Anne Lammers - Version 2

Paradise on earth

Welcome to the world of buddhism, monks and rice for breakfast. Welcome in Bangkok, the city of cheap clothes, live bands and buckets.  Come in to the country with more than thousand temples. Welcome to one of the most famous places for backpackers. Swim in clear blue seas, and lay on the white sand beaches.  Welcome. Welcome to paradise on earth. 

Buddhism everywhere

More than 90 procent of the people in Thailand are buddhist. Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and achieving a deep insight in life. The tradition teaches that all life is connected to eachother so compassion to every living creature is needed. Buddhists believe that nothing in life is fixed or permanent and change is and should always be possible. This belief has numerous colourful festivals throughout the year which are very interesting and fun to visit. Literally everywhere you walk, wherever you are in Thailand, you will see a monk. Recognizable as they are, they always wear a orange robe. No matter what.

                                                               A young monk  with the traditional orange robe. Source: trekearth.com

Bangkok is for everyone

We all know Bangkok, the capital of the beautiful country of Thailand. Bangkok is a metropolis, you can compare it to New York or London. When you don't feel comfortable in crowded places, you should never visit this city! Walking down the streets in Bangkok you see a lot of different foodstalls, which is very normal in Thailand. Bangkok counts a lot of taxis, it is impossible to go to Bangkok and never travel by taxi. The costs are very low, approximately 5 pounds an hour. Bangkok also had a lot of big shoppingmalls, and with big I mean REALLY big. You can shop for a while on the first floor, and later watch a movie on the sixt floor. Everything is possible. There's also the famous Kho San Road, the backpackersstreet of Bangkok. There you can party all night long, shop untill midnight, drink your bucket filled with vodka and orange juice for only 2 pounds or just walk around and see crazy backpackers having the time of their lives. Bangkok is for everyone. If your having dinner at a fancy club, or you're eating rice for one pound, you can visit Bangkok just the way you want to. Just the way you like it.

Bangkok sightseeing. Source::orangesmile.com

Chill-out travvelers'mecca Pai

My favourite place in Thailand is definitely Pai, which is a travellers' mecca in the north of Thailand. The place is all about hippies, Bob Marley, music and relaxing. Pai attracts backpackers the most, probably because foods, drinks, clothes and everything else is very cheap there. The town has got a live music scene you won't find anywhere else in Thailand. Pai is in the middle of a beautiful green valley with hot springs, extensive rice fields and a lovely river. My favourite memory in Pai was discovering Pai on a motorbike, that was a great experience for me. Pai is just great! You will definitely leave the place with a smile on your face.

Word bank

Bustle  
Streven

Shrines         
Heiligdommen

Glitzy  
Blitse

Development  
Ontwikkeling

Attainment  
Bereik

Compassion  
Mededogen

Currently  
Momenteel

Census         
Volkstelling

Arose  
Ontstaan

Enlightenment  
Voorlichting

Worship        
 Aanbidden

Throughout  
Rondom

Unrestrained  
Onbeperkt

Insatiable  
Onlesbaar

Exhaust         
Uitgeput raken

Epiphany  
Driekoningen

Superficial  
Oppervlakkig

Lubrication  
Smering

Forcefully  
Gedwongen

Pronounced  
Uitgesproken

Emanating  
Afkomstig(uit)

Affordable  
Betaalbaar

Range  
Bereik

Surpass        
Overtreffen

Remain        
Blijven

Sources:

BBC. (2009). Buddhism at a glance. Geraadpleegd op :15 december 2011 van: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/ataglance/glance.shtml

Lonely Planet. (2011). Introducing Bangkok. Geraadpleegd op: 15 december 2011 van: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok

Lonely Planet. (2011). Pai. Geraadpleegd op: 15 december 2011 van: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/mae-hong-son-province/pai

Anne Lammers - Version 1

Paradise on earth

Welcome to the world of buddhism and monks. Rice on your plate early in the morning. Welcome in Bangkok. The city of cheap clothes, live bands and buckets.  Come in to the country with more than thousand temples. Welcome to one of the most famous places for backpackers. Swim in clear blue seas, and lay on the white sand beaches.  Welcome. Welcome to paradise on earth. 

Buddhism everywhere

More than 90 procent of the people in Thailand is a buddhist. Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual deveopment and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. Buddhism teaches that all 

life is interconnected so compassion is natural and important. A buddhist doesn't belief in a personal God. It is not centred on the between humanity and God. Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent, a change is always possible. Buddhism is a very colourful faith with many festivals throughout the year. Buddhists got the possibilty to worship at home or at the temple The path of Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.Wherever you are, wherever you walk around you will spot a Monk. You can recognize a Monk very simple. He is always wearing a orange robe. No matter what. 

Bangkok is for everyone

We all know Bangkok. The headcapital of the beautiful country Thailand. Bangkok stands for bigger, better, more. When you are scared of lots of people you should better skip this place. When you walk in the streets of Bangkok you will spot food on the street. It is very normal to get your chicken just in front of your house. Taxis. Bangkok counts a lot of taxis. You can not visit Bangkok without taking a taxi. It costs maybe 5 pound for an hour. Shoppingmalls. Bangkok got a lot of big shoppingmalls. You can shop for a while on the first floor and later watch a movie on the sixt floor. Everything is possible. Then you got the famous Kho San Road. This is the backpackersstreet of Bangkok. You can party here all night long. Shop untill midnight. Drink your bucket filled with vodka and orange for only 2 pounds. Or just walk around and see crazy backpackers having the time of their life. Bangkok is for everyone. Having diner at a chic club, eating rice for one pound. You can visit Bangkok just the way you want to. Just the way you like it. 

Chill-out travvelers'mecca Pai

One of my personal favourite places is Pai. Pai is a small travellers' mecca in the north of Thailand. The place is all about reggea Bob Marley music and relaxing. The place attracts backpackers the most. Food, drinks and clothes, everything is cheap in this cute Pai. . It's got a live-music scene you won't find anywhere else in Thailand. Pai is in the middle of a beautiful green valley with hot springs, big rice fields, and a lovely river. It is nice to rent a motorbike and discover Pai on your bike. Pai is just great! It will make you leave the place with a smile on your face. Definitely.  

Bustle   
Streven

Shrines          
Heiligdommen

Glitzy  
Blitse

Development  
Ontwikkeling

Attainment  
Bereik

Compassion  
Mededogen

Currently  
Momenteel

Census         
Volkstelling

Arose  
Ontstaan

Enlightenment  
Voorlichting

Worship        
 Aanbidden

Throughout  
Rondom

Unrestrained  
Onbeperkt

Insatiable  
Onlesbaar

Exhaust         
Uitgeput raken

Epiphany  
Driekoningen

Superficial  
Oppervlakkig

Lubrication  
Smering

Forcefully  
Gedwongen

Pronounced  
Uitgesproken

Emanating  
Afkomstig(uit)

Affordable  
Betaalbaar

Range  
Bereik

Surpass        
Overtreffen

Remain        
Blijven

Sources:

BBC. (2009). Buddhism at a glance. Geraadpleegd op :15 december 2011 van: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/ataglance/glance.shtml

Lonely Planet. (2011). Introducing Bangkok. Geraadpleegd op: 15 december 2011 van: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok

Lonely Planet. (2011). Pai. Geraadpleegd op: 15 december 2011 van: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/mae-hong-son-province/pai

Julia van Woudenbergh - Version 2

Magic Vietnam

Travel in Vietnam, a thing that’s on the bucket list from a lot of people who loves to travel and so it is on my list. Just to get out of the reality or getting the culture of the country. Meet the local people or what reason. You want to travel to Vietnam.

One person is realising it and the other keeps dreaming about it. There are a lot of stories about travel in Vietnam but what is true about these stories?

What are the good points of Vietnam to go as a traveller with your backpack?

Are you looking for the busy things of Ho Chi Minhcity or would you like to go to the romantic Hanoi? Vietnam is giving you al these opportunities. I am going to Vietnam this summer and the places I want to visit are the next things.

Vietnam is separated in three zones. There is the north. The middle (they call it also the central area) and there is the south.

In the north you will find the beautiful mountain areas with their mountainfolk. In the central area there are the big beautiful looking cities. In the south there are white beaches and nice blue oceans. After travelling trough Vietnam it is a good end of the trip to close it with a resort at the beach in the south.

I’ve written about 3 cities with some explanation of this cities. These cities are from the north the middle and the south.

Hanoi - the North

This is the capital city of the country and is in the north. In the language of Vietnam, they write it in two words. The first part is ‘Ha’ what means ‘river’. The second part is ‘noi’ what means ‘inside’. The city is from before Christ. This city has a huge history like the whole country. That there was a war earlier is good to see trough the whole city. But there are also a lot of things to see and to do. Very much excursions and a lot of different little markets.

The mountains in the north of Vietnam

Hué - the Middle

Hué the city in the middle of Vietnam is a city who was earlier the capital city.

After the war the city was damaged and wasn’t that romantic anymore. The city has a lot of temples and palaces that can be visited. The rainy period of  Hué  is during 6 months.

A temple in Hue

Ho Chi Minhcity – the South

At least there is the most modern city of the south of Vietnam. One of the many things that is famous in Ho Chi Minhcity is the Saigon. A thing that remembers that there was a war. This city is not at the beach. With 40 km you are at the most beautiful beaches of Vietnam. Blue oceans and white beaches. What else do you want?

A beach in the south of Vietnam

So if you want to never forget your trip to Vietnam at least take the time to visit the three areas where I’ve written about. Because I am going to do it! 

 

Word bank

Bucket list

A list with wishes to do once in your life. Verlanglijsje

Local people

People from the places who you are visiting. Plaatselijke bevolking

Backpack

Pack on the back. Rugzak

Opportunities

Things who are able to. Gelegenheden

Separated

Things who are not together (anymore). Gescheiden

Mountainfolk

Folks who are living in the mountains. Bergvolkeren

Explanation

Something you want to tell why something is that way. Uitleg

Capital city

Not the biggest city in the country, but the most important city. Hoofdstad

Before Christ

In time before Christ is born. Voor Christus

Different little markets

Many little markets who are not the same. Verschillende marktjes

Damaged

It isn’t a unit anymore. Beschadigd

Modern city

City in a modern style and not in a style from earlier. Moderne stad

War

There was a warn on earlier. Oorlog

Blue oceans

Dutch speaking line. A beautiful ocean. Blauwe zee en witte stranden

White beaches

Dutch speaking line. A beautiful beach. Blauwe zee en witte stranden

Loves to travel

Like it a lot to travel. Reisliefhebber

Reality

The truly existence of something. Realiteit

Traveller

Somebody who is travelling. Reiziger

Busy things

A busy happening of everything. Drukke bestaan

The north

The northern area of Vietnam. Het noorden

The middle

The middle central area of Vietnam. Het midden/het centrale

The south

The southern area of Vietnam. Het zuiden

Mountain areas

Areas where are only mountains. Berggebieden

Resort

A place where you can stay to relax with a hotel. Resorts

Famous

Something that is known by people. Bekend

Sources

Gadventures (2011). Travel Guide Vietnam. Used at 27th November 2011, of:

http://www.gadventures.com/travel-guide/vietnam/

Insight Guide Vietnam (2011) Zeewolde: Cambium

Julia van Woudenbergh - Version 1

Magic Vietnam

Travel in Vietnam, a thing that’s on the bucket list from a lot of people who loves to travel. Just to get out of the reality, getting the culture of the country, meet the local people, it doesn’t matter for what reason; you want to travel to Vietnam.

One person is realising it, the other keeps dreaming about it. There are a lot of stories about travel in Vietnam, but what is true about these stories?

What are the good points of Vietnam to go as a traveller with your backpack?

Are you looking for the busy things of Ho Chi Minhcity, or you would like to go to the romantic Hanoi? Vietnam is giving you al these opportunities.

Vietnam is separated in three zones. There is the north. The middle (they call it also the central area) and there is the south.

In the north you will find the beautiful mountain areas with their mountainfolk. In the central area there are the big beautiful looking cities. In the south there are white beaches en nice blue oceans. After travelling trough Vietnam it is a good end of the trip to close it with a resort at the beach in the south.

In this blog you will find 3 cities with some explanation of this cities. These cities are from the north the middle and the south.

Hanoi - the North

This is the capital city of the country and is in the north. In the language of Vietnam, they write it in two words. The first part is ‘Ha’ what means ‘river’. The second part is ‘noi’ what means ‘inside’. The city is from before Christ. This city has a huge history like the whole country. That there was a war earlier is good to see trough the whole city. But there are also a lot of things to see en to do. Very much excursions and a lot of different little markets.

The mountains in the north of Vietnam.

 


























Hué - the Middle

Hué the city in the middle of Vietnam is a city who was earlier the capital city.

After the war the city was damaged and wasn’t that romantic anymore. The city has a lot of temples and palaces that can be visited. The second half year Hué there is a lot of rain.

A temple in Hue

Ho Chi Minhcity – the South

At least there is the most modern city of the south of Vietnam. One of the many things that is famous in Ho Chi Minhcity is the Saigon. A thing that remembers that there was a war. This city is not at the beach. With 40 km you are at the most beautiful beaches of Vietnam. Blue oceans and white beaches. What something else do you want? ◉

A beach in the south of Vietnam

 

Word bank

Bucket list

A list with wishes to do once in your life. Verlanglijsje

Local people

People from the places who you are visiting. Plaatselijke bevolking

Backpack

Pack on the back. Rugzak

Opportunities

Things who are able to. Gelegenheden

Separated

Things who are not together (anymore). Gescheiden

Mountainfolk

Folks who are living in the mountains. Bergvolkeren

Explanation

Something you want to tell why something is that way. Uitleg

Capital city

Not the biggest city in the country, but the most important city. Hoofdstad

Before Christ

In time before Christ is born. Voor Christus

Different little markets

Many little markets who are not the same. Verschillende marktjes

Damaged

It isn’t a unit anymore. Beschadigd

Modern city

City in a modern style and not in a style from earlier. Moderne stad

War

There was a warn on earlier. Oorlog

Blue oceans

Dutch speaking line. A beautiful ocean. Blauwe zee en witte stranden

White beaches

Dutch speaking line. A beautiful beach. Blauwe zee en witte stranden

Loves to travel

Like it a lot to travel. Reisliefhebber

Reality

The truly existence of something. Realiteit

Traveller

Somebody who is travelling. Reiziger

Busy things

A busy happening of everything. Drukke bestaan

The north

The northern area of Vietnam. Het noorden

The middle

The middle central area of Vietnam. Het midden/het centrale

The south

The southern area of Vietnam. Het zuiden

Mountain areas

Areas where are only mountains. Berggebieden

Resort

A place where you can stay to relax with a hotel. Resorts

Famous

Something that is known by people. Bekend

Sources
Gadventures (2011). Travel Guide Vietnam. Used at 27th November 2011, of: http://www.gadventures.com/travel-guide/vietnam/


Insight Guide Vietnam (2011) Zeewolde: Cambium

Chrystal Leung Version 1

The Journey from Kimono to street wears 

By Chrystal Leung

We all know the land of Japan, a country that is known of their technology and of course their fashion. This country seems to be modernized since the last years of the 19^th century and early 20^th centuries. The modernization reflects in their clothing. 

The Japanese society operates according to strict rules of norms and values. A society is the result of the combination of the history of a nation and its national character, which the nation character again had an impact on the history. The strict rules and values in Japan are related to the functioning of the ‘group’ and the (Asian) national character, the shame culture. In this shame culture it is forbidden for someone to suffer a loss of face. 

These strict rules were also reflected in their dress costume. The kimono, which literally means “things to wear”, was – and had been since the thirteenth century – standard dress for all Japanese. Kimono styles have changed significantly from one period of Japan’s history to another, and today there are many different types of kimono worn by men, women and children. The cut, color, fabric, and decorations of a kimono may vary according to sex, age, and signified social class as well as marital status of the wearer. There are also different kimonos for different occasional. There are even several rules in attracting those kimonos. Generally a kimono should be worn left front over the right this applies for both gender and only a corpse wears the kimono fronts right over left.

This standard dress costume has changed since the opening of the Meiji era in 1968, only a few Western people who lived in Japan wore Western dress at that moment. The whole culture and education – including the traditional clothing – was thrown into chaos. There were men who wore bowler hats with kimonos as a tangible protest to show their patriotic attempts to modernize, while women wore donned high-button boots with updated Japanese garment: loose-fitting hakama, which should be worn over kimonos. This removes the kimono slowly. 

Today, the kimono is worn only on special and very formal occasions, for an example like weddings, funerals, coming-of-age functions, New Year’s Eve and graduation. Moreover, women now wear it most often. Only older people now prefer kimonos, and the younger generation is going in for Western dresses. 

By the beginning of the 21^st century is had altered into what is known today as ‘street fashion’. At present there are many styles of dress in Japan, created from a mix of both local and foreign labels. Some of these styles are extreme and avant-garde, similar to the haute couture seen on European catwalks. 

442 words

Word Bank

Adhere	Kleven, aanhangen
Aesthetics	Esthetica
Belief	Overtuiging
Civilization	De beschaafde wereld
Coexist	Co-exsiteren
Commodore	Commandeur
Connotation	Connotative, gevoelswaarde
Delve	Speuren
Elaborate	Gedetailleerd
Enlightenment	Opheldering
Expedite	Bevorderen
Foreign	Buitenlands
Initially	Aanvankelijk
Occupation	Beroep
Off-putting	Ontmoedigend, walgelijk
Patriotic	Patriottisch, vaderlandslievend
Predetermined	Vooraf bepalen
Predominant	Overheersend
Prominent	Uitstekend
Punctual	Punctueel, stipt
Rapid	Stroomversnelling
Recite	Zijn les opzeggen
Sequentially	(Opeen) volgend
Tangible	Tastbaar
Tantalize	Doen watertanden
Vast	(Enorme) vlakte

Sources

Brill.nl. (2011). Publications: Japan, a model and a partner. Geraadpleegd op: 7 december 2011, van: http://www.brill.nl/japan-model-and-partner

Edwardian Promenade. (15 maart 2010). Fashion: Women of Meiji Japan & Western fashion. Geraadpleegd op: 7 december 2011, van: http://edwardianpromenade.com/fashion/women-of-meiji-japan/

Fibre2fashion.com. (2011). Fashion: Japan – from jūnihitoe to jeans – a study on the evolution of Japanse fashion. Geraadpleegd op: 7 december 2011, van: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/14/1306/japan-from-junihitoe-to-jeans7.asp

Nyu.edu. (z.j.). Exhibits: Shiseido women. Geraadpleegd op: 7 december 2011, van: http://www.nyu.edu/greyart/exhibits/shiseido/shiseido_women.htm

Uchiyama. (9 oktober 2011). Gezin en samenleving: Gezin en wonen. Geraadpleegd op: 6 december 2011, van: http://www.uchiyama.nl/nggezin.htm

Uchiyama. (9 oktober 2011). Japanse cultuur: Inleiding Japanse cultuur. Geraadpleegd op: 6 december 2011, van: http://www.uchiyama.nl/ngcult.htm

Uchiyama. (9 oktober 2011). Japanse cultuur: Kimono. Geraadpleegd op: 6 december 2011, van: http://www.uchiyama.nl/ngkimono.htm

Wafuku. (28 maart 2010). Left over right – Florence welch gets it wrong – celebrities in kimonos. Geraadpleegd op: 6 december 2011, van: http://wafuku.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/1362/