Loads of coconut, chili and a dash of fun

Though not a gourmet, I just had to have a go at Thai cuisine during my stay in Chiang Mai.

The lifeblood of heavenly cities

In 1280, Italian traveler Marco Polo (1254-1324) arrived at a port of Hangzhou in today's Zhejiang Province of East China. Fresh fish were piled up high on a ship sailing nearer along the Grand Canal.

Five basic tastes of Thai dishes

Sweet: Palm sugar made from palm tree blossoms is more common than white sugar as it's healthier. It is used in desserts, salads and some curries that stress freshness.

Life Health

Women's cancer fight gets crucial boost

Although the international medical community has proved that cervical and breast cancer is curable if detected early, some Chinese women still do not receive regular screening.

Home-grown healing power

As the West increasingly recognizes the value of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a viable complement to conventional medical approaches, China is now focusing more on the long-overlooked healing traditions of its ethnic minorities.

Life Pulse

New direction for old journey

Having spent 15 hours on a boat, 62-year-old Pu Yueqing arrived in Hangzhou of East China's Zhejiang Province at 3:30 am. Despite the long trip, she could hardly contain her excitement as if it was the first time she had visited the place.

Arctic monkeys are stating the freezing obvious

Northerners probably don't need reminding that it's been a bit nippy recently. Those who still find themselves shoveling snow or thawing numbed limbs may be consoled to hear that their pain was shared by the citizens of the south. In fact, things were so bad down here that the Hong Kong Observatory felt moved to issue one of its knee-trembling Cold Weather Warnings for the benefit of the uncomprehending populous.

Reviews: DVD

The Amityville Horror

Special Supplement

Temple of Heaven cultural circle to emerge

The government of Chongwen District in Beijing is committed to building the Cultural Circle of the Temple of Heaven, in order to develop the economy while preserving local characteristics, as the capital city advances the strategy of "accelerating the development of South Beijing" in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, said the 2007 Chongwen government work report.