Bremen, Germany - 6th May 2011
By: ApoloniaX
Genoveva joined the German Bookcrossing Monopoly game, playing for team 4, the Ballypollies.
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Posted May 25, 2011, 6:32 pm Last edited May 25, 2011, 7:34 pm by ApoloniaX
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Bremen, Germany - 14th May 2011
By: ApoloniaX
Genoveva jumped into a cardboard box, along with a book and some other stuff she promised not to touch, and was posted to Florida. This is where she wants to live!
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Posted May 25, 2011, 6:41 pm Last edited May 26, 2011, 8:55 am by ApoloniaX
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Miami, Florida, United States - 26th May 2011
By: tarepanda
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Posted Jul 27, 2011, 3:49 pm Last edited Jul 27, 2011, 3:51 pm by tarepanda
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Miami Beach, Florida, United States - 18th June 2011
By: tarepanda
Yay I get to play BookCrossing Monopoly again!! Mocha finds it an interesting coincidence that his mommy and mine are on the same team. But of course, I told him, my mommy sends me over to help. I am a pro at this game already!
Our team Thumbaline lands on "Square", so we have to release a book by a square. Our host said that she knows of a very beautiful square for the book. Hmmm, I wonder where that is. As far as I know, we have very pretty town squares in Germany, but I don't think Miami will have something as nice.
This is the book we will release. The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank.
First, of course, we have to visit the website to register the book.
Since weather has been somewhat rainy we put the book in a protective bag.
Off we go! To my surprise we visit the Holocaust Memorial. It doesn't look like there is a town sqaure around here?
At the entrance there is a statue of a mother with two children.
Behind the statue is a quote from Anne Frank on the wall.
There is a pond and a statue of a big hand.
First we pass by a wall etched with pictures during the war. It's horrible to look at the pictures and imagine the suffering.
The hand is reflected in the water where there are some lotuses. It's very beautiful.
Oh here is the square our host talks about!! There are slits in the wall so sunlight creates squares of light on the wall. What interesting sqaures!
We leave the book in the tunnel.
We hope someone will find and enjoy this book. And of course, to journal it!
The light also shines through an opening to throw a yellow star on the ground.
We walk through the tunnel. At the end, there is an opening where the big hand statue is. Up close, we can see that it is formed by many human figures. They all have very sad and tortured faces. We feel very emotional looking at them. (yeah that was a bad pic but our host excused that it was hard to see the viewer under bright sun.)
At the end of the memorial is a sculpture similar to the one we saw at the entrance. Only in this one, the mother and children have died.
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Posted Jul 29, 2011, 4:51 am
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Miami Beach, Florida, United States - 30th July 2011
By: tarepanda
Today we go to South Beach, which is a very popular tourist destination.
We are now on Ocean Drive, which is right next to the beach. The street is lined with restaurants and hotels, many of which are built in the Art Deco style. Many movies and magazine photos are shot here. People like to dine al fresco, and it's a place to see and be seen.
Look, this hotel has a swimming pool on its first floor! You can lie on the beach chair there and watch the beach. Weird.
This was the residence of Versace, a world renowned Italian designer who was killed right on the door steps years ago. Hmm I think I can still smell the blood...
This is a station where people can rent a bicycle to go around.
So, this is Miami Beach.
This is the Atlanic Ocean! Far, far away, on the other side of the ocean, is where I come from!
Being a tourist in Florida, of course we need to get some sun tan. Pass me the lotion please...
On the way home, along the causeway, we can see the Port of Miami. This is where we can get on a cruise ship to the Caribbeans. Hmmm I hope one day I get to travel in one!
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Posted Oct 22, 2011, 4:16 am
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Miami, Florida, United States - 25th August 2011
By: tarepanda
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Posted Nov 22, 2011, 4:01 am Last edited Nov 22, 2011, 4:03 am by tarepanda
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Tampa, Florida, United States - 18th September 2011
By: tarepanda
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Posted Jan 8, 2012, 5:11 am Last edited Feb 9, 2012, 8:46 pm by tarepanda
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Miami, Florida, United States - 2nd November 2011
By: tarepanda
Today my host teaches me to make a Chinese noodle dish. It's called Dan Dan noodle, with a spicy sesame sauce and very easy to make.
First we minced up the garlic, and preserved mustard stem. If you don't have that, you can use carrot or turnip. It lends some crunchiness and flavor. Normally minced pork is used but we use the vegetarian substitute here.
Next we stir fry the ingredients in the pan.
Now we put the noodle to boil.
While waiting for the noodle, we prepare the sauce. We use chili sauce, soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, sesame paste and sesame oil.
We mix everything into a smooth paste.
The noodle is ready. We put the stir-fried mix, along with some crushed peanuts and scallion, on top.
We add a little hot water to the paste to make a broth, and add it to the bowl.
Doesn't it look delicious? This one is made mild, as you can hardly see any red chili oil floating on top.
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Posted Feb 9, 2012, 9:29 pm Last edited Feb 9, 2012, 9:31 pm by tarepanda
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Miami, Florida, United States - 6th December 2011
By: tarepanda
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Posted Feb 27, 2012, 2:34 am Last edited Feb 27, 2012, 2:57 am by tarepanda
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Miami, Florida, United States - 30th January 2012
By: tarepanda
As Chinese New Year is coming up, we help our host prepare her favorite New Year dish, turnip cake (Lo Bak Go). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip_cake) My host makes it every year for the new year. She brags that she cooks a really good version of it, when she gave it to her boss to share with his Chinese parents, they said it's the best they ever had. : ) You can find the cake in Chinese restaurant dim sum too, but they are not as good. ; ) She also says that unlike the German food I've tried, hers is very authentic Chinese.
First we have to prepare the ingredient. We used dried shrimp, dried scallop and mushroom, and we have to soak it in water first. You can make the dish vegetarian by using mushroom, carrot, celery and other veggies, but her husband doesn't like it (he doesn't like much of her vegetarian stuff).
Next we chop up some sausage.
Now we stir fried it with some cooking wine, soy sauce and sugar.
Next is the preparation of the turnip, or daikon. We use 5 lbs for one round of cake. We clean and peel them.
While my host's grandma had to shred them by hand, now it is a breeze with a food processor.
We cook the radish, then add the mixings in.
We prepare the flour mix. It's half rice flour and half corn starch in a small bowl of water.
We put the radish mixture into a deep pan and stir in the flour mix.
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We have to steam the mixture for 45 minutes. While we are waiting, we prepare some cilantro.
Let's see if it's ready! We stick a chopstick into the cake. If it comes out clean it's good.
A little garnish with cilantro and sesame on top, and it's done!!
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Posted Mar 10, 2012, 4:49 am
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Tamarac, Florida, United States - 5th February 2012
By: tarepanda
Today we go with our host to the Chinese Buddhist Temple to celebrate Chinese New Year.
They have some cute monk statues around the building.
Look, they hang up a lot of red lanterns so it looks very festive.
Near the entrance is a big incense burner.
I say a little prayer, make a wish and insert the incense into the burner.
It looks very festive inside too!
The lanterns are made to look like lotus flowers. Aren't they beautiful?
This is the main hall where the Buddha statue is.
We see more of the cute statues.
This is a beautiful bronze bell.
What are all these little lanterns hanging on the tree?
We make a donation and receive a little lantern. We write our wish for the new year on the attached plate and hang it on the tree. I hope our wish comes true!!
It's lunch time!! We line up in the dining hall to get our food. At the temple, all food is vegetarian and cooked by volunteers.
Yummm... very healthy, and very delicious! Hi Mommy, I think you will enjoy this. And I miss you!
There is a gift shop area.
They have a big section of books and CDs.
Lucky charms, bracelets and more.
They have some paper lantern.
This is a weird looking puppet.
There are many type of food and snacks. Some of them are home made by volunteers, some are vegetables and fruits donated by farmers and wholesalers, and some of them are imported from Taiwan. Our host always get something when she visited the temple.
We see a lot of paper strips hanging from the ceiling. Our host tells us that at Lantern Festival (the last day of New Year, on the 15th day) a popular activity is to play riddles. Each piece has a riddle on it . If you know the answer you can take the riddle down and claim a prize.
Can you guess the answer to this riddle?
What are these? My host says it's lion head but I am not sure if they look like the lions I know. Maybe Chinese lion looks different?
Anyway, what a thrill to take a picture in the lion's mouth!
There is some kung fu performance.
The drummer's beats quicken. I wonder what is coming up?
Wow look at the dragon!! It's very lively!
Uh oh~! Looks like it tangles itself up while chasing the ball!
Here comes the lions!!
Stay calm, stay calm. If people eat vegetarian inside the temple I am sure lions do too...
The lions stand up real tall, by having one performer standing on the shoulder of other. The scroll wishes everybody to be as lively and strong as dragon and tiger.
Now on to some quieter performances. A lady plays the flute.
And another does a sword dance.
What a fun experience this is!
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Posted Mar 25, 2012, 5:42 pm Last edited Mar 25, 2012, 5:51 pm by tarepanda
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