Culinary Delights

Lumpia (Southeast Asian-style eggrolls). Rumor has it that the most original ones are available on Gang Lombok, although stalls selling lumpia can also be found on Jl. Pemuda and Jl. MT Haryono, Semarang.

Ceremonial

Hindus pray for the lake’s waters to recede.

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Blissfull Java

An authentic Javanese massage, wgich will treat your body to the senses and gives a relaxed feeling.

Best Western Premier Hotel Solo, Jalan Slamet Riyadi No. 6 Solo 57111 Central Java – Indonesia. Phone: +62 271 666 111 ; Fax. +62 271 666 530 ; Email: reservation@bwpremiersolo.com ; www.bwpremiersolo.com

Diverse

A group appears on the first day of the Tayub Festival in the terrace hall of ISI Surakarta, held on April 8 to 9. Five troupes from Sragen, Blora, Banyumas, Banyuwangi and Malang joined the event.

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Kopi Ireng

Spectacular view, great coffee. Must try: Kopi Luwak Tubruk. Jl. Ciburial No. 1, Bukit Pakar Timur, Bandung. Telp (022) 2531074

Figureheads

The UK’s Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip stand with a collection of Merchant Navy figureheads as they attend the official re-opening of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, on Wednesday. The Cutty Sark is the world’s last surviving tea clipper.

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Burgundy Dine & Wine

Classy, homey and romantic place, great taste. Must try: Turnedos ala Burgundy, Burgundy Juice. Jl. Maribaya No. 163 Lembang, Bandung ; telp (022) 2787125. Open 10 am – 12 pm (weekdays) and 10 am – 2 am (weekend). Website: www.burgundy.co.id

First Peoples

Young dancers wait their turn to perform during the 29^th Annual Gathering of Nations, the world’s largest gathering of Native American and indigenous people, in Albuquerque on Saturday. Some 3,000 singers and dancers performed over the three-day event, which began on Thursday in Albuquerque.
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Boemi Joglo

Traditional Javanese restaurant. Must try: Nasi Liwet Ayam Jamur (rice with chicken and mushrooms cooked in coconut milk and basil). Jl. Rancakendal Luhur No. 17 Bandung. Telp (022) 91121679 / (022) 2501344.

My Big Fat Han Wedding

Newlyweds dine during a traditional group wedding ceremony in Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi province on Tuesday. One-hundred-thirty couples from all over China attended the ceremony, which were conducted following the nuptial rites of the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), local media reported.

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Roemah Kopi

Daring coffee mix and combination, cozy place to hang out with friends. Must try: Copacobana (chilled coffee, fresh milk, vanilla ice cream), Voice of Nature (chilled, coffee, fresh avocado and vanilla). Jl. Terusan Ranca Kendal No. 9, Bandung. Telp (022) 2512613.

Window Shopping

Visitors browse a wide array of luxury jewelry displayed at the Jakarta International Jewelry Fair 2012 in Balai Kartini, Jakarta on Thursday. Various kinds of high-end gold, silver and diamond jewelry, with prices reaching Rp 100 million (US$10,900), are on public display until Sunday.

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Selasar Sunaryo Art Space

Cultural center, café, shop, library, Jl. Bukit Pakar Timur No. 100, Bandung. Website: www.selasarsunaryo.com

Save Me

An activist from the environmental group Greenpeace dons a tiger suit at the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle to protest against the rampant forest clearing that has threatened the natural habitat of the Sumatran tiger. Greenpeace and other environmental NGOs have followed the trails of these tigers and found evidence that they are suffering from large-scale forest clearances in Riau and Jambi.
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Saung Angklung Udjo

One-stop cultural workshop of Angklung (traditional bamboo musical instrument). Padasuka Street, No. 118, Bandung.

An Eye for a Thigh

Wearing miniskirts, which Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali says is in violation of the pornography law, women stage a protest at Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Central Jakarta, against Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo’s comments last year, in which he blamed rapes on women wearing provocative clothing.

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Jeans Street

Many denim shops decorated with funky designs, Cihampelas Street, Bandung.

Light Humor

Lamps in the shape of cartoon characters are displayed in a stand during an exhibition at the Industry Ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday. The exhibition will last until April 13 and will display various handicrafts and work from Indonesia.

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A Personal Chef Service

For a unique gourmet experience we have created our own Chef’s Table Our well-experienced Chef will share his table, kitchen, time and expertise to serve you with a mouth watering cuisine at an ultimately personalized service. 

Hope Grows

Celebrity Riza Pahlevi waters a tree in the campaign to green the northern coastal highway of Java.

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Soy Foods and Health

What Is Soy? 

You may have heard about soy foods in the news, including claims that soy prevents diseases such as cancer and heart disease. So what is the story on soy? 

Soy, a versatile bean, is found in foods like soy milk, soy sauce, miso (soybean paste), tempeh (which is kind of like a soy cake), and tofu. Soy is also sometimes added to foods like breads, cereals, and meat products, and used as a meat substitute in vegetarian products such as soy burgers and soy hot dogs. 

Foods that contain whole soy are a good source of protein for vegetarians and vegans because they provide all the amino acids — a type of nutrient — that people need to stay healthy. (People who eat meat get all their essential amino acids from animal products.) 

What Are the Benefits? 

Americans have added more soy to their diets in recent years because scientific studies have shown that soy may offer health benefits, including lowering blood cholesterol and reducing the risk of certain cancers. 

Past research suggested that soy protein could significantly lower levels of LDL cholesterol. But when the American Heart Association (AHA) reviewed the latest research, they concluded soy does not directly influence heart health. 

The real health benefits of soy might lie in its nutritional content and the fact that people often use soy foods as a replacement for less-healthy foods. Soy foods are a great source of protein and contain other important nutrients, such as fiber, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Foods containing soy protein are also a healthy alternative to meats and other animal products that contain cholesterol and saturated fat. 

Soy in Your Diet 

Soy milk, soy burgers, and soy snacks are available in many supermarkets and specialty stores. When selecting soy foods, be sure to check food labels to be sure that the food is a good source of soy protein and is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and added sugar. 

If you're interested in eating more soy, introduce it into your diet gradually. And remember that the key to good health is to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods without focusing too much on any one food. 

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 sources: http://teenshealth.org

Equal Chance

Some female therapists treat tourists in a reflexology center in Batu, East Java.

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5 Ways to Spot a Fad Diet

Lots of today's popular diets take advantage of our desire to drop weight quickly. Unfortunately, though, "quick-fix" diets don't work. 

Here are 5 clues that a diet may be more about empty promises than real results: 

1. The diet is based on drastically cutting back calories.

Starvation-type diets that require the body to fast often promise quick results. But our bodies simply aren't designed to drop pounds quickly. In fact, doctors say it's nearly impossible for a healthy, normally active person to lose more than 2 to 3 pounds per week of actual fat, even on a starvation diet. 

Here's the trick that very low-calorie diets rely on: The body's natural reaction to near-starvation is to dump water. So most, if not all, of the weight lost on quick-weight-loss diets is not fat — it's just water. And the body sucks this lost water back up like a sponge once a person starts eating normally again. 

2. The diet is based on taking special pills, powders, or herbs.

These are usually just gimmicks — and the only thing they slim down is your wallet. 

Many diet pills contain laxatives or diuretics that force a person's body to eliminate more water. Just like restricted-calorie diets, the weight lost with these supplements is mostly water, not fat. 

Other supplements claim that their ingredients speed up metabolism; suppress appetite; or block the absorption of fat, sugars, or carbohydrates. For most diet supplements, there's no reliable scientific research to back up their claims. And doctors consider diet supplements risky for teens because not much is known about how the ingredients affect the growing body. 

3. The diet tells you to eat only specific foods or foods in certain combinations. 

There's no reliable scientific proof that combining certain foods works. And limiting the foods you eat means you might not get all the nutrition you need. 

4. The diet makes you completely cut out fat, sugar, or carbs.

Depriving our bodies of needed food groups is a bad idea (especially when they're still growing). It's better to eat smaller portions in well-rounded meals (meals that contain servings of protein, grains, fruits, and veggies). When your body gets the right balance of nutrition, it's less likely to send you willpower-busting cravings! Eating smaller portions also helps you set good eating habits that will help you keep the weight off. 

5. The diet requires you to skip meals or replace meals withspecial drinks or food bars. 

As with diets that ban certain food groups, skipping or substituting meals can mean you don't get the nutrition needed to support healthy development. Plus, you miss out on the enjoyment of sharing a satisfying meal with friends or family. 

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Sources: http://kidshealth.org

March Madness

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have dinner with grassroots supporters from across the country at Boundary Road Restaurant in Washington on Thursday. Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron will attend and NCAA tournament basketball game in Ohio, an election swing state.

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9 Ways To Improve Your Body As Quickly As Possible

If you get in your car in Los Angeles to drive to New York, do you just pull out of your driveway and start down the road? Or do you get a map and plan your route? The answer is obvious – careful planning pays off. So if your goal is to become fit, lean and strong it’s important to know exactly what you need to do to reach this goal.  Here are some valuable tips to include in any plan which will help you arrive at your goal safely and efficiently.

Tip #1: Be Alert For Opportunities All Day Long

Focus on becoming stronger because there are myriad opportunities throughout the day to strengthen your body. As simple an effort as walking up the stairs to the third floor, rather than taking an elevator, will eventually produce a noticeable effect. Yes, weights lifting, exercise machines and structured sessions are powerful – but so are simple activities carried out every day.

Tip #2: Rest Is Just As Important As Exercise

Make certain you value and allow rest and recovery time. Many believe that if an intense workout feels good and will build muscle quickly, then the smart thing to do is to exercise even more. Muscle builds when exercise tears the muscle down, because it recovers as newer, stronger muscle. Without that recovery time, your muscles absolutely cannot increase in size or strength. Beginners usually start with three workouts per week and the duration and frequency can increase as they grow in strength and power but your body will respond more quickly and more dramatically if allowed to rest during strenuous activities.

Tip #3: What’s “Best” Is What You Will Persist In Doing

There is a constant and ongoing war among fitness experts about whether free weights or weight machines are superior. As far as you are concerned, whatever works best for you is the right choice. If you love competing with the weights on a machine then by all means choose that option. If you despise machines, but eagerly grab that set of dumbbells, then go for it. There is no point whatsoever in choosing exercises that you hate and won’t stick with, no matter what the ‘experts’ say.

Tip #4: You Didn’t Arrive At Your Current Condition Overnight

If you’re flabby and overweight – in other words, totally dissatisfied with the condition of your body – always remember that you didn’t get there overnight. In other words, impatience is a huge mistake. It requires years of neglect and misuse to create problems in your body and it will take some time to repair them. Exercising for a week and then quitting because there are no visible changes is foolish and short sighted. Not only that, but more failure will further erode your confidence and increase the sad condition of your body. You can drastically shorten the time it takes to achieve superb conditioning by using wisdom and discipline but you won’t see changes by 5PM on the first day.

Tip #5: “Compound” Exercises Are More Efficient

Consider that “compound” exercises will get results faster than those exercises that use only one muscle or one muscle group at a time. Yes, your abs may be a disgrace but focusing only on an ab machine won’t pay the dividends of full body exercises. And always remember that exercises which work multiple muscle groups will build fitness much faster – and that’s what we all want, isn’t it?

Tip #6: Don’t Exercise Mindlessly

Don’t exercise of mindlessly. If you pay close attention to your muscles and your body while working out, your results will be much more powerful. On the surface, that doesn’t seem to make sense. But famous, skilled athletes and bodybuilders have stated time and again that they can literally direct their muscles as they see fit.

Tip #7: Natural Sleep = Health and A Fit Body

Get as much ‘natural’ sleep as possible, meaning that drugs and sleeping pills interfere with the natural repair of the body that occurs every night. When we sleep, growth hormone, or HGH. is released into our bodies. HGH stimulates healthy growth, cell repair and the regeneration which is necessary for muscle development. Growth hormone is naturally produced by the body and many athletic scandals have occurred because athletes were building their bodies with the use of artificial HGH. Synthetic growth hormone, even when legal and prescribed by a doctor, can have dangerous side effects. You want to maximize your production naturally and this is done while we’re asleep.

Tip #8: Pepperoni Pizza Is NOT The Perfect Diet Food (Sorry!)

The perfect diet for an athlete or body builder centers around proteins, certain fats that include essential fatty acids (EFAs) and complex carbohydrates like vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Most fitness experts recommend eating multiple small meals rather than three larger ones. This keeps the metabolism working constantly and is less likely to result in fat or overweight.

Tip #9: Water, Water and More Water

Drink lots and lots of water. Water keeps your muscles hydrated which makes them work more efficiently and helps them recover more rapidly. It’s important to know that soft drinks, tea and coffee generally dehydrate the body so don’t assume they are helping your muscles. They’re not.

Superlative fitness requires self-discipline and long term dedication to your goal. Anyone who is going to make this kind of serious commitment naturally wants to reach their goal as quickly as possible and to do this we must be efficient. Following these rules will speed you to your ideal body as quickly as possible.

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sources: http://www.lifehack.org

Beautify the City

A group of students finish a mural on a supporting pillar of the Cikini railway overpass on Sunday. The project is part of the Jakarta 2012 Mural Festival, which is aimed at improving the city’s social environment.

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Aspirin may shield against skin cancer

People who took painkillers like Aspirin and ibuprofen long-term seem to have a lower risk for some forms of skin cancer, Danish researchers have found.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, were associated with a lower risk of developing some types of cancer in previous studies.

For a study published in Tuesday's issue of the journal Cancer, researchers from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark analyzed the medical and prescription records of people in northern Denmark from 1991 through 2009.

During that time, about 18,000 of the 200,000 participants had been diagnosed with of one of three types of skin cancer.

Those who filled at least two prescriptions for NSAIDs had a 15 per cent lower risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma and a 13 per cent lower risk of the rarer but more dangerous malignant melanoma, Sigrún Alba Jóhannesdóttir and her co-authors reported.

Skin cancer prevention strategy

In the study, researchers compared the painkiller records of patients diagnosed with cancer to cancer-free patients of the same age and gender.

"We hope that the potential cancer-protective effect of NSAIDs will inspire more research on skin cancer prevention," Jóhannesdóttir told reporters.

"Also, this potential cancer-protective effect should be taken into account when discussing benefits and harms of NSAID use."

Many of the prescriptions were for heart conditions or arthritis.

The higher the dose of NSAIDs and the longer someone was taking the medication, the greater the protection measured.

"Given the high skin cancer incidence and the widespread and frequent use of NSAIDs, a preventive effect of these agents may have important public health implications," the study's authors concluded.

There was no association between use of NSAIDs and risk of basal cell carcinoma, the most common and least aggressive form of skin cancer.

NSAIDs work by blocking certain enzymes involved in inflammation. High levels of these enzymes have been found in skin cancer

The researchers cautioned they didn’t know about participants’ other possible skin cancer risks, such as lifestyle factors and exposure to UV radiation. Only 60 per cent of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma cases were recorded in the Danish Cancer Registry.

The study also relied on dispensed prescriptions, which may not reflect actual drug use.

The Clinical Epidemiological Research Foundation funded the research.

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sources: http://www.cbc.ca