This shows how important it is to drink water at the right time.
Summer
All Year Long
Painting or Photograph
Photograph by Frans Lanting
This has not been photoshoped.
“While on assignment in Namibia for National Geographic magazine, Frans Lanting captured this surreal landscape image in a location called Dead Vlei. Due to the nature of the lighting in the frame, the photograph appears almost like a painting. It was taken at dawn when the warm light of the morning sun was illuminating a huge red sand dune dotted with white grasses while the white floor of the clay pan was still in shade. It looks blue because it reflects the color of the sky above. Because of the contrast between the shady foreground and the sunlit background Lanting used a two-stop graduated filter, which reduced the contrast.
The perfect moment came when the sun reached all the way down to the bottom of the sand dune just before it reached the desert floor. Lanting used a long telephoto lens and stopped it all the way down to compress the perspective. The colors in the final printed image were true to the scene —the only technical adjustment made was the use of the graduated filter, which only reduces contrast but does not affect the colors of the scene.
This photo looks like a painting to so many people because of the intensity of the sunlight falling only on the dune in the distance, while the foreground is still in early morning shadow, so the trees are almost in silhouette. The dune, called Big Daddy, is almost 1,200 feet tall, and is an intense reddish-orange color, so it creates a mysterious backdrop.”
To read the full article and interview check out National Geographic.
Filler Foods
Eating low-calorie foods that fill you up can help cut your calories and control your hunger at the same time. This combination can help you reach and keep a healthy body weight.
Water-rich vegetables are a great filler foods. Good examples include celery, cucumbers, lettuce, hearts of palm (palmito), radishes, carrots and alfalfa sprouts. Fruits are another good choice for the same reason. For example, grapefruit is almost 90 percent water. As an added bonus, fruits and vegetables provides you with necessary nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
High-fiber soups also work well as low-calorie filler foods. Legumes, such as beans and lentils, are rich in fiber and protein; add legumes to your soups and stews to satisfy your hunger with fewer calories.
Other filler foods include whole grains that would fill you up for a long time because they contain fiber and complex carbohydrates. Boiled whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice can give you energy and lasting power. Low fat whole grain pretzels and crackers are good healthy snacks.
Choose from a variety of low-calorie filler foods to keep your diet interesting.
My Latest Addiction – ZUMBA
The Zumba trend went viral in Kuwait a few years ago, but only now have I realized what the fuss is about. It’s FUN. I have joined gyms and took up walking in order to exercise, but nothing defines a good workout better than Zumba. I’m taking the classes at Rana Fitness Studio in Al Khaldiyah (MAP). The first time I went there, it was free because it was just a trial. The next time I went there I paid KD40 for 10 classes. It’s very convenient. There are night and morning classes with different certified trainers. The classes offered include the following: Zumba, Yoga, HipHop/Dubstep, Warrior Fitness, Masala Bhangra, Drums Alive, BOSU and Zumba Toning. Follow their account on Instagram (Ranafitness) to know the timings of the classes. Not all classes are offered all the time, but Zumba is always available.
Not Sold in Kuwait – Dogadan Chai
I went to Turkey a few weeks back and if there’s one thing I really miss about the country is their tea. They serve it every where and it’s really good. The day I was coming back, I had some tea in the airport lounge and I fell in love. I saved the tea bag label hoping to find it in Kuwait. I looked for it everywhere here. I even tried ordering it online, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. The problem is whenever I try googling it, the results are in Turkish. If anyone sees this tea sold in Kuwait, please share the location! The brand name is Dogadan and the kind of tea is called Buyulu Bohca Chai.
Perfecting Lemon Sorbet
I love making desserts, even though I don’t enjoy eating them. I have made ice-cream before, but it was a total disaster. It tasted like ice, without any signs of cream. This time I thought of making sorbet. I fell in love with sorbet the first time I went to Italy in 2008. I remember going to every restaurant and ordering lemon sorbet for dessert. Five years later, I decided to give it a shot and make my own.
Here’s something to empress your friends with at your next gathering.*
Lemon Sorbet:
5-6 lemons
1½ Cup Granulated Sugar**
1½ Cup Water
Preparation:
- Zest 2-3 lemons or until you get ⅓ cup of lemon zest.
- Juice the lemons until you get 1 cup of juice.
Procedure:
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine sugar and water until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the lemon zest.
- Stir until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Boil for 2 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice and stir the mixture for a minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Allow it to cool for 30 minutes.
- Strain the mixture to get rid of the lemon zest.
- Pour the mixture into a container, cover it and put it in the freezer.
- After 4-5 hours, or when it becomes semi-solid, mash it up with a fork and refreeze again.
- When frozen, place in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
- Cover and refreeze until serving time.
*This recipe is from Cuisine Magazine.
**When I first read the recipe, I thought granulated sugar meant powdered sugar, but it’s actually the normal white sugar. I used powdered sugar and the sorbet turned out fine.
Wearing 3D Glasses
I love watching 3D movies, but I hate wearing the 3D glasses. I wear prescription glasses, so I always have to make sure I’m wearing contact lenses before watching a 3D movie. Wearing the contacts is not my issue, but there has been times where I have forgotten to wear them. I would then have to wear my glasses with the 3D glasses on top, which is very uncomfortable. I recently found a solution online, but it’s just an idea.
Food that can Improve Your Eyesight
Various foods are important for good eye health..
- Carrots are a critical source of vitamin A and beta carotene as are all orange-yellow vegetables. Beta carotene converts to Vitamin A in the body and is a potent antioxidant.
- Spinach and other green vegetables are a great source of lutein and zeaxathin, both being vital for eye protection from the sun.
- Garlic and onions are rich in sulfur and aid the eyes by producing glutathione; this is a really great antioxidant for the eyes.
- Cod, tuna, sardines and mackerel are loaded with DHA which supports cell membranes and help to reduce the likelihood of macular degeneration. It is highly recommended for dry eyes.
- All fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that are vital for eye health, with those being vitamin A, C, E and will help to improve daytime vision.
- Blueberries and grapes improve night vision with an increase in anthocyanins. They are able to quickly create a noticeable improvement in critical night vision.
- Eggs are rich in sulfur which helps to protect the lens of the eye and prevent cataract development.
Reading a Book
Reading requires time and in this fast paced world, time is scarce. I used to have so much free time, and I would use it to read a book. Nowadays, readings is not even close to being one of my priorities, and I have noticed a difference in myself. Two things got effected when the amount of reading I do got drastically reduced―my vocabulary and spelling. Reading helps improve ones vocabulary and when learning new words it helps with ones writing and speaking. I have been having trouble with finding the right words to say or write. Spelling also gets better by constantly reading, and recently I have noticed that I’m making silly mistakes in spelling. I understand now why my parents used to encourage me to read. I just wish I could become an avid reader again.
