May 28, 2013

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 12 – Is it normal to tip?

Download audio file (anlimc12.mp3)
 
Mark: Ok. So here am I at my room in Mosquito City at the Grand Hotel. It is a lovely big room. I didn’t give Brad a tip. I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing. I wonder if people usually tip in Mosquito City and I wonder how much they tip. I know! I will call Rodney on the room phone and I will ask him…Here we are…Hello..hello..hello…
Receptionist: Hello, Sir. Hello. How are you doing?
Mark: It is me. Mark. How are you Rodney?
Receptionist: Hello, Mark. How are you?
Mark: Good good. I just wanted to ask. I had an embarrassing moment there. When Brad the bellboy came up with me…Is it normal to tip in Mosquito City?
Receptionist: Sir, you never tip in Mosquito City. It is the worst possible thing you can do. So you did the right thing. Just have a good time Sir.
Mark: Really, really. Right so you don’t tip here. That is good.
Receptionist: No. Never ever tip. Never make the mistake of tipping because it is an offence to the Mosquito culture.
Mark: It is considered rude?
Receptionist: It is very condescending, Sir.
Mark: That is interesting.
Receptionist: So you did the right thing.
Mark: Thank you very much.
Receptionist: You are welcome.
Mark: Bye.
Receptionist: Bye.

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 11 – Are you the bellboy?

Download audio file (anlimc11.mp3)
 
Mark: Are you the bellboy?
The Bellboy: That is right. I am the bellboy.
Mark: Right. Ok. My name is Mark. How are you?
Bellboy: Hi. I am Brad. I am Brad the Bellboy.
Mark: Nice to meet you.
Bellboy: Nice to meet you.
Mark: So…
Bellboy: Are you having a good time there?
Mark: Yeah. I don’t have any bags but can you show me where my room is?
Bellboy: Sure. Just follow me.
Mark: Ok.
Bellboy: It is up here.
Mark: Off we go then. Ok.
Bellboy: Be careful because it is a little bit steep there.
Mark: Ok. Where are you from Brad?
Bellboy: I am from Belfast.
Mark: You are from Belfast.
Bellboy: I have been here for about two years.
Mark: Oh yeah. Why did you come here?
Bellboy: I came because I like the sunshine you know and the palm trees and all the free kind of fruit everywhere.
Mark: Right.
Bellboy: There are fruit trees everywhere if you look out the window.
Mark: Right ok.
Bellboy: It is really great.
Mark: This is my room here, is it?
Bellboy: That’s right.
Mark: Ok, mate. Thanks very much.
Bellboy: (Is there) anything else you need?
Mark: No.
Bellboy: Ok. Have a nice time. Bye.
Mark: Ok. See ya.

May 24, 2013

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 10 – The Hotel Receptionist

Download audio file (anlimc10.mp3)
 
Mark: OK, so I was arrested and I was in a prison cell and now I am free and I have got a week’s free accommodation at the Grand Hotel. I am going to go and check in….Hello.
Receptionist: Hello Can I help you sir?
Mark: My name is Mark White and..
Receptionist: Hello Mark. How are you? Are you having a good time?
Mark: Yes, I am as a matter of fact.
Receptionist: Wonderful.
Mark: The man at the police station told me that I was to have a week’s free accommodation.
Receptionist: That is right.
Mark: You know about it?
Receptionist: Here is your key.
Mark: Oh thank you very much.
Receptionist: And the bellboy will take you up there. Have you got any luggage, sir?
Mark: No.
Receptionist: No, no luggage. No cases? OK.
Mark: They lost my luggage.
Receptionist: Just up those stairs.
Mark: OK thank you.
Receptionist: And have a wonderful time and if you need any help…(If you have) any problems, just give me a ring.
Mark: OK. Thank you. So what’s your name?
Receptionist: Rodney.
Mark: Rodney, Mark. (shaking hands)
Receptionist: Hello. (shaking hands)
Mark: Nice to meet you, Rodney. See you then.
Receptionist: Bye.

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 9 – The Prison Cell

Download audio file (anlimc9.mp3)
 
Mark: Ok. Here I am. I am in a prison cell in Mosquito City and I have been here for about three or four hours now. They have given me some food and it is clean and it is a nice place. A big room with pictures on the walls and a nice view out the window. But I…Hallo Hallo. Somebody is coming. Hello.
Customs Officer: Hallo. Hallo. How are you doing? We are terribly sorry.
Mark: Yes?
Customs Officer: We are terribly sorry for keeping you and arresting you and all the inconveniences you have been through.
Mark: So I can go?
Customs Officer: Yes, you can go and we have even paid for your stay at the Grand Hotel.
Mark: Really?
Customs Officer: Yeah. Because we made a terrible mistake. We thought you were a smuggler.
Mark: Wow!
Customs Officer: So anyway just where my finger is pointing you will see a beautiful hotel and you have the penthouse suite at the top.
Mark: Wow! Ok. Right.
Customs Officer: You can stay there for a week.
Mark: Wow!
Customs Officer: We are so embarrassed.
Mark: Oh Wow!
Customs Officer: We are so sorry.
Mark: Wow! A week’s free accommodation.
Customs Officer: And have a great holiday!
Mark: Thank you. Bye.
Customs Officer: And also welcome to Mosquito Bay.
Mark: Thank you.

May 18, 2013

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 8 – The Rescue

Download audio file (anlimc8.mp3)
(snoring)

Mark: Well, it has been a week now. I have been drifting on John’s boat. I can still see Mosquito City. We have eaten fish and chips every day three times a day. Oh somebody is coming! Somebody is coming. A helicopter is coming. Oh there is a helicopter. Oh there is a boat over there. John, wake up. Wake up. Somebody is coming. It is the Mosquito City Navy. The Mosquito City Navy is going to rescue us. John! John!
Naval Officer: Hello anybody on the boat? is anybody there?
Mark: Yes, help help. We have been drifting for seven days. Can you help us to get to Mosquito City?
Naval Officer: So what is your name?
Mark: Mark and this is John asleep here. He has passed out. Maybe he needs a doctor.
Policeman: You know there are about ten policemen who want to come on your boat and search it.
Mark: Sure just rescue us. Can take us to port? I need some fresh fruit.
Policeman: So if you would like to put your hands forward so we can search you sir?
Mark: Ok … This is terrible searching a victim of a shipping accident.
Policeman: I am sorry Sir. This is just something we have to do.
Mark: This is terrible. I am a victim What are doing this for? I am a victim.
Policeman: We have had some information about this boat.
Mark: …. of a captain who forgot to buy fuel… What about the boat?
Policeman: We have had some very worrying information about this boat so we have to search you and if you would like to put your hands forward we will put the handcuffs on you..
Mark: Oh no. I have been arrested! I haven’t done anything wrong. I have been arrested! Oh no! What next?

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 7 – We ran out of fuel

Download audio file (anlimc7.mp3)

(Storm noises)
 
Mark: Well, here I am. I am still on John’s boat. We have been drifting for two days. We ran out of fuel.
John: We haven’t run out of food yet. We have got plenty of food.
Mark: We have caught a few fish. We caught some nice fish.
John: We have done very well thank you very much.
Mark: We have got plenty of potatoes. and we have been eating fish and chips three meals a day for two days.
John: I think you are exaggerating, aren’t you? That is an exaggeration.
Mark: Well, we have only had fish and chips. What else did you eat?
John: Fish and chips. Yeah. You are right. But it is a good basic diet.
Mark: Do you think anyone is going to come and rescue us?
John: Well it is just a matter of waiting for the wind. We have got sails on the banana boat.
Mark: Ah we have got sails. Where are the sails?
John: Well we don’t need them at the moment because there is no wind. I think we are going to be here for maybe a couple more days. Is that ok?
Mark: I guess so.
John: Ok. Go and get the fishing rod out.
Mark: Ok.

May 16, 2013

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 6 – About Two and a Half Hours

Download audio file (anlimc6.mp3)
 
Mark: Well, here I am on John’s banana boat and we are speeding across the ocean towards Mosquito City. We will be there soon. I am going to go into the wheelhouse and have a yarn to John.
Mark: Gidday John.
John: How are doing? All right?
Mark: Alright.
John: Are you having a good ride?
Mark: Yeah, I am having a great time.
John: Ah. It is a lovely day,isn’t? All those black clouds above us.
Mark: Yes. Did you see the dolphins and the flying fish before?
John: No. You saw them, did you?
Mark: Yes, at the bow there.
John: Wow! Have you seen this tattoo? I have got a dolphin on my tattoo.
Mark: Wow! Dolphins are great, aren’t they? I love dolphins. So. How? (When) will we be there? So how far is it now?
John: Well, what do you think? You can see it in front of you.
Mark: Right. Ok. How long will it take?
John: Maybe about another two and a half hours.
Mark: Right.
John: If we don’t run out of fuel. We could run out of fuel actually. I forgot to load the fuel on.
Mark: Oh no! What are we going to do?
John: I have got some fishing rods. Do you like fishing? We could do some fishing.
Mark: Yeah I like fishing. If we run out of fuel, what will we do?
John: Fishing.
Mark: Fishing?
John: Yeah, you can catch a fish for me.

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 5 – About Three Hours

Download audio file (anlimc5.mp3)
 
Mark: Ok so that’s one ..I have gone about a mile now so I must be pretty close. That boat there! Hey, there is a man! Excuse me.
John: Yes. What do you want?
Mark: My name is Mark. Are you John?
John: I am John. Yeah.
Mark: Nice to meet you.
John: Nice to meet you.
Mark: Nice to meet you. (shaking hands)
John: Good to meet yer, mate.(shaking hands)
Mark: Nice to meet you.
John: What can I do for you?
Mark: I want to go to Mosquito City.
John: Mosquito City?! Oh that’s great.
Mark: Ok.
John: I love Mosquito City.
Mark: Do you work on this boat?
John: It is my boat.
Mark: And are you going to Mosquito City?
John: I am going to Mosquito City.
Mark: Will you take me there?
John: I will take you there.
Mark: How much?
John: Well. I don’t know. It only takes about three hours you know but I think maybe ..aah…
Mark: How much? How much?
John: Ah. Just give us a hundred dollars.
Mark: A hundred dollars? A hundred bucks? Ok. Here you are.
John: Thank you very much.
Mark: Ok. When do we leave?
John: Well, we leave now.
Mark: Ok. Let’s go.
Sailor: Get on.
Mark: Let’s go.

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 4 – The Boat

Download audio file (anlimc4.mp3)
 
Mark: Well, I can’t get a plane ticket to Mosquito City. I am going to go down to the ocean and try and find a boat. I am going to get to Mosquito City by boat. Ok. Lets see. Here we are now. Here is the ocean and here are the ships. I am gonna… There is a sailor there. I am going to ask that sailor if he knows where I can find a boat to Mosquito City.
Mark: Excuse me!
Sailor: Yeah. What do you want, mate?
Mark: I am going to..I want to go to Mosquito City.
Sailor: Mosquito City. Oh! Wow! Well, its a great place, Mosquito City, mate!
Mark: You have been there?
Sailor: Oh, yeah. My wife lives there.
Mark: Really?
Sailor: Yeah.
Mark: And you live there too?
Sailor: Yep. I live there too.
Mark: But you are a sailor so you…
Sailor: I am a sailor. We do importing and exporting from Mosquito Island.
Mark: Mosquito City?
Sailor: Oh City. Yeah. It is on an island. You know that don’t you?
Mark: Ok, ok, so I want to go there. Can I go (there) on your boat?
Sailor: No, but if you walk about a mile to your left.
Mark: A mile. What is that in kilometers?
Sailor: Oh I do not know. Its about..how many kilometres is that?
Mark: 1.2, is it?
Sailor: Something like that.
Mark: So I walk about 1.2 kilometers in that direction… this direction?…that direction?
Sailor: Yeah, that direction.
Mark: That direction! Ok.
Sailor: And you will come across a big banana boat.
Mark: A banana boat.
Sailor: In the docks.
Mark: Ok.Ok.
Sailor: . And … yeah, just ask for John. He is a friend of mine. Ok? He will take you there.
Mark: Ok. Ok. Good on yer.
Sailor: And it should take you about three hours to get there. It is not far. You can almost see it. If you look over here… See that?
Mark: Ok. Ok. I am going. I am going.
Sailor: See the seagulls?
Mark: This way! John! John!
Sailor: All the seagulls are going there.
Mark: Ok. John! John!
Sailor: Yeah.
Mark: Ok. I’ll go. Thanks a lot. What is your name?
Sailor: Frederick.
Mark: Nice to meet you, Frederick. My name’s Mark.
Sailor: Hi. Nice to meet you, mate. Yeah.
Mark: Sayonara.
Sailor: Say “Hello” to my wife when you get there.
Mark: Sayonara.
Sailor: Cheers.

May 12, 2013

Món ngon Hà Nội

Bún thang


Bún thang là món ăn cổ truyền của các gia đình Hà Nội xưa, đặc biệt là trong dịp Tết. Món ăn với nhiều nguyên liệu và đủ mùi vị nhưng vẫn mang lại cảm giác thanh thanh, đầy tinh tế của ẩm thực Hà Thành. Không phải quán nào cũng làm được một bán bún thang ngon và “chuẩn”, vì thế số lượng những quán hàng này cũng khá khiêm tốn so với những đặc sản khác như phở bò hay bún ốc.

Có tới gần 20 nguyên liệu mới đủ làm nên món ăn nhiều màu sắc và đủ mùi vị này: trứng tráng mỏng thái chỉ, gà xé nhỏ, giò lụa thái sợi, rau răm, nấm hương, củ cải ngâm… Nước dùng trong và ngọt thơm, đậm đà vị của tôm, chan đều lên bát bún nhỏ xinh vừa ăn. Trước đây, người ta thường dùng kèm với tinh dầu cà cuống cho dậy mùi thơm. Tuy nhiên, hiện nay, thứ hương liệu này khá khó kiếm và cũng tương đối “xa xỉ” nên hiếm thấy trong các quán hàng.

Nổi tiếng nhất trong các quán bún thang ở Hà Nội phải kể đến quán bà Đức (48 Cầu Gỗ), 32 Cầu Gỗ, quán ở giữa phố Lương Văn Can, quán nhỏ trong ngõ Hạ Hồi, ngõ Hàng Chỉ, quán ở đầu nhà D2 Giảng Võ...

Bánh tôm
Trong ký ức của nhiều người Hà Nội, tuổi thơ gắn liền với những ngày cuối tuần được bố mẹ cho đi chơi ở công viên Thống Nhất, ăn kem Tràng Tiền và ngồi bên hồ Tây thưởng thức bánh tôm nóng hổi. Từ lâu, bánh tôm hồ Tây đã trở thành một thứ đặc sản không thể không nếm thử đối với du khách.

Bánh tôm gồm tôm nước ngọt bọc một lớp bột mỳ rồi cho vào chảo mỡ nóng già ngập bánh. Khi bánh phồng lên và ngã màu vàng, nghe mùi thơm ngậy hấp dẫn là ăn được. Chiếc bánh tôm nhỏ bằng lòng bàn tay, ở giữa là một con tôm vừa vặn, đỏ rực bắt mắt. Ở Hà Nội, người ta ăn bánh tôm với rau sống và nước chấm gồm dấm chua cay ngọt, thêm chút dưa góp cho đỡ ngấy. Nếu may mắn, bạn sẽ được thưởng thức mùi hương cà cuống trong nước chấm, mang tới cảm giác thích thú, khó quên.

Hiện nay, bánh tôm "thứ thiệt" chỉ còn bán ở một cửa hàng trên đường Thanh Niên, phía bên hồ Trúc Bạch. Ngồi trong nhà hàng này bạn có thể vừa ăn vừa ngắm cảnh hồ trong không gian thoáng đáng và cảm nhận nhịp sống hối hả của thủ đô. Khuôn viên quán rộng, đủ chỗ cho nhiều đoàn khách du lịch. Ngoài ra, khu vực phủ Tây hồ cũng có nhiều quán bán bánh tôm nhưng không được ưa chuộng bằng.

Bún ốc
Món ăn dân dã, bắt nguồn từ đồng ruộng này không rõ xuất hiện ở Hà Nội từ bao giờ nhưng từ lâu đã trở thành món quà vặt được ưa thích số một. Người ta có thể ăn bún ốc cho bữa sáng, trưa hoặc tối, ăn vào bất cứ thời điểm nào. Tuy nhiên, thời khắc mà người Hà Nội nhớ tới và thèm bún ốc nhất là trong những ngày Tết cổ truyền, khi đã chán ngấy với mâm cỗ đầy ắp cá thịt - ngấy và nhiều đạm.
Bát bún ốc luôn sặc sỡ sắc màu của cà chua chưng, những con ốc béo mỡ màng, chuối đậu vàng ươm. Hương vị là sự kết hợp ăn ý của nước dùng trong veo nhưng không kém phần béo ngậy, chua chua thanh thanh và dậy mùi dấm bỗng đặc trưng. Khi ăn, thêm chút hoa chuối thái mỏng và rau sống tươi ngon mới khiến bát bún đầy đủ hương vị.
Một lần thưởng thức bạn mới thực hiểu, không dưng mà hầu như quán bún ốc nào ở Hà Nội cũng đông khách trong suốt nhiều năm qua, dù cho cơn bão đồ ăn Tây có mạnh mẽ đến cỡ nào. Không quán hàng sang trọng, biển hiệu hoành tráng, người Hà Nội thưởng rỉ tai nhau về các địa chỉ thưởng thức món đặc sản này mỗi khi lên cơn thèm.
Nếu không quen ai là thổ địa Hà Nội, bạn có thể tự ghé một trong số các quán bún ốc nổi tiếng như quán bà Béo phố Hòe Nhai, quán bà Lương ở Khương Thượng, quán nằm trong ngõ 530 Thụy Khuê, quán Tình Quê phố Cao Đạt, ngõ chợ Đồng Xuân hay ở Phủ Tây Hồ. Tuy nhiên, giá cả ở đây cũng "chát" nhất.
Bún chả
Bún chả Hà Nội nổi tiếng nhất là quán ở Hàng Mành. Ảnh: Ngonhanoi.
Một món bún khác hút khách không kém vào các buổi trưa là bún chả. Món ăn này có nhiều "phiên bản" ở khắp các vùng miền nên nếu là du khách phương xa, bạn vẫn có thể cảm thấy rất quen thuộc.
Dưới cái nắng hè oi ả, dù bát bún có ngon tới đâu mà bốc khói nghi ngút thì ắt hẳn cũng sẽ bớt đi phần nào hấp dẫn. Do đó, người Hà Nội thường tìm tới món ăn không chan nước dùng nóng, nhiều đạm nhưng không ngấy này. Mùi thơm từ những vỉ nướng chả trở luôn tay trên bếp than chính là biển hiệu quyến rũ nhất của các quán bún chả.
Trước đây, bún chả "sành điệu" phải là phải nướng bằng kẹp tre, để khi ra thành phẩm, miếng thịt không chỉ có mùi nức mũi của thịt mỡ cháy mà còn mang mùi thơm đặc trưng không thể lẫn của tre nướng. Bún chả kiểu này khiến chủ quán khá kỳ công, từ việc chọn, cưa, ngâm và chẻ tre. Do đó, ở Hà Nội hiện nay, số quán còn nướng chả bằng kẹp tre chỉ còn đếm trên đầu ngón tay.
Khi ăn bún chả, thực khách có thể chọn giữa chả viên và chả nướng, mỗi loại ngon một kiểu khác nhau. Nếu như chả viên là sự kết hợp của hành tỏi, thịt băm nhỏ tẩm ướp nên khá mềm và ngọt thì chả miếng lại dai dai, thơm thơm mùi mỡ cháy. Nước chấm cũng là bí quyết riêng của mỗi quán bởi nước chấm dở sẽ khó lòng tạo nên bát bún ngon được.
Các quán bún chả nổi danh Hà Nội: bún chả Hàng Mành, bún chả Sinh Từ (Nguyễn Khuyến), bún chả que tre (ngõ chợ Đồng Xuân), quán ở ngã tư Nguyễn Du - Bà Triệu...
Phở
Lót dạ bằng bát phở nóng cho bữa sáng, trước khi chuẩn bị hành trình khám phá Hà Nội.
Nếu hỏi món ăn nào phổ biến nhất thủ đô thì ắt hẳn đó chính phở. Hiếm có con phố nào mà không có ít nhất một hàng phở đông khách. Dù ngày nay người ta đã nghĩ ra nhiều kiểu biến tấu như phở cuốn, phở trộn, phở áp xảo... nhưng phở kiểu truyền thống vẫn lấy lòng được nhiều thực khách nhất.
Nhà văn Thạch Lam có viết trong cuốn Hà Nội 36 Phố Phường: "Phở là một thứ quà đặc biệt của Hà Nội, không phải chỉ riêng Hà Nội mới có, nhưng chính là vì chỉ ở Hà Nội mới ngon. Phở ngon phải là phở "cổ điển", nấu bằng thịt bò, nước dùng trong và ngọt, bánh dẻo mà không nát, thịt mỡ gầu giòn chứ không dai, chanh ớt với hành tây đủ cả, rau thơm tươi, hồ tiêu bắc, giọt chanh cốm gắt, lại điểm thêm một ít cà cuống, thoảng nhẹ như một nghi ngờ".
Từ những năm 1940, phở đã rất phổ biến, được bán từ cửa hàng sang trọng cho tới những quán bình dân vỉa hè chật chội. Đây được xem như món ăn "bắt buộc" mà nếu chưa từng ăn qua, coi như bạn chưa tới Hà Nội.
Qua bao nhiêu năm, phở truyền thống vẫn khiến không chỉ người đi xa mà còn du khách một lần nếm thử phải nhớ mãi. Nếu thực sự muốn tìm một quán phở ngon ở Hà Nội, bạn hãy tìm đến một trong những địa chỉ phở gia truyền như phở Thìn (Lò Đúc), phở Bát Đàn, phở Lý Quốc Sư hay phở ngồi vỉa hè Hàng Trống, phở Sướng (Đinh Liệt),...
Bánh cuốn
Bánh cuốn Thanh Trì xưa kia thường không có nhân, chỉ là lớp bánh tráng mỏng manh như dải lụa, trắng mịn, mướt mát; chấm cùng nước chấm chua ngọt thanh thanh, ấy thế mà vẫn nức tiếng xa gần. Ngày nay, người ta biến tấu bánh cuốn thêm nhiều nguyên liệu như mộc nhĩ, thịt băm, trứng, tôm, ruốc tôm... và ăn kèm chả quế. Món ăn trở nên nhiều đạm hơn nên có lẽ đã hấp dẫn nhiều người hơn.
Nếu có cơ hội được tận mắt chứng kiến các công đoạn làm bánh, bạn sẽ không khỏi ngưỡng mộ sự tài hoa của người đầu bếp Hà thành. Bàn tay nhanh thoăn thoắt, đổ bột, dàn bột rồi bóc lớp bánh mỏng dính, rải thêm nhân rồi bày lên đĩa. Ngần ấy công đoạn mà chỉ diễn ra trong chưa đến 10s.
Trước khi mang ra cho thực khách, những chiếc bánh cuốn nóng hổi sẽ được bổ sung thêm một lớp hành khô chao dầu thơm nức thật khó thể nào cưỡng nổi. Một đĩa bánh cuốn thanh đạm sẽ cho bạn một bữa sáng hoàn hảo, chuẩn bị cho hành trình khám phá thủ đô.
Các hàng bánh cuốn bạn nên ghé: bánh cuốn Thanh Vân (14 Hàng Gà), quán bà Hoành (66 Tô Hiến Thành), quán An Quang (Hàng Bồ), 26 Đào Duy Từ, 68 Hàng Cót,...

(Source: Internet)

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 3 – The Disguise

Download audio file (anlimc3.mp3)
 
Mark: Ok, Now I have got a beard and mustache and a hat. I am going to go back into that travel agent and try to buy a ticket again. Here goes!
Mark: Hello.
The Travel Agent: Hello, Sir. Hello again. Can I help you?
Mark: Ah. Sorry?
The Travel Agent: Hello again. Nice to see you again. Can I help you, Sir?
Mark: I have never been here before in my life. What do you mean “Hello again?”
The Travel Agent: Oh! I thought you were somebody who I met previously…
Mark: No! I have never seen you before in my life.
The Travel Agent: …who has now decided to go to a fancy dress party…
Mark: No, no, no.
The Travel Agent: …Oh sorry, a Halloween party, is it?
Mark: I have never seen you before in my life.
Travel Agent: Wait a second. I will just go and get a …aah …sorry (on the telephone) Can I have security, please? Thank you. Bring three. Three.
Mark: Hello. Hello. I would like to buy a ticket to Mosquito City, please.
The Travel Agent: Well, Sir. If you just wait a minute. Oh, hello. Mr Johnson and Mr Jeeves (who are) standing (on) either side of you are security men that (who) want you to leave, Sir!
Mark: What is going on?
Travel Agent: You are disturbing people. Look the lady over there has fainted!
Mark: I will get my ticket somewhere else. Good-bye or should I say “Sayonara?”
The Travel Agent: You can say what you like as long as you leave the building.
Mark: Sayonara.
The Travel Agent: Goodbye!

May 11, 2013

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 2


Download audio file (anlimc2.mp3)
 
At the hundred yen shop, Mark buys a disguise.
The Shop Assistant: Oh Hello, Can I help you, Sir?
Mark: Yes, please. I would like to buy a beard and a mustache.
The Shop Assistant: A beard and mustache. Ah well, just go for a walk around and select the beard and mustache you want. We’ve got thousands of them.
Mark: Ok, I will take this big black one and I will take this hat as well.
The Shop Assistant: Ok. Fair enough.
Mark: How much?
The Shop Assistant: Ni-hyaku-en.
Mark: Two hundred yen.
The Shop Assistant: Two hundred yen. Yeah.
Mark: Ok. Here you are.
The Shop Assistant: This is the hundred yen beard shop.
Mark: Ok. Good. Thank you very much. Bye.
The Shop Assistant: See you.
Mark: Sayonara.
The Shop Assistant: Sayonara.

A New Life in Mosquito City – Part 1

Download audio file (anlimc1.mp3)

At The Travel Agent


Mark: Hello.
The Travel Agent: Good afternoon, Sir. Can I help you?
Mark: Yes, please, I just quit my job. I am finished here. I want to get out of Japan. I want to go and live in Mosquito City. Can you sell me a ticket to Mosquito City?
The Travel Agent: Wait a minute. Let me just check on the computer…. Hi John, have you heard anything about Mosquito City? What? Oh! Have you got some tickets? Yes, John has got some tickets. I haven’t at the moment because it is a very popular place, but we can get you a ticket.
Mark: Ok. Is it a direct flight?
The Travel Agent: Yes, a direct flight.
Mark: I only want a one way ticket. I am not coming back.
The Travel Agent: No, you have to come back.
Mark: Can I throw away the other half of the ticket? Can I buy a return and then stay there? How can you stop me? I can do what I like. I am free. Once I get to Mosquito City, I can do what I like.
The Travel Agent: Well there are certain rules before you go … obviously by what you are saying and the way you are dealing with the situation, Sir, we are going to have to deny you…
Mark: You won’t sell me a ticket? Oh no I should have kept my big mouth shut.
The Travel Agent: You are a bit of an extremist.
Mark: How can I get to Mosquito City? If only I had kept my big mouth shut!

Conversation 1 - At office


(Source: Internet)

Be fluent in English conversation



(Source: Internet)

May 10, 2013

Exercises to build body by yourself (Part 1 - for Women)


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Traps Exercise


Triceps Excercise



Lats Excercise



Middle Back Excercise



Lower Back Excercise



Glutes Excercise



Quads Excercise



Hamstrings Excercise


Calves Excercise



Exercises to build body by yourself (Part 2 - for Men)



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Neck Excersice


Traps Excersice
 
Shoulders Excersice
 
Chest Excersice
 
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Forearm Excersice
 
Aps Excersice
 
Quads Excersice
 
Calves Excersice


How to Estimate Carbohydrates in 10 Common Foods - Part 2

white-whole-bread

Bread

1 slice of bread = 15 grams or 1 serving of carbohydrate

Although white and wheat bread have similar carb content (check the food label for details), whole-wheat bread is your best bet; it typically has more than twice as much fiber as white bread, meaning you digest it more slowly and your blood sugar will rise more gradually after you eat it.

People with diabetes should aim to consume 30 grams of fiber daily, even though this can be hard on the digestive system for some people, says Kaul, a professor at Howard University College of Medicine, in Washington, D.C. She also suggests trying extra-thin bread, which can slice your calorie intake in half.


Cooked pasta

carbs-wheat-pasta
One-third cup of pasta = 15 grams or 1 serving

Again, opting for whole-wheat noodles rather than pasta made with white flour is a healthier choice. But it’s important to remember—and easy to forget—portion size.

Just one-third of a cup, which is about half the size of a baseball, contains 15 grams of carbohydrate. If you overload your pasta bowl, you could easily get a day’s worth of carbs in a single meal.


Cereal

cereal-carbs-measure
3/4 cup of dry cereal = 15 grams or 1 serving

Eating breakfast is important for all of us, but especially so for people with diabetes; a balanced morning meal helps you start the day healthy and energized.

A bowl of cereal with skim milk is a great choice for the first meal of the day, says Kaul, but you should avoid sugary, low-fiber cereals like corn flakes.

Oat bran cereal is a better option, the nutritionist says. Try it, and if you don’t like it, choose something else.




Crackers

cracker-diabetes4-6 Saltines = 15 grams or 1 serving

When you snack on crackers, checking the label for trans fat and sodium is just as important as looking out for carb content, Kaul notes. Even relatively low-carb crackers may be packing lots of this unhealthy fat and too much salt.

Choose crackers with no more than 200 milligrams of sodium per serving of carbs, and leave the ones that contain trans fat on the supermarket shelf.







Fruit

One small piece = 15 grams or 1 serving

You really can’t go wrong with fruit, says Kaul, as long as you keep an eye on portion size. However, if you have diabetes, fruits like apples, bananas, berries, cantaloupes, strawberries, and peaches are the best choices. Pears and grapes can have too much sugar, she explains.

A medium banana has about 15 grams of carbs, plus it is filling and chock-full of potassium. Berries are rich in fiber and antioxidants. But just remember how much fruit you’re eating.

One serving of berries is just 3/4 of a cup, but it’s easy to eat three times this much—or more—if you’re not careful.

apple-carbs

Fruit juice

1/2 cup fruit juice = 15 grams or 1 serving

Kaul tells her clients to choose fruit instead of fruit juice, because fruit contains fiber. And juice—even the unsweetened, natural kind—is high in calories. “Three glasses will give you 300 to 400 calories,” she says.

juice-carbs
People who don’t want to give up their OJ should have a small glass with breakfast, she says. And instead of consuming giant-size bottles of sweetened drinks, drink water or unsweetened tea.


How to Estimate Carbohydrates in 10 Common Foods - Part 3

milk-carbs

Milk

1 cup nonfat skim milk = 15 grams or 1 serving

Dairy foods provide calcium, protein, vitamin D, and other key nutrients, so if you like them, definitely include them in your diet.

But skip full-fat milk for skim, and choose low- or no-fat dairy products.

People with diabetes frequently have high cholesterol and high triglycerides, and weight is often a concern, hence avoiding dairy fats is important, Kaul explains.




yogurt-low-fatYogurt

1 cup of light or plain yogurt = 15 grams or 1 serving

Yogurt is a great, healthy choice, as long as you go the nonfat route.

Flavored yogurt is frequently full of sugar, so check the carb content. You may want to skip it and make your own by adding chopped-up fruit and nuts to plain, nonfat yogurt (which is also likely to be less expensive if you buy a quart-size tub).





Cookies

cookie-diabetes
2 cookies = 15 grams or 1 serving

Being diabetic used to mean being told to kiss tasty treats—like cookies—good-bye.

But these days, says Kaul, diabetes experts agree that indulging in sweets now and then is okay, as long as you consume them in small portions, and with meals.



Ice cream

cup-ice-cream
1/2 cup of ice cream = 15 grams or 1 serving

Kaul advises her clients to stay away from ice cream—if they can—and try low-fat alternatives like frozen yogurt, sherbet, and even sugar-free popsicles.

Because ice cream contains so much fat, it should only be an occasional treat, enjoyed in small portions, she adds.


How to Estimate Carbohydrates in 10 Common Foods - Part 1

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are sugar-based molecules found in many foods, from cookies to cantaloupes.

If you have diabetes, planning your carb intake—and sticking to the plan—is critical to keep blood sugar on an even keel and to cut your risk of diabetes-related problems like heart disease and stroke.

Whether or not you have diabetes, you should aim to get about half your calories from complex carbohydrates (which are high in fiber), 20-25% from protein, and no more than 30% from fat, says Lalita Kaul, PhD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.


How to read a food label

nutrition-carbs
The Nutrition Facts label lists the total amount of carbohydrates per serving, including carbs from fiber, sugar, and sugar alcohols. (If you're counting carbs in your diet, be aware that 15 grams of carbohydrates count as one serving.)

Sugar alcohols are often used in sugar-free foods, although they still deliver calories and carbs. Sugar alcohols and fiber don't affect blood sugar as much as other carbs, because they're not completely absorbed.

If food contains sugar alcohol or 5 or more grams of fiber, you can subtract half of the grams of these ingredients from the number of total carbs. (See more details at the American Diabetes Association and University of California, San Francisco.)



How many carbs per day?

If you eat 2,000 calories a day, you should consume about 250 grams of complex carbohydrates per day.

A good starting place for people with diabetes is to have roughly 45 to 60 grams of carbs per meal and 15 to 30 grams for snacks. While snacks are key for people with diabetes who use insulin or pills that increase insulin production (otherwise, they run the risk of low blood sugar), they aren’t essential for non-insulin users.

The goal for anyone with diabetes, whether or not they use insulin, is to keep their blood sugar as steady as possible and to maximize their intake of nutritious carbs and minimize consumption of less healthy ones.
nutritionist-diabetes


Fine-tune your intake

You may need to work with a nutritionist or diabetes educator to fine-tune your carb requirements, based on your activity level, whether you want to lose weight, and whether or not you use insulin.

Checking your blood sugar before and after meals is also important as you test-drive your carb-counting plan. If certain foods—like fruit juice or pasta—cause your blood sugar to spike, you’ll need to consume these in smaller portions.

Here’s a rough guide to figuring out the amount of carbs that can be found in 10 everyday foods. Get your measuring cup and scale ready!
measuring-cups

Popular design patterns

http://creately.com/diagram-community/popular/t/class-diagram

UML diagrams

UML stands for Unified Modeling Language which is used in object oriented software engineering. Although typically used in software engineering it is a rich language that can be used to model an application structures, behavior and even business processes. There are 14 UML diagram types to help you model these behavior. They can be divided into two main categories structure diagrams and behavioral diagrams. All 14 UML diagram types are listed below with examples, brief introduction to them and also how they are used when modeling applications.
You can draw UML diagrams online using our software, or check out some UML diagram examples at our diagramming community.

List of UML Diagram Types

Types of UML diagrams with structure diagrams coming first and behavioral diagrams starting from position 8. Click on any diagram type to visit that specific diagram types description.
  1. Class Diagram
  2. Component Diagram
  3. Deployment Diagram
  4. Object Diagram
  5. Package Diagram
  6. Profile Diagram
  7. Composite Structure Diagram
  8. Use Case Diagram
  9. Activity Diagram
  10. State Machine Diagram
  11. Sequence Diagram
  12. Communication Diagram
  13. Interaction Overview Diagram
  14. Timing Diagram
UML Diagram Types
UML Diagram Types

Structure diagrams show the things in a system being modeled. In a more technical term they show different objects in a system. Behavioral diagrams shows what should happen in a system. They describe how the objects interact with each other to create a functioning system.

Class Diagram

Class diagrams are arguably the most used UML diagram type. It is the main building block of any object oriented solution. It shows the classes in a system, attributes and operations of each class and the relationship between each class. In most modeling tools a class has three parts, name at the top, attributes in the middle and operations or methods at the bottom. In large systems with many classes related classes are grouped together to to create class diagrams. Different relationships between diagrams are show by different types of Arrows. Below is a image of a class diagram. Follow the link for more class diagram examples.
UML Class Diagram Example
UML Class Diagram with Relationships

Component Diagram

A component diagram displays the structural relationship of components of a software system. These are mostly used when working with complex systems that has many components. Components communicate with each other using interfaces. The interfaces are linked using connectors. Below images shows a component diagram.
Component Diagram in UML
Simple Component Diagram with Interfaces

Deployment Diagram

A deployment diagrams shows the hardware of your system and the software in those hardware. Deployment diagrams are useful when your software solution is deployed across multiple machines with each having a unique configuration. Below is an example deployment diagram.
UML Deployment Diagram
UML Deployment Diagram ( Click on the image to use it as a template )

Object Diagram

Object Diagrams, sometimes referred as Instance diagrams are very similar to class diagrams. As class diagrams they also show the relationship between objects but they use real world examples. They are used to show how a system will look like at a given time. Because there is data available in the objects they are often used to explain complex relationships between objects.
UML Object Diagram example
UML Object Diagram Example

Package Diagram

As the name suggests a package diagrams shows the dependencies between different packages in a system. Check out this wiki article to learn more about the dependencies and elements found in package diagrams.
Package Diagram in UML
Package Diagram in UML

Profile Diagram

Profile diagram is a new diagram type introduced in UML 2. This is a diagram type that is very rarely used in any specification. For more detailed technical information about this diagram type check this link.
Profile Diagram in UML
Basic UML Profile Diagram structure

Composite Structure Diagram

Composite structure diagrams are used to show the internal structure of a class. For a detailed explanation of composite structure diagrams click here.
Composite Structure Diagram in UML
A simple Composite Structure Diagram

Use Case Diagram

Most known diagram type of the behavioral UML diagrams, Use case diagrams gives a graphic overview of the actors involved in a system, different functions needed by those actors and how these different functions are interacted. It’s a great starting point for any project discussion because you can easily identify the main actors involved and the main processes of the system. Click through to read more about use case diagram elements and templates.
Use Case Diagram in UML
Use Case diagram showing Actors and main processes

Activity Diagram

Activity diagrams represent workflows in an graphical way. They can be used to describe business workflow or the operational workflow of any component in a system. Sometimes activity diagrams are used as an alternative to State machine diagrams. Check out this wiki article to learn about symbols and usage of activity diagrams.
Activity Diagrams in UML
Activity Diagrams with start, end, processes and decision points

State Machine Diagram

State machine diagrams are similar to activity diagrams although notations and usage changes a bit. They are sometime known as state diagrams or start chart diagrams as well. These are very useful to describe the behavior of objects that act different according to the state they are at the moment. Below State machine diagram show the basic states and actions.
State Machine Diagram in UML
State Machine diagram in UML, sometime referred to as State or State chart diagram

Sequence Diagram

Sequence diagrams in UML shows how object interact with each other and the order those interactions occur. It’s important to note that they show the interactions for a particular scenario. The processes are represented vertically and interactions are show as arrows. This article explains the purpose and the basics of Sequence diagrams.
Sequence Diagrams in UML
Sequence Diagrams in UML shows the interaction between two processes

Communication Diagram

Communication diagram was called collaboration diagram in UML 1. It is similar to sequence diagrams but the focus is on messages passed between objects. The same information can be represented using a sequence diagram and different objects. Click here to understand the differences using an example.
Communication Diagram in UML
Communication Diagram in UML

Interaction Overview Diagram

Interaction overview diagrams are very similar to activity diagrams. While activity diagrams shows a sequence of processes Interaction overview diagrams shows a sequence of interaction diagrams. In simple term they can be called a collection of interaction diagrams and the order they happen. As mentioned before there are seven types of interaction diagrams, so any one of them can be a node in an interaction overview diagram. ( img – http://www.sa-depot.com/?page_id=645 )
Interaction Overview Diagram in UML
Interaction overview diagram in UML

Timing Diagram

Timing diagrams are very similar to sequence diagrams. They represent the behavior of objects in a given time frame. If its only one object the diagram is straight forward but if more then one objects are involved they can be used to show interactions of objects during that time frame as well. ( img – http://blog.tangcs.com/2008/01/10/uml-2-diagrams/ )
Timing Diagram in UML
Timing Diagram in UML
Mentioned above are all the UML diagram types. The links given in each section explains the diagrams in more detail and covers the usage, symbols etc. UML offers many diagram types and sometimes two diagram can explain the same thing using different notations.Check this blog post to learn which UML diagram best suits you.If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to leave a comment.

(Source: Creately.com)