North India
The states in the northern part of the country like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh by and large are known for their slightly rich and spicy flavours. Commonly used spices are coriander, cumin, red chilli powder, fenugreek, garam masala and almost everything has a hint of onion, ginger, garlic and tomato. Read the rest of this entry »

Scotland is known for its scenic beauty. Every place in Scotland has some history behind it; there are many historic sites like burial chambers, standing stones, sepulchers, and castles of Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. The beautiful castles in Bothwell (Glasgow), Crathes village in Aberdeenshire and Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (the British monarch’s official residence in Scotland), are some examples of the rich heritage of Scotland. Read the rest of this entry »

Japanese Tea Ceremony Procedures
The steps to the ceremony are quite simple: clean the serving bowls, boil a pot of water, serve a sweet treat to guests before the tea, mix powdered bitter green tea (Matcha) and water to make a frothy tea, serve the tea to guests. [ The flavors of the sweets and bitter tea compliment each other. This is a sign of harmony. ]
1. Bow when you receive the cup of tea which is called a chawan.
2. Take the chawan with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left hand.
3. Turn the chawan clockwise three times before you take a drink.
4. When the tea is gone, make a loud slurp to tell the host that the tea was truly enjoyed.
5. Wipe the part of the chawan your lips touched with your right hand.
6. Turn the chawan counterclockwise and return to the host. Read the rest of this entry »

Originally a type of worship in religious ceremonies, hula was performed to give thanks to Hawaii’s ancient gods and honor its chieftains. Later hula dances, chants, and songs moved from the temples into the secular world, their incantatory beauty entertaining and enlightening.
Accompanied only by voice or percussion instruments, male — and subsequently, female — hula dancers used their bodies to express the wondrous legends of the Hawaiian islands. Read the rest of this entry »

Bobbing for Apples – This is a Halloween game that goes back hundreds of years. Place apples with stems in a large tub or kettle with water. They must remove an apple only using their teeth. Alternatively, you can tie 13 apples to strings and hang them from a tree. Each child must try to bite an apple while blindfolded.
Candy Hunt – Similar to an egg hunt, wrap little packages of candy corn in netting or use other candy and hide them for the children to find. Read the rest of this entry »