The Frankston Undercover Market

The Frankston Undercover Market is on Saturday 11th December 2010 at the Heart Arcade, 16-20 Wells Street Frankston. The market will feature Arts, Crafts, Food, Gifts, Jewellery and new & second hand goods. The Frankston Undercover Market is open from 10am to 2pm and will be held once a month on the second Saturday of the month from October to March. If you are interested in having a stall, please call 8707 0768.

How to Sell Handcrafts at Local Markets for Fun and Profit

Frankston Waterfront Sand Sculpting Exhibition

Sand artists from all around the world have returned to the Frankston foreshore for the annual Frankston Waterfront Sand Sculpting Exhibition. This year`s theme is Creepy Crawlies. A spectacular exhibition of sand sculpting featuring giant creepy crawlies such as beetles, bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds, spiders, slugs, scorpions and many others. There will also be activities to keep the family entertained. The event opens on 26 Dec 2010 and runs until 26 April 2011.

January – December open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm
February – April open Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Friday to Sunday and public holidays 10:00am to 6:00pm

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for concession, $7 for children (4-12) with children under 4 free.

Located at the Frankston Waterfront (Melway Ref: 100A A8). Tickets available at the gate (cash only) or prepay with card at the Frankston Visitor Information Center, Pier Promenade.

The Frankston Undercover Market

Picture of the Week Cherry Blossoms in Japan

The cherry blossom or sakura is the unofficial national flower of Japan. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan with most blooming for just a few days in Spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April.

This picture is of a tree in Kagamigahara Shiminkoen in Gifu, Japan.

Step-By-Step Guide to Identifying, Finding, Cultivating, Protecting & Maintaining Beautiful Bonsai Trees!

Pocky

Pocky is a Japanese biscuit stick usually coated in chocolate. There are many different flavours of Pocky in Japan including almond, strawberry, milk, chocolate mousse, green tea, honey and banana. Pocky is extremely popular in Japan especially among teenagers. It has also spread to other East Asian nations and has a significant presence in both South Korea and China. It has just started becoming popular in Western countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States. In these countries it can be found in Asian supermarkets or grocery stores. My local supermarket has also started stocking it in the Asian food section. In the US it can be found at most large supermarkets such as World Market, Wegmans and Wal-Mart in either the international section or Asian food aisle.

Pocky can be found in dozens of varieties as mentioned above. Some of the more unusual flavours include kiwifruit mango, grape, melon, tangerine, Kobe wine, sweet potato, pumpkin, and soy bean.

Special variations of Pocky also sometimes appear and these include Decorer Pocky (features extra decorative icing) and Dessert Pocky (features sticks covered in cream)

There is also another types of chocolate biscuit stick similar to Pocky called Fran. This is a different brand, but is also delicious and the stick is thicker than Pocky.

How to Learn Japanese

Japanese is not too difficult to learn but It does take a lot of motivation and practice to successfully learn the language. The best way to learn Japanese is by taking a class, enrolling in a course or investing in a good textbook. If you can't take classes then the self-study method with the correct resources is a good way.

The best way to learn Japanese is through a variety of methods. You need to work on your grammar, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Its best to think of these as separate categories and focus on each specific category as these require different methods and techniques.

Start by learning the basics through grammar. These books really helped me:

• Shin Nihongo no Kiso I & II

• An Introduction to Modern Japanese by Osamu Mizutani & Nobuko Mizutani

• Japanese Demystified by Eriko Sato a self-teaching guide

These books cover both polite Japanese, which is extremely important to learn in order to speak Japanese effectively and causal Japanese, which is great for everyday conversations.

I also recommend trying to learn a certain amount of vocab or kanji each day as this helps you build up your vocab and kanji ability. I tried to learn 5 kanji per day or about 20 a week and did the same with vocab. 

Watching Japanese anime or any Japanese TV program is a good idea for improving your listening skills and also your vocabulary. Keep a notebook and jot down any new words you hear. Then look them up and find out the meaning.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

How to Speak Japanese Fluently

Japan`s Traditional Kimono Now An Endangered Species

The traditional Japanese art of Kimono making is now in trouble of becoming an endangered species. Most craftsmen are over 80 years old with few of the younger generation interested in the art, it is likely their skills will die with them. A few hundred years ago, thousands of craftsmen were making kimono, but today only three families in Japan are left carrying out this traditional work. Leading figures are warning that within a decade the art could die out. The industry is struggling to find ways of passing on its craftsmanship to a new generation. The art involves more than 1000 different processes for each kimono and can take 40 years to master a single technique.

Nattokinase

Japan has a new super food called nattokinase. Japan has long been known for its healthy and nutritinous diet. Recently, American researchers have discovered the benefits of a 1,000 year old Japanese remedy for dissolving harmful blood clots. This all natural clot buster is called nattokinase and it`s a remarkable enzyme commonly used in Japanese cooking. The main component of this enzyme is natto which is a popular food in Japan. Natto is a fermented soybean made from boiled soybeans and active bacteria. The natural nattokinase enzyme softens and dissolves blood clots so they can be flushed out of your body before they can harm you. Nattokinase also pumps up the production of your body`s own clot-dissolving enzymes.