Advantages: refreshing, elegant
Disadvantages: none

...Twinning Earl grey tea. To me this is a summer tea an afternoon tea. At 4 o clock sitting in the garden, in the sun watching the butterflies amongst the flowers what better tea to sip than an elegant civilised tea. I have a packet of Twinninn’s Earl Grey on opening it I am met with the mild aroma fairly sweet a vaguely flowery citrus aroma. I boil the kettle and pour the water onto 1 teaspoon of tealeaves in the teapot. I leave it to brew for a 3 or 4 minutes, not long I do not like strong tea just long enough for the flavour to be released. The tealeaves get a little stuck in the spout, as they are larger leaves than everyday tea. I pour it into my mug (Ok I know it should be into a delicate porcelain or bone china cup). The aroma released by the hot water is wonderful. The colour a pale gold. I do not add milk it would spoil... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting easy to read novel
Disadvantages: None

...The author, Roma Tearne, was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Britain when ten years old. Before becoming a writer she trained as a painter and her work has been widely exhibited. Bone China is her second book and is a very enjoyable and moving story, following four generations of the de Silva family, from the 1930's onwards. The de Silva's are a Tamil family living in Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it was. Grace is the family matriarch to a somewhat dysfunctional family and is the link that bonds all the characters of the book. Grace was born into a rich land owning family but she marries Aloysius for love and watches with great dignity as, over the years, he drinks and gambles away her family's fortune. Always trying to maintain the traditions and customs of her time, in a country every increasingly torn apart by political and civil... Read review

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Advantages: An insight into a totally different culture and way of life.
Disadvantages: Language barriers, Staring, Queuing, Cold.

...As part of a trip of a lifetime during Feb-March 2002, my partner and I spend a month in China. We travelled overland from the South and the borders of Vietnam all the way to Beijing, a journey of around 1,500 miles. I have wanted to share this experience with you all for a long time, but I have had a nightmare of a time getting Ciao to add the category. But finally, here it is and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did..... Please be warned in advance: this is a long review. There is so much to say as China is so fascinating, diverse and of course, huge! ********************************************************************* About China. ********************************************************************* China is the third largest country in the World, beaten only by the USA and Russia. Its capital is Beijing and it borders... Read review

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Advantages: great suff
Disadvantages: time is less and writing space is less

...Olympics and Politics are inseparable. During the cold war era, US and Soviet camps used Olympics as a weapon. This year's Olympic was awarded to China with a political motive alone. China has emerged as a major World power in almost every fields and no country is able to counter weigh this. On top of this, China is not a Democratic nation and a communist nation. Olympics will help China come out into the open and be a part of the open world. This has far reaching economic, social, military, political effects. Issues like Tibet will be handled more humanly. The world will feel not threatened by rising China and diffuse tensions. It will help the world understand China better and accept the fact that China is a world power rather than swallow with pain! Boycotting the Olympics wil have no effect on China. Today the world needs China... Read review

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Advantages: Very useful luxury item in the kitchen.
Disadvantages: Limited benefit for small families.

...We invested in the Indesit dishwasher some 4 years ago. It is used mainly at weekends, or when we have visitors, when the dishwasher can be filled with crocks, and left to do its job whilst we all relax with a coffee and brandy after lunch. It is a fairly basic machine with limited wash programmes; but, DO NOT BE PERSUADED BY AN ENTHUSIASTIC SALESMAN that a machine with 20 programmes at a 50% higher price is worth the extra!! Two or three basic programmes are adequate for all needs! The machine is quiet in use, and as it starts with cold water fill, does not cause debris to cake on the dishes before it can be washed off, as can occur with hot water fill machines. The results are sparkling, even with cheap brands of detergent. Expensive glassware and best bone china should not really be put into this or any other dishwasher... Read review

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Advantages: Chinese New Year decoration.
Disadvantages: Not very special

...There is actually nothing very special about the China Town in Singapore. The main reason is that Singpore itself is dominated by Chinese, so, virtually most of the places in Singapore can be considered as China Town. Perhaps the only thing that is special about this China Town is during the Chinese New Year. During this festival, the buildings and the road will be dressed with colourful bulds featuring figure that is related to Chinese New Year, for example, the dragon and so on. Other than that, I don't find anything very special here.... Read review

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Advantages: Specialised. Great for history, Fine Porcelain collection
Disadvantages: Not so interesting for those who dont like tea or coffee

...- it is part of British culture.The story of tea-originally from China and later transplanted by the British to India,Sri Lanka and East Africa- is a fascinating one and the Bramah gives you a wonderful insight into that intriguing history,which has been so important for Britain. Strongly associated with tea are elegant,fragile,decorative, dainty,porecelain and bone china tea cups- the sort that you will see elderly ladies sipping Darjeeling tea from in up-market tea rooms and hotels such as the Ritz,Browns and Claridges.Well the Bramah has a marvellous collection of porcelain-so you do not have to go to the Ritz to see such wonderful products of the British Pottery industry.There are all sorts of interesting exhibits related to tea for you to enjoy browsing at. They also cover coffee as well as tea but to me it is the former that somehow... Read review

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Advantages: ...
Disadvantages: ...

...Have a trip in the Oval Office... Listen to this dialogue between George W Bush an one of his assistants... It's amazing ! Condi : Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China. George : Great. Lay it on me. Condi : Hu is the new leader of China. George : That's what I want to know. Condi : That's what I'm telling you. George : That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China ? Condi : Yes. George : I mean the fellow's name. Condi : Hu. George : The guy in China. Condi : Hu. George : The new leader of China. Condi : Hu. George : The Chinaman ! Condi : Hu is leading China. George : Now whaddya asking me for ? Condi : I'm telling you Hu is leading China. George : Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China ? Condi : That's the man's name. George : That's who's name ? Condi : Yes. George... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of attractions; Spectacular views
Disadvantages: Not geared towards older teenagers; Can be long queues for some rides

...bought the whale, sold the blubber at auction and then displayed the whale bones and skeleton at Blackgang. The whale skeleton has been preserved and it is still exhibited at the park and you can actually walk underneath it!! In 1933, the hall of funny mirrors was opened, which then led to the gradual development of other attractions, many of which were opened in the 1970's. The park continues to have new attractions, the latest being a rollercoaster, water chute ride and a new adventure playground, whilst some attractions have been relocated due to cliff erosion. The website (www.blackgangchine.com) gives a more thorough account of the history of Blackgang Chine for anyone interested in learning more. ***** Attractions ***** Blackgang Chine is absoloutely full of different attractions, new and old. What I particular like is the fact... Read review

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Advantages: Great history and insight into China and Sino-American relations
Disadvantages: A bit dated now, but historically useful

...of importance, 'The United States and China', by John King Fairbank. When I first studied political science as an undergraduate, I had completed the requirements for my primary major without having once heard a lecture or participated in a discussion of any substance on the topic of China. Perhaps this is because the prominence of the Soviet Union in the superpower relations, and most political scientists when discussing international relations preferred to focus on economic powers (Japan, Western Europe, emerging markets and resource-rich areas), or on comparative democracies, both of which do not include China. China has been, and continues to be, a mystery in most Western eyes, including those of scholars and political strategists. It has only been with the breakup of the Soviet Union that the prominence of China has been increased. No longer... Read review

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