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Kate Wu

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In 1972, the 4th King of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, declared that “Gross National Happiness” is more important than Gross Domestic Product. This concept measures a much broader perspective, including nine domains: Psychological well being Health Education Time use Cultural diversity and resilience Good governance Community vitality Ecological diversity and resilience Living standards While it is not the simple “happiness” commonly known, this Gross National Happiness index does convey a message to the world that Bhutan government cares about the overall wellbeing of the individuals. The High and The Low Bhutan is the world’s greenest country with over 70% of land covered by forest. With around 800,000 population living in 38,394 square kilometers of land, Bhutan’s population density is one of the lowest in the world. Culture & Traditions When it comes to culture, polygamy is probably the most unique one. It is legal for men and women to have multiple wives and husbands at the same time. The 4th King of Bhutan has 4 queens. Isn’t it the dream of most men?! Divorce is acceptable, not a disgraceful…

Cycling has become a popular way to pace yourself to travel around Japan, particularly in some suburb regions. Locating south of shikoku Japan, Kochi is the largest and considered the most remote prefecture in Shikoku region. It is well known for the mountains, rivers and the Pacific coastline. Cycling is one of the best way to explore the city and some suburban areas. 1) Shimanto River(四萬十) Stretching 196 km south of Kochi, the Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku region, and is considered the most crystal clear stream in Japan Surrounded by the serene and beautiful nature. The most intriguing feature of this river is the 22 chinkabashi (ubmersible bridges) designed without guardrail, allowing debris to flow through when the water level is high during rainy season. This fascinating feature is a major attraction to travellers. For the experienced cyclists, you may cycle from Ekawasaki Station (江川崎駅) to JR Nakamura Station (中村駅)or vice versa. If it is a day trip, please make sure you return your bike before the rental shop closes. For a easy ride half day…

With many mountains, snow resorts and hot springs, Niigata is one of the most popular winter wonderlands in Japan. The twice-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) direct flights between Hong Kong and Niigata between October 30, 2019 and March 28, 2020 allows you to save 2 hours of commute time and costs for riding on Shinkansen from Tokyo! The direct flight begins end of October, just in time for the autumn foliage. Here are 3 most popular places for the colors in Niigata: 1) Dragondola The 5,481 metres long “Dragondola” is the longest gondola ride in Japan that offers a spectacular view of the golden and scarlet color carpeting the mountains between Naeba and Tashiro ski fields. If you have never Location: Mikuni, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun Inquiry: 025-789-4117 (Naeba Ski Resort) Operates: 9:00 to 16:00 from October 8 to November 6, 2016 (last ride up at 15:00) Cost (roundtrip): adult ¥2,700, child ¥1,400. Public transportation: Take JR from Niigata Station to Echigoyuzawa Station (about 50 mins), then switch bus (about 50 minutes). 2) Norther Culture Museum Converted from the wealthiest landlord’s residence in the…

With many mountains, snow resorts and hot springs, Niigata is one of the most popular winter wonderlands in Japan. The twice-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) direct flights between Hong Kong and Niigata between October 30, 2019 and March 28, 2020 allows you to save 2 hours of commute time and costs for riding on Shinkansen from Tokyo! The direct flight begins end of October, just in time for the autumn foliage. Here are 3 most popular places for the colors in Niigata: 1) Dragondola The 5,481 metres long “Dragondola” is the longest gondola ride in Japan that offers a spectacular view of the golden and scarlet color carpeting the mountains between Naeba and Tashiro ski fields. If you have never Location: Mikuni, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun Inquiry: 025-789-4117 (Naeba Ski Resort) Operates: 9:00 to 16:00 from October 8 to November 6, 2016 (last ride up at 15:00) Cost (roundtrip): adult ¥2,700, child ¥1,400. Public transportation: Take JR from Niigata Station to Echigoyuzawa Station (about 50 mins), then switch bus (about 50 minutes). 2) Norther Culture Museum Converted from the wealthiest landlord’s residence in the…

With many mountains, snow resorts and hot springs, Niigata is one of the most popular winter wonderlands in Japan. The twice-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) direct flights between Hong Kong and Niigata between October 30, 2019 and March 28, 2020 allows you to save 2 hours of commute time and costs for taking Shinkansen from Tokyo! The direct flight begins end of October, just in time for the autumn foliage. Here are 3 most popular places for the colors in Niigata: 1) Dragondola The 5,481 metres long “Dragondola” is the longest gondola ride in Japan that offers a spectacular view of the golden and scarlet color carpeting the mountains between Naeba and Tashiro ski fields. Location: Mikuni, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun Inquiry: 025-789-4117 (Naeba Ski Resort) Operates: 9:00 to 16:00 from October 8 to November 6, 2016 (last ride up at 15:00) Cost (roundtrip): adult ¥2,600, child ¥1,300. Public transportation: Take JR from Niigata Station to Echigoyuzawa Station (about 50 mins), then switch bus (about 50 minutes). 2) Norther Culture Museum Converted from the wealthiest landlord’s residence in the Echigo region, Northern Culture Museum…

Soup has been a traditional Chinese recipe to stay healthy, particularly for those living in Southern China. I recently came across a unique “7.1 Summer Vegetarian Soup” recipe in a Chinese Herbal Medicine Shop and would like to share. The name of the soup “7.1” has double meaning. 1) July 1 is the middle of the summer in Hong Kong. 2) There are 7 main herbal ingredients. The naming was to make it easy. Since the recipe is in Chinese, the translation of the ingredients may not be accurate. In case you are an English speaker who want to give the receipe a try. Please show the Chinese name of the ingredients when you buy them.

If you like flowers and garden, the choices are abundant in Japan. In Shikoku, what you see the most would be the famous impressionist artist Claude Monet’s water lily ponds, large and small. Monet’s Garden Marmottan in Kitagawa Village The most impressive one is the Monet’s Garden Marmottan in Kitagawa Village in Kochi. It was a licensed replica of the Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France. The 30,000 square meters garden consists of three main themed gardens inspired by Monet’s paintings: Flower Garden, Water Garden and Light Garden. The Water Garden is the signature garden of all, featuring a Japanese taiko bridge arched over a pond which looks exactly like the one in France. There are wisteria, willow trees, bamboo and a selection of water lilies. You may see the iconic blue water lilies between July and October every year! It is a great place to spend half a day strolling around in the tranquil environment and enjoy a light meal in the French style cafe. Otsuka Museum of Art The second place where you can see a Claude Monet’s…

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