Famous Foods in New Zealand

New Zealand foods are not known to the public very much as compared with Japanese foods. Let me introduce to you New Zealand foods.
Firstly this is Pavlova. Pavlova is a meringue dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer, Ánna Pávlova. It is crispy on the outside and light fluffy inside and it is decorated with topping of whipped cream and fresh fruit of sweet flavours, such as strawberries, kiwifruit or something. This is a home cooking and frequently eaten during celebratory or holiday meals such as Christmas dinner. As souvenir, there is Pavlova magic that can make pavlova easily. Recipe is as follows, Firstly beat egg whites and make meringue. Secondly spread it on oven plate. Thirdly bake for one hour. Fourthly put whipped cream on it. Finally put fruits on it. Topping is up to you.

Secondly this is Manuka honey. Manuka honey is from bees who feed on the flowers of the Manuka bush, also known as the "Tea Tree" to produce a honey that has anti-bacterial properties. Maori also used it as medicine. There are liquid type and cream type. This is also very popular as souvenir.

Please eat or buy them when you go to New Zealand.

Festivals

I'm going to talk about Oktoberfest and Asama festival. Firstly let me introduce to you Oktoberfest. It is held in the west of Munich in Germany during late September and running to early October. It is huge site, has about 7000 seats in the tent and has several thousand seats outside the tent. More than 6 million people visit and the place is filled beyond capacity from morning to night during the term. It is difficult to get seats. There are people who stand and dance on the chairs, play as brass bands on the stage or have jugs of draft beer and sing cheerful folk music of Bayern. When people shout 「Prost !! (It means Cheers)」 people who see it first time must be surprised.

Let me tell you about Asama festival in Matumoto city I was born. It is Torch festival at the famous hot spring with a history of 1300 years, "Asama Hot Spring". It is held on Oct.3 and people hold up small and large taimatsu (pine torches) parade to thank productive of grain. Don't forget to bring a mask.

Great Movies

I wacthed a lot of movies and DVDs during summer vacation. For example, The Dark Knight, Wanted, Finding Neverland, CloverField, Reign Over Me, and stuff like that. I'd like to tell you about two of the movies that I recommend: "The Dark Knight" and "Reign Over Me".

Let me tell you about "The Dark Knight" first. This story is based on original of American comics "Batman" by Bob Kane and"The Dark Knight" is sequel to "Batman Begins". Heath Ledger's performance of enemy is marvelous. He was necessary for the screen world but he died of taking too many prescription drugs after he had completed filming The Dark Knight. Director has dedicated the film in part to Ledger's memory. Click on this link Official Site.

Let me tell you about "Reign over me" next. This story is about a man who lost his wife and child on 9/11 in New York and his old friend who feels inert and empty. Two old friends who fell out of touch understand each other gradually. Music is an important component of this film. The title of the film comes from the song "Love, Reign o'er Me" by The Who. Click on this link Official Site.

Please watch these movies on DVD if you have a free time.

Exercise and Diet

Pilates

Pilates is the exercise that Mr. Joseph H Pilates developed for the rehabilitation of the soldier who got injured in World War I, so we can do without an unnecessary burden in our body. The contortion of the pelvis is improved and the badness of the posture, fatigability and stiffness in the shoulders is dissolved. If you go on with this exercise, it fixes the balance of a frame and the muscle of the muscle of the core and the work of the internal organ improves. Why don’t you try “Pilates”?
Let's try




Organic Food

Organic Foods are produced without the use of conventional pesticides or artificial fertilizers, and they were processed without food additives. In most countries, organic product must not be genetically modified and it must not use chemicals and chemical seasoning. In generally, it is only home manufacture. The most common benefit is that of taste. There are also environmental aspects such as fewer chemicals in the soil leading to less erosion of the countryside and pollution of our rivers with nitrates.
more information
more information in Japanese
When you purchase organic foods in Japan, you have to see carefully because there are imitations in the market lately. Please click on the bottom of the link and look at the picture. It is formal mark of organic foods. This is the JASmark.

Full House

This story is about one family and their friends in San Francisco. Family member is Daniel(Danny), DJ, Stephanie(Steph) and Michelle. Daniel’s wife died by a traffic accident and then he brings up by being helped with his friends, Joseph(Joey) and his wife’s brother(Jesse). Joseph’s wife(Becky) and children joined them in the middle of the series and the family'house becomes “Full House”.
Please check Title Call, Full House HP and Wikipedia if you want to know it more.

The Powers of Humor and Laughter

When do you laugh? Did you laugh recently? The powers of humor and laughter are numerous. They entertain us and make us feel good, but above all, we have discovered that humor and laughter are the best medicine, stress relief work for us in life.

Are there other benefits of having a good laugh?There is lots of evidence that laughter does a lot of good things: Laughing appears to boost your blood flow and it may reduce your risk of developing heart disease. It reduces pain and blood sugar levels. Researchers are not certain how laughter expands blood vessels. One idea is that it is caused by chemicals called endorphins being released as we laugh. There is another that laughter helps your blood vessels to function better. It acts on the inner lining of blood vessels, causing vessels to relax, expand and increase blood flow. Laughing reduces allergic responses, including hay fever symptoms. Laughing is thought to help you in fighting off illnesses by boosting the immune system. Laughing lifts your mood - even if you fake your laugh. Laughing reduces the effect of stress by lowering stress hormone levels. Laughter establishes, or restores as the case may be a positive emotional climate and a sense of connection between two people.
There are a lot of information anymore.