Dragon Boat Festival

Today is the first day of the entry examination of the university. The date is one month earlier than the one I ever took part in the exam. It's a kind of human caring, because it's hotter in most area of China in July than in June.
Some students of the SiChuan province will also attend the exam later in one month due to the earthquake disaster.

Tomorrow is the the Dragon Boat Festival of the lunar year, Chinese government set it as the public holiday since this year. So People can have an extra free day this weekend: next Monday.

I made some ZONGZI (sticky rice), the leaves are very small, so they looks very cute:)

Laba Rice Porridge Festival

There's a tradition of eating laba rice porridge on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. "La" in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and "ba" means eight.

The story of this fetival came over 3,000 years ago.

When Sakyamuni was on his way into the high mountains in his quest（寻求） for understanding and enlightenment, he grew tired and hungry. Exhausted from days of walking, he fainted away by a river in India. A shepherdess found him there and fed him her lunch -- porridge made with beans and rice. Sakyamuni was thus able to continue his journey.


After six years of strict discipline, he finally realized his dream of full enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Ever since, monks have prepared rice porridge on the eve and held a ceremony the following day, during which they chant sutras and offer porridge to Buddha. Thus, the tradition of eating Laba porridge was based in religion, though with the passing of time the food itself became a popular winter dish especially in cold northern China.


According to written records, large Buddhist temples would offer Laba rice porridge to the poor to show their faith to Buddha. In the Ming Dynasty about 500 years ago, it became such a holy food that emperors would offer it to their officials during festivals. As it gained favor in the feudal （封建的）upper class, it also quickly became popular throughout the country.

Laba rice porridge（腊八粥） was first introduced to China in the Song Dynasty about 900 years ago.Laba porridge is not only easy to prepare, but also a nutritious winter food because it contains amino acids, protein, vitamins and other nutrition people need. Cooked nuts and dried fruit are good for soothing nerves, nourishing one's heart and vitality, and strengthening the spleen. Perhaps that is why it is also called babao (Eight Treasure) porridge.
Take a look at the material



Some restaurants and temples will also deliver the porridge as a care and wish for the citizens. There're tens of places in Hangzhou city offerring the porridge for free, Beijing and other cities also have this kind of traditions, a tea house (茶馆, maison de thé) delivered more than 15,000 bowls. Take a look at the long queue:

Far and near

Did you have this kind of experience? you travelled in another city, another country, and are familiar with the folks, streets, stores, scenes, foods there, but while a friend from far away come to your home, you need tour him around as a host, you find you know little about the wonderful shopping place, special snacks around.

You think you'll have time for the thing nearby, then you never get the time.

Last week, I hear some people were discussing about the mutton, I asked where it is, and are there some restaurants. There're many authentic restaurant for mutton on that road, where I often visited. I've never been there in past years since I moved here. and when I missed the delicious food, I went back to hangzhou, another city.

What's we live for

Milton wrote some touching conversations between he and his son at reflection time. His son came to the hospital in last 12 months, but they still keep smiling.

One of my previous boss is good at talking, he also said some smart words in short terms. One of them is very impressive, when people asked why he still ate food with grease after his
gall-bladder was removed, supposed he would stay away from them, he said: I liked such kind of food, that's we live for.