During summertime, so it’s customary to daydream about amazing places to visit. Here’s a list of places you certainly won’t be vacationing at any time soon! Nevertheless, they hold interesting secrets and stories.

Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway

You never know when a nuclear apocalypse is just around the corner, but the global seed bank on the Arctic island chain of Svalbard might be part of preparations for such a scenario. The vault is 150 metres deep in the side of a sandstone mountain, and it’s created to store 4.5 million types of seeds, in extreme cold and low humidity. If the apocalypse comes, rebuilding can start from here, but until then, the vault is the most securely guarded seed bank of the world. Sadly, no trips are allowed for anyone except a handful of appointed researchers.

Area 51, Nevada, USA

There has been a lot of buzz around Area 51 lately, but it has been the focus of curious minds for long. Deep in the hot Nevada desert, Area 51, also known as Groom Lake, has been used for U.S. Air Force experiments, but its exact purposes are unknown. According to famous conspiracy theories, there could be crashed alien spaceships inside. A recent Facebook event has encouraged people to storm the place and find out – but given the government’s licence to use deadly force here, it might not be a fun trip.

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North Sentinel Island, India

They say we live in a global, interconnected world, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any spots “off the map”. North Sentinel Island is a small island in the Bay of Bengal whose residents are estimated to have inhabited it for 60,000 years. Untouched by modern technology, they violently oppose any contact with the outside world: when outsiders approach on boats, or even if helicopters fly by to help after a disaster, they shoot arrows and attack any visitor, whether researcher, tourist, or government official. Today, the Indian government bans anyone from entering the island.

Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican

The 85 kilometres of shelves deep inside Vatican headquarters hold truly ancient, unique, and significant items. The library guards personal documents of every pope from the 8th century onwards, as well as treasures like the papal bull excommunicating Martin Luther in 1521, letters from Michelangelo and Abraham Lincoln, or even a 12th-century bull initiating the Fourth Crusade. No-one but the very top ranks of the church can enter, but researchers can apply to view documents – and the only truly secret documents are those that are younger than 75 years old.

Royal Air Force Menwith Hill, England

If you felt like RAF Menwith Hill is a remnant of Cold War spy networks, you wouldn’t be too far from the truth. This top-secret military base in North Yorkshire, with its giant radar domes, is considered the largest surveillance station in the world. It was built in the 1950s to keep an eye (or ear) on the Soviet Union, but it is still in use today and said to help in the wars against terrorism and drug trades. Many also believe it has connections to ECHELON (or the Five Eyes), the international spy network of the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Heard Island, Australia

Australia is often considered a remote spot itself, but Australia’s most remote island, on the way to Antarctica, is truly hidden from the world. It takes seven days to reach Heard Island by boat from the Australian mainland, and its volcanic mountains (one affectionately called Big Ben) are covered in fog for about 360 days of the year. The island is home to some of its own animal species and unique glaciers, with astonishing scenery and wildlife. Given the required permit for any visitors and the 4000-kilometre boat journey, Heard Island remains a unique, untouched piece of nature even today.

Mezhgorye, Russia

During the Cold War, the small town of Mezhgorye was built as a home to nuclear missiles. Despite its size, however, it could hold big secrets. Today, Mezhgorye is a closed town, off-limits for the public. No-one knows for certain what the town or its surroundings hold, but being in the Ural Mountains, there could be bunkers in the sides of nearby Mount Yamantau, as well as a possible military base or automatic missiles with remote control. In any case, Russia claims the place is used as a mine, a treasure vault, and an emergency bunker for the country’s most important officials.

Ni’ihau, Hawaii, USA

Why is there a place called “The Forbidden Island” among the friendly islands of Hawaii? Unfortunately, you can’t find out yourself. Ni’ihau is the smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands and could serve as a tourist paradise, but visitors have been illegal since 1915. The only residents are about 130 natives who pay no rent, use no telephones, have no running water, and have no shops on the island. Children take canoes to a nearby island to go to school, power is from solar energy, and groceries are transported from one island over. The Coast Guard ensures no-one arrives without an invitation.

Moscow’s Metro-2, Russia

Russia’s capital city has had a wide network of underground tunnels for centuries – today, it is said there might be as many as 15 levels under a downtown street. To prepare for a possible Cold War catastrophe, the KGB allegedly built its own secret metro lines, connecting government buildings, the government airport, key strategic locations in the city, and even Stalin’s personal dacha. Rumours vary as to what happened to Metro-2 after Stalin’s death, but there is significant interest and mystery even today, and adventurous exploration attempts every now and then.

Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA

3200 cubic metres of concrete, 450 cubic metres of granite, 750 tons of reinforced steel, and who knows how much gold and precious metals – the US Army post in Fort Knox is one of the most significant and most secure vaults in the world. The Fort is known to hold a big part of the country’s gold reserves, worth around $175 billion in total. However, there are rumours that besides (or instead of) the gold, there could be military secrets and other treasures hidden inside. We do know it held the Holy Crown of Hungary after WWII! But we probably won’t find out what’s in there today.

Elephants in India are sporting colourful woollen jumpers after villagers knitted the super-size garments to protect the animals from near-freezing temperatures.

Women in a village near the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in the northern city of Mathura in India reportedly began producing the colourful, pyjama-like garments after staff at the centre warned temperatures were approaching sub-zero at night.

The conservation centre takes in rescued elephants who have previously suffered chronic neglect and beatings from cruel handlers.

Photographs show female elephants wearing the carefully crocheted  outfits, which cover their legs, back and neck, as centre staff and villagers stand among them.

Kartick Satyanarayan, founder of the centre, said it was important to protect the formerly abused elephants from the cold.

“It is important to keep our elephants protected from the bitter cold during this extreme winter, as they are weak and vulnerable having suffered so much abuse making them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia,” she told the Times of India.

“The cold also aggravates their arthritis which is a common issue that our rescued elephants have to deal with.”

The centre currently houses 20 elephants that have been rescued from illegal captivity, trafficking mafia, exploited for street begging and circuses where they were abused and subjected to extreme cruelty.

source: The Independent

Can you find the word in the text on the basis of its definition?

1. an illness, typically a minor or chronic one

2. to ask for something as charity

3. an inflammation of the lungs

4. any animal of which the female feeds her young on milk from her own body

5. belonging or relating to women

Key

1. ailment

2. begging

3. pneumonia

4. mammal

Number 5. Head bobbing. Neither a definitive nod nor a shake, the somewhat bouncy movement is, to many, confounding. You are not going to find a consensus on the exact reasons for the head bobbing. There are multiple theories with some connection perhaps to the hierarchical nature of the society. It is also a way of acknowledging that one is listening to the speaker without necessarily agreeing or disagreeing.

Number 4. Wearing a dot. Called a bindi, the circle is placed on the forehead and between the eyes for a number of reasons. Among them is to declare one’s connection to the Hindu religion. For many Indian women these days, bindi is more of a fashion statement and is worn on weddings and other formal occasions.

Number 3. Being late to social engagements. People have attributed the habitual tardiness to historic events, time zone issues, and even poor infrastructure. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that showing up afterthe established hour is perfectly acceptable.

Number 2. Using hands to eat seemingly inconvenient items. Sure, a chicken wing seems like a perfectly reasonable item to grab onto, but rice? Many say the means heightens the food consumption experience, be it for spiritual elevation, health reasons, or strictly gastronomic pleasures. Ultimately, nobody really seems to know why the practice has endured.

Number 1. Not using the word “thank you” for family and friends. In short, being there for the loved ones when needed is just what a person is expected to do. Therefore, no special kudos are necessary.

Which often poorly understood habit do you find most fascinating?

Can you fill in the gaps in the sentences?

1. Head …… is a way of acknowledging that one is listening to the speaker in India.

2. A bindi is a …… on the forehead of Indian women.

3. …… or being late is perfectly acceptable in India.

4. Indians eat rice using their ……  only.

5. …… is a word not used for family and friends in India.

Key

1. bobbing

2. dot

3. Tardiness

4. hands

5. Thank you

Portugal

Do: – leave a tip. Around 10 per cent of the bill is common.

Don’t: – ask for salt and pepper if they are not provided on the table. It is considered to be an offense to the chef’s seasoning skills.

France

Do: – keep your hands above the table. Rest your wrists on the table and not on your lap.

– use bread to mop up bits of sauce or food on the plate. Always tear a piece of bread off instead of   biting directly into it. When not in use bread belongs on the table not on the plate.

Don’t: – split the bill. It is considered to be the height of unsophistication. Offer to pay the bill in its entirety or someone else will.

Japan

Do: – drink directly from the soup bowl as spoons are uncommon. Slurp your food especially noodles and soup. It shows your appreciation to the chef – the louder the better!

Don’t: – leave a tip. Tipping staff is very rare and can be seen as rude.

            – cross your chopsticks, lick them or stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, these     are all considered very rude

            – pass food using chopsticks either, a similar practice takes place at funerals.

Italy

Do: – avoid milk beverages after a meal as they can hinder digestion, go for an espresso instead

       – add 5-10 % tip for exceptional service. The rest of the service charge is usually included in the bill.

Don’t: – ask for parmesan cheese if it is not explicitly offered. It’s a huge faux pas to put extra cheese on top of your pizza, and worse still to add it to seafood.

India

Do: – wash your hands both before and after eating, pay close attention to the fingernails.

Don’t: – eat too quickly or too slowly, a medium pace is important.

            – eat with your left hand, it is considered unclean. Use the right hand instead, cutlery is rarely provided.

Thailand

Do: – expect all dishes at once rather than in set courses

      – be ready to share. Sharing food is very common and dishes will often be served to split amongst the table

Don’t: – eat from your fork, use it only to push food onto your spoon

            – take the last bite from the sharing bowl

China

Do: – belch! This is seen as a compliment to the chef for creating a satisfying meal.

       – arrive on time and dress out of respect for your fellow diners.

Don’t: – tip. Restaurants often have a no tipping policy.

                – finish all your food, leave a small amount of food on your plate to show your host gave you more than enough to eat

– dig through your food for anything in particular, it’s very rude.

Can you match the countries with what is acceptable to do in them?

Key:

1. d.

2. g.

3. a.

4. f.

5. b.

6. e.

7. c.

Can you do the same with the ’don’ts’ ?

Key:

1. f.

2. g.

3. b.

4. a.

5. e.

6. d.

7. c.

3 Healthy Eating Habits We Can Learn From Asian Countries

Here are three eating habits from Asia that might be beneficial to adopt.

In Asian countries like Japan, less than 5 percent of adults are obese; yet in the U.S., a whopping third are obese. While many reasons may influence these statistics, here are three eating habits from across the globe that might be beneficial to adopt, according to Shape.com:

Number 3 — Japan gets big points for presentation. Nutritious and vibrantly coloured food such as fish and vegetables are arranged specifically to be visually stimulating to the appetite. The meal becomes elevated to a culinary experience. Since portions are on the smaller side, there’s no temptation to overeat.

Number 2 — China shows slow and steady wins the race. Using chopsticks slows down eating so that the body has a chance to recognize when it’s getting full and people generally eat much less. A recent study showed that people who gulped down their food quickly had much higher chances of being obese or having heart disease.

Number 1 — India’s stylish flavour profiles include lots of spice. A wide variety of herbs and spices are used to enhance the flavour and colour food as well as promote health. For example, turmeric and ginger can lower cholesterol while garlic and onion can lower heart disease.

source: Geobeats

beneficial – jótékony hatású
whopping – óriási
nutritious – tápláló
to be elevated – felemelni
culinary experience – kulináris élmény
on the smaller side – kisebbfajta
to overeat – túl sokat enni
Slow and steady wins the race. – Lassan, de biztosan. (közmondás)
chopsticks – evőpálcika
to gulp down – habzsolni
to enhance – fokozni
turmeric – kurkuma

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10 Unusual Food Etiquettes Around the World 

Food etiquette in the United States is often very different than in other parts of the world, confusing both travelers and locals alike. Here are the top 10 dining customs Americans should be aware of when travelling abroad.

Number 10 — In France the bread basket is not a filling appetizer. Instead, enjoy the bread with your entrée, and remember it is common practice to rest the bread pieces on the table not on your plate.

Number 9 — Americans might think nothing of flipping over a whole fish to get every last morsel. In Southern China however, this is considered bad luck so either enjoy the top side only, or simply remove the bone to get to the bottom.

Number 8 — American waiters see a big tip as a source of pride on a job well done, but to the Japanese, it is insulting or demeaning. The price you paid for your meal includes service so sit back and enjoy!

Number 7 — Also while dining in Japan; do not leave your chopsticks standing upright in your rice bowl as this practice is associated with funerals. Use the chopstick rest if provided or place them together in front of you.

Number 6 — Indians prefer not to use their left hand to touch their food or even their plates as this hand is used for bathroom functions and considered unclean. Parts of the Middle East and Africa also observe this custom.

Number 5 — When in Chile, don’t use your hands! Even hamburgers and French fries are eaten with a knife and fork, to do otherwise is bad manners.

Number 4 — The habit of switching the fork to the right hand is quintessentially American, but in Europe is at best a curiosity, and at worse, bad table manners. Try using the fork in your left hand and knife in your right hand for the whole meal.

Number 3 — Americans have become accustomed to eating family style, with multiple dishes passed around and shared by diners. In Ethiopia however, they take it one step further, with everyone eating from a single large plate and without any utensils.

Number 2 — Most Americans aren’t up for a tot of neat vodka early in the morning, but if offered to you in Russia, it should be accepted. Doing otherwise is a sign of rudeness, akin to refusing to shake someone’s hand.

Number 1 — In Italy, cappuccinos are for breakfast, or at the most, before noon. While American’s think the traditional pick-me-up is wonderful after any meal, some Italians think it upsets the stomach that late.

source: Geobeats

dining customs – étkezési szokások
to be aware of – tudatában lenni valaminek
appetizer – étvágygerjesztő
entrée – előétel
morsel – morzsa, darabka
to be considered – valaminek tartják
insulting – sértő
demeaning – lenéző
to include service – tartalmazza a felszolgálási díjat
chopsticks – evőpálcika
funeral – temetés
unclean – tisztátlan
to observe – betartani (szokást)
bad manners – rossz modor, neveletlenség
quintessentially – jellemzően
at best – legjobb esetben
at worse – legrosszabb esetben
to become accustomed to – hozzászokni valamihez
utensils – evőeszközök
to be up for – kedve van valamihez
akin to – hasonló
pick-me-up – szíverősítő
to upset the stomach – elcsapja a hasat

Christmas in India

Fill in the gaps with the following words to read about Indian Christmas customs.

Compared to other 1 ………………… festivals, Christmas is quite a small festival in India, due to the number of people who are Christians (about 2.3%) 2 ………………… people who belong to other religions. Having said this, the population of India is over 1 Billion, so there are 3 ………………… 25 million Christians in India!

4 ………………… mass is a very important service for Christians in India, especially Catholics. The whole family will walk to the mass and this will be followed by a massive 5 ………………… of different delicacies, (mostly curries) and the giving and receiving of presents. 6 ………………… in India are decorated with Poinsettia flowers and candles for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass service.

In India, Father Christmas delivers presents to children from a horse and 7 …………………. Instead of having traditional Christmas trees, a 8 ………………… or mango tree is decorated (or whatever tree people can find to decorate). Sometimes people use mango leaves to decorate their homes. In Southern India, Christians often put small oil burning clay lamps on the 9 ………………… roofs of their homes to show their neighbours that Jesus is the light of the world.

Christians in Mumbai often display a manger 10 ………………… a front window and there’s great competition in making the nativity scene. Also families go to great lengths to hang giant paper lanterns, in the shape of stars, 11 ………………… the houses so that the stars float above you as you walk down the road. Every household also makes sure that they have a stock of 12 ………………… sweets ready for visitors.

source: www.whychristmas.com

answers: 1-g 2-j 3-c 4-f 5-a 6-l 7-k 8-b 9-e 10-d 11-h 12-i

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