Sunday, November 29, 2020

Halal or Haram - Chinese Products


Halal List


E330 - Citric Acid

E339 - Sodium Phosphates

E202 - Potassium Sorbate



LAOGANMA - Chicken Flavour Chilli Oil with Tofu

                E621 is not animal based. This product is Halal       

    





        

Mushbooh/Haraam List


E621
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Mushbooh, Halal if all ingredients including culture media to grow culture from Halal source, Haraam if media is from pork fat


E627

Halal if it is obtained from sardines or baker's yeast extract. Mushbooh if it is made from brewer            yeast extract, a by-product of beer making
       
E270        

Halal if it is obtained other than whey. 

E631        

Halal if it is obtained from sardines. Mushbooh if it is made from brewer yeast extract, a by-                  product of beer making. Haraam if it is extracted from pig meat.


       

        Preserved Mustard Stem 








LEE KUM KEE - SOUP BASE FOR SICHUAN HOT & SPICY HOT POT

   Suitable for Vegetarian and vegans. E621,627,631 in the product if it's made from brewers yeast and     if the brewer yeast is sourced from plants and crops
   





Baijia - Fish Flavour Hot Chili Oil Seasoning


E621,E270, Yeast Extracts, Acidity Regulator (E270), Flavouring, 
Colour E10c, Preservative E202

Need to check with the importer.




Baijia - Pickled Cabbage Fish Flavour

E621, E625
Need to email the importer and check if it's Halal or Haraam





Honor Pickle Vegetable

E621, E950

Need to check with the importer if Halal or Haram.





Friday, December 27, 2013

Zhengzhou China


My trip to Zhengzhou a city in North - central of China. The capital and the largest city of the province Henan. 

                         
                           One of the restaurants next to the place I was staying.


                               Hot Pot for Lunch , my favourite....


                              One of the Bridges on top of the Yellow River. 


                               Some Place next to the Yellow River.


                              Lifts we used next to the Yellow River.


                                Yellow River Tourist Park



                               Interior of a restaurant


                               Picture from the Park in Zhengzhou


                                Loads of fish in the middle of the park.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Cotswold Villages

Cotswold villages lay tucked away in the English countryside. Government agencies singled out the surrounding area for its natural beauty. The following is a brief description of five locales within the area. The piece invites readers to explore and lose themselves in Cotswold’s unique charms.



Longborough






Longborough held the award for best-kept village back in 2001, but there is so much more to uncover. Located approximately 2.5 miles North of Stow on the Wold market, visitors arrive every summer to enjoy a celebration of opera. History buffs enjoy gazing upon ancient relics and stunning old-world architecture. Local pubs offer delicious cuisine, while a lone inn provides intimate overnight accommodations.

Mickleton
 


Gardening and vegetable farms are the heart of Mickleton. Situated on the edge of Cotswold, the area is rumored inspiration for well-known literary works. Traditional architecture provides ample photo opportunities. Guests exploring sections of a popular walking path can unwind at one of two local pubs. Guests seeking overnight accommodations have their choice of a traditional hotel, or a more intimate bed and breakfast experience offered by local residents.

Chedworth





In addition to hosting one of the most impressive Roman villas in England, Chedworth is also home to a lush nature reserve that attracts biologists from around the world. Situated adjacent to a valley located near Fossebridge, a local 15th century church displays unique designs bound to garner the adoration of architectural enthusiasts. Traditional stone houses decorate the village, covering an area approximately one mile long.

Broad Campden



Noted as one of the most picturesque villages in Cot
swold, Broad Campden sits tucked away in a valley with the woods nearby. Campden is Saxon for valley with fields, and guests are not disappointed as they encounter sheep grazing lazily in the surrounding area. Traditional thatched roof houses and stone cottages dot the landscape. Noted historical sites include a Victorian-era chapel and 18th century Quaker meetinghouse, complete with original furnishings. An inn on the village outskirts provides convenient overnight accommodations. Self-catering cottages are available for guests looking to take a peaceful holiday.

Shipton-under-Wychwood




Named after Wychwood forest, Shipton-under-Wychwood sits in the Evenlode Valley. Two manors are located within the village, along with a 12th century church featuring an octagonal spire directed towards the sky. Additional sites of interest include a memorial, dedicated to church members headed to New Zealand during the 18th century. The village is home to a noteworthy cricket club. A well-known local footpath makes for interesting daytrips through Evenlode Valley.

Recognized as one of the United Kingdom’s unspoiled regions, villages in the Cotswold area offer guests a variety of activities. Cultural pursuits, outdoor activities and historic exploration are all within reach. The following was just a sample of what the area has to offer. Travelers should experience the majestic beauty of Cotswold first-hand for a truly memorable experience.


Sunday, July 15, 2012

South West England


The South West of England is a land of mystery and magic. From the pixies of the Cornish hills to the Arthurian mysticism of Somerset, the very landscape is steeped in the stuff of legend. You can’t help but walk through history wherever you go , whether it’s in the shadows of Stonehenge or Avebury, hunting for fossils along Dorset’s Jurassic coast or following in the footsteps of Cornish smugglers.

stonehenge
Stonehenge

avebury
Avebury

The area is one of tremendous contrasts. Picture-postcard countryside and quaint villages roll one after another throughout Somerset and Devon , while the stunning 630-mile (1014-km) South West Coast Path , Britain’s longest way marked trail, takes in bustling ports , dramatic coves and glorious beaches even the south west’s three great moors couldn’t be more different, if you excuse the pun. The heathered slopes of Exmoor stretching across Somerset and north Devon contain evidence of the country’s most ancient farmland, some older than the Domes day Book itself. Its rolling hills and combes, rich in woodland and pasture, are populated by Exmoor ponies and red deer, while the spectacular Exmoor sea cliffs-provide a rocky resting spot for seabirds. However, it’s little wonder than Arthur Conan Doyle decided to let the demonic Hound of the Baskervilles loose on the stark, forbidding expanse of Devon’s other moor: cold, bleak but breathtakingly beautiful Dartmoor. Of course, another fabled creature is said to stalk the wilds of north Cornwall: the beast of Bodmin Moor. Tiny in comparison to its near neighbouring moors, Bodmin’s gentle sloping hills, offer a wild and windswept landscape.

Dartmoor
Dartmoor

Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor


When it comes to food and drink, the South West again serves up its fair share of legends. Jamaica Inn, immortalised by the pen of Daphne du Maurier is no work of fiction but an old staging post on Bodmin, and a welcome sight for walkers.

There’s the world-famous pasty, said to originate in Cornwall (though often contested by Devonians), head-spinning Somerset scrumpy cider and irresistible clotted cream tea – believed to have originated from Benedictine monks in Tavistock over 1000 years ago. The once sleepy fishing harbour of Padstow has been transformed by its cuisine, and is now bursting with the best seafood the region has to offer, thanks mainly to the efforts of celebrity chef Rick Stein.

Padstow Harbour


Whether you feed your belly or your imagination in the South West, one thing is certain: once you’re under the region’s spell you’ll be bewitched forever.

Britain Local Treasures


Walking in the British Isles becomes so enthralling and – ultimately – addictive because as well as the dramatic changes in the landscape as you pass through one county after another, wealth of  history and culture laid out. Once you start to explore you begin to appreciate the wonderful distinctiveness of society in United Kingdom. An early clue is the accents you hear in the villages, the shifting dialects where a vowel is dropped here or added there, and each region brings its own unique words and phrases. Then come the local stories, some based on historical fact, some flights of fancy but all fascinating. These legends and tales have shaped this nation and inspired great works of art, from Arnold Bax’s symphonic ode to Arthur and Guinevere to Arthur Conan Doyle’s demonic Hound of the Baskervilles. And of course there’s the food and drink. In a world dominated by facsimile high streets and copycat chain restaurants, a walk through the countryside delivers unique delicacies and good honest food to you on a plate, and even offers a decent drop in your glass. Your taste buds will love you forever.



Britain’s are spoilt in United Kingdom. They have miles upon miles of countryside that can help improve you in body, mind and, some would even argue, soul. Why not take your first step and  walk, walk in United Kingdom.

Britain and Walking


Walking is one of the few activities that transcend age, profession, social demographic and sex. You can be a spry seven year old or a sprightly septuagenarian and enjoy walking. There is nothing more therapeutic than roaming across great expanses of wild wonderful countryside – although more and more people are regularly enjoying urban strolls, millions of people hit the hills every weekend up and down the country.




I’ll never forget striding out across the Peak district with my dad when I was a wee young thing. A keen walker and general outdoor devotee, he took me walking for the first time when I was about 6 years old; by the time I was 12 or 13 I was a fully-fledged hiker – I had my own boots and everything ! ‘Sensible footwear’ is not a term to be used excessively in my opinion, but it is pretty much all you need when it comes to perambulation. Race walking may be an Olympic discipline but luckily for all of us you don’t need to be anywhere near Olympic status to participate effectively. And the benefits? Oh the joy that it brings! Someone once said ‘A pedestrian is a man in danger of his life.  A walker is a man in possession of his soul.’

But nourishing the soul hasn’t always been easy. There is no denying we like a good fight on these fair isles; we fight for buildings to be saved , we’re fighting for air travel to be abandoned and we even fought for our right to ramble. In April 1932 four hundred or so agitated walkers set out on an expedition up Kinder Scout, the highest point in Derbyshire. It was a march with intention rather than a gentle stroll; folk from the cities had grown tired of the restricted access to the countryside. Landowners covetously guarded their property back then and the Duke of Derbyshire was no exception.

The ramblers, fighting passionately for their right to roam, clashed with the gamekeepers instructed to defend the estate. Although victorious, the leader of the pack – a mechanic called Benny Rothman – was subsequently arrested along with a number of other figureheads, and was imprisoned for civil disobedience. This caught public attention and sparked a national debate about our right to rural access. This countryside squabble arguably paved the way for National Parks and can be claimed to be foundation of our rambling freedoms.

The UK is laden with wonderfully wild, peaceful backdrops of extraordinary beauty, abundant with nature and wildlife – great arcs of stunning landscape waiting for you to explore. Take advantage.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Get Spoilt in Countryside


We’re spoilt in the United Kingdom. Within a relatively small group of islands we can experience a whole world of different landscapes, from the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands to the secluded covers of Cornwall. With so much variety, so many distinct regions, it beggars belief that all too often we take it for granted. Think what we have on our doorstep: the untamed expanse of the Yorkshire moors; the remote fells of the Lake District; the scarcely known peaks of Northern Ireland; the timeless beauty of the Cotswolds; the secret beaches of the Welsh coast; the winding waterways of Norfolk; the neat orchards of Kent. It seems a crime that so many of us fail to explore these four countries of ours and instead look beyond our shores for adventure and romance.


  Scottish Highlands




                                                      Cornwall

                                                Cotswolds


                                                 North York Moors


                                              South Wales Coast


Eight per cent of the population of the UK now live in urban areas, so it’s vital that we keep in touch with our countryside. It isn’t simply that a walk in the country can keep you fit physically: connecting with open spaces can be as good for your mind and spirit. It can relax you one minute, then stimulate and challenge you the next. Some scientists claim that humans were never meant to live in a city environment, that we were hardwired to be surrounded by nature. A spell in the countryside therefore restores the balance, cuts down stress, and even improves our levels of concentration.

So , what are we waiting for ? Why aren’t we spilling out of our cities of sharp lines, escaping the noise and bustle and running for the hills and valleys? Well, actually, we are. Government figures suggest that seven million of us walk in the countryside every single weekend, and that figure is growing year on year. 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Walks in UK

There’s nothing to be scared about when walking in the countryside, but there’s no need to take risks either. After all, even the most challenging walk should be an enjoyable and fun venture that leaves you in one piece.  Let’s run through some of the safety basics before walking:



Be Safe

First up, get planning. If you’re a beginner don’t dive straight into a difficult or overly long route. There’s no one to impress and nothing to prove. If you decide to tackle a longer walk, make sure you’ve worked out various points along the way where you can escape if you need to cut things short. Also, wherever possible, let someone know where you’re going and don’t rely on your mobile phone: network coverage isn’t always great, especially in hill country. Ensure that before you set out, you have a map and a compass and know how to use them.

Make sure you know what weather you can expect and take heed of any warning from the Met Office. We’re lucky here in the UK; we talk endlessly about the weather, but we don’t experience much in the way of extremes. What we all know is that it can change within minutes, especially if you’re heading into hills or remote areas, make sure you have the following with you :
  • A waterproof Jacket.
  • Waterproof trousers.
  • Good walking boots or shoes with support for your ankles and good solid treads.
  • Good-quality thick socks (some walkers swear by wearing more than one pair of socks, but be warned, this can lead to more friction around your feet and therefore , more blisters!)
  • A spare fleece or jumper : always go for several layers if you have to keep warm.
  • A waterproof rucksack , containing a litre water bottle and enough food for your walk.

You may have noticed an emphasis on waterproof there, but this is Britain we’re talking about! Keep an eye on the sky for rain, mist or fog, but remember that strong winds can be a hazard too , especially on hillsides. Obviously, if conditions are anything less than clement, make sure you have gloves and hat in your kit (40 per cent of body heat is lost through your head).

It has to be said, especially when walking on the lowlands in good weather, that you don’t need a lot of expensive walking gear. Good boots are always a sound investment and it’s always better not to wear jeans because wet denim takes a long time to dry out, which can lead to chafing, generally avoid wearing cotton items as these can soon absorb sweat, making you clammy and uncomfortable. Opt for thin synthetic layers that wick moisture (to you and me that means taking it away from the skin and drying quickly).

Be Responsible

Walkers are usually a responsible lot. A happy knock-on effect of rambling is that the more you walk through the beautiful countryside , the more you care about it and the people who work , rest and play there.
The general rule of thumb is to leave the countryside as you found it. Here are few guidelines to being a responsible walker. Once again, they may seem obvious, but you’ll be amazed how many people forget the basics:
  • Don’t go clambering over fences and walls that often can be easily damaged. Find the nearest stile or gate instead.
  • If you do pass through a gate, make sure you shut it behind you. Of course, there are some instances when they’re supposed to be open , for example, to allow farm animals access to water, but in most cases country gates are meant to be closed.
  • If you’re walking with your dog, keep them under control, which largely means having them on the lead or at the very least near to you.
  • Respect the wildlife around you. It’s illegal to p ick wild flowers, unless you have the landowner’s permission. Besides , it’s always better to leave beautiful blooms for your fellow walkers to enjoy, rather than to snaffle them for yourself.
  • There is one thing you should definitely take home with you – your rubbish. Don’t drop it and certainly don’t bury it. Pop it in your bag and take it with you. For a little extra good karma, why not pick up litter that people have so casually carelessly discarded.
  • Safeguard any water supplies you may come across, making sure you never pollute streams, rivers, ponds or lakes.
  • Guard against any risk of fire, be it a stray cigarette or camp fire. If you really need to boil a cup of coffee on the move, consider buying a portable stove, but again, take care.
  • If you’re crossing a farmer’s crop , walk in a single line or around the edge of a field to minimise the chance of damaging precious harvest.
  •  Respect the privacy of people living in the countryside; you wouldn’t life it if someone traipsed through your garden, pausing to peer through your windows. Remember this is where people live and work, not a museum or theme park.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Fox in Abbey Road


       This fox is becoming our pet , he comes and visits us everday. I live on abbey road and so do the foxxxx.  He's not afraid of us at all now , foxes are becoming part of our life now.