Sunday, August 26, 2012

Festival of Nations 感想



Festival of  Nations 是各國文化的呈獻
最基本的就是


民族音樂


節慶舞藝


特色物品


民間食物

前年我沒見有Malaysian的攤位

(話說St. Louis的Malaysian少得很,有天在商店聽到两位婦女像在講檳城的福建話, 我用福建話試着問她們是Malaysia人嗎,她們說是印尼Medan人。還告訴我,Penang和Medan的福建話很像,所以是姐妹城市。) 

這次遠見有Malaysian的字牌
趕快前去看
聽到他們之間談的是...泰語


再看看食物
我照他們的字牌 - Fried Rice Noodle with Chicken, Fried Chicken, Sesame Cracker, Rose Syrup with Milk, Black Coffee (Kopi O Peng), Rambutan stuffed with Pineapple in syrup
沒有Malaysia大街小巷都能吃到的roti canai、nasi lemak
我有點失望
也許他們申請不到了
就用Malaysian冒充?
(這城市有人做泰國、印度、越南、Chinese餐廳)


有幾個商家攤位送一些贈品

我拿了一項邮票首日封,那人員給我這lapel pin說它們配合,我道謝。
走到其它攤,有送胶袋,我拿了一個,把它們放進袋。
至到回家走離塲所時,在等festival提供的巴士,我拿出它們仔細觀賞一下,發現lapel pin有標價$2.99,心裡驚疑這是不是他們要售賣的,我沒給錢就不可以拿走。可是要走回去塲所的最後一端這麽遠,我穿的鞋又令我脚不是很舒服,又想,就當是贈品吧。掙扎了一會,排隊的人蠻多,身後的女士看我幾回望着手中的東西及望向塲所的表情
誠實...讓我回去那攤位,那人確定是贈品,我這才安心。


St. Louis 居民對回收物的意識不強,即使有設回收箱,很多人卻不理會。


在朋友群中,我這一對夫妻的朋友,做的最勤,他們常到家前的公園撿拾回收物。
他們也是慈濟志工,一有festival,他們最積極在做回收,負責做全两天。
每小區有好幾個回收箱,志工們需要在那一小區內來回走動,並查看是否有回收物在垃圾筒。
她在挖取出可回收的物項,很慚愧我只幫了一陣。


回家後,我給他們email:
你和Craig都很用心在recycle這方面,我很讚嘆!
我有一些提議,給你們参考看看是否可行。今天我觀察到其實去sign up當volunteer(不是指慈濟志工)的蠻多,我想是不是可以每個回收箱都至少站着一位volunteer,你教導volunteer,當有人要丟他們的杯、bottle、紙等等時,volunteer可對他們說要他們看手中要丟的東西,分辨一下丟進應該丟的箱,這樣就是給他們教育,以後他們才會認知這是他們的責任義務自己必須做回收。

Monday, August 13, 2012

心水餃的浪漫


心形韮菜水餃



我想我一定是得了心的強迫症


我一邊做一邊覺得...太瘋狂了
I must be crazy


两片做一個

或做
另一半 


這樣用心做給另一半吃
他一定會心花怒放


我是煮給自己吃的
玩玩一下


Friday, August 10, 2012

Lantern Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden


*Lantern Festival: "Art by Day, Magic by Night" is among the first displays of its kind and size in the United States.
*More than 30 highly skilled artisans traveled from Zigong in the Sichuan province of China to create this exhibition. 
May 26 - August 19, 2012 
*Lantern Festivals are one of the most beloved of all Chinese,  the tradition event rich in culture, history and meaning.


*Welcoming Dragon
*According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the year of the dragon.
Magic by Night 
6 - 10 p.m.


This is my idea - before going to the Garden to see the lanterns, first go to see the Sand Drawing show at Shoenberg Theater in the Ridgway Visitor Center. Then go to the garden, shop the bazaar, grab a bite to eat at the food court, and go to see the Performing Troupe.


*The Faces of the Chinese Opera
*Opera is the national essence of China, combining music, dance and song together in a unique art form.
*Lanterns are lit at 8 p.m.


 *ChenLong Performing Troupe


*Dragon Embracing the Pillars
*The dragon is a traditional symbol for the Chinese people, incorporated into Chinese history, beliefs, religion, nationality, and culture.


*Qilin (is a mythical creature)
*Made out of thousands of colorful Chinese medicine bottles.


*Blissful Wedding
*In China, red symbolizes fertility, happiness, good luck, and, of course, marriage.
*The wedding banquet is sometimes considered more important than the actual wedding itself and features such important ceremonies as the bride's presentation of wine/tea to her parents, new in-laws, her spouse, and their guests 


*Four-Faced Buddha
*Although Buddhism originated in India, it was adopted in China part because of its similarities with Confucianism and Taoism.


*Heavenly Temple (is modeled after the Beijing Heavenly Temple)


*The Flying Apsaras
*The beauty of fairies dancing and playing celestial music.


*Double Seventh Festival
is based on a traditional tale


*Goddess Blessing Buddha
*Bodhisattva, also known as Avalokistevara, called Guanyin in China.


*Panda's Paradise
*Pandas are one of the world's most precious animals, and one of China's most protected.


*Porcelain Dragon
is created two-fold from tens of thousands of Chinese cooking utensils - bowls, spoons, bottles, wine cups, and more, brought together through traditional hand-tying techniques. 
*Ancient China's mythical animal has been represented in many ways over the years.


*Lotus Ponds
*depicts an exaggerated version of the lotus and a large, central, rotating vase to bring holiness, good wishes, purity, safety, peace, and positive energy to Garden visitors.


*Lotus Flower
*To the Chinese the lotus symbolizes ultimate purity and perfection because it rises untainted and beautiful from the mud.


*Jiang Tai Gong Fishing
*This tells the popular legend of Jiang Tai Gong, the great historical Chinese military advisor and the father of strategic studies.

I am a volunteer in the Garden.


 *Zodiac Lanterns
*The 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle is represented through a series of decorative, boldly-colored Chinese lanterns of paper-cutting design, hanging from posts.


Art by Day 
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.



Brookings Center 
*serves a critical function for the Garden, offering an indoor, year-round, family-friendly destination for themed exhibits encouraging hands-on discovery, exploration, and learning.



*Note: These descriptions are from the Missouri Botanical Garden


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