The November's issue

History & Culture

The Thai Loy Krathong Festival

Thai people every year organise their Loy Krathong festival from the middle of the eleventh to the middle of the twelfth lunar month. It is believed that while you let your krathong float away with water, you also get rid of the pain and anger that embittered your life. Instead of the unpleasent feelings your life will be filled up with good luck and happiness for the upcoming year.

Fashion

Valentino in Shanghai

On the 14th of November 2013, Valentino presented for the first time its Shanghai collection in the newly built luxury shopping mall, IAPM in Shanghai. Elegant, lady-like dresses, seduction interesting and new cuts and much of redness. The collection is already available in the Shanghai store.

The October's Issue

Food

Food and our environment

Food is definitely something the whole world is interested in. There are uncountable receipts, traditions, cuisines and subcultures. Food is not only our basic need, but it is also a tool for socializing, and being a part of our world. 

Since, the 2000s in some terms a food revolution has started to unfold, inspiring people to make healthy and wise choices day by day and paying more attention on the quality of food they eat. But how our every day food choices influence our environment we live in? And what kind of impacts we have on the planet when we decide to eat our steak for lunch? Interesting questions, lets find out the answer...

Fashion

Fashion Weeks Review

New York, Milan, Paris, London, the common thread that connects the above 
metropolises  in September-October is the wild pulsation of the fashion industry. Every year around this time of the year all who matters in the fashion industry gathers  to view and present next year's Spring Collections. Extraordinary and original cut lines, sophisticated designs and gorgeoues venues spiced with excitement and scandals.

Beauty

Winter Makeups

The top ten makeup styles for the upcoming Winter season. Also tips on how to keep your skin moisturized during the cold winter months protecting it from dryness and strenghthening its natural glow.

Travel

Versailles & Paris

How and where to spend a romantic long weekend in the magical city of Versailles and Paris. Sightseeing, restaurants, museums, walks, shopping and many more.. As we all know from Audrey Hepburn, 

 "Paris is always a good idea."

Culture

The Balinese Dance Culture

The lifestyles of Balinese people is expressed in their dance.

Not only do we learn about the Balinese religion from their dance creations

 but also we can understand their way of thinking 

and activities that belong to everyday life.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The Land of Many Scooters

Ho Chi Minh City for 3 days, it was enough to satisfy my curiosity about the city. I didn’t have any ideas or imagination of how the city would be like, but I was ready for whatever it is that the city would offer. I must admit, I am quite easy with regards to travelling and an adventurer in another way. But indeed, I found my adventure and peace in one package.

Vietnam was quite special, I couldn’t figure out how or why but I would go back in a heartbeat if circumstances would allow me.

And to share some of the experiences I had, here are some of the moments I have captured along the trip and some useful information that you can tag along if you might consider flying over one day. But in case you were wondering, Yes… I did travel with a Lonely Planet in one hand and a Sony digital camera on the other hand.

Go

War Remnants Museum (Bao Tang Chung Tich Chien Tranh)

Address: 28 D Vo Van Tan
Admission: 15,000d
Opening hours: 7:30am-noon; 1:30-5pm

Reunification Palace (Dinh Thong Nhat)
Address: D Nam Ky Khoi Nghia
Admission: 30,000d
Opening hours: 7:30-11am; 1-4pm

Eat

Au Parc

My personal favorite in Ho Chi Minh, it’s a small well decorated Mediterranean café that serves the best smoothies in town. Plus the fact that they give away sparkling wine to women every night, this place is so friendly with a budget price range you would start to wonder if they do make money. The food is an average, but considering the ambience and the price, it is really not that bad at all. It is quite hidden along the street of the park but if you are in for a hunt, I totally recommend this place.

Address: 23 D Han Thuyen (Dhong Khoi Area)

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:30-10:30pm
Sunday 8am-5pm
Cusine: Mediterranean
Price: 95,000-165,000d
Must-try: Fruit Smoothies

Pho Hoa

This place will definitely give you the real Vietnamese experience you actually came for. A very traditional Vietnamese canteen where you share tables with the local, where food you didn’t order are basically placed in your table to give you an easy reach of things and ends you up with eating food you didn’t come to eat nor asked but happy to have experienced. This is the place where I have learned to love drinking Iced Cocoa with Condensed Milk (Cacao Sua Da). Don’t even bother ordering it in another place, you will be disappointed. The Pho is impressive, I don't even want to try in another place.

Address: 260C D Pasteur (Da Kao Area)
Opening hours: 6am-midnight
Price: 45,000-50,000d
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Must-try: Pho, Cacao Sua Da (Iced Cocoa), Gio Chao Quay (Fried Chinese bread)

Drink

Vasco’s

If I would have an idea of Barcelona in Vietnam, this would probably be the closest one I can think of. It’s an outdoor bar filled with expats coming with a scooter to have a drink or two. The entrance might not look as fancy as it is but as you go in, you would feel as if you are in a different city. It is located in a tiny plaza where a few bars and restaurants are side to side that you can actually cross over if a drink here doesn’t satisfy you, which I highly doubt.

Address: 74/7D DL Hai Ba Trung (Dong Khoi Area)
Opening hours: 4pm-11pm
Must-try: Cocktails, Tiramisu

Sleep

Tuan Anh Hotel 168

An impressively tidy hotel with a surprisingly cheap 350,000d per night, the price made up for everything. The employees don’t speak English though. Better take the rooms on the next floors as it gets noisy at the reception during daytime. The hotel is located in Pham Ngu Lao Area known to be the backpacker district. It is quite convenient to anywhere in the city, and it’s a 200,00d worth a travel from the airport.

Address: 168 Cong Quynh Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 01, District 1 - Pham Ngu Lao / Tay Balo, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Area: Pham Ngu Lao
Website: http://www.agoda.com/asia/vietnam/ho_chi_minh_city/tuan_anh_hotel_168.html
http://www.booking.com/hotel/vn/tuan-anh.en.html

Shopping

Ben Thanh Market

Whatever it is you need or looking for, this is the only place you need to go. A bargain market on just about everything, name it, Coffee, Nuts, Clothes, Souvenirs. Everything is under one roof. Though here, you would have to practice your bargain skills.

Address: Cho Ben Thanh; DL Le Loi, DL Ham Nghi, DL Tran Hung Dao & D Le Lai

Must-buy: Coffee, Cocoa, Nuts




Transportation

Tan Son Nhat International Airport

Taxi

          Mai Linh Taxi: Call 38383838
          Vinasun Taxi: Call 38272727

Cyclo

                Price: 15,000-25,000d
                           40,000d (District 1)

Motorbike Taxi / Xe Om
                Price:  20,000d (Pham Ngu Lao)

Saigon Scooter Centre
                Price: 20$-100$ per week
                Address: 25/7 D Cuu Long, Tan Binh district
                Contact: 38487816
                Website: www.saigonscootercentre.com






Catherine Valencia

Discrimi-Nation, an animated documentary movie that needs your help to make it happen!

Discrimi‑Nation is a documentary film series based on the trials of socially discriminated groups around the world. The first part explores the struggle and rise of Christianity in Bali.

The first episode of Discrimi-Nation went through a year of on-the-ground research in Bali. Peter Batory, a graphic designer, and Kata Molnar, research leader, both traveled the island and developed the idea of documenting social discrimination while researching century old tensions between traditional Balinese Hindus and the upstart Christian Church.

With the research finished, Peter and Kata have put together an international team to make the first episode of their vision a reality.

The island of Bali is a land of many faces. Beyond the natural paradise, the local people have an amazingly complex connection between life and religion. Hinduism is an intrinsic part of Balinese culture and every aspect of daily and spiritual life.

But what happens when a low caste Hindu boy takes another road, going against the many generations of his Balinese Hindu relatives, and becomes a Christian?

This untold story of social discrimination in the 1950's follows one man's journey carving a different path in unknown territory. The choices of Bishop I. Wayan Mastra not only altered the destiny of his family but also influenced history. His controversial ideas brought elements of Balinese Hinduism into the Christian Church, and changed the theological landscape in Bali forever.

Our group have already collected the materials for the first episode, and now we need to finance the post-production. Future episodes will travel the world and explore different aspects of discrimination, like political, gender, race, etc. Your donation will make this project happen.

While the research and filming has concluded, there are many things needed to finish the production of Discrimi-Nation's first episode:

• Character design
• Storyboarding
• Animatic (moving storyboards)
• Animation: boning, moving, background, models and compositing
• Sound design: music licences, remixing, mastering and atmosphere
• Editing
• Office rental and facilities

All of us from the Discrimi-Nation project wish to thank you for all your help in making our dream of building this documentary into a reality! Please know that your contributions are important to finishing our film. 

Without your help, it would not be possible. Thank you!

You can donate our campaign here:  http://www.indiegogo.com/discrimi-nation

Check out our trailer on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZfTwqRKsXk



Donate and share our campaign on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking platforms, help us make it happen!

Vitamin C

Alternative name: L-ascorbic acid

 

As a medical student, I felt the need of sharing some knowledge I have been learning in medical school and hopefully would be of great help to our readers. So I decided to start writing about supplements that you can all start to consider taking seriously since we basically need them, starting with the most famous vitamin..The letter C.

 

We, humans usually obtain it from the intake of fruits and vegetables. Though for some people who couldn’t maintain the daily recommended amount of vitamin C just by eating fruits and vegetables, you might as well consider taking a daily supplement of the vitamin because honestly in the long run, you really do need it.

 

This is a photo of my recent purchase in a supermarket in Shanghai.

 

 

 

THERAPEUTIC USES

Vitamin C is a major antioxidant. It is needed for the development and function of many body parts and maintaining proper immune function in fighting against infections. It has been proven to increase the absorption of iron from foods and correcting a protein imbalance in certain newborns called tyrosinemia.

 

It is basically a cofactor in a series of enzymatic reactions in our body including collagen synthesis, that when lacking causes a disease called Scurvy. Scurvy is a disease following a deficiency in Vitamin C leading to the formation of brown spots in the skin, spongy gums and bleeding. The spots are most abundant in thighs and legs. The person would usually look pale, depressed and immobilized with a visible loss of teeth that due to the advancing signs and symptoms of the disease could eventually cause death. The timeframe for the onset of signs and symptoms for an adult would be around one month or more than six months depending on a previous load of the vitamin.

 

In addition, it has been studied to help in the development and maintenance of scar tissue, blood vessels, and cartilage.

 

Vitamin C has been proven to be a natural antihistamine (anti-allergy), preventing both the release of histamine and increases its detoxification. 90 milligrams per day and no more than 2 grams (2,000 milligrams) per day would be effective.

 

It has been used for glaucoma, cataract prevention and gallbladder disease, dental cavities (caries), constipation, Lyme disease, heat stroke, hay fever, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, infertility, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), autism, collagen disorders, arthritis and bursitis, back pain and disc swelling, cancer, and osteoporosis.

 

Research were done in proving its use for hardening the arteries, preventing clots in veins and arteries, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

DEFICIENCY OF VITAMIN C

• Anemia
• Bleeding gums
• Decreased ability to fight infection
• Decreased wound-healing rate
• Dry and splitting hair
• Easy bruising
• Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
• Nosebleeds
• Possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism
• Rough, dry, scaly skin
• Swollen and painful joints
• Weakened tooth enamel

DAILY RECOMMENDED INTAKE

Infants

·  0 - 6 months: 40 mg/day

• 7 - 12 months: 50 mg/day

Children

• 1 - 3 years: 15 mg/day
• 4 - 8 years: 25 mg/day
• 9 - 13 years: 45 mg/day

Adolescents

• Girls 14 - 18 years: 65 mg/day
• Boys 14 - 18 years: 75 mg/day

Adults

• Men age 19 and older: 90 mg/day
• Women age 19 year and older: 75 mg/day

FOOD SOURCES

Fruits with the highest sources of vitamin C include:

• Cantaloupe
• Citrus fruits and juices, such as orange and grapefruit
• Kiwi fruit
• Mango
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries
• Watermelon

Vegetables with the highest sources of vitamin C include:

• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
• Green and red peppers
• Spinach, cabbage, turnip greens, and other leafy greens
• Sweet and white potatoes
• Tomatoes and tomato juice
• Winter squash

HIGH DOSE SIDE EFFECTS

Vitamin C is water soluble; with dietary excess not absorbed, and excess in the blood rapidly excreted in the urine. It exhibits very low toxicity.

 

A person might experience diarrhea as a result of the osmotic water-retaining effect of the unabsorbed portion in the gastrointestinal tract (small intestine).

 

Indigestion on an empty stomach can also be experienced.

Catherine Valencia

 

Winter Electric Blanket

Winter has arrived officially in Shanghai.

And I, coming from a tropical country, just declared a cold war from this freezing season. I have unpacked my winter coats and my amazing electronic blanket in order to survive this war. Yes, you heard that right.

An electronic blanket.

Despite many people contradicted to the idea of sleeping under a blanket with electricity operated heating system plugged into a socket, I embraced the invention and found heaven in winter time.

Well, for anyone who is currently living in Shanghai, you would agree that the temperature here seems to be doubled as it supposed to be. Yeah I here you talk, could it be that my tropical DNAs just doesn’t fit the weather? But then again, my German flatmate and Norwegian classmate couldn’t agree less. It is just painfully cold. And the reason why? The buildings aren’t designed and constructed for winter and cold. You get lucky when your AC-that-turns-into-Heater works well; otherwise you suffer badly…very, very, badly.

I was living with a Filipino foster family in Shanghai in 2009 when I first encountered this electric blanket under my bed sheet. I thought to myself, “What is this thing, are they secretly planning to torture me?” I felt the need to ask about it to figure out what in the world it is. And certainly, I found myself wronged.

It has been the best winter companion in my entire existence in Shanghai. It is an absolute cure to winter madness. I strongly recommend it.

But if you are uncomfortable with the idea, you can still get a portable heater which you can move around the house as needed if your AC/Heater is not enough; unless you have a house with a floor heating system and a magnificent superb heating system that gives a tropical country atmosphere, I would love to be invited.

Still just in case you are considering of trying one, I have compiled a few comparisons on where to buy and how much it costs. (This only applies to Shanghai, China; prices are in Renminbi)

I went to Carrefour in Longzhimeng Mall in Zhongshan Park to check on some prices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catherine Valencia