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Asia, Best Eats, Discover

The Much Awaited Bangus Festival

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Bangus Festival is an annual festivity held in Dagupan City Pangasinan to celebrate Bonuan bangus (milkfish) which is known for its unique taste. It kicks off every month of April and lasts for about 2 weeks to a month.

History of the Bangus Festival

Aiming to promote Dagupan City as the Bangus Capital of the World and to emphasize the local bangus industry, Former Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, initiated the celebration of the Bangus Festival in 2002. Initially, it was just a part of the thanksgiving festival Pista’y Dayat, but it further developed into a 2-week socio-economic program of activities to highlight the city’s top produce – bangus or milkfish.

Nowadays, Bangus Festival is one of the country’s most elaborate celebrations.

Activities and what to expect during the Bangus Festival

It is a tradition to commence the festival with the lighting of a thousand barbecue grills lined up to cook thousands of bangus. This activity also serves as a competition for hundreds of cooks, who compete for the tastiest and the most creative way of cooking and serving bangus. In 2003, the city won a recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest barbecue.

This year, the local government of Dagupan promises for a bigger and happier “fishfest,” which will commence on March 31, 2017 with the opening of the Bangusan Village. The village will consist of a carnival, baratilyo (street market) spots and food courts.

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The organizers will also revive the famous Beach Volleyball Republic in one of their beaches and will also launch Zumbangus and the first ever search for “Meztisang Bangus” Gay Beauty Pageant for a cause. They will also be bringing back the old traditional games with the “Galaw na Ogogaw,” for the kids to be aware of the local history and culture. Expect the Giloy-giloy ed Baley street dancing competition to be more colorful and grander this year. Watch out for the winners of the longest, the heaviest and the prettiest bangus in the Bangus Rodeo. Fun games are also in line for the festivity which include fastest bangus classifier, fastest bangus deboner and fastest bangus eater. Of course, the celebration will not be complete without the annual Bangusine, Bangus Regional Culinary Showcase more popularly known as the “101 Ways to Cook Bangus.” As a finale, 20,000 bangus will be grilled for the Kalutan ed Dalan Bangusan Street Party, which will surely be a crowd-drawer.

Asia, Discover

Sakura Season and Best Hanami Spots in Japan

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Cherry Blossoms or more popularly known as Sakura is also considered as a national flower of Japan. For the Japanese, Sakura symbolizes the clouds because of the way they are blooming. It is also associated with mortality – on readily and gracefully accepting destiny and karma. Being symbolic, Cherry Blossom is often represented in Japan’s arts, music, films, manga and even on consumer goods.

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Best Places to Experience Hanami

Sakura blooms in springtime, mostly from late March to early May so if tourists want to see its most majestic views, they must take note of the dates and the best places for the hanami or flower viewing.

Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) – At the northern base of Mount Fuji, the highest and most beautiful mountain in Japan, lies five distinct lakes. This area is the best spot to see the scenic view of the mountain and the Sakura. The flowers start to bloom in early April and blooms fully in mid April.

Photo credit: Guilhem Vellut (Flickr)
Photo credit: Guilhem Vellut (Flickr)

Tokyo – Tokyo is the best place to see Japan’s most exciting time of the year, as the Sakura spreads tranquility all over the city on springtime. The city boasts with parks, gardens, rivers, riversides and other famous landmarks perfect for hanami. In Tokyo, first bloom is expected on March 23 and peaks on April 2.

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Osaka – In Osaka, visitors can enjoy walking under the Cherry Blossoms whether on daytime or at night. They can also participate in various Cherry Blossom festivals held in different locations across the city. Some notable hanami spots in Osaka is home to 5000 cherry blossom trees. Expect the Sakura to bloom from March 23 to March 28, this year.

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Kyoto – During springtime, Sakura gives Kyoto a mind-blowing atmosphere. Local and foreign visitors bustle the city’s canals, rivers, parks, temples, shrines and other hanami spots offering picturesque landscapes. Sakura is on full bloom here by March 28 to early April.

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Hokkaido – Sakura blooms a bit late in Hokkaido, around early to mid May, but this might be the place for the most gorgeous cherry blossom season. Landmarks, parks and even roadsides offer breathtaking views of tons of cherry blossoms.

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Discover, USA

What to do in the Grand Canyon

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The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided valley carved by the Colorado River in Arizona USA. This 277-mile long, nearly 18-mile wide and over a mile-deep canyon is inhabited by native Americans. According to studies, the Grand Canyon was developed 40 million years ago.

Activities to enjoy in the Grand Canyon

Casual sightseeing – the canyon does not only offer sand and rocks. There’s Havasupai Falls with red rock walls and deep blue water. The South Rim which is 7000 feet above sea level has incredible panoramic views of the canyon. The road leading up to the Toroweap Overlook might be treacherous but it’s all worth it once you reach the top which is 3,000 feet over the river.

Hiking – A day, an overnight or a week-long expedition in Grand Canyon is an experience one will never ever forget. The difficulty level of the trips range from moderate hikes to the extremely demanding trips. The South Rim and the North Rim both offer the trail hikers spectacular views of the Grand Canyon.

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River Trips – There are different river trip opportunities that last for as long as 25 days in the Grand Canyon. Motorized or non-motorized whitewater rafting which takes a minimum of 7 days can also be enjoyed.

Bicycling – Most of the trails in the park prohibit bicycling but there are still a lot of options for a great ride to see the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Biking in the Grand Canyon is an amazing wilderness experience.

Mule Rides – Grand Canyon mule rides have been famous with visitors since the 1980’s. This 4-mile 3-hour trek on narrow trails gives visitors more adventures and breathtaking views from the back of a mule.

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Camping – Camping in the Grand Canyon is a highly-desired activity for most of the visitors. Camping enables tourists see more awe-inspiring views of the canyon. The North Rim offers the most memorable camping experience.

Helicopter ride – One of the most exciting ways to see the Grand Canyon by air is through a helicopter ride. Helicopters fly approximately 1000 feet lower than airplanes touring in the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Skywalk Tour – This is a horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge with a glass walkway. The Skywalk extends 70 feet long and has a width of 65 feet. Its foundation can withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 within 50 miles.

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Business Focus

Violet Moon Psychics

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Violet Moon, a psychic medium with gifts for as long as she can remember specializes in mediumship, psychic tarot and angel card readings, crystal ball, Psychometry, Abe Therapy, Angelic Reiki and spiritual healing.

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She started to develop her mediumship with a spiritual church in 2001.  Since then she has gone on to teach psychic and mediumship development and has a diploma with TV Psychic Tony Stockwell back in 2014 after spending a year in mentorship with him.

She has also worked for TV Psychic Derek Acorah on his psychic line and indeed was privileged to work alongside him demonstrating her mediumship in a theatre performance during 2016. She does occasional stand up mediumship demonstrations with a local spiritual church.

Having been a professional psychic/tarot card counsellor for well over 30 years and her business also includes selling crystals and other metaphysical products, organising occasional events and workshops.

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visit www.violetmooncentre.co.uk, www.violetmooncentrecroydon.com, www.violetmoonpsychics.com for further information.