Living
May 23 - 29, 2005
· The Epoch Times·
B5
Hong Kong Revives Banned Bun-Snatching Ritual Fresh
and
Lively
Cuisine
HONG KONG (Reuters)—A dozen
people in Hong Kong scrambled up a
steel tower covered in buns last Monday, reviving a religious ritual banned
26 years ago when the former British
colonial government declared it too
dangerous.
A similar tower constructed out of
bamboo collapsed in 1978, injuring
over 100 climbers and onlookers, but
the government allowed the tradition
to be resurrected this year in a bid to
lure visitors to Hong Kong’s colorful
islands.
The event on Hong Kong’s fishing
island of Cheung Chau commemorates islanders who died in a bubonic
plague in the 19th century. The sweet
buns were supposed to cure all illnesses.
The 42-foot tower was covered
with more than 1,000 buns for Monday’s contest. The 12 climbers were
given three minutes to collect as many
as they could, with buns at the top
earning more points than those lower
down.
At the stroke of midnight, the 10
men and 2 women—most of them
rock climbing enthusiasts—clambered
up the tower, stuffing as many buns as
they could into their backpacks. It
was the first time women had been
allowed to take part in the tradition.
Unlike previous contests the climbers
were made to wear safety harnesses.
More than 20,000 people flocked
to the island during the day to catch
the action, even though the government had warned that the small seafront venue could accommodate only
1,000.
The majority ended up watching
the event on two giant screens in other
parts of Cheung Chau, but they didn’t
seem to mind.
“This was banned even before I
was born and I really want to see it,”
one schoolgirl told television reporters. The event was also shown live on
television.
Terry’s Spinach
and Goat Cheese
Bruschetta
The recipe makes: 10 pieces
Ted Aljibe /Getty Images
CLIMBERS RACE TO COLLECT BUNS ON BUN TOWER: During the “Cheung Chau” (bun scrambling) festival in Hong Kong, an estimated
15,000 people flocked to a tiny Hong Kong island on May 15 for the resumption of a two-centuries-old bun-scrambling festival banned 27 years ago.
1 cup spinach leaves, washed
1 tablespoon dried currants
1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
4 tablespoons goat cheese, about 2
ounces
12 slices good quality, crusty bread
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt to taste
Preheat the grill or broiler if you do
not plan to use a toaster. Then mix the
spinach, currants, pine nuts, shallots
and goat cheese together in a food
processor fitted with the blade attachment.
To make the bruschetta, toast the
bread slices on both sides on a hot
grill, in the broiler, or in a toaster.
Lightly rub one side of each piece
of toast with the garlic clove, drizzle
with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
Then top with a spoonful of the spinach mixture.
Serving Size: 1 slice of bruschetta
*Remember to use organic ingredients whenever possible for better
health and taste. Please share with us
your favorite healthy recipe. Write to:
www.theepochtimes.com Attn: Living
Page
Gardener’s Corner
Aspirin Can Help Pep Up Plants
By LISA SIM
Humans take aspirin for just about everything
from headaches and stiffness to fever and
colds. Now rumor has it that plants can benefit
from this cure-all pill as well. The ingredient,
salicylic acid, makes a great non-toxic immune
system booster for our green leafy friends.
The best way to administer aspirin to plants
is to spray it directly on the leaves. The average
dose to give is 1.5 (uncoated) aspirin to 2
gallons of water. Add in some mild soap, yucca
or aloe juice so the aspirin can adhere to the
leaves. Then spray your veggies every three
weeks.
After a few weeks you may notice a significant
change in your garden’s appearance. Reports
have shown that the plants are healthier, free
from pests, and disease infections are reversed.
Aspirins can also help during the germination
period. Spray a little on the seeds and you could
have over 90 percent germinate!
Scott Olson/Getty Images
CAN ASPIRIN PEP UP YOUR PLANTS’ HEALTH?
Salicylic acid, the ingredient in aspirin, could prove beneficial to your plants.
So How Does It Work?
Studies at the University of Arizona have
found that the salicylic acid makes plants
release their defenses toward fungi, bacteria,
and other harmful menaces. Salicylic acid
comes from the white willow tree. Studies are
now being conducted on pure willow extract to
compare with the effects of aspirin.
Making your cut flowers last a long time
may be as simple as adding an aspirin to the
water. This will send a message to the flower
to release its defense mechanisms, thereby
slowing down the aging and wilting process.
Many scientists laughed at the accusations
until they started their own experiments and
found profound results. Master gardener Martha
Owens conducted her own experiments and has
recommended aspirin to everyone she knows.
Now you know the aspirin secret and can share
with your friends. From outdoor plants to
indoor tropicals, aspirin is getting known for
not just curing human ailments but helping our
plants stay healthy and greener as well.
Resources: Avant Gardener, and master
gardener Martha Owens
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