khích người dân mặc quần áo kiểu phương Tây.. Tất cả các cơ quan của chính phủ và quân đội đều qui định các nhân viên phải mặc âu phục khi đi làm. Đối với người dân thường, khi mặc kimono vào các dịp lễ tết, họ phải đeo một mảnh vải nhỏ có trang trí con dấu riêng của gia đình ở tay áo.Khoảng từ 30 đến 100 ngày sau khi đứa bé chào đời, gia đình và người thân mang đứa trẻ đến đền thờ để làm một nghi lễ nhỏ. Khi đó đứa trẻ được mặc một chiếc kimono, bên dưới là màu trắng, bên trên là màu sáng ( thường là màu đỏ ) nếu là bé gái, hoặc màu đen nếu là bé trai.Ngoài ra, vào ngày lễ Shichigosan ( 15/11 ) các bé trai và bé gái cũng được mặc kimono. Đối với những người bước sang tuổi 20 thì vào ngày lễ Thành Nhân ( ngày thứ 2 của tuần thứ 2 trong tháng 1 ), họ cũng buộc phải mặc kimonoKimomo có một số loại sau. Furisode là loại áo chỉ dành riêng cho những cô gái chưa có trông. Tay áo rất dài và rộng ( thường dài từ 95 đến 115 cm ). Thời xưa, các cô gái thường vẫy vẫy ống tay áo để bày tỏ tình yêu với các chàng trai.Trong lễ cưới, các cô gái mặc kimono shiromuku màu trắng. Màu trắng có ý nghĩa báo hiệu một bước ngoặt mới trong cuộc đời cô gái. Khi đã có gia đình, cô gái không mặc furisode nữa mà mặc tomesode. Tomesode có thể là màu đen hoặc các màu sắc khác. Tomesode màu đen thường được mặc vào các dịp lễ long trọng như đám cưới của người thân, khi mặc phải đeo cả con dấu riêng của gia đình ở tay áo. Tuy nhiên khi mặc tomesode màu khác thì không phải đeo con dấu của gia đình.Ngày nay người Nhật chỉ mặc kimono vào những dịp đặc biệt như đám cưới, đám ma, lễ hội...v...v

Bkduan(Sưu tầm)

http://www.vysa.jp/

2007-08-25T10:52:00.000+07:00

what time is it ?

2007-08-25T10:48:00.000+07:00

Bet On It - REMIX

2007-08-25T10:39:00.000+07:00

I don't dance

2007-08-25T10:32:00.000+07:00

you are the music in me

2007-08-25T10:27:00.000+07:00

2007-08-23T11:08:00.000+07:00

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when you're gone

2007-08-21T14:25:00.000+07:00

2007-08-20T11:50:00.000+07:00

I Can Do It
No matter how wonderful the present moment is, the future can be even more fulfilling and joyous. The Universe always waits in smiling repose for us to align our thinking with its laws. When we are in alignment, everything flows. It is possible. You can do it. I can do it. We all can do it. Make the effort. You will be so pleased. Your whole world will change for the better.

I CAN DO IT !
YOU CAN DO IT !
Source:
*I can do it *
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TO SHARE

2007-08-15T09:19:00.000+07:00

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
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This is where you will win the battle – in the playhouse of your mind.
<>
In love the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.
<>
Everybody can be great. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.
<>
We need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, and twelve hugs a day for growth.
<>
The truth simply is, that’s all. It doesn’t need reasons;it doesn’t have to be right:
It’s just the truth.

Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time. It tell us to tell each other right now that we love each other.
<>
To try is all. It matters not if one succeeds or fails outwardly.
<>
Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
<>
Love is all there is!
<>

Two men look out through the same bars:
One sees the mud,
And one the stars.
<>
The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose.
<>
The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
<>

..."Yesteyrday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift , which is why we call
it the Present of life."...

2007-08-14T17:45:00.000+07:00

VIET NAM - Culture

2007-08-13T13:18:00.000+07:00

Lotus (Hoa Sen)
Lotus is a soft plant living mainly in water. This pink or white flower belongs to a species of plant called hollyhock. Another species of lotus with a very small trunk, leaves, and flowers is named little lotus. It can be planted in a vase of water or in an ornamental pond.

Lotus flowers have been growing for millions of years. In Vietnam, the lotus is classified as one the four gentlemanly flowers along with pine, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. The lotus is also classified as one in the four qui (four seasons), which also includes orchid, chrysanthemum, and apricot. Lotus is the symbol of summer because it blossoms in summer when there is a lot of sunlight and its scent lightly perfumes the air all around the pond.

Lotus flowers are used in different ways: the flowers are offered to deities, the seeds are used for tea, and the leaves are used to wrap green rice. Lotus seeds can also be made into a tonic medicine and anesthetic and into an ingredient for sweet soup and other recipes.

Lotus flowers generally bloom during the summer since they require plenty of light.

http://www.vietnamtourism.com/

Tet food in Viet Nam

2007-08-13T13:12:00.000+07:00

Banh Chung and banh Tet (Boiled rice and pork cakes)

Boiled rice and pork cakes are usually cooked 2-3 days before Tet. Both can be kept for about two weeks in cool temperature. However, after this time they become hard and must be re-boiled.

Soak some green beans overnight in water to soften. Drain, rub and clean to remove the skin, and leave to dry. Next, cook the beans in a steamer and grind. Form into balls the size of tennis balls.

Soak some glutinous rice overnight. Clean and rinse. Mix with a little salt. Cut fresh pork meat (lean or fat, according to personal taste) into 2cm strips. Mix with salt, fish sauce and pepper, and leave for about one hour.

Clean dong leaves (leaves from arrowroot) and place them over each other to form a cross. Place an amount of rice in the centre of the leaves. Shape into a square (the southern version is in a circle). Press a "ball" of green bean on top. Then, add 1-2 pieces of marinated pork, then more green bean, and finally rice. Press firmly into a compact square and wrap the leaves over to cover the cake completely. Tie with bamboo strings. Place in a large pot of boiling water and boil overnight. Squeeze the moisture out by placing it in a colander with a heavy object on top.

To serve, untie and open the leaves. Invert on a plate and cut into pieces using the bamboo strings, not a knife. Serve cold.

http://www.vietnamtourism.com/

2007-08-08T14:12:00.000+07:00

http://widget.meebo.com/mcr.swf?id=ZLAaynltyr

2007-08-02T12:59:00.000+07:00

Vietnam - country & people - folk-games

2007-08-02T11:52:00.000+07:00

The game of squares (O an quan)
Either boys or girls, usually age’s seven to ten, play the two-person game of O an quan (literally "Mandarin's Box"). They draw a rectangle on the ground and divide it into ten small squares called "rice fields" or "fish ponds.

"They also draw two additional semi-circular boxes at the two ends of the rectangle, which are called"mandarin's boxes," hence the game's name. Each person has 25 small pebbles and a bigger stone.

Each player places the stone in one of the mandarin's boxes and five small pebbles in each of the other squares (see diagram above). Then the game begins. The first player takes up the contents of one square on his or her side of the board (but not a mandarin's box) and distributes the pebbles one by one, starting with the next square in either direction. (Since each square contains five pebbles at the beginning, the first move will distribute five pebbles to the left or right).

After the last pebble is distributed, the player takes the contents of the following square and repeats the distribution process. But if the following square is one of the mandarin's boxes, the turn ends and passes to the other player.

If the last pebble falls into a square that precedes one empty square, the player wins all the contents of the square following the empty square and removes these pebbles from the board. If this square is followed by another empty square, the player wins the contents of the square after that, and so on. However, if there are two or more empty squares in a row, the player loses his or her turn.

Once a player has taken pebbles from the board, the turn is handed to the other player. If all five squares on one player's side of the board are emptied at any time, that player must place one pebble he or she has aside back in each of the five squares so that the game can resume.

The game continues until the two mandarins' boxes have both been taken. At the end of the game, the player with more pebbles wins, with each of the large stones counting as ten points. If each player retrieves an equal number of points, then the game is a tie. O an quan remains deservedly popular among older children since it requires good counting skills and forethought in order to win.

http://www.vietnamtourism.com/

Traditional Sculpture ( VIETNAM)

2007-07-22T13:56:00.000+07:00

Traditional Sculpture

In the realm of traditional art, Vietnamese sculpture has had a significant history of development. Vietnamese sculpture has been heavily influenced by the three traditional religions, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, which come from neighboring countries China and India. Examples of early Vietnamese sculpture can be found in common houses, temples, and pagodas.

The main categories of Vietnamese sculpture include:

The sculpture of the Funan and Champa kingdoms in South Vietnam.

The sculpture of the Chams in Central Vietnam.

The sculpture of the Dai Viet in North Vietnam.

The sculpture of the Grave Houses in the Central Highlands.

Prehistory

The prehistory covers the period from the Nui Do culture, 300,000 years ago, to the Dong Son culture, 2,500 years ago. Cultural activities from this time are not clearly known, nor are the artistic practices.

There are no prehistoric sculptures, only expressions or manifestations. For example, a 10,000- year- old carving of three human faces and a wild animal can be found in Dong Noi Grotto(Lac Thuy District, Hoa Binh Province). Small ceramic and stone carvings have also been uncovered at archaeological digs in Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, and Go Mun.

The Dong Son culture is famous for its kettledrums, small carvings fastened to objects of worship, and home utensils, which have handles sculpted in the shape of men, elephants, toads, and tortoises.

Sculpture of Grave Houses in the Central Highlands

The five provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong are located in the highlands of south-west Vietnam where a brilliant culture of Southeast Asian and Polynesian nations lived. The linguistic families of the Mon-Khmer and Malay-Polynesian played the main role in the formation of the language of the Central Highlands, as well as the traditional customs, which have remained very popular among the scattered communities of the region.

Mourning houses erected to honour the dead of the Gia Rai and Ba Na ethnic groups are symbolised by statues placed in front of the graves. These statues include couples embracing, pregnant women, and people in mourning, elephants, and birds.

Cham Sculptures

The association between the two Cham clans of Cau and Dua led to the establishment of a feudal state, which was heavily influenced by Hinduism. The royal kingdom of Champa took shape in what is now South Vietnam. This ancient country was dispersed along the coastline.

Archaeologists believe the kingdom began to develop during the second century, but it was only during the 7th and 8th centuries that the presently-found forms of Cham architecture and sculpture were created; this time period is closely linked to movements of Buddhism and Hinduism.

The Chams possessed astounding creative ability and produced magnificent works of art and architecture. The most magnificent remains of the Cham civilisation can be found in Amaravati (Quang Nam Province), Vijaya (Binh Dinh Province), Kanthara (Nha Trang) and Paduranaga (Phan Rang). Sculptures were harmoniously laid together in architectural complexes, which were based on the distinct functions of particular towers.

The development of Cham sculpture is divided into six main periods:

- My Son E1(first half of the 8th century).

- Hoa Lai (first half of the 9th century).

- Dong Duong (end of the 9th century).

- Tra Kieu(end of the 9th century and beginning of the 10th century).

- Thap Mam (12th and 13th centuries).

- Poklong Gialai (end of the 13th century to the 16th century).

In 1470, Emperor Le Thanh Tong conquered the South and was followed by Vietnamese immigrants who were encouraged by the Nguyen lords to move. Since that time, the art of the Chams remains as a tribute to the outstanding heritage of their splendid past.

Ly Dynasty (1010 - 1225)

Dai Viet became an independent, powerful state after Ly Cong Uan came to the throne and moved the nation’s capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (present-day Hanoi). Buddhism became the national religion, and it gradually became a part of everyday life. Buddhist centers formed in Quang Ninh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, and,especially in Bac Ninh Province.

The native area of the Ly Dynasty was built in the traditional architectural style of Southeast Asia. During this time, pagodas were generally built in grades, with high towers and statues of Buddha at the centre. The statue of Amida Buddha in the Phat Tich Pagoda (built in 1057) was one of the first works of Buddhist sculpture in the north. A monument found at the Dam Pagoda (built in 1086) is derived from the Cham symbols of Linga and Yoni. At 5.4m high, this is an imposing work.

Tran Dynasty (1225 - 1426)

The Tran Dynasty, which followed the crumbling of the Ly Dynasty, continued the development of Vietnamese feudalism. Victorious resistance against Mongolian invaders in 1258 and 1288 preserved the independence of the country and had a deep influence on literature and arts. At the same time, war ravaged the country, limiting artistic creation. Buddhism continued to be widespread; however, pagodas of this period were not as fantastic as previously constructed pagodas. Numerous lotus form rectangular bases for statues were produced that can presently be found in pagodas in Thay, Boi Khe, and Duong Lieu.

Woodcarvings and engravings with subjects of dancing dragons and fig tree leaves can be found in Pho Minh Pagoda (Nam Dinh Province) and Thai Lac (Hung Yen Province). In the mausoleums of the Tran Dynasty, stone sculptures are mainly of men and animals paying respect to the royal family. The statues of tigers in Tran Thu Do’s mausoleum (one of the founders of the Tran Dynasty) and the statues of buffaloes and dogs in Tran Hien Tong’s mausoleum are the first forms of sculpture in Vietnam’s tombs.

Le Dynasty (1427 - 1527)

For 100 years from the beginning of the Le Dynasty, Buddhism gradually integrated into all the villages and hamlets, and Confucianism began to play an important role in royal matters and in the agricultural economy. Relations between farmers and landlords flourished. However, aside from the three impressive stone statues erected at the Ngoc Kham Pagoda (Bac Ninh Province) at the beginning of the Le Dynasty, the image of the Buddhist sculpture faded out.

Instead, Buddhist sculptures were replaced by magnificent works on the mausoleums and tombs of the Le emperors in Lam Son (Thanh Hoa Province). Following the style of Emperor Le Thai To’s Mausoleum, built in 1433, eight mausoleums for kings and two for queens were built. They had square surfaces with a path in the middle for the gods to run through. Along the sides, there were two rows of statues of mandarins, unicorns, horses and tigers.

After 20 years of war with the Chinese Ming occupation (1407–1427), the country was devastated. Numerous products were stolen, temples and pagodas were destroyed, and skilled workers were captured and transferred to China. Emperor Le employed farmers from neighbouring villages to carve statues and to build mausoleums. As a result, the new monarchy saw the production of relatively poor quality sculptures.

Le - Trinh - Tay Son

The Mac Dynasty, which lasted from 1528 to 1598, followed the Le Dynasty. A new style of commercial house sculpture (dinh lang), which was a stark contrast to previous religious and feudal works, developed throughout the countryside.

In the 17th century, Nguyen lords came into power and conquered the South. Seven conflicts broke out between the Trinh and Nguyen families during this century. Buddhism was restored and was considered the salvation of the people’s spirits. Over the next 200 years, culture and arts developed and reached high levels of prosperity. Sculptures became more and more diverse and included Buddhist sculptures in village pagodas, sculptures of native religious beliefs in temples, and sculptures for the mausoleums and tombs of the emperors and mandarins of the Le and Trinh dynasties.

The statue of the goddess Kuanin with 1,000 eyes and 1,000 arms in the Ha Pagoda (Vinh Phuc Province) is a fine example of the grandiose sculptural work of the 16th century. The Kuanin statue in But Thap Pagoda (in Bac Ninh Province) is symbolic of 17thcentury work. The statue is 3.7m in height, and features 48 large arms and 952 smaller ones, all of which are bunched, together in a dark ring around the eyes.

Sculptures featured in commercial houses, such as in Phu Lac, Chu Quyen, Tho Tang, Lien Hiep and Huong Loc, are full of vitality and have liberal features and imposing structures. The identities and styles are a mix of deity and Buddhist images, commercial life, and agriculture.

Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945)

The Nguyen Dynasty saw the transfer of the capital from Hanoi to Hue, and the building of a grandiose imperial city and a complex of mausoleums and tombs. The sculptures of these feudal mausoleums and tombs are considered to be artistically weak and rigid.

http://vietnamtourism.com

WINDOW IN VIETNAM - Vietnam's bamboo and rattan trade

2007-07-22T13:28:00.000+07:00

Vietnam’s bamboo and rattan trade

Since long ago, Vietnamese people have used bamboo and rattan to build house, boats and rafts plus as the material to make tools. Bamboo and rattan are also used to make souvenir items, musical instruments and household utensils which have now become products of high export value.

Located in a monsoon tropical climatic area, Vietnam has the most developed and diverse bamboo and rattan-weaving craft in the world. Many villages have a hundred-year-old history of bamboo and rattan weaving. Now there are 332 craft villages specializing in making bamboo and rattan-woven products out of the country's 1,451 traditional craft villages. Each of them has its own expertise and know-how in making products with typical identities. Bac Ninh boasts the smoked bamboo products made in Xuan Lai Village while Ha Tay Province is abundant with unique bamboo products made by Phu Tuc Village and rattan products made by Phu Nghia Village. Other craft villages, such as Cat Dang (in Nam Dinh Province), Tang Tien (in Bac Giang) and Thai Xuyen (in Thai Binh) are proud of their beautiful flower vases, flower baskets and trays made of bamboo and rattan.

Ethnic groups, such as the Kho Mu, Thai, Tay, Nung and La Hu also contribute to the development of the country's bamboo and rattan- weaving craft. Their products are diverse in variety and designs, notably the rattan chairs and trays of the Thai, or bamboo chairs of the Nung and rattan mats of the La Hu.

Vietnam’s bamboo and rattan products are not only significant because of the material but also great spiritual value.

Most of the craft villages have their own tradition and every year they organize a festival to honour people who are credited with developing the craft and remind the villagers to preserve their traditional craft. The festivals help develop and promote the craft villages making bamboo and rattan products throughout the country.

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(Source: VNP)

HA LONG BAY - WORD HERITAGE SITE

2007-07-16T12:30:00.000+07:00

HA LONG BAY:

TRINH NU GROTTO:

Situated in the North-East region of Vietnam, Halong Bay is a bay in the Gulf of Tonkin comprised of regions of Halong City, the township of Cam Pha, and a part of the island district of Van Don. Halong Bay borders Cat Ba Island in the southwest, the East Sea in the east, and the mainland, creating a 120 km coastline.

Halong Bay is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names. There are two kinds of islands, limestone and schist, which are concentrated in two main zones: the southeast (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay), and the southwest (belonging to Halong Bay). This densely concentrated zone of stone islands, world famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves, forms the central zone of Halong Bay, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The bay itself has an area of 43,400 ha, consists of 775 islands, and forms a triangle with the island of Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto) to the west, the lake of Ba Ham (Three Shelter Lake) to the south, and the island of Cong Tay to the east.

Viewed from above, Halong Bay resembles a geographic work of art. While exploring the bay, you feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands. There is Man's Head Island, which resembles a man standing and looking towards the mainland. Dragon Island looks like a dragon hovering above the turquoise water. La Vong Island resembles an old man fishing. There are also the islands of the Sail, the Pair of Roosters, and the Incense Burner, which all astonishingly resemble their namesakes. The forms of the islands change depending on the angle of the light and from where the islands are viewed. At the core of the islands, there are wonderful caves and grottoes, such as Thien Cung (Heavenly Residence Grotto), Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), and Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto).

Halong Bay has many links to the history of Vietnam. For example, there are such famous geographical sites as Van Don (site of an ancient commercial port), Poem Mountain (with engravings of many poems about emperors and other famous historical figures), and Bach Dang River (the location of two fierce naval battles fought against foreign aggressors).

It has been proven by scientists that Halong was one of the first cradles of human existence in the area at such archeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng. It is also a region of highly-concentrated biological diversity with many ecosystems of salt water-flooded forests, coral reefs, and tropical forests featuring thousands of species of animal and plant life.

With all this in mind, the 18th meeting of the Committee of the World Heritages of UNESCO (in Thailand on December 17th, 1994), officially recognized Halong Bay as a natural heritage site of worldwide importance.

I. Grottoes
Dau Go (Driftwood) Grotto

Dau Go Grotto is found on Driftwood Island, formerly known as Canh Doc Island. The name Driftwood Grotto comes from the popular story of the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to prepare many ironwood stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang River. The remaining wooden pieces were found in the grotto and, as a result, the grotto was given its present name. The entrance is reached via 90 steps up the island. The grotto is divided into three main parts. In the first chamber, many forms can be seen in the rock, depending on the imagination of the observer. In the middle of the chamber, on the top of the pillar, there appears to be a monk draped in a long, dark cloak, with his right hand clasping a cane. Moving into the second chamber, visitors pass through a narrow "door", naturally formed through erosion. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear in the stone. At the end of the grotto is a well of clear water surrounded by four ancient walls.

In this grotto, there remains an engraved stone stele singing the praises of Halong Bay ordered by Emperor Khai Dinh when he came to visit the grotto in 1917. Dau Go is 40 minutes from Bai Chay. Admission is 15,000 VND per person, 5,000 VND for children under 15, and children under 6 are free.

Trinh Nu (Virgin) Grotto-Trong (Male) Grotto

The Virgin Grotto is situated in the island range of Bo Hon, in the system comprised of the Surprise Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and Luon Grotto. The grotto is 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach. For some fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home, while for young lovers it is a popular romantic rendezvous site.

According to legend, there once was a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that they were in service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone, who forced the family to give him their daughter as a concubine. However, the fisherman’s daughter already had a lover and refused to marry the administrator. The administrator got angry and exiled her to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. One frightful night she turned to stone. On this same night, her lover, knowing of her danger, rowed his boat in search of her. However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby island. In a flash of lightening, he saw his lover in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. In his final exhaustion, he also turned to stone (today’s Male Grotto).

When visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the petrified girl with her long hair hanging down and eyes looking towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto is still home to the lover whose his face is turned towards his mate. At times, his passionate calls and blows against the walls of the grotto can still be heard.

Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Grotto

This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in Halong Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Halong City. It is located in a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two superb grottoes at its core. The way to Thien Cung is perilous, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up.
According to legend, a beautiful young lady named May (cloud) caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed and got married in the very center of the grotto. All of the scenes of their wedding, which lasted for seven days and seven nights, have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.

In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven". From the base to the top, many strange images seem to exist in the stone, including birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto, a group of fairies seems to be singing and dancing in honor of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites form a natural stone curtain. There is also the sound of a beating drum made by the wind blowing through the stone.

In the last chamber of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here there are three small ponds of clear water. One path meanders out of the grotto.

Quang Hanh Grotto

Located 9 km west of Cam Pha, Quang Hanh Grotto is the longest grotto in Halong Bay. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. The French named it "Le Tunnel," or Tunnel Grotto.

Quang Hanh Grotto is accessible by either boat or car, but the entrance only appears when the tide is out. Ba Co Shrine (shrine of three girls) is in the grotto beside a smooth stone block.

Legend tells that three girls, who were once journeying on the sea, came to the grotto to take shelter from the rain. They were so engrossed with the beauty of the grotto, that they did not notice the rising tide. They drowned, only to become water goddesses.

Quang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. A small boat will take you through the stone passageway by flashlight, casting magical colors on the hanging stalactites.

II. Islands

Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain)

Bai Tho Mountain is 106 m high. It runs along the coast, half on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.

In 1468, Emperor Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, made an inspection tour of the North-East region. He stopped at the foot of the mountain, and inspired by the magnificent beauty of his surroundings, he wrote a poem. Later, he had the poem engraved on the wall of the mountain. It is very interesting to climb the mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of the bay.

Tuan Chau Islet

Situated 3 km west of Dao Go Islet, Tuan Chau Islet has an area of 300 ha. On the islet, there is a very simple bamboo house built by the inhabitants of Quang Ninh for Uncle Ho to rest after visiting Halong Bay. The house is now carefully preserved by the locals.

III. Beaches

Bai Chay

Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 20oC (68oF).

Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km. Blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.

http://www.vietnamtourism.com/

2007-07-07T14:40:00.000+07:00

"Nha nhac", Vietnamese Court Music - An Intangible Cultural Heritage

On November 7, 2003, UNESCO bestowed world heritage status on 28 relics of nations as masterpieces of oral and intangible heritage of humanity. Among the 11 masterpieces of Asia, nha nhac (royal music) represents the first intangible legacy of Vietnam to have been put on this list.

The UNESCO Council appraised Vietnamese royal music in the following terms: “Vietnamese royal music represents an elegant and refined music. It deals with the music performed in the imperial courts and on different anniversaries, religious festivals, and on such particular occasions. Of the different categories developed in Vietnam, only the royal music was national.”
Nha nhac (Vietnamese royal music) and its principles came to Vietnam under the Ho Dynasty (1400-1407). The Ho Dynasty, however, only existed for a short time, so nha nhac rapidly fell into oblivion. In 1427, Le Loi defeated the Chinese Ming invaders and liberated the country. However, nha nhac only began to develop in the reign of King Le Thanh Tong (1460-1497) and reached its peak under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).
Nha nhac is genre of scholarly music. It attracted the participation of many talented songwriters and musicians, with numerous traditional musical instruments.

From now on, nha nhac will have opportunities to preserve, develop and popularize to the public, inside and outside the country.

www.vietnamtourism.com

FOOD IN VIETNAM 2

2007-07-07T14:18:00.000+07:00

Special food in the South in VIETNAM

Xoi chien phong (Bloating fried sticky rice)
A round plate of Xoi chien phong, placed next to a plate of buttery roasted chicken, is always attractive to anyone. A lump of sticky rice will become a plate of Xoi chien phong as big as a grape-fruit by talent chefs. In the past, Xoi chien phong was offered only in the Binh Duong Restaurant, Dong Nai Province. At present, you can taste the dish in star classified hotels in Ho Chi Minh City.

Lau mam (Mixed vegetable and meat hot pot)
At present, Lau mam folk dish in the past hundred years - become a luxurious specialty in the South. Chau Doc fish sauce made from fresh-water fish, a kind of sweet- smelling and greasy fish, which must be as required to have a delicious Lau mam dish.
Substances to prepare for Lau mam, including fresh food-stuffs such as snake-head fish, "keo" fish, pork, peeled shrimps, eel, beef, and so on, accompanied with at least 10 kinds of vegetable, sometime amounting to 24 kinds of vegetable. They include water-lily, egg-plant, balsam-apple, straw mushroom, bean sprouts, chilly, etc.
When boiled, the flavors of the sauce, which is mixed with citronella, chilly, vegetables, fish, shrimp and meat, are very sweet-smelling. Lau mam roam is scoop out into bowls and served with soft noodle soup, simply but deliciously.

Goi Buoi (Salad of shaddock)
Goi buoi is available at the majority of famous restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. The major substances to prepare for the dish include shaddocks mixed with fresh shrimps, pork, and dry cuttle-fish. The dish is originated in Miet Buoi, Bien Hoa City.
Goi buoi dish is especially flavored with slightly sour, sweet, peppery-hot and buttery tastes. It is also added with spice vegetable, white sesames, coconut and dry cuttle-fish. Therefore, the dish will be appeared on dining table as a fresh colorful picture and attractive to customers.

Ca tai tuong chien xu ("Tai tuong" bloating fried fish)
"Tai tuong" fish is classified as a kind of luxurious food-stuffs.
The fish is as white as chicken, delicious and sweet smelling but not crushed. There are two ways to prepare for the dish: Boiled down or bloating fried.
In bloating fried way, pour plenty of oil into pan, wait for the oil to boil before placing the fish in. In boiled oil, fish scabs would be raised up as porcupine's feathers. As serving, place the fish on to the plate, arrange boiled quail eggs around with, fried potato, fresh onion and tomato slices at the edge, season with chilly.
Finally, pour soup and sprinkle fried peanuts and crashed onion on to the fish. The dish is served with sour and sweet sauce of fish. Ca tai tuong chien xu is an unique and luxurious specialty in the South.

Ca nuong trui (Bare fried fish)
The Southern villagers in countryside areas usually have fried fish in the field. They use a bamboo piece to cross through the fish. Pitch the head side to ground, pile up rice straws at the wind-swept place to smoke fish.
As serving, use hand to remove the burned fish scabs. Fish will become as white as chicken. Place the hot fish on a lotus leaf, take up each piece of fish and dip it in peppery salt, squeeze with some lemon drops, roll in fig leaf or sesame young shoot to experience the dish. Bowl and chopsticks are not necessary. At home, the dish can be served with dry pancake, soft noodle soup and vegetables. Ca nuong trui is a dish that accompanies drinking. It is popular and exciting.

Ca kho to (Dry-boiled catfish)
Fish, which used to prepare for the dish, can be catfish, anabas or snake-head fish. Necessary spices include dry garlic, fresh lemon, onion, chilly, sugar, glutamate, fish sauce, grease, and a spoon of pepper and wine.
Although Ca kho to is a popular dish in the South, it is also a cheap specialty. As serving, pick up fish to other bowl, boil the bowl of fish on a low fire and sprinkle some peppers to have sweet-smelling: Keep fire when serving, Ca kho to can be served with such boiled vegetables as shallot, white cabbage, spinach to dip in Ca kho to sauce. It is more convenient to serve it with pickles such as vinegary beet or green pineapple.

Cua rang muoi (Fried salted crabs)
The Westerners, especially those in land-locked countries, usually appreciate the dish as soon as they firstly experience it.
At parties, a plate of bright red Cua rang muoi is usually acted as aperitif. Customers suddenly feel sweet-smelling of spices and delicious buttery flavor of crab at the same time. Highly qualified chefs in Vung Tau coastal area usually select brackish water crabs with much meat and liver-pancreas. A delicious crab dish also depends on the soup, added to frying crabs in pans, including star aniseed, cinnamon, cardamom.
The connoisseurs immediately experience the dish as it is still very hot, mixed with some lemon drops.

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Customes

2007-07-07T14:04:00.000+07:00

" AO TU THAN "

" AO DAI "

HO CHI MINH CITY

2007-07-02T20:05:00.000+07:00

HO CHI MINH CITY

Geography:
In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port. Climate:The climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27ºC. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year.

History:

Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.

Tourism:
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.
Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.

Transportation:
Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination.

- Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the rest of Indochina.

- Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam.

- Air: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. There are flights from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between ?the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on over the world.

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Worship of Ancestor Custom

2007-07-02T19:58:00.001+07:00

Vietnamese believe that the soul of a dead person, even if dead for many generations, still rests along with their descendants on earth. The dead and living persons still have spiritual communion; in everyday life, people must not forget that what they enjoy and how they feel is the same for their dead relatives.

On the last day of every lunar year, an announcing cult, cung tien thuong, is performed to invite the dead forefathers to return home to celebrate Tet holidays with their families. During the last days before Tet, all family members visit their ancestors’ graves; they clean and decorate the graves, in the same manner that the livings clean and decorate their houses to welcome the New Year.

On the anniversary of an ancestor’s death, descendants and relatives unite and prepare a feast to worship the dead people and to ask for health and happiness for themselves. From generation to generation, ancestor worshipping customs have been religiously preserved. There are some small variations between those customs among the many Vietnamese ethnic groups, but the common theme of fidelity and gratitude towards the ancestors remains.

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FROM CITY TO CITY

2007-07-01T10:40:00.000+07:00

FROM CITY TO CITY

LOS ANGELES,USA:
Los Angeles was founded 1781. With 3,5 million people, it’s now the biggest city in California. It is famous for its modern freeways, its movie stars and its smog. When the city is really smoggy, you can’t see the nearby mountains. The weather is usually dry and warm. Visitors like to go the film studios and to drive along Hollywood Boulevard. There are some good beaches near the city, and Los Angeles is also close to Disneyland.

TAIPEI,TAIWAN:
The history of Taipei began in the eighteenth century. It is now the capital city of Taiwan, and it has about 2,3 million people. It is probably the country’s most exciting city, but the weather is humid and not very pleasant.
Taipei is a very busy city and the streets are always full of people.There is an excellent museum that many tourists visit. Taipei is a fairly expensive city, but not more expensive that some neighboring cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo. So more and more tourists go to Taipei to shop.

Source : NEW INTERCHANGE

Window on Vietnam

2007-06-30T11:49:00.000+07:00

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

1. AREA: 330 991 aquare kilometers.

2. POPULATION : 82 million

3. GEOGRAPHY :
Vietnam lies on the eastern seaboard of the Indochina peninsula. It borders China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west. To the east and south lies the South China Sea, which the Vietnamese call the East Sea. Mountains and hills cover four-fifths of Vietnam’territory with the Truong Son range stretching over 1400 km. Mount Fansipan ( 3143 m ) is the highest peak in Southeast Asia. The most populated areas in Vietnam are the lowland alluvial plains : The Red River Delta (15 000 sq.km, with a 3000 km-long dyke network) in the south. Vietnam’two biggest rivers, the Red River and Mekong River, respectively discharge 122109 and 1,4 million meters of water a year.
Vietnam’s 3260 km-long coastline features beautiful beaches like Tra Co, Lang co, Nha Trang, Ha Tien. National park include Ba Vi, Cat Ba, Cuc Phuong in the north, Bach Ma in the center, and Cat Tien in the south.

4. RESOURCES :
Mineral: coal, iron, aluminum, tin, oli. Agricultural and forestry product: rice, maize, rubber, lacquer, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, sugar, coconut, sugar cane, jute, and tropical and subtropical fruits.

5. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS :
Vietnam has 64 province, including five municipalities ( Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi, Haiphong, Cantho, Danang ).

6. ETHNIC GROUPS :
There are 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam. The Viet or Kinh, people account for 88 percent of Vietnam’population and are mostly concentrated in the lowlands. In contrast, most of the country’s 5,5million ethnic minority people live in mountainous areas. Major groups include the Tay (960 000 people); the Nung (152 000 people); the Thai (770 000 people); the Muong (700 000 people); the H’mong (441 000 people); the Zao (340 000 people); the Hoa (930 000 people); the Khmer ( 720 000 people); the Bana (100 000 people); the Giarai ( 184 000 people); and the Ede (140 000 people).

Window on Vietnam

2007-06-30T11:31:00.000+07:00

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
Our environment is in trouble. People and industries are polluing the air, rivers, lake, and seas. You may think that threr’s nothing you can do to help. That’s not true. In fact, there are many things you can do to help the environment. Here are a few.

CARS:
The burning of gasoline is one of the biggest sources of carbon monoxide (CO) in the atmosphere. Some people believe that CO is causing global warming. They think CO thins the ozone layer, which protects us from the sun’says. So try to walk, bicycle, or use public transportation. And if you drive a car, drive at a steady speed - this is more efficient than speeding up and slowing down.

WATER:
Showers use a lot of water. In one week a typical American family uses as much water as a person drinks in three years! Buying a special “low-flow” shower head or taking shorter showers can cut this use in half. Also, fix any leaky faucets.

ENERGY:
The biggest use of home energy is for heating and cooling homes. So turn the heat down, especially at night. Replace regular light bulbs with fluorescent or halogen bulbs, which use less energy.

PRODUCTS:
Don’t use disposable products. In a single year, people in the United States use enough disposable diapers to reach to the moon and back seven times. If you see disposable products, use products made from recycle material. Also, recycle whenever possible. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.

Tales from SHAKESPEARE

2007-06-30T11:25:00.000+07:00

Tales from SHAKESPEARE
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE **
( 1564 – 1616 )
Shakespeare died in 1916.Three centuries have passed,filled with great events;generations of men have come and gone;but Shakespeare still lives on as a superb playwright and poet.
The greatest of English writers was born at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564.The exact day of his birth is unknown,but scholars have assumed he was bron on 23 April. Shakespeare’s father,John Shakespeare,was a wealth and responsible citizen.The dramatist’s mother,Mary Arden,Was a daughter of a distinguished family.
William had a good grammar school education.In 1582, Shakespeare married Ann Hathaway.He died in 1616.Everybody say that April 23 was the date of both his birth and death.
Shakespeare was neither a purely tragic nor a purely comic write;he death with both the tragic and comic sides of the life,because in actual life these two side are closely connected.There was a drama in England before Shakespeare.But it was he who created a real drama,and it was he who raised the English theatre to the heights it has never since reached.Shakespeare’s language is indeed the language of life.He could find dark words for what is gloomy and radiant words for what is bright…

ROMEO AND JULIET
The two chief families in Verona were the rich Capulets and the Montagues. There had been an old quarrel between these families, which was grown to such a height, and so deadly was the enmity between them, that it extended to the remotest kindred, to the followers and retainers of both sides, in so much that a servant of the house of Montague could not meet a servant of the house of Capulet, nor a Capulet encounter with a Montague by chance, but fierce words and sometimes bloodshed ensued; and frequent were the brawls from such accidental meetings, which disturbed the happy quiet of Verona's streets.
Old Lord Capulet made a great supper, to which many fair ladies and many noble guests were invited. All the admired beauties of Verona were present, and all comers were made welcome if they were not of the house of Montague.
At this feast of Capulets, Rosaline, beloved of Romeo, son to the old Lord Montague, was present; and though it was dangerous for a Montague to be seen in this assembly, yet Benvolio, a friend of Romeo, persuaded the young lord to go to this assembly in the disguise of a mask, that he might see his Rosaline, and, seeing her, compare her with some choice beauties of Verona, who (he said) would make him think his swan a crow. Romeo had small faith in Benvolio's words; nevertheless, for the love of Rosaline, he was persuaded to go. For Romeo was a sincere and passionate lover, and one that lost his sleep for love and fled society to be alone, thinking on Rosaline, who disdained him and never requited his love with the least show of courtesy or affection; and Benvolio wished to cure his friend of this love by showing him diversity of ladies and company.
To this feast of Capulets, then, young Romeo, with Benvolio and their friend Mercutio, went masked. Old Capulet bid them welcome and told them that ladies who had their toes unplagued with corns would dance with them. And the old man was light-hearted and merry, and said that he had worn a mask when he was young and could have told a whispering tale in a fair lady's ear. And they fell to dancing, and Romeo was suddenly struck with the exceeding beauty of a lady who danced there, who seemed to him to teach the torches to burn bright, and her beauty to show by night like a rich jewel worn by a blackamoor; beauty too rich for use, too dear for earth! like a snowy dove trooping with crows (he said), so richly did her beauty and perfections shine above the ladies her companions.
While he uttered these praises he was overheard by Tybalt, a nephew of Lord Capulet, who knew him by his voice to be Romeo. And this Tybalt, being of a fiery and passionate temper, could not endure that a Montague should come under cover of a mask, to fleer and scorn (as he said) at their solemnities. And he stormed and raged exceedingly, and would have struck young Romeo dead. But his uncle, the old Lord Capulet, would not suffer him to do any injury at that time, both out of respect to his guests and because Romeo had borne himself like a gentleman and all tongues in Verona bragged of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth. Tybalt, forced to be patient against his will, restrained himself, but swore that this vile Montague should at another time dearly pay for his intrusion.
The dancing being done, Romeo watched the place where the lady stood; and under favor of his masking habit, which might seem to excuse in part the liberty, he presumed in the gentlest manner to take her by the hand, calling it a shrine, which if he profaned by touching it, he was a blushing pilgrim and would kiss it for atonement.
"Good pilgrim," answered the lady, "your devotion shows by far too mannerly and too courtly. Saints have hands which pilgrims may touch but kiss not."
"Have not saints lips, and pilgrims, too?" said Romeo.
"Aye," said the lady, "lips which they must use in prayer."
"Oh, then, my dear saint," said Romeo, "hear my prayer, and grant it, lest I despair."
In such like allusions and loving conceits they were engaged when the lady was called away to her mother. And Romeo, inquiring who her mother was, discovered that the lady whose peerless beauty he was so much struck with was young Juliet, daughter and heir to the Lord Capulet, the great enemy of the Montagues; and that he had unknowingly engaged his heart to his foe. This troubled him, but it could not dissuade him from loving. As little rest had Juliet when she found that the gentle man that she had been talking with was Romeo and a Montague, for she had been suddenly smit with the same hasty and inconsiderate passion for Romeo which he had conceived for her; and a prodigious birth of love it seemed to her, that she must love her enemy and that her affections should settle there, where family considerations should induce her chiefly to hate.
It being midnight, Romeo with his companions departed; but they soon missed him, for, unable to stay away from the house where he had left his heart, he leaped the wall of an orchard which was at the back of Juliet's house. Here he had not been long, ruminating on his new love, when Juliet appeared above at a window, through which her exceeding beauty seemed to break like the light of the sun in the east; and the moon, which shone in the orchard with a faint light, appeared to Romeo as if sick and pale with grief at the superior luster of this new sun. And she leaning her cheek upon her hand, he passionately wished himself a glove upon that hand, that he might touch her cheek. She all this while thinking herself alone, fetched a deep sigh, and exclaimed:
"Ah me!"
Romeo, enraptured to bear her speak, said, softly and unheard by her, "Oh, speak again, bright angel, for such you appear, being over my head, like a winged messenger from heaven whom mortals fall back to gaze upon."
She, unconscious of being overheard, and full of the new passion which that night's adventure had given birth to, called upon her lover by name (whom she supposed absent). "O Romeo, Romeo!" said she, "wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, for my sake; or if thou wilt not, be but my sworn love, and I no longer will be a Capulet."
Romeo, having this encouragement, would fain have spoken, but he was desirous of hearing more; and the lady continued her passionate discourse with herself (as she thought), still chiding Romeo for being Romeo and a Montague, and wishing him some other name, or that he would put away that hated name, and for that name which was no part of himself he should take all herself. At this loving word Romeo could no longer refrain, but, taking up the dialogue as if her words had been addressed to him personally, and not merely in fancy, he bade her call him Love, or by whatever other name she pleased, for he was no longer Romeo, if that name was displeasing to her. Juliet, alarmed to hear a man's voice in the garden, did not at first know who it was that by favor of the night and darkness had thus stumbled upon the discovery of her secret; but when he spoke again, though her ears had not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's uttering, yet so nice is a lover's hearing that she immediately knew him to be young Romeo, and she expostulated with him on the danger to which he had exposed himself by climbing the orchard walls, for if any of her kinsmen should find him there it would be death to him, being a Montague.
"Alack!" said Romeo, "there is more peril in your eye than in twenty of their swords. Do you but look kind upon me, lady, and I am proof against their enmity. Better my life should be ended by their hate than that hated life should be prolonged to live without your love."
"How came you into this place," said Juliet, "and by whose direction?"
"Love directed me," answered Romeo. "I am no pilot, yet 'wert thou as far apart from me as that vast shore which is washed with the farthest sea, I should venture for such merchandise."
A crimson blush came over Juliet's face, yet unseen by Romeo by reason of the night, when she reflected upon the discovery which she had made, yet not meaning to make it, of her love to Romeo. She would fain have recalled her words, but that was impossible; fain would she have stood upon form, and have kept her lover at a distance, as the custom of discreet ladies is, to frown and be perverse and give their suitors harsh denials at first; to stand off, and affect a coyness or indifference where they most love, that their lovers may not think them too lightly or too easily won; for the difficulty of attainment increases the value of the object. But there was no room in her case for denials, or puttings off, or any of the customary arts of delay and protracted courtship. Romeo had heard from her own tongue, when she did not dream that he was near her, a confession of her love. So with an honest frankness which the novelty of her situation excused she confirmed the truth of what he had before heard, and, addressing him by the name of Fair Montague (love can sweeten a sour name), she begged him not to impute her easy yielding to levity or an unworthy mind, but that he must lay the fault of it (if it were a fault) upon the accident of the night which had so strangely discovered her thoughts. And she added, that though her behavior to him might not be sufficiently prudent, measured by the custom of her sex, yet that she would prove more true than many whose prudence was dissembling, and their modesty artificial cunning.
Romeo was beginning to call the heavens to witness that nothing was farther from his thoughts than to impute a shadow of dishonor to such an honored lady, when she stopped him, begging him not to swear; for although she joyed in him, yet she had no joy of that night's contract--it was too rash, too unadvised, too sudden. But he being urgent with her to exchange a vow of love with him that night, she said that she already had given him hers before he requested it, meaning, when he overheard her confession; but she would retract what she then bestowed, for the pleasure of giving it again, for her bounty was as infinite as the sea, and her love as deep. From this loving conference she was called away by her nurse, who slept with her and thought it time for her to be in bed, for it was near to daybreak; but, hastily returning, she said three or four words more to Romeo the purport of which was, that if his love was indeed honorable, and his purpose marriage, she would send a messenger to him to-morrow to appoint a time for their marriage, when she would lay all her fortunes at his feet and follow him as her lord through the world. While they were settling this point Juliet was repeatedly called for by her nurse, and went in and returned, and went and returned again, for she seemed as jealous of Romeo going from her as a young girl of her bird, which she will let hop a little from her hand and pluck it back with a silken thread; and Romeo was as loath to part as she, for the sweetest music to lovers is the sound of each other's tongues at night. But at last they parted, wishing mutually sweet sleep and rest for that night.
The day was breaking when they parted, and Romeo, who was too full of thoughts of his mistress and that blessed meeting to allow him to sleep, instead of going home, bent his course to a monastery hard by, to find Friar Lawrence. The good friar was already up at his devotions, but, seeing young Romeo abroad so early, he conjectured rightly that he had not been abed that night, but that some distemper of youthful affection had kept him waking. He was right in imputing the cause of Romeo's wakefulness to love, but he made a wrong guess at the object, for he thought that his love for Rosaline had kept him waking. But when Romeo revealed his new passion for Juliet, and requested the assistance of the friar to marry them that day, the holy man lifted up his eyes and hands in a sort of wonder at the sudden change in Romeo's affections, for he had been privy to all Romeo's love for Rosaline and his many complaints of her disdain; and he said that young men's love lay not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. But Romeo replying that he himself had often chidden him for doting on Rosaline, who could not love him again, whereas Juliet both loved and was beloved by him, the friar assented in some measure to his reasons; and thinking that a matrimonial alliance between young Juliet and Romeo might happily be the means of making up the long breach between the Capulets and the Montagues, which no one more lamented than this good friar who was a friend to both the families and had often interposed his mediation to make up the quarrel without effect; partly moved by policy, and partly by his fondness for young Romeo, to whom he could deny nothing, the old man consented to join their hands in marriage.
Now was Romeo blessed indeed, and Juliet, who knew his intent from a messenger which she had despatched according to promise, did not fail to be early at the cell of Friar Lawrence, where their hands were joined in holy marriage, the good friar praying the heavens to smile upon that act, and in the union of this young Montague and young Capulet, to bury the old strife and long dissensions of their families.
The ceremony being over, Juliet hastened home, where she stayed, impatient for the coming of night, at which time Romeo promised to come and meet her in the orchard, where they had met the night before; and the time between seemed as tedious to her as the night before some great festival seems to an impatient child that has got new finery which it may not put on till the morning.
That same day, about noon, Romeo's friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, walking through the streets of Verona, were met by a party of the Capulets with the impetuous Tybalt at their head. This was the same angry Tybalt who would have fought with Romeo at old Lord Capulet's feast. He, seeing Mercutio, accused him bluntly of associating with Romeo, a Montague. Mercutio, who had as much fire and youthful blood in him as Tybalt, replied to this accusation with some sharpness; and in spite of all Benvolio could say to moderate their wrath a quarrel was beginning when, Romeo himself passing that way, the fierce Tybalt turned from Mercutio to Romeo, and gave him the disgraceful appellation of villain. Romeo wished to avoid a quarrel with Tybalt above all men, because he was the kinsman of Juliet and much beloved by her; besides, this young Montague had never thoroughly entered into the family quarrel, being by nature wise and gentle, and the name of a Capulet, which was his dear lady's name, was now rather a charm to allay resentment than a watchword to excite fury. So he tried to reason with Tybalt, whom he saluted mildly by the name of Good Capulet, as if he, though a Montague, had some secret pleasure in uttering that name; but Tybalt, who hated all Montagues as he hated hell, would hear no reason, but drew his weapon; and Mercutio, who knew not of Romeo's secret motive for desiring peace with Tybalt, but looked upon his present forbearance as a sort of calm dishonorable submission, with many disdainful words provoked Tybalt to the prosecution of his first quarrel with him; and Tybalt and Mercutio fought, till Mercutio fell, receiving his death's wound while Romeo and Benvolio were vainly endeavoring to part the combatants. Mercutio being dead, Romeo kept his temper no longer, but returned the scornful appellation of villain which Tybalt had given him, and they fought till Tybalt was slain by Romeo. This deadly broil falling out in the midst of Verona at noonday, the news of it quickly brought a crowd of citizens to the spot and among them the Lords Capulet and Montague, with their wives; and soon after arrived the prince himself, who, being related to Mercutio, whom Tybalt had slain, and having had the peace of his government often disturbed by these brawls of Montagues and Capulets, came determined to put the law in strictest force against those who should be found to be offenders. Benvolio, who had been eye-witness to the fray, was commanded by the prince to relate the origin of it; which he did, keeping as near the truth as he could without injury to Romeo, softening and excusing the part which his friends took in it. Lady Capulet, whose extreme grief for the loss of her kinsman Tybalt made her keep no bounds in her revenge, exhorted the prince to do strict justice upon his murderer, and to,pay no attention to Benvolio's representation, who, being Romeo's friend and a Montague, spoke partially. Thus she pleaded against her new son-in-law, but she knew not yet that he was her son-in-law and Juliet's husband. On the other hand was to be seen Lady Montague pleading for her child's life, and arguing with some justice that Romeo had done nothing worthy of punishment in taking the life of Tybalt, which was already forfeited to the law by his having slain Mercutio. The prince, unmoved by the passionate exclamations of these women, on a careful examination of the facts pronounced his sentence, and by that sentence Romeo was banished from Verona.
Heavy news to young Juliet, who had been but a few hours a bride and now by this decree seemed everlastingly divorced! When the tidings reached her, she at first gave way to rage against Romeo, who had slain her dear cousin. She called him a beautiful tyrant, a fiend angelical, a ravenous dove, a lamb with a wolf's nature, a serpent-heart hid with a flowering face, and other, like contradictory names, which denoted the struggles in her mind between her love and her resentment. But in the end love got the mastery, and the tears which she shed for grief that Romeo had slain her cousin turned to drops of joy that her husband lived whom Tybalt would have slain. Then came fresh tears, and they were altogether of grief for Romeo's banishment. That word was more terrible to her than the death of many Tybalts.
Romeo, after the fray, had taken refuge in Friar Lawrence's cell, where he was first made acquainted with the prince's sentence, which seemed to him far more terrible than death. To him it appeared there was no world out of Verona's walls, no living out of the sight of Juliet. Heaven was there where Juliet lived, and all beyond was purgatory, torture, hell. The good friar would have applied the consolation of philosophy to his griefs; but this frantic young man would hear of none, but like a madman he tore his hair and threw himself all along upon the ground, as he said, to take the measure of his grave. From this unseemly state he was roused by a message from his dear lady which a little revived him; and then the friar took the advantage to expostulate with him on the unmanly weakness which he had shown. He had slain Tybalt, but would he also slay himself, slay his dear lady, who lived but in his life? The noble form of man, he said, was but a shape of wax when it wanted the courage which should keep it firm. The law had been lenient to him that instead of death, which he had incurred, had pronounced by the prince's mouth only banishment. He had slain Tybalt, but Tybalt would have slain him-there was a sort of happiness in that. Juliet was alive and (beyond all hope) had become his dear wife; therein he was most happy. All these blessings, as the friar made them out to be, did Romeo put from him like a sullen misbehaved wench. And the friar bade him beware, for such as despaired (he said) died miserable. Then when Romeo was a little calmed he counseled him that he should go that night and secretly take his leave of Juliet, and thence proceed straightway to Mantua, at which place he should sojourn till the friar found fit occasion to publish his marriage, which might be a joyful means of reconciling their families; and then he did not doubt but the prince would be moved to pardon him, and he would return with twenty times more joy than he went forth with grief. Romeo was convinced by these wise counsels of the friar, and took his leave to go and seek his lady, proposing to stay with her that night, and by daybreak pursue his journey alone to Mantua; to which place the good friar promised to send him letters from time to time, acquainting him with the state of affairs at home.
That night Romeo passed with his dear wife, gaining secret admission to her chamber from the orchard in which he had heard her confession of love the night before. That had been a night of unmixed joy and rapture; but the pleasures of this night and the delight which these lovers took in each other's society were sadly allayed with the prospect of parting and the fatal adventures of the past day. The unwelcome daybreak seemed to come too soon, and when Juliet heard the morning song of the lark she would have persuaded herself that it was the nightingale, which sings by night; but it was too truly the lark which sang, and a discordant and unpleasing note it seemed to her; and the streaks of day in the east too certainly pointed out that it was time for these lovers to part. Romeo took his leave of his dear wife with a heavy heart, promising to write to her from Mantua every hour in the day; and when he had descended from her chamber window, as he stood below her on the ground, in that sad foreboding state of mind in which she was, he appeared to her eyes as one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Romeo's mind misgave him in like manner. But now he was forced hastily to depart, for it was death for him to be found within the walls of Verona after daybreak.
This was but the beginning of the tragedy of this pair of star- crossed lovers. Romeo had not been gone many days before the old Lord Capulet proposed a match for Juliet. The husband he had chosen for her, not dreaming that she was married already, was Count Paris, a gallant, young, and noble gentleman, no unworthy suitor to the young Juliet if she had never seen Romeo.
The terrified Juliet was in a sad perplexity at her father's offer. She pleaded her youth unsuitable to marriage, the recent death of Tybalt, which had left her spirits too weak to meet a husband with any face of joy, and how indecorous it would show for the family of the Capulets to be celebrating a nuptial feast when his funeral solemnities were hardly over. She pleaded every reason against the match but the true one, namely, that she was married already. But Lord Capulet was deaf to all her excuses, and in a peremptory manner ordered her to get ready, for by the following Thursday she should be married to Paris. And having found her a husband, rich, young, and noble, such as the proudest maid in Verona might joyfully accept, he could not bear that out of an affected coyness, as he construed her denial, she should oppose obstacles to her own good fortune.
In this extremity Juliet applied to the friendly friar, always a counselor in distress, and he asking her if she had resolution to undertake a desperate remedy, and she answering that she would go into the grave alive rather than marry Paris, her own dear husband living, he directed her to go home, and appear merry, and give her consent to marry Paris, according to her father's desire, and on the next night, which was the night before the marriage, to drink off the contents of a vial which he then gave her, the effect of which would be that for two-and-forty hours after drinking it she should appear cold and lifeless, and when the bridegroom came to fetch her in the morning he would find her to appearance dead; that then she would be borne, as the manner in that country was, uncovered on a bier, to be buried in the family vault; that if she could put off womanish fear, and consent to this terrible trial, in forty-two hours after swallowing the liquid (such was its certain operation) she would be sure to awake, as from a dream; and before she should awake he would let her husband know their drift, and he should come in the night and bear her thence to Mantua. Love, and the dread of marrying Paris, gave young Juliet strength to undertake this horrible adventure; and she took the vial of the friar, promising to observe his directions.
Going from the monastery, she met the young Count Paris, and, modestly dissembling, promised to become his bride. This was joyful news to the Lord Capulet and his wife. It seemed to put youth into the old man; and Juliet, who had displeased him exceedingly by her refusal of the count, was his darling again, now she promised to be obedient. All things in the house were in a bustle against the approaching nuptials. No cost was spared to prepare such festival rejoicings as Verona had never before witnessed.
On the Wednesday night Juliet drank off the potion. She had many misgivings lest the friar, to avoid the blame which might be imputed to him for marrying her to Romeo, had given her poison; but then he was always known for a holy man. Then lest she should awake before the time that Romeo was to come for her; whether the terror of the place, a vault full of dead Capulets' bones, and where Tybalt, all bloody, lay festering in his shroud, would not be enough to drive her distracted. Again she thought of all the stories she had heard of spirits haunting the places where their bodies were bestowed. But then her love for Romeo and her aversion for Paris returned, and she desperately swallowed the draught and became insensible.
When young Paris came early in the morning with music to awaken his bride, instead of a living Juliet her chamber presented the dreary spectacle of a lifeless corse. What death to his hopes! What confusion then reigned through the whole house! Poor Paris lamenting his bride, whom most detestable death had beguiled him of, had divorced from him even before their hands were joined. But still more piteous it was to hear the mournings of the old Lord and Lady Capulet, who having but this one, one poor loving child to rejoice and solace in, cruel death had snatched her from their sight, just as these careful parents were on the point of seeing her advanced (as they thought) by a promising and advantageous match. Now all things that were ordained for the festival were turned from their properties to do the office of a black funeral. The wedding cheer served for a sad burial feast, the bridal hymns were changed for sullen dirges, the sprightly instruments to melancholy.bells, and the flowers that should have been strewed in the bride's path now served but to strew her corse. Now, instead of a priest to marry her, a priest was needed to bury her, and she was borne to church indeed, not to augment the cheerful hopes of the living, but to swell the dreary numbers of the dead.
Bad news, which always travels faster than good, now brought the dismal story of his Juliet's death to Romeo, at Mantua, before the messenger could arrive who was sent from Friar Lawrence to apprise him that these were mock funerals only, and but the shadow and representation of death, and that his dear lady lay in the tomb but for a short while, expecting when Romeo would come to release her from that dreary mansion. Just before, Romeo had been unusually joyful and light-hearted. He had dreamed in the night that he was dead (a strange dream, that gave a dead man leave to think) and that his lady came and found him dead, and breathed such life with kisses in his lips that he revived and was an emperor! And now that a messenger came from Verona, he thought surely it was to confirm some good news which his dreams had presaged. But when the contrary to this flattering vision appeared, and that it was his lady who was dead in truth, whom he could not revive by any kisses, he ordered horses to be got ready, for he determined that night to visit Verona and to see his lady in her tomb. And as mischief is swift to enter into the thoughts of desperate men, he called to mind a poor apothecary, whose shop in Mantua he had lately passed, and from the beggarly appearance of the man, who seemed famished, and the wretched show in his show of empty boxes ranged on dirty shelves, and other tokens of extreme wretchedness, he had said at the time (perhaps having some misgivings that his own disastrous life might haply meet with a conclusion so desperate):
"If a man were to need poison, which by the law of Mantua it is death to sell, here lives a poor wretch who would sell it him."
These words of his now came into his mind and he sought out the apothecary, who after some pretended scruples, Romeo offering him gold, which his poverty could not resist, sold him a poison which, if he swallowed, he told him, if he had the strength of twenty men, would quickly despatch him.
With this poison he set out for Verona, to have a sight of his dear lady in her tomb, meaning, when he had satisfied his sight, to swallow the poison and be buried by her side. He reached Verona at midnight, and found the churchyard in the midst of which was situated the ancient tomb of the Capulets. He had provided a light, and a spade, and wrenching-iron, and was proceeding to break open the monument when he was interrupted by a voice, which by the name of Vile Montague bade him desist from his unlawful business. It was the young Count Paris, who had come to the tomb of Juliet at that unseasonable time of night to strew flowers and to weep over the grave of her that should have been his bride. He knew not what an interest Romeo had in the dead, but, knowing him to be a Montague and (as he supposed) a sworn foe to all the Capulets, he judged that he was come by night to do some villainous shame to the dead bodies; therefore in an angry tone he bade him desist; and as a criminal, condemned by the laws of Verona to die if he were found within the walls of the city, he would have apprehended him. Romeo urged Paris to leave him, and warned him by the fate of Tybalt, who lay buried there, not to provoke his anger or draw down another sin upon his head by forcing him to kill him. But the count in scorn refused his warning, and laid hands on him as a felon, which, Romeo resisting, they fought, and Paris fell. When Romeo, by the help of a light, came to see who it was that he had slain, that it was Paris, who (he learned in his way from Mantua) should have married Juliet, he took the dead youth by the hand, as one whom misfortune had made a companion, and said that he would bury him in a triumphal grave, meaning in Juliet's grave, which he now opened. And there lay his lady, as one whom death had no power upon to change a feature or complexion, in her matchless beauty; or as if death were amorous, and the lean, abhorred monster kept her there for his delight; for she lay yet fresh and blooming, as she had fallen to sleep when she swallowed that benumbing potion; and near her lay Tybalt in his bloody shroud, whom Romeo seeing, begged pardon of his lifeless corse, and for Juliet's sake called him cousin, and said that he was about to do him a favor by putting his enemy to death. Here Romeo took his last leave of his lady's lips, kissing them; and here he shook the burden of his cross stars from his weary body, swallowing that poison which the apothecary had sold him, whose operation was fatal and real, not like that dissembling potion which Juliet had swallowed, the effect of which was now nearly expiring, and she about to awake to complain that Romeo had not kept his time, or that he had come too soon.
For now the hour was arrived at which the friar had promised that she should awake; and he, having learned that his letters which he had sent to Mantua, by some unlucky detention of the messenger, had never reached Romeo, came himself, provided with a pickax and lantern, to deliver the lady from her confinement; but he was surprised to find a light already burning in the Capulets' monument, and to see swords and blood near it, and Romeo and Paris lying breathless by the monument,
Before he could entertain a conjecture, to imagine how these fatal accidents had fallen out, Juliet awoke out of her trance, and, seeing the friar near her, she remembered the place where she was, and the occasion of her being there, and asked for Romeo, but the friar, hearing a noise, bade her come out of that place of death and of unnatural sleep, for a greater power than they could contradict had thwarted their intents; and, being frightened by the noise of people coming, he fled. But when Juliet saw the cup closed in her true love's hands, she guessed that poison had been the cause of his end, and she would have swallowed the dregs if any had been left, and she kissed his still warm lips to try if any poison yet did hang upon them; then hearing a nearer noise of people coming, she quickly unsheathed a dagger which she wore, and, stabbing herself, died by her true Romeo's side.
The watch by this time had come up to the place. A page belonging to Count Paris, who had witnessed the fight between his master and Romeo, had given the alarm, which had spread among the citizens, who went up and down the streets of Verona confusedly exclaiming, "A Paris! a Romeo! a Juliet!" as the rumor had imperfectly reached them, till the uproar brought Lord Montague and Lord Capulet out of their beds, with the prince, to inquire into the causes of the disturbance. The friar had been apprehended by some of the watch, coming from the churchyard, trembling, sighing, and weeping in a suspicious manner. A great multitude being assembled at the Capulets' monument, the friar was demanded by the prince to deliver what he knew of these strange and disastrous accidents.
And there, in the presence of the old Lords Montague and Capulet, he faithfully related the story of their children's fatal love, the part he took in promoting their marriage, in the hope in that union to end the long quarrels between their families; how Romeo, there dead, was husband to Juliet, and Juliet, there dead, was Romeo's faithful wife; how, before he could find a fit opportunity to divulge their marriage, another match was projected for Juliet, who, to avoid the crime of a second marriage, swallowed the sleeping-draught (as he advised), and all thought her dead; how meantime he wrote to Romeo to come and take her thence when the force of the potion should cease, and by what unfortunate miscarriage of the messenger the letters never reached Romeo. Further than this the friar could not follow the story, nor knew more than that, coming himself to deliver Juliet from that place of death, he found the Count Paris and Romeo slain. The remainder of the transactions was supplied by the narration of the page who had seen Paris and Romeo fight, and by the servant who came with Romeo from Verona, to whom this faithful lover had given letters to be delivered to his father in the event of his death, which made good the friar's words, confessing his marriage with Juliet, imploring the forgiveness of his parents, acknowledging the buying of the poison of the poor apothecary and his intent in coming to the monument to die and lie with Juliet. All these circumstances agreed together to clear the friar from any hand he could be supposed to have in these complicated slaughters, further than as the unintended consequences of his own well-meant, yet too artificial and subtle contrivances.
And the prince, turning to these old lords, Montague and Capulet, rebuked them for their brutal and irrational enmities, and showed them what a scourge Heaven had laid upon such offenses, that it had found means even through the love of their children to punish their unnatural hate. And these old rivals, no longer enemies, agreed to bury their long strife in their children's graves; and Lord Capulet requested Lord Montague to give him his hand, calling him by the name of brother, as if in acknowledgment of the union of their families by the marriage of the young Capulet and Montague; and saying that Lord Montague's hand (in token of reconcilement) was all he demanded for his daughter's jointure. But Lord Montague said he would give him more, for he would raise her a statue of pure gold that, while Verona kept its name, no figure should be so esteemed for its richness and workmanship as that of the true and faithful Juliet. And Lord Capulet in return said that he would raise another statue to Romeo. So did these poor old lords, when it was too late, strive to outgo each other in mutual courtesies; while so deadly had been their rage and enmity in past times that nothing but the fearful overthrow of their children (poor sacrifices to their quarrels and dissensions) could remove the rooted hates and jealousies of the noble families.***
**by:PROSVENSHCHENIYE & LONGMANS Publishing house
*** by: http://www.world-english.org

2007-06-30T11:11:00.000+07:00

VIETNAM’S FASHION IDENTITY
VU CHI CONG,HEAD OF THE FASHION DEOARTMENT IN THE HANHOI INDUSTRIAL ARTS COLLEGE,SHARES HIS VIEWS ON THE EVOLUTION OF VIETNAMESE FASHION

THE CULTURAL FEATURES OF A NATION ARE REVREALED THROUGH ITS FOOD,ARCHITECTURE AND FASHION.TO DAY,RAPID URBANIZATION AND GLOBALIZATION ARE ERASTING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES.AROUND THE WORLD PEOPLE LIVE IN SIMILAR BUILDING,EAT IDENTICAL FAST FOOD,PERFORM THE SAME JOBS AND WEAR THE SAME STYLES OF CLOTHES.
FASHION IS ONE WAY IN WHICH EACH GENERATION DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF FROM THE ONE BEFORE.THIS PROCESS OF RENEWAL IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE GLOBAL FASHION INDUSTRY.EVEN THE “AO DAI”,VIETNAM’S TRADITIONAL DRESS,IS BEING CHANGED IN WAYS THAT REDUCE ITS FORMER ELEGANCE.
STYLES SPECIFIC TO ONE CULTURE ARE ADOPTED,CHANGED AND MIXED.NATIONAL FEATURES ARE BLIRRED TO THE POINT THAT IT’S HARD TO SAY WHERE AN INSPIRATION TOOK ROOT.
VIETNAM’SFASHION INDUSTRY REMAINS UNDEVELOPED.HERE,FASHION HAS GROWN FROM THE PRODUCTS LIKE SILK AND EMBROIDERED BROCADE.WILL THESE TRANDITIONAL PRODUCTS BECOME DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF VIETNAMESE FASHION?
ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE WEAVE FABRIC FROM COOTON AND HEMP AND EMBROIDER OR BATIK IT WITH LIVELY SYMBOLS.INSPIRED BY NATURE,THE STYLIZED DESUGNS ARE LIMITED.COMMON BROCADE PATTERNS INCLUDE GROMETRIC DESIGNS LIKE SQUARES,CROSSES AND EIGHT- POINTED STARTS.
WHEN INCORPORATED INTO MODERM DESIGNS AS ACCENTS,THESE TRADITIONAL MOTIFS CAN BE VERY ATTRACTIVE.THE SKILL OF THE EMBROIDERY AND THE WRAM,NATURAL COLORS PRODUCE A LIVELY FEELING.
IN THE 1980s,VIETNAMESE FASHIONS WERE INFLUENCED BY THAI AND CHINESE STYLE.JEANS FROM THAILAND,PADDED CHINESE-STYLE COATS AND BROCADE BAGS APPEARED IN VIETNAM.TODAY,MOST VIETNAMESE PEOPLE BUY CLOTHES FROM LARGE FIRMS THAT PRODUCE INEXPENSIVE ITEMS FOR EXPORT.WEALTHIER PEOPLE GUY IMPORTED LABELS.CELEBRITIES LIKE SINGERS BUY ONE-OF-A-KIND CREATIONS BY LOCA DESIGNERS.
FASHION NOT ONLY REFLECTS THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE –IT ALSO REFLECTS OUR PAST.

VIETNAM’S FASHION IDENTITY

2007-06-28T11:27:00.000+07:00

VIETNAM’S FASHION IDENTITY

VU CHI CONG,HEAD OF THE FASHION DEOARTMENT IN THE HANHOI INDUSTRIAL ARTS COLLEGE,SHARES HIS VIEWS ON THE EVOLUTION OF VIETNAMESE FASHION.
THE CULTURAL FEATURES OF A NATION ARE REVREALED THROUGH ITS FOOD,ARCHITECTURE AND FASHION.TO DAY,RAPID URBANIZATION AND GLOBALIZATION ARE ERASTING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES.AROUND THE WORLD PEOPLE LIVE IN SIMILAR BUILDING,EAT IDENTICAL FAST FOOD,PERFORM THE SAME JOBS AND WEAR THE SAME STYLES OF CLOTHES.
FASHION IS ONE WAY IN WHICH EACH GENERATION DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF FROM THE ONE BEFORE.THIS PROCESS OF RENEWAL IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE GLOBAL FASHION INDUSTRY.EVEN THE "AO DAI",VIETNAM’S TRADITIONAL DRESS,IS BEING CHANGED IN WAYS THAT REDUCE ITS FORMER ELEGANCE.
STYLES SPECIFIC TO ONE CULTURE ARE ADOPTED,CHANGED AND MIXED.NATIONAL FEATURES ARE BLIRRED TO THE POINT THAT IT’S HARD TO SAY WHERE AN INSPIRATION TOOK ROOT.
VIETNAM’SFASHION INDUSTRY REMAINS UNDEVELOPED.HERE,FASHION HAS GROWN FROM THE PRODUCTS LIKE SILK AND EMBROIDERED BROCADE.WILL THESE TRANDITIONAL PRODUCTS BECOME DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF VIETNAMESE FASHION?
ETHNIC MINORITY PEOPLE WEAVE FABRIC FROM COOTON AND HEMP AND EMBROIDER OR BATIK IT WITH LIVELY SYMBOLS.INSPIRED BY NATURE,THE STYLIZED DESUGNS ARE LIMITED.COMMON BROCADE PATTERNS INCLUDE GROMETRIC DESIGNS LIKE SQUARES,CROSSES AND EIGHT- POINTED STARTS.
WHEN INCORPORATED INTO MODERM DESIGNS AS ACCENTS,THESE TRADITIONAL MOTIFS CAN BE VERY ATTRACTIVE.THE SKILL OF THE EMBROIDERY AND THE WRAM,NATURAL COLORS PRODUCE A LIVELY FEELING.
IN THE 1980s,VIETNAMESE FASHIONS WERE INFLUENCED BY THAI AND CHINESE STYLE.JEANS FROM THAILAND,PADDED CHINESE-STYLE COATS AND BROCADE BAGS APPEARED IN VIETNAM.TODAY,MOST VIETNAMESE PEOPLE BUY CLOTHES FROM LARGE FIRMS THAT PRODUCE INEXPENSIVE ITEMS FOR EXPORT.WEALTHIER PEOPLE GUY IMPORTED LABELS.CELEBRITIES LIKE SINGERS BUY ONE-OF-A-KIND CREATIONS BY LOCA DESIGNERS.
FASHION NOT ONLY REFLECTS THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE –IT ALSO REFLECTS OUR PAST.
by : HERIITARE

FOOD IN VIETNAM

2007-06-28T11:19:00.000+07:00

VIETNAM’FOOD FAVORITE

FRIED FISH ( Cha Ca ) :
This is favorite dish in the North and is made out of hemibagrus, or snake-head. The fish are sliced, soadked with green onions and dill. The sauce to dip this dish in is salted fish sauce mixed with lemon. This dish has been listed as one of the best delicacies in Asia

COUNTRY PANCAKE ( Banh Xeo ):
Fried rice flour pancakes are filled with shrimp, meat, and bean sprouts. The crepe-like cakes are cut into pieces rolled with a sauce made up of fish sauce, vine-gar, garlic, lemon & sugar. This is a famous dish in the South and is often served as an hors-d’oeuvres.

BEEF NOODLE SOUP OF SOUTH VIETNAM
( Banh canh Nam Bo ) :
This dish consists of while rice noodle, rare beef, bean sprouts & many kinds of fennel & herbs mixed with sauce made up of fish sauce, vinegar, lemon, sugar, pepper, chili & garlic. This is a popular dish in the South, though delicious versions may also be found in Hanoi

FIELD MUSDROOM FRIED WITH DRIED PIG SKIN
( Nam Huong Xao Bong Bi ):
The main ingredients of this dish are field mushrooms & dried pig skin, but to make it more delicious, it is usually fried with pig heart and kidneys or beef, pork & green onions, celery & garlic. This dish is especially popular during the Tet holiday in the North.
By: HERITARE
Vietnam Airlines Inflight Magazine

ENJOYABLE AIR TRALEV

2007-06-28T10:53:00.000+07:00

ENJOYABLE AIR TRALEV
AIR TRAVEL IS FAST, CONVENIENT AND SAFE. ALTHOUGH THE AIRCRAFT CABIN ENVIRONMENT IS CONTROLLED FOR PASSENGERS’COMFORT, THERE IS ADIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIR PRESSURE AND HUMIDITY IN THE AIRCRAFT CABIN & ON THE GROUND. HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR MORE ENJOYABLE & COMFORTABLE AIR TRAVEL.
CABIN HUMIDITY
Aircraft cabin humidity is usually 15 percent, which is fairly dry.This can cause herydration, so we recommend that you drink water & juices frequently.Don’t drink coffee, tea & alcohol ! Also, wearing eyeglasses instead of contact lenses can ease eye irritation in the cabin.
CABIN PRESSURE
Cabin pressure is maintained at around 8000ft (2450m).This is usually well tolerated by healthy passengers but those who are sensitive to pressure change or who have a vulnerable physical condition such as lung disease, severe anaemia, heart disease, or even a common cold, might feel uncomfortable.Aslo, your ears might feel blocked because of pressure changes. To clear your ears, try moving your jaw, smallowing water, chewning. The Valsalva mannoeuvre (blowing your nose softly with your mouth closed and nose pinched) can also help.
FOOD & DRINK
Always eat & drink in moderation. Heavy meals can lead to indigestion & gas-forming beverages like soda or beer can cause mild bloadting & intertinal discomfort.
MOTION SICKNESS
If you are prone to motion sickness, try to ensure a restful night before you fly. When in-flight, eat lightly & keep your eyes fixed on a non-moving object. If you start to fell nauseous, drop your seat back, close your eyes and breath deeply.
By:heritage
VIETNAM AIRLINE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

VICTORY IMMORTALISED

2007-06-28T10:49:00.000+07:00

VICTORY IMMORTALISED

On May 6th, 1954 an army of North Vietnamese soldiers led by legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap defeated French troops in Dien Bien Phu and marked the beginning of the end of French colonial relu in Indochina.This series of commemorative stamps, published to mark the 50th anniversary of the battle for Dien Bien Phu,is the latest in a series marking that history day. In October 1954 the first set of stamps, called "Victory at Dien Bien Phu" and designed by Bui Trang Chuoc, came into cirulation. Since then, Vietnam has published a new set every 10 years.
The designers of all five sets have tried to encapsulate the glory of vivtory by highlighting such moments as the planting of the North Vietnamese flag on defeated French colonel de castries’buker and soldiers singing morale boosting songs.
by: HERITAGE

Vietnam Airlines Inflight magazine

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hUgGiNg is ???

Chuyện về những cái ôm_Kẹo Ngốc

eyes_xuli

Phong canh Vinh Ha Long

Vinh Ha Long _Vietnamese - Ha Long Bay

[K]i[M]o[N]o-truyen thong NHAT BAN

what time is it ?

Bet On It - REMIX

I don't dance

you are the music in me

when you're gone

TO SHARE

VIET NAM - Culture

Tet food in Viet Nam

Vietnam - country & people - folk-games

Traditional Sculpture ( VIETNAM)

WINDOW IN VIETNAM - Vietnam's bamboo and rattan trade

HA LONG BAY - WORD HERITAGE SITE

FOOD IN VIETNAM 2

Customes

HO CHI MINH CITY

Worship of Ancestor Custom

FROM CITY TO CITY

Window on Vietnam

Tales from SHAKESPEARE

VIETNAM’S FASHION IDENTITY

FOOD IN VIETNAM

ENJOYABLE AIR TRALEV

VICTORY IMMORTALISED

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