Pchum Ben Festival In Cambodia

The history of the Pchum Ben festival once upon a time has one monk who visited hell and preached without being burnt. He was greatly welcomed by the creatures and spirits who told the monk to explain the living that they were greatly suffering from the fire and starvation. They told the monk that their living relatives should make offerings to monks in order to release the spirits from their suffering. The monk returned to give the message to the king who ordered that all his people should celebrate.

On other hand, In Cambodia, September is the month of the Pchum Ben festival, or Ancestor’s Festival. For the Cambodians, It is also one of the most ancient religious celebrations for Khmer people, taking its origins in the beginning of the Angkorian era.

Pchum Ben is a 15 days celebration during which people come to pagodas to make food and candle offerings to the monks to pay respect to their deceased relatives, while monks chant priors continuously even at night. The actual Pchum Ben day is only the last day of      the festival.       

                       

 

 By lylySENG

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

Taking place on the 5th day of the 5th Lunar month, normally in May or June in our calendar, there are dragon boat races, where teams of paddlers race the long narrow boats accompanied by the beat of the drum down to the finish line.

The locals rushed to the site, paddling on their boats and banging drums, gongs and everything they could find to scare away anything that might harm Qu Yuan. They also brought offerings of rice to calm the old man's spirit.

There are a couple of high profile events in Hong, for example : Stanley, Aberdeen, Saikung, Tai O and Cheung Chau.

Rice Dumplings for Dragon Boat Festival

The traditional rice dumplings will contain salted pork, dried shrimp. Sometimes, it contains conpoy, mushroom, salted egg yolk, roast duck, vegetarian rice dumplings with peanuts, red beans, green beans, red kidney beans, and black-eyed beans.

BY PETRA

Angkor Wat

Angkor, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom. With impressive monuments, several different ancient urban plans and large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of features testifying to an exceptional civilization. Temples such as Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. The architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is therefore a major site exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as containing high architectural, archaeological and artistic significance.

Cambodia Dessert and Snack

Yummy & Famous Cakes in Cambodia

There are many kinds of Khmer snack which are simple but being all time favorites for Cambodia people. Num Krouch, Num Kong, and Num Pong Ansorng are among of them. Num is the Khmer word for ‘cake’. These 3 kinds of cakes are made from the same flour, which consist of 3/4 sticky rice flour and 1/4 paddy rice flour. The process of making is nearly the same, however, the taste of each cakes is varies. These 3 kinds of cakes are always selling together.

Nom Krouch, Num Krong, and Num Pong Ansorng (Cambodia Sticky Rice Cakes)

Nom Chak-ka-chhan (Sticky Rice Layer Cakes)

Ple Ai (Sticky Rice Cake Balls)

Ah Kor Tnort ( Palm Cakes)

 Ah Kor Tnort
This is one of the best dessert ever. It is called 'Ah Kor Tnort' in Khmer. I dare say every Cambodian likes this. Well, there is no reason to dislike this kind of delicious dessert. The color itself is very attractive. It is usually topped with shredded mature coconut, which adds flavor to the taste of the dessert. And I would like to inform the tourism, don't miss this dessert when you are visiting Cambodia.
You can find it in countryside in some province that have a lot of sugar palm tree because we have to use sagur palm to make Ah Kor Tnort. We can meet this dessert in Prey Veng, Kandal, Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom, and other province. The farmers are like to cook it.


Sticky Rice Layer Cake
Sticky Rice Layer Cake is made of sticky rice and tapioca flours, and is both gluten and lactose free. A truly Cambodian dessert, this type of sticky rice cake can be found in many markets or restaurants in Phnom Penh, with slight variations according to the region and the chef. It has a satisfyingly sticky texture and tastes of coconut. Especially, it is a great with tea or coffee, this cake makes a nice dessert, breakfast, or snack with afternoon tea. Or make it for a potluck party where it will be eaten up in no time. Let enjoy eat Sticky Rice Layer Cake at anytime, anywhere together!

Nom Ple Ai
For this dessert it’s called Sticky rice cake balls in Khmer we’re called ‘Num Plae Ai’ with a small bit of palm super inside and fresh coconut. When you bite it for once, the source inside of this dessert will explode all into your mouth and I guess you will like it, because the taste of this dessert it’s very delicious.

By Bomey Taing

Cambodia dancing culture

Apsara dance is a Classical dancing inspired by the apsara carvings and sculptures of Angkor and developed in the late 1940s by Queen Sisowath Kossamak

The central character of the dance, the apsara Mera, leads her coterie of apsaras through a flower garden where they partake of the beauty of the garden.Apsara acted a dance which was met with respect on stage. It was an presentation of beautiful young women in elegant and beautiful dresses, posturing to obtain respect from all spectators. So, as they stuck flower in their hair, they were not the object of exciting admiration for their personal appearance but to signified the joy of life in all beautiful things and the desire to appropriated and used all that nature bestows for our delight. Nor were they only the joyous beauties of life that belong to this form of the dance,

it was the Khmer Tep Apsara Dance and it was beautiful.

By Lyly SENG

Traditional food of Cambodia Part 2

The French Origin

The French influence in the Cambodia cousin is also very well seen on the example of excellent variety of breads and rolls as a Cambodian food, which are baked in the early morning in small bakeries that are usually scattered around the locality. Be sure to visit one of those, as you will see the real morning of Cambodian city, when all the local people are already widely awake and hurrying to their daily works.

Cambodian vegetable dishes

Widely used in the local dishes are vegetables, but not as a basis for independent courses, but rather in combination with meat, poultry or fish. Vegetables as a Cambodian food are also popular for salads that are eaten both cold and hot, but always with some sauce. Local salads are quite original and interesting in their tastes - they are usually prepared with meat or fish with various greens (lettuce, iceberg salad, lemongrass, saffron, etc.) and vegetable oil. Often salad features fruits and fresh or pickled vegetables. 

Cambodian Papaya Salad  

By Bomey Taing

Cambodia's culture

Traditional game play on Khmer New Year
The Khmer New Year, or 'Bon Chol Chhnam Thmei' in the Khmer language, is commonly celebrated on 13th April each year although sometimes the holiday may fall on the 14th April in keeping with the Cambodian lunar calendar. This marks the end of the harvest season when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor and relax before the start of the rainy season. The New Year holidays last for three days

During this time, people engage in traditional Khmer games; they play such games as the Bas Angkunh 'seed throwing', Chaol Chhoung 'twisted-scarf throwing', Leak Kanseng 'twisted-scarf hide', tug of war, shuttlecock kicking, etc. Throughout the country, people merrily dance the traditional Khmer forms of the Ran Vong, Ram Kbach, Saravan, and Lam Leav in the open.

There are many games that khmer people like to play on the khmer new year but the most popular game is Leak Kanseng is group of children seated in circle on the ground. Someone holding a ‘kanseng’ (Towel twisted into a round shape) walks around the circle singing along. The person walking secretly tries to place the ‘kanseng’ behind one of the children. The others in the circle cannot speak up but can hint to the victim. If that victim realizes what has happened, he or she must pick up the ‘kanseng’ and beat the person sitting next to him or her chasing him or her arond the circle

                           by Lyly SENG

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Taiwanese oyster omelette

People seem to like Taiwanese Street Food a lot, street food is a big part of Taiwanese culture. 
This is one of themost famous street foods – Taiwanese oyster omelette 蚵仔煎. 
If you like oysters or seafood, this is a great choice for you, if you like omelettes too then you’ve hit the jackpot! 
This omelette isn’t exactly the same as one of the western style omelettes it doesn’t just rely on egg to make the ‘pancake’ 
– the flour and water mixture is about half of the material in the omelette itself. 
Add to this the vegetables and finish with the special ‘secret’ sauce. 
Hope you will not miss it when you traveling in Taiwan.

Here is the receipt if you wanna try to do it!

• SAUCE
• 250ml water
• half spring onion
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp sweet chili
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp sour plum powder 酸梅粉
• 1 tbsp flour to thicken
• OMELETTE
• 200g oysters
• 2 eggs
• 275ml water
• 6 tbsp sweet potato flour
• lard
• 3 tbsp tapioca (or corn) flour
• ginger, spring onion, garlic
• fish sauce
• green vegetables

Taiwan Food Culture 豬血糕 (Pig Blood Cake)

Let's talk blood, specifically pigs blood.
Pig blood cake is one of two major types of blood rice cake in Taiwan.
We can also but it in all night market.
Typical street food in Taiwan ranges from tempura to fried octopus tentacles to stinky tofu, but if there were one thing that could be considered Taiwanese through and through, it would be pig's blood cake.
It is a traditional snack made of glutinous rice and pig blood. 
The other type is derived from duck.
Pig blood is commonly used in northern Taiwan while duck blood is more widely used in the south. 
Pig blood cake can be steamed, boiled, deep fried or braised. 
The most popular is the steamed cake coated with a special sauce and peanut powder, then garnished with Chinese parsley (cilantro) to make a perfect Taiwanese 
Majority of westerners would not eat pig bloods cake as it is very unusual for them.

Christmas

Christmas is a traditional festival in Church calender, which is celebrating the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
At Christmas, most of the Christian Catholic (used to be called Catholic) church will hold the Midnight Mass on the Christmas eve, the night of the 24 December. and some Protestant (used to be called Christian) faction will also hold midnight worship, this will be the two branches of Christianity there on Christmas Eve caroling activities, then celebrating the Christmas on 25 December; the other major branch of Christianity - Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the year 1 January 7.
According to the Gospels of the Bible, Jesus is after the Virgin Mary was being pregnant by the Holy Spirit (also translated the Holy Spirit) and gave birth in Bethlehem.
The birth of Jesus is the Jewish believers who seem prophetic Messiah (Messiah) plans to come to realize, because Bethlehem is the home of Joseph's ancestry, David Family. Christmas is also the public holidays of Western world as well as many other areas.

By Tina.                                          

Japanese Fair

Fair in Japan
Fair refers to the gathering, ritual, entertainment, shopping and other activities near to the temple, which is also a traditional Chinese cultural festival customs. Modern fair mainly held during the Spring Festival.
In addition, this activity is a reflection of people's psychological and habits. This name can be learned from the temple customs and religious activities are closely related. It was developed with the folk beliefs and then be improved and popularised. Its origins can be traced back to ancient social ritual activities.
However, the form of the fair has changed and combined with local culture over time in different countries. In Japan, it was the same Chinese Lunar New Year festivals originally, and the vendors in the fair is called 'Gyōshōnin'. In Japan's Meiji Restoration, the Lunar is abandoned and changed into Gregorian calendar. Nevertheless, the date is changed, Japanese are still in accordance with the traditional way to celebrate the traditional festival.
Now a days, there are variety of fairs during every holidays and the forms is different with Chinese traditional festivals. There are three large fair in Kyoto temple ('Aoi matsuri', 'Gionmatsuri', and 'Taimuzu· fesutibaru'). These three fairs are more ceremonious and the scale is much larger. There are cruises, horseback riding, dance and other performances with people in the old costume besides the normal entertainment. 

By Tina

Hong Kong New Year celebration

Hong Kong New Year celebration The celebration atmosphere of New Year and Chinese New Year is very great and enjoyable. We have firework every year at the radiant victoria harbor. The firework show is approximately 8 minutes. On that day, lots of people go to Tsim Sha Tsui, Central to have a seat first, then wait for hours there. The firework is really amazing. It is performed by guy who designs and produces firework booms. He is famous around the world.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PPuU6OiU2LI This link talks about the celebration in Hong Kong during New Year.

 Other than amazing firework, we have the most important chinese cakes to eat. Niangao (nin gou in Cantonese), sometimes translated as year cake or Chinese New Year's cake, is a food prepared from glutinous rice and consumed in Chinese cuisine. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao during this time, because "nian gao" is a homonym for "higher year." The Chinese word 粘 (nián), meaning "sticky", is identical in sound to 年, meaning "year", and the word 糕 (gāo), meaning "cake" is identical in sound to 高, meaning "high or tall". As such, eating nian gao has the symbolism of raising oneself taller in each coming year. My favourite cake is golden cake.

By Petra

Traditional Food of Cambodia

National food of Cambodia is similar, and at the same time is completely different from the tradition of the neighboring countries. It is possible to claim that the Cambodians eat everything! And this is not an exaggeration - in the course of the national cousin here you can find fried with salt, pepper and garlic bugs and smaller-sized spiders, that are called "a-ping", fried grasshoppers and all sorts of bugs, raw meat of reptiles and their entrails, insect larvae and embryos of birds, sun-dried devil-fish and fried birds (these could be any, even sparrows ), bamboo sprouts and greens of the water lilies, sea mollusks and shells, all kinds of crops (rice, corn, yam, taro, ficus and etc.). The dishes in the food of Cambodia also feature many wild fruits and locally grown vegetables. Widely used and popular in the national cousin are pickled and fermented vegetables and fruits, which are collected for pickling at different stages of their growth, which give the final product a completely phenomenal taste.

                                                                                                                                       By Bomey Taing

Taiwanese snacks in night market

Taiwanese snacks in night market

Night markets in Taiwan are street markets in Taiwan that operate in urban or suburban areas.
Traveling in Taiwan isn't complete without a visit to one of its famous night markets.
They are open everyday in the evening until midnight and have become a gathering ground for tourists and locals alike.

In addition to cheap bargain deals, Taiwan's night markets are vital destinations to experience some of the country's best small eats.
Each night market has its own history and personality even if the shaved ice and bun offerings start to look repetitive.
The atmosphere is usually crowded and noisy with hawkers shouting and fast-paced music playing over loudspeakers.
Taiwan night markets changed from small local gatherings to noisy streets lined up with vendors.
There is not only traveler visit in night market but also local people, there are lots of cheap food and local food.
YOU SHOULD TRY IT !

Japanese Traditional Food 

Japanese cuisine

Japanese archipelago (3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD) began to appear in the rice-based farming in the Yayoi period and entered to the age of agrarian. In this period, the Japanese learned planting rice and livestock breeding, so start to separate the main dish; in addition, they learned the basics vintage and adding seasoning in food. Therefore, it became the foundation of Japanese cuisine.

In Nara period, Japanese society upper nobility began having contacts in cultural with China; thus, China's food culture and feast system was introduced to Japan. At that time, Buddhism was introduced to Japan. The Japanese was forbidden to eat meat and consumed oil with basic need, their life is very simple. Until the Muromachi period, Chan Buddhism and tea were brought to Japan from China, it caused the birth of kaiseki. During this period, the European fried dishes began to pass to Japan and transformed as the tempura later. Subsequently, since the influence of Buddhism increased, Buddhist elements ,"natural, peaceful", was not only integrated into Japanese culture, but also penetrated into the Japanese diet.

Edo period is an important stage in the formation of Japanese cuisine. Since the increase in civilian aristocratic banquet, it stimulated the development of Japan's catering industry and gradually formed into Honzen-ryōri, Shippoku cuisine, two different kinds of Kaiseki and Vegetarian Food. These formed the basis of Japanese cuisine. In addition, it followed by the evaluation and became a part of Japanese culture.

By Tina

Chinese hot pot (part2)

Hot pot at Megan's Kitchen

What is the best and warmest food to have in winter? The answer is hot pot which we dip raw food to cook it in a pot with soup base. Hot pot provides a chance of friend gathering and chatting while having hot pot. Hot pot means we can pop lots of food into the pot which have soup base to cook in a healthy way.

Hot pot is one of tradition in Hong Kong during winter – dip raw meats and fish balls into boiling vats of broth. It's truly a one-of-a-kind hot pot experience there. It offers a selection of soup bases, and enjoy great dinners – from rich crab-and-tomato topped with frothy egg white soufflé to sizzling Sichuan super-hot chilli escargot to the English oxtail, the options are nearly endless. Other ingredients for hot pot include Japanese cuisine, special fish balls, beef balls stuffed with cheese.

• Fifth floor, Lucky Center, 165-171 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, +852.2866.8305, //meganskitchen.com//. Hot pot set menu £10-£12. Open 12pm-3pm and 6pm-11.30pm

BY PETRA