6 Ways To Avoid Celebrating Your Birthday

Posted on 16 May 2019 by Mabel Kwong

238

Our birthday comes around once a year. It’s a day that marks another year we have lived, another year we have experienced. Some of us see it as day to celebrate.

Some of us see it as a day to not celebrate, and last year I wrote about this in a post called 7 Reasons To Not Celebrate Your Birthday.

Croissant

For those of us who have reason to not celebrate our birthday and don’t want a fuss on this day, we might not shout from the rooftops about turning a year older. We might even go to great lengths to avoid drawing attention to our birthday in a time where many think you should be entitled to some special treat.

Continue reading →

Is India A Part Of Asia?

Posted on 28 March 2019 by Mabel Kwong

209

India is one of the largest and most diverse countries in the world, geographically and culturally expanse.

Located above the equator and comprising of thousands of ethnic groups, faiths, languages, cuisines, customs and celebrations, one can say India has a prominent mark on Asia.

Holi Festival Melbourne 2019

However, India is unique in its own way with many referring to the country as its own continent. So it begs the questions: is India a part of Asia? Or just a neighbour? More importantly, do Indians see themselves as a part of Asia?

Continue reading →

6 Symbolic Chinese Dishes Eaten All Year Round

Posted on 28 February 2019 by Mabel Kwong

217

Food is an important part of Chinese culture, and Chinese cuisine holds many symbolic meanings.

Chinese dishes are often eaten around celebratory occasions. Many believe eating certain dishes during festivals such as the Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival or Dragon Boat Festival is considered auspicious. However more often than not, people of Chinese heritage eat certain dishes over and over again most days, and these dishes are equally important in Chinese culture.

Instant chicken ramen

Chinese food is not something I eat every day. But Chinese cuisine is one of my favourite cuisines. I find it fun replicating traditional Chinese recipes at home. It’s a treat when I get to eat at a low-key Chinese restaurant with family and friends on a casual weekend.

Continue reading →

Australia’s National Colours: Green, Gold and More

Posted on 17 January 2019 by Mabel Kwong

211

If you’ve been to Australia, you might notice the colours green and gold stand out quite a bit around the country.

That’s because green and gold are regarded as the national colours of Australia. Both colours arguably symbolise what it means to be uniquely Australia and Australian on different levels.

Green and gold, the colours of Australia.

There are a few reasons behind how green and gold came to be the colours of this country, and these reasons are tied with history and events of today.

Continue reading →

Australia’s Coffee Culture: How We Drink Coffee

Posted on 16 August 2018 by Mabel Kwong

225

Coffee and drinking coffee is something Australians are all too familiar with. Australia’s coffee culture is unique, with different ways of drinking coffee and different kinds of coffee drunk throughout the day.

No doubt Australia has a strong love affair with coffee. Melbourne has time and time again been voted as having the best coffee in the world. In 2017, the quest to find the best coffee roaster in the world was held in Melbourne. Coffee is a favourite non-alcoholic beverage for many Australians among most age brackets, even more popular than tea.

Some of us love coffee | Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #7: Everyday Moments.

Although I’ve lived in Australia for half my life, I don’t drink coffee. Certainly I’m no where near a coffee connoisseur and my tastebuds aren’t fined tuned to suss out the finest of coffees and Arabica beans.

Continue reading →

Sweltering Hot vs. Freezing Cold Weather: Which Do You Like?

Posted on 19 July 2018 by Mabel Kwong

225

Warm weather. Cold weather. We might prefer one or the other. Or we might not have a preference and love both.

The weather is different all around the world. Some countries have four seasons. Other parts of the world especially countries close to the equator don’t have four seasons and pretty much have a steady temperature all year round.

Hot or cold weather. Different climates, different temperatures.

For as long as I can remember, I never liked cold weather. Never like it when the temperature dips below 20’C (68’F) in Melbourne and any place really. Summer is my favourite season and a day 30’C (86’F) or over is something I love. When I lived in Singapore, I loved that each and every day was a tropical, humid balmy 26’C (78’F) or more.

Continue reading →