First, and most importantly before I say anything else I will go on record stating that not everyone here is a celebrity or star struck. To the contrary we really wish the celebrities would stop creating the impression that everyone in Southern California is like them. In fact, many of us really wouldn't mind if Hollywood moved to some place like Iowa.
Secondly, our weather drives our lifestyle and our decisions. And yes, we do take our weather for granted, thank you very much. We expect it to be gorgeous outside every day. That's why we live here and pay some of the highest friggin' prices in the country for real estate and gasoline! Many of us may not be rich but we figure if we have to be poor we prefer to suffer in paradise. So how does this influence us to be who we are?

Our Personality

• Because of our perpetually great weather we're pretty easy going. Come on, wouldn't you be if you lived in weather like this? But don't mess with us; we're not oblivious. In fact, when I asked a Chicago friend who lived here for 18 months what he thought personified a Southern Californian he said "Southern Californians, while very laid back, have a deep streak of assertive personal confidence that is not readily apparent on the outside." In other words, we are really cool.
• Along with being laid-back, we're genuinely very nice and friendly and we expect other people, particularly visitors, to be too. We don't take kindly to rude Easterners. We don't dislike Easterners. Far from it. We have a lot of friends and family who live east of here. We welcome everyone, just not people with attitude. It messes with our easy-goingness. My advice if you are going to visit us, or even think of moving here, is to leave your attitude back where you came from.

We Have Our Own Unique Way of Expressing Ourselves

• We speak in a vernacular particular to our area. We call everyone "dude". We also use words not commonly heard in other parts of the country such as rad, gnarly, awesome, totally and cool. Their use either started here or gravitated here and never left. In SoCal pretty much everything is "cool". Even though it's a bad habit we use the word "like" a lot. People in SoCal say "like" at least three times more in a sentence as people from the "other" coast. For example, we would say "like that was so cool, dude." A friend would respond, "Totally."
• Besides our funny speech we use a fair amount of Spanglish because we live next to Mexico. Not everyone here speaks Spanish but we all know how to say something in Spanglish. We learn it on the playgrounds in school. It's not unusual to hear someone in a bar ask, "Dude, can I have a really cold cerveza?" The bartender responds, "No problemo, dude. You want any snackolas with that?"

Head to the Beach, Surf's Up

• We swim in the ocean even when it's freezing cold. Why? Because we can.
• People think we never get stressed out. We do! When it happens we head to the beach. Oh heck, we head to the beach even if we're not stressed out.
• We surf or we know someone who surfs. It's part of our culture. The diehards get up at 4:00 a.m., grab their boards and head out to the beach to catch some "awesome" early morning waves. In winter the surfers wear wet suits. It's really cool to drive or walk along the beach at daybreak and see them sitting on their boards out in the water waiting for a big one. From a distance they look like a flock of skinny baby seals bobbing on top of the water.

The SoCal Look

• If you've ever visited Southern California you've seen that our clothing and shoe choices are fairly simple. The basic wardrobe for many, regardless of gender, is two t-shirts and two pairs of shorts. One set for summer and one set for winter. More extravagant people own several t-shirts and pairs of shorts. When men dress up they put on a Hawaiian shirt. They don't own a suit or sports coat. Women don a sleeveless, skinny-strap dress and matching flip-flops, or a mini-skirt, tank top and Uggs. To successfully wear this look it helps to be tan and fairly thin. Big girls and big women really don't look good in these skimpy outfits. But of course that does not stop many of them from wearing them. To top off the look, women use sunglasses to push back their long hair, never a headband.
• Speaking of hair length, the surfer chick look is very popular here. It embodies the above wardrobe along with long, preferably straight hair and a large beach bag type purse. Many women carry most of what they own in these bags, including their dogs. Lest you think the Hollywood starlets started this trend, uh-uh. They borrowed the look from the surfer chicks.
• We wear flip-flops year-round. Women often own a pair in every color.

Our Wheels and Roads

• We refer to the distance between two places as the amount of time it takes to get there. It's never "10 miles', it's "20 minutes" or "that'll take you 45 minutes during rush hour."
• We tend to travel on freeways to everything even if traveling the side streets is more direct. What can I say? We're taxed to the hilt for our freeways and we want our money's worth.
• Most cars in the beach areas sport a surfboard rack.
• Some would say we are obsessed with our cars. It's probably because it takes forever to get anywhere but it could also be because our cars stay in better shape than other parts of the country where winter beats the b'jesus out of vehicles. We don't have that problem.
• We don't fear earthquakes but a little rain will cause considerable damage on the roads. We can't drive in the rain. Ask anyone from Seattle or Portland who has ever been here when it happens to be raining and seen us trying to drive on wet roads. They laugh hysterically and liken it to watching people drive bumper cars. Except for those years when El Nino hits and it rains like a mother causing homes to slide off the hills, what we call rain other parts of the country refer to as drizzle. But for us it's an onslaught. We huddle inside, grumble like the world is ending and pray for the sun to return.

Chips, Salsa and Margies

• Because of our proximity to Mexico we eat a lot of Mexican food. Many of us need a daily infusion of Mexican food. We become anemic if we go a day without salsa. We eat fish tacos, carne asada fries, burritos, chips and salsa and guacamole like other parts of the country eat pot roast, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and chicken and dumplings, whatever the heck they are. SoCal babies are born with a predilection for Mexican food. Their moms eat Mexican food throughout their pregnancies so the babies are conditioned right out of the womb to crave taquitos.
• Walk into a SoCal kitchen and you are likely to see avocadoes (for guacamole of course), fresh tomatoes and chiles (for making salsa) and artichokes. In other parts of the country people have no idea what to do with an artichoke. And we're happy about that because it means more artichokes for us.
• In other parts of the country they hold summer barbecue cookoffs. We hold salsa cookoffs.
• We also eat a lot of fresh citrus because citrus trees grow in our backyards the way grass grows elsewhere. We pity the poor soul who doesn't have an orange or lemon tree in the yard. Not sure how those folks get through January without freshly squeezed orange juice. In my yard we grow pixie tangerines and limes. We have to; we need them for margaritas, which brings up another topic.
• Our alcoholic beverage of choice is the margarita. I don't know if there are any statistics but I'll bet we consume more tequila per capita than anywhere in the continental United States. Seriously. You'd agree if you ever drove through Pacific Beach on a Saturday night. You think all those drunk 20-somethings are quaffing scotch? You can find margaritas here of every flavor and concoction, but a true Southern Californian likes em the traditional way made with fresh lime juice or mix and a really really good tequila. Okay, the younger set that's out to get drunk isn't particular about their tequila and would just as soon drink Jose Cuervo Gold ("totally" cheap stuff made gold with caramel coloring.) The rest of us go for the premium stuff: silver, resposado (rested) or anejo (old). We do have standards, ya know.

We Have Our Faults

• If you've never been here and you're under the impression that Southern California is without fault, well, think again. We do have faults. Really big ones in fact that cause earthquakes. Indeed that can be a problem if they are big enough but generally they are not. It just freaks out the tourists who ask us how on earth we tolerate living here. Gee, I don't know. An occasional earthquake that shakes the dust off the window sills versus living in the path of killer hurricanes or tornadoes or putting up with winter so bad our patoosies would fall off? Hmm, not a hard choice.
• Our traffic is another thing we're not proud of but it's not like we're the only part of the country with traffic. We don't let it upset us; instead we go to the beach.
• Finally there is one last blemish and it concerns our weather. No, I'm not going to brag again about our perfect weather (but did I mention we have great weather here?) In fact for two months a year our weather is pretty rotten by our standards. You might think I'm talking about the middle of winter but it's the late spring/early summer. We refer to these months as May Gray and June Gloom. For eight weeks the coastline is socked in with overcast gray skies and fog. Sometimes it's so thick it comes down like rain. And I tell you it is downright depressing! I often feel sorry for the tourists who scamper out here right after their offspring get out of school for summer break. They emerge from the airport wondering what happened to the sun. Sometimes it will peak out after the noon hour but often not. They spend a week at the beach wondering what all the talk was about Southern California being so great. They go home shaking their heads. I consider it a blessing. One more family that WON'T move here. Of course we never tell those folks that the sun comes out in July.

One of Singapore's main attraction is FOOD. As a tourist here, you will be bombarded by the number of shops that sell a very wide variety of Asian cuisines.

There are informal settings where you have to order you food and bring it to your table very much like ordering from a fast-food joint. Difference is that the table where you sit may quite far away from the stall itself. These stalls, it can be up to 20 different stalls, all share a common sitting area. You are spoilt for choice as you decide what to try first.

Noodles and rice are prepared in a number of different manner - fried, soup, dry, semi-dry, chilli, ketchup, clay pot, hot cast-iron plate, mini steamboat, and the list goes on.

Then if you want to pamper yourself, and not join in the hustle and bustle of things, go to a formal restaurant. It is air-conditioned and you have waiters who will take your order and then bring the food to you. Dinning at these restaurants is easily affordable.

Of course, if budget is not an issue, go for fine dinning. You will be pampered as you enjoy the wonderful service and the relaxing pace.

No matter which is your choice of dinning experience, the food tastes simply delicious. You'll be putting on weight when you visit Singapore.

It doesn't matter if you are vegetarian, you will find vegetarian food stalls easily. Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-religious mix, thus the food is catered to all people. There are also internal cuisines easily available as well.

Now you see why Singapore is a food paradise?

The other main attraction in Singapore is SHOPPING. Clothes and electronic gadgets are the top picks for tourists from US and the UK.

Next to every shop that sells food, there is one that sells clothes or other things. It's like there is a master plan that predicts that after you do your shopping, you will be hungry and thirsty, so have the food stalls nearby so that you can replenish your body with food and drink before heading for the stalls again.

Branded clothing like Asley Isham and Wykidd Song to cheap t-shirts for tourists to purchase, branded make up to branded shoes are mainly located at Orchard Road. It is a place where budget is not an issue for you. You will fall in love with these shops here. Another newly opened shopping mall is at the Changi Airport Terminal 3. This is mainly for businessmen who are in Singapore for a one day or half-day transit. It has over 100 retail and food and beverage outlets.

You have to watch out for the Great Singapore Sale, Singapore Fashion Festival and the Christmas Light up. These sales are really worth the effort!

These are just 2 main attractions of Singapore and because it is the hottest 2 past times, there is even a shopping mall and a great number of food stalls that are open 24/7.

Speaking of hot past time, Singapore's nightlife (some of the world's best is at Clarke Quay), shopping and fine dinning is ranked top 5 in the world (reported by Country Brand Index by FutureBrand).

These are just 2 top picks why you may want to visit Singapore. Have fun!

From Beaches to mountains and everything in between. If you want to go skiing, go to North Jersey's Mountain Creek. If you want to go to the shore, you have numerous beaches to choose from. You name it - we have it.

Only the greatest breakfast/lunch sandwich to ever been born. Rarely can you find it in Pennsylvania. But along the coastline of New Jersey you will not find a better sandwich.

We have more diners in a square mile than you can count on your hands AND toes. Why is this awesome? The answer is choice. Don't feel like going to Queen Diner tonight? Go to Princess Maria's. And no matter what they all have the best french fries.

What exit are you? No where else can you drive for 15 mph for a solid three hours and go only 45 miles from your starting point. Awesome? I believe so.

The Garden State. You may laugh but the truth is… you all wish you lived here. Why else would the parkway be crowded year-round? Why else would there be a diner every other mile? Why else would pork-roll be attempted to be re-created in other states? Why else would people relentlessly crowd our spaces with their outside ways? The answer. Tourists love Jersey.

So the concept is very much practical to the typical Filipino - you can way enjoy getting a full meal or a delectable coffee/cake meal without getting broke. The place is also big and inviting enough to get a group of friends to chat or whole parties to celebrate. Plus, after enjoying great dining in Nezz 74 Café, you can hop around Obrero St. with all the bars and restos it has to offer.

I didn't believe the account of my sister was credible. But who wouldn't say no to a free meal, eh? My sister, a down-to-the-core Lachi's fan, always tells me that the restaurant serves the best meals in Davao. It is also the supplier of cakes for most of the coffee shops in this city. It is located in the suburbs - away from the bustling downtown area. When my sister and I went there, the place is kind of underwhelming. It was very small and simple looking of a place, very typical of a Filipino karinderya.

I was wrong…very, very wrong …

When I had my first taste of their Unforgettable Spare Ribs, it was heavenly bliss. The spare ribs are soft, juicy, and flavorful - you can eat it to the bones. Every bite of the spare ribs and you'll enjoy your heart out. I could write a novel of how great the eating experience was, but it all goes down to how my feet were fleeting under the table. The meal only costs Php 93.00 (converted to dollars that would be barely USD 3.00!!!). My sister ate a Mozzarella Cheese and Tomato Chicken and that one is also not to be missed. I enjoyed the evening bonding with my sister - talking about our dreams in life and the depressions being swallowed by the plate full of viand and hot rice.

The spare ribs were really unforgettable…

My sister and I also had a couple rounds of dessert. We had their delectable Sylvanas - creamy, crunchy, and the right amount of sweetness. We also had some of their cheesecakes that melt in your mouth and not in your face! We also had their symphony cake - music to the mouth with the combination of chocolate, chiffon, and nuts.

As we waited for a taxi outside to get home, it was interesting to find that they were a lot of people who waited outside the little restaurant. They were waiting for their turn to eat the Unforgettable Spare Ribs, since Lachi's have very limited seats. Even writing this review right now makes me crave for the unforgettable again…

Oh my, my mouth is beginning to water again…I am now a certified head-over-heels for Lachi's.

The coffee shop offers hot and cold coffee, beer, fraps, cakes, pastas, and other meals - so you have a lot to explore. You should check out there banana coffee - which after drinking makes you feel that you have eaten a whole bunch of bananas! My friends and I tried on some of their cakes (Mango Cream Cheesecake, Blueberry Cream Cheesecake, Cheesecake on Oreo, and Tiramisu) which cost from Php 60.00 - Php 120.00 (converted to dollars that would be barely USD 1.00 - USD 4.00 each!). But never mind the price, each bite is heavenly and it complements well with their hot coffee (I had some Café Americano at that time). I shall say it was all bliss, happiness, joy, fun, love, and extreme exhilaration for me. I love fine dining with the camaraderie of your greatest friends on the table…

I think vegetarianism is a great concept provided you really enjoy it and aren't doing it as a fad. A fresh rocket, arugula, romaine salad with fresh figs, pomegranate, goat's cheese, mushroom, tomatoes, avocado, boiled egg and some candied walnuts can be a really great salad.

You could go wild adding anything on a whim especially since in India you don't have to go far to find such delicacies.

Vegetarians in Vietnam:

Ok, so what if a veggie goes traveling to Vietnam or Thailand? I am not even sure that these countries have a word for vegetarians. Try saying you are a vegetarian in Bangkok.. at the princely Leboa Hotel or the Shangri-La. The waiter may fight with you for spoiling his day.

Try the fresh green papaya salad; it will come with mysterious dry shrimp even though you may have told the waiter a 100 times that you are a vegetarian. As for satay, you may fancy some cheese but could end up getting pork. It's tough being out in the world of carnivores.

I remember going to a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant in Seoul. I was intrigued because I was told I would be eating vegetarian food in a land where bulgogi (marinated beef barbecue) is eaten day and night. To my surprise, I found meat and fish on the menu.

We ate sitting on the floor so everything seemed calm and spiritual. Maybe that's why the meal felt vegetarian. But you could try the Korean pumpkin soup. Served as a starter, it is mouth watering. The Ghimbab Sushi, which is the only vegetarian sushi, is also stupendous. The trick is to have a good dictionary, or locate someone who can speak English fluently.

French Fervor

What about going west? to France, for instance. The garcon may freak if you choose a salad Nicoise without tuna. If you look hard, you will find a goat's cheese soufflé that could satisfy your palate.

There are 450 types of cheese in France. And another option is just pop open a good bottle of sauterne (desert wine) and chomp on some good Roquefort and baguette, especially if you have had a bad day with the snooty French.

A lot of good restaurants and chefs appreciate vegetarianism and will accommodate you; especially since you will be paying over 300 Euros for their tasting meal, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

Eating in Italy

In Italy, of course, you have hole-in-the-wall pasta shops where you can choose your type of pasta and top it with delicious sauces all made from fresh ingredients- pomodoro (fresh tomato), aioli (olive oil and garlic), or pesto (fresh basil). When in doubt, go on a desert binge. How can you refuse that melting fondant (melting chocolate cake) or a tiramisu (coffee sponge cake)?

Colombia's most important export crop is coffee beans. Its largest city is Santa Fe! de Bogota. More than 10% of the worlds species live in Colombia and its 40.3 million people that live there are of mixed Spanish indigenous and black origins.

History

Around the year 1500, the Spanish began settling in Colombia. This land was soon part of New Granada which also encompassed present day Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. The Spanish rule grew in the late 1700s until 1810 when nationalists claimed independence, but true independence came in the year of 1819, when a man named Simo!n Bolivar assembled an army to defeat Spanish troops at the Battle of Boyaca! .

In the years from 1948 to 1957, civil war broke out between Conservatives and Liberals which led to a constitutional amendment requiring the presidency to alternate between the Liberal and Conservative Parties until the year 1974. The Medellin and Cali drug cartels and also various Guerrilla movements like M-19, F.A.R.., and E.L.N. began in the 1980s to cause unrest and violence. Some guerrilla factions eventually joined the democratic process in the 1990 presidential elections.

In 1990, Cesar Gaviria was elected president. He offered guerrilla groups the right to participate in constitutional conventions if they would disarm and renounce violence. Most of the groups accepted the offer, but some didn't. In the year of 1990, a national assembly was formed to rewrite the 1886 constitution, which then took effect on July 4, 1991. The elections in 1994 awarded Ernesto Samper Pizano of the Liberal party, a four year presidential term, but he was accused of receiving Campaign funds from the Cali drug cartel. Then in June 1996, Congress absolved Samper of wrong-doing. The scandal damaged the government's credibility, which contributed to an economic downfall, escalated violence among guerrillas, drug cartels, paramilitary anti-guerrilla groups and the military.

Thousands of people died from these groups' violence. Much of the kidnapping, killing, and extortion involved drug-related lands and money. In 1998, the government withdrew thousands of troops and police from the Southeast. Bombings and attacks by guerrilla groups continued. The government repealed F.A.R.C.'s safe haven. Now the violence continues to escalate and has now reached a level of all-out war

Food

Colombia n people eat 3 meals a day just like Americans. Their biggest meal is lunch. Breakfast is small and accompanied by coffee. Their lunch is always 2 or more courses, including a bowl of soup, a main dish of meat, fish or poultry, and sometimes dessert. Their preference is to eat with family, but in urban areas on weekdays, a family lunch is often difficult, so every city and town has a number of restaurants and cafeterias that specialize in serving the lunch meal.

Dinner patterns are the same as Americans. Their staple starches are rice, potatoes, corn plantains, and yucca. Meat is more common in the Highland areas. Fish is eaten more often on the coasts. Over the past decade, there has been a trend toward vegetarian food. There are not many vegetarian restaurants in the country, but they are growing.

Land

Colombia is located in the northwest corner of South America where the continents join the Isthmus of Panama. Their capital is Santa Fe! de Boyota! . Colombia has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It boarders five countries: Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Equador. Some islands in the Pacific and Caribbean are parts of Colombia's territory. Colombia can be divided into four distinct regions: the Andean highlands, the Carribean lowlands, the Pacific lowlands and the Eastern plains, separated by the parallel Mountain ranges, Cordillera Occidentas (western), Cordillera Central and Cordillera Oriental (eastern)

Climate

There are no distinct seasons in Colombia, but different elevations experience a variety of temperatures. Medellin, at 5000 feet above sea level averages 70"F. Bogota! (the Capital) at 8000 feet above sea level, averages 55"F. The coast is hot and humid. With such diversity in temperature, altitude, and rainfall, Colombia produces an incredible variety and abundance of vegetarian and animal life.

Recreation / Sports

Soccer has become Colombia's international sporting strength since it's team qualified for the finals of the World Cup Competition. The sport is followed with wild enthusiasm. Thousands of supporters who watch with groups of friends often crowd around the T.V. set to watch the games. Bars and restaurants are packed with fans of both sides. When a local national team has secured a victory, the streets are filled with a procession of cars and constant hooting of horns. You can take part of almost any out-door sport in Colombia. Facilities for most indoor sports are there for the people that can afford them.

Education

The children's school year starts in February and ends at the end of June. From the end of June to mid-July, there is a short vacation. Then students go back to school until mid-November, when the longest vacation of the year starts. Because of the same temperature all year-round, there is no need for summer vacation. The Colombian Constitution guarantees every child the right to an education. Many families prefer to send their child to a private school. Many of these are run by Catholic schools. Government has the authority over all schools. Children between 6 and 14 are expected to attend primary school. In the cities most do, but in the country side attendance is less often. Parents sometimes keep children out of school to support the family. Some students have to travel great distances because some families don't own cars. The students who do good in high school can attend Universities. The school hours depend on the climate. Colombian youngsters do study the same things that us North-Americans study.

The cooks and waitresses are a friendly lot who don't speak English. I like that, and the menu is fairly self explanatory anyway. The people seem to genuinely want the customers to enjoy themselves and come back for more. They seemed pleased that foreigners came in, but couldn't figure out why.

The menu is standard but extensive and certainly not expensive. I went for the set menu - an unbelievable €20 excluding wine! The wine we ordered was very affordable and more than just drinkable. I was quite chuffed with my choice.

Aperitif - a glass of champagne

Starter - a platter of cold meats, bread, cheese and the tastiest bruschetta I have ever had. Where do Italians get their tomatoes?

Next course - spaghetti (home made) with a meat sauce to die for.

Next next course - lumps of meat roasted on a spit with just enough roasted vegetables and salady bits to go with it.

This was a seriously exceptional and good value meal with no pretension.

Maybe I should have kept that to myself. Hope it's as good when I go back next year.

• Columbus came to Cost Rica in 1502
• When Spanish came they were interested in Coffee
• When Spanish took over for 250 years they influenced food
• After Spanish started buying coffee (early 1800s) it became a CR's valuable export
• Built railroads to transport coffee (1890)
• To fund railroads they planted banana trees

Bananas were soon another valuable export of CR

• With money from exports funded education and health
• Today cost Ricans are coffee extreme coffee lovers (all businesses are closed around three because of coffee breaks)
• GALLO PINTO=RICE AND BEANS
• Most sea food exported so they don't eat much
• Variety of food because of multiple environments
• Makes lots of sugar
• Their food has Jamaican heritage
• Sugar cane is used throughout their food selection, even drinks
• Sweet corn makes up many of the traditional dishes: corn soup, corn pancakes
• Tortillas used in every meal
• When Spanish found little gold they turned to agriculture
• Before Spanish arrived Costa Rica so poor that they even the Governor had to farm his own food

The History of Costa Rican Food

Nobody knows much about the History of Costa Rica before 1502 when Columbus first arrived there. We do know that in the ages before Europeans invaded their culture they developed a typical Mexican diet centered around beans and rice. When the Spanish came and began to make stable colonies about sixty years after Christopher's first voyage to Costa Rica they had an instant interest in the coffee they found. However it wasn't until the early 1800s that coffee became Costa Rica's most valuable product. It was in such high demand that in 1890 railroads were built across Costa Rica to transport it faster. To help pay off the loans needed to make the railroads the Costa Ricans planted banana trees along the rail road tracks. In no time the banana fruit was another extremely valuable product to the people of Costa Rica. The Spanish rule of Costa Rica for 250 years certainly left an influence on many aspects of Costa Rican culture, including food. The strong trade routes of bananas and coffee beans are still running smoothly, as well as the Costa Rican love for coffee. They honor the role coffee has played in their history every day by closing down all stores and business to take a coffee break.