Welcoming New Year In Asia With Ancient Traditions

By John Chan

There are number of traditions which revived during Chinese New Year which we will discuss below.

The ancient custom and traditions are an essential part of China and as such they take a lot of pride in them. The whole of China together desire to preserve these activities related to their traditions and as such celebrate them from time to time with aim of carrying them forward.

The Chinese New Year is a time when you manage to see Chinese traditions in full bloom. A hub of traditional activity explodes onto the scene during the first few weeks of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese have a whole set of beliefs and traditional practices with regards to the welcoming of a new year. One can pretty much see how deeply the age old traditions are embedded in the Chinese culture by looking at all the traditional practices that are brought into light during New Year celebrations.

The celebrations are carried on in huge scale during the New Year in China for another reason. The mass media is very efficient in reporting all the happenings of this time to the whole world. The western people find these traditions strange with a mystical air about them. Their interest heightened they come to China in large number to witness these traditions thus giving a great push to the China's tourism industry.

The traditional celebrations officially begin a night or two before the actual New Year arrives and go up to the 15th day of the first month of the New Year. This is a great time to have fun and do business in China as people are happy and cheerful and willing to spend their money as well!

Every home receives a thorough cleaning for welcoming the New Year. The ill fortunes of last year are thrown away and the house is beautified and purified for welcoming the good fortune of the coming year.

Doors and windows are painted red as per tradition. Red is the color of New Year in China. The traditional belief is that it wards away all sorts of evil spirits and omens and keeps the house protected from any harm.

If you visit China during the New Year you will find a good number of decorations in all houses. There are couplets as well as paper cuttings which are the signs of happiness and wealth and so on. There are different wall papers, paintings and scrolls which people put up to decorate their homes.

The Chinese prefer to celebrate the New Years Eve with their complete family as is the tradition and it is done with a lot of enthusiasm. A special dish is cooked for this occasion known as jiaozi which is actually dumplings in boiled water and it is together with all family members.

Playing games and watching televisions are some activities that the Chinese enjoy in on the New Years Eve. They watch special programs all night long on the television to remain awake. They also keep the lights on the whole night as they believe that doing so their parents will receive long and healthy life.

The real day begins with good wishes, presents, lantern parades, Kung fu acts, concerts and other various forms of celebrations that last a whole two weeks and end with the dragon dance with the fireworks on the night of the first full moon putting an end to the show of ancient traditions in modern times. - 33385

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The Capital Museum: A Worthwhile Destination for Tourist Staying in Beijing Hotels

By Efrenn Larson

The City of Beijing, previously known as Peking, is China's political capital. With more than 17 million people in its jurisdiction, Beijing is the second largest city in China after Shanghai. To facilitate the movement of its citizens, visitors and the goods they produce, the city is built with dozens of railways, motorways, seaports and a modern airport. This fact makes travelling to this great city a lot easier.

This ancient city never fails to amaze the eyes of a traveler since many significant tourist attractions dot its landscape. One cannot help but be inspired by how old-world buildings coexist side-by-side with modern structures. What's even better is that many Beijing hotels can be found within walking distances from these landmarks, helping visitors save time by visiting a number of spots in a day.

Chinese life sits side-by-side with their culture. This is the reason why a number of museums have been dedicated to the preservation of this unique characteristic. The Capital Museum, which opened in 1981 and renovated in 2007, is one of the biggest and more interesting. It now houses over 200,000 relics in its collection.

The faade of the museum is based on human and cultural heritage and underlines the harmonious integration of the past and the present, history and nature, art and modernism. The immense roof and the slope at the entrance are derived from traditional Chinese architectural style, and the stone exterior represents the city walls of ancient China. A large number of bronze, timber and stones are dispersed throughout the museum to represent a deeper sense of historicity. Also, a glass curtain wall, which gives a grand and transparent effect, reflects a sense of modernity.

Three permanent exhibitions are showcased by the museum. The first one, "Ancient Capital: Chapter on the History and Culture of Beijing" shows the niceties of art, architecture, dance, trade, commerce and transportation of the early Chinese under imperial rule.

The second exhibition, dubbed "Ancient Capital: Urban Construction" emphasizes the movement from the old to the new world. It also highlights the adoption of new-age technologies which brought the nation to its present state. China's urbanization is also included in this set.

The last exhibition, known as the "Stories of the Capital City - Old Beijing Folk-customs" portrays the importance of folklores and folkways in Chinese life. Also, the means to find and maintain luck and their relationship to a Supreme Being are also explained here.

The museum, aside from its exhibitions, also functions as a cultural heritage storehouse, conference and reception hall, and a digital movie hall where a super wide screen with the state-of-the-art technology are installed to display high-definition films. For visitors to enjoy the wonders of this site, they can earlier purchase their tickets in Beijing hotels or any travel agency to avoid the usual hustle and bustle. - 33385

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Simple Facts Of Traditional New Year Greetings From Orient

By John Chan

In the following article you will get some information about wishing a happy and prosperous New Year in ancient and modern day China.

Are you getting a lot of Guo Nian Hao from people as you near China in the beginning of the year? It only means Happy New Year in Chinese language. You will also get a number of New Year greetings in February in China as conventional Chinese New Year falls in the beginning of February which is absolutely different from western concept and comes as a surprise to many.

The difference in date regarding New Years is all because Chinese follow lunar calendar. Their New Year depends on the moon cycle rather than the date like 1st of January. The Chinese people celebrate their New Year in a traditional manner where they follow a lot of old customs and it's a time for joyful celebrations.

The lunar New Year brings with it a sensation of joyful celebration to the minds of the people and China as a whole becomes a part of it. You will be wished a Guo Nian Hao by anyone you come across whether they know you or not. For example even in the market you will be wished a Happy New Year by all the people working there.

According to Chinese tradition the New Year is celebrated for five days in the beginning of the year. As such the greeting like Guo Nian Hao is used only for this time period after which it is traditionally not correct to wish anyone. Also there are other Chinese words which means New Year too which are used for wishing at this time.

The New Year for Chinese is a time when people hope and pray for abundance in future for everyone including themselves for the rest of the year. The Chinese people demonstrate their happiness by using terms like Hokkien Keong hee huat chye, Gonxi Facai for best wishes and success in life to others.

Another most important thing in Chinese society is a good harvest so the traditional Chinese greeting include some terms to wish plentiful crops in the New Year as a part of Chinese traditional greeting.

There is another form of Chinese New Year greeting which is known as red envelop. According to this the children are given some money in envelop instead of saying any greeting. Red envelop is known to keep evil away from your life in future.

With the coming of modernity the form of New Year greeting is also changing in China. There is no exact way of greeting and people wish each other in their own ways. Unlike the ancient times New Year card has become pretty regular form of greeting in today's China.

The influence of Internet has slowly changed the concept of New Year in China and now people send e-card for wishing New Year to one another. As for the government, it wishes the entire population by holding firework display. - 33385

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Cool Club Toys For Rave Parties

By Bob Mercer

With the increase of club culture these days, new trends are developing. Teenagers can now be seen at clubs with shiny light emitting toys that look catchy making the club atmosphere groovier. Most teenagers are now proud owners of club toys that not only make them look cooler in the club, but also serve as a souvenir.

Most clubs are dark and the dance floor is lit only by the sparkles and beams of the disco balls and other hidden lighting systems that the clubs have. In this atmosphere you will barely be seen unless you are an exceptionally good dancer or you stand out in some manner. But a new way that people have found out to make their presence felt in the clubs are though the club toys. When you see a person sporting a club toy, you will notice them. The club toys glow and display enticing patterns of colors.

There are numerous varieties of toys that are appearing on the club scenes these days. Happy spin balls that display vibrant sets of colors when you are grooving with the music, light sticks that you can just hold in your hands, glowing caps, belts, glasses and there even are toys that you can keep in your mouth that makes your mouth look shiny. The crazy club culture has a path of its own and now it has added a big set of shiny, glowing toys to its collection.

Bright hand glow gloves: When you wear these gloves they automatically express your immense passion for club culture. These are gloves you wear that are made of a new generation of glowing material. The material used these days glow for a rather long time. The coolest part of this toy is that it glows in the dark, making your presence felt when the disco lights flash in the club. This club toy is reusable and is a great new invention.

Body lights: These toys maybe some of the most common toys you have seen in clubs around you. This consists of all kinds of illuminated jewellery that can be worn of different parts of the body. You can use these on your arms, ears, hair, belly and so on. There are clip-on toys that you a simply clip on anywhere. This comes in vivid colors and styles. The sizzling look of these toys has made them one of the favorite toys in the club scene in the recent days. You can purchase these at most online fashion stores or club stores.

You could buy these toys online at most fashion and club stores. Clubs also sell these are rather high prices with a logo of their club or something similar. When you wear these on you, you will be showing your passion for club culture. Unless you want to advertise for a club by paying a high price for their marked toys, you could buy them for cheaper online. After all it is the spirit of club culture that matters. - 33385

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Look-up Marriage License Records

By Angelo Vasquez

Various reasons are behind the effort of maintaining the Public Marriage Records by some designated records offices in the government. The most usual reason why people are after of such relevant public documents is to verify whether or not their future companion had been married in the past. The records show what happened in the previous relationship which ended up to separation. This kind of information definitely helps you decide if you want to get married with this certain person or not.

The legal files on Marriage License Records are compiled meticulously at each state level, as well as to all the statistics departments anywhere. Like the other public records, marriage reports can be accessed or obtained by the public since they fall under public domain. Nevertheless, though they are public properties, individuals should still follow particular policies and regulations in the process of retrieving such vital files. Everyone must not feel reluctant of conducting the search because it has been provided by law that such access to public documents is certainly legitimate.

The details that are included in the marriage reports are pertinent in many areas. The normal pieces of information that can be derived from the records contain the necessary details about the married individuals, witnesses and the person who spearheaded the marital ceremony. Together with the legal documents are the marriage license records, which certify that the proceeding had taken place. License records are given to the couple, solemnizing officer and the local government for legal documentation purposes.

Conducting a Marriage Records Search is not a serious concern anymore these days because various options are made available for everyone. The retrieval procedure can be executed both online and offline depending on what is accessible to the people. The process done at the offices though is time consuming because of the paper requirements that are to be complied. The Internet is the most popular medium to get hold of the legal documents today.

With the emergence of modern computerization and the Internet nowadays, the retrieval on public marriage files can be easily accomplished. Online record providers are the fad in terms of providing reliable sources of legitimate information these days. They are usually available in two methods; the free and the fee-based methods. The latter is more viable and useful for whatever serious and legal matters.

The retrieval of legal documents back in the old days is definitely different from what the people are experiencing nowadays. It only takes a few minutes of your time to finally get hold of the essential documents that you are after of. The advancement of computerization and the Internet has completely made the entire process convenient and fast. Plus, you can absolutely do it on your own at the privacy of your own home. - 33385

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Choosing Language Courses For Your Employees

By Frances Pallett

If your company does business overseas or you have international employees then your ability to communicate with these contacts effectively could be massively improved with the right language courses.

Businesses often ignore the relevance of languages when selling internationally but it is this understanding of the local culture and language that can attract new customers and complete sales. If your competitors have engaged employees in language courses and can confidently sell in the language of their customer, they are immediately at an advantage, which means you are falling behind.

You will need to be clear on why you need languages before you invest in language training. It could be you need languages to answer emails from foreign speaking clients or you might need to be able to meet and greet overseas customers face to face, in which case the type of language courses you require will differ. You will also need to decide which employees will require these skills so you know who to enrol on the relevant course.

You will also have to think about the kind of language courses you require. Language training delivered on a one-to-one basis is best for an individual who needs to make quick progress but if you have more than one potential learner, group training will be more cost effective. Open or distance learning is another option but given that learners will need to work in their own time from books, CDs and online content, self discipline and motivation will be crucial.

Timing and logistics are crucial to the success of language courses. Employees may be more willing to give up their time to learn a language if lessons can be arranged during their lunch hour rather than at the end of the working day, so language trainers could be booked to deliver sessions at the company premises - causing minimum disruption to the working day.

Setting targets for learners will enable them to get the most out of language courses but in doing this you need to be realistic - nobody will become fluent in a language after just one course - but by setting smaller, achievable targets your employees will be motivated to continue with their language learning.

Finally, to complement their language courses, learners should be encouraged to put their skills into practice. Language learning improves with regular immersion so tuning in to the radio, reading a newspaper or just taking every opportunity to use the language will help the learning process. After all, practice makes perfect! - 33385

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Show off Your Love of the Old West and Your Heritage with Native American Checks

By Alan Plastin

Are you proud of the Native American traditions that your family still carries out? Or are you just enthralled by the legends of the Old West? If you are then you might want to consider buying Native American personal bank checks. Regardless as to whether or not you want to show the world how proud you are of your heritage, or you merely find style and magnificence in the history of the American Indian, you will be sure to find an assortment of check series to pick from.

There are many different tribes of Native Americans, but one thing they all have in common is that they represent a way of life that, unfortunately, no longer exists. The romance of the American Indian is felt by many people, even those that have no biological ties to the tribes that once roamed the vast deserts and the lush woodlands and mountains of the United States.

You will be able to bring back some of that romance and history and take it with you if you purchase Native American checks.

No matter where your interests lie, there is bound to be a Native American check series that will appeal to you. Take, for instance, the elegant American Indians series. The 4 rotating images in this series feature illustrations of Native Americans in a muted, sandstone background. The colors themselves are reminiscent of the old west and the desert, giving the checks a touch of class in a subdued way.

On the other hand, if you would like something a little more colorful then you might be interested in the Mystic Maidens check series. These also come in 4 rotating images, each one showing a beautiful Native American princess set against a backdrop of mountains, clouds, and trees.

Conversely, the Petroglyphs checks don't actually show images of people at all, but instead focus on the cave art and other drawings of Native Americans that have been discovered over the years. These Petroglyphs tell a story and were the only form of written language during the time that they were written. Their significance in history, as well as in the culture of Native Americans, cannot be overlooked.

Likewise, the Southwest Art series are vibrant, beautiful checks that contain images of drawings that have been discovered in the caves and sandstone of the west.

If you would like to buy Native American checks then you should know that by purchasing them online from a safe site you can save as much as 50% off the cost that your bank might charge you. You will also have an assortment of checks to select from, in contrast to the limited selection of checks that your bank might have made available to you.

When buying your checks, ensure that you have your routing number and checking account number handy so that they can be printed onto the checks. You should get them in about 5 days, which might even be quicker than you got them in the past. - 33385

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Chinese Tea: Producing a Good Crop

By Rheim Sanczhes

The word tea leaves or tea is well-known in many countries as "cha" which is a Chinese character for tea or Chinese tea. Tea, Coffee and cocoa are the three most common drinks in the world. In general, among the three, tea is known to have the highest proportion of consumers. It is part in the way of life of China, Japan, and other Asian countries. And its refreshing powers to boost health have attracted lots of people to drink tea for their daily need. Generally, tea is a widely consumed drink in the world after water.

The demand of tea increased rapidly. In fact there has been a wide cultivation of Chinese tea plant in China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka among others. Around forty countries in the world cultivated tea, and it is in the Asian region where tea production reached as high as 90% of the world's total output. Asian top producers of tea include China, India, and Sri Lanka.

All tea trees in other countries in either way have their origin directly or indirectly in China. The history of human planting and growing of tea shrubs dates way back two thousand years ago. The Chinese tea plant was known to exist as early as five to six thousand years ago.

The growing and harvesting of tea ca be easily correlated to the growing of grapes. Yes, it would take quite a number of years for one to be able to produce quality tea crop.

Chinese tea plantation must grow for five years before its leaves can be picked. If the tea yard is already in its 30 years, it will not be productive as before. To keep the tea yard producing quality crops, the trunks of the already old plant should be cut off so that new stem would grow out. With that, a tea yard is ready again to serve for about a hundred years.

The best conditions for growing Chinese tea are typically at high altitudes with a good amount of rainfall. In Sri Lanka however, the best condition is to grow and harvest tea at lower altitudes producing a different aroma and variety of tea. Too much sunlight will hinder the growth of the tea plant. The ideal climate for growing tea is to have cooler mornings with a light mist to help shield the plants from the sun.

Tea plantations achieved good harvest if they produced around three thousand tea leaves each year. Today, almost all teas are virtually grown and nurtured on plantations. - 33385

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How Oriental People Usher In New Year

By John Chan

You may find it difficult to calculate Chinese New Year but if you observe the traditional activities related to New Year carefully you will get to know when it is celebrated.

The Chinese New Year is a period when the locals bring back to life the ancient traditions that have been practiced for centuries in China. Although there is no fixed date for the Chinese New Year the activities sure do make it clear that the New Year is here. The festive spirits are on high during this time of the year and the whole of China is engaged in a hub of activity.

It is difficult to miss the Chinese New Year in spite of the fact that they have no exact date for their New Year. Complete China becomes busy in bringing back the age old customs which are associated to the New Year. It is a national festival and the people are in high spirits. So it will not be difficult for anyone to know when Chinese New Year is.

The activity begins with the home, to be more precise, home cleaning is the first official New Year activity for all Chinese home owners. This cleaning includes a top to bottom makeover. Out with the old and in with the new. Families purchase new clothes for the celebration days and pay off any pending debts.

Home is where the New Year activities start. People make a thorough cleaning of their houses and throw away the unwanted objects. They also buy new things for their home including clothes. They also make it a point to square off their debts if they have any.

As New Year brings in the new, the Chinese homes also get a new look with new paint and all repairing done. It goes for the personal life as well and people get hair cuts to be blessed during the New Year.

The thorough cleaning of the house is followed by a paint job of the doors and windows. They are painted bright red in the belief that the red color is the agent of good fortune and it helps to keep the evil elements away.

throughout the Chinese New Year you will come across a lot of doorways with spring couplets hanging on them. These paper made curls and squares are engraved upon with particular meanings. Keeping with the auspicious spirit the couplets have blessings engraved for the coming year or showering of good fortune or a good spring time etc.

There are some symbols which have a direct link with the New Year festivities. For instance hanging paper lanterns is a must. Also as a part of the ancient custom you must display the animal of that year in different areas of the house. Doing flower arrangements are common this time as it is believed that flowers like narcissus and quince branches bring in good health and abundance. - 33385

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Romantic Valentines Day Restaurants in Tampa

By Anne J. Michaels

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to create a memorable evening. Valentine's flowers and a romantic dinner in a unique setting will set the mood. You might take in a show, or do a little dancing, maybe take a walk on a moonlit beach. Then follow your heart. It will be an evening they remember for years. Here is a great selection of Tampa's best romantic restaurants.

Comfortable elegance is a phrase that fits the Capital Grille perfectly. Add intimacy to the equation and you have the perfect location for a romantic and memorable Valentine's Day dinner. The dark wood, the rich leather and the intimate lighting combine to create an ambiance made for romance. They also offer an impressive menu that includes dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood. To top it off, their service is amazing. Did I mention their extensive wine list? The Capital Grille is located in the International Mall, off Westshore, in Tampa.

Armanis is an excellent choice for those who enjoy Northern Italian Cuisine with a view. Armanis is located on the 14th floor of Tampa Bay's Grand Hyatt Hotel, near Tampa International Airport. The location offers a panoramic view of Tampa Bay, an outstanding Northern Italian menu, a wonderful antipasto bar, and an outdoor patio to soak in the view. Did I mention decadent desserts? Armanis has created a perfect recipe for a romantic, and memorable, Valentine's Day dinner.

Yet another top romantic restaurant in Tampa is SideBerns. The menu is a cosmopolitan twist on Mediterranean cuisine. Fresh seasonal ingredients combine with French, Italian, Spanish and North African influences to create a fresh and original menu. Add an extensive wine list and oh-so-rich desserts and you have a perfect Valentine's Day dinner. Like it's legendary big brother Bern's Steak House, SideBerns is located in south Tampa. It's on Morrison, just off Howard Avenue, near Bern's.

If your perfect Valentine's Day dinner includes a spectacular view, you should consider CK's The View. Would you believe a rotating rooftop restaurant? Located at the top of the Tampa Airport Mariott, It offers an unparalleled view of Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport. CK's also offers a superb menu including fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks and sushi. Live contemporary jazz, an excellent cocktail bar and wonderful service offer even more reasons to have your romantic dinner at CK's.

Located off the Courtney Campbell Causeway in the Rocky Point District, the Rusty Pelican offers several unique features. Set on its own pier it offers superb views of Old Tampa Bay. It offers not one but four warm fireplaces. Tampa can be fairly chilly on Valentine's Day. Add an excellent menu that includes steak and seafood, wonderful cocktails, and award-winning wine list and you have another excellent choice for a romantic Valentine's dinner.

Tampa offers wide variety of options after a romantic dinner. You could take in a show, or do a little dancing. You might cap the night off with cocktails in a luxurious lounge. Or perhaps you'd like a romantic moonlight walk on the beach. Whatever your tastes, Tampa offers everything you need to make the special night truly memorable. Don't forget to make reservations early and don't forget the Valentine's flowers. - 33385

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Beijing Hotels and Zhoukoudian: From Caves to Buildings

By Efrenn Larson

Does Peking Man ring a bell? If it does, then you will surely find this spot enticing. Zhoukoudian or Choukoutien is a system of caves in Beijing where various archaeological discoveries, including the famous Peking Man were found. Having lived in the area about 200,000 to 750,000 years ago, it was one of the first specimens of Homo erectus, the oldest species of human beings.

Since this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it draws many tourists who are staying in various Beijing hotels. Due to its notability, it has been included in the itineraries of these hotels. However, you can also inquire from different hotels in Beijing to suit the trip depending on your needs.

A Swedish geologist named Johan Gunnar Andersson together with an American paleontologist Walter W. Granger were led to an area called Dragon Bone Hill by local quarry men in 1921. There, Johan immediately realized that this is a good spot to look for human remains.

Since 1926, the cave was constantly excavated, uncovering about 200 human fossils from forty individuals identified as Homo erectus. In addition, more than 10,000 pieces of stoneware, cinder layers and animal fossils from 200 various varieties were found. Zhoukoudian was considered as one of the most important sites which yielded evidences from the Middle Pleistocene Era.

At present, an exhibition hall with seven rooms is located at Zhoukoudian's Dragon Bone Hill. The fossil remains of the Peking man and his external appearance, stone tools, general living conditions and evidence of his use of fire are shown in the first room. We recommended that you book your tickets in advance or visit any of the Beijing hotels where you can be assisted with your touring needs.

The second room demonstrates Hilltop Cavemen and animal fossils, bone needles, decorative objects and stone tools.

The third room displays fossils of men discovered in various parts of the country like the Hetao and Dingcun Dingcun Man and other fossil copies of the ancient jungle ape, Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon Man that give us an general appreciation of years of human evolution.

The geological history of the dwelling of the Peking Man and the human and animal evolution through different geological periods are introduced in the fourth room.

The fifth and sixth rooms exhibit fossils of vertebrates and fishes discovered in other locations around Zhoukoudian.

The final room contains the fossils of some of the animals hunted by Peking man. It was known that the tiger and bear were considered his enemies. Elephant and rhinoceros fossils were also discovered at the site, giving us a clue of the changing climate before.

Visiting this place will give you a glimpse on how humans have evolved throughout the years. To better enjoy your tours, we encourage you to take a break in one of the magnificent rooms of Beijing hotels where you can savor the delight that the city has to offer. - 33385

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Place Of Children In Oriental New Year

By John Chan

Kids have a special position in the New Year celebrations in China. lets see how the kids have fun during New Year.

New Year is a time when people of both sexes and ages have a cheerful time and enjoy themselves to the maximum and follow a number of traditions but the youngest kids are the ones who have the best time in this season.

After all there are number of advantages of being young. First of all you are free from all the liability when it comes to arranging, managing and taking care of things. This doesn't mean that the kids don't help around the house during the season but it is right that the elders take it real easy on the kids during the Chinese New Year season and let them enjoy to the maximum.

New Year is one time in China when the entire nation is busy enjoying themselves to the maximum. The New Year in China is celebrated with the revival of the old customs. The children while sharing the fun and festivities of the occasion also learn about the history andsource of each event.

The New Year in China has a lot of advantage as far as the kids are concerned. It allows them to have lot of fun with all the festivities but it also imparts significant education in history which children learn through the whole process of celebration. This way they do not dread the lessons and also remember it till they are alive.

The rich cultural heritage of China comes across in a chain of activities that are held during this time of the year. The true essence of China is presented to the kids in a manner that they can absorb. New Year's eve is a time when bed time curfews are removed and the children are allowed to stay up late and engage in all sorts of games.

The elders in China take pains to teach their kids Chinese history and traditions by setting up traditional games so that kids learn from them while enjoy playing them. One of the main games that kids get to play is dominoes which they learn that it originated in China and Chinese are playing it for at least thousand years.

Another game which parents encourage the children to play is an 8th century game of cards. Here the parents create drawings on the cards and kids are made to write a story from the visual. Jianzi game is also played with lot of enthusiasm which is one of the ancient games of China resembling the game of hacky sack played by the kids in modern times.

The greatest joy is the red envelop which the children receive which contains money given by the elders. Hong Bao as the tradition is known as is the best part of Chinese New Year tradition for the kids as they get pocket money to spend on all the nice things that are offered as well as it brings them good luck.

The New Year festival offers a great deal of lessons to the kids as well as pure fun and merry making. They come to enjoy traditional parades like lantern festival and dragon dance which is held over a period of time. - 33385

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Traditional Mandarin Songs For New Year

By john Chan

Here is a synopsis on how Chinese traditional songs are chosen and sung during the season of the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese really prefer to go all out when the moon signals that the year is over and the new one is on its way. The New Year in China is dependent on the cycle of the moon because they make use of the lunar calendar. Although it's never a full moon when it's the New Year you will still be hearing some howling in the form of Chinese New Year songs.

The Chinese New Year is received very positively by the entire country. It is a time when people are set to bury the past and look into the future with positivity and the hope for prosperity. The festive spirit is high and it seems as though everyone is in their best moods wishing the best for their brothers.

It is no surprise that they have a selection of Chinese New Year songs that have been composed for the purpose of celebrating the coming of the New Year. For your information the Chinese New Year is considered as the most important event of the year according to their lunar calendar. And this is not just now, rather the Chinese New Year celebrations have been going on for many years in the same fashion.

These Chinese songs that are written to welcome the coming New Year is all about love and happiness that the people experience or desires to express with the approaching New Year. These songs justify the love and blind faith that Chinese people have towards their traditions and the pride they have for their country.

The Chinese people are a set of people who love nature and peace even though history states that they have had wars through generations. The fundamental composition of the New Year traditional songs aims to express the nationalistic soul of the Chinese people and sometimes also expresses how they live and what they expect from life.

Chinese people take trmendous pleasure in listening to the New Years songs as they speak about their history and culture. During the festival time, songs seem to be heard on the streets as well as heard coming from inside of the houses. Families get together and together they sing songs in unison celebrating this festive season.

When songs and dances are executed, people also invest on costumes and dressing in a traditional manner. People who do not belong to the Chinese culture might find it weird, but it's a package which comes along with the Chinese culture.

Like the Chinese cultural heritage that is passed on from generations to generations, these New Year traditional songs are pretty much similar for ages now in their compositions. However, many new songs have been composed by the present day musicians but they require a special stage or show to perform it. This has also become a part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. - 33385

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Malaysian Batik In Todays Fashion World

By Josephine Lim

What is batik? We've all seen it - its cloth that uses a wax-resist technique of dying to produce various patterns. Recent advances in printing however have changed batik from the point of view that many products sold as batik are not the real deal.

It is commonly thought that early Malaysian batik was created using wooden blocks which was known as "batik chop". In the 1920's the introduction of wax and copper blocks was made by the Javanese batik makers.

In the 1960's hand drawn batik or "batik tulis" was made into a commercial pursuit. This method is dependent entirely upon whatever the artist is inspired to draw at the time thus there is less formality than the traditional ways.

Prices for batik works depend very much upon the intricacy of the craft person - the design, the fabric, the type of dyes used and the complexity of the product. Of course, the price is also dependent upon the amount of time taken to produce the product. Many batik pieces run into thousands of dollars.

In times gone by Javanese batiks were sold to the rest of Indonesia and also exported into Malaysia. They were then useas sarongs or dresses or adornments around the house, as mentioned.

Javanese batik is considered to be the best in the world because of its intricate design. However, ask a Malaysian about this and of course you will hear differently! There is many a highly skilled batik maker in Malaysia for sure - many of the original tribes people of Sarawak and Sabah in what used to be known as North Borneo in Malaysia still make batiks by hand and they are particularly pleasing to behold! - 33385

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Best Genealogy Software Will Have To Help To Build Full Family Trees

By Melanie Tylor

Without any doubt, the best genealogy software is one that will help you create a family tree from available genealogy records. Furthermore, you should pick software before you start processing the information that you will come across when going through various records as if you delay the choice till the last moment you could easily find yourself becoming overwhelmed by the voluminous information that will be thrown up.

Of course, when it comes to picking the best genealogy software there will be dozens of options to choose from which means that unless you know what to look for the task of picking the best option will be quite confusing and difficult. Each different program is sure to have unique aspects that will handle your needs in different ways and so you must learn to find out more about which features are best in regard to building a complete family tree.

This means that you have to look at aspects such as how easy it is to enter family data and how many formats are supported and of course you will also need to factor in the price, availability as well as your own personal needs. Regardless of whether you are going to use the software for the first time or you have previous experience you must start by listing your goals as well as needs.

After doing this, you have to look at your computer's operating system and then pick software that works with that particular kind of operating system.

After this you will need to identify what purpose has to be served and of course most people wish to build family trees and so you have to look at the software's ability to create this tree in the most effective manner.

In addition, you have to look at aspects such as can the software help you build a family tree that is large enough to fill a wall and whether it allows you to add audio, photos and even videos. You will also want to look at the software's ability to store dates, names and even events and whether it can help build a family Web page or even print out Family History books.

It is necessary that you also analyze your true needs which means that you should look for support for particular languages and whether the software can support physical disabilities and whether it can handle special fields to maintain things such as rites for the LDS church. Certain software is also able to support different languages and you may also require software that can handle screen reader which is useful if you happen to be blind or have impaired vision.

Other than these aspects, you need to look at how easy or difficult it is to master the software and whether it involves a steep learning curve and also how many snappy features come with the package.

Finally, to pick the most outstanding genealogy software you must see how well it helps you to share pieces of information with others including with genealogists. The software should also be able to create charts and various reports and it should also allow you to upload information to the Internet. - 33385

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Ladies Wide Fitting Shoes - 3 Reasons You Should Wear Shoes That Are The Proper Size

By Jessica Shooburt

Wondering if you must wear ladies wide fitting shoes? There are loads of women that are not sure if wide shoes are essential. I am going to show you 3 reasons you should wear shoes that are the right size in this article.

ladies wide fitting shoes

If you are not unlike me then you might not have wanted to admit that you have wide feet. I didn't even enjoy to go shoe shopping with my friends since they had these little size 4 narrow shoes and I would whisper that I needed a size 9 wide or I would try to pack my foot into something smaller just to fit in. This was not a good idea.

Reason #1 - Hammertoes

Have you ever seen a person wearing flip flops and their toes were warped around to the side or they seemed to curl under? This condition is generally identified as the hammertoe. This condition is developed when you either wear shoes that are too narrow or too little for you.

Reason #2 - Bad Circulation

If you wear shoes that are too little for your feet, you can really cause yourself to have bad circulation. If you know about reflexology you know that your feet are linked to all parts of your body. You will be healthier if you are kindly to your feet.

Reason #3 - Corns

There are several ladies that have gotten corns on the side of their feet from wearing too narrow of a shoe. Corns are not at all attractive and they usually show up on your small toe.

ladies wide fitting shoes

Make sure that you are kind to your feet. You only get one pair of feet in your life time, if you do not take care of your feet you may just find yourself sitting for longer than you might love. - 33385

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What Valentine's Day Gift To Buy

By Charles de Chunac

So Valentine's day is up and coming. Have you any idea what Valentine's day gift you are getting for her? Have you also planned how are both of you going to spend this special day? If not, it is not too late to do so now.

A special Valentine's day meal is usually part of the plan. In which case, you had better reserve your spots at your favorite restaurant in advance. Imagine you and your significant other all dressed up and ready (with a rumbling tummy), arriving at the restaurant only to find that all places are taken up. This is definitely disappointing.

Consider surprising her with a fresh bouquet of flowers at her work place. Which girl will not be proud to have flowers delivered to her? It speaks to her that she is meant a great deal, and won't the rest of her female colleagues be envious! Buy and arrange for the flower delivery well in advance unless you want to risk disappointment.

A present at the end of the lover's meal is nice too, or just before the meal. Get her something precious and expensive if you can afford it. If not, the flowers presented to her here instead of being delivered to the office can do just as well.

A little tight on finances? In this case, do consider nature; free for all and evergreen in attraction. Check out the local park. Spending time at the park can be very romantic and perhaps, unlike anything the both of you have ever experienced together in a long while.

Then again, she is deserving and so, finances are not the only thing for your consideration. You should know her very well after all and this is certainly Valentine's day. It is not unreasonable to plan this entire day around her at all.

Do plain early and you will find this so much smoother than otherwise.

Basically, think of what makes her light up which at the same time, is affordable to you. With this in mind, your Valentine's day gift can practically be anything. In fact, it can be something that both of you can use and enjoy (hint, hint!). - 33385

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Urban Clothing-An Emerging Trend

By Manny Sanchez

Urban clothing started from the New York City, but very soon, it became popular in cities like Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. Urban clothing is also known as hip-hop clothing or street clothing. The reason is that it is a favourite clothing of hip-hop artists. Urban clothing was introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. With the passage of time, the style of urban clothing changed, because some artists and designers started creating clothing lines of their own.

In the late 1980s, hip-hop music groups grew in popularity, and they started wearing urban clothing. The clothing soon became popular among teenagers, because they mostly like to dress up the way their favourite stars do. Designers realized this trend, and they immediately set about attaching themselves with some famous superstars. Some top brands of that time were Nike, Adidas, Keds and Kangol.

During the same period, realizing the inclination of people to the accessories worn by the hip hop artists, clothing diverted towards the jewellery and other such stuff. Kurtis Blow and Salt-N-Pepa were the two famous performers who introduced the trend of wearing heavy gold necklaces and earrings. Soon after, it became the fashion of the streets. In addition to the jewellery, name belts, name plate necklaces and oversize sunglasses were some of the equally popular accessories among men and women.

In the beginning of 1990s, the whole sense of urban clothing got transformed. It inculcated the idea of the Black Nationalism under the influence of African tradition. The priorities and the demands of people changed and the Nike shoes replaced the Adidas shoes. The reason behind it was that these Nike shoes were in the use of an NBA player Michael Jordon. People adopted the new trend and said good bye to Adidas. At that time, one of the prides of urban clothing was Gangsta. It included the flannel shirts, oversize pants and worn-in shoes.

The style of urban clothing totally changed in the 21st century, because hip-hop artists and designers launched their own lines. Tommy Hilfiger, Boss Jeans, Lugz and FUBU clothing became popular among general public.

In the modern world of today, urban clothing is known to be the most wanted clothing among men and women. Urban clothing is available in different designs, styles and sizes. For the convenience of people, there are some urban clothing stores, which have every kind of urban clothing. You can go to buy them from any shopping store or even online. It does not matter if you buy urban clothing from a store or online, you will always find good deals and discounts on purchase.

In urban clothing, there is a lot of variety available in menswear. Ecko Jeans, Enyce Shirts and Rocawear Styles are most popular among men. If you are on a budget, you have the option to shop from a wholesale store or check out special deals on urban clothing. There are many companies and designers who are offering excellent urban clothing, and among these people and companies, a few names are Sean John Clothing, Apple Bottoms Jeans, G-Unit, House of Dereon, Rocawear, Baby Phat, 8732 Clothing and Phat Farm.

All the above mentioned designers and companies have their own clothing lines and all offer creative designs and styles. These designers design clothing keeping in mind certain personalities, and when a superstar wears a new design out of them, it becomes fashion of the time. - 33385

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Oriental New Year Decorations

By John Chan

Find out how the Chinese people decorate their homes and streets with specially crafted Chinese New Year decorations.

The Chinese New Year is a very special day in the lunar calendar of this age old civilization. One can see Chinese families beautifying their homes with many different Chinese New Year decorations prepared especially for the occasion. From the insides of people's homes to the city streets China is glittering in color throughout this season.

The range of gorgeous items seen during the New Year event are from pretty blossoms to plattersof different cuisine. Few New Year decoration items are reserved for the New Year is exclusive. The array of adornments are colorful and looks magnificent.

Plants and flowers are a very important element in New Year decorations in China. As it is the Chinese people are known to have a special love with nature. During this time of the year the houses of the locals are blooming with different flowers and plants that represent growth and prosperity for the coming year.

The most commonly used plants and flowers used for decoration purposes during this time of the year are plum blossoms. This is because they are just beginning to blossom around this time. They are specially arranged together with bamboo and pine springs. This unique combination actually symbolizes the grouping of friends and families at the event.

Reliability and perseverance are amongst the symbolic virtues the plum blossoms are supposed to represent. The bamboo represents compatibility due to its flexible nature and the evergreen pine is the classic symbol of longevity. Other commonly used flowers include the azalea, narcissus, water lily and the peony.

Certain types of fruits have also incorporated themselves as significant New Year decoration symbols and are a must in every home. Oranges and tangerines top the list and are often brought over by visiting friends. The tangerines are taken as a symbol of maintaining a long relationship and happiness.

Candy trays are perhaps the best gifts during the Chinese New Year season and as far as kids are concerned, they wouldn't disagree! These candy trays with a large amount of candies are a specially designed item for the New Year. They are known as trays of togetherness and a large number of exciting varieties of most delicious candies are kept on them.

Another tradition practiced with the candy tray is that whenever an adult takes a candy, he puts a red envelope that contains some sort of a good luck charm in it for the members of the house on the tray. Candied melons are the most popular object on the tray accompanied by coconuts, lychee nut, cumquat and peanuts etc. which have their own meanings.

Many of the New Year decorations are focused around the particular animal symbol of the year. This has been a Chinese tradition for centuries now and still goes on even now. - 33385

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Beijing Hotels and the Summer Palace: Homes for Important People

By Efrenn Larson

As China's vibrant cosmopolitan and ancient capital, Beijing houses some of the world's many wonders. The Great Wall and the Forbidden City may have taken you aback, but there are still more places to discover and things to experience in the metropolis. An added bonus is that Beijing hotels are found near these spots, making them more readily available to both locals and tourists.

Under the imperial rule, the emperor, his family and subordinates lived inside the Forbidden City. This was where the emperors disposed their duties as the 'Sons of Heaven,' where they were subjected to many pressures of their tasks. To calm themselves from the magnanimous jobs they were facing, the emperors built the Summer Palace.

Accurately called the 'Gardens of Nurtured Harmony,' the site is generally dominated by the Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. It covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three-fourths of which are water. You can find a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures in the Palace itself. Transportation to this place is never a problem since Beijing hotels will take care of these for you.

One of the most important features of the complex, the Kunming Lake was created by extending a present body of water to imitate the West Lake in Hangzhou. The central lake was entirely man-made and the excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill.

When emperor Wnyn Ling moved his capital to the Beijing area, he built a Gold Mountain Palace on the site of the hill. It was renamed from Gold Mountain to Jug Hill (Weng Shan) during the Yuan Dynasty. Finally, the Qianlong emperor of the Qing Dynasty gave the hill its present name.

Standing about 60 meters high, the hill holds many structures that are sequentially positioned to each other. Halls and ornate buildings filled the northern side while the natural scenery was preserved at the back.

In the hill's northern side, you can find buildings of religious and cultural significance. These are the Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, and the Sea of Wisdom Temple, among others.

The Summer Palace was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, calling it "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design." Today, it not only serves as a tourist destination but also as a recreational park.

Beijing hotels are always ready to assist you if you want to visit this place. As an important guest, we will let you feel the comfort of the Summer Palace right in your own room within Beijing hotels. From there, you will definitely be treated as a royal! - 33385

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Getting Credible Resource For Virginia Marriage Records

By Bill Ward

Millions of marriage records that happened in Virginia are maintained in its archive and are available for people's access. It is a fact that Virginia is a large state by population and that it is one of the toughest state with regards to the retrieval of marriage records from its government agencies.

It has been said that there are restrictions in retrieving Virginia Marriage Records from its government agencies. Only the immediate family of the married individuals has the right to receive a marriage record. Members of the family other than those mentioned above will no longer have access to such records, not until after 50 years after the date of the said marriage. A photo I.D. should be presented prior to receiving such record.

Virginia Office of Vital Records stores this Marriage Records Virginia. If you happen to make a request for a marriage record, you are expected to also provide information such as the groom's name, the full maiden name of the bride, and the when and where of the said marriage. That is to be able to activate the said request. You should also know that there is a non-refundable fee that is required for this request even if you won't have get any result from your search.

The Virginia Record Office gives out three ways in requesting for Marriage Records in Virginia, namely walk-in, mail, and express delivery. The fastest among the three ways is the walk-in in which the requests are provided on the same day the request was made. In requesting through mail, the processing time is 5-10 business days. On the other hand, VitalChek Network provides express service, but with a regular fee as well as other additional fees applicable.

In addition to those above mentioned ways, another option is given to make your searching more convenient for you. That said option is to go to commercial record providers. To avoid getting messed up, you have to consult an expert or any review sites prior to choosing any of those commercial record providers. The good thing is that their service fee is fully refundable so there's no need to worry when you get zero results on your search.

Nowadays, we don't have to worry in retrieving records that happened many years back onto millions of individuals because we are surrounded with the information necessary for our research. Whatever our purpose is in doing the research, be it for genealogy, personal or legal, government agencies and the net can always help us. - 33385

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How to Attract Girls With Minimum Effort

By Chase Chandler

Attracting girls may one of the topics that derive so much attention. Guys are so keen on being up to date with regards to the opposite sex, getting their attention in particular.

Some guys have it with them without any fuss, but others are still struggling to be noticed. How to attract girls is fairly easy. That is, if you do it right.

During the initial stages, any girl will be difficult to deal with. This is natural as you are still getting to know her. But once you do, you will find out how sweet she can be. You have to learn though the right way to approach her.

Here are helpful tips to be able to attract girls quickly.

Girls naturally seek attention. So the secret to succeeding with girls is giving them the attention they want. You should however not overdo it. Though girls want to be showered with your attention, they also want to have enough space to breathe. Otherwise, they may feel constrained with how you handle them. So proceed with care.

Another factor that makes a girl notices a guy is sense of humor. If you have it, then you have a fat chance of attracting her. Girls like the company of funny guys. If you have the ability to touch her funny bone, more likely that you will go past the first date and even farther after that.

The primary factor for a girl to be attracted to you is being romantic. However, the romance factor should be kept at a certain level that makes the girl very special and well cared of, not suffocating her. Again, do not overdo it unless you want to get rid of her just as easily.

Moreover, being creative draws girls towards you as well. If you possess any skill or talent, flaunt it. If you can write poetry, compose a song, or tell imaginative and inspiring stories, then do it with her. Just make sure that she is part of whatever it is and that she can relate pretty well to it.

Establish eye contact when you talk with her. Be confident when interacting with her. Looking her in the eye will assure her of your sincerity and confidence.

Girls are normally attracted to a confident guy who appears to be so sure of himself. Be that guy. Also, do not pretend to be somebody you are not.

Attracting girls is all about how you carry and present yourself. Your personality and aura play essential roles, other than your looks. Bear in mind that you do not have to be overly good looking to attract a girl.

Think positive and be confident of who you are--you will find that girls will sense this and will be attracted to you. - 33385

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Knowing About Online English Courses

By Adriana Noton

Online classes for learning a language are becoming more popular these days. And it's the same for online English courses, too.

Students need good study materials, fast access to the Internet, and a trusty web camera. They also need focus and dedication.

Teachers also need fast Internet access and a trusty web camera. They also need to be patient, qualified, and prepared.

Many excellent reasons exist to learn any language, including English, online. It's fairly inexpensive, convenient, flexible, easy to maintain, and learning or teaching is able to be done from anywhere. Thus, as to why the need for online language courses is increasing there is no secret.

Online English courses are convenient. Students can prepare for and study a lesson at home. Then, they can switch on their computer and have a class at a pre-arranged time. No issues with commuting, weather, traffic, or other similar inconveniences are dealt with. Additionally, lessons can be done in any environment which the student finds comfortable.

There is not much maintenance involved, either. The only things a teacher or student needs are a computer, quick and reliable Internet access, and a web camera. Most people who are interested in language learning probably already have these things in their everyday life. And because learning takes place at home, all a student needs for lessons is at hand already.

The costs are relatively low, as well. Surely, fees charged by the instructor or institute or exist. However, this virtual kind of business normally requires less overhead than a typical brick-and-mortar business, and there usually aren't any other disingenuous costs. Many of these virtual institutes allow PayPal or credit card payment. And, as we all know, this kind of payment is safer and more secure than ever.

In contemporary times, being flexible is a key component to any success in life or business. And flexibility is one the key reasons people study online. Appointment times are flexible. Payment methods are flexible. Attire is flexible. The study environment is even flexible. Of course, students are able to study at their own pace, as well. Together, all of these renders excellent a non-traditionalist's choice for online studying.

Studying or learning from anywhere is possible. A student in New York City can learn from a teacher living in Nairobi. A student in Buenos Aires can talk with a teacher in Manchester. And a teacher in Houston can tutor a student living in Shanghai. And what this does is add an untold likability to online learning.

If you are or have been curious to know more about online language-learning, don't delay in finding out more. And this holds true for online English courses, too.

However, it's a good idea to keep in mind this: remember that, as a student you still will have to work hard. You'll still have to practice, study, and be prepared every day. And, you need to, as a teacher, be patient, prepared, and qualified. Whichever of the two you are, make sure you do exhaustive research about the online course you intend to take. Doing so helps make your experience as good as possible. - 33385

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Ladies Wide Fitting Shoes - The Workplace Or at Home - Ladies Wide Shoes Are a Necessity

By Jessica Shooburt

Ladies wide fitting shoes are all of the craze since they have stopped just being for comfort but are now also including an aspect of trend and style.You will be definite to twist heads in these shoes now. We are going to take a glimpse at ladies wide fitting shoes in this article.

Ladies Wide Fitting Shoes

Whether you are a vocation lady and you want to have comfortable shoes or if you are a stay at home Mother that needs to be able to cope with the babies without having to deal with foot hurting - it doesn't have a bearing because ladies wide fitting shoes are a must.

If it be the situation that you are a vocation females then you are possibly on your feet running around a lot. Perhaps you are juggling consultation calls,jet setting or going from assembly to engagement.

Ladies Wide Fitting Shoes

When you do not take care of your feet by in shoes that fit exactly you can in fact make your work go down hill pretty quickly. Perhaps instead of running to your next appointment you would be limping to your next business meeting.

If you are a stay at home Mother do not feel that you will be left out. I know how very essential it is to be physically able to run errands while taking care of the family and not having to worry about painful and aching feet.

You can have pretty a serious situation when your feet begin to hurt. If you have a little one to carry around then you do not want to limp, trip and drop the little one.

You should never put your feet in a "tight condition" when it comes to shoes. You can cause a lot of harm if you continue to crush your feet with shoes that are way too narrow. In this article you have learned that all females with wide feet can benefit from the purchase of ladies wide fitting shoes. - 33385

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A Chinese Tea for Everything

By Nouella Decker

The rise of teahouses is very much connected with the culture of Chinese tea. In China, a tea house depicts a way of life for the Chinese people as drinking Chinese tea has become part of their basic needs. Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one, is an old Chinese Proverb that marks the importance of tea among Chinese people. Thus, the growth of teahouses only reflects their culture of a Chinese tea drinking nation.

The establishment of teahouses in China played an important role in its history. Since the Dynasty period of China and until now, teahouses is commonly seen around villages, towns and cities. In Ancient ages, the tea house is used for public communication, amusement, pastime and social networking. It is also where business meetings are held and transactions of business are being done. And the teahouse has always been a place to enjoy a cup of Chinese tea.

In Yangtze River area it is named Chaguan. In Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces, it is commonly called Chalou. In Beijing and Tianjin of north China a Chating means a tea pavilion. Chatan is a tea booth and Chaliao is a small Chinese tea house. Words like Chafang, Chasi, Chashe, Chayuan, Chawu and Chashi are so called Chinese names for teahouse, the names may vary from places to places and yet basically have the same form. These are but the few names given to Chinese teahouses, from the different villages in China, and they all have the same meaning and structure.

The culture of Chinese tea drinking among Chinese people is well known not only among the Asians but expanded as well to the regions of America and Europe. At present times, Chinese teahouses' designs, structures and concepts have invaded some places in America and Europe and to other parts of the world. A Chinese teahouse not only serves Chinese tea but inspired people of the long history of its culture.

You can find several teahouses everywhere in the streets of China. Every folk knows where's the perfect teahouse is for relaxation, socialization or simply just have a drink of the valued Chinese tea. Other activities like reading and writing, also go well with drinking Chinese tea. Chinese teahouses are also good venues for theater performances such as storytelling and plays for entertainment. - 33385

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The Legend Of Oriental New Year Animals

By John Chan

Want to know what animal you are? Find out the historical origins of the Chinese New Year animals.

The Chinese New Year is an important event in the Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrations have been carried out in the most traditional manner since ages now and the festive spirit is still very much alive at present. The rare characteristic of the Chinese New Year is that according to the twelve year cycle, the coming of the year is related to an animal symbol significantly.

Every twelfth year of the Chinese lunar calendar, the animal symbol repeats. Their current standing shows that next year will be the year of the Ox. The ancient thinkers of China studied on the actions of the animals in the calendar and resolved in deriving a similarity between animal personality traits and human character.

You may believe the fact that the Chinese feel the person born on a particular animal year will have parallel characteristics of the animal. If you are born in the year of ox then you will have good skill for organizing while loyalty and dependability will be your big assets. Ox is also known to be strong and patient.

The concept behind the twelve year cycle with these beasts symbolizing each year was taken from the Buddhist dharma. Ancient history states that it was Buddha himself who summoned all these animals before he himself descended to Earth. Then a race was held between these animals where the victorious one would be responsible for the first year.

The race began with heavy contesting between the animals. The sly rat after making a deal with the cat decided to cheat. All the while it looked like the Ox would win the race as it maneuvered through the crowd. But the ox was unaware of the fact that the clever rat was sitting on his back all through the race and when he came close to the finishing line, the rat jumped off his back and became the winner.

Hence we observe that the first year of the twelve year cycle is the year of the rat because he succeeded to finish the race in first place, by hook or by crook. The year of the ox follows the rat as the hard working animal came in at second place. The ox is then followed by the rest of the animals according to the order in which they finished. The cycle ends with the pig!

If you are thinking why just twelve animals came to Buddha and why specifically these animals then keep wondering because you will find no answers to these questions! The fact of the matter is that this is an ancient tradition which has been kept alive up till today and is deeply embedded in the Chinese culture. As a token of appreciation for their coming Buddha apparently assigned a year to each of the animals and that's the way the legend has it. - 33385

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Dating Advice for Men To Succeed With Girls

By Chase Chandler

Guys consider dating to be challenging. Who can blame them? If they aren't successful with their game. As girls will observe a guy during the first date--men are wanting to give that important impressive first impression to land a second date. Men had since been looking for dating advice to be successful with girls.

Here are some valuable tips for men who want good practical advice to dating girls:

Be a gentleman. Let your date feel comfortable and safe with you. Give her extra care and special attention. You want her to feel that she is the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world.

Be neat, otherwise, your date will find you a turnoff. But don't be too tidy, or girls may find you not manly enough to be their dates.

Be cheerful. Studies have shown that women are mostly attracted to men with a great sense of humor. With this, you will be able to lower her guard"and she will be more comfortable going on a date with you.

Get her to become comfortable with you. Take time to know her. Ask questions that make her open up to you. Ask her things that let her expose herself more to you. Be sincere in getting to know her. It will really show and girls will know if you are just acting up. Rather than keeping on admiring her about her looks, concentrate on her intellectual and spiritual aspects.

Don't ever be late on a date. This is the worst thing you could do. If you really can't come on time, then make that call--let her know. She will better appreciate you for your honesty.

Always give a call when you say you will, otherwise women will feel that they are not that important to you. Specify a time and dont forget it. If you do not want to go out with her again, simply say that you had fun"but dont go further than that.

Keep these tips at heart and you will have the edge to succeeding with women. We have quite simple tips here, but effective. If you apply these in your dating game, you will be more successful the next time around. - 33385

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California Divorce Records Accessing Online Archive

By Dorothy Jackman

Everyone dreams for a memorable and one of a kind wedding ceremony in this life. However, the unfortunate thing is that some married individuals later on discovered their differences and realized that they are not destined for each other. There are a lot of reasons for the termination of marital vows, whatever they may be; spouses can resort to filing a divorce to cut the tie of the relationship. Divorce records search is commonly conducted by the people to gather vital information for whatever purposes.

There are definitely a lot of uses to these public files. Those with righteous desire to obtain the records are given the go signal by the government officials who are in-charge of the said records. California divorce records are very thorough when it comes to compiling such official documents. They compile them at the federal, state and local government. This is where the public should go to start the search. The processing time though takes a while due to the formalities that are typical to government offices.

The offline search for these important public files is really time-consuming as you had to comply with the paper requirements before your request is processed. Nowadays, the most popular source of public information is the Internet where divorce reports have huge databases. In the state of California, you will have the privilege to do some free preliminary searches prior to furthering the deal. You can subscribe for an unlimited access to all sorts of divorce reports for a reasonable price.

There are already some credible online information providers these days that are useful in the effort of gathering relevant details about the divorce records of a certain individual. With the accessibility of these files over the Internet, people no longer have to wait for a long time unlike those being done at the offices. This is completely more convenient and economical than searching such vital documents manually.

Divorce court records are also made available for those who can't retrieve the records online. You just have to adhere to the rules and policies implemented in the process of obtaining the public files. These relevant reports were originally updated, filed and uploaded from the local courthouse. Before, the government is the only source of significant pieces of information for public consumption. Today, the advancement of modern technology has opened the opportunity to acquire the public files.

The availability of these records over the Internet is definitely a good thing for everybody. With the help of modern computerization and the Internet people can for sure save a lot of money and effort. Divorce records search over the Internet is the best choice if you want a speedy search result for a very important cause. There is no other way to retrieve such documents more effectively than by searching on the web from some of the trustworthy online record providers. - 33385

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Talking to Girls is No Longer A Problem

By Chase Chandler

Most guys out there lack the confidence when talking to girls, especially the attractive ones. Some are even embarrassed to admit having this problem. This is a very common problem though for guys"whether they like to admit it or not.

Shyness is a problem but nothing that can't be addressed and corrected.

Read some tips below to get you started:

If you want to perfect your art, you need to practice. You can start casually with any girl you meet. You don't have to like them. What is important is that you are able to practice talking to girls. At work for example, or those you meet in restaurants--the girls you meet here can help you up to speed with talking to girls.

Don't be too conscious of the topics you talk about. It doesn't have to be too philosophical, not unless this is what she wants. But any simple topics will do. The idea is to practice your talking so that you will become comfortable with experience.

The fear of rejection stuns many guys. They are not able to confidently come up to beautiful girls and talk to them like a normal guy would. The bad thing here is that such guys think it will be over for them if they get rejected. They are dead wrong if they think this way. Look around. Are there any shortages of beautiful girls?

The more you interact with girls, the more confident you will become"and it will be easier for you in the long run.

Remember that girls can be as nervous talking to guys"as guys are to them. It works both ways: girls appreciate guys who can put them at ease and make them feel comfortable. Be interested about her and not focus solely on her looks. So listen carefully to what she has to say, and always respond in a respectful and positive manner.

It will be a good idea to engage in eye to eye contact as you talk. But look away every once in a while.

If you can make a girl laugh with a really funny story, then this would also be an advantage. A good joke can ease the tension.

With such an approach, the girl will be looking forward being with you in the future. She feels she can relate well with you and that you are someone worthy to talk with.

The tips here will be useful for anyone so that talking to girls will be a thing in the past. Carefully study these and be successful with girls from now on. - 33385

About the Author:

The Mythical Oriental Dragon Symbol

By John Chan

We will hereby see the characteristics of the Chinese symbol that make them honorable and their association with the important occasion of Chinese New Year.

The two most vital ingredients of the Chinese culture are the pictures of the Chinese dragon and the auspicious event of the Chinese New Year. They have been an integral part of the Chinese culture for thousands of years now and continue even to the present day. Besides, these two things have an uncanny link between them.

The dragon has become a symbol which is immediately linked to the Chinese culture. The west has come to know of this dragon symbol from martial art flicksand art work from China. For the Chinese people, this symbol of dragon is a highly honorable mythological animal that is respected for its rarity, magnificence and spiritual powers.

However, keeping respect of the Chinese traditions, one must know that the Chinese New Year occasion is not celebrated on the same day as the western world or for that matter when the entire world celebrates. This is because, the rest of the world goes-by the Gregorian solar calendar whereas the Chinese always followed the lunar calendar. Hence, the New Year day follows the cycle of the moon and falls on a different day from the western New Year day.

The New Year event is a magnificent time to be in China. People are high on festivity and enjoyment. As the ancient Chinese culture goes, these people link animal symbols with the change of time and year. There are twelve animal signs in total which keep reappearing after every twelfth year. So the sign of dragon comes into full force and fresh spirituality after the end of every twelfth year.

The Chinese New Year symbol of the dragon holds good to indicate overwhelming power. Generally the dragon image is imagined to be a symbol of spirituality and unforeseen power and rage. The anger of the Chinese dragon however, is somehow always justified and is used to represent the correction of any mistake. In this way the angry dragon image is a positive image and often inspiring.

They say the streets have rights upon you. If you hang around on the streets and see some evil you then it is upon you to stop it with your hands if you have the might. If you don't then at least make an attempt to stop it with your tongue. And if you cannot even do that then at least in your heart know that the act is evil and this is a very low level of faith.

What the image of a dragon does is to eradicate the wrong doers. It does not represent wrong doings but works in counter-action. The best option is to avoid doing evil and engaging in doing right things. Hence the Chinese New Year symbol of the dragon is nothing but a movement to bring about peace in a festive and spiritual way. - 33385

About the Author:

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