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What Happened To My Shoe?

Share the adventures of a restless shoe that travels the world, and try some of his favorite recipes!

France is the largest country in the European Union.

French was the official language in England 300 years,

from 1066 to 1362.

Kilts originated in France, not Scotland.

The average French citizen eats 500 snails each year.

French toast isn't French. It was invented by a man called

Joseph French. In France it's called "lost bread" or pain perdu.

A 1910 law forbids couples from kissing on train platforms to avoid delayed departures.

In the village of Saint-Léger-des-Prés it is illegal to slander donkeys, such as “jack-ass,” “dumb as an ass,” etc. Anybody breaking this law is required to make amends by offering apologies in the form of carrots or sugar lumps to the donkeys.

The international distress code Mayday comes from the French word m’aidez which means “Help me”.

Le Bon Marché, the world’s first department store, was founded in Paris in 1838.

During the Second World War, the Mosque of Paris protected French Jews from the Nazis by supplying them with Muslim Identification cards.

French were the first to make license plates in 1893.

France had the first public transportation, in 1660.

No country has won more Nobel Prizes for Literature than France.

The actual name “France” came from a Germanic tribe, from the word frank, which meant “free” in their native tongue.

The French government awards medals to citizens who have “successfully raised several children with dignity”.

There is not one “Stop” sign in the entire city of Paris.

The terms “right-wing” or “left-wing” to describe a political party began in France during the Revolution. The reformists sat on the left side in the National Assembly, while the conservatives sat on the right side.

FRANCE

MOROCCO

GRATIN DAUPHINOIS

2 pounds potatoes (app)

1 cup whole milk.

1 cup cream.

1 garlic clove, smashed.

1 cup (or more) grated cheese

Bay leaf (optional)

Garnish with any fresh herb

- Heat the oven to 350F. Oil a baking dish.

- Put milk, cream, bay leaf and garlic in a pan and heat until simmering. Turn off the heat.

- Peel and finely slice the potatoes.

- Scatter some of the cheese over the bottom of a baking dish,

- Cover with layers of potato slices, overlapping them slightly, and cheese. Season. End with cheese.

- Pour milk and cream (discarding the bay leaf and garlic) over the potatoes. Press the potatoes down to help them absorb the liquid.

- Bake 30 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown and tender when prodded with a sharp knife.

Morocco is about the same size as California.

The Phoenicians colonized the Moroccan coast between the 8th

and 6th centuries BC, though the area was inhabited by indigenous

Berbers for two thousand years before that.

The oldest university in the world is located in Fez.

It was the first country to recognize the United States of America as an independent nation.

In 2011, King Mohammed VI announced a series of reforms that would transform Morocco into a constitutional monarchy, with a prime minister and separate parties.

In an effort to combat the ever-encroaching Sahara desert, the Moroccan government plants thousands of acres of forests every year.

To make use of its natural resources for enegry, Morocco created the Tarfaya Wind Farm, the largest of its kind in Africa.

It is considered impolite to handle food with the left hand.

Berber women still have tattoos in geometric designs on their faces. These are marks of tribal identification and date from a time when it was necessary to be able to spot women of one’s tribe who had been carried off in raids.

In Morocco, djinns, or genies, are believed to frequent places associated with water. Public baths, drains, sinks, pots...

TABOULEH

1/2 cup couscous

3/4 cup of water

Parsley

Tomatoes

Onions (optional)

Lemon

Olive oil

- Place couscous in a bowl and pour hot (not boiling) water over it with salt and some olive oil. Hot from a faucet is good enough.

- Let sit for ten minutes.

- Add chopped parsley, sliced tomatoes and onions.

- Add more olive oil and juice of a lemon, salt and pepper to taste.

- Chill in fridge

AFGHANISTAN

The world’s first oil paintings were drawn in the caves of “Bamiyan”

around 650 BC.

Buddhism and Zoroastrianism were dominant religions in Afghanistan

before the introduction of Islam.

Afghans celebrate poetry night every Thursday, in Herat.

Food is served on the floor, on various materials; with the food shared from the same plate.When eating, it is expected of you to sit with your feet not facing people, or your leg outstretched.

Malala Yousafzai, a woman's education activist, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, age 17 in 2014 making her the youngest-ever laureate.

BOLANI

For the dough:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/4 cups water

For the filling:

1 1/2 pounds potatoes

2 cups sliced onion

2 cups packed cilantro

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll into balls. Keep them covered on the counter while you roll them out.

Roll out a ball of dough on a lightly floured surface to a 8-9 inch circle.

Put a portion of the filling, leaving a half inch border around the edges.

Fold and press firmly all around to seal. Shallow fry the bolani on each side until golden brown.

For the dough:

- Combine flour, salt, and oil. Blend with water until the dough comes together in a ball. It should not be too sticky or too dry.

- Wrap in plastic and let rest about 20 minutes.

For the filling:

- Cook potatoes and and mash coarsely.

- Roughly chop the cilantro.

- Chop green pepper.

Sauté green pepper and onion a couple of minutes.

Turn off the heat and stir in cilantro and potatoes.

- Salt, pepper

You can create your own filling!

CAMELS

MESKOUTA

Dessert

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350 F Grease and flour your pan.

Beat the eggs and sugar until thick. Gradually beat in the oil until smooth.

Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt, and then the milk. Beat just until smooth, and then mix in the lemon juice, zest, and vanilla.

Bake about a half hour, or until cooked through.

Camels actually originated in North America 45 million years ago.

Camels have three sets of eyelids and two rows of eyelashes to keep sand out of their eyes.

They have thick lips which let them forage for thorny plants other animals can't eat.

Camels can completely shut their nostrils during sandstorms.

Thanks to thick pads of skin on their chest and knees, camels can comfortably sit in very hot sand.

Their humps let them store up to 80 pounds of fat which they can live off for months.

A camel can drink up to 40 gallons at a time.

Camels are very strong and can carry up to 900 pounds for 25 miles.

Camels can travel at up to 40 miles an hour.

Dromadary

Bactrian

The history of Tamil Nadu goes back to the early stone age. The region of Tamil Nadu (southern India and northern Sri Lanka) has been under continuous human habitation since prehistoric times.

TAMIL NADU

The Tamil have 38,615 Temples. Studded with complex architecture, the temples remain the very essence of its heritage, with historical records dating back 3,000 years.

When wishes come true: Devotees at this Tamil Nadu temple give thanks by building cement figurines.

1 1/2 cups coconut, finely shredded

½ cup condensed milk

¼ tsp cardamom powder (optional)

sliced almonds, for garnishing (op)

Put one cup of the coconut in a pan and roast for 2 minutes at a very low flame.

Add the cardamom powder (optional).

Add the condensed milk and mix.

In a few minutes, the mixture becomes thick. Switch off the flame and let the mixture cool down for 5 minutes.

Apply some butter on your hand, take some of the mixture and make a round ball out of it.

Roll the ball in some finely shredded coconut.

COCONUT LADOO

Dessert

It's a criminal offense to stick a postage stamp with the image of a

monarch upside down

It is illegal to die in the House of Commons and illegal to die in the

Houses of Parliament.

(We're not sure what the punishment for these particular offences would be)

In a law passed in 1837, women are allowed to bite off a man's nose if he kisses her against her will.

Back in Shakespeare’s day (1600s) mattresses were fastened to bed frames by ropes. By pulling the ropes you could make the mattress tighter, and firmer to sleep on. Hence, the saying “goodnight, sleep tight”.

It is illegal to stand within one hundred yards of the reigning monarch when not wearing socks.

Queen Elizabeth II is distantly related to Dracula (Vlad the Impaler).

Horse-drawn taxis date back to 1605, in London and Paris.

Electric battery-powered cabs first became available in the late 1800s.

ENGLAND

LEEK AND POTATO SOUP

3 medium leeks

1 large potato peeled

1 quart milk or water

1/2 cup cream

Parsley for garnish

Put the potatoes and leeks in a pot with the milk or water and bring to a gentle simmer.

Cook until the potatoes and leeks are completely soft, about 25 minutes.

Purèe before adding the cream, salt, and pepper.

Istanbul was founded by the ancient Greeks on seven hills,

like Rome. At the time it was called Byzantium, until

Emperor Constantine, the first emperor to embrace

Christianity, moved there to form the East Roman Empire.

After his death, in 337 AD, it was renamed Constantinople, and

became the world center for learning and the arts, while Europe

sombered into the Dark Ages.

When the Ottoman Turks invaded, in 1453, they renamed

it Istanbul, which means "The City". Christianity was replaced by Islam.

It is the only city in the world which is both in Europe and Asia.

lstanbul is one of the biggest and most crowded cities in the world.

ISTANBUL

1 cup (red) lentils

5 cups water

1 1/2 cups bulgur, quinoa or couscous

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons sweet red pepper paste

1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (optional)

1 bunch of green onions, chopped

1 bunch of parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Cook lentils until tender. Drain and leave about a half inch of water. Add pastes and bulgur into the hot pan. The bulgur will cook with the hot water.

Add olive oil, lemon, onion, parsley, salt and pepper.

Roll to the size you want, and fry.

MERCIMEK KOFTESI

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

TANZANIA

Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is the tallest mountain on the

African continent and the highest free-standing mountain

in the world.

It has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo.

Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak,

could erupt again

2 pounds okra

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons curry powder

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 onion, chopped finely

2 tablespoons of butter

1/2 teaspoon paprika

2 cups of coconut milk

Brown over medium heat the butter, curry, onions, garlic, and paprika.

Add the okra and remaining ingredients to the saucepan, cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Serve over rice.

TANZANIAN COCONUT OKRA CURRY

EGYPT

The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid.

It weighs as much as 16 Empire State buildings.

Both men and women wore make-up. The eye-paint was usually

green (made from copper) or black (made from lead).

Ancient Egyptians had more than 2,000 deities.

The Egyptian alphabet contained more than 700 hieroglyphs.

The bandages of an Egyptian mummy could stretch for one mile (1.6 km).

The Ancient Egyptians invented paper, pens, locks and keys and toothpaste.

Cats were a sacred animal for the Ancient Egyptians. Most families kept a cat as a pet which they believed would bring good luck.

Egyptian cat mummies

1 onion, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

2 tsp. coriander

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 cups of spinach

About 1/2 cup water

1 cup cooked chickpeas

juice of 1/2 lemon

Heat a saucepan over medium high heat. Sauté onions until golden.

Add tomato and coriander, sauté.

Add spinach, garlic and broth.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add chickpeas and let simmer 5 minutes.

Just before serving add lemon juice.

SIBANEH

HONG KONG

With a land mass of 1,104 square kilometers (426 sq. mi) and

7 million people, Hong Kong is the world's most densely

populated city, with 8,000 skyscrapers and the longest

covered escalator in the world.

Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 to 1997

because China lost the Second Opium War. After the

Handover, Hong Kong became a part of China.

Its tallest building, almost half a kilometre high, sits in West Kowloon.

Three fourth of Hong Kong is actually rural; farmland, woodland, lakes and parks.

The name 'Hong Kong' is Cantonese for 'fragrance harbor', because of the insence that was made there.

There are 263 islands in Hong Kong. Some of them, like Lantau, Cheung Chau and Lamma, are accessible by ferry while others are totally uninhabited and virtually unreachable. Its beloved Star Ferry began running in 1880.

Dim sum originated here, it means “touch the heart”, created as snack food for travelers.

Apartments generally do not have a fourth floor because the word four sounds like the word “death” in Chinese. This makes four unlucky. Conversely, the number eight represents wealth.

Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery: building began in 1951. All along the path leading

up to the temple are actually 13,000 sculptures of Buddha.

SWEET AND SOUR TOFU

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

10 ounces firm tofu, cubed

6 tbsp cornstarch

Oil for cooking

CHOP

1 carrot

1/2 green bell pepper

1/2 red bell pepper

1/2 onion

- Mix soy sauce and apple cider vinegar

Add the tofu cubes and let rest for 5 minutes.

- Drain the tofu and transfer 1/3 of the tofu cubes to ziplock with 2 tbsp of cornstarch and toss to coat. Repeat this step with the rest of the tofu and cornstarch.

- Cook the tofu cubes in a skillet with a little bit oil over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown. Set aside.

- Cook the veggies in the skillet with some oil over medium-high heat until golden brown. Set aside.

To make the sauce just mix all the ingredients until well combined. Cook until it thickens, stirring frequently. Add to the

tofu and veggies and cook about 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Serve with some sesame seeds on top.

For the sweet and sour sauce:

4 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp tamari or soy sauce

6 tbsp water

2 tsp cornstarch

Sesame seeds (optional)

VENICE, ITALY

Founded in the 5th century in swampland, by people of Northern

Italy fleeing the Lombards.

They built 118 small islands built on millions of petrified logs

driven in to the ground, mainly from alder trees (known for its water

resistance).

The trees were brought to Venice by boat from Slovenia, Croatia and

Montenegro.

The islands are connected by 417 bridges.

Venice was one of the first cities in Italy to engage in international commerce, and became a major maritime power starting the 10th century.

It remained independent until it fell to Napoleon in 1797.

Venice became a major art and printing center of Italy in the 15th century.

The first woman in the world that graduated from university was born in Venice in 1646.

The first public casino in the world was opened in Venice in 1638.

Tomato

Mozzarella

Basil

Olive oil

The is an all-time favorite summer salad in Venice.

Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella, cut the basil but not too much.

Add salt, pepper and olive oil

POMODORO CON MOZZARELLA

GREECE

According to Greek mythology, Athena and Poseidon agreed that

whoever gave the city the best gift would become guardian over the

city. Though Poseidon gave the gift of water, Athena’s gift of an olive

tree was deemed by the other gods to be more valuable.

No one in Greece can choose to not vote. Voting is required by law for

every citizen who is 18 or older.

About 7% of all the marble produced in the world comes from Greece.

Continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years, Athens is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is also the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, science, major mathematical principles, tragedy and comedy.

Greece has more than 2,000 islands, approximately 170 are populated. Greece’s largest island is Crete.

Many Greek doors, windowsills, furniture, and church domes are painted a turquoise blue because of an ancient belief that this shade of blue keeps evil away. They called the color kyanos, which the words “cyan” and “cyanide” are derived from.

It is considered an insult to wave with an open hand. Greeks wave with the palm closed.

MELITZANOSALATA

1 large eggplant

2 cloves garlic, minced

Olive oil

Lemon juice

Chopped parsley

Olives for garnish (optional)

Roast eggplant until charred and soft.

Allow the eggplant to rest until cool enough to handle. Peel the skin away from the flesh.

Chop the flesh and place in a colander to drain for 15 minutes. Blend, or mash with a fork.

Add the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

4,000 year old olive tree still produces olives

The Great Wall of China is the world's longest wall and biggest

ancient architecture, 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi) and 2,300 years old.

Glutinous rice played an important role when building the wall.

It helped fix the bricks in place and bound the bricks together so

tightly that weeds cannot grow in many parts.

More than 1,000, 000 laborers were recruited for its construction.

In 13th century (1200s) the Mongols led by Genghis Khan breached the wall and subjugated north and central China for nearly 100 years. 1644, the Manchus entered from Shanhaiguan which resulted in the collapse of the Ming Dynasty.

GREAT WALL OF CHINA

2 tablespoons coconut

(shredded)

4 eggs

3 cups rice flour

3 cups whole milk

2 1/2 cups sugar

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon coconut extract

(optional)

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F

Place the coconut flat on a baking sheet and bake about 5 minutes; set aside.

Beat eggs lightly and whisk in the remaining ingredients. Bake for 25 minutes.

Sprinkle with the toasted coconut and bake about 20 minutes.

Let cool

NIAN GAO

CENTIPEDES

Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs,

ranging from 30 to 354. They appeared 430 million years ago.

Certain centipedes can live up to six years, and can grow up to

a foot long.

They are not dangerous to humans, though they will bite if they feel

threatened.

Centipedes feed on many types of small household pests, including spiders,

flies, cockroaches and silverfish.

All centipedes have poor eyesight, so they detect prey through their antennae. In fact, some centipedes don't even have eyes.

CARROT, GINGER, PINEAPPLE

1 pound carrots Sliced

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon minced ginger

1/2 cup pineapple Juice

1/2 tablespoon sweetener

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon apricot preserve (optional)

In a medium saucepan heat the butter over medium heat until melted, then add coconut oil together with ginger, stir for about 30 seconds.

Add carrots and sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.

Stir in the pineapple juice, sweetener and nutmeg. Bring to a boil. Once boiling turn heat to medium and let cook for 5 minutes or until it has slightly thickened

Top with almonds

JAMAICA

The island of Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom

on 6 August 1962. In Jamaica, this date is celebrated as

Independence Day.

Jamaica is 4,442 square miles, a bit smaller than the State of

Connecticut.

It was the first country in the Western world to have a railroad. They built

their railroad 18 years after Britain built theirs.

AT&T copied Jamaica’s telephone system because it was so well developed, and in 1994, it became the first Caribbean nation to launch its own website.

Over 200 species of Orchids grow wild on the island of Jamaica. There are a 1,000 species of trees and 500 species of ferns. Jamaica is the best place to see wild flora and fauna.

The singer Harry Belafonte's mother was Jamaican, and so was Bob Marley. Jamaica is famed as the birthplace of reggae music.

FAUX MOJITO

Blend a few chunks of pineapple with pineapple juice, white grapes and lime, add crushed ice and lime slices

MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms are a fungus, and unlike plants, they do not require

sunlight. There are 10,000 known varieties.

The mushroom is a very nutritious food, a good source of

vitamin B along with essential minerals such as copper and

potassium.

Traditional Chinese medicine has utilised the medicinal properties of

mushrooms for centuries.

There are over 30 species of mushroom that actually glow in the dark. The chemical reaction called bioluminescence produces a glowing light known as foxfire. People have been known to use these fungi to light their way through the woods.

Before the invention of synthetic dyes, mushrooms were widely used for dyeing wool and other natural fibers.

GARLIC BUTTER MUSHROOMS

1 pound of large mushrooms,

tops only

1/4 cup butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Parsley

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet.

Combine butter and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spread butter mixture into each of the mushroom cavities and sprinkle with parmesan.

Place mushrooms onto the preparing baking sheet, cap-side down.and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

Garnish with parsley.

The Cape of Good Hope is in the Atlantic Ocean, at the southern tip

of the Cape Peninsula approximately 50 km (31 mi) south of

Cape Town, South Africa.

It was originally named the Cape of Storms by Portuguese explorer

Bartholomew Dias in 1488.

It was later renamed, by King John II of Portugal, the Cape of Good Hope

because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of a sea route to India and the East.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon garlic

1 tablespoon ginger

1 carrot, \diced)\

1 small green pepper, diced

1 large tomato, diced

1 tablespoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric, optional

1/2 teaspoon paprika, optional

1 cup canned chickpeas, drained

2 teaspoons tomato paste

1-2 cups water

1-2 teaspoons lemon juice

cilantro

6 mini ciabatta or other bread rolls

Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onions and cook on medium heat till the onions are brown. Add carrot, green pepper, and tomato and cook till the vegetables are soft.

Add salt, curry powder, turmeric and paprika, cook 1 minute on medium-high heat.

Add chickpeas, tomato paste, 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Stir to make sure tomato paste has dissolved. Boil for about 2 minutes. Add more water if the curry it too thick

Add ginger and garlic paste and saute 30 seconds.

and add lemon juice.

Cut the tops off the mini bread rolls scoop out the bread inside. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

SOUTH AFRICAN BUNNYCHOW

Uganda is also home to 11% of the world’s bird population.

Uganda has 6.8% of the world’s butterfly species.

Bicycles, not cars, are the main mode of transportation in Uganda.

In Uganda, for every tree cut down, you are expected to plant three more.

Over 30 different indigenous languages are spoken in Uganda.

Uganda gained its independence from Britain in 1962.

Ugandan men always wear pants, even in the hotter temperatures. Only boys wear shorts.

The national animal is the Grey Crowned Crane.

This bird is featured on the country’s flag.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

GULU, UGANDA

NSWAA

1 pound termites

(soaked in water)

2 tomatoes

½ tsp garlic

3-4 tbsp oil

½ tsp chili

Salt

Sauté your onions for 3 minutes

As your onion fries, chop your tomatoes

Add them to your onions and stir for two minutes

Add your salt, garlic, and chili. Continue stirring for another 2 minutes

Add the termites and fry them for 2 to 3 minutes

Remove from heat and serve it in a plate.

You can squeeze some lemon juice to enhance its flavor

BANGKOK, THAILAND Rachaprasong

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never

colonized by an European country. The name of the country is

Prathet Thai which means “land of the free.”

Bangkok became the capital of Siam (as Thailand was known) in 1782,

when General Chao Phraya Chakkri, the founder of the ruling Chakkri

dynasty, assumed the throne as Rama I. Rachaprasong is a busy

shopping district in Bangkok.

Bangkok's real name is one of the longest names of a place in the world:

Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit.

It means “City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s Behest.”

There was a time when all young men (including royalty) were required to become Buddhist monks–even if only for a short period of time–before they turned 20. There are about 35,000 temples in Thailand. The most original is the Wat pa maha chedi kaew temple, made of 1.5 million beer bottles.

1 can (14 ounces) coconut milk

1/2 cup shredded coconut

2 eggs

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons melted butter

Optional: 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

COCONUT PANCAKES

Cut vegetables into bite-sized chunks and roast either on a grill, stove or oven.

Basil sauce:

Blend a handful of fresh basil with olive oil and salt, and brush over cooked vegetables.

SKEWERS AND BASIL

VIETNAM

LOMBOK, BALI

AUSTRALIA

Legend has it that the peoples of this land originated from a

union between an immortal Chinese princess and

“The Dragon Lord of the Seas.”

Vietnam is the only country we know of that has its own deities for

the kitchen.

Vietnam is first for rice export,s and ranks second in coffee exports after

Brazil. Vietnam’s top export is cashews.

In Vietnam, motorbikes are everywhere, hence the name “The Kingdom of Motorbikes“.

Do NOT cross your fingers to a Vietnamese. It is seen as an obscene gesture, akin to raising your middle finger.

Traditional Vietnamese culture revolves around the core values of humanity, community, harmony, and family.

Their flag consists of a golden star with five points to represent: farmers, workers, intellectuals, youth, and soldiers. The red background pays tribute to the bloodshed during the wars.

Water puppetry is a popular art form that dates to the 11th century.

Lombok is an Indonesian island east of Bali. The Portuguese and

Dutch arrived on the island at the end of the 16th century (1500s).

Bali was then absorbed into the Dutch East India Company and

colonized for more than 300 years.

After many years of fighting the Balinese finally gained their

independence in December of 1949.

Thousands of monkeys call the island of Bali home.

Balinese babies are carried everywhere the first few months of their lives because they are not allowed to touch the ground. They are considered little angels, their connection to the spirits is kept in tacked by not touching the earth. When the time has come that they are allowed to touch the ground, a big ceremony is held.

You will find many people called Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. It means ‘first born’, ‘second born’, ‘third born’ and ‘fourth born’. So, what do you call your fifth child? Start over again.

The world’s most expensive coffee in the world comes from Bali.

It is called Kopi Luwak and is not your typical coffee bean.

First a civet cat eats it, a shy cat-like creature living in Asia.

The civet cat only eats the ripest and finest, but it doesn’t digest

the bean, and poops it out.

Aboriginal people arrived in Australia about 50,000 years ago.

They may have traveled from Asia across land when sea levels

were lower.

Dutch explorers first landed in Australia in 1606, and the British

began to settle there in 1788. Many settlers were criminals sent to

live in Australia as punishment.

80% of the animals are unique to Australia: kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus and wallaby. blue-ringed octopus, gang-gang cockatoo, banjo frog and blue-tongued skink, are just a few. There are over 60 different species of kangaroos.

1 million wild camels roam the Australian deserts. They were originally brought over to help with railroad construction.

Australia is home to the longest fence in the world. Originally built to keep dingos away from fertile land, the fence is now 5,614 km long, or almost 3,500 miles.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest ecosystem in the world,

made up of nearly 2,500 individual reefs.

SUMMER ROLLS

10-inch rice paper wrappers

Lettuce leaves, torn into large pieces

1 cup basil

3/4 cup mint

3/4 cup cilantro

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup shredded purple cabbage

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1/2 sliced cucumber,

1 avocado thinly sliced

FOR THE PEANUT SAUCE

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

4 teaspoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 teaspoons brown sugar

BAKWAN SAYUR

3 cups shredded cabbage

1 carrot coarsely grated

1 sliced mushroom

1 onion sliced

1 green chili chopped

For the batter:

1 cup flour

1/4 cup rice flour (if you have it)

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoon minced garlic

1 egg

Oil for deep fryi

Combine coconut milk with the shredded coconut. Set aside.

Whisk the eggs, sugar and melted butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg mixture to the coconut milk mixture, stirring well to combine. Also, add the coconut flavoring (if using).

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the wet coconut-egg mixture to the dry flour mixture, stirring well to combine.

Cook as you would a pancake. Sprinkle with sugar.

Peanut sauce: whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and water.

Wet rice paper for 10-15 seconds. Place lettuce, basil, mint and cilantro in the center of each wrapper; top with carrots, cabbage, bell pepper, cucumber and avocado, salt, pepper.

Wrap tightly over the filling. Cut, add lime juice.

Mixed all the chopped vegetables and set aside.

Mix flour, rice flour and water. Add salt and pepper.

Add water slowly to pancake batter consistency. Add garlic and egg.

Add the vegetables to the batter.

Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil and deep fry for 5 minutes.

Drain on paper towel to remove the excess oil.

The islands were first settled by migrating Polynesians 500 BC.

They were later discovered by European explorers during the 16th

century (1500s) and eventually colonized by France. Now officially

known as French Polynesia, Tahiti is an autonomous overseas

country of the French Republic.

Tahiti and her islands span 4,000,000 square km, an area as large

as Europe.

There are no poisonous snakes or insects in French Polynesia.

The word "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian word tatau. The legend of Tohu, the god of tattoo, describes painting all the oceans' fish in beautiful colors and patterns. In Tahitian tradition, tattoos are ceremoniously applied when reaching adolescence.

The Chinese population (about 10 percent) monopolizes the retail trade, so when Tahitians talk about going shopping, they say they are going to "la Chine" or to China.

The "mailboxes" outside the homes of Tahitian residents are not for the mail, but for French bread delivery. Residents get a fresh loaf dropped off twice a day, and they must go to the post office to retrieve their mail.

TAHITI - French Polynesia

ARGENTINA

ALASKA

Argentina was originally settled by many different tribes of people.

The first major empire arrived when Inca Empire invaded in 1480.

Some of present day Argentina became part of the Incan Empire

and some resisted. In 1516, the Spanish explorer and navigator

Juan Diaz de Solias came to power.

The name Argentina comes from the Latin word for sliver 'argentum'.

The Argentine city of Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world.

The Latin dance and music called the Tango began in Buenos Aires.

The Marble Caves (Cuevas de Mármol) are located in the Patagonian Andes, on a peninsula of solid marble. This unique geological formation sits in waters shared by Argentina and Chile.

The name Alaska originates from an Aleut word "Alyeska,"

meaning "great land."

The Aleuts are people inhabiting the Aleutian Islands and

western Alaska. Many state names trace their origin to native

American languages.

There are more than 70 potentially active volcanoes in Alaska.

Russia controlled most of the area from the late 1700s until 1867, when it was purchased by U.S. Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million.

Alaska has an estimated 100,000 glaciers, ranging from tiny cirque glaciers to huge valley glaciers. There are more active glaciers and ice fields in Alaska than in the rest of the inhabited world.

FIRI FIRI

1 cup all purpose flour

½ cup sugar plus more to coat

2.5 tsp dry yeast

1/3 cup water, lukewarn

1 can of coconut milk

Vegetable oil for deep frying

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. Add 1 tbsp of the sugar, mix well and leave the yeast aside to activate until frothy.

Add all the ingredients and bland

Cover the bowl and leave it in a warm place to rise for 3 hours.

Deep fry until golden brown, drain excess oil and roll in suger,

TARTA DE BERENJENA

2 small eggplants thinly sliced

2 zucchini thinly sliced

garlic - 1 clove, diced

10 sun-dried tomatoes

1 pie crust

2 egg whites

1 cup milk

1 tbsp thyme

1 cup shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Mix flour, brown sugar, oats, butter, and cinnamon together in a bowl until crumbly. Press 1/2 of the mixture into the bottom of prepared baking dish. Sprinkle rhubarb over oat mixture.

Combine white sugar, water, cornstarch, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until thick and clear, about 5 minutes.

Pour sugar mixture over rhubarb. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over rhubarb.

Bake about 1 hour.

Cook eggplant and zucchini

Slice the sun dried tomatoes, and set aside.

Once the eggplant and zucchini are cooked, layer them in the pie dish and incorporate the sun dried tomatoes.

Mix the egg whites, milk, salt, pepper, and thyme and pour on top of the vegetables.

Add the mozzarella

Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 40 minutes

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar