Attitude affect Altitude

面對不幸的態度決定了你心情的高度；
做人的態度決定了你聲譽的高度；
處事的態度決定了你成就的高度；
對信仰的態度決定了你生命的高度。

-施以諾

我的小小田之『出芽了』

My First Photobook Finally Arrived!!

I'm so excited to receive my first self-created photobook "Faces of Iran" on the Christmas Day just before leaving home to Christmas Mass. Thanks, God! It is about my Iran Trip in Oct 2007. It takes me weeks to finish this book. Despite many negative comments given by other customers in Blurb's forum, the quality of the book turns out very good and it's out of my expectation.

Thank you, Blurb! Thank you, UPS! Life is really beautiful!

Vietnam Trip (1) - Mekong Delta

Vietnam's "rice basket" - The Mekong Delta

Merry Christmas

Taken at Equatorial Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

再上路

世事多變，原本一年一度的滑雪之旅，因多名板友未能請假告吹了，加上康先生來年有新任務，可能須長駐外地一年﹝我可有藉口歐遊了﹞，於是乘聖誕前到越南作幾天消遙遊，算是獎勵自己今年考試的努力，來年的事，來年再算吧！

活在當下嘛！

Exam Report

In comparative terms, the October diet delivered a stellar performance, reflected in apass rate of 61% (the highest since October 2000). In addition, 6 distinctions wereawarded by the Examination board representing some truly stunning responses to the examination paper. This is particularly pleasing given that this was the first examination set in accordance with the new manual.

This excellent set of results does however mask examples of severe underperformance across the candidate population where 'clear blue water' is evident between the strong performers and much weaker exam submissions. The Examination Board has deduced that there is simply no substitute for hard work, with the outstanding papers reflecting excellent examination technique and a truly rounded knowledge base.

For this diet in particular, there appeared to be a concerning trend where students wererelying on performing well on the 'numbers' questions without demonstrating the farwider requirements of the discipline. This is a high risk strategy, with the oddsstacked heavily against any candidate who believes that delivering the mathematicalelement will secure them a pass.

How do stunning responses look like? Hahaha!

我的小小田 ----- 再戰江湖

Dec 15, 2007 - 翻田
Dec 16, 2007 - 下種

How to Grow Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes is easy. It's one reason for their popularity in your home garden. Tomato plants are usually started indoors. Plant them in small containers eight to ten weeks before the last frost date for your area. Just prior to planting them in your garden, "harden them off" by bringing them outside during the daytime and for increasing hours, until you are leaving them out overnight. Use of a coldframe is recommended, but not a requirement. If frost is predicted, bring them indoors.

On planting day, pour liberal amounts of water with a soluble liquid fertilizer on them. Plant them in the garden carefully. To minimize transplant shock, avoid disturbing the roots. Normal spacing is 24 " apart, in rows 30" to 36" apart.

Fertilize on a regular basis. Early applications should be high in nitrogen. As blossoming occurs, switch to fertilizers which are higher in Phosphorus and Potassium. Too much Nitrogen fertilizer results in lots of lush green leaves, and little fruit. A fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes, will help to maximize your crop. Try Jobes Fertilizer spikes.

Keep your tomato plant well watered. Deep watering is preferable, over more frequent, light watering. You want moisture to go deep to all the roots of the plant. Water directly to the roots. Keep water off the leaves if at all possible. Tomatoes are susceptible to plant disease that grows in wet, humid conditions.

Tip:

Even if you have a garden out back, we recommend finding a place along the back of the house for just one tomato plant. This one plant will be the last to succumb to frost in the fall. The warmth of the house, and a light plastic sheet or cloth tossed over it at night, will allow you to harvest fresh tomatoes after the first frost, right when prices are rising in the grocery store.

To maximize your crop, and minimize disease and insect damage, stake or cage tomatoes. They will reward you with more tomatoes. And, they will be cleaner, as they will not be sitting on the soil.

Days to Maturity:
Varying types require from 55 days to 85 days (Beefsteaks). The race is always on in my neighborhood to get the first ripe tomato of the season. Most of us also grow and await the beefsteaks. One slice from these delicious beauties more than fills a sandwich.

Cold and hot spells will affect fruit development and growth. Fruit set will not occur below 55 degrees or above 90 degrees Farenheit.

Insects and Pests:
Tomatoes can experience insect problems with cutworms and a few other garden pests. Also, if not staked or caged, snails and slugs will munch on the ripening fruit.

Disease:
A number of plant problems can arise, usually in mid summer heat and humidity. Blights and fungus infections can occur in the high humidity. Early treatment with fungicides is effective. Spacing plants too close cuts down air circulation and promotes disease.

Blossom end rot can also affect the fruit. This is a round, brown, indented spot on the bottom of the tomato. It is caused by either uneven watering or a lack of calcium in the soil. More on Blossom End Rot.

Tip: Do not water at night if possible in hot and humid weather if possible. Moisture and humidity combined with high temperatures promotes plant diseases. If possible, water at the roots.

Hardiness:

Tomatoes like it hot! They will die if exposed to frost. Make sure to plant them after the last frost.

Tip#1: Cover your young seedling if frost is predicted. A simple and easy cover for small seedlings is to buy large or extra large plastic disposable cups. Place them over the seedling at dusk, and remove them in the morning. There is usually little or no wind on nights with frost, so they are not easily tipped over.

Tip#2: If you get a light frost overnight and you did not cover up your plants. Go out early before the sun rises, and spray your plants with the garden hose. This melts the ice off the plants and may save them.

Harvesting and Storing Tomatoes:

Tomatoes store well in a cool, dry location. Do not put them in the refrigerator. While they last longer in the refrigerator, they will lose their flavor and texture. Keep them out of direct sunlight.

Just before frost, pick tomatoes while the are still green or orange. Wash them thoroughly. Rinse in a light solution of 1 gallon of water and a tablespoon of bleach. This kills off bacteria that rots the fruit. Allow them to dry, then put them in a cool, dry, dark place.

How to Grow Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce is one of the most popular of lettuces in both the garden, and the kitchen. Gardeners love it because it is fast growing, and forms a loose head, that is easy to harvest. It takes up little space in the garden, too. Sweet and delicious, Romaine lettuce is the basics for Caesar salad.

Days to Maturity:

Romaine lettuce is ready to harvest in 65-70 days.

Sowing:

Seeds are very fine. Plant in rows, spreading the seeds as thinly as possible. No matter how hard you try, they are so difficult to disperse. Thinning seedlings is must. Cover the seeds with a very fine layer of loose soil or starting mixture.

Romaine is a good candidate for an indoor start. They transplant easily. You can also plant indoors in pots, or in container gardens on the deck. When transplanting in the garden, you can give them the proper spacing.

How to Grow:

Final spacing of the plants should be 12" apart, in rows 18" apart. For maximum growth, avoid overcrowding. Whether starting indoors or out, you will likely want to transplant your seedlings with the proper spacing for fast, full development.

Romaine likes cool weather and lots of moisture in rich, well drained soil. Transplanting should only be done in cool, preferably cloudy weather. If the weather is hot and sunny, we recommend putting off transplanting if possible. If this is not possible, then transplant in the early evening hours. Water thoroughly and every day after, unless it rains, for about a week.

The key to growing crisp, sweet Romaine lettuce, is to get it growing at a fast pace. That means plenty of water, and a healthy dose of fertilizer.

Tip:

When transplanting lettuce in hot weather, place some form of sun shade over the plant for a couple of days. Any makeshift shade will do.

Succession planting is a common and useful practice. Plant successive crops for a constant supply of Romaine all season long. Plant small rows or sections of your garden with Romaine every two weeks.

Harvesting:

You can pick Romaine as soon as it is big enough to use. The outer leaves can be picked and the inner leaves allowed to grow. Or, use the plants pulled while thinning. After cutting, Romaine will regrow, but will not be one nice, neat head. It's better to start a new plant.

Insects and Pests:

A variety of insects can pose a real problem. Lettuce is delicate and can absorb many insecticides. If you want or need to use insecticides, look for brands that are less harmful to you and the environment. We like to avoid insecticides on leafy vegetables wherever possible. we suggest organic sprays, and a willingness to give up some of the harvest to insects, versus using pesticides. After all, one of the reasons most of us have gardens is to avoid the pesticides.

Slugs are a real problem for all types of lettuces. There are a variety of control methods.

Disease:

Romaine lettuce will wilt and rot in hot, humid weather. The plant will also bolt or go to seed stage in higher heat. Heading or bunching types are more susceptible to rotting and bolting. Leaf types grow and mature quickly, and have fewer disease problems.

Hardiness:

Romaine lettuce thrives in cooler weather, with moderate moisture. It is not fond of mid-summer heat, or dry conditions. Many gardeners will plant a crop for spring and early summer harvest, leaving the mid summer months to the tomatoes and the corn. Then, as the late summer heat begins to wane, they plant a new lettuce crop for a fall harvest.

Source: http://www.gardenersnet.com/

翠玉瓜栽培

栽 培 環 境 ：

由 九 月 中 旬 至 翌 年 三 月 均 可 種 植 （ 最 適 宜 是 十 月 至 二 月 ） 。 生 長 適 溫 為 18 - 25°C ； 發 芽 適 溫 為 25 - 30°C 。 喜 微 酸 性 土 壤 ， 最 適 宜 的 pH 值 為 5.5 - 7.0 ； 喜 歡 土 壤 濕 潤 而 空 氣 乾 燥 的 環 境 。 翠 玉 瓜 栽 培 ， 以 通 透 性 好 ， 保 水 力 強 的 壤 土 ， 容 易 獲 得 高 產 。 日 照 不 足 或 土 壤 水 分 過 多 或 排 水 不 良 時 ， 易 引 起 徒 長 和 落 果 。
注 意 事 項 ： 翠 玉 瓜 對 霜 凍 頗 為 敏 感 。

種 植 及 株 行 距 ：

種 子 發 芽 約 需 5 天 ； 幼 苗 長 到 3 - 4 片 真 葉 時 （ 20 - 25 天 ） 便 可 移 植 到 田 間 ； 或 每 穴 直 播 2 - 3 粒 種 子 。
種 植 株 距 約 3 呎 ， 行 距 4 呎 。

施 肥 及 管 理 ：

定 植 前 要 落 基 肥 （ 每 斗 地 約 用 花 生 麩 120 斤 及 骨 粉 60 斤 ／ 斗 種 ） 。 移 植 後 一 星 期 每 株 施 用 藍 丸 120 克 ， 十 日 後 再 用 相 同 數 量 的 藍 丸 作 追 肥 之 用 。 在 生 長 過 程 中 可 加 入 適 量 的 葉 面 肥 ， 有 助 植 株 及 果 實 的 生 長 。 再 輔 以 中 耕 除 草 及 摘 除 病 葉 及 弱 果。

採 收 ：

當 果 實 生 長 到 6 - 8 吋 長 度 時 ， 便 可 採 收 。 採 收 期 約 三 星 期 。 由 播 種 至 第 一 次 採 收 為 35 - 47 日 （ 開 花 後 11 天 為 適 收 ） 。 採 收 後 可 貯 存 一 星 期 （ 不 能 低 於 10°C ） 。

Source: 漁 農 自 然 護 理 署 園 藝 組

伊朗行《17》--- Tehran

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran.

It is the hub of the country's communication and transport network. The city has numerous large museums, art centers, palace complexes and cultural centers and host 45% of Iran's industries.

Left: Golestan Palace Right: Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini

伊朗行《16》--- Kashan

Kashan is a desert oasis situated in an historic region that dates back to pre-historic times. There are hundreds of once-grand traditional houses. in Kashan. Most have long since been carved up or are literally turning to dust, but recently a few have been restored and many others are being slowly and meticulously revived.

Originally built as a private residence in the early 19th century, the Khan-e Borujerdi has a lovely courtyard flanked by summer and winter houses.

At the southern end of the courtyard, the splendid motifs above the arched entrance to the summer house indicate this was the home of a rich merchant of handicrafts.

As you wander around the narrow streets of Kashan, look carefully at the doors.

Most have two knockers, one round and fat, the other long and thin.

These were designed to give off different sounds so that whoever was in the house would be able to tell whether a man or woman was knocking and so decide who should open the door to them; vital in a society where women lived in purdah (in seclusion or behind a veil).

Designed for Shah Abbas I, Bagh-e Tarikhi-ye Fin is a classical Persian vision of paradise. It has always been prized for its natural springs and still contains the remains of the Shah's two-storey palace.

Bagh-e Tarikhi-ye Fin is also infamous for being the site of the murder in 1851 of the revered Mirza Taghi Khan, commonly known as Amir Kabir.

Source: Lonely Planet

伊朗行《15》--- Isfahan

Isfahan, located about 340 km south of Tehran, is the capital of Isfahan Province and Iran's third largest city.

The Imam (Naghsh-e Jahan) Square in Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the eleventh to the nineteenth century. Its stunning architecture, tree-lined boulevards with relaxed, tree-shaded sidewalks and its architectural variety make it the undisputed highlight of Iran's cities.

Vank Cathedral is the historic focal point of the Armenian Church in Iran.

伊朗行《14》--- Naqsh-e Rustam

Naqsh-e Rustam is an archaeological site located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis, in Fars province, Iran. It lies a few hundred meters from Naqsh-e Rajab.

Four tombs belonging to Achaemenid kings are carved out of the rock face. They are all at a considerable height above the ground.

One of the tombs is explicitly identified by an accompanying inscription to be the tomb of Darius I. The other three tombs are believed to be those of Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II respectively.

Tomb of Darius the Great, Naqsh-e Rostam

伊朗行《13》--- Shiraz

Shiraz is the capital of Fārs Province and is located in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. It is known as the city of poetry, wine and carpet production and flowers (such as roses). It is also famous for its importance in the history of Iran. It has a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for more than a thousand years.

Left: Arg of Karim Khan
Top Right: Bagh-e Eram
Middle & Bottom Right: Qor'an Gate

伊朗行《12》--- Persepolis

Persepolis is a historical site near Shiraz, in Fars Province.

It is an ancient capital city of the Persian Empire and one of the greatest cities in the Middle East at the height of the empire. It was sacked by Alexander The Great.

Xerxes' Gateway

Persepolis which originally covered more than 125,000 square metres, was built over a 150 year period commencing about 512 BC during the reigns of the Achaemenian dynasty kings Darius I (Darius the Great), Xerxes I and II, and Artaxerxes I, II, and III.

The name "Persepolis" is that given to the city by Alexander, who sacked the city and burned it to the ground in 331 BC. Understandably, you'll rarely hear Alexander deemed "the Great" in these parts.

The original name in Achaemenian times was "Parsa". Today, most Iranians refer to the site as Takht-é Jamshid, or "Throne of Jamshid", a mythical king of ancient Persia.

Above is a birdeye view of the central part of Persepolis, taken from the tomb of Artaxerxes II (404 - 358 BC), carved into a mountainside above the city. Xerxes' gateway is at the very right of the image.

At the front are stables and encampments for troops, behind which lie the ruins of the Palace of 100 Columns (only the bases of which remain). The columns of the Central Hall of Apadana Palace, to the left of which lie Darius' Palace, with Artaxerxes' palace at the very left of the frame. Little remains of Xerxes' Palace, which lies in front of Artaxerxes' from this vantage point. The tree-shaded area to the left is the Persepolis Museum in front of which is what's left (nothing) of Darius' large treasury. The original city extends well to either side of this view.

Persepolis

Can't wait to watch this move ..

Persepolis Official Website



Marjane Satrapi: "Persepolis" a pro-Iranian humanist tale