Mangosteen

Prominent in tropical countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, the inedible purple rind reveals a sweet white inside that is enjoyed sporadically throughout the year.

There is a great amount of medicinal use with the mangosteen. According to WebMD: “Mangosteen is used for diarrhea, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, thrush, tuberculosis, menstrual disorders, cancer, osteoarthritis, and an intestinal infection called dysentery. It is also used for stimulating the immune system and improving mental health.”

Mangosteen are banned from importation to the continental United States.

Team Patay vs. Team Buhay

The, now, famous billboard posted on the front of the San Sebastian Cathedral, has drawn the attention of the entire country as the public is set to head to the polls in May.

The Bacolod diocese, along with millions of Filipinos, witnessed the controversial RH Bill approved into law and proving to be one of the most divisive policies to face the nation. Today, the law still proves to be a prominent issue and despite the ratification of the law, the coming elections are, once again, highlighting a divide in the nation’s populace.

The diocese has provided a list of allies and enemies (based on how one views the RH Law) and spelled out the members of Team Buhay (Life) and Team Patay (Death).

President Noynoy Aquino’s Team PNoy allies dominate the Team Patay list.

Suzette’s Place

Across the Philippines, people flock to their local SM shopping mall and supermarket for their daily needs. Just outside SM City Bacolod are a series of eateries offering local delicacies all day long.

One such spot is Suzette’s Place. Beyond the great taste of home-cooked food, there is no beating the cost! Four orders of rice along with four entrees come to around ₱178 ($4.38). An average meal at Suzette’s Place is more than half the price of a meal at any restaurant in SM; it’s even less than the cost of a Starbucks Frappuccino!

A fresh batch of the traditional Kare-Kare (pictured in the foreground) is a regular daily option. Their Pork Adobo is exceptionally delicious!

The Wisdom Path

A short walk from the Tian Tan Buddha on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island is the wisdom path.

Completed in May 2005, the large-scale outdoor exhibit features a series of tall wooden panels with the words of the Heart Sutra etched upon them. The project was enacted after Professor Jao Tsung-I offered the original calligraphy of the Heart Sutra to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Heart Sutra is said to be the most popular Buddhist scripture.

The exhibit is comprised of 38 columns measuring 8 to 10 meters each in height.

青岛啤酒股份有限公司

The Tsingtao Brewing Company is China’s 2^nd largest brewery and best-selling Chinese beer. Originally produced in Qingdao, it was founded by German settlers in 1903.

During the Japanese occupation in World War II, the company changed hands to a Japanese company. After the war, ownership was transferred back to the Chinese. Today, Anheuser-Busch also owns a piece of the company.

The Smugglers Inn located along the Stanley Waterfront on the south side of Hong Kong Island offers this glass tankard of Tsingtao.

Fish Ball

A popular street food throughout Asia, it’s a cheap treat that is perfect for a lifestyle “on the go.”

Fish ball originated in China and has since travelled the world as a snack sensation. Starting in Southern China and Hong Kong, street stalls selling fish ball are very popular in Singapore and Malaysia; variations are enjoyed as far away as Scandinavia.

In Hong Kong, a typical fish ball retails for HK$6, which is around 77¢

These particular fish balls are dipped in a spicy curry sauce and sold at the Ying Heong Yuen snack shop on Cannon Street in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay.

莲花宫

Causeway Bay’s Lin Fa Temple was originally constructed in 1863. The Buddhist temple is popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival when the Dragon Dance Team traditionally visits before their performance in Southorn Playground.

The primary deity housed in the temple is Kwun Yum, the Goddess of Mercy.

The temple has undergone reconstruction projects in 1986 and 1999.