How many Countries Include in Live Longer Zones?

Expo park, Okinawa, Japan

First, you might know the term of “blue zone.” Yes, it is referring to areas where people live longer than other places in the world.

People may reach 100 years old or more in those areas due to two main factors:

- life style contributes to 70% of live longer

- genetic contributes to 30% only.

Initially, Dan Buettner suggested 5 places as “Blue Zones.” They are:

- Okinawa, Japan

- Sardinia, Italy

- Nicoya, Costa Rica

- Ikaria, Greece

- Loma Linda, California, USA

Beautiful view of Sardinia, Italy

Of lifestyle, some traits that make people live longer are:

- physical activities

- diet

- spiritual

- family and social networks 

One of street in Nicoya, Costa Rica

Blue zone population have regular physical activities to keep their weight. Please don’t think that they are doing exercises like what we do.

Several physical activities and calories burning are:

- mowing lawn, burning 400 calories

- laying tile, 240 calories

- spreading dirt, 270 calories

- shovel snow, 580 calories

- roofing, 340 calories

- rake leaves, 380 calories 

Ikaria island, Greece

You might guess the diet of blue zones population. Yes, they are consuming less:

- meat

- dairy products

- sugary foods

- alcohol

- smoking

Almost 95% of their consumption are:

- vegetables

- fruit

- grains

- legumes

Loma Linda, California, USA

Blue zone community is more religious compared to other areas. It is proved that people “pay attention to spiritual” activities less of:

- heart diseases

- depression

- stress

The important trait that make blue zone people live longer is “family and social networks.” Family and friends encourage each other to live well until old age.

Is your country include in “blue zone?” or have you visited one of “blue zone” countries? 

Why Walking Regularly Make You Live Longer?

Walking, just for illustration

We all understand that any movement of our body may benefit to our health. Many people choose walking as a form of exercise due to:

- easy

- gentle

- low impact

- free, just require a pair of shoes

- perfect for all ages: senior, young adult and teenagers

The question then Is it true that Walking Regularly Make You Live Longer? Why?

The answer is “yes” that walking regularly make our live longer. It is because walking let’s say 30 minutes per-day will improve our heart health. 

Walking on lake side

Heart diseases is “leading cause of death” in the world and USA. Disease caused 15.2 million death in the world and 735,000 in the USA per year.

Walking with speed of 2 mile per hour (mph) may reduce the cardiovascular risk, thus reduce risk of death. 

Illustration for walking (credit to Google)

Cardiac risk factors will be improved by walking. The risk factors include:

- Cholesterol

- blood pressure

- diabetes

- obesity

- mental stress

Moreover, walking has a lot of other health benefits, some are:

- improve nervous system

- decrease hostility

- boosting moods

- reduce belly fat

- improve digestive system

- boost immunity

- sleep better

By the way, do you walk regularly? If so, how often: per day or per week?

What Food Should We Try While in Japan? - part 1

Kare raisu

When I was in Japan, some friends of mine suggested me to taste a sushi and sashimi. I like sushi, but not sashimi.

If we are “googling,” there are many suggestions about food we should try when visiting Japan: 50 foods, 42 foods, 30 foods, 28 foods, 20 foods and 15 foods.

Of these, some examples are:

- Kare raisu

- Shabu shabu

- Ramen

- Onigiri

- Katsudon

- Udon

- Yakisoba

- Okonomiyaki

- Yakitori

- Tempura

Kare raisu is a curry rice, one of popular dishes. I love to eat with chicken. Japanese also called it as a “chicken curry rice.”

Onigiri and tamagoyaki

I have 6 favorite of Japanese foods:

- Kare raisu

- Onigiri

- Shabu shabu

- Udon

- Yakisoba

- Okonomiyaki

Onigiri is a rice in form of cylindrical or triangular. The ingredient fish (a small pieces of pickled fish). Then, wrapped with sea weed.

I guessed the taste is different to sushi in term of ingredients. I always consumed onigiri with tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) and tomatoes. 

Shabu shabu

Shabu shabu is a kind of soup for me, where sliced of vegetables and meats is mixed and stirred in the hotpot. Instead of meat, I prefer fish.

Hotpot is on the table, and we could eat as we boil. Eating shabu shabu with specific sauces (such as ponzu sauce).

Have you tried one or all of these three Japanese foods: kare raisu, onigiri or shabu shabu? What do you think?

What is Inside Stupa of the Buddha Temple of Borobudur?

Several stupas

A dome like monument in Buddha temples is called as a “stupa.” The symmetrical monuments with size of 200 square meter sit on the Borobudur temple.

We will find 73 stupas on the world largest Buddha temple of Borobudur, central Java, Indonesia.

On the peak of Borobudur, there is the biggest stupa. We can’t see anything inside, since its closed (no holes) stupa.

Other 72 stupa are perforated. We able to see clearly what inside the stupas, and if lucky enough, we may reach Buddha statue by our hand.

What stupa means and purposes?:

- to store Buddha’s sacred relic

- to worship Buddhist saint

- to learn a lesson of Buddhism

- used by pilgrims where they circumnavigate the dome

Stupas with mountain view

Superstition belief that if our hand, especially children reach the statue inside the stupa, our wish will come true.

It might relate to the symbol of statue as represent of living Buddha with his power to protect and provide energy to his followers.

The biggest stupa in the middle (little bit far of top).

The biggest stupa is the main stupa. It seems to command the other small stupa. The tour guide said that there is a big Buddha inside the main stupa.

A Buddha statue sits inside stupa

Buddha statue inside the stupa:

- sitting straight

- leg crossed

- right foot above the left one.

- right hand face up

- left hand face down

Do you know about stupa? Where do you see stupa for the first time?

Over Crowded Tourists on Crucial Objects

Daffodil Hill, California

Recently, you might know from many medias (mainstream and social) that Daffodil hill in California was closed indefinitely.

The reason? Due to Over Crowded Tourists who caused:

- destroyed flowers field to make photograph (selfie)

- parking damages

- uncontrolled traffics in the nearby areas

- environmental deteriorates

Daffodil hill was not alone. The trend seem worldwide, the examples of over crowded tourist sites are coming from different countries:

- Machu Picchu, Peru

- Mount Everest, Nepal

- Venice, Italy

- Santorini, Greece

- Barcelona, Spain

Yellow Daffodil

The Daffodil hill is known for daffodil flowers, together with horses, peacocks and chickens attracted many people to visit.

The area used to mining areas in a century ago. Visitor could observe very old barns, mining equipment, original wagon wheel and antique farming tools.

Another view of Daffodil hill

These combinations of nature and history makes anyone, young and old to love and enjoy the Daffodil hill.

Initially, daffodil was planted by first owners to remember Holland as their country origin. The next owners, then plant to thousands of flowers. 

Combinations of white and yellow Daffodil flowers

If we come on the peak of blooming, we would be witness of blooming for 300,000 bulbs.

The owners have planted about 16 thousand bulb per year continually. These thousands new bulbs to replace the old or died ones.

Unfortunately this beautiful farming had been victimized of over crowded tourists.

Do you have over tourists in your areas? If so, what should be done? 

Do You Like to Insert Microchip in Your Brain?

Neurons in our brain (credit to Google)

We have known, micro-chips installed in computer for long long time ago. Then, is it possible to implant computer chip in the human brain?

Sure, the answer is possible. For what purposes? Few are:

- to stimulate nervous system

- to boost brain performances in term of memory and senses

- to fight diseases (Parkinson and Alzheimer's)

- to communicate with other’s brain

- to communicate with computers

- to commend digital devices such as smart phone to write such as a text message.

Quality of chip and brain interactions will improve over the years, even we can’t predict where is the end.

Chips are ready to implant in the brain (credit to Google)

We need surgery to insert the chips, placed to brain cortex or on the brain surface.

In case of Parkinson diseases, we call “deep brain stimulation,” surgery costs reach US$ 50 thousands.

The expensive cost didn’t discourage people to receive “deep brain stimulation.” Since decade ago, estimated more than 90 thousand this kind of treatment around the world.

Brain image for illustration (credit to Google)

The implant chip to treat Parkinson diseases which relate to:

- tremor

- stiffness

- rigidity

- movement disorders (physical and neurological disorders).

The current chip to treat Parkinson diseases is considered out of date technology, thus need to be improved.

Elon Musk proposed new computer chip with multi-functions that associates to brain, include connect mind to machine by next year.

The surgery involves robot, considered simple and easy, comparable to LASIK surgery.

Do you want one?

Daycare Center for Pet in Our City

A sign of petsuites

Daycare for pets is a new kind of industry in the USA. I mean it has been developed just in 1990’s. Several factors that stimulate the industry:

- population grew steadily in urban area.

- dogs are living indoors

- no child in households, make pets get more attention.

- American families spend more money on pets.

First opened in New York city, followed by San Francisco, California. Then spread to other wealthy cities.

I guessed, not all cities have a kind of pet daycare centers.

Building of Pet Suites

When I visited farmer market recently, I saw first time the sign of “petsuites.” It is the first center in our city.

Petsuites is nearby to farmer markets and several ethnic groceries. Pet owners may go shopping before or after coming to center. 

The pet center, I considered not big enough, but it seems convenient. I saw some people come in and out with their pets.

Pet Suites side

There are advantages to entrust pet centers:

- well care

- safe

- clean

- friendly

Sure, dogs and cats have different rates. Cats are cheaper than dogs. Dogs rates are based on their weights. Heavier are expensive.

Are pets care centers available in your city? Have you use pets daycare services?